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.
"~~~^~~~~^~~~^~~~~^~~~^~~~~^"
Chapter 57 – California Dreamin'
Saturday, April 24th
"Settle down," Masen called out, trying to be heard over the noise in the room.
The noisemakers seemed to have not heard him at all. Gopher continued to tap against the table to whatever song was playing in his head while Lee, Bella, and Whit discussed the nail polish bottles sitting in front of them.
"I'm thinking this cerulean but I also like this magenta," Lee shared.
"That's pink," Whit replied.
"No, it's magenta. It says so right here on the bottle," Bella pointed out.
"The bottle can say anything it wants. That shit is pink," Whit insisted.
Masen was annoyed but nothing like when he'd first heard this argument last year when Lee and Whit had been the sole culprits. This year Bella was nestled in between them, and her presence made it hard for him to be completely put out.
Still, he had a meeting to run so he raised his voice to be heard over their racket. "Hello! Think I could get your attention so we can get this meeting started?"
"Oh, I suppose you could have a few minutes of our time," Lee replied with a big grin on her face.
"You gonna take that sass from her, Mase?" Whit questioned. "She thinks she's so awesome just because she's married now."
"I was awesome before," Lee argued. "You're just in a mood because your sex life is about to come to a crashing halt for three months."
"Not if we don't get to work on this season," Masen interjected. Those words seemed to do the trick because they all remained attentive and silent throughout his presentation on where they should go for the new season.
They'd really only scratched the surface with discovering the habits of Great Whites. With their importance in the food chain, the struggles to get protection laws for them, and their dwindling numbers, Masen felt it was important to continue with this species for another season. Beyond the logical reasons for it were the considerations for Bella's current abilities and future progress. Continuing with a species she was intimately familiar with would allow her a tighter level of control over her anxiety versus having her face a new species and unknown habits. For all of these reasons, he felt California was their best option.
"We'll start near Santa Rosa Island," he said, pointing out the island on his map. "Then we'll follow along the coast all the way to San Diego. The goal will be to tag three or four sharks and follow them up and down the coastline to figure out why they love this area so much that they return year after year."
"And maybe follow one all the way down to Baja?" Whit questioned. From his lifted eyebrow, Masen was sure his best friend already knew the answer.
"That would be ideal but we're not going to actively attempt to tag a pregnant shark. That's more of a risk than I'm comfortable with us taking." As much as he would love to have their names go down in the history books for answering such a vital question, he couldn't risk harm coming to any of them.
"If we're not hunting birthing grounds, then what do you see the main purpose being?" Lee asked.
"A clearer understanding of Great Whites," he replied. "We know that the behavior we saw in South Africa is only attributed to that area. But what if it's just because no one has been looking for it in California?
"Comparing Cali sharks to their South African cousins does sound interesting," Lee mused. "Plus the surfing there is pretty damn spectacular."
"Cali has tons of places for awesome day trips," Gopher pointed out. "I'm in."
"I'm never not in," Whit stated, grinning at Masen.
The entire team turned to Bella, waiting to hear her opinion on the proposed plan. She smiled as she said, "I go where my team goes."
Whit and Lee squished in her a hug while Gopher attempted to get his fist bumped. They were excited to get underway and to have Bella with them for another season.
Masen wasn't quite sold yet. He knew her too well. He knew her answer couldn't be that simple, that quick and succinct. "Guppy, this team works because we are always one hundred percent honest with each other. What are your true feelings about the proposal?"
Lee let out an annoyed sigh. "Mase, can't you just accept her answer at face value and move on to telling us when we leave?"
"If you had immediately agreed with me without a single question, would I have let it go?" he questioned.
"No because you'd know I'd never do that," she replied.
He only smiled.
It was enough to get Lee to turn her eyes on Bella. "Answer the man's question, Guppy."
Bella chuckled. "It's amazing how quickly you jump ship, Lee."
"The man does have a point," Whit said. "Immediate agreement is not common for either of you ladies."
Bella looked around at everyone before saying anything. "I was attempting to keep the meeting rolling but here goes … I think California is a great choice if gathering more research on Great Whites is truly the course MMR wants to pursue. However, if it's meant in any way to take it easy on me, then I wholeheartedly oppose it. But since I know Edward makes all MMR decisions in the best interest of the entire team, I have no worries about our destination and am looking forward to working with the team again."
"Thank you for explaining yourself," Masen told her. "But next time, a little less smart ass and a lot more serious. I can't properly gauge the effects of our decisions if you're blocking with humor."
"Look at Mase slap her hand as if she's any other member of the team," Whit said with a chuckle. "I foresee it being another adventurous and enlightening season for our merry band of misfits."
"I see you sleeping with one eye open, Whit," Gopher joked. "Teasing during meetings is forebodden."
"It's forbidden," Masen automatically corrected.
"So is sleeping with the intern and look how that worked out." Bella had all eyes on her as she giggled at her own remark.
As much as Masen wanted to laugh, he knew he couldn't without losing complete control of the meeting. "One week of bathroom duty, Guppy," he stated firmly. "Any of you want to join her?"
No one did.
Masen continued on with the meeting, giving them a departure date of Wednesday, May twenty-sixth. He also informed them that because they were going to be moving along the coast, they'd be renting cars and staying in hotels this time rather than having a singular base of operations like usual.
"Do we have to do it that way?" Lee questioned. "Moving around from place to place like that always makes the homesickness come so much quicker and take longer to leave."
"And wouldn't that make it harder for us to have visitors?" Whit added.
"I thought of both of those things," Masen assured them. "But in the end I figured everyone would prefer multiple days at each stop versus only being on land in one location. If I've got that wrong, I'm happy to alter the plan and find us a singular base of operations."
Lee's facial expression said it all—she didn't like it but didn't see a better way to handle it.
Whit took his hat off and tossed it onto the table. "We're going to pay out of the nose for last minute flights and hotels and that's only if they're willing to be on standby."
