The Game

Nine days passed quickly. Edward was quite excited about the baseball game. I wasn't entirely sure why. I mean, I knew that he liked baseball and that he loved his niece, but it wasn't going to be exactly easy to keep a three year old entertained, especially since it was going to be passed her bedtime.

I was hoping to be wrong. Really really hoping.

We decided to meet Charlie for dinner before the game at around four thirty so we would have enough time to get arranged and get into our seats. Plus he wanted to make sure that he got a baseball for Bridget.

Since we were going over there so early, we decided to go get Bridget at three thirty. You never knew how long it was going to take you to go to one place to another in Dallas. Sometimes the traffic was horrible. Luckily it didn't seem so bad. It was a rare occurrence.

"Hey," Emmett whispered as he opened the door. "Come on in. I haven't gotten B ready yet. She's asleep on the couch with her momma. I wanted to make sure she got a good long nap so she is in a good mood later."

"Wise," I smiled as I came inside. He gave me a one armed hug before shutting the door behind us.

Rosalie was stretched out along a big leather couch, her large stomach raised up a foot or so where it should have been. Or at least it seemed like it to me. She was wearing a t-shirt of Emmett's and nothing else, her legs covered haphazardly with a blanket. One of her arms was draped over her eyes, and she was snoring loudly. Tucked against her side was Bridget, her face shoved against her mother's stomach.

I certainly hoped she could breathe. Emmett didn't seem worried, so I didn't say anything. I also wondered if she could feel the baby kicking against her cheek. It was an interesting thought.

I turned just in time to see Emmett give Edward another one-armed hug, patting his back as they walked inside. "Hey. How are you?"

"Great," Edward smiled, wrapping his arms around my waist as he came to stand beside me.

"Liking the new house?"

"It's great," he whispered, which didn't really match his broad smile. "I mean, we're still getting used to it. We're still unpacking. Maybe eventually we'll finish getting set up," he chuckled.

"That's always the way. By the way, what are you doing for your birthday?"

"Birthday?" I asked quietly. I knew Edward's birthday was sometime in the summer, but he hadn't said anything to me about it.

"Yeah," Emmett said, smirking at me. "It's the twentieth."

Edward rubbed his neck bashfully. "I haven't really thought about it. We've been so busy. I'll think about it and get back to you."

"You better," he nudged him. "Your momma would kick my ass if I didn't make sure you celebrated in some way. I'm sure Bella has something crazy planned for you." He winked at me playfully. I just blushed, biting my lip as I looked down at my feet. "Well, let's get the kiddo up, and we'll get her ready to go."

Rose didn't even budge when Emmett removed the sleeping girl from her side. In fact, her snoring just got deeper. I wondered if I ever got pregnant if I would sleep like that. Like the dead on Ambien. I didn't think a giant zombie invasion could have disturbed her from her rest.

Bridget didn't exactly wake up perky though, poor thing. She groaned loudly, her head resting against Emmett's shoulder. "Daddy, I was comfy."

"I know, baby, but Edward is here," he cooed at her.

"Bella, too?" She said in a little voice, her eyes barely opening as she took in the information.

"Mmhmm," he answered her, rubbing her back as he walked her towards her bedroom.

"Does that mean I get to see Grandpa Charlie again?" She asked quietly before I heard the door shut. I looked over at Edward with raised eyebrows.

"I bet you she's going to walk away from this baseball game with a lot of stuff," he said, trying to distract me. I wasn't going to be deterred, though. I was on a mission.

I punched his shoulder soundly, making him flinch.

"Why didn't you tell me it was your birthday? It's less than two weeks away!"

"It didn't seem important."

"The day of your birth is a very important thing to me." I frowned at him. "I wish you told me."

"I'm sorry," he said soothingly, rubbing a hand over my shoulder. "I already got the best gift possible."

"Pussy whipped," Rosalie murmured as she rolled over, scratching her stomach before beginning to snore again. I laughed, making Edward chuckle as well.

