As always, none of this is mine. This belongs to Stephenie Meyer. I just like to dabble in the playground she created.

Next chapter will be a continuation of the citrus and then, wrapping up some loose ends before they make their way across the country to open up the West Coast Division of the Cullen Consortium.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Bella

"For now, I want to focus on moving past the drama and rebuilding our intimacy, our relationship," I murmured, looking at my husband.

"We're fine," Edward said, giving me a sad half-grin.

"Are we? Edward, I know you're afraid to touch me," I sighed.

"I'm touching you now," he argued, tightening his hold on me, nuzzling my neck.

"You know what I mean," I muttered. "Edward, I know that I went through a few weeks where I felt dirty, unworthy, lost, ruined … I know that what happened to me was not my fault. It was my mother's, Ricardo's. I was a victim. No … not a victim … a survivor. I want to have those touches erased. By you. I want to try, baby."

"You've been calling me 'baby' a lot lately," Edward said, his lips pressed to my temple.

"You're not the other thing anymore," I shrugged. I couldn't say the other word. Not anymore.

"I'm not what?" he pressed. "Bella, you have to be able to say it, cara. I'll erase those touches, but you have to say … that I'm no longer Mobward. Not anymore." He tightened his hold on me. I could feel his body tremble. "You should hate me, Bella. It was because of me that you were put in that position in the first place. I will forever apologize for what happened to you. I hate me."

I turned and looked at him. "It wasn't your fault. It was my psychotic mother's fault," I breathed. I put my hands on his face, forcing him to look at me. "I love you. I will always love you. I couldn't hate you, even if I tried. Believe me, I tried. Especially after you threw me that indecent proposal four years ago. Despite of what you told me; I was drawn to you. Maybe, you need to talk to my therapist? She's worked wonders with me."

"Bella," Edward sighed. "She has worked wonders, but there are still things that you're struggling with."

I stared into his evergreen eyes, seeing the trepidation, fear, uncertainty, but most importantly, love. "You're no longer my Mobward. You're my Edward and you'll always be my Edward. The one thing that is constant is that I adore you. Even when I hated you, I adored you. You're the only one who I feel safe with, Edward." I moved so I was straddling his hips and pressed against his body. "Remind me who I belong to, baby. I need to feel you and only you."

"Cara," he moaned, staring into my eyes.

"Please?" I whispered, my lips barely touching his. "Make love to me?"

He cupped my face, caressing my cheeks and sliding his hands down my body. My fingers tangled into his hair as he pulled me even closer against his muscular body. "I've missed you, cara. And I belong to you, forever and always, Bella. Show me?"

I nodded, kissing him deeply as he picked me up from the chaise lounge and carrying me to our bedroom.

Edward

I put Bella down onto the bed and stared at her. "I didn't think this through," I chuckled.

"You're not … Edward?" she frowned.

"Give me five minutes to put out the fire pit, start the dishwasher and check on our offspring," I said, shrugging sheepishly. "This was so much easier when we were not encumbered with the necessities of adulthood."

"True," Bella smirked. "Besides, it'll give me a chance to freshen up. Go, deal with the realities of being an adult."

I kissed her deeply, sliding my tongue between her lips and tasting her essence, her sweetness. She moaned, gripping my shirt and trying to keep me in our bedroom. I pulled back, panting heavily. "Five minutes. I promise, cara," I growled. She nodded, watching me as I turned to deal with the cleanup from the evening.

I reluctantly left our bedroom and dealt with the firepit. When I was done with that, I armed security system and started the dishwasher, putting our wine glasses inside. My last stop was to check on Charlie. He asleep in his crib, his little butt sticking up. I snorted, pushing his bottom down and settling him on the mattress. Covering him with a blanket, I left the nursery and walked to my bedroom.

Inside, the lights were dimmed, with candles lit all around our room, bathing the room in soft, incandescent light. Bella was seated on our bed, wearing a simple navy blue nightie. I could see the outline of her bare breasts and I salivated at being able to touch her once again. Her hair tumbled down over shoulders in loose curls. "Everything's taken care of," I said. Bella looked up at me and her eyes were glazed over, with a touch a fear lingering behind her espresso eyes. "Bella?"

"I'm ugly," she sniffled, covering the scars on her right arm. They were fading on her pale skin, but they did mar her skin, a cruel reminder of the torture she'd endured. "I was proud of how I looked, but now? I'm covered in …"

"Stop it," I said. "You are gorgeous, inside and out, Bella." I held out my hand. She looked at it blandly. "Take my hand, cara. Come with me, please?"

She sighed, placing her left hand into mine. I helped her off the bed and stood her in front of the full-sized mirror in our bedroom. I stood behind her, my hands on her hips. She was looking at her toes, not at her reflection. "Bella, look at yourself. Please?" She blinked up, wrinkling her nose as she tried to hide her arms. I stopped her hands, threading my fingers with hers and holding her in my arms. "What do you see?"

"A hot mess," she grumbled, frowning deeply.

