Hey guys, well I'm finally back with a chapter you's have been witing a while for. Sorry it took so long, i'm not oing to bore you with detail. Just want to say thank you to every reader and my beta Cedward 2417, she's been amazing.
Oh Anthony nickname came from a reader who calls her nephew that, I can't remember the name so please let me know who it was so I can credit the right person.
Song- Tooty Ta by Dr Jean and friends
I do not own Twilight, just daddyward and miniward and little story called Speak. Enjoy.
Bella
We spent the next hour watching Disney-Pixar's Cars. Most of the cupcakes were gone; and, to my surprise, it wasn't the kids that had eaten most of them. No, it was Edward. I heard him hum and moan as he chewed, and I watched him lick the icing from his lips- all of it was making my lady parts tingle. It had been years since a man had this effect on me.
"Did you like it, Bella?" Anthony asked. I looked down at him- he was on the floor, lying on his tummy, while his head rested on his hands.
"What?"
"Did you like Cars?" He asked again, his eyelids droopy. I looked at the television to see the credits running. I must have been so lost in my dirty thoughts about Edward that I didn't see any of the film.
"Sure, I loved it," I lied. I heard Edward snicker beside me, seeing right through me. I turned to glare at him- I just wanted to keep that smile on his son's face.
"What are you laug…," my heart stopped. I must have been so deep into my thoughts, that I hadn't noticed that my five year-old had crawled into my neighbor's lap. The sight before me was beautiful and terrifying at the same time. Leah was curled up, fast asleep in Edward's lap; her head laid on his chest as he ran his fingers though her hair. She looked so content and natural with him.
"Bella?" Edward's voice whispered. I looked up at him, his eyes held nothing but worry and concern.
"Wwwhen did she, um, did she cccome to you?" I stuttered.
"Yes, I'm sorry, she just crawled up and you didn't say anything so I thought that you were okay with it, and then she fell asleep. Shit, Bella, I'm sorry, I thought you saw her. I..." he rambled, while pinching the bridge of his nose. However, I noticed that he never let Leah go through his rambling. In fact, he held her tighter, as if he was scared that I would take her away. I looked from Leah's face to Edward's eyes- I was not sure what to do. Could I trust him with my daughter? Could I stop the attachment that was forming between them? Did I really want to?
"Bella," Anthony voiced. He placed a small hand on my cheek, and I turned to see him standing in front of me. "Why are crying? Are you hurt?"
I tried to swallow down a sob as I wiped the tears from my face. "No, Honey, they're happy tears, I promise."
"Okay," he yawned, rubbing his small eyes.
"You tired, Honey? Do you want to sleep in my bed again for a little while?" I asked, focusing a smile on my face. I looked at Edward, again, he nodded and smiled at me, silently giving me permission.
"I need to take my bath," was Anthony's answer.
"Oh, okay, er, um." I was not sure what to say to that.
"It's okay, Buddy, you can have one tomorrow," Edward answered him. "You'll have to wash your face and hands though, you have icing on it," he chuckled and pointed to his face.
"If it's okay with you," I asked Edward, "he can have a bath here? I don't mind." I gave him a smile, hoping to win him over.
"I don't mind," he answered quickly; and, it was in that moment, I could see just how much he trusted me with his son. He allowed him to stay here with me all afternoon, and he never questioned or hesitated with me looking after his son. He trusted me to take care of the most important thing in his life. I have to tell him what happened- I had to explain to him why I could not return that trust, and when he knows the truth… I would just have to be thankful for the day that I've had with Anthony, and prayed that Edward would still allow Leah to see him.
"I have an idea," I announced. "Why don't we go run you a bath while your daddy puts Leah into bed?" I watched Edward's eyes widen and shock appeared on his face.
"Okay," Anthony and Edward answered as the same time.
"Okay, you know where Leah's room is?" Edward nodded in agreement. "Alright, little man, then let's go."
Anthony bounced into my bathroom, and I slowly followed his little footsteps.
"Why don't you put in some bubble bath and I'll run the water." He nodded while jumping about again, I couldn't help but laugh.
"What are you doing? Do you have Ants in your Pants?"
"I'm not Pants," he giggled.
"I never said that, however it does suit you."