"I might have an idea," Bella announced. Masen was sure he was the only one who heard the nervous tremor in her voice.
"Lay it on us, little fish," Gopher encouraged.
"The cousins—my cousins—have a villa on the vineyard property that we all use when we visit. We could pick what we expect to be the prettiest days and make arrangements to use the villa then so that everyone can schedule it now." She ended with a shrug, a clear sign that she wasn't sure her idea was good—at least it was clear to him.
"Now that is an idea," Lee excitedly shared. "Plus, Esme loves wineries. She will definitely make sure she's there."
Whit was all smiles now. "Alice loves Cali. She won't hesitate to book herself a flight."
"Then it's decided," Masen announced. "One long stretch of off-time for family time at a villa. Guppy and I will work together to get everything setup and then share the dates with everyone." He smiled at Bella as he said, "Great idea, Guppy."
"Does it get me out of bathroom duty?" she asked hopefully.
Lee immediately jumped in with a plea for her friend. "It's at least worth a shortened sentence, Mase. Her idea will help with my homesickness, make Whit immensely happy, and save the company money."
"I'll shave two days off," he agreed.
Bella smiled. "I'll take it! Five days instead of seven is a steal."
Masen spent the rest of the meeting going over proposed tasks and team breakdowns. He also went over the safety rules and made a point of stating that they applied to him as well. He was determined not to repeat any of his mistakes from last season, both professionally and personally.
When the meeting ended, they all went to dinner together where Masen and Whit attempted to eat their weight in Yakisoba noodles while tossing around potential spots for cage dives and tagging operations. The ladies and Gopher were busy with their own conversation, discussing the absolute must-haves to bring on the boat. Since there wouldn't be a singular base of operations, they'd only be able to bring along the gear they could fit on Galeos.
After dinner, Whit left with Lee and Gopher to meet up with Alice for dessert. Masen and Bella headed to Esme and Carlisle's for movie night and some of his mom's homemade popcorn. When they arrived, they were greeted by Lizzy and Lilo running towards them and bumping right into them. They'd left them here knowing they'd be out most of the day.
Once everyone was settled on the couch, Carlisle started the movie he'd picked out. Masen and Esme made every attempt to be interested but it wasn't long before they had completely forgotten about the movie, their attention solely focused on watching the baby kick popcorn pieces off of Esme's "rotund belly" as she called it. They were so entrenched that they didn't even notice the movie was over until Carlisle cleared his throat.
Esme guiltily looked up at Carlisle. "Oops."
Bella giggled and said, "I demand to see birth certificates or I can't possibly trust that Edward and Esme are twenty-seven and thirty-six."
"We are the epitome of responsible adults," Esme assured her.
"Yeah, we didn't let any of the food go to waste," Edward added. "We ate all of the popcorn after the baby kicked the pieces away."
"Except for that piece over there Lilo has been batting back and forth across the room," Carlisle pointed out.
Esme and Masen shared a glance, smiled the shitty grin they shared, and harmoniously said, "So mostly responsible."
"And on that note," Bella said as she got to her feet. "I am going to take my troublemaker home. He promised me a moonlight walk on the beach and I am holding him to it."
Masen put his hand in hers and pretended to let her pull him to his feet. "Carlisle, great movie tonight. Mom, awesome popcorn."
"You can say you hated it," Carlisle assured him as the two shared a hug goodbye.
Masen snorted. "You must have momentarily forgotten my mom is sitting right here."
"Smart ass," Esme said with a snort. "Lean yourself down here so I can hug and kiss you goodbye. Baby and I don't feel like getting up."
Masen did as he was told, giving his mom the tightest hug he could. "I love you."
"I love you too. And please, please, please make sure you aren't late tomorrow."
"I promise. I'll be here hours before to help setup so there's no possible way for me to be late to your baby shower."
"Good."
"Now this is the part where you promise not to peek out the windows while the guys and I are moving things into the house."
She stuck her lower lip out in a pout. "It's almost as if you don't trust me."
"Not trust my own mom? Whatever could have happened to cause such a thing?"
She smiled wide. "Hell if I know, Kid."
He laughed and leaned down to kiss her cheek once more. "Goodnight, Mom."
Once he moved aside, Bella moved in for her goodbye hug and kiss from Esme. Of course his mom tried once more to get a hint about tomorrow but Bella held fast and gave away nothing.
After getting Lizzy and Lilo settled in at home, Masen and Bella headed out for the quiet walk on the beach he'd promised her this morning when bribing her to get out of bed to watch the sunrise with him.
"Are you nervous at all about the shower tomorrow?" Bella asked.
Masen shrugged. "The furniture is that shabby style she loves so there's no doubt she'll be happy with all of it. It's more the detail stuff … the bedding and the sea creatures I painted."
"The paintings will be her favorite, I know. And that end table that you and Whit glued the sea glass on top of, that one is gorgeous."
"That turned out better than expected," he admitted. "And there's always her favorite quote for her to like."
Bella giggled. "I love you more than all the fish in the sea and all the stars in the sky. It's an excellent quote."
He shrugged again. "I just want my mom to be happy tomorrow. That's all I want to get out of tomorrow."
"And you want her to feel prepared," she added. "You've put everything a baby could possibly need in the first six months into that room."
"That doesn't really count though since I had Carlisle pick that stuff out. I just did the purchasing."
"Which is way more than anyone expects of a big brother. The thing that Esme will love most tomorrow is seeing how much love you've put into the baby's room. Honest, Edward."
"Speaking of honest," he said as he slid an arm around her waist and pulled her closer. "Were you trying to push my buttons during the meeting this afternoon?"
"Not at first. It really was just our usual banter. But suddenly I needed to know what you would do if I kept on, if you would do the right thing or the easy thing. I'm really glad you did the right thing."
"I've told you, when it's time to work, the entire team comes first."
