Thank you all so much for the reviews! All of you seem to be in agreement, stating you'd rather wait for updates then to have me pull the stories, so I am happy to announce I won't be pulling them. Now with that said, please be patient w/ me. Yes, this update is a treat - my way of saying thank you :) but I can not give you a posting schedule and I have no idea how long it'll be before the next update. Especially with 'His Dirty Little Secret' and 'Forever and Almost Always' - my beta for those stories has a lot on her plate right now as well, so her time is as limited as mine. I am working on the next chapters for both of the stories I just have no clue as to when they may be ready to post.
Thank you Moonstruck Kitten for getting this back to me so quickly!
No copyright infringement intended.
CHAPTER 29
Edward sighed, shifting slightly under me. "How are we going to tell him about Liam?"
Oh. I was expecting a different conversation all together.
"I don't know …" I replied shakily, sitting up. I settled back against the headboard, lightly rubbing my belly—-the twins were suddenly very active. "I've been trying to figure that out for weeks now, but I can't seem to come up with a way that he'll actually understand it."
He nodded. "Well, I've been thinking—maybe we should just start by introducing him to Liam—" I started to interrupt, but Edward shook his head. "Let me explain, first." I nodded, keeping my mouth shut. "He's too young to really understand—I just don't think there's really a way of preparing ourselves for the conversation, Bella …. It's just gonna have to be one of those 'figure it out as we go' moments …."
I think he was waiting for me to say something, but I was still considering his words. I knew he was right, that Masen was too young to really understand, but I wasn't sure how I felt about going into a situation such as this without some sort of plan.
"Bella?"
I looked up and saw the fear in his eyes. "You're probably right," I whispered. "I'm just scared he's going to freak out or something."
"I don't think he—"
"Daddy," Masen mumbled, rubbing his sleepy eyes with the back of his hand, as he walked into the bedroom—and our conversation was pushed to the side for the time being.
"Hey, buddy," Edward cooed warmly, as he opened his arms up to him. "Come here."
Masen scurried onto the bed and crawled into Edward's lap, burrowing his face into his neck. "I dream you gone again."
Edward's eyes popped to mine—the obvious love, pain, and concern there nearly took my breath away. "Oh, Masen," he soothed, rubbing his back. "I couldn't leave. I promised I'd still be here when you woke up, remember?"
Masen nodded against Edward's neck, but he didn't say anything. I was about to say something—anything to sooth my son's worries, but Katy Perry's 'Last Friday Night' announced a call and interrupted me.
"Isn't that, Alice?" Edward asked after the second ring, turning his head slightly as Masen poked his head up and looked at me curiously.
"Yeah."
Edward raised an eyebrow curiously. "And why aren't you answering it?"
I shrugged. "I don't feel like talking to her."
"When have you ever not felt like talking to, Alice?"
I glanced to Masen, before returning my attention back to Edward. "Not now, please?"
"Later?"
I nodded. "Yes." I didn't want to discuss it at all to be honest, but Edward and I didn't keep anything from each other, and I knew there was no way he was going to let this one go.
"So, what do you say to McDonald's for dinner?" Edward asked bringing his attention back to our son. "You can play in the playland."
"Yah!" Masen yelled excitedly, jumping out of his father's lap and off the bed. "I do that!"
I laughed, shaking my head as I climbed off the bed, of course Masen would agree to dinner at McDonald's—he loved playing in the playland.
"McDonald's okay with you, baby?" Edward asked, scooting off the bed.
I smiled. "Yeah, it's fine. A Quarter Pounder with cheese sounds good."
"Still craving cheeseburgers?" he asked wrapping his arms around me. I giggled, nodding sheepishly as Edward chuckled and kissed my cheek. "Good to know—Come on, buddy. Let's go get some food!"
"Nuggets or a cheeseburger, Masen?" I asked as we stood in line at the local McDonald's. Masen of course was jumping around excitedly, aching to get into the playland, in turn not hearing a word I spoke to him.
"Cheeseburger?" Edward asked curiously.
Oh.
"Yeah, he'll, um—he'll eat a cheeseburger now as long as it's plain."
