Chapter 6 - A pitbull terrier and a trembling Chihuahua

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..xXOXx.

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AN: Elliott William Cullen is Edward's godson and nephew. He's a few months younger than Anthony, but seeing as he's Emmett's son he's quite big for his age ;)

..xXOXx.

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It wasn't until Edward was unpacking his suitcase he realized that he had forgotten to turn his phone back on after his flight. He slid it out of his pocket and flipped it open only to be greeted by the words "12 new messages."

One from his chiropractor, two from Emmett and a whopping nine voice messages from Alice.

Sinking down into the nearest chair, he ran a hand through his hair and contemplated his options. Finally coming to a decision, he dialed his sister's number.

"Edward?" she answered on the first ring, which told him she was hovering over the phone in anticipation. "I've been trying to reach you for hours!"

"Sorry, I went straight to the clinic once I got here and the whole thing took a lot longer than I expected."

"You've taken the test already? How did it go? When will you have the result?"

"They'll get back to me in 3 to 5 business days. The police want me to stay put until then, so I guess I'm in house arrest for the time being."

"House arrest? I knew I shouldn't have let you leave without a lawyer!"

"It's not like that, it's strictly for practical reasons, " Edward hurried to explain when he heard her worried voice. "It's because I've got the kid staying with me."

"What?"

"The social worker seems to think that it's in the best interest of the child if he stays with Mr. Possible Pop until the test result is back from the lab…. "

"Mr. Possible Pop, eh! What happened to 'he can't possibly be mine'?"

"I still don't think he's mine, but apparently my opinion on the matter isn't worth much around here. Apparently there is something about his facial structure that resembles mine. I don't see it... but hey, maybe I have a long lost second cousin I never knew about."

"Oh Edward…" There was a bit of a pause on Alice's end for a moment. "Family or not, I bet he is cute though, right?"

"Sure, he's pretty cute, I guess. Right now he's running around with a diaper on his head as a helmet, a sweater tied around his neck as a cape, and arms extended as wings."

"Aww!"

"Yeah, but you wanna know what's not so cute? Apparently the kid is not potty trained yet. So I can't be sure whether the 'helmet' is soiled or not..."

"Uh oh... A disaster waiting to happen..."

"It already has, twice... I'm counting on you to get here before he runs out of diapers. I wouldn't have the first clue on what stuff to buy. He's going to be needing other things too; he only has one set of clean clothes."

"What size is he?"

"He looks to be about the same height as Elliott… only thinner…"

"Alright, I'll see what I can find. Is there anything else you need?"

"Hang on. He's being awfully quiet out there."

"Out where?"

"The balcony." Edward mumbled as he moved closer to the window.

"Edward! You can't leave him alone on the balcony!"

"It's kid safe, don't worry. It's enclosed with glass windows and there's nothing for him to climb on," Edward explained as he poked his head out on the balcony and checked on the kid.

"You okay?"

"Is cold."

"Yeah it's getting cold. Come on in here buddy." Edward held the door open for Anthony as the toddler trotted into the room. He turned his attention back to his sister, "Hey Alice, I've gotta get going. The kid needs my attention."

"I want a full rundown later."

"You got it. We have a lot to discuss when you get here in the morning. I'll make sure there's a car waiting for you at the airport."

"Okay, I'll talk to you later."

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..xXOXx.

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After a long and eventful day the boy fell asleep on the sofa with a handful of McDonald's French fries in his fist. Edward couldn't help but feel relieved that the child had dozed off on his own without a peep. He wasn't quite ready to tackle the bedtime stories and the lullabies just yet.

It wasn't like he hadn't been around kids before. He had done his faire share of babysitting. He had a nephew, Elliott, whom he hung out with quite often. He liked kids… he adored kids… he wouldn't mind having one or two of his own one day…

Yet the more he thought about it, the more ill-prepared he felt… It simply didn't feel right. He didn't FEEL anything for this child…. No protective instincts, no ties, no pride… No nothing…. and that scared him more than anything had ever done before. This wasn't the way it was suppose to go down. Then again he should have known, nothing ever goes as planned.

"Come on kiddo, it's time for bed." With quiet strength, Edward slid his arms under and around the slender, small form and lifted the sleeping boy without disturbing him.

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..xXOXx.

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Edward got an EARLY start the next morning. Note the emphasis on the word "early".

Maybe the best way to put it would be to say that he didn't wake up on his own accord.

Something woke him up. He wasn't sure what at first. Groggy and disoriented he sat up straight, trying to figure out if he'd been dreaming or not. Then he heard it again, the sounds of fitful cries echoing through the hotel room and that's when he remembered there was a child in the other bed.

