Stephenie has it all. I just decided to play with her characters and add some of mine. I don't own anything you might recognize.
THANK YOU, GUYS! I never expected so many reviews or story Alerts/Favorites or hits. You are great! This is seriously my only story to receive such feedback!
Many thanks to my beta for all the support, honey!
This is my FB name: Cherry Bellazza Callen. There are pictures on my profile.
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Edward was out of the car, pacing on the pavement, phone to the ear, muttering.
"Fucking finally!" he shouted when the house door opened and Emmett stepped out.
"Bro! The fuck? It's one in the freaking morning!"
"I didn't want to stop for a few more hours to drive again in the morning. Help me with the bags."
"Hello to you too," Emmett grumbled waving to me.
I took Abby out and she went to her uncle hugging him. With a suitcase and a backpack on my shoulder I went inside and bumped into Rose.
"Hi, Bella!" she whispered excited, hugging me.
"Rose! I missed you so much."
"Me too. Let me show you to the guest room. Do you want to sleep-"
"With Edward, yes," I finished for her.
"I was going to say Abby."
"Oh, she can sleep alone. If you have room?"
"I have. I just wasn't sure. I don't like midnight traffic so I'd keep you with Edward."
Half an hour later we were installed and ready to turn in. With promises to greet each other properly in the morning, everyone went to their rooms.
I was snuggled into Edward, feeling the withdrawals of driving for so long. It was like I was floating and swaying at the same time.
"You feel it too?" he whispered.
"Yep," I mumbled in his chest, grasping his shirt and closing my eyes. "Night."
"G'night," he whispered and brought me even closer to him.
Sometime during the night, I felt the bed moving and another small body snuggling against me, but was too tired to really perceive that.
In the morning, when I woke up I found Abby squished between us. Without waking either of them, I slipped out of the bed then after a detour to the bathroom, I went in search of the kitchen.
Emmett was pouring coffee in a big mug. He turned his head when he saw me and grinned.
"Baby Boop!" In a few long strides he was next to me and had his long arms around me. "Long time, no see!"
I smiled, squeezing him from around the neck. "Too long," I whispered, fighting against tears. "You're awake early."
"I could say the same for you," he said amused, letting go of me. "But you know…it's Monday? I have to go to work."
"Oh! I really lost track of time with this break," I muttered embarrassed. "Can I have some coffee?"
"Help yourself." He shrugged.
Something pinged and Emmett went to the microwave oven opening the door. I had no idea what was in there but my stomach didn't like it. At all.
Clamping a hand over my mouth, I rushed to the bathroom down the hall. Lucky Rose had taken the time to tell me where the essentials were. When I felt somewhat better, I went back to the kitchen to find Emmett at the table with one of the boys. He looked at me worried.
"I'm okay. Hey…Rick, right?" I asked going to his kid.
"Yep. Hi, Aunt Bella!"
"Sure you okay, Bella?" Emmett asked worried.
"Yes, go to work."
Just as he was leaving, Rose came into the kitchen and after walking her husband to the door, she sat next to me.
"You have to tell me about your holiday. Where did he take you?" she asked, drinking from Emmett's mug of coffee.
"Some place in Wisconsin…. Muskegon? It was really beautiful."
"And you weren't expecting this? It was your anniversary!"
"Rose, I lost track of time. Don't you?"
She looked at her oldest who was trying to pour milk and cereal at the same time in a bowl and managed to spill on the table.
"With two…I don't have time to think." She shook her head and went to grab a cloth. "Sometimes, three," she joked.
"I know what you mean," I agreed. "Edward can be such a child, too."
And just to prove my words right, Edward appeared in the kitchen with Abby on his shoulders continuing the story from last night.
"Why would he do that? The princess didn't like it in the first place!" he insisted. So the prince had a beard again. Interesting.
"He'd have his own razor, Daddy!"
He laughed, catching my eye then looking at Rose. "Hey, Rosalie."
"Hello, Edward. Abby!" She stopped cleaning after her son and took my daughter in her arms, hugging her. Thankfully, she had learned over the years that no one really wanted to take her away from her time with her daddy.
