Epilogue
Eight Years Later
"Alice, I promise, I won't be late for the presentation. You can count on me." I sighed biting the inside of my cheek as I pulled the mail from my mailbox. She started ranting over the speaker and I lifted my shoulder higher to my ear so that I could hear her better.
"I've been organizing shit for years now, Alice. I know how to keep track of everything." I rolled my eyes. Even with my being back at Forks Elementary, I was still assisting Edward with things over at Masen and Co. which he'd recently taken over. Carlisle left it to the two of us so that he could retire with Esme and move back to the UK for a while.
"Promise?" Her voice shook over the speaker and I frowned, knowing how nervous she was. She had a meeting with the Board of Education and our super intendant. It wasn't the regular checkup that was given by the vice principal every month. This time she was also going to address the new teaching method they wanted to enforce in the school. We didn't think it was beneficiary to the children or the teachers and we were planning on rebuking it together tomorrow. It was a tricky move on my part, even dangerous for my job.
"I already promised. But for you, I swear. I'll even be early." I smirked and pushed open the door to my house, dropping my purse, school bag and keys by the table inside. I covered the speaker and squinted my eyes as a loud thumping shook the walls. "Where the hell?" I turned my head every which way, trying to see where the noise could possibly be coming from.
"Bella?" Alice questioned from the phone. I put it back to my ear and winced as the silver platter that was displayed over the small table clattered to the ground.
"Alice, I'm going to have to call you back later. But don't worry, I will have everything finished and I'll be there on time." I nodded affirmatively as I picked up the plate and set it on the table next to my keys. It had fallen before and I'd found out then that it was impossible to hang up. Pulling off my jacket with a heavy sigh I hung it on the nearest coat rack and went in search of the noise.
My phone buzzed on my hip and I pulled it to my ear, without looking at the screen. "Hello?"
"Isabella, your father and I want to help you celebrate your promotion." My mother's tone was clipped, as usual and I rolled my eyes. "You and Edward meet us at the club tomorrow, for a celebratory brunch." I bit my lip to keep from being unnecessarily bitchy towards her.
"I've got a presentation for the board, Mom." I sighed, stopping my search and leaning against the wall. "And Edward is meeting with Thompson, you know about the merger…" It was only the biggest talk of the town, the two largest architectural companies coming together. Thompson was almost as big, almost worth as much us Masen & Co. but they were losing all of their big wigs, their CEO, CFO and a whole bunch of other acronyms were retiring and Edward saw the opportunity and wanted to take it on.
"Of course I've heard of the merger. Congratulate Edward for me when you see him." I nodded and hummed into the phone, her mention of Edward making me curious as to what the hell he was doing.
"I will. Listen, why don't we just turn the brunch into dinner or move it to another day?" I questioned, turning the corner to see my empty, messy kitchen. Looked like Edward had attempted grilled cheese… or maybe it was lasagna. I wrinkled my nose and scratched the black residue on a plate with my finger nail.
"You know your father and I are going to Italy with the Cullen's, Isabella." My eyes widened and I bit my lip. It'd taken my mother and Esme quite a awhile to be able to stand each other after the gala thing, and slowly, but surely, they became friends again. Of course Esme made Mom promise to never do anything like that again before even reconsidering their friendship. Carlisle and Dad didn't let that affect their friendship in the slightest though, still going on fishing trips twice a week now that they'd both retired.
"I didn't but no big deal, we'll just do something after-"
"No, Isabella. You of all people should know to put family first."
"That's what we're doing by keeping our jobs, Mom." I sighed as I moved some of the messy dishes to the sink.
"Can you turn down whatever that mess in the background, Isabella?" She groaned. "I can't even hear myself think."
Isabella this and Isabella that…
"You're telling me…" I sighed, the thumping was starting to give me a headache.
"You'd think that you and Edward would be a little more mature in your age. It's a little inappropriate to throw ragers, wouldn't you agree?" She growled. I rolled my eyes, when the hell have I ever thrown a rager?
"We aren't having a rager… or whatever it was you called it. I don't know what they're doing, but it's a little late for anything at this point." I frowned looking at the clock above the stove that read eight thirty. "Edward?" I called, knowing it was futile with all the noise he was making.
Mom sighed heavily on her end, "Anyway, we'll be gone for a month so I guess we'll just have a late celebration." I could almost hear her roll her eyes, making me want to do the same. I'd been promoted to principal of Forks Elementary last year, I don't think it'd hurt to wait another month.
"Works for me. Look," My eyes fixed on the clock again and I grimaced. "I need to go see what's going on… I can call you later if you'd like."
"Don't bother." Her exasperation was almost palpable, rolling through the phone in waves. "Your father says hello. He also insists on drop off duty tomorrow."
"Tell him I said hi, thank you and that I'll see him tomorrow. You guys have fun in Italy."
"Thanks. Bye." I sighed as my phone beeped, signaling she'd hung up. I finished scrubbing the dishes, and scraping Edward's masterpiece into the trash before taking off to find them again. When I found that the music was coming from the basement, I opened the door squinting into the flashing depths.
As soon as my foot touched the top step there was a loud bark and then our dog, conveniently named Puppy, came galloping up the steps in what looked like slow motion. It looked like slow motion of course until the black lab crashed into my legs, sending me onto my ass.
"Puppy!" I gasped patting the dog's side as he licked up my cheek. "What's Daddy doing, puppy?!" I said with a bright smile as it panted happily at me and licked my nose. I wiped the slobber off of my face and pushed the puppy a bit, so that I could stand. "Let's go get him!" I said patting its butt and watching him haul ass down the stairs. I almost took off after him, but realizing that I couldn't see anything with the light flashing slowed me down. I crept down the stairs one slowly at a time until I reached the landing.
