A/N: Thank you to obsessedmom for her editing skills and time. Also thank you all for the reviews, they mean a lot, please keep them coming.
Chapter 27: Remembered
By: Crash Hale
POV: Emmett
"I love you." Bella spoke breathlessly between my needful kisses. Being in the moment, knowing she was there for me, I was about to kiss her again, but suddenly stopped, looking down into her eyes.
She stared right back, biting her swollen lip. The whole moment slowed down, my emotions too much. I realized I was gripping onto her pretty tight, so I let go, afraid I'd hurt her.
"I'm sorry," I told her, bringing my hands up to cup her face and wipe her tears away with my thumbs.
More tears rolled down her cheeks as she looked away from me then shut her eyes, taking a deep breath. "It's okay, I should have known it was too soon. You don't have to say sorry."
I frowned, not sure of what she meant for a second before mentally having to kick myself.
I thought about her all the time when she wasn't near. Wherever I went without them I felt them with me. She was my world. She gave me all the things I never thought I'd have, or want.
"Fuck, Bella baby, I love you. I should have said it every second of everyday."
Her teary bloodshot eyes looked back up at me and she bit harder into her lip.
"I'm just sorry I didn't tell you sooner, that's all."
She nodded, reaching up and wiping my face with her gentle touch. I hadn't even realized I was crying. Yeah, that had been going on the last couple of days. It was fucking strange because I told myself I wouldn't cry. I'd lost my grandfather and back then knew I had to be a man about it. He'd taught me how to be one and it became time for me to do it. Alone.
"I'm sorry it hurt you so much for me to bring all this up. It was selfish of me, you'd have told me when you told me, but I pushed,"
I shook my head and pulled her into my chest. "I needed the push. I wouldn't have talked about it freely," I said into her hair, closing my eyes.
It was amazing how nice it felt knowing this person in my arms would listen and understand, and always be there no matter what. I couldn't have wished for anyone better than Bella. She wasn't just the most beautiful woman I'd ever met, but also the kindest.
After some silence, and just holding one another in the middle of my office, she whispered, "I bet he loved you so much, Em. It's written all over his face."
Kissing the top of her head, I turned to look at the photo hanging on the wall that she was talking about. It was of Pops and I while I was still in college. We were laughing, out with some friends at a park he used to take me to when I was a kid.
"He would have really loved you too," I told her, looking at the next photo over of me with my parents out on the yacht somewhere. It sucked that I didn't remember much about them, like they never really were.
She hummed and held me a little tighter, looking up with a sad smile.
"I don't really remember my parents much," I told her. It hit me then, she was the one I could tell anything to. She was my other half, not just in parenthood.
"That's sad, baby, but what do you remember?"
"Well, like I already told you, I remember the wing pendent Dad got my mom. I remember she had soft hands and wore a lot of rings. . . They were gold I think. I used to hold onto her hand and look at them, thinking my mom was a queen or something."
Bella smiled and it urged me to continue.
"She had soft hair like you." I ran my fingers through her hair, watching as her eyes closed. "Every time Ev and Aiden play with your hair it makes me think of her. . . I remember not understanding and thinking they went away because I did something wrong. . . But, I know now it's not true. There's nothing in this world that would make me want to leave my sons."
"What about your dad? Do you remember him?"
I shook my head, swallowing the lump in my throat. "Not really. . . I just remember looking at him and Mom once and seeing that he looked at her the same way I did, like she was really special, you know?" I smiled at the thought. "And I was jealous because I thought she'd think he loved her more than I did. I wanted to be her number one."
Bella's smile lifted and she wiped my face again, "You were."
"Yeah," I nodded. I didn't feel like less of a man while opening up to her and showing that I hurt. I felt like I could do it safely. I had no idea how she did it, but she was clearly magical.
"You're amazing, you know that? I have no idea how you do the things you do to me," I told her, completely serious.
"It's easy really," she smiled, "Just made you love me first."
I leaned down to kiss her, feeling shit about not saying "I love you," in more of a romantic setting, but what could be more real than this?
"I do, I love you so much you make it hard to breathe sometimes," I sounded so whipped, but I'd gladly admit I was. "I have no idea why it was so hard for me to say before, but now. . . Well, I fucking love you." I leaned down to kiss her. "I love you," I whispered between another kiss.
She smiled, pulling away from the kisses and looking up at me, "It was hard for me too. I wanted to say it so many times."
I kissed her forehead, my arm wrapped tightly around her shoulders so she stayed close. "I've been avoiding you because I didn't want to remember or think about all this. I'm sorry." She must have known. I mean, I was always busy with work, but I never let it take me away from them this much.
"It's okay," she sighed, "I understand."
"We should go check on the boys," I said, realizing we'd been in here for awhile and I needed to stop all this crying. I should have cried more when he died, but so much got put onto my responsibility that I didn't have the time. I know it sounds pathetic, but I didn't have anyone else to hold me together if I broke down back then. I had nothing to hold onto like I do now.
"Yeah," she said, pulling away and walking out ahead of me.
I followed her into the living room where both of my sons were seated on the floor, playing with some alien toys. They could seriously make something out of nothing. It was interesting to watch them.
"Want that back rub?" Bella asked, breaking my stare on the boys.
I nodded and began to unbutton my shirt. I smirked when she blushed, taking the shirt and putting it over the back of one of the sofas. I rubbed my face, my eyes burning, and came to sit between her legs on the floor in front of her.
I relaxed as soon as she began rubbing my shoulders and neck, and continued to watch Aiden and Evan play before us.
A few weeks later, I was holding Aiden in a backyard full of people at the big party Bella was throwing for Alice and Jasper. Jasper's novel was being published and he'd popped the big question three weeks ago, finally, as Alice said.
