Something Worth Fighting For
Chapter 10: My Grandmother Can Hit Harder Than You!
Isabella Swan
Hey guys! Sorry it took so long but as some of you might know, I'm working on another story as well as this one but the other one will be finished soon so this one will be right at the top of my hit list! Ontop of everything as well, I'm pregnant again with my second child so things are very hectic right now!
So I'm not going to keep you guys in suspense any longer! I know you've been waiting for this!
Let's do this!
"What are your plans for the rest of the day?" Edward asked as I relished the last moments of being in his arms.
Edward had let me use his shower to wipe off the remnants of last night off my body and told me I could borrow something of Alice's so that way the paparazzi didn't hound me when I walked out by myself. Not to mention we still hadn't found Rosalie's poor dress. I think Edward was secretly keeping it or something but I didn't contemplate that too much.
Edward had mentioned that Alice certainly wouldn't miss it if it was here at his place. It felt strange but I finally gave in decided on taking an old Beatles tee shirt that looked worn and probably no use to her any longer. I also took a pair of dark jeans that she probably bought a couple of sizes too big on accident since they fit me perfectly and some old black flip flops that probably cost ten bucks at Old Navy. Nothing of importance.
I had blow dried my hair and let it hang down my back because Edward had told me he preferred it down like that. I didn't bother with make up I didn't really have any on me and what was the point really? I already looked like a bum. Edward had handed me a pair of huge, black, bug eye sun glasses, making me phased for a moment.
He said just incase the paparazzi had gotten any good photos of me, they wouldn't immediately recognize me. I probably looked totally different then I had last night but I knew that looking totally different had it's advantages. It would give me enough time to hail a cab and be on my merry way. I was sort of upset that Edward couldn't take me down to at least say goodbye to me and he had even offered more then once as I was getting ready but I knew better.
Being apart of the press, I knew how bad the press would be. They would recognize any one of the numerous cars Edward probably had and would follow us wherever we went. They would find out where I lived and then all hell would break loose. I'd probably loose my job and be flung into the spotlight Edward was constantly subject to. Not exactly my kind of relationship.
"I need to go grocery shopping for this big family dinner I have every Saturday with my cousin's and grandmother." I said waving it off as if it were nothing of importance. I could practically feel Gran's hand smacking the back of my head as we spoke.
"Oh," Edward's voice sounded sad. I knew he didn't train on weekends and Alice was probably up to something a teenager would want to do so he would be…alone. The thought of it broke my heart into a million tiny pieces.
"I hope you have fun." his smile for me didn't reach his eyes. Edward's family wasn't a family. He was basically Alice's mother, father, best friend and brother. But who did Edward have to be there for him?
Not his whack ass mother, that's for damn sure. My subconscious despised that poor woman, but then again how could you blame the bitch? Her own kids disliked her.
"Would you like to come?" I asked biting down on my lower lip gently. Edward's gaze snapped back to mine as he beamed brilliantly.
"I'd love to." his tone was filled with relief.
As much as that sigh should have mended my aching heart for him, I knew why he did it. Edward had been alone in this world for such a long time, but I was going to make sure that never happened again.
"Alright then. Meet me at the street market in Little Italy in a half hour. I usually go straight to my Gran's apartment right after I get the groceries so that way you can help me get what I need." I said leaning up on my tip toes to give him a quick peck on the lips.
"I'll be there." he pressed the button for his private elevator to open for me.
"Just make sure you wear a cap and some sunglasses like these." I giggled as I placed the sunglasses on my eyes. I took my place in the back of the elevator.
"Bye." I said with a wave as the doors began to close.
"Bye, baby." I heard him say as the doors cut him off from my view.
It didn't take but a few seconds to get down to the lobby, but every moment I spent away from Edward felt like and eternity now. I sighed, trying to get the thought of Edward's sad eyes out of my mind and straightened myself out.
This was definitely not the walk of shame right? I mean I wasn't wearing the same clothes as last night but I certainly felt like I was full of shame.
Well, maybe not exactly the walk of shame. Maybe more like the walk of terrible embarrassment.
As I tried to fight my way through the enormous crowd of paparazzi outside, waiting for Edward Masen's new girl to emerge and take her walk of shame. Too bad they missed it.
I had been pushed and shoved a little here and there but Edward was right. They didn't recognize me at all. The hair down, a pair of sunglasses and a new change of clothes sent them right off my trail. It was awesome knowing I could get away with this. Knowing I wouldn't lose my job or put my family in danger. With paparazzi you never knew what to expect and I wasn't going to put my seventy-five year old grandmother or my eight year old cousin through that.
