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Chapter 21

Saturday September 29, 2012

We had been in our house for almost two months now and I was still having a hard time finding things. It was frustrating but I absolutely loved the house and the yard, they were amazing. The pool in the backyard was the best feature if you asked me. Rose, Alice, and I were currently lounging on floaty rafts in the cool water while the guys manned the grill and Sammy bathed in her small kiddie pool.

"Bella, I am coming to your house every day until summer is over." Rose said as she splashed some cool water over her exposed stomach where the latest McCarty girl resided. She knew it was unrealistic to visit my pool everyday but a pregnant lady could dream couldn't they?

"Hmm… I don't know why we bought the house; I could live in just the pool." I told her as I too splashed some cool water over me so that I didn't burn so badly this time. My tan had pretty much come back, but I still tended to blister if I didn't keep a check on myself.

Alice didn't put anything into the conversation since she had her ear buds firmly planted in her ears ignoring us as she sunbathed. She had come in a sour mood; something was going on with her and Jasper. She would tell us when she was ready.

"I wish we could put a pool in at our place, but it would be too much of a hassle with the girls running around." Rose said quietly.

"I know I'm worried about this one when our boys get up to crawling and walking. Edward's going to have to put a fence or something around it." I told her as I gazed lovingly at my husband as he stood shirtless at the BBQ grill with Emmett and Jasper. Emmett appeared to be on the phone and Edward and Jasper seemed to be having a serious conversation. I prayed that Edward was getting to the bottom of the issue with our friends.

"I wonder when Ali is going to tell us that she's already married and trying to have a baby." Rose questioned changing the subject.

Edward had spilled his guts about it the second day we were living in this house to turn my anger off of him and onto Alice. But instead I had called Rosie and told her who in turn called Edward and chewed him a new asshole for withholding pertinent information.

Our whole argument had started over him leaving his dirty socks beside the bed causing me to have to bend down and pick them up, which was extremely difficult since my stomach prevented me from seeing anything in my walking path.

"I don't know, you would think she would tell us already." I commented. "It's not like it's a big deal or anything, I just don't understand why she's not telling us."

"So, what did you guys do for your birthday since you adamantly refused any gifts or parties?" Rose asked but was interrupted by Emmett cannon balling into the pool between Rose and me causing us to bounce off our rafts.

"Emmett, I swear to god if you weren't already getting your balls split open I would do it for you. Without anesthesia." Rose screamed at him once she had resurfaced.

I scowled at him as I stood in the deep end of the pool. "Emmett, you know I can't get back on this raft by myself, you idiot." I told him as I began my swim to the steps.

"I'll help you love and then I will help Rose castrate Em." Edward said as he slipped over the side of the pool and tugged my raft to him.

I continued to glare daggers at Emmett as he was rapidly apologizing to his very pregnant wife. "Thanks, barman, I appreciate it." I told Edward as he approached me slowly in the water.

"No problem, love but I need to talk to you for a minute first." He told me quietly tugging me into him the best my stomach would allow.

"What's up?"

"Jasper's lease is up in two weeks and they need a place to live; that's what's wrong with Ali. What do you think abo-"

I had the perfect solution. "They can move into my old house." I interrupted him quickly.

He smiled, nodded, and picked me up in his arms and maneuvered the floaty underneath me. He groaned when he saw my ample boobs practically on display in my bikini that I had worn back in Hawaii. It had properly covered me then but not so much now.

"Bella, do you not have a bigger bikini, love?" He asked as he openly stared at me.

I nodded. "I do, Edward, but I like this one because it causes less tan lines." I told him saucily.

"You know what this bikini does to me, love." He said quietly.

I nodded and leaned forward to kiss him quickly on the lips. "I do, but too bad the doc said no sex." I reminded him quietly not wanting to alarm anybody else. Just last week the doctor had put me on moderate bed rest because I was dilated to two centimeters. I was almost thirty five weeks pregnant, but the doctor wanted me to keep the boys in for as long as possible.

Rose was hopeful that we would have our kids on the same day, but I was doubtful because from what Edward told me she was notorious for going past her due date and it wasn't until November first. I didn't see us lasting that long but I was doing whatever I could to protect Jayden and Ryder. Rose still complained that something felt off about this pregnancy, which is why she was making Emmett get a vasectomy while she recovered from childbirth.

