Sorry for the lag and delay in getting this posted. Hope you think the wait for worth it. Chapter 15 is being worked on tomorrow and sent off to the Beta team, so it should post on time. As always we need to send a HUGE shout out to the great group of girls who keep us readable: AWayWithWords, EdwardsFirstKiss, and LaPumkle, thank you so much for all you three amazing ladies do.


Parallel Parenting

Chapter 14

Edward POV

Bella and I arrive at the hospital and immediately see the nurse who works with my father. She motions for us to come back, and head straight to the room she points to.

"Hi," I say walking in the door. My eyes land on my sister who's showing signs that she has been crying. I walk over to her and give her a hug and kiss the top of her head.

"Rumor has it that you're getting out of English," Kassie says with a pout.

"Just two of them," Colton replies quickly.

"So not fair – when I broke my arm, all I got out of was sports, and I didn't want out of that."

"Hope I get to still play sports," Colton says quickly looking at Bella. "Do you think I will have to stop playing?"

"That's not up to me, little man that will be up to your doctor, parents, and the school."

Colton smiles right away. "So, I just have to butter Grandpa up then?"

"Didn't work for me," Kassie says with another pout.

As the kids start talking among themselves, I turn my attention to Alice and Jasper. "How bad is his nose?"

"Dad said nothing is broken, but he's going to have bad bruising," Jasper tells me still sounding angry. "I could kill that little shit for this."

I snort shaking my head. "That was exactly what I said."

"I'm angry, but not at the other boy," Alice tells us making both Jasper and me look at her. "My son was getting picked on, and he didn't tell me … us. He should have felt that he could come to one of us, shouldn't he?"

"Sometimes it's not that simple, Alice. Children worry and overthink things, too," I say.

Alice just hums. "I wish I knew why that kid was picking on Colton."

"There's not always a reason, honey. More than likely he is just a spoiled brat," Jasper states.

As Jasper speaks, Bella's mouth twitches, and I know she knows something more than what she told me in Emmett's office.

"I don't have to tell do I?" Colton asks looking at Bella.

"I would like to say no, Colton, but I think it would be best if you did."

"But …" he says with a sad voice as tears fill his eyes. "Can't we just pretend we don't know?"

My eyes go between Bella and Colton wondering what's going on.

"Bella, do you know something that we haven't been told?" Jasper asks her harshly.

"Hey, Jasper, watch your tone." I tell him as I look around Bella.

"No, Edward, this is not in your control. My SON has been picked on, and if she knows the reason why, then I want to know!" Jasper yells back at me.

"Dad, please, I don't want to say," Colton begs as the tears fall.

"Colton, buddy, we can't help you if you don't tell us," Alice implores.

"Johnny doesn't have a mommy," Kassie says softly making Jasper look at her.

"Kassie don't—" Colton yells!

"It's okay, Colton, it's not true, and my mommy said that it doesn't matter what people who aren't your friends—like strangers—say. The only people that love you and really care about you say things that matter. I for one love your mommy, she's so much fun." Kassie smiles at Bella. "She's even more fun than you are."

Bella moves winking at Kassie. "Alice, Jasper, I think, that Johnny has been saying a lot of untrue things about …" Bells trails off, but her eyes move to Alice.

"Me. Oh, my, God, this is all my fault," Alice cries making us all shake our heads.

"No. Johnny said a few other things that sort of led others to believe that you … drink, and he would be removed from your care."

"That's it. I'm going to kill him," Jasper says jumping up, but Bella stands in front of him.

"He's just a child. Do you really think he has those sorts of thoughts on his own? Clearly, someone has been feeding him this crud, so if you're angry look at the source of where the child hears it. Be angry at his father, who has been told more than once about his child's behavior not being appropriate. Johnny's father should have disciplined his child. How can Johnny learn if he is not taught? People are so quick to blame the school, and the bully, but at the end of the day the parents should play a part, too. Kids are cruel, and there is no other way to put it. However, when a parent who is supposed to guide a child into better behavior, entices the child to act out, it is no longer only the child's fault. Would you allow Colton to pick on, or bully another child? Kassie, Cordie, do you think your father or I would allow that kind of behavior from you girls?"

"God, no, you would kill me, and then bring me back just to torture me some more," Kassie mutters. "I'm surprised that I haven't been punished for hitting Johnny."

