REFRESHER:
*(Demetri and James are brothers) Their parents are Caius and Tanya
*(Peter and Liam are brothers) Their parents are Marcus and Irina
*Peter is married to Charlotte and Demetri is married to Kate or Katie
Chapter 25: Confessions Of A Meddling Mother
3rd POV
Liam had the barrel of a gun pressed up to his father's temple. It was just reveled to Liam only moments ago that Maggie was pregnant with his child… scratch that, children. Pregnant with his children. Twins. He was still trying to process that part.
"You need to calm down Liam." Carlisle said as he slowly approached Liam to take the gun out of his hand.
"Calm down?! Here watch this and then tell me to be calm." Liam pulled out Tris's cellphone he had basically stolen with Maggie's video on it. He slammed it angrily on the table in front of Marcus.
By now everyone was gathered watching a furious Liam hold his father at gunpoint.
Upon hearing Maggie's declaration of being pregnant Bella and Rose gasped in unison. While Victoria just smirked in satisfaction.
"Good for her," Victoria said. In his blind rage, Liam turned his gun from Marcus to Victoria which caused James to aim his gun toward Liam.
James yanked Victoria behind him guarding her from Liam's line of fire. Shouts from various family members jumbled together making their words incoherent. James and Liam stood in a stand off. Their eyes burned into each other, it was intense, and almost intimate like they were having a conversation with one another. Liam was the first one to break. Slowly, he lowered his gun and set it in Carlisle's awaiting hand.
"Go cool down son. You're wedding starts in fifteen minutes." Marcus said adjusting his tie like he wasn't just held a gunpoint.
Liam just laughed. "You must be joking!"
"I am not. The guest are already here. We will continue as planned."
"I already released Tris from her contract. I can imagine since we don't see her that she's long gone by now."
"You what?!" Marcus growled out.
"I let her go. I won't marry someone else when Maggie is out there pregnant with my children. I should of fought you from the beginning. I did the dutiful son and look where that got me! I'm done. I should of never listened to you! I should of never let Maggie leave!" Liam shouted angrily at Marcus.
"You're right. You shouldn't have." Marcus said casually.
Liam was ready for an argument but Marcus's words left him dumbfounded.
"what?"
"Can everyone leave. I need to speak to my son alone." Irina spoke up. Liam watched everyone filter out of the room leaving only him, his father and mother in the room.
"Liam sweetheart, I have something to confess." Irina said softly.
"Irina, No!" Marcus said walking toward his wife.
"He needs to know. He held you at gunpoint. Enough is enough!" Irina shouted at Marcus.
Marcus stayed silent and gestured for Irina to continue.
"Liam you're sitting here blaming your father for my mistakes and wrong doings." Irina said with glossy eyes. "It was me baby. I was the one who caused this rift between you and Maggie. After meeting Maggie and spending time with her…" Irina paused, "Well, I didn't think she had it in her to be a mob wife. People who think this life is glamorous are not from this life. You and your cousins took off to a small as fuck hick town and found small town girls. These girls are now having to adjust majorly to this life change. Maggie is soft and pure. She would of had to become hardened to stay with you. I have seen this time and time again. When your weak you get taken out, picked off from the herd. I was trying to do you and her a favor and end it before it started."
"I don't understand, Ma what are you saying exactly?" Liam said sitting straight in his chair and watching closely as his mother paced the room.
Irina ignored his questions and carried on. "When I had heard about the accident I rushed to the hospital. I was terrified that I had been too late and Maggie would have already been touched beyond repair by this life. But she was alive… and I saw my opportunity to drive a wedge between the two of you. I sent you in to sit with Maggie while I spoke with the doctor privately. The doctor had told me that the bullet had passed all of her major organs including her uterus and that she would be perfectly fine. Of course… I paid the doctor off to tell you both a different story." Irina swallowed and poured herself a glass of scotch.
