A/N: Thank you guys who reviewed and for sticking with this through all of my life's changes
….
"Edward."
His voice fell from her lips as she rocked her hips up towards her husband. He slid deeper into her, his own groan mixing with her moans as she writhed on the bed. Edward's fingers gripped the sheets by her head when Bella's walls clenched around him. Bella gasped as her nails dug into his back and dragged down across the muscles.
"Fuck Isabella." Edward jerked against Bella's rocking hips, emptying himself into her as she shuddered and spasmed under him.
He slowly pulled out of her and rolled onto his side, wanting to avoid her swollen belly. Bella stretched and smiled as she stared up at the ceiling, the cool fall breeze blew in from their open balcony doors. Bella sighed happily and sat up to grab her robe from the floor and tied it around her as she looked over her husband's naked form.
"What time do you have to be over at your dad's?"
Edward glanced at his watch and groaned.
"Ten minutes ago." He laughed and Bella joined in.
"He's going to be pissed."
Edward rolled out of bed and tugged his pants on as he shrugged his shoulders.
"Won't be the first time." He leaned down and pressed a kiss to her lips. "And won't be the last, I'm sure."
"I'm going to get a shower, just text me when you get there." Bella called out as he disappeared out their bedroom door.
Bella turned the water on and watched as it hit the tile floor of their shower. It had been four months since their last encounter with Jacob and in that time it had been absolutely silent. Edward often told her that there was a chance he had given up or been killed by the Volturi for failing. But she didn't believe him. The Volturi weren't going to forget that she had killed a member of their family and if Jacob wasn't dead he wouldn't have just given up. Over the last few months the only eventful thing was the family finding out Alice was pregnant with a girl. Carlisle had been less than thrilled upon hearing there would be yet another girl born to one of his sons. He even went as far as to ask if medically something had happened with Edward and Jasper since he had only brothers and had only given boys to Esme. They still didn't know what they were having, but Bella had a feeling it was a girl. Another girl to disappoint Carlisle with.
She was rinsing the soap from her body when she heard the faint sound of their alarm beeping. It usually went off to indicate someone had pulled onto the property. Her heart dropped, but she tried to remain calm, remembering that they often had guards who came and went when switching shifts. Edward's family was also known to drop in when they felt like it. She shut the shower off and grabbed a towel, quickly drying off and throwing on some sweats before opening their closet door. In the back of the walk-in there were a row of monitors showing vantage points around their land.
She watched as Geri flagged down the car and it rolled to a stop. It was a nondescript sedan with only a driver inside. Bella watched as Geri leaned down and looked at something, a license she guessed. He reached for his phone and dialed a number as Bella watched him. She jumped when her phone rang on the nightstand and she hurried over to answer it.
"Hello?"
"Mrs. Cullen, there's a man out here that claims to be a friend of yours."
"W-who is it?" Her phone beeped and when she looked at the screen it showed Edward's name.
He must've gotten the notification from the cameras.
"He says his name is Seth Clearwater. The ID matches."
Bella's heart dropped to her feet.
"Seth? What does he want?"
"He won't tell me ma'am. I can escort him off the property. Hey man, you-"
"No!" Bella cut Geri off before he could turn Seth away. Her phone began to beep again and she knew she'd have to answer it or Edward would come home and beat Seth to death.
"It's fine, show him up." She hung up and switched the call over.
"Hello?"
"I got a notification that there's a car in the driveway. Who is it?"
She could hear his keys in the background and Bella paused as she considered lying.
"Don't come home."
"Isabella." His voice deepened.
"It's Seth. Just let me see what he wants."
"What? No. I'm coming home now."
"No! Edward, please. Please. Geri is here, he won't let him escape with me or anything."
Edward sighed heavily and Bella knew he was warring with himself.
"I'll call you in ten minutes. If I don't call, you can come right home."
Silence.
"Edward … please."
"Ten minutes."
"Thank you." Bella sighed a breath of relief and disconnected the call. She walked downstairs just as the doorbell rang. She opened the door and was met with the face of her old partner. His eyes dropped to her stomach before he looked back up at her with wide eyes.
"Wow, Bells … I uh - figured you would've had that kid by now."
"Yeah, I guess the last time you held a gun to me my stomach was a lot smaller, huh?"
Guilt shadowed his face.
"Can I come in?"
She stood to the side and let him walk into their living room.
"When are you due?" Seth glanced around the room before looking back at Bella.
"A week ago." She sighed and closed the door behind her.
"Your guy out there gets a little handsy with his pat downs."
"He's just doing his job."
"Well that's definitely not how you're taught during training." He laughed and it was obvious to Bella that he was attempting to fall back into the old groove they had. She wasn't going to let him off that hook that easily though.
