So, here it is, as promised.
SunflowerFran and annaharding worked their
magic super quickly this week, so you get an early
update! :) Thank you, ladies!
Lots of sugar and sun in this chapter - no heavy drama
for a change.
I have a feeling a few of you will be mad with me in
about thirty seconds, but please, bear with me and
check the A/N at the bottom! All will be explained.
Thank you all for your wonderful reviews on the last
chapter! I didn't get around to responding to all of
them because my phone died and was in for repair,
and I usually respond on the bus to and from work.
The 'S' key on my laptop also died, so typing is a massive
effort and I'm suddenly realizing how many 'S's there are
in normal conversation!
Anyway...you're not interested in me... ;)
Enjoy!
~ oOo ~
Summary: When two little girls were allowed to walk
home from school one bright spring day nobody could've
predicted the events that followed. The way two families
were torn apart by the vendetta of a deranged man.
Nearly twelve years on, we'll watch as the two girls stolen
away from their homes at eight years old fight to take
back their lives. If only it were as simple as escaping. AU
Pinky Promises
Chapter Thirty-Three
As the words fell from his lips, wrapping around Bella like a warm, but unfamiliar, blanket, the brightest smile spread across Edward's face. His lips curled upward, twin dimples appearing as he exhaled heavily.
"It feels so good to finally say it. I've felt it, known it, for so long. You don't have to say anything though, okay? Nothing at all. I just wanted you to know. I don't know, maybe that's selfish, but I couldn't hold it in anymore."
It felt like an eternity passed before Bella gave any indication that she'd actually heard him.
Finally, as Edward's heart began to sink, she inhaled a sharp breath. Emotions moving too quickly for Edward to identify crossed Bella's face, her eyes intense in their beauty and enlightenment.
"Bella, I'm so—"
"Don't. Don't say it."
Edward's mouth snapped shut with an audible click.
Bella drew in a breath and held it, moving to mirror Edward, placing her hands atop his to stop him moving them away from her face. At that moment, he was the only thing that was rooting her to the earth. Bella was afraid that, if he let go, she'd float away.
Up on her knees in front of him, Bella let her eyes drift over Edward, just absorbing.
Bella, I love you. I love you. I love you…
It felt surreal.
Edward, loves me? Bella thought as she ran her fingertips over the backs of his hands, moving them slowly up, over his wrists, forearms, and biceps. So strong, so muscular. His obvious strength should be intimidating, but it wasn't. His volume and force of character should have terrified her, but he'd always been different with her. Softer. Gentler.
Loving?
As she looked back through their time together, both before and after her abduction, the realization that, yes, he was loving in his actions with her came swiftly. It didn't take a genius to see it, yet Bella had been hopelessly oblivious all this time. Ever since that day, when he carried her through the smoke and flames to safety, he'd been there. Always attuned to her needs and wants, always willing to move heaven and earth to make her happy.
During the journey from the motel to the safehouse back in Montana, he'd held her, sacrificing his own wellbeing so that she could be comfortable.
In the backseat of the SUV, Edward's chest relaxed for the first time in days, his arms tightening reflexively around Scarlett when she shifted. A warm puff of air left her lips and caressed his Adam's apple, sending a shiver through his body. He'd always been ticklish there. Cursing his ticklishness, Edward attempted to move so he wouldn't shudder every time Scarlett breathed.
A surprised gasp stopped him in his tracks. "Hey, it's okay. Your breath was tickling me," he whispered, halting Scarlett's attempt to scramble away. "Are you comfy?" Edward grinned at the hesitant dip of her head, tipping his own back against the headrest and sighing deeply. "You're welcome to stay then."
And it seemed she wanted to, because she settled back in, only holding herself rigid for ten minutes or so until she relaxed once more.
At the safe house, when she'd become overwhelmed upon seeing Charlie for the first time in twelve years, he'd shown her how to relax and accept that her mind wasn't tricking her.
The agents, fathers, and Rosalie watched in burgeoning dismay when Scarlett began to rock on Edward's lap, her face turned into his neck, hands white-knuckling his slightly-too-small, borrowed hoodie.
"What do I do?" Charlie asked nobody in particular, alarmed at the sight of this unfamiliar yet so familiar girl in clear distress right in front of him.
"Let me just…" Edward trailed off, adjusting himself a bit. He squeezed his arms around Scarlett gently, ignoring the beguiled, but enthralled, onlookers as he whispered, "hey, Scarlett, you don't have to be scared and shut off, okay? You're safe. You're safe with us, with me. I don't have to let you go if you don't want me to, but your dad wants to see you. He's been waiting a long time just to see your face again. Don't you want to see him, too?"