"Don't remind me." He said as he pecked me lightly on the lips again before hopping out of the pool and going back to the grill so Jasper could jump in and cool off.

Alice was still floating in silence with her eyes closed because she was pissed off. I decided I was tired of the silent treatment and paddled over to where she was anchored in the shallow end. I splashed some water on her being mindful of the IPod she had tucked in her bikini top. "Hey!" She screeched as she opened her eyes and tugged the ear buds out.

"Don't you hey me, Alice Whitlock. This is my damned pool and you are being rude." I told her not catching my slip up until she gasped and slammed her hand over her mouth.

"How did you know?" She whispered to me with tears in her eyes.

"Your husband told my husband who gave it up when I was pissed at him - almost two months ago. Your husband spilled while we were in Forks. Everything." I told her as I glared at her.

"I'm so sorry, B. I just didn't know how to tell you. I didn't want to take anything away from yours and Rosalie's pregnancies." She whispered.

"Oh, it's not just Bella you need to apologize to, Mrs. Whitlock." Rose said from the deep end of the pool.

Alice groaned and threw her head back in exasperation. "I'm sorry, Rosie. I really am, we got married right after the accident. I just didn't know what I would do if I lost him. I understand now Bella, about being in the heat of the moment and just doing it." She explained.

I nodded because that is exactly how I ended up married to my wonderful husband. "Oh, you're forgiven you little pixie. Now, tell us what is bothering you today." Rose demanded as we situated our rafts on either side of Alice's tiny one.

She took a deep breath. "Jasper let his lease lapse and I gave my apartment up three months ago. I told the idiot to call the landlord last month, but did he do it? No. The landlord called this morning and told us we had two weeks to get out." She explained.

I smiled at her. "My husband spilled the beans on this, too, but I have the perfect solution for you, Ali. You and Jasper can move into my old house since it's still vacant." I told her as I splashed water on her causing her to squeal in happiness just as Jasper began slipping in the pool.

"Cupcake…" He whispered as he sat down on the steps beside her and she glared at him before throwing us a devilish smirk that told us she was going to make him pay for his stupidity just a bit longer.

EPOV

I could tell when Alice and Jasper got here that something was wrong because Alice didn't say a word to him. She just hugged my neck before going straight out to the pool where she ignored Rose and Bella, too.

"Jazz, what is wrong with Ali?" I asked him as I placed the hamburgers on the grill. Emmett stood off to the side on the phone with his garage.

Jasper groaned and hung his head. "She's pissed because I forgot to call my landlord and ask him for another lease on my condo even though she reminded me last month and he called this morning saying we had two weeks to move since my lease was up."

"What are y'all going to do?" I asked him quietly.

He shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know, Edward. Two weeks isn't enough time to find a house, put an offer down, and close on it."

I nodded in understanding because it had taken us over a month to close on our house. "I may have a solution for you, let me talk to Bella first, but she may be up to selling you her house." I told him just as Emmett raced for the pool causing the girls to scream in anger at him.

"Okay, thanks Edward, I appreciate it, man." He said as he clapped me on the shoulder and took the spatula from me taking over the grill.

I headed towards the pool as I watched my wife shoot daggers at Emmett who was trying to defend himself from Rosie.

After Jasper slipped into the pool by Alice I assumed everything would be smoothed over until I heard her scream at him. "How could you tell them without me?"

Needless to say Jazz had a shit load of sucking up to do and he was doing a fine job of it while I manned the grill.

Just as I was plating the burgers I felt Bella's arms wrap around my waist from the side. "Your sons are hungry, barman."

I chuckled and called to my friends who were still sucking up to their wives. "Dinner's ready guys."

We all headed inside to eat.

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

BPOV

I groaned as I eased up from the bed, trying my damnedest not to wake Edward up. Just because his kids wouldn't let me sleep didn't mean I wouldn't let him sleep. He had been working his ass off with the building the new club was going in. He was trying to get most of the grunt work done before the babies got here so that he could take a few weeks off to help me out with them.