"No, it doesn't. I'm Anthony," he stressed as he poured in his bubble bath. The water filled quickly while Anthony continued to dance about.
"Water's warm, jump in." He did, and splashed water everywhere.
"Aww, Pants, try keeping the water in the tub, please," I laughed.
"My name's not Pants, silly Bella, It's Anth-" A high pitched scream echoed through the house.
"BELLA!" Edward's panicked voice yelled.
"Anthony sing for me sweetheart, can you sing your favorite song very loud for me." Anthony's face filled with shock. "ANTHONY, SING."
I ran down the hall listening to his sweet voice in the background.
"A tooty ta, a tooty ta, a tooty ta ta, thumbs up.."
However, I lost his voice as soon as I entered my daughter's bedroom. Edward was sitting on the edge of her bed- Leah's legs were wrapped around his waist, her arms around his neck, gripping onto him while he rocked her, trying to ease her screams.
"Leah, Leah."
Edward turned to me, tears filled his eyes.
"Bella," he whispered. I knelt on her bed so that I could lean over Edward's shoulder.
"Leah, can you hear me? Shh, Honey, it's mom."
Edward
"Leah, can you hear me?" Bella tried to smooth Leah's cries.
My heart ached watching this angel cry out in pain. Everything was going great, and I was completely shocked when Bella said I could put Leah to bed. But if I had to be honest, the whole night felt amazing and natural. I had to remind myself so many times that this was not my house and they were not my family, but my heart was telling me otherwise. It's only been two days- two days since I met Bella, and I knew already that there was something between us. I knew my body called for her; every time she was near me, my body reacted. But for the first time in a long time, I could almost hear my heart shouting out her name. I have never believed in love at first sight, and I'm still unsure, but what I do know, is this woman has sparked something inside of me that has been gone for so long. I wanted to know her; I wanted to take care of her, I wanted to share every part of me with her, and God, Leah. I can't even form words to describe what I felt for this little girl. When she sat in my lap and curled her small body into me; I fell in love, I fell hard.
But right now, I was trying my hardest not to demand answers from Bella. What the fuck was wrong with my little girl? I would have thought that maybe she wanted Bella, not me, but she was gripping me so tightly I could feel her fingernails dig into my shoulders.
"Leah, Honey, look at me." Bella asked her, but her screams were so loud I didn't think she could her.
I decided to try something, maybe I could get her attention. I moved my hand from her waist and gently pulled her face away from my neck.
"Leah, Princess. Shh, you're okay." I looked into her watery eyes and held my eyes on her. I felt her body relax against me, her eyes showed recognition and something I didn't know.
"Leah?" Bella whispered, she was leaning over my shoulder and I could feel her body pressed into me. I tried to keep my mind on the little girl in front of me, but Bella was not making it easy on me.
"Are you, okay, Honey?"
Leah slowly nodded her head, not taking her eyes away from mine.
"BELLA, CAN I COME OUT NOW. THE WATER IS GETTING COLD," Anthony yelled from the bathroom, breaking the thick tension that had clouded over the three of us.
"I'M ON MY WAY," Bella yelled back. However, her mouth was right next to my ear and I screwed up my face and cringed at the volume of her voice. Leah giggled at my reaction, and created a warmth in my heart again.
"Oh, you think that's funny, do you?" I mumbled and started tickling the spots I found she liked earlier.
"Alright you two, knock it off. It's bedtime." Bella was back in mom mode. "Do you want me to get your pj's on?"
I wanted to jump up and down when Leah shook her head and pointed at me. A small smile painted on her cinnamon face.
Two minutes later and another yell from Anthony, Leah was tucked up in bed. I had noticed earlier how bare Leah's room was. I know they had just moved in, but how can she feel at home when her room didn't feel completed. Maybe I could change that for her, I could get my mom to help me create a beautiful little girl's room; with pink walls, white furniture and lots of girlie stuff. I know as soon as my little sister meets her, she will own a wardrobe fit for any princess with lots of shoes, dresses, and bags.
