A/N- new chapter! Hooray! Rosalie had her twins and they're a boy and girl named Alex and Emily and Alice had a baby girl named Olivia. Mason is almost two and Lucy just turned 7 and is starting first grade. Bella is pregnant for the last time with a girl and I have a name I like already so I fortunately don't need suggestions. If you want though, I wouldn't say no to receiving names though. Oh! And thank you to My-Arabian-Knight for not only being a regular reviewer but also giving me the idea for the second half of this chapter. Kudos to you!
Chapter 9 Edward's POVAs we strolled down the rows of cages, barks and yips could be heard from everywhere, excited at the prospect of being adopted. Lucy was running from cage to cage issuing frequent squeals over the adorable puppies. Lucy had been begging for months to get a dog. Bella was reluctant to get one though. She wasn't looking forward to the messes they made, and knew she'd be the one taking care of it as well as Mason and, in three months, our new baby during the day when Lucy was back at school and I was at work. Unfortunately, Lucy had me wrapped around her finger. I caved a week ago while Bella was at he store. She came home to find an ecstatic Lucy and me, sheepish, telling her we were getting a dog.
That night we'd argued and we don't fight very often. As soon as Lucy was in bed she'd confronted me about not being able to say no. The kids could get away with anything and they knew it! He needed to toughen up and put his foot down. I'd explicitly said no dogs! We wouldn't have the time or money for a dog, Lucy, Mason and a new baby on the way! Her reasons went on and on, but I wanted a dog too. I wouldn't listen to reason and in the end I'd slept on the couch, something else that barely ever happened. Eventually I'd given in as Lucy and Edward worked on my defenses over the next week. That brought us to the dog pound.
I stooped over next to the cage Lucy was currently peeking into. Inside was a nice laidback playful looking Labrador retriever. He was two years old and, boy, was he huge! Lucy giggled as his tail thumped against the ground and his tongue lolled out to the side. He seemed like a very sweet and affectionate dog, but I knew Bella wouldn't approve of him. The size alone would make him an automatic no. Lucy, however, had other ideas. She reached her hand through the slats in the cage and laughed as he licked her hand. She seemed to have taken right to the dog, and the dog to her. I had a feeling Lucy had already made her decision. Now to make Bella see that he wouldn't hurt the kids, but how to do it?
Bella's POVI looked at the note Edward had left me. There had to be some mistake. Before I'd left for the pound Edward had been talking to me about the dog Lucy and he had fallen in love with. He was talking in a round about way and kept stressing that I shouldn't let first impressions fool me. He wouldn't even tell me what type of dog it was! I'd been expecting the worst. I glanced at the note again.
Bella,
The dog Lucy and I were looking at was next to the 2 black poodle's cage.
Edward
It was as simple as that and what I found surprised me. There were two cages next to the poodles; One on the let, and one on the right. Obviously it couldn't be the cage to the left because I knew Edward would never even consider having a dog like that in the house with the kids, he was huge! However, the cage on the other side was holding a very cute West Highland white terrier. It was tiny and playful; Exactly hat we'd want in a dog. Why Edward had been so concerned what I'd think about this dog was beyond me. I had fallen in love with this dog. I would go home and talk to Edward about adopting him first thing. (A/N- hahaha! Wrong dog. Drama! Le gasp!)
I got home and bounded out of my car. Edward was at the front door looking nervous. He opened the front door for me and cringed slightly. I felt taken aback. What was he expecting? For me to start shouting? I smiled at him and he looked surprised, maybe even shocked.
"I love the dog Edward! He's so sweet!" I gushed. It was his turn to look taken aback and then relief played across his face.
"Really? Size doesn't matter?" Edward clarified. I shook my head. Why would it matter how small they were. Had it been a big dog on the other hand though, I might have throttled him for even suggesting it. His face lit up and I laughed. "Do you want me to go pick him up now?" I would've said yes, but I glanced at my watch.
"I think they actually just closed." He visibly drooped, making me want to laugh again. "You can go get him tomorrow." I instructed him as I put my coat away and my keys on their hook. "The kids did get fed, didn't they?" I asked hopefully. He nodded and I was relieved. Just like when I was pregnant with Lucy and Mason, the smell of cooking food was making me nauseous. I headed to bed.
