Happy HUMP day. See you all on Friday for the very last chapter before the epilogue posts next Monday the 25th.

Special and HUGE thanks to all of the wonderful ladies who keep us readable.

Chapter 18

We arrive home and I frown, not really wanting to be back. I never realized how much I needed that time away with Bella, it just wasn't long enough.

"Edward, we can go away again when I'm on spring break. Well, I can anyway. I hear you've got a rather strict boss. Maybe you'll need to be REAL good for her, before she'll give you the time away," Bella says letting out a snigger.

I press my lips together and bite them, to stop my laugh from bubbling out. "Well, maybe if that strict boss of mine would stop by my office and allow me some of her private time," I wiggle my brow at her, "she could see what a good boy I am. I bet I could even show what kind of quality work I can provide to her ... company."

"Maybe she needs to come over and thoroughly check out your dexterity and proficiency."

I laugh out loud, loving the banter we share with each other. I open Bella's door and help her carry in all of the bags. I push her against the wall by the door and kiss her, as I kick the door shut with my foot. I only back off so we can catch our breath.

"I need to call my landlord – I need to be here with you," I mumble out as I kiss her again.

"Or you could just call Alice and Jasper and see if they want to sublet from you."

I hum as I think over what she just suggested.

"But if they take you up on it, I think we will need to put blinds up in both apartments."

I hum again as I keep kissing her neck.

"Because ... I, oh, Edward, I … ah ... really don't want to look over, hmm, and see ... Jasper and Alice, ah, going at it."

"Hush about my sister getting some, especially while I'm busy trying to get some of my own."

Bella giggles a little, but I soon shut her up as my tongue plunges into her mouth again.

~*FB*~

It's Wednesday morning and I'm back at work. I walk in and Renee rises to follow me into the office.

"So, Edward, how was the mini vacation?" Renee asks, as she puts down my coffee and the newspapers.

"It was good—very relaxing—just what we both needed. Bella's looking so much better, and I feel better, too. I think the privacy and relaxation did both of us a world of good.

"Well, I'm glad to hear it. You have a ten o'clock appointment. It was booked while I was off on Monday. If I'd have been here, I'd have told him to go fuck himself."

I tilt my head looking at her as she keeps talking, since she never really uses profanity.

"And, I am telling you now, if you need me here, I'll be in here with you. But, you should know that if he opens his gutter hole the wrong way, I'll not be held accountable for my actions."

I hold my hand up to cut her off, because she is really worked up right now. "Renee, who are you talking about; who is coming at ten?"

"Mr. I'm-a-fucking-dickhead Mike, freaking, Newton."

I glare at Renee and she holds up her hands. "As I said, it wasn't me that took the appointment."

I close my eyes and take a deep breath. "I'm sorry, Renee, I'm going to need you here to help hide his body, because I may just kill the little rat bastard."

"Fine by me, as long as I get one hit in, that is," Renee says as she walks away.

I pick up my phone as Renee exits my office. I make sure Caius is aware that someone allowed Mike Newton to book an appointment with me. I'm able to calm myself down by the time ten o'clock arrives.

Renee lets me know that Mike has arrived, and I make him wait for ten minutes, before telling Renee to show him in.

"Hi," he says sitting down on the seat across from me. I tilt my head and he puts his feet up on my desk.

"Mr. Newton, I'm a busy man – so what is it that you need to see me about?" I say and Mike just laughs.

"Look, I know that you screwed the pooch to get your place here, but I'm sorry to say, it will not be for much longer. I just wanted you to be aware that I'll be taking your job."

I outright laugh at him and he glares at me.

"Have some respect for me boy, you're nothing, and I'm the one who will rule this joint."

"Mike, you're only nineteen. Why the hell would anyone give this job, much less let you RULE the joint?"

"Because I have money, and money controls the world. Besides, I'm a much better looking guy than you are."

"Okay, well, if this was all you wanted, then this meeting is over. I'm entirely too busy to play games with you. You may have money, Mr. Newton, but it's my name on the door—goodbye."

"I screwed her first, and she's still mine. I got a taste of her, when her pussy was all tight. All you get is her leftovers – my sloppy seconds. This job and company are mine; mark my words."

I roll my hands into fists, but hold back my temper, because he wants me to lose my cool.

