Disclaimer: The original characters and plot of the Twilight Saga are the property of Stephanie Meyer. No copyright infringement is intended. The storyline of A Family like Ours is mine.
NB: THIS CHAPTER IS UNBETA'D – SO ALL MISTAKES ARE MINE ALONE.
*ΩafloΩ*
A FAMILY LIKE OURS: A SEQUEL TO PEOPLE LIKE US
IN THE LAST CHAPTER: … Carlisle's plan was quite simple. Once Edward had come home and they would give him a few days before Bella would break the news to him, Carlisle, Esme, Sue and Charlie would be on hand if needed.
"So your brilliant plan is to send me into the 'lion's den' and then if he drains my blood, you and Charlie will step in? Effing brilliant plan Carlisle." She said as she rolled her eyes.
Carlisle let out a bark of laughter, "You don't fool me, Isabella, and you are the only one who can stop Edward from flying off into space."
He and Bella shared a smile, "Perhaps you are right, I"
Just then Amos Rush hurried into the kitchen, "Bella!"
Everyone stopped talking and froze as Bella turned in slow motion to the doorway.
"They are on their way home!"
Bella heard something smash before her world went black.
CHAPTER 26
Only once Doctor Wright and his colleagues had examined the children carefully, while Maggie asked simple but pertinent questions were they allowed to shower and change into clean clothing. Their dirty clothes were carefully placed into plastic containers and labelled for the forensic team.
After they were dressed, Emmett urged them to join him in the mess tent where they were plied with a hot feast of pancakes, bacon, fried eggs, toast and juice.
Edward made his way back to the medical tent before he went to join them for breakfast.
He found the small medical team sitting around a table talking quietly and making notes in official looking reports.
"Mr Cullen, do you need something?" Ben asked.
Edward nodded, "I wanted to know how my children are doing and what their injuries are".
Maggie exchanged a look with her boss who gave her a nod.
"Well, as one would assume, they are both traumatised, although I have to say, neither one is unhealthily so."
As Edward frowned she went on to explain, "Mr Cullen, your children were taken from their home, in the middle of the night, at gun point, not only by a stranger, but by two people that they knew and trusted. They are scared and traumatised but both of them showed the appropriate amount of trauma. A lot of children in their situation would overreact, by not speaking or even show signs of being in a catatonic state."
At the look of horror on Edward's face, she smiled gently, "neither Andrea nor Maxwell shows anything like that. You can and should expect some manifestation of their traumatic experience such as bedwetting, nightmares, certainly a reluctance to leave you and your wife and, or other members of the family. There could also be temper tantrums, lots of tears and even depression once the euphoria of being home wears off."
"I strongly recommend that your entire family has counselling for the next while, in order to help you all cope with the new reality."
Edward sighed and ran his hand through his hair, "Of course."
Ben cleared his throat, "Apart from the emotional turmoil that they have experienced, they have very few injuries. A few scrapes and bruises, Andrea has blisters on her feet from walking, but there are no signs that either of them was 'touched' in any inappropriate or sexual manner."
Edward wasn't even aware that he had been holding his breath but it came gushing out of him, "Oh thank God!"
Ben put a hand on his shoulder as he bent over to catch his breath.
"They are going to be fine, Mr Cullen."
Edward straightened up and thanked the staff before he hurried to the mess tent.
When he saw Andrea and Max sitting with Emmett and his team, Edward didn't try and stop the trickle of tears. His heart was so full at that moment and he wished that Bella could be with him.
He thought back to their conversation a little earlier.
As the children were being examined Edward pulled out his phone and hit the speed dial.
"Edward?"
"Yeah, Baby Girl, it's me. They are safe, baby, they are safe. Emmett brought them back and they are fine, well dirty, but fine." The words began to choke him as tears gave way to a sob and he quickly turned his back, not wanting the children to see him upset.
Bella was silent except for her sobs, "Oh, thank God! Tell them that I love them."
"I will, we will be home later this morning I guess. They are being examined by a doctor and a shrink and then they can shower and eat."
There was silence for a moment before Bella spoke again, "I love you, Edward. Thank you for doing this; I can only imagine how hard it was for you."
"Where else would I be?"
"Did you see Peter?"
At the sound of his former friend's name Edward let out a growl.
"No, the Feds think that he's dead along with that fucking lunatic Calvina! They found two bodies in this cabin where the children were. They captured Darryl White alive. It seems he was the one that helped them to escape. In fact from what the children said, it seems that he helped them the entire time!"
This time Bella let out a growl, "I don't fucking care, I want him punished for taking them!"
"I know baby. I need to go; the kids are going to get cleaned up, okay?"
"Okay, I love them and I love you."
"I love you Bella."
"Daddy!"
Edward grinned as Max came racing over to him and flung himself into his arms.
"Hey Little Man, how are you doing? Oh! How much did you eat, you weigh a ton!"
