A/N... I'm pretty sure you guys have this chapter kinda figured out, just from your reviews (smooches for those, BTW), but what you're not sure about is the HOW. (rubs hands together and grins evilly) lol

So...that being said, this chapter is rated M for violence, foul language, and Mercward yummy-ness, because as we all know, Edward dressed for his job is just hot, but add in his Daddy side, he sky rockets to another level of sexy. Top it off with him in work mode, and hearts may flatline. LOL

Back to the Halloween Fundraiser, yeah? And see me at the bottom...

CHAPTER 24

EDWARD

"West entrance clear."

"Games area clear."

"Domestic disturbance at the rec center, but it's breaking up now."

"I've got a group of teenagers I'm keepin' an eye on by the haunted house. They look like they're just bein' pains in the asses."

I snorted at that last check in, but looked over the gaming area. I could see Emmett standing guard just outside the rec center, the couple that had been fighting now gone. Jasper was walking slowly along the line of small childrens' rides. Alec wasn't far from the main entrance or from the girls. Bella, Alice, Rose, Sarah, and Makenna were all watching Abby, Bethy, and a handful of other little kids their age play some sort of treasure hunt, where they were all rooting around in some hay to find candy or prizes or some shit.

I grinned, trying my damnedest to fight it, when my baby girl was ruthless in that game. Sometimes, she was way too much like me – though her cleverness at being able to find whatever she was hunting came from Bella, I was sure. I chuckled silently when she stood up – hay sticking to her everywhere – proclaiming to have found the big prize.

"God, she's just like you," my dad chuckled from beside me. "I half expect her to punch some-damn-body."

I laughed, my head falling back to the post I was leaning against. "Wait for it. High school's a bitch," I chuckled, giving him a glance, before resuming my scan of the games.

"That's very true," he snickered quietly. "Anything?" he asked, because he wasn't wearing an earpiece.

"Nah," I sighed, shaking my head. "A few small things, but normal. Some drunk and disorderlies, Em broke up a couple fighting over some stupid shit, and the guard at the east entrance has been keeping an eye on some rowdy kids, but nothing major. Shouldn't you be posing for pictures or something?"

He grinned and shook his head. "Those are done. I should be talking to that group right over there," he said, jerking his chin toward a small crowd of about eight people. They were dressed like they had money, carried themselves like they owned the fucking world, and gave some of the people around them a snobby, scathing look. "But they're kinda assholes," he chuckled. "I just want their money for this project, not idiots inviting me to play golf and shit. Do I look like I play golf?"

I grinned and shrugged. "No, but hell, I don't know. Maybe. They don't know you past the big office and the BMW, Dad. You'd really scare the shit out them if they knew what you used to do, what you're capable of."

"You think?" he asked, almost beaming like a kid, and I rolled my eyes at him, causing him to squeeze my shoulder and laugh.

"Ed," Alec called, and my head shot up to his position. "You've got a single woman, hood covering her face...two o'clock."

I spun my head to the right, locking sights on who he was talking about. I narrowed my eyes on the woman, trying to see if it was Lilith. I couldn't quite tell with the hood blocking her face, but the body type seemed wrong. She seemed too tall, her legs too muscular for Lilith's skinny ass. A little kid ran by the woman, causing her to look up so I could see her face, and I shook my head. The girl was too young, too pretty to be the bitch we were looking for.

"Negative," I answered. "Not her."

"Ten-four," he replied.

My dad and I stayed quiet, just watching the little kids playing, the parents smiling, and the neighborhood folks losing themselves in something fun for just one night.

"Gorgeous!" I heard to my left, and I didn't even have to look to know who it was.

"You just gotta meet this lady," I chuckled, shaking my head. "This one woman may be the reason behind Bella's whole idea for this neighborhood. I swear to God."

My dad grinned as he watched Miss Geneva waddle her way to us.

"Hi, Miss Geneva," I said, hugging her when she finally got to me. "Ah, Miami Dolphins today..."

She grinned, all toothless and mischievous. "I'm going to retire down there one day. Where's my girl?"

"She's with our daughter," I said, pointing at the cotton candy stall. "Miss Geneva, meet my father, Carlisle. He's the one that's doing all of this," I told her, waving a hand around and turning to my dad. "She's going to be running the kitchen at the shelter once it's finished."

"Goodness gracious, Lord Almighty," she gushed, beaming up at him. "Well, now I know where Gorgeous here gets his looks. How you doin'?"

Yup, you couldn't help but love her.

My dad chuckled, but shook her hand. "I'm just fine, Miss Geneva. It's nice to meet you." He leaned to her ear. "And he got his looks from his mother."

I grinned, rolling my eyes, and shook my head when she burst into a sweet, childlike giggle. My eyes scanned the games area again, getting nods from Emmett and Jasper, but my attention was at the tiny boulder that ran into my legs.

"Hi, D-Daddy!" Bethy panted, because she'd run all the way to me. "D-Did you s-see me w-win?"

I scooped her up, kissing her cheek and avoiding the face paint that made up her kitty nose and whiskers. "I did. What'd you win, little sweetness?"