Edward's POV (next day)
I heard numerous shouts coming from the back seat as Lucy received kisses from our new dog. I couldn't stop smiling. We'd finally gotten a dog! I could tell Lucy was ecstatic as well.
We pulled in the driveway and the dog immediately bounded out of the car. Before I could grab its collar it bounded into the garage where Lucy opened the door for it, laughing hysterically. I tore after it, but not before a scream could be heard from the kitchen. I skidded around the corner to find Bella in the pressed in to the corner the kitchen counters made with the sink, clutching Mason to her who was trying to get forward to pet the dog. Bella turned scared eyes on me.
"What… Is… that?" she gasped as the dog jumped putting it's paws on either side of Bella making it's face level with hers. Mason laughed reaching forward to clutch its fur happily shouting, "Doggy!" repeatedly. I rushed over and pulled the dog down, instructing Lucy to take him to the fenced in backyard. Bella seemed out of words for a while. I was apprehensive to say anything to put words in her mouth. Finally she turned shocked eyes to me, handed Mason to me and walked to the sliding glass door connecting us to the backyard where Lucy was throwing balls for him. Bella crossed her arms and shook her head. As she watched realization seemed to hit her.
"He was the dog you were talking about yesterday?" she glanced at me long enough to see me nod mutely. She started shaking her head again. "We can't keep him." She stated. I opened my mouth to argue it when she cut me off. "You've seen our bills when there's a baby in the house. Think about how much the food he'll eat will cost. And his size! It would be so easy for him to hurt one of the kids!"
"We've always managed money wise and can't we just give it like a day or two for a test run with him?" I begged. She watched Lucy with him some more. Maybe she saw him in a slightly different light in that moment, but she sighed and very slowly nodded.
"Just a day or two."
Bella's POVOver the next few days the dog grew on me only very slightly. I wouldn't let them name him until we were positive we'd keep him. I complained every night about not only did I have Lucy and Mason under foot, but now the dog too.
As I chopped some apples and bananas for a snack for Lucy and Mason I looked down to find the dog sitting at my feet. Again. I sighed as I put the dish on the table. Lucy was working on reading a book and Mason was coloring on a paper. She looked up at me and smiled.
"Mommy? Can we go to the park today?" she asked brightly. I really wanted to say yes. We hadn't done much as a family in a while and maybe it'd be a way to get the dog and all it's muddy paws out of my house. Right then, my mind strayed back to the growing pile of Laundry and the ache carrying this baby left in me. I sighed.
"Luce, you know I'd love to, but I really don't have the strength left in me and I have to do laundry today too…" my voice trailed off as I made a to-do list in my head. Lucy crossed her arms and glared forwards.
"I want to go to the park though! Can't you do the laundry some other time?" her lower lip trembled slightly. I leaned towards letting in but as I opened my mouth, the baby kick, hard, reminding me of my various aches.
"Not today, okay? But we'll go soon." I prayed she'd let me off with that, but she could be very stubborn and persistent when she wanted something.
"No! Today." She glared at the table. Now I'd have to put my foot down.
"I said no Lucy. That's final." She shook her head vigorously.
"NO! I want to go today!"
"Lucy! I said no! Do you want to go to your room?" I hated doing this.
"But I want to go NOW!" she was yelling me now, which put me past my point.
"Lucy. Room. Now." I said trying to ignore the pity I felt. I needed to stay tough. She pushed her chair and left and by the time she got to her room, she was crying. I wanted to go to her so much and say we could go, but I shouldn't. I sighed yet again; beginning to feel the headache I'd been feeling distantly all day.
Mason, very thankfully, decided to be agreeable, eventually dropping to sleep in his playpen. I dropped onto the couch next to him, relieving my aching…everything. Next thing I knew I was waking up on the couch. Mason was playing quietly in his crib, but all was quiet. I sat up and remembered I'd sent Lucy to her room. I looked at my watch and breathed a sigh of relief I'd only been asleep 45 minutes. I planted a kiss on Mason's head and dashed up the stairs to redeem Lucy. I knocked lightly on Lucy's door.
"Lucy?" I called softly, pushing open the door. She wasn't there. I looked in her closet, the bathroom, Mason's room, Edward and my room and every closet, all the while calling her name. I dashed back down stairs and heard claws clicking on the wood floors. The dog was following me on my hunt for Lucy, barking too. I shook my head. I didn't have time for that. I needed to find my baby.
