Thank you for all your reviews. Sorry I couldn't reply to most of them but I've been pretty ill for the past week, hence why this chapter is late.
WARNING: This chapter holds a citrusy scene – I'd say it's a lemon, but as you know, they are the one thing I can never get right, so if you're looking for something overly hot and steamy, this is not it. However, for those I know who don't appreciate reading those scenes, feel free to miss it out :-)
I don't. Stephenie does.
Chapter twenty-six.
Edward.
The doctors told us it was best to keep Coop in over-night to allow his body to rest properly, and they can keep an eye on any signs of a problem with the operation. I hated seeing him in the bed, and I wanted nothing more than to take him home, away from the beeping medical equipment, but Bella helped me realise that it was the safest place for him and unless the doctors were concerned, we had no reason to worry.
I couldn't have done this without her, as cheesy as that sounds. The never-ending minutes that Coop was away for were the worst minutes of my life, and without Bella's constant support I'd have no doubt become a crippling mess on the floor. But she kept me strong, she kept me sane, and she also helped me realise just how much I love her. I mean, how can I not love her? Since it first began she has been there for me, she has been there for Coop and today she dropped everything and made the four hour journey to be with us, no questions asked.
I couldn't stand the idea of her going back to Forks, alone, but I knew it had to happen. She mentioned staying until Coop was back home and safe, so that gave us approximately two days until being apart for another four and then meeting again for Coop's birthday. I had suggested that she stayed here and went home after the party, but Angela would be struggling at work, probably, and Bella, being the amazing, selfless person she is, couldn't leave her friend in the deep like that.
She grabbed us both some cheap ass coffee from the cafeteria whilst I sat beside a sleeping Coop. We were told that it was common for him to sleep a lot for the next little while, and during his sleep I ran home to collect some of our belongings.
"Dad…?" He fluttered his eyes and he twisted his head from side to side. I took a hold of his hand and leaned in closer to the gurney.
"Hey, Bud, how you feeling?" He only nodded, still fighting back sleep. "Are you in any pain?"
"This bit…here…" he prodded his chest, "is a bit sore…" He winced.
I gently pulled his hand away, "then prodding it won't help, will it?" I joked, hoping to get a smile. "The doctor said it might be a bit sensitive for a little while but you're on pain relief so it won't feel sore for long."
Coop nodded weakly and settled back under his sheets. When Bella came back through balancing the polystyrene cups one on top of the other, Cooper acted like nothing was wrong and practically leaped out of the bed. She handed me the cups of coffee so to accept Coop in his eager hug.
"How are you feeling, Sweetheart?"
"I'm 'kay. Hey, um, Dad, did you get Tony Bear?" He bit his bottom lip and made a side glance at Bella, obviously embarrassed. I smiled at his cuteness and produced the large, brown furry bear from his bag of over-night belongings. If Tony Bear were real, his eyes would have popped out from the pressure of Coops' squeezing hug.
"I might be nearly eight Bella, but I still need my Tony Bear."
Bella brushed back his fringe and then squeezed Tony Bear's left ear. "Do you want to know a secret? I still have my bear that my Grandma gave me when I was born – she comforts me when I'm in a scary place, just like your bear."
All of Coop's anxiety seemed to practically vanish with that one sentence; he no longer seemed embarrassed about owning a teddy bear. "You have a bear too?! What's its name?"
"Y'know what? I never gave her a proper name, so I just called her Bear. But Tony Bear is a smart name; where did you think of that?"
"Um, well my Padre's middle name is Anthony, so I called him Tony… and also Iron Man's name is Tony, so I called him Tony Bear after Padre and Iron Man."
"That's a lovely name, and it shows how loving you are because you named him after people you love."
Coop shrugged and pursed his lips, "I'm just a very lovely guy, I guess."
0-0
A few hours after the minor operation my parents arrived. I had told them it was no longer anything to worry about, and they shouldn't have quit work and made the journey, but there is one thing I know about my mother – you never keep Esme Cullen away from her family unless you have a death wish.
"Codswallop, Edward Anthony; we're making this trip. End of."
I had to admit defeat, 'cause she double-named me. And that is scary shit.
But I saw how happy it made Coop so potential threats from my mother were completely forgotten about.
"Hey, Grandpa!" Cooper wriggled in the bed to retrieve his right leg from under the sheets and rolled up the pyjama pant leg to the middle of his thigh. "Look at my battle shcarsh." He grinned and slapped the white gauze.
Dad frowned along with the rest of us. "Your battle scars?"
"Yeah, that's what I said - shcarsh!"
