Chapter 9: Corner
March 15, 2003

EPOV

I leaned over to the left to dodge the red ball that came flying at my head. "Liam! You are not supposed to throw the ball, bud. We are rolling the ball. Your Mom will kill me if something breaks."

"Ball!" I crawled over to get the ball. "Ball, ball, ball, ball, baaalllll" He screamed stomping his feet and flailing his arms around. He wasn't being a brat though, he was just wanted the ball. We were playing around while we waited for Bella to get ready. Today was Alice and Jasper's twin's christening. Alice ended up having a c-section on February 3, 2003 to two beautiful twin boys; Rylan Gabriel and Braedan Austin Whitlock. They were both two small little bald babies with blue eyes. They were really cute, and already had personalities of their own. Rylan was a crier, he always wanted to be held, and always wanted the attention on him…I guess he got that from Alice. Braedan on the other hand, was very chill, and just liked to look around at all that goes on around him…more like Jasper. But they were identical twins, and I have the hardest time telling them apart. Alice and Jasper do it easily, but it must be because they are the parents or whatever because I think I would need to put paint on one of their feet so I could tell who is who.

I threw the ball at Liam and it bounced off his head, and came back to me. We both started laughing, and he ran at me to get the ball. I put it behind my back and then held my hands up to show him it was gone. I gasped in mock surprise. "Where did it go?" I asked. Liam's smile automatically went away, and his little face turned calculating, he was really trying to figure out where it went. He looked behind him, and I slipped the small ball under my shirt, I was wearing a green button down, but I hadn't tucked it in yet. I turned back to me with questioning eyes.

He lifted his hands palm up and shrugged his shoulders. "Ball gone." He said simply, but kept looking around for it. I couldn't hold in my laugh because he was just being really fucking cute. His brown hair was sticking up, there was no gel holding it up, he just had me as a father. Poor kid. His light brown eyes were darting around the room in curiosity, and there has not been a day that has gone by where I am not amazed by him.

I took the ball out of my shirt, and his face lit up. "Ball!" He said and ran to grab it from me. It was like realization came across his face at what I did. He gave me a serious look, and then threw the ball at my head; it hit me in the middle of my forehead. Liam laughed and picked the ball up again…so this kid thinks he's funny.

"Oh you better run, little man." I lifted my hands in the tickling position, and he knew what was coming. He screamed and ran away from me with the ball still clutched in both of his hands in front of him. I got up off the floor and chased him around the living room, I was walking a normal pace, but Liam's little legs were working fast to get away from me. We were making what was probably our 10th rotation around the living room when Bella walked in, looking as beautiful as ever. She was wearing a long white blouse with a pair of black leggings with white flats, she looked beautiful. As soon as Liam saw Bella, he ran to her.

"Mommy! Mommy! Hewp!" That was the first time he said help, and smiled hearing it. He ran to Bella and she scooped him up in her arms.

"I'll save you, baby!" She said and started running away with Liam in her arms. His and her giggles were like a sweet melody in my ears that I didn't want to go away. I chased them around a couple of times, before I just took the plunge and wrapped my arms around both of them from behind. "Oh no! He got us!" Bella said and tried to squirm away.

"No, Daddy! No!" He tried to pry my arms away but I wasn't budging. "Bye! Bye, Daddy!"

I laughed at his own little way of dismissing me. Bella laughed to and kissed his face. I had my head resting on Bella's shoulder. "It's okay, honey, I think Daddy is going to be nice now." She turned her head and kissed the side of mine, my eyes were on Liam. "See? He is being nice now." Liam looked between me and her for a second before shrugging his shoulders and bent down and kissed my nose. "Aww, that's my boy."

The smile was on my face as I turned to kiss Bella's neck. "I think we should be leaving now, love." She nodded her head.

"I just need to put Liam's shoes on." I nodded and began to tuck in my shirt, and button a few more buttons at the top. I saw Liam was squirming a lot, and Bella was getting frustrated because she couldn't get his shoes on with him moving. I went and picked him up and placed him in my lap. He fussed and tried to squirm away again, but I held him tight. Bella got his shoes on, and we were ready to go.

