Stephenie Meyer owns all things Twilight. No copyright infringement is intended.

Beta'd by HollettLA.

"Life's Little Moments"

Chapter Four

Damion POV

When Sonny made it to his lawn, two dudes hopped out of his hedges.

I was quick to grab my pistol from under my seat. But it all happened too fast.

Before I could intercept or fire—thank God, I didn't fire—Sonny was on the ground.

More than likely sent here by my father—since, as per Dad, sometimes the Boss needs a beat down, too—my uncle and Aro were beating Sonny with baseball bats.

"What the fuck?" I shouted, running to stop them.

"Relax!" Carlisle knocked him down when Sonny tried to get up. "We know not to get his head!"

Aro abandoned his bat to kick at Sonny, and then I realized they were using Wiffle Ball bats—those yellow plastic shits the kids use to play ball in the backyard. "We grabbed these from this fucker's yard." They obviously belonged to my nephews.

"This a joke?" I tried to cover my smile.

Carlisle wacked me in my ass, which stung like a motherfucker, and I was almost brought to my knees. "Was that funny?" He can't let the past die; there's always animosity between us.

I gritted my teeth, raising my fist, not giving a fuck.

Aro pushed me. "Back up, son. This don't concern you."

They'd since stopped beating him, and Sonny coughed out, "Point taken."

Carlisle sighed. "We're just following orders." On the other hand, my uncle and Sonny are like BFFs.

"Oh my God!" Maggie cried, running outta my house. "What are you doing?" She got onto the grass. "Leave him alone. I mean it!" Maggie threw her shoe at Aro. "Go!" She chucked the other one at Carlisle, and they were laughing their asses off.

Especially since my sister-in-law is about as threatening as a kitten. "Santino…?" She wrapped her arms around him.

"I'm fine—deserved it." He squeezed her. "I'm so fuckin' sorry, baby." His voice broke; he was crying again.

Jordan stared from our stoop, not the slightest bit alarmed. "Is he…alive?"

I nodded, looking down to my brother. He still embraced his wife, his shoulders shaking as he cried into her lap.

"You all right?" Carlisle nudged his ass with his foot. "Come on. We didn't hurt'ya too bad." He extended his hand for Sonny's.

"Let that sorry motherfucker crawl inside." Aro pulled my uncle away but handed Maggie back her heel. "I'm a good guy, baby girl." He touched her chin.

She pulled away. "Go! Get off my property!" Maggie had venom in her tone—forever loyal to Sonny. I don't know why that loser would ever question such a thing. He can be a total fuck, but Maggie would risk life and limb to protect him; Sonny would do the same for her.

The melodrama for this evening had come to a close.

Thank God.

Carlisle and Aro still found her hilarious. "Who she remind you of right now?" Aro asked him.

My uncle smiled, crouching low to them.

"I'll call Skip!" Maggie grabbed the bat and was quick to raise it. "I said go!"

"Who do you think sent us here?" Aro asked her. "We did this—for your honor." He pinched her cheek.

Maggie narrowed her eyes. "I'll call Bella—" She actually swung the bat, but it didn't hit anyone.

"Awww, Mags. You're no fun. I mean, he's not hurt." Aro gestured to Sonny.

"I don't care! I'm not fuckin' around!" Maggie made to get up.

And even I was taken aback by her recent tone.

"Relax, baby." My brother steadied her, stealing the bat and landing a smooch on her cheek. "It's cool…I deserved that for being…for…I deserve a lot more than that." He buried his face in her hair, likely embarrassed by his tears.

"Are youse cool?" Carlisle asked. "For real?"

Still too ashamed, Sonny couldn't even look at him—King Fuck-up, Carlisle Cullen. "Yeah." He rasped, getting to his feet to pull his wife up. Sonny hugged her close to his side, looking down to search her eyes. "Baby…"

"I'm fine," Maggie whispered. "As long as we're fine…I'm okay. You didn't…do anything wrong. I'm yours, and…You just can't hate me." She got emotional again. "I'm sorry…I was tired, and I wanted us to leave…go to the campout." Now Maggie looked embarrassed. "And, apparently, I'm no fun to be around. I don't fit in with your friends." She sounded a little juvenile.

But in truth, I can't see Maggie being down with criminals, drug dealers and hustlers, or the skanky bitches who ride their coattails, either.

Good for her—being better than them, I thought.

Despite the slutty outfit and the hooker heels she wore, Maggie's a goof but she's classy. She's like Kylie—a really good kid.

My brother is way past the glitz and glam of sipping Cristal, partying with those who are superficial. He doesn't chill out for fun; his presence is mandatory. Hopefully, Maggie will believe that now.

