Disclaimer: All the Twilight stuff belongs to Stephenie Meyer. No copyright infringement is intended. I'm just playing in her sandbox.

Author's Note: Sorry about the delay in posting, I try to post on Tuesdays and Thursdays with a sometimes bonus on Saturdays, but I missed yesterdays. This chapter was hard for me to write for some reason, I have several already written with regard to Christmas and New Years, and this one with a couple of others bridge the gap of time between now and when Bella's parents and Jacob arrive for the Holidays. Hope you don't tire of the fluff, drama is coming as surely as the New Year! We still have Black Swan Racing to contend with and where are the Denali cousins anyway?

Chapter 36 Cinderella

EPOV

God I had no idea. It was completely surreal, the sun coming in the window, Bella accepting the ring from me so readily, our lovemaking being so gentle and controlled and then the baby . . . our baby. I could say that a thousand times and it had never been brought to reality for me the way that feeling it moving had done. I was ecstatic, beside myself with joy at how Bella seemed to have been right. I wasn't the monster in the dark, ever uncontrolled. I saw the fairytale that she saw . . . and the possibilities.

BPOV

I felt like a Princess in a fairytale. The one that gets everything she wants including the handsome Prince and the happily ever after . . .

Edward had surprised me by fulfilling a dream from my childhood, every little girl's dream I suppose . . . to spend the night in Cinderella's Castle, perhaps to even be Cinderella and marry the Prince. Edward had no idea, of course. When he was a boy there had been no such thing as Disney World or Cinderella and he had no way of knowing that it had been a childhood fantasy of mine. Given my immersion into the world of mythical creatures, it all seemed to fit and the reality was not far off from the dream.

Our baby moving inside me for us to feel this morning took on a truly surreal feeling, given our surroundings . . . lying in the middle of a bed canopied with gossamer curtains and gold etchings on the trim of everything in the room, a fire crackling in the fireplace and the sun making a momentary appearance, streaming in the window. The sun's rays looked almost painted into the scene before me.

My husband lay beside me, holding me to him as he stroked my face. He had credited me with bringing him back to himself, to a place where he could make love with me and still not hurt me but really it was just him needing to trust himself, to know that he could manage anything he set his mind to. Trusting himself was something that Edward did not do lightly, tending instead to over analyze and think through things rather than trust his feelings . . . my ridiculously overprotective, anal retentive vampire.

Edward loved to give me gifts and I was adapting, learning to accept them gracefully. He had done it again this morning, as if a night in the castle were not enough. I had woken to find a new ring on my finger. It gave him pleasure to give me things, I realized that finally. The diamonds sparkling off my finger this morning somehow seemed fitting, giving our surroundings. He now had diamonds in my ears, around my neck and on both hands. I hoped this meant that he would stop, having covered all his bases, but I had learned never to underestimate his generosity.

I had heard him on the phone last night talking to a Mr. Jenks, a man I thought he had referred to as a lawyer or private investigator or something like that. It was a name that they apparently used for documents and such when they needed them. Edward was giving him the name of the family we had met last night in the restaurant and the little boy. I suppose Edward had read her mind because I don't remember her telling us where they were from and what hospital the little boy had been in, but he told Jenks to pay any outstanding bills the family had, including the hospital bills and the mortgage on their home if they had one and to do it from a benefactor to be referred to only as 'Cinderella'. He would tell me about it in his own time and I wouldn't ask him about it.

I stared into his eyes as he placed kisses softly along my lips and jaw, stroking my hair.

"I love you", he said softly as he continued kissing me, "Are you ready to have a shower and start our day?"

"Can we start with a bath in that small swimming pool I saw in the bathroom?", I asked enthusiastically.

"We absolutely can", he said as he jumped lithely to run the water for us. He blurred slightly as he went, having no need of human pretense while we were alone.

I walked to the bathroom to find everything I needed, down to the hairbrush and toothpaste was waiting on the counter for me along with fresh clothing for both of us. "Edward?", I asked, gesturing towards the counter.

"Alice had them sent over early this morning, love", Edward smiled, "Disney is very accommodating of anything their guests need. I really like the way people are treated here."

"They are amazing. You know the employees aren't allowed to refer to us as customers, we are called guests. How cool is that!", I told him.

"Well, they are good at what they do. Alice had only to tell the guard that we were staying in the Castle and he personally saw to the delivery. No tipping allowed.

The bubble bath was amazing and much needed after the amount of lovemaking we had done. My soreness would not effect the baby, but walking was another story. Regardless of how gentle Edward was and how calm and loving we had both been with each other, the sheer size of Edward was a factor. Did I mention how I truly had everything I could imagine wanting?