Bella, Liam, and I all walked into the church. There were a lot of people there. All of my family-generations, and generations of it-and all of Jasper's big southern family that all flew up to see the boy's Christening. I was holding Liam, and Bella squeezed my hand tighter when we walked in. Not everyone in my family approved of Bella, I guess you could say. Not that I needed their approval, they don't know the full story about mine and Bella's relationship. The only thing they see is a girl who was put in rehab when she was 16, and again when she was 19, and again at 21. I only see some of these people once a year, some not even that often. It pissed me off whenever me and Bella were around them, and they looked at her like she was the scum of the earth, or that she was crazy.

Bella was in no way the scum of the earth, and she was sure as hell not crazy. She is just my beautiful, caring, and loving Bella, but she has had it tough. She has had a tough childhood, and developed a tricky illness from that. It bothers me more than I can express when people look at her, and only see the drinking problems. She is so much more than that. I try to protect her from it the best I can, because I always see the look of hurt in her eyes when some of my great aunts start whispering to each other when she walks by. Pisses me off.

We walked to the front where my parents saved us a spot. Mom reached for Liam when we got to the pew, and I handed him over to her. Bella slid in first, so she was sitting next to my Dad, and I was on the end, right next to the aisle. Alice and Jasper were already up front with Rylan and Braedan, Emmett and Rose up there with them, they were the God parents of the boys. The ceremony was just about ready to start, but Bella was tense at my side, and I saw she was concentrating at the front of the church. I turned my head to the side and saw one of my older girl cousins whispering to who I guessed was her boyfriend, and looking at Bella and pointing. How rude can you get, honestly? I glared at her, and she stopped whispering, her face turning red. I wrapped my arm around Bella and pulled her to my side. I kissed the top of her head. "Don't worry about it Bella."

She looked up at me. "I love you." She mouthed since the priest already started talking. I smiled and kissed her forehead. I looked to the front of the church, and watched my nephews get christened. I held onto Bella the whole time. Let them stare at that.

"Liam, buddy, please stop crying all ready." I said as I was driving the car to Jasper's parent's house where the small after party was. Liam was a little terror during the ceremony. He didn't want to sit still, he was babbling, and crawling from lap to lap of me, Bella, and my parents. Towards the end he just started outright crying, and I had to carry him out of the church, I had Bella come with me so she wouldn't have to deal with the stares of my inconsiderate family.

We caught Alice, Jasper, and the boys afterwards to congratulate, and give them hugs and stuff. We both apologized profusely for Liam being so loud, but they assured us it was fine. Alice actually said she thought it was funny. At least they think so, as long as they weren't bad, that was all that matters.

And now Liam was still cranky. Someone must have woken up on the wrong side of the bed, because he is never usually this whiny. Of course today had to be the day he was cranky. We finally arrived to the house, and there were already a lot of people there. We got out of the car, and I went to grab a screaming Liam from the car seat. He rubbed his eyes which were filled with tears, and I concluded that he must have been tired because he hasn't had a nap today. As soon as we walked in, Alice was walking by the front door.

"Oh thank God." She said and grabbed Bella's arm. "Bella, I need your help with this food, I love Jasper's mother, but she doesn't have any idea what she is doing." Bella laughed and looked up at me, as if asking for permission.

"Sure Alice," She turned to me. "Oh, sorry I can't change Liam's diaper…that's too bad."

She wasn't sorry at all, but it was good to see she was joking around now; she was loosening up a little bit. I smiled and kissed her smiling face. "You will just have to pay for that later, love." I told her in the voice she told me gets her hot and bothered. She giggled her giggle and kissed me on the lips.

"Oh that is so gross. Stop making sexy eyes with my brother Bella, and come help me with the damn food." She kissed me one more time before walking off with Alice. Liam had his head on my shoulder and I walked up to Jasper's father, Joseph. I tapped him on the shoulder, and he looked back at me.

"Edward! It is good to see you." He stuck his hand out to me and I shook it with the arm that wasn't holding Liam.

"It is good to see you too, but do you think you could point me to a place where I can change my son's diaper."

"Oh of course." He pointed me to a quest room just down the hall. I thanked him, and walked to the room with Liam. I placed Liam and the diaper bag on the bed. I took out the little mat that comes with the diaper bag down on the bed, and placed Liam on top of it. I started to unbutton his pants, when I heard the door open. I looked over and saw it was Emmett, holding a drink.