Max giggled, "Unca Memmett said I eat like a horse!"
Edward hugged him tightly as he made his way over to the table, "Or a little piggy".
Max wiggled until Edward let him down and he ran over to where Emmett was sitting holding his dirty stuffed toy.
Edward sat next to Andrea as he accepted a plate of food that one of Emmett's men put in front of him.
Andrea was eating quietly but she looked up as Edward sat down.
"Hey Daddy," she said and she moved closer to his side.
Edward felt his heart ache as he put an arm around her small body and hugged her to his side. He dropped a kiss on her coppery hair that was still damp but clean and had been plaited down her back.
The sweet smell of the berry shampoo that she and Elizabeth and now Isabelle used invaded his senses and he held her closely.
As he drew away, he saw Andrea quickly wipe a tear off her cheek.
"Are you okay?" he asked quietly.
Andrea shrugged, but shook her head, no.
"Do you want to talk now?"
Again she shook her head.
Edward felt helpless.
"What can I do to help you, Princess?"
His green eyes met with her tear filled brown eyes that reminded him of his wife. It broke his heart to see the pain in her eyes.
"You are helping, Dad."
Edward frowned.
"You are here, with me, with us. It helps."
Edward let out a sigh and without another thought to the food in front of him, he scooped Andrea from the seat next to him and placed her sideways on his lap as he put both arms around her and cradled her in his arms.
Both were oblivious to the kind and sympathetic looks from the others around them.
"Oh, my darling, I love you. I wouldn't be anywhere else in the world. I would never have rested or stopped until I had you safe."
Andrea closed her eyes as she listened to her father's voice and for the first time in days, she felt truly safe.
"Are we going h-home – back to the ranch?" she asked a little later as they got ready for the helicopter ride.
Edward could see the worry on her face as she chewed her bottom lip.
"Not right away. We are all staying at Cullen Crest for now. It's a full house but everyone wanted to be there."
"Is everyone home?"
"Of course! Everyone flew home as soon as they heard what had happened."
Andrea blushed, "We ruined the holidays."
Edward leaned down and put his hands on her shoulders, "Andrea Rose Cullen, don't you dare think that!" he said a little sterner that he should have and he immediately felt like shit when she began to cry.
"I'm sorry!"
Edward groaned, "No, baby, I'm sorry. I wasn't shouting at you, I just meant that of course they all flew back here for you and your brother. We are a family, Drea and that means always, and I mean always being there for each other, okay?"
"Okay, Daddy." She said in a small voice.
Edward hugged her and kissed her forehead.
He hated that she seemed so meek and almost broken. His feisty, spitfire daughter had pulled into herself and it seemed as though she had lost all of her spark.
Maggie had warned him, but he still hated it.
"Come on, sweet girl; let's get you home to mommy."
He carried Max and helped him get strapped into the helicopter on his one side with Andrea on the other and once they were secure, the helicopter carried them towards the Napa valley.
*ΩafloΩ*
Bella came to with Sue wiping her face and neck with a cold cloth.
"Wha – Oh – the children!" Bella exclaimed as she tried to sit up.
"Whoa there Bells, slow down." Charlie said as he held out a glass of water.
Bella obediently sipped about half a glass before she sat up and then stood.
She looked at her father, "Are-are they okay?"
Charlie nodded, "From what Emmett said on the radio, yes, they seem to be just fine. A little tired, and dirty of course, but physically they are okay."
"I need to speak to"
At that moment her phone rang and tears sprang to her eyes.
"Edward?"
Their conversation was short but Bella felt a thousand times better once they had finished.
She let out a sigh, "They are fine and they are coming home soon." She said to Sue and Charlie.
"Come on, let's tell the others." Charlie led the way to the large den.
They walked into the den, to find every member of their family assembled.
Bella looked around and she saw that there wasn't a dry eye to be seen as everyone shed tears of relief and joy.
As soon as they noticed her, Bella was swallowed up in hugs, kisses and more tears than ever before.
Once things settled down, Bella sat on a sofa between Nicholas and Jackson. Isabelle sat on her lap, playing with her hair.
"Momma Belle, Daddy Eddie is gonna bring Sissy and Max back, huh?" Isabelle said in a sing-song voice.
Bella laughed and hugged the little girl against her, "Yes, Munchkin, Daddy Eddie is on his way now."
Bella heard a gasp and looked up to see Sue standing next to Charlie. Her large dark eyes, so like her granddaughters were full of unshed tears and her hand was over her mouth.
Charlie put a hand out to his wife but she shrugged it off as she spun on her heels and ran out the door.
Bella bit back a sigh as she shifted Isabelle into Nicholas' arms, "here, let Nick and Jackson tell you a story."
Isabelle looked at Bella wide-eyed and a little afraid, "Are you coming back, Momma?" she asked quietly.
Bella's heart ached at how resigned and worldly the little girl sounded. She had lost so much in her short life.
