Title: Natural
Summary: An unknown batter named Edward Masen takes a losing baseball team to the top of the league. Edward lives out his fame but can't seem to shake the idea of the mysterious woman he meets on the train.
Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended. No profit is being made from this work.
A/N: Thank you to my amazing mind soulmate and awbffe, LoveBadBoyVamps, for beta reading this chapter. *muah*
"Daddy! Daddy! Wake up!"
I groggily opened my eyes and was greeted with the sight of my son shaking me. Gripping his sides, I flipped him on to his back and began tickling his sides. Charlie was four years old and had his mother's gorgeous eyes and my crazy auburn colored hair.
"Okay! Okay! Uncle Carlisle! Uncle Carlisle!"
Releasing him I began to shake my head. "You know you only have to say 'uncle,' right?"
"I know. It's just funnier that way."
I nodded. "You're right." I searched the room. "Where's Mommy?"
He plopped off the bed. "Downstairs. She's talking to herself again."
Charlie was a very perceptive boy. When Bella had him and saw that he had her eyes—the same eyes that her father had—I knew we had to name him after her father. Though I never knew Charlie, everyone explained how very alike the two of them were.
"She's just nervous. Today's a big day."
He nodded. "I know!"
"Why don't you go help Mommy and let her know I'll be down in a second, okay?"
He dashed out of the bedroom. "Okay!"
I heard my son laughing, and Emmett's booming laughter following it, downstairs. The whole gang must have been over. It helped knowing Alice and Rose would be able to help Bella in the kitchen while I got dressed. Alice and Emmett were Charlie's godparents. It seemed only natural because of how much they fussed over him. Alice and Jasper had a two year old of their own named Frankie, and we kept him and Charlie around each other as much as possible. Emmett and Rose just recently had a baby girl named Lilly and you could see how proud Emmett was of his little family. He called them "the prettiest flowers in his garden" and Rose got a kick out of it.
My shower was quick, and since Bella had already laid out my clothes the night before, it didn't take long to get dressed. I made my way downstairs and smiled as I looked around at my family. We were still missing two but they weren't due to arrive for another hour.
I greeted Jasper and Emmett who were playing with the kids, and made my way into the kitchen. Bella was over the stove, stirring the pasta, and I wrapped my arms around her and kissed her neck.
"Good morning, Mrs. Masen."
She leaned into my touch. The choice to marry Bella was a simple idea that came right after the game that changed our lives so many years ago. My hands rested on her swollen stomach that was now carrying our second child, and I knew Bella was smiling.
"Hello, handsome." She giggled. "About time you got up, sleepyhead."
"A compliment and an insult all in the same sentence, I'm quite impressed."
She slapped my hand away from her stomach. "Ass. Go play with the children."
With another kiss on her neck I made my way back into the living room. Our wedding was small and intimate, consisting of only our close family. Bella had relented and invited Renee, and they seemed to be at least on talking terms now. It was a step, and I knew that you couldn't rush Bella. She had to make these choices in her own time.
Jasper was holding Lilly in his arms as Emmett played with Charlie and Frankie. They were pretending to stab him with their mighty swords and he was rolling around on the ground in pain. My life was happy and it was just the way I liked it after all those years of uncertainty.
When the women finished cooking, Jazz passed Lilly off to Rose and we men helped set the table. Bella offered to help but I wanted her off her feet and resting, and she relented. We were the three luckiest men in the world to have these women in our lives. They were all so supportive and loving.
Suddenly, as if right on cue, the doorbell rang. I went to answer it as everyone hid. The door opened and in walked Carlisle with Esme behind him as everyone yelled "Surprise!" The party was in honor of Carlisle for making coach of the Knights. It was a long time coming and the thought brought me back to that game all those years ago...
When Jacob Black pitched that ball to me I was finally sure in my decision. My bat connected and sent the ball flying high. It went far out in the outfield and smashed right into one of the lights that surrounded the stadium. It erupted into sparks that fell over all of us, lighting up the field. Sam and I were greeted in a huge hug as we both touched home plate.
The announcer yelled, "He did it! Masen did it! The Knights win!"
The crowd ran onto the field and I looked on as Bella rushed towards me. It brought me back to all those years ago in an open field when her body was the only thing I saw. It was the same as it was then. I took her in my arms and spun her around.
"You did it, Edward!" she yelled. "You won!"
