A/N... I have it on pretty good authority that this chapter requires two warnings... #1, a TISSUE warning. #2, a LEMON warning.

I know most of you are ready for the action, the fighting, the ass kicking, but we still have to get a plan together. Some of you were most concerned about just "dropping a bomb on them"... As much as Bella was serious, she really...wasn't when she asked Alice that question. Here's the reason... While Eleazar has authority to catch these guys by any means necessary, he doesn't have authority to do it on another country's soil. Okay? So technically, this fight will be considered a black-op. No one but the people involved know it ever happened, and they aren't likely to spill. Some of you are also worried about numbers... Now this...you'll just have to trust me on.

Let's tuck Bethy in, shall we?

CHAPTER 19

EDWARD

"I wanna see Goliaff tomorrow, Mommy," my baby girl said, yawning widely as Bella pulled the covers up to her chin.

"We will," Bella chuckled softly. "I've kinda missed him, too."

I was leaning in the doorway of what used to be my mother's room, but which Aunt Kate had now turned into a really pretty room for Bethy. It was still flowers and lace and frilly-girly shit, but not so grown up. Paintings of landscapes had been replaced with princesses, pictures of me and my dad were now in brighter colored frames, not the silver ones my mom had put them in, and there was an overflowing toy chest in the corner that seemed to have grown since Christmas.

"I'll take you both out to the barn in the morning, little sweetness," I vowed, walking into the room. "Before work," I added with a raised eyebrow to Bella. Both my girls beamed happily, and I chuckled. "Crazy old horse likes you two better than me, anyway," I muttered sourly, which was the fucking truth, although it didn't bother me one bit.

They giggled at the same time, and the sound just did things to me. I sat on the edge of the bed, kissing Bethy's forehead, nose, and then her forehead again so that I could breathe deep the sweet, clean smell of her. Tiny hands grabbed my face, and I smiled down at her, because she was completely unaware of all the shit that was waging around her. She was happy and content, without a fucking care in the world. Meanwhile, my looming mission was tearing me up on the inside, because the unknown could be fucking scary. I was pretty damn sure that that was why my wife had wanted to keep our new little one a secret, though that shit was blown completely out of the water now.

Bella had tried so fucking hard to just get everyone in the dining room to back off, but they knew her; they knew that she didn't back down from a fight, that she would fight tooth and nail right by my side. Hell, she was stronger and braver than some men that had been stationed overseas with me. And our friends, our family knew that, so when she didn't give them a real reason that she wasn't going, they all called her on her bullshit.

I smiled against Bethy's forehead at just what that little announcement had done. At first, they were shocked, and then they exploded, although they weren't sure exactly what to do about it. They wanted to be happy for us, had seen that we were ecstatic, but they weren't sure what it meant to the mission. It took my dad's approval, his sickening joy, for them to realize it was a good fucking thing. In fact, when he finally congratulated me, he gave me a full hug for the first time in a long fucking time, telling me that he now understood my anger concerning staying behind. He also told me that Bella didn't have to work the mission at all – info team or not – if she didn't want to, but I told him that he'd never keep her from it.

"Go to sleep, baby," I whispered to Bethy.

"I'm not tired," she argued, yawning widely again.

Bella chuckled behind me, and I smirked down at my daughter. "Right," I said wryly. "I'll tell you what... Go to sleep, and we'll see if I can't put you up on Goliath tomorrow and walk you around the paddock. Okay?"

"Okay, Daddy," she said, yawning again, her eyes brightening at that, but still so, so sleepy.

"Good girl," I sighed, kissing her puckered lips. "Only sweet dreams, little soldier."

"Yes, sir."

"Love you," I told her, standing up from the bed so Bella could kiss her, too.

"Love you, too, Daddy." Her voice was low, her lids heavy as Bella whispered her own good nights, but my heart hurt at the sight of it, because the "what ifs" wouldn't shut off in my head as I looked at them both.

Bella left the door cracked, and we walked to my old room. I sat down hard on the edge of the bed, fisting my hands in my hair.

"Edward?"

I shook my head, my emotions too much, but gentle fingers lifted my face.

"Talk to me, Edward," she said softly, but from the look in her eyes, she knew.

"I-I... Y-You n-need t-to p-promise m-me th-that y-you'll... E-Everything y-you n-need i-is i-in the s-safe a-at h-home, if s-something..."

"Oh," Bella groaned, shaking her head. "We aren't having this conversation right now, baby," she stated firmly, making sure I was looking at her. "We will, but not now."

"You need to know, Bella," I said, finally finding my voice. "You have to fucking understand!" I urged, gripping the sides of her shirt and pulling her closer. "I never, ever wanted you to have to deal with this shit. I never wanted to leave you and pull missions like this. Not ever."

"I know." Her voice was calm as she ran her fingers through my hair. "I'm scared, too, Edward."

"I-I know y-you a-are," I sputtered, shaking my head, because this shit was too much. "I need you to understand that everything about me, everything that I am... It begins and ends with you and Bethy...and oh God, this one," I breathed, lifting her shirt so I could place a kiss to her stomach. "Everything."

"We know that," she whispered back, emotion starting to take over. "We never doubt it, baby."

I sat up straight, keeping my hand on her stomach as I looked her in the eye. "I fucking promise you that I will do my best out there!"

She smiled and sniffled a bit. "I'm pretty sure I've never seen you do a half-ass job on anything, Edward."

I snorted, seeing her point, but it didn't stop me from kissing her stomach again. I gazed back up at her, saying, "Just know this... You are completely taken care of, if something happens. That's all I'm saying on the subject, love. But do you understand me?"

