Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. Stephenie Meyer owns anything and everything relating to Twilight. I am in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended and in order to keep it that way, No reproduction, copying, reposting, downloading, or any kind of redistribution of this story is allowed. This is to cover my arse as much as yours! And finally, the Original characters, plot, names, nicknames, songs, poems—anything I created from my very own brain—are all the property of the author of this fanfic, My-Bella. Unauthorized use of the material is plagiarism so please be kind and don't steal my creations.
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Chapter 42 – Got Lucky
Monday, July 28th
The obnoxious squawking of gulls woke Bella and she immediately tilted her head to look up at the window. She could just glimpse the blue sky outside and smiled at the brightness of the day.
She took a moment to stretch her aching limbs and then quietly slipped out of the bed and the room, leaving Edward sound asleep on his stomach with his face partially buried in his pillow. It had been a long, wonderful night of loving and exploring each other so she wasn't the least bit surprised that he was still sleeping.
Glimpsing her rumpled look in the mirror had her giggling. She'd known her hair would be wild after being down all day, not to mention multiple rigorous activities, but she hadn't expected the haystack mess she was currently sporting. The only thing to do with it would be to wash it and condition the hell out of it so she flipped the shower on to let it heat up while she performed her usual morning rituals.
With the room nice and steamy now, she slipped out of her clothes and into the shower. She sighed in contentment while standing under the warm water, enjoying the feel of it coursing over her. With her hands braced against the wall, she leaned forward under the spray to let it pound against her back. Edward had been so right to want to come back to the boat rather than wait the storm out in his truck.
That thought led her mind to replay everything that had happened yesterday, especially the giant change in their dynamic. Their line was gone—completely and irrevocably obliterated. It had felt like a massive shift to her, as if a very physical yet invisible wall had toppled over and allowed them to share the same space for the first time. She had expected Edward to get antsy and to want to deconstruct it all, to make sure they'd made the right decision, so she hadn't been sure how to take his seemingly immediate and untroubled acceptance. She hadn't been able to help being a little apprehensive of his behavior but at least she could say she honestly trusted his explanation—he wanted her and that made any consequences worthwhile in his mind.
Bella had just decided to stop daydreaming and start showering when she felt Edward's soft lips and rough facial hair on her wet skin.
"You didn't wake me," he murmured against her back, leading his torturous kisses on an upward path that followed her spine.
"You looked peaceful. Cute even." She was surprised she could talk with how quickly his touch was rendering her senseless.
"I am many things, kapu, but never cute. Controlled ... Calculating ..." He turned her to face him and he had the most devilish smile on his face as he pressed his naked body against hers. "Thorough."
She gripped his hair and pulled his mouth to hers, needing him to feel how deeply his words and touch affected her—especially his promise from last night to never let go. He responded with equal force and intensity, propping her up against the wall and sinking deep inside her. Her mouth fell open in a soundless cry while her arms clenched around his neck, clinging to him to keep from being swept away by the power of his passion.
She wasn't sure if it was the heat of the shower or the frantic pace of their lovemaking but she saw actual stars when she came. She also went limp in his arms which made him chuckle.
"Kapu, you're insatiable," he said, laughing when she wobbled while trying to stand. "I just came in here to say good morning."
She pushed her drenched hair away from her face so he wouldn't miss her glare. "Still not the hilarious one."
His grin was equal parts sweet and shitty. "I love you."
She hid her own grin while shoving her bottle of shampoo into his hand, and then turned her back toward him. "Make yourself useful and help me shower."
He moved her hair away from her neck and planted his lips there. "I really do love you."
Her smile widened and she leaned further into him. "I love you too."
After sharing a sweet kiss, he helped her wash her hair and then he washed himself and hopped out to let her finish her shower without being scrunched in and before the hot water ran out.
"I'll see what we have for breakfast," he told her while securing a towel around his waist. "Raise the shutters too and do a spot check of the boat. Check the tie-offs while I'm at it just to be safe."
Since he was already walking out the door as he said that last bit, she was pretty sure he'd be checking the boat before checking for breakfast. "The other end of his thorough," she murmured to herself with a smile.
Once she was dressed, dried, and had her hair up in a loose ponytail, Bella went upstairs in search of Edward. She heard his voice as she reached the top of the stairs and turned toward the helm where it was coming from.
"We'll let everyone have a vote when we get home," he spoke into the radio.
"Just take your time driving," Esme cautioned. "There's standing—"
"Water in a few places," he finished for her. Bella had a feeling Esme had given him that particular warning quite a few times.
"We'll drive slow, Mom," he added sincerely. "Promise."
"Give my love to Bella."
"Will do. See you soon. Over and out." He hung up the mic and then turned to face Bella.
She smiled while winding her arms around his neck. "What are we voting on?"
"Leaving. I know it would mean a loss of another day, but I was thinking we should spend today at the house and leave tomorrow. We can make it up by spending four days out this time instead of three."
"I wouldn't mind getting to be with Uncle Carl and Alice today, but I'll understand if the others are itching to get back to work."
"The sooner we get home, the sooner we can vote."
"Bored with me already?"
His eyes narrowed and his lips turned down in a serious frown. "Not funny."
"A little funny. We both know they are all perfectly fine. We were in more danger being on the boat."
