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Parallel Parenting

Chapter 15

Edward POV

My office door opens, but I keep doing my work. "Edward," Tanya says in a shaky tone, and I turn my head to look at her. "The school is on the phone—a Nancy … I think. I can hear Cordie crying …"

I nod picking up my phone. "Nancy?" I say, closing my eyes as I hear not just Cordie crying but Kassie, too.

"There's a problem at school—not with the girls—it's Bella. Emmett's dealing with it now, and it's something about her being served?"

The anger that I have been feeling flares up. "I am on my way," I just about yell out.

"Tanya, get my lawyer on the phone. I need an emergency meeting with him today."

I don't wait for her to answer. I hurriedly leave and go down the stairs knowing that I can't stand still in the elevator. I reach my car and speed out of the parking garage. Immediately, I find that traffic is a nightmare; the roads are filled with assholes that all seem not to know where the hell they are going.

I press heavily on my horn. "Come on, the fucking light is green!" I yell.

I grunt flipping some guy the bird as I pass him. When I reach the school, I park outside the front entrance. Running all the way to Emmett's office, I don't even knock, but just barge right in.

"Bella?" I say and I kneel next to her, my eyes scan the room not seeing the girls. My eyes flicker to Emmett asking him without saying a word where my girls are.

"Victoria has them," he says sounding oddly quiet.

"I'll press charges on Buckley—who the hell does he think he is?" I yell.

"Wasn't him …" Emmett says, but it doesn't really register right away.

"I mean it. I want everything you have on him. I cannot believe he got some schmuck to come to Bella's work and serve her papers?"

"It wasn't him," Emmett says again and I feel unsure.

"I swear, he better not think he can get away with this, I mea—"

Bella cuts me off by standing up. "It wasn't him, Edward!"

I frown, hearing the words, but her red puffy eyes seem to make me angrier. I really just want to beat Buckley to death right now.

"It's about the girls. The girls have an aunt … she's going to go for custody."

"What?" I ask, not understanding what she means.

"Edward, it seems the girls have a living aunt, and she's taking Bella to court for custody of Kassie. I am taking it that you will be served, too, soon."

"She's going to get our girls," Bella cries.

I shake my head pulling her to me, feeling more shock than anything. Now, I wish this was simply Buckley and his bullshit, which I could deal with fast and effectively.

My cell rings but I just leave it, not wanting to let Bella go. It stops but Emmett's phone rings. He looks at us and moves to pick it up.

"Hey, Jasper," Emmett says.

My eyes go to him as he closes his. "Let me guess, he's just been served court papers?"

Emmett sighs and walks over to me, holding out the phone.

"Have you opened it?" I ask immediately.

"No?" Jasper replies.

"Open it," I demand.

I hear Jasper as he opens the documents; it is like every sound is amplified in my head, and I feel in desperate need to be wrong.

"Oh, God, Edward …"

"I'm being taken to court over custody of Cordie, right?" I say in a tone that sounds almost dead.

"How can this be … how, Edward?"

I take a deep breath letting it out. "I'm not sure, just call a family meeting. I am taking my girls home."

I hand Emmett back his phone, holding my hand out for Bella. Her hand slips into mine. "If you can spare the time to come over with Rose—"

"We'll be there … just text me the time," Emmett cuts me off.

I nod almost manically and pull Bella out of the office. We head straight to Victoria's room and both of us place smiles on our faces before opening the door.

"What's going on?" They both ask running to us.

"We'll talk when we get home," I answer.

The drive home is calmer and slower than my drive to the school, but my mind is on overdrive about how this could've happened. Does this woman have any right to my daughters? I do know one thing, she will pay dearly for how she delivered Bella's court summons. She will especially pay for making my sweet Bella cry—no one is allowed to do that.

"Girls, go and play for ten minutes so I can talk to your mom," I say as we walk through the door.

Both of the girls' eyes sparkle more when I refer to Bella as their mom, but I can see the fear from the events of the day clearly on their faces. They go upstairs, and I help Bella to the sitting room, so we can talk.

"You're doing well, love," I say as she sits down.

"I was so sure it was Buckley. This … the whole thing … it floored me, Edward. She knows where I work, why wouldn't she have just contacted us, or come to talk to us first?"