"Woman, if you weren't pregnant," he said threateningly. She lifted her arm off the couch and flipped him off. He just chuckled again, shaking his head. "Bella, don't worry about it, okay?"

"Yeah, right," I muttered just as Bridget came out of her room, rubbing her eyes to get the sleep out. She walked to her mother and gave her a kiss before coming over to Edward. She just lifted her arms up limply, wiggling her fingers at him.

"Sleepy little dove," he cooed, nuzzling her hair lovingly. "Did you have any good dreams?"

"I dreamed I was a monkey," she said, laying her head on his shoulder.

"Not surprising. You are a monkey," he teased her, poking her side.

"I'm not a monkey," she complained weakly as we walked to the car. "I'm a pretty princess."

"I wonder where she heard that from." I rolled my eyes at Edward. He smiled at me as he put her into her seat, a booster that now set permanently in the back seat of my car. I loved hanging out with Bridget and Edward, and it looked nice back there. I think Edward thought the same thing.

Bridget was a lot more awake by the time we got to the trendy casual dining restaurant. She was talking non stop about the baseball game and how she couldn't wait to see Grandpa Charlie again. It was funny to hear that term, especially since she was nowhere close to being a grandchild of his. But, I bet he would just eat it all up.

"There are my girls!" Charlie said, kneeling down to Bridget's level when we came walking up. She ran into his arms and squealed. He chuckled loudly, spinning around for a moment. "How are you this evening?"

"Happy!" She said, batting her eyelashes at him. Yup, she was already working him and neither of them probably even knew it. She was going to be so dangerous when she got older. Guys were going to follow her around like puppy dogs. "I'm hungry!"

"Me, too!" He agreed, turning and walking into the restaurant.

"We didn't even get a hello," I pouted as I followed behind. Edward chuckled, wrapping his arms around my waist as we stood in front of the hostess stand, waiting for them to seat us.

He brought his lips close to my ear, whispering softly. "ello," he said, nibbling on it.

"Behave," I muttered.

"We know where this is headed, don't we?" He said suggestively.

"Yes, me punching you for getting frisky in front of my dad."

Charlie cleared his throat, "I will pretend I heard none of that."

"Please do," I said with a frown, tugging away from Edward and giving him an evil look. He just looked at me sheepishly, grinning at me in an apology.

When the hostess began to take us to our table, he grabbed my ass in a not so subtle fashion. I laughed and punched him square in the arm, making him laugh in return. He tickled me back, making me squeal like a little girl. I hit him again.

It was all very fifth grade.

Charlie, who was walking in front of us with the child, didn't even turn around to say, "do I need to break you two up?"

"He started it," I said accusingly.

"You started it," Edward shot back.

We stuck our tongues out at each other at the same time.

"You are silly," Bridget snorted. "Daddy told me when girls hit boys they're flirting."

Edward smiled, helping the little girl into her seat. He kissed her on the top of the head, rubbing her arms. "Yup, sometimes they do."

"Are you flirting with Edward?" Bridget asked with wide eyes. Her innocence was adorable.

"Yup," I winked at her. She laughed, clapping her hands.

"Does that mean you're getting married?" She asked in a loud and very enthusiastic way. Ever since Alice's wedding she had been obsessed with getting married and weddings. It wasn't unusual for a young girl anyway.

That didn't mean that silence didn't spread across the table. Menus stopped moving, and three pairs of eyes were all on me at once.

I cleared my throat and longingly wished for a Coke to chug down simply so I didn't have to answer. Especially in front of my father. But, the waiter still hadn't come by the table, and I was left wanting.

I cleared my suddenly dry throat and smiled sweetly at Bridget. "Well, yes. One day. I love Edward very much."

My boyfriend smiled like a cat who got the canary. My father was incredibly thoughtful. And apparently, all I did by answering that question was get the poor child even more excited.

