I loved you all sharing your first day experiences with me
in your reviews and responses to my replies. I'm sorry if I didn't
get around to yours - this week has been...so busy.

It's my furbaby's first birthday tomorrow so I've been trying to
sort party stuff (yes, I'm THAT sad dog parent) but just to
freak me right out, Dakota ATE A SOCK. Yes, you read that right.
So we've been on #sockwatch for the past week praying it would
come out itself and not need surgical intervention.

Thankfully, we got home from work Wednesday and it was
in the middle of the living room! Woohoo! I'll spare you the
details, but lets just say I stayed in the hallway while my
other half dealt with it *hahaha*

Huge THANK YOUs to
SunflowerFran and annaharding
who put up with my relentless stupidity when it comes
to the comma / semi-colon debacle. I'm useless with both
and I know it, but I'm trying! :)

Pay it Forward will be featuring three fics in different
categories on their new blog each month. Number one will
be our rookie…a new, first-time writer showcasing their
first fic on our blog. Number two will be our encore…a new fic
from a seasoned author giving us a sneak peek. Number three
will be our classic…one from the vault, a time-tested oldie.

If you are a rookie and need help, contact Fran on the PIF

Page, or myself. And if you have an encore, contact her to get
your new fic showcased. And anyone interested in writing a
summary on one of their favs, please feel free to send it in.

~ 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

Epilogue – Pt. 2

Bella felt lost.

It wasn't like Marley had never been out for the day before. Rosalie occasionally took her out for a girly pampering day, or just to run errands. Bodhi, being a total mamma's boy, usually stayed home with Bella, so the sound of him playing with his trucks on the floor in the kitchen was nothing unusual.

However, Bella's intense need to clock-watch was.

10:45a.m.

Marley had been at school for an hour. Just one hour, and Bella was going stir crazy.

Edward had gone off to work with Charlie, Emmett, and Peter. He'd texted shortly after leaving Bella, reminding her to try and stay distracted and that he loved her, but she knew they were busy on a project they were desperately trying to finish before winter so she'd refrained from peppering him with texts.

As she fidgeted with her bracelet and shot a glance toward Bodhi, content to play by himself as long as she was nearby, Bella wondered how she'd fill her time. Marley would be at school five days a week for six and a half hours. What on Earth was she going to do for all that time?

"Coo-ee! Anybody home?"

"Mimi!" Bodhi dumped his digger and jumped to his feet to run out into the hall. Bella sighed with relief; Esme was here. She'd help distract her.

"Are you playing with your trucks, sweet boy?" Esme asked as she carried him into the kitchen a few moments later.

"Y-yep! Pway wiff me, Mimi?"

"Oh, I'm sorry, hon. Mimi's got to go to work. I just popped in to drop off your sister's car seat."

Bella's burgeoning hope deflated. Marley had ridden to school with her beloved Pops and Mimi, so of course, Esme needed to return her seat. Bella and Edward would need it to collect her later.

"Thank you, Esme. I'd totally forgotten, if I'm honest."

Esme gave Bella a warm, sympathetic smile. "Are you struggling?"

"A little." Suddenly, Bella felt ashamed. "It's stupid to be so…lost. Isn't it? I mean, she's only been gone an hour, and I'm just…I have no idea what to do with myself."

A thoughtful look crossed Esme's face. "I tell you what…Do you fancy a little trip out with me? Just for the morning; we'll probably be back by lunchtime for this boy's nap."

Bodhi giggled as Esme tickled his belly. "No, Mimi! No naps for Beesy!"

"Ummm, where are we going?"

"It's a surprise." Esme winked at Bodhi. "You just grab a jumper and some shoes you don't mind getting dirty, and I'll meet you out in the driveway."

Without another word, Esme and Bodhi disappeared outside, leaving Bella to follow. She grabbed a gray, zip-up hoodie from the stool at the counter, her keys from the side, and Bodhi's Paw Patrol bottle from the floor beside his trucks, then trotted out to the hallway where her Timberlands sat neatly on the shoe rack.

"They'll do," she mumbled to herself, tying the laces nice and tight before heading outside. Esme loaded Bodhi into his seat once Bella unlocked the car, then walked round to take the driver's seat while Bella climbed into the passenger side.