I shake my head, knowing that would have been the decent thing to do. "He handed the papers to me in front of my class, our children, and the many parents. I was beyond mortified!"

"I know," I tell her.

"What do we do? What if she is lying? Is this just a game, or a ploy for some reason?"

"We can ask for DNA testing to be completed; that will show if she has a claim or not."

"If it comes back that she is their aunt, then what? Do we just hand them over to a stranger, or are we the ones that stole her nieces?"

"We didn't steal anyone. They are ours, DNA or not. If she wants to have anything to do with them, then she'll need to prove that she will be healthy for them. And the manner in which she dealt with the court notices, starts her off in the negative for being a decent person."

Bella merely sighs so I pull her to me. "We'll get through this, I swear we will."

I pull away from her when I hear my front door open and my family comes in.

"What's happened?" My mother asks, with her eyes cast on Bella in my arms.

"Here," I say handing Bella's court summons to her.

"How can she think she has a legal claim to them? There's no proof that your girls are her brother's children? This document doesn't even list her name, just her initials. Why does she have the right to have your names, their names, and yet they don't provide you with hers?"

I shake my head. "I don't know," I answer.

"I've got our family lawyer on the line, and Jenks, there must be some way to find out this information without waiting a month for the court appearance."

"If I have my way, there will be no court appearance." I snap out.

Bella's cell starts to ring; she looks at it and sighs.

"Mike, this is not a good time," she says but I watch as she frowns.

"How do you know that?" she hisses at him, her face pales. "Wait," she says and leaps moving to the TV, and switches it on "What channel?" I look to the TV and feel the air leave my body as the news flashes on with Bella, the girls and me in a photo, and standing there sobbing is Charlotte.

"My brother loved his girls, he wanted them. He really loved them, and he begged Renata to let him bring them up, and she agreed. I don't know what happened, and my brother was in an accident the day they were born. Before he went into surgery, he implored me to look after them for him and I agreed. I swore to my dying brother that I would look after them. Then these people stepped in and stopped me. My brother died, and they took my only family."

I take the remote from Bella and switch off the news as she sits back down.

"Mike?" she asks with a sob.

"I … what?"

I take the cell from her. "Hi, Mike, it's Edward," I say trying not to yell at him as my mother moves to engulf Bella in her arms.

"I'm sorry, I didn't know. I swear I didn't. I haven't seen that part of my family in years."

"I'm not following," I say knowing I missed a large part of this conversation.

"Charlotte and Peter are my mother's cousin's children. That's why the girls were familiar to me. Peter had one brown and one blue eye, too; it's something that was a genetic trait in his family."

I bend down and try to control my breathing.

"Edward, she … her family … all of them are no good. You can't let her near those girls. She … she hurt a child, badly when she was sixteen."

"I'll need you to talk to my lawyer," I say.

"I will. Please tell Bella I am sorry. I … just … when I saw it, I panicked, and jumped to call her. Maybe I should have spoken to Rose … she knows that side of my family, too. Rose dated Royce … the other brother, and he was the least shitty out of the three siblings," Mike snorts. "He beat her badly one time, so that should tell you all you need to know about the other two."

I nod at him, though he can't see me. "I'll text a time to meet with me at my work. I don't want the girls overhearing any of this."

"Yeah, no problem, but again I am sorry that I didn't figure it out earlier. I wish I could have warned you, not that I knew she was back."

"It's not your fault, Mike; we'll talk to you soon." I hang up, knowing full well this has nothing to do with Mike. He not only sounds worried, but scared, and that has my heart racing.

"Hi," Emmett says looking at me. "The door was unlocked, so we just walked in."

I nod at him.

"Oh, Bella," Rose says running to her. Bella simply looks at her.

"Have you seen the news?" she asks and Rose frowns.

"No, not yet."

Bella gulps a little. "Mike just called in a panic."

"That may have been because of me; I was really pissed when I left."

Bella shakes her head and I kneel down in front of Bella and Rose.

"No, Rose, he called because the aunt was on TV trying to get the public on her side."

"Fucking bitch, who does she think she is?"

"The girls are Peter's children, Royce's brother Peter," Bella states.