"Ricky!" Edward said excited hugging him sideways, kissing his head. "Where's you brother?"
"Sleeping? He's a slob!"
"Richard Cullen!" Rose shouted. "Just because your dad uses that language, doesn't mean you can!"
"But he is," Rick insisted.
Rose put Abby on the chair next to Rick offering her a bowl. Rick jumped to put the cereal and milk in it earning a loud cry from Abby. She loved putting it herself.
"He saw that in an advertisement and no matter how much I tell him that he can't do it…he insists." Rose shook her head looking fondly at her boy.
Abby refused to eat as big tears fell down her cheeks, wanting to make her own breakfast. Edward ended up sacrificing and eating from her bowl while she made her own bowl.
"Uncle Edward, you've got to teach me that back flip dunk!" Rick said suddenly.
Edward glanced at him frowning. "What, kid?"
Rick arched his back and threw a hand behind him. "You know? You used it against Boston? That last hoop before the first break?"
"I don't remember, but I promise to think about it."
"Dad recorded the games. We have to find the DVD and look over it again. It was awesome!"
"Rick, eat and leave Edward alone," Rose groaned. Well, that was a first. Rose taking Edward's side.
Nick joined us a few minutes later looking still half-asleep. His blue eyes widened when he saw us then he zoomed to me and hugged me around the waist, snuggling into me.
"Hey, little man. You've grown up quite a bit," I said as I looked him over.
He beamed up at me then turned to Edward. He was three, like our Abby, but boys always grew up slower.
"Not talkative in the morning?" Edward teased him ruffling his curly blond hair. Nick shook his head yawning.
After breakfast we dressed for the day and moved to the living room. Abby liked Nick more and stayed closer to him, even shared a few of her toys. Rick, since he was older by almost two years, decided to join the adults on the couch. Rose kept shooing him, but the only thing that took him away was Edward asking about that game. They went to the stack of recorded games Emmett had to search that move. I think I knew what Rick was talking about, but it was funny that Edward didn't remember; although he was busy being focused on the game and scoring – it didn't matter how.
"Emmett told me you were sick this morning," Rose whispered. Emmett and his big mouth.
"Maybe?" I shrugged, looking at the kids. Abby seemed to like the toy cars Nick had. "What do you want me to say, Rose?" I mumbled when I felt her gaze on me.
"Are you…?"
"Why does everyone jump on that conclusion?" I asked dramatically while fighting a smile.
"You are!" she exclaimed and enveloped me in her arms. "How far along? You know what you're having? I'm so happy for you, Bella!"
"I realized last week, when I was looking though what Edward had packed. Lost track of time, you know? Didn't even realize my period never came last month." I laughed when I saw her wide eyes. "On Edward's birthday…Liz offered to steal Abby, but not before she was high on chocolate."
"Worry free." Rose grinned.
"Exactly. I didn't have to think about anything, you know? What if she wakes up? What if she hears? What if…?" I sighed. "It's really hard to find some alone time."
"The trick is lots of chocolate and wait until the effects wear off then they're out like the light. One time, I think we could have demolished the house and they wouldn't have heard."
"Rose, TMI!" I cried out. "You're my best friend and Emmett is like a big brother."
"What? I talk with Alice about this all the time! You're just a prude, Bella."
"Rose!" I exclaimed mock-scandalized. "And…you talk with Alice? Yuck! They're twins!"
"I give useful information if you want to know. I'm pretty sure you used some head information too. If you get the pun." She smirked at me and I blushed scarlet.
"I missed you, Rose," I admitted, leaning to hug her again.
Sometime later, Edward came back with Rick. They were grinning like crazy. I loved to see him so happy, and hoped the little one in me was a boy. He loved Abby, but he needed a guy.
"I'm going to the store. Emmett insists I have to go there," Edward said shrugging. "I'll try not to kill him."
"Wait, let me pack some lunch!" Rose jumped up and rushed to the kitchen.
"What's the plan? Do we visit home too?" I asked, patting the couch next to me.