The speakers blasted some One Direction song that was enhanced with an earsplitting amount of bass. It was so loud I could feel it in my chest. I squinted into the room to see every other few seconds of Edward and Emily dancing their asses off. At twelve years old the kid was still as close as she'd ever been with Edward and I and she only got better with age. Her long, slim form moved excitedly to the song, almost mimicking what Edward was doing.
I grinned watching them dance around the room for a second. Edward moved his hips innocently to the beat and I couldn't help but pictures those same hips doing not so innocent things. I bit my lip and my eyelids lowered as I creeped on him. After a bout of darkness Edward bent down and in the next he lifted a little body into the air, shaking the little person playfully before blowing raspberries into their neck. I laughed as her little hands covered her ears and she shook her head at him, saying something that neither of us could hear.
That was my cue to head to the stereo and turn it down a few notches. The two girls screamed making Puppy go wild, I jumped, and Edward flipped on the lights. He lifted an eyebrow at me as Leah clung to his neck.
"I didn't mean to scare you." I said quietly, not wanting to startle them further. "It was just a bit loud." I said sending Edward a pointed look. He paid me no attention and kissed Leah's head, stroking her copper hair.
"It's all good, Aunt Bella." Emily grinned, easily recovering as she skipped up at hug me tightly. I smiled and kissed her forehead. "You wanna join us?"
"I'd love to, but it's bed time for that one," I pointed at little Leah who pulled out of her Daddy's neck to peer at me. "And for me." The yawn that escaped me proved my point and she nodded. "And we need to get you into bed as well, cutie. You've got school."
"I don't think my principal will hold it against me if I'm just a bit late." She grinned, hugging my waist again.
"Of course she wouldn't. But Mr. Jenks might." I pinched her cheek as I spoke of her teacher. She rolled her eyes with a light smile and waved at her uncle before patting her leg and leading Puppy up the stairs. I headed towards Edward who smirked at me over Leah's curls.
"It's just Mommy, baby girl." He said softly, kissing her hair. She turned towards me, leaning back in Edward's arms.
"Bad Mommy. You scared me." She said quietly, wagging a finger at me.
"Did I?" I said, faking shock before I nipped at her little finger, making her giggle and stretch out towards me. "I'm sorry, precious." I said peppering her face with kisses. She scrunched up her nose and turned back to Edward.
"Hey." I said softly as our daughter maneuvered between us.
"Hi." He lifted my left hand to his lips, pressing a kiss to my ring finger that held the token of our promise and love. "I missed you." He pushed my hair back behind my ear.
"If you'd stop leaving me, we wouldn't have this problem." I pouted, earning a short, four year old appropriate kiss on the lips. She still eww'ed anyway and pushed his face away.
"You know I wouldn't if I had the choice." With this merger business he was traveling up to Thompsons different sites around Washington and Oregon to check on things, on his investments. "Everything is going well though, so it looks like I won't need to go back for another few months, personally." He'd just gotten back from a five day trip to Oregon and despite the short period I'd missed him terribly.
"Months?" I smiled, he nodded and kissed me again before pressing another kiss to Leah's cheek.
"Tell Mommy what we did, baby girl." He urged before mouthing that he was going to clean up. I furrowed my eyebrows before noticing the cups and paper plates that littered the basement. "You guys head on up, I'll be right behind you." I nodded and started up the steps, carrying my little one who was starting to get a little too big for that.
"Do you think Daddy talk weird?" Leah whispered, playing with my hair as I sat her on the couch and sidled in next to her.
"No, do you?" She shrugged and I did too. Edward still had a feint accent, but after almost thirty years of knowing him I didn't notice it at all anymore.
"No… but Brianna says he talk funny, she say I do too." She scowled and I sucked in some air through my teeth. Leah had somehow taken on a feint accent that matched her fathers and it was the cutest thing I'd ever heard.
"And what'd you say?" I traced the slope of her nose, Edward's nose and her lips, mine, pulled into a tight line.
"Nothing." She shrugged and I sighed with relief. "I hit her. Ms. Daniel's put me on yellow light. Uncle Emmett gave money so her not to call you. Cause he tell me-" My relieved sigh turned into a groan.
"I know what he told you." I grimaced shaking my head. Earlier in the year Emmett had informed his niece that punching and hitting was okay, whenever you felt threatened. My little Leah however, didn't know the meaning of threatened and went on a punching rampage soon after. "Remember what I told you. No hitting…"
"Unless I gets hit first." She said with a nod, leaning into my arms as her eyes started to drift closed. "Me, Daddy and Emily had fun, Mommy." She said with an adorable yawn. "We ate the cookies you and me baked."
"Were they good?"
"They always good!" She grinned shaking her head and making me laugh. "Then we partied. And Daddy messed up dinner. Then we partied until my ears hurt." She rubbed her hand over her tiny ear and wrinkled her nose.
"Will you kiss it?" She asked, not moving. I nodded with a smile and leaned over, kissing her ear.
"Better?" She patted her ear for a second before widening her light brown eyes and nodding.
"You gots magic kisses, Mommy." She mumbled, almost stumbling over her words as she turned in my lap, pressing her face into my stomach. "Love you, mommy."
"Love you too, baby girl." I smiled before lifting her so that her head rested in the crook of my neck.
"Wha…?" She muttered.
"I'm taking you to your room, it's bedtime." I said quickly heading up the steps so I could put her down before she got fussy.
