**Time jump mid chapter**
Bella
"Has he been pestering you lately?" Rose asks. She and I are in the kitchen preparing dinner while Edward and Emmett keep Kaitlin entertained in the other room.
"No, not really. I still get the occasional text, but it's usually about assignments for the class we have together. He backed off when I told him I wasn't interested in another date."
"And he accepted that? I thought you said this Jacob guy was really persistent?"
I shrug. "He was, but he seems to have accepted it. I stopped having lunch with him, and I haven't gone out of my way to see him, so I think he got the hint. Plus I told him I needed to focus on school and my daughter, and that anything else would just get in the way of my goals."
"Except you're not really focusing solely on K and school, are you?" Her leading question makes my cheeks warm.
"No, I guess not," I answer shyly.
"So... You and Edward, huh?"
I can't keep the stupid grin off my face as I answer her. "Yeah."
"Oh my god!" she squeals.
Fast, heavy footfalls rush into the room, Edward coming to see what all the commotion is about.
"What the hell's going on in here?"
"Rose just got a little worked up." I shoot her a scolding look before turning back to Edward. "Everything is fine. Sorry to scare you, birthday boy."
He gives me a scowl, but steps closer, wrapping an arm around my waist as he pulls me in for a quick kiss. "Thought you were hurt or something," he says quietly. Though, it's not too quiet for Rose to hear him.
"Looks to me like she's far from hurting," she says from next to us.
"And on that note, I'm outta here." With another quick kiss, he walks from the room and back to our girl.
"Well, it's about damn time!" Rose hip-checks me as she works at my side, chopping vegetables for a salad while I work on the finishing touches of Edward's cake. He didn't want any fuss made over his twenty-sixth birthday but conceded when Kaitlin overheard us and asked if we could have cake.
"What makes you say that?"
She shrugs. "You guys have been dancing around each other for a while, Bella. Even at K's disaster of a birthday party, I could see it. You guys are a little family," she says wistfully. "I'm just glad he decided to cut the dead weight and pull his head outta his ass."
I'm quiet as I work, not entirely comfortable knowing anything about Heidi and how he ended things.
"She was just... Heidi was wrong for him in so many ways, and I have no idea why he stayed with her so long."
"What? Was she not a nice person?" I ask, keeping my hands busy and my eyes on my task.
"Oh, I guess she was nice enough. Liked to party a little too much. And that just got worse the more she was alone. All that time Edward spent with you in Cork, she was out trying to get into trouble. I don't know," she says with a shrug. "The whole relationship was just weird to me. I don't know why they were together for so long."
"It was what, like three years?"
"Yeah, I think it was right before your dad died when they got together. From what Emmett told me, she's the one that ended things. That poor man seems to be clueless where women are concerned. All I know is that it's in his best interest to treat you better than he treated her. If not," she says, pointing her knife in my direction. "He's gonna have to answer to me."
I laugh, thinking to myself that she just may be serious.
"But, judging by the look on your face, I'd guess things are good?" she asks.
I look over my shoulder, making sure we don't still have an audience before leaning close so she can hear me whisper. "Rose, things are so good."
Our laughter brings our men and my little lady into the kitchen, and I know our girl talk is officially over.
Seated around the table, we all chat about how our summer is going. I haven't seen Emmett and Rose in so long, but we pick up where we left off like it was only yesterday, laughing and teasing each other. I realize how much I've missed my friends while I've been busy with my classes.
"So what are your plans now that you're done with school?" I ask Rose.
Her face lights up at my question. "Actually, Esme asked me to work at the Cullen Foundation. Since I majored in communications, I'll be working mostly in the social media department, promoting their new projects and the different fundraisers. The first project I'm going to be part of is a new women's shelter that's set to open in the fall. I'm really excited."
"That's great, Rose. I'm really happy for you," I say with a smile.
"And that's not the only thing she's going to be planning," Emmett says with a sly grin. He and Rose exchange a look, and Rose's smile only grows before turning to us.
"What's he talking about?" I ask her.
She reaches behind her neck, unclasping her chain and pulling it from her shirt. After a little maneuvering, she thrusts her left hand at us and squeals. "We're getting married!"
After all the congratulatory hugs have been passed around, things calm down, and a wide-eyed Kaitlin is taking in the chaos.
Edward notices and leans down to her level. "What's wrong, Princess?"
"What's mawwied, Daddy?"
Ignoring the gasp and wide eyes from his brother and his fiancé at her calling him Daddy, he answers. "It's when two people love each other, and they want to live together." His eyes flash to mine as we can both see the wheels turning in her head. I can almost bet I know what she's going to ask next.