Rose's whole face goes white as she just looks at Bella, before she starts to shake her head.

"Charlotte is the one doing this?"

Bella nods at her.

"No! Just fucking no! She is certifiably insane. I dated Royce around eight years ago for about six months."

"Did you meet Peter and Charlotte at that time?" I ask.

"No, Peter and Charlotte were in rehab. The only person from his family I met was Mike, who tried to warn me off of Royce. Mike is also the one who came and got me when Royce attacked me. Mike's the reason Royce received prison time. Mike's whole family turned their backs on him after that."

Bella clears her throat and wipes her face. "Okay, this ends now. We can't let the girls hear this conversation."

I nod in agreement with her.

"Now, I say Bella and I are going to get dressed and head out for some trick or treating with our children. Esme, Carlisle, Rose, and Emmett, if you can, can you start dealing with the legal side of things?"

My mom nods and smiles at Bella. "When we get back, us four," Bella points between my parents, me and herself, "can head out and leave the girls here with Rose, and Emmett. We will find out what the plan is and discuss what we are going to do, and not just for the court hearing, but also for how we are going to tell the girls."

Again, I nod in agreement.

Bella and I slowly walk to the girls' room; they both are sitting on the bed, holding each other.

"Hi," I say walking in. "We'll tell you both what happened, after we've had our night out; it's nothing that you have done, and right now it's nothing to worry about." I raise my brow at them and they both nod.

Bella opens her arms and both girls move to her hugging her tightly. I kiss the top of her head and then they pull apart.

"Come on, let's get ready," Bella states.

Bella and I help the girls get changed before heading for our room, so we can get dressed up, too. All four of us walk down to the living room together. My eyes land on Jasper, Colton, and Alice, who must have arrived after we had gone upstairs.

"What do you all think?" I ask.

"You have officially ruined my childhood, but —" Alice stops talking and lets out a sigh. "You all look great."

Alice stands up and spins showing off her cowgirl outfit. "You look great, Alice," I tell her, and then I see that both Colton and Jasper have on Confederate army gear. "So do you two, Major Hales senior and junior."

All seven of us head out; the adults walk a few steps behind the three children.

"How has Colton been?" I ask needing to talk about something other than what happened today.

"He's back to normal, but has been feeling guilty about Johnny not being allowed in school, and worried that his father has done something to him," Jasper says.

"Has Emmett said anything about Johnny or his father?" I ask looking more to Bella than Jasper.

"No," she says with a small smile. I lock my hand with hers giving it a small kiss.

"That has to be another thing we´ll talk about."

Bella nods at me and lets out a hum. "We need to talk about Maggie, too."

I frown as I look at her silently questioning what she means.

"Charlotte was the friend she was with at the ball. We need to find out if she knew about this."

I tilt my head, I had not thought about that. "I'll get my dad to talk to her father," I say not really wanting to deal with Maggie in any way, shape or form.

"Would he tell him anything, and would she have told him anything?" Bella asks.

I shake my head and shrug, not knowing the answer to those questions. We stop at the gate of a house the kids are at telling their silly jokes to the people of the house. My eyes flicker to the people at the door who seem to be looking at the girls oddly.

I rub my head and start to pull at my hair. "This may not have been a great idea," I mutter.

"Yeah," Bella says quietly, "We didn't think about how many people would have seen that freaking news clip of garbage."

The kids all run back to us smiling, and I let out a breath hoping we can get through tonight without anyone saying anything to them, or to us. I don't want their night ruined because someone else thinks they have a right to have an opinion in my family's life … a life they know nothing about.

The night seems to drag on, and I am sure between Bella and me, our patience is tested to the maximum each time the girls approach another door. More than anything else, we silently worry that someone will say something we have not prepared ourselves to discuss with them yet. We both let out a collective sigh as we walk back into our home.

"We'll get the girls changed and in bed," I say to Emmett as Bella walks up the stairs with them.

"I can't believe E-man's watching us," Cordie gushes.

"He's so much fun; it's a shame we have to go to bed," Kassie adds.

"I am sure Rose would rather that you two stayed up to play with her, rather than Emmett keeping her company," Bella chuckles.

