Hello my lovelies! I am here on a Sunday to make up for my Friday! Sorry I missed Friday's update, I was doing glad tidings with my hubby and little one.
What a Christmas present you all gave me by pushing me over seven hundred reviews! WOW! Way to blow a woman down with love! I love you all so much, and your words mean the world to me. You all inspire me so much.
I do bring some sad news. This will be my last update until after the holidays. Next week is jam packed with travel and parties and presents and dinners. So, I won't be returning to regular updates until after the new year. I am so sorry :( I promise though, I will be writing when I get the chance, I just won't be near internet all the time to update. So, this chapter is a bit longer than usual and no cliffies. All filled with love, tears, and joy! I hope you like it.
Blessing to the awesome Stephanie Meyer who gave us Twilight!
EPOV
That was the best fucking plane ride I have had in a long time. Once we boarded the plane, Bella curled herself up next to me and laid her head in my lap. She fell asleep just after take off, and didn't move the entire flight home. I relished the feel of running my hand up and down her sides, feeling her take comfort in laying on me. I finally felt peace, my Bella was safe.
We've been driving to mom and dad's house for almost an hour. I have noticed Bella has gotten quiet the closer we get to the house. I reach out and take her hand in mine, rubbing circles across her knuckles. "What is going on in that beautiful head of yours?"
She stays quiet, looking out the window. "I've been horrible. I'm scared they are going to hate me."
I pull her closer to me, lifting her up into my lap. "That could never happen. They love you, and have missed you like crazy."
She sighs, tucking her head in the nook of my neck. I dip my nose into her hair and breath in. My personal heaven. "It's Sunday, so everyone will be there for dinner, right?"
"Yes. You're a surprise. So, when we get there, Jasper and Emmett are going in first and make sure they are away from the door, so that I can bring you in." I feel her smile against my neck. I hold her against me for the rest of the car ride.
Fifteen minutes later, we pull up to the Cullen estate. We wait in the car as Emmett and Jasper make their way in. I watch as Bella begins fixing her hair and fidgeting. I grab her and and bring them to my lips, "Calm down baby. This is your family, they love you." After about five minutes Jasper texts me that everyone is in the kitchen.
We make our way from the car into the house. Once we are inside, I see Bella's eyes taking in the familiarity of home. Tears begin to form, so I pull her into me and kiss her head. "I am going to to into the kitchen, I'll come out to get you in a few minutes." I kiss her one last time on the lips, before heading into the kitchen.
Rounding the corner I am met with the entire family. Emmett is sitting in a chair bouncing a giggling Lily on his lap. Jasper is also sitting down with Alice on his lap. Dad is opening up the wine and mom and Rose are at the stove. Mom turns around and sees me. "Edward!" She says, coming over to me, hugging me. "I am so glad you're home safe. I worry every time you boys leave town for business." She kisses my cheek. She turns to walk back to the stove. Dad comes over and slaps me on the back, "I take it business went well?" He asks, still believing that we left to deal with a transaction of guns from the Russians.
"Yes. Everything worked out as I had hoped it would." He nods in approval, and walks back to the counter to finish opening the wine. "I actually have a present for you all. Just, just wait right here, I left it in my bag." I say, turning to leave.
I walk back out of the kitchen and see Bella standing there, waiting for me. She walks over to me and takes my hand. I kiss her softly on the lips and lead her into the kitchen. When we walk back in, mom is just turning around with a bowl of salad. She looks over at us and drops the bowl, bringing her hands up to her mouth. The shattering bowl causes everyone to look up.
Bella is already crying, as is mom. Bella steps forward and mom is running around the corner of the island and has her arms around Bella before I know it. Bella wraps her arms around mom's neck, sobbing. "Oh, la mia bambina! Tu sei a casa, sei finalmente a casa." [Oh my baby! You are home, you are finally home.] Mom cries into Bella.
"Mamma! Mi dispiace tanto! I. .. per favore, Non mi odiano!" [Mom! I am so sorry! I...please, dont hate me!]
Mom pulls back from Bella and cupps her face with her hands. "I am mad as fucking hell at the both of you!" She says, looking up at me, then back to Bella. "Do you have any idea the kind of hell you put me through? I have been worried sick! Scared out of my damn mind! Don't you ever do this to me again! " She half yells, pulling Bella back into her arms, hugging her tightly. "But, I could never, ever hate you! You are my daughter. I raised you. When are you going to get that through your head!"
Bella just lets out a sob and lets mom hold onto her. I look over at my dad who is just staring at Bella and mom. He looks over at me. "This was the business out of town?"
I just nod to him. He makes his way over to Bella and mom. "Bella." He breaths out.