I caught a cab easily and asked him to take me down to the street market in Little Italy. It took about twenty minutes with traffic since it was the middle of the day and in the heart of Manhattan just to get to Little Italy.
As soon as I paid the cabbie I didn't hesitate to walk the extra three blocks towards the market. It would only take ten to fifteen minutes and I certainly wasn't going to waste another thirty dollars on that cab when I could just walk through my favorite part of New York without hesitation.
I loved everything about Little Italy so it didn't bother me one bit. I watched as women up in their apartments hung their laundry on the community lines they hung from each other's terraces and windows. I smiled as I noticed small children running around on their bikes playing hopscotch. Those were the best days.
As I finally made my way towards the market, I could smell the wonderful scents of basil and sun dried tomatoes along with pasta and every meat you could dream of. I could already see my poor grandmother slaving over her large pot of Fettuccini y Bolognese sauce all day long. It had been my favorite since I was a little girl.
As soon as I made my way into the rather small crowd compared to what it usually was, I mentally started to go through what Gran had told me to get a few days before. Fifteen pounds of ground, Italian beef, three pounds of fresh roman tomatoes-no bruises-a large jar of basil, three bags of uncooked fettuccini, a large jar of fresh tomato paste, a couple of loafs of French bread and a three pints of olive oil. I knew starting out with produce would probably be the toughest part of my whole trip here so I decided I might as well get it over with. Grabbing a couple of plastic shopping bags I dug right in. I had to push and shove and take people flipping me off every ten minutes as I tried to examine every tomato I could. Gran would chew my head off if I brought her back a bruised tomato and I didn't want Edward to hear any of that tonight.
As I bent over to grab what looked like the perfect tomato I felt a hand clap against my ass, causing the inner tomboy to leap out. I turned around to flip off the teenage boy on a skate board who had grabbed my ass before screaming out a line of profanities at him.
"A vite stronzo! Afferrare tua madre come quello, huh?" I growled before he rolled off laughing and I went back to the tomatoes.
I chuckled to myself at the little jerks antics and cooled off before realizing I probably needed to find Edward. He was probably already here and trying to lay low, but I just needed a few more tomatoes.
As I grabbed the last few tomatoes I needed I heard the voice I had been longing for the past half hour.
"Caio mia Bella."
Edward's voice was low as his arms wrapped around my waist. I spun around as quickly as I could, almost dropping every single tomato I had just gathered. Luckily Edward was there to catch me and grabbed a bag from me with ease.
"Careful, love," Edward cautioned humorously. He pulled me out of the lynch mob that surrounded the produce and into the little Deli still filled with people but much less then any produce aisle.
As I finally got the chance to take all of Edward in, I noticed he was wearing a Red Socks Cap with a pair of what looked like very expensive, polarized Oakley's and a sweatshirt from Carlisle's old gym along with a simple pair of jeans. We were comfortable and no one knew who we were as we walked towards the Deli hand in hand. It was bliss.
"What can I get you two?" the burly but polite butcher asked us as our turn came up in line, a cigarette hanging from his lips limply.
"Fifteen pounds of ground Italian beef, please." I smiled up at the man briefly before Edward almost choked on his own oxygen.
"Fifteen pounds?" he was stunned at how much three grown men, an eight year old boy and two grown women could eat. Not to mention the two huge pro boxers that were going to show up unexpectedly to the party.
Then there was Rose. Who could eat like a guy and probably lose weight doing it. Bitch.
"You'll see," I chuckled.
I gently squeezed Edward's hand while we waited for the butcher who seemed totally un-phased by my order.
"This place is wonderful." Edward whispered from beside me. I looked up to see Edward looking around the market as if he were a child set free in Toys-R-Us.
"You've never been here to Little Italy?" I asked a little bit confused. He had lived in New York for over five years and he hadn't been to what had to be one of the top five places n New York.
Edward's lips twisted into a sad smile but thanks to the sun glasses he wore, I couldn't see his probably tortured eyes.
"I never really left Jersey when I was younger," Edward started but kept his eyes away from me and wandering around the market. "Taking care of Alice was a full time job since my dad worked most of the time and my mom," he cleared his throat. I could feel ever muscle in his body tense up at the slight mention of her.
"And my mom was always kind of out of it. There were even times I had to take care of her too." he shook his head, his lips forming into a tight line.
I squeezed his hand tighter and leaned forward to press my lips against his shoulder. Edward let out a large sigh as soon as we made contact and leaned down to press his lips to my hair.
