I DO NOT OWN TWILIGHT!
CHAPTER 19
(Bella)
To say that I was nervous about going over to dinner with Edward's family would have been an understatement. I was terrified. Work dragged on and on, I never thought the day would end. Matt seemed a little weird when he first came into the room that morning, he kept looking at me and acted like he wanted to ask me something, but never said anything. Finally by circle time, he'd turned back into the fun Matt and I breathed a sigh of relief.
I walked into my house to find Jaycie already ready to go. Sue had her in a cute little dress with a bow in her hair. "Oh my God Sue, she looks so cute!"
"I knew you'd be nervous so I thought I'd get her ready. I hope you don't mind."
"I don't I really appreciate it. His mom is inviting his sisters and their husbands over for supper tonight to."
"Oh wow," Sue said.
"Alice is sweet, I actually really like her, but I don't know his other sister."
"Well, don't worry you will have a great time."
"I will," I said.
Edward came down to the car when I pulled up in their driveway. "Hey," He said opening my door. "You look beautiful."
"Thanks," I said blushing.
I got out of the car and he kissed me passionately. "I could get used to being greeted like this."
"Could you now?" He asked leaning in to kiss me again.
"Mmmm, yes, I think I really could."
I got Jaycie out of the car and we walked up on the porch. "Um, I hope you don't mind, I told Matt that he could call you Bella outside of school?"
"That's fine, it might be a little less weird all the way around."
Edward took my hand and led me into the house. "Oh you're here!" Esme exclaimed coming over and hugging me.
"Hi," I said.
She reached over and took Jaycie from me. "My, you are getting so big."
"Come here," Edward said.
"Where are we going?" I asked.
"Matt's upstairs," He said.
"Oh okay," I said suddenly feeling very nervous. What if he didn't like me outside of school?
Edward wrapped his arm around my shoulders and led me upstairs. "Don't worry Bella, he's fine."
"I know but I don't want this to be weird for him."
"It wont be," He said.
We walked into this room that could have been a class room, there were tons of books and puzzles. "Hi Bella," Matt said as he looked up from a puzzle.
"Hey Matt, that's a big puzzle," I said.
"I've been working on it with grandma since we moved in." He looked around. "I thought you had a baby."
"I do, she's downstairs, I think your grandma still has her actually."
"Can I see her?" He asked.
I felt Edward wrap arms around his waist. "I told you this would work out," He whispered.
"Daddy, do you kiss her like grandpa kisses grandma?" Matt asked.
I blushed as Edward kissed my cheek. "Red is my favorite color!" Matt giggled.
We walked back downstairs and Matt walked over to Esme. "She's really small, I thought I could play with her."
Esme laughed. "Come sit with me Matt and talk to her." Matt walked over and sat on the couch with her. "In a few months, she'll start crawling, and then it will be a little easier to play with her."
"Esme, can I help with supper?" I asked.
"No Bella, it's done we're just waiting for everyone to get here."
We all sat around the living room talking until Jaycie started crying. "Does she need a bottle?" Esme asked.
"Probably," I said.
Before I could make it, Edward was already digging through the diaper bag getting a bottle and formula. "Come here Matt, you can help me fix Jaycie's dinner."
"No fair, I'm hungry and I have to wait." He pouted causing us all to laugh.
I went over and sat next to Esme. "How are you doing honey?" She asked me.
"Pretty good, I was really nervous about coming over tonight."
Esme smiled. "Well you know Alice and Edward, Carlisle and I. Now, I must warn you if Emmett sees you blush, he will have a blast with you and he wont care that younger children are around. Jasper is very calm, I have a feeling Jaycie will love Jasper."
"Doesn't Edward have another sister?" I asked.
"Yes, Rosalie, she's hard to read, but just be yourself and don't worry about her."
"Good to know," I replied nervously biting my lip.
Edward and Matt came back in. Matt was carrying her bottle. "Here Bella," He said smiling.
"Thanks Matt," I said taking the bottle from him and putting it in Jaycie's mouth.
Edward sat down next to us and wrapped his arm around my shoulders. "Matt, why don't you go with me and help me set the table before everyone gets here," Esme suggested.
"Okay," He said walking into the kitchen with her.
"Matt's doing really well," Edward said nuzzling my neck.
"I know," I sighed. "I was really worried."
"Hmmm, I was to," He leaned over and kissed me gently under my ear.
Edward took Jaycie once she was done with her bottle and burped her. She smiled at him trying to grab his shirt. He sat back, propping her into a sitting position as they made faces at each other. "You are totally suckered in."
"I've got it bad for her," He said scrunching up his nose at her. "Lauren and I wanted more kids, we'd talked about having three or four."
