Disclaimer: All the Twilight stuff belongs to Stephenie Meyer. No copyright infringement is intended. I'm just playing in her sandbox.

Author's Note: Just a little something to make up for not posting on time last wweek. Sunday afternoon always needs a little something . . .

Chapter 115 Verona

I had to continually remember not to hold her too tight, not to thrust too hard,

but my wife was clueless as to the danger she could be in.

She pushed me to my very limits as she encouraged . . . no,

demanded that I push harder, deeper, faster . . .

I wanted to be able to make love with her without worrying about hurting her, breaking her.

She really had no idea just what I was holding back . . .

~oooOooo~

BPOV

I hadn't noticed the bruises till Edward pointed them out, but now I grabbed the swim cover and put it on over my suit. There was no need to make him feel worse by having him look at the little purple marks while we swam.

I knew I had pushed him too far this morning . . . I knew. He was just so damned gorgeous and sometimes it was hard to believe that he was really mine. I was falling apart inside from seeing the beautiful vampire that wanted to claim him, but I had contained it. I contained it all the way up until I woke up this morning . . . and I needed him. I needed to feel him fall apart with me . . . because of me.

When I wrapped my hands around him, my husband coming unglued from just my touch . . . well, I lost it. He really did love me and I really did turn him on even more than I had ever imagined. I had to have him, and I wanted all of him. I wanted him to make love to me . . . I wanted him to be completely lost in me and the sensations he was feeling. I was often so overwhelmed by my love for him, as well as by the reactions he caused in my body, that I was completely unaware of my surroundings . . . there was only him and my driving need to get closer to him, to touch more of his skin at one time, to taste more of him, to have him embedded deeper inside me. I wanted him to feel all those things. In reality I wanted him to just let go.

. . . and he did.

I wasn't about to let him be upset about the tiny bruises he had left on my body. My husband had given me exactly what I had wanted, and it was obvious . . . clearly obvious, that he wanted me every bit as much as I wanted him.

It was a beautiful clear day as I shivered, stepping into the warm, Olympic pool quickly as Edward handed Masen to me.

"He loves this," Edward commented as he watched his son in my arms, a conversation clearly taking place between them.

He was quiet for a moment, and Masen laughed and giggled as he splashed his little hands on the surface of the water, repeatedly looking down at the water dripping from his little hands and then up into the face of his father.

"Let him go, love," he told me.

"What?"

"Let him go. Trust me, he can do this," he insisted.

I would never have let go of a baby in water, but his father insisted . . . and I trusted Edward completely. As I released my grip, Masen sank below the surface, and was gone. I screamed and started after him, intending to search the bottom till I found my baby and scared to death that he would drown.

Edward grabbed my shoulders.

"Bella!"

I continued to rant and cry and became more and more frantic as time passed, everyone staring at me and the scene in front of them. Edward grabbed both my hands, wrapping my arms across the front of my body to calm me as he stood behind me, hugging me to him.

"Bella, look," he said with no effect on me, his lips against my ear.

"Bella!" he said sternly and tightened his grip on me as I continued to become more and more hysterical.

Alice and Rosalie were standing at the other end of the pool, laughing and clapping with Jasper and Emmett, who dove into the pool and grabbed the baby, holding him up in the air as they both laughed and played.

"See, sweetheart. Masen swims as well or better than I do already!"

I calmed and tried to take in what my eyes were telling me. My son had taken off, swimming underwater the length of the pool to emerge with his uncle laughing and playing at the other end of the pool. It was the last thing I remembered.

I awoke lying across Edward's lap in the shallow end of the pool on the stairs. Everyone had gathered around me and my son splashed happily beside me, patting me with his chubby little hand as everyone waited on me to wake up.

"Bella, you scared years off my existence," Edward claimed as he kissed me on the forehead. "I'm so sorry, love. I had seen from Alice that Masen could swim well and she saw this going a couple of ways - I had hoped for the other where you were just surprised and elated, but apparently I did something wrong.

"No, it's fine. If Masen is alright then everything is just perfect, sweetheart," I told him, struggling to grasp what had happened.

