Summary: Her parents' death had left her with her new born brother. Claiming him as hers, she heads to her father's; how is she going to cope, espclly, with the green-eyed jerk who already thinks so low of her EXB,AH, Jealous/Possessive-ward. Razzle Dazzle Nominee
Disclaimer: I don't own the Twilight saga or its elements, I can wish though…
AN: I really have no excuse for being late except RL and Crazy work… I hope that the extra long chapter will make up for this… people, so many surprises are ahead… little hints and small snippets will catch your attention I'm sure… so, please enjoy and check out the AN at the end please…
To all of you my amazing readers, I name…
tahliaa, Wants-fang-for-herself, ForeverM, spacecase81, 464.x, Epatz, LadyAkina, gossip-bangkok, KagomeRulz, Soccer11, seraphslastkiss, Summer Leah, EdwardsBrunette2, acw1, edwardbabymomma, NATwilight, Thinkingofyou19, fanficreader83, lovingit3, BellaAshes, Tasia626, RoseArcadia, madehoney, Kerry Hale, .19, tbonemom0512, brooklynnjack, BellaCullenPR, cheshirekat516, Deex, BoookWoorm35, lalibare, Kimmie39, TexasTwilight77, princessnerra, aerobee82, flyrbrd, yankeerose, l lynn, reesessweetie, trustme83, ladysharkey1, canadiantwilight, Jewels64, Markiee, alwayswatchingtv, cvaughn82, Twilightie, MzCoqueta, ecsc, edwardcullenfanforlife, Kefe, MYM, EMMW77, babylopez2008, nunigurl, dizzykaz, pippyXYZ, mangaprincess130293, Litany Gone, xAkashaLunax, Bella Quinn, kvgamble, ZiggaZigAhh, Mels78, amo9511, DB.1994, Twilight-boo, Twilight Luverrrr, BronzeHairedMystery, Hope4more, caligyrl4cullen, jktwi, Treya, mdeal82, Emmii, njdevil30718, omgrockit101, Chellie09, aurla0, foxjessica70, save the volvo ride a cullen, SweetHart2BME, augustine4, IsabellaMarieandEdwardAnthony, cheermom13, tkeaton1, SharkGurl, nermalasu, tcrew, -edwardcullen, Mimigrace, LOVE IS A GIFT, pmm, Mimigrace, Lizzie18salmons, beignet, MyriadProBold, i love rob always, maggiejoma, hershey123, twilight4ever359, holnico, mveroherr, kuntrygal, Adienna, mommyamybee, angel-cordy, EmraePenne, soccershadow3, amwine, AngelsLuvMe, theorange3, jenn9394, jenn9394, Cydryna Marie, juliaSwan, i wanna be a lamb, RomperStomper, alsotwilightandedwardfan, twilightfanficreader, 71star, Lillie Cullen, .LovelyXLullaby., bringITback, bnjwl, hehehe, xfarahx, ginnmeadows, Yecatstacey, Giaah, Bellalullabye09, mommytwilight, SpencerSince1994, Cullen-Girl-98, Otakugal, Raven Jadewolfe, Twilvr17, luv4jake, gjmb2000, KRYork, emroseliz, AmberrrJune, rayekay, Humble4, amgrant3, sillybellasara, zdra8351, xneverthinkx, Laura, jenitwilightfan, YankeeFan202, sessahhh, rosalierox, JasmineMarie84, queenfrizz30, Twilight-Maniac3888, Babe Pryor, dontrun, wackynicolecsu, may-bell-rose, SweetPeaTenaj91, 522read, LA TUA CANTANTE MS. CULLEN, summerleigh81, Lizzie2325, bugsmama07, unLuKy, Allieamyxxx, Ice Demon Ranger, Anita118, Descartes1, X-xXxPrincess-IsabellaxXx-X, aliciataz, StephyF, Nez93, jackspergirl, xxGreenEyedGodessxx, snv3, ju007, ingrid44, Nicci06, MafiaBitches, LoveThoseVampires and Chillz Howdy
You are all AMAZING! With your continuous support this story has become what it is now :) I really hope that I haven't missed any of your names ;)
Special shout out to my awesome friend Breath-of-twilight (Kelli) for betaing my chapter at a moment's notice! Thank you so much, Luv ya bb! Check out her profile for V Countdown yummies and her story Distorted Reality.
Also, to huge kisses and hugs goes to Kefe for doing the pre-reading of this chapter, you did awesome job bb, I really can't thank you enough! Please check out her profile for her latest story A Tangled Web.
Shout outs to the following wonderful stories…
"Like a Moth to A Flame" and "Lullaby and Goodnight: The Sleep Stalker" by CitizenCullen25, please don't leave us hanging, bb :)
Stories that are awesome and I'm betaing… "Freeze Frames" by Jewels64, "Homecoming" by dontrun, "If You Just Realize" by Mrs. EdwardxoxoxoCullen and "Never Letting You Go" by DawnVisions please check them out!
Shit! That was one long AN!
Okay! Now without further ado, here it is…
You Don't Know Anything
Chapter Eighteen
A collective "WHAT!" bellowed from the guys as I stared at him pale-faced and one word left my mouth.