"I know you've said that. I also know it can be a lot easier to say some things than do them."
"Bella, I know you're nervous about the start of the season. I know you're worried the progress you made last season won't stick."
"And I know you're completely confident in me because of us saving that shark. The exact reason I'm nervous. I completely lost it at the end."
"At the end, when everyone was safe and the danger was completely gone," he pointed out.
She let out a long sigh. "You're right. You're right and in my heart I believe it completely. But my head …"
He stopped her and turned her to face him, lifting her chin until he could see her brown eyes clearly in the moonlight. "Say it. Out loud."
A small smile curled her lips. "My anxiety isn't a personal failure. It's a natural reaction to a traumatic event."
"Once more. Shout it. Feel it. Believe it, kapu. Believe in it as much as I believe in you."
She sucked in a deep breath, leaned her head back, and shouted it up at the moon.
He held her as she laughed, her cheeks hot with a deep blush. "That felt a little good, right?"
"A lot. I just hope I didn't disturb anyone."
"I don't think they heard you over the crashing waves. And even if they did, so what? You didn't say it for them. You said it for you."
She wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed a kiss to his scruffy chin. "I really love you."
"I am pretty great," he teased, expecting a smart ass remark in response.
"You are. And we're great together. And we'll do great together this season."
He smiled, hearing that she truly believed her words. "Aloha Au Ia 'Oe, kapu."
"I love you too, Edward." She lifted up on her toes and pressed her lips to his, kissing him slow and sweet until he took over and deepened it. He knew he would never get tired of kissing her, anytime, anywhere. Not because it was a logical conclusion or a mathematical certainty. He knew because he felt it in his bones, in his soul, and in the heart she completely owned.
"~~~^~~~~^~~~^~~~~^~~~^~~~~^"
Monday, May 17th
Masen shot up out of his seat at the very first whimper that came from the bassinet. He looked between the sleeping couple and the closed door, hoping someone would wake up or come in. Despite having taken a baby class—and forcing the rest of the misfits to go with him—he wasn't quite as ready to be in charge as he'd claimed last night during family dinner.
"So here's the deal," he said as he lifted the whimpering baby into his arms. "I took the class so I know I'm doing this right. But just in case, can you promise not to cry? You do that for me and I'll get you whatever you want as soon as you can tell me what that is."
He shifted so they could see Esme asleep in the hospital bed and Carlisle passed out beside her in the chair, their hands intertwined on the mattress. "They just need a little nap. You made a big entrance into our world and they need to recuperate from it."
The baby looked up at him with wide open eyes, not seeming the least bit tired.
"How are you not asleep?" he asked as he settled into the rocking chair. "The book says newborns sleep almost all the time."
And yet it was him yawning and not the baby.
The baby's eyes were the same shade of grey as Esme's—with the same power to loosen his lips and get him talking. "We never got dessert because of you. Whit's still heartbroken about it. Don't worry, though. He forgives the quickest of us all."
Masen blew out a breath and looked around the room again. He wasn't sure if he was looking for help or making sure no one would hear anything he was saying.
The baby grabbed hold of his finger and the grip was as tight and solid as any time Whit or Lee had ever grabbed him. He smiled down at the little pink bundle that was his new baby sister. "You're one lucky little lady, Carly Beth. You picked a damn fine 'ohana to join. You have two of the most loving parents in the world. You have a team of misfits to watch over you. A group of ladies who have been plotting ways to spoil you from the moment they heard you were going to join us. And of course it goes without saying that you have the best big brother in the world."
She made a cooing sound that had him chuckling.
"Exciting, right?" He glanced over at his mom, smiling at how peaceful she looked in her sleep. "You are a dream come true, you know," he said to the baby. "Mom's been dreaming of you for years. She was just waiting on your dad to come into her life. They're a great team which is good because I can already tell you're going to be a handful with the way you charged into our 'ohana. The books all said labor would take hours but you decided you wanted out during dinner and were here before midnight."
Remembering the look on the nurses faces when their big, loud group had burst into the lobby had him chuckling again. "Not that any of us should be surprised. Big entrances are a trademark of this family.
"I should probably warn you that they're going to embarrass you—a lot. Especially Mom." He chuckled at his memories of Esme embarrassing him over the years. "Mostly Mom."
The hospital room door opened and Bella slipped inside. She quietly made her way over to him, her eyes shining with laughter. "Finally decided to put your skills to the test?"
Masen couldn't help his smirk. "She didn't give me a choice."
"Oh sure. The tiny baby holds all the power," she replied with a smirk of her own. "You know, I never doubted you would be a pushover with her but I thought for sure it would take longer than three hours for it to happen."
"Didn't want her to wake Mom," he said through a yawn. He'd barely slept the last few days, counting down to Esme's due date and keeping her company late at night during her bouts of indigestion.
"Looks like you could use some sleep too. Let me take over here while you go out to the lobby and get some rest."
Masen didn't bother running a pro-con list on Bella's offer; he could tell from the way she'd phrased her words that she absolutely wasn't asking for his opinion, just his cooperation. They switched places and then he transferred the baby to her waiting arms. She had been so comfortable with holding her from the very start that he found himself feeling a little envious of her ease.
He also found himself sharing a thought he'd never expected to have. "As lovely as you are right now, I know this moment will be completely eclipsed when it's our baby that you're holding."
Bella looked up at him with humor in her eyes and a smile on her lips. "I hope you haven't been thinking about that too much. You do have a wedding to plan first, at least according to that checklist you posted on our fridge."
"You mean the one you ruined the pristine condition of by writing all in the margins? And with a purple pen at that," he said, giving her a fake frown.
She shrugged as she smiled at him. "It's your own fault for not merging the lists like I suggested in the first place."
"I still disagree that 'music' belongs on the broad viewpoint list I was going for."
"And I still contend it absolutely belongs for the mere fact that it's going to take you almost the whole year to come to terms with the fact that you will dance with me and it will be in front of people."
