CHAPTER FIFTY-EIGHT
"Faster! Come on you have to have at least a V-6 in this damn thing. Move it, Jacob." I snapped through my gritted teeth. I already peed once at the restaurant and it still wasn't enough. I could feel pain in the lower region as I tried to suppress my need.
A month had passed since the incident in Oregon. Jacob was back to work and now able to drive again. However it seemed that he was driving Miss Daisy with how so he was moving.
"Just…relax already. We're only two minutes out from the house. Try thinking of butterflies instead of waterfalls." He huffed.
"Two minutes?" I exclaimed. "If you don't push this damn car up the hill faster, I will pee all over your fine Italian leather."
"I would rather have pee on my seats then blood. If we get in a car accident, Edward will murder me." Jacob replied. "Would you please tell her Derrick how dangerous it would be for me to exceed the speed limit."
"You are on your own, bro. Any slower and I'd swear you were Flintstonen this shit." Derrick laughed from the back seat.
"Thank you." I huffed finally feeling vindicated. "I'm going to pee." I threatened.
"No, you're not." Jacob shouted.
"Yes, I am! I can feel it making its way."
Finally we made it to the house and I shot out of that car so fast you'd think it was on fire. Being pregnant had opened my mind to just how good I had it all these years. There were times I could go all day long with only peeing once in the morning and once at night. There were nights I could sleep all the way through without having backaches and cramps and wake up feeling miserable. I missed sleeping on my stomach.
The stream shot out of me and I may have made some beastly sound as it happened. I could hear Derrick and Jacob as they passed by the bathroom door making fun of the situation. So far Derrick wasn't too much of a pain in my ass. It was more like having a friend hang out with you all day. Of course he wasn't always right next to me. Warner Bros. had been determined to be safe enough…ironically. So most days when I was there filming, Derrick wouldn't even accompany me.
I could tell that he was having trouble fitting back into this occupation so I tried to not make it any more difficult than it already was. However it wasn't until a week later when I was running a seemingly boring errand when I finally had a chance to really appreciate him and know that Derrick was indeed one of my good guys.
I left work around six and told Edward that I would pick up some dinner for everyone at the house that night on my way home. Derrick was of course with me so Edward was completely cool with this. He had calmed down a lot since Derrick had come into our lives. I could see the stress deteriorate rapidly and he wasn't so overbearing, for this reason I found Derrick's presence to be a great one. But it was what happened that night that finalized the decision for me.
"So what food are we grabbing tonight?" Derrick asked as we drove closer to my destination.
"There is this fantastic Chinese food place on Sunset. You don't even realize what you have been missing by being held up in New York all these years."
"I can't imagine it being better than this hole in the wall out in Brooklyn. But I will wait to pass judgment." He grinned.
"Of course you will because you'll realize after about ten seconds how wrong you've been all these years." I quipped.
"Just focus on your drive there, B. I know how overtaxed you women get while trying to drive."
My mouth opened in surprise. "Just you wait, Derrick. I'll show you just how overtaxed I am."
"What does that even mean?"
I parked the car and we both got out.
"It means that apparently your male race is not intelligent enough to understand what I meant." I bullshitted. I had no idea what I meant by that.
Derrick couldn't keep the big smile from off his face.
We entered the restaurant and went straight to the pickup line. Wendy, the daughter of the owner greeted us.
"Bella. I have your order all ready. You didn't bring the little ones this time?" She asked.
"No…I brought the big one instead. His arms can handle more weight." I replied slapping Derrick on the back.
"It's been crazy around here tonight. One of our waitress just left her shift and ran off next door….apparently there's this big rap artist over at the bar tonight." She divulged.
"Rap artist? Which one?" I asked suddenly interested to see if it was one of my friends.
She shouted something to the waiter behind her and it didn't take an understanding of Mandarin to know that the man replied, "Murder1"
I could feel my insides tingle with this information. I could also see Derrick start to stiffen up as I thought about my crusade.
"Let's get going, B." Derrick picked up the bags of food.
I was practically a zombie with the information buzzing around my head. Wandering toward the car but not really animated. Derrick was sitting in the car all seat belted up when I climbed into the driver's side. I sat in contemplation for just a second.
"Food's getting cold. We should get going." Derrick prompted.
"Can you wait here for a second…there's something I need to do." I climbed back out of the car and headed toward this bar.
"Where are you going? Come on…are you fucking kidding me?" Derrick grumbled chasing after me.
"Just…stay in the car. I am about to be completely irrational." I shoo'd him away.