"Christ," she sobbed, stepping away from me and holding her hair from her face. "I don't want fucking money, Edward. That's not what I need. I need you. I need you focused, because they have to have you. I need you smart and calm, baby. Please. It's bad enough that I can't be with you!"

I tugged her roughly back to me, finally pulling her to my lap. She buried her face in my neck, sobbing almost uncontrollably. Her whole body wrapped itself around me – arms around my neck, and legs around my waist. She clung to me, her body shaking with fear, and I suddenly saw what I was doing. I was panicking, which was not helping the situation at all.

"Okay, okay," I sighed, finally surrendering. "I'm sorry, baby. I just... I saw you with Bethy, and I flipped out. I don't want miss anything, you know?" I asked, and she nodded against my neck. "And the thought of leaving you alone... I hate it. I hate that I can't just enjoy this new guy," I whispered, turning us on the bed and laying her down so I could touch her. I scooted down her body, pressing my lips to Bella's stomach. "Hey, you in there..." I said, smiling when Bella sniffled into a giggle. "I'm sorry I upset Mommy."

"Edward," Bella snorted, rolling her eyes, but her hands threaded into my hair.

"I tend to piss her off repeatedly, because I don't listen," I spoke to her stomach, which was now shaking with Bella's laughter. "Word to the wise, little one... Just listen to her, and all will be well."

Bella lost it, curling up with her sniffly giggles. "That's not always true, Edward."

I pulled her back to me, smiling down at her, because damn it, I'd rather hear her laugh than see her fucking tears. "Mostly," I chuckled, shrugging one shoulder. "I'm sorry, love. I just..."

Warm fingers met my lips, stopping me. Bella shook her head slowly. "There is really no need to explain it to me, baby. Honestly. I understand." She took a deep breath, pulling me in for a brief kiss. "To be honest, I'm not sure how you've maintained this long – starting with Bethy's kidnapping. So yes, Edward, you're allowed to freak out. Join the hormone club."

I laughed, hugging her closer. "Can you imagine? I'd shoot some-damn-body...after cursing them the fuck out."

She chuckled, but nodded in agreement. "See? I should have shot Mindy."

I grinned, still not giving a shit about a mean bitch from my school days, because my girl loved my stutter.

Bella sobered, and then sat up, cupping my face. "I'm pretty sure this conversation," she said, motioning between us, "is happening all over this house right now. Rose is terrified of losing Emmett now that Caleb is here, Obie is probably going to go gray by the time its all over, and Alice may end up having a nervous breakdown. Did you know Wes has called Makenna about ten times already?" she asked, and I shook my head no. "We're all really fucking nervous. And we should be, because these are terrible odds against men who don't look like they have anything to lose but their lives. Blind sheep, following a deranged leader..." She muttered the last words with a slow shake to her head.

She took a deep breath and let it out, playing with my fingers. When she looked up at me, she was a little calmer, but hell, this was always how we'd worked...together. "I'm going to make you a promise," she stated, her little chin jutting out in defiance. "I'm going to bust my ass to keep you guys a smoothly running machine while you're out there."

Smirking at her, I pulled her in for a kiss. "I know you will, sweetness," I whispered against her lips. "I'm sorry again," I said as she sat up straight. I rubbed the outside of her jeans, gazing up at her. "I haven't heard intelligence like that in a long time, baby," I explained, swallowing nervously. "It's going to be a helluva fucking fight." I shook my head slowly.

"Do you want out, Edward?" she asked, tilting her head at me.

I opened my mouth to answer her, and then closed it again. Taking a deep breath, I considered what she was offering me, because there wasn't a member of the crew that would think less of me for pulling out. They wouldn't judge Emmett, either. We both had kids, and now I had another one on the way, but something about walking away didn't sit right with me.

"No." I shook my head. "I want to finish this, Bella. And it's not even about revenge for taking you and Bethy anymore...though that's a major part of it for me. It's about stopping these guys. It's about helping out Eleazar now, because he was there for us. You know?"

She nodded, but I could see tears welling up in her eyes. "It is the right thing," she whispered, picking at her jeans. "I just... I mean..." She huffed frustratedly, finally meeting my gaze as big, fat tears coursed down her face. "Don't you dare do anything that could get you killed, Edward. Just..." She sniffled, swiping at her face with the back of her hand. "Just forget that I'll be falling apart, and fucking focus," she snorted, rolling her eyes.

I chuckled softly, tugging her to lay down beside me, facing me. "No falling apart, sweetness. I need this," I said, tapping her temple, "to get me through. I may not have you at my side, but I'll listen to everything you say. I swear it. We'll map out a plan tomorrow, love."

She nodded, letting out a deep breath. Her eyes stayed focus on where her fingers were playing with my shirt. I reached up, cupping her face and wiping away her remaining tears. We didn't say anything for a minute, but I pulled her closer, slipping my arm under her head.

She pressed her forehead to mine, closing her eyes.

"You should get some sleep, baby," I told her, because I knew the pregnancy combined with all the stress just had to be wearing her out.

She shook her head. "I'm not tired."

I chuckled, kissing her lips, but my hand absolutely could not stay away from the soft, smooth skin of her stomach. "You sound like Bethy. Both of you are stubborn as mules."

"And you two gang up on me," she snickered, placing a sweet kiss to my jaw. "Maybe this one will help even up the odds."

I grinned, loving that thought, my thumb brushing over her bellybutton as the tips of my fingers made contact with the edge of her bra. "Two against two?" I verified with a chuckle.

"Mmhm," she hummed, her hands slipping under my t-shirt. "Edward," she whined adorably when the material wouldn't cooperate because we were laying down. "Off. Take it off."