I am quiet and in a bit of shock, wondering if Bella realizes she just made it sound to the girls as if we were a full-fledged family, calling me the girl's father.

"You, and Daddy, would be upset with me," my daughter tells Bella.

"Well?" Bella asks looking at Jasper.

"Fine. I'll find his father and kill him, happy?"

"Yep," Bella says sitting down.

"You'll have to wait; he was dragged out of the school by the police in handcuffs," I tell him.

Jasper sighs and sits down and Bella begins to talk again. "Alice, I'm not sure why he— or more so anyone—told Johnny that you drink. I doubt that Johnny's singling out Colton, or that any of this is even about you at all, or Colton himself, for that matter. Johnny is an angry young boy, who's taking his anger out on other children. That's something he will have to work on, and hopefully this will happen soon before he either hits the wrong person, or hurts someone more than he has today."

Alice gives Bella a weak smile, but turns to Colton. "Baby, you should have told me."

"I didn't want to make you cry," Colton states.

"No, baby, no matter what you think I will do, always come to me." Alice moves to him and hugs him close to her. "I would rather be upset then see you hurt or put into this kind of situation."

"Seems like we have a full house," my father says as both he and my mom walk in.

"Oh, my poor boy," my mother cries, moving swiftly to Colton. "What the hell happened?" she carries on looking at us.

"I think we should go," I say as I stand up. "I'll call you tomorrow, Alice. Colton, I hope you feel better soon. I love you, buddy," I say with a wink.

I help Bella to stand and walk out with the girls as Jasper takes my mom through what he knows about what happened.

Just as we get to my car, Bella's cell rings. "It's Emmett," she tells me as she's answering it. "Hi, Em."

I open the car door as she listens to what Emmett's saying. I walk around the car and get in my own side.

"Does this mean Kassie's in more trouble?" she asks and I feel my face harden.

If Emmett thinks for one moment that I will allow him to discipline Kassie over that bully-little-shit, or his father, he's got another thing coming.

Bella shakes her head and hand at me and then rubs my hand.

"You're sure that everything is going to be okay?" Bella asks looking stressed.

I close my eyes trying to control my breathing so that I can relax and not upset her more as she keeps talking to Emmett.

"I know that, Emmett, but still his father is a lawyer … Maybe so, but he's still high up. Fine. I'll see you tomorrow."

Bella looks at the girls and then at me. "I will fill you in when we get home."

I nod at her and start the car.

"Am I in more trouble?" Kassie asks sounding worried.

"No; it's still only a warning that you are receiving at school, and you understand why, right?"

"She shouldn't be getting any warning," I growl.

"Edward!" Bella says sounding unpleased.

My eyes go to her and I see that she means business. I nod slightly and look back at the road.

"Kassie?" Bella says.

"Yes, I understand that I shouldn't have held onto him, and kept yelling in his face. I also shouldn't have kneed him in his privates. But, Mom, he's so mean and needs to learn a lesson, and I would like to have knocked more sense into him than I did."

I feel my mouth twist a little—damn, do I love this kid.

"Thank you, for not doing more than you did, and you are right about why you're being written up. Emmett's not saying that you can't stick up for yourself or someone else, but as soon as you had him away from Colton and Cordie, you should have let him go and went to get a teacher."

"I should have a warning, too," Cordie says making me look at her in my rearview mirror.

"Why?" both Bella and I ask together.

"I never told anyone that he was being mean to Colton, or that I heard him saying nasty things about Aunt Alice, and Bella."

"That doesn't mean that you should get a warning," Bella says softly.

"But, Miss Victoria and James both said that, acting that way makes you a bully. They also said that being a bully can be done in so many ways and that not just name calling or hitting makes someone a bully. There are bullies who intimidate people without saying a word to them. They said that if you stand around allowing people to pick on someone or to fight them, then you're just as bad as the bully. They told us it is important to always tell and make sure an adult knows what is going on."

"That's right in most cases, Cordie, but you weren't doing that."

"I wanted Kassie to hit him," she says.

I again feel my mouth twist but say nothing.

"Doesn't mean you get a warning. Emmett will look at the CT feed again and will issue warnings to the children that should have known better. However, next time, both of you speak to someone right away—don't hide it."