"Have you thought any more about driving, sweetheart?"

Bella frowned. "I have…I'm just a bit nervous about the lessons, you know? I've gotten better with strangers, but the thought of being in a car with someone I don't know..."

"It's okay, you don't have to explain yourself to me." Esme twisted to look behind her as she reversed out of the driveway. "I just wondered, is all. You'd have a lot more options for going places while Marley's at school if you could drive yourself around."

She had a good point; it was something Bella had considered more than once, especially in the past hour. She'd be able to take Bodhi out to the park or the beach or visit the supermarket without having to wait for Edward, Charlie, or Esme to go with her. The idea of being more self-sufficient was one Bella loved. It was the same when she thought about her living situation.

Living with her dad was great. She loved spending time with him, seeing his face light up when he returned home to a cooked meal and the kids' excited squeals. But every now and then she couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to have a home of her own. Somewhere she lived with Edward, Marley, and Bodhi, like a normal family. That elusive 'normal' she'd once told Rosalie they didn't need, she now craved. As a young woman in a relationship with a man she adored, and a mother of two young children, Bella couldn't deny that the idea of being self-sufficient and having a home of her own did carry a certain appeal.

But Charlie…how could she tell him she wanted to leave; that she wanted to take the children and leave him in an empty home once again?

"Penny for them?" Esme asked teasingly, pulling Bella from her morose thoughts.

She peered out of the window, frowning when she couldn't recognize the road they were on. Trees and fields spread for miles, the road they were on muddy and thin.

"I was just thinking about Dad. He's so happy having us live with him."

"And you're worried he'll never want you to leave?" Esme surmised when Bella didn't add anything else.

Bella flushed, tipping her head back against the headrest. "Yes. I don't ever want to upset him like that, but Edward and me…and the kids…We can't live with him forever, can we?"

"No, sweetheart. Well, you could, I suppose. But it would be quite cramped, and eventually, Bodhi and Marley will need separate rooms. To be honest, Marley could probably do with her own room now."

Bella frowned. "I know. I think we'll end up having to re-decorate Carl-Roman and Chase's room—"

"Ah, my baba! Mamma, I dwopped my baba!"

Reaching round, Bella managed to grab Bodhi's bottle and pass it back to him.

"Gwazie, Mamma."

Bella shot her boy a wink; nothing was cuter than her sweet boy speaking in his baby Italian. "You're welcome, baby boy." Turning back to Esme, she sighed. "Yeah, I think we're going to have to re-decorate the boys' room for Marley and Bodhi. They have sleepovers in there sometimes, and they seem to like sharing for now. I guess we'll have to work something out soon, though."

"Mimi?" Bodhi called quietly.

"Yes, sweet boy?"

"Where we goin'?"

Bella faced Esme; she was wondering the very same thing.

Esme smirked. At that moment, she looked impossibly like her nephew. They weren't related biologically in any way, yet he had her smirk perfected. "We're going to Mimi's work, hon. Do you want to help Mimi with some animals?"

"Oooh, yes pwease, Mimi!" Bodhi bounced in his seat, dropping his bottle on the floor to stretch up and look out the window. They turned off onto a gravel track, Bella just barely managing to read a sign as they rolled past.

Breaking Dawn Second Chance Rescue.

"What is this, Esme?" Bella abruptly realized that she didn't know a lot about Esme's volunteering. She worked as an interior designer most of the time, but she often mentioned her volunteer work in passing.

"A client of mine runs this place. It's a second chance rescue center for animals of all shapes and sizes. Dogs, cats, horses, rabbits…You name it, they probably have it or had it here at some point. I did some decorating in the main house a few years back and just fell in love with the farm, the animals, and the wonderful volunteers. I started helping a few weeks later, and I come here as often as I can between jobs."

Bella marveled at Esme when they rolled to a stop, and all clambered out onto the dirt track. For a woman who loved her designer clothes and already had such a busy schedule with work and her family, she surprisingly didn't look at all out of place in a pair of worn jeans, a red and gray check shirt with the sleeves rolled to her elbows, and a padded, gray gilet. Her hair had been twisted back into a bun on top of her head, and as Bella sighed, hoping to one day be as put together as Esme, she donned a pair of fingerless gloves with a bright smile.