"Then, you had stayed by her side but I saw the light going out of her eyes. My guilt ate at me as I watched her knowing that I had caused the same thing I was trying to prevent. I sent your father to your house to create pressure and tension. Then at the engagement dinner I invited Astoria and told your father to offer Maggie a generous check to leave. But many things happened in which I miscalculated. For one, you agreed to impregnating another woman and second, Maggie took the check. Don't get me wrong, I wanted her to take the check but I didn't think she would do it. 5 million would of given her a nice dowry to find another husband and eventually she would have fallen pregnant. All of this would of felt like a bad dream. I definitely didn't account for her to get pregnant. And now everything is one huge shit storm!" Irina huffed and downed the rest of her scotch.
Liam shot up out of his chair with such force that the chair fell backwards creating a loud crash as it clashed with the tile flooring.
"I can't believe this! How could you? I'm a grown ass man Ma. I don't need you to fight my battles. My life is in shambles and you played a large part of it's demise. I hope your satisfied because she's long gone. With your grandchildren. Mission accomplished. I need to go. You're always going to be my Ma and I'm always going to love you. But right now I can't stand the sight of you."
Liam bolted from the room and opened the door so hard that the door knob embedded itself into the dry wall.
2 weeks later…
BPOV
"I can't look at it."
"Do you want me to tell you?"
"No. Yes. No, no… yes! read it."
"It's positive! Hermione you're going to be a mommy!" I said smiling down at her. She had her head laying on the cabinet beside the toilet.
Hermione lifted herself off the cabinet and held her hand out for the pregnancy test I was currently holding. I gave her the test and took a seat on the bathroom floor beside her.
"I can't believe it. I'm going to be someone's mum." she said with watery eyes.
"I'm going to be a mummy!" She laughed. "Oh my god, you must help me figure out how to tell Draco. I'm thinking a prank of some sort."
I laughed at the thought of pranking the ever serious Draco only for him to find out he's going to become a dad. It was too good not to be apart of it.
"Count me in. Come on, let's get up off the floor and let me wash my hands. I handled your pee stick."
Hermione rolled her eyes at the me. "You do know that urine is sterile don't you?"
"Don't care. My love for you does have bounds." I laughed.
"Ah. And here I thought it was limitless. You did after all hold my 'pee stick' in the first place." She chuckled standing up off the floor so I could wash my hands.
"You know with Maggie being pregnant and you being pregnant I wonder who the third person will be to get preggers."
"What do you mean?"
"There are a few old sayings when it comes to pregnancies like 'it comes in three's', or 'must be something in the water'."
"I thought that that was bad things. Bad things come in three's?"
"Where I'm from they say it about pregnancies too. I don't know how true it is honestly."
"Damn it."
"what is it?"
"Draco's going to make me give up my tea. No more earl grey or English breakfast. Ugh… let me use the Lou one more time and then we can go get lunch. I think I fancy a nice large cupcake." Hermione said smiling. She had a dreamy expression on her face and went to grab her purse.
"I thought you had to go to the bathroom?" I asked her as she was slipping on her shoes.
"Oh yes. I forgot." She said sprinting into the bathroom.
We walked to a little bakery close to Hermione's apartment. Hermione sat across from me with a cupcake in each hand. One was strawberry and one was vanilla.
"You should have a gender reveal party. It would be so much fun. They have so many different ways to reveal now."
My phone vibrated in my pocket. I pulled it out to see a text from Edward.
At Liamz. Can doe bring foo5? Too drunk 2 drived.
-E
Good grief Edward. It's only 4 in the afternoon.
"An eloquent text from my husband. Can you read this and tell me what you think this says." I asked sliding her my phone.
"At Liam's. Can you bring food? Too drunk to drive." She laughed handing my phone back to me.
"Yeah, that's what I thought it said. Ugh… I suppose I will have to leave soon. Wouldn't want my darling husband to suffer from hunger pains." I rolled my eyes.
"Well if you need to leave that's fine. I'm so happy that you could come and be with me to take that test."
"Of course but I'm going to at least walk you back to you're apartment. You shouldn't be walking around alone the city in your current predicament." I told her gesturing to her stomach.
"You mean since I've got a pea in my pod. Don't worry about me. I always have either Vincent or Gregory guarding me."
"Pea in your pod? That's a new one. We always said bun in the oven. I like it." I chuckled. Well if you are sure I guess I better head out. I'm so happy for you Mione." I told her giving her a tight squeeze.