"We only know what my mom has told us and she has been known to sugarcoat worse than a baker addicted to frosting."
While Bella was still convinced everyone was fine, she also understood his need to verify with his own eyes. "Then we should head home. What do we need to do to leave?"
"Thank you," he said, hugging her completely against him.
"Welcome. Now what do we need to do?"
"Just make sure everything that can be turned off is off and then grab something to eat in the truck. I don't know how long it'll take to get to the house today."
"We should probably change your sheets and make your bed. It would already be weird for it to not be made so one look at the rumpled state it's in will be a giveaway to how we spent our alone time. I don't care myself but I figured you might want to spare yourself some teasing from the nudger and his accomplices."
Edward groaned and scrubbed his hand over his face. "Whit. That fucking nudger's gonna know no matter what I do. Still it might help put off my torture slightly …" He glanced at the hall and then sighed. "If I handle the bed, will you find us something to eat?"
"Deal."
They parted ways after a sweet kiss, Edward taking the stairs two at a time and Bella rolling her eyes at him while heading for the kitchen.
She doubted she would find much of anything that didn't require cooking. He'd eaten all the fruit and cheese yesterday so she had a feeling they were going to get stuck with peanut butter sandwiches. Not that it mattered—she knew he'd eat again once they made it home. After the reaction to his cut, Esme was sure to want to pamper her boy after being without him during a big storm.
By the time Bella had packed up a couple of sandwiches and some water, Edward was ready to go, complete with keys in hand and his phone and wallet tucked safely into his shorts.
It took twice as long to reach the house as it typically did but thankfully it was mostly due to traffic rather than bad spots in the road. There had been a couple of those too, but the Bronco had been able to get through without much trouble. The biggest patch of water they encountered was actually on the sloped driveway of the house and Edward ended up leaving the Bronco parked up top rather than risk getting it stuck.
"So glad you're home," Esme said as she smothered them both in a hug right in the doorway.
"Technically, we haven't actually entered the house yet," Edward pointed out chuckling.
Esme moved to let them inside but then Lizzy had them cornered, barking and jumping and running in between them, seemingly unable to decide who she wanted to pet her first. Edward managed to scoop her up but it didn't solve the dilemma for her and she nearly twisted right out of his arms trying to lick him and Bella at the same time.
"Calm down, sweet girl," Edward cooed. "We're not going anywhere so you've got plenty of time to get our attention."
"Yeah, after I get my hug," Lee said as she locked her arms around Edward's shoulders.
Bella smiled as she watched him press his head to Lee's and whisper reassurances to her. Bella was so distracted by the sight that she never noticed Gopher heading her way and didn't realize what was happening until her feet were dangling a few inches above the floor.
"Damn good to see you, Guppy."
"Glad to be home, Gopher. Could you put me down maybe?"
"Oh, right," he said, chuckling as he set her down. "Sorry just really glad to lay eyes on you two and know for sure you're fine."
"Edward was saying the same thing about all of you," she confided.
"He wasn't a complete snooze-fest worrying about us all day and night, was he?"
"Not at all. We managed to enjoy our forced day off. Actually, the more appropriate way to put it is that I lost my butt off to him in cards."
"Makes you question if he's counting, right?"
"It totally did!" she replied. She had written off her suspicion as her hating to lose but now she wondered if there wasn't something to it.
"I do not count cards," Edward defended while holding his hand out to Gopher. While those two shook and patted each other on the back, Lee squeezed Bella in a hug until she squeaked and then both women laughed.
The front door opened behind them and Bella turned to find Whit and Alice walking in with Uncle Carl.
"Bella!" Alice shrieked. She rushed over and practically threw herself into her sister's arms.
Bella laughed while stumbling to keep them upright. "I'm fine, Alice. Relax."
"I'm just so glad you're home." Alice's exuberance was not only genuine, it was majorly overflowing because she let go of Bella to grab hold of Edward, catching him completely by surprise. He just kind of stood there with wide eyes and gingerly patted the top of her head.
"Now isn't that a little miracle?" Whit asked, slipping an arm around Bella and pulling her into a hug.
"I was thinking 'comical' but I guess 'miracle' works too." She gave him a peck on the cheek and then turned to her uncle. He wore a beaming smile as he watched Alice with Edward. When he looked to Bella, his smile was still huge but there was also concern in his gaze.
She locked her arms around him and hugged as hard as she could.
"I am so very glad to see you, Bug."
"I was safe the whole time," she assured him.
"I have no doubt Masen did all he could to protect you. Still, it felt strange for it not to be me."
"I'm sure you had your hands full with Alice with me gone and a bad storm raging outside."
"I did, but thankfully I also had plenty of help from Esme and Whit."
"You had some fun too, right?" she asked, hoping he would say they had. She'd absolutely hate it if she'd had a wonderful day while they'd been miserable with worry.
He gave a quiet laugh. "Esme felt the best way for Alice to get to know everyone better was with a game of Esme's own invention called 'Who Did It'. She'd share facts about the misfits and Alice had to guess the person involved. Whenever Alice was correct, she could guess again. When she was wrong, she had to share something personal about herself."
"Did it seem to work?"
"For the most part, yes, I think so. Lee is still very hesitant around her, but Whit and Gopher have included her in all of their activities."