Slowly, Scarlett's keening slowed, then stopped. Each muscle relaxed infinitesimally until Edward wasn't just holding a bundle of nervous tremors anymore. Her hair a matted golden halo around her troubled mind, she blinked tear-filled eyes a few times, and Edward could almost see the change in them. The switch from unseeing to aware.
While nightmares and panic attacks rendered her useless at taking care of Marley without frightening her, Edward stepped up.
Shocked emerald green eyes shot to hers, the hand holding a glass of water to his lips slowly lowering. "Scarlett? What are you doing up?"
The ominous ticking of the clock hanging lopsidedly on the wall was the only noise in the room for an endless second.
"Couldn't sleep," she finally murmured, unable to remove her eyes from the adorable sight of Edward cradling Marley against his bare chest, her head pillowed against his shoulder, one arm draped around him, the other snuggling Mister Eddie between their bodies. She was fast asleep, snoring quietly. Contentedly.
When they'd gone to the hospital, and she'd had to face more demons than she could count, he'd been steadfast in his support of both her and Marley. He'd been the easy, uncomplicated relationship that she needed. There was no pressure to feel comfortable with him like there was with her family, and it was this that allowed her to relax.
She'd instinctively trusted him from the outset. Whether it was because he'd been the one to rescue her from the fire, Bella wasn't sure, but her mind had always known Edward was safe.
Had always known that he'd catch her when she fell.
The first time around, nobody told Scarlett she was pregnant. She may have been only fifteen, but she knew enough about periods from overhearing conversations as a child to realize that it wasn't normal for them to suddenly stop.
Especially after what had happened six weeks or so before.
This time? This time she'd had no inkling, no suspicions or worries. Truthfully, she'd had plenty of other things to worry about.
So, with that said, it wasn't a surprise to anyone when her heart-rate soared and the breath rushed out of her in one long gust as the doctor informed her of the positive pregnancy test and the need for a scan to determine how far along she was.
Edward's arms were waiting when her legs became too wobbly to support her weight, her sight glazing over as she leaned backward into his chest and closed herself off before their eyes, all emotion wiping itself from her face, a shroud of numbness protecting her from the outside world.
Edward had comforted her on the plane ride back to England and had entertained Marley during the car journey, knowing she would be better able to keep herself calm if she wasn't worrying herself sick over Marley's reactions to her drastically different surroundings. In taking care of Marley, he'd taken care of Bella.
In the weeks since their return to England, he soothed her through panic attacks, nightmares, fears of inadequacy, and coached her as she adjusted to real life. Because the life they'd been living? It wasn't real.
It was the stuff of nightmares.
Edward's gaze followed Scarlett's mechanical movements from the dining table, where he'd sat, as she removed bacon from the fridge along with sausages and a carton of eggs. In the next moment, his face contorted in horror, legs pushing him up and around the island before he could think. Scarlett's shaky grip on the eggs had faltered, the sound of a cat meowing outside sending her right back to Montana for a few gut-wrenching seconds. The contents of the three eggs that toppled from their container splashed up over the short-sleeved t-shirt she'd borrowed from her dad and the gray tracksuit bottoms Archie had stolen for her from his fiancée's wardrobe.
Hands hovering cautiously near her shoulders, Edward ached to help, though he wasn't sure how to go about it.
Then, as hot tears streamed in torrents over Scarlett's face and her breaths turned to shallow pants, he thought to hell with it and tugged her gently into his chest, curling strong arms around her back. To his utter shock, she burrowed into him with a soft whimper. She clutched at his sides frantically, his lack of t-shirt leaving her with nothing to grip.
"Hey, it's okay. You're okay, Bella. It's just me, you're all right." Edward rested his head atop her head. His hand ran a soothing path up and down the top half of her spine, the ends of her strawberry-blonde locks tickling his forearm. "Calm down. You're safe with me." Keeping his voice deliberately at a low whisper, Edward rocked their bodies side-to-side, humming the first tune that came to mind. Eventually, Scarlett came back to herself, the shudders wracking her body less frequent, tears slowing to more of a trickle than the waterfall of a minute previous.
He'd been so gentle as he held her panic attack at bay that morning. So calm and steady. An anchor for her to hang onto while she fought the demons in her mind.
"Anything you need, you only have to ask, okay? I'm here, and I'm not going anywhere."