Edward smiled as if he was on some secret and shrugged. "We'll see." He leaned into me and kissed me quickly. "I'll be back soon."
Once he was gone, Rose took her previous seat next to me. She grabbed my left hand and looked at my bracelet.
"I was wondering what was tinkling. This is beautiful. Silver?"
"White gold. Edward gave it to me on my birthday and promised to add a new charm every birthday," I explained.
"That is actually really sweet. I never thought he'd be so caring. I guess I never saw Edward's true face until you two started dating."
"Sadly, I didn't see it until we had that horrible fallout. I thought everything had been an act, but he truly loved me…" I trailed off, pushing away the sad memories. It felt like a lifetime ago.
Rose smiled at me. "Well, look at you! Looking and acting like a woman for a first!" she exclaimed like a proud parent. "I still have to teach you the benefits of a little make-up. Only mascara," she said quickly when I opened my mouth to protest.
"I'd prefer to be as I am while I still look good naturally, you know? When I won't like what I see in the mirror, I promise to give you a call."
"That means you like what you see? You've changed too, you know? Who would have thought you'd have such an impact on the other?" She giggled returning her eyes on my bracelet. "You have two charms. When did he give you this gift?"
I laughed, shaking my head. "One is from Abby. Edward gave me this little heart and Abby gave me the little 'B' letter."
"Mommy! Rick swore at me!" Abby whined coming to me.
"Rick!" Rose yelled. "What did you say now? I'm going to cut your father's tongue, I promise!"
"I didn't, Mom!" Rick groaned.
"Yes, he didn't!" Nick took his side.
"What did you say?" Rose insisted, narrowing her eyes at her oldest.
"Hakuna Matata. She doesn't know it! That's a crime!" Rick shouted. "It means 'there are no worries' and it's from The Lion King!" he went on looking surprised at Abby.
"She hasn't seen it yet," I told him. We had a list of kid movies and were ticking off the ones she had seen. We hadn't gotten to The Lion King.
"Can I see it? Does it have lions?" Abby asked me using that smile that got her everything.
"Sure, sweetie."
Rose put the DVD in the player and told me to help her with lunch. In the kitchen I found Cody lounged against a wall, sleeping. I had completely forgotten about him. After feeding him and playing with him a little, I washed my hands ready to help Rose.
"Does she eat fries?" she asked as she started peeling potatoes.
"Yep. Not all the time, but she's allowed."
While Rose worked on the fries and chicken breasts, I quickly made some cookies. A sudden craving.
Right after lunch was over and Abby kept quoting The Lion King, the doorbell rang. Rose grinned and went to answer. Everyone was on some secret I wasn't on.
I was crouched, trying to talk reason into Abby that we couldn't buy a baby lion when I was suddenly in the air. Arms held me tightly around the waist. I screeched flailing my legs in the air while my hands went behind to grasp the intruder's hair.
"Hi, Bella!" Jasper said chuckling in my ear.
"Are you trying to kill me?" I asked as he put me down. When I turned to face him I was surprised by his appearance. "What have you done with your golden locks?" His hair was almost black and shoulder length.
"I look more serious like this, don't you think? Besides, it suits what I do in the past-time." He shrugged, kissing my cheeks.
"Oh, right! Alice said you sing. Who would have thought that?" I asked amused.
"Not me. It was you that won that thing." He grinned then looked at our feet where Abby had her hands on her hips frowning at him. "Sorry, little lady. I didn't recognize you there for a second." He crouched to hug her.
"Belllaaa!"
"Alliiice!" I yelled back and rushed over to her. We were still our old selves when we reunited and that was good. "Did you grow up or something?" I asked her when I realized she was almost eye level with me.
"I have heels, Bella." We kissed then I led her to Abby who was on a roll, babbling about whatever came to her mind. Poor Jasper. "She's so adorable. Like a mini Edward."
"She is like a mini Edward," I told her seriously. "She takes after him a lot."
"Hakuna Matata!" I heard Abby saying seriously. Now that she knew where it came from and what it meant, she said it every few minutes.
"Hakuna Matata to you too." Jasper laughed.
