So it's more like 8:20pm…I lied when I said 2pm. I went out to lunch/made a cake/ worked out/ hung out with my husband…busy girl not much typing got done in between.

Yes Edward loves Bella, naturally! And Guest, I happen to like drama…the more the better as long as the end turns out pretty. I did tone it down for the faint of heart though. WITHOUT giving anything away there WILL be drama so…on with the show!

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Edwards Gift from Bella


Chapter 12

September 1991

Edward is 16

Bella just went 13

Edward walks into the cafeteria with Emmett and Jasper. He holds a shiny red apple laughing with his two best friends since kindergarten.

He passes a table of new kids; they aren't new so much as they have finally graduated to the high school part of Forks.

His eyes travel around and they land on someone who is new. She is a small brown haired girl, translucent pale skin and dark eyes to match the hair. Edward sits with his eyes still on her form holding a tray and being spoken to by Alice Brandon. Everyone knows that little pixie girl. She is younger, so he is assuming the new girl is the same age. Jailbait age. He frowns in his brow wondering if it is Chief Swan's daughter Isabella who came this summer to live with her father. Carlisle mentioned something.

'Take your eyes off the prize' Emmett lets hitting his shoulder to his pseudo brothers as they sit.

Jasper turns his head in the direction Edward is staring. 'What…oh that's Isabella, Chief Swan's daughter'

'Carlisle mentioned something about his daughter moving here' Edward tries to say coolly. 'You met her?' He questions taking a bite of his apple. Shiny and sweet. He watches Isabella smile a tiny smile at Alice who is bouncing on her toes over something she is saying. Alice is a nice girl.

'Nah' Jasper starts to munch on his pizza.

Edward chews and watches her sit with Alice and Angela Weber, another nice girl. He is not a nice guy, and shouldn't be looking at this girl like he is.

'She is like 13 man'

'I am just looking at her'

Emmett laughs. 'I know that look' He stuffs chips into his mouth.

Edward watches her for the rest of lunch.


Walking towards his next class he is pushed to his ass. 'What the hell?' He looks up.

'Oh my god, I'm so sorry, I'm so stupid ugh' She shakes her long dark hair.

The smell of her hits him. He looks at her with wide eyes. 'Isabella'

Bella freezes and looks at the guy on the floor. 'Bella, Bella' She mutter bending to gather all of her belongings.

Edward jumps to his feet and picks up his bag then helps her with her things. 'You need a back pack'

'Yeah and a brain' She mutters.

Edward frowns. 'Here' He hands her the last book. 'Do you want me to carry this some place for you?' She is loaded down with books.

'I-I' She finally gets a good look at him. His eyes are blue, a stunning shade of blue. Blinking a few times she shakes her head. 'Just going to my locker, I'm late'

Edward smiles. 'Let me carry some' He doesn't wait for her answer and takes the books from her hands. 'We will both be late'

Bella licks her lips and looks at him before nodding. 'Thanks'


"Were you surprised?" Bella smiles, they kids have dispersed from the kitchen. She told them they have T-Minus 20 minutes before they need to leave.

Edward looks at his wife. "Yeah I was" He smiles.

"You look sick, are you doing okay?" She rests her wine glass down and runs her hands over his face and through his hair.

"I'm fine, listen Bella" He takes her wrist in both hands, and holds them still.

Bella looks at him with wide eyes.

He stares down at her; her wide innocent eyes kill him. They have had him for years since he first met her. "Today I met the new member in the company"

"Oh yeah, how was that?" Bella says lightly, coolly not wanting to ruin his birthday by being a total bitch about a non issue.

"She is Aro Volturi's niece"

"Wonder how she got the job" Bella jokes turning to offer him some of her wine, she sips it when he shakes his head.

"Listen his niece is Jane"

Bella looks at him as though that is meant to mean something to her at this moment. Once she thinks she frowns.

"You know Jane…the" He is not sure she understands just yet.

