Twilight character names belong to Stephenie Meyer. The inspiration for TLB is credited to Lavender Mornings by Jude Deveraux. No copyright infringement is intended.
Thank you Ann and Jess, (my amazing betas at project team beta dot com) for walking me through this process.
A/N From some of the reviews I received, there may be some confusion over the end of the last chapter. Edward had all of his money on the line when he rolled, roughly four thousand dollars. In 2010, this would be roughly equal to $50,000.
Grandmom...for you.
In The Wings
The buzz around me was so loud that I couldn't think. Men were shouting, cursing, and nearly deranged at the sight before them. Before I could take a breath Emmett threw me in the air and pushed against my chest so hard that all of the air has escaped my lungs. I fell backward on my ass, stunned.
His voice was echoing in my ears but the haze had yet to release me. My eyes stared blankly up at my friend.
"Did you hear me?" he demanded. "What the hell are you going to do with all that money?"
What?
With the help of Emmett's outstretched hand, I was pulled to my feet. I took two steps back toward the cardboard and leaned over at my roll.
It's a fucking seven.
A seven.
I won.
There was eight thousand dollars lying on the deck in front of me. I looked over at Emmett with a stunned blank expression. I could only muster two words at this point.
"I'm done."
"What?"
"Emmett, I'm done. I know with absolute certainty that if I roll again, I'll lose."
Emmett reached forward to swipe the money off the pass line before the boxman could call on any more bets.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" the dark haired man growled at Emmett.
Emmett swept the money off the line, stood to his full height and folded his massive arms over his chest.
"My friend says he's done."
He wrapped his massive paw around my shoulder.
"Take off your shirt, Edward."
I did as I was told and handed my shirt to Emmett. He refastened the buttons and knotted the arm holes to create a make shift bag.
"Fill it," he ordered, thrusting the shirt back into my hands.
My knees gave out, collapsing me to the deck. My arm swept the cash and seconds later I was cradling the stash against my chest. Emmett pulled me behind his frame.
"We're leaving now," he stated with authority. "Anyone got a problem with that?"
Angry bitter curses followed but quickly hushed, and I knew that no one was stupid enough to try to take on Emmett on the open deck. Officers were watching from the wheelhouse and leaning over the sundeck watching us intently. We turned to leave, and once again, I felt grateful for my good natured but intimidating friend.
We went back to the bunks and counted the money. Emmett found a sack and together we stuffed eight thousand dollars in it. The balance I gave to Emmett telling him to have a good night on the town when we got to New York.
"Where are you going?" he asked as I stood shoving the sack under my shirt and tucking my pants back into place.
"I'm going to stash the money."
"Where?" he asked.
"I don't want you to know. They can't come after you if you don't know where the money is."
"If they come after you, they come after me, Edward."
I grinned, slapping Emmett on the shoulder.
"They have to catch me first."
oo!OO!oo
Two days passed, and we were finally on the home stretch of our journey. After breakfast Emmett yanked me up the stairwell to the crowded deck. Not long after, the men began shouting over the railing, waving at everyone and everything. The salty air was electric around us as the Queen Mary steamed up the Hudson to dock in New York.
An amazing chill ran through my body as one man spotted her and then another. Before long, all of us were craning our necks just to get a glimpse of her. Lady Liberty. She stood as a massive tower, a beacon for everything we'd fought for, everything we'd survived in order to get back here. To our home. I saw more than one man wipe away a stray tear, and my own emotions swelled as I realized that I too have somehow made it back to US soil.
More than I ever could have imagined had happened in the last two years of my life. I've battled, lived, loved, lost and found, and for all of it, I'm a better, stronger man. Deep within my very soul, I realized that I could say this because I had her. I could be happy and excited about my future; undoubtedly I had one to look forward to because of Bella. A shudder ran through me as I contemplated what this journey home would have been like without her.
What if I hadn't found her in time? What if Carlisle hadn't discovered penicillin could help her? What if it didn't work? What if James had gotten to her?
I realized that in order to keep my sanity, I needed to focus on the fact that we had survived all of those things and so much more, Dagnaw, Normandy, Marginy. My head shook back and forth as I remembered just how many people were responsible for getting us here. I saw the images of our friends in the faces of the crowd that had gathered to welcome us home.
Angela, Ben, Esme, Carlisle, Mike, Seth, Siobhan, Liam, Charlie, Rosalie, Emmett and lastly…Jasper
Each person was like a puzzle piece, fitting into our life at the right moment to get us here. I couldn't help but wonder who had been working so diligently to make everything turn out right for me. For both of us. The realization suddenly hit me, stunning me as the tears streaked down my face. When I left here, I was so lost; now I had everything to live for, to find…to love. In the middle of all of the cheers and shouting, a hushed prayer of thanks fell from my lips.