And he hadn't. He'd given up his life in Italy to spend the past year, almost, in England. Bella knew, thanks to Archie, that Edward made most of his money on social media with his music and topped up his income with his skills in woodworking. All of that, it was here, where he lived just a short drive away from his grandparents.
He'd left it all behind to jump on a plane to England, then Montana. For her, and for her family.
Bella huffed out a long breath, her hand dropping gently to clasp the fabric of Edward's shirt at his side. Even with the fabric in the way, she knew exactly where the scar marred his skin. She'd seen the nurses and doctors cleaning it and dressing it, over and over and over. She'd seen the jagged pink lines marking his otherwise flawless torso when he stripped off to swim with Marley.
And she'd seen him wince when he stretched a little too much.
Eyes flitting upwards, Bella peered at Edward's solemn, patient face from beneath her lashes. This was a man who'd risked everything to save her. A man who'd very nearly paid the ultimate price in his attempts to rescue her from Garrett.
And here he was, baring his soul and admitting that he loved her. This beautiful, kind, generous man, on his knees saying the three little words every woman longed to hear. To her. A broken girl with a truckload of baggage.
But did she love him?
Even now, she wasn't sure. Bella's mind was in turmoil. Her heart was racing, lungs unable to take in a deep enough breath to provide relief. A million thoughts stung at her mind like tiny bees trapped in her brain, all vying for attention. She sucked in a breath, feeling tears prickle at her eyes. Bella had never been in love before. She'd never thought about it, read romance novels, or watched romantic movies with love-struck leads. It had never even been on her radar.
Until now.
What even is love?
Is it unwavering support? Comfort whenever you need it? Is love the warm feeling that spreads through your body when you watch that special someone playing with your daughter, tickling her until she screams? Or rocking your baby son to sleep, singing softly to soothe him? Bella didn't know, couldn't be sure.
"Edward, I—" She stopped, looking upward to the sky for a moment in an attempt to gather her thoughts. The fairy lights glittered above, a twinkling canopy overhead. When she looked back to Edward her lips curled upwards. The glow of the lights made his copper locks shine a deep, rich bronze, picking out the golden highlights brought out by the sun.
Edward let his hands fall to his lap, a shiver rippling through his body when Bella reached up to run the backs of her fingers over his five o'clock-shadowed jaw.
"I don't know if…if I'm there yet. I don't, umm, I don't know what that feels like. To be in love? I don't know what that feels like—"
"Can I stop you for just a second?" Edward asked softly.
Bella huffed, nodding with a tiny, grateful smile. Truthfully, she hadn't had any clue what to say.
Edward's lips curled up on one side. "When I decided to tell you, I knew you wouldn't say it back, Bella. I didn't tell you this to make you say it back – that was never my intention. I just wanted you to know. If you ever feel the same, well, I'll be here. If not? That's okay, too."
Edward had barely finished speaking before Bella slammed into his chest, winding her arms around his neck and burying her face in his neck. He steadied himself, and her, with a quiet oomph, bracing himself on one arm before wrapping her up in his embrace, once he was sure they wouldn't tip over. She held on tight, soft puffs of breath warming the skin of his neck and shoulder.
"Bella? Are you okay?"
"Overwhelmed. I'm sorry. I'm sorry I can't say it back yet."
Smiling against Bella's hair, Edward closed his eyes and released a long sigh. It was relief, affection, and sheer happiness at having Bella in his arms. She was warm, fit perfectly against his chest, and smelled sweet and perfect. "Just you saying 'yet' is enough for me, bella ragazza."
Bella pulled back, all beautiful blue eyes and sweet, bashful smiles. "I've never felt this way about anyone, Edward. I guess I just need…"
"Time?"
She nodded, settling her face back into the crook of his neck. Edward's grin stretched wide as he pressed a kiss to the crown of her head and, for the first time in a long time, let himself relax and consider the possibility that, one day, Bella might just love him back after all.
~ oOo ~
The following morning, Bella woke slowly, wondering why she was too hot and why she felt as though she'd overslept.
A small smile curled her lips when memories from the previous night began to swirl through her mind. She sighed, letting her eyes fall shut as she replayed the evening in her head.
Edward had been so sweet, so tender. His words played on a loop, over and over, drumming themselves into her heart.
Bella, I love you.
A soft, quiet, sleepy grumble from behind Bella made her eyes snap open. Carefully, so as not to wake the owner of the arm draped over her waist, Bella rolled to face her visitor.
Rosalie's eyes were still closed, her chest rising and falling with deep, even breaths. She was still asleep.
