Sorry for the delay I will also be posting Thursday!
"Baby girl, what Edward means to say is he's getting a dog." Bella looks at me from the corner of her eyes.
"Teddy share his doggy with me?" Sasha's biting her lip and moving from foot to foot as she bats her pretty eyelashes.
I stick my tongue out at Bella loving that Sasha is good with sharing. "Yes, of course, Princess." I am shocked when she smacks me across the back of the head.
"When we getting our doggy, Teddy?"
"I'll make some calls when we get to my mom's house," I tell her as I rub the back of my head.
"Let's go to Esme's, Teddy!" Sasha says pulling me to my car.
I help Sasha in and then move around the car to help Bella in. "If she gets attached to this dog, and you dump us breaking her heart, I swear to God, I will kill you," Bella says harshly into my ear.
"That won't happen," I say softly to her. I wish she would believe me. "I swear to you, I won't hurt you like that or her. Trust me." I stroke the side of her face with my thumb as I look in her eyes. I can see I'm slowly chipping away at her walls. I'm just not too sure why she has such large walls up.
The drive to my parents' home is quite. I help Sasha out of the car and take hold of her and Bella's hand.
I walk in taking a deep breath, "Edward?" My mom asks shocked looking from me to Bella, then to Sasha.
"It nice to see you again, Bella, Sasha, you're both looking well."
"You, too, Esme, and I would like… well, if I am allowed," Bella says turning to look at me, "to start helping back out at the center again?"
"Why would you think you weren't allowed?" My mom asks and Bella is still looking my way. My mom does, too, and gets the 'you're in trouble' look on her face. "Yes, dear, we have missed you."
"Teddy make call for doggy now?" Sasha says clearly bored.
"Boss," Emmett says walking in with a wave and moving on to the living room.
"Come to the living room and meet my family, and then I'll make the call," I say.
I walk into the living room seeing my dad sitting there looking at me in shock. Alice just looks confused, and Jasper and Emmett have shit-eating smiles on their faces.
"Alice, me getting doggy, but need to share with Teddy," Sasha says running up to Alice.
"Hi, Teddy," Emmett says with a grunted laugh.
"MY TEDDY!" Sasha says with a raised voice giving him the evil eye.
"That's right, Princess, you're the only one that can call me that. Anyway, everyone, this is my girlfriend, Bella and her daughter, Sasha." Every pair of eyes in the room looks right at me.
"Firefly, Princess, this is my family: my mother, Esme, my father, Carlisle, my sister, Alice, my brother, Emmett and my best friend, Jasper." I point to each person as I speak which doesn't make any differences as Bella is still staring at me.
"Well, you two sit, make yourselves at home. I have some calls to make." I kiss the side of Bella's head before walking out of the room letting out a long breath.
"Edward," my mom calls when I reach my dad's office.
"You do know that's the girl I wanted to set you up with, right?" I shake my head no, tilting it a little to the side trying to remember.
"The girl that used to use the center?" I swallow hating the fact there was a point in time Bella was homeless.
"Was Sasha with her?" I asked worried about all this young girl has seen.
"No, but Bella did speak about Sasha and Sasha's father, Mike." I nod in understanding. I'm not sure whether to be happy or sad that Mike kept Sasha with him so she wasn't homeless.
"You're treating her well, right?"
"Of course, Mom," I say.
"So… a dog?" I smile.
"Sasha asked me for one; she loves them."
"I can see that. Marcus' husky had a litter. I'm sure he still has a few left to sell."
I nod at her, picking up the phone to call him. "I love you, Son, and just take your time with Bella. Don't push her too much. One thing I am sure of, something bad has happened to that girl. She's buried it deep down, but things always have a way of getting brought back up." Before I can ask her what she means, she walks away.
Marcus tells me he has a female left, and I can pick her up tonight on my way back home. I walk back into the living room smiling.
"We can get the doggy tonight," I say and Sasha jumps into my arms hugging me.
"I love you, Teddy," she says kissing my forehead. I can feel my heart race. She is the first person, not in my close friends and family, that has ever said those words to me.