"Lee will come around. She just needs time. And to see that Edward and I are okay with Alice."
"Esme said almost the same thing."
"Did I hear my name?" Esme asked, putting an arm around each of them.
"Indeed you did, my love," Uncle Carl replied as he leaned in to kiss her cheek. "Glad to see that having your son home has relaxed you considerably."
Esme grinned at him. "Same goes for you and your kid."
Carlisle smiled while pressing his hand to Bella's cheek. "Very much the same."
Bella asked them about their day yesterday and while she listened to their answers she caught Edward's gaze. He immediately smiled and though he only mouthed a single word to her, she knew all that "kapu" really conveyed.
She couldn't say she wouldn't have minded staying on the boat a little longer, but she could absolutely say she was glad to be home and to see the happy faces of her family. Looking around the room at all of the smiles and hugs being traded, she felt so damn glad she'd gone through with sending her application in. She'd had no way to know this would happen, that she'd gain so much from this experience, but that was the thing about taking chances and trying new paths—you never knew what was around the corner until you turned it.
"~~~^~~~~^~~~^~~~~^~~~^~~~~^"
"That makes it unanimous," Masen said as he surveyed the raised hands of his team once more. "We're staying put today in exchange for a four day trip out."
"Are we done yet?" Whit asked.
"Almost," Masen replied, wondering why his best friend was suddenly in such a rush to be done. "Does anyone have any questions about the revised assignments we went over earlier?"
"Me," Lee exclaimed, sitting up and letting all four legs of her chair touch the floor for the first time in an hour. "Now that Bella's had a turn assisting, when do I get my turn?"
Masen checked her face closely, looking for any sign that he was being set up. "Are you really interested or just asking to see what I'll say?"
"Both," she answered honestly.
He scratched the back of his head while thinking it over, weighing the pros and cons until he decided he needed more information. "Whit and Gopher, would you want to work on it too?"
"You know me, bro, I am wherever you need me," Whit replied.
"I'm in," Gopher said, lifting a finger at the same time. "I really liked picking the assignments that day I was in charge. I could do more of that."
"You guys understand that this isn't going to turn into you getting out of work you don't like, right? And not every idea you present is going to get accepted. I vetoed plenty of Guppy's recommendations," Masen warned the team.
Bella spoke up at that moment. "I enjoyed the process and I think you guys would too." She shifted in her seat and smirked at Masen before adding, "Also, Edward having to explain his opposition to my suggestions was good for him. By the time we were done, it had noticeably helped improve his people skills."
"Really, kapu?" Masen asked, looking down at her.
Her smile only widened. "Really, Edward."
"Then it's a done deal," Lee announced with a few hurried taps of her fingers to the table top. "We'll start a rotation to help Mase with assigning the work. Also, dibs on first spot."
"Second," Gopher declared with his arm high in the air.
Masen gave Bella's shoulder a light squeeze. "See what you've done now?"
"Yep," she said, leaning her head back to look up at him. "I presented you with fresh minds and voices to share in the work."
"That's it, right? We're done?" Whit questioned, already halfway out of his seat.
"We're done," Masen confirmed.
"Good." Whit grabbed him by the shoulders and pushed him toward the hall. "Time to check your stitches."
"Since when is that such a major priority?" he asked as he considered coming to a complete stop just to annoy his friend.
"Listen to your doctor, Mase … Get your ass in the bathroom."
He knew for damn sure something was up now, and he really hoped this was going to be about Whit and Alice and not his own life.
The second the door clicked shut Whit was running off at the mouth. "So what was rocking the boat more? The storm or you blowing your line out of the water? And don't even think about lying to me, bro. I need information, not wasted time. Start with what the hell finally got through your self-imposed chastity belt."
"Chastity belt? Seriously, bro?" Masen had expected teasing but nothing on this level.
"Well I thought about asking what made you grow a pair but that seemed a bit crass. Seriously, though, what changed?"
Masen pulled himself up onto the counter, careful of his injured hand. "It wasn't any one thing. Part of it was you, part was Esme, and part was me just feeling like it was the right step for Bella and me."
"I knew if I kept nudging," Whit boasted with a wide smile.
"Actually, it was you saying you were sorry you ever nudged."
"That's not what I said. What I said was that if you were going to be a fucktard, then I would be sorry. But you're not being a fucktard, right?"
"No," he answered with a snort. "I am definitely not being a fucktard. But because I had been one and because I was feeling guilty and incapable of properly making up for my atrocious behavior, I had a talk with Esme about how I was feeling."
"You mean you asked your mom if you were a shitty partner for Bella," Whit translated. He also gave Masen a playful smack to the back of his head.
"Yeah, pretty much," Masen confirmed while pushing his hair back into place. "Mom said mistakes happen, perfection is a myth, and loving a person enough to fight for their happiness makes you a good partner. I was thinking about what she'd said and what you'd said and then suddenly Bella was apologizing for kissing me and I realized how complicated I'd made things. And how ridiculous. So I told her what I was thinking, shared what I wanted with her, and then asked her what she wanted." Wearing a proud smile, he finished with "She wanted me".