"I agree with Bella; both of you can come to me … us, no matter what. We love you both, and we will always have your back if you need us."

The rest of the drive is rather quiet, and when we arrive home, both girls head for their room.

"What did he say?" I ask getting right to the point.

"Mr. Buckley is not a happy camper, and has contacted his company to try to take legal action against the school, and Kassie." Bella stops and swallows. "He's pushing for Kassie to be charged with assault."

"What?" I ask through gritted teeth.

Bella holds up her hands. "Emmett has already shown the CT footage to our custodian, who is a retired juvenile court judge. He said that nothing will be done to either child, and if it was in his courtroom, then he would agree completely with Emmett expelling Johnny. He just wanted to let us know. He also had to call the superintendent, who was with Emmett when he called. I haven't met him yet, but Emmett assured me that he always agrees with the discipline actions that he uses. The only thing that could cause an issue is the fact that Kassie has a free place at school because I work there."

I just look at her unsure of why that would be an issue.

"Mr. Buckley is giving a song and dance about my child being riff-raff. You know the poor little public school kid—the one that caused the problems—because she's not rich enough to know how to behave."

I feel the bile rising into my mouth, especially over the fact that I know that I am one of the people that had those same thoughts about public school. It may not be as bad as that, and more along the line that public schools are often understaffed, and there're so many children. I am pulled from my inner thoughts when Bella strokes my cheek.

"I don't want to fight about whether she should or shouldn't be disciplined—we need to be on the same page on this."

I sigh pulling her to me. "I know, and I am not angry with her or you, but with the kid, and his dad; those two make me livid."

"I am, too," Bella tells me.

I kiss her softly smiling a little. "I say we get into our pajamas, and order dinner to be delivered, what do you think?"

Bella nods at me. "That sounds exactly like what we need to do."

~PP~

It took the best part of the day for me to relax. My father insisted that Colton stay in the hospital last night for observation, and to make sure the swelling of his nose went down. The girls, on the other hand, have been taken to school. I wasn't overly happy about it, but relented knowing that Bella would be there. Emmett also reassured me that Johnny was not going to be admitted back into the school, no matter what.

"Edward." Tanya says sounding more snippy than normal.

"Yes?"

"A Mr. Buckley is here, and he demands that he see you immediately."

"Now!" I hear a harsh voice yell from somewhere close to her.

"Show him in," I say knowing that Tanya will call security right away. I had filled her in on what happened last night, and she seems to be as angry as I am about what happened.

I look at the door as the prick walks in with a smug smile on his face.

"Can I help you?" I ask as I stare at him.

"Yes, I want that bitch and her daughter out of my son's school, and I know you can make it happen."

"No, I actually cannot make that happen, and besides, why would I, if I could; your son hit my nephew."

"Look … you and I both know that your sister has problems. Maybe my son shouldn't have said that out loud on the playground, but boys will be boys." He stops and just grins at me. "We shouldn't let a harmless fight get out of hand. I would hate for your business to go to ground because your nephew can't handle losing a fight."

"If you think you're able to take my company on then feel free to try. As for the harmless fight, I think you need a lesson in looking up the meaning in the dictionary. The only harmless part was when a much younger girl held your son off from picking on more kids."

"You're right that the street rat touched my son; she could have given my son some sort of a disease."

I stand up and roll my hand into a fist. "What is your problem with Kassie and Bella?" I ask.

"Bella, she really is your paid whore, isn't she? How much does it cost for her to swallow?"

I sneer as my hand grips the desk. I know his goal is for me to hit him. "You'd be wise to watch your tongue when you are speaking about my girlfriend and my daughter."

"Really? You think giving her that title will stop people from knowing the truth? I know she's both yours and that worthless douchebag, Emmett's paid whore. Mark my words, she and her alley-rat will pay. If you are wise, you'll dump her before she costs you everything you own and hold dear." Mr. Buckley smirks and walks out the door, just as security walks in. "It's fine, boys, I know my way out," he tells them walking away.

"Tanya, get a hold of our lawyer, and Jenks. I want everything on him—who he works with, how much money he has, and anything including when he wipes his ass."

"Yes, Sir, and I'm making sure this lot and all the rest of security knows he's not welcome in this building." She says with a sterling look at the security. I know it's not their fault; they were unaware of what happened yesterday, but I also know Tanya is angry as hell.