Sighing, Bella began to wonder what she'd tell her. When she and Edward had eventually remembered the rest of their family, they were alone outside. Everyone had disappeared, and neither of them knew exactly when they'd left. A note had been taped to Bella's door, simply telling her that Charlie was taking Bodhi and Marley for a sleepover, and that was that.
But Bella couldn't help but wonder when they'd all left, couldn't help but wonder what they'd seen or heard.
She wasn't even sure she really remembered it right. It didn't seem real that Edward, strong, beautiful Edward, had professed his love for her.
Had he really? Bella couldn't help but question her memories.
"Why do you look so stressed? It's too early to be so brooding."
Bella met Rosalie's gaze. Her baby-blue eyes were tinged with curiosity, but mostly just showed happiness. Suddenly, Bella suspected that she, at least, had seen her exchange with Edward.
"I was just thinking. Wondering how I ended up sharing my bed."
As she stretched herself out lithely, humming at the pleasure, Rosalie grinned. "I didn't want you to escape without dishing, so I figured I'd make sure I saw you before you got up. Plus, Carl-Roman ran past my room at seven screaming for the pool, so I was awake anyway."
Frowning, Bella rolled over to see the clock. 9:43.
"I've slept in."
Rosalie nodded. "Yeah, not complaining. Late night last night, early awakening. Hang on, I need the loo. Don't go anywhere."
Rosalie pointed her finger at Bella, telling her to stay put, and scampered away into the bathroom. Bella smiled, flopping back onto the pillows. Even though she suspected that she was about to be thoroughly interrogated about her evening, Bella couldn't help but grin.
This was what it always should have been like. She and Rosalie should have done this a thousand times by now. They should have had girly sleepovers dishing the dirt about boys they liked at school or their crush from the park.
But those things had been stolen from them.
"Hey! Quit with the serious look. I would've thought you'd be in a super mood this morning after last night."
Deciding to play with Rosalie a little, Bella plastered a confused look on her face. "What do you mean?"
"Well, I figured after a chat with a certain handsome Italian, you'd be bouncing off the walls this morning!" Rosalie threw herself down on the bed, lying parallel with Bella, her head propped up on bended elbow.
"I don't know what you mean. I just thanked him for the beautiful song…" Bella trailed off, remembering.
Eyes like the ocean, deep and blue
I always loved the sea, but honey it's got nothin' on you
"Bella, don't even try it. I saw you all cozied up. I spied, so don't even give me the innocent speech," Rosalie laughed at the stunned look on Bella's face.
"You...you spied?"
"Of course! Jesus, B, we've been waiting forever for you two to open your eyes!"
"I…I'm shocked!"
"Yeah, yeah, you're shocked, I'm sorry, blah. Now dish, missy."
Sighing, Bella recognized the determination in Rosalie's face, deciding it wasn't worth fighting her. To be honest, Rosalie might even be able to help her get her thoughts in order.
"He…" A smile took over her entire face as she huffed, "he said he loves me."
Rosalie squealed, shoving herself up to sit cross-legged. "Seriously? He finally said it?"
"You knew?"
"Of course! It's so obvious. We all wondered if he'd ever get the courage to tell you." Smiling warily, Rosalie reached forward to twist a lock of Bella's hair around her pinky finger. "How do you feel about it? You don't seem as excited as I thought you would."
"I don't really know. I mean, I'm a little…overwhelmed? I guess I just really didn't expect it. And after that song…"
"I know, right?" Rosalie sighed a long, girlish sound. "So beautiful. And all for you, you lucky thing."
Bella grimaced. "That's just it. He's so amazing, and I'm just…this. I'm a mess compared to him."
"No, Bella. Don't say that. Look, when we first came back? We were both hot messes. Agreed?"
Bella snorted at the understatement, nodding.
"Right. But now? Jesus, B, look how much better we are! I mean, you're basically a completely different person! You're the most amazing mum to Mars and Bodhi, you're conquering all of your fears one by one, and you're still managing to be the nurturing, kind person you've always been. It's crazy how far you've come, Bella." Rosalie sighed. "I'm so proud of you, B. Really, I am. So don't let your nerves get the better of you with Edward. That man loves you to pieces; a blind person could see that. All you've got to do is let him."
"All right," Bella sniffled, a touch overwhelmed by Rosalie's lovely words. She hadn't realized that Rosalie had seen her that way, that she'd thought those things about her. "When did you get so smart?"
"Eh, I've always been this smart. I just had to hide some of my intelligence to make you feel better."
Mock-outraged, Bella stuck her hand right into the space between Rosalie's neck and shoulder, tickling her until she was writhing around the bed in fits of giggles and breathlessly panting for mercy.