"Bella," I frowned. "You are not a hot mess. You're healing. When we found you, that was a hot mess. The whole situation was a clusterfuck of epic proportions thanks to Renee and her connection to Ricardo. Now? I don't see that. I never did and I never will, cara."

"I still do," she shrugged. "I still see these scars. I still feel his hands. I want to try. I need to try. I want to forget … I need you, but when I changed into this nightie … it all came crashing down."

"Let me tell you what I see," I said, gently moving her hair over her shoulders. "I see a strong, beautiful woman with alabaster skin, that is creamy and so soft to the touch; rose-petal lips I can't stop kissing and hair the color of mahogany, flowing down in soft chocolate waves. She's been hurt, but she's healing." I slid my hands down her arms, directly over her scars. Bella shivered. I moved my hand under hers and weaved my fingers with hers. I gently moved her arms so they were raised up as I glided my hands down her waist. "She's slender, but sexy with the perfect amount of curves."

"Edward …" she whispered, her eyes fluttering shut.

"Keep watching, Bella," I commanded gently moving my hands up her ribcage to her the curve of her breasts. Her nipples were pebbled underneath the navy blue satin. "She's sexy without even trying, an effortless beauty. With a sigh, a laugh, a whimper, an admonishment, she turns me on." Bella giggled. I kissed her neck and she bent her head, her giggles stopping and being replaced with a breathy moan. "May I touch you? Your skin?"

She nodded, arching her back. I lowered her arms, teasing my fingertips along her collarbone before inching the straps of the nightie off her shoulders. "Keep watching, Bella. Watch my hands as they show you how fucking desirable you are to me." I slid the straps completely down and the bodice of the nightie fell away. "What do you see?"

"A woman who needs her husband," she breathed, easing her arms out of the straps. Her body was glistening with a light sheen of perspiration. Her nipples were standing at attention, begging for my fingers. She was breathing deeply, trying to maintain control.

"Put my hands where you want me," I said, sucking on her earlobe. She whimpered, taking my hands and placing them on her flat belly. I ran my palms over her warm skin as she watched us in front of the mirror. Her hands rested on top of mine, guiding me to cup her breasts.

"Hmmmm," she moaned, her eyes rolling back in her head. "More … Edward. I want to feel only you. Take off your shirt."

I pulled my hands away and removed my dress shirt, along with my jeans. I was behind her in a pair of boxer briefs, with a very large erection. She went to turn around. "Not yet, cara," I purred. "We're not done yet." I turned Bella back to face the mirror. I ran my fingers along her belly, just above where the nightie had pooled around her waist. Along her torso, I could see the faint scars of cigarette burns and scrapes from her ordeal, along with the silvery skin of her stretch marks from having Charlie. They had faded away, thanks to some cream that Dr. Moretti prescribed. I knew that Bella saw them as harsh mementos of her ordeal, but I saw them as proof of her strength. My fingers glided along her shoulders, down her arms and across her belly. "Do you trust me?" She bit her lip, but nodded. "May I take this completely off?"

"Yes."

I gently pushed the navy satin over her hips and revealed her naked body. From my ministrations, I could see that she was aroused. Her pussy lips were swollen and wet, with her arousal spilling onto the tops of her thighs. "What do you see?"

She frowned, looking at her flaws. Her hands moved to her stomach and to her hips. I threaded my fingers with hers, moving her hands over creamy skin, ghosting over her breasts. "Tell me, cara," I whispered against her ear. "I know what I see." I stepped closer to her, pressing my hardness against her ass. "And what I see makes me need you, yearn for you …"

Bella let out a strangled groan, removing her hands from mine. I cupped her breasts, twisting her nipples. I watched her closely as her legs rubbed together, needing more friction. I moved my hands from her breasts, caressing down her midline as I kissed her neck. "Arousal," she answered, her voice breathy, needy. "Desire. Love."

"I agree," I said lowly, lightly gliding my fingers along her belly and around her breasts. "I see a sexually aroused, gorgeous woman. Nothing but beauty before me and I want to fully enjoy what you have to offer. May I touch you?" I pressed my hand above her mound, mindful of her memories and fears. She put her hand on top of mine and nodded as she moved our hands between her legs. I slid my fingers through her wetness and she gasped. "Bella?"

"Don't stop," she said, staring at my fingers as I languidly touched her body.

"Watch as I make you come," I growled, circling her clit.

"I want to see more," she whispered, her eyes trained on where my fingers teased her swollen folds. I smiled against her neck, pulling away and taking the ottoman from closet.

"Foot up, baby," I commanded. "I won't let you fall. You can watch as I coat your pussy with your arousal. Every inch of you will be singing with need, release, ecstasy." She raised her leg and her core was clearly seen in the mirror. I gripped her hip with one hand as I circled her clit. "These are my hands that are loving you, touching you, giving you pleasure. Watch me, Bella."

