Chapter 6
Bella woke up feeling groggy. She sat up slowly frowning at her surroundings when everything suddenly came back to her. The incident at lunch, Edward comforting her and Dylan, everything she said to him. Bella had never been around someone like Edward before. He seemed so nice and sweet and was wonderful with her son. Josh had been sweet at the beginning too though and he turned out to be a monster. Bella felt in her heart that Edward was different but how could she truly know? She had made so many mistakes already and didn't want to make anymore. Getting up she quickly found the bathroom behind on of the doors in Edward's room and washed her face. She was fast in freshening up knowing that her son was up and downstairs.
When she got the bottom of the stairs she followed the sound of her son's adorable giggle. She bit her lip holding back the tears threatening to fall when she found him. Edward, Jasper, Emmett, and Carlisle all stood on separate corners of the den. Alice sat on the couch, a happy smile on her face as she watched them. Edward held Dylan high over his head making airplane noises as he ran over to Emmett. He then deposited Dylan in Emmett's outstretched arms who swung him around and ran over to Jasper. Jasper then held a giggling Dylan 'flying' him over to Carlisle who then ran over to Edward. Edward grinned throwing Dylan up in the air then catching him and tickling him, making Dylan giggle even more. Bella had never seen her son so happy.
"They've been at that for a while," Bella heard a soft voice say from behind her.
She turned to see Esme smiling kindly at her then looking into the room her smile widening. "Would you like to come have some tea with me? Dinner should be ready soon."
Bella bit her lip and glanced in the room again where her son was being entertained. "A-alright,"
Bella followed Esme into the kitchen and took a seat in a bar stool while Esme gathered up the tea kettle and cups. She set up the sugar, milk, and cookies as well before sitting down in the stool next to Bella. Esme poured them some tea letting Bella fix hers how she wanted.
"So, you feel better after relaxing a bit?" Esme asked.
Bella felt her cheeks heat in embarrassment. "I'm sorry about earlier. I-I don't know what came over me."
"Don't you worry child," Esme said patting her hand reassuringly. "Nobody here is judging you. I want you to know, if you ever need someone to talk to or if you're just in the mood for a bit of tea and cookies, my door is always open."
Bella blinked a few times feeling her eyes begin to water. It had been so long since she'd been around people. Especially people as nice as the Cullens. They were all so nice to her and they all seemed to adore Dylan.
"Thank you," Bella said quietly.
"Why don't you go into the den with the others while I finish up in here?" Esme smiled.
Bella smiled, "Do you need any help?"
Esme shook her head and got up. "No, it's alright dear. Go sit and relax."
Bella nodded and got up. She walked into the den where Alice and the guys were sitting around the couch talking quietly while Dylan sat on Edward's lap his eyes trained on the TV as SpongeBob Squarepants played. She cleared her throat wringing her hands nervously.
"Momma! You woked up!" Dylan grinned climbing off of Edward and running to her.
Bella smiled and picked him up giving him a squeeze.
"Nana say she maked chocowate cake but we gotta eat dinnew fiwst and and we havin mawoni and cheese and weenies cuz they my favawite and and," Dylan said quickly trying to think of what else happened. "And I playin wif Eward and Memmet and Jaspew and Carwile and and and,"
Bella laughed. "Take a breath Cricket."
"Bella, come sit with us," Alice grinned patting the spot next to her which happened to put Bella next to Edward.
She glanced over at Edward shyly who just gave her a small smile. Biting her lip she walked over and sat down. Dylan crawled over and climbed on Edward leaning back against his chest and becoming distracted with the TV again.
"I'm glad you're here Bella, there was way too much testosterone in this room, all I heard for the last twenty minutes was baseball this and football that," Alice said rolling her eyes.
Bella smiled, "I like baseball and football. I used to go to the Mariners game with my dad all the time,"
"You like sports?" Edward asked in surprise.
Bella nodded her cheeks red.
"Awesome! We should go to a game! You'll have so much fun little B! We can bring the squirt!" Emmett boomed.
"Yay," Alice grumbled her dreams of a shopping partner dashed.
Jasper laughed at his wife knowing exactly what she was thinking. "Oh, honey. I'm sure you'll drag our poor Bella shopping eventually."
"Shopping?" Bella asked dreadfully.
"Don't worry little B, we won't let her torture you," Emmett said grinning.
"Shopping is not torture! It's therapeutic! You have no idea how the stress just washes out of you when you buy a new pair of Jimmy Choos," Alice said dreamily.
Emmett raised his eyebrows high and circled his finer around his head using the universal sign for crazy.
Alice's eyes narrowed, "Don't you call me crazy Emmett Cullen,"
Emmett's eyes widened, "Who said-? Did you-? Me?" he said pointing at the others then himself.
Bella chuckled at his antics.
"Dinner is ready!" Esme called from the dining room.
Everyone got up at the same time. "I'll take him Edward if he's too much." Bella said not wanting him to feel obligated to hold him.
"Are you kidding?" Edward said grinning, "I've got to fly my little man to the dining room. Ready bud?" he asked Dylan as he stretch him over his head.
