Chapter Thirty Four
Charlotte
I guess I should have known what Peter's reaction would be to finding two of the despised Cullen family standing in his hall but what could I do? When I opened the door and found two strangers standing there I was surprised but nowhere near as much as when they introduced themselves as Carlisle and Esme Cullen. It had been an automatic reaction to invite them in and out of the falling snow especially as my husband was involved with Darius in the study.
I thought I knew why they were here. They would know about our connection with the Major through Alice who had visited with him a couple of times. I guessed they had somehow heard what had happened to Edward and had come looking for answers.
Unfortunately, before I could discover what they wanted and possibly usher them back outside Peter chose this moment to come out of the study.
He had gone nuts when he discovered the identity of our mystery guests and I could see a confrontation building. Peter had never been the most diplomatic of people and couldn't stand fools. Unfortunately, he considered Carlisle one of the biggest fools on the planet and had no compunction about telling him as much.
Carlisle broke in to halt Peter's flow of oaths.
"All I want to know is what happened to Edward."
"And you automatically thought of the Major and me when you lost your little boy?"
"It's not like that. Alice told us that Jasper had been in touch with Bella and we thought one of them would know what happened. I haven't come for a fight, Mr Whitlock. I just wanted to know if Bella was here and I can tell she is or at least was. Please ask her if she would speak to us."
"I don't like fucking vermin in my house and I certainly ain't gonna let you badger an honored guest so I suggest you get the fuck outta here right now. Before I throw your sorry ass out into the fucking snow."
It was at this moment that the Major and Bella returned much to my relief and took the Cullens outside while I made Peter stay inside and keep his nose out.
"The Major will sort it out, Peter. You need to calm down or you'll wake Megan. Do you want the Cullens to meet her?"
That shut him up, like everyone she came into contact with Megan had stolen his heart and he would protect her first and foremost. Besides, we could hear perfectly well what was being said on the porch and Bella was certainly holding her own with the Majors' support.
With a grunt of approval, Peter went back to Darius and I was able to relax once more. I had been certain he would make good on his threat if Bella hadn't appeared and much as I too disliked the Cullens I would have hated to see Carlisle tossed out on his ass on New Year's Eve. I looked at my watch, God it was three minutes to midnight. If Bella and the Major didn't come in soon they would miss the fireworks on TV.
As I thought that I heard the padding of little feet on the stairs and turned to see Megan creeping into the lounge. As she saw me she smiled a little sleepily and came over for me to pick her up.
"What's the matter little one? Did you have a bad dream?"
She shook her head, "I heard Uncle Peter say there would be fireworks at midnight and I didn't want to miss them so I told myself to wake up just before. Where is everyone? Aren't mommy and daddy going to watch the fireworks?"
The door opened as she spoke and Bella and the Major reappeared. I put Megan down and she ran over to them trying to hug both at the same time while I hurried to turn on the TV.
"Hurry, they're going to start any second."
Everyone appeared at once and sat crushed together on the couch or in Peter and Darius case, on the floor at our feet as the countdown began. Megan squealed with delight at all the beautiful fireworks and the ball dropping down in Times Square but that wasn't all.
After the fireworks were over Peter led us all outside to where he and Darius had set up a display of their own. Megan saw her name in lights of all different colored fireworks and then rockets that burst into a myriad of starbursts in the sky. It was impressive if I say so myself and the picture I saw of the three, the Major, Bella, and Megan standing together, Meg in his arms and her little hand on her mom's shoulder was one I will never forget.
"Happy New Year."
We greeted each other with the customary words and then Darius and Peter lifted up several Chinese lanterns.
"Here Megan. You have to light the wick and then make a wish as you let it go. Your wish will float up high and hopefully, it will come true. Ready?"
Megan nodded, eyes bright with excitement, and helped by Bella she lit the wick then took hold of the lantern and stretching up on tiptoes she let go watching as it flew higher and higher until it was a tiny dot of brightness among the stars.
Each one of us did the same and looking at the glances Bella and the Major exchanged I could imagine what their wishes were for. At last, after more than a century of being alone, I ignored his time with Alice which didn't count in my eyes, the Major had finally found his true mate. All he needed to do now was to acknowledge it and it looked like that was finally happening.
Back inside Megan begged to be allowed to stay up a little longer and no one had the heart to send her back to bed but Peter and Darius announced they had yet another surprise. This usually made me extremely nervous, Peter's surprises were not always the type you enjoyed but with Darius involved just maybe this time would be different.
Peter glanced at Darius who gestured for him to continue,
"Right, my friend and I have been extremely busy, apart from sorting out…"
I gestured to Megan and he stopped,
"Yes, well, we thought as we hadn't discovered that we had a niece in time to really give her a proper Christmas present we should find something special. Now Megan, what would you really like?"
Megan thought about this for a moment.
"A house we can live in forever with a big bedroom for me. One with lots of room for all my toys and books. I got my other wish, a mommy as well as my poppa.."
She hesitated then beamed at the Major, "No, not poppa, daddy."
I glanced at Bella pleased to see her nodding then at our old friend. The expression was one I had never seen on his face before, utter contentment and pleasure.
"OK. Now in order to fulfil our niece's wish we have to grant another.. God I'm loving this."
"Just get on with it, Peter."
My husband scowled at Darius' interruption but cut off his usual foul-mouthed reply which impressed me, then continued.
