AN: Sorry this took so long. Its a little short but...ah you'll see.
Enjoy!
"That's our babies saying hello," Bella whispered. Bella was roughly 19 weeks pregnant and due to her small body and the fact she was carrying multiples she doctor said she would start feeling the fluttering of the babies movements. I smiled and continued to hold on to my wife and my children for dear life.
Because they were my life.
It had been already a week since the explosion and the media were not relenting. They were determined to take our photo. At 20 weeks, Bella's emotions were all over the place. She had been through too much in such a short amount of time; it was starting to take a toll on her.
"That's it! I don't give a damn who in the hell is waiting at the hospital. I am going," Bella snapped at me suddenly. She saw my shocked expression and her features softened. "I'm sorry Edward," she whispered looking quite ashamed of herself.
"We'll go if you'd like, love." I walked over to the bed where she was sitting up against the headboard propped up against the head board with a few overstuffed pillows. I took her hand in my own and brought it to my lips
"I want to go. I don't care if anyone is there." She pouted a little then smiled.
"We have to make arrangements. We can't just leave the house on a whim. You know that." I reminded her as gently as I could.
"I know, but we've been stuck here since it happened. I want to go see Em and J and I can't do that cooped up here."
"Tell you what, I'll talk to Rick so we can arrange to go see them as soon as possible. How does that sound?"
Bella nodded and smiled.
"So what do you think we should do to occupy our time until then?" I cocked my brow and gave her favorite smile.
"Hmm…" she placed one of her little feet on my chest. "You can rub my feet," she laughed at my disappointed face.
"Edward, I'm not joking, my feet hurt," she said sweetly. I glared at her for a moment then indulged her taking her one of her small feet in my hands and rubbed it.
"So in two weeks we'll know what we're going to have," Bella said quietly. "Are you excited?"
"Yes, but it really doesn't matter what we're having as long as they are healthy," I answered honestly kneading the sole of her delicate foot.
"Well I just want to know. I don't think I can handle picking out 3 girl names and 3 boy names. I just want to know so it makes deciding easier."
"Do you have some in mind, love?" I asked taking her other foot and started rubbing it.
"Yes, I think I do."
***
We managed to go see Jasper and Emmett two days later. There were news crews sitting in front, the side, and back of the treatment center. There was no way around the reporters. We kept our heads down and walked in with Rick and a few new bodyguards as dozens of cameras flashed.
We were lead by Rick and a RN to Jasper and Emmett's joint room. Alice was waving at us as we passed a glass window to the door of the room. Jasper's sandy blond mane could be seen shaking slightly before he turned toward us.
Bella ran inside and wrapped her arms around Jasper's neck earning a grimace of pain from him.
"I'm sorry," Bella whispered quickly through her sobs. Jasper shook his head and ran a free hand through Bella's hair.
"Don't be silly, Bella. You took me by surprise," Jasper said, his voice hoarse.
"Hey don't I get some love over here," Emmett called from across the room.
Bella quickly ran across the room and wrapped her small hands around one of Emmett's huge ones. Bella placed a kiss on his forehead to which Emmett gloated to Jasper that he got a kiss and he didn't.
Emmett and Jasper were starting skin grafting soon. Emmett chose to use skin from his thighs to repair some burns in his back. Jasper chose to do the same. They explained that when Bella screamed they managed to turn their back from the blast. If it wasn't for her, the burns may have been much worse. Bella cried and sobbed that it was all her fault for the loss of life. Seven men died that day and two others a few days later from their wounds.
It could've been so much worse. We tried consoling Bella. But to no avail, she just closed herself off and trembled in my arms before she finally fell asleep in exhaustion.
"Take her home Edward," Jasper said quietly so not to wake her up.
"Don't worry about it. It's natural for her to feel guilty," Alice said brushing a strand of hair from Bella's face.
"I think she should get some help. With the media knowing what really happened when she was a child and everything that's going on now, it's taking a toll on her. She needs to stay calm for herself and the babies."
Alice and Jasper nodded. "I'll start doing some research Edward on who we can trust," Rosalie offered. I nodded. A few minutes later Rick had us in a car on the way home.
***
The following days were a whirlwind of doctor appointments and interviews. Bella insisted that she was not going to hide. So we were heading to the Oscars. She was nominated and she didn't want to be intimidated into hiding.
I was waiting downstairs while Alice and Rosalie helped Bella get ready. Rick was doing everything in his power to make sure nothing happened to us. We exchanged cars a few times and Bella and I were equipped with tracking devices. We had 16 bodyguards under our employment and all of them have gone through strict and thorough background checks. If any guard had money problems, they were let go. Just about anyone could be bought.