"Bella!"
…
You hear that? That's what skin crawling sounds like.
Yeah.
That's how dead-silent the office went after our outburst.
We stood near the edge of his desk just gaping at him in horror. Not knowing what else to say.
Hell!
At that moment, I wasn't sure that I knew how to breathe.
Bella's face filled my mind. How the fuck was I supposed to tell her what I had just heard!
"There has to be something wrong…" Em was the first one to break the silence.
We all turned our heads to look at him as he continued.
"The last time I checked he wasn't adopted." Em told us matter-of-factly.
"Well, kid, the last time I checked, which was just a few minutes ago. And from what I saw in his record, JC was very much adopted. And I think the adoption took place recently. Like…" Uncle Aro looked at the screen in front of him.
"Oh my!" he exclaimed with a furrowed brow.
"What?" I asked him anxiously.
"The adoption took place on Friday; as in the day before yesterday. If only you had here gotten sooner… I can't believe how close you were," he apologized.
Fuck!
It was the day I found out about this whole thing.
"No!" I said forcefully, making uncle Aro jump in his seat a bit.
"That's not happening. You need to tell me what I have to do. I can't have someone knocking at the door asking us to hand them JC! I don't care what it is, I'll do it." My firm voice surprised even me.
Uncle Aro looked at me with a mix of pity and determination.
"There is no way around it, boy. We can't revoke the adoption now that it has been granted. There would be an evaluation and another…" he stopped talking when I started shaking my head furiously.
"When you say that there is an evaluation… that would entail JC being removed from our care and into the adoptive family, doesn't it?" I asked with an angry glare.
Uncle Aro eyed me for a second and nodded solemnly.
"Yeah, that's not gonna happen." I stated firmly.
"Dear boy, you need to calm down. You can't think clearly when you are overreacting." Uncle Aro said with a small smile trying to usher us to sit down.
"Calm down!" James bellowed from the other side of the desk. His body was rigid and his face was as red as a tomato.
"My mother was working on JC's adoption. She would have said something if there was anything wrong. So, don't tell us to calm down; and check those records again cause there's gotta be a mistake!" he growled at Uncle Aro, who gave him a sympathetic glance.
"Well, that's good. Why don't you call her and see what's happened with that?" Uncle Aro gave him a tight smile and gestured to James' cell, which was about to break in the his tight grip.
We all looked at him and quickly said 'okay'.
He flipped the phone open and dialed his mother's number. The office went quiet; and we all could hear the dial tone waiting to be answered.
A few agonizing seconds later, we heard a muffled 'hello' coming from his cell.
"Hey, Mom," James said with a grimace; trying to contain the anger that I could still see surging through his body.
"Yeah, I'm good. You?" He continued the conversation quietly while taking a few deep breaths.
"Yeah, Mom, that's good… Yeah, I'm out with the guys…… No, I just… Umm… listen, Mom… MOM! Yeah, listen, Bella was asking me about JC. She's really worried about what's going on right now. Remember you told her that you had a friend who was a social worker…… yeah… aha… no, it's just that since her eighteenth birthday is near. She asked me about the papers… Yeah…" he listened for a few seconds, his face blank of any emotions; making me almost go damn near crazy with anticipation.
I was about to take the cell from him and demand to know what was being said, when James' face went pale, and he stumbled a bit before he seated himself on the arm of one of the sofas.
"No? But why didn't you say anything before! What do you mean 'everything will be okay'!! MOM! What does that even mean?" he bellowed into his cell.
We all stood there frozen in place waiting for this stupid argument to come to an end.
"No! If you didn't want to do it in the first place, why did you offer your help to begin with?! Why did you promise to help Bella if you wouldn't see it through to the end! No! Now someone could be knocking on Bella's door asking her to hand her son to them! What?! NO! I won't calm the fuck down…" he yelled into his cell. We all listened as an angry woman's voice came from the other end telling him to watch his mouth.
A colorful assortment of curses flew from his mouth as he clenched and unclenched his fist.
"You know, Mom, you could have just told her that you couldn't help," he stated in a calm voice before he listened for a few more seconds.
"Yeah. Well, you know what, Mom. Thanks for nothing." He stated calmly and flipped the phone shut, not waiting for his mother's reply.
He buried his face in his hands for a full thirty seconds; leaving us all on edge and making us lose our minds.
"Well, yeah." He raised a pale, strained looking face to glance at us.
"What the fuck happened?" I asked him while dreading the answer.
He looked at me for a second and then shook his head slowly, "Mom said that she started with the procedure, but then her friend 'advised' her to wait till Bella turns eighteen, that there was no rush to it. So, she didn't proceed with anything. She said that 'everything will be fine' and tried to assure me that Bella is worrying over nothing. And…" James stopped his word vomit and raised his hands to his head to tug at his hair.
"SHIT! I can't believe this is happening!" he looked like he was about to cry.
I looked at him with a red face, my body quivering with rage.
"Bella had totally depended on us with only that task and we've failed her miserably. My mom…" he stammered but I cut him off when I almost pounced on him but was stopped by Emmett.
