***THE WONDERFUL STEPHENIE MEYER OWNS ALL THINGS TWILIGHT***
A/N: Ok….I know this story is supposed to be over, but someone requested this in one of the reviews after the first epilogue and I couldn't get it out of my head, so I figured that must mean something right? Ugh, I hate that this one is over because I loved writing it! So, one more time you guys…all aboard the Cullen Crazy Train with Trooperward!
A few years down the road, Allison is now 16 and Masen is 11.
EPOV
I knew this day would come. Even though I forbid her to do so, my daughter was growing into a beautiful young lady. Allison was sixteen years old and apparently had her first boyfriend. Ugh. I mean really? Does this little jack off know who I am? Does he realize that I am a State Trooper? Moreover, does he realize I have a gun? Several guns? A really shitty attitude? Apparently this dude is stupid or really brave because here in about thirty minutes he's going to show up at my door to take my baby girl to the Valentine's dance at school. Have I mentioned that I am not crazy about this idea? So, that's why I'm home early from my shift tonight. See, I'm the boss now after Sgt. Cheney retired a couple years ago so I can leave early when I want to. And I wanted to tonight. Badly. I may have even kept my gun belt complete with service revolver locked and loaded tightly around my waist.
"Edward, sweetheart, what are you doing home?" Bella is giving me a confused look as she bounds down the stairs into the kitchen. God, she's still the most beautiful woman in the world.
"Oh you know, there was nothing really going on at the station. They didn't need me tonight." I tried my best to be convincing, but judging by the bitch brow I was currently receiving, I was failing.
"Mmhmm. And this wouldn't happen to have anything to do with the fact that Allison is going to the dance tonight?" Busted. Think fast Trooper.
I stood up from the table and sashayed over to where Bella was standing. Wrapping my arms around her waist and pulling her delicious body flush against my own I whispered in her ear. "Oh, is there a dance tonight? Even better. We'll have to get rid of Masen somehow and then I can make you scream my name all night while I fuck you six ways to Sunday." I licked the shell of her ear and smiled widely when I felt her shudder. Bingo.
"Nice try Fuckhot, but you know very well there is a dance. I think you are home because you can't stand the thought of your daughter going on her first date. You are here because you want to scare the shit out of this poor kid in the hopes that he will tuck his tail between his legs and run away. Am I right?"
You are absolutely right baby. "Bella, that is so far from the truth. I told you, they didn't need me tonight."
"Edward come on, I know you ok? You have known about this dance for at least a month. It's all Allison has talked about, AND you even handed over your Amex card so we could go buy her a dress. So….do you want to tell me the truth now?" She stood there with her hands on her hips and suddenly reminded me of Allison. Now it was crystal clear where she had gotten it. A small chuckle escaped my lips just as my son slid down the banister of the stairs. Clearly he wasn't expecting me to be home because the look on his face when he saw me was priceless.
"Masen Anthony! What the hell did you just do?" I used the "daddy is pissed off" voice and could see him cringe.
"Oh fffuuu….I mean hey Dad." The little shit tried to cover up his near slip up by flashing me a megawatt grin.
"Excuse me? What was that you were about to say young man?" I had stepped beside Bella and was face to face with my son since he was standing a couple of steps up. It brought us eye to eye. I still had my entire uniform on including cowboy hat. I must have looked pretty damn intimidating because my son shrunk back immediately and looked down at the ground.
"Sorry Dad, it slipped out. I was just surprised you were home." He looked over at his mother who just shook her head at him.
"I see. Masen, are you supposed to be sliding down this banister? Have we not had this conversation several times over your entire life? What made you think it was ok this time? Just because you thought I wasn't home you thought hey, I'll give this a try? Is that what happened son?"
"Yes sir. I knew Mom would be helping Allison get dressed for the dance so I didn't think I would get caught." He was still looking at the floor, his cheeks tinted pink.
"So given those facts, even though you KNEW BETTER, you decided you'd go ahead and give it a try huh?
"Yes sir."
"Ok, while I appreciate your honesty, you are grounded. You knew better but you did it anyway. Unacceptable Cullen. Completely unacceptable. Go to your room and stay there until your mother or myself tells you to come out."
"Yes sir. Dad, I'm sorry. I won't do it again." He turned and walked back to his room, completely defeated. Masen was a good kid, but now and then he got a wicked streak in him that was pure Cullen. I tried to be extra tough on the kid because I knew he was going to turn out to be a damn fine man one day. I wanted him to respect people and do the right thing. He may have only slid down the banister, but the fact that he knew it was wrong and did it anyway is why I was so tough on him.
"He's so much like you Edward. I see it more and more each day." Bella put her arms around my waist and I pulled her to me.