Whit grinned. "Would you look at that … Masen is a wanted and loved man. If pigs really start flying, you're gonna have to take up archery. I can't be going without my bacon just because you—"
Masen hopped off the counter as if it was a hot stove and put a headlock on Whit that shut him up almost completely, only allowing some snuffling laughter to get free.
"Say it, then promise to shut it, and then maybe I'll let you go," Masen demanded as Whit fumbled to get loose, knocking them both into the wall.
Whit finally chose an unlisted option—licking Masen's arm.
As revolted as Masen was, he didn't let go. "Say it and then promise."
Whit forced Masen's arm down enough to free his lips. "You are the master. I promise to stop teasing you and be serious." He quickly added, "After I ask if you kept your sexcapades confined to your bedroom."
Masen attempted to turn the half-headlock into a full-nelson wrestling move but Whit had anticipated the movement and easily ducked and twisted to get behind Masen.
"I'm done, I'm done," Whit said, holding his hands up in surrender even as he continued to laugh.
"You will be if you don't stop," Masen warned.
"I'll leave you alone. Just get back on the counter. I really do need to see your stitches."
Masen kept a close eye on his friend while sitting back down.
Whit chuckled as he added, "Especially now that I know you were participating in activities."
"Keep it up and you're gonna see these stitches up close when I smack you upside the head."
"If I were you, I'd be far less worried about my jokes and way more concerned with what Esme's gonna say to you."
Masen's eyes widened as the realization hit him—if Whit had guessed, then Esme probably had too.
"She's gonna be happy for you," Whit assured him. "She'll only want to make sure you're okay with the choice after all your worrying."
"I'll just tell her what I told Bella—it was a wasted attempt at perfection."
Whit looked up from inspecting Masen's hand. "There's no way that's all you told Bella. She would need more than that to trust you were having a change of heart and not of shorts."
As much as he wanted to respond to that comment, he ignored the teasing to keep from egging Whit on further. "I told her anything that keeps us apart is flawed and unnecessary."
Whit smiled as he grabbed Masen's shoulder and pulled their foreheads together. "Proud of you, bro."
Masen rolled his eyes and sat up straight.
"I am, Mase," Whit insisted. "You stepped up and faced your fear and already things are smoother for you and Bella."
"What makes you say that?"
"The way you two were during the meeting. You were relaxed with her in a way you haven't been up to now. You weren't keeping that distance and forcing a separation between mentor and partner."
There was a knock at the door and then Esme slipped into the room. "From all the noise you two are making in here, am I to assume we're discussing Edward rocking the boat with Bella?"
"Already used that joke," Whit happily informed her while Masen was busy smacking his forehead against his hand and grumbling pleas of 'kill me now'.
Esme hopped up beside Masen. "So was it everything your heart desired?"
Masen let out a long groan with "mom" mixed into it.
She chuckled and ruffled his hair. "You don't have to answer, Kid. I already got the scoop from Bella."
Whit burst into obnoxious laughter while Masen stared at his mom in wide-eyed disbelief.
"We didn't talk specifics if that's what has you worried," Esme shared. She mirrored his shitty grin perfectly and added, "Yet."
Masen's responding whine of "mom" was ignored and talked over.
"I simply asked if she was at peace with her part of the decision," Esme continued. "And she assured me she had no reservations. So that brings me to you … Are you at peace with your part in choosing to end your line? When last we talked you were just a tad stuck on being the perfect partner rather than the best person you can be."
"I thought a lot about what you said," Masen admitted. "And I concluded that you're right, perfection isn't real. Even if I manage to do every single thing right, if one other person does something wrong or has an unaccounted for reaction, then it all goes to hell. An actual realistic goal is to be the best person and partner I can be and go from there."
"My kid," Esme cooed while hugging Masen's head to her chest.
"Seriously, Mom?"
She laughed while letting him go and then waited for him to settle before she continued. "All jokes aside, I really am proud of you, Edward. Changing your life to let someone else in, that's hard work. It's been especially difficult for you because of the way you view the world around you. And while you've made mistakes, you've also made huge progress.
"With that being said, I now have to say to you the same thing I did to Whit in regards to Alice. Please be respectful around Carlisle with your P-D-A. While these young ladies are adults, they are also his daughters."
Masen's lips curled into a cocky grin as his brows lifted up. "Did Carlisle get a warning for my sake?"
Esme rolled her eyes but otherwise didn't take his teasing bait. "Last question for now—and don't you dare try to tell me it's not my business. Was protection used? Don't be afraid to tell me either way. I can't help you two if I don't know you need it."
"We uh … we were safe. We actually had talked about it beforehand when um … When it seemed like everyone but me expected us to cross our line early I decided it was something we should talk about." He shrugged, knowing it probably sounded weird for him to have talked about birth control with a woman he hadn't been sleeping with at the time. "Better to be prepared just in case."
"Told you his inner boy scout had it handled, Esme," Whit remarked.
"How much time have you spent discussing me behind my back?" Masen questioned, trying to keep in mind they did it out of love and support and not mere curiosity.
Esme smiled while pushing his hair out of his face. "Just enough to anticipate any help you might need." She shifted her eyes to Whit. "You think there's anything new to worry about with this one?" she asked, tilting her head toward Masen.