I sit down on my chair, taking deep breaths; I have the urge to hit the fucker and I know that if I leave my office I will.

~PP~

"He's gone," Tanya says walking into my office. "There was a small problem when he was walking out and he's now being charged with sexual harassment. I have issued the CT feed to our lawyers and shared it with the Chicago PD."

I nod at her and sigh rubbing my face.

"Why don't you head home; the girls are finished with school in an hour?" I look at the clock on my computer seeing she is right.

"I think I will; thank you, Tanya."

"No problem," she says with a smile.

I log out and put away my work and head right to the school. On the way there, my mind is on Mr. Buckley, and I know that it may be best to inform Emmett that he came to my work and more or less threatened Bella, Kassie, and me.

I walk into the main office and smile at the woman. "Is Emmett available?" I ask politely.

"I will just call and ask," she smiles.

I stand off to the side as she calls. A few seconds later Emmett's door opens, and he looks at me. "Come in, Edward."

I walk in taking a seat. "Mr. Buckley turned up at my work today, demanding that Kassie and Bella both be kicked out of the school. I'm not sure he's going to go quietly and back off."

Emmett sighs a little. "Yes, I know. I have already had a letter from him, telling me I had to the end of the week to comply with his rules. But …" Emmett points to the shredder, "I filed it where it belonged."

"Shouldn't you have kept it?" I ask turning back to look at him.

Emmett chuckles and nods. "I have it in a file, but I got Nancy at the front office to make some copies to shred, that guy is an "A" number one, a-hole. He's been on my back since Bella was hired."

"Why?"

Emmett sighs a little. "You for starters."

"Me?" I ask.

"Edward, you and Bella may be friends now, but you did come in here shooting off at the mouth, saying all sorts of things in the beginning of the year."

I gulp but just look at him. "This is my fault?" I ask.

"I'm not saying that, just that he has been on me ever since the letter that was sent out to parents about the girls' situation. Buckley came in demanding to know if she was a drugged-up whore, and asked why he wasn't on the hiring panel."

I rub my face as the guilt starts to hit me.

"Edward, this is not your fault. The kids didn't hear you, so that means it was a staff member that gave him the insight. Trust me; I am looking into who that was. Buckley thinks just because his son is here that he has a say in whom I hire or fire, which is not the case. He would have turned up at some point to hash out about Bella being here. But I would say this is a harsh lesson on how once words are said, they can't be unsaid even if the facts have changed."

I nod at him. "I have my company lawyer on this, too as well as a private investigator. Also, I was thinking that I could start paying for Kassie's tuition and then she will not be attending for free. That way, it can't be taken into account of her being here or not."

"Have you spoken to Bella about that?"

I shake my head. "I will. I know you will need her approval. I just hope she agrees. If I'm paying her tuition then that takes some of his power away with the snobs on the Board."

"It's also a way of telling him he has a point, Edward, which he doesn't. All staff are allotted a free pass for their children to attend school here, it's a perk offered to all employees, and even the lunch lady is able to have free tuition for her child. Bella currently may be the only person with a child here, but it doesn't take away the fact that the offer is for everyone who is employed by the school."

"I know that, Emmett, but it's not just that … Kassie is not only Bella's child, it feels like she is my daughter as much as Cordie is. Well, without her calling me dad, that is. I want to take care of her and Bella, too. Cordie, Kassie, and Bella are my family."

Emmett nods and smiles at me "Let me know when she agrees, and I'll put it through giving you the family discount."

"Emmett, I can afford to pay the full tuition," I tell him.

"I know that, Edward; however, staff that chooses not to accept the full amount receives a discount. If you claim Kassie as your own then you should allow Bella the same with Cordie and take the discount. Besides, knowing Bella, I think she'd want it split fifty-fifty."

"Can she afford it?"

"Not on her wages alone; not with paying rent, utilities, food, insurance, and what not's, no. But, with that said, I don't know what she receives monthly from their parents' estate."

I stand up smiling at him. "Thank you, Emmett; can I go down and see her before picking up the girls?"

"You can. I'll walk down with you; I was just going that way, anyway."

Emmett walks the full way to Bella's door, and I stand there watching in the window as she smiles and talks to her class. My eyes drift around the room, and I see Cordie, who looks equally happy. I have to swallow as I witness her laughing and smiling with the girl across from her.

