AN: Thanks so much to our pre-readers Mana, Jan and SaraBeth for all they do and our beta kitchmill for whipping us into shape.
EPOV
We've been home for four days, tonight we're expecting the family for a get together. It's been almost a month since we've seen any of 'em.
Jasper's already moved in close by, and Emmett and Rose's house is well under way. Alice is head-first in her schooling in LA, and Mama and Dad are doing like always—preaching and mayoring.
I tell Bella not to bother with worrying 'bout cooking for everybody, so I'm gonna pick everything up from an Italian restaurant close by. This'll be the first time we've had the family at our new place besides my brothers and Rose when they helped us move in.
It's a beautiful, spacious apartment in Buckhead, and the view of the skyline is amazing. We have plenty room for entertaining, a guest room and a room set up for when we get to writing our next albums.
We agreed that a couple guitars and a keyboard is all we need, for now, to help set the tone for us. I got some lyrics already started, just needa get the beat set to go with 'em. Me and Jasper'll get to work on that soon.
Anyway, back to tonight.
We're expecting 'em 'round seven. Alice flew in to spend the weekend and'll be staying in our guest room 'til Sunday, when her flight back to LA leaves.
I head out to pick up supper with a kiss to Bella before she jumps in the shower. Man, I wish I could join her, but no time for that right now.
After the food's picked up, I stop by and pick up some wine in case anybody wants some and head on back to the condo. When I walk in the door, I can already hear Bella moving 'round in the kitchen. I make my way toward her. The bags go on the counter and my arms encircle her waist. I trail kisses on her neck, a favorite spot of mine, and sway lightly back and forth with her in my arms.
"Whacha doin', pretty girl?" I ask softly in her ear.
"Just arranging some flowers for the table tonight," she answers while putting 'em in a vase.
"Well, they're gorgeous, but ya don't needa go to all that trouble for my family. They already love ya." I continue kissing on her neck.
"I still want things to look pretty, Edward. This is our first dinner in our new home. I just want things to be nice." She's steadily arranging flowers, but now she's doing it with her head tilted so I can have full access.
After kissing up behind her ear, I finally let up. This can lead to places we ain't got time to settle right now. "What ya need me to do to help?"
She points out where the plates and stuff are for me to get outta the cabinet and go place on the table along with the glasses she wants to use.
When she's done with the flowers, she brings 'em in and places them in the center of the table and starts setting everything up. Once done, the table looks great and she seems pleased with herself.
I follow her back to the kitchen to see her transferring the food to serving trays and then sticking it in the warmer. The desert, tiramisu, goes in the fridge after getting put on a pretty plate, too.
No sooner than she's got all that set does the doorbell ring. I head that way to answer it.
It's Jasper and Alice.
He picked her up at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International earlier today and showed her 'round Atlanta some 'fore bringing her here. I invite 'em in and show Alice to the guest room with her luggage.
By the time I'm back from that, the bell's ringing again. It's Emmett and Rose this time.
"What's up, bro?" Emmett asks as soon as the door opens. He grabs me in a big bear hug, too. "Where's my favorite sis-in-law at? Bella, oh, Bella," he calls out through the house.
She steps over outta the kitchen so she can see him, and he runs and scoops her up, twirling her 'round and 'round. I catch up to 'em as fast as I can and grab my wife 'fore he slings her out of a window or something.
"Calm down, Em. C'mere, pretty girl, I got ya," I soothe, taking her in my arms.
She just giggles and rolls her eyes at me. "Good to see you too, Em." She looks past his meaty shoulders, checking for Rose no doubt. Then she heads straight for her.
"Rose, so good to see you." They meet halfway and give each other a big ole hug.
Alice interrupts, coming down the hall. "Hey, where's my hugs?" She runs and joins in on the love fest going on. I just shake my head and offer Emmett and Jasper a beer.
Jasper agrees, since he can take a cab or can walk home, but Emmett declines mumbling something I don't quite understand. But I let it slide and grab two beers and throw Emmett a Coke.
The girls return to the kitchen/dining room area and me and my brothers head into the den to kick back, have a drink and catch up 'til Mama and Dad get here.
