Happy hump day my friends! I am back with some more for you all. I literally just finished writing, so this is un beta'd, so all mistakes are mine. So, go light on me. I was really excited to get this out to you all.
Thank you for all the love you have give me. My little story is almost to nine hundred reviews! Thank you all so much for sticking with me and loving my version is Stephanie's Edward and Bella.
Stephanie Meyers owns all the awesomeness that is Twilight.
EPOV
"OK, Emmett...um...sit down on the ground, but, open your legs so that Rose can sit between them." Bella says, while Em does as he is told. "Now Rose, you sit down between his legs, but don't sit head on towards me, angle your body to the side...yep...just like that." Bella smiles as she begins taking a few pictures of Rose and Em alone. She is crouched low, moving her body to capture just the right angle of the pose. Damn, she is sexy. "OK, Alice, bring Lily over, and hand her to Rose." Bella, says, tinkering with setting on her camera while Alice hands Lily to Rose.
My tiny goddaughter is wide away and taking it all in. Em dressed in black dress pants with a gray dress shirt, sleeves rolled to his elbow and the top few buttons opened. Rose is wearing black dress pants too, only she is wearing a green silk blouse. And my goddaughter, well she steals the show wearing black leggings, with a simple green dress and black patten leather shoes, along with a green bow in her hair. The look so happy; beautiful and happy.
"Good. Now, Rose, hold miss Lily so that she is facing me, and resting on your knee. Good, just like that. Miss Lily...look at zia Bella! Lily! Lalalalalalala! Good one!" Bella cheers happily as she gets Lily to look at the camera. "Again, right here Lily!" Bella coos to Lily, while snapping pictures. "Em, take your hand, and hold onto Lily's hand. That is perfect! Lily...miss Lily!" The camera lets out a series of clicks as Bella captures a beautiful moment. "Perfect. OK, let's move into the house. It's getting cold out here."
We all get up, moving into the house. "We'll do the next shots in the living on the couch and chair. So, put on the casual look, so that is looks like you are just relaxing." Bella says, putting down her camera, walking to the couch and fluffing pillows.
I walk up to her and wrap her in my arms. "You are a natural at this baby." I tell her, kissing her cheek.
"Nah! They are making it easy, and Lily! She is just amazing!"
"She is pretty cute!" I say. We make our way into the dinning room where Bella's camera is to find Rose trying to wrangle Lily into her next outfit.
"Here Rose, let me help. Go, get your next outfit on." Bella says.
"Thank you! She is a wiggle worm!" She says, while dipping her head and blowing a raspberry on Lily's naked tummy, earning a loud baby giggle.
Rose leaves to go and change, while Bella pulls one of those onesie things and fastens the snaps. "Baby, hand me that jean jumper." She asks.
I hand it over to her and watch as she slips it over Lily's head. Then she slides on a pair of socks on her tiny feet, before sliding on a pair of baby chucks. She is too freakin adorable. "Vieni qui bambina." [Come here baby girl.] I say, stretching out my arms for her. She comes and I tuck her into my arm. She is a little squirmy, so I begin to sing softly to her, and she stops squirming and looks up at me, while playing with the chain around my neck. I hear the camera clicking. I look up and see Bella smiling as she snaps a few pictures.
"I couldn't help it. You two were so cute together."
"I can't wait to have babies with you." I say, leaning into her to give her kiss, but again Lily has a problem with this and swats my face away from Bella's lips. Bella and I laugh. "You really don't like me kissing your zia Bella, do you?" I ask her, tickling her tummy with my finger, making her smile.
"She doesn't like me kissing Rose either!" Emmett booms from behind me. "Come here my piccolo fiore." [little flower.] He says, taking Lily from me.
The rest of the afternoon goes by quickly. Bella sets up the casual shots of Em, Rose, and Lily. Bella and I even take some pictures with Lily.
Before I know it, we are in the back of the SUV and heading to the air port. Three other SUV's will meet us there to bring everyone to the hotel. The New Orleans crew is staying in a few hotel suites. Bella set up a dinner in one of the hotel conference rooms.. It should be a fun night before rehearsals begin tomorrow and Zafrina and I get everything set up so that the stage is ready for them on Thursday.
Once we get through security at the air port, we are standing and waiting to see them come through the gates. Bella is bouncing from foot to foot. I place my arms around her from behind and whisper in her ear, "Baby, calm down. Why are you acting so nervous?"
She lets out a sign. "I don't know. I mean...I just...they know me as Bella, the girl who ran away from her problems. They don't...they have never seen me as this...as Bella. A Cullen. Does that make sense?"
My heart leaps out of my chest, and I can't help but spin her around, taking her face into my hands and press my lips to her, kissing her hard. "What was that for? Not that I mind." She says, leaning up and kissing me softly on my lips.
"Baby, you called yourself a Cullen." I pull her into me. "You have never called yourself that. It just...it made me happy!" I say, because for the first time since I have known her, I feel like she finally understands, that she is a Cullen.
She just smiles up at me, and just as she is about to kiss me, "BELLA!" She whips her head around to see the crew coming out of the gate, Peter in front leading the way.
"PETEY!" Bella yells, as she takes off to Peter.
"BELLSIE!" He yells back. As soon as they meet she launches herself into his arms. He is swinging her around as she laughs and tells him to stop. I smile at the sight, not in the least bit jealous (which I must say I am proud of). I stood back and let Bella take in each of her friends that held her together while she was gone for five months.
Once the hello's are had all the way around, we are making our way out the sliding glass doors. The ten divide themselves up into the SUV's behind us, while Peter and Zafrina ride with Bella and I.