"What's up, bro?" He asked as he clapped me on the back.

"Just changing my kid's piss." He laughed and then looked down to Liam.

"Hey, kid!" He said and tickled Liam's stomach, causing him to laugh.

"He is one cute kid."

"I know." I said smiling at my son.

"He gets it from Bella though."

I rolled my eyes. "I like to think he gets his good looks from the both of us."

"Keep dreaming." I laughed, and so did he. "So how is she, how is Bella?"

Way to kill the mood. "She is fine." I put Liam's diaper under him and started to adjust it to secure it on him.

"Well Mom said that she got drunk again last week." I didn't answer him. Yes it was true. Bella got drunk again last week. It actually seemed to come out of nowhere. She told me she was going to go to the store to buy ice cream. She came back with the ice cream, but she also came back with a half empty bottle of vodka. I had to pry it out of her hands when she got home, and she was already drunk. Thankfully Liam was already sleeping, and I had to take care of her for the rest of the night. I woke her up early the next morning, and it was the same routine as the last time she got drunk on Liam's birthday. I had Liam stand on the bed as I pulled his pants up. "That doesn't sound fine to me, Edward."

That was when I lost it. "You know what Emmett? I am sick and tired of you always bullying me about this whole situation with Bella. We can't even have a normal conversation without you bringing up Bella and her drinking."

"Well excuse me for caring." Emmett said. I began tucking in Liam's little green button down.

"I get that you care, Emmett. I know you love Bella and only want her to be okay, but I am her husband, alright? Let me take care of her. If something happens with Bella that I think you should know, I will tell you." I lifted Liam off the bed, and he rested his head on my shoulder again, he was really tired.

"Now I just think you are being unfair, Edward."

"I am being unfair?" I asked, not expecting him to say something like that.

"Yes, and you are being stubborn."

"Oh no, Emmett. You are not going to turn this on me." I started walking to the door to just leave, but he grabbed my arm.

"I just want to know how she is doing, Edward." He looked actually kind of hurt.

"And that is fine, but do you have to ask me that question every single time you see me? I feel like we don't even have normal conversations like we used to. And it isn't only the questioning that bothers me; it is afterwards when you give me that look."

He looked up. "What look?"

"That look that you give me that makes me feel so stupid. You give me a look that says I should be doing more to help her. And sometimes you even say what a horrible job I am doing. I don't need that shit, Emmett. I know my wife, and I try my hardest everyday to help her. It would be nice if my brother could at least acknowledge the effort I am trying to make."

"I know you try Edward, but sometimes I just think there is more that…"

I put my hand up to stop him. "That's enough, Emmett. I am not going to sit here and argue with you about this; not in front of my son."

"Whatever, Edward." He said and walked past me and out the room. I sighed loudly, and rubbed Liam's back. I wished Emmett would go back to the way he was before. He was always funny, loud, and caring. He is still like that now, but not so much around me anymore, which kind of hurts. I love my brother a whole lot, I always looked up to him you know? Sometimes I just wish we could go back to when we were kids. Go back to where things were simple and all of us were able to get along and just have fun…

~Flashback~

9 Years old

"I'm on Bella's team!" Edward yelled and grabbed Bella's right arm. Bella smiled brightly at him. They were all about to play an extreme game of hide and seek, and they wanted to play on teams.

"Aww come on, Edward. You always get to be on Bella's team." Emmett whined. "I want to be on Bella's team." Emmett said and grabbed Bella's left arm.

"Yeah, I want to be on Bella's team too!" Alice said and also pulled on Bella's left arm.

"Yeah well she is my best friend!" Edward said and pulled Bella's arm. Bella wasn't hurt though, she was just laughing.

"So what? You always get to be on her team, and then I get stuck with Alice!" Emmett said and pulled Bella's arm.

Alice let go of Bella's arm, and put her hands on her hips. "Hey! What is wrong with me?" She asked while looking at Emmett.

Emmett didn't answer her. "Let me be on Bella's team!" Emmett said to Edward. Edward really wanted to be on Bella's team, but he also didn't want Emmett to get mad at him.

