I Want a Mommy
Chapter Fourteen
Disclaimer: All characters belong to Stephenie Meyer. The plot, along with a few of the characters I add here and there belong to my ruthless muse.
Bella followed Edward up to their room at the estate. She smiled as she took in all the changes the room had gone undergone in the past few weeks. Her perfumes were mixed with Edward's colognes. Earrings, hair clips, and ties were scattered absentmindedly across his dresser. A photo from the zoo of the three of them together, now set on her nightstand next to her copy of Drums of Autumn. She grinned as Edward placed their luggage on the bed. Gone was the navy duvet cover, replaced with a softer floral blanket. "How long do we have?"
He rubbed at the stubble that shadowed his jaw. "Long enough to shower and change," he replied, glancing down at his watch.
"Oh," she murmured, unpinning her hair. "Together?"
He chuckled deeply, sending goosebumps down her spine. "C'mon, Minx," he held the door open to their bathroom for her.
…
He watched her out of his peripheral vision. His wife. His smile twisted into a smug grin as he thought the words.
"Isabella."
She turned to look at him, pulling her gaze away from the view of the city from the car's window. "Hmm?" She asked.
He held out his hand to her, she laced their fingers as his thumb brushed over her wedding band. His lips quirked up and he raised her hand to his mouth, kissing her ring finger. "Are you okay?" He asked softly, as Antonio turned into the gated community.
Bella's smiled widened. "Perfect," she promised him. She turned her eyes back to the window and took in the large, white brick colonial style mansion. It looked as if it belonged on the cover of a magazine, or on a movie set.
He wrapped his arm around her waist as he led her into his sister's house, where his family was gathered and awaiting them.
"Bella, Daddy!" EJ broke away from Tanner and rushed them. "You're back," he beamed as Bella scooped him up and hugged him.
"We are, just as we promised," Edward said as he ran his fingers through his son's messy hair.
"Tanner and me, we're going upstairs to play. Auntie Alice says we must," he informed them as Bella placed him back on his feet. "She says that our little ears don't need to listen to your grown-up talk."
Edward chuckled, "they do not, now run upstairs and behave, Sonny Boy. I'll come and get you once we've finished." He turned to Marcus and ordered quietly, "Make sure they stay up there."
Marcus nodded and followed the boys up the staircase to Tanner's playroom.
Bella watched them go before squeezing Edward's hand. "That sounds delightfully ominous," she murmured, giving him a weak smile.
He tugged her close. "Don't worry, I'll handle my family," he kissed her softly. His voice dropped to a murmur, "You are my wife, and they'll learn to respect that," he swore to her.
"Edward Anthony, what is this nonsense I hear of you eloping?" His mother scolded him as soon as they stepped foot into his sister's kitchen. Alice's lips twitched as she continued cooking with Jasper. Emmett snickered, but he stopped immediately as Esme turned her glower on him.
"What, no congratulations, Mother?" He chuckled, curling his arm around Bella's waist.
Her frown deepened. "This is not the time for jokes, Edward," she said crossly, placing her mimosa back on the table. "I am deeply displeased by your actions."
The smile slid off his face. "And I'm a grown man, Mother. We didn't want to get married in some grand ceremony, surrounded by hundreds of people we don't know. I wanted it to be small, intimate and private," he explained, pulling out a chair for Bella.
"Esme, lay off the boy," Carlisle chuckled coolly, as he placed his hand on her lower back. "They're young and in love."
"But, Carlisle—" He shook his head, stopping her from continuing.
"Now, Mom, I know you're disappointed you missed the ceremony," Edward stated, "But Isabella and I, we'd like for you to plan a wedding reception. All the friends, all the people you would've invited, but without the fuss and stress of a wedding."
"Very well," she sniffed. "I'll need six to eight weeks." She agreed as the frown softened on her face. "Early July would be lovely." She mused.
He gave his mother a full smile. "Excellent, now what's for brunch?" He asked as Rosalie offered Bella a mimosa.
Bella shook her and declined softly. "No thank you, I don't drink. A glass of water would be great, though," she said.
Esme paled, her mouth drew up in a tight line. Carlisle patted her hand gently.
"I'll go get the boys," Jasper said, handing Alice a platter of pancakes to place on the table as he left the room.
A minute later, the sound of the boys' feet thundering down the staircase could be heard in the kitchen causing Edward to smirk, "they've been unleashed." He teased, squeezing Bella's hand as she laughed and told him to hush.
"Yeah well, I was big enough to ride Transformers," Tanner bragged.
