BPOV
After a few days of getting Edward back into our daily routine things were starting to calm down. The only thing that has really changed was him letting Kenzie sleep in our bed instead of her own.
I woke up like I have been every morning this past week with his face buried in my neck and Kenzie settled in between us.
Edward's phone started going crazy on my nightstand. "Shut it off." I mumbled snuggling Kenz closer to me.
He kissed my neck, which seemed to become a new habit of his. He leaned over me grabbing his phone.
"Cullen," he answered sleepily. "Tanya it's seven o'clock, Bella and Mackenzie are trying to sleep." Ah great his supermodel agent.
"If I remember correctly I'm taking time off for the next two months." I could hear her voice escalating.
"I'll talk to you at a decent hour," He sighed closing his phone. "Sorry."
"Too early for the twit." I groaned flipping on my side taking Kenzie with me.
"That's not nice." He said in my ear, pulling me back to him.
"Hmm." I mumbled falling back to sleep. I woke up a couple hours later to Kenzie's squeals.
"No bath Daddy!" she cried.
"Kenzers, you need one before we go to Nana's." He explained calmly.
"But I'm already very clean." She argued.
"You have chocolate and syrup on you from the pancakes."
"Mommy." She sighed climbing up on my bed. I was quick though and pulled my comforter over my head.
"Mommy disappeared." I mumbled through the blanket.
"No you didn't?" she said pulling it off my face.
I took in the sight of her. Her curls were stinking to her chocolaty face. "Monk, your hair is all sticky."
"See this is why you need a bath." Edward said scooping her up into his arms.
"Nooooo." She whined kicking her feet.
"Mackenzie listen to Daddy and let him give you a bath." I tried in my best stern mother voice.
I could hear her sniffles going down the hall. I went into our master bathroom and took my shower. Before I could make my way out to get dressed Kenzie plowed into me.
She had her towel wrapped around her, but I could tell she made a jail break from Edward. Her hair was drenched, clinging to her little face.
"Hold it right there." Edward said firmly.
I giggled taking in his appearance. His hair and clothes were soaked as well. "Did Daddy get a bath too?"
He ignored my giggle fest and swooped Mackenzie up. "Monkey we weren't finished."
"I was cold."
"The sooner we get you dried and dressed the warmer you'll be."
"Edward you can get your shower and I'll get her ready for the party." I offered pulling my towel closer to me.
"I can do it." He insisted.
"I know you can…"
"I'll get her ready." He snapped.
"Grouchy." I mumbled getting my underwear and sundress out of my drawer.
Once Edward was done getting dressed we left and let me say he looked very GQ in his black slacks, white button down and skinny tie. The only thing that stood out were his gray Chucks.
"You know my mother might kill us." He said following me out the door.
"Why's that?" I asked innocently.
"Look at our shoes." He nodded toward Kenzie and I, who were wearing our Chucks.
"We're comfy." I shrugged.
"You're both wearing dresses, Swan."
"That's sexist." I stated picking up Kenzie and strapped her in the booster seat.
Esme had Edward's welcome home party planned since he left. When he would leave on assignment she would worry until he came back to us safely and every time there was a party. She was also the only person in the world that knew about my love for her son. In a way she was my support system and cheerleader. She told me never to give up on him because she knew one day he would wake up and see what's in front of him.
Edward pulled his Volvo into the driveway and paused before getting out. "I know the party is for me, but I don't really want to deal with Em and Rose."
"It should be fine, Rosalie was pleasant the other day." I assured him.
"Quit reading Austen novels."
"That's not all I read." I defended.
"I want out!" Kenzie demanded.
"Dearest Father you shall grant our bipolar princess her wish." He nodded getting out.
Before we knew it Emmett's Hulk self-flung the door open breaking her out of her booster seat. "Uncle Emmy!"
"Oh God." I groaned not noticing Edward opening my door.
"You're going to spoil her." Edward said to him trying to imitate my voice.
"So." Emmett shrugged looking at me. "By the way tell me why all of you have the same shoes on?"
"It wasn't planned." I sighed biting my lip.
"You're jealous that Bella and I have amazing style." Edward stated throwing his arm around my shoulders.