Bella reached out and cupped her cheek, "Of course I am! I'm just going to see if Granny Sue needs some help."
Bella felt her father's eyes on her as she walked to the door.
"What Dad?"
Charlie frowned, "Just… be gentle Bells. She is struggling with their disappearance and our hearts are breaking for them, us, all of us, so just be gentle." His voice was low and gruff but Bella could hear the emotion in his tone.
Charlie adored his wife and up until a few months ago, Seth had been his son in every which way. When Seth had disappeared, Charlie had called in every favour that he could to get answers on the whereabouts of the missing couple.
Until he had heard back from his friend at the F.B.I.
They had located Seth and Jesse – they were living in Hawaii – in a commune and Seth was working as a pro bono attorney.
Jesse was making beaded necklaces and leis for the tourist community and neither of them were in any hurry to come home.
Charlie knew this because he had fabricated a boys fishing trip with Carlisle and the two men had flown to Hawaii.
Charlie thought that if he went there, if he could just see Seth and look into his eyes and tell him to get his act together and come home to his children, then Seth might wake up from whatever spell he was under.
Carlisle had said very little to his friend, instead he had quietly made the travel arrangements from his office so that neither Sue nor Esme would find out and when they got to the Lihue Airport, on the lovely island of Kauai, Carlisle had loaded their 'fishing bags' into the 4x4 and armed with a map they had set out for the tiny Pakala Village, near to the famous Wiamea Bay.
After a few wrong turns and after asking directions from the local fishermen, they found who they were looking for at the end of a long dusty track.
Huts that were little more than shacks were dotted together on a large plot of land.
Charlie was just about to say that they must be lost when he spotted a petite woman and a tall man, both wearing traditional sarongs working over a table that was spread with bright beads.
"Fuck me…" Charlie said as he stared at his step-son and his step-daughter-in-law. Suddenly he was furious; he pushed the door open and sprang out.
"Charlie…" Carlisle said quietly.
"No! Carlisle! Look. At. Them!" he pointed at the couple who were standing staring at him in shock and horror.
"This isn't a fucking summer camp! And Seth isn't five! His daughter isn't even five and yet she doesn't know where her parents are! And they are fucking stringing BEADS!"
Charlie felt dizzy for a moment until his friend guided him back to the car, gently but firmly.
"You are going to give yourself a heart attack, old friend. Now, calm down and take a few deep breaths."
Carlisle waited until Charlie sat in the car and opened the water bottle that Carlisle handed to him before he looked over to where Seth and Jesse were standing close together.
As Seth met Carlisle's hard gaze, he felt a pang of remorse and guilt before he shook the feelings off and stepped forward.
Carlisle hurried to meet him. He didn't want Charlie to get upset.
"Carlisle" Seth said with a nod.
Carlisle's blue eyes were icy and hard as they stared at Seth.
"Seth"
"Look-"
Carlisle held up his hand, "I'm really not interested in why you have deserted your job, your family and more importantly your children. I don't give a rat's ass about what the fuck you are thinking right now. All I care about is the fact that you have broken my best friend's heart and your mother is devastated."
Seth had the grace to look uncomfortable.
"Jess and I need time away"
Carlisle bit back a retort just as Charlie closed the distance between them, "You need time away? Are you kidding me? What about your kids? What do they get? You and Jess are not fit to be parents – you don't deserve your kids! And I will do everything in my power to make sure that you don't get another chance to fuck their lives up! You are a disgrace, Seth – I am so ashamed of you."
Charlie's voice broke on the last words and Seth was alarmed to see tears on Charlie's cheeks.
The two men stared at each other until Seth looked down at the ground.
After a moment he spoke quietly, "Look, Da- Charlie, Jesse hasn't been well. I didn't see it until it was too late and I had to make a choice between her and our old life. I chose her. I realised that nothing and no one meant as much to me as she does and I know that Bella and Edward are much better parents that we could ever be."
Charlie glared at him, "Are you willing to sign your parental rights away, so that Bella and Edward can adopt them and make sure that they have a stable home life in the future?"
Seth looked shocked that Charlie would bring up adoption.
"I'm not sure – I will need to discuss this with Jess. We will let you know."
Charlie gave a short nod, "Fine."
Seth turned away but then turned back, 'How is she?"
Charlie knew that he was talking about Sue.
Charlie shot him a furious glare, "How do you think she is? She is heartbroken and that is all on you!"
Seth looked ashamed for a moment before his eyes hardened, "Well, I have had to make choices for my family."
Charlie snorted, "Your family! Kid, your family is in tatters!"
Seth stepped forward, "listen Charlie – "
Carlisle stepped between the two men, "Okay, that's enough!" he glared at Seth and then at Charlie.
"Seth, we came to see if you were okay and obviously you are. And we came to check if you have made this life change of your own free will and once again, obviously you have. Charlie meant what he said about allowing Bella and Edward to adopt the children so once you give it some time and go over the documentation, please get in touch with him."