"Can I be the flower girl again!? Can I wear a red dress? Can your wedding be in red? Red is my favorite color!" She began, chattering away. Edward leaned in, covering her mouth gently before she could get too loud.

"Bridge, I haven't asked Ms. Bella yet. A man has to ask a woman to marry him before they can have a wedding. Not to mention she has to say yes."

"Well, ask her," she said, rolling her eyes.

"Well, there are a few things I have to do first!" He chuckled, touching her nose. "But when I do, you'll be the first to know, okay?"

"Promise?" She eyed him seriously. I giggled, covering my mouth to hide it from the extremely straight-faced girl. She was so sweet.

"I swear."

Thankfully this appeased the small child.

The waiter finally came to take our drink order. Edward and I split a salad and a burger. Bridget got chicken fingers, and my father got catfish. He had a hell of a time trying to get the girl to try some of his fish. He wanted to show her why she was fishing in the first place the other day. When she finally did try it, she liked it so much that my father ended up eating the chicken instead.

And he didn't mind one single bit.

By the time we finally got to our seats in the red-bricked baseball stadium Bridget already had a bag with a program in it, two baseballs, and a bag full of three colored cotton candy. My father had a beer, as did Edward, and I shared a diet soda with Bridget.

Bridget was just pleased with the candy, more interested in that than the first two innings of the game. The only time she stopped eating was when they did the national anthem.

"So, what do you think of your first baseball game?" Edward asked, his arm draped over the back of my chair. I was snuggled in the crook of his arm, watching from where my head rested against his shoulder.

"Well, the chair is comfortable," I said with a smile, wiggling in place a bit to show my point. "And the company is good."

"I'll take that as a compliment," Charlie said from his spot beside Bridget.

"It is," I laughed. "This is nice. I'm thrilled we did this. We'll have to do this again real soon."

"That sounds nice," my dad said, patting my hand gently. "Edward, make sure she keeps to that."

"I will," he chuckled, taking a long drag off of his beer. "Especially if it means bringing my girls out."

I turned slightly and kissed his jaw, just smiling to myself. I didn't think things got much better than this.

Somewhere around the fourth inning, Bridget got some popcorn and a soda of her own thanks to my father. By the sixth inning, she was sitting on Charlie's lap, watching as the game progressed.

It was bound to happen. During the middle of the eighth inning, Bridget's eyes got real wide like she was surprised and she clutched her knees together. "I gotta go potty."

Both Edward and Charlie stood up like they were going to take her. I rolled my eyes and stood up myself. "I've got her guys. I don't want her to go to a men's room at a sports arena."

"Probably got a point there," Charlie smirked. He focused his eyes on Bridget. "You hurry back and when the game is over we'll get you a souvenir!"

"Okay!" She grinned, grabbing my hand and pulling me towards the stairwell.

Thankfully the bathrooms weren't too far away, but there was a little bit of a line. Bridget waited as patiently as she could, dancing in place beside me. I giggled, "soda makes you need to go potty bad, huh?"

"Real bad," Bridget agreed, nodding her head as she continued to squirm. Just in the nick of time, a stall opened, and she raced inside. I stood outside the door and held it close because in her rush she forgot to lock it. It was hard to hold in my laughter when she let out a sigh of contentment when she finally got to go.

It was the simple joys in life.

We washed up and headed back to our seats. They were in the middle of the ninth, and it wouldn't be much longer. The Rangers were ahead by three runs, and it didn't look like the other team was going to come back from that.

When we came back to the row where Edward and my father sat, I noticed them leaning in close to each other, talking seriously.

"What are you guys talking about?" I asked, and they shot apart, both of their faces turning red.

"Nothing," Edward said quickly, standing up to let me to my seat. Bridget got settled back on Charlie's lap.

"It didn't look like nothing," I said, eying them both curiously. Charlie didn't look at me, but straight ahead at the game with his arm protectively around Bridget's waist so she wouldn't tumble backward out of his lap.