I smiled, sitting up and reaching back to snatch the thing off over my head, but instead of laying back down beside her, my hands immediately went to the button of her jeans. She lifted her hips, allowing me to tug them down and toss them off the side of the bed, which left her in her underwear and a t-shirt.

"Since you're not tired," I sighed dramatically, "you can at least be comfortable." I chuckled at her smirk, ridding myself of my own jeans and crawling up beside her, where she welcomed me with open arms and a deep, sweet sigh.

As I gazed down at her, I regretted again my moment of panic. She was under enough strain as it was. She was so fucking beautiful, as deep brown eyes focused more on her finger tracing my tattoo than looking up at me. I leaned over, kissing the little worry dip between her brows.

I knew her; she was ecstatic about the new baby, but was afraid to even fucking think about the future. She was terrified that I wouldn't be there, that something would go terribly wrong with this mission. The most disturbing part of that was that her intuition was sharp – razor fucking sharp – and that meant she really had a fucked up feeling about what we were about to do.

"No more thinking, sweetness," I whispered. "Not here. Not in this room. Got me?" I asked, tilting her head up with my fingers under her chin so she would meet my gaze. "I'm sorry I panicked. I'm sorry they ganged up on you and made you tell them the truth, but maybe its best they know. And I'm sorry we can't just enjoy this," I sighed deeply, my fingers spreading wide on her stomach. I pushed her gently onto her back, leaning down to kiss her belly. "When this is all over, little one," I started, speaking to my newest addition and my wife, "we'll build you your own room, and your mom can shop until my cards melt. Mommy won't cry anymore...unless it's because she's watching some sappy girly movie."

Bella giggled, looking down her body at me.

I lifted her shirt some more, trailing kisses from her bellybutton up to the edge of her ribcage, reveling in the sweet sound of her laugh, something I'd worked our whole relationship to try and evoke from her as many times as I could.

"We'll make lists of names – boy and girl – and we'll fight over what we want to call you," I continued, smiling against her skin when Bella scoffed, because it had been damn simple to name Bethy once we knew we were having a girl. "We'll sit down with your big sister and tell her all about you. And you're in for it, buddy. I'm just giving you fair warning. She's a force to be reckoned with."

"No kidding," Bella chuckled, her nails scratching deliciously over my scalp.

"World domination," Bella and I said together, bursting into quiet laughter.

"I know it seems crazy right now, but we're doing our best, little one," I whispered, my forehead falling to Bella's chest. "It won't always be like this, I swear."

My hand snaked around to her lower back and pulled her closer, careful of her bruise. Kissing her skin again, I allowed my tongue one quick taste of her. God, I still wanted her so fucking badly, just like on the front porch swing the night before, but it felt wrong when she was so tired, so emotionally strung out – something that was partly my fault to begin with. I was insatiable for her, not inconsiderate.

My fingers left her skin, gripping the covers beside her instead, in order to hold back, but I had to kiss her. I pushed myself up over her, locking gazes with her. Her breathing was heavy, her fingers pulling at my shoulders. Dark eyes met my own through long eyelashes, her teeth biting down on that beautiful bottom lip, and her body rolled in the most gorgeous of waves.

"Oh fuck," I whispered, shaking my head and squeezing my eyes closed briefly, because I was afraid I was reading her all fucking wrong. "Please tell me... Shit, tell me we're on the same page, baby."

She didn't say anything, but her hands slipped up my chest slowly, over my shoulders, and into my hair, pulling me closer. Her mouth was on mine before I could think, and it was all fucking over. The moan I let loose was shameless and deep, because fuck, I needed her. My body instinctively shifted between the cradle of her thighs, and I froze when she gasped. I didn't want to hurt her.

"Don't you dare move," Bella panted, holding me with a tenacious grip, even going as far as to wrap her legs around my waist. "I'm okay. You're not hurting me, baby," she soothed, nipping at my lips, but I held myself away from her. "I need to feel the weight, Edward. You feel so good."

Remembering how she was when she was pregnant with Bethy, I knew that her skin was ultra sensitive. Bracing one hand by her head, I dove for her mouth again, my other released the comforter and ghosted back under her shirt. This time, I cupped her breast, brushing a thumb across her nipple, causing the most gorgeous combination of a whimper and growl to escape her.

All control, all gentle touches left us, giving way to the rough removal of her t-shirt, my boxers, and lastly, her underwear. I fell back down over her, my elbows dropping to the bed on either side of her head as I kissed her senseless. Everything about her was responding so quickly – every roll of her hips, every tug to my hair and now my ass, and every nip of teeth, lips, and tongue to my mouth.

Bella's head arched back, her breathing almost raspy as I ravished her neck. Her body bowed, her breasts pushing closer to my face, like a fucking offering. I rolled my hips, smiling against her nipple when my cock brushed against her clit, causing another desperate sound to echo through the room.

"Edward, you're fucking teasing," she accused, grasping either side of my face and pulling me back to her. "Stop... Inside, now. Please..."

I smiled again, dragging my tongue along my bottom lip and rolling my hips again. Trailing my lips across her cheek to her ear, I whispered, "But are you wet enough, sweetness?"

The sound she let out was almost like a laugh and a groan combined. "You have no idea... Edward..."

My cock slipped just inside her entrance, and I held completely still, fighting every desire to push forward, to claim her so fucking hard. "This... This is okay?" I whispered, nipping at her lips, one hand braced at her head, and the other slipping up and down her side.

"So okay," she confirmed, nodding just a bit. "The covers are protecting my back, baby."

