Ready for You
Beta-Kitchmill
53
Sharing a bed with Rose in a guest room at Alice's, I felt great when I got in, but waking up the next morning is not so great. Daylight comes too soon, with that "I drank too much queasy feeling" and the coated tongue and teeth. I groan as I roll over, earning a chuckle from Rose, who once I open my eyes wide enough looks like she just stepped out of the salon, not the shower.
"How ya feeling this morning, sunshine?" she teases.
"Not as good as you, obviously," I groan.
"None of us drank that much." She shrugs.
"No, but more than this body is used to."
"I think we're all better off than Edward. Em had me laughing so hard with the updates last night."
"Really? What was going on?" Suddenly I feel like sitting up and engaging more.
"He sent me a few short videos. It's some funny stuff."
"Can I see?"
"You sure you want to?"
"Yes." I nod. "I'm sure my imagination of what they might be doing is way worse than what actually happened. Oh, and thanks for listening to my no stripper request," I deadpan.
"They weren't technically strippers, so actually we did listen. They were Strip-O-Grams. They dance and remove a few clothing items, but it's really pretty PG. Didn't you notice that?"
"I thought you just asked them not to touch me."
"No, not strippers. We did listen," she responds as she sits down next to me, putting her cell between us.
When the video starts it's loud and muffled. At first it's blurry, then Edward perched in a chair comes into focus. A very tall, mostly dressed girl is dancing around him suggestively. I see her, but mainly I'm looking at what he's doing, or isn't doing. He isn't watching her; in fact, he's looking anywhere but her. She moves to straddle his lap and he puts his hands up defensively. He says something to her causing her to stand up again and keep dancing. Then the video stops.
"What did he say to her?" I ask.
Rose shrugs. "I guess you'll have to ask him. I don't know if she was a real stripper or not. I forwarded the Strip-O-Gram info to Em, so I don't know what they ultimately decided, but it was a public place so no nakedness."
She shows me a few more videos of a slurring Edward animatedly engaged in conversations with other men, some I recognize and some I don't. I can't hear everything he says, but I do hear my name a few times. The videos ease my mind. Although I don't have any doubt that Edward would be faithful, it's nice to see him clearly not into it either.
By the time I'm showered and feeling presentable, all of the kids are up and having the breakfast Esme and Carlisle prepared. Everyone greets me when I walk into the kitchen, but the smiles from my girls immediately make me feel better. I give them each kisses on their head, avoiding their syrup sticky fingers and faces.
Soon after Emmett and Jasper join us. I have my own car, but I kind of expected Edward to join us too.
"Where's Edward?"
Em laughs and Jasper just shakes his head. "Still asleep. We didn't wake him since he has to work tonight."
I nod in understanding. Working all night with a hangover is going to suck.
"Thank you so much for watching the girls, the breakfast, everything," I say to both Esme and Carlisle before I leave with the girls. Both girls hug and kiss them, loving every minute of their time with them. We will be spending plenty of time with them since they are staying in town until after the wedding and my parents are coming next week.
The house is quiet when the girls and I enter. I try to explain to them how Edward is a little sick today and they may need to be quiet, but quiet for a one- and five-year-old is not very quiet at all.
After getting the girls set up with a snack and a movie in the living room, I go back to check on Edward. The door creaks open but he doesn't stir. He's sprawled on top of the bed, no covers or blankets on him. Fully dressed, the only clothing items missing are his shoes, which are dropped at the foot of the bed. There is untouched water and pain reliever on the nightstand and a bucket on the floor next to the bed.
Stepping inside the door, I'm hit with the smell of alcohol, not vomit, thank God. I gently run my fingers through his hair, and he sighs in his sleep but still doesn't wake.
When I leave the room I close the door tightly and I join the girls in the living room. I rest while they watch their movie and then I take them out to the yard for some playtime before Sophie's nap. As the day progresses I feel more myself. I hope the sleep is doing Edward the good he needs to be on his game tonight at work. The longer we're together the more I worry about his safety on the job. Each day I am more invested in our lives, our love, and so are the girls.
While out in the yard, the patio door opens behind me. Turning, I'm stunned by the gorgeous man standing there. He's showered, his hair wet. He's dressed in jeans and a T-shirt and socks. I wave and start walking toward him. He gives me this unsure, shy smile, hands in his front pockets, his stance hesitant.
"How are you feeling?" I speak first, giving him a peck on the lips. His minty breath reminds me of how much better he smells than before.
"Good, better," he responds. "We should talk. Nothing happened, Bella. I didn't touch her and I didn't want her to touch me."
