Thirty One
ALICE
"No," I gasp, racing toward my child.
"Ma!" Ella squeals loudly, hand in the chip bowl.
"That's not for you. No one wants baby hands in that," I lift her up into my arms.
"Why won't she just play with her toys," Jasper sighs.
"Because everything in here is cool," I kiss Ella's chubby cheek.
Since she started walking last month we could barely catch up to her. She was into everything.
Edward had invited us to his game here in Seattle. He'd given us box tickets. Jasper and I had arrived first. Each time we admired something new about the room our child would admire something too with her hands.
"At least she looks cute getting up to no good," Jasper smirks.
He'd insisted we dress her in Edward's jersey. Which she'd quickly thrown up on in the car. We'd changed her into a dress I packed and given her a small flag to still cheer her uncle on appropriately.
"Where's uncle Edward?" I try to distract her.
At his name, she looks around excited. Edward was definitely her favorite, although Bella slightly beat him. When she saw Bella, Edward was forgotten.
"Look," I point down at the ice where some of the players had already started drills, warming up.
She smacks the glass between us and the stadium squealing in delight.
"Your daughter," Jasper laughs, "she gets this from you."
"I know. I have to apologise to my parents again," I grin at him.
"Oh look. He's there," I gasp pointing at my brother proudly, "look there's uncle Edward."
Ella claps her hands. A new thing Jasper had taught her to do. Soon enough though she notices said father putting candy into his mouth. Her hands stop clapping so she can hold them out to demand one.
"She never stops eating," he groans, handing over one of his soft lollies.
"She's a growling baby girl," I laugh.
"She stopped breastfeeding and then instantly started taking my food," he sighs, "I had to eat in the pantry yesterday. I didn't want to share my chocolate."
"That was my chocolate," I gasp, smacking him.
"Love you too," he laughs, "are your parents coming?"
"Nah. They saw him play last week in New York. They are in London," I say, "Bella should be here any moment. Oh and… they don't know but well... Emmett and Rosalie are both going to be in this room."
"The last time they spoke was last year," Jasper's eyes widened, "oh awkward."
"She is single and as far as I know Emmett broke it off with that girl. Maybe sparks will fly," I shrug, "maybe Ella can ease the tension."
"I'm here," Bella bursts into the room, "did I miss anything?"
"Not yet," Jasper says embracing her in a friendly hug.
Bella turns to hug me before all but taking my baby from me.
"How is my favourite little niece," Bella coos at her, "you look so beautiful."
Ella places her hands on Bella's cheeks giggling, adoring the attention.
"I just want you to give her a cousin already," I groan.
"Let us get through the wedding first," she laughs.
ROSALIE
I step into the box frustrated. Bella, Alice, and Jasper sit on a large couch watching the game before them.
"Edward! Come on," Jasper groans.
"I just lost an interview with the captain of the other team," I sigh in greeting.
"Why would you want one? They suck!" Alice jumps up moving to pull me into a hug.
"Because he is the newest scandal. It's thought the team covered up a failed drug test," I say, "I've been busting my ass for this lead."
"Why did it fall through?" Bella gives me a quick hug too.
"His manager is an asshole," I shrug.
I move to kiss Jasper's cheek before tickling Ella's chubby legs.
"She gets bigger every time I see her," I smile sitting beside Jasper.
"Maybe if you came around more you wouldn't notice it," Jasper nudges me.
"I'm trying. Work has been intense," I sigh.
"We saw you on the news the other night. You're doing amazing," Jasper smiles, "how's the coach?"
"Good. He's actually dating," I laugh. "He met some woman at a blind dating speed thing. He has a better social life than me."
"Oh good for him," Jasper smiles.
"How about you? How's your mother?" I ask.
"Good. She's visiting next week to come see Ella," he says, "she's bringing Abbey. Abbey has been calling every second day to chat with Ella on the phone. Only Ella just tries to eat it."
I laugh and take Ella for him.
"Aunty Rose wants a cuddle. I can't resist it anymore," I say.
"Good. I can go get a beer," he sighs, "want one?"
"Yes please," I nod.
Jasper had somewhat become my best friend lately. I found myself confiding in him as frequently as I did Alice. He was just easy to talk to. We spoke about how I still yearned for Emmett, how I regretted everything, how his words of telling me he 'regretted every second' of me hurt even after all of this time.
As Jasper leaves Bella sits beside me, ticking Ella's belly as I stand her in my lap, her small feet balancing on my thighs.
"Your man is looking good down there. Playing perfectly," I say, "my boss keeps begging me to get a feature of him."
"You know he'd love to," Bella nods, "it's just with the wedding in a few weeks."
"I know. I said the same thing," I say, "are you getting nervous?"
"A little," Bella nods, "the photos of you in the bridesmaid dress I sent you fits perfectly."
"Thanks," I smile, "I'm nervous about seeing him. It's been a year since I abandoned trying."
"I've warned him to behave," Bella sighs, "I want you to both be comfortable. As can be I guess."
Ella squeals and grabs my necklace tugging.
"Woah," I laugh trying to pry her hand, "let me go, beautiful."
"Her grip is iron," Bella laughs, "it's been nice being back in town to spend time with her."
As Ella lets go of my necklace she grabs for my hair instead. The only thing that makes her let go is the booming voice entering the room, the voice I had only heard in dreams. I go stiff. I didn't think he'd be here. Why was I so naive to think that. Edward said he had a coaching thing.