Bella pulls back from mom and looks at dad. His tears he as been fighting to hold back, are now freely falling down his face. He opens his mouth to speak, but no words come out. He simply holds out his arms to her and she falls into him. His big arms enclose her in a hug, as they both cry.
"Perdonami papà?" [Forgive me daddy?]
Dad just sobs. Bella only ever calls him daddy when she is worried or scared. "Certo! Promettimi solo, non mai eseguito di nuovo." [Of course! Just promise me, don't ever run again.]
"Te lo prometto." [I promise.]
While they are hugging mom walks over to me and throws her arms around me. I bend down to hug her back. "Il mio dolce principe. Mi hai dato la mia schiena tutta la famiglia. Ti amo il mio bambino." [My sweet prince. You gave me my whole family back. I love you my baby.]
"Ti ho promesso mamma." [I promised you mom.] Mom just sniffs and pats her hand over my heart.
"I swear to fucking God Bella, I am going to surgically implant a damn tracker into your body if you try that shit again!" I hear my dad tell her. He pulls back from her, but keeping her arms in his hands. "Do you have any idea how fucking scared I have been? How worried I have been? The fucking families know who you are Bella! They know what you mean to this family. What you mean to me. What you are to Edward. They could have so easily taken you." He says, then pulls her to him again. "I have been so scared for the past five months Bella. The only other time I have been more scared was the night you called when Charlie..." He begins, but trails off. "Get it through your head; no matter what happens in the future between you and Edward, you are part of this family. If I have to march you down to the court and get your name legally changed, I fucking will."
"I'm sorry." Bella whispers. "For running. For hurting you. But, most of all, for not trusting you and Edward." She says. "I swear. I trust you with my life. I will never...I won't ever doubt you again." She says.
I see dad tighten his grip. After a few minutes, he holds out his hand to mom. She pulls me along with her and the four of us hug. Bella snakes her arm around my waist, while mom buries her head next to Bella's on dad's chest. Dad's head resting on moms head, and my head resting on Bella's. For a few moments we just stand and hold each other, all four of us crying. We are finally complete again.
"Fucking hell! I want in on this. I am a Cullen too!" Emmett bellows out, rushing over to us, throwing his arms around the four of us. Bella and my mom laugh through their tears. We all pull back, mom grabs Bella again, wiping away her tears and whispering to her softly.
Bella becomes aware of the sobs coming from the side of the room. Alice, still sitting on Jasper's lap is sobbing. "Ali!" Bella cries. The little pixie is up and running full force, throwing her arms around Bella.
They are both crying and speaking unbelievably fast through their sobs. Suddenly, Alice reaches behind Bella and smacks her hard on the ass! The fuck!
"Did you just smack my ass Alice?" Bella asks, shocked.
"Yes! Don't do that shit to me any more! We made a promise a long time ago to be there for each other, and you broke that promise!" She says, sniffling. "Next time you you do it again, a smack on the ass will be light compared to what I do to you. I will go all BDSM mistress on your ass if you pull that running shit again!" She says, before pulling Bella into another hug. They both start laughing.
"We will double paddle your ass blue!" Rose says, walking over to Bella, pulling her away from Alice. "You scared me...don't...don't do that shit to a hormonal, post pardom woman." She says through her tears.
"I'm sorry. I promise. If I have to spend the rest of my life making it up to you guys, I will." Bella says.
"Oh trust me! You will be making up, on an all day shopping trip with us! All day; cloths, shoes, accessories, everything!" Rose says.
"Hell yes!" Alice shrikes!
Bella just groans, but takes it like a champ. We all just laugh. I walk over to Bella, wrapping my arms around her. "And you will take my card and spend an obscene amount of money, and not complain about it!"
Bella laughs. "So, my punishment is to spend your money?"
"For you, yes. You hate taking gifts and spending money that you feel isn't yours. So, yes, it is your punishment. If you were Alice, your punishment would be having your cards taken away from you!" I say laughing.
"What is for dinner Ma? I am starving!" Cries Emmett.
"Well, as soon as I get this cleaned up, chicken parmigiana and bread." Mom says, while cleaning up the salad and glass off the floor.
"Mom, let me help you." Bella turns to mom to try and help her clean up.
"No, it's almost done. Just sit and...just sit and let me feed you." Mom says. "I have five months of feeding to do! You are too skinny!" Mom mumbles as she turns back to the oven.
Bella just giggles. "God, I have missed that sound." I whisper in her ear. She turns her head and kisses me softly.
A shill shriek pulls us from our moment, and Bella looks over to Rose who is holding Lily, who is happily bouncing on her lap. "She is so big!" Bella says, walking over to them. Bella crouches down in front them and begins to play with Lily. Before long Lily is reaching her hands out to Bella to hold her. Bella, happily takes her, stands, and walks over to where I am standing, cooing to her.