"Tell me more." I pleaded with him. His grip on my fingers tightened for a moment but relaxed after a moment. He didn't want to tell me.
"What do you want to know?"
He didn't want to tell me. But he would, anyways. I didn't understand why but I think somewhere in the back of my mind I knew. I just didn't want to think about it right then and there.
"Everything." I smiled up at him with all the warmth and support I could muster. I needed to get him to see that no matter what I was here and I wasn't leaving anytime soon.
Edward let out a heavy breath full of burden and ran a large hand over his face.
"Everything is a lot." he nodded grimly, his face looking forward. Away from me. With the sunglasses on it just looked like he was staring into nothingness.
"Hey," I placed a hand on his cheek and pulled his face back to mine. His lips were so tight. "I'm not going anywhere, Superman. Okay?" Edward let out a loud laugh.
"Superman?"
"Yeah," I smiled at his happy grin. I much preferred that over his sad eyes. "Superman was so strong and did so much good for everyone," I ran my fingertips over his jaw. "But no one ever understood that on the inside he had to deal with so much. The weight of the world, practically."
"Well then," Edward sighed, a sad smile playing upon those beautiful lips. "If I'm Superman, you're Lois Lane."
I had to chuckle at that. It was quite befitting actually. Lois Lane not only admired Superman for everything he could do, but loved him more than anything in the world. Let's not forget she could also kick some major ass if she needed to.
We can't always depend on Superman, right?
Damn straight!, the denim devil snorted. The other two rolled their eyes at her as if she were crazy and stared at Edward like he could save them any day.
After a moment Edward let out what had to be his fifth large breath of air and spoke in a quiet tone.
"Growing up on the side of Jersey I did wasn't exactly the best place to grow up," Edward pulled me against his side tighter than I had ever felt. This was painful for him. "Like I said before, I had to take care of not only one child but two sometimes." he snorted in disgust but cleared his throat before continuing.
"Then on top of it all, I was just a kid myself. I didn't complain, though. There was no point. If I didn't take care of Alice, she would've wound up pregnant or on the streets by now." I felt him shutter beside me.
"If I didn't take care of my mother…" Edward paused for a split second. "If I didn't take care of her, she would probably be dead. Or worse," I thought for a moment what could possibly be worse then death.
"I remember getting really mad at her one time because she was sick from something," his eyes darted down to examine my face for a moment but went back to his story instantly.
What was that about?
"Anyways, she was sick. Like rolling in her own vomit sick. I was so mad because her being sick made me miss practice with Carlisle. I remember thinking I should have just left her in her own mess. Left her for dead, even. It would have been easier." his tone was lethal as he spoke. It wasn't his story that scared me, it was the way he spoke.
I could understand what he went through. He didn't want to have to deal with his mother, and no one could blame him if they met her.
"I'm sorry," Edward's voice was so sad as he loosened his grip on me. As if I would run from him. "I shouldn't have told you this."
"No!" I said a bit too loudly. No one really paid any attention to us, though. "Y-you can keep going if you want." I tried not to sound too desperate. "I'm not going anywhere."
"Alright." Edward smiled down at me after my little bit of reassurance.
"It was really hard for me to juggle everything. I had to deal with practically raising Alice; listening to her troubles, feeding and clothing her, making sure she slept and ate enough. I had to put up with school and making sure I kept my grades up. That was one of Carlisle's incentives. Stay in school, keep your grades up and you can come to my gym for free." he chuckled at the thought. I smiled at how he lit up just speaking Carlisle's name.
"And if that wasn't enough," Edward sighed heavily. "I had to deal with practicing with Carlisle every day right after school and after that a part-time job." his body seemed to get tired just thinking about it. I know mine was.
It was so much on Edward's shoulders and at such a young age. I almost felt guilty for complaining about my youth sometimes. Divorced parents was a cake walk compared to Edward's childhood.
"Carlisle saw how tired I was most of the time and offered me something I couldn't refuse." his grip on me was back as he pulled me back to him. "Carlisle saw how dedicated and…good I was at boxing. He knew I could do some damage to any opponent put up against me and soon he entered me into brawls,
"It was easy money for me. Fifty dollar entrance fee and then two grand per fight. Only if you won, though. Loser just left with whatever broken bits had fallen on the floor." Edward snorted.
"Two thousand dollars? Per fight? How many did you do?" I asked in an almost horrified tone. Edward just laughed and shook his head.
