Chapter 7

We loaded up the cars. I slipped on one headphone and Alice texted me –

R u okay

Y

Because you never put on headphones in the car w/ E. you love the same music and talking to him

How do u know

I can see u in the side mirror

I guess I am

Walk later all 3 of us

I suppose bye

I pulled out a book I had brought along to read, I had just stumbled into a teenage love affair book about humans and vampires called, 'Twilight.'

Edward asked what I was reading? so I showed him.

When we were about ten minutes into the Yosemite National Park, we pulled into a viewpoint and enjoyed the views all around us.

The kids got to run around and burn off some energy. We found a trail to walk on for a while. As we got back towards the car, I knew all the kids were ahead of us. I turned around and said, "Where did Alice and Jasper go did we lose them?"

Emmett looked around and said, "I'll go find them. Will you watch all the kids?"

EmPOV

I retreated back down the trail. I heard some rustling, a small moan and followed the sound. I thought I saw Jasper's shirt and I jumped into the opening and said, "Busted, Alice. I never knew you for the being the one with nature type."

"Oh shit," I heard the pixie say.

Then I commented. "You Tarzan, you Jane. Busted, now let's get going."

As I finished leading them out of the woods, I got them back to their kids and said, "Look who I found lost in the woods?"

Alex walked up to them and asked, "Are you okay?"

"Yes, Alex," Jasper said as he picked him up. "Mount up, everyone, and I get shot gun this time."

Jaime asked, "Do we get to drive through the tree now?"

Jasper said, "Oh yes, we do."

We followed the trail Alice laid out for the next hour. Finally we got to check into the lodge. Our rooms were modern but nicely decorated. Our husbands had brought some of our bags in at check in, but once we made it to our rooms, they said that they would get our bags and to watch the kids. Five minutes later we heard so much cursing in the hall all the wives went out into the hall.

Rose said, "Quiet, you guys; we could hear you in our rooms."

Emmett said, "Fine, then you can carry all these bags." Then he dropped the three he was carrying and mumbled, "This will take me two more trips."

Rose walked up and poked him, "Behave you guys volunteered to carry all the bags up. So quit bitching and go get the rest. From now on, we will all help you big strong men carry all the bags." Katie and Garrett were in the hall laughing at their daddy by that time.

Katie said, "Daddy, you are in so much trouble."

Emmett scooped her up, "Fine, you can come and help me carry a couple bags."

"Okay, daddy," and he flew her back out to the parking lot.

Katie and the three men left to get more bags. Alice, Rose and I moved the three bags Emmett threw on the ground into their room. I went back to Masen and Liza to check on them and they were watching cartoons on the TV. "Mommy, how long until the BBQ?"

"I think it starts at 7."

Edward walked in and said, "Perfect, let's go get small ice cream cones to hold us over."

"Can we mommy?"

"Sure, but I don't want any. How about I meet you guys back here in about an hour? I am going to go for a walk."

Edward walked up to me and said, "Are you okay?" And he felt my head like I had a fever.

"Edward, I'm fine. I am just not in the mood for ice cream."

I grabbed my travel backpack, a room key, a bottle of water and left. Edward said, "Be careful."

I went out behind the lodge and started walking. I walked for about thirty minutes and then started to head back. I stopped at an overlook and I think why am I letting my anxiety get the best of me? Edward loves me and the last six years have been amazing; why should his distance from me the last six weeks bother me? It just does especially since the beginning of May; he asked me to give up my birth control pills to try and get pregnant with our third child. As I was sitting there, my two best friends came up and wrapped their arms around me. "What's wrong, Bella?" Alice asked.

"Sis, what is it?" Rose asked, as well.

"You are so lost in thought; you didn't even here us coming up the path."

"Nothing, I am fine. Let's go back and get ready for the BBQ."

"Stop, Bella. I grew up with you. I know when you are brooding about something."

"You are really upset about something or you would be down with your children eating ice cream with them. You gravitate toward your husband and right now you are hot and cold. So dish, what is going on?" Alice said.

"Please talk to us. We don't want this vacation to be ruined if you are going to be grumpy and moody the whole time."

"Shut up. You know what, you two! I love you, but I don't want to talk about this. It's just my insecurities rearing there ugly head again." I pushed away from them.

Rose yelled, "Bella, stop."

"No," and I started running down the trail until I was my typical clumsy self and fell face first onto the trail. Alice and Rose were soon right there next to me.

Bella stay still and wouldn't allow me to move "Are you okay?"

"I don't know; don't call Edward please."

"Okay, but stay still please."

"Em," Rose said into her cell phone. "Can you leave the kids with Jasper and Edward? Follow the trail behind the lodge. Bella fell and is crying and doesn't want to see Edward or have the kids see her."

"Thanks, babe." Rose responded.

Emmett was soon there. An EMT was right behind him. Someone on the trail had called after seeing me on the ground. The EMT determined that it was okay for me to roll over and stand up that my neck was fine. Emmett and the EMT helped me get up. I then proved I could stand on my own and walk a little bit. "Just take it easy tonight miss and you should be good to go."

"No problem. Thanks for checking on me. My husband is a doctor; I'm sure he'll check me out later," I said with a very large degree of sarcasm. "Emmett, can you lend me your arm so that I can clean some of this crap off me."

"Bella, are you really okay?" Emmett asked.