Whit smiled. "He seems like he's finally grasping how to navigate the ocean of coupledom. We'll just keep an eye out that he stays on course."
"And the stitches?"
"Need a little cleaning around them but otherwise intact."
"Oh good! I was worried that finally releasing all that sexual tension would end up in crazy spider-monkey sex that would pop all his stitches."
"Mom!" Masen yelled. He was completely ignored by his laughing mom.
Whit, however, did a big flourish with his hands and then bowed to her. He also threw in, "I am but a humble servant to your mastery, my liege."
When Esme finally calmed down enough to speak, she told Masen, "I'm sorry, Kid, but I couldn't resist."
"Esme, you're the best," Whit declared, still laughing a little.
"You two are ridiculous," Masen grumbled.
Esme patted his cheek lovingly. "We are your family and we love you. And we love teasing you. In that order."
He allowed himself to crack a smile while pulling her into a one-armed hug. For all his grumbling about her teasing, she could pretty much tell him anything and he'd take it. He owed her—and Whit—for helping him to get his shit together so he could completely be with his kapu. He was damn lucky to have his family's support. And patience. Definitely their patience.
"~~~^~~~~^~~~^~~~~^~~~^~~~~^"
"Lee, stop talking," Edward ordered, pointing menacingly at her.
"Don't you dare, Edward," Bella cried as she yanked on his arm, trying to force it down. "Keep going, Lee. Tell us—" She was cut off by Edward's hand covering her mouth.
"That's not gonna work," Gopher warned him with a laugh.
"Yeah, it definitely won't keep me from telling her you cried the first time you saw this movie," Lee added with an evil grin.
After a long day spent together as a family, the four of them had decided to spend the night camped out downstairs in Whit's room with pillows and snacks, watching Lee's well-traveled copy of Lilo and Stitch. They'd asked Whit and Alice to join them but they'd chosen to stay upstairs with Esme and Carlisle to watch an old black and white romance movie instead.
"I did not cry," Edward refuted.
Bella pulled his hand down and leaned her head back to see his face. "Be honest, not embarrassed."
"I didn't cry," he insisted. "Maybe a little teary eyed at one spot, but I didn't cry."
"You totally cried, Mase. And it wasn't just one spot. The ohana got you first and then the bit about the family being little and broken but still good."
Gopher jumped in to reveal another piece of this very interesting puzzle. "And ever since that first time, Mister Big and Bad there, he still reaches for Esme at the end and hugs the shit out of her."
Bella lifted up to kiss Edward's jaw in hopes of consoling him and his bruised ego. "I think it's sweet."
"Sweeter than a plum," Gopher joked with a chuckle.
"Remember, Mase, we could always change the topic from this movie to your love-life," Lee cautioned with a devilish smirk. "From the way you've been touchy-feely with Guppy all day, I'm pretty damn sure there's a story there."
"Look, look!" Bella yelled, slapping her hand against Edward's leg in her excitement. "It's Whit's hula girl on the dashboard."
"Nope. You're wrong," Lee said with a shake of her head. "As I have been corrected many times, allow me to school you … Whit's hula girl has a red skirt while this one has a green skirt. Apparently there is a world of difference between the two."
"Awe, Lee-lee," Edward said in a sickeningly sweet tone. "Don't be jealous I found his lamp and you didn't."
"Abomination," she replied, tossing a peanut M&M at his head.
He laughed as he caught it and then popped it into his mouth. "That's Stitch, not me."
"That's right," she said as she snapped her fingers. "You're the stupid head."
Gopher tapped Bella on the arm and then shrugged. "Siblings. Whatcha gonna do?"
"Laugh," she answered, which was exactly what she was currently doing.
"Bella!" Alice's cry was so unexpected that it made Bella jump and nearly clip Edward's chin with her head. It also got everyone laughing at her.
"Aren't you supposed to be watching a movie?" Bella asked as she sat up from her reclined position against Edward's chest.
Alice got down on her knees beside her sister. Her eyes were wide and bright and her face was flushed—Bella knew right away Alice was up to something. The rushed way Alice answered reinforced Bella's suspicion. "I was but then I wasn't and there's something I need you to see. You and Masen. Now please."
"See what?"
"I can't tell you but you're gonna love it." From Alice's megawatt smile, it was clear she believed her predicted outcome was a definite.
"Why can't you tell us?" Edward asked.
Her eyes shifted to him. "Because you and her have to see it. Together. Now. Please? I promise it's a good surprise. A real surprise and not a joke at all. It's for both of you."
"Uh …"
Bella smiled at his lack of coherency around her sister. Alice was a lot to take all at once when she got excited about something.
"You'll like this, I swear. Please just come with me. Please," Alice pleaded with her hands clasped together.
"You guys better go with her before she explodes," Lee commented.
"Yeah, it's not like we haven't all seen this movie a bunch of times," Gopher added.
Bella wondered if they knew something about what Alice had planned or if they just wanted the hyped girl gone so relative peace could return to the room. Either way, it wouldn't hurt to check out this 'surprise'. It wasn't like the movie couldn't be rewound.
"Alright, Alice," Bella said as she began to get up. "We'll take a look at this surprise of yours."
"We will?" Edward asked, still seated on the floor.
Bella smirked at him. "We will."
He sighed and shrugged his shoulders before getting up.