Charlie shook his head as he turned around and walked to the car.
Seth looked back to see Jesse sitting at the table humming to herself as she strung beads together.
He looked at Carlisle with sadness in his eyes, "I will talk to Jesse and we will let you know. Thanks for coming." He said quietly.
Carlisle wondered if this was what he really wanted but other than kidnapping him, there was nothing that he or Charlie could do.
"Good-bye Seth. Call your mother sometime to let her know that you are still alive." Carlisle said quietly.
Carlisle pretended not to notice how his friends stared out of the passenger window and wiped his eyes for the journey back to the airport.
After he had handed in the rental keys, Carlisle put his hand on Charlie's arm, halting that man's progress through the airport terminus.
"You and Sue raised him right, Charlie. Don't ever doubt that. You are doing the right thing now as well. He has to come to his senses himself and if he chooses a woman over his children, his family then there is nothing that you can do."
Charlie gave a curt nod, "Yeah there is. I can make fucking sure that those kids get the very best family that life has to offer and that is Bella and Edward raising 'em. I may need you to testify when the case goes to family court."
"Anything you need, although we are both going be in a world of hurt once we tell the women that we didn't tell them the truth."
Charlie suppressed a laugh, "Better see if Emmett can give us a place to stay for a couple of nights."
Charlie was right, once he and Carlisle had admitted to lying about their whereabouts, they had been banished from their homes and Sue and Esme had spent a weekend in San Francisco.
Now, he watched as his daughter pulled a jacket off the coat rack in the entrance hall before she walked outside after her step mother.
Sue hadn't gone far and Bella found her sitting on the porch swing on the wide veranda. Sue wiped her tears away before she patted the seat next to her.
Bella sat down slowly and Sue gently pushed the ground with her foot.
"I'm sorry Sue…" Bella began.
She was sorry. She was sorry that Seth and Jesse were such horrendous parents and she was sorry that Seth had not opened up to his mother before running away like a toddler. She wasn't sorry that she love Isabelle and Casey as though they were her own and she wasn't sorry that they loved her and Edward. She was glad that at least they had some semblance of normalcy in their lives.
"Oh Bella, honey, this isn't your fault! I am so grateful to you and Edward and to your kids for opening your home and your hearts to Casey and Isabelle. You have no idea how happy I am that they are loved and safe and settled!"
Her words belied the steady stream of tears that ran down her cheeks.
Bella bit back a curse at her step brother and pulled the woman that she loved like a mother into her arms.
For a moment Sue allowed herself to feel all the grief, anger and sorrow that she had kept bottled up for months and she just let go.
After a long while she pull away from Bella and with a shaky hand she brushed her shoulder length hair off her sticky face.
"Here"
Bella held out a pack of wet wipes that she seemed to carry around with her, a bottle of water and a pack of tissues.
Sue cleaned up her face and took a long drink of water.
Once she was feeling more in control she leaned back on the seat and stared at her daughter.
Bella was the daughter of her heart and she could love her more if she had given birth to her herself.
"Thank you sweetheart, I needed that."
Bella frowned, "I hate him for making you cry, Mom."
Sue cupped her cheek with a gentle smile, "I know darling and that is why I love you so much. You are so fiercely loyal and when the time comes, I am going to be happy to ask the judge to make you and Edward their legal guardians and if you want to adopt them, I will wholeheartedly support that as well."
Bella's eyes widened, "Really? You would do that?"
"Of course. Bella, you are a wonderful mother and I think that is one of the reasons that Seth felt it easier to leave like he did. He knew that they would be in the very best care possible."
The two women hugged and stood up to go inside, when at that moment Bella heard the sound of a helicopter and her heart began to pound.
Everyone came out of the house as the helicopter landed on the helipad a short distance away.
Bella wanted to rush forward but she waited until she saw her husband climb out with a small bundle in his arms.
With a muffled cry, Bella was racing down the steps.
Edward looked up and he watched his wife fly across the yard. She climbed clumsily over the fence that separated them and then she was flinging herself at him.
"Oomph!" he exclaimed as he struggled to keep his balance. He felt her small arms grip him and Max.
"Ohmygod! Oh my God! You are here"
"Mommy!" Max's eyes shot open when he heard his mother's voice. He had fallen asleep in the copter.
He struggled to sit up and pushed himself into his mother's arms.
Bella could not contain her joy at being reunited with her husband and children and she looked around for Andrea.
When she spotted her in Emmett's arms she burst into tears.
Emmett shifted Andrea into Edward's arms and the two adults squashed the two children against them as they cried and held each other.
Within seconds the group hug had grown and soon there were about twenty adults and children all hugging and dancing around as they laughed and cried and screamed in joy.
One of the sweetest reunions had been between Elizabeth and Andrea.