"All of you just stop it," and as I tried to take off I was up over Emmett's shoulder. "Emmett, put me down," and I was hitting his back and butt.

"Bella, stop it. I don't know what your problem is but you aren't going to ruin this vacation for the kids. So grow up."

We were back at the lodge and I heard, "Daddy look at how Uncle Emmett is carrying mommy and mommy is all dirty."

"Emmett, would you put my wife down. Does someone want to tell me what is going on here?"

"No, Edward, I don't. Emmett carried me back here after I tripped on the trail. An EMT checked me out. I just need a shower and I will be fine. Why don't you take the kids to the playground and I will meet you at the BBQ when I am cleaned up." I reached up on tiptoes and kissed his lips and said, "See you later," and I headed for our room.

I showered; my knees and elbows burned some. I had scraped them up but I would be fine. I can't tell you how many times I had fallen and scraped myself up.. I was going through my suitcase looking for clean underwear to put on. I got really upset and through my clothes around the room and started cursing. "Damn him!"

When Edward got home the night before and tackled me on the bed, I was about to pack my underwear and bras but I forgot that and now I had none. Too bad, for tonight, I would just put my bikini on under my clothes. Then I put my hair into a pony tail and covered my knees up with Neosporin and band aids. I headed down to the BBQ.

EPOV

While the kids played in the play area, the five of us adults sat down. Edward looked at Alice and Rose, "Did Bella say anything to you two?"

"No, whatever is bothering her, and something is; she doesn't want to talk about it!"

"All she said is that her insecurities are getting the better of her."

"Edward, what is going on?"

"I have no clue. I haven't been around the last week because of the class at the hospital. This morning, though, I thought I made up for the lack of attention."

"Shut up, that is my sister, Edward," Rose said.

Emmett said, "My little sister, so just stop. You need to make this better, Edward; this is supposed to be fun for all of us. I told you when you two got married; if you hurt her, I will hurt you."

"I know, but if she doesn't talk to us, how can any of us make it better?"

Alice said, "We will work on her later, it's time to get the kids cleaned up for dinner."

As soon as we entered the BBQ area, Bella entered from the other end, Liza and Masen went running up to her and gave her a hug. A smile broke out across her face.

BPOV

"Are you okay, mommy?" Masen said.

"Yes, Masen. I am fine. Just scraped up some, but when am I not? So how about a BBQ, all?"

"Okay." I had Katie and Garrett attached to me, too.

"Aunt Bella, are you sure you are okay?"

"Yes, I am."

We all went, got food and sat down together. I sat between Liza and Masen putting Edward next to Liza. When he went to get Liza some more milk, he leaned over my shoulder and asked, "Do you need anything else, Beautiful?"

"No, I'm good."

He quickly returned. After dinner we moved to a fire pit and sat around where we were told stories about the Yosemite woods and the area. The kids ate it up and then they ate up even more when we all got to make s'mores. Edward helped Liza, and I just watched over Masen. We toasted our two marshmallows together. Edward then scooted closer to me while Liza was lying on his chest and he put his other arm around me. "How are your knees and elbows?"

"They will be fine. I've had worse."

"How about we go put our kids to bed? And then will you let me take a look at your knees and elbows?"

"Sure, doc. Though I am a nurse, and I have children, and know how to clean scrapes up."

So we took our two kids upstairs and ran them through the shower to get the smoky smell off of them. We put them in the queen size bed with pillows around Liza. We had tried this at home in our guest room to see how this would work and the kids loved it.

Once we had them in bed, Edward said, "Go out to the couch and lay down for me. I will grab my bag, just in case we need it."

I lay down after I got some lights on by the sofa. Edward sat down on the edge of the couch. He pulled off my band-aids and started looking at my knees. "There is one spot; I see some debris that I want to clean a little better."

"Okay." I wanted to scream as he scrubbed it but the kids were asleep and I just dug my hands into the couch. Edward then checked my elbows and they were okay.

"I'm going to go run through the shower and then I can leave my cuts open for the night. Okay, doc?"

"Yes, that's fine Bella. Are you really okay?"

"Yes, don't I look okay?"

"I guess you do; but my enchanting crocked smile is not working too well right now."

"Edward, I am tired, smell of smoke, scraped up and ready for bed."

"Then can I ask a question?"

"Sure."

"Why are you wearing a bikini under your clothes?"

"Edward, I wouldn't go there, if I were you."

I got up to go to the bathroom and he followed me. "Isabella Marie, quit walking away from me!"

"Edward Anthony, I can do anything I want; I am not your property."

"You aren't; but I can't be the one to blame for you having a bikini on."

"Really, you aren't."

"No, I'm not."

"Fine," then I took off my t-shirt and shorts and then my bikini in front of my husband and said, "I have no underwear or bras for the remainder of this trip because when you got home last night and tackled me onto our bed trying to have sex with me. You see I was about to walk to our dresser and get my beautiful sexy lace bras and underwear that you love but I was accosted and then I forgot to pack them. Now do me a favor and leave me alone. If your ass had been home to help me during the week and you hadn't distracted me for your own personal needs when you got home, I would have my underwear and bras. Do me a favor take your pretty enchanting smile and crooked grin out of here and just leave me alone."

Edward said, "I 'm sorry," and he left. I took a shower put my bikini bottom back on and a t-shirt and went to bed. I heard Edward come off the deck and go into the shower. After I turned out my light, I was asleep when he climbed into bed.