"How's the house comin'?" I ask Emmett.
"Oh, man. It's going great. The foundation's done and the wall frames are up. Should be ready right after the new year." His voice is filled with excitement.
I don't know if I'd be ready to build and settle on my land at this point in my life, but in the future? Sounds like it might be something we'd consider.
Somewhere to raise a family.
Images come into my mind. Bella with a rounded belly, more beautiful than ever. That's definitely happening a few years from now. I'm positive of that one.
"Sounds good, man. I'm excited for ya. Don't think you're gonna miss the city?" Jasper asks.
"Nah. We like our privacy too much," he responds, wiggling his eyebrows at me.
"What's that 'posed to mean?" I ask, not understanding the wiggle.
"Come on, man. You know how much privacy can mean in a new marriage." He looks at me expectantly. And yeah I do, but that don't mean I gotta move to the middle of nowhere to get it.
Although that pasture sex was nice.
Before I can let those images creep behind my lids, he continues, "Oh, I forgot. Ya'll ain't up to that level yet." He smirks.
What the heck?
"Em, I don't know what ya on 'bout over there, but I suggest ya spit it out or drop it." He's acting all playful, but I know he ain't dissing mine and Bella's sex life.
We probably put 'em to shame.
"I'm just sayin' with the two of ya both bein' virgins, ya probably ain't caught up to us yet. But it's okay, bro. You'll get there." He reaches over and gives my shoulder a pat. Consoling me, I guess.
I almost spit out my beer, I start laughing so hard.
"Whoa, whoa, hold up," Jasper breaks in. "Did ya just say what I thought I heard?" He looks to Emmett.
Uh oh. Guess the cat's outta the bag.
Oops.
"Don't worry man. It'll get better for 'em after they get the hang of it," Emmett tells Jasper, thinking he's talking 'bout sex for virgins not being good at first, I guess. I know what Jasper's asking, but I'm avoiding as much as possible.
Jasper just looks at Emmett like he's an idiot and turns to me. I look down and find my beer bottle very interesting all of a sudden.
"Edward?" He tries to get my attention.
I look to him. "Yeah?" I ain't giving him nothing. He'll have to drag it outta me.
"Man, is what Em's saying true? Was Bella a virgin when ya married?"
See, Jasper's had this assumption 'bout Bella from the beginning. I thought, besides it being none of his business, that it'd help him with his own dilemma to think whatever. Now Emmett's done gone and opened his mouth and Jasper wants answers. I hope it don't cause no set back with him and Alice now that he's gonna know different.
"Jasper, I really don't think it's any of ya'll's concern 'bout Bella." I cut my eyes to Emmett. "I don't even know why Em'd know anythin'."
"Well my Rosie, of course," Emmett replies without a care in the world.
I look back to Jasper. "Look. You made those assumptions all on ya own. I never tried to give ya that impression."
"But, man. Ya let me believe it. Even used it as a push to get me to work on my stuff with Alice. That ain't right." He seems like his whole view on life just changed with one little piece of info that ain't got nothing to do with him.
"Jasper, you assumed what you wanted, and yeah, I let ya because you didn't needa know Bella's business, but didn't it ever cross ya mind how judgmental your assumptions were? You knew it was all an act, yet ya let that image settle in your mind," I say.
He looks rightfully shameful with it spelled out to him like that. "Aw, man, why didn't ya smack me in the head when I was acting like that? I'd never think badly of Bella as a person. Ya know I love her like a sister."
"I know ya do and figured ya had your own struggles to work through. If you'd ever treated Bella any way other than respectful, then I would've smacked ya," I tell him with a smirk, but he knows I really mean it, too.
He heaves a big sigh and looks deep in thought. I don't understand why it's so important. Rose wasn't a virgin and we all know that, yet it seems to have no bearing on Jasper's thought process with this whole thing. Only Bella, and she shouldn't matter one bit either. So I go on and lay some more truths on him.
"Here's the thing, I got lucky with my Bella. But it wouldn't've mattered one bit to me. Once I knew her, I fell in love with her. Past or no past. And yeah, it was great to find out, but I'd've married her either way. I thought you were settled with that idea, too," I tell him, hoping to convey how serious I am.
