I'm late, I suck… yada yada yada. You've heard it all before because I'm a repeat suck-er… Sorry :( For some reason a lot of shit started happening the past two weeks… Shit that took up my time. Not bad shit, but good shit.
Good time consuming shit. So. Yeah.
Thanks to all of my reviewers. You've got that one thing :)
Standard Disclaimer Applies.
…BBC…
"Come back in the room, honey. I don't want you getting hurt because of your sympathy." He whispered, pulling me into a standing position after grabbing Jane's gun with the bottom of his shirt.
"She needs this." I said crouching by Jane again, my voice so low it was almost inaudible "She won't hurt me. Go back with the girls, they missed you." I said patting his leg before turning back to Jane. She turned and wailed into my shoulder despite my part in killing Gordo. I sat with her silently, letting her cry on me. Edward left the bedroom door open, keeping a close eye on me as Ellie jumped back into his arms. I smiled softly before turning back to Jane and patting her knee.
"Bella…" I looked up as Edward said my name, moving towards a window. Ellie went with him, half hanging off of his arm as he stared through the glass. I stayed still, continuing to comfort Jane to the best of my ability.
I knew what he was looking at. He was looking at the seemingly impossible view of nothing for miles and miles. There's no telling when we'd be able to get out of here. The chip was probably too far away from any tracking devices to be found. Of course we had a phone, but how do you explain that you are quite literally in the middle of nowhere.
There was a slam from underneath us and my eyes widened. "Close the door." Jane barked at Cindy for no apparent reason. I stiffened next to her and was about to pull away when two familiar voices echoed down the hallway. There was a short interaction between the two men before footsteps trampled down the hall.
Jasper rounded the corner, jogging towards us gun in hand. The stern, yet sick expression melted away when he saw me and I stood, my eyes widening.
"Jasper!?" I screamed while simultaneously gasping as I stood and launched myself at him as he was in midstride. His arms wrapped tightly around me, kissing my hair.
"Bells, honey…" He whispered into my hair.
"How did you get out here so quickly?" I gasped, pushing my hair out of my face as I pulled away to look him in the eye.
"Helicopter, I'm glad we decided to take one too be caused the roads disappeared awhile back." I nodded and hugged him again before there was some scrambling behind me. I turned to see Cindy pulling Jane into a room and locking the door behind them. Jasper squeezed me tightly before pushing me to the side and heading after the women.
"Jazz, the woman with Jane-" I followed after him. "That's Zaffrina Gerandy!" He lifted an eyebrow and pushed open the door revealing an empty room.
Jasper turned to me with wide eyes and I just rolled mine. This house was full of weird shit, at this point I'd be a fool to be surprised by any of it.
I walked ahead of him and started slamming on walls, listening for a hollowed out section in the wood. "There's probably some kind of-" I smacked a panel right next to the bed, hearing an empty echoing sound on the other end of the wall.
The bedroom door creaked open and I turned to see Edward peeking in looking confused. "What's going on?" He asked his voice still faintly scratchy. Jasper turned when I did and slapped my arm.
"He's not dead." He observed pointing at my husband who chuckled, even though neither of us responded to his question. I rolled my eyes and continued to knock against the wall, simultaneously dragging fingers along the edge of the panel. I bit my lip as my finger caught and I tugged the thing open. The door opened to reveal a metal shaft, leading straight down.
"There you go." I said pointing down the shaft. He lifted an eyebrow before moving past me and heading down the ladder in the wall. I contemplated going down with him, but I figured I'd done my fair share of voluntary ass kicking today and headed over to where Edward stood.
"Bella?!" I stopped midstride and turned back toward the wall where Jasper yelled.
"Yeah?"
"I can't hit a girl!" He cried. I looked down the chute to see him looking up at me in panic and wondered how he'd made it this far in his career. I sighed and half threw myself down the damn thing as I slipped and missed a rung on the ladder. Jazz caught my waist, preventing me from killing myself before pulling me into a wide underground tunnel that looked like it was wide enough for three cars.
"Have you ever seen anything like this?" He asked in awe.
"Not in person…" I whispered, wishing I'd known the damn thing was down here.
"Are you guys okay?" Edward asked from above us, I nodded before realizing he wasn't able to see me.
"I'm fine," I yelled up to him, "go stay with the girls." I told him, before he could suggest coming down with us.
"Let the others know you're up there! Emmett's down the hall!" Jasper yelled from next to me before taking my hand and pulling me down the tunnel. "So how ya' doin'?"
"Much better now that I know we're getting out of here." I said as we picked our pace up to a light jog. There was a clattering noise before a car door slammed a few yards away from us. Our light jog soon turned into a full out sprint to the car before those bitches could go anywhere. It was only when a small smart car whipped around an invisible corner and zoomed towards us did we stop our sprint.
My eyes widened as the headlights lit up the dark tunnel. "Move, Bella!" Jasper jumped at me, yanking me against the wall just as the car whipped past us.
"Tires! Tires!" I yelled as Jazz pulled out his gun and aimed for the car, popping two bullets in one wheel and another in the other. I ran for the car as it skidded out of control before slamming into a wall crushing one side of the small thing. There was immediately an unceasing shriek from inside the car.
