A/N: Welcome back.
Disclaimer: Most of the characters are not mine.
(Edward POV)
"I don't know." I reply honestly. Bella looks at me with sadness in her eyes. "I don't know why they'd be together. They are both rude and arrogant people. Maybe their perfect for each other."
"Crowley's eyes were so… cold." Bella replies and I wrap my arms around her waist. She wraps hers around mine and presses her face against my chest. "He hates me. He hates me! He almost made my dad hate me. It's because of him that my dad and I will never have that father daughter connection. It'll never be right."
"Shh." I press a kiss into her hair. Alice just went to bed not long ago. Since it's the summertime she can stay up later, but no later then 9:30. I have to be at least a little strict, right?
Bella toys around with the drawstrings on the front of my pyjama pants. "I never wanted Tyler dead. I just wanted him gone. I didn't want to be stuck to him. I wanted my own life."
"I know."
"Ugh." She groans and presses her face tighter against me. "I wish we could just start all over."
I sigh and place a hand on her hip. The other goes under her chin and pulls her face up to look at me. "Then let's do that." She quirks and eyebrow at me, so I continue, "You got a new job. I have newer job that I actually enjoy. Alice hates her school. We've been planning on moving for how long? Let's do it. Let's move."
"Edward," Bella starts to protest, but I press a kiss to her nose to stop her.
"What would you have against it? You've said it yourself; this place is too small for us. Especially with Alice growing and us… You know, I bought this place and intended to spend bachelor years here and now I have you and Alice. This isn't suitable living for us all. It's my job to take care of you both, so let me."
"I know we can afford it." I add softly. "Let's start fresh."
"Okay," She nods hesitantly. "I've been looking online." A bit of blush creeps up to her cheekbones and I use my thumb to trace over the heated flesh.
I smile down at her. "Good. So have I."
I lean down to press my lips to Bella's. She rises on her tiptoes to reach me. The warmth of her mouth spreads through me, shooting heat throughout my body. I wrap my arms around her waist and easily pick her up. She complies, wrapping both legs tightly around my waist as her fingers go into my hair.
She tugs.
I groan.
I trace her bottom lip with my tongue and she opens to give me access…
…until my phone rings in my pocket.
"Shit." I hiss and unlock one arm from around her soft body and pull my phone out of my pocket. I look at the caller ID. "Not a good time for Aunt Lucy to call." I toss my phone on the couch to my left and seal my lips back to Bella.
At first she laughs, but after a moment she pulls back. "Why does she keep calling?"
I shrug and nuzzle Bella's neck. "She's been calling my phone a lot lately. I stopped answered a week ago. She said she saw the news about Crowley's murder. She knows him because she was at the court and all you know? She also went to my dad's funeral and said Crowley's eyes were cold as ice and that he shouldn't be there."
"What does she want?" Bella mutters into my hair.
"Alice." I pull back and look into Bella's hardened eyes. "Custody of her anyways. She thinks it'll be better if Alice grows up in a more… presentable environment."
"Bullshit." Bella growls and I smile at her. She's feisty like a kitten.
"I know. But she'd have to take us to court and all that jazz if wanted custody. I think her plan is to try to get close to Alice for when Alice turns twelve she has the option to be raised by whomever." I explain briefly.
"She'd never leave."
"I know. I think Lucy knows that too. I don't want her to try to wedge herself into this mess. I know she might be planning on going to court. I bet every time I ignore a phone call, I just aggravate her more." I admit sadly. Bella presses her cheek to mine and sighs.
"We have a big, full plate in our hands." She whispers softly. I nod and rub our cheeks together.
"I don't know what'd happen if we got brought to court though."
"You'd win of course. You're the best."
"With everything going on? I think not."
Bella pulls back to look into my eyes and I carry her over to the couch, her legs still wrapped around me. I sit down and stills locked around me, facing me on my lap. "Why not?" She asks and her eyebrows furrow. "How could you not win? Haven't you once."
"Yes, Lucy wanted custody after the death of my mum. But in the hospital my mum declared she wanted me to take care of Alice, if I was up for it."
"Which you were."
"Of course. Anyways, Lucy was upset that her own sister would betray her like that. She saw me like a bachelor – which I really was at the time – but I knew I could take care of Alice. I'd straighten up."
"And you did."
"Yeah, I did. Anyways, Lucy wanted to bring me to court, but I was doing a good job taking care of Alice. She had no reason to complain." I stop talking and just listen to the clock tick in the background for a few moments. "Now she can complain."
"About what?" Bella asks. "She's a good student, happier than she has been for a long time, and she's going to therapy. That's helping a lot. She has friends. I'm around for her." She smiles. "And you."
"Well, seeing that she's around people involved in the death of Crowley and with the whole incident with Jasper… It might not be the best area for Alice to grow up."
"But that's over with!" Bella exclaims. "We're moving, we're starting fresh."
"We'll just have to make that known." I reply. "And Lucy still has Plan B; convince Alice otherwise."
"Alice loves you too much to leave. She said herself she's not a big fan of Lucy, but doesn't mind visiting."
"We'll just have to keep an eye out."
