Chapter 45 - distracting brioche w creme fraiche
A/N: SM owns Twilight. I own my insecurities and a small fluffy Shih Tzu. Love and kissed to my readers and reviewers. See you on the other side...
"No, no, no, no, Bella and Edward's wedding should be there own. I want our wedding to be simple but I want it to be about my Rosie and me. I'm sure you feel the same don't you Ed?"
Damn straight. I wanted my wedding day to just be about Bella and me. I am only doing this once and I want it to be all about us. I looked over to the three co-conspirators and realised I needed to put my foot down.
"Isabella. When we are in that church promising ourselves to each other for eternity you will be the only bride in the room and I will be the only groom." I cocked a brow at her as if to say 'I'm serious woman', she blushed a little and grinned back at me.
"Yes baby, you're right. Besides, Rose is my maid of honour and she's looking after the bakery while we're on our honeymoon."
"Oh God, that's right. And Emmy you're acting CEO of CMV while Ed is away. I don't want to get married and then go straight back to work. I want to go on a honeymoon."
Em chuckled and kissed her nose, they were back in their love bubble so we left them to it.
"Two weddings!" Lil Bit clapped her hands bouncing in her chair. We all laughed at her enthusiasm but I realised again how sharp our little three year old was, she didn't miss a thing.
"And you will be flower girl at both weddings Lil Bit," Rosalie reached over a gave Elizabeth a huge hug.
"And you will be ring bearer at both Little Man!" Emmet held his fist out to Ant, who looked up at me, I nodded to him to go ahead and fist bump his uncle, which he did with a huge smile on his face.
"So when will you get married then?" Esme had her calendar pulled up on her iPad, slipping straight into event co-ordinator mode.
"How about four weeks after Ed and Belly get back?" Rose asked.
"Hey Rosie, let's get married in Vegas, we can all fly there together! It'll only be family and a few special friends. We can stay the weekend and then go to Maui for our honeymoon. I'd love to spend two weeks with you in the sun and surf."
"Perfect Emmy, that sounds just perfect," Rosalie beamed and looked so happy.
Alice jumped in, "Now don't you two worry about a thing, since Ma is heading to Paris for the next two weeks, I'll look after planning your wedding. It'll be fun," she bounced and clapped her hands just like Lil Bit had done a few minutes before. Jasper leaned over and whispered something to her which seemed to melt her into him. It was something to see, my hyperactive sister slow and melt like that. Jasper definitely had things under control over there. Huh, interesting, Emmett and I could never calm Alley down ... ever!
I leaned down to Anthony and whispered in his ear, "Welcome to our crazy, loving family." I kissed the top of his head and passed him another croissant which he took eagerly.
"Esme? I was thinking," Bella was about to have another brilliant idea. My sweet one always got a special twinkle in her eye when she came up with something brilliant.
"Since both couples are having small weddings, only inviting family and close number of friends, I was thinking that we could invite everyone who we won't be at our weddings to the fundraising 'Wedding Party'. That way we get to celebrate with everyone, raise money for charity and still get the private weddings we both want, what do you think?"
"Bella that is brilliant. I felt so guilty at not inviting all my friends to my sons' weddings and now I can. We can schedule the 'Wedding Party' for a fortnight after Rose and Emmett get back from Hawaii which will give Alice, Zafrina and I enough time to promote the function and get more sponsors on board."
"Ma, that's perfect. Zafrina is on her way over with Vicky and Garrett, we can talk about it when they get here. What charity are we raising money for anyway?" Alice looked to everyone.
"Well, I vote to help Leah start an after-school homework tutoring club for homeless kids. Leah is so passionate about it and has given me some amazing research on the subject," Bella looked to me.
"Well that sounds great but I'd vote for the paramedics," I whispered the rest so the children wouldn't hear, "after you were mugged in the Park, Mike and his crew took such good care of you."
"You already gave them a very generous donation baby," Bella smiled as she patted my hand.
"I know but their funding really isn't what it should be." I said thinking I really needed to make an annual gift to those guys.
"I vote for the women's shelter," Rose whispered.
"Me too," Emmett pulled Rose in for a hug.