Despite how out of control we both were, it didn't stop us from taking care of each other, both physically and mentally. She knew it would kill me to hurt her.

With that said, I sheathed myself completely inside her, and my mouth gaped as my breathing stopped. God, she felt so fucking good after wanting her for two damn days. Warmth and wetness pulled me in, enveloping me. Her whole body seemed to cinch down on me, from her arms and legs, to her sweet, fiery hot pussy. Her mouth on my neck, her grip on my back and ass, and her hips urging me to move all made me want to come so fucking badly.

"Shit, love, you're killing me," I panted. "Be still, be still...just for a second."

I wanted to roll my eyes at her evil, yet sexy ass smile, but I couldn't. She loved pushing my fucking limits, and that didn't take much. She loved that I couldn't tell her no or stay away from her, and she absolutely lived to make me lose my shit when it came to her.

Pulling back and thrusting forward with a swivel of my hips wiped that smug grin off her face, causing her head to fall back and her moan to catch in her throat. I did it again and again, over and over, watching her lose herself in the feel of my cock hitting the spot deep inside of her that she needed. Gliding my hand down her side to her leg, I hitched it up, finally hooking it in the crook of my elbow, just to feel more, deeper. It didn't take long for her body to shiver, for her hands to grip me hard, and her eyes to roll back into her head.

"Oh, fuck yeah, baby," I urged softly in her ear, swirling my tongue over the soft spot that drove her crazy. "Come hard for me, love. Forget everything else but how my cock feels," I commanded, dragging my teeth across her skin lightly. "It feels good, doesn't it? When I fuck you hard and slow and deep?" I asked, thrusting just a touch harder.

Bella's breath caught, and her hands shot to my face, her eyes rolling back in her head. "Yes, shit..." she gasped, nipping at my bottom lip. "Edward, baby...I'm so close."

"Oh, I know," I told her, hitching her leg to my shoulder so I could brace my other hand down on the bed in order to take that much harder.

"Please, please, come with me," she begged, and there was a desperation I hadn't been prepared for, a need that hadn't been there before.

"Then let go, baby," I told her, kissing her lips and dragging my tongue along hers. "I'm right there."

I wasn't sure there was anything on this fucking planet that more gorgeous than my wife when she came, because everything about her would freeze in a beautiful expression. Fingers would dig into my back to pull me closer, and her legs would constrict around me.

But it was when she gasped, "I love you," that I finally let go, a string of profanities and love yous right along with it.

My head hit her shoulder as I let her leg drop back down onto the bed. I worried that my weight was too much on that back of hers, but she made no move to shove me off of her. If anything, she was holding me tighter.

"Tell me I'm not squishing you," I whispered, and she smiled against the skin of my shoulder.

"No, I'm pretty good right now," she said, and the amusement in her voice was impossible to fucking miss.

I chuckled softly, turning my head to kiss her neck. She leaned into it, nuzzling my jaw. I pushed myself up, bracing my elbows by her head, but giving her the weight she seemed to want. I brushed her hair away from her face, kissing her lips gently.

I could see every emotion flickering across her face – love, sated bliss, weariness, and fear. It was that last emotion that matched my own.

"You don't want to talk about it, do you?" I asked vaguely, but she was pretty good at knowing what I meant.

"Just this," she sighed, shaking her head and looking away from me. "I know I'm taken care of...financially, and yes, I'll take care of our children if something happens, Edward. But there will never be anyone for me, but you. You need to know that."

I opened my mouth to speak, because I understood her completely and totally fucking agreed with it, but she stopped me by placing her fingers over my lips.

"I need this – you – tonight. Like this. I need to feel you and talk to you and hold you," she said, swallowing nervously. "But I'm going to ask something of you when we get up."

"You want to ride on Goliath, too, sweetness?" I teased her, trying to lighten up whatever it was she was about to tell me, because I was scared to fucking death.

"I do, actually," she giggled, kissing me quickly as I chuckled at her. "Okay, so after you play with your girls in the morning, I need you to shut off this part of your personality, Edward. I need you to put away the dad and husband in you for the planning process and only think with the soldier that came to get me from Miller."

I huffed a deep sigh, knowing exactly what she was asking of me.

"And then," she continued without letting me say anything, "you need to do the exact same thing when you load up and head to the cabin. I'm going to try to do the same, but it's more important that you do it, baby. The soldier, the mercenary I first met...he was no nonsense and completely focused on whatever plan was about to take place. You need to do that, Edward, because I can't imagine that Eleazar is going to let more than a few hours pass before he's loading up and heading to that cabin."

I nodded, kissing her again. "Okay," I sighed, shrugging a bit. "I imagine we'll all have to focus like that. Bethy won't..."

"She won't have a chance to see you, or her uncles, or even her Poppy like that. I'm pretty sure Esme and Aunt Kate, not to mention Obie and Tom, will keep her busy on this farm, and she'll be in bed when you leave," she sighed, and I could see her heart shattering at the thought.

"So I have to make the morning count, huh?" I asked, sounding almost bitter, but Bella was right; both of us panicking, both of us scared shitless of the approaching mission wasn't helping a fucking thing.

"I didn't mean it..."

I kissed her roughly, finally rolling us to our sides, still facing one another. "I know," I told her. "But you're right. All of it."

"I know I am," she snickered, wearing a wry smirk. "I have you now, though," she sighed, pulling me closer. "Make it count, baby."

