Disclaimer: Not Mine
A/N: I tried so hard to send out a teaser for all of the reviews, but my computer crashed after I got half of them done and I did not get a chance to send out the rest. So I am sending out this chapter a little early as an apology. One more regular chapter to go after this and then the epilogue.
I am a little pissed right now at the readers of my beta Dalloway5906's 'Bittersweet.' She had taken a break from her regular posting schedule because her life was crazy and then when she surprises us with an update…no one reviews. You all have to understand that the only feedback we get from you guys is your reviews. When I say we live for them, I mean it. No one would continue to put themselves out there like this if not for you wonderful readers who take the time to review.
OK, rant over…please enjoy this next chapter, one of my favorites!
As soon as Bella felt the warming rays of the sun on her bare skin she stretched her arms wide, reaching for Edward. She was disappointed when her hands came up empty. She sat up, gripping the fleecy blanket against her chest as her eyes searched the studio and her office. He was not there. Her heart beat painfully against her ribs and tears sprung into her eyes as she realized he was gone. She dropped her head into her hands and sobbed loudly. A crash in the stairwell, followed by a stream of curses had her whipping her head up and jumping naked from the bed. She looked down the steep staircase and found her love sitting dejectedly on the bottom step, what would have been a lovely breakfast in bed surrounding him. She wrapped herself in his shirt that lay discarded on the floor and started slowly down the steps, sitting on the step above him. He sighed loudly and ran his hands through his hair, disgusted that he was already making a mess of things.
"You do realize that even if I was still able to make you see, this would have happened anyway." She said quietly as she rested her hand on his bare shoulder. She hated seeing him so dejected.
"I know. I just wanted this morning to be special." He said quietly as he started to feel the steps around him, intent on cleaning up the mess he had made. She used her feet to kick away the plates and stacks of toast and fruit on the step next to him and slid down to join him. She tilted his face to hers, disappointment clearly written on his face.
"It would have been special if you have just kept your sexy ass in bed with me." She said as she threaded her fingers through his wild hair. She pressed her lips to his, intent on keeping the kiss light and sweet, but Edward had other ideas. He was furious that his proclivity for ruining things had sullied their morning, but the way Bella glossed over the mess made his body tighten and his love for her soar exponentially. Instead of berating him for breaking dishes and spilling orange juice as a girl like Tanya would have done, she dismissed the whole thing. She was perfect.
Edward slid his arm under her knees and hoisted her up against his chest, making his way back up the stairs. She squeaked against his mouth and her arms tightened around his neck as he knelt down on the floor, setting her gently on the sheep skin rug they had placed in front of the fireplace. Edward thought it was a tired cliché when they bought it, but now feeling the thick softness of it under his hands, he could only imagine how good it would feel against his bare back as Bella rode him. His hands fought with the shirt she was wearing, intent on getting to her skin. She laughed breathlessly at the look of utter concentration on his face as he stripped his shirt from her body, his breath faltering as his hands found her naked underneath. This was the first time they had made love in the daylight since he had lost his sight and she found that although she missed the way his pupils would dilate and his eyes widen as he looked her over, she loved the way she could stare at him unobserved. His face was an open book to his pleasure, and she could not stop reading.
His hands drifted down her belly, a finger plunging into her belly button making her squeal and him laugh. The laughter died as his fingers moved lower and discovered she was already wet and ready for him. He lowered his mouth to her breast, suckling the tight peak into the warmth of his mouth, making her back arch off the rug and him groan against her flesh as a fresh surge of moisture coated his fingers. He removed his hand from her, much to her dismay and circled his wet fingers around her neglected nipple, Bella watching the entire time. He slid his mouth to the other side and took her arousal coated crest between his lips, savoring the flavor. Bella though she would climax from the look of pure ecstasy on his face alone. Unable to take his seemingly eternal patience, she pushed on his shoulders, forcing him over on his back. She crawled to his feet and tugged his flannel sleep pants from his legs before moving up his body, her nails and teeth marking him as she went. His hands tangled in the thick pelt of the rug as her tongue ran circles over the head of his throbbing erection. Thankfully she did tease him long, near the breaking point herself. She straddled his hips, rubbing her drenched folds over his shaft and abdomen. His hands came up to guide her hips, attempting to find her entrance and thrust into her before he embarrassed himself by coming all over her. Finally she rose up and grabbed hold of him, leading him to where she was aching. She was thankful they were in a soundproof room with the noises they made as she slid down him. She propped her hands on his chest as she moved up and down, swirling her hips to find a rhythm that satisfied both of them. Edward's hands moved up to cup her breasts, his thumbs and fingers twisting her sensitive peaks until she was crying out and her pace faltering. He slid his hands around her body and twisted them so he was hovering over her, thrusting deep inside. He managed to keep moving while her body contracted around him and his name fell like a prayer from her lips, but as soon as she stilled under him, he let go. Watching the strong, powerful man above her fall apart made her body tighten and spasm again and they both were left panting and happy.