"As much as I love Aunt Rose, I would rather have E-man," Kassie states.

I snort as I help Bella with getting the girls washed and changed. When they are in bed, I read them a story as Bella strokes their heads.

~PP~

Bella's hand stays in mine as we sit down on my parents' sofa. Both my parents, Alice, and Jasper look our way with small smiles.

"I'll take Colton to bed," Jasper says as he walks a sleepy Colton out of the room.

"How about I make some hot drinks while we wait for Jenks and Samuel to arrive?" My mother asks and I nod, but I don't let go of Bella's hand.

"Are you two dating, for real?" Alice blurts her question out, making me smile.

"You mean for real?" I snark out as if I have no clue what she is asking.

"I mean, more than belly-bumping each other." Alice bites back making Bella chuckle as my father groans.

"Are you trying to inquire if we have had sexual intercourse?" I ask as if I am shocked by her question.

"Don't make me come over there and beat the crap out of you," Alice growls.

"Yes, Alice, we are a couple …" Bella says making me smile at her.

"Yes, the girls will be so happy to hear this."

I roll my eyes. "We were planning to tell them tonight, but …"

"Son." I look at my dad to see that he looks pleased. "Congratulations, Bella, but you could do better," he goes on to joke.

"She could do better than what?" My mother asks as both she and Jasper walk in with a tray of drinks.

"Than getting to have Edward as her boyfriend," my father says.

My mom looks at him with a frown. "Hush now, my son is the best son in the whole universe."

Bella tilts her head at my mom just looking at her.

"What? I want to include Aliens; they may be somewhere out there," my mom smirks.

Bella snorts and nods at her silliness. "I have to agree with your husband," Bella giggles making me simply look at her.

"Colton is clearly the best from the Cullen gene line." She tells me with a glint in her eyes.

I huff in jealousy even though I know she is teasing me.

"That's damned right," Jasper adds, making everyone laugh lightly.

We all fall silent, though the laughter was nice, there's so much on our minds. We're about halfway through our drinks when the doorbell rings, and my father goes to let in Samuel. Thankfully, Jenks arrives a few minutes later.

"I am collecting as much information as possible, and will try to get a hearing with the court to have the feed removed from the news. However, that will not stop YouTube or anyone else from playing it," Samuel says sounding very much like the lawyer I know.

"Does this mean Charlotte has some right to our girls?" Bella asks.

Samuel looks at Bella and seems to stay stone faced. "I would say she has much to prove, but she was able to get an attorney. The news coverage won't help her in court, but she may have some sympathy on her side. I can't brush this off as a no. I don't know what the entire situation is yet. I have to look at the state the children were born in and the rules over the father's family's rights. If the mother of the children didn't name him or if he is not seen to have any rights, then we shouldn't have any problems."

I feel Bella's hand twist in mine as Samuel talks.

"The woman who is laying claim to our girls has a questionable past," I state making him look my way. "Drugs, bad behavior, abuse …" I trail off.

"Are they just in her past, or are they current problems?"

"Not sure, but a family member of hers has stated we should stay clear, and keep the girls away from her at all costs."

"We can ask for drug checks as well as a criminal records check. However, I don't think you have anything to worry about, Edward. You have money, a stable home, work, and the only thing you could do—well both do—is to move in together to show the court that you are working together as a family. You're raising the girls together and bringing them up as sisters. I could see the court wanting that to be corrected from the past mistake. In my opinion, the girls are better to be in one family unit."

My head turns to Bella, whereas I have wanted her to move in with me for a few weeks now; this is not the way I wanted it to happen.

Her face turns to mine and I give her a small smile.

"They are a couple; wouldn't that be a plus for them?" My mother asks making me turn back to what's being said.

"It may in fact make a huge difference. The fact they have been publicly looking as if they are a couple, since before this claim, will help support that they are together. I will warn you all now—they will look into both of your pasts. Edward, you have a family support system, one that can help." Samuel looks to Bella not saying anything.

"Are you implying that the fact that her family is dead will be used against her?" I ask.

He shakes his head. "No, only that she doesn't have that type of support system. Which, is the same support system that most—more so young parents—need. I am trying to advise you on what may happen."