"Oh my god." I whispered to myself as my feet pounded against the cement, carrying me to the last place I wanted to be. I ripped open the driver's side door which was the least damaged part of the car and ducked inside. Cindy was the one screaming as both she and Jane were covered in blood. I unbuckled Cindy and coaxed her out of the car, passing her off to Jasper as I got back into the car.
Jane lay slumped against the window, eyes wide as she sat unmoving. I patted her face for a minute, trying to rouse her, when that didn't work I checked for a pulse. My head dropped when I felt nothing. It was obvious from first sight that she wasn't alright… I was just prolonging the reality.
"She's gone." I said quietly, pulling myself out of the car and turning to Jasper. Cindy wailed from Jasper's arms, truly devastated.
"What the hell happened?!" Emmett screamed from down the tunnel where we'd come in from the panel. Edward had already passed my brother and was on his way towards us. I turned to Jasper with wide eyes.
"I didn't even think about-" He gestured around the tunnel and I nodded as, what felt like, the millionth tear streamed down my cheek. It only took me a second for my sobs to turn almost hysterical as I looked on the terrifying scene. My hands came up to cup my mouth as I broke down.
Jane's death was so much different from Felix's. It was completely unexpected… Unnecessary.
Strong arms surrounded me and I was being pulled into Edward's chest. He turned me so that I faced away from the car and laid his head atop mine.
"Shh… shh, come on, Baby." I held onto his shirt, burying my face in his neck letting him comfort me. "How do we get out of here?" He asked over my head, Cindy let out another loud sob before mumbling out something. Her words were drowned out by the sound of my own cries. Emmett barked something out before Edward let go of me and Emmett's familiar scent wrapped around me as he hugged me.
"Everything will be okay, Bella." He whispered as we started moving down the tunnel. "You'll get to see Seth and Tony. You'll get to sleep in your own bed… Edward isn't dead! It's all about positivity." I wasn't really feeling Emmett's pep talk but his words did help. Things would be normal again…
Or as normal as the possibly could be after these past few days.
I reached out and grabbed Edward's hand, pulling him closer to me.
"Gerandy's in jail, Gordo is dead… so are those other two guys." Em said kissing my hair.
"And Jane." I said sadly, Edward turned and wiped away another escaped tear.
"You're safe though, B. That's what matters." Emmett let go of me after some silently conversation between the two of them and I was back in Edward's embrace. "Where are we going?" I stopped walking, "The girls-"
"Do you really think I would leave our children behind?" He scoffed, tugging me along as Cindy showed us the way out of the tunnel and above ground. Edward was right, Charlie stood with the girls in front of two helicopters. Their little group started walking towards us when we emerged; meeting us halfway in a flurry of hugs and kisses.
I was shocked as hell when Charlie pulled me into a hug and told me how worried he was as opposed to criticizing my terrible work… Or whatever. I smiled into his shoulder as he held me tightly.
"I love you, Bells." He said quietly, once again shocking the hell out of me. My eyes shot up to Edward who stood holding Olivia behind my father and he shrugged with wide eyes.
"Love you too, dad." I whispered, squeezing him once more before pulling away only to be engulfed in another hug. I smiled once I realized it was a more feminine hug and stroked Ellie's hair.
"Were you crying again?" She asked curiously. I shrugged and nodded before reaching up to swipe at my damp, stinging cheeks. "But Daddy's okay-?"
"It wasn't about that-" Her face dropped and I rolled my eyes.
Back to square one.
"We aren't divorcing." She grinned and pulled me back into the hug. "How do you feel, honey?" I asked, cupping her face and staring into those bright green eyes.
"Better. I can't wait to get out of here though…"
"Me too." I smiled, feeling overwhelmed with joy at the prospect of getting to leave this hell hole.
"Alright guys, let's get the Masen's in first, then I'll come back." The pilot of the bureau's helicopter said opening the door to the copter.
"We're leaving now?" Edward asked. "What about all the-" He pointed back to the house and the pilot shrugged.
"We're going to take care of it." Charlie said patting Edward's back good naturedly. "You guys go on. Take Whitlock with you. He's a bitch when it comes to flying." He rolled his eyes and slapped Jazz's shoulder. I narrowed my eyes at Charlie wondering what the fuck was up with him.
Edward helped Olivia, then Ellie into the helicopter before offering me his assistance. I took his hand and let him 'boost' me up, while he really just copped a feel. Because even after the past few days we'd just had my ass was still on Edward's radar.
Well… You gotta keep 'em coming back for more.
And that's how you know you're doing it right.
I chuckled to myself as I scooted in next to the girls, trying to make room for Edward who was pushed out of the way by Jazz.
"You've got shotgun, big guy." Jasper told Edward, grabbing up my hand and holding it tightly.
"You won't sit up front because you want to hold my wife's hand. Nuh uh, I don't think so." Edward grumbled, pouting at me around Jasper.
"Not today, pretty boy." Jazz tapped his lip and the girls giggled from next to me. Edward smacked his hands away and the smacked him upside the head.
"I'll sit up front." I sighed, shooing Jasper out so I could move.
"No, I want to sit next to you-"
"Jasper, don't be a bitch, man…" I sat back and decided to let them work it out. They were grown ass men after all.