I kissed her neck, cupping her mound possessively. I was still gentle, but I moved my fingers with a purpose. I traced her outer lips with my fingers, flicking her clit with my middle finger. Bella moaned as she watched my hand touch her, caress her, love her. One of her hands palmed her breasts as I slid two fingers inside of her warmth. "Fuck …" she hissed. "It's been too fucking long, Edward. I missed this, missed you …"

"I want you to see yourself come, dolce," I murmured, curling my fingers inside. She leaned against me, bucking her hips. Her arousal was coating my hand, seeping down my wrist. "This is me. Only me. I will always love you."

"I'm going to come," she panted. Her hips bucked with each thrust of my hand and she wobbled against my chest.

"Let go, cara," I purred. Her knees buckled as the muscles around my fingers clenched tightly. I held her up as she came. Her head was thrown back, leaning against my chest. I gently pulled my fingers from her body. I picked her up and carrying her to the bed. I lay her down on the downy comforter and pile of pillows. I stretched out next to her, idly gliding my fingers over her twitching body. She smiled, stopping my hand. "Bella?"

"It's too much," she whispered. "I'm feeling everything. Each caress is like its own miniature orgasm."

"Do you want to stop?" I asked, moving my hands to her face.

"No," she replied, a slow smile ghosting over her lips. "I just need a few moments." She lay on her side, her fingers gliding along my ribcage. "I think I want another tattoo."

"Anything, dolce," I smiled. "Where?"

"My wrist," she said, nodding. "I don't know what, but something on my wrist."

"We'll get it for you," I murmured. "Would you mind if I get something to coordinate with yours? We survived …"

"And came out stronger in the long run," she finished for me. "Love me, Edward."

xx MOTM:FFF xx

Bella

"Love me, Edward," I begged.

"You're in charge, cara," he said quietly. I kissed him, falling deeper in love with him than before. Our kisses grew deeper. The electric charges that skittered along my body simmered with each kiss. I cupped Edward's ass, pushing his boxer briefs over his hips. He shimmied them off and tossed them onto the floor. My fingers wrapped around his hardness. "Fuck. Feeling your hand … it's so different than mine."

I snorted, pulling back. "What?"

"I've taken one too many cold showers," he groaned, staring at me as I gently pumped his cock. "Bella, I need to be inside you."

I rolled Edward onto his back and I straddled his waist. Our mouths moved languidly as I rocked over him. His cock was hard, trapped between us. We stared into each other's eyes as I raised my body off his. "Talk to me, Edward. I need to hear your voice. Look at me and tell me you love me."

"Oh, Bella, love is too small a word," he said. "You are my everything, my soul, my light. Never in my life have I loved anyone as much as I love and adore you."

I hummed as I sank down over his hardness. "Yes," I panted, allowing every inch of him fill me. He took my face, smiling at me gently. "Edward … I adore you."

"Always, cara," he murmured, kissing me and banding his arms around my waist. I began rolling my body, taking him deeper inside me. Our movements were jerky for a few moments. I needed to get closer to Edward and he was desperate to hold me to him, like I'd disappear. We relaxed and the sensual dance of our lovemaking blossomed. I kissed him, tasting him and reveling in the reconnection of our marriage, rebuilding our lost intimacy.

Edward cupped my head and he shifted his hips, rolling us so I was on my back. He threaded our fingers together as he thrust into me. I could feel my husband, and only my husband. The torturous memories of what happened to me were erased with each caress, each kiss and each swivel of our hips. There were quiet whispers of love, promises of happiness and gasps of pleasure.

"Bella, I'm so close. I need you to come with me," he rasped against my lips. He reached between us, his fingers finding my clit. The combination of his cock inside me and his fingers circling my swollen nub, I exploded. He groaned, spilling his release and coating me. I clung to his shoulders, tears spilling onto my cheeks. "Bella?"

"I'm sorry," I sniffled.

Edward pulled out of me and I cried out from the emptiness. I felt whole complete when I was with him. Now, I felt empty. He gathered me in his arms and wiped my tears away. "Don't apologize, cara," he said softly, calmly. There were tears in his eyes, too. "Being with you was overwhelming. I've missed us, this. I love you. I love us. I hated what happened to you. I hated that it forced us apart." He caressed my cheeks and pressed his lips to mine. "But, never again."

I nodded, snuggling close to Edward's chest. "I've missed this. I'm so glad that they didn't take away us. I mean, compared to what we've done in the past, this was tame."

"This is true," Edward laughed. "Having anal sex on the night of your uncle's wedding? Hottest night of my fucking life. It wasn't about the sex, though. It was sharing something with you that was just for us. Something I'd never done with anyone else. Only you." He smiled at me tenderly. "Come on, love. Let's take a shower and then we can cuddle all night."

"And perhaps, round two? Minus the tears?" I quipped, sniffling again.

"That could be arranged," he said, scooping me up and carrying me to the bathroom.

And we did have round two, in the shower … Round three in the tub and round four in our bed, again.