"Oh, and I had her yelling and panting; I bet you can't do that, can you, gramps?"

I shake my head already knowing that everything he says is bullshit.

"Well, it looks like I'm going to have to get my dad to get me your job, since you won't willingly back down. Don't worry, Eddie boy, I'll give you a job cleaning the toilets. Hell, I might even invite you up here to watch when I fuck Bella on my desk. You should have conceded when you had the chance, but I think firing you myself will be much more fun. See ya, douchebag," Mike says and then walks out.

I stand up and push my fists against the wall, knowing I need to calm down before I chase him down and beat him.

"Ah, well, I take it that didn't go well?" Caius says as he walks in.

I shake my head at him. "I would've killed him, if I had been outside of this office building.

"I'm having Phil look into pressing charges against Mike. There are those pictures, and it's clear Bella had no idea that he took them. Also, when the pictures were taken, Mike was already eighteen and Bella was seventeen. I know that statutory rape can't be charged, but photographing a minor without clothing on, is child pornography. I will do all I can to be sure that he burns for this. Good job keeping your cool, Edward."

I sigh and nod at him, not really wanting this or anything else for that matter to be added to Bella's plate.

Caius allows me to take some work home, so that I can get away and unwind. It also allows me to pick up Bella after her college classes. After I calm down and get some work done, I see it's time for me to go get her.

I park the car and head over to the door where she comes out. As I get closer, I can hear raised voices.

"Mike – let go of me. And for the last time, if you need a job, then you need to get an interview with Edward and Caius."

"But, come on, we've been friends for years."

I swallow moving faster through the people that are standing around as I hear Bella and Mike's voices.

"Yeah, I can really see how great of a friend you are, after everything you said about me these past few months. Now, for the last time – let go of my arm."

I feel myself panic as I can hear that Bella's voice is getting a bit high pitched, and I'm still trying to push my way through the crowd of people.

"You're a fucking slut. You were my girl and you fucked some other guy. You're the one that gave me that STD, you bitch!"

"Mike, go to hell; you're nothing but a prick," Bella yells.

I just get through the last of the people to see Mike slap Bella hard across the face. She falls to the ground, and I move to her and help her to stand.

"Oh, looky there – here's your poor boy-fucking-fuck-toy to save the day," Mike says.

I could care less about what he says; I need to look her over to make sure she's okay. I see her lip wobble with the hate-filled words he's still ranting. I turn and hit Mike square on the jaw. He looks at me in shock. I shake my head and move back to Bella.

"Shit, Edward!" Bella yells, and I turn to see Mike is charging at me. We tumble to the ground and I quickly overpower him. I'm so fucking angry that I just start to hit him over and over again. This piece of shit has had this coming from the second I first laid eyes on him. For that matter, he was asking for this the first time he took advantage of Bella.

"All right, break it up," a harsh voice says, but Mike's still trying to hit me, so I don't let go of him.

"I said break it up."

I get pulled off of Mike and pushed to the ground. Mike rolls and punches me in the face.

"That's it—you're both under arrest!"

"Fucking great," I mutter out.

"Can I check my girlfriend to see if she's okay? He hit her."

The officer looks at me and sighs. "Yes, but the handcuffs stay on." He pulls me to stand and Bella wraps her arms around me.

"Call Mom and Dad," I say in her ear.

"What? No! I'm calling Phil, he's a lawyer."

I roll my eyes and sigh. "Fine; call him, but call Mom and Dad, too, please, Little Chef?"

"I will."

I watch her bottom lip wobble, and I know she's just barely holding herself together.

"I'll be fine," I say to her, needing her to calm down.

"Like hell you will; I'm going sue your ass, and that little bitches', too," Mike yells.

"Make sure you eat something, okay?"

"Okay," she answers while sniffling.

"Time to go," the officer says, and I'm pulled away from her.

I watch as her shoulders start to shake. "Sir, please, can't you let me call someone for her? He hurt her and she is about to break down," I say to the police officer standing next to me as he's patting me down for weapons and checks my pockets.

"Can you call someone for her, please; she's been through enough?"

"Fine; what's the number?" I let out a breath and give them Rose's number, knowing that she's the closest person to here, and should be done at her school. I hear him talking, but I'm still focused on Bella.

