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Chapter 20

Wednesday, July 4, 2012

BPOV

I could still feel the exhilaration pumping through my blood as I walked hand in hand down the sidewalk with Edward. The baseball game had been absolutely amazing and nothing like I had thought it would be like. I wished that my dad would have been able to go to one while he was alive, he would have loved it. I had seen a different side to Edward as we sat watching the game. He leaned forward with his elbows on his knees and scrutinized almost every play.

After the baseball game we had a chill out time lying on blankets listening to a variety of bands playing on the stage while the girls ran around us waving mini American flags. I noticed Edward kept glancing at his watch over and over as the sun set around us. "You okay, Edward?" I asked quietly.

"I'm fine, but I have a huge surprise for everybody." He whispered in my ear so the girls didn't hear.

It was just us, Em, Rose, and the girls because Alice had an emergency come up at work during the ballgame and they hit the first flight back home. We had all skyped earlier today with George and Margaret to wish them a happy 4th, they had been sad that they missed out on both Tori's birthday and the 4th holiday but Em and Rose promised that they would come spend a couple of days with them when they left tomorrow.

Anna suddenly plopped down in beside me exhausted from all of the running around. I swept her sweaty bangs off her forehead gently. "B, is your baby gonna be a girl like mama's?" She asked as she laid her head against my stomach.

I laughed. "No, sweetheart, but I get to have two babies at one time. They are both little boys." I told her quietly.

"I've never had a little brother before. Can I be a big sister to them?" She asked looking up at me through big blue eyes.

I smiled at her. "You can all be big sisters to the boys, if you want." I told her as the music started winding down.

"Okay, we have to find four more horses for all of you since Trixy's other pony went to pony heaven."

I chuckled because I remembered their tradition of giving the next born foal to the newest member of the family. Trixy, Anna's horse, had twin foals but one was too small and couldn't breathe on its own and died within a couple of hours. With all the babies being born into the family plus me still needing one, there seemed to be a waiting list.

"It's okay, Anna. Are any of the other horses pregnant?" I asked her quietly.

She nodded. "Yeah, Ali, Mama, and Skylar's horsies are all having babies too."

"See, that's perfect! One horse for each baby." I told her.

"What about you B?"

"I can share Eddie's horse until I can get my own." I placated her.

She nodded and began dozing off.

The rest of the girls were getting whiny cause they were sleepy too. "Guys, I think we are going to get the girls back to the house. They've had a busy day today." Emmett said as he stood up and began placing kids in the two strollers they had brought with them.

Edward stood up and began helping him. "You sure you don't want to watch the fireworks?"

Rosalie laughed. "Oh we're sure. Lilly hates them and Sariah is too little for the big booms. We haven't gone to watch a big fireworks show since Skylar was born."

I nodded in understanding. "Okay then, we will see you guys when we get home, okay?" I told Rose.

She just smiled at me. "You won't see me until tomorrow, B. I'm exhausted too. This baby wears me out a lot quicker than the other ones did. Something feels different about this one, but the doctor said everything is okay with her."

I nodded and leaned over to kiss her cheek. "Everything really okay?" I asked her quietly.

She nodded. "Yeah this baby is already the size Sariah was when she was born. I guess she's just gonna be a big one. It would be really weird if we have the baby's at the same time." She said as she gripped Emmett's hand and he hauled her off the ground. She was huge compared to me but we were actually only about a week apart in the conception dates.

"That would be really cool, Rosie." I told her as Edward helped me up by putting his arms under mine and lifting me up. "You guys be careful getting back to the house and we will see you in the morning."

They both nodded before each pushing a stroller back across the parking lot.

"Where are we going, Edward?" I asked swinging our hands between us.

"It's a surprise love, be patient." He said with a smirk firmly in place.

We walked along the sidewalk until we came to a marina and Edward turned us to go down the plank dock. "Edward, I think the fireworks are back that way." I told him pointing back toward the Navy Pier area.

He just laughed. "I thought we could see the fireworks from a different perspective than I used to do every year."

I nodded and followed along willingly since he was so eager and excited about this. "We're going on a shoreline cruise and will see the fireworks from the water. You game?" He asked quickly.

I smiled and nodded. "Absolutely."

"Edward? Is that you son?" An elderly man in white linen pants and a light blue polo shirt with a white captain's hat perched on top of his head.

"Marcus! I didn't know you still ran these tours." Edward said as he jumped aboard and hugged the guy tightly.

"I do. It's been way too long since you've been on these tours. Who is this lovely young woman?" He asked when he released Edward.