After putting the kids to a nap, we caught up with our lives and what we had done until Emmett and Edward returned. I learned that Jasper had come home with a cat a few months ago and he had become part of the family soon. His band was small and composed of two other guys; one was his colleague at the law firm he was working and the other was a neighbor. Alice's handmade jewels and decorations were selling amazingly. I told her to start a branch in Chicago, and she promised to consider it.
There was a moment when she caught Jasper's eye then looked at us and cleared her throat. "We have some news…" she started softly. "Jazz?"
He took her hand and grinned at us. "We're moving to Houston. I've been promoted."
"Oh, here I hoped you'd join the dark side and have a baby," Rose grumbled.
"We have cookies," I joked. "But seriously, I'm happy for you!" I hugged Jasper then Alice right before the door opened and loud voices carried inside the house.
"Mom would love it!" Emmett said loudly on a sarcastic voice.
"It will be off by the time I see Mom!" Edward snapped.
"Aw, no! I love the beard! It's like you are undercover!" That was Bob. Of course, they'd act like kids when they were together again.
I met them in the doorway of the living room. Edward grinned and hugged me, kissing my nose. Then he was shoved away and Bob was hugging me.
"Is it hug Bella day?" I wondered. Everyone seemed really fond of hugging me. I felt another set of arms around me and then another. I was squished between Bob, Emmett and Edward.
"Group huuug!" Jasper shouted, running to us.
I could see Rose and Alice watching us amused from the couch. I squirmed, trying to free myself, but it was easier said than done.
"Okay, guys, I think I had enough hugs to last me a lifetime," I mumbled, pushing against their chests.
They finally stepped away and only Edward kept an arm around my shoulders.
"How are you feeling?" he whispered in my ear.
"Great. Just a little sick this morning." I leaned up to kiss his cheek that was still covered by thick beard. "When are you going to shave?"
"Tomorrow. Why, don't you like the beard?" he teased me, rubbing his cheek against mine.
"Maybe I do, maybe I don't, but Abby surely doesn't like it."
"It seems that Bob doesn't like it either. He didn't even know it was me." He laughed.
Bob turned to us hearing his name and scowled. "How was I supposed to know it was you?" he defended himself.
"Uh, you should have recognized me! I'm your best friend, Gravel!" Edward exclaimed. "But no, he tells me they're on the lunch break and that the store is closed. Emmett was looking at him as if he had three heads. I made sure to stop next to that stupid poster and look at him trying to see if he realized it was me."
"I didn't." Bob shrugged. "Only when he took his shades off, I knew it was him and I felt kinda bad."
"What shades?" I asked suspiciously.
"My favorite ones." Edward gave me his crooked smile.
"Yeah, I told him that he needed that propeller hat and a lollipop and he could go back to the playground without any problems," Emmett buttered it, punching Edward's shoulder.
"Fuck off, Emmett! Those are bad-ass shades! Who else has them?"
"No one! Probably only retarded kids."
"Hey! They're nice!" Edward told him pouting.
"What are you talking about?" Jasper asked confused.
"Those." Edward extracted his sunglasses from his pocket. "Cool, eh?"
"Oh my God! They're so cute!" Alice shrieked and rushed to us. "Did you steal them from Bella?"
"Actually, they're his sunglasses," I mumbled. "He bought them on the honeymoon."
"They're yours?" Alice asked making a face. "Are you five?"
"Going on twenty-five." Edward smirked, looking patronizing at her.
"You mean twenty-six!" I said amused.
"Shut up, Bella," Edward grumbled. "I don't want to think of the big three-oh thing."
"Oh, is someone getting a complex?" Emmett joked ruffling his brother's hair.
"You two are surely still five," Rose said seriously joining us. "We have an audience," she added giggling.
I saw the kids with their heads cocked to the left regarding their crazy dads.
"Daddy!" Abby yelled and rushed to Edward as if she hadn't seen him in years.
Lucky he was good with coordination because she jumped in his arms. I wouldn't have been able to do that. She snuggled against his chest, tucking her head under his chin.
"Aw, she's adorable!" Alice cooed, grinning at them.