Edward fumbled for the light switch and got to his feet. Anthony was sitting in the opposite bed, wide-eyed and trembling like a Chihuahua.

"Hey, what's the matter, kiddo? What's with the tears?" Edward asked and stifled a yawn. "Did you have a bad dream?"

The small boy answered by letting out another wail that didn't die down for a good four minutes. That's how long it took Edward to figure out the real reason for the tears… a soaking wet diaper….

"Dang, you're all wet. Okay… okay… Don't worry we'll fix this!"

He moved the little boy to the dry side of his bed and went to the bathroom to get the stuff he needed; diapers, wipes and all that jazz. When he came back into the bedroom the child had managed to wriggle himself out of his diaper and was just about to toss it over the edge of the bed.

"Lovely," Edward mumbled as he crossed the room in three swift strides.

"Let me take that nasty thing for you, okay!" he wrinkled his nose and turned his head as the urine scent filled his nostrils. "Ehh, let's put it in the trash can, okay… "

"T-t-tow out," Anthony hiccuped in-between sobs.

"Right on kiddo, let's throw it out. How about we put this smelly thing away for now and I'll take care of it later?" Edward suggested and opened the nearest window and placed the trash can on the balcony outside the room.

The little boy looked at him like he was crazy.

"Ooookay, so I take it that's not how mommy does it…. " Edward grumbled under his breath and stifled another yawn.

"Mommy?" Anthony asked in a small voice.

"Aww man, I put my foot in my mouth with this one, didn't I? Look, mommy isn't here right now so you will have to make do with uncle Edward."

The little boy's chin was trembling again, but the tears seemed to be staying in, this time. Not taking any chances Edward decided to get the whole 'diaper change thing' out of the way as quickly as possible.

Armed with a wet towel and some wipes he cleaned the child from head to toe. Anthony was patient with him, even when Edward accidentally stuck the diaper tape to the bare skin of his hip.

"There you go, good as new." Edward reached for Anthony's hands and pulled him to a standing position. I don't know about you, but I for one wouldn't mind getting a few more hours of sleep."

"I seep, no bed," Anthony grimaced and cocked his head to the side.

"You don't want to go back to sleep?"

"I say, I seep," the child repeated with a sigh, then he pointed down on his feet. "No bed…Is wet."

"Oh, you have no place to sleep because your bed is wet." Edward couldn't help but smile at the 'duh' look on the child's face.

"Alright kiddo, my bed it is then… but no more accidents, okay?"

"Ootay"

There was no car waiting for Alice when she exited the arrival hall at the airport. At first she didn't think much of it. Edward wasn't exactly known for his organizing skills, but after almost an hour of waiting she was ready to strangle him… when and if he showed up...

She was in the middle of recording her umpteenth voice mail message when she saw him, not Edward, but a man in a pin stripped uniform, holding a big cardboard sign that read 'Alice Cullen'.

Grabbing her carryon, her handbag and her ever-present laptop she crossed the exit hall and approached the stranger with the cardboard sign.

"Sorry I kept you waiting," she stated as she extended her hand. "I'm Alice. I believe you're here to give me a ride to my hotel."

"Oh. Hi, Ms Cullen, yes, your brother sent me. I have a car waiting outside."

The suit was expensive and well tailored Alice noted as the man shook her hand. "Something tells me you are not an ordinary cab driver."

"No, that's right I'm Officer George Franklin from the Seattle police department. I'll give you a ride wherever you want to go but the main reason I'm here is because I need to ask you a few questions."

"Ooookay, and Edward knows about this?"

"Edward okayed it."

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..xXOXx.

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Alice was a tad bit upset when she barged into Edward's hotel room an hour later… but just a tad …

"Geez, thanks for the warning. Some brother you are," she exclaimed as she blew into the room and dropped her bags on the floor with a loud thump.

Edward, still in his robe and slippers, looked up from his breakfast and smiled at her.

"You met Officer Franklin, I take it."

"That man is like a pitbull terrier - nothing but teeth and arse," she said and let loose a string of curses that Edward would have found amusing had he not been so preoccupied with the kid.

"Hey, watch your language; we have young ears in the room."

"Young ears?" Alice asked, momentarily confused before she realized what Edward was getting at. "Oooh… You mean he's here? …. Anthony?…..In the room?"

"Nah, I locked him up in the closet… Of course he's here. We are having breakfast… or were until you showed up and ruined it. Now the poor kid is hiding under the table."

"Aww, I didn't mean to scare him…"

Her expression softened a bit as her eyes landed on the diaper clad little boy sitting on the floor with a crumbled piece of bread in his hand .