"I love you, too, Sasha," I say smiling at her.
Sasha wiggles out of my arms and runs to Bella. "Me go shopping, Beebee, get doggy toy?"
"Yeah, we'll need food and stuff for him or her, too." Sasha claps her hands.
"Teddy, me name him?"
"It a girl, Princess, and sure you can name her." She starts to think as she goes to name the dog and I cover her mouth.
"Wait till you see her, Princess." She nods and skips back to Emmett.
"You do know she'll call her something like My Chump?"
I look at Bella wide-eyed not having thought about that. "Shit?" I say in a mutter and Bella chuckles.
"Dinner's out," my mom says and I stand up walking out with Bella. I help her to sit then place Sasha in between us.
"Bella, I have to ask, where did you meet Eddy boy here?" Emmett asks.
"He kidnapped me," Bella says straight-faced. Both my parents just look at her.
"She's joking; we met one night when I was out," I say with a roll of my eyes like I would kidnap someone.
"From then on he followed me and kept demanding that I date him. He was like a dog with a bone." I glare at the side of Bella's face.
I move my hand placing it on Bella's lap squeezing it. "She loves me really; she's just pissed at me for some unknown reason."
"Son, you'll find that women don't need a reason to be pissed at us."
I chuckle smiling at my dad. "Yes, and I find that I am able to multi-task"
"Really?" Bella asks.
"Yes, apparently, I am able to fuck up six things all at once." I watch as Bella tries to hold back her chuckles, but with the rest of the family all laughing she joins in.
"And you're just figuring that out?"
"With you pointing it out to me, it's kind of hard to miss, Firefly."
I look to my mom finding it a little odd that she is smiling.
"Brother bear, can me have bread?"
I look down at Sasha seeing she's looking at Emmett.
"You're calling me brother bear?"
Sasha smiles and nods. "Here you go, pumpkin," he says with a shit-eating grin on his face.
The rest of dinner goes by with us all chatting and joking.
"Mom, could you babysit Sasha for us Friday and Saturday?"
"As much as I would love to, your father is away this weekend, and I'm going with him to drum up more support for the center."
I swallow and nod, I look to Bella who looks a little smug. "I'm sorry."
"It's fine, I'll find someone to watch her," I say waving her off.
I leave with Sasha and Bella, heading to the pet store to pick up a bed, leash, collar, dishes, training pads, and a few chew toys. Soon as we are done, I pick up a load of money and head to Marcus.
I watch Sasha's face light up as Marcus brings in the puppy. "She is more or less trained, but just make sure you let her out often." I nod, passing him the money.
"Okay, time to get home." Sasha picks up the puppy carefully hugging the pup to her.
I hear Bella sigh and I look to her. "She's going to want her to lie with her tonight, every night." I smile nodding.
"How about we come to a compromise between us, and then tell Sasha so she knows?" Bella nods.
"Twilight Sparkle," Sasha says out of the blue.
"What, Princess?" I ask opening my car for her.
"Twilight Sparkle," she says again holding up the puppy.
"And we have a name," Bella says with a smile on her face.
"Sasha, are you sure about that name?"
"Yes, me love Twilight Sparkle," she says as she hugs the puppy to her.
We arrive home and Sasha shows Twilight Sparkle around.
"So, is Twilight allowed in Sasha's room, aye or nay?" Bella tilts her head at me.
"How about Twilight needs to be in her own bed in Sasha's room?" I smile and nod in agreement. "And, I think we should keep her off the living room furniture: like the couch and chairs.
"Why?" I ask.
"Because she may be small now, but she'll get bigger and she will shed like crazy."
"Okay, so we agree?" Bella nods.
"Teddy, Beebee, Twilight Sparkle needs potty," Sasha says as she runs back to the living room with Twilight running behind her.
I pick up the leash and just as I get to Twilight she pees and then whimpers.
"It's okay, girl, we all have accidents," I say petting her.
I take Twilight out anyway as Bella and Sasha set up her stuff. When I get back in, I see Sasha is fighting with Bella and pulling Twilight's bed closer to hers.
"Twilight wants to sleep here!" she says crossing her arms.