I gasped. "Um seriously?" I asked.
He smiled. "You don't want more kids?"
"I, uh, haven't thought about it."
"I could see us having ten kids," He said.
"Um, honey, there is no way in hell that many kids are coming out of me!" I gasped.
He started laughing. "I was just kidding."
Carlisle walked into the living room. "Hey Bella," He said coming over and smiling at Jaycie.
"Hey Carlisle," I said.
"Mind if I take her for a few minutes?" He asked looking at Jaycie.
"No, go a head," He took her from Edward and walking towards the kitchen.
"Super Matt! Where are you?" Came this loud booming voice.
"Who the hell is that?" I asked as this huge muscular man came in followed by this beautiful blonde woman.
"That would be Rose and Emmett," He said.
"Uncle Emmett!" Matt yelled running and jumping into his arms. "Dad's girlfriend is here!"
"I know, I'm going to say hi to her and then I'm going to tickle you," Emmett laughed as Matt squealed running away.
Emmett and Rose turned and looked at me, Edward pulled me to my feet and we walked over to them. "Emmett, Rose, this is my girlfriend Bella, Bella this is Rose and Emmett."
"Bella!" Emmett exclaimed. "Edward talks about you all the time."
"Wonderful," I said blushing.
"Rosie, look, she blushes!" He laughed loudly.
Rose rolled her eyes and continued to stare at me, it was making me very nervous. "So you're Matt's teacher?" She asked.
"Yeah," I said. "Nice to meet you."
"Mhmm," She said. "Well, I'm going to see if I can help mom in the kitchen." With that she turned and walked away.
I glanced up at Edward nervously. "Don't worry about it Bella."
"So I hear you have the cutest baby girl in the whole world," Emmett said. "Or atleast according to Alice and Edward."
"I think she's cute."
"Where is she?" He asked grinning from ear to ear.
"In the kitchen." The thought of facing Rose didn't thrill me at all, in fact, I was ready to run.
"Come on Bella, take me to your daughter, if Rose is still acting like a bitch I'll talk to her," Emmett said. Obviously I hadn't hid my reaction to her well enough.
The three of us walked into the kitchen where Esme and Rose stood talking by the sink, the minute they saw us, they quickly stopped talking and got back to work, Rose glancing my direction once, shaking her head.
"Rose, stop!" Emmett snapped. She didn't even look his direction, but I noticed her wipe her eyes as if she was crying.
"Oh Bella, I hope you don't mind, Carlisle took Matt and Jaycie outside."
"What? Oh, that's fine."
Edward led me outside a head of Emmett. "Maybe this was a bad idea," I said softly. "She hates me."
"Do not let one person do this to you!" He exclaimed.
"Did you see the looks?" I asked.
He turned me to face the yard. "And do you see that?" He asked pointing to Carlisle sitting on the swing holding Jaycie as Matt was swingning next to them laughing.
"What did I do to her?" I asked.
"Bella," Emmett said coming up behind me. "Lauren was her best friend, seeing you with Edward wasn't as easy as she thought, give her time."
"He's right, it's not you, it's just her missing Lauren," Edward said wrapping his arms around me.
"Can I meet you little girl now?" He asked impatiently.
I stared at him trying to fit him and Rose together, he was a goofball, while, I'm sorry, I thought she was a bitch. They didn't seem matched for each other at all.
"Bella!" Alice exclaimed grabbing me into a hug. "I'm so glad you're here."
"I'm glad you're here," I said hugging her.
"Ok, good, you've hugged, NOW, can I meet your child?" Emmett begged.
"You haven't met her yet?" Alice asked.
"No dad's hogging her," He whined causing us all to start laughing.
Alice linked her arm with Emmett's and they walked down towards Carlisle and the kids. I leaned into Edward's arms allowing him to hold me and we watched Matt show off Jaycie.
"Edward," I whispered.
"What love?" He asked matching my tone.
"If this relationship works like we want it to, are you going to make her feel like a step-daughter?"
"Bella, would you treat Matt that way?" He asked.
"No, it's just he's old enough to look at someone and say 'She's not my mom'"
"Love," He sighed. "You worry to much."
"I know," I sighed watching Emmett take Jaycie. "She looks so small next to him"
"But honestly, in the big picture of us, Matt will know his place with you as his mom and Jaycie will know her place as my daughter. Yet, I want them to know Jake and Lauren."
"I do to," I said softly.
"Then do not let Rosalie get to you!"
"I'm not Lauren!" I said, immediately regretting what I'd just said.
"No you're not, your nothing like her." His eyes clouded with sadness. "I loved her and I love you."