Abby just watched us with a smug expression like saying 'yeah, he's mine' and she was the only one to make him do anything, which was true.
"How the hell have you been?" he asked Jasper, going to the couch. Jasper started telling him what he had told us.
Rose brought the cookies I had made and they were a great success. Besides the kids, Emmett seemed the next one to love them.
"You made these?" he asked Rose bewildered. She had the decency to blush and point to me.
I smiled and shrugged. "I take it that you like them."
"Like them? I freaking love them!" Emmett exclaimed then took a solemn look. "If we weren't married…I'd ask you to be my wife. Then you could make me these cookies for the rest of my life."
"I can cook, Emmett"! Rose said sternly earning doubtful looks from all the members of her family.
"Mom, you burnt the bacon the other day!" Rick reminded her.
"Yeah, and the rice was stuck to the pan because you didn't put enough water and didn't stir," Emmett added. "It's a good thing I love you."
"You can't have it all, Em," Edward said proudly. "Not everyone is as awesome as us!" I should have known he was going to brag.
"Damn, man! You're so lucky!" Emmett grumbled. "Can you send some of these cookies for Christmas?" he pleaded me.
"I'll consider it. How much do you pay?" I teased.
"Edward's not a good influence, Boop."
"Hey, Dad! Uncle Edward showed me that move! He's a great influence!" Rick told his father seriously.
Emmett scowled and grabbed another cookie, probably having his ego wounded. Kids were always honest, and that hurt sometimes.
After dinner and more catching up, we put Abby to bed, which wasn't difficult since she hadn't slept much the other night and had a full day. She kept telling us about the movie she had seen with her cousins.
"You have to sleep," I insisted, growing tired of her babbling. "And no, I don't know any of the songs from The Lion King!"
Edward gasped and shoved me. "You don't know The Lion Sleeps Tonight?" Of course, only after the words were out did he realize why I said that. Now, he had to sing it.
"You do, Daddy?" Abby asked sitting up and bouncing.
He glanced at me and shrugged. "I looked over the lyrics once because I couldn't understand the chorus…so yeah, I know it, but not very well. How about I learn it better and sing it tomorrow?" he asked Abby who pouted.
She grinned and hugged us. "Hakuna Matata!" It seemed the phrase of the day. I couldn't wait until she forgot about this.
Edward caught my eye, frowning. He didn't remember that part. Great. "Bless you," he mumbled making me laugh.
Half an hour of pleadings and the bed full of plush toys, Abby was asleep. I was ready to fall asleep too, but we had promised to return to the living room.
"Fuck, why is it so hard to make her fall asleep?" Edward groaned, fisting his hair. I shrugged, not having an answer to that.
The others were sprawled around the living room talking quietly. Emmett whistled when we appeared in the doorway.
"Here I thought you ditched us for some hanky-panky."
"Why don't we switch tomorrow night, Em?" Edward challenged him. "You get Abby to sleep and I get your kids to sleep."
"Deal!" He had no idea what he was signing up for. He'd come to us whining that he couldn't get her to sleep.
*RA*
The next morning Edward woke me up telling me I should get up because there was a surprise for me that was coming soon. All I could do what roll out of the bed and moan. We had stayed up late and when we finally went to bed I couldn't sleep.
"Come on, sleepyhead!" Edward grabbed my arm dragging me to the kitchen. "You are the only one sleeping! It's nearly ten!"
"I'm allowed to be tired, Edward. I'm pregnant!" I hissed, then clapped a hand over my mouth. We had reached the kitchen and everyone besides Rose was watching me shocked. I tried to smile and shrug.
"I'm gonna have a little brother!" Abby announced everyone loudly.
"And I'm going to be sick," I mumbled as the fried smell reached my nostrils. Edward moved out of my way as I sprinted to the bathroom down the hall.
When I returned, the windows were opened widely and Rose offered me a plate of pancakes. I gave her a small smile and dug in.
"You already know it is a boy?" Alice asked, breaking the silence.
"No, that's Abby's wish," I mumbled.
After finishing my pancakes we moved to the living room, right when the doorbell rang. That must be the surprise – whatever it was.
