Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight Stephanie Meyers has that right.
Thanks to my Beta NeeNee246. Who rocks.
Chapter 28
From the darkness he appeared, like an angel. Was I dead? I couldn't understand how I had got here but if this was death I would take it if it meant I got to be with Edward. I wanted to believe he was real. That Edward had come for me but I couldn't allow myself that hope. It would have destroyed me. It was a single gentle kiss, just like the fairy tale that awoke me to my surroundings and knew I had nothing to fear.
Edward was alive and had come for me. My life had meaning again and the last four months blurred into significance compared to that.
"The doctor will be here soon, love." His soft voice still sent tingles down my spine making him more real with every touch he gave me. "Plus, everyone is dying to see you."
"Can we stay here for just another hour, please?" I hadn't let Edward go since my rescue. I was afraid to in case I awoke from this beautiful dream.
"We can do whatever you want." Edward sighed and I could feel his lips kiss my hair. "I'm not sure if I'm ever going to be able to let go of you either. These four months . . .Bella . . .I hardly kept it together."
"You never gave up on me." I whimpered kissing his neck. Why was my body still an inferno of lust? I wanted Edward over and over again. Each time we connected I felt a part of my soul joining back with his.
"Bella," Edward let out a relieved laugh as my hands wondered down his stomach. "You need to rest. Trust me, all I want to do is make love to you as well but I want the doctor to check over you first."
"I'm sorry . . ." I sobbed clinging to him again just inhaling his scent. Fuck, HE WAS ALIVE. EDWARD WAS ALIVE THE WHOLE TIME. If I wasn't seven months pregnant I would have done cart wheels. My heart felt like it already was. "I just can't believe you are here."
"I know," Edward lifted my face up to his. "Never again will I lose you. Never."
"We are finally free." I whimpered as baby bump pushed down on my bladder.
"Bella," Edward's voice was panicked as I clutched my stomach.
"It's okay, he's just pressing on my bladder." I smiled sitting up.
"There you go again. You really think we are having a boy don't you?" Edward smirked running his hands over our bump. It was amazingly soothing.
"I hoped for a boy when I thought . . .you were . . ." Edward kissed my lips removing my tears with his thumb. "This baby was all I thought I had left."
"I'm so sorry Alex did that to you love. I can't even begin to think how you coped."
"I didn't Edward. I just shut down. I was in darkness the whole four months until you came for me."
Edward was going to speak but someone knocked at the door. "That will be the doctor." Edward smiled weakly getting up.
"Can we see her, please Edward?" I smiled to myself hearing all the familiar voices. I pulled Edward's shirt back on and began to walk to the door while Edward was still speaking to them.
"She is really tired guys. I want the doctor to check over her first." Edward had his hand on the door when I touched his waist. "Oh, no she's up." Edward smiled at me widening the door to our friends and family.
Rose was the first face I saw as her arms engulfed me. My mother and father were close behind. Edward looked a little restless at all the crying going one. Everyone was crying including me.
"My baby." My parents seemed just as scared to let me go as Edward. Once I had been pasted around to everyone. I found I was back in the comfort of Edward's arms. He pulled me down on the large sofa as everyone took their seats.
"You were so fucking stupid Edward." Emmet glared. "Going on your own last night was not the plan."
"It worked didn't it." Edward muttered wrapping his arms around my huge waist. I could tell Edward was shocked at how big I had got. Four months was a long time to miss. "I wasn't going to endanger all of you. You all have families yourselves." I turned to look at Edward in awe.
"You came for me alone?"
"I came with Harry and Dale too. I'm not Rambo, love," Edward smirked, my inside's fluttered at his happiness. He was slowly calming down to the situation like me. He was actually trying to be funny. "Oh, and Freedom Twenty. The rival gang to Level Ten."
"Level Ten?" I was so lost.
"Level Ten were the drug gang working for Alex. Freedom were the rival gang." Emmet replied.
"You guys worked out all that to rescue me." I sobbed at the danger I had put them all in.
"Of course, silly." Rose smiled winking at me. "You're not just Edward's Bella. You are our Bella too."
"None of us would ever give up on you sweetheart." My father smiled. "Although it was clear to see that your husband can't live without you. I don't think he has slept a whole night in four months. All he cared about was finding you." I smiled leaning back against Edward's chest. It was all starting to sink in. I was here, safe in Edward's arms.
Even Monty was here and as I looked around the room I had never felt so loved, that each and every one of these faces had worked together to find me.
"I'm just glad it's all over. Alex is finally dead and Jane is behind bars. It's the best result we could have asked for." Emmet looked over at Edward. They were sharing some sort of moment. "I went back this morning. His body was still there but missing a vital part."
"What part?" I asked not sure if I really wanted to know.
"It doesn't matter love. Alex is dead. That's all you need to know." Something in Edward's eyes made me not question it anymore.
"How did you get a lead anyway?" I asked.
"Kate," Edward muttered. "She didn't realise you were pregnant. That changed things."
