The Twilight Twenty-Five
thetwilight25[dot]com

Prompt: 16. Italian Restaurant
Pen Name: souplover9
Pairing/Main Character(s): Edward
Rating: T

Photo prompts can be viewed here:
thetwilight25[dot]com/round-six/prompts

"Hey guys! It's Alice. Well, obviously you know it's me, but I just needed to make sure, you know? Anyways, I just wanted to tell you about my birthday dinner. So, we'll meet at Olive Garden at seven sharp, and don't forget about my gift, because no birthday is complete without— BEEP." The machine had cut her off.

Edward frowned at the answering machine. "Olive Garden, again? Does my sister have no taste?"

"What are you complaining about this time?" Bella asked, strolling into the room.

"Alice's restaurant choice."

"Olive Garden?"

"Yeah. She's always predictable."

"Ew, that grease-pot again?"

"My sentiments exactly."

"I don't understand why she loves that place."

"Probably because of free bottomless salad and breadsticks."

"If I want bottomless food, I'd opt for Red Robin, or a buffet."

"A buffet? Really, Bella? All they have is cheap greasy food."

"And unlimited desserts! And besides, you can always take the food home."

"Since when?"

"Since people bring in their own containers and fill them up when no one's looking."

Edward laughed. "And have you done this before?"

"No, although Emmett has."

Edward snorted. "I wouldn't put it past him."

They fell silent for a moment.

"Too bad we can't ditch tonight," Bella sighed, leaning against him.

He wrapped his arms around her. "I know, right? I'd rather stay at home with my lovely wife."

She snuggled into his arms. "I'd rather stay home with my lovely husband," she repeated back at him.

He chuckled, held her tighter, and began swaying.

"Do you think Alice would go for it if we told her we're skipping her birthday dinner to give her an niece or nephew?" Bella asked.

He smiled at his wife. "Doubt it. She's demand we go out to her birthday celebration, then come back and give her 'the bestest gift of all.'"

"Bestest isn't even a word."

"When has that stopped Alice from making up words? "

"True, true."

"So, what did we get her?"

"Concert tickets."

"To see who?"

"Taylor Swift."

"Seriously?"

Bella nodded. "It's her favorite singer."

Edward made a face. "How can Alice stand her? All she does is sing about is her break ups."

She laughed. "So much disgust! You're not the one going to the concert. She'll probably take Tanya or Jasper."

"True, although I can see Jasper going more than Tanya. He's into country music."

They fell into another moment of comfortable silence.

He felt her sigh more than he heard her. "How much longer until dinner?"

"A couple hours," Edward replied. "By the way, what did we get her for her birthday present? She was rambling on about how a birthday is incomplete without gifts."

"Of course she's say that," Bella said, rolling her eyes. She rested her chin on his chest and looked up at him. "Sometimes, I'm baffled at how you guys are siblings. You're totally opposite, in personality and looks."

He shrugged. "When I was younger, I used to tease her that she was adopted. She would go crying to mom and dad, and no matter how many times I'd get into trouble for it, I kept doing it."

Swatting her husband, she said laughingly: "You're such a mean brother."

He smiled at her. He loved it when she laughed and smiled. "It's not my fault she kept falling for it!"

"But you're too suave and persuasive for your own good. I don't blame her for believing it."

"I'm suave, am I?"

"Don't you know it. And dazzling. We need to add dazzling to the list."

"Oh, really?"

"Mmmhmmm."

Smiling, he tightened his hold on his wife and leaned in closer. "Do I dazzle you?"

She leaned back and looked into his twinkling eyes. They were full of mischief and desire. Beaming back at him, she replied, "all the time."

Closing the distance between them, he left a trail of butterfly kisses along her neck. He knew what to do to get her aroused quickly, and he was puling out all the moves. "Does the Mrs. need some persuading to go have some fun?"

"Abso-fucking-lutely no," she breathed.

With that, he took her hand and dragged her into the bedroom, where they stayed for the next couple of hours.