"Yay!" Alice exclaimed as she jumped up and danced toward the doorway. "You guys will love this. Seriously. You'll see."
Edward pointed out the flaw in her plan. "Not if you don't get out of the doorway and take us to wherever this surprise is located."
The location ended up being outside on the beach in a secluded corner between the house and a large sand dune. A small square table with a bunch of little candles glowing brightly was setup between two lounge chairs. Sharing the limited space with the candles was a large covered dish and two wine glasses that looked to hold Esme's homemade tea complete with lemon slices sitting on the rims.
This, Bella thought as she looked from the table to her sister. This is the Alice that I know and love, the sister who puts together little surprises just to let me know I'm important to her.
Alice nervously twisted her fingers together while rocking back and forth on her heels. "Masen, I know you had everything planned out for a date with my sister, and I swear I'm not trying to step on that at all, but when I heard you had to cancel to spend today with us … I just thought this would show you guys I really do support you and want you to be happy. And I thought it would be a good way to thank you for such a great day together as a family. I know things are still tense between us and that makes it all the more awesome that you guys included me in everything today. I know this won't make things a-okay for us but I thought it could be a good first step. And that's it. Promise. Oh and surprise!"
Edward looked positively bewildered as he scratched the back of his head. "I … Uh … Thanks?" He looked to Bella for help and as soon as he saw she was struggling not to laugh, he started fighting not to show his cocky smirk. She couldn't wait to find out exactly what was going through his head.
"Yay! You like it!" Alice crowed. "You really like it! OH! I could hug you. Can I hug you? That might be awkward. Would that be awkward?"
Edward chuckled and took a step back from her. "Definitely awkward. Maybe another time."
"Right. Another time is a-okay with me." She turned her gaze to Bella, clearly looking for her sister's approval. "Bella, what do you think?"
"It's wonderful, Alice. Thank you."
"Yay! You love it!" Alice launched herself at Bella and hugged her tightly. "I'm so glad. And now I'm going to shut up and stop talking so you can enjoy. So enjoy! And I love you and bye!" She hugged Bella again, squealed excitedly, and then ran off.
Edward blinked a couple times and then looked at Bella. "Wow."
She smirked at his shocked expression. "I told you."
"No. No you damn sure did not tell me. You said bubbly. That—" He pointed in the direction Alice had gone. "That was some major insanity."
"Yeah, but she did a good job," Bella replied while looking over the decorated table.
Edward took her into his arms and brushed his lips against hers. "It'll do."
"What do you really think of this? And what were you thinking about before when you had that cocky smile of yours showing?"
"I was just coming up with ideas on how to make you pay for laughing at me."
"Be serious."
"I never joke about payback."
She rolled her eyes at his teasing. "Will you at least tell me what you think of her surprise?"
He looked at the table for a moment and then focused on Bella again. "I like it. Mine's still going to blow this one out of the water, but I like this too."
"Still?" she asked, trying not to get completely distracted by the feel of his lips on her neck.
She could feel his smile against her skin. "Don't sound so surprised," he told her.
"This isn't your kind of thing and I'm okay with that."
He stood up straight to look into her eyes, his hands gently holding her face. "It's not about me. It's about us. You like dinner dates and I like making you happy so we'll work them in when we can, only you won't know when it's coming. Now that it's an option, I like the idea of surprising you."
"Of course you would," she said with a sigh and eye-roll. He knew exactly what he was doing, dangling the surprise and getting her curiosity all riled up.
His smile was equal parts sweet and sexy as he whispered, "Aloha Au Ia 'Oe, kapu."
"Aloha Au Ia 'Oe, Edward."
They shared a kiss that left them breathless as well as smiling and happy, and then they sat down facing each other and the table separating their lounge chairs. He lifted the cover and they found that Alice had prepared a tray of olives, cheese cubes, apple slices, and crackers—and a couple of Edward's favorite plums.
He looked up from the olive he'd been inspecting. "You think she really did this just to be nice?"
Bella finished sipping her tea and set the glass down before answering. "Mostly, yes. But like she said, she also hopes it eases the tension between all of us. Why? Are you worried she has something bad planned?"
"Food poisoning?" he ventured. His smile said he was joking but the olive still pinched between his fingers told a different story.
Bella couldn't help giggling. "She mentioned once being worried you would suspect that from her."
"She hasn't exactly been a fan of mine."
"She did try really hard today, though," Bella reminded him. "I kept looking for some sign that she was being fake about it, but there weren't any. She was genuine today."
"I think maybe I saw a little of what you and Whit see in her." Rather than elaborate, he popped the olive into his mouth and chewed it.
As nice as it was to see Alice genuinely getting along with Edward, Bella had a completely different topic on her mind now. "We never really got to discuss what happened on the boat."
That sweet and sexy smile was back on his lips. "Our actions said plenty."
Her face flushed from the heat of remembering the feel of his body moving with hers and she struggled not to become distracted. "What about today's actions? What do they say?"
"Is this about Lee's comment earlier?"
"A little. I guess I just want to be sure of where your head is at right now."
His smile fell but his green eyes continued to meet hers. "My head. A source of brilliance and trouble." He drew her hand to his lips and softly kissed her wrist. "I'm sorry for letting it get in our way for so long. And I promise you, it's not going to happen again."