"Shut up" Bella growls. "Shut up I know who that is" How many Jane's do they both know. Bella runs a shaky hand through her hair.

Edward stares at her, waiting for her to make a move.

She sucks in a deep breath. "Let me get this straight" She smiles while shaking her head wondering how much she is willing to take, she downs the rest of the wine in her glass before she clears her throat to speak again. "Your mistress" She points a finger at him. "Is your new co-worker, and on top of that your boss's niece"

"Yes"

"Oh this is…" She stops.

"I haven't seen her in four years"

"Until today" Bella reminds him.

"Right" Edward rubs his forehead.

"Please tell me you are joking, so we can call the kids and get to dinner at your parents"

Edward says nothing.

"Right" She touches her cheeks with both hands. "You can't because you're not"

"I didn't know she had anything to do with the company or Aro when we…" He looks down completely ashamed of his actions years ago and ashamed to look into his wife's eyes.

"Fucked, when you fucked, was that what you were going to say to me?"

"Bella"

"Well now you know, what are you going to do about it Edward?"

"She is Aro's niece, what can I do?" He knows quitting is an option. Aro Volturi is a big guy in Seattle, he has a lot of people and companies in his pocket, Edward knows he was lucky to land on the right side of Aro when he got out of school and got a job. This job.

Bella laughs before picking up her wine glass and throwing it against the wall next to his head.

"Jesus Christ Bella" Edward yells looking at the glass shattered around the floor.

"It wasn't an accident that I missed, we need to leave in 10 minutes, and I am going to get the kids" She growls before storming out of the kitchen.


Lucy looks at the front driver's seat at Edward and then turns her head to the passenger's seat where Bella sits. She frowns at the pair; she frowns at the back of their unmoving heads.


Parking the kids rush from the car in the gated drive. Bella slowly gets out and moves t the back to get Ava from her car seat. She snuggles her little doll. "Hi"

"Hi mama"

Bella laughs softly at her daughter large innocent eyes. She looks at her for a moment before the little one demands to be put down.

Edward comes around and stands next to his wife. "I'll quit"

"Don't do me any favors" She mutters turning and heading up the path through the open door.


He is literally seething watching Bella and Jacob chat and laugh and lightly touch. Jacob and Edward used to be really tight, really tight. The same old tale, three is a crowd. And boy does he knows this, especially now in his marriage.

Jacob liked Bella, Bella like Jacob, Charlie liked Jacob, and Charlie liked Jacob and Bella. Bella loved Edward. The end.

Bella and Jacob grew closer while Edward and Jacob grew further apart. He currently detests the man making his wife smile on his birthday.

"Could you sulk anymore Edward?" Emmett frowns kicking his brother's legs as he passes to plop on the couch. Emmett releases a huge burp.

"Must you?"

"Must you be such a little bitch on your birthday, what is your deal today man?"

"You know I don't really feel like talking about it"

"Whatever, so Rosie looks good huh, did you see the photos of the nursery yet?" Rosalie is due July and she is on count down. Everyone is excited for baby McCarty to arrive in the summer.

"She looks great, glowing" Edward glances at Rose rubbing her stomach while speaking to Esme. Paget has her ear stuck to Rose's stomach in awe waiting for the baby to do something. It has been stubborn all night according to Paget, takes one to know one. "Yeah I saw them, Bella pulled them up for me the other night, Alice really out did herself"

"She always does" Emmett laughs. He hits Edwards's thigh. "So what's new?"

"Got a new co-worker"

"Oh yeah, what's he like?"

"She, well she is Jane"

Emmett widens his eyes. "Jane…Jane, Jane?" He whispers because Bella is across the room through the open French doors with Jacob where the kids are playing on the climbing frame his parents put up for them.

"The one and only"

"How the hell did that happen man?"

"I am being punished…constantly"

"You deserve it, but fuck" When Emmett found out about Edward screwing around he almost kicked his ass for Bella. Brother or not.