"Kate helped us." I was so stunned.
"She gave us the name of the drug gang holding you. It was all we needed to track down a location."
"I put you all in so much danger." I shuddered.
Edward sooth me by rubbing my back. "No one was hurt, love. Relax. We knew what we were doing."
"I think we need to let the two of you rest. You both look exhausted." My mother smiled.
I was pulled into sets of different arms and kissed once again until Edward finally shut the door so we were alone again.
I stood up falling into Edward's arms as he opened them for me. I didn't want to move from these arms for years. I wanted to retrace every single indent in his skin to become so lost in those arms that I wouldn't know when I finished and he began.
"The kids are flying in tonight." Edward whispered in my ear. Those six words brought me to my knees with happiness. I fell to the ground. I couldn't stop the tears streaming down my face. My three angels. Would they have changed much in four months? What had my disappearance done to them?
"Bella," Edward dropped to his knees in front of me. "I know it's difficult but please try and stay calm. Think of the baby."
"I . . .I'm . . .just . . .so happy." I sobbed throwing my arms around him again.
Edward chuckled scooping me up in his arms. "Come on let's get you back in bed." My eyes looked up at Edward with a smoulder. "To rest." He added with the perfect crooked smile.
I was checked over by the doctor an hour or so later.
Edward was relieved when the doctor told us I was fit to fly. Edward didn't like the idea of me having to give birth here in Brazil not with all the memories. We both only wanted to be in one place.
"I can't wait to get you back home." Edward sighed kissing my forehead.
"I can't wait to be back home." I beamed sleepy against his chest. It had been an emotionally draining few days and I welcomed the sleep when it found me.
oxoxoxo
"Is she okay dad?" I could hear the sweet voice but I couldn't be sure I was dreaming. Often in the past four months my dreams had been filled with my three angels.
"Mom's tired. She needs to rest. She'll wake up soon Gracie."
"I knew you would find her dad. I just knew it."
"She looks like an angel." I heard Hope say.
"Look at her tummy. The baby has really grown. Why can't we wake her dad?" I couldn't help but smile in my dreams at hearing Jack.
"Give it time guys. Your mom has been through so much. Think about your brother or sister too in her tummy. The baby needs rest too."
"I want to cuddle mommy, daddy."
"You can Hope as soon as she wakes up." Edward's voice cooed. I stirred stretching. I had waited long enough for this moment. I was slowly waking up and knew I wasn't dreaming these little voices. "She's waking up daddy." I opened my eyes to the four most beautiful faces in the world.
"MOM, MOMMY." All three kids flew at me.
"Careful kids. Mind the baby and mommy," Edward's voice was a little strained.
I sat up engulfing all three of them in my arms. My sobs broke fast as I sat cradling my angels as their sobs began as well.
"I've missed you so much mom." Grace cried a while later still in my arms. Jack and Hope hadn't moved either. Edward had moved and was sat at my side holding all of us.
"I'm here now," I sighed. "I'm never going anywhere again."
"Do you promise?" Jack looked up at me with his wet green eyes. He was turning more into his father as each month passed.
"I promise." I replied holding them all even closer. I couldn't help but look up at Edward whose eyes were so wet with emotion that all I could do to respond was kiss his lips softly. "You can relax now." I whispered in his ear. "It's over." Edward smiled nodding kissing me back gently.
oxoxoxo
When I got home to Seattle Edward wouldn't let me lift a finger. I had never been prouder as I watched Edward with our children. It was clear for me to see that he had kept them all together the last four months and it made me love him even more, if that was even possible.
"Why do you keep looking at me like that?" Edward asked picking up our dinner plates.
"Do you have any idea how amazing you are Edward Cullen?"
"No," Edward laughed kissing the top of my head. "But something tells me you are going to tell me Mrs Cullen."
"Not only do you rescue me from pure evil but you also managed to support our three children through it all. Edward, you did an amazing job with the kids."
"I don't ever want to go through that again. When the kids were awake it was almost bearable but going to bed night after night and you not being there . . .Bella, it almost destroyed me."
"You'll never be alone again." I took his hand in mine pulling him down to my level. "This is the time we have been waiting for. Okay, so Alex took four months away from us but we can rise above that because we have each other and our family." Edward smiled as I placed his hand on my stomach.
"I've been waiting for this time for so long." Edward muttered resting his forehead on mine. "You, me and the children. I can hardly believe we are finally here."
"It's taken us to hell and back."
"And I'd do it all again if that's what I have to do to stand here in front of you Bella."
"Edward," I smiled touching his face then whimpered as a pain soared thought my body.
"Bella," Edward asked cupping my face.
"Edward, call your parents. We need to get to the hospital." I winced. I knew these pains were contractions.
"Is the baby coming?"
"Yes," I beamed looking up at him. "It's time we say hello to Edward Junior or Faith."
Edward got up rushing around and within half an hour we were ready to meet the newest member of our family.