"Okay, Bella, who would you like to sit by?" Jasper asked. "Mind you, I just saved your life." He shrugged.
"Well she spent the past three days thinking I was dead- so I think I win." Edward said rolling his eyes. I shook my head and bit my lip, not really finding that funny. I didn't really see how that could be taken with a grain of salt but... maybe I just needed to get over it.
"Yeah, and she'll have the rest of your life to rejoice about how alive you are. Thanks to me."
"You guys are immature." Ellie sighed, leaning her head against my shoulder.
"Don't be a p-" I shot up and sent Edward a look, stopping him from calling Jazz a pussy in front of the girls.
"Edward, go sit up front." I sighed. "I'll sit with you later." Jasper stuck out his tongue at Edward before closing the door in his face and I rolled my eyes. Realizing immediately that I'd chosen the wrong jackass to sit next to.
"Are we going back to Forks?" Ellie asked, I shook my head. Olivia tore her gaze from the ground below as she waited for my answer.
"No, we're going home." I told her, picking up her hand in my free one.
"Bowie asked about you the other day." Jazz said his grip on my hand tightening as we went higher and higher. The kid was terrified. I didn't know how he'd done it on the way over …
Olivia's ears perked up at his words and she leaned forward. "Me?!"
Jasper nodded and shut his eyes. "What'd he say?!" Jasper smiled and leaned forward, closer to Edward when he said, "He wanted to know why he wasn't getting some." He yelled, not realizing that it was too damn loud for Edward to hear anything. I heard him though and punched him in the arm. Of course his little six year old didn't say that, he just wanted to get a rise out of Edward.
"Hey, watch your mouth." I grumbled, trying to pull my hand out of his. His eyes opened and as soon as my hand left his he had wrapped himself around me. I rolled my eyes, but didn't move to get him off.
"I'm sorry, sorry!" He shrieked, his voice rising an octave. "He said he missed you." He said honestly, looking over at the girls who watched us with wide eyes. "All of you." He threw in for good measure. Thankfully Edward didn't turn around to look at us until after Jazz had unwrapped himself and was just holding my hand again.
"What about Seth and Tony? How are they doing?" I asked.
"They're doing well… Alice is busting her ass trying to keep them from worrying about you guys though... I think she's done pretty well…" I nodded. I was glad to have friends that would watch out for me and my family; it meant the world to me. I hugged Jazz, and thanked him.
"Are you going to take us in to be questioned?" He asked Jasper. Jazz shrugged and that was it.
Okay.
"They want you questioned before you forget, but I think it'd be best if we let you get Tony and Seth back first. And then rest up." I nodded, and gave his hand a squeeze. I put my arm over Ellie and Olivia's shoulder's, hugging them to me.
"Are you guys okay? You want to wait to be questioned?"
"We have to do it too?" Ellie asked before worrying her bottom lip. I nodded and she started to shake a little. Olivia just nodded her head giving her sister a confused look.
"I'm sleepy." She said before tapping Ellie's hand. "What's wrong?"
"I don't want to talk about it." She whispered, her eyes glistening with tears. I frowned and trailed my fingers through her hair.
"Honey-"
"I don't want to!" She said her voice rising. She clutched my arm, pushing her face against my shoulder. I looked up from her to see Edward furrow his eyebrows and reach back to touch Ellie's knee. "Daddy, please don't make me." She whispered, grabbing his hand.
"Ellie, I could question you if that'd be okay?" Jazz said, leaning around me to speak to her.
"I don't want to talk about it!" She yelled, shocking us all. Edward and I locked eyes for a second before looking back to Ellie.
"Okay, honey. Not today." I said softly, pulling her in for a hug. She'd have to speak to one of us at some point, but we wouldn't force her to so soon. The rest of the ride was pretty much silent other than our pilot making comments about how high up we were, or how we were flying over a river- just to scare Jazz. I glared at the man as Jaspers grip on me tightened until he had practically wrapped himself around me again.
The longer we flew, the farther we got, the more I tried to push the past week out of my mind. Edward's 'death', Zafrinna, Felix… All of the death… Jane… The crash.
All of it.
It was something I needed to do, before I collapsed from the memories. The horrific everything. It would surely drive me crazy if I dwelled on it.
Needless to say, I was happy as hell when the plane landed in front of the bureau. We all thanked the pilot and I practically shoved Jasper out onto the ground so that we could leave. I sighed as I stepped out onto the pavement letting in finally hit me that I wouldn't have to deal with Gerandy, Gordo or any of those assholes again. Edward came up next to me, slipping his hand into mine as I stood there.
"You okay, Baby?" He whispered, letting my hand go so that he could wrap his arms around my waist. I smiled, leaning into him and nodding.
"I'm fine." I said honestly as I looked up at him and cupped his face. "You look bad though. How do you feel?"
He chuckled and reached up to cover my hand with his. "A little self-conscious now…" He pouted at me for a second before letting that cute smile shine. I grinned at him and leaned my forehead against his or attempted to, he had to lean his head down a little to help me out but-
That's beside the point.
"I love you, beautiful." He whispered even though I probably looked worse than he did.