"I'm sorry," I whispered.
"I know love," He said kissing me softly on the lips.
Alice came up carrying Jaycie. "She's huge compared to the last time I saw her," She giggled kissing her cheek.
Jaycie grabbed Alice's hair pulling it. "You are the only one allowed to pull my hair."
"Jasper to huh Alice?" Edward asked.
"What we do in our bedroom is not your buisness, just because you did hang mirrors on the ceiling."
"What the hell?" I gasped.
"You don't want to know," Edward laughed.
"Supper's done!" Esme called.
We all went into the kitchen to fix plates. She'd made a pot roast with all the vegetables mixed with it, it smelled wonderful and looked even better. "Bella, let me hold her while you eat," Edward said.
"No it's fine, I've got her."
"Always so stubborn," He murmured smiling at me.
Supper was actually kind of fun. Rose's death glare had stopped, but she hadn't spoken to me, oh well, I was taking Edward's advice and ignoring her. Jasper was really sweet, him and Alice were a perfect pair.
"Bella, when we're done eating, can I hold Jaycie?" Matt asked nervously.
"Sure," I said smiling at him.
"She's super cute Bella, it's a good thing we were getting ready to eat, or I would have had to nibble on her cheeks." Emmett said.
Seriously what was it with people wanting to nibble babies, that was creepy. "Well, I'm glad you're eating." I laughed.
Jaycie started to get fussy, I knew she was getting tired. I slid my chair back so I could take her into the livingroom to rock her. "Do you want me to take her?" Edward asked.
"No, I'm done, she's tired, I'm going to rock her for a while."
"Can I get you anything Bella?" Esme asked.
"I'm fine, thank you," I told her.
I sat down with Jaycie rocking her, she looked up at me and smiled fisting my shirt sucking her fist. "Hey sweetheart, are you sleepy?" As if answering me, she yawned. I placed her against my chest rocking her gently. "I love you angel."
"Is she asleep?" I looked up to see Rose coming in.
"Almost," I said looking back down at her.
"She's really pretty Bella."
"Um thanks."
"Can we talk for a few minutes?" I nodded. "Bella, I know you probably think that I don't like you, it's not that, I don't know you. I'm just concerned over Matt and your daughter."
"Her name is Jaycie and what's that supposed to mean?" I asked.
"You and Edward, things are going great now, but what happens if something happens and you two break up? Matt really likes you, he talks a lot about you and then there is Jaycie, every time Edward speaks she turns her head towards him and smiles. These kids are attached to both of you."
"I know that Rose, I'm not saying that it's going to be easy, but I don't know what to do. I love your brother."
"He loves you to, but..."
"Let me guess, I'm not Lauren?" I asked. "Well, he's not Jake either!"
"I, um, I didn't mean it like that," She had tears in her eyes. "Lauren was my best friend and watching him lose her was horrible a piece of him died with her."
"I couldn't imagine, watching someone die, but I know what it's like to get into a fight with your fiance and find out a few hours later he died in an accident while his best friend lived."
"Oh Bella, I didn't know."
"No you didn't," I said wiping my eyes.
"Bella, is everything okay?" Edward asked eyeing us.
"It's fine," I said.
"Here, can I please hold her now?"
I nodded allowing Edward to take Jaycie. "Bella?"
"Edward, don't, I'm fine."
"Rose?" He asked. "Did you say something to her?"
"I'm scared Edward, I don't want to see you, Matt, or Jaycie hurt."
"So I'm supposed to be single for the rest of my life for fear of getting hurt?" He asked. "Should Bella and I be single parents forever and raise our kids to fear change or to keep them from getting hurt?"
"She was my best friend," Rose whispered.
"I'm not trying to replace Lauren, if Matt were to come up to me right now and want to talk about his mom, then I'd let him. I'd never want him to forget her."
"You'd do that for him? She asked.
"Yes Rose, I'm not out to hurt anyone!"
Rose looked down. "I'm sorry Bella," She whispered. "I judged you unfairly, it's just, it's hard to see Edward love someone other than Lauren."
"I get that," I said.
She looked over at Jaycie. "Would you like to hold her?" Edward asked. She looked to me and I nodded. He placed her gently in Rose's arms.
"She's really precious."
"Thanks Rose," I said smililng.
Everyone joined us in the living room talking. Esme had brought us all coffee, wine might have eased my tension a bit, but coffee was good to. Edward wrapped his arm around my shoulders and I leaned into him as Matt sat up on Edward's lap. "When can I hold Jaycie?" He asked me.
"I suppose you can now," Rose said taking Jaycie over to him Edward helped him hold her.