We dressed and left a bag to be sent to our hotel, not wanting to carry anything in hand while we explored the park. Rose, Emmett, Alice and Jasper had stayed till the park closed last night and had finished riding and seeing all that they wanted. They were at Universal Studios riding the roller coasters this morning after dancing the night away at Downtown Disney's Pleasure Island. I had had my own version of 'Pleasure Island' and did not feel left out in the slightest, having to reassure Edward several times that I was glad they went ahead without us!

We headed to the Pirates of the Caribbean ride and then to the Swiss Family Robinson's Tree House, having a great time alone, holding hands and chatting about everything we saw. Edward Insisted we eat at the character buffet where Winnie the Pooh and his friends would be visiting and since we had skipped breakfast, I gave in and let him help my plate and all but feed me. He was so cute and so sticky gooey over the top in love this morning, after our baby had made itself known to us that I was glad we were alone, his siblings would have made fun of us for the sticky sweet way we were acting. I loved this Edward.

~oooOooo~

"It's almost 4 o'clock, love," Edward said as we got off the shuttle and walked towards Universal Studio's complex, "Do you want to go to the hotel and rest or go to Universal Studios and see what the gang is doing?"

"Edward! Universal, of course! I'm really excited to see it. I've never been in and the concert isn't till 8. We don't have to dress for it or anything, so we can just go have fun and stop there on the way out if that's alright with you. Maybe we can even have dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe."

"I'm up for whatever you have planned", he said kissing me passionately there in front of the fountains and the lake, not caring who saw or even stopped and watched. His cell phone rang in his pocket just then, interrupting us.

"If you are through providing a public spectacle, we are at the MIB ride. See you soon!"

We both looked at each other and said at the same time, "Alice", as if it explained everything.

Sure enough we found them at the Men in Black ride about to get on it for another in a row of who knew how many times, though the vampire perfect recall could certainly have told me how many times, had I asked.

We all rode the Jaws Boat Ride and laughed when Emmett jumped as the shark emerged and attacked the boat but all humor left them when we turned the corner and they saw all the flames that were being shot into the air and into the path the boat would take. Though it was an amusement ride and perfectly times so that no harm would come to any of the guests, flames seemed to make all of my family quite tense. The heat from the flame throwing devices was intense around us as we passed, but knowing there was water just beneath the boat had to relieve some of the stress. After all, they could easily escape if something did go wrong with the ride. I suppose it was natural for them to have an aversion to the one thing they were susceptible to, but it was strange for me to witness it showing.

We took photos and posed in different spots in the park and tried to snap silly shots of Emmett making faces on the roller coasters as they passed us on the observation platform.

"You know, it's really okay if you go ride some of these rides with your family", I told Edward as he leaned over the rail to watch the ride go by.

"Bella, I'm with the part of my family that matters most to me, I love watching you discover new things and interact with my brothers and sisters. Trust me. I'm having a great time here and you, by the way, did a great job of planning it for all of us", he said as he playfully bumped me with his hip, still leaning over the railing to watch the ride.

"Yeah?"

"Yeah", he said as his arm went around me and he leaned in for a kiss.

"Geez, can you two even stop long enough to make it back to the room?", Emmett boomed as they approached us from the exit ramp.

"Now, how can I do that when we're headed to dinner and a concert, Emmett?", I said, faking an exasperated look at him.

"Is it that time, already?", Rose asked.

"Yep", I said as we headed toward the Hard Rock Cafe.

"Oh no!", Jasper exclaimed just as we walked past the lake and towards the restaurant, stopping dead in his tracks.

"What?", I asked worried by the tone in his voice.

"Jasper!", Alice exclaimed, "Not funny to worry the pregnant lady!" "Bella", Alice continued, giving Jasper a reprimanding look as he expression turned sheepish, "Jasper just realized that we never got around to riding The Hulk".

"What? What are you talking about, Alice?", I said as I continued to stare at Jasper.

He pointed into the distance to a mass of spiraling bright green railings, obviously a roller coaster and from the look of it, one that did loops and upside down spirals. As we had rounded the corner, it had come into view and he had realized they had yet to ride that one. I looked at the child like longing in Emmett as well as Jasper's eyes and came to the only logical conclusion possible.

"GO! GO! Go then, all of you! I reserved the VIP lounge for us as a surprise", I said as I pointed to the railing of the balcony on the third floor above the restaurant, "I'm going to go in and order my dinner and it's less conspicuous if you aren't there anyway! Go!"

They turned to leave and Edward started off for the restaurant with me. I stopped and turned to him. "Wait you guys, Edward is coming with you!"

He looked at me like I had shot him. I kissed his lips and gave his chest a shove in the direction of his siblings who were watching from a few feet away, snickering at us.

"You too!", I said as I playfully shoved him again, "Go ride one ride with your siblings. I'm fine. I promise I can eat all by myself without help."