I dove for her mouth again, wanting her again, without shame or apology. And she came to me willingly. It all felt like goodbye, and I fucking despised it, but my girl was so damn smart. She knew we'd have to approach this mission with a callousness and control, the feeling of "fuck the consequences" that we used to carry. Unfortunately, there were a fuck-ton of consequences now – wives, husbands, boyfriends, girlfriends, and children – that weren't there when we were doing this full time. Before, we were alone, single, focused, and fucking deadly. We'd have to be that way again if we were going to take our small crew against such enormous odds.

I pulled her on top of me, guiding her back down over me, and losing myself, my emotions, and my worry deep inside of her.

~oOo~

BELLA

I pulled my hands inside my hoodie's sleeves, giving a stray hair a half-ass brush from my face. I'd forgotten how chilly mornings could be on the farm, never mind that it was the fucking summer. I pulled my knees up onto the bale of hay, wrapping my now handless arms around my legs.

I smirked, setting my chin on my knees, watching the two most important people in my life hash out some minor little argument.

"No saddle, Daddy," Bethy growled, shaking her head. "Just Goliaff."

"You need something to hold onto, baby," he countered, shaking his head at her folded arm stance and stern face.

"His hair," she urged, pointing to Goliath, who was watching both of them with calm, almost amused interest. He couldn't give a shit either way.

"Mane, little sweetness," he corrected automatically, but her eye roll and sigh basically told him, "What-ever."

"I can't wait 'til Bambina's a teenager," Alec chuckled, plopping down beside me. "She's going to be hell on wheels, I swear to fucking God."

Sam stood quietly beside him, watching everything with a keen eye. He never said much, but he didn't have to.

I grinned, but it fell quickly, because I watched as Edward just gave in to her. He scooped her up, laughing with her and kissing her temple, before setting her astride Goliath, who shifted on his feet just a bit. A sharp, dark look of pain ghosted across my husband's face as he patted the horse's neck, speaking quietly to him. Edward took the reins and started a slow pace around the paddock as Bethy babbled and giggled instructions to both him and Goliath, black mane fisted in her hands.

"Is he okay?" Alec asked.

I shook my head. "No." I turned my head, resting my cheek on my knees in order to look at him.

"He doesn't have to do this," Alec groaned, shaking his head. "He could pull out... help us from here."

"He won't," I sighed. "He can't. They need him on the ground. They need his direction, Alec. And he wants to see the end of this."

He sighed, leaning back against the bale behind us. "Stubborn fools. Emmett's the same way inside. And you and Rose... You're okay with this shit?"

I laughed once humorlessly. "If you guys can stay focused, plan perfectly, and come back in one fucking piece, then I'm okay. Until then...no."

"He's preparing for worst case scenario," Sam said softly, but his dark eyes pulled away from the paddock and landed on me. "He's been this way since the satellite images? Or since you found out you're expecting?"

"Both, but as this shit looms closer, we're both just..." I groaned, wrapping my hands around my middle instead of my knees. I was trying my fucking best to calm the hell down, put myself in work mode, but it was too damn hard when I was watching my little family across the yard.

Both Alec and Sam grinned like idiots, and I couldn't help but snort at them.

"You weren't supposed to know yet," I growled, rolling my eyes at their chuckles. "You couldn't just let shit slide last night."

"You fight better than most men and like it, little one," Sam laughed. "No one was buying that load you were pushing last night."

I laughed, shaking my head. "Yeah, I guess."

"And oh my dear God, if Poppy ain't prancing around in the house this morning," Alec chuckled, putting his forehead in his hand. "I half expect him to start dancing around the fucking kitchen, singing, 'I'm gonna be a grandfather again...'"

"That's kind of why I didn't want to tell you. All of you need to focus," I snapped, pulling roughly at a straw of hay and tossing it into the cool breeze.

"Oh now," Same chuckled, sitting down on my other side, "don't be sore at us. If you don't think this new little guy isn't giving those people in there some new focus, then you don't know them."

"No shit," Alec piped in. "Bambina, Caleb, this one..." he said, pointing to my stomach and shaking his head back and forth slowly. "Oh boy, they are the real reason we're doing it. They're the reason for planning well, for stopping these assholes, and for making sure each of us comes home. It's given them just the best reason of all to get it done. And done right." Alec raised his eyebrow at me until I nodded.

Sam hummed in agreement, setting a large, firm hand to my shoulder. "We're all kind of lucky, you know. We can protect our own without even batting an eye, but not the people that this group is gunning for. They're in the dark, you see. They won't see it coming. And we can't let that happen, no matter where the target may be."

"Yes, it's voluntary. Yes, we could let El finish it with his CIA group, but..." Alec added, shrugging.

"But they'd have to start all over, when we already know everything," I finished sadly for him.

"Exactly," they both chimed at the same time.

"And don't forget," Sam grunted, a dark look passing over his face, "they made the biggest mistake ever by touching one of our own." He pointed a finger across the yard toward the paddock to Bethy. "We can't let that shit slide, little one. That's the God's honest truth."

I groaned. Revenge. It felt like all boiled down to fucking revenge, but it wasn't, not really. These were loyal, brave, hard working men with an extreme sense of right and wrong. They wouldn't stop until the threat – both against us and innocent people – was eradicated. My Edward one of them.

I nodded at Sam, not able to say much, because it didn't really matter anyway. This was getting done whether I wanted it all to just fucking go away or not.

"We came out here to tell you that El was ready to start the meeting, but..." Alec sighed, glancing up at Edward, who was now hoisting himself up onto the back of Goliath with his daughter in front of him. "Just...take your time, Bellissima."

"Yeah, we'll stall them somehow," Sam said softly, giving my shoulder a gentle squeeze, before leaning down to my ear. "And congratulations, little one." He pressed a kiss to my temple, whispering, "I will make sure Edward makes it home to you. I swear it."