Meanwhile, my sister also goes through the same thing with Gio. He has a strong stomach, taking after his dad and embracing being a cleaner—which I doubt Kylie knows about. But he runs Midnight Sun. He's the manager, and that place is actually back to its former glory. It's making more money than ever before, so I hear.

Plus, Gio is still so far up my sister's ass, I can't believe she'd ever think he'd stray.

Like the nosy fuckers we are, we were all in their business, watching Sonny and Maggie talk it out on their lawn. Even Jordan came down the steps to hear them better—Carlisle and Aro openly staring at them, and I was right there, too. However, they were none the wiser of their audience, or they just didn't give a fuck.

"Why didn't you say somethin', baby?" Sonny's chin wrinkled. "We coulda camped out. I would have loved—" his voice broke "—loved that. You gotta open your mouth. You say you wanna go out—I took you out." He shrugged. "But, no. You think I'm fuckin' around. That's why you wanted to go out…" He shook his head. "I could never do you dirty, baby." He stared at Carlisle and Aro. "Tell her. I'm a fuckin' altar boy when it comes to that shit."

They agreed with my brother, but they would have agreed even if he wasn't.

To most of the older dudes, there are different degrees of loyalty.

Beating on your wife is almost a hell-worthy trespass.

When it comes to everything else, there's a code of silence.

"Maggie, my love, there's no one else but'chu. You're my world, my heart, and I…Baby, I am so fuckin' sorry." He placed a smooch on her lips, cried into her mouth.

"No, I'm sorry," Maggie whispered. "I can't…I can't see your fault. You just scared me…I…" Words failed her.

"We'll talk more about that later." He palmed her cheeks, thumbing her tears away while eyeing the rest of us.

I know he doesn't want anyone to know what he did. If Dad sent Carlisle and Aro here, he must know the gist, definitely more than we do. The man's got eyes everywhere.

"You don't like Veronica? She's gone. I'll fire her next time I'm at Eclipse," Sonny said.

Maggie looked away from him. "I'm sorry. Don't hate me. You have to forgive me—"

"There's nothing to forgive, and I could never," Sonny said. "Never, never…baby. I don't work without you." He leaned down to kiss her silly, and I was relieved.

Now…the melodrama had officially come to an end, credits rolling.

"How ya doin', Dr. Cullen?" Aro winked, smiling brightly at my fucking wife as he walked onto my lawn.

Jordan giggled. "I'm great, Mr. Andino. How are you?"

"Eh…I could complain, but who'd listen?" He winked and continued toward my crib.

He just had to talk to her.

Their banter is always friendly, but…

Instantly vexed, a tightness in my chest—since this wasn't the first time his eyes had wandered over to Jordan's tits—I grabbed one of those yellow bats and ran for him.

I knocked him in his back, which made his old-ass drop.

"Ha! See somethin' you like, ya fuck?" I got him in the gut when he rolled over, and once again in his hip.

These bats were genius—better than a Louisville Slugger. They produce that wincing sting, that nearly paralyzing kind of pain. They probably don't leave many marks, and they can't kill a fucker.

"You don't look at her no more—" I got his outer thigh.

"Damion!" Jordan clapped and stomped her feet. "What's the matter with you?" She pulled the bat away to hit my ass with it. Her blow wasn't as forceful as my uncle's—nowhere near it, but it still hurt. My wife just wanted my attention.

"Oww!" I rubbed my butt, calming down.

Jordan threw it to the ground. "I'm sorry."

"It's all right." I exhaled, feeling much better.

"Mr. Andino—" Jordan bent to help him, which made more of her cleavage visible "—are you okay?"

He was putting on an act, playing on my wife's compassion—grimacing and shit, all slow and still on our lawn.

"Stop frontin'. You ain't hurt!" I spat down to him, pulling Jordan into my side. "Come get this," I told my uncle.

Aro was almost on his feet, but I kicked him in the ass—not hard—and he fell back.

"Shit…" Carlisle moseyed over to Aro. "Shake it off . . ." He extended his hand. "If you were scopin' Shorty's rack, you were wrong, bro."

"I was not!" Aro defended.

"You're a fuckin' liar!" I advanced toward him.

"Get in the house before someone calls the cops!" Jordan pushed me. "I can't believe you." But she had the right idea, and I was fast to follow her.

Chuckling, unable to contain it now, I ran up my steps before Aro could get me. He's a lot faster on his feet.

"Touch him, and I'll kill you," Sonny said, which made me whip around.

Aro stopped in his tracks to back away from my house with his hands raised.

"Both'a'youse . . .go on." Sonny again. "You made your point—thanks."

I stared, watching as our "uncles" walked across the street. I wasn't scared of Aro, far from it. But I was defending my wife's honor, and I knew he could kick my ass—no matter how old.

I'd try my best, however . . .

Nowadays, I'm a lover, not a fighter . . .