It was no surprise to either of them that they were late to Alice's birthday party. Alice, the perpetual child, threw a fit when the lovebirds strolled into the restaurant half an hour late.

"Hi, everyone," the couple greeted his family.

"You guys! You're an hour late."

"We are not, Madame Exaggeration. We're half an hour late."

"One hour, half an hour, late is late, and you know I don't tolerate that."

Edward groaned and resisted the urge to roll his eyes. "Whatever you say, pipsqueak."

"Hey, don't call me pipsqueak, jerk,"

Bella, who was trying not to laugh, had hid behind Edward. If Alice saw her laughing, it would make things worse. Alice hated it when people laughed at her.

Bella found it hilarious when Edward and Alice interacted. He would always push her buttons—with a straight face nonetheless, and she would just take it. Bella thought that Alice would have figured out by now what Edward was up to, but it never clicked, even when other people pointed it out.

Edward, who understood what Bella was doing, reached for her hand, and continued egging Alice on.

It didn't take long for things to escalade. Just when Alice was about to erupt like Mt. St, Helens, the parentals stepped in. "Children, we're in public!" Esme scolded them.

"He started it," Alice complained with a pout. If she was standing up,

"And now it's ended. Edward, behave. It's your sister's birthday."

"Yes, mom," he said, moving to the two empty seats.

"You okay?" he whispered to Bella.

"Yeah, just as long as you stop pushing her buttons."

"But where's the fun in that?"

Bella laughed quietly, her face still pressed against his back. Eventually, she had calmed down, and was able to take her seat.

"Hey guys, what's—" Bella's greeting faltered when she realized everyone was staring at her.

She blushed, not expecting the attention. Bella wondered if there was something on her face. Glancing up at Edward, she silently asked if he knew what the attention was all about. He simply shrugged.

"Why's everyone staring at me?" she finally asked.

"You were acting kinda strange. And you look radiant—glowing. Is there something you want to tell us?" Alice said, expectantly.

"Um, no." It sounded more like a question.

"Are you sure? It's okay if you want to give me the bestest birthday gift ever here."

"Alice, I'm not pregnant."

"I don't believe you. You're glowing!"

"Yeah, like that's enough evidence," Rose, the middle child, drawled.

Alice glared at Rose. "I know you want a niece or nephew as much as I do!"

Rose rolled her eyes, "yes, but unlike you, I know how to be patient. They'll get pregnant when it happens, not on your command."

Bella's blush was profuse. This was not a conversation she wanted to have in public, and with her husband's family.

"Bella, I want proof! Pee on a stick!"

Bella's eyes popped out of her sockets.

"She will do no such thing, Alice," Esme said angrily.

"But—"

"No buts! End of discussion. Respect your brother's privacy."

The rest of Alice's birthday dinner passed solemnly. Bella had lost her appetite, opting to munch on salad instead of nibbling her mushroom ravioli. But no food went to waste, since Rose's fiancée, Emmett, was a human garbage disposal—he polished off everything.

After the cake was brought out, and gifts exchanged, everyone returned home.

"Stop the car," Bella said to Edward, as the passed the drugstore.

He nodded, knowing what she wanted. He was so in-tune with her that sometimes it seemed that he was reading her mind.

She hopped in and out, three small boxes in hand. He held her hand the entire ride home, and continued to hold her hand while she took the tests.

They were quiet the entire time, waiting for the time to pass.

They approached the sink slowly, Edward leading the way. When it was time to look, they both reached for the sticks, flipping them over.

"Oh, god." Bella said, her voice full of emotion. "She was right," she continued, chocking on her words.

She dropped the sticks, and hugged her husband. "We're going to be parents."

"Yes, we are," Edward said, pulled her into a tight embrace, kissing the top of her head.

Author's Note:

That's all folks! As I've mentioned before, none of these prompts have been beta'd. All mistakes are mine.

Also, thanks for reading! If you feel inclined, leave a review. I'd love to hear your thoughts (the good, the bad, and ugly...what have you).