She held out her hand to show me a bag of candy. "Candy, but Mommy says I can't have it yet."

I smiled. "Well, if Mommy says no..." I shrugged, because I could see my little one was hyper on cotton candy and life alone, so I was pretty sure chocolate would probably send her to the moon and back. "She's the boss, you know," I whispered to her.

Miss Geneva chuckled, gazing up at my daughter.

"Say hi to Miss Geneva, Bethy," I told her, and my little girl smiled and waved.

"Aren't you just a beautiful thing?" Miss Geneva gushed, patting Bethy's hand.

"That's what Daddy says. He says I'm as pretty as Mommy," Bethy answered, grabbing my face. "Wight?"

"That's right," I grunted, kissing her neck just to hear her giggle. Miss Geneva laughed at us. "Both my girls are beautiful," I told her, patting her leotard covered leg. "You cold, baby?"

"Uh uh," she said, shaking her head and wrapping her arms around my neck. "I'm okay."

"Good," I told her, turning my attention back to the games area and listening to a few more check ins.

My dad was telling Miss Geneva all about what to expect once the shelter was opened, but he was slowly walking her toward the assholes he'd been avoiding. I chuckled, thinking he was brilliant, because if anyone could win over those people for donations, it was Miss Geneva.

"What's funny, Daddy?" Bethy asked, tilting her head at me.

"Your Poppy. He's being silly," I told her, picking up her hand and kissing her fingers.

I looked up to see my wife walking our way. God, she was beautiful, starting to show that sweet little bump in the front. I couldn't help but smile at her. She was wearing a pretty, flowery dress covered in orange-ish, fall like colors, black legging things, and without even looking, I knew she had her gun strapped to one of her fantastic thighs, because there was no fucking way she had it anywhere else that I could see. And I was totally looking. She brushed a hair away from her face, her skin practically glowing as she smiled at me and Bethy.

"Hey," Bella sighed, kissing us both, but turning to Bethy. "You're not bugging Daddy while he's working?"

"No," I answered for her. "She's fine. She was just telling all about winning some big ole prize."

Bethy grinned, biting her bottom lip, before saying, "Daddy says you're the boss."

I chuckled at Bella's smirk and glance up to me.

"Really, Edward?" she laughed, shaking her head. "You just didn't want to tell her she couldn't have a mountain of candy."

"Yup," I said, nodding like a kid. "You're so right about that."

"Coward," she snorted, but her smile at me was stunning. "What I was coming over here to ask was... Would you watch her for a minute? The girls and I need the restroom."

I chuckled. "You mean you need the restroom." I knew for a fact that she'd gone before we left the house and once along the way. My poor girl's system was all out of whack.

"Not funny, baby," she growled, rolling her eyes. "It's not exactly a party going on in here," she said, gesturing to her own body.

"Mmm, but it could be," I crooned in her ear, kissing her neck.

"Don't tease, Edward," she warned, but the sexy ass little giggle that she let escape made me kiss her sweet skin again.

"Fine, and yes, I've got her. But where?" I asked, looking around for where the bathrooms could possibly be.

"They said right inside the rec center," she answered, pointing toward where Emmett was standing. "We're all armed, except for Sarah, so don't worry."

"I'll always worry," I muttered, jerking my chin at Emmett, who could hear the conversation just fine, so he knew I was sending the girls his way. "What about Abby?"

"She's staying with Alec," Bella answered, her amusement at that barely contained as she raised an eyebrow at me. "So... You two can play the next game."

"Which one?" I asked Bethy, tickling her tummy.

"The wing toss, Daddy," she giggled, pointing to a game just a few feet away.

"Yes, ma'am," I told her, handing Bethy's bag of candy to Bella, where it immediately was stowed away in her jacket pocket. "Come on, little sweetness," I grunted, setting her on my shoulders. "Let's kick this game's butt!"

"Yeah!" Bethy cheered, her small hands holding onto my face for support.

"Edward!" Bella chided, but laughed as she walked away from us to get back to the girls.

I made my way to the game that Bethy wanted to play, my eyes scanning around us. I couldn't help but smirk when Sarah handed Abby off to Alec. For a split second, he looked a little lost, a little proud, and then extremely happy when Abby giggled up at him. My old friend was looking to settle down, and I'd had no clue, but I could see it in his face, his eyes that he wanted more with Sarah. The man was a lady killer. I'd seen him in action, but this... This was different. He caught sight of me and Bethy and joined us at the ring toss game.

"Not one word, kid," Alec warned, raising an eyebrow at me at the same time we set both girls down. "Not one. Bellissima has already threatened my manhood."

I laughed, slapping his shoulder. "Oh, that she did," I chuckled. "You sure about this? She's kinda right, you know. It's not just...one woman."

He looked down at the two giggling girls who were waiting for us, and then back up to me. "Yeah," he said really slowly, a smile spreading over his face, "I'm sure, kid."

If I could have told him how scary and perfect and fucking fantastic it was to have a family, we'd have been there all night. I could see by the look on his face that he was in territory that he wasn't used to, but he was determined to try. He was also looking to me for help, because this was where I had experience and he didn't.