He frowned for real this time. "You high-jacked this conversation just to bring up the dancing again, didn't you?"
"I didn't actually. It was a happy accident."
"Can we please go back to my original question?"
"You didn't ask a question," she pointed out with a smirk. "You made a very bold statement, one that I was absolutely not expecting from you with how much you dislike major changes."
"Okay then I'll ask now. Do you still see us being parents together?"
"Of course, but that's something that's far off in our future."
"How far?"
She chuckled. "Are you in a sudden hurry?"
He shrugged. "Just curious."
"You don't do 'just curious'," she said as she reached out and squeezed his hand. "I don't have any concrete plans about it. I'd definitely like us to be married first. And a season or two more with the team would be nice. What if we say we'll seriously discuss it for our first wedding anniversary? How's that sound?"
"That sounds lovely," he said, leaning in to kiss her. "I love you."
"I love you too, especially when you've gotten some sleep."
"So bossy," he said, smiling as he snuck in one last kiss.
He caught the door just before it closed completely, wanting to catch one last glimpse of Bella with Carly. He watched them rock together for a moment before finally letting the door close. His smile completely filled his face as he headed to the lobby to join the rest of the misfits.
Whit was passed out on one end of the loveseat with Alice curled up on the other and her head resting on his leg. The couch was empty so he figured that had been Bella's napping spot. Poor Gopher was scrunched into a chair with Lee on his lap, and yet somehow he was deeply and peacefully asleep.
Masen tapped Lee on the shoulder until she woke. "Why don't you and Gopher move to the couch? I'll take the chair."
"Thanks but we're good here. You go ahead and stretch out."
"You sure?"
She yawned while resuming her spot against her husband's chest. "Shut up and go to sleep, Mase."
He chuckled and gave her cheek a quick kiss of thanks before doing exactly as she instructed. Lying there thinking about his new sister and all the moments he'd get to share with her and Esme, he fell asleep with a smile on his face. While he still disliked change, Bella had taught him that some of the biggest changes could also be the best.
"~~~^~~~~^~~~^~~~~^~~~^~~~~^"
Wednesday, May 26th
"Remember what I taught you. If you've had enough, give them the poop face. Esme's girls will be sure to give you back to Mom in a hurry," Edward instructed Carly.
Alice informed him of the flaw in his plan. "She only makes that face when she's actually pooping."
"You only think that because she hasn't had the need to use her secret weapon yet," Edward corrected.
"She's a baby," Alice argued.
He broke his gaze from Carly just long enough to give Alice his shitty grin. "Words may not yet be making it out of her mouth but her facial expressions say plenty."
Alice snorted. "You are delusional."
"Says the girl who popped out a glitter fairy and remains one to this day," he said as he picked a random piece of glitter off of Carly's arm. "Keep your fairy dust to yourself. Tell her, Carly. Better yet, give her the poop face."
"Aren't you going to put a stop to this?" Bella whispered to Esme.
Esme snorted. "I probably should but it's so damn cute that I don't have the heart."
Lee chuckled beside them. "Ten days old and already he is absolutely smitten with her. You better watch that he doesn't sneak her onto the boat."
"He wouldn't dare," Esme replied in her rarely used scary mom voice.
Bella and Lee exchanged a look and then laughed. "Not when you use that tone," Bella said.
"Don't worry, Esme. He has enough 'kids' with Lizzy and Lilo," Lee assured her. "I find it funny that for all his moaning about the 'fur-ball', it's his lap that Lilo is usually curled up in."
"Ladies, what has you all converged in the living room doorway?" Carlisle questioned.
"My big kid is giving last minute pointers to our little kid," Esme replied as she hugged herself to her husband.
"I have a feeling he's going to miss her greatly despite having the distractions of a plethora of marine life and the beauty of California," he said.
"I'm not ready for him to leave," she confided.
"I know, my love. I suspect he's not ready either but his work calls and we both know how ready he's been to get back to it. And remember, you know exactly when you'll see him again. Everything is all scheduled and ready."
"Try not to worry, Esme. Bella and I will make sure he behaves as if you're right there watching," Lee assured her.
"I am absolutely not above threatening to call you either," Bella added.
Esme took hold of Bella's hand. "Make sure he takes breaks. He needs rest. He never gets enough rest."
"I will, I promise."
"And make sure he eats. And don't let him leave anything out of the dailies that he thinks might scare me."
"I'll take excellent care of him. Just like I know Uncle Carl will take care of you and Carly."
The alarm on Edward's watch beeped and he let out a heavy sigh as he got to his feet. He cradled Carly close and covered her little cheeks in kisses during the short walk from the couch to the doorway where everyone was gathered.
"Remember our deal," he said as he passed his little sister to his mom.
"I remember," Esme assured him. "I trade you pictures and video of Carly for the dailies and photos from my misfits."
His frown mirrored hers even as he tried to make her smile. "We'll see each other in eight weeks. That's barely enough time to miss me."
Esme lost her fight to keep her tears in her eyes and clutched Edward to her, careful not to squish Carly between them. "Have a wonderful time and be safe. Come home to me as healthy and happy as you are right now."
He nodded his head for a moment.
She kissed his left cheek and then his right. "I love you with all my heart and Elizabeth's too."
He nodded again and then quickly kissed her cheek and disappeared out the front door. Bella wanted so badly to go after him but she knew it wasn't what he wanted right now. He wanted space and a moment to collect himself—he'd asked her for it first thing this morning.
Esme tried to smile as she wiped at her tears. "We suck at goodbyes."
"You did fine, my love," Carlisle told her.
"Would you check on him for me? If I go out there, I'll make it worse."
"I'll be back shortly."
"Don't worry, Esme. We know just how to handle him," Lee reminded her. "And with Bella along, it won't be long at all before he's calmed and feeling better."