"I love you more." I said pecking his chin. After being married for years you find ways to artfully, and affectionately dodge mouth kisses when our breath wasn't in the best shape. He rolled his eyes and gave me a closed mouth peck and then another. And one more that was slightly deeper and then one that would have gotten me somewhere had we not been interrupted.
"Oh god, Bella!" Marilyn squeaked, tackling me in a hug and pushing me away from Edward. My eyes widened as the blonde buried her face in my neck. "I knew you'd make it out! I knew it!" She breathed.
"Thanks, Marilyn…" I said awkwardly before giving the top of her head a pat. Jazz and the girls had joined Edward and formed their own little peanut gallery as she attacked me.
"You don't even look that bad!" She giggled, I lifted my eyebrows and gave her an uncomfortable smile.
"Yeah, real princess material." I rolled my eyes and she nodded.
"You do!" I paused because that response didn't really make any sense. She didn't elaborate, making me realize just how alike she and Jazz were.
It must be a blonde thing.
"I do… what?"
"Look like a princess." I nodded and she linked our arms before pulling me towards our car, which someone had brought back from Forks, while she chatted my ear off. Because apparently she thought that recently kidnapped people wanted an update on all things Marilyn.
I leaned into Edward as we passed him, "Get her a helmet, before she hurts herself." I whispered before she switched her topic of conversation from her life to giving everyone in the department a princess name. Guess which one I was…
That's right.
Princess Aurora.
That's why I don't talk to her for an extended period of time.
I sighed as she continued to talk while I helped buckle Olivia in. Lord knows she was old enough to buckle herself in but unless it was done properly, she'd wiggle her little ass out of the booster seat and the buckle.
"I met her in Disney World once. She was wearing way too much makeup but compared to the other princesses she looked like a drag queen." I wasn't sure if she was saying that's why I reminded her of Aurora or not…
"Um… Thank you?" I pursed my lips and finished Olivia in before turning back towards her in time to see Edward carrying the keys. I shook my head and snatched them.
"You're so welcome!" She grinned and watched me for a second before moving, only because Jazz needed to get into the car.
"You shouldn't drive; we don't know what affects the gas had, baby."
"You guys are so cute!" Marilyn gushed, Edward and I both looked down at her before frowning. I lifted an eyebrow at her as she grinned up at us with wide eyes. She looked like she wanted to hug us.
Eh…
"Thanks…" Edward trailed awkwardly before turning his attention back to me. "I'm fine. The gas was hours ago." Marilyn leaned closer for what I presumed would be a hug and I clenched the keys in my hand, slamming Olivia's door before half scaling the car.
I rolled my eyes, "No, Edward." And I jumped in the car only to turn and see Marilyn giving, a stiff as a board, Edward a hug. I snickered, happy that I'd escaped that and started up the car. I jumped as Jasper knocked on the window next to me, scaring the hell out of me. I took a breath and let down my window.
"Hey, you can follow me back to my house to get the boys." I nodded and rolled down the passenger window, telling Edward the plan as Marilyn still clung to him.
"Okay, Marilyn, we need to go now, hun." I said out the window, rolling my eyes as she didn't let go.
Ellie scoffed from behind my seat, "You want me to handle this, Mom?" She leaned over Olivia and rolled down the window. Marilyn let go soon after and was saved from Ellie's wrath once Edward slid into the front seat.
"Bye guys!" I wiggled my fingers over my shoulder at Marilyn as I pulled off.
"She's not as bad as you say… She's kind of nice." I shot him a look from the corner of my eye. "Touchy… but nice."
"I never said she wasn't nice. Just an airhead…"
"All P.I.'s are airheads." He sighed, I shrugged and nodded.
"I'd rather her be an airhead than an untrusting asshole… You know the ones." A few years back we'd had a private investigator come in who refused to talk to most of us. Saying that relationships were futile seeing as everyone has a little infidelity in them. I guess seeing cheaters twenty four seven could do that…
"Marilyn wants the d." Ellie quietly laughed from the back, making Edward palm his forehead.
"What the hell does that mean?" I asked looking from the rearview mirror, meeting her eyes then back to the road. I mean, I got the gist and whatnot… But I would hate to get mad and it be some shit like she wants the dust pan.
That'd be awkward.
Unless dust pan stood for something dirty.
"Don't worry about it, Mom." Ellie blushed a deep red and sank down into her seat. "It was stupid…"
"You can't just say things like that..." He said uneasily, letting me know 'The d' was something dirty.
"I didn't know either of you were going to understand it!"
"That's a terrible reason. You know I'm hip." I rolled my eyes and decided it'd probably be a good idea to drop out of the conversation before it got worse. I slowed the car down as we turned on to Jasper's street and turned around to see that in the ten minutes it took to get from the station to the house Olivia had fallen asleep.
"I'll stay out here, let her sleep." Ellie whispered from the backseat. I bit my lip and parked the car, turning it off as I looked to Edward.
"I think you should both come in. Just-" He paused and I nodded, knowing that he was still worried about… everything… because I was too.
"She'll wake right up once she sees Bowie." I said stepping out, Edward huffed and got Olivia out of the car. Ellie stuck by his side as we walked to the house. Jasper had pulled in before us and was standing at the door waiting for us.
"You want me to tell Ali to chill out or anything before you come in?" Edward raised an eyebrow at Jasper's question and I shook my head.
