Heya again guys! Just wondering if anyone was looking for a Beta reader? I've finished my exams now and am probably going to take one on for my Tamora Pierce story and would love to help someone else too. Let me know if anyone needs any help! X x x
'Mambo No. 5' by Louis Bega"A little bit of Monica in my life, a little bit of Erika by my side, a little bit of Rita's all I need, a little bit of Tina's what I see, a little bit of Sandra in the sun, a little bit of Mary all night long, a little bit of Jessica here I am, a little bit of you makes me your man..."
We were gathered in our living room, the one at the main house that is, and as Edward slipped upstairs to lie Renesme down in the spare cot everyone else settled down before the fire sitting by their respective spouses. Esme was at my side and my family was around me; I felt content. Bella was the only one with an empty space besides her but I knew it would not be for long – Edward was never far from her side for long if he could help it, it had always been that way. Ever since they had met.
The only other member of our family, much to mine and Edward's concerns who was absent was Jacob Black. His strange but fascinating connection with Nessie made him part of our group by default even though it had questioned many long-held opinions on both sides of the treaty.
When Edward finally did descend the stairs Bella's was the only head that turned at the tiny noise, though we all heard it. I watched happily as her face lit up and how the smile grew impossibly larger when he took his place at her side. With him back in the group conversation began to flow again where it had been suspended. Esme and I were content to just listen as our children bantered lightly amongst themselves.
"It's not fair; one bedtime story from you and she's out like a light. I end up telling her novels worth before her little eyes close." Bella complained poking Edward in the ribs. He draped an arm along the back of the sofa behind her.
"I guess I just have a gift love." Edward laughed. "Or maybe it's the stories I tell?"
"I want a bedtime story," Bella decided snuggling up to him. "Tell me more about your life; there's so much I don't know."
"What do you want to know sweet?" He rubbed the top of her arm lovingly making Esme smile at the gesture.
"Before you came here, where else have you lived?"
"Where haven't we lived?" Emmett interrupted. "New York, Georgia, Alaska..."
"It's more the success of where we lived that you need to ask about." Rosalie muttered finishing for him. Emmett grinned at her.
"I can answer for myself thank-you." Edward shot his brother a dark look and then another to his other silent male sibling.
"Aww but Eddy," Jasper inputted smiling widely at the glance Edward had sent his way. "Who knows whether you were going to completely open with any question that dear Bella asked..."
Bella turned in Edward's embrace to face the pair of males who were grinning widely at each other and Edward in a knowing way. I saw her glance once at the stiff set of Edward's face then turn to Jasper.
"You. Explain." She ordered causing Alice and Rosalie to chuckle darkly. I sighed and shared a look with Esme; it was going to be a long night.
"You see it wasn't only the sun that made us move about so much – Edward used to, attract, a lot of attention in places." Jasper started.
"Don't," Edward growled but no-one paid him any heed least of all the tiny woman in his arms or the boys across from him.
"Attention is putting it mildly – it's a good job he had the freaky superpowers to tell us when there was another stalker obsession brewing else we would have been mobbed countless times!" Emmett laughed.
"And was it all unwanted attention?" Bella asked quietly pulling out of Edward's arms slightly. The room was quiet, all of it's occupants unsure who the question was directed at.
"Of course love; teenage girls have such strange fantasies." Edward stroked her face and everyone relaxed when she did. I knew Edward was being completely honest and would have spoken up on his behalf but Esme had given me the look; the look that says 'don't think of opening that mouth of yours unless you want to hunt on your own for a while.' I couldn't sleep on the couch and that was my darling's equivalent when I pushed her too far.
"What about the grown women Eddy?" Jasper asked sweetly causing Bella to gasp and pull completely away from her husband. Alice cursed at his side and smacked him.
"Too far," she chided then looked at our newest member with concern.
"Say no more, either of you, if you want to be able to run in the morning..." Edward turned to where Bella had put her head in her hands on the other end of the sofa. "This is why I didn't tell you, and it means nothing. It was nothing compared to what I have with you now – we have a child for pity's sake love."
"So you did take an interest sometimes?"
Edward sighed and his eyes were conflicted. I knew what he was thinking. How much would it hurt Bella for him to lie to her compared to telling her the truth?
"Sometimes I admired from a far; you're the first human I've ever had a relationship with. But yes three times I took an interest but they were all vampires. Look at me love." Edward tilted Bella's chin up so that he could look down into her eyes. "You believe me don't me?"
After a long moment she nodded her head wordlessly then looked around her smiling brightly.
"Well I suppose I can't be surprised, I do pick the pretty ones."
"Pardon?" Edward asked his eyebrows pulling together.
"Well you and dear, dear, dear Mick..." She teased smiling up at his murderous expression. "He was such a gent."
"Not in his head believe me – it made my toes curl to listen to him."
"Was he as bad as Monica?" Jasper asked relaxing back against Alice. Edward chuckled.
"He was a hundred times worse. He's a teenage boy remember; they have more... time... to be inventive..."
"Monica?" Bella asked her eyebrows hidden under her hair now. Edward bent down and whispered in her ear silently. All that we could hear was the rush of sound as his cheek and jaw brushed her skin. After a second Bella's mouth dropped open in astonishment at what he was retelling.
"She was very persistent." Jasper noted and Bella laughed weakly. "How about Erika; he can't have been that bad?"
"A thousand times worse than her..." Edward sighed.
"Rita? Tina? Sandra? Mary? Jessica?" Rosalie asked disbelieving. Edward shook his head again and we all laughed. He had truly had to suffer in that boys head – these were the best of the worst that Edward had had to listen to in our past.
"Well you've been bested for once then." Alice declared and everyone turned to look at her questioningly. "Someone else who attracted worse than you, AND you had to endure it as if it was your own; a taste of your own medicine for once..."
Esme launched into another stream of conversation with Rosalie and Alice occupying the air space, for which both Edward and Bella shot her thankful glances. We talked long into the night as one big family until the weak morning rays broke over the horizon and couples started to drift away for the day's activity. Alice and Jasper were going shopping in Seattle. Rosalie and Emmett were taking her car up to the mountains to test out the new tuning she'd done on it. Edward and Bella were going hunting for the day while we took care of dear little Nessie.
I was in the kitchen making her up a bottle when I overheard the pair of them as they headed out the door.
"I could be very inventive myself if I wanted..." Bella murmured absently.
"On what darling?" Edward replied curiously. There was a moment of silence and then I heard Edward take in a huge gasp of air suddenly. When he spoke his voice was rough and croaky as if he was being put under some huge stress.
"I never knew you had it in you, darling... that is certainly very... creative... of you. And because it's your thoughts love, it is a million times worse than anything I had to endure from that stupid Mike Newton."
Bella laughed and I watched them run into the forest, confused and trying to understand the snippet I had caught.
I let you figure out the end on your own. :-D Let me know if it still doesn't make any sense. Review! X x x