"What the fuck is wrong with you?! How could your mom be so fucking indifferent about such a matter? You know how Bella is gonna feel now!? You know how she's gonna react!?" I snapped at him as I tried to attack him but was held back by my brother.
"Dude, this is not the time to lose your cool. We gotta think of something that we can do." Jazz snapped at me as he stood, blocking James from my view.
"He's right you know…" the grave voice of forgotten Uncle Aro came from behind me.
I pushed Em away and tried to calm myself.
We stood there, no one daring to look at the other for what seemed like forever.
"I'm sorry I can't help you, kids. At least not in the conventional way…" Uncle Aro told us quietly.
Hmmm… conventional he says.
What about the unconventional?
Of Course!
Just then an idea flashed in my head.
"Yes, there is something that you can help me with," I said quickly.
"You can start working on a marriage permit for Bella and I. We are getting married on her eighteenth birthday. That's on September the thirteenth. That will be the first thing you'll be working on…"
Uncle Aro and the guys looked at me like I'd lost my mind.
"Dude, that's not the time…"
"I don't think Bella will…"
"What about the adoption…"
The guys started before I stopped them with a glare.
Guys, you're ruining everything. I wanted to yell at them.
Once they had all shut up, I turned my gaze to Uncle Aro, who looked like he was contemplating on when was the perfect moment to get out the butterfly net.
Come on, Uncle Aro…
"Can you do that?" I asked him determinedly.
He nodded, "But, boy, this won't change anything…" he started as I shook my head, but he stopped me with a glare and his firm voice, "You came here for my help, boy, so let me finish."
Yep, go on…
"This adoption will be taking effect immediately; which means that they will still take the kid away from you. And even with Bella's blood-relation to the baby, she's still a minor so she won't be able to keep him." He said in a matter-of-fact voice.
His gaze was gentler when he patted me on the back.
"You should think things through, Edward, before you ruin the special relationship you have with that exceptional lady of yours. You need to ask for her father's help. He will support you. I know it. Wait, let me finish…" He stopped me when I attempted to dismiss his request.
Finish?! Oh, Uncle, I haven't even started yet.
"Edward, the Chief is a sensible person. Do you think he would want his daughter to be unhappy? I mean even with all the banters and fights he had with her mother; he would never ever hurt her intentionally! During the time Isabella was with her mother, he missed his daughter so much and fought so hard to get her back. Don't you think that he would think twice before taking away her only happiness and the only thing that kept her sane after the loss of her mother?" he said in exasperation.
There you go… motherfucker was dangling the bait and biting on it. Thanks, Uncle Aro.
"How did you know that the Chief had fought for his daughter?" I asked him cautiously.
"Yeah, how did you know? I only knew because I remember how Aunt Renee used to cry and tell Mom how the Chief was trying to take Bella away from her," James asked him cautiously.
Thank you, James… Uncle Aro?
We all looked at him expectantly. He gave us a stern look, "That was a slip on my part and I shouldn't have told you such a thing," he said coolly and sat down at his desk.
Shit! Come on… we were so close!
"Whoooaaaa! You can't just leave us hanging here. Spill, old man. How did you know all that about the Chief?" Emmett asked him in irritation.
That's when it hit me.
This is getting better and better.
"Because Charlie is his client, Em. I'm guessing Uncle Aro was the one taking care of the legal actions for Charlie, am I right?" I asked Uncle Aro with a smirk, earning a glare from him.
"But why didn't the Chief pursue this to the end? He's a persistent person. I can't imagine why this didn't happen..." I asked him curiously.
Come on, fucker, bite on the bait before I shove it down your throat.
"That's none of your business, that's confidential. But just so you know. Chief Swan always had Isabella's well-being at heart. He loved his daughter so much that he even asked Renee to take her for a year or so at one point for Isabella's sake. " He said in a smug, know-it-all voice.
Then shove it down your throat it is…
I chanced a look at Em and saw his smirk; I gave him a minute nod.
"Really? How can he claim to really love his daughter yet send her away?" Em quipped.
Uncle Aro was one of those people who hated to be mocked or challenged. And the moment those things happened, his temper would flare and he would start spilling his guts out; 'client-confidentiality' be damned.
And that's precisely what happened.
He was falling for it…
Hook…
"Boy! Chief Swan is one of the most protective fathers I have ever seen. The reason he asked Renee to keep Isabella for a year or so was because he didn't like how one of the boys started acting towards Isabella during her summer-school. Can you believe that? A stupid kid's acting out made Charlie ship his daughter to his wife in the middle of the summer, knowing that he might have to fight to get her back.
"And to top it all off, he went against my advice and told Renee that it was safer for Isabella to be with her. He said that Renee 'wouldn't keep his daughter away from him'. And poor naïve Charlie told her everything, because he loved her," he said venomously, still looking at Em.
The guys and I exchanged looks at these new revelations but didn't stop him.
He took a deep breath and continued his banter, "I mean, I told him… I said… Charlie, you don't need to tell her everything. You can send Isabella and just say that you are a bit busy and won't be able to take care of her properly… but no… he needed to be honest with her…" he said in mock soppy voice, placing a hand over his heart.
