A/N: This is it! Sniffle. This is my first fic and it's all done. I'm kinda feeling nostalgic, yknow?
Thank you to my beta, Adrena. She started beta reading this about halfway through, and she made it sooo much better. Thanks babe:)
Songs: Death Cab for Cutie "Passenger Seat" Van Morrison's "Brown Eyed Girl" and Saves the Day "Firefly"
BPOV
The Yeah Yeah Yeahs were playing in the background as I watched Edward pack up his acoustic guitar on our bed. "Selah, honey, can give you daddy his strap?" he requested.
Selah paused in her twirling with his guitar strap and pranced over to him, cocking a hip out in her brand new tutu. "You forgot to say please, daddy!" she said with an exasperated eye roll.
Edward grinned down at her and knelt in front of her. "You're right, I did. Can daddy please have his guitar strap, sweetheart?"
She smiled and nodded her head approvingly as if she were a regal queen, as opposed to a pint-sized princess of seven. "Here you go, daddy!" she said as she handed over the coveted guitar strap. Edward took it from her and gently ruffled her dark auburn curls.
"Thank you, baby. Are you ready for your birthday party today?" he asked as he turned to put his strap in the gig bag.
Selah bounced and clapped her hands. "Uncle Em and Auntie LeeLee are gonna be there, right? You promised!"
I laughed and bent down to pick her up, spinning her around and smothering her with kisses. "Yep, Uncle Emmett and Auntie Rosalie will be there at the show. Guess what, baby? They're gonna have a little baby boy soon, so you'll have a cousin in a few months!"
Edward watched us with an excited smile on his face. I looked over at him and we shared a secret smile. Emmett and Rosalie weren't the only ones who would be welcoming a new baby this year, but we hadn't told Selah yet; we were waiting to see how she'd react to her new cousin first.
"A cousin! Oh boy! Can he come live with us too?" she exclaimed excitedly.
Edward chuckled and crossed over to take her out of my arms. He bent forward to kiss me and murmured, "You probably shouldn't be picking her up in your condition."
I smirked and rolled my eyes. "I can lift up to fifty pounds, mister. Don't you worry about us," I reminded him as I returned his kiss.
He tossed Selah in the air a bit and raised her over his head to place her on his shoulders. I watched his muscled arms flexing and it made my mouth water. I'd forgotten how horny pregnancy hormones could make me. I'd definitely be tucking Selah in early tonight. I met his beautiful golden eyes and winked lasciviously, and he grinned back at me.
"Come on, baby girl. It's time to go!" he said as he picked up his guitar. She gripped his hair in her little hands and squealed when they started walking out of the bedroom. I followed after my little family with my purse and the bag with Selah's birthday presents.
We were having a somewhat unorthodox birthday party (at least for a seven-year-old), but this was what Selah had requested. The club was small and we rented it out for the evening, inviting all of our friends and family. She wanted to see Edward play and she wanted the entire family there. Grampa Charlie was coming and he was picking up Grammy Renee at the airport on the way, and if they'd timed it well, they should be close to the place soon.
Emmett and Rosalie were flying in from California and Alice was driving up from Forks. Jasper was already here because he'd been working on the special song Edward had written and recorded as part of Selah's birthday present. Everyone was really excited.
We got in the car and drove over to the venue. I fielded phone calls from people as Edward unloaded his equipment. Jasper came out to help him and Alice appeared with their daughter who was a year younger than Selah.
"Lila! Yay!" Selah squealed as she ran forward to embrace her cousin and best friend. I smiled at the two girls embracing as Alice walked over to help me unload the birthday presents.
"This is going to be fun," she said.
I laughed. "Oh, yeah. So, how'd the Epic Cupcake Extravaganza go?" I asked her.
She heaved an exaggerated sigh and wiped her brow comically. "It was touch and go for awhile, but they're perfect. Selah's gonna be so excited when she sees them."
Alice had opened her cupcake "boutique" last year, and business was booming. I'd helped her out in the shop a few times, but her whirlwind baking was way too hectic for me. I much preferred my peaceful dark room.
When we got inside, Alice led me over to the gift table that was set up and we relieved our arms of our haul before she showed me the cupcakes in the small industrial kitchen. I was amazed at her talent, really. "These are awesome, Ali! Thank you so much for making these. Selah's gonna go nuts."
She waved her hand dismissively and smiled hugely. "It was a pleasure, silly. Now...tell me why you've got that glow, missy. Are we to be welcoming another adorable Swan-Cullen?"
I blushed and looked away. We were planning on breaking the excited news to everyone tonight (after Selah had gone to bed).
She gasped and clapped excitedly. "You are, aren't you? Yes! I knew it!"
I hushed her but couldn't keep the huge grin off my face. Edward wandered into the kitchen with Jasper and they both gave us a questioning look. "What's the news, ladies?" Jasper said as he walked over to grab a handful of potato chips.
I looked at Edward. "Well, Alice knows, so I guess we can just tell everyone sooner rather than later."
He smiled and wrapped his arms around me. "Your parents just got here, and mine are waiting up front. Everyone else is here and Selah is asking to, and I quote, 'get this party started.'"