The twins had grasped each other's arms as they stared deep into each other's eyes.
"I missed you Sissy"
"I could feel that you were okay"
With a nod and a smile the girls hugged each other tightly.
After a while, Esme and Sue ushered everyone back inside where they congregated in the large family room.
Emmett closed the door to the study so that his team and the FBI and local law enforcement could pack up their equipment with little disruption to the family.
After a while, the kids moved down to the games room, and even though she was reluctant to let them go, she let Jackson lead them downstairs.
"How am I going to let them out of my sight ever again?" Bella murmured as she clutched Edward's hand.
"I know Darling, and this is one of the things that we are going to have to work through. I gave Paul a call and asked him for a recommendation for a trauma councillor. He gave me the name of a couple that specialise in family trauma counselling in the city." He said quietly.
He wondered how Bella would react to this news. He had spoken to Bill Henderson earlier and he had liked what the man had said, but he also knew that for the next few weeks, months even they were going to have to ferry their family, especially the younger five to counselling and he had toyed with the idea of renting a house closer to the San Francisco.
He was worried because he knew that Bella hated change more than anything else she loved having her extended family around her.
Would she contemplate moving?
Bella ran her hand through her hair, a habit born of years of living with Edward and with a mental push, she turned to Edward and asked him to take a walk with her.
They excused themselves and held hands as they walked down the steps. After a moment they walked down the winding path through the rose garden towards the gazebo.
"Babe, what do you think about going to see Bill and Jenny Henderson?"
Bella turned and smiled at him, "Is that the couple that Paul suggested?"
Edward nodded.
"I think that is a brilliant idea, but I was going to ask you a big favour."
"Name it"
"Would you consider moving back to the Bay area for the next couple of months? If you could swing it with the studio?"
Edward let out a short bark of laughter at her words and they stopped walking.
"What's so funny?"
"I was going to ask you that – I just wasn't sure what you would say. I mean it would mean that we would probably have to home school the minis until we are ready to come back and we have to find out if Sam wants to move, perhaps he can stay with Em or Jazz or even Charlie and Sue or Mom and Dad – that is if you want to come back?"
Bella looked relieved, "Of course I want to come back, I just don't think that I want to be in that house until we can change it so that there are no more bad memories. We have to get it fixed up and changed and –"
Edward put his arms around her and pulled her close, "Anything. Fuck, lets knock it to the ground and rebuild!"
"Do you mean that?"
Edward nodded, "I know that it sounds crazy, Bella, but I don't want any reminder of that house anymore. Besides the photos and our personal belongings, I want it gone and I want to start over. What do you think?"
Bella nodded as her heart soared. She had been dreading the idea of going back to that house.
"We need to have a family meeting first with the kids and then we need to have a big family meeting – adults only." Edward said. He kissed the top of Bella's hair and began to turn them back to the house when she stopped him.
"Edward?"
"Hmm?"
"We need to talk about something else."
He stepped back and frowned as the look of trepidation on Bella's face.
"What's wrong?"
Bella shook her head and quickly walked over to the gazebo.
Edward followed, a feeling of dread spread in his belly.
"Isabella, what is wrong?"
Bella was wringing her hands in front of her and Edward bit a curse.
"Fuck, this is really bad, isn't it? Just tell me what is wrong!"
Bella glared at him.
Edward's eyes narrowed, 'you are stalling, Mrs Cullen. Now. What. Is. Wrong?"
Bella took a deep breath, "alexisispregnant"
Edward felt his heart splutter and then begin to pound as he unscrambled the words, "What?"
"Alexis is pregnant. Our baby is pregnant, Edward."
Edward felt as if his head was going to explode. He wondered if he was having a heart attack or if he had an aneurism. Nothing made sense. For a moment he wondered if he had died because there was no noise, no sound, nothing.
He became aware of a couple of things.
He was no longer standing.
He was no longer in the gazebo.
He tried to open his eyes as someone said his name and gave his shoulder a little shake.
"Edward, come on son, open your eyes."
Edward's eyelids fluttered as he recognised his father's voice.
"Too bright!" he hissed.
"Close the curtains" he heard Carlisle say.
"Okay, come on Edward, you fainted and I need to check you out"
This time it was easier to open his eyes and he silently allowed Carlisle to check his eyes, feel his head and he declared him fit.
This time Edward allowed his gaze to go around the room and it was only when he saw his wife standing next to her father that the reason for his fainting spell came back to him.
He tried to sit up and would have succeeded if his father hadn't pushed him back down onto the couch.
"Now, take it easy. You need to give yourself a few minutes. Just relax."
Edward snorted, "Relax! Do you even know?"
Charlie looked at him, "We know Edward and believe me - your father and I wanted to shoot the bastard and bury him out back but Bella wouldn't let us."
Bella glared at her father and then at her father in law as he smirked.
"That is enough! Now, out you two, Edward and I need to talk."