"We'll keep him busy until he calms down," Whit promised. "No worries for him. Just focus on giving me my goodbye hug."
"I will miss you all, my misfits. Be safe and be careful and come home to us," she said as she kissed and hugged each of them.
"And don't worry about us here," Alice piped up. "I'll make sure everyone is good."
"Just don't go overboard," Bella cautioned as she hugged her sister goodbye.
"She'll be too busy helping with diapers to get into trouble," Carlisle said as he took Bella into his arms. "Have a wonderful time, Bug. We'll see you in eight short weeks."
Gopher bounded in at that moment to let them know it was time to head to the dock. They quickly gave kisses to Baby Carly and then were out the door and piling into the Bronco where Edward was waiting for them.
"Onward to adventure and knowledge," Whit shouted with a thump to the dashboard.
"No hitting," Lee and Masen yelled as perfectly as if they'd timed it.
Whit gasped and pulled his fedora off, holding it over his heart. "I am shocked and appalled. I won't stand for this abuse."
"Oh so it's abuse when you're the one being teased but if it's anyone else then you're just a nudger?" Bella questioned.
"That's exactly how it goes, little fish," he answered, giving her a wink.
"Hey, Whit, do you remember that time she told us Mase fell asleep watching a movie?" Lee asked.
"Do I ever," he said with a laugh. "One of the greatest hits on the denial-river-tour of last season."
"Can't you two at least wait until we're on the boat before starting shit?" Edward asked his best friends.
They smiled at each other before turning their smiles on him. "No."
"I remember there being snuggling involved," Gopher announced. "There was snuggling, right?"
"With the lucky shirt no less," Lee confirmed.
Masen locked eyes with Lee in the rearview mirror. "Why do you always wanna be a brat to me, Lee-Lee?"
She blew him a kiss and then turned her cupped hand into a one finger salute. "It's 'cause I love you so much, so suck it up, buttercup."
"You just wait. I'm gonna crush you in those Cali waves."
"Bring it on, little brother."
"Ooh," Whit exclaimed gleefully. "Those are fighting words!"
"I'm shocked we can actually fit in the truck right now what with it being stuffed with adrenaline and egos at the moment," Bella quipped. Her remarks had everyone laughing, even Edward.
He hugged her against his side, his voice soft yet full of emotion. "I love you."
She smiled as she kissed his jaw, his words from this morning playing through her mind. I could stay home with Esme and Carly and not completely hate it, but at the same time the pull of the water is so strong. I want to be back on my boat with my team. I want to be surveying, planning, and discovering.
She decided it couldn't hurt to remind him of her response. "This doesn't mean you aren't going to miss your mom and sister or that you won't be counting down the days until we see them again. It also doesn't mean you're treating your work as more important. All it means is that you've finally found that work-life balance Lee and Whit had been trying so hard for so long to help you find. And it means you're lucky."
He nodded in agreement. "More so than I ever expected to be. Mahalo, kapu."
"Mahalo, Edward."
"No whispering allowed," Whit demanded.
"Yeah, no whispering," Lee seconded. "Especially if you're talking about good stuff like ways to top last season's fun."
"Fun in the sun with nowhere to run," Gopher announced, causing a beat of silence followed by a round of loud laughter.
"~~~^~~~~^~~~^~~~~^~~~^~~~~^"
Thursday, July 22nd
"Drone footage," Whit stated confidently.
Lee looked at him as if he'd grown a second head. "Tagging data all the way."
"Are you insane? Esme doesn't want to stare at a bunch of numbers. She wants photos," he argued.
"She doesn't have to look at the numbers, just listen to me explain them."
Whit tapped Masen on the shoulder, pulling his attention away from the kitten pawing at the string of his board shorts. "Mase, bro, tell her she's lost what little sense she had left after marrying Gopher."
"Hey!" Gopher yelled.
"No offense meant, bro," Whit assured him. "Just a fun little dig at my annoying friend here," he said as he attempted to hug a glaring Lee.
"The three of you need to behave or I'll pull this car over," Bella threatened.
Masen snorted from the passenger seat, still not completely sure how he'd ended up agreeing to her driving the rental car. She'd used their pets against him, pointing out his lack of quality time with Lizzy and Lilo the past few days. He'd been locked away in his project room, working on the team's next big task. So here he sat in the passenger seat with Lizzy asleep on his feet and Lilo in his lap.
"Drone photos, right, Mase?" Whit asked.
"Once I get to hug my mom, you guys can do whatever you like," Masen told them.
Lee leaned forward so he could see her smirk. "What will you be doing if not going on and on about how fantastic our season has been so far?"
He smirked right back. "I've got a date with a gorgeous gal."
Lee faked a gasp and grabbed the side of Bella's seat. "Bella, you've been replaced."
Masen pressed his palm to Lee's forehead and forced her to sit back. "You are banned from speaking."
"As if you had that kind of power," Lee laughed, smacking his hand away.
"We want some baby cuddles too, Mase. You can't hog her all to yourself," Gopher warned.
Bella snorted. "Gopher, you've got a better chance of him letting you fly the drone."
"I gave him a chance," Masen defended. "And he nearly flew it right into a shark's mouth."
"How was I supposed to know she'd do that?" Gopher defended.
Whit, Lee, and Masen all turned toward him and said, "Predation."
"Big, loud birds," Bella added with a nod.
"It's easy to say that now," Gopher told them. "Besides, the drone is more Whit and Mase's thing. I'm happy enough with the regular cameras."
"Oh, here's our off ramp," Bella announced excitedly. "Another fifteen minutes and we'll be there."
"You haven't said a whole lot about your cousins. What are they like?" Lee questioned.
"They're more reserved than anyone you guys know. The ladies are always impeccably dressed with perfectly tamed hair and artistically applied makeup. The men wear dress pants, shirts, and jackets at all times. Their conversations are usually about the business and the latest trends. They have a lot of love for their family members but they're also the kind to handle problems quietly rather than talk about them as a group. Our visits out here have always been called vacations without any mention of why my uncle would vacation at a winery with two young girls."