"You're mean, Bella Swan," she eventually huffed when Bella laughed and let her go, moving off the bed to slide on her slippers and thin cotton robe. "I take back all the nice things I just said."
Smiling in the doorway of the en suite bathroom, Bella shook her head. "No take-backs, Ro."
Rosalie stuck her tongue out at Bella's disappearing back, flopping onto the cushions to catch her breath with a beaming smile on her face. She lifted only her head when Bella quietly called her name.
Bella popped her head around the doorframe, small grin in place, and a new softness to her eyes. "Ro? I'm proud of you, too. I'm proud of us. All of us."
Rosalie nodded, swallowing around the lump that had suddenly taken up residence in her throat. "Me too, Bella."
~ oOo ~
Throughout her shower, and then while she dried and dressed in a loose summer dress, Bella worried. As she tied her still-damp curls back in a loose bun and slid her feet into a pair of flip-flops, she worried. And as she walked with Rosalie toward the patio where everybody was gathering for breakfast, she felt as though her heart was going to pound clear out of her chest.
How will he react now?
She couldn't help but nervously fiddle with the soft material of her dress as they rounded the corner into the kitchen, then stepped out onto the patio.
How is Edward going to act around me?
As it turned out, Bella quickly realized that she never should have worried. As soon as she stepped outside, Marley charged toward her, crashing into her legs.
"Mummy, you're up!" She cheered, arms wound tight around Bella's thighs, beaming up at her with a big, toothy grin.
"I am, baby girl," Bella sighed, scooping her daughter up and peppering kisses all over her rosy cheeks and button nose. It was their usual morning routine, but it helped that it gave Bella the added bonus of a few extra seconds to compose herself. "Did you have a good sleep?"
"Uh-huh. Really good. Look, Mummy, we've got pancakes for breakfast! Edward made mine in a heart shape."
For the first time since he walked her to her door last night, leaving her with a kiss on her cheek, which had left her skin tingling until she fell asleep almost two hours later, Bella looked at Edward. He was sitting at the long table, a plate piled high with pancakes in front of him, Marley's favored, pink mosaic plate in the empty spot beside him, Bodhi on his lap merrily slapping at the table while babbling nonsense. Everyone else was there too, though, in that moment, Bella only had eyes for Edward.
He grinned, almost bashfully, a single dimple appearing beside his crooked smile. It warmed Bella to see that she wasn't the only one a little nervous this morning. He was wearing his trusty backwards cap, so with the sun able to get to his eyes unimpeded, they glowed a beautiful, happy, grassy green.
"Mornin', bella ragazza. Sweet dreams?"
Bella nodded, settling Marley on her hip as she rounded the table, pausing to press a kiss to her dad's head before sitting between him and Edward, in the seat Marley had vacated. "Yes, thank you. You?"
Edward smiled down at her, a mischievous twinkle in his gaze. "The sweetest."
Lips parted as a soft huff of breath snuck free, and Bella felt the familiar flush of warmth in her stomach that always appeared when Edward spoke to her in that way – in that husky, yet somehow soft, tone.
"Mummy, look!"
Edward chuckled, focusing on Bodhi as Marley insisted Bella look at her heart-shaped pancake. Knowing glances were shared around the table as they watched the little quartet – Edward, Bella, Marley, and Bodhi – interact within their own little bubble. Rosalie managed to snap a couple of heartwarming shots, already picturing how they'd look canvased and hung back at home.
"Hey now, little soldier," Edward chuckled, drawing Bella's attention from Marley and the entire bottle of syrup she was trying to pour over her pancake.
"Bababa."
"All right, enough with the backchat, tesoro. Here, why don't you try some of this, huh?"
Bodhi cocked his head, eyeing the spoonful of pureed apple Edward was offering. Then he grinned, flashing his gums, and leaned forward to accept it. Bodhi chomped hard enough on the spoon that Edward let go and it remained there, clamped between his lips.
"He's teething," Bella commented quietly, having noticed his particularly hard gums a few days previous and the way he suddenly wanted to chew absolutely everything.
Bodhi's large, blue-green eyes sparkled as he looked around at his laughing family members, the spoon still protruding from his mouth.
"You know, tesoro, if you want more, you're going to have to give the spoon back."
Bodhi looked up at Edward, his grin widening enough that the spoon fell into Edward's waiting hand.
"There we go. Good boy."
Bella watched Edward feed Bodhi the rest of his puree while multi-tasking to eat his pancakes at the same time. His plate, like Marley's, was almost overflowing with syrup.