"He's adorable," she smiled at Edward as she knelt beside Anthony. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you sweetie."

Anthony just looked at her and said, "Hi!"

"Well hi yourself," she laughed and looked up at Edward, "Don't tell me you feed the kid Mickey D's for breakfast!"

"Hey Anthony, why don't you tell Alice what your favorite food is," Edward instructed as he reached under the table and pulled the little boy back up in his chair again.

"Burger…. and frieeeeees" The child giggled and took another bite of the saggy hamburger bun in his hand.

"He doesn't eat ANYTHING that doesn't come with fries…"

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..xXOXx.

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"Aww man, I think these pants are a bit too big for you."

"Biiig," Anthony giggled bouncing from one foot to the other. The little boy was wriggling worse than a fish on a hook. Tying the drawstring on his sweatpants was turning into a real project.

"Stand still and I'll fix them for you."

"And how are we doing in here?," Alice asked, peaking her head inside the bathroom.

"Miserable." Edward threw up his hands in defeat. "It would be a lot easier if the clothes actually fit him."

"Ha, excuses, excuses…. You're suppose to dress him not wrestle him," she teased as she gave Edward a helping hand with the drawstring. "But you're right. He's a lot skinnier than I thought he'd be. Then again Elliott is big for his age…"

"Elliott is a walking Michelin man compared to this," Edward said and took a one of Anthony's tiny little feet in his hand.

"Hey! Are you calling our nephew fat?"

"No, nooo… but I'm not calling him thin either. He's chubby and that's just the way it should be in my opinion," he explained with a meaning glance at the toothpick thin leg attached to the foot he was trying to fit a shoe on.

"True… I guess a hamburger or two actually won't hurt in this case."

The little boy jerked his foot from Edward's hands. "Hava burger?," he asked and clapped his hands together enthusiastically

"Not now, silly, we just had breakfast."

"Lato?"

"Maybe later." Edward nodded and reached for Anthony's ankle again "Now give me your foot back."

"Uh uh, you tickle," Anthony squealed and kicked his feet so that Edward couldn't reach him. "I don wan shoes!," he stomped a foot and stuck out his lower lip.

"Sorry, buddy. Let's give it another try. We can't go out on the balcony and play if you don't put your shoes on."

"Nooo, I say no," the little boy whined, pushing the shoes away.

Exasperated, Edward rolled his eyes. "Lesson number 153, reasoning with a two year old is like banging your head against a brick wall."

"Let me do this," Alice offered.

"By all means." Edward got up and handed her the shoes.

Alice gave him an amused look and shook her head. "Lesson number 154, socks before shoes. You should know this Edward, you dress yourself every day. The boy is ticklish, socks will help." She informed her brother as she retrieved a tiny pair of socks from the pile of clothes on the floor and kneeled down to finish the job Edward had started.

"Speaking of knowing better, have you called her yet, Edward?" she asked, as she grabbed Anthony's foot and slipped on a sock.

"What? Called who?"

"Don't pretend you don't know who I'm talking about. You set your new buddy Franklin on her. Are you telling me you did that without even warning her first?"

"If you mean Special Agent Swan, then no, I haven't spoken with her. She's a big girl, she can handle Franklin."

Alice mumbled something unintelligible under her breath and then turned her attention back to Anthony. Once the shoes were in place she put a gentle martial arts-type move on the child to get him to stay still long enough for her to tie the shoe laces.

"I'm serious Edward. I know you didn't part ways on the best of terms, but I thought for sure the two of you would have worked everything out by now."

"It's not like I haven't tried. I've left her plenty of messages, but she never once called me back."

"Is that all, a few messages? She saved your sorry ass, you know."

"I know and like I said, it's not like I haven't tried. I even went as far as sending her roses, thinking that would do the trick, but she still wouldn't take my calls. She had her mother do her dirty work. You remember her mother right, Renee Dwyer, married to some Californian up and coming politician. Mrs. Dwyer threatened to get a restraining order against me if I didn't leave Bella alone."

"Ouch! "

"Yeah, ouch. If Bella decides she wants to talk, she knows where to find me. "

Just then Anthony lost his patience with the two grown ups. "Gony baw!" he shrieked jumping to his feet.

"My, my, I think the boy just told you to grow some balls Edward," Alice suggested with a smirk.

"He said no such thing. I may not be hip with the kid lingo, but I do know what 'gony' means. He want's to play ball on the 'balcony'."

"Really? My bad. Oh well, if the boy knew what I know he would tell you to grow some balls. Edward"

"Right and if the boy knew what I know he would tell you to stay out of it."