"I don't think it will come into play, to be honest. Bella's family had a good relationship not only with the DSHS in Washington, but with many of the courts as well," Jenks pipes in making us turn to him.

"Miss Swan's parents were in and out of the family court, and were always viewed as the perfect and ideal parents. Charles Swan was a well-known voice and advocate of many young people in need."

Bella smiles a little and nods at him.

"You, Miss Swan, are well remembered, too."

I look at Jenks frowning. "The few days that I was investigating her, I found out quite a lot of good things," he says with a smile.

I rub my face feeling tired. "Jenks, I am going to call Mike." I stop and look at Bella, not remembering his full name.

"Newton," Bella fills in for me.

"Michael Newton. He is a distant family member of this woman making the claim on the girls," I say.

Both Jenks and Samuel look at Bella.

"Henry Newton's boy?" Samuel asks.

"Yes. I believe Charlotte is from his mother's side—the King family," Bella answers.

"I am not sure about that family, but the name does ring a bell. However, the Newton's have money equal to your family's. If they show their support, you may have a bigger fight on your hands than we initially thought," Samuel states.

I sigh … but again nod at him. "Anyway, I will book a meeting with him at one tomorrow." I say looking at Bella. "Unless you wish to be there, too?"

"I do," she answers.

I nod at her and turn back to Samuel and Jenks. "Say we meet at five then?"

They both nod.

"Jenks get everything you can gather, and leave no stone unturned," I order.

"I will get right on it, Sir."

~PP~

Bella POV

I stand to greet the children as they walk in, but this time there seems to be many more parents dropping their children off than previously.

"Looks like I will be sending out another letter again," Emmett sighs, making me look at him.

He shakes his head with a small smile on his face. "This is not your fault, Bella. I just get tired of the world being so ugly. Why is someone's misfortune such entertainment for someone else? I mean, I don't get why anyone seems to think they can post whatever happens on Facebook, or YouTube, like it doesn't hurt innocent people. Whatever happened to treating others the way you want to be treated? I am sure all of them would be hiring massive attorneys and suing the pants off anyone who dared treat them the way they are treating you. They should also know that the manner in which a parent acts has nothing to do with their child."

I just hum. "I think this would be all over the media with or without them," I say with a nod. "She went willingly to the local stations asking for help to spread the word of her so-called plight." I shake my head not understanding why someone would do that when a child's health and mental well being could be put at risk because of it. Exposing them to this level of hate is uncalled for. Whether that hate is directed at Edward and me, or at Charlotte, it doesn't really matter, because it will now forevermore be linked to the girls' names.

Emmett places his hand on my shoulder and smiles at me. "Everything will work out, Bella. She will not take Kassie or Cordie—for that matter—from you."

"Let's hope," I say and silently send another quick prayer up to God.

Emmett shakes his head at me. "No hope needed, Bella. You are a great mother, and whereas I don't know this Charlotte person, I do know if it were you, things wouldn't be handled this way. You would behave differently in this situation if they were your brother's children—if you had a brother—you would have found his children long before now."

I again just sigh knowing full well sometimes, it's not always that easy. Wherein my parents were good foster parents, and made sure the kids were well looked after; it doesn't mean the system works. There have been many mistakes the system has made and still makes. Sadly, it's the children who pay the costly price for all the missteps when they happen.

I nod agreeing with him. I hate that Cordie and Kassie may have to pay for things that were out of any of our control.

I walk into my classroom placing a smile on my face.

As I teach the children, my mind goes back over what Samuel said about Edward and me living together. I can't help thinking this is something we should do, immediately. I know Edward and the girls are up for it, all I have to do is talk to Jake. I know in my heart that Jake already knows something has changed between Edward and me.

~PP~

After I see the girls off with Alice, I head right to Edward's office. Jasper and Tanya meet me downstairs. Tanya takes me up while Jasper stays waiting for Mike to arrive. In those few minutes I'm with Tanya again, I feel the motherly love coming off her. Whereas, her demeanor makes me miss my own mother, it also gives me the strength to know that I can and will get through this.

"Hey," I say walking through the door and right into Edward's arms.