"Stay in the car? Did you not understand what exactly my job description was? Why would you want to go and mess with someone like Murder1? You know that he and Embry aren't exactly B.F.F.'s"
"Look, I know all this…but I have a calling…a…I just feel compelled…I don't expect you to understand."
"Yea…calling to get your ass killed." Derrick sighed as we reached the entrance. "Wait…would you just wait?" he pulled me back. "If you're really going to do this. Remember all the signs I taught you?"
"Yes. I remember."
One of first days with Derrick, he taught me this code so that if I was ever in distress he could tell from my gestures if I was feeling uncomfortable by a situation. I was supposed to tug on my own hair and then he would step in, a seemingly normal gesture but one that held great weight. However since I learned of this new code it made me nervous when I would run my hands through my hair wondering if it would set my new pit bull off. Well I wouldn't necessarily describe Derrick as a pit bull…he was more like a Chihuahua in a Great Dane body. I don't mean him any offense but that was the impression I had so far.
We entered the bar and surprisingly it was very low key. Being a Monday there wasn't much patronage and it was easy to spot where the celebrity in the room was. I could see Murder1 lounging on a cushy red velvet couch. His friends surrounding him as they took drinks and slammed the liquid down their throats. I could also see a big burly man blocking the entrance to the small area.
I walked straight up to the big burly man and knew that intimidation was not an option for me.
"Private party." His deep voice said before he put out a hand to stop me from going further.
"I have business with your man. Let me pass." I believe that was ordered politely.
"I suggest you turn around before it gets ugly."
"Don't threaten her." Derrick stepped up and I could see how quickly this could all escalate.
I placed a hand on Derrick trying to push him back behind me.
"You will let us pass." I said again a little louder. I could see Murder1's head pop up and he was enjoying the display of hostility. I began to walk around the man and he reached out to grab my arm.
"Really?" I stopped and looked him straight into the eye. "I have been stabbed and shot at. I'm pretty sure at this point I have more street cred then you. You still want to mess with me? People who try to hurt me, tend to end up dead." I raised an eyebrow.
"Let her pass…I would love to hear what Isabella Swan has to say to me." Murder1 finally let out a laugh and the big burly man let my arm go.
Derrick would later tell me that he felt like we were walking into the lion's den. I knew no harm would come to me. First of all it had been anthropologically proven that human beings tend to not harm women when they were carrying a child and second of all I knew that no matter who this Murder1 was, he wasn't as bad ass as every made him out to be. There were some things that instincts would not lie on. I felt more unease the first time I met Laurent at my wedding then I did sitting there surrounded by these…so called gangsters. Or gangstas.
I approached the table and just as I did, I could see Murder1 dismiss his crew to the bar.
"Can I get you a drink?" he smirked.
"I'm quite fine, thank you. All full up here." I replied gently rubbing my stomach.
"So…Isabella Swan…do you even know where you are?"
I look around and reply. "Do you mean philosophically, figuratively or literally…I don't believe it takes a genius to know where one is…we are in a bar on Sunset Blvd just out of Beverly Hills…do you know where you are? I didn't think someone like you would want to ball in a place like this."
"Just because I'm black doesn't mean that I can't afford this place."
"I didn't say that because you were black I said that because a person like you would only show face in a haughty taughty place like this if they wanted to show off their money which I doubt you would want to do on a Monday as there is hardly anyone here to be impressed. This whole scene, from what I gathered on your last album is definitely not yours."
"Did Embry send you? I hear you two have been chuming it up." He said ignoring my inquiry.
"No…if Embry knew I was here…I would probably be no more." I sighed frustrated.
"So then why are you here?" he asked.
"Maron…I can call you Maron or do you prefer Mr. Murder…Mr.1…?"
He instantly smiled and nodded his head. "You're funny…I can see why Embry keeps you around even if you are damaging to his reputation."
I roll my eyes at his inference.
"Maron…it's funny you know. Were you aware that your name means, "pack of sheep" in Hebrew?" I smirked softly. "I find that quite comical…I guess if you wanted a name that meant warrior you could go with something like Cadmar or Donovan. Interestingly enough my friend's name here is Derrick and his name means leader…"
"And what do you suppose Murder1 means?" he interrupts.
"Sorry, I finally found the one pregnancy book I can stomach. I am absolutely fascinated with baby names and their meanings. Don't get me wrong Murder1 does have a fantastic little ring to it but…I don't foresee my mother being too happy to call one of her grandchildren a felony."
Derrick looked at me like I was crazy.
"I don't quite understand why you are here." Maron replied a tad impatient.