"I'm sure we'll be able to deal with Alice." I said rolling my eyes. Jazz sighed and pushed the door open. I walked down the hall impatiently, holding myself back as I heard Seth talking with Alice. Bowie shot out of nowhere like a bat out of hell, waving at us before attacking Edward so that he'd put O down.
"She's sleeping, Bow." He sighed, rubbing the little boys head. Olivia stirred on his shoulder and I smiled at her stopping to stroke her hair. Her eyes fluttered open and she took a slow glance around before her eyes locked on Bowie and she gasped.
"Bowie?!" She scrambled in Edward's arms before he let her down. "I missed you!"
They hugged tightly before he grabbed her hand and started speaking a mile a minute about everything. He took off down the hall where his room was, pulling O along. Edward turned to Ellie and snapped before pointing down the hall.
"I'm not a dog." She huffed irritably, transforming back into the Ellie we knew and loved. He gave her a stern look and she stomped off down the hall. As soon as they were out of sight I grabbed Edward's hand and pulled him towards Seth's voice. I almost burst into tears as I walked in the kitchen.
"Mommy!? Daddy!?" Seth screamed from his perch on the stool in front of the counter where Alice stood making hamburgers. Her head snapped up at the sound of his voice and she dropped all of her shit.
"Edward?" She asked looking confused. Her eyes shot to Seth who was struggling to get down from his tall stool and instead of helping him she darted right past the little boy to crush me with a hug. She kissed my cheeks and forehead with tears streaming down her cheeks before she moved onto Edward, kissing him on the mouth.
I gave her that little moment.
But I'll be kicking her little ass for that one later.
Edward's eyes shot to mine when she pulled away and he blushed. I rolled my eyes letting him know we weren't going to have a problem before I darted for Seth who still struggled with the stool. I pushed the chair away from the counter, turning it so that I could hug him tightly.
"That's not really something you can do, honey..." Jasper sang pulling Alice away from Edward as he watched me warily.
"We're all friends here!" She shrugged.
"I think all that changes when one friend kills another … So let's not push." He told his wife wisely while I kept my eye on her. I helped Seth onto the floor and hugged him tightly.
"I missed you!" He grinned.
"I missed you too, baby." I whispered into his hair, feeling Edward come up behind me.
"I think Tony's in the living room, he fell asleep watching Brokeback Mountain. Or at least he was sleeping when I left." Jazz said Edward punched him in the arm
"Brokeback Mountain?" So she kisses my husband and shows my kid soft core gay porn.
Good.
Because we haven't managed to fuck them up enough.
It takes a village…
"What the hell?" I huffed, turning to her as my jaw began to tick.
"Oh come on, you can't be mad about that too!" Alice said.
"I'm-"
"Why are you being so weird about it?!" She yelled before starting to cry. I took a deep breath and reminded myself:
The bitch is pregnant, the bitch is pregnant…
"You can kiss Jazz if you want! Bowie watched Brokeback with Tony already though." Edward walked back into the room then, holding our sleeping Tony.
"I don't think so." He laughed without humor and I rolled my eyes.
"Thanks but no thanks." I smiled waving Edward over as he tried to coax Tony awake.
"Why Brokeback Mountain though? Out of everything-" The little boy stirred on Edward's shoulder blinking slowly at him.
"Daddy?" He asked, his soft voice a little scratchy. Edward smiled at him and kissed his forehead. "I missed you." I was glad Alice hadn't told them about... well any of it.
Then there she was again, ruining the moment with the moment with, "He'd already seen the Lion King and Toy Story is just okay." I lifted an incredulous eyebrow at her after she answered.
"What happened to your face?" He asked lifting a little hand and slapping it onto Edward's cheek roughly. Edward winced and chuckled pulling the no doubt sticky hand from his face.
"Mommy, we're going home now right?" Seth asked practically vibrating with anticipation as he waited for Edward to make his way over here.
"Right." I nodded and gave him another hug before Edward and I switched kids. He lowered Anthony into my grasp and I released Sethy. "They're so cute," Alice cooed from where she stood in the entryway.
"That's what we'll have, Jazzy." She said rubbing her stomach and wrapping her arms around his waist.
Jasper curled a lip at us and I lifted my eyebrows as I pressed a kiss to Tony's hair. He didn't say anything he just kissed my cheek before cuddling up to me.
"Yeah but, uh, less kids. Not so Bradgelina." He whispered loudly in her ear.
"Jasper." I said standing up and walking towards the door.
"Hmm?"
"Don't make me kick your ass." I said patting his cheek.
"Who said that was a bad thing?" He asked with a shrug. "That could mean you're like, you know, Mr. and Mrs. Smith."
"They hated each other in that movie." Alice pointed out. I stopped walking and stared up at Jazz daring him to say something.
"They're good people though! They have like… an Adopted army." His eyes brightened and I gritted my teeth.
"Oh you're a dumbass…" I sighed.
"And you have an un-adopted army." He said.
"I think they call that a biological army-" Alice said with a roll of her eyes.
"They call it nothing, because no one has ever had this dumb of a conversation before." I said honestly.
"Well, you're a little snippy to the people who just saved your life." Alice said folding her arms over her chest. I rolled my eyes and hugged her, whispering my thanks.