"So, I rode Spider-Man five times, and Marcus almost puked all over an old lady," EJ boasted. "Anyways, Spider-Man is way cooler than Transformers."
"That's enough you two," Alice chuckled, stopping the boys before their conversation turned into a full-blown argument of which was cooler. "Take your seats, it's time to eat," she instructed them, as she made their plates.
"Are your hands clean?" Bella asked EJ who groaned and darted from the room to wash them. When he returned, he displayed his clean fingers for Bella to see before taking his seat.
"Marcus will take you and EJ back to the house," Edward said as he picked up Bella's plate to carry to the sink. "Jasper and I have some business to take care of today."
EJ's face fell. "But, Daddy, can't it wait until Monday?"
"I'm sorry, Sonny Boy, it cannot, but I will be home for dinner." He promised and his eyes cut to Antonio's, he nodded and made a reminder in his phone.
"Fine," he huffed. "Then, Mo—" he noticed his grandmother's frown and corrected himself, "Bella and I, we'll just have fun without you," he said a bit spitefully, giving him a reluctant hug.
Edward smiled sadly, "I'm sure you will." He kissed his forehead reverently before turning to Bella, as he brushed his thumb across her cheek before kissing her softly. "Tonight," he promised her.
EJ waved goodbye as Bella gathered his things and directed him out to the car where Marcus was waiting.
He watched them go from the living room window, his face twisting into a cold mask as they disappeared down the street. "Let's go," he ordered Jasper and Emmett, "I promised them I'd be home in time for dinner."
"All right," Jasper agreed, kissing Alice twice on the lips and once on her forehead.
She clutched his hands. "Be careful," she murmured, before letting him go. He gave her a tight nod.
"Bye, Dad," Tanner waved from the upstairs banister.
"Be good for your Mama," Jasper called up to him. He gave Alice a playful wink, she, in turn, provided him with a small fretful grin.
Emmett pulled back from Rosalie. "I'll talk with them," he promised her.
She pressed her lips against his. "Stay safe, my love," she whispered.
He caressed her collar, leaned in and murmured against her ear, "Always." She shivered under the intensity of his stare. "Be waiting," he ordered quietly.
He pulled back and beamed, his brother and family thought he was laid-back, playful, and maybe even a pushover. They were wrong. He knew, out of any of them, he was the most intense. He just hid it well.
"Later," he kissed his mother's cheek and followed Jasper and Edward out of the house. He slipped Antonio the two, hundred dollar bills he owed him from a wager he had lost the night before as they watched the game before sliding in next to his brother.
Jasper was the first to speak, as he checked his pistol. "I still believe you should have someone else handle this. You're risking a lot by doing this yourself, Edward."
Edward's lips tightened, he took a deep breath before speaking. "I want to send a clear message, and the best way to do that is to deliver it myself. I want this asshole scared. I want him to know I have him by the cock, and that I'm coming for his life."
Emmett's smile was amiable. "I have to agree. If some fucker messed with Rose the way they've screwed with Bella, I'd beat the holy hell out of him myself, and not rely on anyone else to do my dirty work. She's mine. Mine to protect."
"Then you understand me, brother." Edward gave him a grateful nod.
Jasper let out a low sigh, "I get you too, I don't like it, but I get it. I'd murder a million souls if it meant saving Alice. It's fucked up, but I get it. I'm just worried. We have the F.B.I. on our asses regularly. I don't want this shit sticking to us. We have families, man."
Emmett's whole body language shifted, and his eyes brightened. "Speaking of family, I need to take some personal time, a few weeks actually."
"Personal time?"
"I know it's short notice, especially with everything going on, but a spot opened up for Rosalie at this reproductive center in Colorado. We're going to try and have a baby, one more time."
"I thought you guys decided to adopt?" Jasper asked, slipping his gun back into its holster.
"We did, we're on a list, but this spot opened up, and we're going to try it. If it works, it works, but we still plan on adopting as well." He shrugged.
Edward smiled at his younger brother's optimism. "It's fine, Emmett, take all the time you need," Edward assured him as he slipped his favorite knife back into its leather sheath.
"Are we clear?" Edward inquired over the intercom, as Antonio pulled to a stop.
"Location is secure," Antonio confirmed. Jasper and Emmett averted their eyes to the window as Edward shrugged off his Armani jacket; he changed clothes with a calculated calm.
He hummed as he walked into the basement, Jasper and Emmett traded cautious looks. "You're sure this is the man?" he asked.
