Hello to everyone out there. I hope tonights update finds you all in a good mood.
Just to give another request out there, I no longer have a beta for this story, so if anyone reading this is a beat or knows a beta and would like to help a girl out...give me a shout. That being said, I have been being my own beta, and sometimes I miss things. So please, forgive any and all mistakes I have missed.
So, I have had some request for a big more badass Modward, is that the over all feeling here? I would be more than happy to include a few more mob scenes instead of making it all B&E. I have a general outline of where I want this story to go, but I can make a few changes to fit what my readers want to read.
Twilight and all things surrounding Twilight belong to the awesome Stephanie Meyer.
EPOV
I was sitting in the back of the limo as we drove to The Waldorf-Astoria, where the ball was taking place tonight. We were stuck in traffic a bit longer than expected. I was the last one to leave the house, because I had to get the documents ready for Jacob to pick up so that he could give them to Benjamin. I was surprised at how agreeable dad was to my decision. It made me proud when he told me that he trusted my gut instinct.
Thankfully mom and Bella had the sense to have my tux sent over to the house. What would I do without those two women in my life, I thought to myself. The ding of my phone alerting me to a text brought me out of my thoughts.
I just had the most handsome man offer to be my date tonight, while I am standing here waiting for you in the lobby. ~B
Do I need to kill someone tonight? ~E
Would you really kill a helpless 80-something year old mad? ~B
If he was trying to take you away from me...in a heart beat beautiful. ~E
I told him I was taken by the most handsome man on the planet, who unfortunately, got stuck in traffic! Store the gun away. ~B
I just pulled up. I will see you in two minutes beautiful. ~E
Felix opened my door and handed me the red box I had him pick up from the penthouse earlier. "Have a good evening Boss. I will be here, just call when you need me."
I gave him a nod and walked into the hotel. I made my way up the stairs, and then she came into my sight. I was three steps from the top of the stairs when I was stopped dead in my tracks. There she stood; a thing of pure beauty. I was taken back to the moment I first fell in love with her; when I watched her come out of the back door of my parents house in the beautiful green dress to go to her prom.
Now, here she stood in from of me, in a grown up version of that dress. It was an emerald green, one shouldered, mermaid style dress that flared out when it got just past her hips. Her hair was pulled up in a loose, but elegant braided style. She was wearing the Tiffany bracelet my father bought her the year she came to live with us. Something she has never taken off since he gave it to her.
She turned around to me as she was putting her phone in her clutch. A smile spread across her face when our eyes met. She looked down at her dress, running her hand over her stomach area, then loooked back up to me and did a little turn for me. "Surprise." She said.
Somehow, because I don't remember moving, I was standing if front of her. I pulled her close to me and kissed her lips softly. After a few moments I pulled back and said, "Lei è ancora più sorprendente che sul notte del ballo." [You are even more stunning that you were on your prom night.]
She smiled and kissed me again. "I just hope I get a dance tonight." She said laughing.
"Trust me, there will be dancing." I said as she grabbed my hand and tried to lead me to the ballroom. I stopped her and pulled her back to me for one more kiss. I pulled back from her, looking her over, tapping my finger on my chin. "There is something missing."
She gave me that look that said 'what did you do?' and I just laughed. I pulled the red box from inside my jacket and opened it. Inside were Cartier diamond chandelier earrings. She just stood there looking shocked. "Edward! They're...they...it's too much." She said shaking her head no.
"Nothing is too much for you, la mia Bella. [my Bella.] I have waited a long time to lavish you with gifts like this. Get used to it." I said pulling her in for another kiss. It was soft, slow, and loving. Her hands rubbing against my chest, as she leaned into me. I loved the feeling of her body next to mine. "I have a lot of time to make up for in spoiling you." I whispered to her, our mouths still touching.
"Edward...thank you. I love them." She whispered back, giving me one more soft kiss on my lips, before pulling away. She took one out of the box and affixing it her ear, then doing the same to the other.
"You're welcome baby." I said offering her my arm. We walked down the hall that lead to the ballroom. Once we entered, the loud chatter of everyone's conversations assaulted us. "We are at table ten." She said. As we made our way to the table, my parents seen us and waved. My dad stood and walked over to us and said, "La mia bella ragazza è cresciuta in una bella donna." [My beautiful girl has grown up into a beautiful woman.]
Bella smiled and leaned into dad and gave him a hug and kissed his cheek. "You said that same thing on my prom night Carlisle."
"It was true then, and it is true now." He then looked at me as my mom came to join us and wrapped his arm around her, "We are lucky men to have such beautiful women who love us."
