For those of you wanting to know the contents of the will, you get it all in this chapter. One more hurdle down.

Thank you to Kyla713 for always putting up with me and catching me on my stuff. Thank you to Packy for being in my doc and all her comments.

I'm sure you all are curious. Enjoy.

~.~

Chapter 25-

My parent's house didn't feel like home to me as it used to. Where I felt comfortable and carefree...safe. Now, as I walked through the front door with Bella's hand in mine, it felt tainted. Ruined. My actions and how I left the house and my parents made its mark.

I took in a deep breath, squeezed Bella's hand, and followed my parents up the stairs and into the living room. We left the bags out in the car just in case I needed to sleep at a hotel instead. I still worried about having an episode around my parents. I didn't want a repeat, and I most certainly didn't want to put my mom through having to witness one after seeing just how much my worst got to Bella.

Well, when I finally realized the impact it had on her.

My dad kept walking toward the kitchen, leaving Bella and Mom in the living room, so I decided to follow him. He handed me a beer from the fridge and one for himself. Just as I opened it and took a long pull, he sighed.

"I have no doubt that this visit is not going to be fun. I know it's going to be hard, and there will be times you'll want to run away. All I ask is that you at least let us know what's up, or have a plan set up with Bella, so that she can keep us in the loop and we can try and help. Okay?" My dad stood tall, his back to the counter, legs crossed, as he stared me down, pleading with his eyes.

"I know, and I promise. I'll talk to Bella tonight before bed and let you know. I don't ever want to keep you guys out of the loop again. I just don't want to hurt you by what you might see or hear," I sheepishly admitted.

"Good." My dad took a drink and set his bottle down. "I know everything is going to feel like a whirlwind, but if you need to decompress, you're welcome to our room, if you need to hide away. We moved your piano into the guesthouse out back. We've actually decided to set you and Bella up out there, to give you privacy instead of your old room here."

I doubted my dad realized just how much he just took off my shoulders. I could quit worrying about them overhearing if I had an episode and caused damage, or woke up screaming. I didn't have to run away to a hotel room; I could still be near them. Which, more than anything, was where I truly wanted to be.

"Thank you," I quietly replied, and then finished the rest of my beer.

"No problem." Rubbing the back of his neck, he looked down to the floor as he fiddled with his bottle cap. "I also should warn you that Emmett's dad is on his way over with a copy of the will."

I gulped, and nodded my head, acknowledging what he said.

Once Dad finished his beer, we took a drink out to our girls and sat down. I immediately cringed when I noticed what my mom had in her hand.

A photo album.

Bella was turning pages and pointing, smiling and laughing as my mom told her my ages in the photos. I turned to my dad and mouthed, "Seriously?" He just chuckled in response.

Bella turned to me, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "You were such a cute baby."

I put my arm across the back of the couch behind her. "Are you saying you're surprised? I thought you said I was handsome..." She shook her head and laughed, a blush instantly pinking her cheeks. I bent down and gently kissed her on said cheek. "I'll have you know, all the girls had a crush on baby me. I rocked those diapers."

My parents laughed, and Bella turned another page, and then another as I tried not to feel embarrassed. "Mom, of all the things you could've shown her."

"Well, I had to pull out the naked baby photos. It's my right as a mom. But really, she wanted to see pictures of you in uniform. And your dress uniform. So, I thought, maybe start her off easy with the baby pictures," Mom informed me, mischievous intent lying under her not-so-innocent look.

"Uh-huh." I lightly chuckled, but didn't buy it. I'd allow my mom her fun, though, if it made her smile and Bella happy.

A knock sounded a few minutes later, causing my whole body to tighten up. Bella sensed something was up when my dad gave me a look and motioned for me to go to the kitchen. He then went to meet Mr. McCarty at the front door.

I could hear them talking as they came up the steps and into the living room. I was now nervously sitting in the kitchen. Bella wanted to follow me, but mom insisted they stay in the living room, looking over pictures.

The instant Emmett's dad walked in, I felt like all the air in the room had been sucked out in some sort of a vacuum. He was huge, just as Em was. Same curly dark hair, same eyes. He looked at me as he walked further in the room and tried to smile, but it faltered.

"I wish we could've met under better circumstances. Em wrote home about the guys in his unit a lot, but mostly you. He always said you were the blood brother he wished he'd had."

My eyes stung and my throat felt clogged. "I always thought the same of him," I rasped out, my eyes searching all over, when they landed on the papers Mr. McCarty was holding.

The will.

Honestly, I didn't care what was in it. Nothing in those papers would bring my friend back, my brother. Nothing could make any of it better, but I knew that it had to be something important for his parents to bring it up five years later.

My dad cleared his throat. "I'm gonna let the two of you talk. Take all the time you need. I'm gonna take our girls out, show Bella around a bit. Just call when you want us back."

I nodded; it was all I could do.

Mr. McCarty told Dad thank you and shook his hand before sitting down at the table across from me. He then laid out the papers in front of him.

"We tried to get a hold of you back after his funeral, but when you didn't return our calls, I knew we shouldn't push it much. We finally tracked down your parents about a year ago and got in touch with them and started talking. They kept us in the know of how you were, and I secretly hoped you'd come around, so I'd be able to give you what my son left behind."

I sat up straighter in my chair, my hands clasped in front of me. "I'm sorry, I just...I needed to just get away, and I think I'm finally in a spot where I can actually deal with his death. Deep down, I still feel like somehow, someway, I could've prevented it."