"Wike you wuv Mommy?"
He chuckles. "Yes, I do love your mommy, but Uncle Em and Aunt Rose are the ones getting married, Princess."
Rose must sense the need to move on from Kaitlin's line of questioning because she interrupts their conversation. "Kaitlin, I was hoping that you could be my flower girl. If it's okay with Mommy and Daddy, that is."
I send her a grateful smile, letting her know I'm okay with it, but also happy she was able to distract my daughter from asking questions Edward and I aren't yet ready to answer.
"A fwower girl?" she asks with wide eyes. I snicker because I know she has no idea what that is, but the way Rose asked her, she knows it's something special.
"Yes, a flower girl. In fact, it might be the most important job at a wedding," Rose reassures her.
"What I do?" She's up on her knees on her chair now, almost bouncing in place.
"You'll get to dress up in a pretty princess dress and make my wedding extra special. You'll sprinkle flowers on your way down the aisle, giving Uncle Emmett and me some good luck. And I can't get married without good luck." She looks up at me. "And Bella, I was hoping you'd be my maid of honor?"
"Oh, Rose, I'd love to!" I turn to Edward. "But is it safe? I mean..." My eyes flash to Em and Rose. "Will your brother be there?"
Emmett is the one who answers, shaking his head. "No. He's not invited."
"It'll be safe, álainn," Edward reassures me. "I'll personally make sure the security is tight. If he's not on the guest list, he won't be there."
"I don't give a flying fu-" Emmett catches himself looking down at Kaitlin. "I don't care if he's my brother. He will not be there, Bella."
I nod, looking down at Edward's hand in mine. "Okay." I look back up to Rose. "Yes, I'd love to be your maid of honor. Now, when is the big day?"
Setting their wedding date for after my graduation was a blessing in disguise. With my classes and caring for Kaitlin, my schedule the second year of school was insane. Add in trying to spend time with Edward, and I don't know when I found time to sleep.
On a bright, warm May afternoon, I walked across the stage and received my Associates Degree in Criminal Justice. To say I was proud of my achievement is an understatement. Emmett and Rose were there, among the crowd, with Kaitlin on her lap, cheering me on. Edward and Esme were there as well, though they were seated elsewhere, attempting to keep our connection from going public. It's one thing to be friends with Rose and only associated with the Cullens, but entirely another to be seen publicly as having a relationship with Edward, an alleged criminal.
But, that was last month. Today is Rose and Emmett's big day, and Kaitlin has been a bouncing ball of energy for the last week, knowing her time to be a princess was approaching. Though, for a four-year-old, she's surprised me. I was sure she'd want to wear her dress before today, but she's only stared longingly at it since it came home with us from the seamstress last week.
"Mommy, I can't wait! I'm gonna be so pretty!" she says excitedly from the bench of my vanity as I braid her hair.
"You certainly are." I smile at her reflection in the mirror.
"Of course you will be, Princess," Edward says from the doorway. "You'll be even prettier than Aunt Rose." He walks into the room and leans down to kiss the top of Kaitlin's head before stealing a kiss from me.
"No way, Daddy. Aunt Wose is soooo pwetty in her pwincess dwess. It even has sparkles on it!" she says dramatically.
And she's right. Rose's gown is covered in crystal beading, and it's the most beautiful wedding dress I've ever seen. I was with her when she first saw it, and we both knew it was the dress the moment she slipped it on.
"Maybe so, but my girls will still be the most beautiful ones there," Edward says. "Sparkles or not."
"You don't look so bad yourself," I say to him. He's dressed impeccably in his tuxedo, and thoughts of getting him out of it later rush through my mind.
"What's going through your head, álainn? Those cheeks of yours are giving you away," he teases.
I shake my head, trying to hide my smile. "Nothing."
"Yeah, sure." He steps close enough to whisper in my ear. "If they're anything like my thoughts, I'm thinking maybe we should ask Carmen to stay here tonight, and we get a room at the hotel after the reception."
The sexy smirk on his face and glint in his eye tells me all I need to know. He's absolutely serious.
What I don't tell him is that I've already arranged for her to bring Kaitlin home about an hour after the reception begins; just long enough for her to get cake and have a dance with her daddy. Then we're spending the night in the suite I reserved. A little late graduation present to myself you could say.
"We'll see," I cryptically reply. "Maybe you should pack a bag. You know, just in case." I look back to Kaitlin. "All done, baby girl. We'll put your dress on at the church, okay?"
