DC: I don't own it

Thanks to my reviewers

Chapter 2,

When he got home, Edward didn't say anything to Bella. He went into the bathroom and turned on the shower. Before undressing he looked around. He got up on the toilet and looked along the line of the ceiling, checking for cameras. He took the basket of decorative shells that Alice had given them and put it in the bathroom closet. Then he slowly and warily undressed in his mind he saw his four-year-old self being bathed by his father. He wondered how many times the old man had gotten off over a picture of his young grandson, or his own young son.

Edward grabbed the bar of soap from the niche on the wall and began rubbing it on his arms and chest. He snatched up the wash cloth from the water knob and began washing himself. He wrapped the cloth around the bar and began to quickly rub it over his legs and lower regions. As he pushed harder on his skin he began to cry.

What had he done to deserve that? He often laid awake at night wondering what could make Harold Cullen do such a thing. He had written it off as an impulse. Maybe a sick curiosity. But he had seen the proof right there in the box. Pictures of his toddler and young child self in completely innocent poses. They were the pinnacle of innocent! He had been changing his clothes and being bathed by his loving grandmother on the nights he and Alice had stayed over.

What if it ran in the family? Edward found himself wondering that as he sat on the shower floor. The water burned the skin he had rubbed raw and he curled up, resting his head against the sloped back of the tub. What if it was genetic? What if his own father would inherit his father's tendencies? What if he did? He enjoyed bathing his sons in the sink with Bella, what did that mean? Did Carlisle love giving him baths as a child because of something more perverted than a father's love?

The water had run cold as he puzzled over it. Then he heard something he didn't want to.

"Edward? Can you hear me?"

It was Carlisle. He was on the other side of the bathroom door.

"Go away."

"I need to talk to you both," Carlisle said, "will you be out soon?"

Edward didn't answer. He pulled himself up and turned off the water. He stepped out and wrapped in towels before going out. He hurried into the bedroom and shut the door. He felt paranoia creep through him again. Like in the bathroom he examined the corners and then the closet. He put pictures face down and hid Bella's treasure box in the closet before he changed into thick sweats. When he came out he sat far away from his father, which surprised everyone. Not that Edward sat in Carlisle's lap or anything, but he never seemed to avoid him so obviously except when he was angry.

Carlisle looked saddened by his son's choice of seating. Jasper winced when he felt the spike of emotion from both his brother and his father.

"So what's going on?" Edward asked in a low voice. He was curled under a quilt that he had pulled off of the sofa.

"Emmett was attacked," Carlisle said grimly, "he's in the hospital but from what he told me his leg is broken. Rosalie said his knee was badly damaged. So they're coming here in a few weeks when he's well enough."

"How bad?" Bella asked, her voice trembling slightly. Before Carlisle could answer her babies began to fuss. Edward got up quickly and retrieved his sons. Carlisle watched him return to his seat with the babies in his lap. He was holding them carefully and securely.

"Someone took a bat to him," Carlisle answered sadly.

"Yeah it's not going to be good," Jasper sighed. "Trust me."

"Rosie said he may have to get surgery to repair it. Either way he won't be well enough for the games so he's on the bench."

"Oh god he's gonna be so pissed," Jasper moaned.

"At the very least," Carlisle agreed. "Rosie said she's going to call tomorrow with some updates."

"I hope those updates include flight plans," Jasper growled, "somebody hurt my brother I don't want him near California."

Edward stood up silently when he felt one of the diapers warm up a bit. He took his sons into the nursery and Carlisle watched him. He left Jasper's rant about how someone was going to pay for hurting his brother and Bella's heated agreement. He saw that Mitch was on a towel on the floor and Robbie was cooing in his crib.

"How do I know you won't be like him?" Edward asked quietly. "How do I know you weren't?"

Carlisle was honestly in shock. He felt his fingers twitch towards a fist but he tried to refrain.

"Edward you know I would never."

"Seeing all those pictures that he had collected...I just I can't imagine what would make someone do that. To think he actually...dad I don't know what to think."