"I say we let people choose when they buy their tickets," Esme always the voice of reason, "we can let them know the choices and they can just tick the box of the charity they want to support."
Everyone nodded.
"Can I choose a charity too, daddy?" I turned to look down at Anthony.
"Of course son, what charity would you like to support?"
"Is there one where they pay for art classes for kids who can't afford it?" He looked to me with such a serious look on his face, I was so proud of him.
"I don't know son, but if there isn't, we can start one. We can talk to our friends Reverend Jacob and his wife Leah, you remember them don't you? Seth's mom and dad?" He nodded to me. "Well they offer lots of programs to families who need a helping hand. Would you like to talk to him about it?" I was so proud of him for thinking of other kids.
He nodded and smiled at Carol.
"Anthony had a friend at play group who wanted to have classes but his parents told him they couldn't afford it," Carol explained.
Anthony looked back to me, "Paulie was always sad about it."
Bella came over and gave Anthony a huge hug, "I think you are a wonderful young man Anthony and I am so proud of you."
I was stunned. My Anthony was such a mature little guy. Everyone was quiet for a moment but then Carlisle broke the silence, "Well I think my grandson has a great idea. That charity will get my vote too."
"Mine too," Bob agreed.
"Thank you Poppa, thank you grandpa," Anthony smiled at them while still wrapped in Bella's arms. She kissed the top of his head, stood to move back to the kitchen scruffing my hair teasingly as she passed me.
"Ant Knee, will oo colour wif me pwease," Lil Bit was wriggling to get out of her booster seat.
I unstrapped her and lifted her out of her booster seat and placed her on the floor. She took Anthony's hand and they headed down the hallway chirping away to each other as though they did this everyday. Every adult in the room watched them and there was a silence for a few moments after they left.
Jasper laughed and declared in his strong southern accent, "Well you'd think they'd lived together all their lives, wouldn't you? They are just two sweet peas in a pod." We all chuckled and Alice kissed his cheek.
The conversation picked up again and I tried to stay at the table with the adults but I wanted to spend time with Anthony and Elizabeth. My eyes met Bella's and I gave her a 'let's get out of here' look. She understood and responded immediately, walking out of the kitchen she placed a fresh brioche on the table with a tub of creme fraiche which distracted the masses perfectly. I stood, grabbed her hand and we almost ran down the hall hand in hand to find our babies, giggling as we escaped from the family madness.
We got to the door way leading to the family room and immediately stood to the side out of view to listen to Lil Bit chirping at Anthony.
"Dat's ded poppa and ded nonna."
Bella threw her hand over her mouth as she gasped hearing Lil Bit words.
"Who is Dead Poppa Elizabeth?"
"Momma's daddee and momma. They iz ded. Momma cwies sad tears when she wooks at de pic-chas."
"Oh, that's very sad for Momma."
"Wes."
They were sitting on a couch together looking through a photo album which had been on the bottom shelf. After reading and singing Lil Bit to sleep one night I came out and found Bella sitting there going through the album with quiet tears dropping down her cheeks. I sat with her and she told me all about them. Lil Bit mustn't have been asleep after all.
"Who is this man in the baseball clothes, Elizabeth?"
"Dats my ded daddee."
Fuck. She didn't miss a thing. I hugged Bella to me. "She knows love," I whispered to her.
Bella just nodded slowly.
"Let's go and talk with them sweet one."
She wiped the tears from her cheeks, kissed me softly on the lips and nodded. We walked hand in hand into the room and sat together on the couch opposite our beautiful babies.
"Hello you two," I smiled at them.
"Hi Daddy," Anthony looked up to us, "Elizabeth was showing me your family photos momma. I am sorry that your parents died. That must've made you very sad."
Bella swallowed and I could see she was eying Lil Bit warily, clearly wondering how she was handling this information. She gave a small smile to Ant, "Thanks sweetheart. Yes I was very sad when my daddy died. He was a very good man. He was a police man, y'know."
Ant seemed excited to hear this, "A police man ... wow... and Elizabeth's daddy played baseball?"