"Duh…sorry pregnancy brain and all. I tend to get off topic. I am here…well I really just wanted to meet you. I am familiar with your music after all. I am somewhat of an artist myself and find that having conversations with other artists no matter how different they are can be enlightening. What made you into what I…hear? Most rap artists when they write a song it is usually derived from pride and or threats, boasting…so they would think. However when I listen to rap music I hear pain and struggles. I hear strength and hope. What do you think?"
"I think…that little girls like you couldn't have clue one of what I rap about?"
"You think I am not culturally intelligent enough to possibly understand the struggles that a man such as yourself has dealt with?" He nodded. "We all have our own battles."
"Are you here to try to recruit me for you Kumbaya tour? Bringing people like Silver J and E.C. Crime together isn't going to make me fall down and join your little hand holding knitting circle."
"Of course, why would you possibly want any kind of peace in the rap world? Angry music and turf wars is what sells for you. If you gave that up and just made your music…about the music you might…I don't know live longer and that can be dangerous to one's health…I mean career."
"I'm not afraid to die…in fact I embrace it."
"Clearly you have not been close to death." I replied.
"I have been shot…and not just shot at either." He smirked mocking my entrance.
"Maron, you were shot in the leg and it wasn't even close enough to endanger an artery. Sure, I can imagine just how many drive by's you must have seen and maybe even a part of but when you finally do take that final bow…I'm going to take a wild guess and believe that you will not be happy with your decision in the long run."
"How many rap artist live past their prime…in order to become infamous, sometimes it takes sacrifice. Hell, look at Tupac."
"Tupac? WOW…yeah lets look at Tupac. The man made more money after he died then he ever did while living…I'll give you that. He also probably is going to be remembered as one of the greatest rap artists that ever lived…true but what good is that for him now…I'm pretty sure he can't cash checks wherever he may have ended up. When you're dead, you're dead and in a hundred years from now...even Tupac will be a mere blip in the timeline of history. A thousand years…I doubt anyone will even care. My point is, you better embrace life now because tomorrow who's going to really care that you're gone?"
"We both haven't been close to death to know. Maybe when you have, you can come back and tell me if it's worth it."
"Likewise." I paused thinking about that. I began to stand up from my chair. "Well, Maron…it has been a pleasure and seeing how I have dinner to get home to my family…till we meet again."
Derrick was out of his chair probably relieved that we were finally leaving.
I started to walk out and past the burly man who tried to stop me.
"I do hope you find what you're looking for…but I have a feeling you've been looking in all the wrong places." I gave him one final smile and that was all.
But, not as well.
You see I'm sure you're thinking I was crazy for going and speaking to one who was infamously dangerous. The public and press never knew of the…relationship I had with Maron or Murder1. Don't get me wrong, Maron was dangerous but for some reason he liked me. I didn't necessarily agree with his lifestyle but when it's all said and done he was only one able to give me the closure and peace of mind that no one else could. Though out the time that I knew Maron, we would find little ways to relay messages to each other with using the media and or other means. I knew he was dangerous but I have no way of explaining what he was to me. I had a hard enough time explaining it to Edward and Embry a few years after when I went to attend Maron's funeral.
"So…are you going to tell Embry?" I asked Derrick as we were riding in the car.
"If I felt there was a threat…I would tell Embry. I don't like what we just did but I don't foresee any threat." Derrick replied.
"Great. Can we keep this between us?" My mind was going into damage control if he said no but he didn't.
We arrived home and I watched as all of my family scavenged for the food.
"It's a little cold." Edward commented eating a piece of Orange chicken from straight out of the box.
"Traffic on Sunset." I shrugged. "Hey, my backs been killing me…I think I am just going to go and lay in bed for a little while."
"Do you want me to make a plate for you? I can bring it up." Edward asked.
"Sure. Sounds good." I left the kitchen and went to my room. I started to feel the babies rolling around and that sent my bladder into pee mode. One was kicking pretty hard the minute I sat down on the toilet.
"Hey, I don't blame you for wanting to get out. I can't imagine how cramped you all must be in there." I rubbed my stomach and the kicking stopped.
"Bella. I have your plate." Edward announced.
I started to get up and found it harder than before. It was almost November and if I hadn't found out that I was having triplets I probably would have wired my jaw shut with the amount of weight I had gained.
"Edward…I'm having issues." I called.
Edward came straight away.
"What's wrong?" he looked worried.
"I can't get up. Everything I try to pull on won't sustain my weight." I could feel tears form.