It was there in the midst of a crowd that I dropped to one knee to endeavor her hand. She accepted without second guessing herself and I was the happiest I have ever been. We both knew the consequences of my actions were going to rain down upon us. But, neither of us expected what did happen. After the game, Aro Volturi released pictures of Bella and me together to a local newspaper and Bella's name was tarnished as well as mine. They claimed that was how I made it to the team and that it was all a rouse.
But, even I wasn't ready for what Bella did. She met up with Eric Yorkey and released a statement proving herself to be Charlie Swans only daughter, making her the rightful owner of the Knights. She stated that she was pregnant with my child and that my playing should have explained why I made the team. I wasn't sold that this plan would work but it turned out the love fans had for Charlie Swan had spread out to his daughter. They kicked out Aro Volturi from his position as co-manager and he was thrown in jail for his gambling and attempt to pay off players.
Bella was now the sole manager of the Knights and shortly after that was stated Phil stepped down as coach. He liked sunny Florida and the minors better than coaching our winning major league team, and she let him go without a thought. With the coach spot open, she made Carlisle head coach and the team couldn't be more proud.
That is what we were celebrating today.
Carlisle was so surprised he almost fell backwards into Esme. They laughed and he went around hugging everyone in the room and taking Charlie in his arms. His hug lasted longer with Bella, as they both wished her father could be here today.
"Thank you all, so much."
We sat down around the dinner table said grace and dove in. Everyone discussed Carlisle's career and how great of a coach he was going to be and how he had already done so much for those who played.
After dinner we all sat in the living room drinking tea. The kids were all down for a nap and Carlisle stood and lifted his glass in the air.
"To Edward and Bella." He called out. "Without whom, the evil of Aro Volturi would never have been abated. It is because of you two that I am here today and it is for that reason that I am asking Edward to be my assistant manager."
Bella smiled a knowing smile at me as I stared at Carlisle in shock. "Of course! Thank you."
I went to him and hugged him, and he once again whispered his thanks. But, I held him back and stared at him earnestly. There was something he needed to know and it was about time I told him.
"Carlisle, it is because of you that we won that game all those years ago. You're like a father to me and I didn't want to lose your faith in me by accepting Aro's terms. I'm sorry I even accepted it in the first place."
He nodded and brought me in for a hug again. "It's okay, son. You were in a bad place."
"Guess it all worked out for the best though." I turned to look towards Bella who smiling towards me. "We got rid of Aro and you and Phil got to keep your jobs."
"Thank you for fighting for us. That was one of the greatest games ever played."
Bella walked towards me and wrapped her arms around one of mine. "He was the greatest player that ever played."
"Hey!" Emmett bellowed. "You got somethin' you'd like to say little cousin?"
"Oh, come on, Em. Even you have to admit it." She chewed on her lip. "Plus you were too arrogant to be great."
Emmett laughed. "Serves me right. Serves me right."
Charlie walked towards us. "Do I get to play baseball when I get older?"
"Of course, son." I lifted him up in my arms.
"I want to be just like you, Daddy."
My heart swelled up and I began fighting back tears. Every father knows he's the hero in his son's life as he grows up. But knowing it and hearing it are two different things entirely. I hugged him close to me as I wrapped an arm around Bella.
"Oh, Kodak moment!" Alice called out while bringing out Jasper's bulky camera and snapping a photo of the three of us—four if you included our little one growing inside Bella.
After the photo was taken, Jazz set up the camera to take group family photo. Emmett asked us to all scream out "Gummy Bears!" and we did with much enthusiasm. Everything was finally right in the world. I had my new family and the girl that would forever be by my side. Through anything.
The flash went off forever capturing the moment on paper. We had all come so far and yet we were all together. After some much heated—yet jokingly—words were passed between Emmett and I, we played ball in the yard. Watching Charlie enjoy a game that meant so much to our family was only signifying how much we belonged here.
When everyone left and Charlie was put to bed, I immersed myself in Bella. The pregnancy hadn't diminished our need for each other. In fact, it seemed to strengthen it. Bella was the most natural thing in my life. More natural than baseball.
A/N: That's it! I apologize for the shortness but I felt you'd rather have it end here then just read my ramblings of how hot Edward looks in baseball pants. I hope you all enjoyed it as much as I did ( I definitely needed to write a story about my need for imagining Edward in tight baseball pants ). Thanks again to those who have read this story and reviewed and thank you SO SO much to LoveBadBoyVamps who beta read and just is my mind soulmate in every way possible!