Dylan giggled and spread his arms, "Weady Fweddy!"
"Zoom!" Edward said running out of the den and towards the dining room.
They all followed her son's laughter into the dining room. Edward had perched Dylan next to him in one of those office chairs that rise and fall with a lever. Esme must gave gotten it for Dylan so he could reach the table.
"Sit wif me momma!" Dylan said pointing to the chair next to him.
Everyone settled in making themselves plates. Bella ate quietly content with just watching the family interact with each other. Dylan sat happily next to her trying to get his mac and cheese in his mouth but getting most of it on the table. When they had all eaten their fill Esme got up to go into the kitchen and came back with a large chocolate fudge cake.
"Cake!" Dylan said loudly bouncing in his seat and making everyone laugh.
"Here is a nice big piece of cake for my precious," Esme said serving Dylan his cake first.
"Tanks Nana!" Dylan grinned forgoing the spoon Esme placed in front of him and using his hands to stuff cake in his mouth.
Esme gave everyone else some cake before sitting down with her own.
"Everything was delicious Esme," Bella said after they were done eating and had settled in the den. "Thank you for having us over,"
"Oh, it's my pleasure dear. You're both welcome anytime," Esme smiled.
"I think it's time to get this little one home," Bella said looking over at her son who had chocolate all over his mouth and somehow on his ears as well. "He needs a major bath,"
"I'll take you home Bella," Edward said getting up.
Bella blushed. "Thanks,"
"The car seat is in my car Edward," Alice said smiling wide.
Bella got up and reached over to pick up Dylan who had eaten so much he was almost comatose. "Thank you again Esme," Bella smiled. "And it was nice meeting you," she said looking over at Emmett and Jasper. "and I'll see you again at work tomorrow Carlisle."
"Nice meeting you little B! And you too squirt," Emmett grinned and got up to ruffle Dylan's hair.
"I'll see you at work tomorrow Bella," Jasper said in his southern drawl, "And you little man, I'd love to play with you again sometime," he said nudging Dylan under the chin.
"See you tomorrow Bella," Carlisle smiled. "See you soon kiddo," he said pinching Dylan's cheek.
"Bye bye Memmet, bye Nana, bye Carwile, bye Jaspew, bye Awice!" Dylan said waving and showing off his chocolate teeth as he smiled.
"Oh, good bye precious!" Esme said and giving him a big kiss on the cheek.
Alice bounced over giving Dylan a big kiss, "I'll see you tomorrow sweetie! I'll pick him up bright and early in the morning Bella,"
Bella looked at Alice in surprise, "You want to watch him again?"
Alice smiled, "Of course! I told you I've got nothing better to do until school starts up."
"Thanks Alice," Bella smiled gratefully.
"Come on baby, let's get you home." Edward said putting his hand at the small of her back and leading her out.
Bella blushed at the term of endearment not having been called anything like that in her life. She didn't think Edward even seemed to notice that he said it. He led them outside towards his BMW. He made quick work of getting Dylan's car seat out of Alice's Porsche and setting it up in his back seat. Edward stepped back giving Bella room to settle Dylan in his seat. He opened the door for her then walked around to the driver's side.
"So, where to?" Edward asked smiling at Bella.
Bella rattled off her address. They sat in silence for a while, Bella was content to just sit there and breathe in Edward's scent. A mix of cologne and a distinct manly smell that was all him.
"So, I was thinking since you recently moved back I'm sure you haven't had the time to head to the zoo in Port Angeles yet," Edward began.
Bella bit her lip, "Oh, um, no, no not yet,"
"Well, if you'd like I could pick you and Dylan up on Saturday and we could go. I've never been to the Zoo out here and I'm sure we'll have fun," Edward said glancing over at Bella briefly.
Bella wrung her hands nervously. She'd never been out with a man before, unless you count the few times Josh sat with her at the diner. Bella knew Dylan would probably love it and if she was honest she would have fun too.
"I want us to be friends Bella. You and Dylan." Edward said pulling up to her house. "What do you say?"
Bella looked into Edwards sparkling eyes. Dylan did say Edward had nice eyes and her son was right. They did say children could sense evil and Dylan took to Edward quickly. She'd give it a shot. He did say he wanted to be her friend.
"Okay," Bella said nodding. "We'd love to go,"
Edward's smile was so bright it lit up the whole car. "Great!"
Edward got out of the car and went around to open the door for Bella. He then opened the door in the backseat so Bella could take out a sleeping Dylan.
"I'll just keep the car seat since Alice is probably going to need it in the morning." Edward said.
Bella nodded. "Kay."
Edward walked her to the door. Bella looked up at him shyly. "Thanks for the ride,"
Edward grinned unable to stop himself from caressing her soft cheek with the back of his hand. "No problem." He leaned forward and gave Dylan a kiss on the forehead before stepping back and heading to his car.
He watched her pull her keys out and open the door. He waved at her when she looked back at him seeing her face heat up again. He loved that blush. Once she was safe inside he got in his car and drove back towards his parents. He couldn't wait until Saturday.