Resident Adviser

by addict-writer

Bella is in her second year at UW and she ends up paired with Edward –basketball superstar– as RAs for their year. How far would he go to get her? Would she fall for his antics, knowing his history with girls? Read and find out.

93. Chapter 93: The Reunion

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.

PS: I made a group on FB: http:/www(.)facebook(.)com/groups/274198112656668/

From now, we kind of alternate between Edward and Bella until we have only EPOV, close to the very end. He decided to open up at the end, and Bella shied away. I bet everyone loves EPOV.

Enjoy!

EPOV

Like always, for the past week, I woke up to Bella's screams coming from the kitchen. I sighed, rolling on my other side. I was so fucking tired. NBA Finals had just finished two weeks ago, and like that wasn't enough, about a month ago, we got a letter from UW announcing us about a ten year reunion. Naturally, we said yes. Only if we knew it would give us such a headache, we'd have declined. I didn't even miss anyone that much. Okay, that was a lie. But I knew that since I had to be away for the Finals because they weren't in the city and Bella was left alone to pack for everyone and calm them the fuck down, it was hard. Sometimes, they looked like they were Alice's kids. Way too fucking hyper.

"Dad, are you awake?"

Are you kidding me, now? Bella has still got her lungs, after all this time.

"Yeah, buddy," I answered, getting in a sitting position. I couldn't say I wasn't surprised to find Daniel here. He was usually glued to Bella. "What's up?" I asked, bringing him on my lap.

"Mom has hysterics," he told me seriously. As serious as a four year old could get.

I chuckled, shaking my head. "Who taught you that word?"

"Uncle Em." He all but beamed at me. I should have known. "But Mommy doesn't like it," he added sheepishly.

"Hold on, did you call her hysteric?" I asked amused.

"Well…"

I burst in laughter, ruffling his hair. I should have known she sent him away and that's why he was here.

"Well, buddy, that's not a nice thing to say. You can't call mommy hysteric," I explained, once I had calmed down. "She may…overreact sometimes, but that's a mom's job. It's my job to calm her down, okay?" I asked.

He nodded solemnly. "I'm sorry," he said to his pajama pants.

"Let's go say that to mommy." I hugged him to my chest, getting out of the bed and going to the kitchen.

Bella was still screaming, and Abby was screaming right back. They were almost nose to nose.

I put Daniel down and went between them, separating them. "Whoa! Back up a second."

"You deal with her!" Bella shouted at me, before marching out of the kitchen.

"O…kay. So what really happened?" I asked, going to the coffee pot. I needed lots of it apparently.

"I don't want to go anywhere! I have a social life, Daddy!"

I snorted and choked on my coffee, spraying it out of my mouth and nose. Social life? At eight years old?

Why did Bella leave me with her? I had no idea what to say.

"Don't you miss your grandparents?" I asked carefully.

"Of course I do, but I have things to do here."

"Like what? Stay in front of your computer?" I rolled my eyes, blaming myself for being so easy. I shouldn't have caved for the computer.

"I have friends, Daddy!" Abby whined. "We're meeting at Bonnie's house on Saturday!"

"Abigail, we're going to Seattle and that's final. You're going to stay with Grandma and Grandpa and with your cousins. It's going to be fun," I promised.

"No!" she cried out, big tears forming in her green eyes.

"Edward!"

"Be right there!" I shouted to Bella then focused back on Abby. "Look, it's not an eternity. It's just this weekend. We haven't seen our classmates in a long time."

"Because we live so far away," she mumbled.

"Abby!" I groaned. "Why don't you call Grandma and tell her how happy you are that you're going to see her in just one day?" I suggested, kissing her forehead. With a glance at Daniel who was petting Cody in the corner of the kitchen, I left, coffee in hand.

I slipped into the bedroom and found Bella adding clothes to the huge luggage on the bed.

"I'm here," I announced to her.

"What are you taking? We need something nice for that night," she said upset. "None of my dresses fit me anymore!"

I chuckled, putting my mug on the nightstand and hugging her to me. "Don't you have an old dress from the other pregnancies?" I asked, absently rubbing my hand over her seven months old bump.

"Edward, I'm over thirty years old! Those dresses are so short!" she moaned, sagging into my arms.

"Let me see and decide if they are short. I remember a wrap dress you wore when you were pregnant with Abby. I liked that."

"That's thick because it was winter. It's the first time I'm pregnant in the summer. I hate it."

"I promise to make sure it's winter next time," I told her, laughing.

"It's not funny!" Bella wailed. "And there isn't going to be a next time. If I hadn't been so out of it on New Year's night, this wouldn't have happened," she said sternly, turning into my arms.

"I had no idea I still had to use a condom."

She slapped my arm playfully before going back to folding.

"Why don't you call Rose? I'm sure she has a dress to lend you," I offered, grabbing my mug and sipping the magic liquid from inside.

"She doesn't; I already talked to her. I have to go last minute shopping. And I hate it," Bella complained. "Can you take care of them today?"

"Of course." So little faith in me.

"Don't give me that look, Edward! Last time you were alone with them, they were on a sugar high the whole night and I had to clean chocolate strains off everything. Even Cody."

I fought against my smile, remembering the great day we had spent together. They had wanted cake and I couldn't deny them, not when I actually knew how to bake it.

"Nothing will happen, promise," I told her seriously.

She snorted. "I'd like to believe you. You tend to stoop to their level. They're so spoiled when you're alone together!"

There was a knock on the door before Abby poked her head inside. "Daddy, will you make pancakes?"

"Sure, sweetie."

"See?" Bella asked. "Before you know it, it will be 'Daddy, can you give me your car?' or 'Daddy, can I have who knows what thing?' and you'll say yes."

I laughed, exchanging a look with Abby. "She just wants pancakes, Bella." I got up, kissed her lips before following my daughter out the room.

When Bella joined us in the kitchen, she looked at me suspiciously since the kids were quiet and eating their pancakes. What? It wasn't my fault she didn't know that lots of syrup did the trick. They always bitched with her.

I grinned at her and went to walk her to the door. She looked delicious in her maternity jeans, but I'm sure she knew that. I told her that one too many times, even showed her a couple of times.

"Stop drooling," Bella advised, closing my mouth. I narrowed my eyes at her. I wasn't drooling. "Now, be good," she started on a motherly tone making me roll my eyes.

"Bella, it's not the first, or last time I'm alone with them. I know the drill."

"Do you?" she teased, cupping my cheeks.

I melted in her chocolate pools, pressing my lips to her soft ones. Wrapping her in my embrace, I devoured her sweet mouth until she moaned and I realized we should probably stop.

Stepping back a little, but keeping my hands around her waist, I cleared my throat.

"Yeah, I have it under control," I promised.

"I've heard that before," Bella teased me, pinching my cheek.

My eyes widened and I remembered the time she had left me alone with Daniel for the first time, when he a few months old. How was I supposed to know he'd pee in my face? Abby had never done that, then again…she didn't have the right equipment. Nor had she thrown up all over my new shirt. Nor had her diaper fallen off exactly when she had to poop.

I cringed, closing my eyes. "Do you have to remind me of that?" I groaned. "I'm so happy Liz could come and save me. I smelled like everything you never wanted, from pee to vomit, to poop, and even that horrid milk you gave him."

"You're lucky she was on her first day off in a long time. I'm sure she wanted to spend it doing anything else."

"What other way than to clean after a baby?" I asked, laughing.

"After you, you mean?"

"Just go," I groaned. "There are shops waiting for you, money waiting to be spent…"

She rolled her eyes, pinching my cheek again. "Your money."

"Our money," I told her, rolling my eyes. "Love you. Get something nice."

"I'll try. Love you too. I'm leaving, kids!" she shouted toward the kitchen.

"Byeee!" they yelled, not coming.

With one final kiss, she shuffled to the car and I waited in the doorway until she drove away. Closing the door, I sent a little prayer to the Big Guy upstairs that everything would go well.

Once the dishes were washed and everyone had brushed their teeth and was wearing casual clothes, I started to panic. It had been a long time since I had been alone with them. It was like in those comedies with Ben Stiller or Adam Sandler. I looked at them and they stared right back.

"Okay, so what are we doing?" That was a bad move. I should have decided something, but I was out of practice.

"We can play a board game," Abby suggested.

I glanced at Daniel and saw he was nodding eagerly. Okay. Board game? Nothing could go wrong with that, right?

"Let me grab something. You two go into the living room," I decided.

I had no idea how to play their board games, so I picked Monopoly. You can never go wrong with that.

We played for a while until Daniel grew bored and demanded we do something else. Abby snapped at him that the game was fun and to shut up.

"Don't fight," I pleaded them. "Why don't you draw something?" I asked Daniel, hoping he'd be quiet while doing so.

He agreed and brought his pencils and paper downstairs.

It had been roughly an hour and they were wearing me down. How did Bella do this?

"Daddy! Pay attention! That's eight and you moved nine," Abby shouted.

"Sorry," I mumbled, moving back one space.

After some time, Abby glanced at her brother and her eyes widened. What now?

"Did you just steal my pencils?" she cried out. "DADDY!"

I was right in front of her. Why did she have to yell?

"Hey, buddy, is it true?" I asked, taking Daniel in my arms.

"They're cool."

"Yours are nicer," I told him seriously. "They sparkle. Let me grab them."

When they both had paper and pencils and crayons, I declared a contest. I made them draw three pictures while I had a break, watching some TV. Flipping through the channels since there was nothing interesting, I found a sports channel which had the final game on re-run. I had watched myself play only a couple of times and it gave me the creeps.

"Is that you, Daddy?"

I realized Abby wasn't drawing and now, neither was Danny.

"Yeah," I grumbled, changing the channel.

"No! I wanna see!"

"It's nothing interesting," I told her. We had lost, after all.

"Come on, Daddy!" she whined, and I changed back.

"Did you win?" she asked after some time, frowning at the screen.

"Nope."

"But your team's leading."

"Not for long," I mumbled. "I'm going to start lunch. Whatcha wanna eat?"

"Fries!" Danny squealed, clapping.

"Not gonna happen. Last time we ate at McDonald's, I thought your mom was going to kill me. Something else."

"I want steak with sauce," Abby told me.

"What sauce?" I asked.

"That red one, the tomato kind."

I bit my cheek to keep from laughing. "Okay. Steak with tomato sauce; got it. Be good and keep an eye on your brother."

How the fuck do I make steak with tomato sauce? I wondered, on my way to the kitchen.

After flipping through the cook book for a while, I realized it was a lost case. I didn't even know what it was called. I knew what she wanted, Bella had done it countless times, but I had no idea how to make it.

Grabbing my phone, I called Mom. When she didn't answer, I realized she might not hear it or be busy. Just as I was about to call Bella and swallow my pride, I saw Elizabeth's name above Esme's. Great. I pressed call and waited.

"Hello?"

"Hi! Do you have a minute?" I asked quickly.

"Yes, I'm home actually," she answered.

"That's even better." I sighed in relief. "Listen, how do you make the tomato sauce for that dish with steak?"

She chuckled before starting to enlist what I should do.

"Hold on, woman!" I groaned. "Let me grab something to write."

"Are you alone?" she asked, laughing.

"Yeah. Bella needs a dress for the reunion. So, tell me again, slowly," I said, ready to write down.

"I'll let you on a little secret. I just finished what you asked for," Liz said cheerfully.

To ask her to bring some or to cook it myself? Decisions, decisions.

"Daddy! Danny stole my pencils again!" Abby shouted.

To ask, it is. "If you'd pack some for us it would be amazing. I don't think I'm allowed to even turn my head away," I mumbled.

"I'll bring you some, you go and take care of them."

I bid her goodbye after thanking her profusely. When I went to the living room, I found Danny crying and Abby drawing on the other side of the room.

"Okay, what happened here?" I asked, crouching next to Daniel. "What's wrong, buddy?"

"He stole my pencils," Abby whined. "And broke their points."

"She hurt me," he cried, crawling in my arms.

"Is that so, Abby? I told you to share," I reproached her. "Where are you hurt?" I whispered to Daniel.