"They prefer to pretend to be blissfully ignorant," Masen clarified. "At the same time, though, they have all reached out to Carlisle on multiple occasions to see if he needed help with anything at all."
"It's okay that they're different, Bella," Lee assured her. "I bet our dynamics seemed pretty strange to you when you first joined us."
"Strange?" From the teasing smile on Bella's lips, Masen knew Lee was about to have her ass handed to her and it took everything he had not to laugh. "Why would anyone find it strange to be on the receiving end of your overprotectiveness? Every best friend threatens to turn potential love interests into shark bait."
"But I apologized for that," Lee replied with a pout.
"And I love you for both doing it and apologizing for it," Bella promised as she looked up into the rearview mirror so Lee would see her smile.
"Hey, are there any cousins our age?" Whit asked.
"There are a few who are in college right now and closer to my age," Bella replied. "Lauren and Victoria are in law school and heavy into their internships. When they were pre-law, they were all about their sororities. They're the ones that convinced Alice she should join one.
"And then there's Eric. He's set to graduate college in the fall with a business degree but no one seems to know for sure if he'll immediately start working for the winery or head back to school to get his masters first."
"No fraternity for him?" Lee questioned.
Bella smirked. "There was in the beginning but supposedly he retired because he was stretched thin on time and needed more quiet for his studies. The rumor that we all pretend we haven't heard is that he actually got kicked out for being blackout drunk one too many times. Too aggressive with beer pong from what I've heard."
"I still do not understand that game," Lee confessed. "Is the point to test your grasp of physics as you muddle your brain with alcohol? Or is that just a front to make it seem like an elevated approach to getting plastered?"
"Beer pong doesn't require understanding, babe," Gopher told her. "It doesn't have a point. It's just a way for kids to be competitive, buzzed, and goofy in a large group."
Lee and Masen looked at each other and smiled as they said, "Pass."
"Really? As much as you two like beer?" Gopher questioned.
"Trust me, it wasn't from a lack of trying on my part," Whit told him. "But these two never saw a point to it or what was supposed to be fun about it."
"Though we did have fun watching you play a few times, Whit," Lee said, following it up with her evil laugh.
Masen snorted, knowing exactly what she was thinking. "He was so sure he knew the exact limit that would allow him to be buzzed and yet completely in control of his mental faculties."
"And?" Bella asked when no one said anything.
"I miscalculated," Whit admitted. He seemed for a moment like he'd admit the full truth to Bella and Gopher but then he started smiling and pointing out of the window. "We're here!"
Masen looked out the front window and his eyes immediately landed on a jumping Alice and a jittering Esme. He chuckled to himself while wondering how long the two of them had been standing outside. Cell service was spotty so it had been a good forty-five minutes since he'd updated his mom on their location.
Bella didn't even have the car in park yet and doors were being opened. Esme practically dragged Masen out of the car and into her arms, hugging him hard enough to make him cough.
"I missed you too, Mom, but that's no reason to crack a rib," he teased her.
She released him from her grip but then turned right around and grabbed his face, covering both cheeks in kisses and not complaining once about his lack of shaving. Masen understood in that moment just how much she'd missed him so he wrapped her up in another hug in hopes of calming her.
"There's my bug," Carlisle greeted. Masen looked up to see Bella kissing her uncle's cheek and then leaning down to give a kiss to Carly. She looked so much bigger than when he'd said goodbye to her back home. How had she grown so much in just eight weeks?
Esme chuckled in his arms. "You've spotted her. I am old news now."
"Mom, you know that's not true. And you know it makes me feel bad when you say stuff like that."
"Sorry, Kid. Gotta prolong my hug from you by any means necessary." The giggle that followed her words let him know she was mostly teasing. She squeezed him once more and then let him go. "Go on. And make sure you say a hello to Carlisle first."
He only got halfway there—Alice sneak-attacked him with a monster hug that once again had him coughing. "Hello to you too, Alice," he said with a laugh. "Shouldn't you be wrapped around Whit?"
She laughed. "Saving the best for last, Masen." She hugged him once more before releasing him. "By the way, poop-face is a thing and totally works."
"Duh," he replied while attempting to ruffle her hair. She managed to duck away just in time and slip under his arm, her little feet carrying her quickly to her next victim—an unsuspecting Lee. The yelp she let out had him laughing as he started toward Carlisle once more.
"Masen, you're looking very tan and happy," Carlisle said as they exchanged a hug. His hands were free thanks to Bella having stolen Carly away.
"You're looking pretty tan and happy yourself," he replied.
"Yes, well, your mother and sister require that we all take a walk on the beach every morning before it gets too warm out."
"I bet they do," he said with a laugh.
"I know. I see him too, baby girl," Bella said from behind them. "Uncle Carl, look at her legs go. She's so excited just watching you."
They turned toward her as Carlisle said, "As much as I would love to claim that reaction is for me, we only see it on those occasions when we video chat with you and the misfits and she hears Masen's voice. Her excitement is for her brother."
Masen's immediate reaction was a big shit-eating grin for somehow being Carly's favorite when they hadn't really spent much time together yet. It was quickly followed by the gravity and responsibility of holding such a coveted position in another person's life.
He was still smiling as he reached for Carly, but it was no longer the cocky smile of just a moment ago. This was the smile of a man who knew exactly how lucky he was to be part of his 'ohana.
"Hi, gorgeous gal," he greeted as he held her upright, looking into her bright grey eyes. Carly's lips pulled up in a smile and he laughed at the sight of it. "Is your daddy right? Are you excited to see me?"
Carly's smile widened at the same time her ability to hold her head up waivered and he quickly cradled her against his shoulder. "I've got you, little bobble-head."
"Edward," Bella and Esme admonished together over the sound of Carlisle's laughter.
