Rating/Warning(s)/Note(s): T, Parkward
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Prompt: Birthday
Dialogue Flex: "I've changed," she answered.
Rolling his eyes Edward pulled his hand away from his sister. "No, Alice, we didn't elope. This is just a temporary band until we get married. Geez, you never change," he laughed, reaching up to ruffle her hair.
"I've changed," she answered sulkily, swatting at his hand. "But you can't come in here, wearing a ring, and not expect me to wonder."
"Well, I want to see Bella's ring," Esme chimed in, stepping between her two children and giving them the look that all mother's perfect. They immediately stopped horsing around and I presented her my hand. Alice and Rose leaned in as well and soon a chorus of 'oohs' and 'ahs' could be heard.
In typical Emmett fashion he grabbed Edward's hand and started exclaiming in a high-pitched voice, "Oh, Edward, it's so pretty! I simply love it!" while he danced around. He probably would have continued but Esme called his name in her 'mom voice', stopping him short. I thought it was wonderful how they all obeyed her with a smile, knowing they were being chastised but loving her all the same.
"Have you told your parents?" Esme asked me with a smile.
Shaking my head I told her, "Not yet. We can call my dad tonight, and I'll just let my mom see it when we get off the plane. It'll be more fun that way."
"When are you going?" She began walking to the kitchen, indicating that I should follow. It was a good idea since it seemed Edward and Emmett were now starting to wrestle, with Jasper laughing off to the side.
"We were thinking around my birthday. It's only a few weeks away. She'll like that, especially since I'm bringing her a present!" I couldn't help but laugh at what my mother's reaction to Edward would be. He was handsome, a doctor, suave, a doctor, talented, a doctor, respectful and most importantly, a doctor.
"How old will you be?" Esme asked, and I realized I didn't know how old she was, or when her birthday was. That was true for all the other members of the family as well. I only knew that Emmett was older and Alice was younger.
"I'll be twenty-eight," I told her as I took a seat on one of the stools at the counter. Absentmindedly I reached for a vegetable peeler and began to work on the carrots she had laying next to it. She turned quickly from me, but I was pretty sure she saw what I was doing and smiled. When she didn't ask another question for a couple minutes, but kept shooting me furtive looks, I finally broke the silence. "What do you want to ask? I promise not to be offended."
"No, but you'll think I'm meddling," she said with an embarrassed smile.
"How about I promise to feel that way either? In fact, I promise to consider whatever you want to ask objectively." My hand was raised as if I was in a court taking an oath, which made her laugh.
"I wondered if you two had talked about having kids? I know you think you're young, but it's better to have them when you have plenty of energy." She was still trying to look uninterested in my answer in the hope of not getting me upset, but her question rocked me to the core. Children was something we hadn't really discussed, and she was probably right.
"Um," I started, but Edward walked in just then, his hair and shirt in disarray but a smile on his face. Emmett came stomping in behind him, calling for a rematch.
He waved off his brother and pulled me from my seat. "Excuse us please, mom," he said as he pulled me along. She nodded, looking a bit confused. I was a lot confused. I didn't have to wait long for my explanation, though.
As soon as he had me seated on a couch in his father's office he started in. "Kids? I want them. I don't want to wait since I'll be thirty-two before any are born."
"Sounds good to me. I like the idea of being a mom."
"Shall we live at your place until we can buy a house?" he asked, "Since I don't think you want to live with my parents."
"Or until the baby comes, mine's only a one bedroom," I reminded him.
His brow furrowed for a moment, obviously thinking. "Maybe we should start saving for a house of our own. It doesn't have to big and fancy, just three bedrooms?"
"With a nice kitchen and garage?" I added. "We could put money aside every month so when the time comes we can have a down payment."
"No eating out anymore, then" he interjected apologetically. "Maybe we should sit down with a calculator and our bills and figure this all out." He didn't seem very excited by the idea and I got the impression I would be the one taking care of the finances.
Pointing to his father's computer I lifted my purse. "I have my checkbook and all my bills are paid online. The credit cards and bank will have months worth of statements there we can look at. Maybe we should make up a budget?" I squirmed a little at my next thought. "My dad can't afford a big wedding, I'm afraid."
He smiled and came to sit next to me. "Bella, as long as you're there it'll be perfect. Now let's get to work on that budget."
Ah, the things you should discuss before getting married! My poor baboo had to teach me how to budget. It was painful for both of us. Oddly enough, I take care of the bills, though.