Lil Bit looked up at Anthony with her head tilted to one side in the cutest fucking way, "Not my daddy Ant Knee, Ed-wed is my daddy." She pointed to the picture of Phil in the album, "Dat iz my ded daddee. Ed-wed is my live daddy." She climbed down and toddled over to me. I opened my arms up and snatched her up into arms chuckling, "Yes little love, I am your live daddy and I love you very, very much."
Bella laughed clearly relieved to realise that Lil Bit had her own way of understanding about Phil and about me, and that she was okay about it all. For now at least. She went over and sat with Ant. "We'll have to add to this album Anthony with photos of you, Bob, Carol and... " She looked nervously at me as she realised she nearly mentioned Kate.
Anthony finished the sentence for her, "... and Kate."
Bella put her arms around him, "Yes. You, Bob, Carol and Kate."
"Whoo Kate Ant Knee?"
He pushed his hand through his hair, just the way I did when I was stressed, "umm... well, Kate is my ... birth momma."
Bella smiled at him and hugged him even tighter.
He looked up at Bella, "... and you're my... well... you're my every day momma."
Bella laughed and kissed his head, "Yes sweetheart, I am your momma every day now and forever."
At those words Anthony let out a small sob of relief I think really, he wrapped his arms around my sweet one and hugged her like his life depended on it.
"Okay," I announced, "enough with the heavy. Let's play a game. Who wants to play hide and seek?"
We spent the rest of the morning, playing games, making a mess and laughing, just the four of us. I had never been happier.
When we made our way back to the kitchen for lunch we found Mrs Cope bustling in the kitchen preparing lunch with Esme and Carol. Alice was at the kitchen table chatting with Zafrina, Vicky and Rosalie talking about wedding plans for our wedding and for Rose and Emmett's.
Bella and the kids ran to the table and were immediately wrapped up in hugs from the women there. Vicky hugged the hell out of Anthony, "Hello you little heartbreaker, you are going to be a very popular boy with the girls, so damned handsome. Just like your dad." Anthony laughed.
I rolled my eyes at Vicky and leant down to place a soft kiss on Bella's cheek, "I'm just going to find the men."
I wondered from room to room searching for the menfolk from our crazy clan. Finally I found them in the office sprawled around the couches. "Why are you guys all hiding in here? Hey Garrett, good to see you man!" I reached over and gave him a man hug.
"Good to see you too Ed. I brought Vic over, she wanted to, and I quote 'smother Rose in kisses and kick Emmett's arse'" He chuckled.
"That could only be Vicky. So is that why you guys are in here? Are you hiding from an arse kicking from Vic?"
"Actually 'Mr I'm getting married in two days', we were talking about your bucks night."
What the fuck? "What bucks night? I'm not going on a bucks night?"
Emmett grabbed me and threw me over his shoulder, "C'mon men I have him, let's go."
"Emmett, put me down you fucker."
"Nope, you are my brother and my best friend. You're getting married on Friday and I am your best man. So I am taking you out for a bucks night!"
The door to the office opened and all the women were standing there laughing.
Emmett stopped next to Isabella. I looked at her upside down, "Bella! Sweet One! They're abducting me."
"I know baby. I know all about it. Don't worry they've promised to return you in one piece." She placed a sweet kiss on my lips.
"Is Anthony coming with us?"
"I am here daddy," he laughed.
"Okay then. Do your worst guys, but my son and I are coming home to our girls later and we better be in one piece, isn't that right Ant?"
He laughed, "That's right Daddy. Bye momma, bye Elizabeth." He kissed Bella and Lil Bit who was clapping her hands and bouncing at the sight of her Daddy upside thrown over the shoulder of my giant of a brother who followed the cave men out the front door.
"Emmett, put me down, I am going willingly you don't have to carry me."
"No can do bro', not til we get to the car. Can't risk you trying to escape back to your woman!"
Fucker!
A/N: Bucks night! well I could've gone on but I've kept you waiting long enough - sorry sometimes having a really busy day job is so inconvenient...! So I thought you'd want to get a shorter chapter sooner rather than a longer chapter later... I'd love to hear your thoughts. Congrats to all the writer, reviewers and artists who've been nominated in the Fanfiction awards be sure you vote for these amazingly talented people who share their gifts with us so generously .nl/p/voting_
Love you guys, see you as soon as possible for some bucks night and hens night fun!