Thank you, Riley.
I took a deep breath, and at the sound, Emmett turned over his shoulder to make sure I was okay. He had become my constant shadow over these two days. The unease was nagging at his otherwise buoyant personality. I had to admit, I kept my senses about me, looking for men lurking in the stalls of the latrine or down empty corridors. Although the money was never on my person, that wouldn't have stopped anyone's attempt to beat the living crap out of me until they discovered its hiding place.
"Edward, do you realize that there's enough here to buy a house, lock, stock and barrel?"
Emmett's words sounded again in my ear and a huge simile crossed my face. There was. Bella wouldn't have to work a day in her life if she didn't want to. She could stay at home and raise Serena without worry. A half chuckle, half snort escaped from me as I realized again that luck like that was truly impossible…at least without a little help from up above.
I got it, Riley. I'm never getting rid of you, am I?
Angel or constant pain in the ass, either way I was much happier, thinking of him hanging around.
Thirty minutes later, the gigantic boat docked and the masses began piling out, ready to leap into the arms of family and friends. I huddled with Emmett over the bough, smiling to myself as the first men jumped and shouted, stamped, marched, whooped and hollered that they were finally home. My heart smiled at the kisses and hugs and cheers of delight.
We really were home.
I told Emmett days ago that I would be staying on the boat until it was nearly empty before retrieving the winnings. Retrieving the money was only part of the reason; the more important part was Bella. We were going to keep her cover as long as possible. I noticed Emmett checking his wristwatch a second time in the last few minutes.
"Emmett, I'm going to be fine," I assured him. "It's after two, and your train leaves at three thirty." I turned to look him in the eye. I was more grateful than my words could express. "I'll be okay, Emmett. I can't thank you enough, my friend."
Emmett pulled me into a massive hug, and I could hardly breathe. For a moment, I pitied the women subjected to his overzealous affection. When he finally set me back down, I was rewarded with a rough punch to the shoulder and a big burly grin. I groaned and return his playful smile.
That's definitely going to leave a bruise.
"You had better ring me within the week, Edward, or when I find you, and I will find you," he added dropping his voice an octave. "I'm going to make your lips kiss my hairy ass all better."
The image made me shudder.
"I mean it. Pick up, or pucker up, buddy."
At that point I was in a full out belly laugh, I couldn't help it. Emmett joined me and soon we were both rolling like school kids. The mixture of home and happiness was infectious. I held the paper with the phone number for Emmett's relations against my forehead, pressing it as if to memorize it by osmosis.
"I'll call, trust me." I grinned.
"Then you'll come visit right? I want to meet that wife and daughter of yours. I know your wife's a beauty. I can't wait to see her and your little one with my own two eyes."
"I'd like that."
Emmett slapped me on the back once more and slung his duffel over his shoulder. He waved once more as he turned to make his way down the stairwell. After another fifteen minutes, I decided it was time. I pushed myself away from the rail and wove through the remaining soldiers and crew left on the boat. Drifting down two flights of stairs to A deck, I made my way to the opposite end of the boat. I frequently checked to see if I had been followed before approaching the door with a solitary cross emblazoned in its center. My knuckle rapped gently against the wood. Nervously, I pressed the handle of my service arm against my bare skin. Its cool metal reassured me that I would be able protect both of us if necessary.
"Hello?" a voice called from the other side of the door.
"It's me, chaplain. Edward."
Seconds later, I was greeted by the friendly smile of Father Stanley.
"Hello, Edward," he called, welcoming me with a genuine embrace.
He lifted the covers spread over his bed and hoisted the mattress up a few inches. He placed the flattened envelope securely in my hands. I was still stunned by my good fortune. I reached inside, pulled several bills out and placed them into father's hands.
"I'm sure you can do something good with this, Father."
Before he could reply, I lifted my shirt and placed the envelope in the front of my pants before repositioning the cloth to conceal it. I checked my watch, thanked Father once more and headed down the stairs and back along the corridors toward my bunkroom. The corridor was empty when I reached it. The silence felt unsettling and almost eerie. I decided to leave my gun where it was for now. I ducked into the room, which now contained only empty bunks. My bag was the only one left in the room. I looked it over before approaching. It appeared untouched since Emmett and I had left it there a few hours ago.