…
"Jasper was your best friend, Edward." Bella places the paper on the table in front of us. We're sitting face to face at the kitchen table while Alice is trying to make breakfast for us. She stated that she wanted to cook something for herself. I agreed because why the hell wouldn't I? I don't like cooking and sometimes Bella needs a break. The only rule to Alice was that she couldn't use the stove or oven without mine or Bella's assistance. Starting a fire is not on the agenda for today.
Or ever, actually.
A bonfire perhaps.
"Was." I stress the word. "He isn't anymore. He proved that he wasn't trustworthy or friend worthy. Why would I want the guy hanging around."
"He didn't have to write a letter."
I shrug, "And I can't believe it has taken you a whole entire week to open it. I made the idea sound important to him." I give Bella a gentle smile, urging her to read it. She already opened it, but she won't read the damn thing. I don't get it; she loves reading!
"I don't want a letter." She exasperates and looks over at Alice who's making a mess behind me. I can tell. It's a sixth sense of mine. "But, I'll read it..." She manages to add once she catches my impatient look.
"Thanks."
She clears her throat. "Out loud?"
"If you wish."
"Alright." She rolls her eyes, but grabs her reading glasses and puts them on. Bella has fairly good eyesight, but when she reads (especially small print) she has a pair of magnified glasses she uses. They make her look sexy... sexier.
"Dear Bella or Isabella,
I don't know what you like being called, but Edward always said Bella. This is a formal kind of thing though, so I figured I'd stick the Isabella in there too. I apologize for the shaky penmen shape.
I want to apologize and this is a sincere apology. I didn't mean to... okay, screw this shit, man.
Bella, I'm sorry. I won't lie; I was in a fury, a red haze, and all I wanted was revenge. For the Crowleys, for Swan, and for myself. Now looking back, I was a fool. A damn fool. I know now Crowley couldn't have given me all he promised and even if he could, I'd have to live with the guilt of what I am.
A crook, a liar, a thief, and nearly a murderer. I had every intention to finish you off. That sounds harsh. That doesn't sound like me! Crowley changed me. It's the money, the power, I wanted it. I was promised it. And he wanted you. That's all it would've took.
I know now that that's impossible. It always was.
You can't force people to be together. You can't lie through life. You can't let money get a hold of you 'cause it drags you in. It's nothing but paper. It can't define you.
I lost my best friend in this process. I did. It fucking sucks. I loved Edward like a brother and now we won't see each other again. He knew I was a failure but still kept hope for me flowing. He made me seem like I could do something or be something. Maybe I could've. I think it's too late now.
And now I clearly see how Edward cares for you. At first I just couldn't believe it. He was the bachelor guy that you just figured was set on his own. I saw such a change in him when he got Alice though; he turned into an adult, a man, a dad of some sorts. He wanted to settle down.
I guess now he can, right? A steady job, flowing money, and most importantly, a family. You and Alice complete him. I know that. I've known Edward long enough and I've seen him enough to know that now when I look in his eyes, he's complete. It's sappy but true.
I hope you all are doing well. I hate knowing that I came in and ruined a bit and ruined myself. I'll live with the guilt forever.
Especially you Bella, I'm guilty. Guilty. It rings in my ears every night. It haunts me. You're a great girl. Crowley even admitted that behind the looks and business you had, you were smart and beautiful on the inside. I never heard Crowley speak kindly or lovingly about anyone, but I clearly remember what he said about you:
"It's more than that, Jasper." He more or less hissed in my face. "Sure she'll bring in business and have Swan join us, and sure she'll bring good attention and a good reputation for our firm, but there's more. She is the smartest girl I know and she always has something to say. She stands her ground. She has the biggest heart. I like her. A lot."
Now I know you probably don't want to hear that and I don't blame you. I just want to say, it's true. Everything you've done for my best friend proves it. Edward's a smart guy so if it's you he wants, you're something great.
I'm sorry. I'm beyond sorry. I hope one day you can forgive me.
Forever thanking you,
Jasper Whitlock.
"Well," Alice sets down two plates of... food in front of us. "That was something. He swore! He swore and he wrote it down! How could he have? Oh here's breakfast."
"What... What is it?" I ask and look at the plate.
"Well I put two Eggos in the toaster, since I know you adore Eggos. Then I put some jam, chocolate, strawberries on it. I topped it off with whip cream, a little bit of syrup, and a dash of brown sugar. A breakfast fit for a pro."
"And the main source of diabetes." I grab my fork. "But to heck with it, treat ourselves."
Bella laughs, "This has made my mood much better, thank you Alice. I'll be hyped up for the whole day."
"That was the plan!" She says and sits down beside me with a plate in front of her. "I love sugar."
"I know. You don't need it though. You already bounce off the walls." I attempt to dig into my breakfast fit for a candy shop salesman. I look over to Bella. "It sounded like Jasper, that was him being sincere. It's not the best letter though."
"I appreciate it." Bella replies easily. "I understand that money overtakes you. Look at my dad. Look at the Crowleys. And now Jasper."
"It's a shame."
"It is." Alice puts herself in the conversation. "But breakfast is not."
I roll my eyes and elbow her lightly in the ribs. "Dig in, Willy Wonka."
A/N: What do you think is going to happen?
Leave a review? Thanks. :)