I eased myself up to the bathroom, and then into the nursery that we had just completed last week. We still needed all the little stuff for the boys but I wanted to wait until I had my baby shower before we went and bought anything. All we had bought was the furniture and wall decorations. We had settled on having a monkey themed nursery and had commissioned a local artist, Zafrina, to paint a wall mural. It was beautiful with the tree painted in the corner and up onto the ceiling with branches stemming out over both cribs that sat on opposite walls of the tree. Off of each branch was a monkey and the boys' names painted above their cribs.

Other than the cribs, changing tables, car seats, dressers, nightstand, and rocking chair, the room was completely empty. I sat in the rocking chair, propped my feet up and picked up Where the Red Fern Grows and began reading it to the boys hoping to calm them down so I could go back and snuggle with their daddy before he had to get up and go back to work.

I had never realized how much work he put into renovating old buildings, but he was adamant that certain features of the early 1900's building be preserved and worked his ass off to do it. I became so engrossed in the book that I didn't hear Edward shuffling into the room until he spoke.

"Boys keeping you up again, love?" He whispered and nearly made me jump out of the rocker.

"Jesus, Edward, you are going to send me into early labor sneaking up on me like that." I scolded him as I laid the book back on the nightstand.

He just chuckled and folded himself onto the floor beside me. "Sorry, love, I didn't mean to sneak up on you." He placated.

I just chuckled and rubbed a soothing hand over our boys. "Yeah yeah, I was trying to get your sons to go to sleep so I could go snuggle with their daddy."

"Really? Need me to talk them down?" He asked as his hand joined mine over where our son kicked forcefully against my stomach.

The boys were both laying head down and on top of each other so when they kicked it was usually up in my ribs and lung area and hurt like a bitch, but at least I knew that they were okay in there. I nodded at Edward to talk to them because it usually worked when he talked quietly to them.

"Boys, you need to listen to me for a minute. It is nearly three a.m. Even though you don't know what that means yet it, is time to go to sleep. Your mama needs her rest so that you guys can stay in there just a little bit longer, okay? Plus, papa wants some snuggle time with your mama, so can you boys please go to sleep for me? I love you more than anything in this world besides your mama. Goodnight, boys. Papa love's you." He whispered placing two kisses to the underside of my stomach as he stroked a soothing hand over it.

I sniffled and wiped the tears off at his sweet words to Jayden and Ryder. "Works like magic, every time." I told him as he stood up from the floor and held a hand out to me.

I took it and let him lead me back to our bedroom across the hall.

EPOV

Things at the club had been progressing slowly but greatly. I had decided to do an all age's club with two levels, both with bar areas as well as bathrooms. Doing an all age's club was tricky, but the key would be to ID everybody and stamp the ones under 21 on their hand as they walked in the door. It would take vigilant watching from me and my entire staff but I think we could make better profits this way.

Even though Bella tried all the time to ease out of the bed so that she didn't wake me up, it still woke me up when I searched out for her warmth. It was rather amazing; we haven't even been together that long, but I can't recall what life was like before she came along and I don't want to try. Once I had her and our boys settled back in the bed, I snuggled up behind her draping my arm around her and joining her hand against her stomach.

"I love you, Bella." I whispered against her neck.

Things continued to progress over the next few days but I was becoming irritated and frustrated at some of Bella's pregnancy quirks, like, not buying anything for the boys until after the baby shower, which was ridiculous. She could go into labor any day now and we would have nothing for the boys.

So, I had been buying little things and just keeping them stored in the trunk of my car. I didn't go all out, but I had found several outfits that I just couldn't pass up. I had sent pictures of the outfits to all the women that were coming to the baby shower so that they didn't buy the same outfits. They always texted back with huge smiley faces, but comments that Bella was going to kill me if she found out, but I told them that if they kept their mouths shut until the baby shower, she wouldn't find out.

Several days later, four in fact, Bella was put on complete bed rest when we found out that she was dilated to three centimeters, but showing no signs of going into active labor.

I did everything within my power to make her comfortable and happy, but there was nothing I could really do about her having to either lay in bed or on the couch all day long except for an hour a day for bathroom breaks.

"Baby, what can I do to make things better?" I asked my crying wife as she lay on the couch.

She shook her head and buried her head beneath the pillow. "Just go away, Edward. You are the reason I'm stuck on this damned couch in the first place."