I was sure I had the most sheepish look on my face and I was embarrassed that I had taken so long to realize that everything was fine. I should have known that Edward wouldn't do anything that would be taking a chance with our son. I guess I had just been so wired up after the events of the last 24 hours, I had reacted badly.

I sat up and we all began a game of who could splash the most with the vampires putting their speed to use and winning the game. I never stood a chance . . . but that didn't stop me from trying. The water was so warm and the air so cold, it made getting splashed really fun because it warmed me up. We laughed and played and I even adjusted to watching Edward toss my baby up in the air a foot or two and let him splash down in the water, causing him to laugh and giggle wildly when he popped back to the surface.

The arrival of the Denali's poolside stopped our games, at least for the moment. Edward had explained that Masen had changed Tanya's thoughts completely, that she was harmless now. That didn't stop me from tensing when she and her sisters walked out to join us in the pool. Alice had spoken to Kate this morning, that much I knew. She and Irina were completely baffled at Tanya's change of attitude. They just assumed that a dunk in the lagoon had set her straight and I was glad that Masen's power was still a secret that only the immediate family knew.

Edward and I stayed in the corner, hugging onto each other and kissing occasionally as we watched our son. With his aunts and uncles in the water with him as well as Kate and Irina, I settled down and understood that Tanya didn't stand a chance of hurting him with them there, but she stayed away from him none the less. She stayed away from us as well, and for that I was thankful. Apparently she was quite incensed that Edward had tossed her out the window into the lagoon.

In the interest of keeping things civil, and Masen's power under cover, Edward and I made a point of going over to where she sat on the edge of the pool so that Edward could apologize. He told her that he misunderstood some thoughts that he had heard only a part of and asked her to forgive him for being so rash.

"It's fine, Edward. I accept your apology, I was only making sure little Masen was alright, after all," she insisted, obviously still pouting.

She held her arms out to Edward, and I saw the expression that crossed his face. I would have to ask him about it later, but his response spoke volumes.

"No, Tanya. I think just a verbal apology will have to suffice," he told her in a somewhat chastising manner, turning away from her and pulling me along towards the other end of the pool.

I could only guess that some things hadn't changed. She was, after all, a succubus by nature.

"Kate and Irina are starting to like the idea of having a baby in the family, love," Edward whispered as we half floated the length of the pool, "They're able to think of Masen completely separate from the immortal child their mother created so long ago."

"Their mother?" I asked.

"Yes, the story Carlisle told explaining why our kind is so touchy about immortal children . . . that was their mother," he explained, "The girls don't speak of her but I'll explain it in detail some time when they're not near, if you like."

No one other than family was anywhere near and the vampires flaunted their ability to stay underwater . . . and so did Masen. My son was turning out to be much more like his father than we had thought at first. I had heard of children six months old being taught to swim the length of a pool, but I had never seen it. He was just so tiny, yet his body was strong and he had excellent control in the water, much more like a child a year or two old would have been expected to have. Edward's smile was blinding as he swam the length of the pool, underwater with his son swimming beside him as though he had always known how to swim.

"Aren't they cute together?" Alice exclaimed as she sat beside me on the steps.

"They're adorable, Alice. He is such a good father. I just hope I get pregnant soon. I really want to give him another child," I told her, my hands encircling my knees as I sat. "Do you see it Alice? Do you see us having another baby?" I asked quietly.

"Bel . . la," Alice retorted, "I've seen it all along. "Sometimes there are no other children, but now that Renee has left and Masen has sorted Tanya, the twins are the only future I see for you," she smiled.

"Twins? Alice, how long have you seen this?"

"Since we were in Orlando. Showing Edward visions of Masen running happily in the yard and the twins playing on a blanket beside him kept him going when he was so scared he would loose you," she explained.

I felt the tears coming, in spite of all my attempts to stop them. I hugged Alice to me, thanking her for telling me. Edward was beside me in a minute, having smelled my tears and thinking something as wrong.

"Bella! What is it, what's wrong, love?" he asked as he pulled me into his lap, handing Masen to Alice.