The bell rings and the class starts to clean up. Bella looks my way and tilts her head walking to the door as she smiles at me.

"Hi?" she says questioningly.

"I finished early, so I thought I would pick up the girls."

"Okay, I have to work late today, in the afterschool care program."

"I know," I say with a smile. "The girls and I are going to make dinner," I say with a wink.

"Daddy!" Cordie yells walking to me. Just as I hug her, I hear Kassie yelling my name.

"Teddy. Can I go to Teddy, Miss Victoria?"

"You can," she says and Kassie runs to me and gives me a hug.

"Okay, Class, time to go and get to your parents."

I walk out just in front of Bella and stand off to the side with the girls. When the last of Bella's children have left, I move back to her.

"We'll see you when you get home," I whisper in her ear giving her cheek a kiss.

~PP~

"Okay, girls, you know the drill—go get changed, and then you can play for an hour."

They both quickly run off, and I head up to my room to get changed as well.

I make dinner, and then help the girls do their homework, before Bella arrives home. Just like she does with me, I greet her at the door, with a hug and a kiss.

"Dinner's ready, the girl's homework is done, and they went back to play until you're ready to eat." I tell her as I kiss her, pushing her against the door. "I really missed you today."

"I missed you, too, but what happened?"

I sigh pulling back, then launch into what happened at my work. Bella quickly becomes upset and worried. I reassure her that my company will be fine, and that I am not worried about some arrogant self-righteous little nit wit.

~PP~

Bella POV

The last few days my mind—despite my best efforts—has been on Mr. Buckley and his threats. I haven't said anything to Edward, but Mr. Buckley scares me a little. The look on his face, and how angry he got, not only scared me, but also the girls and his own son Johnny, too. The last few days I have spent at Edward's, and I know he's happy to have us here. I don't know how much longer I can hide the fact that Buckley has me worried.

"Hey," Edward says as he lies next to me in bed. "What's got you so deep in thought?"

I shake my head and move closer to him, pressing my lips to his, and I feel his smile as he kisses me back. "Not that I don't like this, but you know you can talk to me, open up to me?"

I nod at him. "I know, I'm just stressing out about Buckley and his threats."

"Don't be. I swear I will take care of him, you just have to trust me."

"I do, trust you," I say instantly.

Edward smiles and then sighs. "I have had an idea." I just look at him when he moves to sit upright, I follow. He takes a deep breath and gives me a small smile.

"I am not trying to make you feel down, take over, or any of that … it's just that I love Kassie, too."

I nod at him. "And I love Cordie."

Edward again smiles at me. "I was thinking that I could … we could pay for Kassie's school fees together."

"Edward I can't afford it—"

"Just wait and hear me out." He raises his brow and I nod at him. I motion to him with my hand, to tell me what he is thinking.

"Emmett said there are different payment plans that are available to all staff. There is the free waiver which Kassie has now; there is also a sliding fee scale for those who have more than one child, and or who want to pay to support the school. There is a seventy-five percent discount if you have two students. There is also a program that allots a fifty percent discount. I already know that paying the full amount is out of the question because it is almost thirty thousand per child. I know that your average starting salary is around twenty-seven thousand. I am not saying that you can't pay, but if we combine both girls' tuition, I think we can pay a portion together, for both girls."

I frown which makes him chuckle, and he quickly kisses me and then pulls back. "I knew you would want to pay something, so I immediately discarded the thought of telling you I would pay it all myself. We should, however, pay together because this wouldn't just be for Kassie's school fees, but it would be for both girls. So, I was thinking about which program—between the three of us—we could manage."

I swallow and look at him. "You can manage the full amount for both girls, so this is really about what I can manage," I say.

Edward shakes his head at me. "Bella, we're a team. You and I have been splitting the groceries, the girls' homework, cleaning, driving, and everything apart from our separate household bills, which I hope will change soon." He stops and winks at me. "I have the payment, for what each person would pay written down for each payment plan, why don't you take some time and look them over. I will agree with your choice on whichever one you decide on."

"Thought you said we're a team?" I ask.

"We are, love, but I want you to be happy, and not feel as if I think you are beneath me, or that you're not doing the best that you can do for your daughter."

Edward hands me the paper and I place it down on my bedside table. "I'll look at the information later, but first," I say as I roll on top of him.