"You know just when I think we are gonna make it, life throws more shit" Edward is tired.

"I'm guessing Bella knows"

"I told her tonight before we came here, she threw a wine glass at my head"

"Go Bella!" He laughs. "Sorry this is so not funny, you gonna quit?"

"Yeah" He nods. "I need to talk to Dad though"


Carlisle sits at his in home office desk and looks at his son. His hands are folded neatly together. "Well this gives you one option"

"I quit"

"Ding, ding"

Edward looks at his father. "No one is going to hire me"

"You are good at what you do Edward"

"I agree, but Volturi is the top of the top, the best of the best and when they find out I quit, when Aro finds out I am quitting he is going to make my life hell at finding something new"

"So you start from the bottom and work up"

"You're right" Edward will hand in his resignation Monday morning work the week and pull out. He will start July jobless, but his wife will know she is the number one thing in his life. That is how it should be.

"It won't be easy with all the pull Aro has, but you can do it, Bella deserves this, you can do it for her and the kids"

"I will" Edward needed this pep talk. He needed to hear his father tell him he is doing the right thing and to do it for his wife and children.

"You all deserve to be happy, you made a mistake four years ago and I can see you are still paying for it" Carlisle says solemnly.

"I deserve to be"

"No, son, no you don't, Bella needs to trust you again and you quitting will start to rebuild that and maybe you won't feel like you have to pay for this the rest of your life"

Edward hangs his head he presses his palms to his eyes and lets out a sob. "I hurt her so much; I never wanted to hurt her ever"

Carlisle gets up and moves around the desk he hugs his very grown up and very hurt son.


Bella notices Edward's red eyes. She licks her lips as they drive back home after dinner. Ava is sleeping in her car seat as is Paget.

"You get her" Edward says about Ava. "I'll get Pag"

"Sure" She whispers. Lucy and Masen drag themselves through the door and trudge upstairs.

Bella changes Ava into a pull up and pajamas on the bed while Edward is getting Paget sorted.

Lucy walks in. "I brushed my teeth"

"Good girl" Bella whispers with a smile.

Lucy climbs up on the bed above Ava. She smiles brightly when Bella stands and smiles at her. "Good night Bella"

"Good night sweet girl" Bella kisses and hugs her as Lucy hangs over for an embrace.

"I love you"

"I love you too" Bella turns her head to kiss Lucy's rich brown hair.

Turning to the other bunk bed she faces Edward who offers nothing. He steps aside so that she can kiss a sleeping Paget goodnight. He smiles at Lucy.

"Happy Birthday Edward" Lucy grins sitting on her bed.

"Thank you sweetheart, I had a great time with you tonight"

Lucy grins and leans in for a hug.

"Night sweetie"


Edward shuts the door.

"I'm just gonna check on Masen" Bella says.

"I'll go in after" Edward nods.


In the bedroom he sits on the end of his bed and hangs his head. He just striped down to his boxers and bare feet. Sighing softly he pulls his hair as his fingers run through it.

Bella stands in the doorway watching her husband. 'You can trust him with your life Bella, you know you can' she thinks to herself. "I'm sorry" She says softly making him lift his head quickly and look at her.

"Don't be" Edward sighs. "I'll go say good night now" He whispers getting up and walking past her in the doorway towards his son's room.


Masen is in bed with a book. "Hey Dad"

"Hey son" Edward smiles. "Did you have fun at Grandpa and Nana's house tonight?"

"Yeah it was cool, did you have a good birthday?"

"Amazing" Edward lies with a huge smile.

"Did you like all our gifts?" Masen laughs.

"Loved each one"

"Mom said she got you something but wouldn't tell us, she said it was private" Masen makes a face.

"I'm sure I will get it later" Edward nods. "You have 5 minutes, school tomorrow"

"Like 2 days left dad then summer…10 minutes?"

