MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR! I WILL POST AGAIN ON THE 8TH OF JANUARY!


"Beebee!" Sasha yells as she jumps off my knee and runs to Bella.

"Hi, baby girl," Bella says softly as she hugs her.

"Me no fined Beebee's juices."

"It's okay, baby, I'm okay," Bella says with a large smile on her face, but she looks a little shaky. I pick up her blood tester and walk over to her. I gently take hold of her hand.

"What are you doing?" Bella asks as I prick her.

"I'm checking your blood sugar levels. Hmm, it's still low," I say showing her. "C'mon, I've got fruit, yogurt, and juice waiting in the kitchen for you." She looks at me dumbfounded with her mouth hanging open.

"This way."

"No." I look at her and then to Sasha.

"Princess, why don't you go and play your game, and I'll take your mom to get her breakfast."

"Okay, Teddy." Sasha wiggles out of Bella's arms and runs back to the computer. I take hold of Bella's arm leading her to the kitchen.

"TEDDY!" Bella says through gritted teeth.

"Not here, she'll hear you."

When we get to the kitchen, I make her sit down as I turn to get her breakfast. "Eat," I say and she just looks at me. "Eat!" I say more harshly. I really didn't like her not doing what she needed to do.

"Why… are you trying to poison me?"

"No, if I wanted you dead, I would just shoot you."

"Aren't you full of charm?"

"Yes, it's my middle name," I say with a sigh. "You're a mom, start acting like it and eat something before you pass out again." She glares at me and I glare right back winning as she starts to eat.

"My sister, Alice, is her teacher. I went to the school to have lunch with her and the kids. Sasha just started talking to me," I say feeling exposed.

"The gifts—you gave them to her?" I shrug feeling like I don't have to explain why I bought her gifts.

"I told her I would get her something. I'm a man of my word." Bella just looks at me. I wish I knew what she was thinking.

"I am a lot of things, but if I promise something, then I will keep it."

"Prove it," Bella says and I frown at her.

"What?"

"Prove you're a man of your word and make me a promise." I swallow, but nod. Who knows where she is going with this.

"Promise that you will not hurt Mike and that he'll come back to us alive."

I shake my head at her unsure if I can keep that promise. "Then we're done." Bella stands up like she is going to leave. "I need my clothes."

"Bella..." she shakes her head at me.

"You said we're done and you're right, we are. But don't worry – you'll get your money after all, so you won't have to worry about anything."

"You're not leaving till I say you are," I say moving forward.

"Go fuck yourself," Bella says right in my face. Her words come out harshly and she's speaking very low.

"No, I'd rather you fucked me." The image of her and Mike springs into my head. "Then again, Mike's been there. How the fuck can you be with him? He fucked you when you were thirteen! Who—" Before I can say another word, Bella slaps me across the face, making my head twist to the side with the force she used.

"Leave now," I say knowing I'm close to losing my temper with her.

Bella runs away from me and I close my eyes taking a deep breath.

"Me say bye to Teddy," Sasha say lowly, and I open my eyes putting a smile on my face.

"That's not a good idea, baby," Bella says and I move to them.

"Hey, Princess," I say as she runs to me and I pick her up. "I'll come by and see you at school." Sasha smiles, clapping her hands.

"Draw with me?"

"Yes, I'll draw with you."

Bella shakes her head at me and I frown, even more so when she takes Sasha from me. "Baby, I'm sorry, but we need to find another place to live, and that means another school." Sasha's bottom lip wobbles.

"Why?" Sasha asks sadly and I don't understand why either.

"Because Ed—" Bella stops talking and just hugs Sasha. "Because I was stupid and made a mistake. We've been asked to leave." Sasha just looks at Bella not understanding.

"You don't have to. I told you last night I overreacted."

"No, it's better this way. After all, how long 'til you overreact again and ask us to leave? She shouldn't have to live like that." Bella makes a move to leave, but I catch her arm stopping her.

"I won't," I say. I close my eyes as my chest fills with pain. "If you and Sasha stay here, with me, then I'll promise." Bella just looks at me. "I'll promise you anything, just stay… Please," I say hating yet again she has made me feel vulnerable.

"That was you?" I frown at her not sure what she means.

"Beebee?" Bella turns and looks at Sasha.

"Can you find that room you were playing in?" Sasha nods and Bella places her back down; we both watch her go.