He looked to Bella. "Who's team do you want to be on, Bella?"

Bella looked to Edward and then to Emmett, she bit her lip thinking about who she would choose. She shrugged her shoulders. "I think I will choose…." Edward and Emmett both looked smug, like they knew she was going to pick them. "Alice!"

Edward and Emmett's face both fell and they let go of Bella's arms. "What? But we are always on the same team!" Edward said looking at Bella. Alice was squealing and she ran to Bella and grabbed her hand. She started dancing around in her spot while sticking her tongue out at Emmett. Bella laughed at her and then looked to Edward.

"I know, but we can take turns. It can be girls against boys."

"Fine." Edward said and put his head down. Bella saw that he was kind of sad, and walked up to him. She put her small hand on his shoulder. She leaned in and whispered in his ear. "You are still my bestest friend Edward, don't worry."

Edward felt better.

"18…19…20…21…22…23…24…25. Ready or not, here we come!" Emmett and Edward yelled at the same time. This was their seventh round of hide and seek.

"Come on, Edward." Emmett whispered. "I think they are going to hide in the cabinets again." Edward nodded his head, and followed his cousin, now big brother, to the kitchen. They tip toed to the kitchen, and Emmett opened the cabinet that the girls always hid in. They found Alice.

"Aw! Come on!" Alice said, frustrated.

"Now we just have to find Bella." Emmett said, Edward nodded. They scoured the whole house for Bella, but couldn't find her. They looked under all the beds, in between all the couches, and they even checked the bath tubs, but they couldn't find her. Edward ended up finding her though when he looked in the empty hamper. She was inside, but she put a blanket over it.

"Found you!" Edward said. Bella got up and laughed. "Emmett! I found her!"

"Can you help me out?" Bella asked and reached her arms out to Edward. He grabbed her under her arms and dragged her towards him, almost like he does at night when he pulls her through his window. The hamper fell over, but he got her out. Emmett came running in the room with Alice after him and pumped his fist.

"Yeah Edward! Good job!" Edward beamed at Emmett, happy that he made Emmett proud.

"Kids! Why don't you come downstairs and have some ice cream!"

All four of them started cheering and ran down the stairs. Esme had four bowls set up with two cartons of ice cream out; one chocolate and one vanilla. She also had out stuff that they can put on their ice cream to make sundaes. There were sprinkles, whipped cream, caramel sauce, chocolate sauce, peanuts, chocolate chips, and cherries. All four kids ran to the table; Edward and Bella on one side, and Alice and Emmett on the other. Esme handed out the bowls and Carlisle started scooping out the ice cream. Alice, Emmett, and Edward all picked chocolate.

"What kind do you want Bella?" Carlisle asked with a smile to Bella.

"I guess I will have chocolate."

Edward's head shot to Bella's. "But you don't like chocolate."

"Yeah but you already have the chocolate open so that is okay."

"Oh no, honey. We can open the vanilla, it is no problem." Esme said.

"Are you sure?" Bella asked.

"Of course! Carlisle give Bella some vanilla."

Carlisle opened the carton of vanilla. "Vanilla is my favorite too, Bella." He said and winked at her. She gave him a bright smile and he put two scoops into her bowl. "So what do you want to put on it Bella?"

"How many can I pick?" She asked.

"As many as you want, sweetheart." Carlisle told her. She looked around and saw Edward, Emmett, and Alice filling their bowls with a lot of everything; Bella decided to join in. She knew she was safe here; she wouldn't get in trouble for having fun here. They all began eating their ice cream.

"Hey Edward." Emmett said.

"Yeah?" He wasn't paying attention Emmett thought he was too focused on the caramel drizzling off his spoon.

"You got something on your nose."

Edward looked up at Emmett and then Emmett reached over and smeared whip cream on Edward's nose. Edward's mouth dropped open, shocked at what Emmett did. Alice and Bella joined Emmett in laughing at Edward. Carlisle and Esme also laughed.

"You're mean." Edward said and threw a chocolate chip at Emmett's head. They all began laughing again.

"Hey!" Emmett said and then threw his cherry at Edward.

"Hey!" Edward picked up some sprinkles and threw them at Emmett.

