EPOV
I took a drag of the cigarette I wasn't supposed to be smoking. Bella was in the house with Mackenzie and her new best friend Chloe. It didn't hurt to have one every now and then, except I'd been going through pack after pack the past two weeks.
I smoked in high school up until we found out Mackenzie had asthma. I couldn't bear the thought that I was the reason she couldn't breathe. In high school, it started off as boredom and rebellion, which shifted into something to take the edge off.
"You started this shit again?" Emmett frowned stepping out onto the patio.
"It's just one," I puffed out smoke rings.
"You're being an ass," he sighed taking the pack out of my pocket and crushing it, before destroying my current smoke.
"You don't see me dumping the alcohol from your clubs."
"Not the same thing, little bro."
"What do you want Em?" I asked irritated. Emmett was one of the few people on this planet that knew just what buttons to push and succeed with annoying me.
"Bells, is concerned about you," he confessed leaning against the railing.
"I've been going to therapy," I argued.
"Just because you've gone to therapy doesn't mean you're not being difficult," he said shooting me a knowing look. "You're letting everything fester, bro. The accident, the pregnancy and the kidnapping, we all can see you're ready to snap."
"I'm fine," I said through clenched teeth.
My massive brother didn't care that I was about to kick his ass. He swung an arm around my shoulder, walking us over to the patio door. Through the window, I could see Bella and Rose at the kitchen table playing with the girls.
Bella's hand rested on her beach ball stomach that I grew to love more everyday. Mackenzie stood in her chair trying to show Chloe how to work the puzzle. Rose would raise an eyebrow to Bella at something Mackenzie would say and they both would giggle shaking their heads.
"See that in there is love," Emmett began. "You're going to have them, the rest of your life Edward. Why ruin those moments by letting your fear consume you?"
"I'm not afraid," I whispered my eyes never leaving my girls.
"Mack-mini's teacher told Bella you call almost every hour she's in school," he said challenging me to deny it.
"I want to make sure she's okay."
"Edward, look at her she is the happiest little girl, I've ever seen. She even has a new friend who hangs on her every word," he pointed to Chloe. "She's a quiet kid."
"She is," I nodded. "Chloe doesn't have a father."
"She doesn't?"
"No, um she told me on the first day of school her mother just said she didn't have a daddy. Mackenzie offered to share me saying I was the best ever," I chuckled.
"Shouldn't that tell you something? You're not going to lose them they adore you man. You seriously don't know how good you've got it. This worrying Bella shit needs to end because she doesn't need it."
You don't know how scary it was to deal with almost losing a wife and daughter in a year's time," I murmured.
"I know plenty, I may not tell you everything but… You know how we've been trying to have a baby?"
"Yeah," I nodded slowly.
"She's lost two, and I've almost lost her twice. Maybe not in the physical sense but mentally. Rosie… she shuts down, all hope leaves her and she's a total fucking shell, but I pull her back with me."
"You're fine?"
"I manage," he shrugged. "I talk with dad, he gets it because of Charlotte, you know?"
"I forget about her," I admit quietly. I don't remember much, just that mom was really pregnant and then she wasn't. The tiny baby we saw from the window that we weren't allowed to touch.
"You were nine," he offered with a sad smile.
"You can always talk to me if you need to."
"Noted," he nodded. "We're looking into adoption."
"Really?"
"Yeah, it seems like the best option for now. Plus I think Rose has baby fever because everyone around her is pregnant."
"You can babysit Kenz and Carl anytime," I grinned.
"During the day sure," he smirked knowing I wasn't going to be sleeping once the baby came.
"I'm leaving on Friday for Iraq," I said solemnly, I really had no intentions of leaving.
"You're going, because Bella told me what Tanya said, if you don't go you can lose everything and that would just be a stupid ass thing to do."
"Will you watch them for me? Bella has a doctor appointment Thursday and I know she's going to put her on bed rest. Can you just…please?" I pleaded with him, trying not to be a little bitch and cry.
"Yeah, I'll make sure they'll like me way better than you," he grinned widely showing his dimples. For such a hulk, Em was a teddy bear.
We entered the kitchen and I kissed Mackenzie on the head before sitting on the bench behind Bella's chair. She got up and plopped onto my lap.
Her nose wrinkled. "Em, you destroy the cancer sticks?"
Asshole grinned giving her thumbs up. Rosalie giggled and looked at me "Busted," she smirked.
"Very busted, " Bella confirmed.
"How did you know?" I was good at hiding it.
"See these things," she said pointing to her eyes. "They're called eyes. I use them to see you do stupid stuff."
"I'm married to a comedian," I said giving her a faux shocked look.
"I'm a riot," she poked at me.
I pulled her closer breathing her in, relishing in the time I had with her before I had to leave in a few days. My brother and Rose decided to call it a night, leaving shortly after dinner.
Mackenzie was excited for her first sleep over, since Bella wasn't as mobile now, I had to wrangle up the squealing four-year-old girls.