"Daddy's not gonna read to me?" Total Daddy's girl. It's okay though, I was too.
"Of course I'm gonna read to you." Edward said coming around the opposite side of her bed and tucking her in. I looked at him with surprised eyes to see him panting; he winked back at me making me blush.
"Puppy and I raced up here." Puppy darted into the room soon after and I laughed. "I wasn't going to miss…" He pulled a book from her shelf and read the title. "Love You Forever shall we?"
"We shall, Daddy." She said with an adoring smile up at him. He nudged her over in the bed and slid in next to her, leaning back against her headboard as he opened the book. He cleared his throat and his eyes flicked up to mine. "I'll love you forever; I'll like you for always, as long as I'm living my baby you'll be." He started, giving me another wink before turning his attention to Leah.
I kissed her head again and touched Edward's shoulder before leaving the room in search of Emily. She was in the shower when I walked past the door so I continued on into our bedroom. As soon as I entered the room, a bin of photos on the bed caught my eye. I pushed my hand through my hair and cast a glance over my shoulder as I pulled out a photo. I studied it for a second before gasping, my shaking hand dropping the picture.
My hand cupped my mouth for a second as tears filled my eyes. "How…?" I quickly picked up the photo again, but the tears didn't stop. It was the picture of Edward, Leah and I at the hospital, right after Leah's birth. I looked absolutely exhausted, as did Edward, but we both also looked like we were on top of the world as we stared at our baby girl. My fingers traced over his face and I smiled at the complete adoration in his eyes as he stared at us. The same adoration that had been present for twenty eight years and counting.
I set that photo down and dug into the case, pulling out another one. I smiled at this one too, it was the picture of Edward and I after I'd told him that I was pregnant. I sat looking mildly terrified and equally as excited in Edward's lap. He sat with his arms around my waist and his head buried in my neck as he grinned like a loon. An extremely attractive loon.
It'd taken the two of us three, almost four years to have a child. I was steadily climbing toward thirty and my eggs were showing that, overly so. We'd been told that we wouldn't be able to conceive, and that if we managed to conceive it was most likely going to be a miscarriage. We'd believed that for a while, but we never really stopped trying, we both wanted it so badly… It was selfish, that we might lose a life just because we wanted something. There hadn't been a miscarriage though, I carried my little Leah full term and she was the most gorgeous, healthy baby I'd ever seen.
The next picture I pulled from the bin was a remake of the one we'd taken almost fifteen years ago. Edward behind me with his arms wrapped around my waist, playfully beaming as I scowled at the camera. Except the house wasn't the same. It was our new house, the one he'd designed and built his self. His first house, our first house had been severely burned after a grease fire, that went off when no one was home. It was said to have been lit, but both Edward and I had been at work at the time, Leah was with Carlisle and Esme, and no one else who had a key would attempt to burn down our house, as far as I knew. Only half of the house was burned but that sent the second story crumbling down into the fire, taking everything we owned, all of these pictures with them.
Tears streaked down my cheeks at the memory of coming home and seeing our house reduced to ashes. That was one of the worst days of my life.
Three Years Before
"What in the world?" I squinted through my windshield wipers as I saw that my street was blocked off. I pulled off to the side, parking next to the car and got out, opening an umbrella for the pelting rain. I went to the seat behind me and undoing Leah, making sure she was shielded from the rain, and the biting coldness. I put on her jacket and hat before I yanked her stroller out from the floor and quickly assembled it, placing her in it. Once she was settled I tucked the blanket in around her and handed her a stuffed animal.
"Maybe we should call Daddy?" I whispered, almost to myself as she giggled and squeaked in her stroller, clutching her stuffed bear. I zipped my own jacket and stuck Edward's golf umbrella into the umbrella holder on Leah's stroller.
"Dada!" She cried loudly as I walked through the gates blocking off the street. People rushed around everywhere and not once did anyone say a thing about what was happening. I weaved the stroller through the thick crowd, filled with police men, firemen, and my neighbors.
"Excuse me?" I tapped on the shoulder of a large man in front of me. He turned slowly and made to wave me off.
"Look, I'm busy, ma'am." He groaned, palming his forehead.
"Please, I just want to know what happened." I said, pulling Leah's stroller in closer to me.
"There was a grease fire a little ways down, huge fire." He said before holding up a hand and grabbing his helmet, moving away from us. I walked after him and tapped his shoulder again.
"Do you know if anyone was hurt?" I asked furrowing my eyebrows. We weren't the best of friends, but I knew our neighbors pretty well and I was praying no one was hurt. I desperately searched the man's exasperated eyes and he shook his head.
"No, we don't know. Now, please, ma'am." He escaped into a thick group of people that I wouldn't have been able to get Leah through in the stroller. I maneuvered my way through the crowd of shocked faces and umbrella's, looking for someone else to explain.
"Isabella!" Mrs. Mallory waved me down, which despite the crisis shocked the hell out of me. The woman has avoided me like the plague since the incident at the gala. "I'm sorry, dear." She whispered linking her arm with mine and barging past people she didn't deem worthy enough to be in her path. Once we'd made it significantly farther I looked up at my house, or what used to be my house. There were literally just beams, and ashes on one side of the house. The other half was burning a little but not as badly as the left side.
"Oh my god, no…" I whispered, my hands going to my cheeks as I stared at my house. I had no clue how long I'd stood there, eyes wide as I stared, but after a moment Leah got fed up and started kicking in her stroller, making it rock into my legs.
I ignored her though as my heart dropped into my feet. Everything of Leah's, all of our pictures… gone. Furniture, televisions, that shit was all just materialistic… My photos were memories. They were everything.