"Baby, it's okay." Edward came over and hoisted me to my feet. "I will have a bar put in for you tomorrow. I will have them put throughout the house."
"I never wanted you to see me this way. I never wanted you to see me fat again." I cried.
"You're not fat. You're pregnant."
"That only goes so far. I know that I can't blame all this weight on the three peas in a pod." I washed my hands and walked back toward my bed.
I saw the food sitting there on my bedside table.
"Take that away. I shouldn't eat that." I sighed.
"Bella, you need to eat."
I sat down on the bed and maneuvered a pillow behind my back. Edward helped before handing me my plate.
"Okay…you were right. No more McDonald's French fries."
"Just eat." Edward sat down next to me and then pulled out one of the many pregnancy books on his side table. "I was thinking…"
"Can we discuss a book I want to discuss?" I asked. For the past month Edward would bring a chapter and want to discuss it with me. He felt if he came to me with small doses it would help alleviate my stress.
"Sure. What book have you been reading?" he asked.
"Well since we are going to the doctor's tomorrow to find out the sex of our babies…" I pulled out my baby name book from my side drawer and presented it to him.
Edward and I could have found out weeks ago about the sex of the babies but after the attack and having an ultrasound then we didn't see a reason to go back to the doctor so soon when everything appeared to be fine.
"That is a great idea…I have been rolling a couple of names around in my head." Edward smiled and stabbed another piece of chicken.
"So let's hear them, although I think we should start off by the elephant in the room and no I am not talking about me." I quipped.
"Stop it. Please don't refer to the woman I love, mother of my children as an elephant."
"If one of these little teat suckers turns out to be a boy, would you want an Edward junior?"
"No." Edward stated firmly.
"Why not?"
"Well first of all it doesn't mean that much to carry on my name and second what if more than one of these precious angels turns out to be a boy? I would hate to have to decide which one gets my name. What if the one of the other boys feels rejected?"
"There not all going to be boys. I can't handle three boys." I stated.
"Bella, I believe it's already been decided. But it would be nice if at least one of them was a boy."
"I wouldn't mind that." I mumbled.
"Maybe we should just focus on sending good thoughts that no matter boy or girl, they're all healthy."
I nodded.
"So what names have you been thinking?" Edward asked.
"Well, I really like the name Antigone for a girl."
"Antigone?" Edward exclaimed.
"Yes. Do you know the story?"
"I know that it's Greek." Edward replied.
"There were two brothers who were fighting over the throne and they both die so when their Uncle takes over the throne he decides to honor one brother with the proper burial and the other he just throws the body to the ground. You see they believed that if you weren't given a proper burial, your soul would be doomed to wander the earth for all eternity. Antigone the sister of the two brothers, even though it was decreed that no one should touch that body, she went against her Uncle and late at night she buried her brother. She couldn't bear the idea of his soul trapped. I love the story and if we had a girl I would hope she would be strong and stand up for her siblings no matter what."
"How did the story end?"
"She gets captured and put in jail where she kills herself right before the Uncle decides to overturn his ruling to save her."
"Great…my daughter's named after a Greek tragedy." Edward mustered up some fake support.
"Okay, Mr. Cullen, what names were you thinking of…boring ones like John and Mark?"
"No…I want them to have names that mean something too, you know."
"John means God is gracious and Mark means warlike." I spouted.
"How do you know this?" Edward asked shocked.
I held up the names baby book, "The one book that doesn't scare me. I've like read cover to cover."
He gave me this incredulous look before shaking his head. "Uh…well I was thinking Masen…my middle name. I thought it…well I like it."
"Marcus told me that I should name a girl Versace but pronounce it Ver-say-cee…at first I thought he was crazy but I kinda like it."
"My head hurts." Edward put his plate down and laid back on his pillows. "Come here. I need to feel them kick…might evaporate the horrors of this name game we're playing."
"You don't like any of the names I suggested?" I sighed.
"No…it's just…well one is after a Greek tragedy and the other…is a…fashion designer. I just want good strong names is all."
Edward started to rub my stomach and I couldn't help but feel a little hurt that he hadn't approved any of my choices. I could give him Masen…if we had a boy. I just felt completely disregarded. I felt like in the end the world would have one more John or Ashley…the most common names on the face of the planet. I wanted a name that meant something to me.
With all this in mind, it was just one more log on the fire of our doctor's appointment the very next day.
AN: Only two chapters left. Thank you all for reading and reviewing, I know it's been a super long journey. I don't know when i will be able to post again. I am going to Salt Lake City for their comic con so I will be away for the next couple of days. Sorry for the delay!