"She can't, she has to sleep here, Sasha."
"Why?" Sasha asks as she narrows her eyes at Bella.
"Because this is where I said she has to sleep. It's near the door so she can get out if she needs the toilet," Bella tries to explain.
"Me want her to sleep in my bed." Sasha throws a toy at Bella's head. Before Bella can tell her to knock it off, she's throwing more stuff and trashing her room.
"HEY!" I yell, but Sasha doesn't respond to me. Bella moves closer and grips her in a hug, but Sasha start to thrash and hit Bella in the face with any toy she can grab.
"Sasha, calm down," Bella says losing her breath.
"Edward, she needs her pill, from her box, it sits on its own and it's small and pink." I nod running to where we put Sasha's medication. I find the pill and run back into the room with a cup of water.
"Me want Daddy! Me no love Beebee!"
I watch as Bella places the pill in Sasha's mouth. I go to hand her water, but Bella doesn't take it. Sasha bites her finger and I wince at the teeth marks I see. The struggle between the two lasts a few more minutes before Sasha goes limp. I watch Bella pull Sasha up off the ground and go to the chair and starts to rock. After a while, I move picking up Sasha and placing her in the bed, tucking her in. I help Bella up, walking her to the living room. I wince seeing her swollen eye.
"Stay right there, I'll be back," I tell her softly. I head to the kitchen to get her an ice bag. I sit down next to her placing the ice bag over her eye.
"I'm sorry," I say after a few minutes have passed.
"What for?"
I shrug not really sure what I am saying sorry for, but this feels like my fault.
"Does she do that often?"
"About three times a month. There can be more if things change too much at once." I nod at her.
"She'll be okay?"
"Yes, she'll be fine. The pill calms her, but also tends to put her to sleep. Although, I think the fit tires her out more."
"So, it is my fault then?" Bella gives me a sad smile. I know that after all I'm the one that took her father away and made her move houses.
Bella and I sit in silences for the next hour. I gently take the ice away. I wince at the sight. "Firefly, you've got a nasty bruise."
"It's okay, she didn't mean it."
"I know," I say rubbing her cheek. "I'm sorry I just stood there; I wasn't sure what to do."
"It's okay. I did the same thing the first time I saw it happen. Mike is able to calm her so much better than I can."
I bob my head at her statement. Knowing she wasn't saying it to be vindictive, she was simply stating a fact. I move some hair away from her face, everything in me wants to lean down and kiss her.
"Why don't you have a girlfriend?" Bella asks and I watch as she blushes.
"Girls don't like me. More often than not, they are afraid of me."
Bella nods. "Has Mike been your only boyfriend?"
"No," Bella says.
"Care to add on anything to that?"
"No."
"Is that all you can say?" I ask with a grin.
"No." I watch her smile a little.
"I should go to bed. I have a lot of cleaning and ironing to do tomorrow." Bella sits up and I move toward her a little.
I kiss her eye that's been hurt. "I'm really sorry you got hurt." Bella's eyes move to mine and she bites her lip. The seconds seem to pass slowly and just when I think she may kiss me, she clears her throat.
"Goodnight, Edward." I watch her walk out. I close my eyes picking up the ice pack.
"Edward?" I hear her say loud enough for me to hear and I walk out and into Sasha's room. I smile a little seeing Twilight on Sasha's bed and worked her way under Sasha's arm.
"That's so going to be my screen saver," I say snapping a picture.
Bella rolls her eyes and then looks down. "Do you think we should leave her there, just for tonight?" I wrap my arm around Bella pulling her back to my front.
"I am with you all the way and I'll stand by your choices. But, we could just leave it for tonight – they look cute."
Bella sighs as she runs her fingers up and down my arm. I am pretty sure this action is without thought on her part.
"Okay," Bella says after a few minutes.
"Okay," I say back to her and she moves out of my arms walking away from me. I watch her open her bedroom door and she turns looking at me. She drops her head walking into her room and I close my eyes knowing I am falling fast and hard for her.
I wake early the next morning and head down to my gym giving myself a good workout. I shower and head to my walk-in closet to get dressed.