"We've got a few minutes before anyone comes in," he says kissing my head. "I know that this isn't the time and this should be done right … but …"

I pull back and look in his eyes and smile. "I think we should move in together, too," I say taking the plunge.

Edward smiles back at me before kissing my lips softly. "That's great, Nayeli, but whereas that was something I was going to say …" Edward trails off and I frown at him. "Marry me," he blurts.

I feel my mouth drop open as I just look at him. I put my fingers in my ears giving them a jiggle. "Sorry, I'm feeling a tad overly stressed, could you repeat that?" I chuckle lightly.

"Marry me," he says again bringing out a ring with a huge diamond. "Nayeli, marry me? I've thought about us living together and thought it would be great … I want more. Though the court may realize that we are a couple—a couple that will only have each other as the girls' parents—I want to show them that we are a team in every way. Being married will not only show our desire to keep the girls together, but also our family unit as one. We are already a family; this is only a matter of legalizing it anyway," Edward stops, taking a quiet breath. "I thought we could—after we are married—change our name to Swan-Cullen."

"Swan-Cullen," seems to be the only thing I can say.

"Yes, I know you miss your parents, and I want our girls to have something of them and us."

I shake my head, but Edward clasps it in his hands stopping my movement. "Nayeli, I am falling in love with you …" Edward chuckles softly as he kisses me again. "That's a lie—I am in love with you."

His lips move away from mine and he licks them. "We can make a marriage work. We can be happy, and even have more children," he says as he places his hand on my tummy. "I want you to adopt Cordie—be her mother legally—and I want to adopt Kassie and be her father legally. We. Can. Make. This. Work," he tells me again kissing me between each word.

"Yes," I say.

"Yes? Yes, to marrying me?"

I nod at him, and he pulls me to him.

A knock on the door, makes us pull apart right after he slides the ring on my hand.

"Everyone has arrived," Tanya says.

"Show them in," Edward states.

Edward walks me to the head of the table sitting me in the chair closest to him. The room is quickly filled with Samuel, Jenks, Jasper, Mike, Esme, Carlisle, Mary – the girls' counselor, but my mouth drops open again when Tia walks in.

"Hey?" I question, not having thought of calling her.

"I am so sorry about this, Bella, Edward," she says walking over to me. She leans in kissing my cheek. "I have most of the flies, and I have raised an uproar about what has happened, not only here in Chicago, but back in Seattle as well."

We all sit down, and Edward makes sure everyone is introduced, before diving right into the thick of things.

"Mike, if you could take us through what you know," Edward dictates.

"Peter and Charlotte were twins, and they were born in eighty-six, I think. Both of them went to private school with me, and both were in trouble all the time. I know both of them had police and DCFS dealings."

My eyes flicker to Tia who nods.

"When they were sixteen, they were partying, and even took Royce, who was a year younger than them. One day Charlotte attacked a girl, she must have only been twelve and a tiny thing. I'm not sure what happened, but Charlotte beat the girl badly. Charlotte and her parents blamed everything on the fact that she had been drugged at a party and didn't know what she was doing."

Mike rolls his eyes.

"Charlotte was often violent more so when she had booze or drugs in her, but it never made her stop taking them. She made many people's lives a living hell in our school, including my own."

"Peter turned eighteen and met a girl named Renata Davies."

"Renata Davies is the girl's mother?" Tia asks interrupting, making Mike nod at her.

"Shall I go on?" Mike asks.

"Yes," Tia says with a sigh.

"Renata also came from a bad home. Her dad beat her, she took drugs, and she and Peter fell into a toxic relationship. They would do drugs, drink, beat the hell out of each other, and then have wild sex." Mike stops and lets out a sarcastic snigger. "They would play games; she would pick up random guys, and take them to a hotel. She'd start having sex with them, and in the middle Peter would come in guns blazing. They would scare the shit out of the guy, take all his money and anything else of worth, or beat him if he had none. Then the next night it would be Peter's turn, only he would pick up some young girl … the younger the better he always said." Mike stops and shakes his head.

"I had fallen out with them, because I testified in court against Royce. However, I still heard through the family grapevine that Renata was pregnant. She even claimed she was sure it was Peter's because they hadn't played their game in a month or so. I also heard that she was too far along to abort the baby, and that DHS was planning to remove the child when it was born. Then I started hearing how she had a miscarriage, but I think that was a ruse, because I heard from a reliable source she planned to sell the baby."