"But why did you say it with a lisp?"
Cooper is the king of facial expressions, and the dubious one he gave his grandfather was by far superior to others he'd made. "Duh Grandpa; it's how Uncle Jasper talks." It was clear on our faces that we were all imagining Jasper talking, and then we smiled as the vision played.
"Very well observed, Coop."
"Yeah, but if I want to be Uncle Jasper when I'm older I need to learn how he talks."
That was news to me. "But I thought you wanted to be Tom Cruise."
Cooper sighed audibly and slapped his forehead, "Padre… is it not obvious that I'm going to be both? 'Cause, y'know, I have the skills to be both."
Sorry, how stupid of me not to realise.
0-0
The following afternoon Coop was released but with the warning to take things easy for the next few days, and we made an appointment to meet with Dr. Monroe. He was only away for 24 hours, yet he still made it seem like it was a lifetime.
He smiled and waved from the car window and greeted everything he could think of. "Hello, house, hello pool, hello Flash, hello Georgia, hello Gary, hello Paul, hello Simon, hello -."
Apart from the blue prints I received back in Forks, Bella hadn't seen the new house – I could feel the excitement leaking from both Bella and Coop.
"Can I show you my tree house? And my bedroom? Oh! And the pool?!" She let Coop out the car and held his free hand (that wasn't holding Tony Bear) when they crossed the front lawn. "And you're gonna love the view from my Padre's bedroom 'cause he can see the sea from the window, but I can't see it from mine; I see the front yard."
I lost their conversation then, but whatever Bella had said made Coop curl over in giggles.
The three of us were inseparable for the rest of the day. We had a snack dinner consisting of sandwiches and chips because none of us had he energy to cook anything, and we had that in the living room whilst watching Lilo and Stitch – Cooper's choice, but I knew Bella was rooting for it secretly.
"Ohana," Coop whispered over Stitch. "Ohana means family, family means nobody gets left behind. Or forgotten."
By the end of the movie we were all too comfortable to move.
"I think we should listen to Lilo." Coop mumbled from between us. "'Cause she said that 'Ohana' means 'family' and nobody gets left behind, but we're a family, and Bella, you're left behind in Forks…"
I squeezed her shoulder, noting how his subtle welcome-to-the-family had affected her. It did the same for me, but the tears were less noticeable. Thankfully.
"I'm sorry, Coop."
"Why don't you move here, then? You can stay with my Padre in his room, or put a camp bed on my floor – 'cause, y'know, I have the room… once I've cleared up all my toys. Also, there's a swimming pool down the road where you can get a job…."
Damn, he has it all planned out.
"I'm afraid it's not as simple as that," she pouted, "I'm paying money to live in my house up until the end of June, and if I leave before then I could be in trouble and would have to pay a lot more money."
Cooper squeezed his bottom lip between his thumb and fore finger as he thought. "Well… I have six bucks, forty-two cents in my money box. Would that help?"
And he was serious. For the past few weeks he's been going on and on to me about getting Leonard the Leopard Gecko for Georgia, but I told him he had to buy it out of his own money if he wants it that bad. So there he was, willingly giving up his hard-saved Leonard money in order to help Bella leave Forks.
If his scheme worked I'd happily buy him the whole stinking pet shop.
"Aw, Sweetheart, no, you keep your money – but it does mean that, come the end of June, I'd need to look for a new place to live."
"So… when it's my Padre's birthday you can come live with us and we'll be Ohana together? 'Cause, y'know, his birthday is June 20th."
I patted his shoulder with pride.
"Maybe," Bella grinned, "you never know what is going to happen between then and now, but it's a possibility."
"And remember, Bud," I cut in, to save Bella from my kid's demanding questions, "we'll all be together for your birthday and we can make trips down to Forks when I can take time off work. So it's not like we won't see Bella until June."
"I guess so… But it's not the same, y'know?"
Oh, I know.
0-0
"This is my room, Bella."
Cooper introduced his 'den' with pride. We had had so much fun picking out his wallpaper, choosing the carpet and turning, what used to be, a plan room with white walls and wooden flooring into a room fit for an eight-year-old: green carpet, green striped wallpaper and even some new furniture from IKEA – a red wardrobe, black desk and a wooden-based bed with blue sheets. His bed fit perfectly around the three windows; so he can look out and see the stars as he drifts off to sleep.
Scattered around the floor he had various toys – some train sets, a speed boat, LEGOs – you name it; he's probably got it. Tony Bear had already been put back in his pride of place, at the end of his bed.
"This is an amazing room, Coop – I wish I had one like this."
