A/N: Serious artistic license has been taken in this chapter, and we are veering far away from reality: the Astros (gasp) are depicted in the post-season.
Thanks so much to FicSisters for allowing me to participate in their Signed, Sealed, and Delivered feature today. What an awesome way to celebrate hitting the "Complete" button!
Epilogue
October 10, 2014
"Thanks so much for doing this, Bella," Jacob said with sincerity. I shrugged him off with a grin.
"What's the point of having celebrity connections if you don't exploit them?" I joked. We both turned to gaze around the laughter-filled room again. We occupied one of the Club Level luxury boxes at Minute Maid Park, and it was Game 1 of the ALCS. It was a miracle of miracles, but the Astros were back in the post-season. Edward had helped me arrange the party that I was hosting for the evening.
The room was decent-sized, and, as it was positioned between home plate and first base, one of the more desirable ones. The back corner of the room was filled by a bar and manned by our own personal bartender. The open bar was on me tonight, but I could afford it these days. One wall was dominated by an enormous flat screen TV, and it would show the game once it started. The front of the room was a large window that overlooked the field. There was also a door leading onto a balcony over the field that was filled with traditional stadium seats, allowing us to bounce back and forth between baseball experiences. A large table set with hors d'oeuvres was the focus of the crowd at the moment.
I smiled at the room full of my favorite people. So much had changed in the last few months, and I couldn't be happier with how things had turned out. Nessa Black, Jacob and Leah's three-year old daughter, was perched on a chair with her little hands pressed against the glass of the window gazing in awe onto the baseball field. Her new best friend, Emma McCarty was next to her. Leah and Rosalie chatted nearby with matching glasses of Chardonnay.
I had started at Texas Orthopedic Hospital as the newest attending physician in August after taking a month long vacation in July to follow Edward and the Astros around the country. My dad would have been so thrilled at the number of baseball stadiums I'd now visited. The best experience had been the trip to Minnesota for the All-Star game and watching Edward pitch there. Thanks to Derek Jeter, the American League had won.
Edward had returned to the Astros after his no-hitter in the Minors with a vengeance. His ERA was ridiculously low right away, and he was far and away favored for the Cy this year. But I guessed we'd have to wait and see how the post-season shook out. After several meetings with Renata, who still was not my biggest fan after the demo disaster earlier in the spring, Edward was quite open about his relationship with me.
To my great surprise, I'd become a mini-celebrity in my own right, turning up in the society pages in the paper occasionally when I was out and about. It had actually helped my debut at TOH. Most doctors have trouble booking patients in their earliest days out of training, since most people would prefer to schedule with an experienced practitioner. Never mind that fact that by the time any doctor finishes years of training they are, by definition, already experienced. But I hadn't had that problem. People requested me by name as soon as my appointment calendar opened. I liked to think it was because I'd participated in the favored son's rehab, but I knew it was more likely that they hoped Edward would stop by the office. I wasn't worried; they'd see how awesome I was soon enough. At any rate, I was already pleasantly busy after only two and a half months working there.
It would be a lie to say that I didn't get a bit of a thrill seeing my mother and Phil identified as "Dr. Isabella Swan's parents," in a photo caption contained in an article about a charity event that they'd attended. Edward had suffered through one dinner with the four of us. Phil had wanted to have dinner out (to be photographed I had no doubt), but I'd insisted that it be held at their home to give us privacy. I continued to have lunches with my mother, but we had declined the many other invitations they'd thrown our way, able to cite our busy schedules.
I'd invited her tonight out of guilt, something that was a part of my innate nature. I knew I'd never completely shake that. She was my mother after all. Phil, of course, was working. She was currently sipping a martini and chatting with Emmett, who could get along with anyone. I had noticed Elizabeth studiously avoiding her earlier and had chuckled to myself. I was glad that Emmett and Rosalie had been able to make it up with Emma since they'd made the permanent move down to Galveston a few months ago.
