Chapter 36: Returning Home
Bella was sitting in the car, anxiously glancing out the window. "Babe calm down, you're acting like Alice," he quipped.
"Sorry, I haven't seen the twins in a week, I'm anxious to see them," she answered.
Holding her hand, Emmett kissed the back of her hand with a small smile. Bella smiled back as they continued on their way home.
When they finally arrived, Alice ran out of the house excitedly. "Welcome home!" she exclaimed, hugging Bella.
"Thanks," Bella replied smiling.
"How was it?" Alice asked.
"Good," Bella replied.
"More than good," Emmett commented, wrapping his arm around his wife's waist.
Bella smiled, moving her hand over his. "Where are my babies?" she asked.
"Playing with Jasper, come look!" Alice replied excitedly.
They went inside to find Jasper sitting by the twins on the floor. Alana was giggling like crazy, reaching for the plastic rings he held above her head, while Liam was watching with curious eyes at his sister. "Isn't that adorable?" Alice asked grinning.
"You're a natural with kids, Jasper," Bella commented.
Jasper looked up. "Hey guys, welcome home," he answered smiling as he got off the floor.
"Were they trouble?" Emmett asked, shaking his brother's hand.
"Not at all," Jasper replied.
"Nope perfect babies," Alice commented.
Bella lifted her babies up with a smile. "My babies," she cooed, kissing them each on the head.
"Jazzy's actually done more than I thought he would with the babies," Alice commented.
"Oh yeah?" Emmett asked as he took Alana.
"He became a whiz at the diaper changing," Alice commented.
Jasper chuckled lightly, wrapping his arms around her waist. "Hey Jazz, can you teach Emmett how to become a whiz at the diaper changing?" Bella suggested.
"I change diapers," Emmett insisted.
"I change their diapers more than you," Bella answered.
Emmett rolled his eyes as he lifted Alana above his head. "Mama's being critical on daddy, how unfair is that Laney?" he asked his daughter. The infant just let out a little noise while tapping his cheeks with her hands. Emmett chuckled softly, kissing his daughter's forehead. "Daddy loves you little angel," he cooed softly. He cradled the baby in his arms with a smile while looking over at Bella to see her rocking a sleepy Liam in her arms.
Later that evening at home, Bella was making dinner. "Emmett…" she called going up the stairs after turning off the stove. Walking down the hall, she peeked into the nursery she saw Emmett sitting in the rocking chair, feeding Liam while Alana was in her bouncer on the floor in front of him. The baby girl was beginning to fall asleep in her bouncer as Emmett was tapping the bottom of the bouncer. The motion was slowly putting her to sleep.
"You know what, your old man never thought he'd actually become a dad. I thought that I was too messed up in life to deserve to have children. I didn't think I'd meet that woman who would love me no matter what. That was before your mommy came into my life. I adore your mom more than anything and I'd do anything for her and you kids," he explained.
Bella smiled as she watched him stand up and started pacing the room, burping Liam while Alana slept peacefully. She decided to leave him be and went back downstairs.
Emmett smiled as he gently patted his son's back. "My children," he murmured. Just knowing that these children were pieces of him and Bella made his heart swell with joy. When James held him captive, he thought he would never see his family again. He thought he would miss everything in their lives. Their first steps, their first words, their first day of school, their high school graduation, and the moments when they started families of their own. "Even though you know what Laney?" he whispered to his sleeping daughter. He squatted down in front of her while holding Liam. "No man will ever be good enough for you," he whispered.
Emmett placed Liam into his crib before placing Alana into her crib. He stared at both of his children, letting out a sigh. He also couldn't imagine missing out on all the great things he and Bella had yet to experience together.
Walking downstairs, Emmett walked up behind his wife, kissing the back of her neck. "What brought that on?" she asked
"I've just been thinking," he replied.
"Really? About?" she asked, moving her hands over his.
"During that time I was missing. I was thinking about everything I had thought about while I was hanging in that room," he replied.
She bit her lower lip. "What were you thinking about?" she asked quietly. Sighing, he kissed her shoulder.
"I thought about how I didn't want to die. I didn't want to leave you and the babies. I started thinking of all the things I wanted to see and experience with you guys," he explained.
"Em…" she murmured.
"I want it all Bella. I want to have more kids when that time comes. I want to watch our children grow bigger and stronger, become something," he explained.
Bella smiled, entwining her fingers with his. "And I want us to grow old together Gorgeous. I want to sit out on the porch with you when we're old and gray, I'm sitting there reading the sports page…or at least trying. While you're reading your favorite book in the rocking chair next to me. While we adore our grandchildren and great-grandchildren," he explained.
"Well our dreams match then Emmett," she answered.
She kissed the back of his hand. "I want it all too," she murmured. Turning around, she wrapped her arms around his waist. "Except, we might have a talk about how many kids you were talking," she commented.
"One or two more," he replied.
"Are you going to be carrying one?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
Laughing, he rested his forehead against hers. "Damn do I love you," he told her.
"Well you're easy to fall for too," she commented smiling.
She kissed him briefly with a smile. "Shall we enjoy our first dinner home?" she asked.
"We shall," Emmett answered smiling.
After setting their table and everything, Emmett pulled her chair out for her. "You gentleman," she said smiling. Emmett smiled, kissing the side of her head. He sat down across from her and they enjoyed their dinner.