"I am … I was. I don't know anymore," he responds.
And I'm a little dumbfounded. Maybe he don't have the feelings I thought he did.
"Well, maybe ya oughta figure it out 'fore ya try to move forward anymore. 'Cause Alice don't deserve any reservations from ya," I say, meaning every word. Alice may still needa get her stuff straight, too, but she deserves him to be as sure as she is 'fore they ever really give it a try. "Sounds like ya got some serious thinkin' to do."
"Yeah, I suppose I do."
Emmett pops in spouting his piece, not wanting to be left out. "My Rosie wasn't a virgin, and let me tell ya, there's benefits to your woman knowin' what they're doin.' I'm just sayin'."
Me and Jasper just shake our heads at him.
Just then the bell rings again and I guess it's my parents. Bella hollers that she's got it and I decide we better go join the rest of 'em.
As I get up I look to Emmett. I figure I'll let him know there's no need to feel sorry for me and Bella. "Oh and, Em. Ya don't need privacy to have awesome sex. Sometimes a little brush with the public makes it more excitin'." I wink at him and turn to leave the room, chuckling at his gaping pie hole.
When I make it to where my parents and the girls are, Mama hands Bella a garment bag with what I figure to be her dress. I go over and give both my parents a hug along with a kiss to my mama's cheek.
"Well, don't you two look rested and tan," Mama says after she pulls back, giving me a once over.
"We are. Hawaii was amazin'." I give her a great big smile.
After greetings are done by everyone, Bella calls out to me from the bedroom. I excuse myself and head down the hall to see what she needs.
When I get to the bedroom she's dragging out the gifts we brought back from Hawaii. I help her gather everything up then we make our way back to the living room.
"I have gifts for everyone," Bella says excitedly.
Alice smiles widely and makes a bee-line straight for Bella, grabbing bags trying to take a peek.
"Ah, ah, ah." Bella pulls them away so she can't see. "Settle down and I'll pass them out."
They all gather 'round while Bella passes out all the things we brought for them. The girls squeal at the jewelry and sigh at the chocolate, while the guys make weird faces at their shirts. When Emmett and Jasper see their instruments, they both sport wide smiles of thanks.
Dad is where I get my black coffee issues from. That man loves his coffee and he loves it black. So he's almost giddy when he sees he's gotta new type to try.
"Don't like it too much, Dad. It's a long way to travel to pick up some coffee," I joke.
"I'll try to keep from becomin' addicted, son." He chuckles.
"Edward, remind me to give Dad a call later tonight. We need to plan some kind of future visit," Bella breaks in. I guess passing out all them gifts makes her wanna see him to give him his. He is her family after all.
"I'll remind ya, pretty girl," I answer.
"Well, I hate to bust all this gooey stuff up. But wasn't we invited here for some grub?" Emmett asks. Rose smacks him on the arm for being so rude.
We did invite 'em for supper and everything's ready, so I get their attention and herd 'em into the dining room before following Bella into the kitchen to bring out the food.
We're having chicken parmesan with a fresh salad and garlic bread. I just want Bella to relax and let me take care of this first big family meal in our new home.
"Go have a seat, pretty girl. I got this." I give her a kiss and send her into the dining room with the others.
"If you're sure?" she asks as I steadily lead her outta the room.
"Positive. Now go." I grab the salad and bread and deliver it to the table then return for the entrée. Once that's in place I take a seat beside Bella.
"Dad, would ya mind leading us in a prayer?" I ask.
"Sure, son." He thanks God for our family and this meal, then we dig in.
"Mmm, so good." Emmett hums around his first bite. I know I can count on him to like whatever we serve.
"Slow down, Em. There's plenty for everybody," I tell him, 'cause he's shoveling it in like somebody's gonna take it from him.
"So, tell us 'bout Hawaii," Jasper chimes in, starting the supper conversation.
I look to Bella and see the small wicked smile she's wearing.
My minx.