"Why are you here?"
Seth shifted uncomfortably on his heels before sitting down on the edge of the couch.
"I uh … wanted to ask if you've heard anything from Black. I heard chatter about what happened at the docks, but no one seems to know who was down there."
"No, we haven't heard anything."
It would be so easy. So easy for Bella to slip back into the role of best friend and partner. But she had to remain strong, he was not her friend anymore. He had shot at her, held a gun to her, abducted her.
For his child, of course, but still.
"Well… they're looking at your husband for it."
Bella nodded.
"But, like I said, they've got nothing on him. Or anyone."
Seth stared at Bella and tried to convey what he was thinking. That they were both safe.
"All right, well thanks for stopping by I guess."
Bella turned to open the door, but Seth stopped her.
"I know Edward doesn't trust me, but you know you can."
He stepped closer to her and his eyes scanned the room again. Bella wondered what he was looking for.
"If you need a way out … let me know."
She struggled to contain her laugh, but she could feel the edges of her lips pulling into a smile.
"Seth," Bella laughed. "What are you talking about?"
"I don't know what he has on you, but whatever it is we can take care of it. I can get you and your kids somewhere safe."
"Seth. I chose to be here. I chose to be a part of his family. He doesn't have anything on me."
That wasn't true, of course. He had a ton of shit on her, but she did on him as well.
"I'm in love with him, Seth."
"Bullshit, Bella!"
She jumped at his sudden outburst.
"You couldn't stand the guy! You wanted to nail his ass to the wall."
"Because I thought he was a serial killer, Seth. He's not."
"He might not have killed those girls, but let's not pretend that he's not a murderer."
So am I, she thought.
Bella's phone vibrated on the back of the couch and from her position she could see Edward's name.
"You should go, Seth."
Bella knew the ten minutes had come and gone and he was probably on his way to them right now.
"Yeah, I guess. Well listen … if you ever do come to your senses and decide to leave. I … uh … I can help you escape."
Bella couldn't stop the laugh this time.
"Seth, I enjoy my life. I'm okay, you should really worry about yourself and your family. Maybe it's time to move out of the city."
Seth nodded.
"We've actually talked about that. Since everything that's happened."
Bella went to say something, but a sudden cramp stopped her. She grimaced and held the bottom of her stomach.
"Are you okay?" Seth's eyes widened.
"Yeah, it's these damn contractions that have been going on for a few days."
She leaned over and placed her hands on her knees as she groaned.
"Okay … I'm fine." Bella took a deep breath and stood back up. She felt the pain radiate through her lower back and grip the front of her stomach. This was the most intense they'd been, but she knew the baby still wasn't ready.
"Should I call someone? That goon from the front?"
"No, it's okay."
The door burst open causing Bella to jump again. Edward crossed the expanse of their foyer in two strides and grabbed Seth.
"Edward, no!"
"What the hell, man?"
Seth jerked against his hands and pushed firmly backwards, using Edward's chest to propel himself.
"What the fuck are you doing here?" Edward yelled.
"Edward!" Bella yanked at his arm to pull him back.
"You're acting like a child, stop!"
Edward's head snapped towards her, his green eyes were alight with rage.
"Fuck." Bella gasped and bent over again, the pain made her lose her breath.
She felt the familiar hand of her husband on her back.
"Isabella? Are you okay?"
"Yeah. Yeah." She dragged in a deep breath and stood back up.
"Let's get you to the hospital."
Flashes of the last time she was in a hospital with Edward flashed through her memory. Edward bleeding out. Her trying to keep the door closed with a hospital bed.
"No, I'm fine. It's not time."
She could tell by the look in his eyes that she didn't believe him.
"I can go with you and … keep watch." Seth offered.
Edward's eyes dragged away from his wife and he glared at Seth.
"Probably best if you just leave." He said through a clenched jaw.
A sudden intense pain made Bella's legs weak. She leaned over the back of the couch and cried out as she felt the throbbing and cramping spread across her stomach.
"Fuck."
"Let me call Kate." Edward said as he scrolled through the contacts on his phone. He found her name and pressed it, waiting as the phone rang.
"This is Kate."
"It's Edward, I'm pretty sure Bella is in labor."
"What hospital are you taking her to?"
"I wanted to get her to Northwestern, but I'm not sure she can make it."
Bella cried out and dropped to her knees, the pain suddenly too intense to even let her stand. Edward saw that her pants were wet.
"Christ, her water broke."
Seth looked just as panicked as Edward felt, but he reached out and guided Bella onto the floor. He helped her sit up against the wall and Bella slowly started working on her breathing as she held her stomach.