Within a minute or two of finishing her breakfast, Marley joined forces with Carl-Roman, pestering the adults to hurry so they could go swimming. Archie and Bella were amused to discover that the mischievous children had blackmailed their guileless Papaw the night before, promising to go to sleep if they could swim today.
Once breakfast had been cleared away, the group headed back to their rooms to get the necessary clothes, towels, and floats for the children. For the impatient children, everything took too long.
"Marley Rosalie Swan, if you carry on with that attitude we won't be swimming at all. We'll stay here, and everyone else can go," Bella finally snapped when Marley became increasingly narky that she had to wait for her mother to change Bodhi into his swimsuit - a blue and white romper emblazoned with a smiling, sunglass-wearing crab.
Abashed, Marley ducked her head and sat quietly on the bed until Bella was done. With Bodhi dressed and on her hip, Bella turned back to her daughter. "Now what do you say, baby girl?"
"Sorry, Mummy," she mumbled, leaping from the bed to wrap her mother's legs in a tight cuddle.
Bella's stern expression melted away, replaced by a soft smile as she stroked Marley's hair. "Thank you, Marley. Right, shall we go see if everyone else is ready?"
"Yes!" Marley cried, darting out of the bedroom. As Bella laughed and scooped their bundle of towels from the bed she heard Edward talking to Marley in the hall, so she quickened her step, laughing when she spotted the duo.
"Hey, you three all match!"
Edward's eyes found her, taking a quick wander down, over the stretched tank top and short denim skirt she wore, warming the skin everywhere they touched. Then he grinned, setting every bit of her on fire.
"We sure do. Looks like it's stripes day today, huh?" He swung Marley up into his arms, tickling the shell of her ear and making noisy raspberries against her neck.
Bella couldn't help but smile, watching them. Edward had chosen a pair of navy and white striped board shorts, while Marley was sporting her favorite swimming costume. It, too, was striped in navy and white, but unlike Edward's shorts, it bore tiny red bows on the front of each shoulder strap, and a matching, larger one on the back. With Bodhi's nautical themed outfit fitting right in with them, Bella was the odd one out in her pink top and grey denim.
"Edward?" Marley asked, cupping his face between her small palms.
"Yes, little sweet?"
"Can we go now? Pretty please?"
Laughing, he leaned in to give her an Eskimo kiss. "Well, as you asked so nicely! C'mon, Bella, let's go get our girl swimming."
As Bella trailed after Marley and Edward with Bodhi chatting away to himself, she couldn't help but feel warmed by his use of the words 'our girl' and the sight of his easy interaction with Marley.
If she wasn't head over heels for Edward yet, Marley sure was.
~ oOo ~
"It's okay, little sweet. You're so, so close. Just a little more practice."
Marley growled, slapping her hands on the surface of the water. "I'm never gonna get it."
Bella watched from her sun lounger with a small, sympathetic smile on her face, Bodhi nestled in her arms chugging his bottle. Marley and Edward had been in the pool all morning working on her swimming, and so far, Marley was doing amazingly well. She was, however, increasingly frustrated that she was still wearing her life vest while Carl-Roman splashed around without his.
Edward lifted her into the air, bringing her back down with a loud splash. It made her smile despite her best efforts to hold onto her scowl, and he chuckled, holding her out in front of him.
Bella tried valiantly to keep her focus on Marley, not his toned, tanned, muscular chest. She managed it - mostly. The soft flush infusing her cheeks gave away her wandering eyes, much to the amusement of Rosalie, Esme, Heidi, and Pippa.
"Look, little sweet, you've only been learning for a few weeks. You're already doing amazingly well, okay? A bit more practice and you'll basically be a fish."
Marley snorted, still trying to cling to her frustration.
Grinning, Edward leaned forward, raised her out of the water, and blew loud raspberries all over her exposed belly. She flailed her arms and legs, squealing and laughing hysterically. Edward finally let her down when she panted her surrender.
"Are you going to stop being a grouch?"
Marley sighed, her smile wide. "Okay, Edward."
"Bene! Shall we get out for a bit and have some lunch, little sweet? We're all wrinkly, and my tummy is getting angry, it's so empty!"
As Marley paddled backward, Edward following, she snickered. "Your tummy can't be empty already, Edward! You ate a million pancakes for breakfast."
"Well, I'm a growing boy! I need lots and lots of pancakes to get big, strong, and handsome."