"No sleeping Daddy," Kenz giggled ducking under my arm.
"Please Kenz you need to get in bed," I held my arms out for her.
Chloe watched us, making her way to me. She came to me quietly and I put her on one hip. If only my child was this cooperative.
"I'm sleepy Mr. Edward," she smiled shyly.
"Kenzers, Chloe's sleepy too… so let's get a move on," I rolled my free hand making my point.
"But, I want to watch The Little Mermaid," she whined, wrapping her arm around my shoulder as I placed her on the other hip.
"I'll put it on in your room," I sighed. "Mommy and Hendrix are in bed so it's bed time, monk."
I placed them both on Mackenzie's bed, popping in the movie. I tucked both girls in, Chloe's glasses were still on her face and I she looked half-asleep. I knew when I was younger and before I got contacts that falling asleep with glasses on was a bad idea because I always broke mine.
"Chlo, I'm going to set these right here," I explained taking her glasses off, and set them on the nightstand. "Night ladies."
"Kiss," Mackenzie, demanded puckering her lips.
"Muah," I said loudly causing her to giggle.
Chloe was watching us intently and Mackenzie must have noticed. "Chloe's turn," she ordered. So bossy!
"Muah," I repeated kissing Chloe's cheek, causing her to smile.
"Night night Mr. Edward," she mumbled sleepily.
I said another round of good nights to the girls and went to our room were Bella was watching television.
"Can we adopt Chloe?" I sighed climbing in next to her.
"I'm pretty sure her mother would mind, even though she barely acknowledges her."
"What's the story with that?" I asked cuddling up close to her.
"The nanny told me Bree, her mother, was artificially inseminated. She was a clerk in a law office and really wanted a baby. When Chloe was six months old, she got a promotion, now she's partner at the firm and doesn't have time for a child," Bella finished sadly.
"Again can we adopt her?"
She giggled resting her head on my chest as we watched a Law and Order marathon and my hand rubbed over the kicking baby. I was sure she was asleep, but she started talking.
"How did talking with Emmett go?" she hedged.
"You called him," I stated.
"You're not talking in therapy so I had to do something, why aren't you talking?" she asked sitting up, placing her hand on my chest.
"Every time… When I have to sit there and listen to you and Mackenzie relive everything that has happened it makes me realize I have failed. Then I'm also forced to remember it all again…"
"If you would just talk," she started.
"I talked to Em and he made me think about a few things. I agree that I need to calm down. Calling the school isn't necessary…"
"I get that you're scared, I'm scared too, but we can't be scared like this. It will take over our lives," she said softly.
"I don't want that," I murmured kissing her hand.
"So maybe no therapy for you?"
"For now I'm fine with talking to Em, maybe I can talk to my dad?" I suggested.
"You can talk to me," she said quietly, biting her lip.
"Or I can talk to you," I grinned pulling her down to me for a kiss.
We madeout until Bella said she needed sleep. I went into Mackenzie's room to check on the girls and turn off the movie. The two of them were cuddled up to each other I hoped Kenz would be like that with the baby.
Thursday was here before I knew it and the doctor indeed ordered Bella on bed rest. She said her care should be like it was during her recovery. Bella stewed the whole check up even though she knew it was coming.
When we got back to the house, it seemed my mother had moved her and my fatherin for the week. She said it was easier this way.
Friday morning rolled around and I didn't want to leave the bed with Bella and Mackenzie. I wanted to stay right there. Mackenzie slept as Bella and I said our goodbyes. She was crying, but kept trying to push me away so I wouldn't miss my flight.
"Edward, she'll be fine," Carlisle, repeated placing his hand on my shoulder.
"Sweetheart it's only for a week," Mom smiled.
I grabbed my duffle and made my way down to the car that was waiting for me. As we pulled away from my house, I closed my eyes until we reached the airport.
BPOV
"Mackenzie," Esme's stern voice rang through the house.
I tried to fight the giggle at what she could have done. These days who knew? Chloe was definitely a good influence. I could see the little changes in Kenz's behavior.
Said child came running into the room diving onto my bed.
"Why is Nana shouting?"
"I did something," she said looking around the room.
"You did something," I said carefully.
"Here or at school?" Because they both just got in the house.
"School," she answered laying her head on my stomach.
"What did you do at school?"
"Mackenzie Carlie," Esme panted in the doorway.
"Mommy," she looked up at me her lip trembling.
"Tell me what happened, monk," I said softly brushing her hair back.
"I pulled Morgan's hair," she whispered. I looked at Esme to confirm it and she nodded.
"Baby, why did you pull Morgan's hair?"
"Cause she pulled Chloe's hair and made her cry," she explained with a frown.
"That doesn't mean it's alright for you to do it back to Morgan."
"But she's sooooo mean."
"You know what would make Morgan really mad?"
"What?"
"If you were really, really nice to her," I said in a singsong voice.