I smiled, tears pooling in my eyes, because the meanest of our group had just given me the best pep talk ever. "Thanks, guys," I whispered, dropping my legs down and standing when they walked away.

I hummed a groan at how deliciously sore my body was. Edward and I had stayed wrapped around each other all night. I wasn't sure either of us had slept all that much, but I'd never felt his love more than when I could still feel him the next day.

I walked to the paddock fence, smiling as Edward had one firm hand on the reins and a strong arm wrapped around Bethy. "Hey, you two," I sang, and both heads spun to look at me.

"Come ride wif us, Mommy," Bethy chirped, and I grinned up at her as Edward pulled Goliath up beside me.

"No, you guys do it," I told her, getting stretched kisses from the two of them and a nuzzle from Goliath.

"You sure?" Edward asked, his brow furrowing.

"Yeah," I said with a smile. "I'm sure. Have fun," I told them, giving the horse one more pat on his neck.

"Back too sore?" Edward's cocky, half smile and raised eyebrow did not go unnoticed, and I knew that he was fucking with me.

"No... No, not my back," I growled, punching his leg as he chuckled sexily. "Go. I'll watch you guys," I snickered, rolling my eyes at his laughter that didn't stop.

God, I wanted to bottle them up and keep them safe. I wanted to never let that sound out of my memory, because I knew as soon as he let Bethy go, he was about to shut that beautiful part of himself down – probably more than he ever had – and I needed to do the same.

~oOo~

I gazed out the window, watching Edward, Emmett, Jasper, and Alec take inventory of weapons and ammo and load them in the large truck. Edward's and Emmett's faces looked cold, hard, and angry. Hell, the other two men's faces did, as well. We'd hardly spoken a word to each other once our time in the paddock had come to an end. Edward had snatched up Bethy, whispered things I couldn't hear, and reluctantly handed her over to Aunt Kate and Esme. His shoulders had slumped slightly as he'd walked away, but now, they were broad and stiff.

The first part of the meeting had been the basics – the wheres, the whats, and the how fars. The whos we fucking knew all about. Next, we studied the layout of the cabin and the surrounding area, something Alec and Emmett had already done and were able to get us caught up on quickly. Once we'd done that, a basic plan had started to form.

As usual, the crew was split up into smaller, more effective teams. Alec, Sam, and Edward were on one team, and I wasn't sure if that wasn't done on purpose for my benefit, to make me feel that he was much more protected. Eleazar, Jasper, and Eric were on another, because their sole purpose was to take one of the nests in the trees, to survey over everything with their snipers at the ready. Spike, Mickey, and Carlisle were together, using stealth and Mick's ability to break into anything. They were taking the cabin if they could get close enough to it. The most dangerous of jobs went to the largest team. Emmett, Felix, Ned, Harry, and two of Eleazar's men that I didn't know, Danny and Phillip, were all going to flood the compound with RPGs and TNT, and they were going to fucking level the place to the ground when it was all over. There was an additional crew, as well. El called him his beta team, because they would be the second wave of power once the fighting started, coming in from two sides. There were about six or seven of those men – men we weren't truly introduced to, because they didn't really exist. Ah, the CIA.

But it all started with stealth, with sneaking through the woods and over some rough terrain to get them there. It also started with Jasper and Eleazar behind scopes, killing the men in the trenches.

The guys weren't fucking around on this mission. Their opinion this time was "kill 'em all, and let God sort 'em out." Their only concern was to get to Walter and Lilith. Even Johnny Thornhill wouldn't make it out of this shit alive. His reign of the D.O.A. was about to come to an end, I was pretty sure.

"Bells," Rose stated from behind me. "What do you think?"

"I think it'll work," I sighed, looking back to my girls. I'd been paying attention to what they'd been setting up, but my eyes had been glued out the window. "I want Alice and myself leading on the radio. I want Makenna on the video for Spike's and Jasper's cameras, and you on Em's and Sam's. That should cover just about everyone. And we'll have extra help."

"Who?" Mack asked, spinning around in her chair.

"Aunt Kate," I said with a smirk. "She's going to help with the camera on Eleazar's extra crew. She'll be able to guide them through the chaos."

"Okay," Rose chuckled. "She's damn sharp, so this should be a good setup," she said, giving the dining room a good onceover.

I was used to working in a tight space – Gravity's office wasn't enormous – but this was different. We'd set up the satellite and thermal computers along the kitchen bar so we could all see them from our seats at the table. Alice had set each of us up along the same side of the table with laptops and radio access, not to mention tapped us into the satellite at our seats, as well. Along the far dining room wall were large, almost poster size pictures of the compound – both aerial and night vision. It was to these my eyes fell.

Someone – I think it was Emmett – had taken one of the photos and altered it with a red permanent marker, showing exactly what team would be where, and which direction they were going. It was by far the most helpful of the pictures up on the wall, because we'd know exactly where everyone would be.

Aunt Kate strolled into the room, giving it a glance, but her eyes were back on me instantly. "Carlisle said they're leaving out at sundown."

I nodded, my stomach lurching slightly. "I figured."

"And I want you to eat, Bella-child," she ordered softly, walking into the kitchen. "I want my next adopted niece or nephew to be just as healthy and stubborn as the first."

The girls chuckled around me, and I couldn't help but smile and nod. Aunt Kate had walked right into the room and addressed the elephant my girls were trying so hard not to ignore. They wanted so badly to say something, but I'd avoided it – but not Aunt Kate; she didn't avoid anything.