"She said she's on her way – happy now?

"Yes, yes I am; thank you," I say knowing that it should only take Rose ten minutes to get here to her.

I'm in the back of a police car, and we're just pulling into the station, when my cell goes off playing Rose's ringtone. It stops after a few seconds, and then Bella's begins to play. I know that was Rose letting me know she's with my girl.

I'm read my rights, fingerprinted and photographed. I'm taken into a small room, where I'm told to strip down and put all my belongings into the paper bag on the bench. Once I'm down to my boxers, they make me put on this ugly bright green jumpsuit. I quickly sign my name, verifying that my belongings are all listed on the sheet the officer filled out. I'm then led to an empty holding cell. I rub my face, and sit on the metal bed with a sigh as the door is closed.

Thankfully, it only takes half an hour for Phil to arrive and I'm taken to an interview room to see him.

"Green suits you," he says and I roll my eyes at him.

"Is Bella okay?"

"Rose took her to the hospital to have her looked over. I know she has a nasty bruise on her face and arm."

"What? What do you mean her arm?"

"Mike had a tight grip on her, and her arm has some pretty deep bruises."

I take some deep breaths trying very hard to keep myself calm.

Phil and I spend the next hour going through everything that happened today, starting with Mike turning up at my office. We are soon joined by the arresting officers, who get straight to questioning me. I again repeat everything that I just told Phil.

"I should make you aware that the person who first reported this has filmed the whole thing."

"Good to know; go watch it and you'll see for yourself that I'm telling the truth."

They nod and say they'll be back later, but I'll need to sit back in the cell until then. It's another two hours before they come back to get me. I'm led back to the room, and I see the DA there, and I start to feel worried, until I see Phil smile.

"We have watched the video, and it starts just after Mike first grabbed Isabella Swan. She told him at least four times prior to you arriving to let her go. She also asked him to let her go, and told him he was hurting her. We also have him on tape trying to blackmail her. Then you arrived and he hit her; he left quite a bruise on her face." The DA puts down two pictures—one of Bella's face, which I wince at, and the other of her arm.

"I'm going to fucking kill him," I say out loud not really caring where I'm at.

"Through our talk with Miss Swan, we've found that after she and Mike had consensual sex, she was clothed when she fell asleep. Between that information and the photos that were real and altered—he has, not only of Miss Swan, but of a few other girls—he's in deep trouble. We have had a chat about this, and even showed the full tape to a judge this afternoon. The judge concurs with our office, that your actions in this matter are nothing more than self-defense. So, therefore, as of right now, you are free to go. However, Mr. Cullen, Mike Newton can still sue you in civil court, if he so desires."

I let out a long breath. I'm taken back to the room I was in and given all my belongings. I get dressed and sign all the release forms they have for me to sign. I make fast work of getting this all taken care of, so I can get home to Bella. I walk out the door with Phil, roughly six hours after I arrived in handcuffs earlier today.

"Where's Bella – do you know?" I ask still worried about my girl.

"She's waiting for you at your parents' house. She said she didn't want to go home without you."

Phil drives me there and before he stops completely, I'm jumping out of the car and running for the front door. I run into the house and I see my father and brother in the living room.

"She's up in your old room," Emmett says with a mouthful of food, and I run upstairs and burst through the door.

I'm in shock for a second, and then I smile seeing Bella lying with her head on my mom's lap. My mom's soothing Bella's hair, and Rose is curled up to Bella rubbing her back. Alice is sitting at the bottom of the bed, massaging Bella's feet.

"Hey, girls," I say softy and Rose gives me the shut-up-look.

"We just got her to sleep. She's been a bit sick."

I nod, kicking off my shoes and stripping down to my boxers, not really caring that they are here. When I reach the bed, Rose moves out, so I can take her place.

"Come on, Alice, help my fat ass down the stairs," Rose says, after side-arm hugging me.

"Love you," Alice says, placing a kiss on Bella's head and then one on mine.

"Thank you for taking care of her. Did they give her the all-clear at the hospital?" I ask still worried.

"Yes, and Jasper sat up here with her talking as she ate something. It wasn't much, and of course, she ended bringing it back up. But she did eat some grapes and watermelon, a while later. It wasn't much, but it was something."

I nod, agreeing that Bella at least tried.