Line…
"So, don't you dare stand there and doubt Charlie's love for his daughter. The only reason Charlie didn't get his daughter back was because he refused my offer to help him my way." He finished his statement with a glare and sat down at his desk.
And sinker!
I stared at him for a few seconds before a smug smile appeared on my face.
He looked at me for a second before it dawned on him that he had revealed classified information. Even if this bit of information was obsolete by now. Still, it was clear that he was a dear friend of the Chief; and he wouldn't want him to know he'd been giving out information about his case.
Oh, Old man, it's not what you think.
"You know, Guys… Maybe Uncle Aro's advice on telling the Chief about everything isn't bad after all. Especially when we tell him about how his loyal friend has highly praised his determination and commitment about when he fought for his daughter and all…" I told the guys in a serious tone.
I chanced a look at Uncle Aro and saw that he was trying his best to appear nonchalant about our conversation.
"Yeah, well, the Chief and I don't see eye-to-eye any more… we aren't really on a talking terms. Especially after I…" he trailed off when what I was trying to do dawned on him.
Yep, that's what I'm talking about.
My smirk grew, "After you offered to help him in your own way?" I quipped.
He shook his head and sighed, "Yeah, I'm getting what you're after now… but, Edward, this is not guaranteed. Plus how would I know that you won't rat me out to your dad or to Charlie?" he said cautiously while narrowing his eyes at me.
"You can deny everything, but I would never kick the help." I assured him.
He eyed us for a second and sighed again.
"Okay then, if someone comes to get the baby any time before I contact you, you make sure to stall and don't hand them the baby. Keep JC out of their sight or tell them that this is someone else's baby or better yet, tell them that JC and his guardian will be available in a couple of days. Lie, kid. Lie because that's gonna be your only hope. And leave the rest to me," he stated firmly.
It was quiet in the car.
Too quiet.
"So, are we gonna discuss how we are going to dish the shit to Bella, or are we gonna stay silent like some freaked out pansies?" I snapped at the guys in the car.
"That's subtle, bro." Em quipped.
"Shut it, Em. I'm trying to figure out how to break the news to Bella without giving her a heart attack! Personally, I think James should be the one to do it since his mom was the one to screw the whole thing in the first place." I glared at James through the rear-view mirror.
"Fuck, man. That's not funny. I don't think I can face her. Maybe I should just play it safe and hop on a plane right now. School and all be damned," he groaned.
"I can't believe Aunt Tanya would be this… irresponsible about something this serious." Jasper mused.
"I think you, Edward, should tell her. The guys and I will be there to back you up. And don't play around it, just tell her everything quickly. Don't give her time to react. Dish the shit quickly, like ripping a band-aid. That's our best approach." Jasper voiced quietly.
I nodded and stayed silent for a minute, contemplating on how to tell Bella all about this.
"Um… do you think I should tell Bella everything? Like why she went to Phoenix and stayed there for the last few years…" I asked the guys.
"Yeah, man. No secrets. I'm not keeping anything from her. You should have seen her in Phoenix whenever her father was mentioned in a conversation. Renee wasn't really subtle when talking about her ex and that affected Bella really bad. That's why Bella didn't tell him about JC in the first place." James jumped in.
I nodded at him. At least he's trying to help now. There was no use pointing fingers.
What's done is done.
We called the girls to set a meeting point at the mall and stayed silent for the rest of the ride.
We arrived a short time later at the mall and got out of the car. We stood there and looked at each other warily.
"Well, here goes nothing…" I said and made my way inside.
We were just coming into the food court when I slammed into someone who was practically running, causing me to almost lose my footing.
Christ! Can't this stupid series of Unfortunate Events just end already!
"Hey, asshole, watch where you're going" I snapped at the guy who wasn't lucky enough to stable himself. He was starting to get up on his feet when I recognized him. He looked pissed and about to cry.
Perfect! Just the cherry to top the crap that is my day!
"Well, if it isn't Mikey Mouse… Why are you running? You didn't like the tip someone left you and you're about to go cry to your mommy," I mocked using baby talk.
He straightened himself, "Fuck you, Cullen. I can't believe someone as sweet as Bella is hanging out with the likes of you. She should have been with me. I would have taken care of her and JC." He snapped at me, venom dripping from his voice.
Fucker! You mention my Bella again and I'll make sure that you're 'hanging' from the tree in our back yard.
I looked over his shoulder and saw the girls sitting around one of the tables playing with JC. They still hadn't spotted us.
Okay, fucker, you have 15 seconds to get out of my face… Going once…
I narrowed my eyes at him, "It's normal for a girlfriend to hang out with her boyfriend. Bella has already made her choice. So, go find your own Barbie. And watch what you're saying if you know what's good for you." I spoke gravely as I took a couple of steps towards him.
Emmett must have guessed my motives, because he grabbed my arm from behind, "Dude, chill. He's not worth it," he warned me quietly.
I took a calming breath, "Now, run along, Mikella before I snap your neck." I warned him quietly.
"Oh, I know what I'm saying. And as soon as she realizes that I care about her enough not to engage in fights or have whores hanging around, she'll be running to me where I'll be waiting for her with open arms," he answered viciously, as he looked at my face and bandaged hand.