"Okay, Mommy."
"Now, go get your sandals on, and you and I can leave."
She rushes down the hall to get her things, and I gather what we need to take along with us.
"So, I'll see you at the church, then?" I ask him.
"Yeah. I told Emmett I'd pick him up on my way." He looks at his watch. "By now he should have slept off the hangover from last night," he says with a chuckle.
"And you're sure he didn't do anything Rose is going to be upset with?" I ask, worried about his answer. Visions of what could have happened flash before my eyes, and I have a sudden wave of insecurity.
"Well, if she has a problem with him losing way too much money at the blackjack table and drinking too much in Atlantic City, then she might be upset. But," he says wrapping his arms around me. "There were no strip clubs, and no naked women involved in our lame attempt at debauchery last night. We're both very happy, satisfied men," he says with a kiss to my neck. "I don't need to go out and look for trouble when I finally have everything I want."
"You sweet talker." I pull back just enough to look up at him. "And I still can't believe you used the jet to fly into Jersey for one night."
"That's one of the perks of being a Cullen," he says with a cocky grin.
I smile and playfully and smack his chest. "Go. It's your job to make sure he gets to the church on time. You don't want to face the wrath of Rose if he's late."
They weren't late, and the ceremony went off without a hitch. I walked down the aisle, and as I looked at Edward standing at Emmett's side, I imagined it was me walking toward our own happily ever after. Kaitlin did her job with pride and flair, tossing the flower petals as if they were fairy dust and she was Tinkerbell, making everyone in attendance chuckle at her theatrics.
When Rose stepped into the room on her father's arm, everyone else around Emmett just disappeared. He only had eyes for her. And when Councilman Hale gave away his only daughter, the tears in his eyes brought a few to my own.
I spent the ceremony dreaming about the possibility that one day it could be the two of us pledging ourselves to each other for the rest of our lives. And judging by the look on Edward's face, I think he had the same dream for the future.
But watching Kaitlin dance with her daddy, her tiny feet on his, will be the memory that stands out to me most about this day. She's looking up at him with a smile so bright it brings happy tears to my eyes.
"They're quite the pair, aren't they?" Carlisle's voice in my ear startles me.
"They are," I answer simply. The limited contact we've had in recent years has been tension-filled, especially when he found out that Edward and I were involved.
He extends a hand to me. "Care to dance?"
"Of course." I let him lead me to the dance floor, and once there, we catch the attention of Edward. His expression gives him away; he's worried. His protectiveness doesn't stop at keeping his brother from me, but he likes to keep his father at a distance as well.
"Esme tells me you've graduated."
"I have," I say with a nod.
"And you did well? Got high marks?"
"I maintained a 3.9 GPA both years," I say proudly.
"That's quite commendable." We glide uncomfortably around the floor, and I can feel several pairs of eyes on us. "You shouldn't have any trouble passing your civil service exam, then?"
"No, sir. I don't expect any trouble."
"So I don't need to make any arrangements to make sure you're accepted into the academy?"
"No, Mr. Cullen. I'm confident that I'll succeed on my own." His line of questioning is making me uncomfortable, and I shift in his arms.
"Very good. I know your personal reasons for joining the force are for an entirely different reason, but I don't want you to lose sight of what the family needs from you."
His words sound almost like a threat, but before he can say more, Emmett taps his father on the shoulder to cut in. "Mind if I take the lovely Miss Swan for a spin around the floor?"
"No, of course not," Carlisle replies, bringing my knuckles to his lips and placing a kiss on them. "It was a pleasure, Bella."
"Likewise." I watch his retreating form as Emmett leads our dance.
"Do I need to apologize for Da saying anything to make you uncomfortable?" he asks.
I shake my head. "No. I'm not sure what that was all about. But if he was trying to freak me out, he succeeded."
Our conversation is cut off by a commotion at the doors. All heads turn to the noise, and I can see Jasper and Alice arguing with the security posted there.
"What the fuck?" Emmett mutters under his breath. "How the hell..."
"They must've seen the announcement in the paper, Em. It's public knowledge when and where you were getting married." My grip on his tux jacket betrays my attempts to sound unfazed by Jasper's appearance.
I watch as Edward whispers to our girl before handing off Kaitlin to Carmen and heading toward the scuffle. I also don't miss his hand disappearing under his tux jacket to check the weapon hidden there as he walks away. I scan the room, seeing Esme fighting back the tears over the scene her oldest is causing at what should be a happy occasion. I know she was upset that things weren't different with Jasper, but she has also resigned herself to a lifetime of him missing out on special days like this.