"He's not hurt! I just slapped his hand away," Abby told me, rolling her eyes.

"The pencil hurt me," Daniel bawled, showing me his palm. Sure enough, there were a few scratches on his little palm. She must have dragged it from his hand.

And as if it wasn't enough, the commenter on the TV had to shout how I had missed a simple dunk. The last chance of the game. I felt the urge to throw the remote at the screen, but restrained. I just shut it off and picked Daniel up.

"Don't move from there," I snapped at Abby. "I'll have a chat with you in a minute."

I went to our bathroom and deposited Danny on the toilet seat while rummaging through the cabinet for a band aid and some disinfectant. He kept crying and I hated to see him hurt.

"Come on, it's not that bad. Let's wash the scratch."

Only when I picked him up to wash his hand did I see a small puncture in his finger. The sharp point of a pencil, surely. That's what was hurting. I ran water over his left hand, soaping it and cleaning before drying it with the towel. There was a little blood from his finger.

Damn it.

"Does it hurt badly?" I whispered concerned, putting him on the toilet lid again.

He nodded, sniffing. I kissed his finger before putting an animal covered band aid over it. "How about the palm? Does it hurt too?"

He frowned and after a few moments, he nodded. I cleaned it with the disinfectant before wrapping it with a small white wrap.

"There, all better," I said soothingly.

"No, it still hurts."

"Well, you'll get better."

"When?" he asked curiously.

I brushed his tears away. "Soon." I hoped it would stop hurting him.

"Promise?"

"Promise." I nodded and carried him downstairs where I found Abby where I had left her. Good, at least she listened.

"Abbs? Come with me," I told her sternly, leaving Daniel on the couch.

She shuffled after me to the kitchen, looking down.

"Why did you have to hurt him? You know how sensitive he is with all his bruises!" I told her sternly.

"Well, he stole-"

"Do you really think he knows what he's doing? He's four, Abby! FOUR."

"Well, at four I knew more than him," she huffed, folding her arms over her chest.

"Like what? Tying your shoelaces?" I asked, rolling my eyes.

"Exactly."

I sighed, not really wanting to scream at her. She was my little angel and no matter what she did, she was my little girl.

"Go and apologize to him," I told her softly.

"Only when he apologizes to me. You never make him apologize!"

"I make you do it because you're older and you understand more. Or so I hope," I added, glaring at her.

"So I'm stupid?" she screamed. "What is today? The hate Abby day? Mom screamed at me from the second I stepped into the kitchen and now you! I hate you!" she shouted, running to her room.

I stared in disbelief after her. I never said that! Why did she put words in my mouth? Her words hurt like a bitch, but I knew she needed some alone time. Or so Bella told me when Abby had tantrums. So I ignored the urge to go to her room and went to living room, plopping on the couch. I glanced at Daniel and he glanced right back at me.

I turned the TV on and we stayed quiet. It was too quiet. Abby usually threw stuff around her room. After ten minutes, I couldn't stay put and went to her room. It wasn't locked. Weird.

"Abbs, look, I'm sorry," I started saying, opening the door. The room was empty. "Abby?" I asked loudly. Maybe she was in Daniel's room, destroying it. She wasn't there.

Before I could go in a full blown panic attack, the doorbell rang. I was on the verge of losing my mind. As I passed her room to go to the front door, I saw the window open.

No fucking way!

If it was Bella at the door, I better start digging my hole, just to ease her job.

I opened the door, trying to be all nonchalant if it was her. Abby couldn't be far. I mean she could be still in the house and that window could have been open for airing the room. I came face to face with Liz. She had a hand on Abby's shoulder. Abby! She had actually left the house.

"Abigail Cullen!" I yelled, not even recognizing my own voice.

She cringed into Liz. "I can explain."

"Oh, you better start talking, young lady," I hissed. "Hi," I added, glancing to Liz. "Come in." I grabbed Abby's arm and dragged her to her room.

"Daddy, I swear, it's not like that!"

"But how is it?" I yelled. "You left the house! I knew it was a bad idea to move your room to the first floor!"

"I was coming back," she insisted.

"Were you? What the hell was in your head when you left? You nearly gave me a heart attack!"

"I didn't think about that. Both of you shout at me lately and…you're Danny this and Danny that…" she mumbled, looking at her feet.

I groaned. "Abby, we talked about this. Daniel is little and he still needs our help." I bit my tongue to say more. Daniel wasn't like her. In any way. Sometimes it made me wonder if he was okay, I was afraid something was truly wrong. I shook my head of the bad thoughts and focused on the runaway girl.

"Abbs, do you realize how mommy will react when I tell her?"

Her eyes widened. "NO! You won't, will you?"

"Of course, I will. I won't lie to your mother."

"But you can't tell her! I won't do it again," she promised.

"You bet your as- I'm sure you won't do it again, or there would be consequences. For now, you're punished," I snapped, slamming her window shut. "Don't leave this room."

"But it's too warm," she complained.

I thought about it for a second and opened her window the other way, just the upper side of the window open. Plenty of air.

"If you leave this room, in any way, so help me God, Abby!" I threatened her.

"I won't," she mumbled, sitting on her bed.

"I'll bring you your lunch." With that, I closed the door behind me, running a hand through my hair. Fucking hell.

In the kitchen, I found Liz heating up the meal she had brought. I fell on a chair, banging my head to the table.

"What was all that shouting contest?" she asked worried.

"Didn't you get what happened?" I groaned in the table.

"Not quite. Why did I find her on the street?"

"Because she ran away," I mumbled. "I had a fight with her and…Bella had shouted at her too this morning then I did too now… She thinks we love Danny more, that we spend too much time with him," I rambled, raising my head to look at her. "What the fuck am I supposed to do?"

"Have you sat down, all of you, and talked?" she asked, putting a hand on my shoulder.

"Sure, but it looks like she thinks she's the most important. She is, but so is Danny…damn it, and Danny is…still young."

"There's nothing wrong with him," Liz told me softly. "Every child develops and grows up differently. You were just like him at his age. There were a few other kids around your age in the building, but you never played with them."

"Was I even allowed?" I asked before I could stop myself.

She saddened. "Of course, you were. God only knows how many times I encouraged you to go and play with them. No, the only thing you did that made you happy was buy bread and bring the neighbor's mail in."

I chuckled. "I remember that."

"At kindergarten, we got complaints that you preferred to stay alone and draw than to play with the others. That was mostly because you were an only child, I'm sure."

"Yeah, I'm sure Danny feels like that too, the way Abbs is treating him," I grumbled.

"Don't say such things, Edward!"

"Why? It's the truth."

"She loves him, but I'm sure you know that all siblings have their spats," she told me softly.

I rolled my eyes and sighed loudly. "Thank you for the food."

"You're very welcome." She kissed my cheek, stroking my head. "You look tired, honey."

"I am tired," I admitted.

"How about, you eat and go and lie down while I take care of them?" she suggested, going to the stove again.

"No way, I can't. You can go back home."

"Ed's working late today and I have nothing else to do. Let me spend some time with my grandkids," she said sternly.

"Fine," I mumbled, getting up. "I'm going to bring Danny."

"And Abby. You can't get her used to eating in her room. Even though she's punished, she has to eat at the table," she called after me.

I knocked on Abby's door. "Go to the kitchen!" She opened the door and disappeared around the corner quietly.

In the living room, I found Danny passed out on the couch. Crouching next to him, I shook his shoulder slightly.

"Mommy?" he mumbled sleepily.

"It's me, Danny. Lunch time," I announced to him.

"Okay."

"How's your hand?" I asked, taking his other hand and walking to the kitchen. He shrugged.

I helped him in his chair and just as I took a seat next to him, I heard Abby apologizing.

"I'm sorry, Danny," she mumbled into her plate. "I didn't mean to upset you, Daddy," she added, glancing at me.

I nodded, cutting the steak for Danny.

"But can you not tell Mom?" Abby pleaded me making Liz laugh. I should have known she put her up to this. Abby would have never apologized, not in a million years. She was just as stubborn as I was.

"We'll see about that," I told her. There was no doubt that I would tell Bella.

After eating, I tried convincing Liz that I had it under control but she sent me to my room, insisting I had to sleep. After I reminded Abby that she was still punished, I went to bed. I dragged the huge luggage to the floor before falling on the bed.

I woke up some time later and felt someone next to me. Looking around, I found Abby nestled against my back, sleeping soundly.

How could I be mad at her?

I wanted to tell Bella what had happened and I had no idea how to approach the subject. She was going to flip.

I brought Abby's small body to me and breathed in her hair, making her stir.

"Hey baby. Sleep well?" I asked, stroking her hair.

"Are you still upset?"

"No," I answered. I hated to see her sad.

A huge smile appeared on her face. "I won't do it again," she promised.

"Which one?" I teased her.

"Both. Either. Neither." She frowned, making me laugh. "Which one works?"

I thought about it, not really sure myself. "I think it's either," I said thoughtfully. "But it could be neither," I added, laughing.

"You're supposed to know, Daddy!"

"I don't know everything. And grammar was always confusing."

She giggled, wrapping her arms around my neck. "I love you, Daddy."

"Love you too, angel." I squeezed her to my chest before pulled back a little. "Where's your brother?"

"With Nana Elizabeth."

I still remembered the weird conversation we had with her about who was who. Her friends had only two sets of grandparents. I wanted to tell her that she was special and she had three, but Bella insisted to explain it or we'd confuse her even more. After an afternoon spent at Liz and Ed's place, we had managed to explain that when I was young I had to move with some other parents and that's why she had three sets of grandparents. Thankfully, she hadn't asked why I moved.

"Daddy, can I ask something?" Abby asked after a few minutes, pulling me away from the memory.

"Sure." I lay back, pulling her with me.

"You know how you told me that you moved with Grandpa and Grandma when you were nine?"

I had just been thinking about it. "Yeah?" I asked, urging her to continue. I was confused. Why would she bring that up?

"Do I have to move with some other parents at nine too?" she whispered, watching my eyes worried.

"No, Abby." I sighed, sitting up and arranging her on my lap. "I…they… You see…" Fuck, this was hard. I had no idea how to explain it.

"He didn't like us much and he chose another set of parents."

I looked up and saw Liz in the doorway, tears evident in her eyes.

"So it's not necessary?" Abby asked curiously.

I couldn't help but chuckle. "No, of course not. Besides, you're my little angel." I hugged her tightly, kissing her head. "No one will take you away."

"Good. I was worried, I had to move when I was nine."

"Your dad was a special case. We let him choose because we loved too him and saw he wasn't happy," Liz explained.

Abby was smart, but she was still too young to understand more. And I doubt I'd ever tell her the truth. Some things are better left unsaid.

"Is Danny sleeping?" I asked, looking at Liz.

"He's in the living room with Bella."

"Bella? Is she back?" I asked surprised. How long had I been asleep? "What time is it?"

"A little after six. I came to see if you were awake and say goodbye. Ed just called," she told me, shaking her head. "I'm so glad you didn't take after him. I swear, he can't even boil water."

I laughed; glad I didn't take after him for multiple reasons.

"Thank you again for the food emergency," I repeated, getting up.

"Oh, it's no problem. You know I love those food emergencies." She winked, hugging me. "I missed them."

When the kids were little, we used to call her every day since we didn't have time to cook being busy with work and the babies.

"Have fun at the reunion," Liz told me before leaning to hug Abby.

They left the room soon, Abby babbling about something animatedly. I stretched and followed them. Stopping at the living room's doorway, I found Bella on the floor, drawing with Daniel. She looked up and grinned at me.

"Hey, sleepy-head."

"Hey," I whispered, walking to her and sitting down.

"So, I leave you alone with them and you call for back-ups?"

"It wasn't like that, I swear. It all started with Abby," I started explaining.

"Sure, blame the kid," I heard Liz shouting from the hallway.

"But it's true! She wanted some meal I had no idea how to cook and Mom didn't answer so I called Liz…" I explained.

Bella patted my cheek, standing. "Are you leaving?" she asked Liz, going to her.

