Hello everyone! Happy New Year! Believe it or not but my biggest resolution is to actually update this story on time. Right now my betas have chapter 9 and 10 so hopefully next week you`ll get the next chapter.
A big thank you to Susan who is super busy but still made time to be a wonderful beta :)
Also Lo, Jan and Erin. You guys rock! Thank you for being so patient and such good readers. Also for your suggestions. Love you all.
CHAPTER 8.
BPOV
When we hear Josh calling Edward's name, we both turn around. He stares at us – obviously wanting an answer from his father.
"Daddy, why are you kissing Miss Bella? Is she your girlfriend now?"
Poor Edward looks like he`s about to pass out. I tell Josh that we were talking about grown up problems and that sometimes when you are very thankful for someone`s help you give them a kiss or a hug.
"Oh, like that time when auntie Rose gave me a kiss because I helped her to bake cookies! She said she couldn`t have done it without me!"
Without waiting for a word from us he runs back over to keep playing with Luke. We talk for a while until it starts becomes too cold for the girls. Edward helps me put them in their car seats and then we say goodbye.
When I get home I see my dad waiting anxiously in the porch. He practically runs to the car to get our stuff. "Jesus, Bells! How did you do it earlier?" Jasper comes to help me get the girls out of their car seats and we go inside with Luke following us. He's talking our ear off about everything he did with Josh at the park. He doesn`t mention anything about Edward kissing me but Alice starts teasing me about our "play date." When Luke sees his mom he adds, "You were right mommy, Josh was still going to be at the park when aunt Bella took me!"
We all turn to look at Alice, who looks like a cat who ate the canary. She won`t look me in the eye. My dad tells her that she should stop with the matchmaking game because I have enough things on my plate, without worrying about my love life. Both Jasper and my mom are laughing until I tell them all to just chill. All of their noise has caused Emilia to start crying.
After Mily`s much needed change and then a small tantrum from Lizy, I finally settle both girls in their cribs for a nap. I head to my bathroom so I can take a quick shower and hopefully a little nap. I pass on dinner telling everyone I'll come downstairs and eat later. The truth is, everything Edward and I talked about at the park has been circling in my head. The conversation left me with a little bit of sadness for him and for Josh. He is just a little boy and he has already suffered so much. I quietly cry while taking my shower, not wanting my family to worry about what`s going on.
After my shower, I change into pajamas and take a nap for almost two hours, waking up just in time to feed my girls. When I get to the nursery mom and dad are already there and they insist I go back to bed. As I let out a yawn my stomach grumbles, making me realize that I am starving. I was so tired that I forgot to grab something to eat. I go downstairs and see a small note from Alice outside the microware. She cooked macaroni and cheese the way I like and saved me some. There's also a portion of chicken salad. While my food is heating I go back to my bedroom to get the baby monitor and my cell phone.
I get there just in time to hear it ringing. It`s from a number I don`t recognize so I answer the call with a little hesitation. When I hear the voice on the other side I immediately realize it as Edward`s.
"Hello, is this Bella? Well of course it is, you wrote your number in my phone so I know its correct…" –I start giggling and then I hear another voice yelling - "Daddy tell her! Tell her I want my sisters and Luke to be here too!" This time we both laugh while Edward reassures Josh he will tell me once we start talking.
"Sorry Bella, I guess Josh can be a little impatient sometimes. Listen, umm, with everything going on lately, and the conversation we had at the park this afternoon, I forgot to tell you that Josh`s birthday is going to be next Friday. We are having a small gathering at my parents' house. Just family… and, well, we consider you guys part of our family since our kids practically adopted each other." I start laughing very hard and so does he. We talk a little bit more about the details of the small party. He asks me to tell my parents, Alice, Luke and Jasper that they are invited as well and that his mom will take Josh tomorrow to invite us officially.
After we hang up I go downstairs to get my dinner and start thinking about what to get Josh for his birthday. According to Edward he loves trains, cars, and everything Mickey. I decide to take Luke to help me choose his gift and also bake some Mickey Mouse themed cupcakes.
The week passes quickly and suddenly it is Wednesday. I pick up Luke before school is over and we are joined by Alice. She has been embarrassed and acting a little shy around me after last weekend, even though I already told her she shouldn`t feel bad. After all she`s always been a romantic and only wants me to be happy. I also told her I already am - my babies make me happy. We take my mom`s Durango since it is the only vehicle with enough space for all three car seats. We are headed to Seattle to get Josh`s presents and to have a meeting with people from my publishing house. We need to discuss the promotion of my new book that will hit the stores in 3 months. It`s the third book of my latest series about superheroes who fight against global warming. They have been successful until now, so we need to schedule some presentations of it. While I do that, my sister spends a couple of hours with Angela at her place and is joined by Seth, who is driving back with us to Forks.