"Yes we are." I said as I hugged my mom. "Sembri mamma bellissima." [You look beautiful mom.]
"Flattery will get you a kiss on the cheek." She said as she kissed my cheek, I chuckled. "However, you just made it in time for dinner, you're late!" She said giving me the look that I think they must teach all mom's. I could scare a man into submission with one look, but getting this look from my tiny mom had me cowering back. I hear Bella laugh next to me and I see dad holding back a smirk!
"It was traffic!" I said, but the look still remained on her face! Shit, she knew I was working when she left the house.
"He actually had to run back to the penthouse because he forgot my present Esme." Bella said fingering the earrings I just gave her.
Instantly my mom's face softened and she had her hands on Bella's gift telling her how beautiful they were. She turned back to me, "You're forgiven. Diamonds are always worth being late." She said as she kissed my cheek again.
I laughed while pulling Bella to my side to whisper in her ear, "Thank you for saving me. Now I have to buy you the necklace, and maybe the bracelet to match."
"No more gifts. You can just use those amazing fingers to thank me later." She says, in a whisper.
I felt my cock stir in my pants at her words. "What about my mouth?" I asked before kissing her lips slowly, gently slipping my tongue into her mouth, earning a soft moan so low that only I could hear.
"Mmm! That too."
We make our way to our table where everyone was seated. Of course, the girls fawned over Bella's new earrings, and I got the 'nice job' pats on the back. We dined on an amazing steak tar tar to start with. Followed by a nice cold salad. Then a beautiful rare filet with potatoes for me, while Bella had the nice looking sea bass with vegetables. Desert was an amazing display of petite fours, tiny cupcakes, and other small pastries that sat in the center of the table for us to take as we pleased.
Bella was on her third pastry when she finally pushed her plate away and said, "Please, just take them away from me, before I can't get on pointe ever again!"
We all laughed at the table. "You need some meat on your bones." Voiced mom. "You are far too skinny. You loose too much weight when you have a show."
Bella just gave her a small smile and shook her head. She was used to mom thinking she was too skinny at this point, and took it with a grain of salt.
We sat and talked about everything from Bella's performance the night before, to the possibilities of opening a new club, to the upcoming family vacation to Italy that we were going to be taking, now that Bella's classes were over for the semester. It was nice to sit and relax and have fun with my family and friends.
The music began, and Frank Sinatra's Fly Me To The Moon began to play. I watched as my dad took my mom's hand and lead her to the dance floor. He twirled her out once and pulled her close, then they began swaying to the rhythm. I glanced at Bella who was sitting and watching them with a smile. I stood and held out my hand to her. "Posso avere questo ballo, bello?" [May I have this dance, beautiful?]
She put her hand in mine, and replied, "Ne sarei onorato." [I would be honored.]
I took her hand and lead her to the dance floor near my parents. I, like my father, twirled her out and brought her back to me. I wrapped one arm around her waist as she draped her arm along my shoulders. I held her other hand in mine and brought them to rest over my heart as Frank sang to us. Not long after that, I noticed Alice and Jasper and Emmett and Rose had joined us on the dance floor.
As the song came to an end, I leaned in and kissed her cheek, watching her blush. "I love this." I whispered to her while running the back of my finger over her blushing cheeks. She playfully swatted my hand away as we began to make our way off the dance floor.
A new song came on, Heaven (Cheek to Cheek) by Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong. My father walked over to us just as we were almost off the floor, "Would you be so kind as to dance with an old man?" He asked Bella.
She smiled so big, and so bright. It always amazed me the relationship that my dad and Bella had together. "Well, I don't see an old man around, but I will dance you." She replied, holding her hand out to him. I watched him lead her back out to the dance floor.
He spun her out and pulled her back as they began to dance. They moved around the dance floor, dancing a sweet waltz. As they danced, I could see them laughing and speaking to each other. When the lyrics 'When we're out together Dancing cheek to cheek', my dad pulls her a little bit closer so that their cheeks are pressed together. I feel my mom slip her arm around my waist. "They were always so sweet together."
"Yes, she was always meant to be a Cullen." I say.
"Yes, she was. I hope you are working on making that happen...officially." she says with a smile.
"Yes." I whisper, knowing that I want nothing more than to have her name be Isabella Marie Cullen. I know I will need a little time, I don't want to push Bella to fast. "I'm working on it. In time, I promise." With that I take her hand and lead her to the dance floor and dance with my mom.
So, we have started the ball. What do you think so far? Are we ready for some drama? Any guesses as to what it is? If you guess correctly in a review, I promise to send you a little teaser!