"You're important to me, Nayile, I don't want to hurt you like I did the day we first met."

"You won't," I say positive that Edward would never hurt me … not like that, not now.

The night passes with Edward and me making love again. I can feel the difference, and several times now it has been about more than a release. I can't help but think about how close we are as I drift off to sleep.

~PP~

I wake early and take a look at the paper Edward and Emmett have drawn up. All it seems to do is bring Buckley back to my mind. I am starting to wonder if he is right. Should Kassie really be enrolled at the school when I can't afford the fees which all the other parents pay? Or, is Edward right in the fact that I am a good teacher, and every job has a perk? I really don't know what to do! It's times like this I wish my parents were here. I can't help but laugh at the thought of how things would have taken place if my father was still alive. He would have sorted Mr. Buckley out right away. I still remember the day a boy pulled one of my pigtails, and he went ape shit, and tried to arrest him. When the father and mother of the boy complained, he said they were right; it was them who should be arrested. They were so shocked they asked on what charges and he said failing to teach their child right from wrong. He went on to say that if they continued to not discipline their son, he'd be arrested for far worse in the future. The boy's parents stayed a few more seconds at the school office before quickly walking away. That boy never touched another child after that day, nor did his parents dismiss any of his bad behavior. God, do I miss my parents.

"Nayeli?"

I jump and turn to see Edward smiling at me.

"You look deep in thought. Are you okay?"

"Yes, I was just thinking about my parents, especially my father."

Edward moves to me and kisses my neck softly. I lean back on him as his arms go around my waist.

"I have to say you'll make a very beautiful Belle."

After much thought, the girls and I decided that I would be Belle, from Beauty and the Beast. This morning I'm dressing in Belle's town clothes and then later tonight I will have Belle's ball gown on.

I grin looking up at him "We thank you. You still going as Gaston tonight?"

"Of course I am!" Edward exclaims.

"It may start an international scandal," I chuckle, mainly because Alice just about had a fit. She claims Edward is killing her childhood.

Edward just shrugs at me. I turn in his arms facing him, standing on my tiptoes to kiss him softly.

"I better get the girls up so that I can get them dressed for their Halloween parties," I say.

I can feel Edward's eyes on me as I leave. When I reach the girls' room they both are getting washed.

"Okay. Breakfast is on the table, so get dressed and come and get it. After you're done, and have brushed your teeth, I will put your face makeup on," I say from the door.

I walk away, and just as I do, I hear them shouting. "Okay, Mom."

I stop and frown, it seemed to have come from both of them. I swallow looking at the door, unsure whether to go back or just leave it. Letting out a small breath, I walk into the kitchen in a daze.

"Nayile?" Edward says and I look at him. Quickly, he walks to me, pulls me close and touches my face.

"I could swear both girls just called me Mom?"

"And you don't want that?" he asks.

My eyes leap to his. "What? No! I mean, I don't mind. She … Cordie feels as if she belongs to me, too. And I am sure Kassie feels the same way about you."

Edward nods and smiles at me.

"But, is this moving too fast? Should they be calling us something like this, I mean, it's a big step? What if this doesn't work out?" I almost shriek waving my hand between us. "I don't want to be one of those moms that have a new dad for her kid every few months … I—" Edward cuts me off by kissing me harder than ever before. I moan into his mouth and he pushes me against the wall.

"Bella, love, Kassie is six years old, and in that time you've had one guy, one. Since she's been yours, you haven't had anyone, apart from me. I am telling you here and now that no matter what … no matter if this works out between you and me or not … you will always be my daughter's mother in my eyes. Nothing and no one will take that from you. Just breathe and calm down. Stop over thinking things. Lastly, we will tell the girls that we are a couple tonight, after we have gone trick or treating. Then we can talk about them calling us Mom and Dad."

The tone Edward is using makes me only nod at him, and he laughs and smiles at me.

"We'll be fine, just let me take the lead on this," he says.

Both our eyes move to where the stairs are as we hear the girls.

"I will this time, only because I am still a little shocked," I say kissing him.

We pull apart and are seated at the table when the girls walk in.

Breakfast goes by quickly and I make Cordie's face into the cutest clock face ever. I paint Kassie's face the same color as her shirt and secure the flame hat on top of her head. When I am done, they both jump up and down happy with how they look.