I knelt down behind Bethy, but looked to both girls. "Okay, ladies. What are we playing for?"

"The bear, Daddy," Bethy said, pointing behind the woman that was running the game to a big brown bear wearing a red bow.

"You, too, Abby?" I asked, because she was a quiet little thing, not always speaking up when she was nervous.

"Yes, Mr. Edward," she whispered, nodding a bit.

"Okay. Bears, it is," I said, standing up and paying the attendant, who was smiling at us all.

She was an older woman – she looked to be in her mid-fifties – and she set the girls up with rings, while I spoke over the radio.

"Everyone check in, please," I ordered, giving a long, slow scan around me. Most everyone checked in immediately with an all clear. "J?" I asked, looking for Jasper.

"We're good. Just had to walk out a guy harassing a bunch of girls," he sighed, and I saw him make his way back through the entrance.

"Benny? What's going on out there?" I asked, because he was parked down one of the old streets.

"Lots of activity from Reggie's boys. Sharky's left his post, but we lost sight of them," he stated. "Could be a deal gone bad, but I put an agent on it."

"Keep me posted, Ben, okay?" I asked, glancing back to the girls, but Alec was helping them and giving me a chance to check in. A few more check ins sounded over the radio, but I didn't hear from the girls. "Bella? Rose?"

"We're in the rec center now, Edward," Alice piped in over the earpiece. "Bella may kill someone, 'cause the line is a mile long."

I grinned. "Hang in there, sweetness," I chuckled, knowing how she could be at this stage of her pregnancy.

"I'm trying," she laughed, though I could tell she was anxious. "I'm up next. Note to Carlisle. They need bigger bathrooms. Three stalls aren't enough," she growled dramatically.

"I'll tell him," I said with a smile. "Emmett, keep an eye on that rec center."

"On it, Ed," he replied back.

The girls cheered, and I spun to see that they'd both won, though I was pretty sure that Alec had helped them. From the look on the attendant's face, I was most likely right.

"That's my girl!" I laughed, picking up Bethy and teddy bear as she beamed at me.

"Another one, Daddy!" she commanded.

I laughed, kissing her cheek. "No, that's enough toys for you, little sweetness," I growled playfully against her skin.

I set her down onto the asphalt, taking her hand in mine. Alec did the same with Abby, because I was expecting the girls back any second. I looked to the rec center, and Emmett wasn't on post. I glanced around to see Jasper back in front of the rides, and my father and Esme, who was holding Caleb, talking to Preacher, but not the girls.

Just as I was about to ask for Em to check in, he popped around the corner with what looked like one of Reggie's boys talking to him animatedly. Suddenly, Benny's voice sounded over the radio.

"Christ," he snapped. "Ed, we have a problem! One of Reggie's boys was found dead in an alley. From what they can tell me, he's been dead about an hour. That was the last time they heard from him."

"Copy," I snapped, turning to Alec. "They'll come in if it's her..."

My sentence was cut off when I heard something that gave me chills.

"Well, well, well... Look who's pregnant..."

"Lilith..." Bella's voice carried over the radio, but it was a mere whisper.

Alec and I froze, our eyes locked for just a mere second, before the radio exploded. I spun to the opposite side of the game area.

"Dad!" I called, and his head shot up.

Scooping the kids up, Alec and I rushed to him. "Take them," I snapped, handing Bethy to my dad, while Alec handed Abby to Preacher. "She's here," I hissed to my dad.

Preacher's head snapped up. "Lilith?"

"Yes," I said, turning back to my dad. "You get them someplace safe. Don't let them out of your sight," I ordered him.

"Daddy?" Bethy called, holding her arms out.

"Baby, stay with Poppy, please. It's really, really important that you do that for me. Okay?" I asked her, kissing her quickly. It was all I could do to keep my voice calm for her, because I knew we were scaring her.

I spun away from her without waiting for her answer, Alec right by my side as we ran toward the rec center at full speed, doing our best not to run into anyone.

"Emmett, check in, dammit!"

"Rec center, Ed," he answered. "Where do you want me, bro?"

"Inside. Go," I ordered, pulling my gun out of its holster, and the guys followed suit. "I want this building emptied. Now!" I snapped, pointing to two other exits. I turned to the closest worker. "Get these main lights on. And get all these kids outside as quickly as you can. Okay?"

He was a young kid, but he nodded, wide-eyed, spinning on his heel to slam open the breaker box in the far corner. Bright lights glowed into life, and the music died.

"Okay, I need everyone to exit the building, calmly, but quickly," Emmett ordered in his booming voice. "Everything's just fine, but we need you outside," he commanded, and thankfully, they were all listening to him.

"I got that back exit, Ed," Jasper stated, bursting through the doors, barely avoiding knocking over a little boy just trying to do what Emmett was telling him. "Let's get this bitch," he snapped, shaking his head as he ran toward the other side of the basketball court.

Alec and I dodged kids left and right as we made our way to the back hallway, finding the girls trying to open a locked bathroom. Rose had pulled out her gun and was just about to shoot the lock.