She looked so peaceful and so beautiful, fast asleep in her small bed. I was going to talk to Bella tonight. There wasn't going to be any Adult movie, not tonight. I wanted to know every detail about her and Leah's lives together, to know everything that my dad and Emmett had already tried to tell me. I wanted Bella to tell me, and I wanted to take it all away. All the sadness, all the hurt, all the fear; and replace it with happiness, joy, and love. Love- that was something I could give them. I knew that I had feelings towards Bella, I wasn't sure what those feelings were yet, but I knew I could love her. I could like, love her as a friend first, by getting to know her, and if these feelings grew deeper then...
And Leah, I already knew that this little girl had stolen my heart. I already loved her; the more time I spent with her, the more I fell in love with her and that wouldn't change.
"Thumbs up, elbows back, feet apart."
I could hear Anthony and Bella singing in the bathroom, so I made my way there. Anthony always sung that song, my sister taught him it a few months ago, and he has been singing it ever since.
" A tooty ta, a tooty ta, a tooty ta ta."
"Hey," I interrupted. "I'm gonna run home and get his pj's." Bella nodded her head but didn't look at me.
"Bella?"
"Yeah, that's fine." She still wouldn't look at me. I found myself getting a little frustrated- I wanted to see her beautiful face. Instead, I sighed and left the house.
I quickly grabbed Anthony's pj's, a robe, and a bottle of wine- then ran back to Bella. I didn't bother knocking- she knew I was coming back.
"Here," I handed her the wine. "Why don't you open that and I'll put Ants to bed," I suggested. Bella took the bottle from me, but avoided making any eye contact. I quietly followed Anthony into Bella's bedroom, every room looked the same right now; bare and full of boxes. Well except the living room.
"Is Leah okay?" Anthony asked while he crawled up the bed.
"It was just a bad dream buddy, she's fine."
I pulled the covers over his small body and kissed his head.
"Daddy?"
"Yeah?"
"You won't let the bad man get Leah?" Anthony asked- his voice shallow and his bottom lip was quivering a little.
I knelt in front of the bed and looked my son in the eyes, and prayed that I would never have to break this promise.
"I won't let anyone take you or Leah away from us," I promised.
"That's what I told her," he answered with a small smile and sleepy eyes. Who did he tell? Leah?
"Goodnight son, I love you." I kissed his head again.
"Love you too, Daddy." One large yawn later and he was asleep. I crept out of the room, leaving the bedroom door open and made my way back to the kitchen.
I wanted answers now, more than ever. My son was now involved and I could not keep my promise unless I knew what happened.
I made my way to Bella. Ready to start firing questions at her and get the answers I needed.
"Bella, we need to talk!" I announced. She was standing at the counter with her back to me; her back was hunched over, her shoulders slouched. Her whole body looked small and fragile.
"Bella," I walked over to her and her body started shaking.
"I'm so sorry," a quiet sob escaped her. I walked closer. I needed to touch her, comfort her, hold her.
"Bella," I whispered and placed a hand on her back.
Instead of my movement comforting her, she broke down. She wrapped her arms around her and cried, huge tears poured down her face.
I quickly turned her towards me and wrapped my arms around her. Her tiny frame melted into me and she grabbed my shirt as if it was her lifeline.
"Shh, Bella, it's going to be okay. Everything's going to be okay," I whispered into her hair and somehow my words made her cry even more.
Her body grew heavy so I bent down and picked her up- bridal style- before her legs gave out on her and carried her into the living room and onto the sofa. She curled herself up in my lap, just like Leah had done, not even an hour ago and continued to cry.
"Shh, Love. I've got you." I held her tightly to me feeling right at home.
When her sobs slowed down, I pulled her chin up so that I could finally look into her eyes.
"I'm sorry," she hiccupped.
"You have nothing to be sorry for, but we do need to talk." She nodded her head and looked down again.
"Hey, don't hide from me." I pulled her face back up.
"I, I don't know where to start," she admitted.
I wiped the tears from her eyes, kissed her forehead and whispered, "I know little parts, but I want to hear it from you."
"What do you know?" She asked. I was doing a little dance in my head because she was still sitting in my lap. I kept my arms around her, needing to touch some part of her.
"Er, my dad told me what happened to Leah's dad." I answered honestly. She wrinkled her forehead in confusion. She was just too cute.
"Who's your dad?"
"Dr. Carlise Cullen." Her brown eyes grew wide in surprise, I couldn't help but laugh at her expression.
