Another warning goes with this chapter...

.CHAPTER SEVEN.
Edward

The comforting buzz of the machines helped me relax, even when I was off duty. It was like a nursery rhyme to a baby. And just like a baby, I enjoy sucking on a good pair of tits, too. It had been too long since I last had some fun with a set of perky twins...

"Hey, Ed?" Emmett knocked me from my dangerous thoughts. He had his first client next to him and I was supposed to be over-looking his work. "Can you set up the black for me? A 5 RS." He sounded so confident in his command and I couldn't have felt prouder for him. He worked his fucking balls off for the past 18 months and only now could he ink a real person. For training purposes I had brought in thick slabs of pig skin, but this was the real deal. The tattoo was a butterfly - piss easy to Rose and I, but for Emmett it included a lot of color change, shading and a steady hand so he didn't fuck up the delicate outline.

I leaned over to take a better look and was astonished by what I saw. "Holy shit, man. That's a thing of fucking beauty." It was fair to say the client couldn't have been happier with Emmett's work and promised to come back for another at some point.

"Maybe I could specialize in butterflies. They could be my thing." Emmett pimped his imaginary collar. Two cigarettes were slipped from the squashed packet in his pocket. "You comin'?" Like he had to ask me twice. We sat on the back step and dragged in the nicotine like it was going out of fashion.

"Are you going to the diner tonight, then?"

"I dunno..." I thought. "They're not going to welcome me with open arms."

"Who gives a fuck?!" Emmett explained, throwing his arms out wide. "The kids want you there, is that not reason enough?" My shrug was the only answer. "Y'know what? I think you're scared."

I choked on the smoke, "scared? Of B? Ha, you've got to be having a fucking laugh."

"Then why have you not spoken to her? You've cowered away in here and in my house refusing to take your head out your ass."

I stubbed the cigarette butt out with my foot, allowing all the frustration that flowed inside me into the action. "I will talk to her." I grunted.

"Then why haven't you?"

With a simple rise of my shoulders I chewed on an already gnawed-down finger nail. "Haven't had the time."

"Who are you kidding, Edward? You're scared. Of rejection? I don't know; but you are."

Maybe he was right - maybe I was scared, but what did that prove?

"Alright, fine!"

"Good, now stop being a pussy and get over there."

0-0

Entering Rockabella's was like walking into a classroom after the lesson had already started. Everyone stares at you and you feel tempted to turn on your step and walk back out. It's only been a week, stop the fucking staring. Nosy bastards.

The usual music wasn't playing - the stuff that makes me close to gauging my eyes out with a spoon. No, I was happily surprised to hear Jasper taking over that part. The place was full of smooth guitar cords and his voice. Due to the amount of people that had piled into this damn place I couldn't move from my spot by the entrance. Bella was on the other side of the bar than me and only had eyes for Jasper, If I didn't know her friendship with him was so strong, I would have thought they were up to something.

He stopped playing, and I was sure it was then my turn to see the kids and maybe get to talk with Bella, however Jasper spoke into the mic which stunted that idea from growing. He introduced India onto the make-shift stage and before I knew it, a tune was being played and she was singing! Like, singing a real song!

Now, I'm not a 'feelings' kinda guy - I've never dealt well with emotions that I cannot control, but when my baby girl sang, holy fuck I didn't know what was going on. I wanted to cry, scream and laugh all at the same time. I felt angry, but I don't know what at.

The lyrics held everything that she was going through - everything that her and Madd encountered on a daily basis - the fight between B and I had her worried about a possible divorce - living with separate families and splitting the holidays. Deep down I knew we would never actually go through with a divorce - we could have done it years ago if that were the case - yet how were the kids to know that? They saw one thing and instantly imagined another.

I should have noticed the signs and reassured them that B and I were fighting - it's what we are known best for - and that was it. As a father it's my job to comfort them, why did I not do that?

Looking over at Bella, I saw her sweep a finger under her eyes to catch tears. She thought the same way I did. B never cries, only when things get too much for her. India singing was one of those moments. And that is where the feelings come to play again. I wanted to go over and wrap B in my arms, wipe those tears for her and apologize for the monumental ass I had been, yet because we were fighting I also wanted to stand back and wait for her to come groveling to me.

See? I don't understand this shit.

0-0

When in doubt, light up a smoke.