"Don't!" I snapped, shaking my head. "You could miss. It could ricochet inside, Rose."

The girls backed away from the door, letting me through.

"I'm sorry, Edward. We didn't know the bitch was in there," she said, putting her gun down. "Suddenly, this little kid got shoved out the door, and the lock clicked."

I nodded, putting my ear to the door, but I couldn't hear shit. Nothing. "Fuck, Bella... If you can hear me, I need to know what's up, sweetness," I breathed, trying to stay calm, but having a fuck-ton of trouble doing it. "I'll tear this fucking door off the fucking hinges. I swear I will. But I need to know..."

My girl only said one word. "Go."

I waved everyone back, and my shoulder met the bathroom door with more force than I probably needed, because the damn thing snapped off the doorjamb, falling to the bathroom floor. Five guns pointed inside what was a completely empty room.

"Shit," I hissed, running a hand through my hair. "Where'd you go, baby?" I asked, but I was pretty damn sure she couldn't answer.

~oOo~

BELLA

God, I had to pee so damn bad. I was practically dancing in front of the door. Edward had told me to hang in there, but shit, I was about to drown. The girls laughed at me, but I knew they understood, because hell, they'd seen me go through this before.

"Shut it," I snapped, smirking at Makenna's laughter.

"It's really not funny when they tap dance on your bladder like that," Sarah groaned in sympathy. "Abby drove me crazy," she stated with a laugh, shaking her head.

"Caleb waited until the worse possible moment to shift around," Rose said with a grin. "I swear, it was like he'd bide his time until I was nowhere near a damn bathroom."

We all chuckled, but my head snapped up when the door opened. I heard the girls' laughter as I bolted in, finding the first empty stall. My eyes practically rolled back with the relief that came. As I fixed my clothes, I heard the water run, a gasp, and then the door open and shut quickly. But it was the sound of the lock that brought my mind and nerves to complete attention.

Before I could grab either gun on my person, my stall door was kicked open, and an old, rusty revolver was immediately pressed to my forehead. Lilith had never looked so ragged as she did standing in front of me. She looked totally on edge, completely wasted, and utterly insane. Her eyes were wild as she took in my entire being, shaking her head slowly.

"Well, well, well... Look who's pregnant," she slurred, sneering at me.

"Lilith," I started.

I could barely hear her tell me to shut up due to all the activity that exploded inside my earpiece, but be damned if I was taking it off.

Lilith put a finger to her lips, pointing toward a storage closet at the end of the room. Glancing inside, I saw how she'd gotten into the bathroom – the ceiling. One rectangular tile had been shoved aside, and she'd used the shelves to climb down. She must've been waiting for me all night.

Jerking the gun toward the ceiling, Lilith motioned for me to climb up. My hands clenched at my sides, itching to just grab one of the guns on me, but I knew she'd flip the fuck out. She'd kill me right there without hesitation, without remorse, so I climbed, hearing my husband's voice call for Emmett, hearing Benny order the festival shut down, and fighting with all that I had not to say anything with the next words Edward spoke to me.

"Fuck, Bella... If you can hear me, I need to know what's up, sweetness," he sang, and I could tell he was trying to remain calm, but his close proximity made me want to call out to him.

Lilith poked the muzzle of her gun to the back of my head, and I climbed up the shelves quickly, wanting to give myself space and time, but she was right on my heels. If she saw my leg holster, she didn't make mention of it. To be honest, she looked too tweaked out to be able to be that observant.

"I'll tear this fucking door off the fucking hinges. I swear I will. But I need to know..." Edward warned softly in my ear, and I could just imagine his fierce gaze narrowed in on the bathroom door.

I had to wait; I had to make sure that Lilith didn't hear me, but that Edward followed. The problem was that Lilith shut the closet door behind her.

Once we were both crawling along the ceiling, I finally gave him something. "Go." It was barely a whisper, but he heard me, and I could faintly hear the door shatter down below.

"What did you say?" Lilith asked in a harsh whisper, gripping my hair.

"I said... Where are we going?" I snapped back, my lip curling in hatred as I glared at her over my shoulder.

"To that ladder, and then climb down," she stated, jerking her chin toward the far wall in front of me. "Go, bitch, or I'll kill you up here and leave your body to rot like a dead rat."

I snorted, rolling my eyes at her dramatics, but I continued to crawl across the ceiling. I made my way to where the ceiling stopped, looking down to where there was an empty space between the walls, all the way down into darkness. There was a perfect view out a dusty window down to the festival below. She had been watching all night.

"Go," she growled, poking my head again with her gun.

One quick glance at it, and I saw that it was completely loaded, but so damn old that it looked like it would barely fire.

"Where the fuck did you get that gun? The bottom of the damn bay?" I asked her, unable to refrain from picking on her. That had been my problem with her from the very beginning, from the first time I'd met her.

"Climb, Bella," she snapped, looking over her shoulder.

It seemed to take forever to climb down to solid ground. As soon as my feet hit the bottom, I glanced around to see that we were in some sort of tunnel. I shook my head, because I was pretty sure no one knew about this shit.