"Nothing is wrong," I told him, trying to stop the tears from poring down my face, "Why didn't you tell me about the twins?"

Edward stared at Alice for a long minute, a frown crossing his handsome face before he answered.

"Alice's visions are subjective, love. They're constantly changing and I didn't want to get your hopes up. I wanted you to know that I was completely happy with just you, not because I wanted children. I love you, Bella, and just having you is all I'll ever need," he said as he kissed my forehead.

We sat, hugging each other for a long minute before he spoke again.

"What do you think of leaving Venice and heading towards our house in Bolzano?" he asked.

"Really? Is everyone ready to leave?"

"Well, I was thinking that we could go, just the three of us," he said, smiling.

Alice smiled widely, "Bella, we will all be fine shopping and clubbing for a day or three. You two, or three, could use some time alone. Besides, Edward is dying for you to see his car!"

I looked at my husband and I knew that if he could blush, he would have been bright red.

"Car?" I asked, my head cocked sideways.

"Bella, you could hardly call it just a car!" he exclaimed.

I had to laugh.

"Well, husband. Let's go get packed and see this car that has you so excited!"

We said our goodbyes, even to Tanya, and quickly packed what we needed in a single bag, the rest being shipped directly to the house. I kept eying Edward as he made a few phone calls and kept hinting about the car. I wondered how three of us were fitting into what was probably a two seated sports car, like his Vanquish, but he must have a plan. Apparently there would be little room for luggage, and Edward carried both Masen and our bag as we got off the gondola and walked toward Marco Polo Station. I had assumed that we were riding the train, but as we crossed the parking lot, one of the only places where cars were allowed in the city, one car seemed to stand out.

Edwards.

"What do you think?" he asked as he stood by the car, the chauffeur putting our bag in the car and handing him the keys.

"It's beautiful, sweetheart! What is it?"

The mortified look on his face told me that I was going to have to start speaking Car and Driver.

"Bella, it's a 1987 Ferrari F40," he said with almost a reverence in his voice. "There were only one thousand three hundred and thirteen produced . . . ever. I bought this one new back in 1987. It stays at the house here in Italy. I had a car seat adapted and put into the car for Masen. Do you like it?" he asked as he opened the door and showed me the interior, and the car seat for our son.

My 111 year old husband was just such a teenager when it came to toys!

I decided that I needed to tease him about the car.

"Another marital asset, huh, and just how much did you spend on this toy?" I said with a straight face, knowing that he would be unable to read my mind and know if I was serious or kidding.

He continued strapping Masen into the car seat without answering as he gestured for me to slide in and he closed my door.

"Well?" I asked as he sat down behind the steering wheel and turned the car on.

It really was a beautiful car, soft leather seats and beautiful woodwork on the dashboard.

"Bella, it's a collectors dream. It only increases in value, think of it as an investment," he said, seemingly trying to rationalize and justify the extravagance.

"It's a toy, Edward. How much?" I asked as gruffly as possible, having a hard time keeping a straight face.

"Sweetheart . . ."

"Edward!"

"Fine. The list price was just over $400,000 but I had some additions made, running the cost up to just over 6," he said, both hands on the wheel as he stared straight ahead and braced for what he thought was going to be an angry wife sitting beside him.

"$600,000 dollars?" I gulped, my voice squeaking slightly.

He visible stiffened, and I couldn't torture him any longer.

"Then I think I might need one as well."

My husband stopped dead, stone statue still as we blocked the entry way into the parking lot. His eyes were wide open and fixed on me, his mouth hanging open. I could stand it no longer.

I burst out laughing, "I'm so just kidding, sweetheart. I don't want one and you can have as many toys as you like. I just like teasing you."

His face softened and he smiled from ear to ear, telling me I was so going to pay for making him think I was upset with him about the car. Alice had made an offhand comment earlier, something about it not being as though he spent as much on cars as he was spending on jewelry . . . and I had to ask.

"Edward."

"Yes, love," he said, smiling and taking my hand in his as he shifted gears.

"The heart shaped crystal you gave me, it isn't a semi precious stone, is it? I would hate to think you spent that much money on me," I asked.