"Bella, I . . . ", I cut him off. "Go. Please? I'll sit on the balcony and I know you can see me from the ride. Please go do this and ride it at least once, then they can keep riding it and meet us at the concert at 8 if they want to ride it more times. Go!"

They all turned and it seemed as though they hurried away towards Islands of Adventure and the Hulk! I checked in at the desk of the restaurant and went to spend a few minutes in the gift shop. I found shirts and t shirts that I wanted to get as additional Christmas gifts and even splurged on leather jackets bearing the Hard Rock Cafe emblem. They would all need them to look appropriate riding the motorcycles that Rose and I had ordered for them for Christmas. To keep the surprise, I had everything shipped home to the house in Highlands so that no one would be the wiser, except Alice of course. There was no real way of surprising her, but i was still attempting to come up with a way!

"Cullen, party of 6", I heard them announce. I headed to the desk and informed them that I would be going up alone to have my meal and that the rest of the group would meet me in a few minutes. Muse used the VIP lounge to relax in the few minutes prior to the concert and we would have an opportunity to meet them before we headed to the auditorium to take our seats. I hadn't told anyone about that part of the surprise!

I was given the full tour after I ordered dinner. The VIP room was actually an exact replica of John and Yoko Lennon's apartment at the Dakota in New York City. They were living there when he has murdered in it's entry way on the street below. The entire room was decorated in cream and white, white carpet and sofa and even the love seat where Lennon was said to have written many of his famous songs. Yoko had thought enough of the idea of replicating the living room for people to see that she had donated the actual furniture and copies of the art that hung on the walls. There was even a poster sized, beautifully framed copy of the photo used in their naked album cover, the both of them standing in an all white background as they simply held hands. It made me sad to think that they had been parted in such a violent way with John being murdered in the door of his own home. I was thankful that soon there would be no way that a tragedy of that sort could part me from Edward.

I sat on the very large balcony at one of the tables to have my dinner. The waiter had everything already there for me before I even came outside. I could see over the lake to City Walk and all the shops there and to my right was one of the parks with all its rides, including the Hulk Roller coaster. I knew that if Edward was on the ride, his vision was such that he could see me from there, though I could only make out the cars of the ride and not the individuals from this distance.

A cool breeze blew my hair slightly and was so relaxed. I reflected at the events in my life the last six months. Everything had changed since Edward had found me and my life truly seemed like a fairytale, not the horror story it had been for the six months prior to that.

I felt another bit of breeze and Edward was standing behind me, bending to give me a kiss. I looked at him, then back towards the inside, then back to him with what must have looked like a comical expression on my face because Edward started laughing.

"What?", he said as he took a seat by me.

The waiter came out to check on me and his expression was just as stunned as mine. A key was required to get to the elevator that accessed the VIP lounge and apparently Edward had not come in that way. the waiter left, insisting that he at least be allowed to bring Edward a glass of water and a plate, in case he wanted to share my food with me.

"How did you get up here?", I asked as soon as we were alone.

"I climbed up", he sheepishly admitted, ducking his head slightly.

"You climbed up?", I said incredulous.

"Bella, scaling walls is child's play", he held his hand up to stop me from interrupting, answering the obvious question I was about to ask before I could ask it, "I can move faster that human eyes can see, love, even when climbing. No one saw me!"

I just shook my head. The band arrived and Edward was thrilled to have the opportunity to speak with them. The rest of our group arrived and were equally as excited to spend time with the band, though it only amounted to half an hour or so. Emmett could hardly keep his jaw from hitting the ground when he discovered that I had arranged this for them as well. Muse was one of their favorite bands and they were able to ask questions about specific songs, which the band seemed to love.

"Eddie, my new little sister rocks! You rule bringing this one into the family", he said as he picked me up and swung me around a time or two, much to Edward's dismay.

"Emmett! Careful with her, and she just ate! If you don't want to be wearing her dinner you shouldn't fling around a pregnant woman full of food!", Alice chided.

The concert was amazing, though Jasper seemed kind of uncomfortable and I guessed that it was being in this close a proximity to this many humans. It was one thing to be in school, separated by desks or to be in an amusement park where there was a breeze and the ability to move away from them. But here in the concert, we were all crowded together and the air was still and stuffy and they were all jumping and screaming. At least we were on the front row and that gave him some small amount of space he would otherwise not have had.

"I think we need to put our new little sister in charge of all family vacations and outings, she rules at this", Emmett exclaimed, "We all have our roles in this family and I think she has found hers, at least one of them!"

They all chimed in and agreed with Emmett, making me feel so welcome and wanted in their family.

"See, the entire family loves you, Bella, not just me", Edward whispered, though he knew as well as I did that everyone heard him.

Everyone disappeared to their own rooms when we arrived back at the hotel, anxious as we were to be alone with their mates.