()*()
"I have to call Rose." Bella sighed hours later as they snuggled into the deep cushions on the couch in their family room. Edward had a book open in front of him, but instead of tracing over the Braille cells, his fingers were smoothing over the silky skin of her neck. They had spent the morning cleaning up the staircase and showering together, not wanting to part after their three day trip through hell. They had also spoken about their need for reassurance in their relationship. Now, feeling like they had all of their grievances aired, they were enjoying the lazy Saturday afternoon.
"I think we need to call everyone and tell them about our engagement. You know Alice will be going crazy wanting to help plan the wedding…if that is something you wanted help with." He finished nervously, not knowing how she would react to his spitfire of a sister taking the reins. She laughed and placed her hand against his cheek.
"Of course I want her help Edward. All I care about is that you are waiting for me at the end of the aisle and that there is cake." She chuckled, but her laughter died as she watched his face pale.
"What?" She whispered, still holding his face in her hands.
"I wanted to see you on our wedding day…so much." He breathed as he turned his mouth into her palm, her hand helping to hold back the sob that wanted to break free from his lips. She had no idea what to say. It was not as if he would eventually get his sight back and be able to see the pictures. Looking back it seemed that the stronger their level of intimacy developed, the worse his sight got. It was not until they were as close as a couple could be that his vision was finally gone. And there was no way she was regretting taking that final step with him. She never knew two people could merge into one until she made love with Edward.
"We'll make sure to describe everything in perfect detail. Besides you already know what I look like when I am deliriously happy, and that is what everyone else will be seeing." She whispered against his temple as she wiped at the tears on his cheek.
"I think there might be something else we need to celebrate with the family anyway. How about if I call Rose and you call Alice and your parents and we plan to meet here tonight?" She suggested as she pressed her lips against his damp cheek.
"What else do we need to celebrate?" He asked as he jerked away from her, his voice shaking and his eyes wide. She laughed lightly while inside she died a little. Was the thought of her being pregnant that frightening?
"Not us, Rose and Emmett. You go and call everyone while I call Rose." She said quietly as she untangled herself from him and took her cell phone to their bedroom.
"Rose, I think we need to party, don't you?" She said the second her soon to be sister-in-law answered the phone.
"When did you know?" Rose asked, shocked that Bella had discovered their secret. They had just had their ultrasound that morning and were taking some time for themselves before spreading the news.
"Do you not even realize how often your hands are on your belly you silly thing? It was as if you were trying to hold the baby before it was even born." Bella laughed and they launched into plans for the dinner party later that evening.
Edward chose to only tell Alice and his parents that they needed to tell them something, choosing to leave the news of the impending wedding as a surprise. They were all set to arrive at six and Bella was a whirling dervish in the kitchen as she scrambled to find something to cook.
"Edward, I need to go to the store for a few things, do you want to come?" She yelled up the attic steps as she shrugged into a sweatshirt.
"No baby, you go. I have this melody in my head I want to get down." He yelled as he appeared at the top of the steps. Her breath caught in her throat as she looked up at him, his shirt snug against the tight muscles of his chest, jeans encasing his long, powerful legs and his feet bare.
"Love you." He whispered as he ran his fingers through his hair, the shirt rising with the motion, allowing her a glimpse of his delicious abdomen. It took all of her willpower not to run up the stairs and ravish him, but he had work to do and she had Beef Wellington to make.
"Love you." She answered back as she flew down the stairs and into the garage. She smiled as she slid into her new car and backed out of the garage. The trip to the Safeway only took a few minutes and she was still smiling as she pushed the cart around the store. She wanted to make an apple pie for Jasper, since she knew it was his favorite. She pulled out her cell phone to call Alice to see if Benjamin was eating solids yet, but she dropped it when her cart collided with another. She looked up, her face red in embarrassment to see matching brown eyes and red cheeks looking back at her. She instantly looked away from her father, but her indifference towards him faltered as she took in the boxes of microwave dinners in his cart. When she looked back up at him, his face was flushed even further and his hand was rubbing against the back of his neck.
"Hi Charlie." She said softly as she picked up her phone from the ground.
"Hey Bella, you're looking good." He replied, still looking at anything but her.