I yanked my phone out of the compartment in the stroller, my stomach rolling with anxiety as I called my Edward. His phone rang four times, before going to voicemail and making my eyes go wide. I checked my watch, he was supposed to be in a meeting with his father about the transfer of the company, but those meetings also didn't last long and he always picked up his phone. My eyes roamed over the house until the black Mercedes sitting in the driveway caught my eye, simultaneously ripping me straight down the middle.
Edward.
"Mrs. Mallory, have you seen my husband?" I almost shrieked, despite our close proximity.
"I can't say I have." She shook her head and I called him again. His phone went straight to voice mail this time and I stopped another officer.
"Do you know if anyone was in there?" I asked as he walked past me. He shrugged and I went back to my calling. "Oh my god." I whispered as his phone went to voicemail once more. He never ignored my calls and he always had his phone on him. Just as it started to set in that the love of my life might have been in the house burning before my eyes.
"Please?" I frantically pushed the handle of Leah's stroller towards Mrs. Mallory. She nodded and I took off around the stroller, ignoring Leah's cries behind me. My heart thundered in my chest, threatening to break through my chest.
"Hey!" I yelled at a fireman who was jogging toward me. Fuck courtesy, my home was turning to ashes less than two hundred feet away from me and no one would tell me a thing.
"Ma'am, you need to get back..."
"I need to know where my husband is!" The man gave me a weird look, shrugged and walked away. I grabbed the arm of the next guy that past, jumping in his way.
"Was there anyone in the house?" I asked, he lifted an eyebrow at me and I almost smacked him. "Please, it's my house, I just have to know…"
"No… We haven't found anyone yet…"
Yet.
With his words ringing in my ears I moved out of his way. I looked back up to the flames that engulfed my home. Tears raced down my wind frozen cheeks as I realized everything I'd known for the past few years was gone. My home, Edward's home and Leah's home. All of our valuables, and pictures that were priceless burned like wood in a fire place.
Just like that.
I wiped my cheeks with the back of my hand and my phone vibrated on my hip as I headed back to Leah, who watched our house in bewilderment. I held it up to my ear, in mild shock. "Sorry, I was in the meeting still, babe. What's up?" Edward's voice was apologetic and extremely comforting, but I lost it anyway, bending over stroller as I sobbed.
I finally mustered the strength and my wits enough to whisper, "Baby, it's all gone."
-!-~-!-
The bedroom door creaked open and I turned to see Emily standing in pajamas with wet hair. "Will you braid my hair, Aunt Bella?" She asked before her eyebrows furrowed. "Why are you crying?" Edward stepped up behind her, his expression matching hers.
"Em, why don't you let me talk to her, for a second?" She shrugged and gave me a sad wave before letting Edward in. I stepped to the side and he focused on the box. "Oh..." He smiled and took my left hand, drawing me in and taking the picture from my hands.
"How'd you?" My voice was thick with tears. He smiled softly at me and brought my hands to his lips.
"It's taken awhile." He shrugged with a nod, pulling me in to his chest. "Certain people had copies of a few things," he bent down and picked up the picture of us after he found out about Leah. "This came from Mum." He smiled, staring at it lovingly. He backed away from me, before leading me to the bed and sitting down, opening his legs. I settled in between them and he set the box in my lap, watching as I latched onto it.
"Dad had these." He pulled out an elegant white packet, wrapped in a ribbon and handed it to me.
"Edward..." I whispered pulling out the picture of us kissing at the alter seven years ago. He brushed my hair over my shoulder and pressed a kiss to the base of my neck. He traced a finger over the small cursive 'E' and 'L' tattooed there.
"I had them copied and repackaged." He shrugged wrapping his arms around my waist. "This one was actually in Forks General." He smiled picking up the first picture of us with Leah. "It was up on the cork board of new parents, you know the one outside of the Nursery. I got Jasper to let me copy it."
"I'm going to mess this kid up." Edward whispered, turning his head towards his mom. His eyebrows were knitted with worry and he was worrying his bottom lip. I squeezed his hand and he smiled worriedly down at me, reminding me of my breathing exercises. I ran my thumb over his palm to soothe his nerves when I realized he was shaking.
"You will be fine. Your father said the same thing when Emmett was born. And look, we raised the mayor of Seattle." She grinned and elbowed him out of the way so she could stand next to my bed. "Anyways, it's not about you right now. It's about Mama." She grinned and lightly stroked my hair. "How are you feeling, love?" I shrugged and winced as my contractions started up again. She quickly pushed Edward towards me and he held out his hand, looking determined.
"If we mess her up, we can mess her up together." He said quietly with a wink. I smiled and my contractions hit hard, making me scream out and squeeze the hell out of his hand. He bit his lip and tried not to show that little ole me was hurting him. Esme dabbed my head with a towel and I dropped back against my pillow once it finished.
"Please get me meds, baby. Please." I whimpered, the pain was so bad that I thought I was going to pass out. "Edward." I roared out as another one hit, making my entire body tense as the pain seared through my body.
"You said no medication. Even if you ask for it." My mother walked in the room, her coat draped neatly over her arm. The three of us gave my mother shocked looks as she set down her purse and rolled up her sleeves. Edward squeezed my hands and mom walked up next to me on the bed offering me her hand.
"I know all three of you are angry with me, but you'll have to get over that because I'm not missing the birth of my first grandchild." She said, her voice passive as her hand hung midair.
"Thank you." I whispered, grabbing onto her hand and Edward's and gritting my teeth with the contractions. The doctor entered the room with a bright smile and clapped once.