"I have to. You know that Ed can't fend for himself."

They laughed and after a few goodbyes, she left. When Bella returned to the living room, she took her previous spot.

"So, what did you guys do today?"

Abby glanced at me then at Bella, biting her lip before giving Bella a huge hug. "I'm so sorry, Mommy. I will never do it again."

Fuck. I hadn't had time to prepare Bella. Abby just had to drop the bomb.

"I'm sure Danny forgives you. He told me what happened," Bella said softly, rubbing Abby's back.

"There's more-"

"Abby, come help me set the table for dinner," I said quickly, getting up. Damn it. Bella was watching us confused then she turned suspicious.

"No, sweetie, stay here. I'll help dad."

Great. I looked down at the kids thinking that was probably the last time I was seeing them.

Bella grabbed my hand, dragging me to the kitchen, all the way squeezing the shit out of my fingers. I wondered if it was a good idea to tell her I needed my fingers.

She closed the door a little too loudly before turning to me, hands on hips.

"What the hell happened in here, Edward Cullen?"

"Bella, look-"

"No, you look!" she shouted. "I come home to find Danny hurt and then Liz tells me she found Abby down the street, looking distraught."

"Fucking Liz," I muttered under my breath.

"Oh, so you weren't going to tell me about THAT!"

"Bella, stop shouting, please. Let's talk decently," I pleaded her. "You know how the kids are when they hear us fight."

She sighed, her nostrils flaring. "Spit it out, Cullen."

"What did Danny tell you?" I asked, leaning against the counter.

"That Abby hurt him and accused him of stealing her pencils then you yelled at her. Is that so?"

"Well, she hurt him quite badly in her tantrum. I wonder if she'll ever learn to share," I said, shaking my head. "Anyway, I took care of his hand then brought Abby here to scold her."

"Oh, because you're an ace at scolding Abby." Bella rolled her eyes.

"It might have been the first time, and it came at a bad time for her," I explained.

"How so?"

"Well, you greeted her with shouts this morning and then I, who was always on her side, snapped at her… She went to her room and you told me to let her be when she had her moments."

"Yes," Bella agreed.

"Well, after about fifteen minutes, it was too quiet and I felt guilty…and I went to her room…"

Bella's eyes widened and her hands went to her heart. "No. Don't finish that, please," she whispered.

I looked down, gulping. I couldn't really read her. Was she upset with me? Was she scared? What was going on through her mind?

I felt small fingers grasping my shirt and all too soon my shirt became wet as Bella cried, her body rocking with the effort. I hugged her tightly, shushing her.

"The window?" she mumbled in my shirt.

"Uh huh," I confirmed.

"Did you freak when you didn't find her?" she asked after a few minutes, glancing up at me. Her nose was red and her eyes were puffy.

"I didn't have much time to grasp what had happened, because the doorbell rang. All I could think was that you were home and I had lost Abby," I said with a strained chuckle.

"Oh, be sure that if that would have happened, I would have had to call Esme and apologize for killing her son."

"Only when I opened the door and saw Abby with Liz there, did everything made sense in my head. I saw red. I hadn't been so furious in a very long time," I admitted.

Bella searched my eyes for something then after clearing her throat and gulping she asked, "Did you…you know…touch her?"

"Are fucking crazy?" I shouted then dropped my voice. "Bella, I vowed to myself that I will never lay a hand on any of my kids."

"I'm sorry, but I just…" she trailed off, looking away.

I rubbed my hands over her back. "She deserved it a little, but…I knew that I'd regret it if I slapped her or anything so she's punished."

"Yeah, I've heard. I'm proud of you."

She rose on her tiptoes to kiss me, and like always, we got carried away. I was minutes away from bending her over the counter when Abby came in the kitchen.

"EW!" she groaned, making us separate. "Danny said he's hungry," she told us, looking down.

Food. I had completely forgotten about it and from Bella's face, she had too.

"We were just starting dinner," Bella announced to her, smiling.

Abby gave her a pointed look that proved she knew we were far from starting dinner.

"Go back to Danny," Bella said, turning to the fridge and taking out food for dinner.

I started setting the table. "Did you get the dress?" I wondered.

"Oh, yes! It's so beautiful. It's blue," she told me over her shoulder, winking. She knew how much I loved her in blue. "Oh, and you would never believe what happened!"

"If you tell me, I may believe," I told her, amused. She could be such a girl sometimes.

"I bumped into Sylvia!"

"How come you always bump into her? It's a fucking big city. I've never once bumped into her!" I protested.

"Because you work out of town, actually." Bella poked her tongue out. It was true that the arena was out of the city limits, but I did go out from time to time and never once did I meet Sylvia unless… "You don't just accidentally meet," I accused her. "You called each other!"

"Maybe…maybe not," Bella giggled.

"Okay, you bumped into Sylvia," I repeated, rolling my eyes. "What happened next?"

"She was dress shopping too."

I gave her a disbelieving look.

"Okay, fine! I called her to accompany me. You know I'm a lost cause when it comes to fashion."

I burst in laughter. "That's more like it. So?"

"The funny part is that… Wait, you know how she went a few months ago to Seattle?" Bella asked, turning to me.

I nodded, putting the silverware on the table.

"She met a very hot doctor," Bella explained.

My eyebrows shot up. "She went to Dad's hospital."

"I know that. Do you remember Nathan?"

"Who?" I asked, frowning.

"Nathan from the Earth Club," Bella said impatiently.

I rummaged through my brain trying hard to remember the guy. I knew that I'd upset her if I said no, but I really couldn't place this Nathan anywhere.

Sighing heavily, Bella shook her head. "The guy you shook hands with the first time we went to the library," she explained.

"Ah, the weird dude."

"Edward!"

"What? It's true," I defended myself. "What about him?"

"Long story short, he met Sylvia and they hit it off. Can you believe it?" she squealed.

I almost dropped the glass from my hand. "Wait, back up a second. What happened with Greg?"

"George," Bella corrected me. "She didn't love him."

I stared at her in disbelief. "Do you have something to do with this? And since when is that Nate guy a doctor?"

"That's what he was studying! Didn't you have classes together? And how can you think that of me, Edward? I'm not playing matchmaker. I'm horrible at that."

"Okay, sorry, but the way you just talked about Greg…"

"George!"

"Whatever!" I exclaimed before bursting in laughter. "Does this mean Sylvia is going to be at the reunion?" I asked, suddenly realizing that was a possibility.

"Of course! He invited her. How sweet is that?"

"Very," I mumbled, disinterested. "Can I ask something, though?"

"Shoot!" she said excited, putting the food on the table.

"I know all about Sylvia's unlucky in love history, but what about the weird dude Nate? We're over thirty after all."

"He was married, but when his wife gave birth of their only child, she died," Bella explained, losing her exuberance. "I've known that for a long time. I mean…I have him as a friend on Facebook."

"So you talked to him in the past?"

"Edward, I didn't set them up!"

"Okay, okay. I believe you. I think," I added, chuckling.

"You're so bad, Cullen."

"And you're evil, Cullen," I shot back.

After dinner, while Bella gave Danny his nightly bath, I finished packing. When Bella joined me in the bedroom, it was late and she looked exhausted.

"Everything's packed. We just need to pack our toothbrushes in the morning," I told her.

"Thank you," she mumbled, changing in her nightgown. "I'm so tired."

I gathered her in my arms and we fell asleep quickly.

All too soon, I felt Cody's muzzle in my back. He wanted out and I wanted more sleep.

"Later," I grumbled, moving away.

He was insistent and when he licked my back, I shot up, ready to shove him away. To my shock, it was Bella behind me, smiling innocently. Fuck, no. It was that trimester of the pregnancy. I closed my eyes, not really awake. The first time she was pregnant, I had enjoyed every part of her pregnancy but with Danny, she wore me down for four long months. Damn, stupid hormones.

"Wake up, honey."

"What hour is it?" I slurred out, keeping my eyes closed.

"It's just four thirty."

Fuck my life. "Can we sleep for another couple hours?" I asked, more like begged.

"I'll let you sleep after we make love," she whispered seductively.

The down side with being married, I felt obliged to do it even though I didn't want it, like now. Not like I didn't want it, actually, but it was four in the fucking morning. Not even Cody was awake.

"Edward, don't fall asleep!" Bella whined.

"It's not like that stopped you before," I mumbled, rubbing my eyes.

She giggled and pried my mouth open. Mhmm, such a nice way to wake up. Her soft body lowered on me and I realized I was naked.

"Were you going to have sex with my comatose state?" I wondered, trying not to laugh.

She gave me a hard look. "Of course not! I just woke you up. It's not my fault you sleep like the dead."

"You could have taken advantage of my sleeping form," I moaned mock-scared.

"Edward, shut up and fuck me."

Ah, how I loved her dirty mouth. My cock was already straining and after lifting her hips a little, I slipped home. It was so good. Always so good, better than the last time.

Bella moaned, pressing her forehead on mine and grounding her hips on mine. Her small hands cupped my cheeks and we started kissing as I kept moving slowly inside her.

After a while, I rolled over, pressing her under me. I was going to miss the Missionary Position. Before I knew it, I wouldn't be able to do this so I took advantage of it. Though, it was already difficult – she was so big. When I climaxed, I caught her lips in a deep kiss to keep her sounds from getting out. She claimed I was loud, but she was louder.

"So…did you have a dream?" I wondered after I rolled on my back and caught my breath.

"Mmmm, yes. It was so wonderful," she murmured, snuggling into my side. "We were at the beach somewhere and you were your old sweet self, we made love on the beach."

"Old sweet self?" I echoed her. "So I'm no longer sweet?"

She peeked up at me from under her thick lashes, grinning. "I don't doubt you aren't sweet, but the moments we are alone are so rare, you can really show me that."

"You know…" I started, a plan forming in my head.

"Mmm?" Bella hummed, tracing a finger over my chest and around every pectoral making me shudder.

"Liz insisted that she misses the kids… When we come back…what do you say…to ship them to their place for a week?"

"A week?" Bella screeched then covered her mouth. "I can't live that long without them."

"A weekend," I conceded.

"Sounds like a plan. And what would we do without the kids, Mr. Cullen?" she teased.

"Oh, the possibilities…" I grinned, imagining all kinds of naughty things I wanted to do with her. "But now…my dear, horny wife, I'd love to sleep for another hour," I said teasingly.

"I might sleep too." She kissed my cheeks, snuggling better to my side.

I couldn't fall asleep and it annoyed me. It was going to be a long day. Just as I began to feel tired, I heard the door opening and Cody's paws and claws on the floor.

I turned my head to him just as he took a sit in front of the bed, watching me pleadingly. "You can pee right there for all I care," I mumbled, closing my eyes.

"Edward," Bella gasped.

"I'm not leaving the bed."

"Do you want me to do it? I'm not that tired."

Cody had been my job, at least, in the morning. I always walked him, with a few rare exceptions.

"Nah," I grumbled, turning around and planting my feet on the floor while yawning. Yanking my pajamas on me and walking in my slippers, I headed downstairs. After his leash was in place, I shuffled outside. I should have made coffee first, but I knew he was impatient to potty.

"We're not going anywhere," I threatened him. "Just do your job and then back inside with you."

He barked making me shush him. It was still early. The dawn was just breaking. Watching him sniff around the backyard, I realized we hadn't packed for him. I wondered how he'd react to flying and the change of scenery. He had only traveled by car.

"Coffee?" Bella asked from behind me.

"Ah, I love you so much," I moaned, grabbing the mug from her.

"What would you do without me?"

I glanced at her and sighed dramatically. "I'd probably be lost." I kissed her temple. "How are you?"

"Good. I can't wait to get there. I miss everyone."

"Me too. I just realized we haven't packed for Cody."

"Oh, shit," Bella moaned. "You're right."

Just then, he barked and broke into a run.

"No!" Bella shouted, but it was too late. She had to get her good morning kiss. Or slobber. Cody got up on his back legs and started licking her face. "Ew! Gross!"