Alice, Jasper, Garrett, and Kate were sitting outside in the folding seats looking out at the field and watching the team warm up. Things were thawing between Kate and I because I knew Edward missed spending time with her, and I didn't want to be that girlfriend. But she still wasn't my favorite person.
Sam and Emily Black were also here. Edward had made good on his desire to reconnect with his old roommate, and, especially since I'd started working with Jake, we'd managed to hang out with them a few times. Sam approached the little girls by the window and crouched down to chat with them. Emily was gazing at Leah's glass of wine wistfully. She'd shyly shared with me that she was four months pregnant, but she wasn't showing yet, so no wine for her.
Esme and Elizabeth were deep in conversation in the corner. Esme was making large sweeping motions with both hands, so I had no doubt she was describing one of her latest projects. Elizabeth listened with interest, and I was reminded of the irony that the two of them had known each other for years. I hoped they wouldn't separate themselves from the group too much because I was hoping to introduce Esme to Jasper's brother, Peter, tonight.
I didn't know many of my other new colleagues well yet, but I'd invited Dr. Ateara and his wife, who I had learned was his secretary, Claire. After only two days working at the hospital, the Chairman had insisted that I call him by his first name. So, Quincy, it was. While I appreciated all that Dr. Volturi had done for me, Quincy fostered a work atmosphere that was much more to my liking. Quincy was currently chatting with Edward, Sr., and by the serious looks on their faces, I assumed they were talking shop. They both had beer, and I knew Edward, Sr. well enough now to know that he'd loosen up soon enough.
Claire was at the bar with Jasper's brother, Peter Whitlock, and Irina Laurent. Irina had worked at Baylor for years, but she quit shortly after my blow up with Carlisle. TOH snapped her up not too long after that. I'd gotten to know her better since I started at TOH. She told me that Tanya's bitchiness just got to be too much for her to handle.
I asked her about what I'd seen the morning Carlisle threw me out of clinic, and she relayed that Tanya had overheard Carlisle's phone conversation with Dr. Volturi. So, she googled the blog post and proceeded to spread those false details to everyone in the clinic before I arrived. She'd prevented Tanya from confronting me that morning, and for that I'd be eternally grateful to her. She was a hardworking, excellent nurse, and I was glad she was on our side.
Just then, I felt an arm slip around my shoulders, and I smiled when I saw it was Elizabeth. She gave me a squeeze.
"This is a lovely party, Bella. Thanks for hosting," she complimented, lifting a flute of champagne in my direction.
"Here, here," agreed Jake and held his beer up. I clinked my own glass of beer against each of theirs.
"Go Astros!" I cheered, and they both echoed my sentiment. Suddenly, the clock caught my eye. "Hey, guys, please excuse me. I need to visit the facilities before they start introducing the players," I said hurriedly. They both smiled and fell into conversation with each other as I headed out of the suite. You'd think a fancy box like this would have its own toilet, but you still had to exit out onto the concourse and use the group one. Oh well.
I made my way over the beige plush carpet, past the walls decorated with photos documenting the history of the Astros toward the Women's Room, which was only about 50 feet away. But before I could push the door open, I heard a quiet voice call my name.
"Bella?" the voice said hesitantly, but I recognized it instantly as Carlisle's. I whirled around in surprise even though I wanted to stalk away without acknowledging him. I said nothing, just raised my eyebrows and stared at him. He looked down and shuffled his feet like the coward that I knew him to be. Finally, he raised his head and met my eyes.
"Is there somewhere we can go and talk?" he asked.
"No," I said clearly. "I don't think there is anything to say. And what are you even doing here?" I demanded. His face turned pleading.
"Please, let's just step around the corner," he requested. So, I shrugged and followed him a few feet.
"What?" I asked sharply again with my hands on my hips.
"I'm here as the team doctor," he explained. "I was hoping I would run into you. Um…I owe you an apology. I've been trying to find a way to reach you for a while," he admitted, but I interrupted him.
"First of all, you have my number. And second of all, you owe me a hell of a lot more than that," I snapped, "but I'm all ears." He swallowed hard, and I enjoyed his discomfort.