"Yeah, Edward and I got back from a little vacation earlier in the week. We got engaged." She said quietly, holding her hand out for him to see her ring. He glanced at it and then away as quick as he could. Her heart ached with the realization that he could care less about what was going on in her life.
"Great Bella, just great. Glad things are working out so well for you. Let me ask you, did your future father-in-law have anything to do with the investigation the mayor is heading into the department?" He asked, his lip rising into a sneer as he finally made eye contact. She leaned back, shocked at his accusation.
"I didn't hear anything about that." She said, her voice rising in defense of Carlisle, who in the short time she had known him was more of a father to her than the man who's DNA she shared ever was.
"You honestly expect me to believe that he had nothing to do with me getting raked over the coals? You must have spilled your big mouth to him about the unnecessary overtime and money I took on the side, didn't you?" He demanded, pushing his cart to the side so he towered over her. Her first instinct was to shrink into herself and just take his abuse, but as she clenched her hands tightly together she felt her ring twist against her palm and knew that even if he was not here with her, Edward's love would give her courage.
"Maybe if you had not been such a lazy ass all these years there would be nothing to investigate. No, I did not tell anyone anything about the way you run your department, but I am not surprised that someone finally got wise to your half-assed leadership. You deserve to be booted out and I hope that when they do, you get the fuck out of this town, because there is no one who wants you here." She said as she pushed her cart down the aisle and out of sight. She leaned over the cart and breathed deep, trying to stem the tears that wanted to fall. She jumped up when she felt a hand against her back.
"Sorry, I just wanted to make sure you were okay. I kinda overheard your conversation." Jasper said as he held his hands up before bringing one back down on her shoulder.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Just hard you know, having your own blood detest you so much." She whispered as he squeezed her shoulder. She looked up at him and was so thankful to be surrounded by such caring people. She reached her hand up and tangled her fingers with his.
"I have realized over the past few months that I have neglected something. I never thanked you for everything you did to help me and Alice. I would not be here with my family if not for you." He said, his blue eyes bright with unshed tears as he thought about missing the miracle of watching his wife and child.
"Jasper, I just made a suggestion. You were the one fighting so hard to be here with them. And we could not be happier that you are." She said as she reached in and gave him a big hug. They separated, each covertly trying to wipe away tears.
"I was just going to call Alice. Is Benjamin eating solids yet?" She asked as they made their way through the supermarket together.
()*()
"Damn Bella, I think this is the best thing I have ever eaten." Emmett said as he pushed away from the table and patted his full belly.
"You say that every time I make something Em. I think Rose is going to get jealous of the affair you are having with my culinary skills." Bella joked as she rose up from the table to clear plates. She had taken off her engagement ring and stuffed it in Edward's pocket so no one would know the big news before they announced it. Plus, she wanted Rose and Emmett to share their good fortune first.
They retreated to the cozy living room, Benjamin entertaining everyone with his new sitting ability. Edward sat behind him on the floor, his hands poised to catch him if he started to wobble. They placed a pillow in front of him in case he tipped forward, since Edward would not be able to see him go tail over teacups. When Emmett stood from the couch and looking lovingly at Rose, Bella had to turn away so as not to alert everyone to the surprise with the tears that sprung to her eyes.
"We have an announcement." He boomed as he held Rose's hand tightly in his.
"You're pregnant!" Alice screamed, bouncing from the floor and throwing herself at her brother. Emmett caught her, laughing.
"Yeah, but that is not the best part. Its twins!" He shouted and everyone's jaw dropped, even Carlisle who was already privy to the news about the pregnancy.
"We found out this morning. It looks like we will have a ready made family, a boy and a girl." Rose said softly as she rubbed circles over her abdomen.
"When?" Esme asked as she sat down next to her daughter-in-law and tucked a piece of hair behind her ear, knowing how much this meant to her.
"December, but they think I will most likely go early because of the twins." She said as she leaned into Esme's embrace and reveled in the love she felt.
"Not to try and shanghai the spotlight or anything but Bella and I have an announcement of our own." Edward said as he tugged Bella up to stand next to him. He turned towards her and took her ring from his pocket. He bent down on one knee and tilted his face up towards her, his smile blinding.
"Isabella Swan, this is the second time I am asking you this. I love you with my entire heart. I loved watching you bloom into the confident woman you are today and I wanted nothing more than to spend the rest of my life watching you. But I would rather be able to listen and feel you next to me forever than spend just one more day seeing you. Say you will marry me…again." He said quietly and all of the girls in the room broke down in tears.
"Yes Edward, yes. I love you." She whispered as he placed the ring back on her finger, promising himself that it would never again leave her hand.
A/N: Reviewers will get a few wedding teasers. Love you all!