"Call me sometime this week and we can do brunch."
"Deal."
I walked out of the bakery and slid into the back of the car my body guard Riley drove. He seemed to have forgiven me about the whole Laurent mess. I looked at my phone and saw I had a missed call from my doctor. Once Edward found out about my panic attacks he sent me to a private phycologist to help me deal and work through my issues. The doctors name is funnily enough also Bella.
Bella Lestrange. She works in the mental ward at the hospital. She is Draco's aunt and from what Hermione tells me she's as wicked as they come. James had let it slip that Dr. Lestrange has a permanent slot on the Cullen's payroll. They bring her in time to time for 'specialized torture tactics' as well as medical assistance. But she has been helping me come to terms with what happened that night. So, she can't be all bad I suppose. Wouldn't want to be on the wrong side of her syringe that's for sure.
I dialed her number back but got her voicemail. Guess we would play phone tag for now.
"Riley, can you swing by Peter's restaurant Mia Bella. Edward and Liam found themselves intoxicated and now require substance." I said. My frustration was apparent by the tone off my voice.
I could hear Riley chuckle in the front seat as he replied simply with, "Yes ma'am."
Riley pulled into a parking space in front of Mia Bella while I ran inside and ordered. I sat and waited on my to go order. My thoughts went to Maggie. I wondered where she was. If she was safe. If the babies were kicking and how big her belly was. Liam still hadn't spoken to Irina. The family felt divided. Edward, Emmett, and James sided with Liam. Peter and Demetri sided with Irina. Although both Peter and Demetri married girls who were born into the mafia lifestyle.
"Mrs. Cullen your order is ready." The waitress looked at me with concern etched in her face.
"Sorry if I didn't hear you. Newly married. I'm still adjusting to the Cullen last name." I laughed. She laughed back, probably just to humor me.
It was always this way when a Cullen entered an establishment. The employees were always so jumpy. All worried that the slightest mistake would leave them all jobless.
I grabbed the to go bags filled with delicious smelling Italian food and walked out of the restaurant. Riley was waiting outside the car for me. He took the bags from my hands and placed them with him in the front seat. I took my place in the back as usual and we sped away to Liam's apartment.
We arrived quickly and Riley helped me carry the bags to the apartment. A USPS box sat against Liam's door. I picked the box up and read the sender tag.
From: TRIS EATON
To: LIAM CULLEN
Did Tris get married?
I was about to knock on the door when I heard muffled music and feminine sounding giggling on the other side.
I banged on the door and was shocked when a half naked woman answered the door. All she had on was underwear. Her ample sized breast on full display. I pushed the door open and saw Liam in the living room snorting what I can only assume is coke off a woman's bare ass cheek.
"What the fuck is going on in here?" I shouted.
Liam's head jerked up and down his eyes went wide as if he had been caught cheating. Speaking of cheating…
"Where is Edward?"
Liam said nothing but had a look of guilt on his face.
I looked through each room until I found Edward passed out in a guest room. He was alone and fully clothed thankfully. I left him there to sleep and shut the door quietly. I walked back into the living room and yanked the cord to the stereo from the wall.
"If you are a female you need to leave." I said as calmly as I could.
"Bitch, whose you think youse are telling us to leave?" She must have been a Chicago native. Her accent was heavy.
"Disrespect me again and you'll find yourself at the bottom of the marina adorned in a stunning pair of concrete boots. I said GET OUT. Don't make me repeat myself." My voice was like ice and my glare could start a fire. The girls didn't stay to test my bluff they gathered their clothing and left quickly.
Once they were gone I turned around to Liam and slapped him across the cheek.
"What the hell is wrong with you? What if Maggie had showed up and saw this? You're fucking up big time. Get your shit together."
I walked back into the guest bedroom and poured a bottle of Dasani on my sleeping husband.
His eyes popped open once he felt the chill of the cold water.
"What the hell Bella?"
"Don't you what the hell me! Do you want to tell me why I came here to find half naked women running around and your cousin snorting coke off some chick's ass?"
"They were just a couple of strippers to cheer Liam up. Nothing happened I swear."