"Edward, you're too analytical to make that kind of promise. There's no way you're not dissecting every minute of what happened."
"There is a way. This is not work time. This is our time and I'm making myself be in the moment. I'm focusing my energy on making memories with you. It's similar to when we get home after a trip and I put myself completely into being with my family."
"Is that hard for you?"
"At first it's difficult to go from being on high-alert to being relaxed, but after a while it feels natural."
She couldn't help the grin she was wearing, not with knowing all the past stress she'd caused him. "I feel natural to you?"
"No but that's because natural is ordinary and you… Kapu, you're astonishing in every way imaginable. You elevate everything." He took hold of her other hand and locked all of their fingers together. "Being with you, it was different. It was deeper, more somehow. And I didn't want it to end just because the sex did. I wanted to hold you after, and to listen to your breathing calm and feel your heart slow down. I wasn't thinking about projects sitting unfinished in my room or work plans. I was just lying with you and that was enough—astonishing and enough."
His words were beautiful and they made her feel special but they also made her incredibly sad because of what she'd learned about him during their time together.
His thumbs gently rubbed against her cheeks. "I know you, Bella, and I know these aren't happy tears. What's wrong?"
"I hate that you spent so long believing you would never know any of this—love and contentment and just the joy of sharing with someone."
"Kapu," he said, chuckling as he dried the rest of her tears. "That should never make you sad. It should always make you smile because you proved me wrong in the best way possible."
"You hate being wrong."
"Not when it comes to you. Getting to call you kapu and seeing in your face that you know how much I mean it, I am so damn lucky to be wrong." He kissed her then, slow and deep in that way that never failed to make her toes curl and her stomach knot.
She considered for a moment calling off the date in favor of the privacy of their room but she knew it would hurt her sister's feelings if they didn't at least enjoy a little of the spread she'd put out for them.
"It's crazy how clear it is tonight after yesterday's storm," Bella commented, glancing at the stars while fitting some cheese between two crackers.
"The sky gets clear and the water gets murky."
She frowned, knowing murky water was extremely dangerous because of how easily it hid large creatures, especially sharks. "I hadn't thought about that. How will that affect work tomorrow?"
"Won't know until we get out there," he answered with a mouthful of an apple slice. He was clearly over his poison worry from earlier.
"Not hungry for your plums? That's a first."
He turned the plate to move them closer to him. "Just saving them for last."
"Best for last, huh?" she asked, grinning over his obsession with the fruit.
He pulled his tea glass from his lips to make sure she didn't miss his cocky grin. "No, that's what happens later when we're in our room."
Her blush was immediate and completely out of her control, much like her desires around him. She waited until he'd set his glass down and without a word she pushed on his shoulder to get him to stretch out on his lounge chair. She sat just below his waist, her weight resting on her knees on either side of him, putting her in the perfect position to kiss him. She took just a few seconds to enjoy his smile and the sight of her desire mirrored in his green eyes before losing herself in the softness of his lips and the firmness of his kisses.
She hadn't exactly meant for things to go any further than kissing but she suddenly found herself holding another firm part of him and she couldn't resist finally having a chance to repay him for that night when he'd made it all about her. This wasn't normally like her but they were secluded in their spot and Edward was definitely not protesting so she felt safe being a little wild with him.
With half her focus on his reactions and the other half on their heated kissing, there was none left for the outside world so she completely missed Lizzy's barking, her uncle calling for the puppy, and the mix of voices calling for him. It was her uncle's surprised yelp and shout of "sorry" that finally broke through the lust and alerted her to an audience—the absolute last audience she ever wanted to accidentally receive.
She reacted instinctively, her hand flying away from Edward at the same time her body dropped down to block him from her uncle's view, which pretty much only did one thing—caused Edward to groan in discomfort and probably some pain too.
"Carlisle, get back in the house." That was Esme.
"We tried to stop you." Whit.
"Honestly, Uncle Carl." Alice.
The only way this could be more humiliating—"Oh shit, they were totally doing it out here." Gopher. Of course Gopher.
"All of you back in the house this instant," Esme ordered. "Edward, Bella, you two—" Once she got her snorting under control, she added, "Finish your … uh … your date and then … We're all heading to bed so you two just take your time. Or not." She outright laughed and then there was silence.
"Are they gone?" Bella whispered, refusing to move to look for herself. She was absolutely mortified and she was sure her face had reached a new level of red even for her.
"Don't care. Get off me. Please get off."
She practically fell off in her hurry to get up. "Are you okay?"
Edward was too busy groaning in the fetal position to answer.
Here she stood on her first official date, her first time seeing to her partner's needs, and all she'd managed to do was give him an epic amount of unreleased tension and squashed beans and frank. Oh and there was that little issue of her uncle catching her which had pretty much turned into the entire family catching her.
Bella laughed so hard that she had to sit down on her lounge chair. As bad of a turn as this night had taken, it was still something to be grateful for. She had someone she loved, a family to catch her being wild, and the bravery to face them all in the morning along with the fortitude to survive the teasing that was absolutely coming her way.
She felt something cold hit her chest and looked down to find an olive sitting in her bra. She pulled it out and offered it to the person who'd thrown it at her. "I think you lost this."