Alice let out a squeal and a giggle, practically jumping up and down on the balls of her feet. Mack grinned, poking my arm, but it was Rose my eyes fell to, because she was studying my face intently.

"It's okay to be happy about it, Bellsy," she stated, smirking at me.

I shook my head at her. "Not now, Ro, okay?" I begged her, and she nodded, kissing the side of my head. "I am, but I'm..." I started, not willing to give voice to my fear until the shit was over, and she completely understood.

"You need a boy," she chuckled low in my ear, which only made me laugh, because Esme had said the same thing.

I playfully shoved her away, joining Aunt Kate in the kitchen, who was already heating me up a plate of Edward's pot roast. The microwave dinged, and she forced it and a fork into my hands, settling me on the stool.

"Where is my stubborn girl?" I asked her, taking a big bite of beef and mashed potatoes.

"I believe she's learning all about sheep shearing, if I'm not mistaken," Aunt Kate chuckled, "though she was pleading a few of the lambs' cases the last I heard, which I'm not sure Mr. Tom was able to deny."

The room filled with laughter, because we all knew my daughter well enough to know that she had the power to melt the most hardened of hearts. Tom was excellent with her, though, and she was willing to do just about anything when it came to learning about the animals.

I took another bite, and then swallowed, gasping, "Oh! Speaking of shearing, Edward needs a haircut, and he should have it...before..."

She flinched at first, not worried that I hadn't finished my sentence, but then a wicked smirk crossed her face as she walked to the front door. She threw the screen door open, yelling, "Edward Anthony! Get your behind in this house!"

Another wave of giggles and snorts filled the dining room and kitchen. We just couldn't fucking help it, because his face changed from concentrated anger, to barely contained belligerence. He wanted so badly to keep working, keep focused, but Aunt Kate's personality and the way she treated him just wouldn't allow it.

"I didn't do it," he huffed, stomping through the front door as she held it for him, and I had to fight like all hell not to get the giggles again, because Rose, Alice, and Makenna had tears running down their faces, they were laughing so hard.

"I know you didn't do it," Aunt Kate countered, pointing to a dining room chair. "Sit. You need a haircut."

His carefully placed mask fell just a bit, and his eyes shot to me. "Tattletale," he growled, rolling his eyes when we all exploded.

"You need to see," I stated, taking another bite of food and shrugging one shoulder. "And don't give me the hat excuse. Just sit and do what she says."

"'Kay," he grunted, falling to the chair.

It didn't take her long to get started on his hair, and the girls and I continued to work around them, testing cameras, refocusing the satellite, and checking earpieces. I could feel his eyes on me the entire time he sat in that chair, though he didn't interrupt, and he never said a word.

I set the last earpiece to the side once it was tested, trying my fucking best to ignore the chills that ran up my spine when I knew that he was watching me. I sighed, pulling the cameras to me.

"I'm wondering if we need to add another camera or two to Em's team and the Beta team," I mused out loud, my eyes falling to Alice. "I mean, we've got a few extras."

"That's more to watch," Makenna said, but she shrugged, because we could all handle it. "Not that I care, but still..."

I took a deep breath and let it out, studying the map with the teams planned out on it. "I'm just thinking the extra eyes wouldn't hurt, because you've got a camera on this team," I said, pointing to where Eleazar and Jasper would be, "and ones here and here," I continued, pointing to the locations that Edward's and part of Emmett's team would be. "But we're kind of lacking on the west side. We could put one on Ned or Harry, and one on a member of the Beta team. That would cover this whole section."

"I say yes," Rose stated, nodding once, and then shrugging. "I'll take one extra feed...Alice can take the other."

"Fine," I grunted. "We'll tell them when they start to get ready."

By the time Aunt Kate was done with Edward, everything was just about ready, and it was late in the afternoon. I could see most of the men gathering around outside, though they weren't dressed yet. Edward stood up from the chair, brushing the extra hair off of his shoulders, and I finally met his gaze.

"You should put the camera on Harry, not Ned. He's the more focused one. And the other on the man named Reyes. He seems pretty sharp," he said quietly. "But you do need more eyes on that side of the compound, Bella. You're right about that."

I nodded, looking up at him. His hair was styled the same, just shorter on the top and pretty damn close on the sides, because he knew I loved the length on top. It wasn't tension between us, but pure nerves, pure fear for what was about to happen in just a few short hours. And we were both trying so hard to stay calm, stay focused.

"Thanks," I whispered, but my head spun toward the window when I heard Bethy crying.

"Mommy!" she howled, running across the yard.

"Shit," I hissed, bolting out the door and down the steps, because I could see that she'd hurt herself somehow; both palms were red, one of them bleeding, and there was a tear in her jeans at the knee.

"Oh, boy," I soothed, kneeling down when she finally made it to me. "What happened, pretty girl?"

The sight in front of me just about broke my heart, because my strong willed little girl didn't often wail like she was doing at that moment, so she was really hurt, or it had just scared the shit out of her.

"I fell," she sobbed, hiccuping once.

"Fell where, baby?" I asked, scooping her up and carrying her straight into the house.

"I-In th-the b-barn," she sputtered, new tears making their way down her cheeks. "I was suh-posed to help wif the sheep, and one bumped me."

"It's all right, Bethy. I'm sure the sheep didn't mean it," I said, ignoring everything but my unhappy girl as I made my way through the house. "Let's get you cleaned up, okay?"

"Will it hurt?" she asked, holding her hands close to her chest and shaking her head, like I was about to set her on fire.

I smiled at her, because she wasn't stupid by any means. "I don't think so," I told her, but not promising anything. "Let's look first," I said, setting her on the bathroom floor in mine and Edward's bathroom.