"And I'm seriously thankful." I said giving her a short squeeze. "Honestly," I pulled back and met her gaze. "Thank you." She beamed and I pulled away a little. "Don't kiss me."
"Or do… Whatever, it's your choice, babe." Jazz whispered from behind us. I pulled away from Alice completely before lightly slapping Jazz's stomach.
"I'm tired and they just tried to kiss! I'm done." Ellie huffed, dragging Olivia and Bowie out by their hands. "You aren't even in first grade! Stop…" She let go of the blushing children before going back to her place at Edward's side. He tossed and arm over her shoulder and kissed her forehead.
Alice grabbed Bowie's hand, pulling him past her and towards the stairs to the basement. "Ten minutes-" She started to turn a sickly green before gagging. I took a step back and she pushed past me, running into a nearby bathroom.
"You might want to leave… She- Her mood is usually pretty shitty after the finishes kissing the john." Jazz said as he went to grab a dish towel from the drawer next to the sink.
"Shut up, Jasper!" Alice screamed from the bathroom, sounding pitiful.
"Do you want me to get you anything, Ali?" I asked, slowly moving towards the bathroom.
"No thanks… Jasper!?" She threw up loudly into the toilet and I grimaced, ushering the kids toward the door.
"Tell me about it." Edward said with wide eyes, watching Jazz grab some water.
"This pregnancy thing is a bitch-"
"Truer words have never been spoken."
"Oh," I said leaning against the counter and putting a hand underneath my chin. "please tell me about how hard it is to be pregnant, and achy and gross for nine months. You're lives must be so hard." I said pursing my lips.
Jazz gestured to me put up his hands and left the room but not before muttering, "One hormonal crazy is enough…"
Edward and I guided the kids, who had been, surprisingly, quiet in their reunification. They'd exchanged hugs but only a few words. The six of us were packed up and ready to go in record time.
"Were you and Daddy rough housing?" Seth asked looking between us. I winced, realizing we must have looked rough and we were usually able to hold these things back from the kids- keep them in the dark.
"You aren't supposed to hit girls!" Tony screeched from the backseat, hitting Edward's shoulder. Edward brushed his little hand off of his shoulder as Tony continued to scream.
"Hey, Tony, stop. He didn't hit me." I sighed.
"Then why is your face messed up?"
"They were probably play fighting and it went too far." Seth said.
"Aw, when I get married I'm gonna play fight with my boyfriend!" I didn't bother correcting Olivia instead choosing to explain that she shouldn't fight with boys, or let boys hit her.
"But you and Daddy…"
"We weren't play fighting with each other." I said not really wanting to go into detail with the kids. They were all young and didn't really need to hear about us physically fighting with mobsters.
The car was awkwardly silent for a second before Edward patted my thigh, "So, what'd you do with Aunt Alice?" He asked.
"We watched the cowboy movie!" Tony squealed. "And we played juice pong." My mouth dropped open and Edward groaned. "But I still missed you." There was a grunt as he elbowed Seth.
"Me too!" Sethy coughed out.
I turned to Edward and mouthed 'Juice Pong.' "Well… She's your friend." He sighed and I rolled my eyes pulling into our driveway. I turned off the car and immediately hopped out of the car to get the kids out. Tony held out his arms after I undid his belt and even though he was getting to be too big for me to pick up I shrugged anyway.
I pulled Tony into my arms holding him close as I closed the back door. He buried his little fingers in my hair, ducking his head into my neck and I swear there was no better feeling.
"It's good to be home." I whispered in his ear as we walked up to the front door. He nodded and pulled his head from my neck.
"Mommy, why'd you have to send us away? You said you wouldn't!" He said as his bottom lip began to quiver.
"We just wanted you to be safe." I said honestly. He searched my eyes for a second before nodding and turning his attention back to my hair.
"Okay. Can I play Sonic?"
"Isn't that Seth's game?" I asked, knowing how Seth was with the Nintendo DS.
"Yeah, but if you say yes, I can use it and not get in trouble."
"Don't involve me in your drama, child." I bent down and let him hang from my neck, kind of expecting him to let go. "You're hurting my neck, honey. Let go."
"If I let go, you might leave again!" He said his green eyes so sad that I couldn't look at them for long.
"I won't leave." I unlocked his hands from behind my neck and chose to just hold his hand as we walked into the kitchen. "Do you want something to eat?"
"Cereal." I frowned and looked over at the clock.
"It's five o'clock, buddy. Don't you want something- I don't know, more?" Edward walked into the kitchen with Ellie hot on his heels again.
"But I haven't seen Jared in forever!" I rolled my eyes; she would be more worried about getting to her boyfriend than anything else.
"Then one more day won't hurt. He isn't going anywhere." Edward rolled his eyes and patted my ass as he passed me. "Get your child."
"Mommy," Tony snapped his fingers and I almost clapped for him, I didn't know he could snap… "Cereal is my favorite thing you make."
"Okay…" I sighed, not really sure if that was an insult or not. "And Ellie, he's right. Jared can wait one day."
"Can you hand me the milk?" He asked me, "wait, isn't that old?" He turned to look at Tony who was plowing through his cereal, not even noticing the milk.