"Speaking of rats," I muttered, looking down the barrel of that gun again. "You sure do know your way around like one. Live in the sewer, too?"

That earned me a blow to the head with the butt of that gun, and I grunted with the dull throb it left me with, but I met her gaze again.

"Walk," she ordered, gesturing behind me.

"Dammit, Bella," Edward growled over the headset. "Do not egg her on, baby. We're right behind you. Okay?"

"Okay," I said, answering them both and giving the ladder I'd just climbed down a longing glance upwards.

"But if you get that one small chance, sweetness, you take it," he ordered in my ear. "Fucking tear her apart. Got me?"

I grinned ahead of me, where Lilith couldn't see. Edward's worry was there, laced in his tone, but his command, his faith in me boosted me just a little. As we walked, I listened to my crew and the outside security people speak over the radio.

"Move, move, move!" Alice growled, and I could hear her typing furiously. "Damn it, Benny. We need satellite on this shit. Pull up street cameras. I'll have the thermal up in thirty seconds."

"Raulson, I need to know where Sharky is," Benny barked over the radio, also typing like a fiend. "We think she's gone underground. I need to know where that shit leads. How many fucking tunnels do these people have under there?"

"Sir!" the man answered.

Lilith and I came to the end of the tunnel to see blocks broken and pulled away, leading into either another tunnel or another building.

"In, bitch," she ordered, practically shoving me through.

I came out onto the other side to see we were back inside the boiler room of the warehouse. There was still damage from the small gas explosion being cleaned up. The walls and the roof above us were sooty and black, there were pipes – both broken and new, waiting to be installed – laying everywhere, and all the water that had leaked was now gone.

"I knew they wouldn't let anyone in here," Lilith chuckled maniacally, shaking her head. "This shit's still under construction."

I laughed softly at her, because she just totally gave my man the answer to where we were. I had to turn away from her to hide it.

"That's it!" Alice and Edward said at the same time.

"The warehouse. Go, go, go. I want that bitch surrounded," Edward growled. "She won't leave that building. Understood?"

"Sir," I heard copied back. Every voice I knew answered him – Jasper, Alec, Emmett, Rose, and Makenna. The only one I didn't hear was Carlisle, though it didn't take long.

"Bring them all with you!" Edward snapped.

"Son, the festival is disbursed, the police are covering the surrounding streets, and you've got thirteen members of a S.W.A.T. Team at your command. They are on, in, and next to the surrounding buildings. Copy?" Carlisle stated, his voice sure, angry, and just plain focused.

"Yes, sir, and Bethy?" he asked.

"Just fine," he soothed his son, and my feet faltered when Lilith shoved me toward the steps leading up into what was becoming a shelter instead of an old warehouse. "Bella, if you can hear me... They need a clean shot, sweetheart. You be so careful, but try and space yourself from her."

"Everyone on me," Edward ordered. "Do not take any shot until my fucking say. Are we clear?"

"Sir!" it seemed a thousand voices called back to him.

I winced at the panic in Edward's tone, because I hadn't said anything in awhile. But I also knew that it was quite possible that my husband wanted to end this himself.

When I reached the top of the steps, I saw my one brief opportunity, because there was construction shit everywhere. Stacks of lumber, pallets of drywall, boxes of unopened furniture, and forklifts to move it all. It was a large open space, but there were plenty of hiding spaces. I couldn't fight her, knowing that a wrong punch, a stray bullet, or a bad fall could hurt my baby, but I could damn well get away from this crazy bitch.

Lilith jabbed that gun into my head one more time, and I made my move. Swinging my elbow back as hard and as fast as I could, I nailed Lilith in the stomach. Spinning quickly, I brought my foot to her head, sending her reeling backward. I didn't pull a gun; I ran. It was the only way to keep her away from my unborn child.

A loud pop echoed in the warehouse, and I smiled as I slid behind a forklift. "One."

~oOo~

EDWARD

"One," my girl said over the radio.

We all shut the fuck up; even Alec and I came to a standstill in the long, fucking dark ass tunnel we were running down.

"One, one, one," Alice chanted. "What'd she..."

"She's counting bullets, Edward!" Rose stated. "Bells, what's she got?"

"Revolver," Bella panted, "and boy, she's pissed."

My heart just about shot up into my throat at the sound of Bella's voice finally able to really fucking answer us. I wasn't sure what got her to that point, but fucking-A, I was grateful.

"You can't hide, Bella!" Lilith yelled, firing off another round. "Why didn't you just leave me alone?"

Bella chuckled, and I shook my head, because she just couldn't help herself with this bitch.

"Lilith, I was hired to find you. You were a job to me. It's not like you gave two shits about those kids," she answered, and then grunted.

"Bella," I warned, finally reaching the end of the tunnel.

"I'm keeping her back to that boiler room door," she answered me. "I can't fire at her, Edward."

I winced, looking over at Alec, whose face was pissed off and determined. "She's protecting her whole body. One wrong shot, one wrong fall, and she could hurt the baby."