"Dr. Cullen's your dad? Wait, you're Edward Cullen?"
"Yes, you knew my name," I pointed out.
"Oh, yeah. Why didn't I realize that? Oh, that means Esme is your mom." She smiled, a real smile.
"Yeah," I laughed.
"Why have I never met you before?"
"I'm not sure. I stayed in Chicago for college when they moved here."
"Oh, you lived in Chicago?" She asked.
"Yeah, but Bella, we have all the time in the world to talk about Chicago and my parents, and I promise to tell you anything you want; but can we stay on topic right now, I need to know what has happened to you and Leah," I stressed.
"Why?" Her face full of sadness again. She tried to move away from me, but I tightened my grip. I was not letting her go.
"For many reasons: because I hate seeing you so sad, because Leah is in pain, because I want to protect you both, protect my son. I can't do that if I don't know what's going on."
Bella looked at her hands that were nested in her lap, fresh tears fell from her eyes, and I was silently begging for her to open up, to let me in.
"You won't want your son around me when you know what happened," she whispered in a voice that broke my heart. How could she think that? My son adored her, I could see it in his eyes- I also knew that she adored him too.
"I promised him tonight, that I won't let the bad man take Leah again, Bella." I heard her gasp loudly, her hand when straight to her heart as if it was in pain; I'm sure it was possible that it was.
"You have to tell me what that monster did, Bella."
After another few minutes, Bella wiped the remaining tears, squared her shoulders, and caught my eye with a look full of determination and honesty.
"I met James through a friend at work. We had gone out for our usual Friday Happy Hour drinks at the end of the week. Rose would watch Leah for me."
"Who's Rose?" I asked, moving the bangs away from her eyes.
"My best friend from Phoenix. We met my first year at college, she's been my best friend ever since," she smiled.
"Ah, is that Rosie?" I asked remembering Emmett's eyes light up when he mentioned her last night.
"Yes," she laughed, "but don't call her that, she hates it."
"Alright, Emmett calls her that though."
"Oh yeah and he gets the bruises and headaches to go with it." She laughed fondly of her friends.
I cleared my throat a little, we were getting off track.
"James," I mumbled. One word and her beautiful smile disappeared.
"Every Friday all the teachers would go out for dinner and drinks. It was our way celebrating the end of the week, and Rose always watched Leah for me. She would say it was their girlie time." She laughed, the side of her eyes crinkled in joy. "I would get home to find Leah asleep covered in glitter and hair extensions."
"Riley introduced James as his new neighbor. I didn't speak to him much at first- everyone else was peppering him with questions, so I thought it was best to leave him alone. My apartment was only a few blocks away, so I decided to walk home that night."
The moment she said that, the hair on my neck stood up. The thought of her alone with that bastard set my blood on fire. I took a deep breath and continued to listen to her story. I knew how I was going to feel by the end of it, but I needed to know what had happened, no matter how difficult it was to hear. Besides, it had to be harder for her to tell, and here she was, sitting in my lap as she shared her nightmare.
"James announced he needed to get some money from the bank and ended up walking me home."
"What! Did he follow you?" I asked her in confusion.
"No, the bank was on the way and we got talking about Art, it was something we had in common. He was an artist, and I finally had someone to share my knowledge with."
"Edward?" I felt her hand on my cheek, "Are you okay?" My whole body was tense, my jaw clutched with my building anger.
"Yeah, keep going please."
"Okay, well, we talked all the way. He mentioned that one of his friends was having his work shown in one of the galleries, and I agreed to go with him. I enjoyed his company, and I loved going to the galleries, so I thought 'why not?' We arranged to meet there a week later, the gallery was amazing, and there were so many well known artists there. I even managed to do some networking for my own work. James insisted on walking me home, it was raining so I suggested sharing a cab. Everything was going great, we talked and laughed. I really liked him. But when he kissed me I was completely shocked. I didn't think that we were on a date, but I guess the signs were there."
"He turned up at my house the next day- he met Leah that day. When I think about how she looked at him, and barely said anything to him, I should have known right there and then. I should have told him to get lost, but I never, I..."