"Who's ready to have a baby?!" He asked happily. His eyes traveled left to right, taking in all of our annoyed expressions.
"That's usually how they all feel about it." The doctor chuckled as I began loosening my grip on Edward's hand. "Let's have a look see why don't we?" The doctor smiled and Edward's eye twitched. He was more than uncomfortable with another guy "peeking at the goods… even if they were about to poop out a baby."
"How's it look down there?" Edward almost sneered from my side. I frowned up at him and another contraction hit.
"Oh, alright." The doctor said with wide eyes. "This little one is coming now." He stood and went to the door, calling for nurses. Edward picked up my clenched hand and pulled it to his lips.
He kneeled by my side, "This is it, baby." I turned my head and rested my forehead against his.
"Oh my god, Edward..." I whispered as a tear slipped down my cheek.
"You've been so good throughout all of this. You continue to amaze me every day, baby." His bright eyes pierced my dull ones and I smiled weakly. "I love you."
"Mrs. Cullen when the next contraction hits I want you to push." I nodded and Edward kissed my forehead before standing back up and taking my hand again. Mom watched the doctor with the same dismay Edward did but then she too offered me her hand. Esme squeezed in behind Edward, holding her trusty-dusty towel.
"Alright, push!" This time the pain hit me like a wrecking ball, so raw that I screamed. My little girl was making her best attempt at ripping me to shreds.
"Oh fuck!" I roared, my mother and husband buckling under my grip.
"Push!" I turned and glared at Edward who looked worriedly at the doctor.
"I swear to every fucking deity up there, if you ever touch me again, I will castrate you." My menacing hiss transferred into more of a maniacal scream as I spoke and pushed.
"She's crowning."
"Oh god her head isn't out yet?!" I cried and grabbed Edward's arm. "I need medicine!" Holy fuck, I needed to be stoned off of my ass to even begin to cope with this.
"Focus on pushing, Mom." The nurse advised.
"Please, medicine. Just put me under." I choked as another person told me to push. I channeled all of my energy on getting that baby out.
"Okay we can see her eyes." My heart kicked into high speed and I pulled Edward's hand closer. Esme dabbed at my forehead with the towel and I pushed once again, my body trying to reject the pressure that was my daughter.
"Her whole head is out," I turned to Edward with wide eyes, shouldn't she have been crying. Why wasn't she crying?
"One more push, mom." I shut my eyes and pushed as hard as I could. This time Edward's hand tightened around mine and a small slimy little thing was lifted from between my legs. "There she is!" A nurse quickly suctioned out her nose and the most beautiful cry rang out. My heart swelled with love as they clipped the umbilical cord and wrapped her in a blanket. She cried all through the process, and I started to bawl.
My baby...
I bit my lip as I watched them weigh and clean my baby, wishing they'd be more gentle.
"Aren't you going to hurt her?" Edward asked, anger seeping into his voice. She was just so small and perfect and they looked like they were trying to break her.
"We do this all the time, Mr. Cullen." One of the nurses said with a smile as they stretched my little girl's legs to measure her.
"Thirteen inches, six and a half pounds." Another nurse called before wrapping up and handing little Leah over. "Would you like to hold her, Mom?" I nodded and wiggled my fingers slowly.
"Please," I croaked, my exhaust coloring my words. They placed her in my arms and I gladly took the little warm body. "Oh my gosh," As soon as I held her to my chest and spoke, she quieted down, nuzzling into me. "Hi, baby girl." I whispered trailing my finger down her cheek as tears did the same on mine. Her eyes were slightly puffy but the kid was gorgeous and she had Edward's hair. I turned to see Edward way closer than I thought he was going to be, his eyes glassy.
"She's perfect." He whispered, she cracked her eyes open revealing a cloudy blue. I nodded, unable to keep my smile down as I looked at her. She looked up at us and gave us an adorable and small yawn, her eyes rolling from one of us to the next. Edward held out a finger out, tracing her palm and she let out a croak before grabbing his pinkie.
"Looks like she's got a strong grip just like her mother." I furrowed my eyebrows and he held up his right hand that had a red mark marring his pale skin. He chuckled and Leah squeaked, looking to him again, making us both grin.
"I'm sorry." I whispered to him, barely able to rip my eyes from Leah. He shook his head and tapped his lips. I rolled my eyes and kissed him chastely before looking down to Leah again. Her eyes fluttered shut, reminding me of how tired I was.
"I love you, beautiful." I whispered, tilting her up so I could kiss her forehead. She yawned again in her sleep and I smiled sleepily.
"Here," She was scoped out of my arms and I looked to see Edward holding her gingerly as he stared down at her. "Get some rest, Honey." He kissed the side of my head and then our mothers swarmed around him to get a good look. I took one last look at him holding our daughter before drifting off, content.
My family.
-/~/~/-
"This has to be one of my favorite pictures." Edward chuckled lowly in my ear, going through the white envelope and rifling through it. He pulled out a picture of the two of us sitting together at our wedding reception. Just like in the picture in front of the house, Edward was dying with laughter as I scowled at the camera.
Emmett had decided that since it was a small ceremony with only our close family and friends, that he could make a vulgar joke about my new sleeping schedule. It was funny, but quite inappropriate especially with our parents… well my parents being there. Esme and Carlisle snickered quietly. Charlie grunted into his champagne before tossing it back and my mother and her plus three, her socialite friends that had to be at the wedding, looked appalled.
There were actually pictures of the separate reactions, mom, her plus three and dad all sat with Esme, in the next picture we pulled out. It was another picture of us, this time both looking horrified as we sat together at the reception.