Mike shakes his head and gives a shrug looking unsure of what he has said is correct.

"Peter passed away, on the fifteenth of February, after he was shot and killed during an armed robbery. In the robbery, he stabbed a seventeen- year-old clerk, who was left paralyzed on her left side. Renata, as far as I know, passed away a month later of a drug overdose. As for Charlotte, she became much worse after Peter's death. You should maybe consider meeting her and offer her half a million to fuck off. I'm pretty sure that if you gave her cash, she would take it and disappear into the night."

"I am not paying that low life scum, for my girls as if they are stocks." Edward barks making me jump.

"I never said pay to have the girls; I said to pay her to go back to hide beneath whatever fucking rock she crawled out from under. My parents don't speak to me, because I turned on the family; however, they have nothing to do with the Kings. They know that if it was revealed that they were related, it would mess up the perfect image they have." Mike laughs shaking his head. "I honestly think that's the reason they were so mad at me—not because I was in court—but because I said I was a cousin of Royce's."

Mike shakes his head and looks at Samuel.

"Charlotte used to lock me in a locker at school as well as other kids. She's never been able to stay off of drugs for more than a week. She can't or shouldn't be around adults, much less animals, and never mind children."

Edward sits back and just nods at Mike who seems to take this as an apology.

"Tia, what can you tell us?" Edward asks and Tia gives him a displeased look.

"I can't give you that information without a court order. If I did, it would become inadmissible in court as it would be private information I shared without a records release or a court order."

"I will be going to the court on Monday; you could save me some time?" Samuel gives her a smile.

"When you get it, I will give you what you are entitled to, but not until then. Anything you could learn from me needs to be able to be used, not dismissed for prejudice reasons."

I am not mad at Tia and I know she's just doing her job, but I just feel as if we are on standby. I want and need to know what, and who we are dealing with.

"Okay, anyone with more information?" Edward asks.

Mike slowly puts his hand back up, and Edward raises his brow.

"Royce is still in jail, and I'm not saying he'll give you the information you want, but it would be worth a try." Edward and I both nod at the same time.

"The press is asking for a statement," Tanya tells us, clearly sounding as if she wants to tell them to go to hell.

"Come up with something that says we are dealing with the situation. Keep it friendly, don't let on that we know what kind of people we are dealing with. More to the point make sure it's crystal clear that if they mess with any of my girls including Bella, I will rip their damn balls off, if they have any."

Tanya chuckles a little as she nods at him. "I'll have it written up before we're done here, for both of you to go through. Do you want the new information on the ring put in the statement, too?"

"Ring?" Esme says looking at Tanya.

Tanya just points at her ring finger and then at me.

Edward and my hands are sitting on the table, and I glance down to see my ring shining bright for all to see.

"Oh? … I am not sure whether to jump up and down cheering or stay mad because you didn't tell me first," Esme says looking at us.

"You can be happy and cheer about this after we clear up this stupid mess," Edward answers for the both of us.

The next hour goes by with Edward leading the conversation about what we plan to do. I was stunned but turned on by how he was controlling the meeting, with an authoritative tone of voice. His quick thinking is amazing, and he has this whole Alpha male thing going on. More than once, I've wished he'd kick them all out and take me on top of the conference table.

Everyone leaves the room, and I feel overwhelmed. I just need a hug. When I felt like this as a child and into my teens, I would climb into my dad's lap. I look at Edward who looks back at me. There is a smile on his face, but I know he's hiding just how hurt and angry he is. He's trying to be the strong one for all of us.

I move out of my chair and into his lap. I feel his small chuckle on my neck as he hugs me closer to him. "Nayeli, when this is over, I swear that I will give you a proper marriage proposal that you'll never forget."

I kiss his lips before pulling back a little to look him the eye. "Just give me a marriage filled with love, and happiness, for all of us."

I let out a shaky breath but keep the smile on my face. "In case I didn't say so before, I love you, too. Who would've thought I would fall in love with the crazy guy from six flags?"