"Right! Shall we have a little tour?"

"Let's go, Mimi!" Bodhi cried, happily taking Esme's hand and following as she led him toward the closest building, Bella trailing behind and taking it all in.

The house looked like a typical, English farmhouse. It had a gabled, thatched roof, white outer walls lined with dark wood beams, and a cute, yellow front door framed by luscious green vines. As the trio climbed the three wooden steps up to the door, Bella smiled to herself; it felt homey before they'd even stepped inside.

Esme let herself in with just a quick rat-a-tat with the brass, chicken-shaped knocker, ushering Bodhi and Bella in with her. The inside of the house wasn't what Bella expected, at all.

"Oh, hi, Es!" a boy of around fifteen called.

Bella's head turned toward his voice, and she was stunned to see a quartet of desks arranged in a square formation where the living room should be. The boy was sitting at the desk nearest the door. He had a mop of fire-red hair and piercing gray eyes, and when he got up to join them in the hall, he offered them all a wide, toothy grin.

"You brought friends?"

"I did. Tyler, this is Bella, and this young man here is Bodhi."

"Nice to meet you, Miss," Tyler chimed, then kneeled in front of Bodhi, who'd tucked himself behind Esme's legs and was peering out at the older boy with shy, wide azure eyes. "D'you like animals, little dude?"

Bodhi glanced up at Bella; he turned back to Tyler with a hesitant, tiny smile when she offered him an encouraging wink. "Yes," Bodhi mumbled.

"What's your favorite?"

"Ummm…dogs. I wove Aunt Awice's and Uncle Jazz's dog, Bonnie."

Tyler's grin widened. "Oh, yeah? We've got tons of dogs here you can play with." Tyler looked up at Esme. "Did you have plans, or…?"

Esme was grinning, as if she'd expected this to happen. "No, none. I just thought I'd bring them out to see the place."

"Well, whaddaya say we go and meet some cute puppies, little dude?"

Shyness forgotten, Bodhi eagerly abandoned Esme for Tyler and trailed after him down a corridor. Esme looped an arm through Bella's and led her in the boys' wake.

"This house is…a bit weird?" Bella laughed.

"It sure is. The whole downstairs is dedicated to the rescue. The owner and founder – Renee – lives upstairs. You'll meet her at some point today, I'm sure."

Bella took in her surroundings with a sense of wonder. Instead of a regular kitchen and dining area, the cupboard doors had been removed, and the shelves were lined with tins of animal food and bowls. A metal veterinarian table stood in place of a dining table, several trollies of paraphernalia Bella couldn't hope to recognize standing nearby along with a tall lamp on wheels.

Esme pointed to a door after the kitchen, which apparently led to a washroom and toilet, and then a sitting room where the volunteers took breaks and stored their lunches.

Then they stepped out through a screen door onto a porch that ran the length of the back of the house; Bella gasped.

"That building is the medical building. It's a little run-down at the moment, so we're holding a fundraiser sometime in November to raise money for the renovations."

Until Esme mentioned it, Bella hadn't even noticed the tired looking building to the left. Her eyes were trained on the barn to the right, and the lower, stable-shaped structure branching away from it. Tyler paused with Bodhi right outside the barn doors to let Bella and Esme catch up. Before they stepped inside, Bella froze; she could hear the quiet sounds of horses in their stalls and smell hay in the air. She was sent back to a different time…

To a different barn thousands of miles away.

Esme, obviously noticing that Bella's mind had wandered astray, squeezed her arm gently and led her forward once Bella had smiled and nodded, mouthing, 'I'm okay.'

As she allowed Esme into the barn, Bella sucked in a deep breath and forced herself to look around to remind herself that she wasn't there. She was in England, safe with Esme and her baby boy nearby. It helped that it looked completely different from the barn in Montana. This barn did house horses, but it also housed several cows, a pig, some goats, and Bella could hear a donkey braying as she smiled; watching Bodhi charge around with Tyler, a look of wonder on his face, she relaxed.

Tyler and Esme showed Bodhi and Bella around the barn, introducing her to some friendly residents. When they left through the same doors they'd entered, Bodhi declared that his favorite was Bessie the Jersey cow because she had pretty eyes.