I was deliciously sore, sated, loved and happy.

xx MOTM:FFF xx

"Only you, Alice, would put your baby into a costume that resembled Sophia from The Golden Girls," I snorted as I buttoned Charlie's flannel.

"Says the woman who's dressing their son as a lumberjack. It is her name, Bella," Alice snickered. "Did you really draw on a beard?"

"It's better than Manny and Joseph's sad attempt," I snickered.

"Hey," Joseph laughed. "The costume that we'd gotten for J.J. was too small. He had a growth spurt. All we had was a pair of khakis and a red polo. I think it was pretty ingenious to dress him up as Jake from State Farm. Work with what you got, you know?"

"You keep telling yourself that," Manny deadpanned, adjusting the crown on Alessandra's braid. She was dressed as Elsa, while her sister was dressed as Anna. "Thank you for letting us come over. I love where we live, but trick or treating in a condo complex is not the same as doing it in a neighborhood."

"Come on, guys," Edward called. "We need to go before all the good candy is taken."

"You realize that the candy is for the kids, Edward," Jasper said.

"Your daughter is six months old. It's not like she can enjoy the candy," Edward snapped good naturedly, sliding on his jacket. "Besides, the sooner we go, the sooner we can come back and drink some of that fall ale that Jimmy dropped off."

All of the men agreed readily and we left the house, making our way through the neighborhood. Charlie, who didn't have a shy bone in his body, dragged his father from house to house and shouted "Trick or treat" as loudly as possible. Sophie was up for a few houses, but eventually fell asleep in her stroller, with J.J. joining her after he got fussy.

A couple of hours later, we arrived back at our house. Alessandra and Carina were set up in the basement, watching some movies. Sophie was down for the count in the pack and play in the nursery, while J.J. and Charlie both crashed in Charlie's room. The candy that had been collected was put into bags so that the parents could check everything out before giving it to our kids. Sophie's candy was divided between Alessandra and Carina since, as Edward put it, a six-month old couldn't really enjoy the candy.

Settling around the fire pit and covered in blankets, we relaxed. "Where are Lauren and Emmett?" Alice asked, nursing her beer. "I thought they were coming over."

"I got a text from Lauren, saying that she wasn't feeling well," I answered. I looked back at Edward, who kissed my temple. Lauren's sickness would miraculously get better in about nine months. However, she was struggling with morning sickness. Or, all-day sickness. The poor thing had to be admitted to the hospital because she was dehydrated. It was still early and they didn't want to announce anything. I knew because I was out with her when she spent two hours puking in the bathroom at Whole Foods. I bought a pregnancy test for her and forced her to pee on the stick.

I was going to be an aunt.

If only Emmett would propose to her … He had the damn ring.

"How are things going with the move?" Manny asked. He was still uneasy with the new, relaxed relationship with us. He still thought of Edward as 'The Boss', but they were becoming closer and I was happy my husband was making new friends.

"We've found a location for the building. We're purchasing a pier," Edward said. "It has a large building that needs a lot of renovation, but it's perfect for what we want. After the first of the year, Bella and I are going to fly out to make decisions for the renovation and start looking for homes."

"Well, I've been offered a position as the head of the trauma department at Harborview Medical Center," Alice beamed. "My contract will start on January second. We've already found a home and will be moving the day after Christmas. We found a great place in the Cherry Hill neighborhood."

"I'm going to be a stay-at-home-dad until the pier gets up and running," Jasper said. "I also may do some security consulting, but that could be done from home."

"It's not going to be the same without you," Manny said. "But, what you're doing, it sounds so exciting."

"You're welcome any time," I smiled. "Once we get settled, of course."

"What are you going to do in Seattle, Bella?" Joseph asked, taking Manny's hand.

"I don't know yet. I'm toying with the idea of going back to school to finish my graduate degree in psychology," I shrugged. "Or, maybe I'll do the stay-at-home-mom thing. Jasper and I can plan play dates for Charlie and Sophie."

"Ooh, I like that," Jasper snickered. "To play dates." He held up his beer bottle.

"To play dates," I laughed, tapping my bottle to his.

xx MOTM:FFF xx

Edward

"I can't believe our son is a year old," Bella cooed as she dressed Charlie into an adorable new outfit. She ran her fingers through his soft curls, smiling at him. "Who's Mommy's big boy?"

"Me!" Charlie said, holding up his hands.

Bella lifted Charlie into her arms. She kissed him, making silly faces at our son. I snapped photos of the two of them in the nursery. "Mommy! Charlie! Look at Daddy," I said, holding up my cell phone.

"Daddy," Charlie squealed, bouncing in Bella's arms. I quickly took the picture, but took Charlie from Bella. She was grimacing. The cold weather and humidity in the air was causing some pain in Bella's arm. He was getting so big. With his wriggling, the pain was obvious.

"You are growing so much, buddy," I said, blowing a raspberry on his belly. He squealed and laughed. Bella took pictures with my cell phone, giggling along with us. "Now, it's your birthday, Charlie. And, what do you get on your birthday?"

"Cake!" he answered happily.

