Yes, Edward's gun was fully loaded, cocked, and ready to shoot its load. LMAO

With everything going on around them, Bella felt the need to take a day off. After breakfast, she took Quinn to her sitting room for playtime, simply enjoying the presence of her son. He was sitting up by himself and loved to play peekaboo, laughing every time she reappeared from behind her hands.

When she put Quinn down for his nap, she called Angela to talk about her internship. She was eager to get together since Angela had found an apartment in Seattle but, so far, their schedules hadn't meshed. Bella also knew how much Angela crushed on Ben, and she wanted to get them together if she could. It would be fun to watch how that particular relationship progressed, considering the way Angela mentioned him every chance she got. Unfortunately, the Webers had spoken to the Swans, and her parents knew without a doubt that Bella was now Mrs. Cullen. She had mailed pictures of Quinn to her parents, but she had no idea if they'd gotten them or not. They wouldn't answer her calls or acknowledge she existed and hadn't since the rumors of her and Edward getting together had proven to be true.

What she truly missed was seeing Jake and Leah. Talking to them on the phone and even video calling wasn't the same as being there in person, though she continued to make an effort to speak with them as often as possible. She'd never gotten around to seeing what Edward thought about taking a trip to Port Angeles or even inviting them to stay at the house for a few days. They had more than enough space in their maze of guest rooms, but the reason she hadn't brought it up was the sensitivity of the subject. It wasn't just Edward hating Jacob; it was Jacob hating Edward, too. Bella had no idea how to explain to Leah and Jake that not only had she and Edward made up, but she was currently serving as his counselor. It wasn't something she thought she could explain to herself, much less someone not embroiled in the life they led. Jake didn't understand how Bella condoned the violent nature of their business as the daughter of a police chief, and he didn't want to hear anything she had to say about her husband. In return, Bella reconsidered saying anything to Edward about Jake because she had no desire to play mediator.

At lunchtime, Rose came over, giving Bella a pleasant change of pace. It wasn't often that just the two of them had time together since Rose became Quinn's nanny and both women started school.

Bella greeted Rose with a hug. "Let's eat out on the terrace. It's warmed up nicely."

It was April, and Bella loved taking as many chances to use the garden as she was able, as well as dining outdoors. On the days it didn't rain, she enjoyed swimming or walking around the property and enjoying the peace.

"Sounds great," Rose replied.

Ben set the table for them, and Tyler served before leaving the ladies alone. Rose appeared to be bursting with something, so Bella decided to ask her before they began to eat.

"What's up, Rose?"

Rose bounced in her seat a little before holding out her left hand. "Emmett proposed!"

"Oh, Rose!"

"It happened last night, and I almost called you, but then I thought I'd stop by and tell you in person instead."

Bella studied the ring, pleased that it suited Rose so perfectly and that her friend was glowing. "I'm so happy for you."

"We're talking about a September wedding, and I want you to be my matron of honor."

Bella sat back in her chair. That was only a few months away. "Oh wow. Really?"

"Definitely. Emmett is asking Edward to be his best man, and I know it will be just right." She paused to roll her eyes. "Except that I think he wants to ask Jasper and Alice to stand up for us, too. Which, ugh. But she's his cousin, and there's no way I can justify not allowing them to be part of his day."

"As long as she keeps her mouth shut, it'll be fine."

"We'll see. I'm not afraid to cut a bitch on my wedding day." Rose took a sip of her drink before saying, "Oh, Bella, can Quinny be the ring bearer? I'll have to figure out who can bring him down the aisle; maybe my mom?"

Bella pictured ten-month-old Quinn in a suit and gave a contented sigh. "He'll be so cute."

"He will."

Bella passed a platter to Rose. "Do you have anything chosen, like colors or location?"

"Not especially, but I have some ideas in mind for dresses. Nothing too hideous, I promise. Maybe in sapphire blue."

"That sounds nice." And she looked pretty good in blue.

There was a comfortable silence for a few minutes before Rose said, "I've been with him for a year now, Bella. I'm scared and thrilled and anxious and nauseous all rolled into one."

"Why are you scared?"

Rose looked down. "What if something happens to him?"

"That's always been a possibility, Rose."

She nodded. "I know, but it used to be a vague threat."

"Until the shootout."

Looking up, Rose said, "Yes, and now I know I want to be with him for as much time as I can. If something happens tomorrow, then at least I'll know I was with him until the last second. Every day has meaning, and I want them all with Emmett."

Bella had to agree with her. If there was no telling when their last day together would be, then she needed to live each day with Edward to the fullest. It seemed he already lived that way from what she'd seen, and she was doing a fairly good job of doing the same. She didn't know how to let go of her inhibitions as completely as he did, but she was making the effort.

By the time Rose left, Quinn was awake. Bella changed him and took him with her to find Edward. Not surprisingly, he was in his office, but she heard him yelling from down the hallway.

Bella waited until he finished with whatever sent him on his tirade, showing Quinn the ancient paintings hanging on the walls. When the volume of Edward's voice returned to a lower level, Bella knocked on the door.

"Yeah?"

"It's me."

"Come in, Bella."

He was alone, which she hadn't expected. "Who were you yelling at?"

Instead of answering, he came around the desk and reached for his son.

The urge to protect him hit her strongly. Something horrible had happened, or he wouldn't be yelling over the phone and avoiding her gaze. "Edward, what's wrong?"

Sighing, he sat in the desk chair and helped Quinn stand on his knees. "I've had Carlisle watched for some time now."

Just hearing her father-in-law's name caused a visceral reaction within her. Her stomach twisted, and a dull ache began behind her eyes. "What has he done?"