As the quartet neared the next building, Bella spotting a dog out of the corner of her eye; she suspected Bodhi's favorite was going to change very shortly. Just like his sister, Bodhi was dog obsessed. If Bella managed to drag Bodhi away from an entire building of dogs today, it would be a miracle.

~ oOo ~

"See ya later, little dude. Come back again soon, a'right?"

Bodhi nodded sleepily, sucking on his binky. "I will."

Bella smiled; Bodhi would be asleep before they hit the main road just a mile or so down the track.

"It was nice to meet you, Miss," Tyler enthused when Bella turned to him.

"You, too, Tyler. Thank you for your help with Bodhi. You're great with him."

Tyler shrugged, his cheeks glowing crimson. "Aw, I've got two little brothers. I'm used to rugrats."

"Still, I appreciate your help."

"All right, Ty, I'll see you tomorrow. Be good!" Esme called, climbing into the car once she'd changed out of her muddy Wellington boots into a pair of Uggs.

"See ya tomorrow, Es! Bye, Miss Bella!"

As they sped down the driveway toward home, Bella sighed and relaxed into the buttery leather seat, turning her head against the headrest to face Esme. "Thank you, Esme. I really needed this. The time sped by!"

It was true; the time had flown by once Esme had set her and Bodhi to work measuring out kibble for the dogs' lunches. The clock on the dash read 2:10 p.m. In just a half-hour, Bella would need to go back out to pick Marley up from school. She pulled her phone from her pocket and quickly typed a message to Edward.

B – Are you home? xx

E – Almost. Where are you? x

"It was my pleasure, Bella. I thought it might keep you busy."

Bella smiled, attaching a photo of Bodhi having his hair nibbled by a rambunctious Labrador puppy to her next text to Edward.

B – Esme took us volunteering. Bodhi made a new friend xx

"It certainly did that. I'd have gone stir crazy sitting at home all day. And Bodhi clearly loved it."

Esme giggled, stretching to look at Bodhi in the rear-view mirror. "Look at your boy."

Bella twisted, snapping a photo of him. Bodhi had fallen asleep, head tilted against the side of his seat, a line of drool escaping from behind his blue binky. He had Mr. Bear clutched in his lap and was out like a light, just as expected.

As they turned onto the main road, which would take them home, Bella felt her phone vibrate with an incoming call. Edward, Marley, and Bodhi lit up the screen with Edward's self-appointed new moniker below.

Hubs is calling.

Bella knew when she called his phone, an image of her and the children came up with 'Wifey is calling' written underneath.

She was trying not to think too much of it. They weren't married, of course, but Edward's new love of acting as though they were and nicknaming her 'Wifey' spoke volumes about where he saw their relationship heading.

"Hey, handsome," Bella breathed.

"Hey, mi amore. So, are we now a family of five?"

Bella felt a pang in her chest, her mind jumping to thoughts of being a family of five. Edward, Bella, Marley, Bodhi…and number five.

"Ummm…what do you—what do you mean?"

Edward chuckled. "The puppy? Was that your subtle way of telling me we've got a dog?"

"Oh! Oh, no." Bella felt Esme's eyes on her, no doubt wondering about the embarrassed flush on her cheeks; Bella had jumped to the wrong conclusion. "He's already reserved."

"Hmmm. You don't sound happy about that, mi amore."

"Well, Ralph – the puppy – was very sweet. Bodhi loved him. I honestly wasn't sure we were going to be able to leave without him, at one point. I almost snuck him out under my jumper just to stop the inevitable tantrum, but Bodhi was really good."

Edward hummed again. "So you'd be amenable to a dog, then? For the kids?"

Bella hesitated for a moment. Would she? She was well aware that it would be left to her to look after a dog as Edward worked, Marley went to school, and Bodhi was too little but would eventually be going to school, anyway. The idea of some company, even the four-legged kind, did have an appeal. Plus, the kids would be overjoyed. They loved to visit Alice and Jasper's Boston terrier, Bonnie, and always spent the subsequent hours after their visits begging for a puppy of their own.

"In the future, I suppose," she eventually hedged.

"Bene! Very good. All right, so you're on your way home? We'll probably get in at the same time. Chuck let me go early so we can take our girl for ice cream."