I arrive at my meeting wearing a black and grey sweater dress with silver flats; people in the office immediately start asking about my babies so I show them some pictures. I tell everyone how they`re already two months and gorgeous. Suddenly I hear a voice I could recognize anywhere. Tanya.
"Well, well, well, look who we have here! Miss Bella Swan!" – She runs to hug me – "I missed you girl! Haven`t seen you in months, we need to catch up soon. We will have time during your book tour I guess, but let`s sit and talk business first!"
We discuss the book tour. I will be away for ten days to promote the book on the East Coast, where I will a few schools and, of course, have a reading in New York. After a few days off, I will return to the West Coast to continue promoting it here for another week. Several schools have invited me to do a reading because they have my previous books in their libraries. Tanya will be coming along on the tour with me and I can tell she`s excited to catch up, but I already feel anxious about going on a tour without my babies. One thing is for sure - I will cry a lot. Hopefully they could join me in a few cities, but I'm not sure. I guess when the time comes I will have to cross that bridge. I am happy she is going with me; I've known her since I released my first book five years ago. She is a great girl so I'm sure we will have fun!
After I leave the office, I meet Ang, Alice, the kids, and Seth at the mall. We immediately head to the toy store to pick out some presents. We choose Mickey Mouse Clubhouse toys and a soccer goal set that we are sure the birthday boy will enjoy. Alice suggests we also get him some clothes, so we go buy him a few items that have Mickey on them. While in the clothes section, I spot the cutest Minnie Mouse onesies and I immediately grab them so I can dress Mily and Lizy to match the theme of the party. Wow I'm definitely Alice`s sister! When we are finished, we head to the grocery store so I can get a few ingredients that I still need for the cupcakes. We don't get home until almost nine and everyone is completely exhausted. After a quick shower and bath for the babies, we all have a peaceful night of sleep.
On Friday morning I get up early to bake the cupcakes and start with the decorations for them. I bake around 30 cupcakes and my mom helps me with the girls while I'm busy in the kitchen. At around noon, I nurse them so they can take a nap . I take my clothes to the bathroom so I can take a quick shower. Last Wednesday was the first time I wore makeup since the birthing of Emilia and Elizabeth so I decide to use a little today as well. After getting out of the shower, I check myself in the mirror. I still look bloated around my belly, but I know that in time whatever extra weight I still have will go away. Even if it doesn`t, I guess that would be fine with me. I put on black leggings, red flats, and a red blouse with small Mickey Mouse buttons in the front (Alice`s creation) so I can have an easy access to nurse the babies when I need it. I apply only lipstick and eyeliner. I dry my hair a little and then put a headband in it. I leave the bathroom and go dress my girls in their onesies with gorgeous matching tutus and little red shoes.
My mother decides she needs to take tons of pictures of this day, so she starts by taking one of me and the girls with our themed outfits. We grab our stuff and drive to the Cullen`s house. When we get there I notice that Alice`s car is already here. Before I open my door I hear commotion and see Josh and Luke running to my car screaming, "They`re here, they`re here!" I notice Edward walking behind them with a huge guy, someone even bigger than Seth, that I suspect must be his brother. He opens the door for me, greeting me with a hug that surprises us both, and then he blushes and introduces the big guy as Emmet. They help me with the girls and I take the cupcakes inside while Seth takes the presents.
When we enter the house I spot Esme and Rosalie finishing up with the decorations. I greet them and then ask for Carlisle and they tell me he`s outside hanging the piñata Emmet got for Josh. Oookay.
When my parents arrive and Carlisle finishes, we all go outside. Rosalie and I sit together and start talking about the girls. She confesses to me how this year they want to start trying to have a baby. I hug her and tell her that everything will be great, and that Emmet seems like a good man.
"Yeah, he is a really good man. He's very goofy and loves kid. He`s like a big kid himself you know? So I guess it will be an interesting adventure." Then we hear Emmett and Edward laughing about something while they start getting the grill ready. My mom and Esme are holding the girls as they coo and aah at them. Ali, Jasper and Seth are playing with the boys and my dad and Charlie are sitting by their wives drinking a beer. While I look at my babies to see if they are fine I feel someone`s look on me. I look up and catch Edward staring. I smile and he smiles back adding a wink that I'm about to return when I hear Rosalie whisper in my ear, "So you and Edward huh?" I gasp and turn to find her looking at me with a very amused expression. "Oh Bella, there`s obviously some chemistry between you two, come on! I know that maybe you think it`s too soon but I do think you like each other and you guys should get to know each other more. Just to see what happens, don`t you think?"
Just when I'm about to try to give her an answer I hear one of my girls crying. I quickly stand and pick up Elizabeth who seems to be hungry. Esme takes me to Edward`s bedroom so I can nurse her. I go sit by the bed and unbutton my blouse and unclasp my bra. She starts eating immediately, my poor girl, she's acting like she was starving. I start kissing her little knuckles while she looks at me. Then I start singing a small song my mom used to sing to Luke when he was a baby and she begins to doze off.