"Okay, Son, I'll leave you to it."

I nod at my mom without taking my eyes from Bella. Before she leaves, my mom puts a cover over Bella, and kisses both of us on the head.

"I'm so sorry, Little Chef," I say kissing her and holding her close to me.

~*FB*~

"Aww – shit," I hear Bella mumble.

My eyes spring open; I must have fallen asleep. I sit up a little looking at Bella in alarm.

"Baby, what's wrong?"

"I must have turned and laid my head on you, and now my face is sore," Bella says as she gently cups her cheek. I switch on the light and move her hand out of the way.

"Son-of-a-bitch," I say, when I see the clear bruise. The fucker must have really put some force into his hit. Her face is swollen and deeply bruised.

"When did you last have a pain reliever?"

"About nine, I think."

I nod at her and look at the clock on the bedside table, and see that it's almost one.

"That was about four hours ago. I'll get you some more and some ice, too. When I come back, I will sleep on your other side, so when you cuddle, it won't be resting on the bad side."

Bella gives me a nod. I kiss her and then head down to the kitchen. While I'm there, I make some sandwiches and pour some juice. Once I have everything on the tray, I head back up to my old room.

I set the tray on the end of the bed and pick up the pain pills. "Here you are," I say, as I hand her the pills and a glass of juice.

She swallows the medicine down right away.

"I'm a little hungry, so I made us some food; just eat what you can." I pick up the tray and sit close to her with it on my lap.

"I will, if you tell what happened. Have I gotten you into trouble?"

I push the plate a little closer to her. "No, I'm not and it wouldn't be your fault if I was. They're not charging me with anything; they see my actions as self-defense. However, Mike is facing several charges, from the sounds of it. I think you should think about suing him for defamation of character and assault."

"Thank God, you're not in trouble," Bella says hugging me from the side. "As for suing him, I will talk to Phil."

I nod. As Bella and I eat, I tell her all about what happened in my office, and then at the police station.

"I told him more than once that all hiring was done by Caius and you. He wouldn't let it go and said I could hire him, because I hired you. I did hire you, but you were different. I needed people I could trust heading the board." Bella rubs her head and sighs. "His father has already called Caius. He did that last night while we were at the hospital. He was ranting and raving that you should be fired. He even said that if I didn't fire you, he was taking the matter to the board." Bella grimaces a little. "Since Caius was with me at the hospital when the call came in, I took over the call. I informed Mr. Newton that we were getting married, and you have every right to be in the job you hold. I also informed him that sooner or later you'd become the CEO. I also reminded him not only that the company was my father's and was left to me, but that I control more than half of the shares of the company. I made it clear to him that my father's company was much bigger and stronger than his, and that if he did not back off, he'd regret it. He knows he's not in the same league as my father's company. I told him, if he really wants to fight us, that's fine. I then reminded him, I'd happily take him to the cleaners and anyone on the board that sided with him, would find themselves fired as well. I also mentioned I was no longer paying people that are willing to stab me, or my father's company in the back. Do you think I took it too far?"

I shake my head at her grinning. "No, not at all, but I wish I was there to see it." I kiss her lips.

I clear the bed of our dishes and the tray. I'm happy to see Bella eat half of her sandwich. I get up and move to the other side of her. She lays her head on my chest and I crack the ice pack to activate it. I wrap it in a towel and hold it on her cheek. "Good night, Little Chef," I say softly.

~*FB*~

The months pass us by, and slowly things calm down. Mike was charged with a number of things, including: blackmail—extortion, having, making and distributing child pornography, first degree assault with intent, as well as wrongful imprisonment of a person. Since he gave Tanya the photos knowing that she was going to use them to blackmail me or Bella, he had no way out of that charge.

To top it all off, Bella also took him to court about all the lies that he spread about her in the media. There was documented proof that he claimed several things about her, including her giving him an STD. The STD rumor was easily cleared, as Bella had gotten checked out monthly, when she started having sex with Tyler. Her testing only stopped after the one time she had sex with Mike. It was noted that Bella was on the pill, but always used condoms and a diaphragm. Each time she was tested, everything came back all clear.

I tilt my head a little, when I hear all that she used when she was with Mike and Tyler. I knew she was on the pill, and for the first three months we also used condoms. Once we both got checked out, we stopped using condoms and she just took the pill. She explained to me that she trusts me more than she ever did them.