"Oh god…" I huffed turning to look at him over my shoulder. "They sent these pictures out?"
"You wanted them to capture the essence of our wedding and send the pictures out accordingly." He shrugged gesturing to the picture. "That's what they did. I had just taken this one out of the album in our old set though." He said as we stared at the picture I'd never seen before. In the next picture we were both turned in our chairs, along with everyone in the room behind us. You could see the police almost making it to the door with a woman locked between their grips.
"She almost ruined our wedding… Yet she's in the photos just as much as our parents." I scowled.
"Well to be fair, she gave a speech just like our parents… She just didn't happen to leave like our parents did." I pursed my lips and shook my head.
"That bitch just needs to stay in jail."
"You know, she just got out again last month. It's kind of amazing that we haven't heard from her yet."
"Maybe the restraining order did its job." Tanya had turned into the biggest loon since Edward and I first started dating. After a little scoping, we'd found that Tanya was the last person to be in the house before it was burned down. All of the evidence of her being there was just eyewitness though. All of the real evidence went down with the house, after she set the grease fire.
It was terrifying, knowing that she was out of jail again. They'd only been able to stick her with two years, because of the lack of evidence. She still lived a few streets down with her parents, because you can't keep up your own place of residence while in jail. My only real fears were that she'd find a way to harm Edward or Leah. If either of them did end up being harmed I would be sitting in that jail cell right along with the bitch.
"Can someone braid my hair now?" Emily whispered from the door way, with a sleepy Leah standing at her side.
"Of course." I said before waving her and Leah in.
"Did you wake Leah up?" Edward asked, lifting the little girl up next to us and setting her on the bed. Emily shook her head and sat criss-cross apple sauce In between my knees as I started to braid her hair.
"No." Leah mumbled, "I don't want sleep… wanna cuddle." I looked over my shoulder to see her staring up at Edward with a pout.
"Keeping schedule is key, baby." I whispered as I could feel his resolve crumbling behind me. Leah had this way of looking up at you from beneath her lashes that made you want to hug the hell out of her. She was the Puss in Boots incarnate. It was something that was heavily stocked in her arsenal against mommy and daddy and she used it regularly.
Daddy was weaker than most.
She was his kryptonite.
"I want to cuddle too." He said furrowing his eyebrows as he pulled away from me to pull Leah into his side.
I put a hand on his thigh, "I'll cuddle with you later. Come on, Edward." I shook my head and Emily moved to hit Edward in the arm.
"Dad says that if you say cuddle one more time he's going to take away your man card and get Aunt Bella a-" She stopped, looking up at the ceiling as she tried to remember what Emmett had told her. "new… um… pair of earrings," She snapped, remembering what her dad told her. "because she can only wear your balls around for so long. He told me to hit you every time you said something girly."
"No hittin' Daddy, Em." Leah said, snuggling in under Edward's arm, pressing her cheek to his chest. She splayed a protective arm over his stomach and promptly began to drift off.
Edward raised his eyebrows, "Tell Emmett-" I covered Emily's ears and shook my head. He sighed and wrinkled his nose as I lowered my hands. "Not to be mean. And that I'm telling Rose what he said." She punched his arm again and I couldn't help but snicker.
"Mom was there, she laughed." Emily informed. Edward rubbed his arm in faux pain and gave her a 'What the hell' stare. "Tattling is a sissy move, Uncle Edward." I finished the braid off for Emily and kissed the top of her head.
"Alright, school's tomorrow, go get in bed." I said before hugging her after she stood and sending her off. I stood too and turned towards the bed, where a very content Leah slept in Edward's arms, her lips pouted in an adorable 'O' as they snuggled. Edward's eyes met mine before he shut them and pulled Leah in tighter. I pulled my phone out and snapped a picture of the absolute cuteness, before putting it back down and flicking Edward's ankle.
"Let's get her back to bed because the longer we wait to wake her, the crankier she'll be." I whispered as Leah moved in closer to him.
"Then don't wake her." He said before shushing me and lifting up his unoccupied arm. "I've got room for both of my girls, babe." He shrugged with a wink, of course he was my kryptonite just as much as Leah was his.
I shook my head and gently packed away the pictures, moving them to the dresser not too far from our bed.
"Bella," I turned to look at him, he still held his arm out. "Get over here and cuddle with us." I furrowed my eyebrows at the wording and looked down at the pictures he'd taken so much time to get.
The least I could do is cuddle with him.
"I can see the battle in your eyes, honey. The sex appeal must be off the charts right now. Hot guy, in your bed…" He shrugged. "Holding a baby? If you can't handle it I guess I'll have to put her to bed, then-" he gingerly picked up Leah, putting her head on his shoulder, and kissing her temple. "I can show you just how much I missed you." He spoke against my lips for a moment before giving me a lingering kiss that made my stomach burned with need as I watched him go.
Knowing exactly how long it took him to put Leah to bed I quickly stripped, peeling off my dress and pulling out the lacy babydoll set that Rose had helped me buy in honor of his return. It was a deep red satin piece that pushed up my boobs a tremendous amount as the silk descended from the bra, with a slit in it exposing me whole left side. I shimmied out of my panties as quickly as possible and slipped on the matching red thong, turning to examine the ensemble from behind.
I pulled my hair to one side before sliding into bed, crossing my long legs and fanning my hair out along the pillows behind me. I waited in the same spot for Edward for about twenty minutes before my eyes started to feel heavy.
"Oh fuck…" I whimpered as the twenty minutes turned into thirty. "Edward, come on." I whispered, sinking back into our oh-so-soft pillows. Once it went from half an hour to an hour I gave up and yanked the covers over my freezing body and passed out.