"I know," Carlisle said quietly, "trust me tomorrow I'm going to search for all of his cameras and destroy all of his pictures."

"I just need to be alone right now," Edward told him.

Carlisle nodded. "I love you son."

"I know."

Carlisle left and Edward changed his son's diaper. A little while later Bella came in and knelt beside him. He was just looking at his diapered son.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"No."

She kissed his cheek and hugged him gently. "I'm always going to be here."

"You've got your own things to worry about. Remember?"

"Edward having issues about how I look physically is completely different. I'll freak out over a gross scar on my own time. You need me."

He turned and kissed her gently on the lips. "I find myself not trusting my own dad. You saw his face out there when I reacted, he was so hurt."

"He understands," Bella promised him.

Edward sighed. "You look so tired."

"It is getting late. Come on let's put them to bed."

Edward nodded and carried his now sleeping boy to the crib to join his brother. They really needed a new one but Edward didn't really feel like going into his parent's basement to get it. He pulled Bella's hand and they went into the bedroom. There Edward drew her close and kissed her.

"How are you?" he asked.

Bella was surprised by the sudden question. She wondered if he was asking her if she was well enough to have sex or if he was just asking how she was.

"Fine," she answered. "If you want to we can."

"I don't want to upset you," he murmured, "nor I do want to push you."

"Promise you won't get grossed out?"

Edward nodded and Bella kissed him. They laid down and he undressed her. He reached over and turned the light off.

"Am I that gross?" she asked.

"No," he murmured. He sighed and felt the desire fade. "I'm sorry. I can't tonight. I'm distracted."

"Alright," Bella agreed. "Let's just snuggle for a while then."

"That I'll do," Edward said with a slight smile. He was prepared to assume the usual position with her head on his chest and his arms secure around her, so he was surprised when she guided his head to her chest and held him like he would have held her.

"Do you want to talk?"

"No. I just want to lay with you."

Bella nodded and kissed the top of his head.

"What about you? Do you want to talk?"

"About what?" Bella asked.

"Why you've been so sensitive lately? I don't mean to upset you nearly as much as I do."

Bella sighed and he shifted. He moved up so they were laying side by side. He could see the moonlight reflecting on her face and he felt more in love with her than he had for a long time.

"I don't know why everything bothers me. I love our sons but I'm not ready to be a mom."

"What does that mean?" Edward asked.

"When I was pregnant my hormones were elevated and now they're crashing back to normal. I love the boys so much but I keep feeling like I'll ruin their lives."

Edward kissed her. "You won't."

"I know how to be an obsessive parent. The woman who basically raised me taught me loved me dearly, I know she did, but at the same time she hated me because I wasn't hers. I also highly doubt you'll let me keep the boys locked up so they don't get hurt."

"I would probably put you in a padded cell," Edward agreed with a nod.

"Then I know how to fight. You know that first hand, I know how to fight over nothing."

Edward nodded again.

"I mean how can I be a good mother with so much traumatized crazy in me?"

Edward kissed her forehead. "I'll be honest with you."

"How honest?"

"How hormonal are you?"

Bella laughed and kissed him lightly. "Just tell me."

"You won't be the best of moms, and before you get mad as me, I won't be the best of dads. I mean look at us. You're terrified of commitment and I'm paranoid and not ten minutes ago I basically told my dad who has supported me through everything that I'm afraid he may become my grandfather."

"Ouch. No wonder he looked upset."

"Yeah."

Bella touched his cheek and he looked at her. "We're a pretty messed up pair huh."

He smiled and nodded. "Yep."

The conversation slipped to more innocent topics when they heard one of the babies coo in his sleep. They talked about their hopes for their sons and what kind of schools they should look into. Then they both ended up getting out of bed and creeping silently to the other bedroom. Their boys were sleeping peacefully in their crib.

"Dad said we can use my old one," Edward whispered, "so they'll at least get their own bed."