We walked into Esme and Carlisle's house; it was packed with people we knew and some strangers here or there.
"Mom went all out." He said looking around at the waiters and food tables.
"Doesn't she always?"
"The three of you look so precious!" Esme gushed grabbing Edward's hands and mine.
"I guess we're not going to be bitched at about the shoes." He whispered in my ear, causing me to nudge him.
"Behave." I whispered back.
She pulled me into a big hug. "Bella you look absolutely beautiful."
"Thank you." I breathed out.
"No need to state the obvious."
"Oh how I missed my youngest smart ass," she smiled kissing Edward's cheek. "Now please hand over my adorable granddaughter, I need to show her off."
She took Kenzie off of Emmett and carried her out the back door to a group of people who were on the patio.
"I'm going with Em to get us drinks."
"Okay." I nodded.
I walked down the hallway lined with pictures. It was my favorite part of the house. My mom left my dad when I was Kenzie's age and wasn't really there. When I met Edward and Emmett, Esme soon replaced Renee's parental position in my life. She had all of our school pictures on the wall and about a million group pictures hanging up. I stopped when I got to the one she had of Edward and me after I gave birth to Mackenzie. We both had goofy grins on our faces. I held her in my lap and Edward was perched at my side looking at both of us. Caught up in the memory I didn't realize some one came to join me.
"Pictures can be deceiving." The voice sneered.
"Rosalie, what a pleasure." I said dryly.
"When are you going to quit trying to be apart of this family?"
"Well seeing as though my daughter is a Cullen probably never."
"They only accept you out of pity because Edward knocked you up."
"The person to blame for Edward and I even knowing each other is you husband so maybe you should take that up with him."
"I can't wait until Edward finally meets someone…"
"Rosalie, Esme's outside looking for you." The perfection that was Carlisle Cullen stood before us.
"Thank you, Carlisle." She said in a sickly sweet tone and left.
"Yes thank you Carlisle… blah." I mocked.
"Isabella, you are the vision of maturity." He smiled making his blue eyes crinkle. When he smiled I could definitely see Emmett.
"I'm sorry, but I have never done anything to her to deserve the treatment she just gave me." I defended.
"I can't believe I'm saying this, but please try to give Rose a break. They're having a bit of a rough time."
"They hate each other?" I asked hopefully.
"They're trying to start a family and are having complications." He explained sadly.
"Oh." I said quietly.
"You have something that she wants and it seems she is taking her anger out on you."
"We love Mackenzie, and Rose can't treat us like shit because of that."
"I agree," He sighed giving me an understanding smile. The man was an ambassador for Peace. "For what it's worth you don't need a marriage license to be a Cullen. You have been one since you were five."
"Noted."
"Your father and Edward are by the pool watching Mackenzie. You might want to go help them out because when I left them she was becoming a handful." He chuckled.
"Thanks again Gramps." I giggled giving him a tight hug.
"No problem, Bellerina."
I groaned at the nickname Emmett and Edward gave me when I started Ballet at six. "I'm never going to live that down."
"Never." He laughed loudly.
I walked out the door through the garden to where the pool was. Sure enough Kenzie talked Edward into taking her swimming. Charlie sat there with his khaki's rolled up and his feet in the pool.
"Hey Kiddo." He greeted.
"Hey Dad," I smiled sitting down next to him throwing my feet in too. "I see she got her way again."
"She gave him the eyes."
"The eyes?"
"That girl has your eyes," He explained.
"So?"
"He has never been able to say no to you either, Bells." Charlie pointed out.
"I think you're wrong, she probably gave him the pouty face and that is all him."
"Whatever you wanna think."
"Mommy, look I'm swimming." Kenzie called out.
"I see that, baby." I said playfully glaring at Edward as he gave me a sheepish smile.
"He loves you." Charlie said simply.
"Why are all of you so focused on our relationship?" I sighed running my hand through my hair.
"We want you both happy."
"Pap, I'm a great swimmer." She said doggy paddling to us with Edward helping her.
"You sure are Kenz." He smiled grabbing the towel next to him.
"Go with Pap and find Nana she has your dress." Edward told her lifting her out so she could go with Charlie.
He picked her up and carried her towards the house.