Edward drives us all to school and then helps me carry in the pumpkins that we each carved. Jake even made one for decoration at the school. His is more artful, it has a wolf, vampire, witch, and moon shining down on a forest scene. Cordie was very taken with what he did, and asked if next year he would teach her, which, of course, he agreed to.

After the shortened lessons in each subject, we are having a big party, with grades third and under in one area, and fourth through eighth in another. All the rest of the upper classes are in a third area. Presently, I am in the hall with all four of the younger classes dancing and having fun.

"Fred, get your head out of the pumpkin!" Victoria tuts as she shakes her head, while Fred tries to pull it off.

"You can tell his mom," she mutters at me as she walks to him.

I cover my mouth as I watch her try to pull it off his head without much luck.

"Fred if you got it on then it should come right off," she says giving it a yank with no progress.

I move over to her and hold Fred still as she tries again.

"We should get a hammer, or a knife?" she whispers.

Fred shakes his head and I bite my bottom lip as he mumbles out a refusal.

"You should have thought of that before putting the pumpkin on your head," Victoria states.

"No need for knife or hammer, E-man is here," Emmett says and breaks the pumpkin with his hands.

Fred is freed and shakes his head, but I cover my mouth and giggle because he now looks orange.

"That was fun," Fred smiles making us just look at him.

"What? Paul told me to do it," he tells us pointing at Paul who is laughing on the floor.

"If Paul told you to jump off a cliff would you do it?" Victoria asks.

"If he promised to give me candy? Yeah."

Victoria just looks at me. "What? You understand about candy, right, Mr. Emmett?"

"I do, Fred. I once ate a snail for a bag of candy," he quickly replies and I frown at him.

"Wow, that's so cool," Fred says walking away.

"Aren't you meant to stop those kinds of things, not encourage them?"

"They're kids, Bella; it's a part of growing up, and having fun."

"His head was stuck in a pumpkin," Victoria argues quickly.

"Yeah, so, I once got stuck in a child safety seat," Emmett replies.

"What?" Victoria asks him.

"That was three years ago, and I told you, that you were too big," I state immediately.

Victoria merely looks between us and laughs as she walks away.

I shake my head and move to the music. "Okay, everyone, we're ready to bob for apples now, do you want to do that?" Emmett asks everyone at the end of the song.

The children all cheer and we get them into six lines and let each child take a turn. When they are done we move on to the next game which is musical chairs. By the time lunch comes around, I feel as if I have worked all week.

"So?" Emmett says as he sits next to me.

"So, what?" I say back to him.

"Have you and Edward talked about the girls' tuitions?"

I groan but nod at him. "We have."

"Have you come to a decision?"

I shake my head, but I can feel Emmett's eyes on the side of my head.

"I am feeling a little torn," I tell him.

Emmett hums, taking a sip of his coffee. "You know my mama gave me some words of wisdom, want to hear them?"

I turn looking at him and he grins at me. "Life is like a box of chocolates …"

I hit his arm as he chuckles. "Yeah, I bet she said that, so that makes you Forrest Gump?"

"Okay, fine; she didn't say that; she never really gave me any powerful words apart from, "it's always about money … and it's sometimes the people without money that make it more of an issue."

"What?" I stutter feeling stunned.

"Come on, Bella, you know full well that Edward could afford to pay for both girls and likely the entire enrollment of all the students in this school and not put a dent in his accounts. The seventy-five-twenty-five split is the one you should consider. With you paying the seventy-five percent."

I turn my head away from Emmett but he keeps talking.

"If you had met Edward fallen in love, got married, and had the girls, even with you working here you would have gone for one of the choices. Why should it be any different now? You are, after all, becoming a family."

"Because I want to pay my share," I say.

Emmett takes a deep breath and lets it back out. "Being an equal parent doesn't always mean they get equal pay, Bella. My dad worked damn hard. I am talking fifty hours a week just so my momma could be there for me when I left for school and when I got home. She had a part-time job, but that was for her, to be her own person, not for the money. Now my momma spent more time with me over all, but my father's money paid for everything I had. Even knowing whose money paid for what, I see both of them having an equal role in my life. They gave me what I needed, and the value of what they gave me money-wise didn't ever come into it."