Edward got up and rushed to open, nearly falling when he stumbled on the chair. Who could be there besides his parents? I wondered if they brought Charlie along. That would be nice. It wouldn't be a surprise if I went through all the sceneries in my head.
"Close your eyes, love!" he called out from the hallway.
I rolled them before complying, playing his little game. Several feet stepped into the room and someone sat next to me.
"Dad!" I exclaimed happy as I opened my eyes. We were past our awkward hugs, but it was still a little off the way we hugged.
"Hey, Bells! It's been two years, I think."
"I'm so sorry," I whispered, clutching to him further. I wanted to blame the tears on the pregnancy.
"Bella, sweetie."
I looked up to see Esme smiling at me and immediately stood wrapping her in my arms. It was so nice to visit and see everyone – even once a year. After Esme, I went to Carlisle while she went to Alice.
Once everyone was reunited with everyone, the presents came. After getting exactly what she wanted since yesterday – a plush lion, Abby stayed on Charlie's lap, clinging to him. We told everyone our news too before the parents started asking for stories. That turned out in the funniest experiences we had shared with the crazy kids.
"Oh, I know one!" Emmett exclaimed after Rose finished a story about a trip to the supermarket that got out of hand when they reached the sweets area. "We were playing hide and seek and I was counting."
"If they're anything like you, I can only imagine the places they hid. You were pretty inventive," Esme said amused.
"I chose the attic," Rick said proudly.
"And we have a rule that unless you are found, you have to stay hid," Rose added with a giggle. "I wasn't very inventive when I hid in our closet and that was the first place Emmett looked."
"I knew you'd be there. And you're better at finding them," he pointed out. "Anyway, we started searching and it was really weird not to find at least one of them." He shook his head.
"After some time, I thought of the attic," Rose explained. "We found Rick behind some boxes. He was nearly asleep."
"I was bored, Mom! It took you hours to find me!" he moaned.
"What about Nick?" Jasper asked amused eyeing the blond boy who beamed at him.
"I had the best hiding place," he told us.
"You knew outside the house was off limits, but you still did it," Emmett grumbled.
"The backyard is reasonable," Carlisle joined the conversation.
"Dad, if he were in the backyard, we'd have found him long before we found Rick. But no, he went to our neighbors! Of course, we had no idea of that until around six in the evening, after five hours of searching, Bob came to tell us to search in his living room," Emmett said shaking his head.
"I was so angry!" Rose exclaimed. "But of course, I couldn't stay angry when I found him behind the curtain in Bob's living room."
"What about you? What stories do you have?" Esme asked smiling at us.
I caught Edward's eye and burst in laughter. "How much time do you have?"
"Yeah, there's not a dull moment," Edward agreed. "I still have no idea how Bella copes with her. I'm tired after five minutes."
"Practice." I winked at him then looked at Abby who was snuggled in her grandpa's arms. She smiled innocently at me.
"Cheetos!" she told with a smile.
"No!" I moaned in horror. That was something I didn't want to remember. When I saw everyone watching me expectantly, I gulped then delved into the story. "It had to happen on a weekend Edward was gone," I started. "We were shopping and she insisted I buy the Cheetos. Once in the car, she opened the bag and it had a surprise." I cringed. "A whistle." I got sympathetic looks from everyone.
"It was nice!" Abby said grinning. "Where is it?"
"You're not getting that whistle ever again," I reminded her. "All the way home, she blew into it making Cody bark along. And home, she didn't stop either. Of course."
"Must have been one hell of a day!" Rose laughed.
"I kept telling her to eat more Cheetos just to keep her from whistling until she realized what I was doing. That's when the hell broke loose. She kept whistling with more vigor and Cody would whine and I would scream, trying to grab the whistle but she ran away with it. At lunch, she actually ate, but didn't let go of the whistle then she hid it somewhere right before I put her to sleep." I sighed, shaking my head while Abby laughed. "Finally whistling free, I had a little free time. Even Cody seemed reviled there were no more sounds."