"That's great," Bella whispered back. They both sighed happily and watched the babies. They were both wearing blue fleece pajamas to fight the cold beginnings of winter. When Bella yawned Edward knew it was time for bed. He took her hand and they went into their bedroom and nestled under the covers. Edward sighed and settled in. When he woke up he would call Emmett to check on him before work. Even though he was heartbroken for his brother, it would be nice to see him for more than a few minutes. After all Emmett and Rosalie had headed back to California shortly after meeting the twins.

He closed his eyes but opened them quickly when the image he saw wasn't of his brother but his grandfather.

"Let grandpa read you a story."

Edward turned and he felt Bella shift. Her hand took his and gave it a loving squeeze.

"I'm here if you need me," she mumbled sleepily.

Edward nodded and curled up. He felt vulnerable and weak.

For goodness sakes, it happened like twenty years ago. Get ahold of yourself!

Mental coaching didn't seem to help. He could only hope sleep would come soon. He heard Bella drift off. He could just take a deep breath and push his mind on to happier thoughts. Like his sons. The little angels sleeping just feet away from him. He had barely drifted off when he heard Bella make a soft noise. She twitched a bit and whispered his name. He smiled at that. She was dreaming of him.

It was that happy thought that eased him into sleep.

---

"How did it go?" Esme asked as Carlisle came into bed.

"Well my son thinks that I'll be a pervert like the old man was."

Esme put her book aside and gestured for him to join her. She held him gently against her and stroked his hair.

"Baby you know he doesn't mean it."

"I hate him so much. I mean it's one thing to play mean tricks but he completely ruined Edward's life! He's always there in the back of his mind and finding those pictures...hell it may have been the bastard doing it all over again."

"Carlisle Edward loves you very much. Tonight's discovery just came as a nasty shock. I mean can you blame him for being scared? He knows how much it hurt him and he's scared and protective of his twins."

"I just want him to understand that I won't hurt him and I wouldn't even dream of hurting the boys."

Esme stroked his hair and let him cry it out for a little while. When he calmed down she spoke again, "Do you remember how long it took me to accept what Charles did to me? Hell I was in therapy for it only seven years ago."

"So Edward is going to be like this forever?"

"Harold is always going to be in the back of his mind reminding him that there are bad people out there. Right now it is coming back to him in full force because he learned that it wasn't just a premeditated one time thing and that in fact a man he disliked but generally trusted had been taking hidden pictures of him since he was four."

"Yeah but he knows me," Carlisle pressed, "he knows I live and die for him and his siblings as well as the twins."

"Lord sometimes I wish someone would traumatize you so you could understand this," Esme sighed. She kissed the top of his head. "Carlisle people aren't rational when they're dealing with trauma. Edward knows that you will never hurt him. But right now he's questioning everything. He's analyzing every single time you helped him dress, bathed him or even just played with him. He's remembering the thoughts he heard coming from someone he trusted and how vulnerable and scared he felt. This is nothing personal."

Carlisle nodded and sighed against her side. Still, hearing his son question him in that way stung. A lot.

"So when can we talk to Emmett?" Esme asked, changing the subject.

"Tomorrow morning. Rosalie said she's going to call us around ten our time."

"God that seems like forever."

Carlisle nodded and pulled away from her. They both sighed and snuggled in for a nice long sleep. Their nice long sleep ended promptly at midnight when their son began crying from a nightmare.

---

Carlisle was many things. He was an accomplished physician, a doting father and forgiving husband. He wasn't a handyman. That became abundantly clear as he tried to disable all of his father's hidden cameras without destroying most of the wall. Bella had come over to babysit Ryan while Carlisle worked, but he ended up using her help.

"God the man was a freak."

"I'm just surprised he was so high tech. I mean it was almost twenty years ago!"

"And now I feel old!" Carlisle cried. "This day is getting worse by the minute."

"Would it make things worse if I called you grandpa?" Bella asked.

"Yes, yes it would."