I look through my shirts, stopping when I see one of my Eddie Bauer shirts has a denim-patch on it. I pull on some pants over my underwear and walk out with the ruined shirt in my hands.
"Bella, you want to explain this?"
"Explain what?"
"The denim," I say pointing at it.
"Oh, I burnt it with the iron, but I patched it up and it looks good as new!" She gives me a smile and I narrow my eyes at her.
"You do understand this shirt cost two hundred dollars."
"That did?" she says pointing at the shirt and I nod.
"Well, you were ripped off." I lower the shirt dumbfounded as Bella turns her back on me. She looks over her shoulder giving me the what look. I think she's just checking me out. I go to speak again, but get cut off by Sasha's soft voice.
"Beebee, me sorry," she says looking at the floor. Bella runs round to pick her up in a hug.
"It's okay, baby girl."
"Me sorry, Teddy," she says softly to me and I smile at her.
"It's okay, Princess, we all get angry sometimes."
"Woof." I look down at Twilight, who looks ready for the toilet.
"You sit here with your mama and I'll take Twilight out."
I head to my room quickly and throw on an undershirt before heading outside. Twilight does her business and comes straight to me once she's done. By the time I am back upstairs, Bella and Sasha are sitting down to their breakfast. I see Bella has a plate sitting out for me and I start digging in.
"I am going to leave you one of my cars today to use. You can use it to do whatever you need, but I want you to tell me first and keep in contact with me all the time. You also have Emmett on your tail."
Bella glares at me, but nods.
"I would like you to spend lunch time with me as well." I hold my breath waiting for her response.
"If you come back here, I could make us something?" I swallow pleased she didn't give me an outright no.
"How about I take you to Deno's; say one?" Bella looks at me and nods.
"Teddy no coming to school?" Sasha asks me sadly.
"I'm coming for lunch tomorrow, Princess, is that okay?"
"Teddy play with me?" I nod at her.
"Teddy only my friend?"
"I do have other friends, Sasha just like you, but you're my best friend in the whole wide world."
"Would you like me to drop Sasha off?" I ask and Bella looks between us before nodding.
"If I have to meet you for lunch, then yes." I grin at her.
I finish my breakfast and make my way to my room, but I stop and turn to look at Bella. "You patch any of my other shirts?"
"No, that was the only one," she says with a sneaky smile.
I give her a look before heading to my room to put a shirt on. I grab my jacket walking out with Sasha. As soon as she is settled in school, I head to do my rounds of my companies.
I'm impressed that Bella keeps me up-to-date on where she is and going. I do become worried when she tells me she's going to see Rose. I become agitated knowing she is at the club. I only let out the breath I was holding when Emmett informs me she has left.
I arrive a little early at Deon's getting the table I love. I watch the main door so she can see me when she walks in. I watch her scan the room and point me out to the hostess. I stand moving to her chair and help her sit.
"How has your day been?" I ask.
"Good," she says with a smile. "I even got a babysitter for Sasha for Friday and Saturday."
I swallow and look at her. I don't want just any Tom, Dick or Harry to watch her. "Who?"
"Hi, I'm Kim and I'm your server today. What can I get you?"
I wave to Bella saying she can go first. "I'll have the soup and sandwich of the day please, with tea to drink." Kim nods and looks to me.
"I'll have the same." I hand Kim the menu and she walks away.
"Well, who did you hire?"
"Rose."
"Rose, as in the stripper Rose?"
"I was not aware that was her full name."
"Rose Hale?" I ask with a sigh.
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because she wants to change her life. She just passed her early childhood education courses and is in need of better work, so she can get her foot in the door." I nod at her. "It's my choice and I would like her to watch Sasha."
"It's fine. I'll even check around for her to see if anyone is looking." Bella smiles, giving me a nod.
"Here are your meals."
Kim places our plates down and we fall into our usual bantering, but I feel like I'm slowly getting to know her. I love being with her and I never thought I would truly be able to say such a thing. I needed to get to know her better, and once that happened, I was sure there was no way I wouldn't want her more.