"Bodhi's fast asleep, handsome. Ice cream may have to wait."

"I can take him, Bella," Esme offered, flicking on the indicator before turning onto their street. "I'll take him to my house and bring him right back when he wakes up, if you want?"

"Tell her 'yes,' mi amore!"

Bella laughed; apparently, Esme spoke loud enough for Edward to hear. "That would be lovely, thank you, Esme. But please—"

"Don't tell him," Esme finished her sentence with a soft laugh. "I know. Don't worry, I won't rat you out."

"Esme is going to take Bodhi back to her house," Bella told Edward.

"Okay, good. I see you."

Bella's eyes darted around instinctively, an automatic smile spreading across her face when she spotted him.

He was leaning against the side of Charlie's car in the driveway. He had his ankles crossed, arms folded across his chest, crooked, double-dimpled grin firmly in place. He'd cut the sides of his hair but let the top and his beard grow out at Bella's request and looked like the stereotypical builder; dusty black t-shirt, torn jeans, Timberland boots and all. As they glided to a stop at the curb outside her father's house, Bella sighed girlishly and hung up the phone, slipping it into her pocket as she watched Edward do the same. Her fingers itched to run through his hair, her lips desperate to be joined with his.

"All right, I'll let you go get our girl. Give her kisses from Mimi, okay? I'll see you in a bit. Don't rush back, though. Carl and I will take Bodhi to the park if he wakes up before you're back, and I'll drop the car keys through the door," Esme said with a knowing smile.

"Thanks, Esme. You're a star. I'll see you in a bit."

Each step from the car toward Edward felt like the Grand Canyon. Bella took the last few at a sprint, but stopped inches away from Edward.

"Hey, mi amore."

Bella smiled up at him from beneath her lashes, abruptly shy. "Hey, handsome. Good day?"

"Much better now."

His voice was slightly husky yet somehow also smooth. Above all, it was warm. He reached out gently to run his fingertips over her jaw, tickling his way back to the soft skin behind her ear; Bella shivered.

"Cold?"

"No," she breathed, exhaling a long breath of relief when he wound his free arm around her waist to tug her toward him. Bella fell against his body and wrapped her hands around the back of his neck, stretching up onto her tiptoes to press a featherlight kiss to his lower lip. For a guy, he had wonderfully full lips. They fit perfectly between and around her own. "I love you."

Edward hummed, letting his tongue glide out to caress her lips before pulling back with a grunt. "I love you. But we have to go get our girl, and if we carry on like this, she'll be standing there thinking we've forgotten about her until tea time."

Bella grinned and gave him one last peck before stepping back and resting her hands behind her back. Edward made a soft sound of want and frustration in the back of his throat, leaning in to kiss her forehead just once.

"All right, let's get going."

The drive to Marley's school didn't take long, and soon Bella and Edward were walking hand-in-hand down the corridor to her classroom. The windows separating it from the hallway were decorated with owl stickers in all shapes, sizes, and colors. Edward paused in front of Marley's peg, a wistful little smile on his face as he reached out to trace the people she'd drawn within the letters of her name above it.

"That's us, isn't it?" Bella asked softly.

"It is. Everyone, actually. There's Arch, Emmett, Rose…Chuck, Peter…I think that's Carl-Roman and Chase...They're all in there somewhere."

"You must be Marley's parents."

Bella and Edward swung to face the deep-voiced arrival. He was almost as tall as Edward, with jet-black hair and almost-black eyes, tanned skin, and a lanky frame. Bella frowned, then realized who he must be.

"And you must be Jake's dad. He looks just like you. I'm Bella, Marley's mum, and this is her dad, Edward."

"Nice to meet you both!" The man smiled, flashing bright, white teeth. "I'm William, but most just call me 'Will.'"

Will shook their hands, then huffed with a softer smile. "All Jake talks about is 'Marley did this' and 'Marley said that,' ever since their induction last week. I think he's got a bit of a crush."

Bella squeezed Edward's hand, hard, feeling him tense slightly.

"Aw, I don't think so," Edward ground out, his eyes almost pained when Bella glanced up at his face. "They're just kids. They don't even know what a crush is."