I frowned, reading the expiration date on the milk I'd just given Tony. It was only a day past so I thought he'd be alright.
"It's fine." I told him, handing over the milk so he could make cereal himself.
"But if he knows I'm back he'll be upset that I didn't see him."
"If he really cared about you that much, he'd come down here." Ellie gasped and I slapped his stomach. He had a point but his delivery was kind of shitty.
"Edward…"
"I'm just saying-" I shot him a look and he sent me back a hesitant smile. "If I missed you I'd find you."
"That's not weird at all." Ellie bit from behind us.
"How is that weird?"
Ellie made claws in front of her and hissed. "I'll find you…" She said in a creepy voice, I lifted an eyebrow and chuckled. It obviously wasn't going to take my family a long time to readjust to the non-kidnapped life.
"Hey… Yolo." The room went silent as the three of us just stopped to stare at Edward, who went about his business like nothing had happened.
"Yolo, let's add that to the list of things you shouldn't say, dad." I nodded silently and poured cereal into the milk before putting the bowl on the table for Tony.
"She wants the d, let's add that to the list of things you shouldn't say, Elizabeth."
"I wasn't trying to be 'hip' though."
"I don't think you understand, Ellie. I don't have to try." He shrugged and pursed his lips. "I've got it like that." Then he brushed imaginary lint off of his shoulder.
And I almost left him.
The fact that he could do all that ridiculous shit and not even bat an eyelash was sad.
"I think you need more sleep." I said patting Edward's arm. He turned to chuckle at me before going to sit with Tony.
"So embarrassing." Ellie groaned, taking Edward's spot next to me.
"Mommy?" Olivia called out.
"I'm in here," She came sliding around the corner soon afterwards.
"What's up? Do you want a sandwich or something?" I asked as it dawned on me that none of us had eaten all day and it was going on five. "Or I could make dinner." I went to the refrigerator only to find it empty. "Good…" Of course we wouldn't have food here; it'd just go to waste seeing as no one would be around.
"McDonald's!" Seth exclaimed, running into the kitchen. Tony and Olivia readily agreed and we jumping up to go ass soon as the word was out of his mouth.
"I don't think so, buddy." Edward said from the table earning a collective awe from the younger ones. "We can get groceries-"
"Or takeout." Ellie suggested, I nodded and pointed at her before snapping.
"I like her idea." I said, Edward stood from the table.
"What do you want?" He asked, grabbing up the keys which I promptly took again.
"I wasn't joking about the driving thing." I said.
"Bella." He rolled his eyes.
"Edward." I lifted an eyebrow.
"Watch out, they look like they're going to kiss." Seth warned, it was my turn to roll my eyes and I hid the keys behind my back.
"I can get it, dear." The doorbell rang and Edward snatched the keys back from me when I turned to get it. The door shot open before I got there and in strode Rosalie and Jared, like they owned the place. Each of them held a number of Tupperware and they headed straight for the kitchen.
"Hi, guys…" I said, watching them walk away from me. They both dropped their containers on the counter and Jared rushed Ellie, hugging her tightly and kissing her cheek to Edward's blatant dismay.
"I'm glad you're alright." Rose said quietly before hugging the life out of me. "What happened? One minute you were there then you weren't… Emmett wouldn't tell me anything." I tensed involuntarily in her arms. So maybe it wouldn't be that easy to get over everything that happened.
"Uh," I let out a breath, freezing on spot. Thankfully Edward stepped up and caught Rose's attention. They hugged for a second and he told her that he'd explain everything later.
"Okay," She nodded before leading us back into the kitchen where all the kids sat around the table acting surprisingly G-rated. "Well we brought food because we figured… You need to eat… so, yeah."
"Thanks, Rose." She saved us an argument; I rolled my eyes at the thought and watched Edward toss the keys on the counter.
"No problem." She said between the kisses she laid on the kids heads. I pulled plates down from the cabinet for the food and had begun to plate it when Edward stepped up next to me, leaning an arm against the counter.
"Hey, are you okay?" He asked, his bright eyes glinting with worry. I just nodded and his eyebrows knitted. "What happened out there?"
"I panicked." I shrugged it off and moved two of the plates to the table, setting them in front of the girls before I made my way back to the counter where Edward still stood.
"You panicked?" I nodded once again and scooped some more mashed potatoes onto a plate. He smirked from the corner of my eye and I scowled.
"It's not funny." I whined.
"I know, honey. That's why I'm not laughing. We'll talk later if you want." He took the plate that was in front of me and took it to Seth before resuming his position.
"I really don't want to… I just-" Olivia called me and asked for a glass of water. Edward beat me to the little mundane task, moving around me quickly. I fixed the two of us plates and after serving O, Edward brought in chairs for himself, Rose and me. Rose came and batted my hands away once she realized I was about to make her and Jared plates, telling me they'd already eaten.
"Oh, I forgot to tell you," She started as she and Edward sat on either sides of me. "Jasper and Alice registered the boys for school after you guys-" She caught herself and I lifted an eyebrow. "you know."
"You guys have been in school?" Edward asked them, their heads bobbed simultaneously. "How is it going?" The boys started eagerly talking and I nudged Rose with my elbow.