I figure I best give 'em some details and not the ones that came to her mind right off. So I give 'em tales of horseback riding on the beach, snorkeling, Diamond Head at sunrise and the luau we attended, all the while the girls all look dreamy-eyed as if they can picture it all.
Rose smacks Emmett on the arm and says, "Savannah was nice, but Hawaii sounds exotic and amazing. We must go." Sounds like she might be 'bout to cry over it.
"Shhh, Rosie. It's okay. We can go as soon after the baby's born as you want." Emmett has his arm 'round her talking lowly in her ear.
Not low enough.
Hold up.
What?
The whole table sits there stunned, just staring at the couple that's off in a whole 'nother world. Silverware clinks on plates and jaws drop open. Mama draws her hands to cover her mouth and lets out a big sigh with tears already forming in her eyes. Bella stares at 'em like they're from another planet.
Finally someone with some sense opens their mouth.
"What baby?" Alice demands.
I didn't say she had too much sense.
Emmett jumps at the sound of her terse voice, and he and Rose look around at the table. I'm sure he sees a variety of expressions, the leading one being confusion. Rose is still sniffling from her emotional breakdown over Hawaii, and Emmett draws her closer into his side.
He clears his throat and looks at every one of us before speaking up. "Mine and Rosie's baby. We were gonna announce it tonight at supper."
Mama jumps up, tears rolling down her cheeks, and runs over to grab 'em both. Looks like she might strangle 'em, she's holding so tight. Her and Rose both bawl their eyes out.
She finally turns to Dad. "Did ya hear that, Carlisle? We're gonna be grandparents."
He chuckles at her enthusiasm. "I heard. Congratulations, Em, Rose."
Finally Bella comes outta her stupor and gets up from her seat to go over and see Rosalie. She kneels down beside her and they share some whispers.
Emmett's beaming. My brother's gonna be a daddy. Sure didn't expect that right now, but I'm happy for 'em. Thrilled actually. Can't wait to meet my niece or nephew.
Everybody eventually makes it back to their seats and the questions begin.
"I thought you were on birth control?" That's Alice.
"What's the due date?" Mama.
"What are ya gonna do 'bout tourin'?" Jasper.
"How far along are you, Rose?" Bella.
Emmett holds up his hands to get some order and promises to answer all questions. "First off, when we decided to get married she stopped takin' her birth control. We knew we wanted a family as soon as possible. Second, we're twelve weeks now. Third, it's due April twentieth. And as for tourin', well we'll have to figure it out when the time comes. Besides, the album ain't even written or recorded yet."
"Congratulations, man. I couldn't be more excited for ya both," I tell him.
"I can't wait to meet him or her," Bella says.
"When can we find out what it is?" Alice asks.
Rose speaks up then. "We don't think we're going to find out. Either one is fine with us. We just want a healthy baby."
"Not find out?" Alice shrieks. "You have to find out. How will I know what kind of clothes to buy?"
"You'll live." Emmett just rolls his eyes at her antics. We're used to it by now.
"Well I'd like to propose a toast." I raise my glass in the air. Everyone else follows suit. "To the best family a man can have. Awesome brothers who are my best friends, lovin' parents that've had to put up with our antics over the years and still love us, new friends who've become like family … or actual family in the case of Rose, and the most amazin' woman in the world agreein' to be my wife all those months ago. Now our family's changin' again for the better. Soon we're gonna grow with new grandbabies, nieces and nephews. May all our lives continue to be blessed and prosperous and filled with happiness."
Everyone clinks glasses and settles back into what is the first of many family suppers just like this to come.
This last year has taught me so much. I thought I had it all figured out.
Then one day this "Pop Princess" danced into my life and took it for her own.
She flipped my world upside down and proved to me things aren't always as they seem.
She taught me that even though I was raised right, I could still be a judgmental ass.
She showed me a life I never imagined and one I could only ever dream of.
She loved me, and that's all I could've ever asked for.
The End
AN: That's the last regular chapter of Pop Religion. We have 2 epis that will post soon. Thank you all so much for every word you have ever left us. We never imagined this fic would be so well received and the love you have given us is more than we could've ever asked for!
See you soon …