Tears were falling again, her face was crumpled in pain, and her body had curled in my lap as if she was trying to make herself disappear. I wanted to take her pain away, wrap my body around her, protect and tell her she never had to relive that nightmare again. Instead, I ran my fingers through her glorious hair and waited patiently for her to continue.
"I thought that in time, Leah would grow to like him, she did. But she never took to him they way she has to you." I smiled at that information.
"Anyway, over the next couple of weeks, I spent a lot of time with James. We had a lot in common, but he was just a friend. When he kissed me again, I felt nothing- no spark, no tingles, nothing. I suggested we stay friends and James agreed. I knew he was disappointed, but I couldn't pretend something was there when it wasn't."
"James helped me to develop my paintings and grow as an artist. I thought that we were finally on the same page, and that he valued our friendship the way that I did..."
"But he didn't?" I asked, my voice laced with venom.
"No, we had a few drinks one night and he tried to kiss me again. I told him that I didn't feel that way about him and he lost it. He started shouting about how no-one would ever want me and that he was the only one who would want to take on someone else's child. I got so angry when he said that. I would never ask anyone to take on my child, she was my daughter and she didn't even like him. I told him that, and he hit me. He yelled that I needed to know my place in life. He was very drunk and eventually passed out. I called the police and they arrested him."
"That son of a bitch," I mumbled through my teeth. He had tried to force her to be in a relationship with him and then abused her when she refused.
"Edward," Bella whispered. I grabbed her hand and looked into her eyes.
"I'm okay, just keep going please," I begged. I wasn't sure how much more I could take before my temper got the best of me.
"Well, James was charged with assault, but was quickly released on bail. Leah stayed with my neighbor when I was at work. Sienna said that they had been to the museum that morning and Leah tired herself out. So when I went to pick her up, she was taking a nap. But when I went to the room she wasn't there. I looked everywhere for her, I even called my dad begging him to get the police to help look for her. Hours soon past into days, Emmett and my dad had flown down to help look for her. It was two days before James called- two days before he told me he had her, and that if I wanted her back, I had to meet him. He told me that if I told anyone or brought anyone with me that I would never see her again. So I did the only thing I could, I told everyone that I was going for a walk and that I wanted to be alone."
"You went alone? Fuck, Bella."
"Yes, but I left the address in the cupboard. I knew Emmett would be looking in there eventually. When I got there, he tied me up in a chair. I couldn't hear Leah, but he told me she was asleep in the next room. He rambled on and on about how I was finally his and that I was a tease. I tried begging, pleading with him to let Leah go."
I wrapped my arms around her as she struggled to get the words out. She was hiccupping through her tears, and I felt like someone was trying to rip my insides apart inside my body.
"He, he, tried, to, ah, get me to, sleep, with him," she sobbed.
"Shh, Love. It's okay. You don't have to tell me anymore." I didn't want to see her like this anymore- I wanted the Bella from the cafe this morning. I wanted her smiley and happy.
"No, I, need to, finish."
"Are you sure?" I asked.
"Please Edward, I need you to understand." I nodded and kissed her head, words were failing me at the moment.
"I was exhausted and decided that maybe if I gave him what he wanted then he would let Leah go. I turned away from him trying to block out what was happening."
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"He was going to rape me- either I let him or not. I had lost the will to fight him off." Fuck, just when I thought it couldn't get any worse. I could feel my eyes fill with tears, and my heart was beating at an unhealthy rate. The thought of anyone touching her when she didn't want them to killed me.
"But I noticed a wardrobe in the room." She took a deep breath and sobbed out nine words that ripped through my heart. "Leah was watching from the inside of the wardrobe."
I heard a loud growl escape within me. I wanted to break something, I was suddenly thankful that Bella was sobbing in my lap.
I pinched the bridge of my nose trying to control the anger that was fighting to get out. "Please, Bella, please tell me she never saw-, that he never actually- fuck, please tell me." I grabbed her hands and peeled them away from her face. She was trying to hide from me again.
"No, he didn't," she cried. "I managed to get my hands free and push him off me. He hit me a few times and even managed to break my leg. I hit him over the head with a lamp that knocked him out long enough for me to tie him up. I grabbed Leah and ran the best I could out of the door. I could hear him screaming as I left."
"Is that when Emmett found you?" I asked.