"A couple fights a month, maybe." he shrugged. "It was enough to let me quit the odd jobs I had picked up before boxing and even put some money away for Alice's college stuff if she decided she wanted to go somewhere and get a degree. I wasn't going to push her. It would have been hypocritical on my part." his voice was sad.
I knew Edward hadn't attended college but I never knew why. Couldn't he manage a boxing career and school if he could manage everything else? It couldn't have been too hard for him, right? I decided to let that thought die and not bring it up.
"As I got older the money got better. I was making up to twenty thousand a match by the time I was eighteen. Then one night, at a huge match, I met Irina." the name sounded familiar to me, but I didn't exactly know where I could have heard it before.
"She became in control of my advertising and basically my manager and publicist all at the same time. The next thing you know I'm fighting against some of the biggest names in the game." he sounded so casual about it all.
Little did he know that I had watched about every single match he had fought until going up against those big dogs. I wondered what he would think if he knew.
"Hey lady!" I heard the butcher call from behind his large, white cart. "Your order's up." the large man said handing me two bags of the paper rolled meat. I paid and eagerly began pulling Edward out of the crowd there in the Deli.
Edward helped me carry the meat without even breaking a sweat. I dragged him along side me as we gathered the rest of the things I needed for tonight. Edward was surprised at how much I bought and even offered to pay for some of it, but I was totally against that. I supported myself and was only asked to do this once every month. I was fine with paying.
"We got everything?" Edward asked as I began to lead him towards
"Oh yeah. Gran and the boys should be happy."
"Boys?" Edwards voice became wary almost instantly. I felt my heart sink to my knees.
Edward had just told me about his entire childhood, crappy parts and all and here I was standing like an idiot. I hadn't even offered up a little bit about myself when he had just poured his own heart out to me.
"Yeah. I'm the only girl and all my cousin's that live here in the area are men." I rolled my eyes. "My oldest cousin Marcus is twenty nine and his son Demetri is eight. He adores you by the way." I beamed up at him gently. Edward seamed to relax a little as I elaborated on my family.
"I love kids," he whispered under his breath. I don't think he meant for me to hear it but I did. It made my smile only grow wider.
"Then there is Caius and his wife, Athenodora. They just got married last summer and are totally smitten over each other. Try not to stare at them too often because they are just constantly sucking face." that made Edward laugh.
"Any more?" Edward asked sarcastically. He had no idea, though.
"Yep. Marcus and Caius are twins. They look nothing alike but they are. Totally different personalities too." that was the understatement of the century. "Their youngest brother is Aro and his wife Sulpicia. Aro is a few years older than me. He's twenty five. Don't pay much attention to him though. Out of the three, he is the black sheep." I remembered Aro's cool demeanor towards anyone who resided on this earth as I spoke.
Aro never used to come to family dinner's but Sulpicia sort of forced him into since she found out she was pregnant. She said the baby deserved a family that loved it and she was right. We would love that baby. No matter how terrible Aro was towards his own family. Sulpicia was a nice woman, yes, but she was just as cold as Aro sometimes. Made for each other, those two.
"How so?" Edward referred to Aro as we rounded the corner towards Gran's apartment complex.
"He's a lawyer." I smiled slightly as I thought about the pride my grandmother held in her eyes every time she spoke about Aro's job at a prestigious New York Law firm.
"Aro is just a very dry person, I guess. Doesn't like to socialize or anything like that. In my family that's all we do." I looked up to see Edward's sunglasses staring back at me.
"He's doing a bit better, though. Sulpicia just found out she's pregnant a couple of months ago and he's really trying to get back into things with the family." I nodded firmly. No matter how much I wished Aro would get better, I knew he would eventually pull away once more. And I knew that would hurt more than anything. So naturally I wished Aro would just stay away.
"Here we are." I beamed up at Edward as he looked over the Chicago brick covered apartment complex. The familiar look of laundry lines and little flowers poking out from window seals made me smile ear to ear. I guessed that Aro and Rosalie weren't here yet since their cars weren't parked in their usual spot, making my mind and body become a bit more at ease.
The more time Edward had to adjust to Gran's home, the easier it would be for him when he had to meet the rest of my family. Luckily, he already knew Rose a little from last night and even Emmett, so he wouldn't be totally in the dark.
"I used to love sitting on these stairs when I was younger." I said as we began climbing the five flights of iron stairs up to Gran's apartment.
"You visited your grandmother often?" Edward didn't sound the slightest bit winded as we trekked our way up the seemingly endless flights of steps.
"Not really," I was trying to talk through my heavy pants for air. "I'm not from New York originally, but I would come for a couple of weeks during summer."