Snapping out of my daze, I go tend to my daughter, making sure she stays ignorant to what's happening just outside the door, and to make sure she has what she needs for her night away from us. Getting a goodnight hug and kiss is just a bonus.
"I'll miss you, Mommy. But, I see you in the mornin? And Daddy too?"
"Yeah, baby girl, you'll see Daddy and me in the morning." I kiss her head and get all the hugs and kisses I can get from her before she's carried away by Carmen, one of Edward's trusted men at their side to see them safely home.
By the time I've seen her off, Edward is back and looking only slightly disheveled. As he steps closer, I see his lip is bleeding.
"What happened?" I ask as I reach to check him. He grabs my hand before it can make contact and kisses my palm.
"It's fine. Asshole got a swing in before we got him under control." He looks more pissed than hurt, so I try to rein in my concern.
"What did they want?"
He scoffs. "Just wanted in. Actually, Alice was the one causing a scene. She was runnin' her damn mouth about being kept out of the family because of one mistake." He gives me a pointed look. "You can imagine how that went over." He leads me by the hand to our table. "There was a lot of yelling, and she finally calmed the fuck down, but they managed to get the attention of some of the media that were camped outside the doors waiting for a shot."
I look around, suddenly aware that our being seen together could cause major problems. "You don't think-"
"We're fine, álainn. The photographer was vetted, and we're getting all copies and every memory card. If someone's private photo happens to be leaked, it can be explained away." He leans in close. "Isn't it common for the best man and maid of honor to hook up at weddings anyway?"
"Speaking of which," I say in as sultry a voice as I can manage. "How would you like to spend the night with the maid of honor?"
He looks at me, puzzled. "Baby, don't we spend almost every night together?"
"We do. But, how would you like to go upstairs with me? I got us a room for the night." I bite my bottom lip waiting for him to respond.
"Where's Carmen?" he asks, looking around. "I left Kaitlin with her while I went to handle shit at the door."
"She's not here."
His head swings around, his eyes wide. "Where did she go? And where's my girl?" My heart nearly melts at his love for her.
"She took her home."
"But I didn't get to tell her goodbye," he says, sounding adorably disgruntled.
I laugh, thinking that she probably would've had a similar reaction if I had given her more time to think about her leaving us behind. "We'll see her tomorrow." I lean in close, whispering in his ear. "Besides, I'm looking forward to having some adult time. I've heard that hotel sex is pretty good."
Almost faster than I can blink, he's on his feet, pulling me with him.
We spend the rest of the night proving the statement to be true. With no reason to be quiet, no risk of being walked in on, we're loud and daring, trying positions I've only fantasized about up until now. When we finally collapse into a sweaty, sated heap, we've both decided...
Hotel sex is definitely pretty good.
"Miss Swan, I'll be honest with you. We know you graduated near the top of your class at Fisher and were among the best in your class at the Academy. I also know your father was a good man, a good cop. We're happy to have you on board here at the Boston PD. But, we would be lying if we said we weren't equally interested in your personal relationships."
I take a deep breath, prepared to answer the questions I know will be posed to me. I've been ready for this from the outset, to play both sides, to find answers to the murders of my parents, and to help keep the man I love, safe.
"What would you like to know, Captain?"
He scratches his brow, mulling over his words. "Well, you've been seen around town with Rosalie Cullen, used to be Hale. We've got pictures of the two of you at a bridal shop several months ago, too."
I nod. "I was the maid of honor in her wedding."
"Well, we're a little puzzled, Miss Swan. We need to know exactly how close you are to the Cullen family. Why did you choose law enforcement when you associate with the wife and daughter-in-law of known criminals?"
I look him right in the eyes, unwavering. "I believe both my parents died at the hands of the Voltolini crime family. My goal is to eventually work my way up the ranks to the Organized Crime Division so that one day I can get answers. I met Rosalie a few years ago and found out she was involved with Emmett Cullen." I shrug. "I thought getting closer to them would get me closer to my goal. If I can offer information on the Cullen family once I get into O.C., it would be mutually beneficial to me, as well as the department."
I take a deep breath. "Make no mistake Captain, it's my goal to bring them down."
A/N: Big thanks to Fyrebyrd, Gabby1017, TheMetroDad, as well as the newest member of this awesome crew, 2brown-eyes for pre-reading, and to my beta, SunflowerFran. Please remember, all mistakes are mine.
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