Edward smiled and hopped back off the boat. "This beautiful young woman is my wife, Bella. Bella, this is Marcus. We came here all the time for boat tours; I think my mom secretly had a crush on him." He teased as he helped me on board.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Marcus." I told the elderly man and extended him my hand.

He shook his head and wrapped me up in a hug. "Pleasure is all mine, Bella. You brought my boy back home." He said as he went back to the steering wheel to peddle us out into the open water.

I saw some more people standing on the dock wanting to board. "Marcus, I think you have more customers." I called to him.

He surprised me when he told them "Tours closed folks, my son has returned," before steering us onto the open water.

Edward guided me to the front of the boat and pulled a blanket from a hidden compartment and spread it out so we could sit down and prop up against the cabin. "Explain please." I begged him as I took in all the sights around us.

"My mom and I used to come out here all the time for tours when my mom realized I had an interest in architecture. Because my dad worked all the time, I came to Marcus for a lot of advice when I didn't want my parents' input. We have been coming as a family on his Fourth of July cruises since I was just a baby. My mom has yearly photos of the four of us somewhere. Marcus was always invited to our family dinners and any special celebrations we had." Edward explained.

"It seems like you have a lot of people who care a great deal about you in the windy city." I commented as I settled in and listened to Edward point out certain buildings and what he saw in them. I had never heard him sound so enthused or excited about something. I had to wander why he didn't build things for a living, so I had to ask.

"Why don't you build houses or something for a living, Edward? Instead of running clubs."

He took a deep breath. "Why build new things when I can restore old things? That's what I like doing; I guess I just got stuck in a rut until now. I was satisfied with being in the fire department and running Breaking Dawn."

I nodded in understanding. "That makes sense. So after we get Truth or Dare up and running what do you want to do then? Expand somewhere else? Start a restoration business? Restore old houses and sell them?" I rattled off as the possibilities in the future seemed endless.

He shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know yet, love. I guess we will see what itches my fancy after the club is up and running smoothly."

I nodded and we settled back to finish the boat tour just as the first big explosion sounded off and the sky lit up in a myriad of colors.

Monday, July 16, 2012

EPOV

It has been almost two weeks since everybody went home and it has been nice just chilling out in Chicago, showing Bella all of my old haunts. Hell, I even took her to the high school and we tossed the ball around for a little bit. I showed her the exact spot on the side of the highway where my parents had been highjacked and murdered; I broke down that day.

Today I had a surprise for my lovely wife and it should be arriving about noon. When I had turned twenty years old I had started a non-profit fund for displaced teenagers who lost their parents due to tragic events. Every year the hospital that my father worked, for hosted a masquerade ball to raise funds for Cullen's Kids. I had never been, but I wanted to go this year and I wanted to take Bella with me.

I had taken the liberty of calling and begging Alice to design Bella a simple white floor length gown because I wanted the mask I had bought her to pop against her pale skin. She had long since lost most of her tan since our return from Hawaii. Alice had agreed but with a few stipulations of her own.

"What are you thinking about, barman?" Bella asked as she sat down beside me and propped her feet in my lap.

"Hmm…nothing much, love. This came for you today." I told her and handed her a silver envelope addressed to her.

She wrinkled her forehead in confusion. "Why would I get mail here? This is typed so it can't be from anybody we know." She mused in confusion as she turned the stiff envelope over in her hands.

"I don't know. It was just in the mailbox when I went to check it." I explained to her as I rubbed her feet causing her to moan aloud.

She stuck her tongue between her lips and ran her fingernail under the edge of the envelope opening it. She pulled out the silver and black invitation.

"A ball, Edward?" She asked confused as she turned it over and continued to read. I didn't say anything because it was all self-explanatory on the back. "In honor of your parents? What's Cullen's Kids?"

I chuckled and took the invitation from her. I had helped design it years ago but had never actually received one before.

You're invited to celebrate a good cause.

A MASQUERADE BALL

Society is a masked ball, where everyone hides his real character, and reveals it by hiding.

- Ralph Waldo Emerson.

In honor of the late Dr. Carlisle Cullen and Mrs. Esme Cullen

All donations accepted to help support Cullen's Kids foundation.

Please join us tonight at:

Trump Hotel

Grand Salon Room

6 p.m.

Don't forget your masks!

"Cullen's Kids is a non-profit foundation I set up when I was twenty years old. It helps teenagers who have been displaced due to a tragic event. It has helped over 500 kids in the last seven years. It has even bought three different apartments that allow them a place to live." I explained to her as I handed back the invitation.