"Really?"
"Yep, now go get changed out of your school clothes, Nana has something out for you."
Kenzie zoomed out of the room giggling after I gave her a light tap on the bum.
"Nicely played sweetheart," Esme chuckled sitting down next to me.
"I try," I shrugged.
"So Edward's coming home tonight?"
"To my knowledge," I grinned.
He was gone all week and I missed him. I had everyone in our family including our extended one coming in and out of here. He was taking the red eye from New York.
Esme left to check on Kenzie and I drifted off to sleep.
"Bells," the voice shook me lightly.
I hugged the pillow in front of me closer. "Bells, baby wake up."
My eyes fluttered open, I saw my Dad sitting next to me and I glanced behind him noticing it was dark out. The first thing that came to mind was Edward.
"Daddy?" I breathed.
"Bella, calm down, I'm sorry I woke you," he mumbled.
"Edward's okay?"
"I guess… yes,"
My hand was still on my heart Carl was fluttering around too. "If I go into labor," I growled.
"Breathe I came by to check on you and I have some news."
"Is it going to upset me?" I snuggled back into Edward's pillow.
"It's about Renee."
"Do I need to know?" He gave me the 'Bella I'm your father give me respect' look. "Carry on," I muttered.
"She has schizophrenia," he sighed. "They went over the doctor's records from Phoenix and Jacksonville, even here. She was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in high school."
"You never knew?" He shook his head. "What does this mean?"
"They can't put her in jail, but she has been sentenced for twenty years in a mental facility."
"Isn't it hereditary?" I asked as my voice shook.
"Jamie's manic bipolar and we have him on meds, that's why his behavior has been all over the place. The drugs also trigger episodes too," he explained sadly.
"I'm asking if I could be like that… oh god, Kenz and the baby…"
"Stop," he said quietly pulling me in for a hug. "You are not like her Bella. We would see signs if that were the case. We'll talk to Carlisle, you're worrying over nothing."
"I want Edward," I cried.
"Bells, you're stressing the baby."
"Ed-edward," I sobbed as Carl started kicking.
EPOV
"Edward just because you've been gone a week doesn't give you the right to be an asshole," Tanya snipped for what felt like the forty-fifth time.
"You stayed here in New York, I had to stay in a fucking war zone. That was worlds away from my very pregnant, bed ridden wife and small child," I said through gritted teeth.
"They're both fine so what does it matter?"
"I've had to sit on a plane with you and share a cab, that's why I'm fucking irritated," I snapped.
The cab pulled up in front of my house and I grabbed my bag as fast as I could. I fished my keys out of the side pocket, opening the door. I froze as I saw Charlie and my Mom on the steps, like they were waiting for me.
"Hi," I said slowly, looking at my watch. It was three o'clock in the morning.
"Edward we need to talk to you before you go up to Bella," Esme held out her hand for me.
"Is it the baby?" I gulped and felt my lungs tighten as I moved forward.
"She and the baby are fine," Mom assured me, Charlie still wasn't looking at me.
"Why is he avoiding me?" I nodded towards him.
"Because he feels guilty for upsetting her earlier."
"Why did he upset her?"
"The verdict has been issued on Renee," Charlie sighed looking up at me.
"And?"
"She has been sentenced to a mental facility in Florida for schizophrenia."
"That's good right? Then she will never be allowed to get to us." That was what we were hoping for. We just wanted her to stay away.
"It is good, but Bella's worried about it being hereditary," Mom explained.
"They can test for that sort of thing… Dad can do that," I said hopelessly.
"Your father has already talked to her, but she wouldn't calm down. She kept crying for you," Esme sighed.
"Is she asleep?"
"Yes."
"We just wanted to warn you before you went up there."
"Thank you," I murmured brushing past them and going to my wife.
She was lying on my side of the bed hugging my pillow. Her shirt had ridden up showing me where our baby rested. I sat my duffle by the door kicking off my shoes. My hand went to her stomach as I started to draw patterns.
It took her a few minutes until she began to move. "Edward," she whimpered, rolling on to her other side.
I could see that even in her sleep she was lost. Tears started falling down her cheeks.
"I'm here, love," I whispered kissing her head.
Her eyes snapped open and she reached for me, the baby was making it impossible for me to get as close as she wanted me.
"Make all the bad go away," she rasped out.
"Bella," I choked.
"Just make it go away," she pleaded laying her head against my chest.
"I know this is weird coming from me and the way I've acted these past few weeks, but all these things… these obstacles are making us stronger. I saw so much sadness and pain, Bella… Those in it came out stronger; we will come out stronger from all of this. I promise you," I said with conviction because I honestly believed it.
She nodded against me with silent cries. I wasn't going to let the past year ruin her or us. She knew I wouldn't.
BPOV
He promised and I believed in him.
A/N: Yo! How's it going? Dolphin62598 is my fantastic beta. Okay, BYE!!!!!