~oooOooo~

EPOV

We were the last to come downstairs, Jasper having already requested the car be brought around and their luggage packed into the back. Bella and I had one more timed ourselves into almost being late to checkout. I was pretty sure that neither of us cared, though we didn't like to keep people waiting on us.

Alice had foreseen us all riding home together and had the rental company pick up the Mercedes I had been driving and exchange it for a large SUV with dark tinted widows that would comfortably seat all of us. I had just put our luggage in back with the rest when a man who had been seated on the bench by the door approached me. I recognized him, of course, but had no time to stop him from what he intended. I hadn't told Bella about what I had done yet and I was about to be found out.

"Do you remember me?", the man asked.

"Of course, Mr. Banner", I said as I stuck out my hand to shake his.

"Am I correct to assume that your wife is 'Cinderella'?", he asked.

Bella had joined me and she, too recognized him from the castle in the Magic Kingdom.

"What's this about 'Cinderella'?", Bella asked, looking at me expectantly.

"She doesn't know, does she?", the man mused. He was far more observant and insightful than most humans I had met and as I listened to his thoughts I realized that he had quite an intelligent and peaceful mind for a human.

"I wouldn't have known either except with everything going on with my son and finances and such our lawyer is handling everything and he called me yesterday. He is a good friend to my family and he was handling everything as a favor to try and help us by relieving some of the stress. He said an anonymous person, referred to only as 'Cinderella', had paid all of my sons hospital bills along with all of my families other bills including the mortgage on our home. Paid in full. He also said there was an account set up to cover any future medical bills that my son might incur. Your wife was the only person that could be 'Cinderella', no one that we know could have done this for us."

Bella looked from me to the man and back to me as she came to stand by me and put her arm around my waist.

"By the time I got back to the castle, you were gone and I finally pleaded enough with the guard that he told me your luggage had been brought here and that the last name was Cullen. The hotel would give me no other information except to tell me that there was no answer in any room registered to the name Cullen, so I have just been waiting here, hoping to see you. I had to thank you, I had to tell you myself what this means to me, to my family . . .", Mr. Banner said with tears in his eyes, "I don't know what possessed you to do such a thing for my son, but I can never repay what this means to us."

"I was told that your son had been refused an operation that he needs because your insurance had met its limit, is that true?", Edward asked him.

"Yes, with a few more procedures, the doctors believe he can make a full recovery from the tumor and have a mostly normal life. Without the surgery his chances of survival would be slim. I borrowed every dime possible and sold almost everything to raise the money, but it was only enough for the first operation. The rest of the family has been under such a strain, my mother-in-law arranged this trip for us, knowing the kids needed some down time from all of the stress."

"Well, whatever the cost, my attorney has informed your hospital that all the expenses are covered, whatever your son needs now or in years to come", Edward told him.

"My husband and I are expecting our first child, a son", Bella explained, "Your son looks like what I imagine my husband to have looked like as a child, what I imagine our baby will look like. I was taken with him when I laid eyes on him that night at the castle, but I had no idea there was any problem. I only thought your daughter would enjoy the castle for her birthday party."

"I made some calls that night, love. When I found out about the boy, I knew you would want to help and after what you said about feeling like Cinderella during our night at the castle, I thought it was the perfect name for the endowment", I told her as I kissed her forehead.

"Anyway," Bella continued, "Good luck to you and your family. I hope our son looks as happy as yours did when I saw him."

"Thank you . . . I just don't know what else to say, you will never know how much what you have done means to me . . . to all of us", he told us with tears in his eyes as he reached to hug me, "Bless you 'Cinderella', you and your entire family."

The man stepped away and we climbed into our car, joining the rest of our family there. They had heard the exchange, of course, and they saw Bella's tears as she slid into the front seat and I shut my door for her, quickly getting in my door to start the car. Bella took my hand and mouthed 'thank you'.

"Is there no limit to your generosity, Edward?", my wife asked.

"The little boy grows up to be quite the inventor, helping people along the way, as does his family", Alice added. "You chose a really deserving family to help. I hope you used family funds and didn't just do this all by yourself, Edward. We like to do good deeds as well you know!", she said with a tone indicating that she knew he hadn't used any funds but his own.

"I'll change that as soon as we're home, Alice. I didn't want to speak for anyone else without asking", I told her.

"You should know us better than that by now, brother", Rosalie added, "That little boy was a doll, who wouldn't want to help him!"

God I loved my family. They never ceased to surprise and impress me, especially my wife. We headed home, about a ten hour drive at the speed limit but we would be there sooner. There were many things to consider at home with Bella's parents and Jacob coming as well as the expected problem with Victoria coming to a head. We would face whatever, knowing that our family would stand together, whatever came!