Careful, Bella, you're treading a thin line there…
"Well you can if you come and stay here."
She walked straight into that one.
0-0
As much as we both love Cooper, it felt good to have the time away from him later that evening. She was leaving the next morning to get back to work and we were already depressed about it. Even though I told Coop we'd be okay with the distance between us and that we'd see Bella whenever the time presents itself, I was straight-out lying to him. I was going to be a depressed mess, counting down the days and putting on my best fake smile to keep the pain away from my son.
I'd happily pay off her lease if it meant she packed her bags and came here sooner. But on the other hand I don't want to pressure her – maybe she didn't want to live with us and thought it was all too soon. Perhaps the three-four months between now and June is what she needs to.
I don't know. But what I do know for certain is that by the time she goes home tomorrow she'll know how much we love her. And, for me, it wasn't the love you have for a friend – I'd fallen in love quick and hard, and I can't live another day with that secret tearing up my heart.
Our resistance against each other wore thin quickly – what was supposed to be a sweet cuddle on my bed, talking about everything and nothing, soon turned into the tearing of clothes, sloppy kisses Bella making light work of my belt buckle and jeans. A swift tug on my boxers was enough for my cock to spring free. She greeted it with a sweet kiss on the tip.
"Fuck, baby."
I have been unfortunate enough to hear about Emmett's escapades and his views on everything, and I could now say that I completely understood.
"Is this okay…?" Bella peeked up at me and nibbled her bottom lip. Jesus, that's only making it worse.
"I think 'okay' is not the word I'd use to describe that. But, please, do carry on."
With a flirtatious wink she went back to the job at hand.
Pun fucking intended.
I groan inwardly as she takes me into her mouth. I resist the urge to thread my fingers through her hair, only because I didn't want to force her and wanted Bella to go at her own speed – see, I can be a gentleman.
"God, you feel so good. You like that, baby?"
She answered with a moan, and I felt as though I was about to combust. Seriously, don't make her moan.
Jesus.
The image of Bella taking my cock into her hot little mouth will invade my dreams until the day I die.
My balls tighten and a familiar sensation courses through my body.
I was seconds away from spilling my release when she let me go with a 'pop'.
"Tease," I muttered, flipped us both other so I lay nestled between her thighs. I kissed a path between her breasts, the nipples pebbled with obvious desire. I curled her hair behind her ears and rose up slightly so we were looking each other straight in the eye. The bashful smile, flushed-pink cheeks and doe eyes were my undoing. As corny as it sounds, I never knew someone could look so beautiful.
My thumbs brushed the side of her cheeks. I desperately wanted to blurt the three little words, but how bad would that look? I love you, now, take my dick. Then again, how could I not say it? It seemed like the perfect time, and it wasn't like we were in the throes of passion. Everything was quiet, expect for our laboured breaths, and surely you could see the love in my eyes anyway?
Shit, that's cheesy again, isn't it?
No, who cares? If you can't be clichéd when in a relationship with someone, when can you?
So, with that battling around in my head, I kissed her lips tenderly and watched as confusion settled in her eyes. She was probably thinking what the hell I was up to, and why I wasn't grabbing a condom already.
"I love you, Bella." I whispered before I lost my nerves.
The confusion vanished and was replaced with the on-set of tears.
Shit, shit, I've made her cry!
Is that a good thing or bad thing?
Christ, I hope it's good.
"I love you, too."
Our mouths met with the sweetest, most passionate kiss we'd shared. It hit me deep in my heart. "I love you *kiss* so much."
I said it again.
'Cause I could.
"You mean everything to me, Edward. You and Cooper – I don't want anything else."
That. That is what I lived for – to hear someone saying they love my son. God forbid had it turned out that Bella was only here for me and didn't care much for Coop, there was no-way I could have progressed in a relationship. Because he comes first, no matter what.
For the rest of the night we continued to show each other our love in various ways.
0-0
"What's your relationship like with your landlord?" I asked the next morning as Bella was packing up her things.
She gave me a strange look. "Um, it's pretty good. Why?"
"So, you think he'd let you end your lease early if you had to?" Because there was no way I could go until June with this separation.
"I don't know… But we'll sort something out."
I agreed silently with a satisfied grin and lay back on the bed.
I knew we'd sort something out, or I'd die trying.
0-0
The next chapter is going to be the last; unless it gets out of control then I'll split it into two.
I have a 3D picture of Cooper's room on my Facebook group: RosieRathbone FanFiction.
It's my birthday next Friday, so I'll probably update then :)
Thoughts?