Going Twice…
I took another step towards him; and he took a step back before he continued.
"I know that you and your gang…" he glared at the guys and continued, "… have brain-washed her. But don't worry. Soon enough she'll see who truly cares about her. I'll be generous enough to take her even if she's a Cullen whore now." he retorted maliciously.
And… Punched!
Before I even realized it, I was swinging my arm. My good fist made contact with his face, making a God-awful sound when his nose cracked under my knuckles and spurted blood all over us. He yelped like a little girl and toppled to the ground. I pounced on him and managed to give him a nice purple eye matching mine in the morning and a fat lip before Emmett managed to drag me off of him. I fought against Emmett and James' grips wanting to kill the bastard.
"Fucker, get out of our faces before we complete the job Edward has started. Now, GO!" Jasper snapped at the asshole. He scrambled to his feet shooting me a dirty look and disappeared from my sight.
"Who the fuck was that asshole? Is he that Mike who Bella told me is supposedly such a nice person?" James asked in disgust.
I was still trying to catch my breath so I just nodded at him.
"Edward, promise me, next time, I'll be the one throwing punches at him," James glared in the direction in which Mike had disappeared.
"I really can't promise you that. Especially if he calls my Bella that word again," I told him quietly and made my way to my girl.
I'm sure my face was still flushed from my little action when I reached the girls' table. Because once my girl's sight landed on me, she stopped mid-laugh and got up to run to me and meet me half-way.
"Are you okay? What happened? What's that blood on your shirt and hand?" She bombarded me with questions as she checked my body for injuries.
I honestly had forgotten about Mike's blood on my hand and shirt, since at that time all I had in mind was getting to her.
"I'm fine, love, just had a quick rendezvous with our friend Mickey Mouse," I assured her with a small smile as I wrapped her in my arms and breathed her in, then started leading us to the table.
"Edward! Not again! Mike is a sweet person; he was so polite when he waited on our table and made sure I had everything I needed to prepare a bottle for JC. He never said anything inappropriate." She chastised me as we took our seats at the table. I noticed that all the guys were talking to their girls.
But my girl continued her banter, "I mean even when he tried to ask me out on a date and I brushed him off, politely of course, he apologized for making me feel uncomfortable." She scowled at me and crossed her arms over her chest.
She looked angry right now, but that little bit of information about Mike asking her out made me snap, "He did what?!" I asked her incredulously.
"Dude… chill…" Jazz nudged me with his arm since he was sitting beside me.
"That fucker asked my girl out! Can you believe the nerve on him?" I fumed. The fucker was lucky he wasn't in front of me right now.
"Edward! Bella brushed him off, she told him that you guys are together now. There is no reason for you to be angry." Alice berated me and the other girls agreed with her.
"Seriously, girls, that guy is so fucked up! He was acting like an insane person! And if you are saying that he was talking to you calmly. Then he should be auditioning to be the next Joker and will be so getting that role!" James told the girls off.
"James, not you too!" Bella whined.
"Guys, you are exaggerating! I actually know that Mike is a sweet guy! He and I go way back since Dad used to send me to that Summer school during my summers at Forks." My Bella said smugly, "And he asked me if it was okay for him to visit me today to catch up, but I told him that Dad was away and that I was staying with you guys."
I looked at her; my head buzzing with a sense of Déjà vu and hovering over danger.
Why the fuck does this sound familiar…
I looked at the guys, who gave me curious looks and I shrugged.
"How come you never told me about him before?" James prompted her.
"Well, I'd actually forgotten about him. He was the sweetest boy at summer school, he used to take care of me, bring me sweets and snacks. He even used to protect me from other boys." Bella finished with the girls awwing and ooohing around us.
I looked at the guys. They had alarmed looks of recognition on their faces, "Umm… Bells, when was the last time you' saw him?" Jazz asked her quietly, earning a curious look from Alice beside him.
"Umm… I guess it was the last summer I was here in Forks. After that summer, Mom and Dad got into that fight; and Mom hasn't allowed me to come back here since." Bella told him.
"I remember dad making a big deal about not liking that one kid because he was 'not allowing' me to make other friends," she quipped but stopped when she felt me stiffen beside her.
She looked at me worriedly, then shifted her look to the other guys who had the same rigid-looking postures.
"What's going on, Jazz?" Alice asked him worriedly, and then looked at Emmett, "Em, you are never this serious. What's wrong, you guys?"
"Emmett McCarty Cullen, you better fucking spill before I kick your ass?" Rose threatened Em, who gulped and looked at me.
"Edward! What the fuck is going on?" my Bella was reaching her limits apparently.
At that moment, Jazz interrupted the girls and proceeded to tell them what had just happened a few moments ago and then all the information Uncle Aro gave us. He made sure to keep the juicy bits of information about JC's adoption in the dark for now.
No one said anything till he was silent. The girls had shocked looks on their faces. And from the look on Bella's face, I was happy that JC was asleep soundly in his stroller, because she looked so pale and I could feel her body trembling a bit as she leaned against my body. I wrapped my arm around her shoulder and held her close to my body; feeling her need for comfort.