"Wow, that's awesome. Are we going?" She asked while leaning back against the couch.

I nodded and the doorbell rang right on time. "We are and I have a few surprises in store for you. Surprise number one is at the door right now." I told her and pointed to the front door.

She groaned and got up to go answer the door. It was noon and she was still in a sports bra and my boxers, our sons on glorious display.

"You know how I hate surprises, Edward." She groaned as she opened the door and then squealed in surprise.

One of the stipulations that Alice had requested was that be allowed to fly up here to help get Bella ready before flying back home tonight.

BPOV

I couldn't believe that Edward had done this. He brought me Alice to help me get ready for the Masquerade Ball that he had thrown at me suddenly.

"Ali, are you sure about this dress?" I asked yet again as I tugged on it a little bit.

She slapped at my hands, again, and fixed the dress. It was strapless with strips of silver jewels sewed in around the edge and again right below my breasts. It flowed out over and around my stomach and fell to the ground in soft waves.

"It's perfect, Bella. Stop tugging on it. Your boobs are tucked in and not going anywhere. I promise." She said as she continued to tug and pull on my hair.

"I just don't understand why he chose white, of all colors." I grumbled again.

"I chose white because I wanted your mask to pop against your dress." Edward said from the doorway surprising me yet again.

I glared at him. "You know, it's not nice to sneak up on your pregnant wife."

He just laughed and held out a fairly big box out to me.

"What's this?" I asked as I sat the box in my lap.

"Open it and look. Alice you may want to fix her hair after you tie this on." He said before he sauntered back out of the room.

I glared at his back before opening the box and gasping. "Oh." I said as I stared at the most beautiful thing I had ever seen.

"Bella, that is beautiful. Let's put it on." Alice said from over my shoulder.

I nodded and easily extracted the mask from the box. I understood what he meant about the mask popping against my dress. It was absolutely breathtaking. The mask itself was stripes of gold, silver, black and teal. It had a huge display of bright turquoise feathers sticking out the right side and bending over my head. The feathers were held on by a gold brooch with turquoise detailing. It all tied together with turquoise ribbons.

"Be careful, Ali." I told her as I handed it to her.

She placed it over my eyes and I held it in place with gentle fingers as she parted my hair and tied the ribbon between the split of my hair. "Is that good? Is it gonna stay?" She asked quietly.

I leaned forward and sideways to see if it moved at all, it didn't. "It's perfect, Ali."

She hummed and went about pinning and styling my hair. "I'm gonna wind the ribbon through your hair so it pops a little bit of color in the back also, okay?" She suggested and I agreed that it would indeed look good.

It was almost an hour later when a knock from the doorframe caught my attention. I gasped again as I saw my husband standing there in a tuxedo and a black mask covering his eyes. He looked breathtaking.

"You look sexy as hell, barman." I told him as I stood up.

"Hmm… so do you, love." He said as he ran his hand down my sides and around our boys. "We've got to go, the car's here." He said with a wink over my shoulder to Alice. "Thank you, Ali. We will see you back home in a few weeks."

She agreed and began packing her stuff back up. "You guys have fun. I expect pictures from tonight." She said looking pointedly at me. I nodded. That was another of her conditions -pictures.

It was an odd experience walking in and not knowing anybody and them not knowing who we were either. "Do you recognize anybody?" I asked quietly as we headed towards the bar to get something to drink.

Edward shook his head. "Nope, but I think that's kind of the point. But, everybody who is important knows I am here. They have asked me to give a speech before dinner, so they will know who I am then." He explained quietly.

"I didn't know that." I narrowed my eyes at him. "You have been awfully secretive lately."

He just smirked and ordered us both alcohol free punch from the bartender.

We mingled around the room, nobody figuring out who Edward was. I felt him tense when somebody clinked a spoon against a champagne flute. "May I have everyone's attention, please?" The speaker said as he made his way to the platform sat up at the front of the stage. "We have a special guest among us tonight. It has been a long time since any of us have seen this young man. He is the reason for this foundation and it is a pleasure to welcome Dr. Carlisle Cullen and wife Esme Cullen's only son back to Chicago. Edward, it has been a long time and you are the ultimate success story. Please come forward since we don't know which one you are." He said and everybody chuckled.

He grabbed my hand and dragged me behind him as everybody separated to allow us space to pass as we made our way to the front of the room. I gasped when I realized he was intent on dragging me up on the podium with him but he was relentless.