"Alright, alright that's enough boys!" Esme said.

Alice and Bella were both cracking up laughing, and Emmett and Edward laughed too. "You guys are weird." Bella said, shaking her head. They all continued laughing and eating their ice cream. They were all about half way done when the door bell rang. Carlisle got up to answer it.

"Bella!" Bella's whole body tensed when she heard her mother yelling as she walked through the house. She could hear her heals stomping toward the kitchen. When she appeared in the kitchen, she wasted no time getting to the point. "Did I say you could come here today?"

Edward glared at Renee and grabbed Bella's hand under the table. "Y-you weren't home." Bella said, her hands began to shake, and Edward squeezed her hand tighter.

"You can really be stupid sometimes." Renee said, she walked up to Bella and grabbed her arm, pulling her off the chair. Edward held on tighter to Bella's hand, pulling her from Renee. "Let go of her you little punk."

"Alright that's enough." Carlisle said. "Let go of her, Renee." He put his hand over Renee's that was on Bella's arm. Renee let go, but just to shrug Carlisle's hand off.

"She is my kid."

"And that is my kid, and I will not tolerate you speaking to him like that."

Renee scoffed. "You are not his parents, his parents are dead, stupid."

Edward gasped and his eyes began to water. Bella grabbed his hand this time. Then she turned to Renee. "Don't say that! You are going to hurt his feelings!"

"I think you should leave my house right now." Esme said, tears falling down her face.

"Gladly. Let's go Bella." She grabbed Bella's arm again and dragged her to the door, Edward stood stunned when he heard the front door open.

"We have to go get her, Carlisle." Esme said. "I don't like her being in that house with her." Carlisle and Esme didn't know about Renee hitting Bella and Edward almost told them that day. Almost.

"You know we can't do anything, Esme. I wish we could, but we can't." Edward was still in his seat, in shock. Tears fell from his eyes. He was sad. He was sad about what Renee said about his parents and he was sad that Bella had to leave with her. He felt two hands on his shoulders. He looked over to see Alice and Emmett looking at him.

"We are sorry, Edward." Alice said.

"Yeah, I wish Bella didn't live with her." Emmett said. "We will save her one day." Alice and Emmett both went in to hug Edward; Alice's head on Edward's right shoulder and Emmett's on his left. "One day we will save her."

Edward hoped so.

~End Flashback~

I walked with Liam downstairs and found Bella in the kitchen talking with Rosalie. She looked up when we walked in and smiled at us. Liam went reaching for Bella, and she automatically took him in her arms. He put his head on her shoulder. "I think he is tired." I said as I ran my hand through Liam's hair.

"Hey, Edward." I looked over my shoulder to where Jasper's voice was coming from. He was standing with Carlisle, his Dad, and a bunch of other guys. "Come talk with us."

Some time with just the guys sounded nice, but I didn't want to leave Bella alone. I looked at her, and she answered my silent question right away. "Go ahead, I will just try and get him to sleep." I smiled, proud that she was being so brave, and not caring what everyone else thinks or says about her.

That is how it always should be.

I stood with the guys for about a half an hour, we were talking about normal guy stuff; cars, sports, grills, or our kids. I was actually enjoying myself. Things were starting to slow down when it came to the topics of interest, and I decided to check on Bella. "Hey I will be right back, guys." Everyone nodded their heads, but kept on talking and laughing. I walked into the living room and found Bella. But the whole scene just broke my heart.

Bella was sitting on the couch by herself, Liam on her lap. She was sitting on the right side of the couch. Her feet were flat on the ground, and Liam was sitting in her lap, his back against her chest. He was doing the thing he did when he was tired, he would play with his hair on the right side of his head. He looked very tired, but he was just looking around curiously at all of the people around him.

But what was breaking my heart was Bella and the look of sadness on her face. She had her left hand across Liam's middle, holding him in place, and the other running through his soft hair. Her full attention wasn't on Liam though; her attention was across the room. I was standing in the doorway of the living room, and no seemed to notice me. I looked in the direction Bella was looking, and I understood.