"Come on, boy, let's pack for you," I told him, hoping he'd leave Bella alone.

No such luck. The only attention I got was his tail hitting my leg as he hugged my wife.

"Cody!" I hissed.

"Let him stay here," Bella told me over his head, scratching him between the ears.

He had turned into a giant, spoiled monster. The only time of day he loved me was in the morning when I walked him and late at night when we watched TV together. And that was because he got to lick the chips off the couch. He was sweet like that; a trash bin on legs.

I grabbed a plastic bag and stuffed it with his food and toys before starting breakfast. Bella joined me, but I sent her to wake the kids. Breakfast was my thing, especially when I was on vacation. Frying bacon and sausages while keeping an eye on the boiling eggs and pushing Cody with my leg was an art I had mastered a long time ago. I was very good at multitasking, especially in the kitchen.

I plated everything when I was done then went to see what was taking Bella so long. I found her in Danny's room, inspecting his bruised hand.

"Morning, buddy."

"Morning, Daddy," he said, shooting me a grin. He had inherited my messy hair and it looked worse than mine in the morning, but then again, Bella's could look worse than mine.

"How's your hand?" I asked, sitting on the bed next to them.

"Hurts a little."

"You'll forget about it, trust me. Do you miss your cousins?"

"Yeah," he answered, unsure.

"He was two years old last time we visited, Edward."

"But he remembers them, right, buddy?" I looked at him curiously.

"Yeah, uh…" He scratched his head, trying to remember their names. "Rick and…Nick, right?" Daniel asked, looking between us.

"That's right," I agreed. "See?" I gave Bella a pointed look.

"Dick," Bella mouthed to me.

I gasped, swallowing saliva and choking up, which made her laugh. I glared at her playfully. Oh, the retort was on the tip of my tongue, but I couldn't say it in front of the kid.

Abby appeared in the doorway looking worried. Before I could greet her, she started talking very quickly, gesticulating wildly. All I caught was "the dog", "alone", "table" and "being hungry."

"Okay, you can say that again. Slowly," I told her laughing. "I didn't get a word."

"But I did," Bella said through her teeth, narrowing her eyes at me.

"What have I done now?" I groaned.

"You left Cody in the kitchen! With our breakfast."

"Holy fuck!" I shouted then slapped a hand over my mouth. "Sorry guys," I added before running to the kitchen. Sure enough, Cody was on his back legs bracing on the edge of the table with the front legs, lapping from my plate.

"Cody, get the fuck away from the table before I throw you out!" I shouted.

His ears plastered to the back of his head and with his tail between his legs he crawled under the table. I'll be sure to accidentally kick him.

The only plate untouched was the one with peanut butter and jelly sandwiches from the center of the table.

"ARGH!" I screamed.

He whined from under the table.

I felt Bella's arms circling my waist as she leaned up to kiss the back of my neck. "Calm down, now. What's done is done."

"But he knows better than this!" I protested, stomping my foot, which made Cody rush out of the kitchen. I actually felt bad for scaring him away, but I was angry with him. He hadn't stolen food in a very long time.

"He didn't find food in his bowl probably," Abby said thoughtfully as she joined us in the doorway of the kitchen.

I bit my tongue to restrain the urge to mock her words. Really?

Then Daniel came on Bella's side and watched the table with a sad face. I glanced at Abby and saw the same devastated look on her face then at Bella who was biting her lip and I burst in laughter. And the sad part was that I couldn't stop laughing.

"Is Daddy okay?" I heard Danny asked worried.

"I hope so," Bella answered, nudging me.

"I'm sure we're such a sight," I gasped out. "Looking all sad at the table, like someone had just died."

"So you aren't upset with Cody?" Abby asked me.

"Of course I am. I might as well leave him alone here," I said as seriously and loudly as I could so he could hear me.

As if on cue, Cody came to me and sat at my feet looking up with sad eyes. He regretted it. But at the same time, Danny started crying and pleading me not to leave Cody behind.

"Edward, look what you did with your sadistic jokes!" Bella scolded me.

"Sadistic!" I scoffed. "We're taking him, okay, Danny?" I said, looking down at my son. He nodded, wiping his tears.

"Okay, who wants peanut butter and jelly sandwiches?" I asked cheerfully, walking to the table.

To everyone's amusement, Cody barked loudly and came between my legs, drooling over my feet. Danny went to him and hugged his neck which was at his level. I had never thought Cody would get this big.

Once we were done eating, we washed up and changed clothes before I started carrying the luggage to the car. We had three hours until our flight was departing, but I wanted to be sure everything was going to be okay. I was glad for listening to Bella and buying a bigger car right before Daniel was born. The mountain of luggage we had wouldn't have fit in my old car, which was Bella's right now.

When everyone was strapped in their seat and we made sure we didn't forget anything, I started driving down the street.

"Mommy!" Danny whined, not one minute later. "Where's Spotty?"

"Didn't you get it? You had it in your hand?" Bella asked, turning to him.

I stopped the car just in case we had to run back. We had covered impressive distance – three houses.

"No! It's not here!"

"Oh, stop crying and search!" Abby moaned, taking the travel bag and turning it upside down.

"Abigail!" I shouted, surprised at her gesture.

"It will be easier to find the toy," she explained. "It's not here."

"Okay, where was the last place you saw it?" I asked, taking my seat belt off.

"My room," Danny mumbled.

"Oh, stop crying, baby. Look, daddy's going after Spotty," Bella soothed him, giving me the house keys.

Of course, the fucking toy wasn't in his room. After fifteen minutes, I gave up searching for it. Just as I was about to leave the house, I saw the bag with the snacks we had left on the table by the front door.

"So?" Bella asked when I returned to the car.

I gave her the food bag and shook my head slowly.

"Oh, I packed him in your bag," Bella told Danny, winking at me.

I knew a huge tantrum would come when he realized there was no Spotty, but I didn't have time to search for his toy.

On the way to the airport, Danny and Abby repacked the contents of the travel bag.

After flying for over seven years back and fourth, Abby decided to be scared. True, it was raining cats and dogs, but still, nothing was going to delay the plane. She clung to me, insisting I sit next to her. I had been looking forward to spend the next few hours next to Bella. No such thing.

Danny didn't have a problem with the plane and even made fun of his older sister. To my amusement, halfway there, he started shaking Abby's chair and cried out that we are falling.

Then there was the other thing. Most of the people on the plane recognized me. I wanted to kick myself in the ass for forgoing the cap. I always had that cap on when I was out. For instance, when I went to the toilet, I was stopped by a kid whose Dad looked more excited than him, but nevertheless, a kid. I loved talking to them and signing autographs. I even enjoyed chatting with the guys, but it was their wives or girlfriends – the ones that pretended to know everything about basketball – that annoyed me. It wasn't my lucky day, because on the way back to my seat where I could see Bella had switched seats and was hugging Abby, I was stopped by a bimbo, as I had started calling them in my head. Only when Daniel shouted excitedly that I was back did she let me go.

I was glad when we landed in Seattle. Taking my phone out, on the way to baggage claim, I called Dad.

"Hi, son. Are you here?" he asked, answering quickly.

"On the way to baggage claim," I explained, gripping Abby's hand. "Did you rent the car?"

"Yeah, as promised I'm waiting with the keys," he told me laughing.

"Okay, meet you in five." I hung up, waiting for our bags.

Putting everything on a cart and strapping Cody's leash to his collar, we made our way to the waiting area.

"Grandpa!" Abby shouted, zooming away from me. I had specifically told her not to do that.

He opened his arms and shouted right back, "Hey, my sweet pea!" He just had to stoop to her level. After their dramatic reunion, he turned to Danny and hugged him tightly before petting the dog and finally turning to us. "Hi, kids!"

"I thought you forgot about us," I muttered.

"Tell me you aren't going to touch me after you petted Cody," Bella cried out when she saw Dad opening his arms.

"Okay, no hugs for you." He laughed and turned to me. She was such a freak about the dog, but when they had their hugs there was no problem. I'd never understand her.

"All good?" he asked me.

I shrugged. "I suppose."

Outside, I realized what rental car meant to him. Emmett. I wanted to scream, but was too tired to protest.

"Yo, bro!" he shouted, walking to me and hugging me.

"Hello, Emmett," I greeted him, flexing my arm. He'd break something one day.

"My little bug!" he boomed, raising Abby and spinning her around.

"You're just going to make her sick," Bella reproached him.

"Hi there, Boop."

"Hi, Uncle Emmy!" I wanted to kiss Danny. He loved to call him Emmy and I was so proud of him. It was payback for everything Emmett had done to me.

Emmett cringed, putting Abby safely on the ground before gathering my son in his arms. "What did I tell you, Danny boy? I'm Uncle Emmett, not Emmy."

"Whatever you say, Emmy," I said laughing. "Help me with the bags."

We rode to Emmett's house and he told us that Dad had decided to steal the kids for the weekend.

"Really? Thank you so much!" I told Dad, sounding too happy.

"Edward, you plan to stay a WEEK away from them when we get back and now you're happy they'll be away, still!" Bella moaned.

"Are you going somewhere?" Emmett asked, glancing at me.

"Nah, they're going to Liz."

"We're going to Nana Liz?" Abby asked surprised.

That made everyone laugh and Bella promised her she'd make sure it would be just for a couple of days. In her dreams, probably. I missed her so much. I missed the time alone.

Arriving at Emmett's house, I had just stepped out of the car and was stretching my back when the human bullet, also known as Rick, jumped on my back, hugging my neck.

"Uncle Edward!"

I slung him over, realizing how heavy he had become. "Hey, Ricky. You've grown quite a bit."

He beamed at me. "I eat all my vegetables like Mama says."

"That's good," I told him happy. "You can tell your cousin, Abby, about the benefits of eating vegetables."

"They're gross, Dad!" Abby moaned from behind me.

Rick went to her and started telling her about his favorite, carrots. I was sure she wouldn't listen because carrots were one vegetable she despised.

"You're staying," Emmett said loudly attracting my attention to his conversation with Dad.

"Do you want to go?" I asked, surprised.

"There are three hours to Port Angeles."

"You're staying for lunch! Rose cooked for an army," Emmett insisted.

"Your mother is expecting me-"

"You're staying, Dad," I said loudly. "We missed you."

After a few pleadings from the kids, he caved and we moved inside the house. Rose was bustling around the kitchen. Bella went to her, making Rose jump a mile in the air, which was ridiculously funny.

"Bella!" Rose shouted, wrapped her arms around her friend. Then she turned to us and hugged me too. Over the years, we had managed to develop a somewhat normal relationship. "Hey, Edward."

"Hi," I greeted her.

"Where's Nick, babe?" Emmett asked, coming in the kitchen with Daniel on his shoulders.

"Oh, BJ came over earlier. I swear, living close to Bob is the worst idea you ever had," she hissed, rolling her eyes.

"BJ?" I asked confused between fake coughs then I realized they were talking about Bob's son. Bob Junior. "BJ!" I exclaimed, snorting out before bursting in laughter.

"That's so mature, Edward," Bella told me giggling.

"Don't tell me that you don't find it funny. Does Bob know how you're referring to his son?" I asked, looking at Emmett.

"Uh, he calls him that. One of these days, he'll lose teeth. Tanya wants to take karate lessons. I wonder why," Rose said sarcastically.

"Oh my God! I have to see this. I'm going over," I declared, but before I could leave the kitchen, Bella reminded me that I'd see him soon.

"I'm going after my nephew," I told her grinning and left the house before anyone could stop me.

After crossing the street, long forgotten memories invaded my brain. Summers spent at his house, days of fun, nights of sneaking out and going to the bar down the street, Mrs. G. shouting at us in the morning then asking if we were hungry… Ah, the good old days. I smiled wistfully just as I heard loud barking.

My eyes went to an old dog that was running to me then they widened in realization. I crouched and opened my arms. His force sent me on my back as he jumped on me, licking my face.