I hush him with another kiss. "I know. Don't worry about it."
"Really? So we're good?" he asks.
"We're better than good." I smile, wanting nothing more than to have his sexy, cute when he's drunk ass to myself.
"Edward!" Ellie yells. Running footsteps approach us, reminding me I cannot have him right now.
I step back to allow her to get to him. When she does she launches herself, him catching her easily. When they embrace and start chatting, I can't help but smile. I look back toward Sophie who is toddling our direction to get her piece of Edward too.
"Maybe we should talk to the girls tonight," I suggest.
He raises his eyebrows. "Okay." He smiles, both girls in his arms.
*()*()*()*()*()*()*
Dinner is served, and we don't have much time before the girls will be done and want to leave the table.
"Girls, um...you know Mommy and Edward are getting married next week? That means that we will be a family, the four of us." Ellie nods so I continue. "Our family is going to have a mommy and a daddy." They look at me expecting more. "So, Edward is going to be your daddy."
"I can call you Daddy?" Ellie asks, looking at Edward.
"I would love it if you called me Daddy. I'm here for you and Sophie and your mommy...forever. If you want to, please call me Daddy," he finishes, his eyes glassy.
She cocks her head for a minute, looking from me to Edward. "Not for pretend, but for real?"
"For real, Ellie. I'm marrying all of you, my three ladies." He smiles, grabbing my hand. "I want nothing more than to be you and Sophie's daddy."
"Okay," she says, shrugging and taking another bite of food. Then she turns to Sophie. "Soph, we can call Edward Daddy. Can you say Daddy?"
Sophie looks confused but loves to try new words. She looks at Edward and says, "Eddad," which makes us all laugh, and then she says it about a hundred more times, solidifying her new name for him.
(*)(*)(*()(*()(*()
The wedding approaches quickly. Thankfully, things go off without a hitch, no rain in sight, and the vendors are thorough and organized. Between all of us women and the guys helping too, no detail is left for chance or forgotten. Even the girls are taking it all in stride. With all the grandparents and aunts and uncles around, they are getting more attention than usual and loving it.
All of the women get ready at Alice and Jasper's while they guys use our house. Limos pick us up separately and deliver us to the wedding site at the park. They guys arrive first, as the women will exit the car and heading straight down the aisle.
I'm far more excited than nervous on the drive over. The girls are loving the limo and phone cameras click the whole way. The only boy with us is baby Ryan who looks adorable in his little gray suit.
When our limo pulls up, I'm awed by the whole wedding set-up, which I haven't seen completed yet. From the limo I can't see where Edward waits for me at the end of the aisle, but I can see the gazebo, flowers, chairs—everything looks perfect.
Jasper, Carlisle, and my dad are waiting for us when the limo stops. When Carlisle opens the door I can hear the music playing, causing my heart to leap in anticipation. First he helps out Esme, then Jasper takes baby Ryan from Alice. As planned, together they walk down the aisle before Jasper hands the baby to Esme and Carlisle and takes his spot next to Edward.
My dad helps Rose, Alice, Ellie, and Sophie out of the limo. They proceed to walk down the aisle, Rose and Alice each holding the hand of one of our daughters, who are being surprisingly cooperative. The crowd awed when baby Ryan came down the aisle, but the awes are heightened when our cute girls dressed in fancy matching dresses make their way down.
When Dad helps me out, the "Wedding March" begins and he and I proceed.
We reach the back of the guest chairs, and Edward comes into view and everything else disappears. Dressed in a black tailored tux, he looks like a model. His hair is more tamed than usual, his eyes bright as he watches me, his smile beaming. It's tough for me to keep the slow pace when all I want to do is rush to him. My dad's arm lends support and keeps me from racing ahead.
When I reach the front and Edward takes my hand in his, everything is right. I try to remember each second of the ceremony: the words, the emotions, the love I feel from friends and family, but most of all the connection I feel with Edward in the moment.
Everyone busts up laughing when Sophie, who has had enough of being wrangled by Rose, breaks loose and comes to Edward asking, "Eddad, up." The ceremony continues with Sophie in his arms, but I'm not bothered by it. It's how it should be. When it's time for the kiss, Edward leans in as does Sophie and it ends up more as a group kiss than just Edward and me.
The second we move apart he beacons Ellie who joins us, and we are introduced as Edward, Isabella, Ellie, and Sophie Masen. Everyone claps as we make our way back down the aisle together, always together.
A/N
How was it? Do you like Sophie's name for Edward?
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