"I think you lost your mind," he told her. Rumpled … Harassed … Annoyed … They were all good adjectives for the way Edward looked. "How in the hell are you laughing right now?"
"Because even with what just happened, what you're always saying is right. We are lucky, Edward. We have each other and our family."
"What we have is a shit load of teasing coming our way."
"Sorry about that," she said honestly. "I didn't mean for things to get so heated. It just sort of ran away from me."
He looked at her for a long moment, probably trying to decide how to get her back for embarrassing the hell out of him. "I'm not mad at you. I've felt that run away thing with you plenty. I'm just … Esme had asked me to be respectful around your uncle this morning and already I've messed that up."
Bella winced. "I kind of didn't actually give you a choice. I'm really sorry."
"Come here," he said, offering her his hand. Once she was sitting beside him, he hugged her close and rested his head on hers. "I'll find some way to smooth things out with your uncle. Just do me a favor in return. Don't ever drop your weight on me like that again."
"Deal. Promise. And I also promise to make it up to you as soon as you feel up to it."
"I've got another promise I need from you. If your uncle is around, keep your hands to yourself until we're behind a closed and locked door."
"Promise." She couldn't help smiling or asking the question that had popped into her head. "It was fun before the interruption, right?"
He laughed and hugged her tighter. "Smart ass."
"I love you."
"Lucky me." He picked up his head and as soon as she looked up at him, he kissed her sweetly. "I love you too, kapu."
She laughed and threw her arms around his neck, overcome by the happiness she was feeling.
"You do know this date was a disaster, right?" he questioned, sounding a little worried to her ears.
"Not completely. And there is a bright side. The one you plan can't possibly go any more wrong than this one did."
He groaned and smacked his forehead with his hand.
She laughed as she got to her feet and tugged at his elbow. "Let's go. This dinner date is officially over. Let's blow out the candles and take all this stuff inside."
They worked together to get the table cleared and then to put everything away in the house. The living room and kitchen had thankfully been empty when they'd entered the house, and though they heard voices more than once while cleaning up, no one came out to tease them. She figured they were giving them a small reprieve, planning their assault for first thing in the morning.
She'd have to try to pull her uncle aside and make sure he knew it hadn't been Edward's fault. Although on second thought, that knowledge might not be that comforting.
Esme. She'd talk to Esme first. If anyone knew the right way to handle this, it would be her.
"You know, I think the real bright side to all of this is you owe me for once," Edward mentioned as he locked the bedroom door she'd just closed.
"Do you have something in mind already?" she asked, tossing herself facedown into the pillows on the bed.
She heard him growl and then she was suddenly on her back with his body hovering over hers and his green eyes shining from his playful mood.
"Hi," she said, giggling over her inability to come up with anything smarter to say. He was far too good at scattering her thoughts.
He didn't say anything while pulling her Sea World t-shirt out of her jean shorts.
"Looking for something?"
He silently pushed her shirt up and then pulled it over her head.
"It's not going to fit you, if that's what you're wondering. I know it's big on me but not enough to fit those broad shoulders of yours."
His lips twitched as if he wanted to smile but he didn't look up or say anything, his focus now on getting her shorts down her legs.
She waited until he was leaning over her again to say, "I'm getting the sense that you're feeling better. Are your beans and frank okay now? I've never actually seen a grown man in the fetal position before. At least everyone else had gone back inside by that point."
"Kapu, stop flapping your lips and kiss me."
She ducked his attempt to kiss her, having one more thing she had to get out. "This isn't some evil plan of payback is it? You wouldn't get me worked up just to stop and leave me wanting so you can get your revenge, would you?"
He began with a kiss to her neck that made her entire body tense up with anticipation, and followed up by speaking in a low, seductive tone. "I have something much more satisfying in mind for you." He moved his kisses to her collarbone and in that same low tone he told her, "A true revenge gives pleasure to the seeker."
He brushed his lips against the hollow of her throat while making sure his scruff scratched the sensitive skin between her breasts. She gasped at the feel and reached for him, wanting him to do it again.
But he had already moved and his mouth was hovering over the top of her panties. "And leaves the intended awestruck by the events that unfold."
He licked his lips and then he licked his way back up her body. She wanted to pay close attention, to memorize everything he did, everything she felt—but his passion was like a wave that overtook her, pulling her down and making it impossible to think straight enough for memorizing. All she could do was feel him and move with him and love him; it was extraordinary and enough.
"~~~^~~~~^~~~^~~~~^~~~^~~~~^"
A/N:
Thank you all so much for the supportive reviews from the last chapter. We are so appreciative of your love for this story and these characters! We were not able to answer each review this time but we did read and enjoy every one of them.
We also loved seeing references to "It Happened One Night" and "Wall of Jericho". Glad to see some other old movie buffs in our audience.
And while I'm sorry to burst Hope4More's bubble, there will not be any "little fishes" as a result of the line ending. LOL We were not privy to the bc convo, but it did take place, as Masen confirmed for Esme and Whit in this chapter.
For this new chapter, we'd like to give a special thanks to lvk1978 for allowing us to use her brilliant phrase of "navigating the ocean of coupledom". It fit perfectly as something Whit would say in talking about Masen and his kapu!