With one foot up against the wall, I leaned back and allowed the toxins of the nicotine to do whatever the fuck it wanted.

Maddox had spotted me creeping at the back of the diner and he ran up for a brief hug before going back to assist Jasper in tidying away the music equipment. Bella still hadn't seen me, neither had India but I did see them going into the kitchen. Wife had her arms sweetly around India's shoulder and held her close to her body. I wanted to join them - I wanted to walk straight into that kitchen and hug the living shit out of my family. Yet I couldn't do that, I still did not feel welcome here and there was no way I could tell for certain how Bella felt. Maybe I had read the signs all wrong and she was itching to sign divorce papers?

Over my dead fucking body. That was not happening.

So, yeah, every tiny thought, feeling and idea had entered my tiny mind, The only way I knew to calm down, was to smoke.

Voices caught my attention shortly before I went back inside. They were faint, but one sounded oddly like India's and they were coming from the back of the diner.

I remember Bella telling the kids not to go outside alone, and she wasn't one to ignore what we say. I thought it could have been Bella she was talking to, but when I stepped nearer and heard the response to her question, I knew exactly who it was.

It was the same man I caught behind Rockabella's a week back. Looked as though he still hadn't found himself shower.

"Please? I could really use your help."

"Um... my Mama and Papa told me I shouldn't talk to people like you."

"Don't worry, I just cleared it with them then; they said you could help me."

"Really?"

"Absolutely! C'mon, we'll be quick."

I saw red, staring at that greasy haired fuck. Has he got a death wish? Talking to my girl like that, he's got to be fucking stupid.

"Everything okay, Pumpkin?"

The asshole turned with a startle. From the tone in my voice and the expression on my face, he knew I meant business. "We were just talking." He offered me a smile along with his crap excuse, but I saw straight past that shit.

"Oh yeah? What were you talking about Indie?" My daughter had taken on her mother's trait of chewing a lip when nerves took control. Usually it was adorable as fuck, but now it scared the shit out of me.

"We-." The greasy fuck spoke up but my deathly glare halted his speech.

"I was talking to my daughter." I knelt down to India, "do you know this man?" I spoke as calmly as possible considering the situation.

"He said... he said that his cat was sick and asked if I could have a look at it."

"Why didn't he take the cat to a vet?"

India looked up at the man in question and parroted my words. He rubbed the back of his neck roughly, "oh, y'know... vet bills cost an arm and a leg."

"Right, so you'd rather leave it in the hands of my eight-year-old? Excellent choice."

"He said the cat is in his car, Daddy."

Ooh, well that took an interesting turn.

He better start fucking running. Fast.

I rose to stand with anger running through my every vein. "What are you playing at?" I stepped towards the asshole, he took one step back until he was pinned against the brick wall of the diner.

In defense he rose his hands; palms facing me. "I understand... let's leave it at this."

"Let me ask you a question: do you have any children?" He shook his head in response - the pony tail swung. "Then you don't understand. Let me ask you another, ever watched nature shows?"

"Yes."

"Right, then no doubt you've seen what happens when anything gets close to the young'uns. Let me put it this way, those shows are going to look fucking tame compared to me."

Behind me, India whined. "Daddy..."

I never took my eyes off my prey. "It's okay, baby girl. Can you get Uncle Jasper for me, please?" I heard her little feet running back inside.

"Listen -."

"No. You listen. If I hadn't come out here for a smoke no doubt you'd be away with..." I took a deep breath. I couldn't lose it in front of him. "You sick fuck."

"Ed? What's going on?" Aah, back up.

"Jasper," I turned my head to greet him. "This bastard was trying to lure our Indie into his car. Told her some bullshit lie about a cat." My voice was full of sarcastic humor.

I saw the same anger gleam in Jasper's eyes. "Is that right?" He replied with the same tone. "We can't let that happen."

"No we cannot."

Suddenly a pair of hands were felt on my shoulder. The guy pushed me backwards with some force, but luckily Jasper was there to react quicker. "Hey! Try that bullshit again and your head will be slammed against that wall. Got it?"

"Ha!" He mocked a laugh, "you pussies don't scare me."

He shouldn't have said that. "Oh really? Well you better thank fucking God it wasn't my wife that found you. Luckily for you, we're only going to break every bone in your body. She's not as lenient." And with that, I threw my fist forward and pounded it straight against his cheek.