"Spot, my boy!" I shouted, hugging him to me. I had missed him so much, it was nice to feel his soft fur under my fingers. I caressed his head a few times before getting up and dusting my jeans. He pressed his head to my leg, barking loudly. "Yeah, I know. I missed you too. So much." I caught his head in my hands and hugging him again.

"Well, I'll be damn! As I live and breathe, Edward Cullen in person, on my front lawn!"

I turned around, grinning broadly at Mrs. G. She had grown older, her hair was gray, but she was still the same woman I knew.

"Hi!" For some odd reason, I felt almost shy. Shit that never happened to me, especially around old friends.

"You should come inside before my neighbor sees you," she told me hurriedly, glancing at the house on her left.

"I've had enough of attention for one day," I told her, laughing and closing the distance between us.

She cupped my cheeks and kissed my forehead. "I missed you, Edward."

"Yeah, me too." I nodded, hugging her. "Is Bob inside?"

"Sure he is, trying to calm the little devils."

"What is it with the neighbor?" I asked, stepping inside the house with Spot on my heels, sniffing me. Oh, he could smell Cody on me.

"Did anyone say neighbor?" Bob asked, coming in the hallway and stopping in his tracks. "Edward, my man!"

"Bob!" I grinned, sticking out my hand.

He gave me a weird look before slapping my hand away and with a laugh, we did our usual greeting, bumping fists and shoulders, doing the Huskies song. Ah, how I missed that.

"I swear, you two haven't grown up. Are you going to do that all your life?" Mrs. G. asked amused.

We shared a look before turning to her. "Uh, yeah," we said at the same time before bursting in laughter.

"Dad, you're blocking my way," someone said irritated.

"I think I told you that you're not going anywhere," Bob mumbled, turning around. Then I saw her. Irina. She had gotten so big. She was three years older than my Abby. "Remember Edward?" he asked.

She overstepped him and smiled shyly at me. "Yes, of course I do. Like I can forget about someone that I see and hear about every day," she added under her breath. "Hi."

"Hello, Irina."

She cringed and I wondered what had I said. Bob elbowed me in the ribs. "She likes to be called Bobby these days."

"Daaad!"

"What? It's true."

She threw me another smile before opening the front door. "Hey, I'm talking to you!" he yelled after her.

"Mom said I could go. It's just lunch and a movie. I will be back before you leave."

Bob groaned, leaving the house with her and closing the door.

"He tries to act like he doesn't care but he's freaking out every time she leaves alone," Mrs. G. whispered to me.

"Where is she going?"

"Out with her friends from school. One time he followed her around and when she was returning home, he caught up with her. I could hear her hysterical cries from down the street," she told me laughing. "And that was last year."

My eyes widened. "That doesn't happen to everyone, right? I mean…"

"Edward, these are the moments you'll remember in time. Trust me. And this is nothing. Wait until she's a teenager."

"You're just trying to scare me, Mrs. G."

She laughed, patting my cheek. "Did you just drop by?"

"Oh, right! I was supposed to fetch Nick." How could I forget that?

"He's in the living room with Junior."

I snorted out before I could keep the sound in. She gave me an amused look, rolling her eyes.

"Nick!" I shouted, rounding the corner.

There was a loud squeal from the living room and then he rushed out coming to a stop in front of me. A huge grin on his little face. "Are you really here?"

"Apparently," I joked, scooping him up and hugging him tightly. "How have you been, little man?"

He started telling me about all the things possible, at the same time making me laugh. He was more like a miniature of Alice than Emmett, but that made him more lovable. Still, I loved Rick more. Suddenly he stopped talking and looked around. "Alone?"

"Everyone's at your house."

"Let's go!" he shouted, squirming out of my hands.

"Don't you want to say bye to your friend?" I asked surprised.

"Bye, BJ!"

"This shit has to end!" Bob snapped from behind me, wrapping an arm around my neck. "Seriously, Mom. It's all your fault."

"I thought you liked the nickname," I said surprised. Then it dawned to me. Emmett had fucked with me.

"Emmett." Bob and I laughed, shaking our heads. "See you tonight," he told me. "Good old days, huh?"

"Can't wait to see everyone," I admitted. "See you later. It was great seeing you again, Mrs. G."

"It's Cynthia, Edward. Can you call me that?" she asked softly.

"Nope. You'll always be Mrs. G. to me." I kissed her cheek and left after patting Spot's head again.

When I arrived back at Emmett's place, the table was set and ready for us to have lunch.

"Where are they?" Rose asked annoyed, checking her phone.

"You know Alice," Bella pacified her. "Probably stopped by somewhere to buy clothes."

"That's why I told her not to make this a road trip!"

The doorbell rang and Rose stormed to answer. I was sure she'd forget all about being mad when she saw Alice. They had moved to Houston a few years ago when Jasper had gotten a good job there and Alice opened her hippy clothes store.

"Oh my gosh!"

Ah, I missed her squeals. It's been far too long. Everyone moved to the hallway to greet the newly arrived couple. Alice had move onto Bella, squeezing her tightly then she saw me and she did this weird jump-squeal thing before jumping in my arms.

"Edward! I missed you so much!"

"Hi, Alice," I whispered, squeezing her in my arms. "Oh, did you put on weight?" I teased, actually feeling flesh on her bony structure.

Jasper chuckled, taking Alice from me and hugging her to his side. "Since we're all here… We have news."

"Yes… I'm…" Alice stopped, biting her lip. "I'm pregnant, pregnant," she explained, grinning and squeezing Jasper's hand.

We had waited for so long for this, that it took everyone a few minutes to digest it.

"Like…with a baby?" Emmett asked, surprised.

"No, Emmett. With a puppy," I groaned, rolling my eyes. "Congrats, sis. Jazz." I was the first to say something or move.

"What did I say? I'm just surprised," Emmett muttered, gathering Alice in his bear hug. "This isn't going to be weird, you know...for the twin connection, right? I won't feel stuff?" he asked hesitantly.

Jasper took a solemn look, putting his hand on Emmett's shoulder. "Oh man, it sucks. You know…Rose was in pain and I was in pain too. Especially in the labor." He shuddered for effect.

I could tell he was bluffing, like everyone….except Emmett. He looked really scared.

"Baby, Jasper is just kidding," Rose whispered, hugging Emmett. "Don't you remember that when we called to tell him we were on the way to the hospital, he was…busy?"

Emmett growled, glaring at Jasper. It was fun to be around them again. I had missed the fuckery.

As we sat at the table, Rose asked why they were late and Alice, looked down. "It was my fault. We shouldn't have driven. We stopped like ten thousand times so I could throw up."

"Yuck, Aunt Alice!" Rick moaned. "We're eating, here."

"Yes, Alice, try to use that filter," Bella told her, nudging her arm.

Once the late lunch was over, Dad insisted he had to go. I was outside the house, waiting for my turn to say goodbye to the kids, but Bella was hogging them. Daniel squirmed away and came to me.

"Bye, Daddy."

"Bye, buddy. Take care of your sister."

He nodded seriously, hooking his small arms around my neck. I kissed his forehead, hugging him tightly. I always hated goodbyes.

Finally, Abby escaped mama bear and rushed to me as Alice stole my boy.

"Miss you," Abby mumbled. "And I'm sorry for yesterday."

"Yesterday, what?" I asked, grinning.

She grinned back and kissed my cheek. Like I could ever be mad with her. I should have told Dad that she was punished, but she saw her grandparents so rarely that I let it slide.

"Oh, Abbs, say 'hello' to Pops from me," Bella told her.

"Sure, Mom."

As we watched Dad drive our kids and nephews away, Alice leaned into me. "Is it hard? To say good bye?"

"You have no idea, Shorty," I whispered.

"I'm never going to be away from my baby," she told me solemnly.

"You'll be. One way or another," I replied, sighing.

"Alice, help me get ready!" Rose said, walking back toward the house, running a hand over her face.

"Damn, we're so pathetic!" Emmett groaned. "Who wants a short game before we get ready?"

"There will be no games, Emmett!" Rose snapped. "You should get ready too. We're leaving in three hours."

"Plenty of time for a short game."

"Emmett Cullen!"

"Geez." He followed her dutifully, muttering under his breath. It was funny to watch.

A sharp pain came from my stomach and when I looked I saw Alice laughing. "That's for calling me Shorty."

"I hate you," I groaned. "I'm going to die," I told Bella, rubbing my stomach. She just laughed, shaking her head at me.

"Love you too, bro!" Alice quipped before going inside with Jasper.

"There must be something in the air here. You're so good at home and every time we come back here, you act like a kid," Bella told me, chuckling.

"It's not the air, love," I said solemnly, wrapping my arms around her waist. "It's…being here, I think. With everyone. It makes me act silly."

"You're usually silly."

"Are you stealing Abby's lines?" I asked in mock-surprise.

"No, God forbid that. You're her silly daddy." She stared at me with her big brown eyes and I remembered how I had fallen under their spell such a long time ago. "Ah," she sighed quietly. "I fucking love you." It wasn't often when she cursed, and it usually was when we were alone, but I loved it.

I grinned, bringing her to my chest, lowering my mouth to her ear. "I love fucking you." I twisted her words making her gasp.

"Cullen!" she shouted, slapping my chest.

"What?" I laughed, pressing my mouth to hers.

"Yo! Lovebirds, we have to get ready!" Emmett shouted from the window upstairs.

"Yo!" I yelled back and paused for effect. "Fuck off!"

Bella rolled her eyes, giggling. "What did I say? Silly."

After one more kiss – or two, or a dozen – we went inside to get ready.

I was fighting a losing battle with my tie when I caught Jasper's eye in the mirror.

"What?" I demanded.

"Come here before you tear up the tie," he suggested. "Honestly, Cullen. It's customary for a guy to know how to tie a knot."

"I know how to tie my shoe laces," I answered, laughing.

He snorted. "Tie knot."

"Show off, Mr. Lawyer."

He chuckled, untying whatever I had done to my tie and redoing it nicely. "It's not that hard, really. I know you attended a few fancy things. You wore a tie."

"Yeah, about that…" I said, smiling.

"Bella?" Jasper asked, laughing.

"Sometimes. Other times, one of my team mates. Come on, I'm allowed not to know something."

"Okay, okay."

"Are you ready to do this?" Emmett burst into the room, stopping in the doorway and waggling his eyebrows at us. "Do you two need a moment?"

Jasper winked at me and I looked at the ceiling wondering what had I done wrong to be included in their fuckery. His fingers smoothed the tie before settling on my chest. I tried not to push him away.

"Yes, Emmett. Please, give us a moment. We haven't seen each other in such a long time," he said in a low voice, taking a hold of my tie. "Oh, and don't tell Alice or Bella," he added quickly.

"Jazz," I hissed, knowing Emmett wouldn't shut up.

Just as predicted, after Emmett picked his jaw off the floor, he stuck his head in the hallway. "Giiiirllls! You've got to see this! Eddie and Jazzy have started without us!"

"I told you," I growled at Jasper who didn't seem fazed.

"It's so not fair! You're not allowed to drink without me, Jazz!" Alice screamed coming in the room and stopping in shock when she saw us.

The idiot hadn't moved away, and I was reaching my limit of being man handled.

"Drinking without us?" Bella asked, appearing in the doorway with Rose. They gasped when they saw us.

"We need a moment," Jasper said seriously, touching my chest until I caught his wrist and shoved him away. "Ah, yes! I like it when you're rough!"

"Jasper, you're so not my friend anymore!" I groaned, turning to go.

"Oh, don't worry, darlin'. I still love you!" he shouted after me.

"Oookay…what was that?" Bella asked amused, in the hallway.

I glanced at her, and my breath caught in my throat. She looked so good, so beautiful, so amazing. The dress was truly beautiful and if you didn't know she was pregnant, you wouldn't have guessed.

"Uh, why are you looking like that at me? Did my make up smudge?"

I cupped her cheek and kissed her softly. "You look divine," I whispered. "I love you so much."

"Thank you." She dropped her gaze. "You look pretty good too."

"Pretty good?" Jasper echoed from behind me. Not again. "He's a handsome devil."