"You are sleeping in the guest bedroom indefinitely. You just ordered some strippers and expect me not to care. Who do you think you are? I can look past your shady dealings but I'll be damned if I sit back while you look at other women."
"Bella I'm sorry, I didn't think. Strippers are common in this life. My father owns two strip clubs. I honestly didn't think you would mind. I didn't touch them."
"Yeah you didn't think. Maybe Irina was right to try and save Maggie from this bullshit. I only wanted a husband. Someone I could share a simple life with and have children with. I don't know how much longer I can keep this up. What happened to the man I married. He was nice. I love that man. I feel like I've been sidelined in your life."
I bolted out of the guest room and saw the look on Liam's face. I could tell he had over heard what I had said. I couldn't find it in myself to meet his gaze and walked straight past him out of the apartment. I didn't want to go home so I called the one person who could help me sort through everything reasonably.
"Hey can I come over? Okay I'm on my way. See you soon."
I ended the call and slid my cell back inside my pocket and hailed a cab. Edwards would be furious at me later for giving Riley the slip but I didn't care. When the cab pulled up to the building I paid my fare and thanked the driver.
Upon entering the building I had to show my ID and was then escorted by an employee to the gold elevator reserved for the penthouse apartments. This one building had four of them covering the entire top two floors. The elevator worked off of voice recognition software and delicate my voice had been added weeks ago.
"Isabella Marie Cullen." I said as clearly as I could. It accepted my voice and took me up to the top floor. The doors opened straight into the stylish modern chic apartment.
"Victoria? James?" I called out.
"In the dining room." I heard them shout.
I walked back to the dining room. It was one of Victoria's favorite rooms. Two sides of the room were made of glass giving you the perfect view of the city.
The couple were eating what I hoped was Victoria's homemade lasagna.
"Wow James. Home by five and eating dinner. I hope I'm not destroying date night."
"No, no. Are you hungry? We have plenty. I could get you a glass of wine too. You looked like you had a hard day. Sit. Sit." He gestured to the chair across from Victoria.
I sat down and Victoria gave me a half smile.
"Why can't all husbands be like yours?" I asked chuckling and pointed to the pan of lasagna. "Did you make this?"
"Well duh… Of course I made it." She laughed grabbing her wine glass and taking a sip.
James came back and handed me a glass of wine. Which I gratefully accepted.
Victoria was still holding her wine glass. James took his hand and wrapped it around the hand she was using to hold her glass and topped her glass off with red wine. The look the gave each other was intense like they were trying to convey a million emotions. I could see a rare blush sweep over Victoria's cheeks. James bent down slowly and kissed her gently on the lips before taking his seat again at the head of the table.
"Like I said. Why can't all husbands be like yours?"
"What can I say Bells? I'm a rare breed." James stated oh so, modestly.
I rolled my eyes. James and Victoria stared me expectantly.
"What?"
Victoria huffed and crossed her arms. "Are you going to tell us what happened or do you want us to guess?"
"Oh… well it started earlier, I got this drunk text from Edward." I then proceeded to tell them everything that happened after that in which brought me to their apartment.
"Shit, Liam was doing coke? Are you sure it was coke?" James grilled me.
"He was snorting it. It was white. I assumed it was coke. Why?"
"It was heroine. Liam and myself are recovering addicts. Keep your mouth shut about this Bells. Have you told anyone else besides me and Vicky?"
"No, no. I swear. I came straight here after I left."
"Okay good. I'm sorry baby I've got to go beat the piss out of my cousin. I may not be back home tonight. I want you both to stay here tonight." James said strapping his gun to his waist. He looked at me sternly and then kissed Victoria on the lips and forehead.
Then he was gone.
Victoria and I polished off two bottles of wine between the pair of us and passed out in her California king sized bed. More giggling than talking was done but it still felt therapeutic. Sometimes men suck and what you really need is your girls.
Nice long chapter! Okay Review and tell me your thoughts. I will hold out on you if I don't get at least 10 reviews. Next chapter will be all Edward and Bella. I'm thinking couples therapy with Dr. Lestrange. How many of you thought her being a mental health doctor was totally fitting in a ironic way?