"I read the retraction on The Chronicle's blog. You were telling the truth. I jumped to conclusions, and I should have talked to you before I went to Dr. Volturi. We could have avoided all this," he waved his hand around in front of him. I sighed, but he continued.
"As you know, I require order in my life to function," he looked away again with obvious embarrassment. "I always thought you were the same way, and that I could count on you to do things by the book. It really blindsided me when you stepped out of line, tried to have a life outside of work. It disrupted my idea of the world. And I over-reacted." It seemed Carlisle was still missing the point, and he also sounded like he might be seeing a shrink. My anger towards him dissolved, and I just felt sorry for him.
"Carlisle, you didn't just over-react. If it hadn't been for Dr. Volturi, you would have ended my career, right then and there. But, it's worked out better for me. I might have taken the job at Baylor if you hadn't acted like an asshole, and that wouldn't have been right for me. I love it at TOH, and I fit in well for once. I'm not just towing the line silently; I contribute. And they are supportive of my relationship with Edward. He and I are the real deal, and I almost lost him due to my stupid insecurities. I wouldn't change a thing that happened," I told him patiently.
Carlisle cringed at the word asshole but didn't argue like he probably would have in the past. I waited for him to leave, but he kept standing there like he said more to say. The conversation was making me tired, so I stepped to the side to go around him.
"Wait," he said suddenly and laid a hand on my forearm. I jerked my arm away, and he looked chagrinned. I took a step away from him but didn't leave. I was curious now. He took a deep breath.
"Siobahn left me," he told me, and my mouth dropped open in shock. I did not see that revelation coming. He swallowed in that nervous tic way of his and went on. "She wanted to go to Las Vegas for Labor Day, and I said no. With everything going on…I told her to go without me, and she threw a tantrum. It became obvious that she really just wanted me to pay for the trip. I was upset, and I didn't have anyone to talk to about it, not a single friend who would understand. I realized that I wanted to tell you. I wanted to ask your advice. Siobahn was using me, and you tried to warn me." Carlisle paused and reached for my hand. I was so surprised by his words, that I let him take it and didn't pull away.
"Bella, you are my friend. You're probably my only friend. Everything you said about me in the meeting with Dr. Volturi was right, and I was wrong. I'm so sorry. What can I do to make it up to you?" I came to my senses and did pull my hand away. I also took a step back. I could not stop the pity that seeped into my heart, but I did fight it.
"Carlisle, you have a lot to learn about friendship. And I don't know if you can make amends at this point," I said. Then, I brushed past him and left him standing alone in the hallway. I went directly into the Ladies' Room where I knew he couldn't follow me.
I exited my haven a few minutes later, too anxious to miss the beginning of the game to linger for long. My head was on a swivel, looking left and right, but I saw no sign of my nemesis. I made it all the way to the door to our box when I saw him again. He was a little further down the concourse, standing with Esme. I froze and stared at the two of them. He was talking with his head down, and I couldn't see his face from this angle. She was facing me, and after only a few seconds, she looked up and our eyes met.
I was angry. Was she going behind my back? What happened to chicks before dicks, as Rosalie had so crudely put it so many months ago? But her lips were thin, and she shook her head minutely at me. Whatever he was saying was not agreeing with her. She interrupted his monologue and spoke to him harshly. I could tell even though I couldn't hear. I didn't wait to see what happened; I just used my badge to get back into our private space.
Unfortunately, I was immediately accosted by my mother, who was chattering about nothing. I pushed past her to the bar, seriously needing another drink, stat. I took a long drink of my new beer when I realized that Esme was standing next to me. My mom had moved onto Elizabeth, who had been unable to ditch her politely yet.
"What was that all about?" I asked once I'd swallowed and rudely wiped my mouth with the back of my hand.
"He stopped me on the way back from the restroom. He was hoping I'd talk to you, convince you to talk to him again," she replied with a curl of her lip. I stared incredulously.