I tore around the house calling her name for 10 minutes before I broke down in tears. She was not in the house; She was not in the yard. Time to start making calls. I tried Alice and Jaspers but no one answered, I tried Rosalie and Emmett's and Emmett answered on the forth ring.
"Emmett!" I cried, choking back sobs.
"Bel- Bella?" he asked, surprised.
"Emmett, you haven't seen Lucy have you? I woke up and she was gone!" a fresh wave of sobs broke over me.
"No, I haven't." I heard fear in his voice, something you didn't hear from Emmett every day. I heard him call to Rose and ask her too. I cried harder when he told me they hadn't seen her. I thanked him and told him I'd update him when something happened. I called Carlisle and Esme right after and had essentially the same conversation. Edward was next.
"Edward Cullen," he answered smoothly.
"Edward, Lucy's gone." I stated as the tears came harder and faster. There was silence on the other end before he said,
"I'm coming home." And then hung up. Last on my list for calls was Charlie.
"Forks police department," someone answered sounding distracted.
"Charlie Swan please, tell him it's his daughter." I waited a moment as the phone was passed on.
"Bella? What's wrong?" his voice was urgent, probably hearing my sobs. I relayed my message yet again. Immediately he was on it. He took care of everything before I told him I had a feeling she was at the park or on her way there and that I was going looking for her. He told me to keep my cell phone on me. I hung up, jammed my arms into a coat, grabbed my shoes, my cell, a flashlight, Mason's coat and shoes, wrestled them onto him and I was almost out the door, when I felt a wet nose on my leg. I stared at the dog a second before grabbing the leash. We flew out the door.
As I scurried over streets upon streets, I called Rose, Emmett, Alice, Jasper, Carlisle and Esme to tell them I was going looking for her and asking if they'd help me. They readily agreed and I ran on.
Mason was enjoying the walk and the dog was securely on the leash. I had the loop on the end of the leash looped around my wrist but it wasn't doing much. I could tell he wasn't going to bolt, but at the same time he had his nose in the air ad seemed to be trying to lead me. I went with it following whatever direction the leash pulled me. It was no surprise to me that I was being pulled towards the park.
The quaint little area park was at the very center of the neighborhood, filled with an abundance of trees. A play gym was at the heart if it, being swarmed by children. A trail for bikers or walking was placed in a ring around the edges of the park. I hurried to jungle gym and started asking around.
"Have you seen a little girl about this high with brown hair and blue eyes? I believe she was wearing an orange shirt and pink shorts." I asked over and over. Parents shook their head no again and again to my strained pleas. I continued my fruitless search. Finally I found someone who thought they'd seen her. They informed she'd played for a while and then started back towards the street. I tanked them profusely and took off again. I called her name again and again as I went down yet another street. The dog had it's nose to the ground again as we walked and it seemed to know not only what it was doing, but who it was looking for. Suddenly, the dog's head snapped up and began barking. He shot forward, yanking the leash right out of my hand. He sprinted away, leaving me calling for him in vain. I hurried after him.
I skidded around a corner and there sat the most welcome sight I'd seen in a while. There sat Lucy, tears on her face, being licked by an exuberant dog. I started to cry all over again as dashed over, stumbling slightly, and wrapped my arms around Lucy.
"Don't you ever do that again!" I growled through my tears. "Do you have any idea how out of my mind with worry I've been?" Lucy didn't answer, just kept crying. I pulled away and began the body check that Edward did on me every time I tripped. She checked out all right so I pulled her into my arms again. I whipped out my cell and started calling around again, telling Edward, Rose, Emmett, Carlisle, Esme, Alice, Jasper and my dad I got Lucy. It took a while but I finished by the time we got back home. I put everything away, Mason and my coat and shoes, the flashlight, my cell and lastly, the dog's leash. I looked down at him. He was sitting at my feet yet again and was looking at me with wide concerned eyes. That's when I gave up. I couldn't fight it anymore. I loved that dog.
A/N- okay, I'm currently sleep deprived so I'm not quite coherent so if there's something that doesn't make sense, I'm really really sorry. ALSO! I need a name for the dog. Any suggestions? I have a few I like and my own dog's name is Scamper, nut I don't think that'd quite fit him. I keep thinking of the name Duke. What do you think? Leave me a review and let me know!
-Cullens4everandever