"They figured that the guys wouldn't come looking for kids they didn't know about, after the mob guy got you. Jazz had Alice hack into some online registration thing and sign them up. It's weird how much she knows about you… You should probably change a few of your passwords and your debit card pin number."
"Why did she have to use my card?" I asked widening my eyes. Alice and I were close but not share passwords and Pin numbers close.
"Clothes and other stuff for the boys." I shrugged, as long as it was a valid reason, I didn't really care. "She enrolled them in a private school, but tuition is free due to some scholarship I think she hacked."
"I have to remember to thank her, well for taking care of them… Not for fucking over an elementary school." She nodded and stole a piece of lettuce off of my plate.
"She did a pretty good job with them for being Alice."
"I agree." Edward snickered from my side before turning his attention back to the boys. I did as well, eager to hear about the new school. Rose and Jared stayed for a couple of hours, talking and helping us get the past few days off of our minds. They left though when the twins started to get cranky, a sure sign that they were tired. Edward and I walked them out before returning back to the house to put the kids down.
"Mommy?"
"Hmm?" I hummed, tucking the blankets around her.
"If I get scared, can I come sleep with you?" She whispered, her green eyes blinking sleepily.
"Of course."
"Kay, Cindy let me sleep with Ellie after she fell asleep and the other place. Cause I keep getting scared."
"Well you're safe now honey, don't be scared." I sat next to her on the bed and leaned over, placing a kiss on her forehead. "I love you so much, Olivia."
"I love you too, Mommy." She said, lifting her arms to hug my neck. There was a knock on the door and I turned to see Edward peeking in.
"May I come in?"
"Of course you can, Silly." She giggled and I stood, offering Edward my place.
He wrapped and arm around my waist as I headed towards the door pulling me into a hug. "Ellie and Seth are up here too." I nodded into his chest and lifted my head to kiss his neck.
"I'll see you in a few minutes." I whispered before leaving the room and heading for Seth. He sat up in bed reading as the radio played next to him.
"You didn't have to go to bed, because the twins did, buddy." I said smiling as I scooted up next to him on the bed.
"Eh, Ellie wanted to go to sleep and I didn't want to stay downstairs by myself." I nodded and hugged him.
"Well Daddy and I are going to bed soon so come get us if you need us. But I'll check back in at eight thirty okay?" He nodded and turned his attention back to his book. I dragged myself off of the bed and with every step I took to get to Ellie's room the more tired I felt. Luckily she was asleep so I just kissed her forehead and turned out her light before going into my own room.
A freshly showered Edward sat up in bed, with his laptop on his lap, looking concerned. "What's wrong?"
"Charlie just sent us an email. He just let us know what was going on at the house." He checked the clock on the nightstand, "He's still there. But he's promoted us."
My mouth dropped open, "Promoted? How the hell does getting kidnapped earn a promotion?" He shrugged, looking just as confused as I was.
"I have no clue. He's got you working some… desk job. I don't even know what the hell that is." He turned the computer and pointed at the email, showing me what my new job entailed. I lifted my eyebrows, realizing that this was Charlie's way of watching out for us.
"Hmm." I hummed and shut the laptop, putting it on my nightstand. "I'll talk to him tomorrow if you want me to."
"I mean, I can talk to him… I just don't want some random promotion because he's worried about us. That's kind of shitting on everyone else. Don't get me wrong, it's nice of him but…" He sighed and I shrugged.
"I know. Let's just worry about that tomorrow though, hmm?" I stood and went to grab some pajamas and headed into the bathroom and jumped into the shower. I quickly bathed and rinsed off, eager to get to sleep. After dressing and gawking at my jacked face in the mirror I headed into the bedroom.
"Did you know I looked this bad?" I gasped at Edward who was lying beneath the covers. He lifted himself up onto his forearms and looked at me.
"You don't look bad. A little bruised but not bad." I pouted, touching my swollen cheek and he just opened his arms.
"Come 'ere, baby." He curled his fingers towards himself and I turned out the lights before going to him. I laid next to him and slung and arm over his side, hugging him. I pressed my face into his neck, reveling in the warm scruffiness there.
"Well look on the bright side." He said, running his fingers through my hair. "I think you're beautiful always."
"D'aww…" I mumbled into his neck before tipping my head up and kissing his jaw. "And we don't have to run. Or ship off the kids, or disappear again." He whispered in my ear. I snuggled in closer to his chest and kissed the fabric there. I smiled wistfully at the thought of not having to continue looking over my shoulder, and worrying for my family's life on a daily basis.
We might even be able to be slightly normal.
Okay, we'll never be normal… You should probably know that by now…
But what's the fun in being normal?
…BBC…
And that's all I wrote folks!
Okay, there's still an epilogue coming but that is the last chapter-chapter…
*Tear*
I hope you don't think it sucked!
Yeah…
Well I guess I could thank people now, so… Thank you to all of my wonderful reviewers who are just… Amazing in every way. Thanks to Klutz who started this with me and then moved many miles away from me :P
And thanks to all you readers out there, you light up my world like nobody else.
Wow two ill-fitting One Direction references in one chapter?!
I need a life…
I don't know if I should tease for the epi or not, but if you would like a teaser, by all means, say so. I'd be happy to send one :D
Review :DDD