Edward chuckled. "I nearly got killed when I came home," he said in mock-horror. "When I stepped into the kitchen, she was probably checking the food in the oven…but you know…" He shrugged sheepishly, his ears turning pink. "Anyway, I walked in whistling. Rambo here turned to me and started yelling, while pointing a knife in my direction."
"Because I had enough whistling to last me a couple lifetimes!" I cried out. "Back to my story. I was working on some project I had for one of my classes when the phone rang and I answered quickly not wanting to wake Abby. It was Liz, but the sad part was that Abby was already awake. She appeared in the living room's doorway with her whistle and after an evil smile she started blowing it."
"And so your phone call ended," Alice quipped giggling. She had no idea how it was to have an overactive kid.
I shrugged. "Well, I still tried talking to her since she wanted a recipe, but soon all she heard was the whistle. She had no idea what that sound was until I explained between shouting at Abby to quit it."
"You stole it!" Abby accused me, glaring at me.
"When she went to bed that night, she left the whistle on the bed while waiting for me in the bathroom. Of course, I took it away. Do you want more adventures?" I asked amused.
"Compared to Emmett and Edward, what you told us it's nothing," Esme said dismissingly.
"Oh, you want to know about the time I found Rick climbing on the back of that couch trying to fly?" Emmett asked with a wide grin.
"Oh my God!" Esme shouted looking surprised at her oldest grandson. "You got him on time?" she asked Emmett.
"Unfortunately no. But he wasn't hurt because he kind of tumbled over the couch then onto the carpet."
"And we stood and watched instead of going to catch him," Rose mumbled. "But I was too shocked to move."
"Oh, and last week if I remember correctly when we found Nick on the counter in the kitchen looking for sweets in the cupboard," Emmett added with a booming laugh.
"You shouldn't climb on chairs," Abby told Nick, shaking her head. "You fall and make boo-boo."
"Speaking from experience?" Jasper questioned her.
"Daddy made boo-boo when he was little."
Edward laughed, grabbing her from Charlie and hugging her to his chest. I was glad we had his experience with climbing on stuff to tell her it wasn't good. And she actually listened.
"When did you climb something?" Emmett asked confused. "You didn't like to climb trees!"
"Probably because I had bad experiences with climbing on stuff?" Edward retorted.
"What are you talking about?" Esme asked just as confused as Emmett.
We started explaining the story Ed and Liz had told us so long ago, and with each word, Emmett's eyes widened in horror. Or was he proud of his little brother?
"Anyway, when I reached the shelf with the chocolate, the bookcase kinda broke…and fell on me. I broke my leg." Edward grinned. "What, Emmett? I had a wild side you weren't aware of. So what?"
"You had a broken leg? There was no mention of that in your medical file," Carlisle muttered, scratching his jaw.
"They probably didn't pay…or talked a doctor into putting my leg in cast? I've no idea. It was right before…that," he whispered, shrugging.
"How old were you?" Emmett asked still surprised of Edward's stunts.
"Five."
"Did I do something like that at five?" He turned to his parents expectantly.
"I really don't want to embarrass you, honey, but at five you were wetting your bed and you weren't allow in pre-school because you refused to potty in the big toilet," Esme said softly.
"Already embarrassed me, Mom. Thank you, by the way," Emmett grumbled.
"Really, Dad?" Rick shouted then frowned. "You mean…you were like us once?"
"Everyone was little at some point. I already told you that," Rose explained.
"But I can't imagine Dad little."
"That's right, buddy. I'm big!" Emmett boasted, winking at Rose and making her blush horribly.
"Emmett Cullen!" Esme shouted. "Watch that mouth of yours!"
"What, Ma? Even my mouth is big. I know." He grinned proudly.
He hadn't changed one bit, but he wouldn't be Emmett unless he made some crude joke.
For a late lunch we decided to order take-out. When it arrived, Rose, Alice and I started sorting through the boxes.
It was a great vacation.
It finally sunk in how close to the end we are...and there are actual tears in my eyes... My baby is so close to wrapping up.
Next chapter we'll hear from Edward a little (a lot actually) then Bella, the next chapter, then again Edward... You get the idea. :)