"Labor can last for hours, Edward, even after the water breaks. You need to get her to a hospital."
"Yeah, I'll try. I think Rush might be the closest that I'm willing to go to. Meet us there."
"There are other facilities closer."
"They're not as nice. We can make it to Rush."
He could hear the exasperated sigh and knew she was probably rolling her eyes, but he didn't care. Edward disconnected the call and dropped his phone into his pocket as he watched his wife.
"Do you think you can stand up?"
"Yeah, yeah." Bella dropped her head back against the wall. "It's passed. Help me up."
Edward and Seth both helped Bella to her feet.
"I can take her to the car for you if you want to get her stuff."
Edward stared at Seth for a few seconds. There was no way he'd trust him with his wife.
"Edward, he can't kidnap me while I'm in active labor. It'll be fine."
Bella sighed and walked towards the garage door as she held onto Seth's hand.
"I'll be right there, fifteen seconds." Edward called out as he ran upstairs.
"Bella, I meant what I said. I'll help in any way I can." Seth muttered as he walked her to their car.
"Thanks, but I don't think you should be involved in this stuff, Seth."
Bella buckled the seatbelt and looked up at her old partner.
"I would never forgive myself if something happened to you because of me and my involvement with the Cullens."
"Let me worry about myself, okay?"
Seth closed the door and went back into their house just as Edward was coming down the stairs with Bella's bag.
"Like I told Bella, let me know if I can help with anything."
"Get the fuck out of my house, Clearwater."
Seth sighed.
"Listen, I know we got off to the wrong foot, but-"
"Now's really not the time. Get out, the door locks automatically."
Edward pointed to the front door and Seth nodded before he walked out the door.
O...O
"She's beautiful." Edward smiled as he bounced the tiny blanket wrapped bundle in his arms.
Bella smiled as she watched them, her heart racing with an overdose of serotonin.
"Yeah, we make pretty great babies."
Edward grinned at his wife.
"Maybe the next one will be a boy."
Bella laughed and leaned back against the pillows.
"Maybe."
Edward felt his heart pound against his chest at the idea of yet another beautiful child.
"But not for a long time." Bella finished.
He nodded and laughed.
"Just not five years. I'm getting old."
"You certainly are, you can barely keep up with me on the mat."
Edward walked over and placed their daughter in the plastic bed next to his wife. He leaned over and pressed a kiss to Bella's forehead and brushed her hair back.
The door to the room opened and Addy's brown curls bounced as she ran over and climbed into the bed with Bella.
"Be careful, stella."
"She's fine." Bella smiled and reached out to pick her up, cuddling her daughter.
Addy looked over and noticed the pink hat before she gasped.
"A sister!"
"That's right." Edward smiled and nodded to his parents as they walked into the room.
"Another granddaughter." Carlisle stated as he looked directly at Edward instead of the baby.
"Yep, another perfect Cullen daughter." Edward smiled at his father.
Esme picked the baby up and held her close as she stroked the infant's features.
"Oh Edward, she looks just like you did."
Carlisle peered over Esme's shoulder at the sleeping newborn.
"Good job, son." Carlisle nodded and then passed an envelope over to Edward.
Bella shook her head and ignored the exchange of cash.
O...O
Children squealed and ran around the large living room as they bounced off of furniture and slid on the hardwood.
"Jesus Christ, there's so many kids here." Bella muttered and leaned against her husband, sidestepping one of the kids as they almost ran into her.
"Well it is a birthday party for a toddler, Isabella." Edward chuckled and placed the carrier with Lili inside on the couch.
"Don't leave her there, one of these hellions will knock her over." Bella reached out and unbuckled the chest clip, pulling their three month old daughter from her carseat.
"You know my mother will zoom in here soon and take her."
Bella shook her head.
"Not for at least half an hour because she'll be hungry soon." Bella glanced at her watch.
Edward nodded and guided Bella through the throng of children jumping and throwing toys around.
"Bella!" Rosalie called out when they stepped into the kitchen. "How are you? How's Lili?"
Bella hesitated, surprised before she smiled as well.
"We're doing great."
Rose walked over to them and stroked Lili's brown hair.
"Are the kids ever going to get your hair, Ed?" Emmett laughed.
"I keep trying for a redhead." Bella sighed and shook her head. "But they just keep coming out with mine."
"Well we were all shocked when Edward came out with red hair." Esme was cutting up vegetables at the counter before she dumped them into a pot.
"Turns out someone in my family had a whole slew of redheads." She laughed and washed her hands, wiping them off on her apron before she also walked over to stroke the baby's soft features. Lili looked up at Esme and smiled, making Esme smile even wider back at her.
"I need to feed her, do you mind if I go upstairs where it's quieter?"