"You know, you still owe us our family pictures." Rose says to Bella.
"I have to buy a new camera first, but I promise."
"Why do you have to buy a new camera?" I ask her.
She looks sheepishly at me. "Um, I pawned it. The money I made at Zafrina's wasn't always enough to cover everything." She says, looking down at Lily.
I just breath in deeply. "Well, you will just have to pick up a new one when you go shopping." I say, dipping my head to kiss her lips. However, Lily doesn't like me doing that and decides to take her tiny little hand and slap me away, causing everyone to laugh. "Hey little miss." I say taking her little hand in mine. "I haven't kissed those lips in five months, cut me some slack." I say, kissing her tiny little hand, then sneaking in a kiss on Bella's lips.
"Um, Rose and I were wondering something." Emmett says, walking over to us. "We were going to ask you before...well before everything hit the fan, but, Rose and I talked it over and we would be honored if you and Bella would be Godparents to Lily?"
"Really?" Whispers Bella, with a smile on her face.
"Yeah. You both are forever, just like Rosie and I." Emmett says, while putting an arm around Rose. "You had a bump in your road, but everyone does. I wouldn't trust my Lily with anyone else. Ed, you've been a bother to me since my ma and dad died. I trust my life with you, and I trust you with my daughter's."
I am floored! I look down at Bella, who has tears in her eyes, a smile spreading across her face. She gives me a little nod. "We would be honored. I...thank you. For trusting something so precious with me." I say, hugging Bella to me, while stroking Lily's head with my hand, kissing the top ever so lightly.
"I will love her and guide her with all of my heart." Bella tells Rose, who rushes over to hug Bella and I.
I take Lily in my arms; she reaches out and slaps my cheeks with her pudgy hands. Everyone laughs! "I have to tell you little miss, there will be no boys on my watch. School, and maybe zia Bella [auntie Bella] will teach you to dance. No boys until after college." I coo at her, earning a slap on the arm from Bella and a 'hell yeah' from Emmett, and even Jasper!
"And no tight shirts and short skirts either!" Chimes in Jasper.
"We will inspect your outfits before you leave the house." I say, giving Jasper a high five.
Bella takes Lily from us. "And then zia Bella [auntie Bella] and zia Ali [auntie Ali] will show you where to hide your real outfit for after you make it through inspection!"
"Excuse me?" Dad says from behind.
"Come on! Did you really think I that I kept on my 'approved' outfits when I went out?" Bella asks, laughing.
"Yes I did." Dad says, crossing his arms over his chest.
"Mom showed me where to hide them in the bushes out front."
All eyes go to mom, who's eyes are wide with shock over Bella just ratting her out! "What? It is a right of passage. My mom and sisters taught me, so I taught my Bella. Now she will pass it on to Lily, and then one day her daughters." I like the thought of our daughter. My eyes, Bella's hair.
"Woman!" Dad smacks mom on her ass.
"GAH! Stop that shit now!" I say, as we all divert out eyes when they start kissing.
Emmett takes Lily from Bella and begins putting her in her high chair. I pull Bella into my arms. "E 'bello averti a casa amore." [It is good to have you home love.]
"Non ti lascerò mai più." [I will never leave again.]
I tilt her chin, and gently kiss her lips. "I love you so much my Bella."
"I love you too Edward."
"Food is on everyone. Let's eat." Mom tells us. We make our way to the dinning room and sit down. "Carlisle." Mom says to dad, to being grace.
"Padre celeste, benedici questo cibo meraviglioso che la mia bella moglie ha preparato per noi. Lascia che nutrire i nostri corpi e le nostre menti. Ti prego, benedicimi tutti a questo tavolo, tenerci al sicuro e protetto. Guidaci a fare le migliori scelte possibili. Grazie per aver portato la nostra famiglia di nuovo insieme per condividere questa tradizione bella famiglia. Nel tuo nome, Amen." [Heavenly Father, bless this wonderful food that my beautiful wife has prepared for us. Let it nourish our bodies and our minds. Please bless everyone at this table, keep us safe and protected. Guide us to make the best possible choices. Thank you for bringing our family back together to share in this beautiful family tradition. In your name, Amen.]
"Amen." We all say. I see Bella wipe another tear off her cheek, and we dig into the best Sunday family meal we have had in five months.
Well...what do you think? There were more than a few times that I had to stop writing because I was crying. I hope you all loved the reunion. Leave me some love and let me know what you think. Lots of love, Merry Christmas, and happy holidays to each and everyone of you. MUAH! I promise, I am not leaving this story, I just need to get through the holidays. So put me on your follow list so you know when I update next.