"For shame, Carlisle," Esme said, wagging a finger at him.
"My love, you know how deeply I adore our daughter. I'm just also willing to admit she does resemble a bobble-head at times at this stage of her young life," Carlisle explained.
"She's not offended, Mom," Masen assured her. "Tell her, Carly. Show her that big smile of yours. You find your daddy and your Masen funny."
"Her Masen?" Lee questioned. "Really? You need another way to distinguish yourself from all of us? Her insane level of excitement that was just for you wasn't enough?"
Whit was nodding along beside her, his arm resting on her shoulder. "There's going to be no living with him. His ego will suck all of the oxygen out of the place. We should make him pitch a tent outdoors to ensure our own survival."
"Nah, just let her near one of his inventions," Gopher suggested. "Remember how quick he cooled off after Guppy broke his lens hood? Dude was ice cold after that."
"But only for a very limited time," Whit reminded him. "By the next morning, he was loaning her his lucky shirt."
"The very same shirt not even Esme is allowed to borrow," Lee pointed out.
"And let's face it, Carly will have the excuse of 'she's a baby' until she's at least eight," Bella added as she scooped up Lizzy and Lilo.
"I bet it's going to take more than age. He'll probably have to see her kiss her first boy," Esme replied.
"Carly, do not listen to a single word any of them are saying," Masen instructed. "They're haters and jealous. Ignore them. Better yet, give them all the poop-face."
Esme smiled while managing to hug Masen and Carly at the same time. "I'm so happy to have my family together again."
"Now that we are all here, let's get inside," Alice demanded. "Esme and I made brunch and it's getting cold while we stand out here."
They headed inside where Masen reluctantly let everyone have a turn holding Carly before reclaiming her for himself. He even changed her diaper and put her down for her nap. There were plenty of comments about him changing careers to be a nanny but he didn't rise to the bait before him. They'd all be doing the same if he'd let them, which would happen eventually considering there would be plenty more diapers for them to get their chance.
They spent the day exploring the house as a family and generally taking it easy, just enjoying being with each other and catching up in person rather than through emails and video chats. As the sun started to set, they all sat out in the backyard around the fancy pool, watching the sun sink low behind the horizon.
An unexpected knock at the door came shortly after and brought an introduction to a few of the female cousins. Masen barely caught any names, too distracted by the fact that they were there to steal away Bella, Alice, and Lee for some kind of ladies only get-together.
While the ladies were getting ready to leave, Carlisle pulled Masen aside to judge his agreeableness to babysitting for Esme to have her first date night since Carly's arrival. Masen found himself excited at the prospect of having his baby sister all to himself—or at least just him, Whit, and Gopher.
As soon as the ladies left with the cousins, Carlisle shared his plan for a night out with Esme. She agreed and even got dressed, but when it came time to leave, she suddenly got cold feet.
"Edward, are you sure?" she questioned as Masen gently bounced his sister in his arms, making faces to get her to smile. "You've been helping with Carly all day."
"Spoiling," Carlisle corrected, sharing a grin with Masen while Esme ignored them both.
"She's been a little fussy the past few nights. I'd hate for you to spend your first night off with a crying baby," Esme explained.
"Mom, there is literally nothing you can say that will change my mind," Masen promised her. "Go to dinner. Have a great time. Enjoy being a married couple for the night. Carly will be just fine here with me and the guys."
"It's time, my love," Carlisle said as he opened the front door. "You know it as well as I do. You also know we are leaving her in the very best hands. And I would also like to point out that a few hours of quiet and a hot meal is exactly what you need to recharge."
She sighed. "Okay. I agree with all you've just said, Carlisle. But, Edward, you have to promise me you'll call us immediately if anything happens."
"Mom, we're going to watch a movie. How much trouble can we actually get into?"
Esme looked to Carlisle with wide eyes. "Please don't ever let me find out the answer to that question."
"You have my word, my love."
"Out with the both of you," Masen demanded, holding up Carly's arm so that she was pointing at the door.
With the parents finally gone, Masen headed into the den where Whit had pulled out the sofa bed and piled it with pillows and blankets. "What's on the viewing menu first?" Whit asked as he helped Lizzy and Lilo up onto the bed.
"That Octonauts show Lee and I found at the store a couple weeks ago." Masen settled in with Carly resting against his chest and his pets curled up beside him.
"Look at that. It's about hermit crabs," Whit said as he popped the disk into the player. "Carly, that's your brother's favorite invertebrate," he added as he hopped into the bed.
"Unauna," Masen said to Carly, getting another smile from her. The sound of the show starting caused him to realize something was missing. "Where's Gopher?"
"Baking," Whit replied with a snort. "He's in love with the kitchen and needed to bake in it. The emphasis was all his by the way."
Masen couldn't help snorting at his goofy yet lovable friend. "Here we go," he said as the first characters showed up on the screen. "Time for your first undersea adventure, Carly Beth."
Whit chuckled from his spot next to them on the queen-size sofa bed. "From the safety of the living room because if we took you anywhere else, Esme would kill us."
"And not even bother burying us," Masen added.
The name of the penguin character was revealed and it had Whit chuckling. "A penguin called Peso to go along with that shark we named Pepe a couple weeks ago. Love it already."
"Catchy music. They sound like they mean business."
"Look at all their mini-subs! Mase, why don't we have a mini-sub yet?"
"Still cost prohibitive. Probably gonna be a few more years before the cost drops enough."
If Whit was bummed at all by the news, he didn't show it. "Explore. Rescue. Protect. Sounds a lot like us, bro."
Masen chuckled at how into the show Whit was already. Seconds later, it was his turn to be excited. "A tide pool, Carly," he pointed out for her. "So many cool creatures live in those. As soon as you can walk, I'll take you to one near the house."
"As long as Bella is there to supervise," Whit teased. "Last time you were at a pool, you busted your bottom."
"I still maintain that was completely her fault."