We all chuckled and wandered back out into the club. Alice carried the box of cupcakes and the rest of us carried the platters of snack food. Selah, sure enough, was already on the dance floor waiting for the party to start. After we put the food down, Edward crossed to the stage and picked up his acoustic guitar. He began warming up as Jasper manned the sound booth.
"Okay, everyone! We're here now, so the party can get started!" Emmett's voice boomed as he entered through the front door with his arms spread wide. Selah squealed and ran over to him, her curls bouncing out behind her. Lila was close behind. Emmett was Selah's favorite, so she pounced on him first. Lila tried to wrap her arms around Rosalie's middle, but couldn't get far due to her large belly.
The place wasn't packed, but there were probably a good thirty or forty people milling around, chatting and snacking. Some of Selah's friends from school were there, along with Jake and Leah's six-year-old twin boys who thought the sun rose and set on our baby girl.
Leah liked to joke that she'd have to keep them locked up once they hit puberty so Edward wouldn't be forced to kill her boys for fighting over his baby girl. I told her I'd probably be the one locking Selah up, because she was already quite the little flirt.
Edward and Jake had formed a tentative friendship over the years, but they were almost as close now as Edward was with Emmett and Jasper. It was so nice to have Jake in my life still, because I loved him dearly. These days, he was like the brother I'd never had. Leah and I had become quite close, as well, and it was a wonderful relationship for me.
Edward announced he was ready to begin and everyone gathered around the stage. He still loved to play, but he did it rarely because his recording studio was always busy these days. He'd made quite the reputation for himself over the years.
He strummed quietly and cleared his throat before speaking into the microphone. "So, as we all know, today is my baby girl's seventh birthday. She has requested that I play some of her favorite songs, so here goes...Happy Birthday, Selah-bell."
The opening strums of Death Cab for Cutie filled the small club and Edward explained. "Selah first heard this song last year when we were driving home late at night from Christmas dinner at Grandma and Grandpa Cullen's house. She made me promise she could drive me around to this song when she turns sixteen."
His voice began gently, and everyone began to sway to the sweet tune. The song was short, but so heartfelt that I felt my eyes begin to water. When he reached the last verse, he winked at Selah and she giggled.
"When you feel embarrassed then I'll be your pride
When you need directions then I''ll be the guide
For all time.
For all time."
He finished that song and his eyes met mine. "Selah says she likes this song because she caught me singing it to mommy one night, and she demanded that I sing ittonight," he said with a chuckle. With that, he began an acoustic version of "Brown Eyed Girl."
Everyone chuckled as Selah and Lila boogied around the dance floor with Jake's boys. They had so much energy and it was infectious. Soon, everyone was slow dancing to the classic tune.
Edward took a break after a few more songs so that we could have cupcakes and ice cream. Selah opened her gifts and thanked everyone graciously before Edward got back onstage with Emmett and Jasper to perform the special song he'd written for her.
Her reaction to the song was priceless. She went nuts. We had Carlisle videotape the whole thing, including the part where Edward pulled her up onto the stage and sang directly to her.
It was the sweetest thing I'd ever seen.
A few hours later, the party was winding down. Selah and Lila were passed out on the couches on the side of the club and we were cleaning up as quickly as we could. Rosalie and Emmett came to say they'd see us tomorrow and then took off to their hotel.
Alice and Jasper helped us finish cleaning up and then took the girls home because they were taking them to the zoo tomorrow.
After that, Edward and I were alone. I smiled tiredly as he walked over and took the trash bag out of my hands. "I think someone needs to sit down for a minute," he said with a mischievous grin.
I frowned suspiciously at him. "What are you up to, Cullen?"
He laughed and pulled me toward a folding chair in the middle of the stage. "I wanted to sing my girl a song. I never told you, but this song has been stuck in my head ever since we met and I think it's finally time to share," he said with a sexy wink.
I obediently sat down and turned to face the stage, where Edward pulled up his guitar and began strumming a familiar tune. It was a lot smoother and calmer than the original, but it was still as familiar as his beloved face. "This one's for you, Bella Cullen. You've given me so much...your love, our amazing daughter, and now...well, hopefully, we'll fill the house with all the beautiful children I know we can make."
I felt the tears begin to slide down my face as he sang.
"And I know you're under me, but I must confess what's in my head:
To me you are the light from a light bulb breaks sometimes
and the tender warmth inside is released into my life
girl to me you are the light from a light bulb breaks sometimes
and the tender warmth inside is released into my life
and it smothers me in flames that lick and scorch my face.
As the smoke reaches the sky know I'm burning tonight.
Know I'm burning tonight.
Know I'm burning tonight.
Know I'm burning tonight.
Know I'll burn for you tonight."
When he was done, he set down the guitar and climbed down off the stage. I rushed at him, throwing myself in his arms. "I love you, so freaking much," I cried into his chest.
He laughed and lifted me up until my face was in front of his. He captured my lips in a deep kiss and loosened his arms so I slid down the front of his body. "You have no idea," he whispered softly against my mouth.
We stood there silently, wrapped in each other's arms as the wonder of our life together swirled around us. We had so much to be grateful for, so much to be proud of. We were living this beautiful life, and we had each other. It was much more than I could have ever asked for, but I never took it for granted for even one moment.
This was our happily ever after.
A/N: So...what did you think? I hope you loved it:)