I'm a dad and a husband, a boring, taxpaying yuppie, and I drive a Prius.

I'm the happiest I've ever been.

But I'm also the Skip's son, have a pair of brass balls, and no one's gonna look at what's mine without suffering consequences.

That's just how it is.

I turned to Jordan, and the first thing I saw was her cleavage, and her tight yoga pants. "What the fuck are you wearin'?" I nudged her into our foyer. "No wonder he looked at you."

Jordan groaned, reaching up to squeeze my jaw. "Cut the shit!" Her sneer made me smile. "He's just a nice old man."

"Aro?" I was shocked since he's anything but.

Maybe he's older—hell, Carlisle and my father are getting up there in age, too—but they're still who they are. Not much has changed during the past seven years. They still have chicks fawning and flirting, and the three of them do whatever they can to stay young—including pumping iron, exercising. They're in their late fifties, not even sixty yet. These days, fifty is the new forty—whatever the fuck. I don't check Aro out like I'm gay or whatever. But I hear my mother bitch all the time, about how Dad just gets better looking with age...some comparison to a fine wine.

Aro's not just some nice old man.

"You men—you're so fucking stupid!" She backed away from me. "Your brother's a douche bag and a half, too! Run and tell dat!" Her attitude, her rant was adorable. "He's a fucking psycho! Maggie should take the kids and leave his crazy ass!" She was even louder, probably hoping our neighbors—my brother—heard her. "I had to give her a Xanax just so she'd stop crying and talk to me...and you don't wanna know what he did."

I rolled my eyes, leaning on our banister as she entered the kitchen.

"And there's nothing wrong with my clothes!" She continued. "I look good, and so what if someone looks at me? I'm your wife, you dumbass!" Jordan paused. "I didn't mean that. I'm sorry."

"Yeah, you did." Regardless, I wasn't offended.

With locking my door, shutting out the world, all those problems—they disappeared. I was sure that my brother and Maggie would be fine, that Aro won't hold a grudge—for fear of my mother's wrath—and that tomorrow things would be back to normal.

"There's plenty wrong with your clothes!" I hollered, trying to sound menacing and like I wanted to fight.

She frowned, pulling her t-shirt away from her abdomen and coming toward me with a can of Diet Coke. "What?" She actually believed me.

"They should be in the hamper—on the floor somewhere." I grinned.

Jordan tried to scowl at me but failed miserably. Even so, her humor was short-lived. "Poor Maggie. I can't even…She tries so hard."

"Hey…" I palmed her cheek. "Maggie's tougher than you think." I definitely didn't want their problems to become our problems.

"Despite what I think, they're just…they're usually so happy." She wrapped her arms around me. "I'm sad for them, and it's…it's stupid, how everything could be perfect one minute, and then complete shit moments later. She was excited to go out—be a part of his world, and for what?"

I hugged her tight, trying to stop my hands from roaming down—be soothing and not her perv husband.

"I don't hate Sonny. He's just an asshole. He doesn't realize how cruel he is to her sometimes."

"I know." I kissed her hair, swaying us, and she quieted down.

My hands were suddenly on her ass, kneading, as my cock sprang to life. Then Jordan lifted her head, her eyes meeting mine. "We should talk."

"Huh…?" I stopped moving. I thought we'd kiss, strip each other down, and race for the Jacuzzi—have some animalistic sex. "Last I knew…we didn't have any problems." I waved a finger.

"I had my blood drawn this morning—"

"Fuck. Why?" I was suddenly scared to death. "Just tell me. We'll deal with it, and don't sugar coat. Just tell me." I spoke mad fast, holding my breath.

"Oh, baby, relax." She pulled me down to kiss me gently. "It's nothing like that. I'm just . . . pregnant, about seven weeks." Jordan was nonchalant.

I stepped back, not sure I heard her correctly. "Seven weeks?" I didn't even know she'd missed a period.

Her face fell. "It's not like we're careful. It's unexpected, but—"

I shook my head, dumbfounded. "Wow…" We weren't trying, and it'd taken us a while to get pregnant with Izzy.

Long story short, Jordan isn't on birth control.

Sometimes, I come in/on other places, being creative, or I pull out, but…

And our daughter will be four in a few months.

It just never happened…hasn't happened.

"It's a surprise," I admitted. "I'm surprised, but…are we gonna…keep it?" I didn't wanna get excited—my hopes up—until I knew if she was happy or sad about it.

We are young in our careers. It's going to be another struggle—harder with two. But I've never been concerned about Jordan's lack of birth control. I figured when we had another one, we had one.

I wanted it.

Difficulties aside, I wanted it.

I wanted to be thrilled and kiss my wife, but I waited with bated breath.

"Ugh!" Jordan pushed me. "Yes, we're keeping it! What's wrong with you?"