"Really?" Edward asked with amazement, instead of the sadness I expected to see. "That's great, buddy."
"I like cheese buggers," Masen announced proudly, just as we were stepping up to the counter to order our food. "They my favorite."
"So you want a cheeseburger then, Mas?" I asked one last time.
Masen nodded. "And French fries."
Edward laughed, turning his attention to the cute little blonde working the counter. "Can I help you?" she asked. I'm sure I heard the double innuendo to her question, as I'm fairly certain Edward did as well.
Giving her one of his famous panty dropping smiles, he answered, "Yeah, he'll have a cheeseburger Happy Meal, I'll take a number one—large, and a Double Quarter Pounder with cheese …." He turned to me, silently telling me to give her my order.
I was still undecided. Everything on the menu sounded like a sugary slice of heaven, and the bitch staring at my boyfriend was a bit distracting. "Um …" I stuttered blankly, moving my eyes back to the menu. "A Quarter Pounder with cheese meal …."
"Small, medium, or large?" she asked, glancing between Edward and myself.
"Large," I supplied. "And actually, make it a Fish Filet instead."
She smiled, changing it on the screen. "Okay."
I bit my lip. "Um, actually, make it the Quarter—"
Edward laughed. "Give us both," he interrupted.
"And a ten piece chicken nugget," I added quickly.
I heard Edward laugh, again, and I could tell the cashier was fighting desperately with herself not to—talk about embarrassing, but I just couldn't freaking decide. It all sounded good.
"Okay." She smiled. "Would you like any sauce for the nuggets?"
"Please—sweet and sour, hot mustard, and barbeque sauce."
She giggled, glancing at my very prominent belly. What? I thought to myself. I like to dip my fries … and maybe my burger.
"Daddy," Masen wheezed when he made it to the table Edward and I were sitting at. "You play basett ball with me?"
"Sure, buddy," he answered, smiling proudly as he took a quick drink from his cup.
I sat and watched, munching on the three dinners I had in front of me, while Edward and Masen shot hoops. It was a fun evening—just Masen, Edward and myself, our happy little family of three … at least for the time being.
"I play basett ball when I all big like you, Daddy," Masen chirped excitedly as we made our way back to the car, Edward and I both holding his hands as he swung between us.
"I thought you wanted to be a doctor just like your daddy, Mase?" I asked, opening the passenger-side backdoor of the Volvo.
"I do. I play basett ball just like daddy when I all big," he retorted, the look on his face saying what his mouth wasn't allowed. "And be a doctor."
I laughed, buckling him into his seat. "My apologies—I didn't realize you were going to do both."
"God, Bella," Edward retorted, going all valley girl on me when I slid into the passenger seat. "You so should have, like, known that." I laughed, pulling on my seatbelt as Edward backed out of our parking place.
"Movies?" he asked pulling out onto the main road.
"Yeah, that sounds good."
"Anything in particular?"
"Nope."
He nodded, but didn't say anything else.
It was closing in on eleven when Edward finally made his way into the bedroom after putting Masen down for the night. I sighed, nuzzling into his side when he climbed into bed with me—I couldn't have been more content.
"Are you going to be okay tomorrow?" he whispered, pressing a gentle kiss against the top of my head.
"I think so," I responded truthfully. "As long as I don't have to see her."
He kissed my head, again. "You don't have to see her. I was actually thinking I'd have her meet us at mom and dad's—gives them a chance to see Liam, plus it'll ease you and Masen into it. Not to mention, I don't have to be in a room alone with her."
That right there sealed the deal for me. "Sold," I responded, lifting my head so I could see him.
Edward chuckled, pressing a kiss against my lips. "I'll let mom know in the morning."
I nodded, placing another kiss on his lips before laying my head back down on his chest. It was silent for so long, I'd actually started to fall asleep when Edward spoke again.
"Bella?" he whispered into the quiet night.
"Hmm?" I hummed sleepily.
"You didn't tell me about Alice." I tensed at just the mention of her name, and I wasn't at all surprised he caught it. "Why don't you want to talk to her?" he asked me, again, and this time the concern was evident.
**Author's Note**
Review please :)