"No, love. It isn't a semi precious stone," he answered.

Something about the smirk on his face . . . he was hiding something.

"Edward . . ."

"What? I answered you. It isn't a semi precious stone, love. Now, I was thinking we might stay in Verona tonight and we could see the sights of the city, Juliette's house, things like that. You know Verona is where Romeo first met Juliette. I thought since you and I loved that movie so much, you might enjoy spending Valentines day in Verona."

"Um, it is Valentine's Day tomorrow, isn't it! So that's why you wanted us to leave alone."

"That, and I wanted my wife and my son all to myself at our house for a few days, love. Is that alright?" my husband asked so sweetly.

I knew he was distracting me from asking about the stone, but I didn't care. I was alone with my husband and son, in Italy, teasing him mercilessly, and I could not have been happier.

Edward had obviously put a lot of planning into this and as we drove through vineyards and pulled up to what looked like a very old farmhouse, he explained that it was indeed an ancient stone farmhouse that was now called La Caminella. We were greeted by an elderly couple, Edward responding to them in what sounded like fluent Italian .

. . . and I had thought him speaking French was sexy.

Oh My God.

Though there were four guest rooms, the entire bed and breakfast had been reserved just for our use for the next day or two. There was a crib waiting for Masen in a room just next to the one Edward put our bag down in, and there was the most delicious smell coming up the stairs.

The city of Verona could be seen across the valley as could Lake Garda, yet it felt like we were out in the countryside all alone. It was perfect.

"I think your dinner is ready, love. Are you hungry?" he asked, putting his hands on my hips and pulling me to him as he nuzzled my neck.

"I am, sweetheart . . . and not just for dinner . . .

Mason ate dinner at the table with us, devouring bits of chicken and playing with the melted cheese, stretching it from one hand to the other. We laughed so hard when he slurped up a length of spaghetti so fast that the end of it snapped up and hit his nose and forehead, leaving sauce dripping down his eyebrow and into his eye. He looked so surprised and Edward managed to whip out his phone and get a photo before the moment was lost.

We took a walk in the vineyards after dinner, Masen sitting on Edward's shoulders. His chubby little fists looked like they were going to pull the hair on his daddy's head out he was holding on so tightly. Masen's hair was so long now that it covered his shoulders and Edward's ears. It was thick and curly and just a slightly darker copper color than Edwards, making my husband look like he had long curly hair.

"We really need to cut his hair," I told them as Edward brushed it our of his eyes and I took the ponytail holder out of my own hair, reaching up to gather Masen's hair behind him and tying it into a low polytail. The curls still hung halfway down his back.

Edward left for a short time to feed while I nursed the baby and put him to bed. Edward must have sensed game very near by or he would never have left us. He hadn't hunted since the little excursion off of the Orient Express, and I knew he needed to. The baby bottle that he had taken with him told me that Masen must have made a request as well.

We awoke early and headed into the city - well, after our morning routine . . . and breakfast for me. Edward stayed upstairs and fed Masen the bottle he brought back for him while I ate breakfast and chatted with the owners. They were such a sweet couple. I found out that they had been married for fifty years, still living in his family home and running the vineyard, in addition to opening their home as a bed and breakfast since their children had grown up and married. The idea of being with Edward for fifty years, and then a thousand more excited me to no end, and I had to wonder what would happen with our children - how long would their lives be and would they ever find mates. It wasn't like there were tremendous numbers of half vampires in the world for Masen to choose from, and we had no idea what his future held in store for him.

I refused to worry about it. We could do nothing to change what he was, or would become, and I was alone with just my husband and son for the next few days . . . I intended to enjoy it!

Edward came downstairs carrying Masen and a jacket for me, asking if I was ready to go.

We spent the day walking and laughing and looking at all the sites in the ancient city, especially Casa di Giulietta, or Juliet's House.

Who doesn't know about the love story between Juliet and Romeo, immortalised by Shakespeare in the first line of his play,

"Two households, both alike in dignity

In fair Verona, where we lay our scene

From ancient grudge break to new mutiny

Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean."