"I just want the best for our children Bella. Which brings me to this fucking dance."
"Edward please. It's just a school dance. It's not like she's marrying the kid. Relax Trooper. It was bound to happen one day. You can't keep her locked in your tower forever."
"Why not? I'm a Texas State Trooper Bella. I can do whatever I want." She shook her head at me and kissed me softly on the lips.
"Just don't embarrass Allison. I'm going back upstairs to finish helping her get dressed. Change clothes Edward and put your gun belt up. I don't want you scaring Brandon away."
"Brandon? That's the little fucker's name? Who the hell names their kid Brandon?" I rolled my eyes and went back to the kitchen for a beer. I was going to speak to the people at the high school. Why did they need a fucking Valentine's dance anyway? Stupid shit.
About an hour later the doorbell rang. Showtime. Bella began to head toward the door, but I stopped her.
"Rest yourself sweetheart. Let ME get the door." I still hadn't changed out of my uniform. Bella rolled her eyes at me and mouthed "be nice" as she shook her head.
On the other side of the door, was Brandon. What a stupid name. I couldn't help the smirk that appeared on my face when his eyes met mine. He looked like he was going to pass out. Part of me wished he would. I didn't say a word as I waited for this kid to collect himself. Surprising me, his voice was strong and sure as he held out his hand.
"Mr. Cullen, hello sir. I'm Brandon McCullough." I shook his hand and appreciated the fact that he had a firm grip.
"Good evening Brandon. Come on in." I moved aside so he could enter. Bella was by my side immediately with cautious eyes on me.
"Hi Mrs. Cullen. It's nice to see you again." He smiled at Bella and ran a hand through his disheveled hair.
"Brandon welcome to our home. Allison should be ready in a second. Can I get you something to drink sweetie?" Bella was smiling widely.
"No ma'am. Thank you though." He seemed to be calm and collected. It was time for the test.
"Bella sweetheart, why don't you go check on Allison's progress while I have a chat with Brandon here?" I smiled at her as I gave her a wink. I almost lost it when I heard Brandon audibly gulp. Perhaps he wasn't so calm and collected after all.
"Ok honey." She lowered her voice as she spoke in my ear. "Edward Anthony you better be nice or I'll have your balls." I gave her a kiss and a smirk as she walked up the stairs.
"Brandon, let's have a seat in the living room and talk a little bit." I gestured to the couch. He quickly found his way there and took his seat, putting the plastic box carrying my daughter's corsage on the seat beside him. I sat in the recliner facing him with my hands clasped between my parted knees and my forearms resting on my knees.
"Look Brandon, I'm going to get right to the point with you son. That is my little girl you are taking to this dance tonight. She means more to me than you will ever know. I will NOT allow her to be hurt in ANY way and she will be RESPECTED at all times. Do you understand what I'm telling you?"
"Yes sir Mr. Cullen. I want you to know that I have nothing but good intentions with Allison. I respect her very much sir. I would never do anything to hurt her. I have very deep feelings for Allison and have been wanting to ask her out for over a year now. We've been friends since sixth grade sir. She means a great deal to me Mr. Cullen." To say I was surprised was an understatement. This boy was laying it all out on the line with me and in the process he was earning my respect. His gaze never wavered as he spoke to me, looking me directly in the eye. That showed me a lot about the kid.
"I'm very glad to hear that son. She means a great deal to me as well. Can I ask how old you are Brandon?"
"Certainly sir, I'm seventeen."
"And what are your plans for the future?"
"Well, I'm very active in athletics at school sir. I'm actually on the varsity football team and the varsity baseball team. I'm hoping to acquire a scholarship to the University of Texas at Austin sir."
"So if sports doesn't work out for you, what then?"
"Well, I'm planning on majoring in Mechanical Engineering."
"Very nice Brandon." I was finding myself actually liking this kid. What was wrong with me? I was seventeen once, and I knew what a seventeen year old boy really wanted. And he wasn't going to get THAT from my daughter. I decided it was time for the tough questions.
"Look Brandon, I was your age once. I get it man, I know what a seventeen year old boy thinks like. What are your sexual intentions with my daughter?" No point in sugar coating it. I heard another loud gulp but this time it was behind me. I turned around to see Bella standing there with her eyes wide. She walked over and sat down on the arm of the recliner beside me. We both looked at Brandon awaiting his answer. He looked a little paler than he had before but I could see him trying to regain his composure. Finally he spoke.