Bella just laughed while Carlisle examined old sheets he had found displaying the camera locations.

"Alright, so the cameras are in the bathroom and the guest bedrooms."

"Cheery."

"So how is he?"

"Harold? Kinda pervy I guess, I don't know him like at all."

"No, I mean Edward."

"Oh. He's okay I guess. He's upset and he had some nightmares last night. When I went to check on the twins after I woke up he was sitting on the floor holding them both mumbling that he was going to protect them from anything over and over again."

Carlisle looked thoroughly upset as he opened the ladder and climbed up to the corner. He found that the wall had been altered and he pushed lightly on it. The wall paper gave and he saw that it had been hollowed out and there was a small security camera hidden away. Carlisle suspected that his father had tried to hide the evidence by covering the cameras again. He began to wonder how his father had even used the cameras when he found a small scrolled note.

"What is it?" Bella asked.

Dearest,

I don't know who is finding this so I'll be general. If you've found this note then I failed to protect Edward by destroying everything Harold took. I used pictures I had found to blackmail Harold into settling. Afterwards I burned them but I'm sure I overlooked some. I had found pictures of my own Robbie and I couldn't search anymore. I couldn't keep trying to find something that would break my heart. But that was my own selfishness. Carlisle if you are the one reading this I pray that Edward hadn't found anything else. Edward if you are the one reading this, I am so sorry. As I write this I know I don't have much time left and unfortunately I realized my mistake too late. I will keep searching as best I can, but I don't have the strength to search every corner anymore. I have taken the camera's out. I would have left this note for you in person but I didn't want you to know the lengths Harold had gone. Just know that you are loved, Edward, by your father, your sister and myself. Every day I regret leaving you alone with him. I wish I could make things right. I love you so much.

Carlisle if Edward doesn't know about the cameras and pictures, please never tell him. I can only imagine the reaction. I hope this finds you well. I love you so much, my son, and the twins were the best thing you could have ever done. Take good care of them.

Love always,

Grandma Mary

Bella didn't need to hear what it was to know. Carlisle had stepped down the ladder and some tears were rolling down his cheeks.

"She knew about the pictures," he mumbled, rubbing his eyes, "she hadn't found the other box. Of course she didn't. I remember moving them out of a closet corner while I was helping her clean. I remember the box because it was all taped up. He had hidden it with her shoe boxes. She usually put photographs in them and taped them up when they were full."

"Listen, Edward is going to be fine. He just needs to come to terms with this that's all."

"I don't know," Carlisle sighed, "I mean it's so much bigger now."

"That's what she said."

"Who said that?"

"Oh lord you are old," Bella sighed.

Carlisle looked like he might want to say more but Bella's baby monitor went off. She left and Carlisle decided to put his camera hunting on pause. He went to find his son. He saw that Ryan was playing in his play pen calmly. Carlisle reached in and lifted him out.

"Hey there Sport," He cooed holding him on his hip.

"I gotta potty."

"Alrighty then," Carlisle sighed, setting his son down. Adorably, Ryan tried to go on his own. When he toppled over for the second time Carlisle took his hand and helped him walk. They got to the bathroom where a little plastic toilet was waiting. Carlisle supervised as his son awkwardly pulled his pants and pull-ups down. Carlisle helped him sit.

"What if I fall in?" Ryan asked timidly.

"You won't."

"But I did one time."

"In all fairness that was a big boy toilet and daddy sneezed."

Ryan scowled a bit and Carlisle ruffled his hair. He had done the same thing to Alice when she was a toddler. His mother had given him quite the lecture on being responsible.

"I can't go," Ryan said.

"Why not?" Carlisle asked.

Ryan shrugged and squirmed a bit. "I'm gonna fall in."

"I promise you won't."

Ryan pouted and squeezed his knees together.

"I wan mommy."

"Mommy is at work right now," Carlisle said, "she's helping sick people get better."

Ryan shifted and Carlisle heard a few small plops.

"Done?" Ryan asked.