Whit only smiled. "I bet that shell is gonna be important," he said, pointing at the screen.
"Are those turnips? Actually, now I think they look more like animals dressed in mermaid costumes. What are we watching?" Masen asked while laughing.
"You got me, bro. I don't know anything about kids' shows."
"That's some pretty advanced radar."
"I like the Octonaut signal. We couldn't have one like that though because none of us would be able to resist setting it off at inappropriate times." Whit's evil laugh helped prove his point.
"Mini-sub fitted with a camera. I'm a little jealous now," Masen admitted.
"Shark! Look, Carly!" Whit excitedly announced.
"A white tip shark, Carly," Masen clarified. "It's important to identify the species so you know the risks."
"That eye—I'm betting hermit crab. Yep, I'm right. Hermit crab."
The purple hermit crab seemed stuck in a shell.
"Don't pull on it like that!" Masen fussed. "You could cause an abrasion that could get infected."
"What's going on?" Gopher called from the kitchen.
"Hermit crab is stuck," Whit and Masen relayed.
"Use Butter!" Gopher suggested, braying laughter at his own joke.
"Gopher is so silly," Masen said to Carly. "Where are they gonna get butter at underwater?"
"If they can put a penguin in a diving suit, pretty sure butter ain't gonna be a problem," Whit joked.
The penguin called for backup and Whit snorted when the bunny character showed up.
"The bunny is named Tweak. Let that sink in a minute, Mase."
Masen ignored him. "They're right, Carly. Hermit crabs are always looking for a shell that fits them better. The shells protect them from becoming lunch for big fish."
"Cutting it isn't going to work," Whit announced. "You'd have to know the exact location of the sweet spot in order to keep it from shattering. And if it shatters and you aren't ready for it, the sudden lack of resistance could cause you to puncture the crab with the knife."
Masen nodded in agreement.
"A hose? Air pressure?"
Masen shrugged. "It could work if you could build up enough. Then your only danger is the landing. You've got to catch the crab before a predator snaps it right out of the water."
They watched in silence, waiting to see what the outcome would be for the crab.
"Success! And I give that landing a nine out of ten," Whit happily declared.
"Yeah but now the crab doesn't have any shell. Life expectancy is still extremely low," Masen reminded him.
"I'm telling you, there's a plan here. Just wait. See? Here come his buddies. I bet they have the answer."
"The other crab is happy so that's good."
Whit snorted loudly. "I'm naked!" he said, mimicking the crab with no shell. It was quickly following by a loud "ah-ha" as he pointed at the newcomers holding the shell from the beach.
"Saved a crab, helped two crabs get new shells, and got to drive around in mini-subs. I think this show is pretty cool, Carly. What do you think?" Masen asked, craning his neck to see her. She had the sweetest little face—and made him think in terms of sweet little faces. This little girl had wasted no time in turning his life upside down.
"She's still awake and staring at the TV so I think we've hit a winner, bro."
"Let's play the one with hammerhead pups next."
"Aye, Aye, Mon Capitan," Whit said as he headed for the stack of DVDs next to the TV. While he looked for the one with the pups, he shared, "Just so I know at least one person has said it directly to you, I'm going to tell you this and I want you to just think about it and not respond right away. Just let it sink into that hard head of yours … I'm proud of you for how you've been with Carly. Change has always been hard for you, and even those times when you've wanted to jump in with both feet, you've struggled to stop holding back and running pro-cons in your head. Although there have been a ton of challenges with this new baby in the family, you've been as involved as any of us from the start, and you've managed to never let Esme feel like you're put out about any of it. You probably don't get why that's a big deal but trust me when I say that it is."
"Bella says it's a big deal because Mom was worried I'd feel replaced or pushed out or just not as important to her. The thing is, she made that impossible from the very start when she told me that I would be a big brother. She said it as if there was no other option, as if I was absolutely one-hundred percent her kid. Sure it sucks to have less time with her, and I don't get to have long talks with her right now, but in exchange I get this baby sister who for some reason thinks I'm an awesome big brother. It's the same thing where all the headaches of Bella being willful and opinionated and sarcastic as hell are part of what makes being with her worth it."
"Found it," Whit announced, showing the DVD as proof. He popped it into the player and then hopped back into bed. He said nothing more about their earlier topic, showing again that he was a master at knowing when to let things go with Masen. Not that it was a bad topic or had any negative conations to it, just that it was heavy for a night off with family they hadn't seen in weeks.
The guys were enjoying the undersea adventures of the Octonauts so much that they continued watching long after Carly had fallen asleep. At some point, they both fell asleep themselves and Masen only slightly woke when the bed shifted and a head settled onto his shoulder. He knew from the silky feel of the hair that it was not his best friend—it was his kapu.
"Have fun?" he asked through a yawn.
"Glad to be home," she replied, sounding on the verge of falling asleep.
He managed to turn his head enough to kiss her temple and then he was out again. Sleep found him a lot more often these days now that he had learned how to turn his mind off and focus only on the current moment he was in. This moment with his kapu against him and his baby sister asleep on his chest, it was about as close to perfect as anyone could ever hope to get.
"~~~^~~~~^~~~^~~~~^~~~^~~~~^"
A/N:
We weren't completely sure how Masen would react to a new baby in the family, if it would be a hard transition or not. We definitely did not expect him to fall so immediately in love with his baby sister and we can't wait to see what their relationship is like once Carly realizes she has her big brother wrapped around her little fingers. EA has put some pictures up on the blog for your enjoyment: masenmarineresearch dot blogspot dot com
We had a guest review that asked if we'd ever been to False Bay because the weather we described was off while the other details were right. We have not yet been to the area but knew from our research that the time period we were writing for would actually be cold weather and colder water. We took author liberty with it so that we could use different clothing, equipment, and time periods in the water. Sometimes we have to change details in order to give a story the flow we feel is right for the characters and that's what happened with this one.