Both men looked as if they were about to protest, but Bella walked over to the door and opened it, "Out! Now! Unless you want me to get Mom and Sue?" she said with a glint in her eye.
Once they had shuffled out Bella took a deep breath and turned to face Edward.
"I'm sorry Edward, but I had to tell you. I found out yesterday when Lexi told me and then she inadvertently told everyone because we didn't realise that they had followed us downstairs. It is a huge shock and of course I am disappointed - I mean God! She is so damn young! A baby – she is still a baby, but we can't stop them from being together." She spoke calmly as she sat beside him.
Edward felt tears prick behind his eyes, "I wish your dad had shot him." He said petulantly before a lone tear fell.
Bella pulled his head down onto her shoulder.
"What the fuck, Bella? How could she be so fucking careless? What the fuck was she thinking? Doesn't she know how hard it is to be a parent? What about school?"
Bella and Edward spoke for almost two hours. After a while, they had moved up their room and Bella had held onto Edward as they showered together before they slowly made love.
Afterwards they had made several decisions before they dressed and made their way downstairs to call a family meeting with their parents and siblings.
Everyone was very supportive of their ideas and each couple offered suggestions and assistance when and if they needed it.
Edward asked Carlisle if they could use their house for privacy of a family meeting that they were going to have with all nine of the kids.
After that they rounded up all of their children and went to Carlisle and Esme's home where they sat in the dining room because it still had the table that could seat all twelve of them. Edward tried his best not to glare at Mario as he sat on the other side of the table.
Once seated, Bella asked everyone to be quiet as there were several things that she and Edward had to discuss with them.
Edward held Bella's hand as he began.
"Look, I know that this is very overwhelming but there are some things that Mom and I need to go over with you."
He looked around the table and wasn't surprised to see Max nestling against Bella's breasts, while Sam held Casey on his lap, Nicholas had Isabelle and the twins shared a seat while Jackson and Alexis sat side by side and lastly Mario looked very uncomfortable in the seat next to Alexis.
Edward avoided the younger man's gaze as he prepared to talk.
He needed to be calm and he knew that if he looked at Mario, he was going to lose control and pummel the crap out of him.
As if she could read his thoughts, he felt Bella's small hand tighten on his. He looked at her and she gave him a slight nod of encouragement.
"Mom and I have been talking and while we obviously want things to go back to 'normal' we know that it isn't that simple. The house isn't habitable right-"
"What does hat-it-it mean?" Max interrupted.
There were a few snorts and chuckles around the table and Edward was pleased that it seemed to lighten the atmosphere.
Max glared at his siblings and pouted, "Stop laughin' at me!" he grumbled as he stuck his thumb into his mouth and nestled against Bella.
Bella frowned at the gesture that Max had given up almost two years before. But she cast a warning look at her other children as she kissed the top of Max's head.
"It means that we can't live in our house right now Max-"
"Good! I don't wanna live there anymore – it's scary!" Isabelle piped up and Max nodded his agreement.
Edward was surprised to note that most of the children, with the exception of Jackson and Alexis all nodded or murmured their agreement.
He and Bella shared a look – they were on the right page.
"It is scary to be there Isabelle, and that is why Mommy Bella and I are looking at doing something else for a little while. We" he gestured to Bella and himself, "want to move away for a little while – well to be honest it will be until the start of summer vacation."
Alexis was frowning as she subconsciously rubbed her belly, "Where are you planning on going?"
Edward shook his head, "Not us – this will be a move for all of us. We would like to move closer to the city, so for Mom and me it will be a return to the Sausalito area."
Everyone started talking at once until Samuel's voice rung out louder than the others, "I'm not moving! I'm a senior and I am not changing schools now – no way!" he stood up from the table and glared at his parents.
Edward shook his head slightly, "Sam, sit down, Son. Your mother and I would never ask you to move away now. Just hear us out."
Sam shook his head, his young face stormy. He looked so much like Bella that Edward felt his heart melt a little. His kids had him wrapped around their fingers and they knew it.
Edward cleared his throat and nodded to the chair, "Sit down, Samuel."
Sam recognised the subtle steel in his father's voice. That was his 'don't-fuck-with-me' tone and all the kids knew not to push their father too far.
With a retort that he was wise enough not to voice, he sat down again.
Bella shushed everyone and when it was quiet she decided to help lay out their plan.
"I was thinking about this from when this happened. We think that we all need a break – something different. We can home school everyone from anywhere but we don't want to be too far away, and your dad and I love Sausalito and the whole bay area. We will make sure to get something that has enough space for all of us, because we want you to come home over spring break and at least you know that all of your stuff is in a room, waiting for you."
Jackson sat forward, "What about the house on the ranch?"
Edward, "We are going to demolish it and rebuild."
There was silence for a moment as everyone absorbed the news. Edward normally loved how close his kids were and how they seemed to be able to communicate without saying a word but their silence and the covert looks that were being passed around were driving him crazy and just as he was going to beg them to say something, Jackson spoke up again.