"Points to you." Quinn giggled, and Edward grinned at him while he bounced. "He's made several inquiries to the other three Families. Innocuous questions, at least on the surface, about what they would pay for information on me."

Tears formed in her eyes at his devastating news. Edward tried to hide it, but she knew he was equally wounded and outraged. "Who will take him out?"

"No hesitation, Bella? No thoughts about taking a life?"

With a huge intake of breath, she moved over to him, sitting on the edge of the desk and reaching out to cup his jaw. "He made his choice. I know this must be difficult for you, but it can't go unpunished."

"He hasn't met his grandson."

"No, he hasn't."

"I'm more upset that Quinn won't have a grandfather than I am that my sperm donor will miss out on knowing what a joy he is."

Bella didn't think it was the time to bring up her father. Charlie and Renee's avoidance of the truth was pain for another day.

"I knew it would come down to this, eventually. What I can't decide is who'll do it." He swallowed. "It should be me."

"It won't be you," she said with as much strength as she could infuse into her voice.

He met her gaze with a raised brow. "No?"

If she thought it would ease Edward's aching, she would take care of Carlisle in a heartbeat. "I'd offer if I thought I could pull it off, but it shouldn't be you. It's bad enough he intends to sell you out to the enemy, don't add the weight of his death to your shoulders."

Edward was silent for a long time, changing his grip on Quinn and watching him exercise his little legs. Finally, he spoke. "Thank you."

"I didn't do anything."

"You helped me decide. I feel better about it now."

"Then you're welcome."

His gaze never strayed from Quinn as he began to talk. "I know I told you already I didn't expect to have this; a family. I don't know what I would have done if I'd agreed to marry Gianna. Carlisle would have been happy, but I would have been miserable. I wouldn't have enjoyed the idea of having children, and might even have talked her out of them."

Not knowing what to say, Bella remained silent while Edward rambled.

"But this, having a miniature version of myself . . ." Shaking his head, he looked back up at Bella. "I don't know what I'm trying to say."

Neither did she, but obviously he was grateful to have his son in his life. Even when it seemed as if it was the worst idea in the world, she'd given that to him. That was what she couldn't convince her parents of, or Jake. They didn't understand this perfect piece of heaven they'd created together, even if it only existed in the quiet moments. Her parents knew they had a grandson, but they continued to ignore her attempts to reach out. It was easier to paint Edward as ruthless and cunning than to stop and think of the consequences of shutting their only child out of their lives. Never in her wildest dreams had she expected to wind up on the other side of that coin, though she'd readily flipped it.

Finally, Bella asked, "Do you want answers from him? Do you want him to admit that he meddled, deleting my calls and acting as though I didn't exist? Or do you want to take him out without a moment's hesitation?"

"I don't think anything he has to say would make a difference. I knew he'd been in my phone when he replaced it with a new one and you'd mysteriously disappeared from it. I assumed he wanted me to focus on the business after my miscalculation, but I didn't know at the time that he'd seen you and knew you were pregnant with Quinn."

Bella shivered at those memories. "Nothing he could say would be an adequate excuse for what he did to us."

"No." Edward sighed, but Quinn reached out, and her stern husband's face morphed. He grinned, nipping at Quinn's fingers until the baby squealed with laughter. "I should have done more when I realized he tried to take this from me. He tried to take my son away from me."

"Yes, he did. And don't forget that Esme abetted him."

"I can't punish her as harshly, Bella, even though she deserves something more than what she's gotten. She's my mother, and she fears him."

"She's blindly devoted to him," Bella countered.

Frustration bubbled out of him. "What would you have me do to her?"

As much as she wanted to be nasty, she couldn't. "Allow her to see Quinn whenever she wants. Let the embarrassment of Carlisle's deceit and the resulting punishment be her cross to bear."

"Is it enough?"

"Will any of it ever be enough?" A new thought occurred to her. "Are any of Carlisle's men going to retaliate?"

"I made sure the men who were spying for him were eliminated."

Of course he did. "I think all that's left is picking a name out of a hat. Any of them can do what's needed."

"Maybe I'll let them decide who, how, and when."

"If it makes it easier for you, then do that. You don't need to feel guilty; his actions forced your hand. He had to know you'd find out and that it would seal his fate."

Edward winked at her. "I can't believe I ever thought you wouldn't be devious enough to be my partner."

It was probably as close as he would come to paying her a compliment. "Yeah, well. Thanks, I guess."

One side of his mouth lifted. "Did Rose tell you the news?"

"Yes." Frowning heavily, she took a second to phrase her thoughts properly. "I need one promise from you."

"I can guess. Alice?"

"If she even contemplates ruining this for Rose, I get to come up with her punishment."

Edward chuckled. "It's a deal, wife."

Bella thought about the lonely island she used to be. She knew Edward was more like the ocean, a vast and powerful entity capable of drowning a tiny spit of land with its overwhelming force. Now they were a united island with almost everyone around them trying to sink them. Very few others understood or respected their position, or were willing to give them the benefit of the doubt. Her friends, their families . . . they were left with a few loyal people with which to create their own family.

It occurred to Bella that Edward once said family was everything. He wasn't wrong, but it wasn't always the family one was born with who meant everything. For them, it was the one they created, the one they chose. Those who stood beside them no matter what. Despite all the missteps she'd made, she had more to be grateful for than she did before she entered Edward's world. As she loved to remind him, it was her world, too, and she would do whatever it took to keep it secure.

I know you've been waiting for Rose and Emmett to get engaged, and also to find out about Carlisle. I felt it would be too out of character for Bella to take him out; she's grown so much, but she's not an assassin.