"Mr. and Mrs. Cullen, I am a virgin. I plan to remain that way until I get married. My parents have raised me to believe in virtue and to believe that waiting for that special woman is the right thing to do. Now, I probably shouldn't admit this, but in all honesty I believe Allison is that woman. I have never felt the way I feel for her. She's amazing." He looked all dreamy eyed and far away for a moment and I almost gagged. Really though, I couldn't fault the kid. That was exactly the way I felt about the beautiful woman sitting beside me. But the fact remained that he was young and Allison was even younger. I wasn't sure he should be so aware of such feelings being a kid. At that moment, I glanced over to the top of the stairs and I saw my daughter. She looked like an angel. I stood up at the same time Brandon did. I was waging an internal war with myself. This was my little girl and all of a sudden I felt like I was losing her. I wanted to go to her and scoop her in my arms and protect her forever. I also knew that she was becoming a young woman. She was her mother's daughter, so there was no doubt she would be turning male heads left and right. In that moment I knew that I wasn't going to be the man in her life much longer. Given that fact and with all the strength I could muster, I did it. I stepped aside and let Brandon go to her. Seeming to sense my sadness, Bella grasped my hand and squeezed it, laying her head on my shoulder.
"Allison, you look beautiful. I got this for you." Brandon opened the box containing the flower and gently slipped it over her wrist.
"Thank you Brandon. You look really hot." She blushed ferociously and I glanced down at Bella raising an eyebrow at her. She gently punched me in the bicep. Like mother like daughter.
Allison gave Brandon his boutonniere and I swear the kid acted like it was the Congressional Medal of Honor. I may or may not have rolled my eyes. Bella appeared with her camera and proceeded to take a thousand and twenty pictures. Soon it was time for them to leave. I was standing in the hallway looking at the pictures on our wall. It was our life spread out in front of me. There were pictures of our wedding in Las Vegas, pictures of Bella when she was pregnant with both children, baby pictures of both Allison and Masen as well as pictures of both our families, Cullens and Swans. My eyes lingered on what had always been my favorite picture. It was taken the day Allison was born. We were in Bella's hospital room and I was sitting in the rocking chair after just having changed my first diaper. Allison was wrapped in a pink blanket and I was looking down at her in my arms and smiling. The look on my face was pure love. I was completely in love with my daughter. As I was lost in thought I felt small hands wrap around my arm. Looking down I saw my stunning little girl looking back at me.
"Daddy, we are about to leave and I wanted to tell you goodbye and thank you for not going totally "Trooper Cullen" on Brandon. I want you and Mama to like him. He's kind of important to me."
"Princess, I just worry about you. You're my baby girl. I love you and Mase more than my own life. I know I can't keep you locked up here forever, though it is a tempting thought. Just be careful baby. Brandon seems like a nice boy and he really likes you. Just don't forget your old man huh?" I hugged her tightly to my chest.
"Daddy, it's just a school dance. It's not like I'm leaving the country. Don't worry, I'll always be your little girl. I love you Daddy." She reached up and kissed my cheek. It took everything in me not to let the emotions I was feeling spill out.
Allison and I walked back out to the living room and I handed her off to Brandon. I couldn't help but think how similar this seemed to the way I would one day give her away to her husband to be.
"Brandon, take care of my little girl. Have her home by eleven, not a minute later."
"Absolutely sir, no worries. I'll take very good care of her."
Bella and I watched Brandon walk Allison to the passenger side of his car and help her inside. Once they were gone we sat down on the couch.
"Well Trooper, what are you thinking?" She rubbed my thigh with the palm of her hand and I wanted to tell her that it was very HARD to think when she did that.
"I'm thinking you need to move that hand or face the consequences Isabella Cullen."
"Very funny, but I meant about Allison's first date. I know that was hard for you Edward. But you aren't losing her you know. She's just growing up. It was bound to happen."
"I know. I'm just not ready for that yet. Tonight it was a school dance. Before we know it, it will be her going off to college. Then it will be me walking her down the aisle. Then we'll be grandparents. God Bella, when did this happen? One day you were walking into the police station looking for a job, the next day we were in Vegas getting married, then we had the kids, and now our daughter is on her first date. Baby, I never dreamed my life would turn out so perfect. I owe you all of that."
"Edward, I wouldn't change a thing about our life together. It's only going to get better baby. The best is yet to come." She kissed me gently at first but soon enough our kisses grew more intense and passionate. I was just about to stand up and carry Bella to bed to make passionate love to her when a stunning realization hit me like a ton of bricks.
"Shit baby! We sent Masen to his room hours ago and told him not to come out until we said so." She looked at me with wide eyes and both of us cracked up. We had been so preoccupied with Allison that we completely forgot about Masen. A far off voice from upstairs called out.
"This is so not funny."
A/N: Poor Masen! So it seems like Daddyward had a little trouble letting go of his baby girl. But did we expect anything less? How precious was Brandon? He didn't let Trooperward intimidate him and earned the respect he wanted. Thanks again for reading and loving Spin Cycle!