I sighed and rubbed a hand down her back trying to soothe her. "I'm sorry, love, if I could take your place I would and you know that. And I'm not going anywhere until you are calmed down." I told her rather sternly.

She sighed and took a deep breath. "There, are you happy now? I'm fine and calmed down. You can leave and go to work now." She said as she tossed what I guess was supposed to be a believable smile.

I wasn't buying it. "I call bullshit, Bella. Now, tell me what the hell prompted all of this?" I asked her softly but firmly as I rubbed a hand up and down her back.

She growled, yes growled, at me in irritation. "I just hate being stuck on this damned couch or in the bed all the time when you get to go out and go to work. You could go anywhere you want to while I am stuck here all day every day."

I chuckled. "I understand, love, I really do. I can be here with you if you want me to. I can call and cancel all the contractors coming in today if that would make you feel better." I told her gently. It would set me back tremendously but I would do it if it would make her happier.

She shook her head. "That's okay, barman, I know you are needed at the club. I promise I will be okay; I am just a little frustrated. I didn't mean to take it out on you, I'm sorry."

"Isn't Alice and Rosalie coming over today for a swim and a visit?" I asked her softly.

She nodded. "Yeah, but I don't think Rosie's coming. She texted a little bit ago and said she is cramping and just not feeling good." She explained.

I nodded. "Yeah, this pregnancy has been weird for her since the beginning. You have a good time with Alice planning the baby shower, love. I love you." I told her as I kissed her gently on the lips.

She nodded. "Okay, tell Austin I said hello and try not to kill him today, okay?"

I laughed and agreed. Austin was a guy that I had hired to help me run Truth or Dare.

Friday, October 5, 2012

BPOV

"Edward, these are your kids too. If I have to suffer through this shower then so do YOU!" Bella practically screamed at me from her perch in our bed.

"Baby, I'm sorry, but I am needed at Truth or Dare. Today is an important day for the club, you know that, baby." I told her as I sat down beside her. Things had progressed greatly with the new club and today was the day the fire marshal and city inspectors were coming to give the approval and go ahead for us to start putting up drywall and stuff.

"I know, but I feel miserable being stuck in bed all day." She complained yet again.

"I know you do love, how about this? I will go to the club speak to all the official people and then come back here and join you at the baby shower? Will that work?" I asked her quietly as I ran a soft hand over our sons. I was amazed that she didn't have any stretch marks but she had been vigilant about the daily cocoa butter sessions and it had worked. She had a beautiful tan going and her stomach was shiny and occasionally I could see one of the boys' feet as he stretched and pressed against her stomach.

She nodded and sniffled. "Need help getting downstairs to the couch?" I asked her softly.

She nodded and we eased our way down the stairs and she took up her place in her mommy chair as I called it. It was one of those chair and a half's with an ottoman, all in a sage green color. "Alice will be here in a few minutes but I need to scram so that I can get back here soon, okay?"

She nodded and sniffed. "I love you, barman."

"I love you too, baby." I told her as I placed one last kiss on her lips.

I met Austin at the doors to Truth and Dare and we went inside to get started. Austin was only twenty one years old but had a shitload of ambition and had just graduated with his business degree from Texas A&M. He reminded me a lot of myself when I was that age so he was a pleasure to work with.

BPOV

I am kind of glad that the girls had talked me into having this baby shower, but I was hurting like nobody's business in my lower back and had been for several hours now. I groaned as another pain gripped my back and it caught the attention of Alice as she brought in the cake. Sammy actually raised her head off the floor at the sight of the cake but never moved from her pillow in the corner.

I had never had a dog when I was growing up but Sammy wasn't bad at all, even though Edward had her spoiled rotten. I was glad that our boys were going to have a dog to grow up with. I knew Sammy was getting old but after she passed we would definitely get another puppy for the boys even though we would all be heartbroken.

BPOV

I smiled at her and shook my head and she just smiled back. We had resorted back to our old ways now that they had settled into my old house in Houston and it was public knowledge about her marriage. I mouthed 'I'm fine, Ali' to her as she kept glancing at me with a worried expression on her face.

We proceeded through the cake and snacks and finally it was time for the best part - presents. But Edward still wasn't here and I was beginning to get worried that something had gone wrong with the inspectors or the fire marshal. I pulled out my phone and texted him to make sure everything was going alright, but was interrupted as he burst through the front door with a huge bag hanging from his fingers.

