Courtney POV
Friday came and went with the boys winning their game 45-0 and as previously agreed Justin sat next to me. Saturday went by slowly with all the learning we were doing for those opt out test on Thursday. Today is Sunday though our relaxing day, or at least that's what we thought it was until my mom told us we had a family meeting in the lounge room where we usually meet for things…the last time my mom called us in there was to tell us Grandpa Phil had died.
"What do you think it is this time?" Leo questions as we take our time heading to the lounge room
"Has to be about them" I reply
"You don't think…." Levi whispers trailing off at the end just because it was too much to bear, they couldn't do that
"Don't even think like that" Vaughn snaps glaring at Levi
"I wasn't it just popped into my head….I'd die if that happened" Levi defends
"We'd all die but they….they wouldn't survive they're a team" Bryce mumbles
"So we won't let it happen" Vaughn declares and we all nod our heads in agreement
Entering the lounge room we take our seats in the couches facing our mom and dad and wait silently,
"What's going on with you guys?" my dad questions his eyes running over all of us
"What do you mean?" Cason questions
"I mean, why are you guys walking around with the problems of the world on your heads, why are you avoiding contact with everyone at school including your cousins?" my dad replies
"We notice things" Leo shrugs
"Things such as…."
"You and mom are having a discrepancy and it's last a whole lot longer than it usually does….and you're treating each other different" Levi replies
"How so?" mom questions
"At the game on Thursday dad didn't walk with mom to the car, you ran past to open the door" Vaughn replies
"And mom didn't acknowledge you when she got to the car" Bryce adds
"You guys didn't kiss over the console like you always do" Cason adds
"You didn't hold hands on the ride home" Leo adds
"Or talk" Levi adds
"Friday it happened again" I mumble
"You noticed all that, huh?" dad sighs scratching the back of his neck
"Yeah" Vaughn nods
"Your mom and I are having a discrepancy but this isn't about what's going on between your mother and I. I understand you're worried but there's no need to be your mother and I are too very different people we will disagree on things some more strongly than others but you guys as much as we love that you find solace in one another your cousins and friends don't deserve to be kicked out because your mother aren't in the best of places right now. Those people are there for you too, they're there to help you…sure they might not get what exactly you're feeling but that doesn't mean they can't help you" my dad explains
"You guys will be fine right?" Vaughn questions looking between my mom and dad
"We're not going to lie to you" my dad sighs glancing at my mom who sighs and looks at us
"My schedules are conflicting again….when aren't they ever, so if I'm gone for a few days don't read into guys. Your dad and I love each other very much, don't ever doubt that okay" my mom sighs
"You guys have to go back to the way you were…if not for us for Max he has to get you both like we got you both. Life's better with you both" Leo begs
"Okay" my mom nods with a small smile
"Anything else on your chest?" my dad questions
"You'll let us know when you're leaving?" Vaughn questions
"As early as I can" my mom nods
"Okay" Leo grins
"Group hug" Levi declares as we all stand converge in the middle of the room
"Off you guys go we'll be in the office if you need us" my mom shoos
Edward POV
We took our time making our way downstairs and into our office…we wouldn't be doing any work I'd finish all my paperwork on Saturday and Bella did hers on the plane trip to and from San Francisco yesterday.
Sitting in silence staring at one another is probably the most nerve racking thing I've experienced. Unlike the others times where this kind of silence was made intimate by the sexual tension hanging in the air, this time it was filled with words unknown. I love my wife more than anything in this world but I want my wife around and yes it sucks that her career makes her travel a lot and maybe I'd be okay with it if it was just the two of us but it's not we've seven kids to think about including a 14 month old baby, I'm not the only one that needs her here.