"Where did you live before you came to New York?" Edward asked curious. I was dying over here with all the bags of groceries in my arms and trying to lug my body up the steps.
"I lived in a rainy little town called Forks in Washington until my parents decided to split up. After that I moved to Phoenix with my mom after all the custody battle stuff. I still had to go back to Forks during the summers, though. That kind of put a hindrance on me coming to visit Gran as often I would've liked." I said as we finally reached the floor. I silently cursed Gran for choosing the apartment at the farthest end of the hall. My legs were about to fall off.
"You had to go through that? Picking between your parents?" Edward tone was horrified but I just chuckled. His childhood had been so much worse then mine had ever been and he felt bad for me?
"Yeah, but it's nothing really. I got over it and eventually I got into the groove of things. Seeing Charlie on Christmas, Thanksgiving and during the summer and then going to school in Phoenix. It wasn't terrible." I said trying not to remember how bad it was when my parents split. How hard it was to choose between them both.
"But it had to be hard for you. How old were you when they decided-"
"Fifteen." I cut him off curtly. I didn't want to talk about this when we were about to see Gran. She wasn't exactly partial to this subject either.
"This is it." I smiled up at him as I stopped in front of Gran's door and rang her buzzer. Edward looked excited to be there and for that I became just as excited as he was.
"Do you think they'll like me?" Edward's voice was sturdy, not shaky at all, but his face told a totally different story.
"They will all love you, Edward." I said leaning up on my toes to kiss his cheek. "Trust me."
As we stood there, hands interlocked as best they could be with at least ten pounds worth of groceries in them, I heard the several locks on the heavy door to my Gran's apartment unbolt at a steady pace before the door finally opened.
Gran's familiar brown eyes stared back at me with as much warmth and welcome as she would for anyone who entered her home. Her peppered grey and white strands were pulled back into her usual slick and very tight bun at the back of her head while she wiped her hands on the blue and white checkered apron wrapped around her tiny waist.
"Bella! Ciao cara mia!" Gran cooed lovingly as she easily wrapped me in her warm embrace.
"Ciao Gran." I kissed both her cheeks before pulling back. As soon as I had taken my place back beside Edward Gran became acutely aware of Edward's rather large presence.
"Bella," Gran narrowed her eyes towards Edward.
She was assessing him the only way she knew how. Strict judgments of appearance.
"Who's this?" her voice was deadpan as she jerk her chin towards Edward. I couldn't help but giggle. Edward didn't seemed even a little bit phased, though.
"Gran I'd like to introduce you to my boyfriend," I placed my hand back in Edward's as I smiled up at him reassuringly. He had already pulled off his cap and sunglasses in respect for my grandmother.
Such chivalry.
"This is Edward."
"Boyfriend?" Gran's voice came back to life in an instant. "Oh! Fantastico! Come in, come in!" she cooed, ushering us into the small apartment.
Edward smiled and gripped my hand tightly in his as we walked inside. I couldn't help but giggle at the look of Edward's tall, perfectly built body taking up so much room in Gran's tiny apartment. Edward began to speak with Gran in Italian while I went into the kitchen to drop off the groceries.
As soon as I entered the small kitchen I groaned. The scent of Gran's famous pesto sauce was overwhelming as soon as you took a breath. I couldn't help it as I rushed over to taste some of the red heaven, lifting the large ladle out of the iron pot and placing it to my lips. I didn't care that it was scolding hot. I just loved it.
"Well, you are welcome to come here anytime-" I heard Gran as she entered the kitchen..
I didn't even need to look up to see she was glaring at me.
"I'm sorry," I grumbled through my full mouth, my eyes wide with pleading as I turned to face the two of them. "It just smelled so good and-"
"Get out of my kitchen!" Gran shrieked, swatting at my ass harder than usual.
"Ouch! Gran!" I yelped and let the ladle plop down back into the pot.
"Out! Out, out, out!" she barked again before turning on her heels to grumble some more about how I had ruined her perfect pesto.
"She's pretty awesome," Edward's familiar voice came from behind me.
"Oh my god!" I breathed, clutching my chest as Edward and I stood in the hall outside the kitchen.
Edward smiled brightly, a low chuckle erupting from his chest.
"H-how did you get behind me so fast?" I stuttered, still slightly in shock.
Edward's smile only widened, his lips twisting up beautifully before stepping so close to me my entire body was engulfed in his long, lean muscles. He was everywhere. Everything and I honestly didn't mind. Long, graceful fingers reached up slowly, pressing against my cheek gently as emerald green orbs burned into mine.