"What else, Charlie?" Bella pressed.

"Gifs!" he squealed.

"Exactly," Bella smiled. "Now, let's get into the car. We've got a great party planned. A party with gifs and cake, family and friends."

We loaded up the car and drove to the Blue Swan. The parking lot was filled with cars of friends, family and former associates from the Consortium. I carried Charlie into the restaurant, with my arm around Bella's waist. She was wearing a black coat, covering a beautiful red dress, with some black tights and a pair of black booties. I looked around the restaurant, shocked at its transformation. It had been decorated like Dr. Suess's Oh, The Places You'll Go. It had been the book, the only book, that would put him to sleep. The décor was adorable and perfect for our son's first birthday. As soon as we walked inside, Sue and Mom swooped in to take Charlie.

"Our son's first birthday and he's already been stolen by his grandmothers," Bella snickered as I helped her out of her coat. I pressed a sweet kiss to her neck. My wife melted against me. I slid my arm around her waist and smiled happily. Today was a good day.

"It's their prerogative," Jimmy snickered, handing Bella and me a drink. "And once they get their fill, I'm going to love up on my grandson. While I'm here, I want to talk to both of you."

"Everything okay, Uncle Jimmy?" Bella asked.

"Excellent, really," he said, leading us to a table. "Look, after talking with Sue, we both feel very anxious about you moving across the entire country. We're happy that you are starting this new adventure." He blew out a breath. "Sue and I are going to move to Seattle with Leah."

"Oh, wow!" Bella breathed. "What made you come to that decision?"

"Bells, I don't want you to think that I'm trying to cramp your style," Jimmy said, holding up his hands. "It's just that … new start … we want that. I also want to open up a new restaurant." He grinned at me. "There's a place in the pier you're purchasing that would be prime real estate for something new and fresh."

Bella and I shared a look. She shrugged, but smiled widely. The only thing that was holding Bella back about being excited for the move was the separation from her remaining blood relative, her adoptive father. With Jimmy moving, it would be one less thing to worry about. "I think it's wonderful," I said. "When will you move?"

"Probably, after you've moved out there," Jimmy shrugged. "Like you, we're going to keep our place here. Actually, Seth and Claire are going to move into our home."

"Doesn't Claire need to live in Chicago for her job?" Bella asked.

"They'll keep Claire's condo, but will live in our place," Jimmy answered.

"I'm happy that you're coming out there with us, Uncle Jimmy," Bella breathed. "I hated to leave. I know that we blindsided you with our decision. Just being here, there are too many painful memories. There were a lot of wonderful times and memories, but the pain is overriding the good. You are a part of that good. You loved me after my dad died, making sure I still got the last few months of childhood."

Jimmy's eyes shone with tears as he stood up, pulling Bella into his arms. I smiled softly, staring at the bond they shared. He whispered in her ear and Bella nodded, gripping Jimmy's dress shirt. Stepping back, he kissed Bella's forehead. "Happy times. Your first born kid is a year old. Let's have some delicious nosh, drinks some alcohol and eat cupcakes."

"Only our family would have alcohol at a first birthday party," I deadpanned.

"There are more adults here than kids, Edward," Jimmy said, gesturing to our guests. "It's not like you have to invite the entire daycare."

"The only kids that Charlie has interacted with are Anthony and Nina's children and the gaggle from Halloween," Bella said. "They are all in attendance. Regardless, this is wonderful. Thank you for hosting Charlie's party here."

"Esme and Sue took over. I just hung shit where they told me," Jimmy shrugged.

"You hung shit?" Bella snorted.

"Okay, Seth hung shit. My clumsy ass would have broken something if I had stood on ladders or anything. I worked on the food," Jimmy laughed. "What's your poison?"

"Whatever is on tap," I replied.

"A glass of white," Bella grinned. "Pinot Grigio or Chardonnay, I don't care which."

"I'll be right back. Food will be served in a little bit," Jimmy beamed, ducking behind the bar.

We made our way around the room, taking the drinks from Jimmy. We hugged and welcomed our friends and family. The most noticeable absence was Jacob. I knew, despite his choices, Bella missed him. She couldn't trust him, and she was working on forgiving him, but they had formed a close bond.

I'd heard from Billy and he said that he and Jacob were settled in their new lives in Hawaii. They'd purchased a beach front space and were converting it into a surf shop/tiki bar. The pictures were pretty amazing, idyllic and beautiful. They were growing to love their new lives in paradise.

It just wasn't the same.

After we ate our meals, took way too many photos, Uncle Jimmy walked out with a cupcake for Charlie. He was in his high chair, clapping his hands as we sang to him. The cupcake was placed in front of him and the cameras went off as Bella and I helped him blow out the candle. Once it was blown out, he took a chubby fist full of icing and smashed into his face. He laughed excitedly before doing the same to me, right on my glasses.

"That's a great look, Edward," Bella snickered.