"But Mom, Dad, you guys love that house. You chose all the features, all the furniture."
Bella shrugged a little, "Jack, kids, what happened there, what we lost there was that sense of safety. None of us are ever going to feel completely safe there and yes, there is a lot for us to talk about and to work out, but Dad and I want to do something different, something for now, for the future."
Her dark eyes glittered with a bit of excitement, "You are all growing up so fast and of course there will always be rooms for you" she looked around the table and she made sure to look at Casey and Isabelle so that they would know they were included in the future plans, "that means all nine of you," Casey rewarded her with a grin, "but just like Nana and Papa did for us at Cullen Crest, we want to be able to give you each a suite for yourselves and your future significant others as well. As far as the minis goes, well we want to do things a little differently there as well, but we promise that we will involve you in the planning of our future home."
"When are you going to start looking?" Nick asked.
"We already have. I phoned a realtor friend of uncle Em who says that he will be able to sort something out for us soon. We can't go back to the house, but all of our belongings have been packed and is waiting in storage for us."
"Do you have an idea of what style you want?" Samuel asked.
Edward smiled, "No, but why don't you and your mom put your heads together and come up with something?"
Sam smiled, "Can I stay with Uncle Jasper and Aunt Alice?"
Bella nodded, "of course, Alice and Jasper already agreed and Uncle Em and Aunt Rose said that you are more than welcome to go there if you want a break, plus Papa and Grumpy also want to spend time with you and don't forget that we will be up here most weekends. So, what do you say? Can we count on you for your support and help?"
Everyone nodded.
"Good, now everyone can go back to the main house, we just need to talk to Alexis and Mario for a moment." All her siblings stared at her and Mario wondering what they had done wrong. All except Jackson.
Of course Alexis had not been able to keep a secret from her twin. He knew her better than anyone in the world, even Mario. He really was the other half of her heart and soul and she needed his support.
Although he was pissed that she had fallen pregnant, he was still going to stand by her side and offer his support.
"Lex? Do you want me to stay?" he leaned down and asked quietly.
Edward snorted, "Jackson, could you make sure that the minis back to the main house, please. I think that your sister is grown up enough to take responsibility for this, don't you?"
Jackson began to protest but then he saw his father narrow his green eyes in warning.
"Yes sir." With a gentle squeeze to her should and a sympatric glance to Mario, Jackson managed to persuade Max to let him give him a piggy back ride out to the cars.
Once they were alone, Mario spoke for the first time, "Look Edward,"
Edward's fist banged on the heavy oak table with a bang that sounded like a gun shot.
Edward leaned forward, "You! Do. Not. Get to tell me to 'look Edward!'"
Edward closed his eyes as he fought back the sudden tears that burned the back of his lids.
After a few deep breaths he looked across the table. His eldest daughter, his baby, his girl-child sat with her hand over her mouth as she cried. Her large brown eyes were filled with pain and sorrow as she stared at him.
He reached across the table and took her hand "When I look at you, I see my little princess, with her hair in disarray, and her little thumb stuck in that pouty mouth. You- you will always be my sweet princess, don't you see that? And now you are asking me, demanding that I see you as a mother! I-I"
Edward stopped talking as he stared into his daughter's eyes.
"Daddy – "
Edward looked over at his wife and saw the empathy and love in her eyes – she knew, she understood what he was feeling but he could also see the plea in the depths of her eyes, asking him, beseeching him to tread carefully. The next words out of his mouth could change their family forever.
He took a deep breath and turned to his daughter again.
"Alexis, of course we are disappointed because heaven knows that life is complicated enough without having to raise a child when you still need to finish your education," he squeezed her hand and smiled gently at her, "especially when we are too young to be grandparents, but we will always be here for you," he glanced at Mario for the first time without wanting to leap across and strangle him, "we are here for all of you."
He reached out and shook Mario's slightly clammy hand and he grinned inwardly at the thought that he had made the younger man a little nervous.
The words had barely left his mouth with Alexis got up and threw herself into his arms, hugging him, crying as she choked out another apology and expressed her love for him.
Edward held her tightly.
Bella wiped the errant tears off her cheeks and let out a breath that she hadn't even realised she had been holding.
Mario gave her a tentative smile and swallowed convulsively. Although he knew that Edward would never get physical with women, he hadn't been so sure about his own fate.
Once Alexis had calmed down, Bella persuaded her to walk back to the main house, leaving the two most important men in Alexis' life to walk slowly behind them.
"Mr Cullen, Sir, we never meant for this to happen. She is everything to me and you are everything to her-"
Edward looked over at the younger man who hadn't taken his eyes off Alexis as she walked ahead, with her arm entwined with her mother's.
"No one ever really intends for this to happen Mario. I'm not stupid. My daughter would never choose to fall pregnant when she is still in school! When are you getting married?"