"Really? I can't believe he'd resort to petitioning you after everything," I gasped at his audacity.
"I know. And if he tries to talk to me again, then I'll call security or the cops," Esme agreed. "You don't owe him a thing. But you might want to consider that he's actually sorry. The fact he would try to talk to me like that is a step in the right direction," she said mildly. I considered that. I also knew that I couldn't avoid seeing him forever. He was the Astros' team doctor, and he still worked with Edward now and then, even if neither of us liked it.
The announcer started introducing Astros' players, and everyone in the box turned their attention to the field. I took one last glance out the window in the door to our box. Sure enough, Carlisle was slumped in one of the many comfy chairs that lined the passageway of the Club area just outside. I didn't know how I felt about that, but I decided not worry about it any more. I decided to take the possibility of future forgiveness for Carlisle at my own pace. I wasn't about to miss my sweetie's introduction as the starting pitcher for Game 1 of the ALCS. Carlisle was forgotten.
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I joined the Whitlocks, Garrett, and Kate outside in the stadium chairs. Of course, Edward's parents didn't stay inside either, and a few of my other guests trickled outside as well. The weather was fine as would be expected on a Houston October evening. I was given deference and allowed to choose which seat I wanted. I sat on the end of the front row, where I could lean on the railing and jump and pace as needed.
The top of the first was quick. The Yankees' first batter was thrown out at first, and the second popped a fly to right field. I was far enough away that Edward's face wasn't clear, but I could see his brows drawn together in concentration as he struck out the third batter. The second he saw the umpire confirm the call, he was trotting back to the dug out to don his jacket and shoulder packs. Elizabeth leaned over Edward, Sr. to squeeze my hand and grin knowingly. I'd taken to sitting next to him since I knew he'd stay quiet and not bother me.
The bottom of the first was a similar batting experience for the Astros, and we were on pace for a very quick game. I glanced up through the open roof. The sun was setting, and the lights in the surrounding buildings were starting to come on. The light pollution would prevent us from seeing the stars, but Houston itself twinkled around us. I sighed in contentment, hardly able to believe where I was and the direction my life had taken. I was 80% on track with the life plan I'd created in college, but it was the other 20% that had made all the difference.
I watched Edward like a hawk as he jogged back to the mound. I couldn't help but smirk when I looked at it. We'd almost kissed in that spot all those months ago, and as soon as we'd returned from Fresno, he'd marched me right back out there in the middle of a Wednesday and proceeded to kiss me senseless. Apparently, that particular fantasy was one he couldn't allow to go unfulfilled a moment longer. I watched him hungrily as he stretched and pivoted with his windup. Sadly from this angle, I wasn't able to watch adequately as the material of his pants stretched across his glutes so enticingly as he threw. I shrugged since I knew I'd see those same glutes without the pants in only a few hours.
The game that night was boring by baseball standards, which usually means a pitching duel. And that's what we'd seen. Luckily, Edward emerged as the victor, and just like that the Astros were leading the Yankees in the ALCS 1-0. Game 2 would come all too soon tomorrow afternoon, but now I was looking forward to celebrating with my roommate.
One perk of the private suite was that it was one of only a few locations in the park that didn't stop serving alcohol at the seventh inning stretch. So my guests were feeling no pain when I ventured back inside from the balcony as the top of the ninth came to an end, and the game was called. Edward had only pitched through the sixth, but I was a big enough fan that my attention didn't wane. I encouraged everyone to finish their drinks and take their time leaving as Edward, Sr., Elizabeth, and I gathered our things to head down to the clubhouse.
They all waved me off, a chorus of cheerful thanks following us as we headed to the VIP elevators. I proceeded carefully, alert for Carlisle sightings, but I knew he was probably down in the clubhouse, too, as his role as team doctor would dictate. I hoped I wouldn't run into him again tonight. I wanted to be happy and congratulate Edward without worrying about him.