"This is a little different. I come from a working class family, one where we never lived paycheck to paycheck, but we still had to live within a certain means. Edward … God, he can go on lavish holidays, own fancy homes, and drive expensive cars—"

Emmett chuckles cutting me off. "Anyone can do that on credit. His family has spent years building up their resources. If Edward was some poor guy that had to live paycheck to paycheck, and you could get his daughter in here for free would you?"

"Yes, but that's not me spending money," I say.

"But why should it change the matter, Bella? Don't make money a big deal. Yes, he has money, and you don't have as much. Does he rub it in your face? Does he try to make you treat him better than he treats you? Does he treat the girls differently since by definition, Cordie is much richer than Kassie?"

I shake my head at him.

"Find a balance. I'm not saying let him pay for it fully, but try to let him be a father to both girls, just like you're being a mother to both. And when you are debating things, always think what would I do if he was her biological father?"

I sigh. "Fine; I'll tell him tonight that I will take the 75/25 option and I will pay the twenty-five percent, and then we can look into what we'll do next year."

Emmett just smiles at me. "Bella, last words of wisdom, don't lock him out. I know you've been on your own for some time, but you've got him, and he's got you. If you have problems, he has them, too. Just like his problems are yours."

I watch as Emmett gets up and goes to the door of the staff room.

"Emmett," I call as I stand.

He turns and looks at me.

"Thank you."

He grins and winks at me. "Get back to work, Swan."

I chuckle picking up both his cup, and my own before washing them in the sink.

~PP~

I walk from my class to the main doors. A few of the children have gone home with their parents. There are still some to be picked up and I am standing here as a man approaches me.

"Miss Swan?" he asks with a smile.

I nod at him, and he hands me some flowers.

"Eh … thank you?" I say looking them over.

"Did my dad send you flowers?" Cordie asks and I look down at both her and Kassie who look equally happy.

"Maybe? There must be a card," I mutter looking for a card.

"Here you are." My eyes go back to the man who is holding out an envelope.

I take it from him, again frowning at his disposition.

"You've been served, see you in court," he says and smirks.

I feel my mouth drop open but he just walks away.

My eyes go around seeing many of the parents looking at me as they whisper to the person next to them.

"What did he mean?" Cordie asks.

"What is being served mean?" Kassie asks.

I feel too shocked to answer either of them as my eyes are still on the parents who are whispering. A deep sense of embarrassment sweeps over me as I am hit with the frightening feeling of what has just happened.

"Bella," I hear Victoria says softly. "Go inside. I'll deal with this."

All I can do is shake my head, not feeling able to move, though I want to hide with how everyone is looking at me.

"Cordie, Kassie, find Mr. Emmett and ask him to come here right away, but you two stay inside," she quickly says and I turn looking at her.

"It's fine, and it will all be fine," she repeats.

I let out a breath as I start to feel angry. How could Mr. Buckley be so careless as to issue me a court order at work, in front of children and parents? Is his plan to have the other parents demand that I get fired?

"Bella, go inside," Emmett says as he looks around.

I move walking toward the doors as Emmett starts to talk.

"Now, what just happened is none of mine or your business. I will warn you all now I will not take kindly to anyone speaking unkindly about my staff, or spreading rumors based on lies or uninformed information. If you have your child, then it's time for you to leave and not stand here gawking at someone's misfortune or to get your weekly entertainment."

"But … Emmett, I need to know if she is a danger to my child," I hear a woman ask.

Emmett barks out a laugh. "She wouldn't be working here if she were. Now, I'm not sure what that man thinks he is playing at, but you—all of you—know that most people in life need very little reason to take someone to court. The fact they allowed, or organized her to be given these court papers at her work—a school—is a poor show of character. Make sure you take note of that; now go spend time with your children, it is Halloween, after all. Stay safe and have a good day."

Emmett walks to me and takes me to his office where the two girls are. When I see they are both upset, I pull them to me.

"Call Edward," I say to Emmett.

I can feel how the anger is making me want to break down, and I know I can't until Edward is here.

"Already on it, honey."

I wipe my face and open the envelope.


A/N: So we're not sure if we should run and hide from the people who will be hunting us down, or stand strong and remember it will take more than one group to hunt us down since we are in different countries. LOL. Now seriously, what do you think she is being served papers for? Who do you think is behind this?