I took off my glasses and grinned at my son who was eating his cupcake, making a mess of it. I picked up a napkin and tried to clean my glasses, but, unfortunately, making more of a mess. "At least it was on the glasses and not up my nose or something."

"A.J. did that to me," Anthony chuckled.

"Dad!" A.J. groaned. "Stop! You're embarrassing me."

"Kid, it's our job to embarrass you. Get used to it," Anthony smirked, ruffling A.J.'s hair. "But, you did stuff your birthday cake up my schnozz. I think was sneezing out buttercream for weeks."

"He exaggerates," Nina sighed, rolling her eyes. "But, I love him. Sometimes."

"Sometimes?" Anthony barked. "Dude, I'm awesome!"

"Dude, I awes!" Charlie mimicked, holding his hands up above his head.

"Yes, you are, buddy," I laughed. Bella giggled, kissing Charlie's curls but got a mouthful of cake. She sputtered and mock glared at him. "Nice, Charlie. Take out your mom."

"Dude, I awes!" Charlie repeated, grinning at Bella as he clapped his hands.

"The family that shares cake together, stays together," Bella snickered, daintily wiping her lips and taking a sip of coffee. "Who's up for seconds?"

xx MOTM:FFF xx

Bella

What a difference a year makes.

Curled up in the living room, I was sipping some tea as snow fell outside. There was a fire blazing. The lights were off, save for the Christmas Tree. Edward was putting Charlie down after a delightful Christmas celebration with our family. Christmas Eve was spent with Uncle Jimmy, Sue, Seth, Claire and Leah. The rest of the family were over at Emmett and Lauren's home since she was on bed rest from her pregnancy. She was weaker than a newborn kitten because of her nonstop morning sickness. As a result, her body and blood pressure were all wonky, so we went to their home on Christmas Day.

Tonight, after our Christmas craziness, I was holding a crumpled envelope, idly flipping it on the arm of the couch.

"Charlie's down," Edward said, holding a glass of whiskey. He sat down behind me. I settled with my back to his chest as he threaded his fingers with mine. "You okay, cara? You were quiet today."

"Just reminiscing," I shrugged. "This is the last Christmas we'll spend in this house."

"Technically, we can always come back here for Christmas," Edward argued, kissing my forehead.

"Technically, yes," I retorted snarkily. "But, everything is moving forward, changing. I'm just relishing in this moment. Who knows what will happen next year?"

"Anything has to be better than this year," Edward sighed. "The only good thing that happened was the birth of our son."

"And Uncle Jimmy's wedding to Sue," I added. "Despite what happened afterward, that was an amazing day."

"The night was pretty unforgettable, too," Edward purred. His fingers glided along my thighs, teasing me.

"Behave, Edward," I breathed, squirming in his arms. "If you need some loving, I'm more than willing to give you a BJ."

"You're a true romantic," Edward laughed. "It's what I've always wanted on Christmas. Your mouth around my cock. I think I like the sound of that."

I elbowed him. "Edward …"

"I'll stop," he snickered. "Why do you have Jacob's letter to you?"

"I think I'm in a place where I can read it without wanting to smack him," I answered. "I also miss him. I don't know if I can ever forgive him for not doing his job, but I miss my friend. He came into my life the same time that you did …"

"Jacob, for all his faults, is a good man who made a bad decision," Edward said softly. "I miss him, too. I missed him at Charlie's birthday party. Charlie adored him."

"Maybe, after some time to relax and come to grips with what happened, we could visit Billy and Jacob. Perhaps, a second honeymoon when Charlie is older," I shrugged, looking at the envelope. "What do you think he had to say?"

"There's no time like the present to read it," Edward said, pulling me onto his lap and cuddling me close.

I kissed him on his lips, tearing into the envelope. I recognized Jacob's barely legible scrawl. It made my heart lurch. Blowing out a breath, I began reading.

Dear Bella,

I wish I could say this to your face, but too much has happened. I know that it will be a long time before I see you again, if at all. I would understand if you never want to see me again. Hell, there are days that I don't want to see me again.

I am so sorry for what happened that day. I was more interested in talking to and flirting with Nessie. I thought I had something special with her, when in reality, I didn't. I was so blindsided by her that I neglected my job and my responsibilities. You and Charlie should have been my number one priority. Instead, I was thinking with my dick.

Shit, I said dick in this letter …

Shit, I said SHIT!

Where was I?

Bella, you were my best friend. You understood me when most people didn't. And the way I repaid that loyalty was to ignore you when you were … I'm so sorry. I will forever be sorry. I hope that, with time, you'll be able to forgive me.

When I worked for Edward, I felt like I wasn't stupid or lost. I felt like I was a part of a family. I have a close relationship with my father, but I was teased in school because of my lack of intelligence. I know I'm not smart. It takes me so long to understand and learn things. My dad had to help me with a lot of what I wanted to say in this letter.

Bella, you saw past that learning issue and I learned so much from you. You made me laugh. You helped me grow. I'm a better person because of my relationship with you. I will miss that.