"The don't call me Mute Masen for nothin'," Edward whispered playfully, his lips only inches from mine.
I chuckled lightly, my hands reaching up his tight limbs to tangle my fingers into his hair.
"They call you a lot of things, Edward," I giggled, shaking my head.
It was true. Edward was a silent, speedy and completely lethal weapon. People called him so many names it wasn't even realistic to try and remember them all. None of them really stuck anyways.
"Really?" Edward nipped at my lips gently, making me giggle even more.
I opened my mouth to say something when I heard the front door open and the sound of little feet rush through the hall.
"Tia Bella!" Demetri's shrill screams came from beside me, making me shove Edward off instantly.
I cleared my throat and beamed down at the little man running my way.
"How's my number one champ?" I laughed as a tiny set of arms wrapped around my neck.
"Tia Bella, guess what Daddy taught me today?" Demetri asked excitedly.
I laughed and swung him a bit in my arms, his focus right on me as I pulled back to stare at him. His large, blue eyes were bright with love and compassion while his beautiful little, light brown curls hung low in his face.
"What'd you learn today, Champ?" I asked, setting him down and placing my hands on my knees so I was eye level with him.
"Triple combo!" he squealed in delight.
I widened my eyes dramatically and raised my hands up so he could reach them. Demetri lifted his just as he was taught, in ready position, and started bounding back and forth on his feet.
"Keep your arms strong," I smacked his tiny arms to make sure they weren't spaghetti arms. "Keep you shoulders low and your hands in front of your face. Just like your dad told you."
Demetri nodded, a large smile on his little lips, and sprung.
"Pop, pop, bang!" Demetri said under his breath.
"Keep 'em up, D!" I laughed, smacking his head playfully. "Keep those hands up."
A soft laugh came form beside us, making Demetri hunch against me instantly. I only smiled and lifted the eight year old onto my hip since he wasn't all that big compared to other kids. The kid was half the size of most his age but could fight better than any street brawler.
"D," I whispered into his ear as Edward came into view. A low gasp of awe came from my small cousin. "I'd like you to meet-"
"EDWARD MASEN!" Demetri squealed and wiggled out of my arms to lurch into Edward's. "Ohmygoshyou'reEdwardMasen!"
Edward just laughed lightly, enjoying the attention a bit too much. He shifted Demetri on his hip naturally and nodded.
"Hey, Little Man," Edward shook his hand as best he could with the kid in his arms. "You got some great moves there."
Demetri lit up lighter than the sun at that one.
"You really think so?" he breathed lightly. "I go to my dad's gym every day after school and he teaches me everything he knows!"
Edward gasped, ohh-ed and aww-ed over my Demetri before getting into a bit more serious conversation.
"So you wanna be a boxer?" he asked sternly.
Demetri bobbled his head, "Just like you!"
Edward nodded.
"Well that's good Demetri. And you can do it if you work really hard, but you also need to focus on school, Bud."
Demetri's face matched Edward's as he paid more attention to my boyfriend than he ever had to me, his own blood.
"I do, Mr. Masen!" Demetri reassured him. "Dad makes me finish all my homework before I get into the ring."
Edward smiled this time, almost proud of this little boy he had only known for a short while.
"That's awesome, Demetri. I'm sure you'll be a great fighter!"
Demetri and Edward chatted a bit more about the rules and things that had to deal with boxing before another set of loud footsteps entered the room. A couple of sets actually.
"Bella!" a taunting voice that could only belong to Caius came from the end of the hell.
"Oh Bellsy!" Marcus coaxed this time.
I instantly rushed behind Edward's large form, knowing the guys would instantly forget whatever attack they were planning against me the moment they saw my new boyfriend.
"Bella! Come out, come out wherever you-" Marcus's taunting voice lingered through the air but cut off the moment he saw who was holding his son.
"Oh my god…" Marcus paused as Caius now rounded the corner, holding a creepy looking clown mask over his face.
"JESUS!" I screeched in horror.
Caius and Marcus both knew exactly how much fear I held for clowns and yet they persisted with forcing the damn things on me constantly. Ciaus froze beside Marucs when he heard Edward's voice.
"You okay?" Edward asked, shifting Demetri on his hip and reaching out to touch me.
"Yeah," I grit out as my body locked up on me. "I just hate fucking clowns!"
Marcus cut Edward off before he could even open his mouth.
"Y-y-you're E-Edward M-M-M-Masen!" Marcus sputtered out as Edward laughed and handed a sulking demetri over to me.
The poor kid wanted to spend more time with his own superhero.