"Yeah, how do you know?" Her cries had quieted down a little, but she was still hiccupping through her words.
"Emmett told me last night."
"I'm so sorry," she cried again. One hand covered her mouth and the other covered her heart as if she was trying to heal the pain.
"Shh, Love. It's okay. You saved her, Bella. You rescued her."
"I let her get taken, Edward. I let that monster into her life."
"That was not your fault, none of that was your fault, Bella." How could she think that? She didn't know that he was psychopath that couldn't take no for an answer.
"Please don't take Anthony away. Leah needs him."
What! I grabbed her face gently with both hands and turned her towards me. I wanted her to fully understand what I was about to say.
"Bella, I would never take Anthony away. You are an amazing mother with an amazing little girl. Anthony loves you both already." So do I. "I trust you even more now, and I know that you will do anything to keep our kids safe." Our kids, I loved that idea.
"Really?"
"Really." God, I wanted to kiss her so badly, but I didn't think she could handle that right now.
"I'm sorry about yesterday. I panicked when I couldn't find her."
"Shh, it's okay. I understand." I pulled her tight against me and smiled when she molded into my body. She laid her head on my shoulder and let out a deep sigh- her body slowly relaxed.
"Why did she scream earlier?" I finally asked. I had been wondering about that since it happened.
"We don't know what happened when she was with him. She won't talk, but sometimes she gets trapped in her memories. She screams when she's scared." Her voice sounded so small.
"I've never heard her talk. Does she not talk at all?" I asked her.
"Not since that day, today was the first day I have heard her giggle." Giggle, she had giggled a lot today. She had smiled a lot as well- her chocolate eyes would light up when she smiled. I wanted to see that smile every day, I was going to make her smile every day, and I was going to make Bella smile every day too.
"Edward," Bella pulled me out of my thoughts.
"Mmhmm?"
"Do you think Leah talks to Anthony? He knew her name when I met him and after what he said today…" How else would he have known about Leah being taken? She must have talked to him. A sense of pride washed over me. If Leah was talking to Anthony, he was keeping her secrets very close to his heart. I couldn't be anything but proud that he was being a friend to her, and gave her someone to trust and confide in. If she wouldn't talk to her mother, then at least she could talk to my son. I had faith that he would protect her. I also believed that if he needed to, he would tell me if he was worried by anything she had said. In fact, I wondered if that's what he was doing tonight? Was he trying to tell me that Leah shared her thoughts with him? Is that why he needed to know that I would protect them both?
I looked down at Bella, her eyes were closed, her breath fanned over my neck, and her hand tightly held my shirt. I felt like we had been sitting on her red couch for days. I needed to get out of here and clear my head. There was a lot of information to digest, and I wanted to wrap my brain around everything Bella had told me.
I gently lifted her into my arms and walked to the bedroom. Even though most of her house was still empty, I still felt like I was at home. There was a warmth that spread through each room- a warmth that spread through me.
I laid her softly on her bed, removed her shoes, and pulled the covers over her. I wanted to climb in beside her and hold her against my body. There was nothing sexual about it- I just wanted to take care of her, feel her skin against mine.
"Daddy?" Anthony groggily announced.
"Hey, Buddy."
"Bella sleeping?" He asked while watching her with a small smile. I just thought of a way to show Bella that I honestly trusted her and hopefully she would believe what I told her tonight.
"Yeah, do you want to stay here with Bella tonight? You can just stay where you are?"
"Yeah, where you gonna sleep though?" He asked and curled back up on the bed. "You gonna sleep beside Leah?"
"No, I'm gonna sleep in our house tonight." I thought back to my conversation with the Chief earlier, he couldn't say I wasn't making the effort now.
"Oh, by yourself?" I sat down next to him and wiped his forehead with my hand.
"I'll be okay, I'm only next door, and I'll come and get you in the morning. It's up to you buddy, you can come home if you want?"
"I wanna stay with Bella," he stated.
"Good, I think she needs you more right now." I kissed his head.
"Goodnight, Buddy. Give Bella lots of cuddles in the morning, okay?"
"I will. Night, Daddy."
"I love you, Anthony," I whispered.
"Love you too," he whispered back.
I made my way home, alone, for the first time in five years.
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