When he was up there he tugged off his mask as he faced the crowd. "I just want to say a quick thank you to everyone who showed up here tonight in honor of my parents. It has been nine years since my parents were brutally murdered on the side of the road because they wanted to support my dream of playing ball. I was lucky that my parents were well off enough that I didn't have to suffer anything but emotional damage after their passing." He paused and looked at me.

"I founded this group when I was twenty old to help teenagers who are on the brink of adulthood and suffered a tragedy and didn't have the resources that I did. I don't consider myself a success story because up until recently I couldn't bear the thought of stepping foot back in Chicago more or less returning to my childhood home but my lovely wife has taught me that it is better to deal with the past instead of running from it. We are expecting our own children in a few months…" He smiled at me and placed our joined hands on my stomach "…and I know that my parents would give anything to be here to see them but they aren't able to so they will have to live on through my memories. I applaud anybody who is dealing with any tragedy and not letting it destroy them. It is tough and it has taken me nine years to deal with all of mine. I have one wish for Cullen's Kids and that is to be able to continue helping displaced teenagers well into the future. Thank you guys for coming tonight!" He said and held up his punch in a toast and everybody raised theirs briefly before taking a drink.

Edward and I stepped off the podium and enjoyed the rest of our night. It was spent mainly sitting down because my feet were killing me but we had a number of people come and chat with us at they caught up with Edward.

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

EPOV

"Edward, this is ridiculous." Bella screeched at me with her hands on her hips as I sat on the doorsteps.

I shook my head at her. "It's not ridiculous, Bella. I'm not going in that garage, it hurts too much." I told her sternly.

She was currently standing in front of the open garage doors and I was sitting on the front door steps refusing to go anywhere near that garage while Sammy lay beside me asleep. The memories were too painful for me and I didn't want to deal with it. I know it sounded immature, but I honestly didn't think I could handle it emotionally.

"Edward, this is the last place that we have to conquer before we go home in a week." She argued with me.

It had been almost a month since we had gotten to Chicago and it had been wonderful to see all the people that were important to me and my parents so many years ago. I had even taken Bella to the cemetery to 'meet' my parents and also to introduce my sons to their grandparents. It was hard but exhilarating at the same time.

The garage was the only place on the property that I hadn't been to yet. "I know that, love. I just don't think I can handle it." I pleaded with her. "Sammy, tell her we don't wanna."

She walked over to me and sat on the step below me between my legs. "Edward, your father would not want you to avoid the garage just because of him. You have told me yourself that you and he spent a lot of free time in there beneath the hood of old vehicles restoring them."

I nodded and hung my head because I knew what she was trying to do and I also was smart enough to know that it was going to work.

"Okay, so why don't you just suck it up and go stand in the driveway. At least look in the garage, you don't have to go in yet, baby steps."

I took a deep breath and shook my head. "God, I hope our sons don't inherit your stubbornness. This really is childish Edward. I know it hurts and I know you are scared but I know you are strong enough to handle this."

I lifted my head and looked into her eyes. "Bella…"

She shook her head and stood up offering me a hand.

I begrudgingly took it and stood up as she led me to the driveway so I could look into the garage. It took my breath away as I looked in and saw my mom's shiny BMW sitting there along with the three empty bays that usually held my car and my dad's Aston Martin as well as a spot where we worked on restoring old vehicles. I took the truck that we were working on with me when I left Chicago and it sat in our garage on George and Margaret's property back in Texas.

I collapsed on my knees as the memories swamped me. I remembered my mom spilling groceries there when the bottom of the bag ripped open and apples and oranges rolled everywhere, we found them for weeks afterwards. I remembered my dad showing me how to change the oil in all of our vehicles. The first time I had changed the oil I had my head directly under the oil plug when I loosened it and had gotten a face full of oil.

I remembered me and my dad putting the fully restored motor back into our first antique vehicle. I had only been about eight or so.

I remembered my mom arguing with my dad that it was time for supper and we needed to come eat instead of worrying about those pesky vehicles.

I remembered sitting out here for hours listening to the radio in my car right after I had first gotten it, not like I didn't have a perfectly good stereo upstairs.

I remembered Sammy sitting in the seat of my car as I worked under the hood with my dad.

Speaking of Sammy, she came up and licked the side of my head whining. I wrapped my arms around her and hugged her to my chest. "I know, my love, I miss them too." I whispered into her neck as I cried in earnest.

Bella gingerly sat down on the concrete beside me and rubbed a hand soothingly up and down my back while I dealt with my emotions and past.