"You finished on time," Jasper calls out clapping his friend on the back.
He hasn't noticed me. The smile on his face is too pure to have my influence.
"Fuck," I mutter.
"There's a baby," Bella smacks my arm smiling.
"Sorry Ella," I kiss Ella's cheek turning her so she faces the ice and not my hair, so I face the ice and not him.
She points at the players thinking each one her finger lands on is her uncle.
"No there," I say, directing her point, "look how fast he goes. He goes zoom, zoom, zooooom!"
I tickle her as I talk. She laughs. A sound I'd never tire of her making.
"Are you going to say hi to him?" Bella asks.
"He won't want to talk with me," I shake my head, "he hates me."
Bella shakes her head standing up. I hear her greet Emmett behind me.
"You're my only friend now," I whisper to Ella, "I'm hiding behind a baby. What has my life come to? Last week I was interviewing Sidney Crosby and he totally checked me out."
Ella looks back at me as if I'm crazy.
"You're right," I huff.
The couch dips beside me. I turn to the body thinking it's Jasper, back with my beer. My beer is there but the hand holding it is the one I've dreamed of on my body.
"Hey," he smiles warmly.
The tension between us is clear.
"Hi," I smile, taking my beer, "thank you."
Glancing back I spot my friends at the bar, backs turned watching Edward on screen. Traitors.
"We might as well get this awkwardness out of the way," he shrugs, "it's kind of the elephant."
Ella wriggles in my lap fighting to put her feet onto the floor. I let her go and watch her toddle toward the glass.
Traitor just like her parents. Ugh.
"So," he says, "how have you been?"
"Good," I nod.
Missing you.
"How about you? Dad mentioned you've got a full-time teaching gig," I say.
"Yeah, we keep in touch. His players sometimes come down and work with the kids. They love it," he smiles, "I coach the junior hockey team at the school. They're great kids."
"Oh. That's amazing," I nod, "He's very proud of you."
"Is he?" Surprise lights up in his eyes.
"I think so," I nod, "he brings the three of you up a lot. His terrific trio. His current team isn't going too great."
"Yeah I've seen," Emmett nods.
It falls silent for a moment too long. I watch the game hoping he'll walk away or fill the silence with something useful.
"Are you busy tonight?" he asks.
I turn to look at him surprised. I didn't expect that.
"No," I shake my head, "I was going to head home from here. I had an early start."
"Well if you're still able to kick it you should come to get a drink," he offers, "it would be nice to catch up."
I study his face for a moment. He's exactly how I remember him. My Emmett,
"Sure," I smile, "I'd really love that."
He grins and clinks the neck of his bottle to mine in cheers.
The time to forgive had passed. Now we were just catching up.
BELLA
My friends crowd around the hotel room. Ella jumps on the bed happily, Jasper holding his arms out in case she jumps too far from the middle of the bed.
Rosalie sits beside Emmett on the small loveseat, chatting away, as if nothing had ever happened between them. How I hope they can make it work this time. The second he saw her I saw the love return to his eyes. He'd never fallen out of it. He'd tried filling the void but no woman could ever measure up to Rose.
Alice pours us all a drink at the minibar.
The room was big enough for all of us to be comfortable. Edward's team spared no expense, but Edward had decided to rent us something special.
The door to the room eventually swings open, my fiance waltzing in. His gym bag over his shoulder.
"Here he is," Emmett claps "our winner. He could be out partying with the big guns but he's here."
"You are the big guns," Edward laughs.
He moves straight to me, wrapping his arm around my waist.
"My beautiful fiance," he kisses me, "you look positively sexy. Can we kick them all out?"
"Eww," Alice groans.
Ella squeals loudly at Edward. He gasps at her dramatically before rushing to pick her up. I watch him toss her in the air lightly. I wanted him to actually kick them all out.
Edward huffs tiredly falling back onto the bed, Ella sitting on his stomach.
"Oh, do you need a quick nap?" Jasper laughs.
"I'm gutted, man," he laughs, "it was such a fast game."
"You played well," I say.
He looks at me, head propped on his hands. As our friends return to chatting amongst themselves his eyes take me in.
"Tonight," I mouth.
"Good," he mouths back.
"I actually wanted to tell you something," I smile, "all of you."
Edward sits up, keeping Ella in his lap. Alice sits on Jasper's lap in the armchair. Rosalie keeps her hand on Emmett's knee as she turns to watch me. Interesting.
"So. While you're all here in one room," I start, "Edward... I don't know if it's right."
Edward places Ella on the mattress before standing up. He takes my waist, leaning down to kiss my cheek.
"We only found out a few weeks back. We haven't even told our parents," he smiles.
"Oh my god," Alice gasps, hands over her mouth.
"No," Rosalie grins.
"What is it?" Emmett shakes his head confused.
"Ella is going to have a little cousin to run around with," Edward smiles down at me, "Bella is pregnant."
Thank you so much for reading! I really hope you enjoyed this lil story! I loved writing it.
Please drop me a review if you have a moment.
If you liked this you may like my newest story 'Happy'.
Already published and ready for your eyes.
Here's the summary:
Bella needs a job quickly, so she takes the first opportunity she finds. Only the famous CEO, Edward Cullen, is more than she bargained for. He's arrogant, snarky, and complicated but Bella finds herself growing close to him, despite Edward's efforts to push her aside. She's exactly the answer he needs. Rated M, Lemons/smut in later chapters, canon.