Edward chuckles along with me, but kisses my lips again. I pull away from him standing up. "Come on, we best go and talk to Jake to see if he will let me out of my lease if I can find an appropriate person to take it over."

"Or, I could just pay him for the next three months, that would give him the money and he could find a person in that time. I am sure some college student will be sick of the dorms by then," Edward says.

I merely look at him, and I open my mouth to say no but hear Emmett's advice about money. "Fine, but I will be paying you the same amount of rent that I currently pay Jake, even after my lease is up."

"Only until we are married, then it stops," Edward counters.

I tilt my head at him knowing there is more to his words than what I am hearing. It's almost as if he plans to marry me tomorrow. I know that can't happen; we will have to wait a few weeks, or months, really, for us to plan a wedding.

"Fine," I agree with my own smile, and the more I think about it, the more I know that Alice will take at least a year to plan this wedding. I just know she will want to be a part of the planning process. I don't and never have wanted a big wedding, and would get married at the courthouse if I could. The longer we wait will give Edward a chance to see if this is really what he wants. The more I am with him, the more I know he is what I want.

Edward drives in front of me to go see Jake. We get out and walk to him as he is again sitting on the porch.

"Sign the papers; you've already paid for this month so I will only take December's money from you, to get out of your lease."

I just look at him opened mouthed.

"I saw the crap on the news, and you've been staying at his place more than you have here. I have already made plans to put the apartment up for rent next month anyway. I knew you two would be living together before long."

I nod at him with a small smile. "You're really okay with this. I feel like I have let you down?"

"Bella, as I said when you took the apartment, I thought there would be many changes coming for you in a heartbeat. That's why I only made you sign a six-month lease. I'm happy to let you move out early, as long as you'll all come to see me. Be sure to bring me some home cooked meals, and let me visit with my little wolfs. That's all I ask."

I lean down and hug him. "I'll organize time to get Kassie and my belongings out this weekend."

"You have time, Bella, no need to rush," Jake says.

"Thanks, Jake," Edward says holding out his hand.

Jake shakes it and a small smile comes over his face.

When I look at Edward, he has a lopsided grin on his face, and I know right way the two of them are plotting together without using any words.

I sigh and hate knowing that they're up to something, but I don't know what. "As long as you two aren't planning a killing spree, I suppose everything is, or will be fine."

Edward chuckles as Jake replies to me. "This will all turn out fine, Bella, just trust that your spirit guide is up in arms, ready to battle."

~PP~

I leave my car at Jake's, waving as Edward drives us home.

"We need to talk to the girls now," I say looking at my ring. "I mean, couldn't you find a bigger one?" I ask making him snort.

"It wasn't the biggest, but it was the one I wanted to get you, so shut up and wear it proudly."

"Oh, I am, I just need to be careful, so I don't take someone's eye out with it."

Edward chuckles but clasps my hand. "Do you like it?" he asks, this time there is no cockiness to his voice. He actually sounds quite vulnerable.

"It's not what I would have picked, but yeah, I do like it. In fact, I love it, which pisses me off, because that means you're in the lead with being the better person at picking gifts."

Edward smiles as he kisses my hand. "I am in the lead in the sex department, too. In fact, you've had more orgasms than me."

"That again is because you can only have one, and then you need to recharge, once a girl gets going … well you know."

"Stop using the fact I am a guy as an excuse. You're being really sexist!"

I narrow my eyes at him shaking my head. "Yeah, okay, fine, Oh-Great-Sex-God, you're in the lead on two things."

"Don't forget, I'm the best at surprises, too?" he adds.

I let out a huff. "Fine, three, and I still have to play my cards at surprises, so it's only temporary, bub!"

"I love getting you all fired up."

I roll my eyes but knowing full well, this is a ploy to get both our minds off what's going on, and right now I am going to take it.

I fire back at Edward telling just how many things I am greater than him at. By the time we arrive home, both of us seem to be in a much lighter mood.

The mood, however, is completely ruined when we get out of the car to find Maggie on our doorstep.


A/N: Well things certainly just got very interesting, didn't they? What are your thoughts? Wonder what Maggie is there for? Any ideas? You can always join us on Facebook, at the group: TeamAllTwilight & AndTAT Fan Fiction.