"Whitlock, go check outside, see if I'm there," I grumbled, lowering my head to kiss Bella's naked shoulder.

"Oh, it feels like yesterday that morning on Christmas break," he said from behind me, sighing. "Remember? You wanted my wiener. I guess people change," he said dramatically.

"Jasper!" I shouted turning to him and in my fury, I managed to slam him in the opposite wall.

"Yes, be angry! Live on the wild side," he encouraged me in that tone that creeped me out. What the fuck was wrong with him? "I want you to do bad things to me," he whispered sultry.

"Oookay… Alice, get your man under control or I'm going to kick his ass. It was funny while it lasted; now it's giving me the creeps." I turned to Alice, only to find her holding the doorframe, laughing her ass off. I turned back to Jasper and saw him looking at his feet then I looked at Emmett who looked kinda innocent. "Okay, someone tell me what's going on here," I demanded.

"Your face!" Alice wailed, pointing at me.

"Alice?" I asked in disbelief. "I expected shit like this from Emmett, even Jasper. Not you."

"It's always the quiet ones, man," Jasper told me, putting his hand on my shoulder.

"Don't touch me!" I yelled, going to Bella's side, making them laugh.

"We remembered that morning, you know? Jasper just mentioned it," Alice started.

"Yeah, and I had nightmares," I told her deadpanned.

"I dared him to do something similar. He said he couldn't. I called him a wuss."

"Not a wuss," Emmett said dramatically, clutching his heart.

"Fuck off, Emmett! What Alice failed to mention it's that we had that conversation this morning on our stop at a tourist spot where there were many…truckers around us. Fuck me, it was so embarrassing," Jasper explained.

"Why is it always me?" I moaned.

"Because you're our little brother and we love youuu!" Alice sang.

I scowled, dragging Bella to my side. "We have to lock the door tonight. And the windows."

She laughed, taking my face in her hands and kissing my forehead. "Don't be such a baby. Besides, I told you. It's so hot to see two guys…"

"Stop right there," I demanded. "I'm going outside. When you all chill, you can join me." I stomped down the stairs, hearing them laughing. Yeah, laugh away. I had to find a good plan for revenge.

Rose drove us in their jeep, because the women didn't plan on drinking.

When we arrived on the campus, I stopped, looking around, not really believing I was back. After all those years, I was back where it all started. Bella squeezed my hand.

"Looks the same," she murmured.

"Yeah, I think." I turned to her and pulled her to my chest, kissing her deeply. "Ah, I missed this place," I mumbled against her lips. "Do you think that tree is still there?"

"How about we find out?" she asked, grinning.

"Where do you think you're going?" Emmett asked, coming behind us and wrapping his arms around our shoulders.

"To find old memories," Bella snapped, pushing his arm off her shoulder. "Take your meaty hands off me!"

"Ouch! How you wound me, little Boop."

"Leave her alone, Emmy," I hissed, pushing him away. "We'll meet you in the arena." With that, I grabbed Bella's hand and headed toward our tree.

"Can you walk slower?" she asked after a minute. "It wasn't a good idea to wear heels."

"Yeah, Marcus told you no multiple times."

The tree was there. I had flashes of all the times I stayed against it with Bella. Our first running session, when we started dating and we still ended up close to it, when I had upset her that Christmas and I knew I'd find here under the tree, the few afternoons we sat under it learning and of course, the last night here.

"This tree has seen quite the action from us," Bella whispered, linking our fingers.

"The good and the bad," I added in the same low tone.

"Can you imagine how old is it? How many things it saw over the years?"

"It's just a tree, Bella," I said, rolling my eyes. "Let's go."

As we approached the arena, new feelings filled me. I remembered the first time I stepped foot in there. I had been fighting with Emmett – nothing unusual – about what Coach Shaw was going to do on the first practice. We had met him a few hours prior. Needless to say, while everyone stretched and warmed up, Emmett and I were making rounds of the arena. I kept flipping him off until the rounds turned into sit-ups for me. Later on, Shaw had told me that I was the best student he had in a long time but my only problem was my big ego and mouth, never knowing when to shut up. Of course, he was right, but I didn't give him the satisfaction.

"You okay?"

"Huh?" I looked down at Bella, shaking my head.

"You looked miles away," she said softly, squeezing my hand.

"Just remembering the good old days." I shrugged leaning down to kiss her forehead.

The arena was having a similar décor as I had seen it on that graduation party. On the sides of the court were long tables, but this time the buffet was gone and plates were placed on the table with names in front of each plate.

"Fuck me! We have to sit where they put us," I grumbled.

"Imagine ending up near some skank," Bella teased me.

"Fuck me," I repeated, squeezing my eyes shut.

"Edward!" I jumped startled by the loud voice. "How are you, man?"

I eyed the guy in front of me trying to put the face with a name I couldn't remember. I knew him. He'd been on the team, but fuck if I remembered the name.

"Hi," I said casually, still scrambling though my brain. "Good. You?" What's your fucking name?

"Good, good. I'm working in a small company."

I grinned. "Sounds good." Could we say the word 'good' more than that? If one of us said it again, we needed a golden star or some shit.

"You've been really good this past season," he said, clapping my back. There it goes again. Good.

"Thanks."

"Jared, please, stop boosting his ego. If it gets much bigger, we'll have to move out of our house!" Bella pleaded him.

Jared! Jared Anderson. I felt horrible for forgetting my friend's name. He seemed to see her for the first time, and it was probably true since he'd talked only to me.

"Holy shit! Bella!" He started laughing. "And to think we didn't give you more than a few months."

I rolled my eyes, wrapping my arm around Bella's waist. "That's because no one had faith in me."

"Uh, Cullen, we knew your way with the girls. What was so special about her to make it last longer?" he asked rhetorically.

"She saved me from myself," I said seriously dropping a kiss on Bella's head.

"And turned you into a cheesy sap," Jared added chuckling.

"Watch out!"

"Here you are!" Bob shouted from behind us coming to us stop right between us. "Whoa Bella!" he exclaimed. "Did you just kick me?"

"I didn't," she muttered. "You probably scared the kid."

"Oh, crap. I forgot," he apologized. "So how are you this amazing evening?" he asked, turning to me.

"Can you help me kill Jasper and Alice? Please?" I begged.

"Anything for my favorite captain."

"Edward!" Bella moaned. "It was an inoffensive joke."

"To you, maybe. It scared me to death," I said deadpanned and started explaining what had happened when Jared and Bob asked.

We kept talking for a while until there was a loud screech, unmistakably Alice's scream. When I looked around, I realized why she had screamed. Sylvia and the Weird Dude were here. I had forgotten his name again.

Bella went to greet them, catching up with the Weird Dude while I hung around saying hi to a few people. When I saw most of them had sat down, I ended my conversation with a guy from my classes that I'd probably talked with only a handful of times in college and started going to the table where Bella was. On the way there, someone caught my arm and I turned to see Shaw.

"Coach!" I shouted surprised and happy.

"I think you can call me Tom," he told me with a smile. "How are you, Edward?"

"Well, you know…" I trailed off. "Uh, busy."

"I'm sure. I watch all your games and am really proud you once were my student." He patted my shoulder. "You did really good, kid."

"Not without your help, Co…uh, Tom. And your faith. Thank you for believing in me and talking with the NBA when you did."

"Edward, when I see talent, I do everything in my power to make it shine. You should go to the table. It is really good to see you."

I nodded and shook his hand quickly before going to the table. I'd told Bella countless times to stop voicing her worries because they always came true. I was seated between Bella and Jessica. When I read the name, it didn't tell me anything but when I saw her, I felt like throwing up.

Sitting down and scooting as close to Bella as possible, I kissed her neck trying to follow her conversation with Rose.

"Bella, I'm telling you. There's not just one baby. If it's one then it's the size of a calf," Rose told her amused.

"I told her there might be two," I said off-handedly. "She's only seven months and she's so big."

"Edward, it's just one. I know," Bella said sternly.

"Right," I snorted. "You know just like you were sure Abby was a boy." I laughed dodging her palm.

"Mark my words. There are two," Rose insisted.

"If you're right, I'm naming one of them after you," Bella mumbled.

"What if they're boys? Are you naming one of them Emmett?" I joked.

"Don't! Shush! Don't let him hear!" Bella said panicked making me laugh. "Besides," she continued disinterested as she started carrying appetizers on her plate. "Marcus showed me it's just one. You were there, Edward."

I rolled my eyes. "Bella, this is the third time around and I still don't know what to look for, so please…" I trailed off. "You still trying for a girl?" I asked Rosalie, shooting her a smile.

"We're trying, that's the key word," she mumbled. "Nothing happens."

"What doesn't happen?" Emmett asked loudly, leaning over Rosalie to join our conversation.

"Us…having a girl," she explained, kissing his cheek.

"Oh, but it's so fun trying to do it…until you do those weird things," he finished, rolling his eyes.

"What things?" Bella asked confused, leaning back in her chair. I really didn't want to know, but being Emmett he was going to tell everyone about his sex life.

"Rosie has this whole getting pregnant and having a girl books…she has to stay in some position then doesn't move…then sit with her legs up…it's insane," he muttered.

"Emmett, do you want a little girl or not?" she snapped making me laugh.

Figures, they'd try that. I tried not to laugh. And failed.

"It's not funny, bro!" Emmett groaned loudly. "Why don't you try doing it too?"

"Uh, we don't need to try anything," I reminded him.

Rose's eyes lit up and she grabbed Bella's hands. "How did you stay when you conceived Abby?" she asked that too loudly making a few heads turn to us.

I hadn't seen Bella blush so badly in a long time, but I was sure that my own face was just as red.

"I don't know, Rose," Bella whispered.

"Were you on a bed? Please Bella." Rosalie looked dead serious.

I wrapped my arms around Bella's shoulders bringing her back to my chest. "Rosalie, leave her alone. Yes, we were on a bed. Missionary if I remember right. Now, shut up," I hissed, pressing my lips to Bella's red neck.

"But it's important," Rosalie whined.

We started eating and Bella tried to ignore Rosalie, but it was difficult, though not as difficult as it was for me to ignore Jessica. She kept trying to talk to me and I kept shifting closer to Bella. I'd probably end up on her lap at this rate.

"Why don't you just talk to her, honey?" Bella whispered in my ear.

"Are you kidding now?"

"No, it's been ten years. People change. I think." She shrugged making me laugh.

Just as I was about to listen and turn and talk to Jessica, my phone pinged in my pocket. I took it out and saw it was Dad. Was something wrong with the kids?

"Dad?" I answered, a slight hysteric tone in my voice, but I didn't care.

"Edward," he yelled over loud crying in the background. "Where in the hell is Daniel's toy? I'm going deaf right here."

I glanced at Bella. I should have searched better. Fuck. Running a hand through my hair, I sagged in the chair. "I couldn't find it, Dad."

"Are you joking? He said Bella told him it's in the bag!"

"Dad, we couldn't find it. Can't you distract him?" I knew that wasn't going to work. If Danny didn't have that blasted thing, he couldn't sleep.

"What?" Bella mouthed to me.

I covered the mouthpiece. "Danny realized there is no Spotty."

"Oh." She bit her lip looking worried. "Is he on the phone?"

"No, Dad is…" I explained just as Dad shouted in my ear if I was still there. "Yes, I am," I moaned. "He must have dropped it somewhere. Try making him forget," I pleaded him.

This wasn't like the times they had a sleepover at Liz and Ed's place when we could rush there in case they needed something.

"Edward, he wants the dog!" Dad groaned. Spotty wasn't a dog, in my opinion anyway. It looked like a bunny to me, with long ears and white "skin", blue eyes. It was a bunny, but everyone saw it as a dog.

"Put him on the phone," I decided. "Here." I handed my phone to Bella. She was the only one that could calm Danny.

After about fifteen minutes of shushing and soothing words, she finally hung up. There were tears in her eyes and I hugged her.

"It's okay. We'll find it when we get home."

"He hates us. He said I lied," she mumbled in my chest.