"I mean, seriously Bells… don't you think that it's a bit unnerving that a boy of that age was 'not allowing' you to make any other friends?" James chastised her.
She gulped, "Oh, God. So much makes sense now…" she trailed off weakly and took a shaky breath.
"It just didn't make sense. Dad was a really great guy. I mean I know that he loved me and Mom so much. It didn't make sense that Dad would be doing anything to harm me. Mom told me that he was holding me back. And she told me that I was better off living in Phoenix, cause Dad didn't know how to take care of me…" she shook her head as she stared ahead, not really seeing anything.
"It's okay, love. Charlie did what he thought was best for you. I'd bet he would have done it again in a heartbeat if he sensed that you were in any kind of danger. I would have done the same…" I whispered the last part.
She jerked her head to look at me, "You wouldn't!" she snapped at me.
"Promise me, Edward. Promise me that you'll never let me go just because you think you're putting me in danger," she pleaded with me.
I smiled at her and pecked her on the forehead, but didn't say anything.
We were all silent for a minute before my dear sister who was in dire need of a 'tongue-plucking' interrupted us with the most dreaded question of the day, "So, what happened with the adoption? Did Uncle Aro help you out with it?" Alice asked us curiously.
The guys and I glared at her and she shrank back against Jazz who sighed and shook his head.
"Cuz, next time you sit next to your girl, make sure to unplug the batteries attached to her speech engine," James said irritably, earning a glare from Jazz.
I hear ya, James.
"Hey! I just want to know what happened!" Alice buzzed excitedly in her seat.
"Maybe you'd better be safe and just go for a full engine shut off," Emmett groaned.
Rose smacked him at the back of his head, "She's your sister, idiot!" she snapped.
"But he's got a point; I mean we've been here, what? Like thirty minutes and…" I trailed off my bantering when I saw Bella glaring at me.
The guys and I gulped.
"Oh my God!" Alice shrieked.
Making us all jump in our seats.
"I was right! I told you, Jazz! I told you it's not gonna happen. If I had a crystal ball…" she said excitedly before I interrupted her.
"I would have known just the place to shove it!" I looked at Jazz whose face was tinted pink.
"Hey, she told me not to say anything to you, guys! Can you imagine the mental state we would be in when dealing with your Uncle Aro if we had known that it's not gonna work from the beginning?" Jazz defended.
"Yeah, Jazz is the only one of you guys who can hold a straight face." Alice stated calmly.
"Why did he refuse to help you? Does he want more money? I have money…" Bella's shaking voice was enough to shut all the guys up. Her face was so pale now and I could feel her trembling.
"Love, it's not money. Don't worry. Uncle Aro will be helping us. It's just that there was a bit of a complication that we didn't anticipate…" I tried to reassure, then she nodded at me and frowned.
"Is it because you're too young? Or maybe we should be married before we work on the adoption…" she blabbed.
"Nah! Bells. It's neither the age nor the marriage. It's just the technicality of not being able to adopt an already adopted baby…" Em explained to her cleverly.
The guys and I shot him nasty looks and I heard Bella and the girls gasp around us.
I looked at Bella who was now so pale she looked like she was gonna pass out.
"Love, breathe. Everything will be fine. He's gonna help us… Love, listen to me… breathe…" I held my girl's trembling body as she started to hyperventilate.
"Fuck, Em. Now look what you have done." I snapped at him as I held my Bella to my body.
"How… what… who… but Tanya… Oh my God… are they taking him from me?" Bella stammered between breaths.
"Love, listen to me. Let me tell you what happened," I rubbed her back.
"Here, Bella, drink this. Calm down. Everything will be fine… I know." Alice gave her a reassuring bright smile.
I looked at her suspiciously as she handed the water to Bella to sip it slowly.
"Pixie, your sensing wand had better be right this time, or else I'll stick it up your boyfriend's ass!" I warned her in a low tone.
She looked at me quizzically so I elaborated.
"Well, you're my sister. And I'm still angry with him because he hasn't warned us, not that I believe in that shit…" I explained with a glare towards Jazz.
"Hey, I helped your dumb over-reacting ass back there, puff-head!" Jazz snapped at me.
"Guys, cool down so we can explain to the ladies what happened," Emmett told us.
"Shut it, man. You're the one who got us into this heap!" James snapped at him.
"Shut it, y' all!" Rose snapped at the guys.
"Yeah, pointing fingers won't help now! We need to know what happened so can mend it…" Vicky said in a worried voice as she looked at the sniffling Bella.
"Okay, let me start with this. Maybe Tanya was the one who adopted JC. James why don't you call your mom and ask her," Vicky told James as she rubbed soothing circles on Bella's back.
"Yeah, James, can you please call Tanya… Maybe it was her…" Bella said between hiccups.
James looked at Bella sadly and shook his head 'no', without saying a word; Bella's tears started leaking again.
"Guys, it's not that bad. Can I speak now? 'Cause it's already so much drama and you guys haven't heard half of it." Jazz said seriously.
And without hesitating, he started explaining what happened. He explained all the details and how we cornered Uncle Aro to help us with JC's situation.
By the end of his speech, Bella was silently sniffling against my chest.