My palms were sweaty as I reached for the bag. I slung it over my shoulders, knocking the gun further to the left.
This won't work. If I'm attacked, I won't be able to reach it quickly.
I checked my watch again and realized that I only had a few minutes before Bella and Rosalie left her ward. I quickly unfastened my trousers and pulled the gun back into place before I picked up the bag with my left hand. A deep breath filled my lungs. I was more confident, knowing I could reach my gun if I need it. Without delay, I returned to the stairwell and made my way down the last flight to E deck.
As I came around the edge of the stairwell, I began to search for her. The doorway leading to the gangplank was now no more than thirty yards ahead of me. I leaned slightly to make out the figure walking ahead of me. Their gait was off; whoever it was certainly wasn't making time to get himself off this boat. The figure shifted slightly to the left, and I could instantly tell it was Rosalie, dressed in civilian clothes, with her hair pinned up. She was pushing Bella's wheelchair in front of her.
A gust of air left my chest. She was right there, still dressed as an ill soldier but not too worse for wear. Rosalie stopped at the edge of the doorway to stoop down and pick up a duffel bag for Bella. I was about to protest at the weight I thought she was about to place on my wife's lap when I suddenly lost all the air in my lungs.
My hands flew up to my neck as a strong forearm wrapped around me cutting off all air to my windpipe. I tried to choke, but no air can enter or escape. I was in a haze as my assailant began to drag me back toward the stairwell. I felt almost relieved that I didn't have a chance to call out to Rosalie and endanger her or Bella. As I was being dragged, the heel of my shoe clicked loudly against the wooden molding of the wall. Before I could even begin to think about how I could defend myself, two deafening clicks reverberated through the hall.
My assailant froze momentarily. I was still without air, but I managed to lift my eyes to the vision before me, Bella and Rosalie had turned with pistols cocked and pointed dead center on my assailant.
No, NO!
A knife was positioned at the edge of my neck in response. The point pressed against my skin and I felt a sharp pain as it pierced my skin.
"You can't save him," the assailant spat at my wife. "I've just come for the money he stole, MY money."
"Take it," Bella coughed.
I couldn't tell if she was trying to keep up the façade of being an ill soldier or just trying to buy me some time. Her eyes bore into mine, but I was too far away to clearly read her signal. I don't know if she wanted me to go left or just collapse under my own weight. My mind was reeling and I could feel myself losing consciousness. I realized that the signal wouldn't matter in a few seconds when I passed out and became dead weight on his arm. My only shot was to fall and fall hard enough to take him down with me. My eyes blinked and I tried to reason how Bella would react. Before I could think of anything, a third click sounded. This one was close. Very close.
"They can't, but I can," the voice called out in an angry growl. "Drop him, or I'll splatter your brains all over this boat."
My assailant hesitated and I could feel my eyes begin to roll behind my head.
"NOW," the voice bellowed louder now. My body would have flinched if I'd had any control over my muscles.
My body could hold on no longer and I heard a scream as the weight of my body collapsed to the ground.
The Last Breath Historical Research and Reference Guide:
Chapter 21 In the Wings
Story reference: Edward wins eight thousand dollars playing craps in straight rolls.
Historical Significance: During his return voyage from Japan to San Fransisco my grandfather won nearly eight thousand dollars playing craps. It was enough to by my grandparents first home at 723 N. 67TH Street in Philadelphia. They lived there together for nearly sixty years.
Source: http:/pics(dot)livejournal(dot)com/firstblushes/pic/0000akz8
Story reference: Edward's winnings are enough to secure his and Bella's financial future.
Historical Significance: Inflation calculated at roughly 3.9% over the period. Between Edward's winnings and his GI pay, Edward and Bella would have over $125K in today's dollars to buy a house and raise a family.
Source: http:/www(dot)dollartimes(dot)com/calculators/inflation(dot)htm
A/N: I knew from early on that I would find a way to write the gambling sequence into the story line. This actually happened to my Grandfather on his return trip from Japan to San Francisco. There is some confusion over whether he won the money in straight rolls or over the course of the two week trip, but I like the idea of him winning it all at once. The part of the story where he gives the money to the chaplain for safekeeping is also true. Once my grandfather got to San Francisco, he wired the money to my grandmother in Philadelphia. He returned home from the war in February of 1945 and they were married in early March, two days before my Grandmother's 21st birthday. The family story from there is not part of TLB but it was pretty interesting. If you want to know the rest of the tale let me know and I'll PM you the rest.
Thanks for reading and let me know what you think,
-First Blush