Operation: Santa's Elves

Chapter Ten

(Jonesn)

As it turns out Mr. Edward can't do everything.

"Oh, wait. Today's Saturday and Mrs. Webber's bakery isn't open on Saturdays." He remembers, watching as the little girl's smile falls into a frown. "But not to worry. I have a better idea."

It's Edward's better idea that brings them to Greasy Sam's. A regular stop for slow, late night shifts. Sitting across his regular booth from Bethany, Edward's heart still feels warm in his chest. Aside from being the sweetest little girl in the world, he's certain that she's also the most manipulative little thing he's ever met. A fact made evident in the half-eaten piece of chocolate cake that sits between them.

"Now, let's go over this one last time," Edward says, hailing the waitress over for the check. "What is it we're telling your mother when she asks what I fed you for dinner?"

Bethany hesitates and Edward gives her the side-eye as he fishes out his wallet. They had already been over this a hundred times. In fact, he's had better luck getting a hopped up crack addict to stay on track.

"Focus, Bethany. Remember?" He urges. "You had a..."

"Burger and fries."

Edward shoots her another look.

"And chocolate cake."

"Bethany..."

"Okay, okay. Jeez. I had a healthy serving of corn and brussel sprouts and a low cal veggie burger." Scooting to the edge of his seat, Edward clasps his hands, shooting her and then her dessert yet another look. Bethany sighs. "And absolutely no cake."

Somewhat satisfied, Edward gives a curt nod.

While a part of him feels guilty encouraging a kid to lie to their mother, he remembers Bella's wrath. He's felt the magnitude of it in his bones... all of them. And while that look she gets mildly excites him—okay, majorly excites him. He doubts feeding her kid fried slop from Sam's will be the key to winning over her heart. Besides judging by Bethany's vague concept of the word emergency, he doubts the kid's all that opposed to stretching the truth a little.

Throwing down an even twenty, he helps Bethany into her coat before slipping on his own. One more sip of coffee and he gives a single wave to his fellow boys in blue while leading his dinner date out the door. Once they're both in the squad, Edward cranks up the heat.

"Seat belt?" Edward asks, peaking in the rear view mirror. Thankfully Bethany knew something about kids and informed him of the importance of a booster seat.

"Check."

"List?"

Nodding, his partner in petty crime digs through her pocket then holds up a piece of paper. "Check."

"Mrs. Snarly Snugglebum." It takes all Edward has not to cringe while saying the name of Bethany's prized, stuffed bear that she doesn't go anywhere without.

"Check."

"Alright." With a small smile on his face, Edward slides on his shades. "Let's roll."

Next stop is the grocery store where Edward let's Bethany do all the shopping while he pushes the cart, sure to toss in a bag of pizza rolls and a pint of neapolitan ice cream while he's at it.

With Edward's coaxing Bethany doubles their usual purchase. The bags take up the whole trunk and part of the back seat. And by the time they're all loaded and they've made it back to the apartment, Edward's in no shape to take on all twelve flights of stairs.

"You guys really needs an elevator in this place." Edward says, slightly out of breath from hauling the extra weight. With her one bag, Bethany hops effortlessly ahead.

"Mommy says the steps are good for her thighs. She's not getting any younger, you know. And it beats the epileptic machine any day."

Taking the steps two at a time, Edward doesn't have the heart or breath to correct her. It's all he can do just to keep up as she races down the hall, neither one realizing the mistake they've made until they reach the apartment door and it flies open with the screech of a wildly distraught Bella.

"You!"

So apparently this little fic of ours has turned into a game of chicken. I didn't think we were ever going to see any interaction between these two, but I think I finally ran Hood off the road. Painted her into a corner. Got the upper hand, and then stuck it to her good.

Boom.

*drops mic and walks away*