In the far corner of the room I saw Alice holding Braedan, and my Mom holding Rylan. Esme was looking at Alice with so much love, and they were talking and laughing and smiling. Mom would reach over and sweep a finger over Braedan's cheek, and kiss Alice on the cheek. Not too far from them was Rosalie sitting on a love seat with her and Jasper's Mom, Kelly. Kelly had Nick in her lap, and Emma was talking to them animatedly. They were both laughing at what she was saying, and even Nick was joining in. Kelly looked at her granddaughter with so much love, and would rub Rosalie's back with a motherly affection that clearly told her she was proud. In this corner was women showing how proud they were of their daughters, and giving their grandchildren their undivided attention. In this corner was the vision of the bond between mother and daughter.

I looked back to Bella, her face looking towards them with such longing in her eyes. In this corner was my beautiful wife, sitting by herself on the couch, only her son on her lap. In this corner there is no mother telling Bella how proud they are of her, or how beautiful her child is. In this corner was the vision of how badly a mother's decision not to love her child affects the child throughout life. In this corner was my wife, my beautiful, caring, but troubled wife. She never fully understood the feeling of a parent's love. Why does it have to happen to her? She has done nothing to deserve that.

I felt tears build in my eyes, wishing that Bella's mother was normal. I would give anything to somehow give Bella a mother right now. I want to rewind, and walk in this room and see Bella smiling with her mother and showing off our perfect son to her. But there is no way for me to do that. God how I wish I could. Maybe if she had that, Bella wouldn't be dealing with her drinking problem today.

I was about to walk to her before I heard familiar whispering coming from inside the living room. They were standing closest to the door, but they still couldn't see me. "Did you see how much that kid was misbehaving in the church?"

"Yeah, that was embarrassing."

"Well we know it is not Edward's fault, it is obviously her. She probably sits home all day, drunk as usual, and the kid is free to do what he wants. Edward just needs to get rid of her, or else his son will end up being…"

I didn't let her finish. I walked through the door, and walked up to my cousin whose name I still couldn't remember. "Excuse me." I said quietly and calmly. Her face turned red as she looked at me. "I think you better watch what you are saying. I haven't even met you before in my life, and unfortunately we are related. You don't know my wife. So I suggest you stop talking about shit you know nothing about. I better not hear another word about my wife or my son come out of your mouth." My voice was quiet and calm, but deadly.

She gulped. "I-I'm sorry."

I didn't want to waste my breath talking to her any longer; I think I made my point, so I walked over to my wife and son. Bella was still looking at the scene ahead of her, and Liam finally fell asleep. I sat down next to Bella and wrapped my arm around her like I did in the church. Luckily my presence got her to look away from what was bothering her. She looked at me with sad but loving eyes. "You okay, love?" I asked.

"Yeah, I'm fine." I knew she was not telling the truth, but I wouldn't make her say it. I think she knew I knew though by the look on her face. I bent down and kissed her lips softly. I pulled away and rested my forehead on hers.

"You know you will always have me, love. You know that right?" She nodded her head slightly, tears welling in her beautiful eyes. I put my hand over hers on Liam's stomach. "And you have Liam. You have us both. I know things are tough for you, baby, but know that we will be with you every step of the way. You are a part of us, Bella."

She nodded her head again, and she breathed in through her nose to keep her tears from falling. "I know." She lifted her head, and placed a kiss on my forehead. "I don't know what I did to deserve you, but I am glad I did it." She whispered.

This time I kissed her forehead. I looked back and forth between my son and my wife; my two reasons for existing. We weren't perfect…no, we were far from perfect. But there was one perfect thing that we had, and it was the love we have for each other. Sure some people are going to judge us, but do we really care? No, we don't care, because no one will ever really know the full story, so therefore their opinion means nothing. We will always be there for each other. We will be each other's rock and support each other through the hard times.

In this corner was a family.

So I hope you all liked this chapter. Not too much happens, but we learn more about Bella after her first mess up. Yes she got drunk again. There is going to be a big time jump soon, but I am not exactly sure when, so just get ready for it. I wanted to say more in this A/N but it is 1 in the morning and I am so tired. So all I have to say is go visit the thread, I post teasers and we have some fun conversations. Oh and go read "The Beauty of His Eyes" by AlexaET (President of Edward's Team) That's all :]

Next chapter should be out in a couple of days.