The media room was hopping when we walked in. Reporters, executives, and product advertisers mingled with family members. The three of us moved to far corner and tried to stay as far out of the limelight as possible. Heidi from the Chronicle blog had the decency to lower her eyes and avoid all contact with us.
Edward was one of the first to come out, having finished his game much earlier than the rest of the team. Renata hovered close to him as the reporters from various outlets clamored for a few moments with him. His hair was wet and untamed, and he looked sexier than a man has a right to do as he answered a few of their questions with his trademark, charming smirk. He wore a gray button up dress shirt without a tie, open at the collar with a pair of black slacks, and I was drooling at the muscles of his forearms where they peeked out from his rolled up cuffs. I could see that Elizabeth was vibrating next to me in anticipation of hugging her little boy, so I stepped out of the way to allow that.
But Edward was having none of it. He sidestepped his mother to envelope me in a crushing embrace. He dipped his head to nuzzle my hair and place a hot, open-mouthed kiss behind my ear. I stumbled with embarrassment when he let me go. A few people in the crowd clapped at our display. I looked over at Elizabeth just as he gave her a hug and kiss on the cheek, and she didn't look the least bit put out. In fact, she looked quite satisfied. Edward shook his father's hand, and then turned back to me again.
"Let's go home," he said with the suggestive version of his smirk. I'd come to learn and re-learn all the variants of that devastating expression in the last few months. He grabbed my hand, and I followed him out to the players' parking lot. Toshiro was there, as well as quite a bit more security than what I'd seen in early days. We passed without incident onto the sidewalk surrounding the ballpark to make the short walk back to our apartment.
Yes, it was our apartment. There really had been no question when the lease was up on my apartment that I would move in with Edward. A move for me had been long overdue, and I guessed I'd been waiting for Edward all along without realizing it. Luckily, we had easy access to a designer who had tweaked things quickly to give the space my stamp, too.
Of course, there were many jubilant fans milling about in the streets surrounding Minute Maid Park, and they recognized Edward instantly. But Houston is a mellow place, so no one tried to bother us. They just shouted congratulations at him, and he waved good-naturedly back. A few even greeted me. One guy who couldn't have been much more than his early 20's clutched his heart and feigned a swoon.
"Dr. Swan!" he called out. "I think I need mouth-to-mouth," he shouted dramatically with the back of his other hand draped over his eyes and forehead. I shook my head and walked on without commenting, a blush creeping over my cheeks. Edward chuckled next to me.
"You sure do have an effect on the young guys," he teased, and I shoved at his shoulder.
"Bring 'em on," I retorted. "I got over my age thing a long time ago." I gave him one of my smirks, and he palmed my ass. I yelped and skipped ahead, not wanting to give the crowds a show. Edward's guffaws followed me as I hurried into the lobby of our building. He was closer than I thought, and I let out a small shriek when he threw me over his shoulder and carried me into the elevator.
"You're playful tonight," I observed, and he raised his eyebrows at me.
"And why not?" he asked indignantly. "I just got my first post-season win." I kissed his bicep, and he carefully set me on my feet.
"Congratulations," I told him sincerely, and he gave me a dazzling smile.
"But, I'm actually more excited about what comes next," he remarked.
"Why?" I asked teasingly and tugged at the neckline of my v-neck shirt. "Are you expecting a strip-tease?" Edward gave me an indulgent smile and shook his head enigmatically just as the elevator pinged on our floor. He ushered me out with a hand on the small of my back. I fumbled in my purse for my keys, but he held out his hand.
"Allow me," he requested and stepped forward gallantly. He turned the key and pushed the door to swing it open but allowed me to go first. I gasped and froze when I took in the scene before me.
The living room was covered in coral-colored rose petals. I guessed that was as close to orange as he could get, and the thought made me smile. A bottle of champagne was in a chiller next to the piano, and two crystal glasses were resting on top of the instrument. All the curtains and shades were open, giving us a spectacular view of the ballpark and the nighttime skyline. I heard the door shut softly behind me.