/~/-/~/
BEEP BEEP BEEP
I shot up in bed, not quite remembering how I'd gotten there… or how I'd slept so long? Or where Edward was…
I had a lot of questions, okay?
I blinked slowly around the bright room and sighed as I stared at the clock that read seven. As soon as I flipped the covers back Edward burst into the room, tugging a hand through his hair. His eyes searched the room high and low, not once landing on me, in all my red glory. They zero'ed in on something at the base of the bed and he darted for it, scooping up a stuffed bear before rushing out of the room again.
I bit my lip as I stared out of the empty doorway with a lifted eyebrow. I smacked the Snooze button and fell back into bed. I'd taken off work to spend the day back with Edward, not knowing that he had the meeting with Thompson today. I still had to go in around lunch time anyway to back up Alice's presentation at the school, but I didn't need to be up at seven for that. The girls didn't need to be up until eight o'clock, seeing as Forks Elementary started at nine.
Why am I up again?
I moaned grumpily and yanked the covers over my almost naked body. A door closed from down the hall and I buried my head in my pillows, eager for more sleep.
Edward slipped back into the room, whispering. "Leah thought she lost the bear… Started crying and stuff." I nodded silently and squirmed around, trying to get warm.
"Look, I know I promised some form of sexing last night… I got into Leah's room and only made it through half a book of Green Eggs and Ham." The bed shifted and he slid underneath the comforter with me. "I'm so sorry." I turned as his arm slid around my waist and he pulled me in closer.
"It's fine, babe." I smiled sleepily. He searched my blurred eyes with concern before seeming content with what he found. He kissed my lips and rested his forehead against mine. I smiled and arched into him, pressing my too cold for words chest into his. After years of waking up almost smothered in Edward's hold I was almost unable to sleep or be comfortable unless I was unusually warm. It made his trips away all the harder.
"I can make it up to you."
"You're doing that now, just by being here." I whispered, breathing him in and letting his too-warm-for-words body heat me up. I moved my head onto his chest and he lifted the covers, to pull them higher before groaning.
"Jesus," His words lured me away from the sleep that was so needed. "My baby…" he moaned in my ear as his hands slid over the skin that the split in my babydoll revealed, his hand trailing all the way down my torso before he cupped my ass.
"This is new?"
"For you." I literally used all of my energy to push him back onto his back and straddle him. His eyes locked on my breasts with the same intensity as they did when he found the toy.
"How could I have missed this?" I leaned down and kissed him. He was already as full mast when my ass and pussy grazed over him, making both of us moan. "God so… you are so sexy." I blushed at his words and he almost flung me off of him tossing me onto my back.
"I can't just have them dangling in my face," He grabbed my hands, pinning them above my head as I bucked off of the bed, looking for any kind of friction, anywhere. "Looking as good as they look, and not be able to do anything about it." He shook his head before lowering it and gently taking my left nipple between his teeth, through the bra. That's how hard it was.
"Edward, fuck, baby." I whimpered as his other hand came up to play with my other nipple.
"Who needs Green Eggs and Ham when I could have been in here eating you?" He moaned against my firm breasts, he pulled the cups down roughly and lapped lightly at my nipple, making it tighten impossibly further. "I need just you." Me hooked his fingers in my thong and yanked it down my legs.
"Give it to me, baby." I moaned quietly as He lifted my leg and situated it over his shoulder; He slid up between my legs and licked his lips.
"You really did miss me, didn't you, baby?" He whispered, dangling my panties in front of my face. The silk was soaked and I watched with a wanting pout as he licked up the crotch of the soaking panties.
"I missed you so much." I murmur as he impales me with two fingers. I tensed and tried to move away from his fingers, so that he'd actually fuck me.
"What? You don't want me to kiss your pretty little pussy?" He groaned, moving his fingers a bit before forcing them back in. He sent me that seductive wink before lowering his head and kissing my clit, my nerves were set on fire. I bucked into him and he lifted an eyebrow in challenge before diving in. I grabbed his hair and watched in complete amazement as he made me feel better than anyone ever has. How someone could look so good between another's legs? I'd never know, but god he made me want to sit on his face.
"Bite me, baby." I moaned as he worked my pussy over, interchanging between plunging his tongue in, licking up the insides of my pussy and peppering kisses to my clit. His bright greens met my brown eyes and he turned his head, lightly nipping me at the juncture where my thigh met my pelvis. I pushed his head down and he bit harder, pumping three fingers into me. The bite radiated up my spine in sharp tingles and I shouted out as he pushed me over the edge.
"I love you, gorgeous." He whispered, sliding back up my body and kissing my neck as I rode out my orgasm. My nails scraped down his back as he pushed into me and we both moaned at the feeling. I met his thrusts, as much as possible, but my husband was a power house.
And I was borderline jelly.
He pulled out of me, making me whimper at the loss and turned me on my side. I reached over my shoulder and slid my hand into his hair, moaning as he slipped into me from behind.
"God, you feel so good." He grunted into my ear, fucking me roughly. I groaned as I stretched around him, his length filled me to the brim. J rolled my hips back into his and he pressed a kiss to the back of my neck.
His thrusts started to slow until they were just long languid strokes. "Perfect." I whispered.
"Edward…" I moaned, trying to keep quiet. He pressed his face to the back of my neck, and my hand tightened in his hair as he grunted against my skin. His hands ghosted up my side and cupped my breasts, rolling my nipples between his fingers. His hips jackhammered into mine and the feeling was so intense that I was having trouble trying not to scream out.
"Ung, fuck me, baby…" I moaned out, chasing another orgasm.