Bella sighed, the sound long and girly, as she watched Edward swoop Marley out of the water to sit on the edge of the pool, neatly lifting himself out to join her with just his arms. His biceps flexed, firm chest straining as it was revealed to her eyes. She couldn't help but follow the water rivulets as they trailed down from his hair, over his broad shoulders, down his defined pectorals, washboard abs, to the beginnings of the 'V' that tapered down into his board shorts.
Her tongue darted out to lick her lips, the resulting peals of laughter from Rosalie, Esme, Heidi, and Pippa drawing Marley and Edward's attention.
"What's funny, ladies?" Edward asked with a cocked head and raised eyebrows, sauntering over with Marley's hand in his.
The sight was an adorable, heart melting one.
The tall, tanned, muscular hero with his pretty baby princess.
"Nothing, dear," Esme chortled, her smile soft and placating when he sank into a crouch at the foot of Bella's lounger and looked to his aunt, searching for the cause of Bella's obvious embarrassment. Her cheeks flamed crimson at his perusal.
"Mummy, Edward's tummy is hungry. Please, can we have some snacks?"
"O-of course, baby girl. Help yourself. They're in that bag, there."
Edward deftly untied the loop in the bag handles, fishing out two packets of Marley's favorite snack.
"Fruit wheels! Yummy."
Marley loved the stretchy Fruit Winders, and Bella preferred her eating them to the chocolatey biscuits she'd gotten a touch addicted to back in Montana at the safe house.
"Aunt Mimi, can I sit with you, please?"
Esme beamed, taking the Paw Patrol towel Edward handed her and holding it out. "I'd love you to sit with me, sweet girl. Come here, let's get you all warm and dry."
Marley bundled herself into the big, fluffy towel, then happily curled up between Esme's legs and leaned back against her chest to eat her treat.
Edward smiled at the sight. Not for the first time, he wished they'd been able to have a baby of their own - Esme and Carlisle. They'd have made brilliant parents. He knew they'd tried and lost two children early in Esme's pregnancies. He'd flown them out to his home in Italy both times, letting them recuperate and grieve without the rigors of work, or the demands of their day-to-day lives.
Edward wasn't sure when they'd stopped trying, or if they even had, but he wished fervently that they'd been able to have children of their own. Seeing Esme wistfully dote upon Marley, Bodhi, Carl-Roman, and Chase just about broke his heart so he couldn't imagine how Carlisle felt, or Esme herself.
Charlie's muttered curse a few minutes later attracted everybody's attention to him and the phone in his hand. He sat back heavily, the plastic chair creaking beneath his bulk.
"Ooh, Pawpaw, you need to give a pound to the swear jar!" Carl-Roman crowed gleefully.
Charlie mustered a smile for his grandson, promising to add it to the tally they had running while they were away. Seeing that he obviously had something unpleasant to share, Heidi and Pippa bribed Marley and Carl-Roman with promises of ice lollies, leading them towards the little outhouse where the freezer and inflatables resided.
Bella and Rosalie sat forward, the rest of the group readying themselves for whatever Charlie had to say.
"All right, so I've just had an email from Riley. He's got some news. Are you ready?"
"Dad, please, just…"
Charlie nodded grimly, reading the message from his screen exactly how Riley had written it.
"Hey guys, I hope you're all loving your vacation. Bella and Rosalie - your gifts are waiting at home for you. I hope you'll like them. Marley - yours is extra special, and you'll get it when you get home. I know you'll love it."
Charlie paused, shooting cursory glances at Bella and Rosalie. "This is where he explains what's been going on back home."
Clearing his throat, Charlie resumed reading. "I hate to disturb you with this during your vacation, but we're in a bit of a time crunch. We've located the wife. Chloe Smith is in New York. We know it's her thanks to Bella's drawings, but she's claiming to be someone else so we need a positive ID before we can haul her in for questioning. I've attached some images our investigators managed to get. I completely understand if you'd rather wait until you're home. Just let me know either way."
Charlie looked at his daughter, then at Rosalie. "What do you think, girls? Do you want to wait?"
The girls shared a loaded look. It was resolute, and they knew they shared the same opinion without having to speak.
"No, we'll do it now. The sooner we do, the sooner Riley can get her," Rosalie spoke for both of them, her tone final.
With a proud smile, Charlie nodded. "Alrighty then. Uh, he also says…" He scrolled down, continuing to read. "Emmett, I've got the information you requested. It'll be waiting for you when you return." Charlie shot Emmett an openly curious glance, but dropped his gaze when Emmett simply nodded, clearly not wanting to share. "He finishes with, 'I hope you're all having an amazing time. You all deserve it. Be very jealous of me, sitting in my cold office in New York with rain pouring outside.'"