"Awfully, sure of yourself, weren't you?" I started to joke as I turned around. But my words died in my throat. Edward was kneeling on one knee behind me, holding an open red velvet box in his left palm out towards me. I put one hand over my mouth and stared in shock.
"Bella Swan, I've wanted to do this since December 20, 2007. I love you, I have loved you, and I will love you. I've tried not to love you, and that didn't work out so well. So, please put us both out of our misery, and make an honest man of me. Will you marry me?"
"I thought these were orange roses for the Astros…for the game," I blurted stupidly. I may have grown emotionally in the last year, but I still was awkward as hell. I struggled to make sense of what was happening.
"Bella." Edward breathed my name and shook his head in mock frustration and amusement, and it brought me to my senses.
"Oh my God, I'm sorry, Edward! Yes! Yes! Of course, I'll marry you," I hopped forward until I was next to him and crouched down to his level. He offered me the box, which was definitely Cartier, and helped me slide the monstrous rock onto my left hand. It was emerald cut with horizontal baguettes on either side. I didn't even want to contemplate how many total carats I was looking at. My mother would swallow her tongue. But it was me, square, sharp edges and all.
There were tears in his eyes when he leaned in to kiss me. I returned it with such a fervor that it knocked us off balance, and we toppled over onto the hardwood of in the middle of the entranceway. We both laughed.
"I love you, Edward," I told him. He smiled blissfully.
"I'll never get tired of hearing you say that. There was a time that I never thought you would," he replied wistfully and kissed my lips briefly. "I love you, too." The kisses started to get more heated, but Edward pulled away and hoisted me to my feet.
"Come over here," he requested and led me to the piano. He poured us each a glass of the champagne, and we toasted and took quick sips. Then, he turned his attention to the keys. This time when he started playing, I was ready for him.
"You are the rose of my heart. You are the love of my life," I sang. He raised his eyebrows and paused.
"You figured it out," he said looking pleased. I nodded shyly.
"I've been listening to Johnny Cash non-stop since you teased me that day," I confirmed, and he laughed, his eyes crinkling adorably.
"Well, let's take it home together, then," he proclaimed and began to play again.
"A flower not fading nor falling apart, If you're cold, let my love make you warm, Rose of my heart…" we sang together, me more softly so I could hear his lovely voice, the voice of my fiancé. We smiled at each other as he finished and the last strains of the notes died away. Then, his smile turned devilish as he scooped me up again, leaving the champagne abandoned in the living area as he navigated us down the hallway to the bedroom.
He dropped me on top of our bed and instantly dove over me. I sighed in relief and pleasure as I felt his substantial weight on me, as his mouth and body covered mine. So, I did what I did best when it came to Edward Masen. I kissed him back.
THE END.
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A/N: First of all, I don't know for sure that the luxury boxes at Minute Maid don't have bathrooms, but the box at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium (which no longer exists) where I watched Game 5 of the 1991 NLCS and Game 3 of the 1991 World Series did not have one. My extra evidence rests in the fact that I went to the bathroom during one of those games and saw Jane Fonda preening at the sinks. I mean, her husband owned the team. If she didn't have access to a private bathroom, then who would?
I'm overwhelmed by the response that this story has generated. I'm so flattered that so many people have taken the time to read and review. It has meant the world to me and gotten me through the end of an extremely tough time in RL.
Thanks to TLS, Fic Sisters, Tarbecca at ADF's Fic Dive, and WitchyVampireGirl at RobNation for reviewing and recommending Designated Hitter and also to Payton79 for the shout-out in her awesome fic, Two Blue Lines. I'm so sorry if I've forgotten anyone who helped pimp DH.
And special thanks to Cejsmom for being my pre-reader and hand-holder, in general. You have helped me so much!
So, I'm going to be working on an EPOV, but it may take me more than a week. But, I promise it will be up before Christmas. Most reviewers are in agreement on the topic, but I will let it be a surprise!
And, hopefully, I'll be working on something new for 2015! Put me on alert if you are interested…
Love, EG