Detective Grant nodded. "Yes," he handed Edward a yellow envelope containing his proof.
He slid the contents out on the table and looked it over with a deep frown. "I appreciate your help locating this twisted fuck." He shook the detective's hand and then gave Emmett a look.
Emmett grumbled under his breath and reluctantly held out a folder to Grant. "This is what we have so far on the rapist, and the finder fee, of course."
"Always a pleasure," Grant stated, placing the folder into his briefcase. "Now if one of you'd kindly show me out," he requested, after shaking Edward's hand.
"This way," Jasper motioned and walked him out of the building.
Edward stared at the pictures of the man's apartment. There was an entire wall of photos of Bella. He read over his bank account statements, and the photos Grant had taken of the average looking man waiting at the airport with his camera yesterday evening when they were originally supposed to land.
"Well, well, well, who the fuck do we have here?" He chuckled coldly. "My wife and my family's, personal paparazzi. What's your name?" He barked at the cowering man. "Answer me now, motherfucker."
"Darren … Darren Hawk," he whimpered, fear and panic blazing in his beady brown eyes.
Edward's lips curled up. He pulled his knife, his lips twisted in a cruel smirk as Darren yelped and jerked back against the wall away from him. He was a pathetic, ball-less, coward of a man.
"It was just a job, man," he cried. "I never meant anyone any real harm, all right?"
Edward lunged forward as he reached out and he jerked him to his feet by the front of his shirt. He recognized his voice from the phone call he had received the night Ryan's had been set ablaze. "Did you burn down my fucking bar?"
"No, man, no," he shook his head frantically. "I just did what I was told. I was paid to follow her, to take the pictures, to scare her a little. To make those calls, I was told what to say. It was easy money. I paid that boy to trash her apartment, I wanted no part in that, dude."
"Who. Was. Your. Employer?" He snarled, his nostril flaring.
"I don't know," he sniffed. "I meet with one guy once, called himself Jim. I never saw or spoke to him again. He gave me the phone, with the instructions that as long as I did what the man on the other line wanted, I'd be rewarded. I was an amateur photographer, making crap pay as a pizza boy. Okay?"
Edward's fingers curled around his knife, Jasper moved to step forward, but Emmett clapped his hand down on his shoulder and shook his head as Edward expression darkened. "Yeah, okay," he watched the man crumple to the floor in a lifeless heap.
"Well, that went south," Emmett snorted, amusement flickering in his eyes.
"Go to the office, I'll handle this," Edward ordered sourly, as the deafening roar in his ears started to dull. "This is my mess—"
Emmett cut him off gruffly. "Listen, I don't want to hear any more woe-is-me bullshit spill from your mouth. I was born into this mess too, with the same twisted impulses and I've been here, I've done this before, you covered my ass when I went all Jack the Ripper on Rosalie's father. So just shut the fuck up and let me help."
"Right," Edward let out a slow breath, and neither spoke as they spent the afternoon riding the earth of Darren Hawk. He washed the blood from his body, watching it swirl down the drain as he clutched his favorite bottle of Johnnie Walker. "Antonio!" He shatters the silence of the locker room.
"Yes, Boss," he called, and Edward could hear the scraping of his chair as he moved to stand up.
He took another swallow of the rich, smoky liquid that felt velvety smooth against his tongue; his words came out mildly slurred. "I want guards on my family at all times discreetly as possible."
"Of course, Sir."
Edward turned the water off and swayed slightly as he stepped out of the shower. "Whoa there, Boss," Antonio caught him. He gripped his chin and checked his eyes. "You are completely plastered," he observed, his lips curving upwards.
"Am not," he huffed indignantly.
Antonio shook his head, gently prying the bottle of scotch from his hand. "I haven't seen you this gone in years," he snorted, "C'mon lets sober you up a little," he glanced at his watch and swore. "You've got to be home for dinner in an hour."
"I promised," Edward agreed aloofly, giving him a clumsy nod as he tried to button his oxford shirt.
Antonio rubbed the back of his neck. "Stop," he grunted and moved Edward's hands out of the way, as he dressed him with a frown. "Jesus fuck, what did Jasper give you?"
"Dunno," he laughed. "But it was pharmaceutical grade."
"Right, let's get a burger and some fries in you, mate," Antonio said, pushing a bottle of SmartWater into his hands. "Drink up," he ordered.
"But I have to eat my wife's—" He let out a laugh that sounded suspiciously like a giggle to Antonio, and Edward's burst of lustful, boyish humor had him rolling his eyes heavenward. "My wife is fucking gorgeous," he gloated as Antonio led him to the car.