I shrugged. "Hey, if you didn't want it…I dunno." I grabbed her hand to pull her into my arms. "Two of them…another little Izzy." I grinned, wondering how we'd pull it off. I was happy to have another child; I just didn't know how we'd do it.

Jordan knew what I was thinking. "By the time this baby's born, you won't be a resident anymore. We'll have more time, you'll have a more flexible schedule, and maybe…I'll take a couple months off, maybe a year?"

"What?" I snorted. "You don't have to do that. We'll make it work…like we always do. Izzy's starting school. Kylie will have her own infant, but my mother will never let us hire a nanny. She'll jump to babysit."

"I don't want that." She frowned. "I…I never got to hear Izzy's first laugh…She took her first steps at your sister's." Jordan blew out a breath. "Then, she used to cry when we'd take her home because she didn't know me," she cried, becoming frantic.

"Damion, I can't. I won't do that again. I won't." She was a blubbering mess. "I won't and we're definitely having this baby—"

"Hey, now…" My heart broke as I wiped her tears away. "Izzy loves you so much…You're her whole world. She admires you, and she knows that mommys and daddys work, and it'll balance out when she starts school. You don't have to quit, or take an extended leave."

"No, you don't get what I'm saying." Jordan sniffled. "What if I wanted to take time off? Overall, I'd have more time for Izzy, and I could also do wife stuff?" Her eyes were bright with excitement but still glassy with her tears. "I'd have to leave NYU, but…I'd rather work for a local hospital, anyway, when I'd go back. I could learn how to cook real meals. The laundry would always be done…I could be your little woman," she sang, poking my chest.

I laughed at my silly, beautiful wife, knowing she might hate that.

"What used to be important…it's just not anymore." She grimaced. "Nothing's more important than you, Izzy, and now this baby." Jordan palmed her stomach.

I still didn't understand. "You were number one in our class. You got through residency…all to be a stay-at-home mom?"

She danced from foot to foot. "Not forever…and we'd be fine moneywise with your future salary and what we have at the bank. NYU is gonna try their hardest to keep you. That offer's in the bag, and other offers will start pouring in, too. In a couple of months, when you take the boards, other hospitals will be looking to scoop you up. There are no worries there, and it's not like I've ever cared for, nor treated myself to the 'finer things'...I'd never go on some extravagant shopping spree."

"Thank God for that," I commented, knowing my sister has pulled a few fast ones on Peto, nearly emptying their bank account like he had unlimited funds.

"We don't have a mortgage since the money your parents gave you paid for the house. All our bills would be paid, and it won't be a struggle...That's what I'm saying. Do you absolutely hate the idea of me—"

"It's not about me." I placed my finger to her lips. "I just want you happy. We also have a while to hammer out the details. I don't want you making any rash decisions."

Yes, her missing out on some things is sad. I'm in the same boat, but I couldn't see her abandoning what she's worked her whole life for. She can do both, like she has, and she won't be miserable.

"I didn't marry you so you'd be my housekeeper." I lifted her hand to kiss her knuckles. "Plus…isn't it always more interesting when we gotta go commando?"

Jordan rolled her eyes. "And Bella looks at me like I'm a bad mother…buying Izzy new outfits if she's—"

"No way," I laughed, and I couldn't believe she thought that.

"Your dad calls her a little refugee, and I don't know if that's because she goes from house to house, or because . . . she looks like one." A giggle escaped her, and she palmed her face to groan.

I threw my head back and laughed. "She smells pretty good. At least we remember to bathe her."

"Damion…" she sighed. "It's not funny."

"Where is she goin'? To have tea with the queen of England?" I asked. "She chases Beth and Little Peto around all day, and those three get into everything."

"Sometimes, Izzy dresses herself in the morning, and I don't have the time to fight with her—"

I kissed her to shut her up. "My father teases—he means nothing bad by it, thinks it's funny. My mother does those things to help you, to make it easier for you, baby…" I palmed her cheek. "Mom, Kylie, and Maggie—they think you're a fucking rock star, and so does our daughter. Don't fuckin' doubt yourself. That'd piss me off. Stay home to be with the kids more, but don't…quit because…you think it's the right thing. I dunno."

She wore that contemplative, Izzy face.

"I don't care if you work, or stay home," I clarified. "And you have time to figure it out."

"Okay." She nodded and then let out a low, building squeal. "We're having a baby!"

I chuckled, squashing her to my chest. "I fucking love you!"

"I love you, too . . ." She rubbed up my chest, staring at my lips. I leaned to get some, so we could get to celebrating, but then she asked, "You think Izzy's gonna be excited?"

"Yeah," I said. "Definitely."

She sighed, pulling away to walk up the stairs. "You coming? There's a lot of kinky sex in your future, Dr. Cullen."

I fucking chased her sexy ass up the steps.

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