"Last night I had a dream; some guy was eating and talking to me. He wouldn't let me..." Bella's breathing changes as she starts to pant. "Book... dance." I covered her mouth shaking my head.

"That was me, and you won't be doing that. I'm sorry I ever suggested it."

"Please… sorry? Thought you only said that to your mom?"

"You seem to get me to use my manners as well. So, will you and Sasha stay here with me?" I ask changing the topic.

"What does me staying here entail?"

"We'll be roommates: you'll have your own room, I'll have mine, and Sasha will have hers."

"If you hurt her in any way I will kill you." I swallow and frown. I would never hurt her or any child.

"I may be a monster, but I would never hurt a child, more so Sasha."

"She has a dad, a great dad. We'll stay if you promise you will not hurt him. Promise he'll come back to us alive that he will see her grow up." The last part comes out in a sob.

"I promise." Bella nods and drops. I thread my hand around her neck tilting her head up a little; her face is full of hurt and hope that I just don't understand.

I just stare her in the eyes willing the answer to why she wouldn't come to me. "I don't take drugs," Bella says after a few moments and I nod at her.

"I know that, and I am sorry. But why buy your insulin on the street?"

"Sasha gets sick and it takes a lot of money to pay for her treatments. You don't provide health insurance so we have to pay in cash." I nod in understanding. I guess I never thought about people getting sick and how much it would cost out-of-pocket. I guess it showed how selfish I truly was. Part of me didn't want to be that person.

"I'll pay for both your and Sasha's health insurance." Bella chuckles a little and I frown at her.

"Mike and I can't afford it. Since she is already sick, it costs more to get insurance than it does to pay for the treatments. The state will help some, but it's not worth the hoops they make you jump through." I let out a breath not realizing this whole insurance thing was so hard when you didn't have the money.

"I will find one that will take her."

Bella clears her throat taking a large step away from me.

"Can I get my clothes?" I must have a confused look on my face because she rolls her eyes at me. "I can't go home in this," she says pulling at my t-shirt.

"Why are you going home?" I ask.

"I need my clothes and Sasha's. We may not have a lot, but there is stuff I would like to keep." I chuckle at myself and nod.

"You need to wait; my dad's due here to look in on you."

"Why?"

"Because he treated you last night."

Bella still looks at me confused.

"He's a doctor, and I got him to come over here to see you. It was closer than the hospital."

"Your dad's a doctor?" I nod at her. "He must be so proud." I swallow closing my eyes trying to shove the ashamed feelings away.

"He's the man that brought me up. I take on some of the biological monster that shares my DNA. You know the evil side." Bella frowns at me and I shake my head a little not wanting to talk about that person. "I'll take you to Mike's apartment after that." Bella just keeps looking at me as if she is trying to figure me out. She hasn't even blinked since she said that my father must be proud.

"I'm sorry," she says lowly dropping her head. "I didn't mean to hurt your feelings."

"You didn't," I say quickly. I really hate that she has the ability to make me feel exposed, ashamed, and hurt, but she also fucking knows she can get to me in such a way. This is how people like me get caught and killed. All it took was that one person who has the ability to bring you to your knees, and Bella is that person for me. I know I should end whatever it is going on, send her far, far away, but I can't. The pull she has over me is too fucking great.

The morning goes by with Bella staying in my office with Sasha. I stay away knowing she does not want me there. "Edward," my father says walking in.

"Hi," I say glumly

"How is the patient?"

"She's better, she's in my office," I say and he nods.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Sure," I say sounding bored.

"When did you meet Bella?"

"The night I was stabbed."

"Hmm," is all he says before walking away. I wait a few minutes before following.

"You, my girl, seem a lot better than you were last night."

"No disrespect, but I have a doctor. She sees Sasha and deals with her, but will see me, too, if I need her to." My dad nods in understanding. "I don't want you looking in my records."

"I won't if you don't want me to." He gives Bella his little smile and a nod. "Here," he says handing her a bag.

"What's this?"

"It's insulin. There should be enough to last you three months. There is also a new pen and needles." I watch as Bella's face goes red.

"Thank you."

"I love my son." Bella and I both frown at his comment. "He was really worried about you. I have only seen him like that when Alice first came into the family and her nightmares woke us, and then when his mother was hurt." Bella frowns even more, not understanding.