"You tell me sport," Carlisle said with an encouraging smile.

"No more poopie."

"That's good. Do you have to go peepee?"

Ryan shook his head no. Carlisle helped him clean up and then lifted him up to the sink to wash his hands.

"Okay do you want M&Ms or a Snickers?"

"M&Ms!"

"Alright," Carlisle said with a smile. After Ryan finished washing his hands he opened the towel closet and took a small fun sized bag of M&Ms for his son. With each serving being about five or six candies it was the perfect little reward for his son. The toddler sloppily opened the candy and ate one of them. He sucked on it like Carlisle usually did when he ate M&M's. Unlike his brother, Ryan was much more dependent. He was scared to walk without his mom or dad with him. He was becoming quite the mama's boy in Carlisle's opinion. It seemed only fair though, Edward and Alice were both so much closer to him than they were to Esme.

"Carlisle do you have any diapers? I forgot to reload the diaper bag."

"Yeah, they're in the nursery," Carlisle said, "I'll get them for you."

He popped into the nursery while Ryan munched his candy and grabbed two diapers from the changing table.

"For me?" he asked.

"They're for your nephews," Carlisle explained, "the new babies."

Ryan just ate his last M&M and accepted that answer. He seemed almost sad. He seemed to miss the freedom the diaper brought him as he could go to the bathroom whenever he pleased and someone, usually his mother, would clean him up after. But he was two and starting to set his sights on being a big boy, and big boys, to the best of his knowledge, used the potty.

"Oh thank you so much," Bella said when Carlisle handed her the diapers. She slowly changed the diaper on her blonde son. He was happy to see that she was learning quickly. Having changed maybe a few diapers before being a mother, Bella was quite inexperienced when it came to frequent changings. "Why do they poop so much on an all liquid diet?"

"Just to annoy you," Carlisle answered with a shrug. Bella scowled and he laughed. "Nutrients in the body and what not. How should I know?"

"You are a doctor."

"Oh yeah right, right so I know everything."

"I should hope so."

Carlisle just smiled and sat in the recliner with his son. Ryan slid out of his lap and crawled over to his nephews.

"Careful Ryan," Carlisle warned gently.

"Can I hold him?" Ryan asked.

"You're still a bit too small," Carlisle told him.

"Why?"

"Because babies are very fragile," Carlisle explained in a calm tone that reminded Bella of a elementary school teacher. "Especially new babies like Robbie and Mitch."

"Why?"

"They have a special spot on their heads that is very sensitive and if that spot gets hurt they can have severe brain damage."

"Severe?!" Bella cried. "You guys let me hold babies that I can give severe brain damage to?! Have you met me?! I'm a klutz!"

"Yes, that may be," Carlisle assured her, "but I'm trying to make a point to a toddler that doesn't know how to be careful."

"Oh," Bella mumbled.

"Why?" Ryan asked when he got Carlisle's attention back. Bella looked at him and wondered how his son was going to be told. Bella just hoped and prayed that Carlisle would shuffle away from the doctor inside of him, over to the father of six who was talking to a baby.

"Well Ryan, during infancy a baby has six soft spots that allow for childbirth so the baby's head can fit through the birth canal. You see your nephews are only three weeks old, so they are very new to this world, so their skull bones haven't been able to fuse completely yet."

Bella and Ryan just looked at him with fairly blank expressions. Though Bella had to give the little boy his props, he was able to keep focus for the entirety of Carlisle's speech. However his reaction was priceless in her opinion. In the silence between them Ryan's big blue eyes were focused on his father.

"Why?"

Carlisle sighed. "Because I said so."

"Why?"

"Lord I'm going to get this in surround sound," Bella sighed sadly.

Carlisle sighed and picked up his son and cradled him in his lap. "Okay sweetheart," he said gently. He lifted Mitch up and laid him in Ryan's lap. "Mind his head."

"He's heavy," Ryan said.

"He should be about ten pounds, right Bella?"

"Wishful thinking. No they're supposed to be about the same weight. Do you really want me to have fat babies?"