"Bella, you actually lied," I teased her, but sobered up when I saw that she was truly distraught. "I'm sure that between Mom and Dad, he'll forget about Spotty. Let's mingle." I grabbed her hand and started walking around the arena.

Before they served dessert, people were no longer respecting the seating chart. Thank God. I had Bob in Jessica's previous spot. We were discussing the selling he had in the past month when Bella grabbed my leg and squeezed tightly. I covered her hand and squeezed back still talking with Bob.

"Edward!" she hissed making me turn to her. She looked really pale and there was a trail of sweat at her hairline.

"Are you okay, love?" I asked worried.

She took a huge breath and blew it out after a moment. "No."

"Bella?" I searched her eyes. "What's wrong?"

"I think…I have…contractions," she whispered taking another huge breath. "But it's…too soon."

"You're what?" I shouted getting up, almost making the table topple over. I didn't care that everyone was watching me in that moment.

"Sit down," she hissed. "Ahh!" There a weird splashing sound…my gaze lowered to her lap and I knew what had happened. No way. She was in her seventh month!

"Emmett, give me your car keys," I blurted out, scooping Bella up.

"You drank. I'll drive you," Bob offered. I was grateful for that.

Bella leaned her head on my shoulder, her hands clutching her belly.

"How long have you had contractions for?" I muttered following Bob.

"Uh, since we came here."

I groaned. "Bella!"

"I thought nothing of it. Maybe the flight triggered this?"

"Maybe. We shouldn't have flown."

As we got in Bob's BMW, Bella leaned into my side moaning. He sped to the hospital as I fumbled with my phone to call our parents.

"It's not you unless some drama is involved," Bob joked from behind the wheel.

"Bob…faster," Bella puffed out making him laugh.

"Hear that, Edward?" he asked glancing at me through the rear-view mirror.

"Ow! Oh! Are we there yet?" Bella asked through gritted teeth.

"Almost," I whispered into her ear just before I reached to slap Bob. It wasn't time for joking. I hadn't been so scared in my life. It wasn't her due date, it's too early!

"Hello?" Finally someone decided to answer the phone.

"Mom!" I groaned. "Don't panic, please. We're going to the hospital. Bella's water just broke."

"WHAT?" she shrieked, almost rivaling Alice. "But it's not time."

"I know. I'm just letting you know. Can you call Bella's parents, please?"

"Sure, honey. We're coming there as soon as we can."

When we finally made it to the hospital, I breathed in relief. But I was still worried of why she was in labor so early. They took Bella to a room and told me someone would come to check on her.

That was half an hour ago. I left Bob with her and went to find someone. I looked around unsure who to ask. I wanted to find a doctor not an intern or resident. Finally, I saw someone familiar. It was the doctor that had treated me all those years ago. I had been so mean to him, but maybe he had forgiven me.

"Uh, hello," I said patting him on the shoulder.

He looked up from the chart and his eyes widened. Right. He hates my guts. "You're Carlisle's son?"

"Yes. You're a doctor, right?" I asked quickly.

"Sure. Do you need help?" he asked professionally, putting the chart down.

"Not me. My wife's in labor. They said they'd send someone…it's been half an hour. She's only at seven months gestation," I explained as we started walking toward Bella's room.

"And no one came to check on her?" he asked shocked.

"No. Here." I opened the door just in time to hear her scream in pain.

"Shelly, bring some morphine," the doctor shouted toward someone. He looked around the door then turned back toward the woman he had shouted at. "And an ultrasound machine! Hurry!"

I sat next to her, squeezing her hand as he asked a few things before grabbing his phone and calling someone.

"This isn't my field, but I just called our best OB-GYN. Who's your doctor?"

I told him we lived in Chicago and that her doctor was there. He told me to call him and have him on the phone when the specialist came to see Bella.

Shelly, the nurse, came with a few machines and attached some wires to Bella's stomach. I felt sick. Was something wrong? Then she put an IV in Bella, administrating her morphine.

The doctor had to go when his pager beeped and I had no idea how to thank him for doing this. He dismissed me with a hand and rushed out. Shelly left soon after telling me to press the button above Bella's head in case I needed something.

Ten minutes later, the door opened and none other than the Weird Dude came in with one arm in his coat. He stopped and looked at us shocked then shook his head and went to Bella.

"Everyone's in the waiting room," he told me before checking the machine.

"Is the baby okay?" Bella whispered.

"Let's see. How far along are you?" he asked, taking the stick I knew that would show on the monitor what was inside her stomach.

"Seven months."

He frowned, moving the stick around, focused on the screen. "They appear to be okay."

"They?" Bob, the ever vigilant guy he is, shouted out.

"They?" Bella echoed after him on a faint voice.

"You have two babies. Didn't you know?" Nathan – I just remembered his name – announced to us. "You didn't," he said to himself when either of us moved.

"Edward!" Bella cried. "They're two! They'll be so small! I can't have them now!"

"Bella, that's not up to you. Tell me what you did in the past twenty-four hours. Don't leave anything out," Nathan told her seriously.

"I'm outta here. I don't wanna hear about any hanky-panky," Bob muttered and after patting my shoulder he left the room.

Bella turned red and caught my eye. He could have asked what didn't happen. It would have had a shorter answer.

"Were you under any cause of stress? Did you sleep unwell?" Suddenly, his eyes widened behind his round glasses. Yeah, he realized we had flown here. "You flew!"

"Nathan…" Bella started in a meek voice. "It was the fastest way. And yes, I was a little worried yesterday. Of course, I was stressed. We had to come here. We're away from the kids for the first time…"

"Hmm, I'd say that the stress and the plane ride triggered this. Can you get your doctor on the phone?" Nathan asked.

While he was outside talking to Marcus, I looked at Bella to see how she was coping with the news. Twins. It hadn't sunk in. And probably I wasn't going to realize it until they joined us.

"I'm really scared, Edward," she whispered, twining our fingers.

I leaned over to kiss her forehead. "It will be okay. It has to be."

"Why aren't you freaking out?" she murmured, looking at me surprised.

"It hasn't sunk in," I mumbled. "How are you, though? Does it hurt?"

"Now, no. I really hope everything will be okay."

We stayed quiet until Nathan returned. He checked something on the machine wired to Bella's stomach, nodded before he said he'd be back.

I had a feeling this was going to be a long and tiring labor. The other two times, she had given birth in less than two hours after her water had broken. Bella managed to fall asleep, but I couldn't. Bob returned some time later and told me amused that most of the party had moved in the waiting area. Fucking perfect.

"Can't you make them go home?" I pleaded him.

"They wouldn't listen. Even Emmett tried to tell them that there would be no baby anytime soon." He shrugged. "Anyway, beside our friends and former teammates, class mates and so on…there are a few paparazzi here," he whispered.

"Fuck," I cursed loudly. "How do they know?"

"You think people didn't realize you are here?" Bob joked.

"Gravel, it's not funny. Make them fucking leave before I kill each and every one of them."

The door opened just as I finished talking and I was about to go for the jugular when I realized it was only Dad.

"Do I have to bail you out?" he asked amused, closing the door behind him.

"Fucking paparazzi. I can't even breathe without them writing about it."

"I'll take care of them," Dad promised. "How is Bella?"

"Sleeping, I think."

"I'm not," she mumbled. "The morphine is making me sleepy, but I can't sleep."

"Oh." I had been quiet because I thought she was sleeping. "Do you want me to find Nathan?"

She opened her eyes and nodded to me. "Hi, Carlisle," she whispered, seeing him.

He went to her side, and I made the stupid thing to leave the room. I wondered if they'd run after me if I made a dash to the elevator.

"Mr. Cullen! How are you? We heard that your wife is in early labor," one of them said shoving a phone under my chin.

I narrowed my eyes at him and brushed passed him on my way to the elevator…or the nurse desk. I was unsure where to go.

They kept coming after me, asking idiotic questions until I finally snapped. Turning on my heels, I caught the most insistent's one jacket lapels and looked him in the eye. "Would you fucking leave me alone? I'm already stressed as it is! Yes, my wife is in early labor, but that's not for you to write or talk about. It's my fucking private life!" I yelled. "Would you like people to know what you ate at dinner and how many farts you had as a result?" I spat, shoving him back.

He watched me scared, straightening his jacket and jutting out his chin. If he dared anything else, I was going to put him in ER.

A few feet away, one of the women reporters was yapping away at a camera…that had caught my act of fury. Fuck me sideways. I closed my eyes, pinching the bridge of my nose and taking a calming breath before striding to the nurses' desk.

Thankfully everyone left besides our families. Danny insisted he wanted to see Bella, but the timing was horrible. I had taken him to her just when she was in the middle of screaming and threatening Toto's life. Danny cowered into my leg and I took him back to the waiting room, promising that mommy wasn't mad at him or me. It was something normal.

Ten hours and a massive headache later Bella was dilated enough to give birth to the twins, but since they were worried about her giving birth naturally, they were doing a C-section. We were warned ahead of time that once Bella was fully dilated, they would sweep her off to the operating room. It was still a shock.

Finally in the operating room, we saw Marcus. He had come to Seattle worried as to why Bella was in early labor. Between him and the weird dude Nate, I knew everything was going to be okay. Marcus was just as surprised as us to hear there were two babies. One of them had stayed hidden behind the other.

Bella was currently trying to make me loose feeling in my hand while screaming that she was going to murder me. If I didn't know that every woman did that during the birthing process, I would have actually been scared for my own life.

Marcus was encouraging her to stay strong while the anesthesiologist gave her an epidural.

Who would have thought she was so strong? If she didn't snap my thumb before the babies were born, I would consider myself lucky.

"Bob, if you tape this I'm going to shove the camera up your ass!" Bella yelled at Bob who decided to record this. I wasn't sure I'd ever like to revision this shit. It was enough I lived through it.

"Do you feel anything, Bella?" Marcus asked. When Bella shook her head, I closed my eyes, not ready to see him cutting her stomach. This was ten times worse than assisting in a natural birthing process.

Bob went closer and I fought the urge to stick my foot out to trip him.

"This is fascinating!" Bob exclaimed. "Cullen, you'd love to see this." Thankfully, he moved to a safe distance away from Bella and me. If I wasn't so scared, I'd have probably hurt him.

Marcus offered me to cut the umbilical cord of the first baby. My hand shook violently as I did so then a nurse took him away as Bella asked what it was. A boy. When I told her, a splitting smile spread across her face.

It was too quiet in the room. Besides the doctors talking quietly as they took the other baby out, there was no other sound. Why wasn't the baby crying? I could see Nate going next to the nurse doing something, with Bob and his fucking camera at his shoulder.

"If you do this to me again, I'm going to cut off your dick!" Bella muttered to me.

Marcus had the other baby out and his crying mingled with the first one's, we finally heard. I sighed in relief. I was glad to cut the umbilical cord again, just to give Bella some space. I couldn't imagine how she felt at that moment. Marcus finished with checking her over, then focused on stitching her stomach while I went to the nurses to see how the boys were.

They were so tiny. I truly hoped they were okay.

"Where is she taking them?" I asked when the nurse gestured the other nurse to follow her out with the babies.

"We need to make sure they're okay. They will be in the neo-natal intensive care unit. Seattle Children's Hospital has one of the best in the nation. We need to take all precautions. There are lots of complications that can appear in the first few hours of a premature baby's life," Nate explained.

"Another hospital?" I shouted, glancing at Bella to see if she had heard him.

"Go," she whispered.

I didn't think twice. I followed the nurses and once they had bundled up the small boys then placed them in the incubators we went to an ambulance that was waiting behind the hospital. Once inside, we didn't leave right away, but before I could ask why, I saw Nate joining me.

He didn't even spare me a look, going between the nurses. He looked like a devoted doctor. Why didn't I remember him being in my class?

"Is everything okay?" I asked worried, hovering over his shoulder. I could hear one of the babies crying harder than the other.

"The vitals look good. I have no idea what can be wrong. We need to get there."

I nodded, looking sadly through the incubator's glass at the small person. I itched to hold him. "Will you be allowed to be their doctor there? I'm not sure I can trust anyone else. I know Marcus won't be allowed."