"Girl, stop being nosy," Charlie scoffed, still not looking at me. "We weren't talking about nothing."

I licked my upper lip in thought as I looked at them both. My dad refused to meet my gaze, and when I narrowed my eyes on Edward, he flushed brighter. I leaned in close, whispering in his ear, "was he giving you a hard time?"

Edward snorted, "no, love. Don't worry about it, okay?"

I would have pressed further, but I heard the crack of a bat and the crowd went nuts. Apparently, the Rangers scored another run. I decided it was probably a subject best left untouched until we weren't in mixed company.

"Oh, look!" Charlie gushed like an old southern woman, "it's a little cheerleader uniform! Edward, what do you think her size is?"

"Daddy, she doesn't need all of that," I said. He had already agreed to buy her a teddy bear with the jersey. He ignored me.

"She's a four T," Edward answered. I gave him a look, and he just shrugged. "I might as well help him! He's going to buy it anyway. Might as well get it a little big so she can grow into it."

"I can already see how you two are going to be when you have kids," my dad said as he searched through the costumes. He found the one he wanted and hung it over his arm. "She's going to be the boss, and you're going to be the dad who goes 'sure baby, of course, you can have ice cream!'" He laughed.

"You're one to talk," I mumbled.

"And you turned out alright, now didn't you?" He smiled at me. I watched as his eyes lit up. "Oh! Pom-Poms! That'll go with it perfectly."

Edward carried the sleeping Bridget to the front door of Emmett and Rosalie's house while I brought all of her loot. Her new teddy bear was held limply in one of her arms, simply not falling because one of its arms was smashed between the toddler and Edward's body.

"Wow," Rosalie said as she looked at all the goodies. "You guys didn't have to buy her all of that stuff."

"We didn't," I frowned.

"Grandpa Charlie did," Edward laughed, handing over the girl to her father. "He's really liking that title."

"Yeah, she doesn't get much grandparent time. You know, with Ma and Pa being in Florida and Rose's parents still working," Emmett shrugged. "I'm not going to stop her if he doesn't mind."

"Trust me, he doesn't," I chuckled. "At all."

Rosalie took all the stuff from my arms, examining it with a curious glance. "Um, okay. Well, thanks so much for taking her out. It was nice to have some quiet time."

"As always, you're welcome," I said, giving her a quick hug. Edward did the same, kissing her cheek.

"I'll try to take her again sometime next week, Rose," he said to her. "I know how tired you are. I'll try to get you a break if I can."

"God bless you," she muttered before giving a warm smile. "Goodnight, guys."

The ride back to the house was quiet. I was trying to think of the best way to figure out how to ask Edward what he was talking about with my father. I was also thinking about what I wanted to do for his birthday. I wanted it to be a surprise, at the very least.

It wasn't hard to decide what I wanted to do for him. He was such a family man, and I knew that he missed his parents. The hard part would be trying to get them over here without him finding out beforehand. I would have to talk to them sooner rather than later. That night if possible.

It was just after midnight by the time we got home. I kicked off my shoes, leaving them in the foyer as I stretched my arms. Edward wrapped his arms around my waist from behind, kissing my neck lightly.

"So, did you enjoy the game?" He asked casually.

"It was a lot of fun," I answered. I decided to use the opening if he was going to make it so easy. "I'm still curious to what you and my father were talking about it."

He turned me around, his hands on my waist. "Nothing to worry your head over, love."

"I'm just worried if he was giving you crap over-" He placed his lips on mine, kissing them firmly.

"It was nothing like that. We were talking about certain things that come with this house. Some responsibilities," he said cryptically. My boyfriend kissed my lips slowly again, running his hands over my ass. "That's all."

"Mm," I muttered. I didn't think that was all at all. When someone says 'that's all' they were usually keeping back some information.

And I would have said as much if he wasn't distracting me with wandering hands. I would have allowed him to keep wandering if I didn't have things to do as well. I pulled away, frowning slightly. "I just thought of something I need to do for work before I forget."