"Healthy sweetheart, healthy."

"Paranoid doctor," Bella sighed.

Carlisle laughed and supervised his son in his lap. When the phone rang Bella tossed it to him and he answered.

"Hey dad," Emmett said in the depressed tone that always saddened Carlisle.

"Hey Champ, how are you feeling?"

"They're sending me home for sure. Next week when my leg has set."

"Just let us know when to pick you up," Carlisle said, "and please keep us updated. Like what are you doing now for instance?"

"Talking to you in a hospital bed," Emmett muttered with no enthusiasm. "Surrounded by cards that say sorry about your leg but translate into haha we're still going to China and you aren't."

"Now, now."

"Oh and flowers from Rosie. Because I'm a girl now."

"Oh come now she's just trying to cheer you up," Carlisle reminded him in the same serene tone.

"Yeah, whatever. I'll let you know when the flight is. I'm going to sleep."

"Alright," Carlisle sighed, "sweet dreams."

"Yeah."

Emmett hung up and Carlisle did the same. He tossed the phone onto the sofa and sighed.

"How's he doing?" Bella asked.

"He's depressed and coming home in a week."

"That's good I guess," Bella mumbled. Carlisle just nodded and kissed the top of his son's head while his grandson slept peacefully in their laps.

---

Alice was sad that she didn't get to hang out with her best friend as much anymore, but between work and babies it was hard to find the time. But luckily they were the ones picking Emmett up from the airport on a sunny Saturday morning. They decided to make a day of it starting with breakfast out and some much needed catchup time.

"I finally got put on as an assistant planner," Alice said happily as she finished off a delicious bowl of fruit. "It's amazing, no more grunt work at the bottom of the food chain."

"What do you do now?" Bella asked, taking a bite of a waffle.

"Grunt work in the middle of the food chain," Alice said with a shrug and a small laugh. "But I'm actually doing some actual weddings."

"So you're serious about wedding planning?"

"Yep. Fashion is nice to look at but being in that business made me a part of the problem."

"The problem?" Bella asked.

"Yeah. I hate models."

Bella laughed at that, especially since Alice had the body and the temperament for a model. Even though she was a bit too short. Jasper wouldn't have let her be a model as it would have meant she slimmed down to half her already small size and Alice felt that she wasn't sending a good message that way. So it all worked out really.

"It must be nice to get away from the babies for a while."

Bella nodded. "Yep. I fail at parenting."

"You can't be that bad."

"I still have trouble with diapers and Robbie usually gets fussy when I hold him. But boy oh boy does he love Edward."

"D'you think they'll inherit any of our...talents?"

"I dunno," Bella shrugged, "I kinda hope so just so Edward has his mind read."

"It's incredibly annoying," Alice sighed, "which is why a tiny part of me totally hates you because you're a mental mute."

Bella laughed and picked up her orange juice. A glance at the clock told her that it was time to go, so they paid for their meal and got into Esme's SUV. It was hilarious to watch her drive it. They were borrowing it for it's additional space. She took the wheel even though watching Alice drive such a large vehicle was hilarious.

"Rose said Emmett has been pissy all week," Alice said.

"Yeah, that's kinda annoying."

Alice shrugged. "Well you know how he can get. I mean it's sad his dream was snatched away but lord sulking won't bring it back. He just needs to grin and bear it that's all."

"That's a bit harsh don't you think?" Bella asked as they turned into the airport parking garage.

"Maybe a little," Alice shrugged, "but seriously what is he achieving by feeling sorry for himself?"

"Try telling him that," Bella suggested with a grin as she grabbed a ticket from the machine. "Lord I hope the plane isn't delayed."

"I'll cover the parking," Alice said, "as you're driving. You have to help him in the car though."

"Aw man," Bella whined, pulling into a spot. Laughing they got out of the car and walked across an overpass to the airport.

"Gate twenty I think," Alice said as they walked in. Bella went up to the massive data wall and looked for Emmett's flight.