Mr. McCarty shook his head and looked sad as his eyes met mine again. "Emmett knew what he was getting into when he signed on to enlist. He knew the risks, just as you did. You couldn't expect yourself to be superman and save every man in your unit, when outside forces are unpredictable. That's life."

I sighed and closed my eyes, letting his words soak in. "I know, but still..." I brought my hands up and rubbed my eyes. "Can I get you anything? Coffee? Water?"

"No, son. But thank you. I know you want to get this over with." He handed me an envelope. "I never opened that. It was with his personal effects, addressed to you. I think we should start off with that one."

Slowly, I ran my finger under the lip of the envelope and opened it, pulling out the papers that were held inside.

Edward-

If you're opening this, then I guess a bomb or something got me. This last mission, something deep down made me sit down and write to everyone who meant something to me, along with a will. I've been having dreams ever since we came back to Iraq. I think fate is giving me a heads up that I'm not going to be stateside again.

You're my brother, man. One I wish I could easily call blood. No matter what, though, you're family. I wouldn't have lasted this long in the military if it wasn't for you. You kept me sane, laughing, happy. When I was missing Rosie and my kids too much, you kept my mind occupied. Even if it took you doing something to piss me off.

I lived for those pranks.

Back when Noah was born, I told Rosie my plans, and she backed me up. We just never told you. Man, I wanted to ask you so many times if you'd be the godfather of any and all of my kids. But I never got around to it. Rosie and I had talked about it, so she knows my wishes on it. And hopefully, she's made sure that you are their godfather for all intents and purposes. All that I ask is will you please watch out for them. Be there for them and Rosie. Noah, Alexander and Alexis need you. They need my best friend in their life. I know you'll make them laugh, happy and keep them smiling since I won't be able to anymore.

Remember how we always used to make plans to hit up my fave fishing spots? Well, I bought a cabin out on that lake. I switched it to your name before coming back here. Only my dad knows that. Rosie, I'm sure, had a feeling I had done it. I don't think she cared.

There will be more stuff in the will laid out. I'm sorry for leaving you behind. I'm sorry for any and every shit thing I've done in this life. But I am beyond glad I got to serve with you for twenty years and have your back through it all. I'm glad you're my brother, the one man I know I could turn to when shit got rough. You always listened. Hell, I think you were happier than I was when I told you Rosie was expecting that first time. I was scared shitless, but there you were, patting me on the back and smiling that huge smile.

I know you. If I find out you blame yourself for anything, I will find a way to come down there and haunt your ass until the end of time.

Or maybe I'll just fuck with your Xbox and hide all your Call of Duty games.

Emmett.

I rubbed at my chest and instantly felt my cheeks wet with tears.

"They talked about me being a godparent?" I asked, sounding amazed by the fact.

"Yes. And Rosalie put into motion to make it official. I'll be giving you a paper where she's written it down, and has you listed in her will as their godparent as well. And we know you had to sort yourself out, but I can tell you that Noah is excited to meet you, along with his siblings." Mr. McCarty smiled, then ruffled through some papers. "Here are the papers on the cabin. I've been maintaining it for you. Here are the keys. Also, these are the papers on you being a godparent to the kids. Rosie made copies, she wanted you to have them. And if there was one wish she could grant Emmett, she knew this would be it. She knew how badly he wanted you to be their godfather. You haven't been confirmed, but this is more or less their wishes, and what they want when it comes to their kids."

I took the papers and wiped at my face. "Thanks." I couldn't find much else to say. I was still in a state of shock and sadness.

"One last thing—the will." He passed that over to me as well. "In there, you will find that he left you his gun collection. We have that in storage. You will also find the cabin in there. And here..." He passed me a ticket of some kind. "He also left you an open-ended ticket to a fishing expedition down in the Florida Keys he said that you guys were due to take after this last deployment."

Why Emmett? Why were you so prepared?

"I know this is a lot on you, Edward, and I can't tell you how glad I am that you are finally here and I can give all this to you. I want you to enjoy that cabin and the fishing trip. Do it for Em. Tomorrow, there won't be many people. We've done this memorial every year since his death. It's just a small get together to remember him. I just hope this will give you some much needed closure so that you can release some of the guilt you've been carrying. You don't need that. Em would want you laughing." Mr. McCarty then stood up and held out his hand for me to shake, which I did. I held it firmly in thanks. "Now, come over tomorrow, it starts at one. Our property is big enough, if you need to escape for a few. My wife looks forward to meeting you."

We started to walk out of the kitchen, and I led him to the front door. He surprised me by pulling me into a hug. "Thank you for always having my son's back over there. You're an amazing man and soldier, Edward. Don't ever forget that. See you tomorrow."

I watched as he pulled away in his car, my mind going a mile a minute over everything, but I came to one conclusion. I didn't feel like running, sad or mad. I felt free and happy, and as if I could easily tackle the get together with Emmett's family. I found that I was excited to meet his kids. I still remembered his wife, having met her once before.

After I let them know it was safe to come back, I went back to the table and looked over everything again and reread his letter to me.

Suddenly, I was making plans for something to do with his kids. I also knew just what I wanted to do for them to make up for the last five years.

Sometimes, when life comes at you fast, it's a good thing. It forces you to let go of the bad, and embrace the good and move on.

~.~

How are we all? Thoughts? Thank you for reading and each and every one of your reviews.