He gets up and walks out the door then walks to me. "Just show her the real you," he says quietly. I look to the ground knowing I have been trying and it's not really working. Just maybe this monster is the real me.

"Can we go to the apartment now?" Bella says making me jump.

"Sure, let me grab something for you to wear and get the car keys."

I grab a pair of my sweats throwing them at her, but she fails to catch them and they land on her head. She glares at me as she puts them on. I put on my poker face, and cross my hand over my chest as I slowly hand her one of my shirts to put on. I do my very best not to laugh when she yanks the shirt away from me.

"You are such a pain-in-my-ass," Bella says. She takes the t-shirt and puts on my shirt. I close my eyes as I feel my dick come alive just like it does when Bella is around.

"Let's go, Princess," I say walking out and Sasha runs jumping into my arms.

I walk to the elevator with Sasha in my arms, and Bella follows saying nothing about it.

"Would you like to press the button, Princess?"

"Yay!" Sasha says and she claps her hands.

Sasha presses the buttons, and I can see from the corner of my eye, Bella seems worried, and the only thing I can think of, is she thinks Sasha will be able to leave without one of us seeing or being there.

"I'll put a lock on the flat door—meaning a code will be needed to go in before they will open." Bella nods at me as the door pings open.

"Do you remember what car is mine?" I ask Sasha, and she nods taking hold of my hand.

"I'll need to get her a car seat," I say aloud as I help Sasha into my car and buckle her in. "Do you want to sit up front with me or in the back with Sasha?"

"In the back with Sasha," Bella say lowly. I walk around the car and open the other back door, and Bella slides in.

"Buckle up, Beebee, Teddy." I smile and give Bella a wink as I strap her in.

As soon as I am strapped in, I look around at Sasha. "Are we all set to go?" She smiles nodding as she looks at me.

"No noise!" Sasha says covering her ears and l look to Bella.

"The radio can be loud to her at times. She doesn't like it being played when she's in a car. I think it's because she can't walk away from it."

"Okay, Princess, no music."

It doesn't take us too long to get to Mike's apartment, and this time I have a look around seeing there is only two rooms. One has a small double bed with two chests of drawers. The other room has a single bed and a chair, along with another chest of drawers and a wooden toy box with toys.

As Bella packs the small amount they have, as I walk into the living room seeing it's almost empty. There's a TV that looks my age and a VCR. The sofa looks old and well used. I move to the small bookshelves seeing a load of books and videos.

"Can we take some books?" I look to Bella seeing she has two sacks, and the two bins.

"Yes, take whatever is important to you." She boxes up the books and sighs.

"Just Sasha's medication now and we will be ready." I follow her to the kitchen and watch as she brings out a large tub. "That's it. We can head out."

It takes less than an hour to get everything unpacked and into their rooms. I was shocked at what little Sasha had, but when I helped Bella with her stuff, I was saddened that she had even less.

"We try, it's hard." I turn to look at Bella who's holding back her tears. "I know we are fuck ups by not getting her the things she deserves to have, but… we love her. She doesn't go without food, love, and care. Do you think she'd be better without us?"

"Fuck no, Firefly, I just..." I shake my head knowing I have always had it good. It's unfair for me to look down on a family like Bella's.

"I'm sorry; may I take you and Sasha out to make up for it?"

"You can't buy us." I roll my eyes.

"I was not trying to. I just want to take my girls out, that's all."

Bella glares at me. "You are my girl; remember our deal? And as Sasha is yours, which makes her mine, too." I hold back my smile over the fact that they are mine, well as mine as they will ever be.

"Besides, I need to get Princess some toys and food she eats, and milk flavors. I don't think the doorman will be too happy if I keep sending him out."

Bella just looks at me as if she doesn't understand. "You sent him out for flavored milk? Why?"

"Because that's what she asked for and said plain milk wouldn't do."

Bella closes her eyes shaking her head at me. "Edward, you can't do that. You should have just told her it was plain milk or water; she would have taken the milk." I shrug a little not really caring because it made my Princess happy.

"Let's go," Bella says with a sigh.

We arrive at the supermarket – as we walk in the door, I give a slight nod to Emmett and Jasper who have pulled up. I grab the first cart I come to and start pushing it.

"You girls will have to help me out. Just put anything you like in the cart."

"Edward, we both have special diets, she can't just eat what she wants." I look to Bella not understanding.

"Like what?" I say a little panicked.