Will laughed; the sound annoyed Edward, though he didn't know why. "I dunno. He seems pretty infatuated." He leaned in to nudge Edward with his elbow, thankfully missing the way Bella muffled her laughter at her other half's consternated expression. "We could be related one day, man. Wouldn't that be cool?"

Edward was just about to tell him how that was never going to happen when the bell rang.

"Saved by the bell…" Bella giggled under her breath.

"What was that, Bella?" Will asked pleasantly, bringing a teasing smile to Edward's face.

"Hmmm? Oh, nothing. I'm just excited to see my girl," Bella said brightly, smacking Edward to stop him from laughing when Will wandered away to talk to another set of parents.

"God, he's a loon. No way in hell are we going to be family one day," Edward muttered, eyes trained intently on the door as it swung open slowly. The kids came to the doorway one-by-one, Miss Bailey asking them to point out their parents to be called over to collect them.

Bella was looking up at Edward, but she knew the exact moment Marley came into view; his lips stretched into a wide, crooked grin. His 'Daddy' smile. He only wore it for his little sweet and tesoro.

He took her hand and led her toward the door, Bella's eyes falling to Marley. Her bunches were nonexistent, her curls wild, and eyes bright as she leapt into Bella's arms with a squealed, "Mamma!"

"Hey, baby girl," Bella laughed, crouching and squeezing her daughter to her chest. She smelled like grass, her strawberry shampoo, and cookies. "Did you have a good day?"

"I did!" Marley breathed, pulling back to beam at her mother.

Miss Bailey laughed, drawing Bella and Edward's attention from their daughter for a moment. "You have a very intelligent, sweet little girl."

Marley was clearly delighted with the praise; Edward was, too. He glowed with pride as he scooped Marley into his arms and smothered her with kisses.

"Thank you. We certainly think so," Bella murmured.

Once Miss Bailey had given them a quick run-down of Marley's activities, they thanked her and headed off with their girl skipping between them. Their offer of ice cream was received with excitement and an exuberant 'yes, please,' so they were shortly pulling up outside her favorite shop.

"Mr. Pops' Ice Cream Shop!" She cheered from the backseat.

"Do you want your usual, baby girl?" Bella asked, pointing Edward and Marley toward their usual seat – they always sat on the picnic bench overlooking the beach, because Marley liked to try to count the seagulls swooping overhead and bobbing on the surface of the water.

"Yes, please, Mamma. Ummm, and please can I have some sprinkles? Chocolate ones."

With an indulgent grin, Bella nodded and headed inside. There was no need to ask Edward which flavor he wanted; like Marley, he always had the same.

"Bella!"

Bella's smile widened, the owner of the store hurrying around the counter to wrap her in a tight hug. "Hi, Jase. How are you?"

"Just dandy." He pulled back with a cheery twinkle to his light brown eyes. "How'd our girl's first day go?"

"She did great, apparently. We have 'a very intelligent, sweet little girl,' according to Miss Bailey."

Pops beamed. He and Marley had struck up a bond when she, her parents and brother became regular customers in his ice cream shop. She adored the exuberant, flamboyant man, and he, in turn, spoiled her with extra toppings. "Well! That calls for the Marley Special!" Jase leaned in closer to Bella, mischief curling his lips. "Did you bring Marley's delicious DILF with you?"

Bella sputtered a laugh, Jase positively gleeful as he released her and returned to the other side of the counter to begin preparing the Marley Special – which was basically a mound of ice cream with every topping imaginable and what always appeared to Bella to be an entire bottle of chocolate syrup.

"I'll be right out, Bella. You go take a seat. You want your usual?"

"Yes, please," she giggled, grabbing a handful of tissues from the stand; no doubt Marley would need them.

When Bella stepped outside, she was surprised to see Edward standing and talking to a couple, Marley bouncing around with a little boy who looked to be a year or two younger than her.

"Ah, here she is! This is my Bella," Edward said with a grin, tucking Bella under his arm as she made her way over with a smile. "Bella, this is Cameron and Izzy, and little sweet is playing with their son, Milo."

Bella grinned and surprised herself by not tensing when the other woman threw her arms around her for a greeting; then she shook Cameron's hand. "Ummm, nice to meet you both!"

Cameron grinned with a soft chuckle, pointing his thumb over his shoulder at the kids squealing and kicking a football around. "Your daughter is beating the crap out of my boy at soccer."