I will miss Charlie, too. He's the best part of you and Edward. I've set up an account for Charlie. It's not a lot, but I wanted to do something right. You can keep it for Charlie, donate it to wherever, but I needed to pay restitution for my mistakes (Dad had to tell me what that meant … God, I'm dumb). Yes, I am more than likely removed from Edward's team because of my betrayal and justifiably so.

I fucked up. I will live with that mistake for the rest of my life. Below is the bank and the account where I set up Charlie's money. You can use it for his college education or something.

At least, I can take some solace (again, my dad had to tell me what that meant), that you will have a life to live. I love you as a friend and a sister. I am happy that you will have a chance to move forward. I wish you nothing but the best, for now and for the rest of your lives.

All the best,

Jake

"Wow," I said.

"He was torn up about what happened," Edward murmured, reading the letter. "Before he left, I did say that I forgive him. Those won't just words, either."

"It will take time for me," I shrugged. "I don't know what to think about the account for Charlie. I mean, I don't want Jake's money. It's his."

"Jake said we could donate it. If I had to guess, he won't take it back. He got a hell of a severance package," Edward said.

"Edward," I retorted.

"What? It's true! I'm certain that he was able purchase his home in Hawaii, free and clear," my husband shrugged. "Are you okay? With what he said?"

"I appreciate it and I'm thankful for his apology, but it will be a long time before I can truly accept it," I sighed. "Call me small-minded …"

"You have every right to be upset, Bella," Edward breathed, holding me tightly.

"But, I feel more at peace after I've read this. It gave me a chance to hear his goodbye," I muttered. "Well, read his goodbye."

"What do you need?" he asked.

"Just hold me, Edward. Love me," I whispered, looking at the Christmas tree.

"Always, cara," he whispered back, kissing my neck. "Merry Christmas, Bella. We have a lot to be thankful for."

"We do. Merry Christmas, Edward."

xx MOTM:FFF xx

Edward

"This has got to be the best location," Alistair said. "The sound is right there and it's so calming."

"We've got a lot of work to do," I replied, looking around the huge building I'd just purchased. "But, I'm looking forward to doing this."

"Mr. Cullen?" I turned and saw a young man walking inside. He was tall with dark hair and tanned skin. "I'm Owen Burke."

"Right, the contractor," I smiled, shaking his hand. "Nice to meet you. This is my business partner, Alistair Wilson."

"A pleasure," Alistair smiled, waving from his spot near the windows.

"This place has been on the market for as long as I can remember," Owen smirked. "It was overpriced."

"It was, but I negotiated it down," I chuckled. "This place was overpriced, but now with your help and our expertise, it will be worth the price on that real estate listing. But, it will take time, I'm assuming."

"Yeah. This place is a mess, but amazing," Owen breathed. "I think with the right crew, we can get this place up to where you want it to be within a year. Do you have any ideas as to what you want for this place?"

"We were talking and we would like an open-concept work space, with the flexibility to modify the layout to suit our needs," I said. "We do need some space for business meetings and private offices, but the main floor would be open."

"We also like the industrial look," Alistair explained. "I'm certain that Edward's wife will help with the décor. I would suggest my wife, but I'm divorced and that viper took everything."

"He's not bitter, at all," I deadpanned.

"Nope. Not in the slightest," Alistair quipped, opening and closing a door. "But, Bella's great. Very sweet and deals with Edward. The woman is a freaking saint."

"I'm partnered with my wife, too. Julia, my wife, she's an interior designer. Not that I'm biased, or anything," Owen chuckled nervously. "Perhaps, your wife and mine could get together to make this place look amazing. Once it's more habitable, of course. Right now, it smells like rotting fish and that ceiling is circumspect."

"This is true," I laughed.

"How about this? I'll take some measurements, some photos, and then I'll come up with sketches," Owen said. "I also know that you've hired my company to work on the restaurant pad at the end of the pier."

"Yes. My wife's uncle wants to open up a restaurant, but you'll have to talk to him. He's moving out here in the spring," I explained. "I'll be here for another couple of days, but Alistair lives locally."

"I should have the sketches by tomorrow evening," Owen grinned. "I'm excited to get started on this project."

"I'm staying at the Thompson Seattle," I said. "My wife and I are finalizing our choices of where we should live. We're looking at several properties on Mercer Island."

"There are a lot of great properties on there. Expensive," Owen said with wide eyes.

"I'm a very rich man, Owen," I smirked. My phone buzzed and I saw a text from Bella. I reached into my wallet, handing Owen a card. "I need to go. My wife is reminding me of our appointment with a realtor. This is my cell phone number. We can meet at the bar in our hotel to discuss the sketches."

"I'll be in touch, Mr. Cullen," Owen said, pocketing the card. "I'll get those measurements and photos. When I'm done, I'll also get the ball rolling on the permits with the city, starting with that roof."