"Sorry to bother you but Emilia seems to be hungry as well... Oh!" I quickly cover myself when I hear Edward approaching. "Oh, Bella, I`m so sorry! I should've knocked before entering the room. I think Mily is hungry so I came looking for you. I can hold her while you guys finish." I keep singing to Lizy while hearing him humming to Mily. When Lizy stops eating I slowly set her on Edward`s bed and take Mily in my arms. We start talking about the party and Emmet`s piñata for Josh. I tell Edward what Rosalie told me and he says having a baby of their own will be wonderful. He thinks both of them would make great parents.
Soon, Mily finishes eating and he holds both girls while I fix my clothes. He looks cute holding them like that and when we go downstairs to join the party his mother takes a picture of him saying what I already am thinking, "He looks so cute holding them!"
Luke and Josh start hitting the piñata while the adults take a lot of pictures. Neither one of them are able to break it, so the adults take turns. Everyone laughs a lot when this happens. After that, we go sit near the grill and Rosalie helps me put the girls on a portable crib inside the house for a nap. We laugh and talk for a couple of hours and then Edward goes inside to retrieve the cake and some of the cupcakes so we can enjoy both.
"Happy Birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday dear Josh, Happy Birthday to you!" We all sing to him, and Alice tells him to make a wish before he blows out his candles. He looks so adorable trying to concentrate so he can make his wish, that I take a picture of his cute little face. Josh sees the flash go off and he asks for a picture with his sisters. My mother and my dad are already holding them so they give the girls to me and we pose with Josh. He then asks his dad to join us and hold one of the girls. I give him Emilia and we pose together again. Many more pictures are taken with different combinations of people to document this fun party.
While the guys clean everything up outside, we go inside so Josh can open his presents in the living room. He screams, laughs and says "holy cow" a lot of times as he sees what he got. In the end I think we all went a little overboard while shopping for his birthday presents. He got a tablet, a bunch of clothes, lots of books, and different toys that he promises to share with Luke and his sisters when they visit each other. "Maybe when they are big like me they will play with my toys because now they can`t! Bella when are they going to walk? I want to run in the park with them! Right, Luke?" We all laugh while Carlisle explains to the boys that it will take a couple of years for the girls to be able to play and run with them in the park. For now, even though they can`t run around, the boys can play with the twins while they are in their crib or we are holding them.
Luke adds "Or we can play with Uncle Seth! He is like a boy, too! He likes to play with me in the park, right Uncle?" Seth nods and starts teaching them to how to use the new tablet.
When it is time for us to leave, we start picking up our stuff (especially me) and Seth carries everything to my car. We say goodbye and everyone agrees that it was a great time and that we should get together again soon. We all go outside and Seth helps me put the girls in their car seats while I say goodbye to Josh and Edward. I give Josh a big hug and a kiss and then give Edward a hug. He thanks me for everything while we hug and Josh asks "Are you going to kiss Bella again, Daddy?" We step apart and everyone is looking at us in a mix of amusement, humor, and… is that excitement I see in my dad`s face? Well, kill me now! "Bella you said that when adults are thankful they sometimes say thank you with a kiss or a hug, so my daddy hugged you, and now he needs to kiss you like he did in the park!" Emmett starts laughing and says, "Oh man! Busted by your own kid!" Everyone joins Emmett laughing. At least that will keep the embarrassment from getting worse. Still, before getting in my car, Edward hugs me again and gives me a soft kiss on the cheek.
On the drive home Seth keeps talking about the party and how much fun he had with everyone. When I don`t respond, he starts teasing me about Edward and how Emmett is right, he got busted by his own kid. I tell him that it isn't like that with us. We are becoming friends. He says that he can tell that we like each other, and that it is just a matter of time until something more happens. I tell him he is insane and he says I'm too stubborn to admit it. How I love my little brother!
When we get home, my parents join in on the teasing and I let them enjoy it for a while. Then we go upstairs and my dad helps me give the girls a bath. He says that he thinks Edward is a good man and that maybe we should get to know each other more. I tease him about him talking with Rose or watching too many romantic movies. Together we give Mily and Lizy a bottle and after they fall sleep I put them in their crib.
I go back to my room, take a shower and get changed in my pajamas. I start looking at the pics from the party - laughing at all of the funny ones. Just when I`m about to fall sleep, I see I have a new text from Edward with a picture attached - the one he took of Josh with me and the girls. It says, "Thank you for everything today, and for those beautiful girls who make not only my son, but the whole family, very happy. Sweet dreams."
I smile at his words and while I'm looking at the picture again I get another text. This one is from Alice. Her text message has the other picture attached, the one with Edward in it. And it says four words: "you are so fucked."
I laugh and look at the picture again. Well, apparently I am fucked indeed.
A/N Thoughts?
thanks so much for reading 3
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