"What do you think?" Bella questions after some time
"I think we need to figure this out before we cause our kids to stress out worrying over our marriage when they needed to focused on school"
"It's our fault"
"I know we taught them to make sure that family stayed together and they handled it the way they knew how"
"I quit this movie my schedule gets more hectic they want photo shoots, appearances at store openings, guess judging…the list goes on"
"You'll be in and out"
"I've been through half of it and it goes all the way into the year after next"
"I hate your schedule, you have a family Bella, a husband, 6 teenagers, a baby, and a dog that alone is too much"
"You're here"
"I know but not as much as I should plus I've got hospitals to go to"
"I know that"
"6 teenagers and a baby is too much for anyone with 3 teens of their own"
"I know"
"There's nothing you can do?" I beg crossing the room and pulling her into my arms
"I've been trying…it's a lot and I'll still have to do the traveling back and forth it's just a given at this point" she sighs resting her forehead against mine
"How much traveling"
"At least two days out the week for a while"
"You dropped the movie"
"Kind of"
"What does that even mean?"
"It means I still want to be part of the movie and I'm no longer acting in it"
"But"
"I'm producing it; Summit thinks my name is more attractive"
"Better actors than the ones they have"
"Yes"
"You don't need to be there for every waking moment either, right?"
"Yeah just popping in to make sure things are going smoothly…I'll be in here more often"
"Not like the other times right?"
"No probably worse, it's a bigger movie"
"Okay I can do that, what about the other things?"
"If this goes through then I'll have to move a few things around but a lot of red eye's in the near future if this does happen"
"I'm glad you listened to me"
"I didn't listen to you Edward, I listened to my kids"
"Why are you so fucking difficult?"
"You sure didn't marry me for being easy"
"Why is it so hard for you to listen to me?"
"I listen to you when you're not being a selfish brat"
"When have I ever been a selfish brat?"
"Every time you complain because I leave"
"It's a crime to want you to stay here with me?"
"Of course not bout only if it works both ways"
"What does that mean?"
"You sure as hell don't when you have to go Edward and you don't hear me crying a fucking river when you do either"
"We act differently"
"It has nothing to do with that Edward, you don't give a fuck when you have to travel as soon as I mention it you're ready to tie me to the fucking bed and lock me away"
"You travel more than I do"
"It doesn't matter Edward you travel too and it's part of your job and I accept it, so what if I travel more it's a part of my job"
"You're always gone Bella if it's one thing it's the other there's never a month where I'm not dropping you off at the airport for you to head somewhere"
"You knew how much I travel since we were fucking teenagers, when we were dating for 8 years you knew this, when we were engaged you knew this, and when we got married you knew this"
"It doesn't mean I liked it"
"It's not fair Edward, it's not fair Edward to make such a huge deal over something we've been doing for the past 23 years Edward it's not like it just happened"
"I didn't like it then and I don't like it now"
"You should've said something more than I'll miss you and can't wait for you to come back Edward, you should've said it before I fell into a pace and schedule Edward. It's honestly just too fucking late right now and you know it"
"I…."
"No I'm sorry I thought we were on the same page, I'm sorry I didn't realize we switched books Edward, oh darn me for being so clueless but I'm Bella and you're Edward so I'll go fix that right away and I'll come back when it's more pleasing for you" she replies dryly before exiting the room.
I don't know how long I stood there staring at where Bella had been, I don't even remember punching the vase next to me, I don't even remember walking to the bathroom, I don't even remember passing Bella, but what I do remember is her taking my good hand, leading me up the stairs into our bathroom, her soft touches as she pulled the pieces of glass out my hand, I do remember her cleaning all the cut and scrapes, I do remember her wrapping my hand, I do remember her putting everything away I do remember her pulling me down and kissing me with passion that made me hold onto her as if my life depended on it, I do remember her pulling away with kiss swollen lips and a soft smile, I remember her telling me to not worry that she'd clean up the vase, I remember the painful pinch she gave me before telling me to never do something like that again, I remember promising to never do it again, I remember her telling me to sleep it off, and I definitely remember her telling me she loves me more than I'll ever understand before turning and leaving…I remember everything she does because I love her too.