"He probably will be allowed because he monitored Bella's pregnancy, but I surely will. I work there full time and part time here, at Seattle General."

I nodded again, too drained to process how dedicated to his work he was. After a few minutes while I listened to the sirens above us wailing, it clicked. The baby was scared of the sounds. Or so I hoped.

"You're not allowed to take him out," Nate told me seriously, stopping me from opening the incubator.

"Let me at least touch him," I begged.

"You can touch his hand through the hole on the side."

To our surprise, the baby quieted, turning his head to me. Damn. They were both so small.

"Nate, tell me they'll be okay. Tell me they'll…make it," I pleaded him.

His eyes saddened. "You know I can't make such promises. We were in the same classes in college."

"I'm sorry…" I had no idea what I was apologizing for. Trying not to think of how self-absorbed I had been in college. I turned my attention to the babies. My hands were in both basinets, rubbing their little hands.

Everyone was quiet until a weird sound came from one monitor just as the ambulance stopped. I withdrew my hands, watching in panic as an army of doctors rolled the babies inside the hospital, shouting to each other.

I had enough strength to climb down from the ambulance. What the hell was going on?

"Come with me, Edward."

My head whipped around to see who had called my name. I started at the blonde girl, realizing I knew her from somewhere. Was she some skank I had banged?

"You don't remember me? Now, I'm hurt!" she said lightly.

"Uh." I fisted my hair, looking inside the hospital, feeling helpless. "I'm sorry. Have we met?"

"I'm Briana, Edward!" she shouted. "Your desk mate!"

"Torture mate," I said automatically then cracked a small smile. "Where did they take them?" I finally asked what I'd been dreading.

"To run tests and see what had happened just when you parked. Are they pre-mature?" she asked.

"Yeah. Bella was only seven months along," I whispered. "Can I see them?"

"Only when the doctors are done. I should be with them now, but I promise to come personally and inform you."

She led me to the waiting area where I slumped on a plastic chair. I let my head fall in my arms as I fought against the tears I knew wanted to get out. I was worried about Bella. I was worried about the twins. I was worried about my sanity.

Why was no one coming to tell me they were okay?

A small arm wrapped around my back and I glanced up to see Rosalie looking impassively at me. I leaned into her hug, finally allowing the tears to fall. I was thankful it was her that got to me first. She didn't ask stupid questions, she didn't try to tell me everything was going to be okay. She just held me, and probably cried too, but I wasn't sure.

After what felt like a very long time, she patted my back in what felt like a gesture meaning 'you had enough' and moved away. I wiped my eyes and looked at her.

"Thanks," I said in a rough voice.

"I guess everyone needs to break down. Though, I never thought I'd see you cry," she said softly, grabbing my hand.

"You haven't seen me do a lot of things, Rosalie. How is Bella?"

"She's sleeping. I promised to call Emmett as soon as I have some news. He's with her as we speak."

"Thank you," I repeated.

"Everyone else is home, at Esme and Carlisle's condo. Oh, and Bob broke a reporter's nose."

"What?" I snorted, meeting her blue eyes.

"He kept asking what happened, what was all the fuss about. Bob punched him, breaking his nose then destroying his phone. Now…he's at the police station," she finished with a smirk.

"He was arrested?" I asked stupefied.

"Assault."

"And what do you call invading someone's privacy? Those fuckers shouldn't be allowed outside!"

Just as I started pacing and running my hands through my hair, thinking of the lengths Bob would go for me, Nate appeared in the waiting room. He looked tired.

"They're both stable, but anything can happen. We'll keep them monitored. You should get some rest."

"Thank you so much, man!" I exclaimed, hugging him.

"It's my job." He shrugged. "You're staying here? I can arrange for a room where parents usually can spend the night."

"That would be awesome, though I'd be gone for a little while. This is Rosalie, my sister in law, tell her if anything changes. She'll call me." I introduced them.

"Where are you going?" Rosalie asked surprised.

"To bail Bob out," I muttered before leaving.

After nearly getting arrested myself for attempting to murder a cop, I had Bob out of the police station. I kept trying to convince him I was okay until he stopped me in the middle of the street, his hands coming on my shoulders, looking me square in the eye.

"You're not okay."

I sighed in defeat. "I'm not," I admitted. "Does that even fucking matter? Bella's probably worried sick, not being allowed out of the hospital yet. The twins are being watched by an army of doctors. Of course, I'm not fucking okay, Gravel!" I shouted.

"Is there someone at the hospital with the babies?" he asked, pondering something.

"Yes, Rosalie."

"Good. You need to clear your head a little. Come on." He grabbed my arm and dragged me after him down the street. I didn't even fight him. He could try to kill me and I wouldn't put up a fight.

I wasn't paying attention to where we were going. We took a cab then I waited in front of a store while Bob went in to get something then we were on the move again.

When he pushed open a door and we stepped inside some building did I realize where we were. To my surprise, he had brought me to Huskies' Arena, which was back the way I knew it.

I went into the front row and slumped in one seat. I didn't want my emotions to get the best of me again.

He plopped next to me and handed me something. I stared at the bottle in his hand.

"I'm not drinking," I said vehemently.

"You lose," he muttered, taking a swing of the liquid inside.

"Why am I here, Bob?" I asked, sighing heavily. "I should be with the kids, or at least, with Bella."

"Like I said, you need to clear your head."

"Not by drinking," I retorted.

"You'd want this when you return to the hospital."

His voice was so numb that I realized he spoke from personal experience. When I looked at him, he was picking at the label of the bottle.

"Bob?"

"I didn't tell you, and made Emmett promise not to tell you."

"BOB?" He was scaring me.

"A couple years ago-"

"Why haven't you told me? Whatever it is! That long?" I shouted, snatching the bottle from him and taking a gulp. "What happened?" I muttered.

He looked at his hands. "After a few weeks when it hurt to piss and there was some blood too, Tanya made me see a doctor."

I choked on my gulp of whiskey. "Are you sick?" I asked worried. No. I couldn't take his confession. Not now.

"There was a little tumor, they said it was harmless but in time…" He gulped a mouthful of whiskey. His eyes cut to mine. "I had to decide. To wait for something horrible to happen, or to have it removed."

My mouth was suddenly dry. I wanted to kick his ass for not sharing this with me, but at the same time my heart ached for him.

"They cut off one of my balls."

"Bob, man, you should have talked to me," I mumbled, wrapping an arm over his shoulders.

He shook his head. "I didn't want anyone to know. But Emmett saw me at the vending machine a few days after the surgery. I was kicking it for not giving me the chocolate. He was there with Rick."

I couldn't even smile. "Do you promise to talk to me if anything happens again?"

"No way! You'd laugh at my new voice!" he shouted, elbowing me in the ribs.

I chuckled and hugged him. "Fuck. I can't believe this. Don't keep such shit from me! Ever!"

"Promise," he said solemnly. "Whew! I feel so much better than you know, Cullen. I'd been meaning to tell you since that moment. You have no idea how many time I wanted to call you. But then I pussied out. What would you do from Chicago?"

"I'd have come and held your hand," I joked, taking a swig of the Jack.

"Remember when T gave birth to Irina?" He laughed.

"You nearly pissed in your pants."

"Oh, yeah! You, future doctor and all that shit looked freaked out, too. Bella knew more than you!"

"Because she followed that chick flick show!" I retorted. "Next time I saw my teacher, I asked him if such pregnancies happened often. He told me to let off whatever drug I was on or he'd tell the Dean. I was like 'what the fuck? She was really pregnant and it didn't show!' and he simply shook his head." I remembered the amusing memory.

"Damn, I thought Mom was going to kill me," Bob muttered. "Or disown me. Or something."

"And because you're super smart, I got dragged into the mess too," I protested.

"You were eavesdropping!" he cried out.

"I was looking out for you, dickhead. I wanted to call the morgue in case she killed you!"

"Such a good friend," Bob mumbled, grinning when our eyes met.

"The best. Seriously now, don't you ever hide things from me."

We kept talking as we took turns on the bottle. He had managed to make me think of something else. Until my phone pinged.

Bro! I need you here! Bella's hysteric! She wants to leave the hospital!

I stared at the text then jumped on my feet. My head swirled and I grabbed onto Bob's head, the closest thing, to steady myself. "Whoa!"

"What's up?" he asked. "Something wrong?"

"Bella decided to leave apparently," I told him. "Coming?"

"Sure."

We left together, dumping the bottle in the first trashcan. It was night and drizzling.

"Do you know what day is it?" I wondered, wrapping my arm around his neck.

"Sunday, I think. Why?"

"Just so I know." I shrugged. "I lost track of time the moment we rushed to the hospital. It feels like years had passed," I mumbled.

"Well, the reunion was on Friday. So I think it's Sunday now. Could be Monday, though."

I laughed loudly feeling the alcohol finally loosening my tension. My phone started ringing just as the hospital came into view.

"Edward! Where are you?" Emmett demanded.

"In front of the hospital," I answered.

"Then you can catch your suddenly crazy wife. She escaped me."

"Watch out for Bella," I muttered to Bob. "Okay, Em. Is she allowed out?"

"No, man! Her doc said she had to stay under supervision after the caesarian!"

I hung up, looking toward the entrance. A minute later, I saw her. Wearing a hospital gown and nothing else, running toward the doors. A few doctors behind her. It was funny. Like in the movies.

"I got her," Bob told me as he put himself in front of her.

Bella ran into him, but thankfully he caught her when she stumbled. I took her from him. "Hey, wayward wife." I kissed her forehead.

"Déjà vu," Bob joked.

"Fuck off, Center!" Bella snapped.

"You remembered!" he shouted excited.

Before I could ask what the hell they were talking about, Bella slapped me. Fuck. It hurt.

"Why aren't you with the babies? And…did you drink?"

"They're stable, and I had to bail Mr. Gravel here out of jail. Five hundred bucks for his pretty head," I joked, petting Bob's head.

"You were arrested? Why?" Bella turned to him.

"I had enough of some reporter talking trash about my friends," he explained. "Let's get you back in bed."

"No. I'm going to see my babies!" Bella yelled.

I wrapped my arms around her and glared at the doctor that was approaching us with a syringe. He didn't relent. I pushed Bella behind me and slapped his hand when he went too close to her with the needle.

"She's just scared for our babies' lives! She's allowed to lose her head for a little while. I've got her," I snapped.

"The patient suffers trauma and needs to be sedated. She'll be fine whe-"

I lunged at him, but Bob caught my arm before I broke the doctor's jaw. "I don't have that kind of money to bail you out," he whispered, gripping my arm. "Chill, Cullen."

It took Dad joining the show for everyone to calm down. He took Bella back to her room, and Bob pushed me into a cab so we could go to the babies.

I wanted to punch the shit out of that doctor. The patient suffered trauma! I wished him to go throw what we were going through! He wouldn't be so blasé about things. He'd probably break down like a little kid.

Just like I had done.

I sighed, leaning my head on the window and staring out, seeing nothing.

"Are you going to start crying?" Bob broke the silence.

"No." A tear slid down my cheek. "Maybe."

"You can hold my hand."

"Fuck you, Bob."

"Yeah, man. I love you too."

I saw the cab driver getting uncomfortable. Crap. I hoped he didn't think we were gays.

"Bob, shut up. Can you drive faster?" I addressed the driver. "They're both boys," I found myself saying after a little while.

"I just wanted to ask that," Bob said softly.

"You should see how little and cute they are. Too fucking small."

*RA*

One month later, we finally took them out of the hospital. A fucking month of living between the Children's Hospital and my parents' condo. I was exhausted. I got called more than I could possible care from the team to get back for the usual crap that happened before the pre-season. I kept saying that I really couldn't. They understood. Now, that everyone was okay, I didn't have an excuse.

After another week spent at the condo and trying not to freak out of the moment when we'd be alone home with two wailing boys, we took the plane back to Chicago.

I'd probably go crazy before the end of the year.

I have to tell you that this is one of my favorite outtakes/futuretakes. I hope you enjoyed it too.