"We have a deal," I said, shaking his hand. "Let's shoot for seven at The Nest? It's the bar at our hotel. Bring your wife. We don't know anyone here besides Alistair. Well, we have a couple friends who moved out here earlier in the year, but they're also a bit … well …"

"I'll bring Julia," Owen chuckled. "See you tomorrow, Mr. Cullen. Best of luck with the home search."

"Call me Edward," I insisted.

"Will do," Owen said, taking out a tablet.

I left the pier, walking to our hotel. Bella was waiting in the lobby. She'd gone out to lunch with Alice, spending some time with Jasper and Sophie while I dealt with the purchase of the pier. She also had a FaceTime call with Charlie, who was staying with my parents while we were starting to set up our new life. I kissed my wife. She melted against me, gripping my lapels. "You okay, cara?"

"A little under the weather," she said with a heavy sigh. "Alice wanted to run a full trauma panel, but I think I'm just jetlagged. I'm also not used to the altitude. Come on. Let's buy a house."

We drove to Mercer Island, meeting up with a realtor. We were shown our top five choices. They were all beautiful homes, but one really spoke to both Bella and me. We made an all cash offer, eager to start our lives in the Pacific Northwest. The seller needed to think about our offer but would let us know before we flew back to Chicago.

The following day, Bella and I spent the day exploring our new home town. While we were exploring Pike's Place, I got a phone call from the realtor. The seller agreed to our terms and we now owned a beautiful mansion on Mercer Island. We drove to the realtor's office where I put down the earnest money for the home and signed the paperwork, planning on closing on the house prior to our departure in a couple of days.

That evening, we met up with Owen, Julia and Alistair. The sketches were gorgeous and perfect for what we'd envisioned. On top of that, Bella and Julia really hit it off. They exchanged cell phone numbers and made promises to get together once we'd make our permanent move.

The morning that we were leaving, flying back to Chicago, we drove to close on our home. I handed over a large cashier's check, signing our names on the paperwork for the mansion. We were handed the keys. "Do we have time to go to the house before we leave?" Bella asked.

"It's the nice thing about having a private jet," I snickered. I texted my pilot, asking him to delay our flight for a few hours. "Come on. Let's go see our home."

We drove to the house. Bella smiled, her eyes wide and excited. I also saw a serenity in her expression that I hadn't seen since I'd known her. I reached over to take her hand, squeezing it over the console. "I really love this house. I can see so many great things happening here."

"Me, too," I breathed. I kissed her lips and opened the car door. I jogged to open hers, scooping her into my arms. Bella laughed, kicking up her feet. I carried her to the front door. She unlocked the door and I carried over the threshold.

"Put me down," she giggled. I gave her another kiss, placing her on her feet. She walked around the open space of our new home, making her way to the kitchen. "The previous owners left us a present."

I saw a huge Seattle gift basket and a bottle of champagne. "We should pop this open," I chuckled, holding up the bottle.

"Hmmmm, maybe not," Bella said softly. She stood in front of me, taking my face into her hands. She slid onto the kitchen counter. "Edward, it'll be a while before I can drink again."

"Bella?" I whispered.

"Look in the basket," she whispered back.

I stared at her for a moment before blinking to the basket. Perched inside was a grainy picture. An ultrasound. I picked it up, seeing a clear outline of a baby. "Another baby? Did you go to Alice?"

"I wanted to see my doctor," she giggled. "But, yes. We're pregnant."

"How far along are you?" I asked, pressing my hand onto her belly. "Bella … I'm so happy. I love you."

"I'm farther along than I thought. According to the OB/GYN at Alice's hospital, I'm about thirteen weeks along. With the abduction, my recovery and not really paying attention to my birth control, we got pregnant around Thanksgiving. I also didn't have morning sickness or any of the normal symptoms except feeling blah," Bella explained, pressing her hand over mine. She stared at me, her eyes brimming with tears. "I love you so much, baby. I love our baby and I'm so happy that Charlie will have a sibling."

"With this move, we can finally have the freedom to live our lives," I said. "We have so much to celebrate."

"A new home," Bella smiled.

"Right," I breathed, kissing her. "A new business."

"With a great location," Bella nodded. "But, I'm not going there until it doesn't smell like a fish market."

"You're not the only one," I laughed, stepping between her legs. "A new baby."

"A new baby," she whispered, sliding her arms around my neck. "A new life. A happy life."

"A wonderful life," I vowed. "A life that I never envisioned. But, with you, anything is possible."

"Absolutely anything," Bella cooed, kissing me deeply and sliding her tongue into my mouth. I moaned, holding her to my body. "Want to christen the kitchen?"

"You read my mind, dolce," I growled.

A/N: And this is the last real chapter of Married to the Mob: Fighting for Freedom. We have the epilogue left and it will be a glimpse into their future. What will happen Mobward and Dolce? How will they handle their lives in Seattle? What will they have? Boy? Girl?

Pictures for this chapter are on my blog. You can access that from a link on my profile. I'm also on Facebook: Tufano79's Twilight Fanfiction Appreciation. Twitter, too: tufano79. Thank you for reading and leave me some loving!