"Fuck!" He winced, grabbing a hold of his probably broken jaw. Before he could respond with an attack of his own, my fist connected with his gut. "Ooft."

Jasper and I stood back as he hunched over in pain. My hand throbbed, but it felt good.

"Shame it wasn't your wife that found me; I could have used both of them."

I'm gonna kill him. He won't live to see another day.

"What did you just say?" I couldn't stop my uninjured hand from grabbing his throat in a tight gasp. First India, now Bella... I had never felt more enraged. His blood was going to spill.

"You sadistic cunt - you're just looking for a beating, aren't you?" Jasper said.

"It's a beating he's going to get." The glowing rage inside me took control of my motions. My fists were flying before I could stop them. They punched every part of him that I could reach.

"Ed, man... c'mon that's enough."

His face had been morphed into a bloody pulp. My hands were covered more and more with blood the more I pounded them against his skin.

"Edward!"

I heard Bella's voice, but I wasn't listening - I was too involved with this son of a bitch. "Nobody," I emphasized with a knee to the stomach "messes," and another, "with my family." One final slam and he was on the ground. All energy lost in the form of blood that now covered my hands. However, that wasn't enough. Anger still purged and my feet kept kicking.

It was like I was in a trance; one I couldn't get free from. "Stop it!" Bella screamed. She was crying. "Fucks sake, Edward - stop it!" In a trance that is, until I finally paid attention to my wife's voice. If I didn't stop I really would have killed him, and everything he did with India would look innocent compared to murder.

With one last swift kick to his jaw, I bent down to stare the fucker straight in the eye. "Mess with my family again, and I'll break your fucking neck, got it?"

He spat out a mouthful of blood mixed with the couple teeth I kicked from their sockets. With a weak nod, he accepted my promise.

"Or maybe I'll just tie you down and tattoo "I'm a sadistic pig and pervert" to your fucking forehead."

"Edward!" Bella forced, her voice broke me from my sudden act of violence. Turning, I saw she had both kids tucked into her side. "That's enough."

India broke from her mother's hold and ran at me. "Daddy!" She cried. I swooped up my girl and held her tight in my arms.

"Are you okay, Pumpkin?"

She nodded her head against the side of my neck. "I was so scared."

Asshole. I still want to kill him.

"I know, but I won't ever let anything happen to you. You know that, right?"

"Papa E? Can I punch this fucker?" I looked over India and down to little Maddox. For the first time in a while, I laughed. Y'know, that happy sound that comes from sometimes? Who would'a guessed.

"No, Madd; listen to your Mama. He's had enough."

Talking about his Mama...

Bella had one arm around her stomach, the other across her chest and over one shoulder. She bent her head so she stared at the ground. I lowered India down and told her and Maddox to go back inside. They complied without any hesitance.

"B..."

"He could report you." She mumbled.

"He wouldn't dare report me. Especially not since I caught him red handed with India."

I watched closely as Bella's face morphed into one of utter despair, before covering it with both hands as a heavy sob ripped through. I couldn't hold back; the draw in me was too strong. I held my wife for the first time in a long time.

Words couldn't describe how that felt.

"Hey, you don't need to cry. I'm here."

"I'm so sorry, Ed. I'm so sorry."

My hands rubbed her back soothingly. Without control, I kissed the side of her head. "You have nothing to apologize for. I shouldn't have fucked up in the first place. But I won't make those mistakes again, B. I can't lose you. Or the kids."

Her crying got louder. "We need you. We've always needed you. And..." there was a pause so she could regain herself. "...And what you did just then, for India, I cannot thank you enough."

I pulled back and held her blushed face in my hands. "Thank me?" With thumbs, I wiped the stray tears on her cheeks. "Why are you thanking me, you silly woman?"

She copied my light laugh and smiled through her tears, "I don't know."

"Oh, I've missed you, B." I kissed her forehead quickly, then took her hand in mine. "C'mon, let's get this son of a bitch out of here then you and I can sit down and have a chat."

"Edward." She halted me from walking to the unconscious fucker.

"Yeah?"

"Um...can you come home now? We don't... don't need to have everything figured out, I just... I just want you home."

0-0

2 CHAPTERS LEFT!
So... yeah... quite a bit happened there. Bonus points to whoever can tell me where Edward's tattoo threat came from...
Thoughts?
X