"Edward! What did you do?" I asked him as he walked to me with a huge smile on his face.

"I went baby shopping, love. You can't tell me no this time since it's the baby shower." He said cheekily as he leaned down and laid a smooch on my lips that caused all the ladies around me to awww at us.

I playfully scowled at him and held my hand out for the bag. "It figures you would find the perfect excuse to buy stuff for the boys. I had good reasons for not wanting to buy anything yet besides the furniture." I told him as I grabbed him by his tie and tugged him down for another kiss.

He complied before laying the bag in my lap before he took a seat on the arm of my mommy chair. I dug my hand into the bag and just as I grabbed the first thing in the bag I felt a searing pain shoot through my back and my pants became soaked.

I gasped, dropped the bag and looked at Edward with shocked eyes. I guess our sons were determined to make an appearance at their baby shower also. "It's time." He whispered as a smile appeared on his face.

All at once everybody jumped into action. Alice ran upstairs to grab mine and Edward's bag. Rosalie called the hospital to let them know we were coming. Edward helped me up and to the bathroom so I could change my pants and panties. Angela started escorting everybody else out the door. Bree grabbed my socks and shoes and helped me put them on.

We were soon on our way to the hospital back in Houston. We knew that with this being our first pregnancy that we should be able to make it there in time since it was a little over an hour's drive. We had never switched hospitals since I really liked the doctor and the hospital in Houston.

Pretty soon I was up in my room and ready to kill Edward every time a contraction gripped me, it was even worse since I had opted to go au natural.

Seven hours after I had been admitted to the hospital, thirty minutes of pushing, and Edwards soothing voice helping me through the labor and delivery, we welcomed our two bundles into the world.

EPOV

I couldn't believe it but Bella had done it, she successfully delivered both of our boys naturally. I couldn't believe it and I don't know if I wanted to attempt anything like that, but she was absolutely amazing.

As the nurses took the boys to get cleaned up and get their immunizations, I fired off a quick text to our entire family letting them know that the boys had arrived and were perfect.

Jayden Carlisle Cullen born at 11:52 p.m. on October 5, 2012, weighing in at 7lbs 4 ounces, 19.2 inches long and Ryder Charles Cullen born at 12:02 a.m. on October 6, 2012, weighing in at 7lbs 2 ounces, 18.7 inches long. Mama's doing perfectly!

Bella laughed as my phone immediately started beeping like crazy. "I tried to tell you that would happen. Ain't no way in hell they went to sleep knowing we were here." Bella said from her bed, looking beautiful but worn out.

I hung my head. "I know you did, love. I'm just so proud of you and them. Can you imagine how big they would have been if you carried them to their original due date?"

She groaned. "I don't even want to imagine it. Hell, I am almost 4 weeks early and they are still over seven pounds each."

I chuckled. "I know, but you did an amazing job." I told her as I sat down on the edge of the bed so we could both see my phone.

Damnit man, those are some big babies. Tell Baby Bell that she is super woman in my books! – Emmett

Congrats, guys, love the names. –Jasper

Aww, how sweet. Congratulations to you both. You will have to bring the boys to visit when they are old enough. – Emily

Edward Cullen, I will kick your ass if you marred that amazing body of hers. Congrats! – Bree

I am bringin' all the shower gifts to you tomorrow to open! Congratulations on the boys! – Alice

I am trying to stop Alice. Congratulations B! Too bad we didn't get what we wanted! – Rosie

Congratulations, B! I will come see you tomorrow! – Angela

Congrats my boy, those are some big babies. You will have to bring my grandsons out to meet us in a few weeks. – Margaret & George

"Wow! I hope Rosie stops Alice from bringing all those gifts up here." Bella groaned as she laid her head back.

I nodded and kissed the side of her head. "Tired, love?"

She nodded. "Sleep then. I will wake you up when they bring Jayden and Ryder back." I told her and got up from the bed.

She nodded again but patted the side of her bed. "Lay with me, papa?"

"You sure, love?" I asked, worried that I would hurt her.

She nodded and scooted over a little bit and I laid down carefully beside her.

The babies are here! Yay!

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