Rosalie shook her head and motioned towards the stairs.
"No, go ahead. The kids will be going down into the basement soon anyway. Seb just had to be born in the winter in Chicago so the kids can't go outside." Rose laughed.
Edward and Bella walked up the stairs together to find the quiet guest bedroom.
"Have you given any more thought to Seth's offer?" Bella asked as she sat on the bed and positioned Lili.
Edward shook his head.
"Why would I want him around you, Isabella?"
"I just think it'd be a good idea to have a cop on the payroll."
"Amore mio, we have plenty of cops on our payroll."
"Amore," Bella rolled her eyes. "How many of those can you actually trust?"
"I can't trust Seth. He shot at you, he wanted to abduct you, he gave you over to Black."
Bella sighed.
"I also did a lot of sketchy things, but you still brought me on."
"I knew you before and our families knew each other. I also wanted to fuck you." Edward laughed. "I do not want to do that with Seth."
She shook her head and sighed, bouncing their daughter.
"I just want you to consider it. That's all. I think we can trust him and I'm guessing he might need money."
Bella shrugged.
"If he wants money, Isabella, just give him some. He's your friend and we can help your friend. But I don't want him involved with all of this," He circled his finger in the air. "Ever."
O...O
"Isabella, are you sure you're okay with this? You just had Lili four months ago."
"I'm fine, Edward." Bella sighed and rolled her eyes before she moved backwards on the mat.
Edward advanced on her, his bare feet moved silently across the black leather on the floor. Bella smiled and slipped to the left, but his hand stopped her. He yanked her backwards until her back hit the floor.
"Ow." She laughed as she looked up at her husband.
"You said you could take it."
Bella rolled up onto her feet and stepped backwards a few feet. Her body definitely didn't move as easily as it used to, but she was determined not to let Edward get the better of her. She moved forward and struck Edward in his abs which only resulted in him laughing. His goddamn abs, he was still in the same shape he'd been almost ten years ago.
"Come on, amore."
Edward reached out and grabbed Bella by the arm, he turned her in a full 180 with her arm twisted behind her and pulled her body back against his. Bella winced at the pain in her arm as he laughed again, then ground his cock into her ass.
"You're such a pervert." Bella jerked her elbow back hitting him in the ribs. He groaned and dropped her arm.
She quickly moved away from him again and smiled. She circled around him slowly, watching as he tracked her movements. She lifted a hand and bent her fingers in a "come here" motion. Edward smiled and quickly walked towards her, but Bella dipped under his arm and moved behind him. She kicked at the back of his knee and then shoved him down onto his back by his shoulder.
"One to one." Bella grinned.
Edward swept her legs out from under her and when she hit the mat once again he laughed.
"Two to one."
Bella sat up and kicked him in the thigh before getting on her feet. Edward rolled onto his feet and smiled his crooked grin at her.
"Don't get mad, Isabella. It's all in good fun, right?"
Bella's hand shot out before Edward could block her and her hand connected with his jaw. Edward stumbled back a few steps and worked his jaw.
"Oh I didn't know we were doing full contact fighting now." He smiled, but Bella could see how his eyes darkened.
"Gotta keep you guessing." Bella laughed.
Edward leaned down and grabbed her thighs, before he yanked as hard as he could. Bella went flying backwards and landed hard on the mat. She winced and felt the air leave her lungs.
"Fuck…" Bella gasped and filled her lungs once again.
"Shit, are you okay?"
"Yeah." She laughed and shook her head. "God, I'm getting old."
"No, you still have a ton of life left in you." Edward smiled and crawled over the top of her body.
"Is that so?"
"Yep. And you still have a hell of a right hook."
Edward leaned down and pressed a kiss to her lips before quickly deepening it. He let his tongue slide into her mouth and felt her quickly responding to him. Edward pulled at her tank top until it was off of her body and started to kiss his way down her bare stomach until he reached her shorts.
A loud beeping interrupted them and Edward groaned as he pulled himself away from Bella.
"Fucking hell, it better be worth it." Edward growled as he walked over to the door and yanked it open.
"What?"
Bella looked over and saw Frankie, one of the new soldiers, standing there. He couldn't have been older than 23 and he looked absolutely terrified every time he was around Edward. Frankie's eyes drifted over to where Bella laid, half dressed.
"If you want to keep those eyes, son, you'll put them back on me."
Frankie's eyes shot back up to Edward and Bella laughed.
"Two of our trucks got hit tonight."
"What? By who?"
"We don't know, but they shot the drivers and stole everything."
Edward cursed in Italian and then turned back to look at his wife. He was torn once again.
"Go." Bella nodded and waved her hand. "But be careful."
"Always, Isabella."