I was grateful that after losing the civil case against Bella, that Mike pled guilty to the criminal charges. He was given twenty years in Federal prison, because of the possession of pornographic material of a minor. I was even happier to learn that there was no time off for good behavior in his case. He is in a general population setting as well, so he should hope no one finds out what he's there for.

At our couples' therapy with Jasper, I brought up how we both handle stresses. Bella shuts down, doesn't eat much and often gets sick when stressed. I become very angry. Jasper and Peter gave us a list of things that we could do on a daily basis that could help. They said if we keep doing them all the time, then it would become programmed into our heads.

During spring break, Bella and I spend two weeks together back on the island. It was great just being us; we only left twice to go to the mainland to get more food and supplies. Other than those two short trips, it was all about us relaxing together. We arrived back yesterday, and this morning we got the call to tell us Rose has gone to the hospital. She went into labor and had a boy and a girl. Bella and I just arrived at her room, and we're both excited to see the babies.

"Hi," Bella says, walking in and giving Rose, who looks drugged up, a kiss. "We brought you some chocolate and flowers. We also brought some cute little clothes for these little ones."

"Thank you," Rose says, but she sounds like she's drunk.

Bella smiles down at the babies. One is in my mom's arms; the other in Rose's.

"Since we're all here now, we can tell you the names we picked out," Emmett says sounding really excited. "My boy's name is Theo Anthony."

My mouth drops a little and Emmett shrugs at me.

"He looks like an Anthony; besides this way it means you have to give your son my middle name. Okay, as for my precious little girl, her name is Alice-Bell and her middle name is from her beautiful momma, Rose."

"Oh, so you covered your bases with having used both siblings' names?" Bella says with a chuckle and Emmett grins at her.

"Rose said no to Emmett and Frankie, so I had to use you guys."

We all shake our heads laughing at him.

"Do you want to hold her, Bella?" Rose says and Bella bites her lip, but nods at Rose. I jump up taking Alice-Bell from her and pass her to Bella's open arms. I watch Bella holding her and my heart feels like it's going to explode.

"Marry me, Bella," I say dropping to my knee in front of her.

"What?" is said rather loudly from many people around the room, but Bella just looks at me in shock.

"Marry me – not today, but within a year. I need you to be my wife. I want this," I say pointing to Alice-Bell Rose, whose eyes are open like she's watching us. "I want you as my wife, as the mother of our children. You've worked your way into my heart and you make me a better man, a better person. I know some people would say this is not the right time, but for me, for us, it is. We are here on a great day—with our family, our loved ones. So, what do you say – will you marry me?"

"Yeah," Bella says on a sob.

"Yeah?" I repeat.

"Yes – I'll marry you."

I lean carefully over Alice-Bell to kiss my now fiancée.

"That was the sweetest thing ever," Rose says with a lot of emotion.

"What – he doesn't even have a ring for her to wear!" Emmett says loudly, startling the babies. "You slapped me over the head when I asked you and didn't have a ring."

"Emmett, lower your voice and we were in Taco Bell. You weren't romantic at all; you said: let's get married, doll, it would save us loads of money."

I chuckle gently. Rose still has tears on her cheeks from her emotions and Emmett just shrugs.

"How's that different from what he did?"

Bella passes Alice-Bell to me and gets up slapping Emmett across the head. "Leave your wife alone, and I don't need a ring right now, not when I have the cute babies to look at."

She takes Alice-Bell back and sits back down beside me. Emmett just looks at her, opening and closing his mouth as the rest of the family laughs at him.

"She just hit me," Emmett finally whines.

"Someone has to do it, Rose is too doped up," Alice says with a smile.

We all stay for another half hour, deciding to put off celebrating our engagement until Rose is home with the babies. So I see that as my all clear to drag Bella home to celebrate with her alone.

A/N: Hard to believe there is only one more regular chapter before the epilogue posts.
There have been so mnay questions about Tanya and why she was given the death penalty in Russia. Maybe one day very soon we will write a snarky little one shot about Tanya and all of her horrid ways, it would certainly be something different for us to write, are you interested in reading this if we do?
Anyone got any questions they feel are let unanswered?
What are your thoughts on this?