Mario wiped a bead of sweat off his forehead, he had been dreading this question, "Well, she, I mean, we, I"
Edward stopped walking and turned to him with a snarl, "Do you not want to marry my child?"
Mario nodded his head quickly and held up his hands in surrender, "Yes! Of course I do, I wanted to ask your permission months ago, but Alexis has other ideas. She says that she won't marry me until she has graduated. I have tried to persuade her but you know how stubborn she can be."
By this time they had almost reached the main house and Edward changed course and led them around the side of the house to the back deck of the games room.
He walked straight over to the bar and poured himself a hefty shot of bourbon. He held up the bottle and Mario shook his head, preferring to take a beer from the fridge.
They sat down on the deck.
Edward shook his head, "She won't marry you now, hey?" he snorted and shook his head again, "I know just how stubborn the women in my family can be."
Mario took a sip of his beer, "She wants to waits until after the baby is born."
"When will that be?"
"She hasn't been to a private doctor, only the campus clinic, but according to her dates, she is due around mid August."
"Why hasn't she been to an obstetrician?" Edward frowned.
Mario looked at him, "I think that she has been in denial for the past few weeks."
Edward slapped his hands on his knees, "Well that shit ends now. You had better make sure that she sees a doctor in the next few days. You have to put your foot down, Mario or she is going to walk all over you! Where are you going to live? Are you just going to live in sin until after the baby comes?"
Mario shook his head, "Well, I want to buy a house in L.A, but Lexi is talking about renting a place near to campus."
Edward could see how unsure Mario was about their future.
"We will help you wherever we can, but you and Alexis need to make some very important decisions in the next little while."
That night after dinner, Edward told his family about their plans to demolish the existing house and to move away for the next few months.
Esme and Sue had also spoken to Alexis and persuaded her to see an OBGYN in the next few days.
Sam was excited about the new house and straight after dinner he began to think of various style homes that would still suit his family and their lifestyle, but would be significantly different from what their old house was.
Edward was quiet as he came out of the bathroom. Bella looked at him in the mirror as she sat at the dressing table, brushing her hair.
Her eyes looked at his reflection as he absently ran a towel through his hair. A bead of water ran down his back as he turned to toss the towel into the hamper and Bella marvelled at how sexy and handsome he was.
As a young man he had been lanky and sexy in a very athletic way but as a matured, almost middle aged man he was the epitome of a man and all that stood for.
His bronze hair had faded slightly with age, the laughter lines around his eyes looked sexy as hell.
His jaw was still square and firm and in the past twenty five years, he had not let himself go in the least – his body was toned, defined and tanned, and the only change was that he had more hair on his chest and the fuzz was more blonde than bronze.
"See something you like?" his teasing tone of voice caused Bella's eyes to shoot up to his face and she blushed as she took in the slightly feral look that he was giving her.
His gazed warmed her body and she spun around to face him, "I very much like what I see." She said with a husky quality to her voice.
Edward's eyes turned dark, "Come here and show me how much you like what you see,"
Bella swallowed the pool of saliva in her mouth, "It will be my pleasure, Master," she murmured as she stood up and dropped the satin dressing gown to the floor. Moments later she followed her gown as she took his cock as deep into her mouth as possible, while he hissed and fisted her hair.
The next morning, Bella was a little sleepy and Edward made sure to get up early to see to the minis and he gave her a chance to sleep in. When she came downstairs almost two hours after everyone else, she ignored Alice and Rosalie's sniggers but she glared at her mother and mother in law when Sue began to sing, "Bow-chicka-wow-wow…" and Esme joined in with a 'Oh yeeeeaaaaah".
"Juvenile" Bella muttered as she poured herself a large mug of coffee, while the four women sniggered and giggled.
"Take one look at your face in the mirror this morning, Missy and then tell us what you would say!" Esme retorted.
Bella shook her head and sailed out of the kitchen, but she couldn't resisted looking at her reflection in the hallway.
Her eyes were shining brightly, her cheeks had a glow about it that was impossible to ignore. Her lips were pink and slightly swollen. Bella let out a breathless giggle.
"Bow-chicka-wow-wow…" she whispered to herself.
As she walked outside, she heard Alice's comment through the open window and couldn't help giggle, "I don't know how they still stay up all night having wild sex! They have nine kids!"
Rose snorted, "That's why they have nine kids, Dummy!"
Bella sat on the front porch in one of the wingback rattan chairs and blew lightly across her mug as she stared out at the rose garden, and beyond that the vineyards.
Things were changing and for the first time in days, or weeks, she wasn't anxious or afraid – she was looking forward to the challenges ahead.
*ΩafloΩ*
I have not forgotten about this story or any of you that are still left reading it. I am so grateful for all of your emails of encouragement, thank you.
I must apologise for how erratic my updates have become and I promise that I am trying to do better.
Hugs,
Michele