"Yes," Bella sighed, and I could hear her worry for just a second.

"Oh, sweetness," I groaned, bracing my hand on the wall before stepping into the boiler room, because I knew under normal circumstances, my girl would've already taken the bitch out. Bella couldn't take that chance with how this had all come down. "I've got you, baby, okay?"

"Yeah," she whispered again.

"It's not just that!" Lilith yelled, firing off another shot.

"Three," Alice and Rose chanted softly.

"Three more," Bella whispered, almost to herself.

"You kept coming and fucking coming!" Lilith continued, firing another.

"Weren't you the one that showed up at my father-in-law's wedding? Really?" Bella asked, and I could hear her grunt again.

Alec and I plastered ourselves on either side of the doorway, waiting for our opportunity.

"Edward, listen," Alice said in my ear.

"Go," I breathed.

"I see where you and Alec are. Bella is straight out, almost a direct line from the office doors. Lilith is pacing slowly, about a hundred and twenty five feet from where you are, one o'clock. Got me?"

Alec peeked slowly around the corner, shaking his head. "How does she do that?" he mouthed to me.

I smiled, shrugging. "Perfect, Alice. Thank you. Still beautiful...don't care what you say."

Alice's sweet giggle met my ears as I took my own quick glimpse out into the warehouse. It was dark, the only light filtering in coming from the street lamps outside. There were two small emergency lights at the far end, but they weren't helping my situation.

Using silent hand signals, I told Alec to take the left side of the building, to stay low, to wait for my command. He nodded, slipping silently past me and immediately darting behind a few boxes.

"Didn't you take my daughter?" Bella yelled, and I watched a brief flash of orange dart from one stack of drywall to a pallet of insulation. "You were free, and you came to me, Lilith. You touched my family!"

I flinched as another shot echoed loudly in the warehouse.

"One more," Bella, Alice, and I muttered to ourselves.

"Keep her talking, love," I whispered, finally stepping a foot into that warehouse. "One more, and she's defenseless."

"I know, I know," she sighed, and I glanced up when she bolted from her current hiding spot to a new one, much farther down from me.

I raised my weapon, flicking the safety off and using both hands to aim, but my view of Lilith was blocked by a forklift.

"I don't get it," Lilith growled, and I ducked down when she spun in one spot. "How could you end up with everything and I have nothing?"

"By your own fucking choice, Lilith," Bella answered her. "You chose to kill Bree. You chose to take Ashley from Jason and Amber, knowing that she was fucking safer with them than she ever was with you! And you chose to make the biggest fucking mistake of them all and touch my child. You brought this all on yourself, Lilith. I had nothing to do with it."

I took a chance and glanced around the box I was hiding behind, seeing that I had Lilith in front of me. A straight fucking shot. I raised my gun, but at the last second, Lilith moved.

"Shit," I breathed, plastering my back to the box and slipping down to the other end to peek around the side. "No shot, no shot..."

"I'm about to give you one, Edward," Bella stated softly, and before I could protest, warn her, or even blink, she stood up from behind a stack of plywood. "But I will make sure you pay for it," Bella said, her voice even and deadly, and she lifted her nine mil, flicking the safety off.

It only took a second for me to see what she did. She'd scared Lilith by sneaking up behind her and closer to her than the other woman had expected, causing that one final bullet to squeeze wildly out from her gun somewhere off into the warehouse.

I raised my gun, yelling, "Bella, down!"

My girl slid back behind the plywood at the same time Lilith spun my way. I smiled at her when all her gun did was click, an empty and hollow sound echoing in our ears, but I pulled my own trigger.

Three rapid shots fired off my gun before Lilith hit the floor.

~oOo~

BELLA

Silence hung heavily for just a moment, my ears ringing from the loud fire of Edward's weapon. I shook my head, gave myself a quick assessment, only to finally peek out from my last hiding spot.

Edward loomed angry and fierce over Lilith's body, his weapon still at the ready. He nudged her with his foot, causing her head to loll to the side, but I could see from where I was that his shot had been perfect, right in the middle of her forehead, along with two to the center of her chest. She'd never stood a chance against him.

"Clear," he grunted out, his voice raspy, his breathing heavy.

I couldn't move from just the sight of him. It was like watching a movie, where the lead guy finally takes a breath once all the fucking dust settled. He was beautiful and scary at the same time. He was tall and larger than life at the moment, because it seemed like every muscle he had was pumped, flexed, and simmering hotly just beneath his skin and the tight shirt he was wearing. His sharp jaw clenched and unclenched as he glared down at her, his eyes barely containing the green I loved so much. His empty hand was balled up into a tight fist, practically shaking with how hard he was squeezing it. He never looked more the hero than he did in that single moment.

"Edward," I breathed, and his head finally snapped up, his gaze softening to warm, sweet, and concerned.

"Christ, Bella," he groaned, running the few feet that was between us and falling to his knees in front of me. "Tell me you're okay."

I nodded, letting him pull me onto his lap when he sat back on his heels. I wrapped my arms around his neck, just breathing him in. He smelled like his cologne and sweat, like freshly fired gun powder. The metallic sound of gun hitting concrete met my ears, and warm, firm hands rubbed my back, my sides, and finally, my shoulders.