Being five months pregnant with triplets left you with little choices for something to wear. But Angelina Jolie offered the number from the designer that dressed her for a red carpet event while she was pregnant with her twins. Alice was ecstatic to work with a designer and they come up with Bella's dress.
Someone cleared their throat from upstairs. Alice descended the stairs with my beautiful Bella in tow. She looked exquisite. She wore a one shoulder strap grown that showed off her pretty shoulders in a deep blue that looked perfect against her skin. The gown hugged her upper body and draped over her expanding abdomen. Her hair was put on the sides and the rest was in curls down her back. She had matching sapphire and diamond teardrop earrings that belonged to my mother.
Bella smiled when I smiled at her. She gripped the railing and I noticed she wasn't wearing any shoes. She unfortunately became a little bit of a klutz since she became pregnant. There wasn't a day that went by that a small bruise showed up from accidently bumping into something. I took her hand when she reached the bottom of the stair case. I pulled her close and wrapped my arms around her.
"You look beautiful, my love," I whispered in her ear.
"You look very handsome yourself. It's been a while since I have seen you in a tux," Bella said with a smile on her face.
"Ok Bella, let's get your heels on so you two can leave," Alice said who had Bella's heels in one hand and a camera in the other.
"Alice!" Bella whined. "I am so going to fall with those heels."
"Don't worry my love, I'm not leaving your side tonight. I won't let you fall."
Bella rolled her eyes. "Is your hero complex coming out in full force tonight?" she quipped causing me to laugh.
"Yes it is. I'm your Superman and you're my Lois Lane. So deal with it."
Bella scowled but started giggling. She groaned suddenly. "Ugh…they are so awake and very excited. They haven't stopped kicking in quite some time." I laughed and placed my hands on her tummy before kneeling down.
"Hey my beautiful babies," I kissed Bella's stomach and whispered. "Leave your mom alone for a while, this is her night." They didn't listen. They kicked where I had my hands placed. Bella giggled just as the camera flashed.
"Alice!" Bella yelled putting her small hands on her hips.
"Sorry, but you two look so cute like that," Alice said slightly ashamed. Bella's face softened and she sighed.
"I'm sorry Alice with all that's going on…I'm having trouble controlling my temper," Bella whispered tears prickling her eyes.
"No, no, no don't cry Bella!" Alice screamed and wrapped her small arms around Bella's neck. "I know this has been hard on you. Please don't cry. I understand."
"Sorry," Bella mumbled before kissing Alice's cheek.
"I'm off to the hospital, we'll be watching you all day," Alice chimed and gave Bella and me a hug before leaving.
I walked Bella to a chair and helped her into her heels as we waited for Rick.
***
We pulled up to the red carpet a little over ninety minutes later. Bella kissed me twice on the lips before she took a deep breath and exited the limo. Rick was waiting for her and took her small hand and helped her out. Cameras rolled and flashed as she took a few steps and waved to the spectators that could be heard screaming. She turned back and watched as I stepped out of the car. I wrapped my arm around Bella's waist and waved a few times around. I shook my head as Bella reminded me to smile. I laughed and smiled.
"We love you Isabella!"
Bella smiled and blew a few kisses toward the fans and waved. We took a few steps and walked slowly down the red carpet. We stopped to talk to a few reporters, including those with Entertainment Tonight, E! and Extra. Thankfully none of them tried to ask Bella questions about all the bad shit going on in our lives.
We were going to be seated in the second row from the stage. Bella and I were presenting two hours into the show and I was slightly nervous.
One: I've never had to do something like this.
Two: I was standing up there with many of my peers watching me.
Three: My wife would have to walk the shiny surface of this god forsaken stage, mostly on her own. We were entering on different sides of the stage. I sighed and slightly prayed that her sudden imbalance would disappear for the whole night.
We made our way, talking with people here and there. Every now and then someone would hand us their business card. Women gushed over Bella asking how she was doing.
We were led to our table for dinner with most of the major players in Until Death Comes, including Ben and Angela. They smiled at us and waved us over. We smiled at them and took our time celebrity watching. Bella was once again center of attention as people would come to talk to her and ask about how she was feeling. She hated it. She would blush and just smile. She was in her acting mode. I had to hand it to her; her smile did not look forced or fake.
After dinner, everyone mingled before we were finally led to our seats. Angela and Ben sat behind us.