"Deal" Edward smiles kissing his son's head. He pulls the bedroom door shut.

"I want to talk" She stands in the hall against the other wall.

"Now?"

"Yeah now" Bella urges. "Please"

"Downstairs?"

"Yeah, I'll make tea" She leads the way. While in the bedroom she changed into a tank top and pajama shorts, Edward is still bare foot and bare chest.


Edward climbs on the stool and watches her fill the kettle up pulling down to mugs. "What is on your mind?" He starts.

Bella lets out a light chuckle. "I'm sorry" She turns. "I'm sorry Edward" Her eye stare directly into his.

"Bella you don't need to apologize to me, not for this"

"Yeah I do" She nods resting her hands lightly on the counter that is between them. "I do, over the past four years, you have not given me one reason not to trust you, and I should trust you"

"I understand that you have a hard time, I do"

"No, I shouldn't, you have been loving, hard working, and just amazing, forgetting for a moment what happened between us, you have been amazing to me, our kids" She shakes her head with disbelief. Despite what has happened, she has a wonderful husband by her side, giving her children, and being a wonderful father. You don't get that all the time. She needs to trust him. She won't ever forget but she can let go a bit and trust him.

"Bella"

"I love you, and I trust you, I trust you to work at that place day in and day out, I do"

"I am quitting" He puts out there.

"You can't" She sighs. "You know you won't get another job like that one, you know it"

"It doesn't matter Bella, you matter, your heart matters to me"

Bella smiles. "I can't be the one to take this away from you"

"You're not; I am giving it up for you, for us, for our children"

"No, you deserve that job, you have worked your ass off there for years…you deserve to do something you love each day, I trust you" She says again moving around the counter. He turns on the stool and she stands between his thighs.

Edward sighs when she cups his cheeks. "I'm so sorry" He lets the tears fall from his eyes.

"I know me too" She whispers moving her hands around his neck and hugging him tightly.

They hold each other ignoring the whistling of the kettle.


Edward laughs as he talks to Bella while they drink their lukewarm tea.

"Jacob is going be back up this way in a week or two" Bella tells him.

Edward tries to calm his emotions. She trusts him and he needs to trust her. "Why?"

"Work, he was asked to photograph a gallery opening, and then he will just stay for a few nights"

"I see" Edward looks at her.

"Don't start" She cuts her eyes at him making him smile. She loves how they can get back to each other; she wants them to be like this all the time. But when they can't, she loves that they can find each other soon after.

"I didn't say anything; I said 'I see'"

"It was the tone of your 'I see'" Bella smiles. "I have your gift…do you want it?"

"It is after 12…no longer my birthday" Edward points out.

"Have we been sitting that long?" Bella looks at the clock near the TV.

"Hmm" He stares at her, when she turns back she rests her cup down and jumps up. "What are you doing?"

"Getting your gift silly" She dashes quickly but quietly up the stairs.


Edward rests his head back and waits for his wife to return. He smells her and feels her presence before he sees her or she says a word.

"I stubbed my toe on the bed" Bella confesses.

Edward chuckles, typical Bella, his typical Bella.

Bella holds the gift behind her back and climbs onto his lap. Sitting she smiles when he lifts his sleepy head and looks at her with tired eyes. "This gift is even more perfect now" She whispers holding the light blue box out to him.

"Tiffany's I say" Edward pulls the white ribbon from it.

Bella watches him lift the top. "I wanted you to have one"

He looks at the key.

"It is to my heart" Bella explains softly. "It is yours" She whispers.

Edward stares at her, his hand comes and brings her lips against his holding the back of her head firmly.

Bella moans into his lips. Pulling away to breathe she smiles. "I trust you, I trust you to keep it safe"

"I will"

"I love you"

"I love you"

Bella presses her mouth firmly against his again; her hands hold his face and her thumbs stroke his jaw. She loves her husband, and she knows he loves her.


Okay? Yes…good!