I tugged off her shoes and socks, and then her jeans, finally setting her bottom on the counter by the sink. I turned on the water, leaving it cool.

"Wash your hands, baby," I told her, grabbing a washcloth out of the cabinet, because her knee was the worst of it.

"No, it'll burn!" she wailed again, and suddenly, I wasn't alone with her in the bathroom.

"Hey," Edward crooned, kissing her forehead. "What did I tell you about being hurt, little sweetness?" he asked her, making her look at him while I stuck her hands under the water, rinsing the dirt and gravel and God knew what else off her palms.

"Don't fink about it," she stated adorably, looking only at him, big trusting green to overly protective green.

"That's right. Don't think about it," he told her, and while he had her attention, I cleaned the blood off of her knee.

"Where you being a daredevil again?" he teased her, smiling at her reaction.

"No!" she practically yelled at him. "We were shear-wing sheep, and Apollo bumped me."

I let out a giggle, shaking my head, because God, I loved the way she spoke sometimes. I chanced a glance to Edward, who was just as amused.

I put medicine on her knee quickly, holding up two different types of bandages. "Princess or camo?" I asked, unable to believe my little girl occasionally wanted camouflage anything, but there were times she had to be just like her dad.

"Camo," she stated, and it was peeled open and on her knee before she could change her mind.

"Okay, pretty girl," I sighed, tucking her hair behind her ear. "Your emergency room visit is officially over."

Edward chuckled, setting her on her feet.

"Go get pajamas on, and then you're going to get dinner," I called after her as she ran off toward her room.

"Okay, Mommy!" she called back.

I leaned against the bathroom counter, gazing up at Edward. "You should be getting ready," I told him.

He shook his head, letting out a deep breath. "I couldn't ignore that. I tried, but..." He stepped closer to me, bracing his hands on either side of my hips. "Until you two are out of my sight, I'll never be able to not come to you when you need me."

I smiled, gripping his t-shirt at the sides and pulling him to me. "I know, Edward," I sighed sadly, kissing his lips, "but it's time."

His lips were back on mine faster than I could blink, his hands fisting my hair on either side of my head. It was frantic, it was deep, and it was very much like a goodbye. I pulled away first, my breathing coming out too fast, like I couldn't get enough air.

"Don't," I panted, glaring up at him. "Just...fight like fucking hell, Edward. That's all I'm asking."

His forehead fell to mine, and he nodded against it, his eyes locked with mine. His were a fierce green as they connected to my very soul. "I love you," he whispered urgently. "You need to know, sweetness."

"Oh, God, I do, baby," I told him, cupping his face. "I love you, too. Go get our girl and take her to the kitchen, and then you need to get ready."

I wanted him to have every possible second with Bethy, but then his ass needed to concentrate. He needed to not see her, not give into fear or what ifs. And I wanted him strapped down with every possible weapon a human being could fucking carry – not to mention a kevlar vest.

"Okay," he finally acquiesced in a whisper. With one last kiss to my lips, he linked our fingers together, and we stepped out to find our daughter.

He sat with Bethy on his lap as she ate her dinner, occasionally taking bites she was willing to share with him. When he set her down on the stool, he gave my temple one last kiss.

"Stay sharp," he whispered.

"Stay safe," I whispered back, my eyes following him as he left to go change.

"I'm going to my room with her," Esme stated softly, taking Bethy off her stool. "I'm not sure even I can watch them leave."

I nodded, giving my daughter's sweet, puckered lips a kiss. They stopped by Carlisle on their way by, and he got in his own kisses.

But it was when Edward returned, dressed fully in black, from his backwards baseball cap, all the way down to his military boots, that I knew he'd finally shut it all out – every emotion, every worry. His face was fierce, angry as he strapped on his kevlar vest, and then his side arm holster. He strode to the table, picking up his earpiece and tucking it in, as the rest of the crew followed suit.

Emmett handed Edward two extra clips, and they immediately got tucked into one of the cargo pockets on the side of his leg. It was eerily quiet as the boys strapped down, loaded themselves with weapons and ammo, and put on earpieces and cameras.

Eleazar stepped to the front of the room, clearing his throat, and we all came to a standstill.

"We'll stop briefly for a camera check for the ladies," he stated, jerking his chin toward me and Alice as we leaned against the far wall just to stay out of the way. "Once we've been cleared, all teams will proceed to their starting point. Are we clear?"

"Sir!" every man in the room barked, starting to make their way outside.

The men I considered friends and family – Edward included – all paused, giving us a quick glance, before exiting the house.

I took one deep breath and let it out, and then it was matched by Rose. I looked up at her, and we nodded. "Okay, girls," I stated, pulling on my headset, "I want another check on communications as they drive. I want to hear every-fucking-thing."

A/N...Oh boy...so as you can figure out, the fight is next, and it was by far the hardest fucking chapter I've ever written – and I'm talking ANYTHING I've written. It's already done, the outcome is set, and it's already in my beta's hands. I wish I could give you a glimpse, but there's not much that I can give you.

I truly need to thank my beta, JenRar, on this chapter. First for telling me it was her favorite chapter that I've ever written. And second for smoothing it out. So thank you very much. Second, thank you to GooberLou for actually walking me step by step through the beginning of this chapter, because the emotions were just too damn high to concentrate. And thank you to MedusaInNY...thanks for that last alligator report...I'll take it under advisement...but thank you for more than that. Love you all.

Okay, so the next one's done. I hope to post it Wednesday. Let me hear you. I'm pretty sure you've got lots of worries. Just trust me to get you through, okay? Until next time... Later. :)