"So, it's not all bad, you guys. Uncle Aro just asked us to make sure that we don't hand JC to the Social Workers. He's gonna do all he can to help us out," I told them while looking at Bella.
"And how are we gonna keep the Social Workers from taking JC? It's not like we can run away or give them fake IDs. 'Cause we're gonna be breaking the law and we don't need that right now," Bella told me with a frown.
I was about to say something when someone gasped beside me…
We all turned our heads to look at Alice who had this huge smile on her face.
"Dude, Mike might think like the Joker. But check out that smile, don't you think Heath Ledger is now turning in his grave?" Em said hesitantly.
"Dude, this is the second time you've disrespected my girlfriend, you won't do it again." Jazz said gravely, making Em shrink in his seat.
I wanted to say that I thought of that before, but I remained quiet for fear that I might lose my head.
"Sorry, man. Don't worry though. She's my sister, the shit comes naturally." Em shrugged it off.
"What is it, Alice? I know that look…" Rose said with a twinkle in her eyes.
"Well, Bella just solved the whole thing. It's all gonna work out fine." Alice said in her know-it-all tone.
"Would you just fuckin' spill, Hermione!" James snapped at her.
She gave him a dirty look, while Jazz clipped him on the back of his head, "That's my girlfriend, bucket-head. So since she's about to save your ass, you better pay her some respect!" Jazz retorted.
"Well, isn't it obvious? Uncle Aro told you to keep those Social Workers from taking JC and that's precisely what we're gonna do. Only thing is… he didn't tell us how to do it. And I have an idea on how to achieve that, without breaking the law… well, sort of."
We all looked at her puzzled, "Guys?" she said mischievously, "Who wants to play house?"
House?
The guys and I looked at the pixie like she had lost her mind…
The girls however, sans Bella, straightened their backs and their eyes started to twinkle.
"You mean…" Rose trailed off.
"But can we pull it off? What if your parents ruin it?" Vicky asked her worriedly.
"Alice, what are you talking about?" Bella asked them, still not catching up on to what they were talking about.
And neither were the guys, of course.
"No honey, not Alice. I'm Ashley… Ashley Green, nice to meet you." Alice extended her hand for Bella to shake.
A broad smile broke on Bella's face as she started catching up on what Alice was saying.
"Kristen Stewart, nice to meet you." My Bella replied back, shaking Alice's hand as she started giggling.
Playing House!
Realization hit me and apparently the guys as well.
We all smiled at each other, "But what about Mom and Dad?" Em asked quickly.
"Well, we can give them a call and see when they'll be arriving. Most likely the Social Workers will be coming tomorrow, since you said that the adoption said 'effective immediately'." Alice answered confidently.
"Do you think it will work? I mean, it's obvious that JC is the only baby in the house… that's a really close call." James asked nervously while rubbing his neck, "And don't forget that I have school tomorrow here in Port Angeles." he finished.
"Oh, I know what we can do," Rose said with a big smile.
We looked at her expectantly.
"Em, remember those cousins of mine who had like a farm full of kids. We can offer to baby sit those kids from hell for the next few days. That'll throw them off," Rose winked at Em who guffawed like an idiot.
"Oh boy, yeah I remember those." Em answered her shaking his head.
"Don't worry, guys, you can be our back up plan… not sure how it will work for now, we'll figure it out soon." Alice told James and Vicky who sat there pouting.
"Okay, here's how it's gonna be…" Alice sat down and leaned towards us to start the scheming.
***********
Another hour had passed and everything was planned; including clothes, relationships, kids and jobs.
Once all was planned, we went to the shops we needed to get our stuff from and headed home.
The ride home was a bit quiet. This time, Em and I took the jeep with Rose and Bella. While Jasper and Alice dropped James and Vicky off. They promised to come tomorrow in the evening to see how things were and to get their things they left at our house.
I sat in the back seat staring at Bella who sat there pondering quietly, "Are you okay, Love?" I asked her quietly.
"Do you think it will work out?" she asked me sadly, not looking at me.
I grabbed her chin and turned her head to look at me, "It will definitely work out. I promise. I'm not willing to let JC go, okay?" I told her firmly.
She smiled sadly at me and placed her head on my chest. I wrapped my arms around her and rubbed her back soothingly.
"Why does everything with us have to be so complicated?" she asked me resignedly.
"Think of it this way. When we are old, we'll have good material to tell our grandchildren… and guess what… this time we won't be lying." I winked at her making her giggle softly.
"I'm just tired of worrying, you know. I just want everything to be over." She told me softly.
"I understand, love. I want the same thing," I spoke into her hair.
"You know, I owe you a big 'thank you'." She tilted her head to look at me.
"Oh, you are most welcome, but why do you owe me a 'thank you' exactly?" I asked her curiously.
"It was your stubbornness that alerted us to JC's adoption problem. Think about it. If you hadn't overreacted and offered to adopt JC yourself, we could have gotten a visit from those Social Workers. I could have lost JC just like this," she snapped her fingers for emphasis.
"You are most welcome, love." I kissed her on the forehead.
I looked at her for a second before a wide smug smile spread on my lips, "So… umm… what exactly do you owe me?" I asked her jokingly, earning a slap on the arm.