"Ahhhhhhhhh!" Caius squealed, leaping forward first, followed by his brother.
"You're my idol!" Marcus beamed up at him.
"No! He's mine!" Caius fought back.
"No way, bro! Have you seen every single fight like I have? He's totally mine!"
"Shut the fuck up! I'm the one who told you about him!"
"At least I don't try to mock his fighting style!"
"I'm better at boxing then you'll ever be!"
"Guys!" I finally cut in, patting Demetri on the head and walking over to slink my arms around my boyfriend's waist.
Edward was trying his hardest not to break out into a fit of giggles at my cousin's horribly rude behavior. Caius and Marcus both looked at the way Edward and I clung together and quirked up an eyebrow.
"I'm sorry to tell you this," I chuckled as Edward laughed in the safety of my hair. "But Edward Masen is one hundred percent mine."
Caius was the first to speak up as Marcus froze, his jaw hanging slack in shock. My blonde haired cousin wagged his finger between us suggestively.
"What's going on here?" he placed a hand on his hip.
I shrugged, Edward laughing even harder now.
"Marcus, Caius," I cleared my throat and nudged Edward to stand straight. He did and held me closer to him. "I'd like you to meet my boyfriend, Edward Masen. Number three lightweight boxer in the world."
Marcus was already bounding, complete out of his coma state, and squealing like a girl when Gran walked in with Aro and his wife at her side.
"What's with all the screaming?" Gran scolded, wiping her hands on her apron. "It's rude to scream in the house!"
"Yeah, what's up?" Aro asked flatly, biting into an apple Gran had probably given him.
"Edward Masen!" Demetri called happily and lurched himself at my boyfriend.
Edward happily lifted the kid right back into his arms.
Aro cocked a sharp, sarcastic eye brow up and shrugged as if this were the dullest part of his day.
"Nice to meet you Mr. Masen. You're Bella's new boyfriend right?" he held out his hand.
By the way he said new, it made it sound like he was trying to imply something. I had never liked Aro, even if we were family, but I had never been as cold to him as he was to everyone else. I tried to be as warm and family like as possible.
Edward shook his hand, all smiles as he did so. "Yes, I am. It's nice to meet you as well, sir. I've heard so much about all of you!"
"Hmm…" Aro contemplated and pulled his hand away sharply. "I can't say the same."
"Bella!" Sulpicia strolled past her husband elegantly as ever, her arms spread out wide, making her protruding belly look even larger against her small frame.
"Hey, Sulpicia!" I welcomed her warm embrace before kissing her on the cheek and placing my hands on her belly. "How is my little cousin doing today, huh?"
Sulpicia rolled her eyes, placing her hands on top of mine.
"Kicking up a storm!" she huffed in aggravation. "I swear, this kid is going to be the first soccer player in this family!"
"Hell no!" Marcus rebutted firmly. "He's gunna be a boxer and train at my gym with us! Right, Demetri?"
My small cousin nodded his head, his face furrowed in seriousness as he did so.
Sulpicia laughed lightly, her beautiful face glowing brightly. I had no idea how such a cold and distant person could have won over such a beautiful and charming woman such as Sulpicia. Aro leaned up against the wall, watching us with those cold, black eyes of his.
"Oh my gosh!" I jumped back, letting my hands fly up to cover my mouth. "He kicked!"
The entire family, including Edward swarmed to hover over Sulpicia, Aro standing right at his wife's side to place his hand's where mine had once been. He smiled brightly after getting another kick probably as Sulpicia stared at her husband in joy.
"Any day now." she touched Aro's face lovingly.
Aro stared back at her with as much love, if not more, as she had for him.
"Any day now," he repeated her words under her breath.
"Hey!" an obnoxious, nasally voice rang out through the crowd. "What's everyone doing all hovered around the fat lady?"
I smiled to myself before turning around to see none other than Athenodora, Caius's wife.
"Dora!" I squealed and launched myself into her already awaiting arms. She laughed and hugged me back before pulling away to look at me.
"Did you see what Caius brought?" she laughed.
I rolled my eyes and nodded into her shoudler. "It was horrifying."
"I told him you'd piss your pants as soon as he saw it, but he loves to scare you and Demetri like no body's business." she pulled back a bit to look over me. "You're looking good girl!" she assessed me with her bright grey eyes, "Have you done something to your hair?"
I scrunched my nose up in confusion. "Nope. I haven't done anything to myself but it's been a while since we've seen each other and-"
"I know what it is!" she clapped her hand loudly. "You got laid!"