Once I had dealt with the memories it wasn't so bad entering the garage and seeing all the tools laid out where we had left them. I started putting them back into the tool box and when I went to shut the top lid, I saw something taped to the top of it that caught my attention. My dad and I never shut and locked the tool box because one of us was usually out here at least a couple times a week. I don't know what made me shut it this time but I felt like it needed to be shut and locked away.

"Not again. I can't handle it again." I whispered to myself as I pulled the envelope off the outside of the toolbox lid. It was addressed to me in my father's sloppy scrawl.

"Another letter?" Bella asked as she bent down to scratch between Sammy's eyes.

I nodded and tucked it into my back pocket to read once I got back in the house. Once I had walked all through the garage and shared some memories with Bella I knew it was time so I hit the button to close the garage and made my way back inside the house.

Once Bella and I were settled on the couch, I opened the letter. "These must have been my mother's idea. I didn't even know they were doing these." I explained to Bella as I tugged out the crisp aged pages from within.

My son,

Just so you know this was all your mother's idea. I hid this letter in the one place that I figure you will never look since we never shut the toolbox. But, if you do happen to find it then I guess that means that I am gone and you are no longer using the garage.

I am writing this to you for three reasons…

Because your mother terrifies me and I usually do whatever she asks of me.

Life, fortune, and mishaps are unpredictable; nobody knows how long he lives. Some words are better said early.

I am your father, and if I don't tell you these things, no one else will.

We are heading to your last championship game tomorrow and I couldn't be more proud. I always thought that you would go to college to be a doctor like me but you decided that you wanted to study architecture and business and I am okay with that and just as proud. You always had the eye for intricate details, even at a young age.

First, I would like to tell you that I love you. I know I have told you this every day since you were a little boy, but a parent can never tell their child enough that they love them. I am very proud of you for the man that you will become, I know you are strong and you have great morals, values, and principles, something I hope your mother and I have instilled in you.

On all the occasions I moaned to you to tidy your room, to wash the dishes, to take out the bins and to take the dog for a walk was for a reason. I hope you see that now and I hope you know these little chores were teaching you the value of working together and being a part of the family.

Telling the truth can be hard sometimes, as you'll now know, and you will probably know that it's the right thing to do, always. Treating people how you would like to be treated is something I know you were always good at and something I so much wanted to instill in you. I hope you have carried this through your life.

Remember the time we used to toss the ball back and forth in the back yard, those are some of my best memories. The time when you swore you would never hit the ball, I was so proud of you when you sucked it up and kept trying until you eventually hit it.

My biggest wish for you, son, is that you are happy and comfortable with your choices in life.

If you are reading this ridiculous letter that your mother made me write then I never got to replace it and that means that I am no longer with you in this life.

I just want you to know that as my son, I love you more than the very breath I take. I will see you soon, son. I hope that you tell all of your future children about me and your mother, even the silly stuff because sometimes that is the best stuff.

Good luck in life, my son, my life, my miracle.

Love,

Your father

I folded the pages back up and tucked them back in the envelope for safe keeping. "I pray they don't have any more stashed around this house. I really don't think I can handle it." I told Bella as she wiped the tears from my cheeks.

"But was it good to hear from them?" She asked quietly.

I nodded and settled into the couch to do as my father had said. Tell my children all about him and my mom.

Tuesday, July 31, 2012

BPOV

"Edward, is Sammy going to be alright down there?" I asked for what I am sure was the fiftieth time since we got to the airport almost an hour ago.

He groaned and nodded. "Bella it is only a two and a half hour flight. She will be fine. She seemed fine when they wheeled her away. She will probably sleep the entire time."

I rolled my eyes at him. "Well excuse me for worrying about YOUR dog. Will you be okay with our sons being put in the cargo area when we travel?" I snapped at him.

I immediately regretted the comment as soon as it was out of my mouth. He just laughed and threw an arm over my shoulder tugging me into his side. "I love you, Isabella. We are not travelling anywhere but to College Station for a LOOONG while."

I sniffled and nodded. "We still moving this weekend?"

He nodded. "Yeah, we are going up on Thursday to pick our furniture and stuff before the trucks come up on Saturday." He explained yet again.

I groaned. "It seems like that is all I have been doing is decorating houses all summer. Why can't I just order the stuff online and have it shipped to the house on Saturday?" I pleaded, even throwing in my best puppy dog eyes.

He just laughed. "Sounds great, love."

We settled in for the short flight home.

I hate to say it but I feel like this story is winding its way towards the finish line. 3 maybe 4 chapters left until the end. I know it makes me sad too

:(

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