It was going to be a surprise but Bella knew that Alice would kill her for not letting her know to dress up for her own party, so it ended up not being a surprise at all. Bella had hired a party planner and Alice was really the one to do all the ordering around. It was no wonder the party got put together as quickly as it did. Alice knew how to get things done.
I smiled as I watched Alice and Jasper talking to some people and enjoying themselves. I was glad, because it's all Bella wanted today. She loved them and she said no one else deserved it more than they did. It was nice and put me at ease knowing she'd always had someone even when I wasn't around.
I'd had to keep people at a distance in my life for a long time. None of my good friends from before really ended up being good friends in the end. But ever since Bella came into my life, that had changed too. I'd met other people I could trust and be myself around.
"What's wrong, monkey?" Bella asked Aiden, walking over to us from wherever she'd been inside the house.
"Daddy kissed it better, but you too," he pouted, thrusting his hand at her.
She took his hand gently and kissed his finger. I don't know what had happened, but he was playing with the kids and hurt it so he came to me asking to be held. He stopped crying and settled after I picked him up and kissed the booboo away.
"Mr. Mmm, Mr. Em, Mr. Emmett?" I heard, feeling a tug on my pants.
Bella laughed and I looked down to see one of the kids looking up at me.
"Yes, sweetheart?"
"Can Aiden come back and play now?" the kid asked.
I looked at Aiden and he nodded at me so I let him down. I looked over to make sure Evan was doing okay. He hadn't had an attack in awhile and we were hoping to keep it that way. He really fucking scared me that one time. I don't remember ever being so afraid.
"Cute kid," Bella smiled, watching them run off.
"Yeah," I said, putting an arm around her shoulders. She wrapped hers around my waist and sighed.
"You think this turned out nice?"
"Of course, it's the nicest party I've been to, and look, they're having a great time."
Bella nodded and took a deep breath, "Alice asked me if we'd be okay with having the wedding here."
I looked down with my eyebrows narrowed. Here, as in, The Estate - our home?
"It's just, look at how huge it is out here, she thinks it would be nice for the wedding, if we're okay with it."
"Well of course I'm okay with it. Whatever they want. I actually remember my Pops had a few parties back here when I was a kid too. It's definitely a good spot."
"Great," She was suddenly almost bouncing beside me. "I'm the maid of honor," she told me again. She was so excited and it was really cute to see her this way.
"Jasper asked me to be the best man the other day at lunch."
"What? Why didn't you tell me?"
I shrugged, "I didn't know it was a big deal."
"Of course it is!" she hit my chest.
"Hey," I chuckled, taking her hand and holding it to my chest. "You're super cute when you're excited, you know that?"
Her smile grew and she shrugged.
"You are," I said, leaning down to kiss her.
"I'm getting married!" I heard, following by someone running into us and hugging us both.
What?
Alice laughed and pulled away from us, jumping up and down in one spot.
"Yeah, we got that Alice. That's the whole reason for this get together."
She rolled her eyes and pulled Bella away from me, the two of them linking arms.
"So did Bella ask about the estate yet?"
I nodded, "Of course. It's yours for the wedding, whatever you guys want. As maid of honor and best man it's our job to make sure you have all you want."
"Oh my god! You're the best man?"
"Yeah," I nodded. "Jasper asked me at lunch the other day," I repeated.
"Why didn't he tell me?" she said, hitting my chest where Bella had.
Bella laughed and I shot her a look. She shrugged again. "Told you it was a big deal," she said.
"Why are you hitting me? Hit your fiancé."
Alice rolled her eyes at me again and pulled Bella away, "I'm taking your girlfriend," she informed as she did so.
"Just have her back to me before it's over."
Bella laughed and just then Jasper came to my side, nodding at the girls, "What was that about?"
I rubbed my chest where I'd gotten hit and shrugged. "They're pissed I didn't tell them I was the best man. Beware man, you're next."
"It's no big deal. You're just going to do everything with me like you would anyway. . . Plus give a speech and whatever, which I'm sure you've done a million times."
I nodded. Being the owner of such a big company, I was fine with public speaking. "That's what I said," I told him.
"So, Alice wants to have the wedding here," I stated more than asked.
He nodded, "Yeah, I mean, look at this view, it's insane. And it's big enough. . . If it's okay with you. I know it's been in your family for a long time and-"
"It's cool, Jasper. Of course, we'd be happy to have it here. Besides, you're Bella's family, meaning you're mine too."
Jasper nodded, "Definitely. Thanks, man,"
I shrugged it off because it really wasn't a big deal. But it meant a lot to Alice, meaning it meant a lot to him, so I was happy to do it.
"Let's grab some drinks."
We spent some time at the bar that was set up outside, talking about everything and anything. When the sun began to set, the dance floor began to fill and I laughed when Alice grabbed my hand, pulling me with all her might.
"Come on, Papa Bear, dance with me."
"How could I say no?" I laughed, letting Bella take my drink from me as I was dragged away.
I spun Alice around and she laughed.
"How many have you had shortie?"
She gave me an odd look before shaking her head, "Not much," she waved it off.
Bella and Jasper appeared beside us a minute later, dancing as well.
"Wanna swap?" Jasper asked.
Alice pulled away from me then, falling into Jasper's arms and knocking Bella over slightly.
Bella laughed and moved over to me, giving me a smile. I wrapped my arms around her waist and looked down at her, watching her even when she turned her stare away.
"She's so sweet with them," she sighed.
I looked over to see Renesmee dancing with Evan and Aiden in a circle, the three of them jumping around. She was sweet, but not as sweet as my Bella.
"I love you, beautiful," I said into her hair, kissing her there.
"Mmm, love you too, handsome."