"Major. You may not know what the f... Heck is going on but we do. Anyone with eyes and a single brain cell could work it out. For Megan to have a room of her own she needs two parents with a place of their own. I know you did what you needed to but now things are more sorted we thought you might like this as a combined birthday, Christmas, New Year present, or call it what you will."
He drew out a thick document with a flourish and handed it to Bella.
"Welcome to the Whitlock family, Bella. Welcome, Megan."
Bella unfolded the document, glanced at it, and then put a hand to her mouth with a gasp of shock or delight.
She handed it to the Major and he frowned then glanced at Megan.
"And before you open your big mouth Major, don't. Just shut the f..don't say anything except thank you. Of course, if you don't like it we can.."
"No. No, it's perfect. Thank you so much."
As Bella hugged Peter, the Major handed the picture affixed to the document to Megan.
She stared at it then looked up, eyes wide with wonder.
"Is this ours?"
I knelt down beside her and looked at the picture. It showed a smaller version of our house with a swing in the garden and a small orchard with a treehouse.
"Yes, I guess it is. Do you like it?"
She nodded then turned to the next picture which showed a bedroom designed especially for a little girl. A princess bed with a lace canopy, cream coloured furniture and pretty drapes. There was a bookcase full of books and a huge toy chest with a large brown teddy complete with a pink bow around its neck seated atop it.
I looked up at Peter startled, it wasn't like him to make beautiful gestures like this but then he'd never bothered with children before yet I could see he was fond of Megan after only a few hours of her company.
Darius hadn't said a word but then he was very reserved and quiet. Thinking about it, I don't think I had ever known him to hang around so long or be so interactive. It was nothing short of a minor miracle.
After hugging Peter, Megan turned her attention to Darius and to my amazement he even picked her up and hugged her.
Bella and the Major were hugging too. They made a pretty picture and I was sure there would be the sound of wedding bells in the not too distant future.
Returning my attention to Darius and Megan I saw she was speaking to him and he, in turn, looked at her intensely, tension in every muscle. What the heck could she be saying that would cause such a reaction in him? Darius was the poster boy for cool. He was unflappable or always had been up to now. But whatever Megan had sad to him had affected him so much he couldn't hide it.
Half an hour later the little one was in bed having fallen asleep on the Major's lap. I waited until Bella and he had taken her up to bed and Peter had gone out to check on the horses to approach our friend.
"Are you OK, Darius? You look kinda stunned for a while there. Do you want to talk about it?"
At first, I thought he was going to refuse but instead, after some hesitation, he nodded.
"Megan really is something else. Her gifts are powerful so I suggest we warn everyone who knows her to keep very quiet or Bella and the Major are going to find scumbags looking for her."
"You mean the Volturi?"
"Maybe, or maybe the Romanians if they think she could be used against the Volturi."
"What did she say to you?"
He shook his head and looked out the window.
"She knew all about Sara and that the Volturi were responsible for her death. She offered to lure Caius out so I could get even. Can you believe that? She wanted to pay me back for all Peter and I have done for her and her parents."
I was shocked, "What did you say?"
He frowned, "What the fuck do you think I said? Do you really think I would put her in danger? I mean I hate that man with a vengeance but not enough to risk her safety. Don't say anything to the Major, will you? I don't think he or Bella need any more grief right now."
Bella
I couldn't believe how much my life had changed in a few short days. I had found my baby survived, that the man who had saved her had gone on to become a father to her and that he loved me. Now we had a new home, a gift I could hardly believe possible and a new family.
Unfortunately thinking of family reminded me of my words to Carlisle and Esme earlier. I had been brutal and cold to them even though they had done no more than Jasper in backing Edward when he wanted me to terminate the pregnancy. Maybe if they had come back first they would have done just as Jasper had and take pity on my daughter.
Jasper put his arm around me as I stood watching Megan sleep.
"What's wrong, Bella? Is something bothering you?"
I sighed heavily and told him about my thoughts.
"I understand why you were so upset. I think I got off really lightly. I guess it depends on how much you want them to be a part of Megan's life. They are her grandparents after all and they've now lost their son. It sounds like they refused to help him so maybe you should think about speaking to them again but it's your choice and I'll stand by whatever decision you make."
I didn't deserve such a man in my life and I leaned into his embrace feeling safe and calm.
"I guess I should try calling them before they get too far. Do you think Peter will ease up on them if I invite them back?"
He laughed, "No way. Peter hates the Cullens. He has this chip on his shoulder and thinks they look down on him. I guess because of the way Alice acted when we visited. To say that she and Peter did not get along would be a monumental understatement. We could arrange to meet them in the morning, somewhere close by. Or we could wait until we move into our new house."
"How long will that be? I shouldn't leave it too long. They must be devastated."
"Well, let's find out. What will you tell Megan?"
"That although she was scared of her real father she doesn't need to be scared of her grandparents."
He nodded, "You know something? I think she'll be thrilled to know she's got more family. It's the one thing she always missed and it wasn't my place to introduce her to anyone. Now she has so many she'll be spoilt rotten."
"OK. We'll check with Peter and Darius in a little while. Do you think they'd miss us for a few minutes?"
I shrugged, "No. I don't think so. Why?"
I pulled him out of Megan's room and into the one I had been told was his.
"I'd like to start the New Year the right way."
I wrapped my arms around him and we kissed, our first real kiss as a couple and although I knew both of us wanted to take it a step further, now was not the time or the place. Instead, we settled for a few minutes alone lost in each other's embrace. Everything else forgotten for just a little while.