He cupped my face, pulling me back a bit so he could look into my eyes. "You're okay?" he asked again, kissing my forehead ever so lightly where Lilith had hit me, rubbing my back, and finally rubbing our little bump gently.

I nodded again, grasping either side of his face and kissing him soundly. "Yeah, I'm okay," I breathed against his mouth.

Doors burst open from what seemed like all directions at once, and a ton of people piled into the warehouse, calling clear as they checked each section. Alec was the first to make it to us, and he was holding his arm.

"What happened?" I asked, refusing to remove myself from Edward's lap at the moment.

"That last stray shot," he growled, rolling his eyes. "Pinged off a forklift. I'm fine. Don't even ask," he scoffed.

Edward and I laughed softly at him, because I could see that it was just a small graze. In fact, there wasn't even much blood.

I leaned into my husband, wrapping my arms around him and glancing over his shoulder to watch several men check out Lilith's body. Some looked like police, others, FBI, but in the far back corner, I saw Sharky wearing a smug ass smile. He jerked his chin my way, only to leave out the side door.

"She's gone, baby," Edward soothed me, picking me up.

I sighed, touching my toes to the ground, because I wasn't sure if he could carry me, no matter how badly I wanted it. My forehead hit his chest as the breath of relief left me in a rush, my knees giving out just a little.

"It's over," I sighed, squeezing back the tears of just stress and worry and hormones.

I felt a kiss to my head and strong arms scooping me up again. "Yes, sweetness. It's over."

~oOo~

"Look up for me," the EMT requested softly shining a light in my eyes. "Good. Are you hurt anywhere else, ma'am?" he asked, but I shook my head no. "How far along are you?"

"Twelve weeks," I said, barely seeing him, because I felt a little numb that it was all over. But before he could suggest it, I said, "I'm fine. I didn't fall or overdo it. It was just my head. Okay?"

He smiled warmly. "Yes, ma'am. I tell most women that they know their bodies better than anyone. If you want, we can take you in, but it's up to you."

I was shaking my head no before he even finished speaking. "No, I just want my daughter. And how's Alec?"

"The bullet graze?" he asked. "Oh, he's fine. Cursed me out when I cleaned him up, but he didn't even need stitches. Looks like the bullet disintegrated when it bounced off something... It barely nicked him."

I sighed, nodding when he handed me a cold pack, gesturing to my head.

"Use that, and I won't take you in," he threatened with a sweet smile and a wink, because Edward was a pacing lion not four yards from us as he spoke to Benny, Wes, and Carlisle.

I heard a squeal of familiar laughter, and my head spun to find its whereabouts. I couldn't help but smile, watching Preacher with two three-year-old little girls climbing all over him. He was so damn big that the man looked like a human jungle gym. He was play-fighting with them, teaching them how to ball up a fist and throw a punch at his open palm. My daughter was currently draped over his shoulders, putting what looked like the sleeper hold on him, but he was so large that she could barely get her arms around him. And he looked like he was enjoying every single second of it.

I giggled, shaking my head, but kept the pack on it.

"He offered to watch the girls," Esme said softly from beside me. "Carlisle was about to lose his mind not able to hear anything, so Preacher offered to help. He took the girls, and I already had Caleb. He's a good man."

"He's awesome," I chuckled, and it broke into a real laugh as the two girls tried to tackle him to the grass. I could feel Esme's eyes on me, assessing me, so I locked gazes with her. "I'm okay."

"Good," she sighed, kissing the top of my head.

I sat quietly, watching everything. The carnival games and rides were being dismantled, the last few remaining security people left to go home, and my crew gave statements to officers. However, Benny had taken charge of the night, because we'd filed a restraining order through him from the very beginning, so Lilith's death was self defense – plain and simple.

My heart sank or clenched or some shit when the coroners emerged from the warehouse with a gurney. A black bag lay on top, zipped closed, and I let out a long, slow breath. I didn't know what I was feeling more – relief that she was gone and out of our lives, sadness at the waste of life she'd had, because she'd had every-fucking-thing and threw it away, or gratefulness to the strong, noble man currently walking my way.

Edward said nothing as he took the cold pack from me, pressing it gently to the knot I was now sporting. He stepped between my legs, and I pressed my cheek to his chest, letting his heavy, strong heartbeat soothe whatever I was feeling, which was most likely all of the above.

"She'll be fine, Mr. Cullen," the EMT told him from somewhere behind me. "She should stay awake for a few hours, but other than that, she's fine."

"Thank you," my husband said, his voice rumbling through his chest. It seemed to surround me, ground me as I gripped his shirt. "Dad wants us to stay at the apartment with them tonight, sweetness," he whispered against the top of my head. "Esme wants to keep an eye on you. I told them that was okay."

"Okay," I mumbled into his shirt.

"You panicked," he stated.

"I did." I sighed, pulling back to gaze up into beautiful, worried green. "It wasn't just me I was protecting."