"Twenty one. Psychic my ass."

Alice pushed her lightly and they went up to the second floor. They couldn't get by security so it didn't matter anyway what gate he was going to arrive at. They had just sat down and begun talking about their significant others when Bella's phone buzzed.

"I'm listening," she said as she pulled it out. Alice nodded and continued to talk about Jasper's hinting at wanting to get ready for a baby.

"I just don't want kids," Alice said with a defensive shrug. "I'm perfectly content with just being the fun auntie to your kids."

"So are you going to tell him that?"

"God no," Alice moaned, "I melt like butter whenever he looks at me with those beautiful eyes. Like liquid silver."

"Who knows, maybe you'll get there. Remember hon, you're only twenty three."

"But you know Jazz, he's always been a thousand years more mature than me."

"Well that's true," Bella agreed.

"So what's up?" Alice asked, nodding at the phone.

"Rosie just texted to tell me they're here. Oh and Edward texted me to remind me that we're having dinner with your parents."

"Alright, sounds fun."

They talked more about Alice's fear of having children and then the conversation turned to Edward's recent discovery. Alice had just asked Bella how her brother was coping when they saw Rosalie and Emmett. Rosie was trying to help him but he had insisted on wheeling himself and carrying his own bag.

"Emmy come on just let me help you," Rosalie insisted for what must have been the hundredth time since they got off the plane.

"Rose I'm fine," Emmett grumbled.

"Hey there handsome," Bella greeted. She and Alice both gave him a hug and a kiss on the cheek and then embraced the exhausted Rosalie.

"Yeah, hey," he grumbled, "let's get going."

"Can we help you at all?" Alice asked.

"I got it okay!"

"Yeah he won't accept any help from anyone," Rosalie said stiffly, "not even his own girlfriend."

"I could have walked but no you insisted on this stupid chair," Emmett complained, pushing himself along with one hand. The other was in a cast to his elbow. Bella rolled her eyes and did one thing that Rosalie couldn't. She was forceful with him.

"Come on," Bella sighed, grabbing the handles of the chair and taking control.

"Hey! Let go! I got this!"

"You got this," Bella repeated with a snort, "yeah you got a broken leg and a broken hand. You also got a girl that loves you too much to make you upset."

"And you don't?" Emmett huffed.

"I'm not interested in screwing you or settling down with you. So I don't care if you get mad."

"Rosie stop her!"

"Bella do you want me to take over?" Rosalie asked.

"No, but you can take his bag."

Rosalie nodded and took Emmett's carryon.

"It's scary that you're still whipped by your ex," Alice teased. "Sorry Rose."

"Eh it gets the job done. So give me good news."

"Jasper got a promotion."

"That's great!" Rosalie cheered. "Does he like it?"

"So far so good," Alice smiled, "he's the personal assistant to one of the big social workers. He said that she's great at her job and it's a thrill to watch her work."

"Just make sure you watch that," Rosalie warned. "That's how mom and dad split."

"How?" Alice asked.

"Mom got really into modeling and dad was at the hospital. He got his own intern, some hot young thing named Tina and he ended up screwing her in the on-call room. She got pregnant eventually and it ruined her marriage."

"So he just generally goes around pissing on people's marriages then?" Emmett asked bitterly.

"Why do you think I wasn't surprised when I heard about him and Esme?" Rosalie asked. "Eh it doesn't matter, mom was screwing a fashion designer in New York and eventually married him. I don't think Jasper is that kind of guy though."

"Yeah I don't think he's ever loved anyone other than Alice," Bella agreed.

Alice just smiled a bit. Her mind drifted back to the night before when her husband gently kissed her lips and bid her sweet dreams, and then the note she found when she woke up wishing her a pleasant day.

"Aw she's blushing," Bella cooed.

"So um...this way to baggage yes?" Alice mumbled.

Bella just laughed and Rosalie grinned.

TBC

Sorry it took so long. I started a new job that is sucking up my nights.