"So late?" He complained, running his fingers through my hair.

"Yeah, it shouldn't take too long," I answered, pulling my phone out of my purse and slipping it into my pocket before throwing the bag onto the table beside the door.

"Maybe I can help?" He offered sweetly. I nibbled on my lip, thinking of a way to distract him.

"Actually, I'm feeling a little hungry. Think maybe you can make a little something?" I asked, batting my eyelashes at him. I knew he couldn't resist them.

"How long do you think you'll be working?" He asked thoughtfully.

"Thirty minutes tops."

"I can work with that. What would you like?" Edward asked with a little smile, dragging his fingers along my jaw. His touch was wonderful.

"Anything you'd like," I told him. "I love whatever you cook. I promise I will try to finish up as quickly as possible," I said as I pulled away from his grasp before he could suck me in with warm touches and even hotter kisses.

I went towards my office, typing away on my phone quickly. I wasn't sure what time it was in London, or wherever she was, but I didn't want to wake Esme. I decided the best way was to text her and then I would look at flights from London to Dallas for a few minutes.

"Esme, when you get this could you give me a call? It doesn't matter the time. I have a favor to ask."

No more than a full minute after I sent the message my phone was ringing. My laptop hadn't even finished loading up yet.

"Is everything okay?" Esme asked quickly, a lot of noise in the background.

"Everything is fine. Where are you at?"

"We're in an airport in Poland. We're heading back to London today. What's the favor? Is everything okay?"

I cleared my throat softly. "Everything is great. Well, it's just that Edward's birthday is coming up and he didn't tell me until tonight, but I want to surprise him. I was wondering if I could talk you and Carlisle into coming-"

"Sure!" She squealed quickly. "We'd love to!"

I didn't even get a chance to finish the sentence before she answered. She must have been looking for an excuse to come over stateside.

"It would be a surprise," I said to her. "Maybe have a little party."

"Oh! That would be perfect! We should throw Edward a big party! Have the entire family get together. That would be so wonderful. When do you want us there?"

"The day before his birthday?" I thought out loud. "Of course I'll pay for everything."

"No, you won't!" She scoffed. "So, the day before. Would you like to do a surprise party? I'm sure my sisters would love it!"

"Yeah. That would be great. Edward loves those potluck style meals they do," I offered.

"That would be perfect! I'll call them this afternoon, and we'll get the ball rolling. I'll call you with more details," she said excitedly. I heard Carlisle in the background, sounding completely confused. "We're going to Texas for Edward's birthday! Bella's a genius."

"I just want to make Edward happy," I told her truthfully.

"And you're doing a fantastic job," she said softly. I could practically see her smile. "Honey, we've got to go. They're calling our flight. We'll buy the tickets today, and I'll call my sisters. We'll get it all set up."

"Just one thing," I said quickly before she hung up. "I want to make his birthday cake."

"Got it!" She laughed. "Love you, darlin," she said, her accent thick.

"Love you, too," I smile, hanging up the phone. I set the cell down, closing my laptop. Apparently, I didn't have to look at flights after all.

I made my way to the kitchen where Edward was making what looked like omelets and toast with some nice hot tea. He smiled at me broadly. "That was quick."

"Yeah, that was a lot easier than I thought it would be," I answered truthfully. I came to him and hugged his waist gently. "Want me to do anything?"

"Just stand there and be your sexy self," he teased me, kissing my forehead. I laughed, squeezing him tighter. "Okay, well, maybe you can grab the butter from the fridge."

As I watched Edward move around the kitchen, I smiled to myself. He was so happy already, and I couldn't wait to see his reaction to his birthday surprise.

Hm, what do you think Edward talked to Charlie about at the game?

Two more chapters and an epilogue to go! Don't forget to check out my poll on my profile on what oldies I should do next. (I don't think it works on mobile, so if you have an opinion but can't vote, let me know)

Thanks for reading!