"Fuck, I'm not gonna' last… So good." His hands tightened on my breast, kneading them and rolling my nipples. I bit my lip and fell over the edge, squeezing and milking him until he fell after me. He tensed behind me and moaned into my neck, rocking into me as he came down. He fell away from me and I turned to face him, both of us panting.
"God, I missed you." I sighed, still trying to catch my breath as he pulled the comforter over us. I peppered his chest with kisses and glanced up at the clock, which told me that I had less than a minute before the girls needed to be up.
"What time is your meeting?" I whispered, trailing my hand over his firm stomach.
"Ten…" He breathed into my hair, picking up my hand and playing with my fingers. "When do you have to leave?"
"Around then… The presentation is at eleven." The doorbell rang through the house and the sound of Puppy's claws sliding across the floors echoed through the house, followed by his barking.
"Oh crap," I pushed away from Edward, hurrying towards the bathroom. "Dad called drop off duty…" I said smacking a palm to my forehead.
"I'll get Puppy." He sighed tugging on pants and washing his hands as I found sweat pants and a t-shirt to pull on. I did the same and hurried out of the room as Leah came running out
"Puppy!" She screamed before heading down the stairs.
"I've got him, Leah. Go find, Mommy, honey." Edward called as he hurried out of the room. Puppy still went crazy downstairs and little Leah came running into the room.
"This is literally the worst place in the morning…" Emily groaned as she collapsed on the small couch in the room. In that moment she'd never looked more like her mother
"Sorry, honey. Grandpa called drop off duty though, so it's gonna' be a little wild." I shrugged, lifting Leah into my arms and peppering her sweet face with kisses. In all her angsty, pissed off glory. I laughed at the thought and Leah began tugging her fingers through my hair.
"Mommy, you gonna make breakfast?" Leah asked pressing her nose to mine.
"Of course. But we need to get you two dressed first." I said widening my eyes, mirroring hers.
"You're silly, mommy." She giggled before I blew a raspberry into her neck.
"You love me anyway." I rolled my eyes and she nodded, kissing the cheek that I tapped.
"You guys head on out." I kissed little Leah's forehead and then Emily's before sending them on their way. I headed down stairs to be almost knocked over by Puppy. I squatted in front of the dog and kissed his forehead.
"Whatcha doin, boy?" I scratched behind his ear and he gave me a grin, jumping to put his paws on my knees. "Ready to eat, bud?" I gasped before giving him an excited nod and kissing his eyes again. I let her move from my knees before standing, I turned to see Edward smiling at me from the doorway.
"Where's dad?" I asked smiling back in confusion.
"He's in the living room." I walked to him and wrapped my arms around his waist, leaning back to look at him.
"What are you smiling about?" I asked as his arms wound around my waist.
"You're just so fucking cute." He chuckled, rubbing his nose with mine. I pouted my lips out for a kiss and he pretended to nip at them. I let out a giggle and he grinned, pressing a kiss to my smiling mouth.
I heard a huff and looked up in time to see dad spin on his heel and head away from us.
"Hey, dad!" I called, breaking away from Edward to hug my father as he continued to walk away from us.
"Hi, Bella." He said gruffly before giving me a light hug.
"Thanks for doing this." I said falling into step with him. He sighed and flicked his eyes to mine.
"It's not the first or last time, dear. You don't have to thank me every time I come." I rolled my eyes. I was just happy that he was around more often, it meant the world to me that he loved Leah more than he loved life itself.
"Where's the little one? That's who I came to see... Not..." He wrinkled his nose and gestured between Edward and I. Leah came skipping down the stairs with Emily trailing close behind her.
"We are ready, Mommy." Leah beamed before running towards Charlie and leaping into his arms.
"What's up, little one?" Dad asked landing a loud kiss on her cheek. I smiled before turning to see Edward hiking Emily up on his back.
"To breakfast!" He called before slapping my ass and galloping to the kitchen. Leah giggled at her Daddy as mine slung her up onto his shoulders. I grinned as I followed them into the kitchen before Edward and I started in on eggs and bacon, the only things he knew how to make. We moved quickly around the kitchen in tandem, laughing and conversing with dad and the girls.
"Alright, ladies." Dad spoke to the girls and clapping loudly as he picked up his car keys. Edward lifted Leah from her chair and gave her a eskimo kiss before handing her off to me and pulling Em into a hug.
"Bye bye, baby girl. Love you." I said kissing her cheek and not pulling away until she giggled and moved from my lips. "Emily!" I sang as Leah slid down me to the floor and scrambled to grandpa.
"Aunt Bella!" She cried back, letting me hug her tightly.
"Love you, kid. Have a good day." She nodded and moved toward Dad.
"Love you!" Edward yelled from behind me as Dad and the girls headed to the car.
"They'll be back, guys." Dad chuckled. "Please, try not to have a heart attack every time they leave." I hugged him tightly too and he all but brushed me off as he closed the garage door after him.
I turned and looked up at Edward, he smiled down at me, his eyes showing exactly what I was feeling.
Content.
What more could I ask for, I had a beautiful daughter, a gorgeous husband, a semi functional family and a great overall life. My family was my little slice of heaven, the most important people in my life. Despite all of the shit we'd been through in the past few years, we'd made it through together. Just like we would until the end.
"I love you." I whispered putting my forehead to his.
He smiled, pecking my lips. "More than anything."
(^()^)
And that's all I wrote folks!
I hope you enjoyed!
Thank you all for staying with me through this story! And thanks for your well wishes on the show! It went extremely well and we're prepared to make performance number two tonight even better!