He nodded, like he had assumed as much.

"I didn't expect her in the damn bathroom," I huffed, rolling my eyes. "I expected her at my house, really, or to show up at the opening of the shelter," I said, gesturing behind him. "Not crawling around in ceilings and tunnels like a cockroach."

Edward swallowed nervously, but nodded again. He took a deep breath, shaking his head. "She might have done that, but she was high, love. She killed one of Reggie's young dealers and took his stash and his weapon. She got in through a basement tunnel that no one knew about – not even Sharky."

I pursed my lips and shook my head. "So if she'd have stayed clean, then she might have thought shit through? No, she was just...crazy. She never saw anything she did was wrong – going all the way back to Bree."

"Let's just say the cocain she stole didn't exactly help that ailment," he said wryly, raising a sexy ass eyebrow.

I grinned, shaking my head. Leave it to Edward to make me laugh at the end of it all. He broke into a wide smile, his head falling back a bit as he pulled me closer. He let out a soft laugh, shaking his own head.

"Christ, Bella," he sighed against my hair. "I'm just glad you're okay...both of you," he said, his warm hand cupping my belly, my little bump.

"Mommy, Daddy!" Bethy chirped, and Edward and I both turned to look up at her – way up at her – because she was riding atop Preacher's shoulders while he carried Abby in his huge arms.

Preacher set Abby down so that she could run to her mother, who was currently making sure that Alec's arm was okay.

"Hi, baby." I chuckled as she squeaked when Preacher playfully pretended to drop her, only to set her on my lap.

"I always wanted one little girl," Preacher said wistfully. "Instead, I got two rough and tumble boys."

"I'm rough and tumble," Bethy countered, causing us all to laugh.

"Indeed you are, little sweetness," Edward chuckled, kissing the top of her head, but he turned back to Preacher. "Thank you," he said sincerely, shaking the big man's hand. "Whatever you need to finish this place, just let us know."

"And I think you owe me a bathroom door, too," Preacher teased, clapping a grinning Edward on the shoulder and giving me a wink. "We did pretty good tonight, despite the interruption, Edward, but I'll keep the offer in mind. Your father has offered to match whatever donations we brought in, so I think we'll finish on time." He started to walk away, but stopped and turned back to us. "I hope to see you at the ribbon cutting. I'd be interested to know if Miss Geneva's right or not...boy or girl."

Edward and I chuckled, nodding, and waved to him.

"Boy," Bethy piped up, grinning up at Preacher and rubbing my stomach. "Gamma says I'm gonna have a brother. I hafta tell him to stay outta my room, though. No boys allowed."

We all chuckled at her, and I couldn't help but wrap her up and smooch her face all over. My stomach gave a fierce growl, which caused Bethy to gasp and Edward to chuckle.

"Ooh, angwy beaws again, Mommy," Bethy giggled, cupping my face.

"Yeah, well, cotton candy just doesn't do it for me, pretty girl," I laughed, scooping her up so that she was cradled in my arms. "Maybe I need...belly meat..."

"No!" she screamed into hysterical laughter, kicking her feet as I pretended to bite at her tummy. "Not my belly meat!"

Edward's deep, sweet chuckle met my ears. "Come on, my pretty girls. Let's go feed Mommy before she starts on arms and legs, huh?" he asked, giving me a wink and taking Bethy out of my arms, only to toss her over his strong shoulder like a sack of potatoes.

I slid carefully down from the gurney that I'd been sitting on, taking his free hand and linking our fingers together. I gave one last glance to the coroner van, one more deep breath escaping me as Edward led us to the car.

My family was finally safe.

A/N... Lilith is no more, and it was Edward that pulled the trigger. Some of you were thinking Bella should torture her and others thought Reggie would get to her, but I'm thinking this was better. Edward gets closure and peace of mind.

So only one more regular chapter and then the epi. I'm sure there are a few loose ends that still need to be tied up in those two chapters, don't you? Hmm? :) And I'm sure you guys will tell me all about them. In fact, I can't even give you a coming up, because it would spoil it for you.

I need to thank JenRar for beta'ing this and who answered some strange questions on this one, and I didn't even go in the direction that I'd asked about. Thanks to GooberLou for pre-reading, and giving me all sorts of reasons as to who should shoot Lilith, because it wasn't decided until I actually started to write the chapter. And to MedusaInNY for banners and pics and advice and love and smooches. Oh yeah, and my blog, too. :D

The next chapter is done and is being beta'd as this posts. And there will be a pic tease on my blog... drotuno(dot)blogspot(dot)com ...and on Twitter, so watch for them in the days coming up.

So Sunday will be the next update. Yup, Sunday will be the last regular chapter of S&I, which makes a week from today the very end. I know, I know... You want more...more Mercward, more Angelward, just...anything more. ;) I love you for it. Here's what I know... There will be more outtakes from Angelward. I have 3 ideas already brewing and one of those is itching to get written. As for other projects, I'm not sure. But never count me out. I just hate telling you one thing and then not be able to follow through. Okay? Good. Now, let me hear all about our hero. Until Sunday... Later! :)