"Put your seatbelt on," Antonio ordered before pulling out of the parking garage and driving them to a nearby fast food joint. He passed the food back to Edward. "Eat up, Boss, you need to be a touch more clearheaded before I drive you home."
Edward wrinkled his nose as he looked in the greasy bag. "But, the calories."
"Just eat the fucking food," Antonio grumped.
The drive was quiet as the news report filled the silence; Antonio helped Edward out of the vehicle. He checked his eyes. "You're just going to have to fake it, don't talk too much."
"I'll be fine," Edward assured him. "Thank you, Tony."
"Goodnight," he nodded, stepping into the security office as Edward headed into the house.
"Daddy, you're home!" EJ beamed as he stepped into the dining room where Bella and EJ had been waiting for him. The food sat untouched in the middle of the table.
"Am I late?" Edward asked, eyeing his watch with a look of confusion.
"No, we just finished setting the table." Bella grinned at him as he tried to hang up his coat, her eyebrows rose as it hit the floor. "Join us, Elizabeth and I made a delicious roast.'
"I helped, I put the plates and glasses on the table," EJ announced. "Mo—, Bella says chores do a young man good, whatever that means."
"EJ," Edward said a touch sharply, "Sonny Boy," he corrected, his tone gentler. "If you want to call Isabella, Mom, Mama, whatever, you're welcome too. No one is going to stop you."
"But Grandma …" EJ sighed, chewing on his bottom lip, his green eyes clouded with worry.
"Don't worry about Grandma, she'll get used to it," Edward promised him firmly, dropping into his seat at the head of the table.
Bella smiled. "You don't have to; if calling me, Bella is what feels most comfortable that's fine too."
"Okay," he murmured. He ran his small hand through his messy hair, and Bella's heart swelled with love.
Dinner passed smoothly, and Edward spent most of the time moving his food around his plate. He listened as Bella and EJ's chatter filled the air. "I so can't wait for summer," EJ beamed. "I get Mom all to myself every day. No school."
"It'll be good bonding time for the both of you," Edward agreed. He raised his water glass to EJ's who grinned as their glasses clinked together.
EJ kissed Edward's cheek after the plates were cleared away. "Goodnight, Dad," he said taking Bella's hand. "Will I see you in the morning?" he asked.
"You may," Edward winked at him. "Sleep tight."
"Come on, Green Eyes, bath and bed. You have school tomorrow," Bella instructed, handing him Patches, his favorite stuffed animal. "We'll be upstairs."
"I'll be in my office," Edward replied as he ruffled EJ's hair.
...
Bella opened the door to Edward's office slowly. "He's out," she whispered, as Edward turned his eyes away from the window and the backyard. "Are you coming to bed?"
He stood and stretched offering her his hand. She laced their fingers and laughed quietly as he tugged her off to their bedroom.
He wrapped his arms around her and breathed in her soft vanilla scent.
"What's the matter?" She murmured, running her fingers over his stubble.
He let out a long sigh as he nuzzled the soft flesh of her neck. "Nothing's wrong, Bella. At the end of every day, this is all I want." He pulled the sheet away from her and placed several kisses across her bare shoulder, his arms tightening around her possessively. "Now rest, love, you have a long week ahead of you."
The final weeks of the school year passed quickly for EJ and Bella. Edward sat next to his parents and son as they watched Isabella walk across the stage to collect her degree. He grinned proudly as she waved up at them. They celebrated her accomplishment with cheesesteaks and fries, and a weekend away before Rosalie and Emmett left for Colorado.
June passed by lazily. EJ and Bella days were spent forgetting what day it was while they lounged by the pool, attending play dates, music, art, karate lessons and late nights camped out in front of the television.
Edward worked long hours to compensate for Emmett's absence, many times well into the night, or weekend trips across the country. The rapist was lying low, and with Bella's stalker out of the picture, things were quiet as they settled into becoming a family.
Author Note...
A big to Thank you, Sunflower Fran, for Beta'ing and TeamAllTwilight for Pre-Readering.
Secondly, I need to say, I'm sorry to all my followers, so sorry for my long, long, hiatus. All I can say is Real Life. My computer was destroyed awhile back and I couldn't afford a new one until just recently, my children always come first, so does medicine and food. The unexpected death of my computer and flash drive was a real kick to the muse. I hope you are all well, big hugs and lots of love. I hope you enjoyed this new chapter and please leave a Review.
- Emily