"Oh! You're American?" Bella gasped, immediately recognizing the twist to his words. She smiled, her eyes dancing over to the children. They were having a whale of a time, their laughter attracting the attention of people walking past and sitting outside the nearby café.

"We are. We're over on a…what d'you call it, B?"

Izzy rolled her eyes with an affectionate, indulgent smile in Cameron's direction. "A familymoon, dear." She looked to Bella, shaking her head. "He can remember every single stat from the Superbowl five years ago, but he can't remember the world 'familymoon.' I've had to remind him every day."

With a light laugh, Bella squeezed Edward's waist. "I think that must be a man thing, to be fair. Edward's not so good at remembering things like that, either."

"Hey! Ed, man, we're being ganged up on, here!" Cameron protested teasingly, mirth in his pretty gray-blue eyes.

By the time the ice creams came out a few minutes later, the group was fast friends; Milo had even declared Marley his new best friend. Marley shared her monstrously big ice cream with him, and both Bella and Izzy took a myriad of photos of the pair smothered in syrup and ice cream as they giggled about meaningless things. They also made sure to add one another on Facebook and keep in touch, both the children and the dads looking a touch bereft when their wives and mothers reminded them they had lives to get back to.

"See ya, Mars!" Milo yelled as Cameron carried him away on his shoulders.

"Bye, Milo!" Marley called, waving her hands wildly above her head as she walked backward between her parents, almost tripping over a small, rocky wall before Edward's hands shot out to steady her.

"Thanks, Daddy," she grinned, blowing him a kiss as she righted herself and jogged to catch up with her amused mother.

"That's okay, little sweet," Edward chuckled. "So, was that a good enough celebration?"

"Yep! It was fandabidozi!" Looking between her bewildered, laughing parents, Marley flashed her teeth in a bright smile. "What?"

"'Fandabidozi?'" Edward asked curiously.

"What? Mimi says it."

Bella rolled her eyes, winking when Marley peered up at her. "Well! If Mimi says it…"

The trio strolled happily, Marley holding her parents' hands as they meandered along the promenade overlooking the seafront. Bella sighed, gazing out at the sea. It was low tide, the moss-covered rocks visible in the shallow ocean, the seagulls enjoying the food made easily accessible by the extra expanses of sand.

"Mamma, what's for dinner?"

Bella turned toward her daughter. "Surely you can't be hungry already!"

Marley giggled, shaking her head. "No! I just wanna know."

Edward sighed, scooping her into his arms to carry her the last few meters to the car. She squealed and clung onto him, leaning in to press a trio of loud kisses against his stubbly cheek. "What were they for, little sweet?" Edward asked, wearing his Daddy Smile and soft eyes.

Marley shrugged, "I just love you, is all."

Bella silently shook with the restraint it took to hold back her laughter. Marley had him wrapped around her little finger, that was for sure. Three…two…one…

"Hey, Bella? How about we treat the kiddos to pizza tonight? You know, special occasion and all that."

Never one to miss a trick, Bella shot her calculating daughter a wink while Edward was focusing on unlocking the car without putting Marley down. "If you really want to."

"Marley? Do you want pizza?"

Marley pretended to think about it, her little brows scrunched and rosebud lips pursed. "Yeah, I guess that'd be all right. I mean, if you're sure, Daddy."

Edward grinned, flashing his dimples. "Anything for my little sweet!"

Bella shook her head as she climbed into the car and shot a text to Esme, inviting her and Carlisle to dinner and checking in on Bodhi, while Marley buckled herself in and Edward rounded the car to his seat. In the rearview mirror, Bella watched Marley smile to herself in the backseat.

Oh yeah, Bella thought with a rueful half-smile. She definitely knows she has her father wrapped around her pinky.

"All righty then! Shall we go get our boy and have some pizza?" Edward crowed as he started the car.

"Yeah! Let's do it, Daddy!" Marley cheered.

As she watched Edward reach back to affectionately squeeze Marley's knee before steering them toward home, Bella felt a familiar flash of warmth toward him.

Yes, Marley had him wrapped around her pinky; but Bella had a sneaking suspicion that Edward didn't care in the slightest.

Two down...only one to go!

*bawls like a baby*