"Mind out of the gutter, Cullen." She chastised half-heartedly, trying to conceal her own smile.
"Well, maybe we'll talk about it later." I offered with a wink.
********
When we reached our house it was already evening. Bella - as usual - went to take care of JC; leaving the rest of us to prepare the house to host the awaited Social Workers.
It was a school night, so we opted on finishing all those preparations and getting them out of the way.
Family pictures were taken down and play toys for Rose's second cousins were left around the entrance of the house and in the living room.
Alice and the guys had worked wonders to give off the image that this house had two families living in it.
Alice and Jasper were gonna be the married couple who shared this big house with me and Bella. While Rose and Em were the next door neighbors; living at the Swan's residence.
Scenarios were discussed after Bella came down to the kitchen to prepare dinner for all of the gang.
You could see that even when the conversation was light, everyone seemed a bit skittish.
We called Mom and she told us that they would be arriving tomorrow night. After the usual 'be safe' and 'make sure to lock up' we said goodbye.
We sat down in the living room to watch a movie. We all exchanged cautious looks and kept throwing Bella worried glances knowing she was the one who was about to lose her mind.
"Please, guys, stop looking at me like I'm gonna break. It's gonna work. I know it will…" she said that last bit in a shaky voice and looked at me with eyes brimming with tears.
"…Won't it?" she asked me and then collapsed against my chest sobbing loudly.
I wrapped her in my arms kept her there just letting her cry her eyes out. I knew this whole day was taking its toll on her. It was a miracle that she held on this long.
The guys stayed silent during the whole while. They kept their eyes on the movie; giving us privacy, but not leaving the room so Bella wouldn't feel like she was bothering them.
A few minutes later, Bella's sobbing quieted down but she kept her face buried in my chest. I continued to rub her back and plant kisses on her forehead.
"Are you okay, love? Do you want me to get you something?" I asked her softly.
She shook her head and raised her swollen eyes to me, giving me a weak smile, "No, I'm fine… it's just…" she trailed off not knowing what to say.
But there was no need, I knew exactly what she meant, "It's okay, love, we understand. We'll always be there for you… I'll always be there for you." I told her with my sincerest voice, because I meant it.
She smiled weakly, "Thank you, Edward. I love you so much. I know I couldn't have done any of this without you… without all of you, thank you, all," she said softly, smiling at the guys who waived her off.
She sighed and laid her head against my chest again squeezing me tighter to her and I didn't mind it one bit.
A few seconds later, I heard her breathing even out, "Okay, guys. That's my cue. We'll wake up bright and early to put the final touches and prepare the stuff we are taking to school with us before we leave…" I whispered to the guys not wanting to disturb Bella.
They nodded at me and made their way upstairs.
"Rose and I will take care of JC tonight. You take care of Bella for us." Alice offered softly, giving my shoulder a soft pat.
"Thank you, sis. I owe you big time." I smiled at her.
"You take care of her, Edward. That would be your payback. After all, she brought back my brother…" she smiled sweetly at me and planted a kiss on my cheek.
"She's right, you know," Rose agreed.
"Yeah…" Em and Jazz nodded.
"I know," I said softly as I stared at Bella whom I was carrying in my arms. I pressed her petit body to mine and made my way upstairs to my room.
Alice and Rose helped her change, since she was out cold then left us alone for the night.
That night Bella's sleep was restless; she thrashed around and cried more than once having nightmares all night.
I held her to me and comforted her as much as I could.
The next day went by in a haze. Alice and Rose helped Bella look presentable since she had a rough night. Classes went by agonizingly slow. I hadn't left Bella's side till it was time for her class with Jazz and Fuck-head Mike.
I left her at that class, reluctantly, throwing the battered Mike a nasty look for good measure.
We left school for the day and went to pick up JC from the day care. The guys proceeded home to start on their makeup and stuff. I mean even if the Social Workers didn't come today, it was better to be safe than sorry.
We took JC and sped home. I parked my car and got out. We could hear kids playing and yelling from inside.
Bella looked at me and smiled widely as we made our way inside.
"It's about time you arrived you guys, come on, there isn't much time." Alice came in her costume and led us both upstairs.
I took a shower and put my outfit on. I didn't need much make up; just some light touches to cover what was left of the bluish bruise near my eye. My stubble had grown, giving me a more grown up look I needed.
I knocked at the door to Bella's room, "Guys, are you ready?" I asked them.
"Yeah, we just need a minute. You, go on, move the cars and install the ear piece." Alice's muffled voice came through the door.
Finally, everything was set.
"Brady Bunch, we've got a foreign car parked outside. Places, everyone. Over and out." Emmett's hushed voice came through the earpiece we had in our ears.
The players are waiting in their designated places waiting for that much anticipated knock at the door.
Knock knock…
Yep, much like this one…
Well, here goes nothing.
End Chapter Eighteen
AN: Who wants to play house, my lovelies ;) please let me know what you think… was it worth the wait? I hope that you had caught all the little hints I left you along this chapter… press the green button to let me know if you want to see what's gonna happen in the upcoming "Playing House" chapter ;)
Luv ya!