"Come here, Swan." Edward said giving me a crooked smile. That smile was up to no good.
"You're going to get me wet."
He didn't say anything, but he did pull me into the water dress and all. The fucker also knew I couldn't swim.
"I got you, Bella." He whispered in my ear pulling me closer.
"Asshole." I muttered out still clinging to him. I rested my chin on his shoulder noticing something different on his tattoo.
Edward was eighteen when he and Emmett went and got The Cullen Family crest tattooed on their back left shoulder blades. He had Kenzie's name added into one of the grooves when she was born and Emmett added Rose's name to his when they were married. Now Edward's crest had all three of our names on it.
"When did you add theses?" I asked running my fingers across it.
"While I was on my trip." He said quietly.
"That's my name." I murmured.
"It is."
We were both quiet and now my head was laying on his shoulder.
"Edward, I'm going to smack you." Esme scolded walking over to the pools edge.
"Bella wanted to swim with me."
"She doesn't know how to swim." she countered.
"I know isn't that weird," He said shocked causing me to giggle. I held onto him tightly as he walked up the stairs of the pool. "I'll get her changed."
We made our way up to his old room to get changed. I grabbed a pair of his old sweats and his football jersey. "I'm good at getting us out of stuffy parties."
"Really it's not that bad of a party." I sighed flopping down on the bed.
"Because I'm here." He said laying down next to me.
I shoved him with my foot. "You're so fucking cocky."
"And you love it."
Out of nowhere I remembered what he told Tanya about taking time off. "Is it true, what you told Tanya this morning?"
"About my taking a break?" he asked curiously.
"Yeah." I nodded, turning so I was facing him.
"Yes, I wanted to be here for Kenz while she gets adjusted to school."
"Pre-K doesn't take much adjusting."
"She's getting older quickly, I miss her being a baby." He said sadly. I agreed with him, I missed having a baby around in general though.
"She's not retiring yet." I teased.
"I'm trying to be serious."
"What's this really about?" I asked. He was never one for emotional conversations.
"Nothing." He said quickly cuddling me closer to him.
"Right." I said slowly.
"Want to take a nap?"
"I think I'm already there." I mumbled into his chest.
I don't know how long we were asleep for, but Emmett came barreling into the room with Jasper and Kenzie.
"Told you we would find them in here." He stated proudly.
"Aw isn't this cute." Jasper grinned sitting Kenzie on top of Edward. "Daddy's still sleepin' darlin' maybe you should jump on him."
One thing my daughter is, is obedient and that's what she did.
"I'm going to kill you Jazz." Edward growled trying to still Kenzie's bouncing.
"Ah-ah-ah violence is never the answer."
"With you it is."
"How bout some suga?" Jazz smiled at me pointing to his cheek.
"Since you asked so nicely." I giggled giving him a sloppy kiss on his cheek.
"When are you gonna leave his sorry ass behind?"
"What do you have to offer me?"
"A ring and a fuckin' white picket fence." He grinned.
"Hmm…Tempting." I said tapping my chin.
"Enough." Edward snapped.
"Your nap left you a grouch." I said poking his nose.
"He was born a grouch, Bells." Emmett supplied.
Kenzie took both her little hands placing them on Edward's cheeks, looking at him closely. "Daddy's not a grouch, he's not green." That did us all in.
"Let's get some food before we leave, monkey." He told her taking her and Jazz with him.
It was just Emmett and I; he looked thoughtful before he started to speak.
"Dad told me about Rose… I'm sorry."
"Don't worry about it."
"You're my sister, Bells. Edward just needs to get his head out his ass."
"You'll make an amazing father, Em." I offered.
"I get my practice from Kenzers." He smiled.
"Why do you and Edward insist on calling her that?"
"Cause it annoys you."
I guess in some ways we were one big crazy family, but things still felt off when it came to the idea of Edward and me.
A/N: I just want to say thanks to all of you who reviewed! Reviews definitely motivate me to post faster. I do have a plan for this story and I think a lot of you with like it. This was a fluffy chapter and I wasn't a big fan of it, but I did want you to understand the dynamic of this little family. Next chapter is EPOV!!! Review and I post! Thanks!