"I need to watch the amount of sugar I take in, and Sasha need to eat healthy so she grows." I nod at her.

"But, she's okay with having candy, and burgers and stuff like that?" Bella sighs, but nods. "Okay, I'll give you the final say on what goes in the cart then." She grins at me moving to the fruits and vegetables.

"Sasha, can you get the bananas." Sasha nods and walks away knowing right where to go.

I watch as Bella and Sasha shop. "Teddy, me get candy?" Sasha asks giving me those big pleading eyes.

"Sure, pick what you want."

"Sasha, one bag of chocolate, one bag of gummies, and one bag of chips." Sasha's bottom lip comes out, but Bella shakes her head no.

"I can afford whatever she wants, Bella."

"That's not the point. Too much candy isn't good for her." I sigh but nod in understanding, even though I really think she is being silly.

Bella and I argue many times as we go up and down the aisles, much to the amusement of Sasha. Bella seems to not really want to buy fun foods and sticks with the healthy shit.

I smile seeing the lobsters moving around the tank as I get an idea. She can't complain about this, it is healthy after all. I pick up one of the large ones knowing I need to feed three of us. I watch as the lobster moves a little and I look to the worker. "Can you box this one?"

"Hell no!" I look around at Bella.

"Why not?" I ask.

"Because... because..."

"Because is not a reason."

"You cook it alive." I smirk at her and kneel down to Sasha.

"You want to try lobster, right?"

Sasha tilts her head at me, and then looks to the lobsters. "Looks like Mr. Crab." I look at her then to Bella.

"Mr. Crab is a crab, baby girl, this is a lobster," Bella says softly.

"So, do you want to try it?" I ask again keeping my voice soft as Sasha looks between us.

"Baby, if you want to try it, it's fine." Sasha looks to me smiling with a little nod. I look to the man who hands me the box.

"I am not cooking that," Bella says pointing to the lobster.

"I'll cook it and you will love it."

"Yeah, as much as I love being your girlfriend..."

"See, that's the way to think of it!" I say grinning and Bella rolls her eyes.

We walk down the alcohol aisle and I pick up some beer. "Hell no!" Bella yells and I look at her. "YOU can't," she says into my ear.

"Why not… and don't say because." Bella looks to Sasha and back to me.

"I will not live in a house where there's alcohol." I swallow and look between Sasha and Bella. I know now she must be in recovery, and there shouldn't be alcohol around.

"I wasn't thinking; I won't get any," I say putting the beer back.

We get to the checkout and Bella starts looking through her bag. "I'm paying," I say into her ear.

"Oh with all the crap you put in this cart, yeah, you're paying."

Bella and I work together putting everything on the belt, to be scanned.

"That's two hundred and sixty-six dollars."

"We have coupons," Bella says as I take out my wallet.

"We don't need them!" I say harshly. I have never used coupons and neither has my mom.

"Yeah, we do."

"Bella!"

"Fine, then put it all back, the candy and stuff," Bella say lowly and I pull on her arm to move her near me.

"No. We'll use the coupons," I say taking them from Bella in defeat.

"That's a hundred and eighty-eight dollars."

"See how much we saved?!" I roll my eyes putting on a fake smile. I hand the cashier two hundred and she gives me my change.

"Say thank you," Bella says nudging me with her bony elbow.

I turn to the cashier and say a quick "Thank you." We walk out heading to the car with Sasha walking in front of us, when she stops to pet and little dog.

"Me want a doggy," she says happily.

"Sasha, you have to ask before petting a dog, remember?" Bella says to Sasha before mouthing sorry to the old lady.

"It's okay, my dear, you have a beautiful family." I place my arm around Bella and smile at her.

"Thank you," I say as Bella glares at the side of my head. But this is payback for making me say please and thank you.

"You two remind me of my Billy and me. We would fight all the time, but in the bedroom, well, that's where the magic happened. l love the old S-O-B still now after sixty years together."

"It's the same for us," I say kissing Bella on the side of her head. The woman walks off and we put away the shopping bags.

"What was the kiss about?"

"Well, they say payback's a bitch," I say and Bella grins at me.

"Yeah, it is." I watch her get in the car knowing she just declared war, but for some reason, I think I'm going to enjoy it.

HOPE YOU ENJOYED THIS CHAPTER! SEE YOU ALL NEXT YEAR!