"Oh, yeah," Edward snickered. "We're super jealous."
Charlie grinned in agreement. "I have some more information to go through with you, but that can wait until after your vacation. It's not important, but it's all good news for the case. I'll video call you when you're back and settled in at home again. For now, enjoy the sun and forget about everything back home." With a huff, Charlie lowered his phone. His expression was pensive. "All right. Photos. Do you girls want to look here, or…? We can go inside?"
"No, it's fine, Uncle Chuck," Rosalie murmured, leaving her lounger to join Bella on hers. They sat side-by-side, Bodhi sleeping soundly against Bella's chest as she inhaled deeply, preparing herself to see a face she'd never thought she'd have to see again.
"Ready?"
"Yeah, Dad. It's okay."
Charlie tapped on his screen a few times, then frowned as he turned it toward Bella and Rosalie.
They both sighed and nodded in unison.
"That's her. That's Chloe Smith, h-his wife," Rosalie murmured.
The girls leaned into one another as Charlie stood, wandering off to call Riley just as Heidi and Pippa returned with Marley and Carl-Roman.
"Oh, baby girl," Bella laughed quietly, mindful of Bodhi sleeping against her. "Did you have a chocolate ice cream, by any chance?"
Marley grinned, her smile ringed with chocolate, azure eyes sparkling with happiness. Her hair had dried in manic curls the same color as her cold treat; she looked the epitome of a happy child. It was all Bella had ever wanted for her baby; to feel safe, loved, healthy, and happy.
"I did, Mummy! How'd you know?"
Bella laughed, scooping one of Bodhi's toys from the mat on the floor and handing it over; Marley giggled, looking at her face in the mirror attached to one of the toy octopus' tentacles.
"It looks like I gotta beard!"
Edward chuckled, "well, little sweet, you have it all over your face! C'mere, let's get you clean. Give it five minutes, and we can go in the pool again, si?"
Marley giggled. "Si, Edward!"
Five minutes later, on the dot, because Marley wouldn't accept a minute longer delay than the promised five, Bella sighed and relaxed back into her seat, gently stroking dark blond curls back from her baby son's head as he slept. Her eyes followed Edward as he carried Marley across the patio toward the lower slide. She bounced with delight on his hip and cheered as they slid down, splashing into the pool. Marley popped up to the surface quicker than Edward thanks to her life vest and was ready to splash him when he surfaced. Only, he didn't.
Bella muffled her laughter into Bodhi's curls as Marley looked around in confusion, squealing when Edward popped up behind her, lifted her in the air and carefully tossed her. When her head came back above the water a few feet away, she pointed a finger at him and huffed, a smile battling with her scowl.
"That was mean, Edward! I'm gonna get you!"
"I'll help, Mars! I'll help!" Carl-Roman crowed, executing a perfect cannonball into the water.
As Bella watched him tag team with Marley to splash Edward as much as possible, she felt the familiar prickle of tears. Happy ones, of course.
Her children were happy, loved, and safe.
If she leaned forward, she could see her dad just around the corner, laughing heartily at whatever Riley was saying on the phone.
Peter was playing cards with Heidi and Pippa, their smiles matching and miles wide.
Archie was building a sandcastle in the sandpit with Chase, just a few feet away. Close enough to see his relaxed, content smile as he loved on his boy.
Emmett and Rosalie were sharing a lounger and watching a video on his phone. It was obviously funny, because they were both laughing and sharing smiles. As Bella watched she couldn't help but wonder if she and Edward were as obvious as they were with their affection for one another. She was positive that it wouldn't be long before they declared themselves and stopped pretending they were content with friendship.
Esme had joined Carlisle on his lounger and was sitting between his legs with hers thrown over them. He wore a happy, relaxed smile and leaned forward to kiss the crown of her head every now and then, his hands resting lightly together over her belly. She was leaning back against his chest with a blissful smile on her face as she watched Edward in the water with Marley and Carl-Roman.
Bella's eyes skittered back to the pool, a single tear falling. Her heart was full, her smile broad, eyes aglow with the knowledge that life just couldn't get any better than this.
So...still with me? *peeps out from behind hands*
She didn't say it back, BUT she said 'yet.' I promised a HEA and there'll be one - and there's no HEA without the couple admitting their feelings, right? She'll be thinking about it now and notice his behavior more. All is not lost just because she didn't admit her feelings just yet.
Have a great week, everyone! I'll see you again soon :)