"I wish she could play with me," He said.
"Oh Matt don't worry, when she starts walking she'll follow you everywhere," Edward told him.
"And get into all of your stuff," Emmett added.
"She can play with my toys as long as she doesn't mess with the puzzles."
"Well maybe we can get her her own puzzles to play with," I suggested.
After Matt held her, Jasper look down at Matt. "I'm the only one who hasn't held her, hand me the baby."
"Do I have to?" Matt asked looking at Jaycie who was curled up in his arms sleeping.
"Yes Matt, you have to share," Edward laughed.
Jasper walked over and whispered something in Matt's ear causing him to laugh and then took Jaycie. "Oh my God Alice, she's so precious."
"I know," She said smiling at him.
"Alice?" He asked grinning.
"Jasper?"
"I love you," He said.
"I love you too, but not right now."
"Damn," He muttered. "Thought it would work."
Jaycie stirred in his arms and looked up at him, she started to cry, but he put her against him and started humming to her, calming her instantly.
It was getting kind of late and everyone began leaving. Matt had gone upstairs to get ready for bed while Esme snuggled with a wide awake Jaycie. "Will she sleep tonight?"
"I'll give her a bath when we get home, that usually calms her down."
"She's so content, I can't believe how she just allowed us all to pass her around like that."
"She has been like that from day one," I replied.
"Are you guys free Friday night?" Edward asked
"We should be," Carlisle replied.
"I'd like to take Bella out and was wondering if you could watch Matt and Jaycie."
"Sure!" Esme exclaimed.
We laughed. "I might be oncall, but I should be home to help," Carlisle said.
"I would have my parents babysit, but they are going to Seattle for the weekend."
"Don't worry about it Bella, we'd be happy to watch her."
"Bella, will you tuck me in?" Matt asked coming into the livingroom in his Superman pajamas.
I glanced over at Edward unsure of how to respond to that, he smiled and pulled me up from the couch. "Come on Matt," He said.
The minute I walked into Matt's room, I saw the pictures on his wall. "That's mommy," He said.
"She's very pretty," I said smiling at him. Beautiful, gorgeous, sexy, but those were probably not words I would have said to a kindergartener.
"My daddy thinks you're pretty to though," He said.
"Alright Matt," Edward said. "Get in bed." I looked at him and he was blushing.
I pulled the blankets up over him and patted his cheek. "Sleep good Matt, I'll see you in class tomorrow."
"Night Bella," He whispered.
"Night Matt, sleep good," Edward said.
"Night daddy, I love you."
"Love you too buddy," He whispered.
We walked out of his room, Edward cracked the door and pulled me across the hall. "What?" I gasped.
"Sh," He said pressing his finger to my lips. He flipped the light on and closed the door. "I just wanted to tell you thank you for tonight, I know Rose was an utter bitch at first, but thank you for not running."
"I wanted to, I'm not going to lie," I said.
"I know, but you didn't," He said. "And thank you for accepting Matt, the way you do."
"Edward, you are an amazing dad with an incredible son."
He wrapped his arms around me. "I love you Bella."
"I love you too," I murmured. "Now, what do you have planned for Friday night?" I asked.
"All I'm going to say is dress nice and be here at 5:30."
I ran my hand down his chest as he leaned in and kissed me. "I get you to myself huh?"
"Your parents really going out of town?" He asked.
I bit my bottom lip, staring up at him. "Mhmm," I murmured.
"That just might be good to know."
"Oh God," I moaned.
He pulled back and smiled. "Has Jaycie ever stayed the night without you?"
I frowned and shook my head. "I've never left her over night."
He caressed my cheek with his thumb. "I wouldn't have left Matt at that age either. We will just have to work with what we have."
A part of me wanted to push him down onto his bed and climb on top of him, but I couldn't bring myself to do that, especially with Matt in the room across the hall. The pull this man had on me was so intense, I hadn't felt anything this strong ever in my life and Jake and I were very close.
"I should get home," I whispered.
"I need a cool shower," He murmured more to himself than me, but I still laughed.
"I think I might need one," I said blushing.
Edward walked Jaycie and I out to the car and he wrapped me up in his arms. "I can't wait for Friday night," He whispered kissing me. He opened my car door and helped me in. "I'll call you tomorrow."
"Okay," I said.
AN- SO THE FAMILY DINNER WAS TRICKY, BUT IT WORKED OUT IN THE END. AND WHAT EXACTLY DOES EDWARD HAVE IN MIND FOR FRIDAY NIGHT?
THANK YOU FOR ALL THE REVIEWS AND SUPPORT! YOU ALL ARE AWESOME!