Bella was sitting beside me while I was on the aisle seat. I wondered idly if Bella was going to be able to avoid attending the ladies room most of the night - probably not. Beside her the seat was still empty but it said Angelina Jolie. Bella was happy and grinned and watched as people starting taking their seats.
Brad and Angelia took their seats just as Brad fished a camera from his jacket. Angelina and Bella held each other a little closer as Brad took the picture. It was a wonder how she could so easily capture someone with her heart. Angelina and Bella started talking about the birth of her twins as Brad and I struck up a conversation about basketball.
The lights started to flash which we were told meant that everyone had about 10 minutes to find their seats.
Even though Until Death Comes was nominated for Best Screenplay, Best Actress and Best Film, Bella didn't think it would get anything. It didn't win Best Screenplay. After a long show and a few intermissions -too which Bella was very thankful- the Best Actress award was being presented.
There was a cameraman that looked straight at her and I watched with fascination as the presenters named my Bella for Best Actress in a Drama. Bella's eyes widened and she let out a breath she didn't know she was holding. I took her hand in mine and she trembled. She turned at me and smiled and stood up. She wrapped her arms around me and kissed me before turning to Angela and Ben. She quickly turned to Angelina and Brad. Angelina and Brad both pecked her cheeks. I walked into the aisle and let Bella out and whispered, "I love you."
There was people clapping and yelling as she approached the stage. She embraced the two presenters before taking her statue in her trembling hand.
"I can't believe I'm here. I don't even know what to say. I'd like to thank my lovely family that I love dearly. Also thanks to Angela and Ben Harding for coming to me to help them find a screenplay. Thanks to Summit Pictures for their willingness to help make this movie happen. This is for all the amazing fans that have showed their love. And most of thank you to my wonderful husband, I love you." Bella sighed and wiped a tear from her cheek as she looked straight at me. God, I wished I could be up there holding her.
"By now I'm sure most of you know the truth behind this film. What started out as a way for me to just vent about my experience turned into a screenplay that became a movie. A movie, I wanted to do because it was my story. It was my story so who better to take the part of the victim? I'm glad I chose to do it. In many ways this movie changed my life. It let me cope with my experience, but at the same time it was my way to stop being the victim. For that, I thank you all."
She waved as she looked across the room. I watched as the room full of people all started to stand up. Bella gasped and watched as everyone stood clapping, a standing ovation. Bella stood on stage trembling slightly and everyone watched as tears streamed down her cheeks and she laughed, biting her lower lip.
I was tapped on the shoulder. An usher told me to follow him; I was supposed to be on stage in about ten minutes. I smiled and nodded. I nodded toward Angela and Ben and followed the usher. I was brought backstage and I watched waiting for Bella. She was escorted by Rick and another guard; I think his name was Jeff.
She ran up to me wrapping her arms around my neck. "Can you believe that?" Bella sobbed.
"Of course silly, you deserved it," I said taking in the scent of her neck. "I love you," I whispered. Bella let out a sigh of contentment.
"Was my impromptu speech too much?" she asked pulling away to watch my face. I rolled my eyes.
"It was perfect, now stop worrying," I chastised.
"Mrs. Swan and Mr. Cullen, we need to get you two in place," a scruffy male with a headset said. Bella and I nodded. I placed my lips on hers for a tender lingering kiss.
"I love you," we whispered in unison causing both of us to laugh. Bella was led by Rick and a producer somewhere away from me. I sighed and took several deep breaths. I ran over the last several minutes and could not get over the look on her face as everyone showed her just how much she was loved.
A few minutes passed and I could hear the announcer.
"Now presenting for Best Supporting Actor, Edward Cullen and Isabella Swan."
I sighed and walked out the direction a producer pointed towards. I timed my steps and walked onto stage met with bright lights and watched the place Bella would come walking out of. I slowed my steps and realized that she must have been walking really slow. I shook my head and walked toward the podium and Bella still was not beside me. I started to panic. I looked back and I realized the audience had become quiet. On a large screen above me was a white bloody rose.
"Bella!" I ran toward the left side of the stage just as Jeff stumbled out onstage. He was holding his head and in his hand he held a bouquet of bloody roses.
"She's gone."
AN: Don't kill me! I swear I have this planned out. Its ok there will be a happy ending for Bella and Edward but...um...can't tell you. Sorry. But in the next chapter we'll hear from Bella about what's happening. Oh and James.
Please review, pretty please with Edward Cullen in a tux and sex hair on top!