A/N: It has been a long two year journey, this little incursion into the world of fanfic. But this story is finally over. It's a HEA for these two, even though my initial outline had nothing of the sort, but sometimes the characters just take you were they want to go.
This was my first TW fanfic. Thank you everyone who has been reading from the begining, without you I would probably have abandoned this project.
If anyone still needs a fix of ExB, head over to my new story, Tempest Point.
TTYL
When I came down to the kitchen the next morning, Seth was sitting reading the newspaper while Leah made pancakes. Ben sat sipping his coffee. He gave me a thumbs up as I sat on a barstool next to Seth. I was going to try and be as nice as possible.
"You scared Bella." I kept my voice calm. His head snapped up, he shrugged and continued reading. However, I could tell by the slightest change in his expression, he was hurting.
"Better I scare her than Jake have her killed." He stated plainly, then folded the newspaper and frowned at me. "A preemptive strike is always good strategy, Edward."
"What did you do with him last night?" I was afraid he would actually tell me.
"Don't worry, Leah got him to a doctor." Seth smirked. He crossed his arms over his chest and tried to stare me down. It was almost childish. Like we were in school.
"It's not him I'm worried about." I gritted my teeth. "You know Bella's scared of you right now."
"I told you I'd keep her safe. That's what I did. " Seth stood up, towered above me. "If you're unsatisfied, fire me again."
"I didn't fire you, you quit on me." Ben watched us like he was watching a Tennis match. "Besides, I still paid your salary all those months you disappeared. So technically, you never quit!"
"Is there a point to this discussion? You told me to protect the girl, that's what I did. This asshole wanted to have her killed, I just set him straight. Is that not what you pay those salaries for?" Seth kept his voice even but I knew he was getting annoyed.
"I never paid you to fall in love with her." Leah dropped the skillet and moved between us. Ben hugged the wall and braced for the worst. I took a menacing step forward. Seth could beat me in any fight, but if he wanted fight, fight he would have.
Instead he just hung his head and turned away. He was ashamed. He raised his hands in defeat.
"I didn't." He lied. "So go on being your merry selves..."
"Seth..." I didn't care, not really. Not when Bella was finally home, safe, sleeping in my bed. "I just want to..." I wanted to go back. To a time when the four of us were still family. Seth, Leah, Rosie and I. "Thank you for keeping her safe." I meant it. "Please stay and help me get my life back on track." I offered my hand. After a tense minute he shook it and smiled.
"Right, now please take this tray up to your besotted, dumb ass!" Leah smirked as she forced a tray filled with pancakes, cereal, fruit, orange juice and coffee onto my arms. "Let us, minions, take the mundane tasks."
...
I watched her sleep. My mind drifted to that first time she'd fell asleep next to me, in the train. That's when my heart had betrayed me, linked itself to her. As she slept next to me, on a train, in the middle of winter.
She might be thinner now, frail even, but as her long tresses draped over my pillows, I couldn't help but wonder at the beauty in front of me. And for once her sleep was calm, restful.
I marveled at her pale skin contrasting with my black silk sheets, a leg snaked out from under the sheets, on the side of the mattress. Her spidery silvery scars danced around her shoulder, but did nothing to take away her perfection. Her pink lips pursed in an unconscious pout. I kissed those lips.
"Morning..." She mumbled, her eyes still shut. "5 more minutes..." She slid further away from me. I could wait... I knew she wasn't going anywhere, not any more. This was just the first day of many more to come... And I wanted to wake up next to her all of those days still ahead of us.
...
Six months. It's been six months of hard work. Whoever knew judging a talent show would be so much hassle? It's been six long months of on the road auditions, mentoring, judging, voting, picking, bickering with other judges... Six long months. Cameras and paps following me everywhere. If not for Bella, I'd have thrown it all away. Sent Angela packing, flipped the bird to the TV execs, dismantled the whole band and ran away to Tibet.
Bella kept me sane. Grounded. We have our domestic routines. Fallen into a safe harmonic rhythm. She manages the diner. I think that's the only reason Angela bought the retched place. So Bella could keep busy and away from the public eye after we eloped to Vegas. Not my decision. I wanted the huge wedding with all the A listers, show her off. Bella threatened to go back to Forks, she had her way... We flew to Vegas one weekend and got hitched by an Elvis impersonator. I don't think I'd ever seen Bella happier, she kept humming that silly dance tune that had been her ring tone when we first met.
We've moved to a bigger place close to Rosie and Emmett. Still on the beach. More room for the little pea in Bella's womb to run around. My daughter. I can't wait to meet her. I sing to her when Bella's researching new recipes on her iPad. It's perfect. Bella is both annoyed that I won't let her work and overjoyed that I dote on her. She's cute when she doesn't know how to react.
The baby will be here soon enough. 20 more weeks. I know our lives will change but for once that doesn't scare me. I think it scares Bella more. She's become a health nut. Even Seth gets annoyed at all the nutrition and fitness facts she keeps spewing. I get a little jealous still. Sometimes it seems they're inside their own little world. Their own bubble. He moves when she moves, she talks and he is hypnotized. And vice versa. If I didn't know better, I'd swear they were in love. Maybe they are. But it's a different kind. They both know it. They share a bond, the same emotional wavelength, a feeling of belonging. I have never been able to bring myself to make her end it. She's happy with him. And I'm happy she's happy.
"Get out of your head, Cullen! And come make love to your wife!" A pillow flies by my face as she giggles, calling me back to the present. Bella is naked, sprawled on our bed. Pregnancy has turned her into a vixen. And I'm not complaining.
"You are so gona regret that, mrs. Cullen!" I smirk as I hurry to join her. This is what love is all about. Life is good.