Edward and I had watched the movie countless times . . . before he left . . .

Verona holds the claim to having the houses of perhaps the greatest lovers in history. Of course, there is much debate as to whether the lovers existed or not, but since I was surrounded by mythical creatures that weren't supposed to exist in reality, I had no trouble thinking the story was true.

The house itself was built in the 13th century and the dell Capello's coat-of-arms could still be seen on the keystone of the inner archway in the courtyard. A bronze statue of Juliet stood in the courtyard and there were sticky notes littering the inner walls where people had left letters to her. Apparently forlorn and distressed lovers could leave a note and tradition said that they would receive an answer to whatever heartache they were experiencing.

Edward turned to me while we stood in the courtyard, gesturing to a podium where people could write notes, "Do you want to leave her a message or ask a question, love?"

I thought about it before responding, hugging my husband to me, "Aren't notes supposed to be asking for your heart's desire or problems with a lost love?"

"Yes, I think that's the idea," he said, bending down to softly kiss the very corner of my lips.

I kissed him back, smiling, "Then I don't need to leave a note. I have everything I ever dreamed of, Edward, and more . . . I love you."

Though Masen sat in the crook of his arm, his other arm was around me and he kissed me like we were alone in our bedroom.

"I love you more than anything else in the world, Bella. I have from the first minute I saw you. I'm so sorry I ever left you and caused you pain. I realize now that you do love me just as much as I love you, though I never thought it possible. I promise I will never ever leave you again," he said emphasizing each word. "I want you to know that," he declared adamantly.

He ducked his head, a shy expression crossing his face as just the corner of his mouth turned up and our son smiled ear to ear. He took my hand and led me to a bench in the cortyard, away from most of the tourists. Straddling the bench, he sat Masen in front of him and reached into the pocket of his jeans.

"I have something for you," he said warmly, handing me a small red velvet pouch with a drawstring, "I don't want you to think I spent a lot of money, I didn't. This was my mothers, and I want you to have it."

"Edward. My gift for you is . . ."

"Bella. I really want to give this to you here, in this place."

I opened the drawstring, fiddling with it for longer than would be expected. I felt the tears starting, and I hadn't even seen what he had gotten me, but I felt the weight of the emotion behind the gift.

I held the open bag upside down, and a gold necklace fell into my palm. Attached to the end of it was the most beautiful locket, no larger than a penny, really. It had an intricate design woven into the front with silver mixing with the gold and encircling an emerald that was set in the front. Tiny hinges and a clasp told me that there was something inside, and I opened it to find a photo of Edward on one side, and the smiling face of my son on the other. The photo of Masen was just of him sitting in the grass, cross legged, and it looked as though it was taken a week or so ago, his hair wa shorter than it was now. It was the photo of Edward that took my breath away. I had taken the picture, of course, no one else would have had the opportunity . . . but I didn't know that he had seen it and I was kind of embarrassed that I had been caught. It was my all time favorite picture of him, just his face and bare shoulders as he lay sleeping peacefully in our bed.

He must have noticed my embarrassment, or Masen did as Edward looked first to him and then to me, explaining, "Alice said it was your favorite photo of me and she told me where to find it. I wasn't snooping, love, I just wanted to surprise you."

"Oh, sweetheart. I love it. You had fallen asleep that morning and you were just so adorable, I had to take the picture. I hope you don't mind," I whispered as I kissed him.

"I don't mind anything you do around me, Bella. Take any photos you want, anytime. I love you. Happy Valentine's Day, love. Do you like the locket?"

"Edward, it's beautiful. It was your mother's?"

"Yes. I have few human memories, but I remember her wearing this, and that the jewel matched the color of her eyes . . . Masen's eyes are the same color sometimes."

He fastened it around my neck and centered it in front, kissing me as he did. Masen leaned in to look at the locket and clapped his little hands, a gesture he used often these days when he was happy about something.

"I have something for you as well, but we have to go back to the room for me to give it to you . . ."

Edward smirked, obviously taking my comment as something to do with sex as he immediately stood, anxiously saying that we should hurry home!