The entire room went silent as all eyes turned to stare at Edward and I. I clamped my eyes shut tightly, my face burning a bright shade of crimson for sure.
"What? What's going on?" Dora asked casually.
"Dora," I cleared my throat through the embarrassment. "I'd like you to meet my boyfriend, Edward Masen."
Dora's face widened in shock, whether or not it was from the fact that Edward was a huge celebrity or the fact that she had just outed my sexual life with a room full of overly protective cousins.
"Put my son on the floor," Marcus growled angrily from behind me.
"Shit!" I huffed and sprinted my way over to stand in front of Edward.
Marcus and Caius were looking about ready to kill when Gran came into the room, Rosalie and Emmett flanking either sides of her.
"We have company!"
…
Dinner with my family had gone down pretty well. After Emmett had showed up to take all the attention off of mine and Edward's sexual encounter, things died down a bit but I could tell that there was still a ton of tension resting between my cousins and my boyfriend.
What did the guys think I was? Some virgin?
I had punched my v-card in years ago. Probably before they did.
We were on our way out, after helping Gran clean up and listening to the boy's never ending chatter about babies and boxing. Two of the most prominent subject to be lingering in Gran's apartment tonight.
"When you gunna get married to a good Italian boy and give me some grand babies too?" Gran scolded, placing her hand on my flat stomach as I helped her get the dishes cleaned. "I wanna see at least a couple little babies in this house to play with Sulpicia's boy!"
My face burned, constantly red tonight, when Marcus and the guys interjected.
"Gran," he scoffed. "Leave, Bella alone. She's young and doesn't need to be having kids yet."
I knew Marcus was staring at Edward the entire time but my poor boyfriend just chuckled and nodded, as if trying to brush off the comment.
"What are you talkin' 'bout?" Gran barked at him, flailing her hand around in the air. "By the time I was her age I had three babies to feed," she raised up three fingers to emphasize her point. "Not to mention I had been married almost five years!"
"But these are different times, Gran," Caius said biting into a piece of leftover lasagna. "She's still young when it comes to the whole 'having a family' ordeal."
Gran waved them off dismissively and went back to scrubbing pots and pans while I tried to avoid contact with my boyfriend for the rest of the night.
"You better come back!" Gran demanded as she kissed Edward's cheeks gently. "I'ma makin' chicken alfredo next time!"
Edward laughed and kissed her cheeks back as well. "I promise, Mrs. Swan."
Gran smiled up at him in delight before smacking my thigh hard, making me yelp.
"He's a good one," she said clearly enough for the entire room to hear, including Edward. "Don't let him get away."
I gripped onto Edward's warm hand and nodded.
"I won't," I stared up at Edward who was also beaming down at me. "I'll call you tomorrow, Gran."
"Alright!" she called behind us as we walked out of the door. "Be careful hailing a taxi!"
"We will! I love you!"
"Love you too, mia Bella!"
By the time we said our goodbyes and were down the stairs, I could hear Gran locking up the door's bolts. I let out a huge sigh as Edward and I made our way out onto the side walk so he could hail a cab easily.
"What's wrong?" Edward asked, his other hand that wasn't up in the air claming down onto mine.
"Huh?" I asked stupidly. "What do you mean?"
He shrugged, finally getting a cab to stop and helped me in.
"You just look a bit upset, I guess." he helped me in before sliding in beside me and wrapping his massive arms around me.
I leaned into his hold, pressing my forehead against his chiseled chest. He was so warm compared to the chilly, New York breeze and I would hate leaving him tonight.
"I'm perfect," I sighed and snuggled in closer.
Edward laughed lightly as the cabbie began to drive where Edward had told him to go earlier. His apartment.
"I'm glad."
"I'm sorry if they embarrassed you," I apologized whole heartedly.
Edward shook his head, a large smile of understanding on his beautiful lips that I was just dying to kiss.
"They didn't. They are all so charming and warm. It's been a while since I've had a real family get together like that."
I nodded, not really seeing his mother as the type to hold a Saturday dinner like Gran always did.
"I'm glad you enjoyed yourse-" I was cut off by passionate lips crushing onto mine and hand lingering across my sensitive flesh.
"Ungh…" I groaned into Edward's mouth as quietly as I could, as not to alert the cabbie.
"Come home with me," Edward demanded firmly. "Stay the night with me again."
I didn't even need to reply. I answered with my lips crushing onto his.
How was it? good? i hope so! Next chapter will definetly have some...lemony goodness! yay!
Next chapter up in a week or so!
Reviews might make me work a bit faster! haha!(:
-fighter