"How's it feel to be home?" I ask Peter.
"Ahh...well, I am happy to see my girl again," He says, "and to dance here in New York, but, other than that...not too much to get excited about."
"What about your fam..." I am cut off by Bella pinching my arm. I just look at her with wide eyes, like 'what the fuck did I say'?
"Not too good at the stealth there are ya Bellsie?" Peter laughs. "It really isn't a big deal, I have had years to process it all." He sighs. "Edward, my family doesn't...well, they disowned me after I came out. Cut me off financially, and told me if I ever came back to New York to never look them up."
I just stare at him, dumb founded. "I'm sorry man." I really didn't know what else to say.
"Don't be. I gave up sorry a long time ago. I found a family at Zafrina's, I have a great friend in Bella now. I moved on, I don't hate them because they can't understand."
"That makes you the better person, seriously. I am not sure...nope...I know that I would have hatred towards them. We got you, you're a Cullen now. You took care of Bella when we weren't there. You always have family in us too." I say, looking at him, Bella squeezes my hand.
Bella clears her throat. "Hey, were is Liam? I didn't see him."
"Man, my first half hour home and I have to deal with all the heavy!" He says, laughing. "We uh...we aren't together anymore Bella."
"What?" Bella asks, while sliding from next to me, over to him, taking his hand in hers.
"Yeah. About three days after you left, I found him with his tongue down some dudes throat after the show."
"Ugly motherfucker too!" Chimed in Zafrina, which causes Peter to laugh.
"Seems he has been seeing us both for about six months."
"That sneaky motherfucker!" Bella hissed.
"Yeah, Z got him though. Popped him one right after I gave him a black eye and a broken hand."
"I fired his ass! Even though it left me one guy short and I had to re-arrange choreography, I wasn't having him in my family. Pete has been with me since the beginning."
"Will it throw off the numbers we talked about for the show here?" Bella asked.
"Yes. We will have to see the stage and rework anyway, but most of the numbers we are doing are from back when you were dancing with us. So we will have just make due."
"Well, he is in school still, but I know someone who picks things up pretty quickly. I can call him. You can meet him tomorrow if you want."
"Sounds good, set it up. I trust you B."
Bella got out her phone and called Erik, while Zafrina and I talked about the stage and getting the lighting set up. Zafrina is a good business woman. She knows what she wants and puts it out there.
"Erik is free tonight, so he is going to come down to the hotel and have dinner with us." She looked over to me. "Why don't you call mom and dad and see if they are free. I got the conference room rented out, so there will be plenty of room and food."
"On it baby." I tell her. It is shaping up to be a nice evening.
BPOV
Once we got to the hotel, Edward had the bell boy take everyone's bags up to their rooms, while I ushered everyone into the conference room. I had a nice Italian, family style dinner catered in from one of the Cullen's many restaurants from around town.
When we walked in, the staff was already setting up the food in the back,and the drinks were ready to be poured. "Damn Bella! You...WOW!" Maggie stammered.
I just laughed.
"Is this food from Bella Italia? " Peter asks.
"Yes."
"Oh, I have freakin died and gone to heaven. When I was younger mom and dad used to take us there on special occasions. They have the best authentic Italian food."
"The Cullen's own it." I said to him.
"I had heard something like that." He said, smiling and putting his arm around me. "So, tell me. Things good?"
"Yes. Really good."
"Edward is uh...treating you good? You were welcomed back OK?"
"Better than I thought. I expected yelling and screaming. I got the yelling, but they were through happy tears. Lots of hugging."
"Good." He gives me a little squeeze. "Edward is good?"
"Yea." I say, I can't help but smile. "The night we came back, he gave me this." I say, showing him my engagement ring.
"Shut the front fucking door!" He yells out, grabbing my hand and looking at the ring, which in turn got everyone attention. Maggie and Charlotte come running over, and once they see the ring they are squealing with delight, as are most of the other girls.
Zafrina just smiles and pats my face. "You look so happy honey."
I take in a deep breath. "I am. I am...I am beyond happy. I know that we are young, but, I just...our hearts are one. That bitch and her drama behind us...our hearts have always been one. It's so right."
"God! I can't wait to have that dopey love look on my face." Says Charlotte. We all giggle.
Just then, mom and dad walk in, with Emmett, Rose, Lily, Jasper and Alice. Edward was coming in behind them, followed by Stefan, Felix, Jacob, Sam and Seth. Also, mom and dad's personal guard Eleazar and Marcus. Edward and I had given Zafrina and Peter a briefing in the SUV about the Cullen's supposed business, so that they understood the security. They then explained to everyone else.
Everyone, minus security, who spread out, walked over to us. Mom and dad gave me a hug, and then I introduced them to everyone. Mom, being mom, teared up and grabbed Zafrina and hugged her. "Thank you so much. Thank you for taking care of my baby." She sobbed.
Zafrina just looked at me, stunned, but then hugged mom back. "I was once a lost little girl too, I did what anyone would have done, should have done."
"I am thankful that you did. Bella is special to us." Dad said to her, grabbing her hand. "You will always, always be taken care of." Zafrina opened her mouth to say something.
Dad just shook his head. "There is no point in arguing. Ask Bella. You helped her out, in turn helping us out. In my eyes, giving her a job and keeping her safe, I am forever in your debt. My son told me about your building being bought out. You just pick a location, whether it is in New Orleans, or here in New York, you pick and it is yours. No questions asked. We take nothing from it. It is all yours."
Zafrina keeps opening and closing her mouth like a fish, she is so shocked. "Mr. Cullen...I..." And when her words fail her, she hugs him. It is sweet, and funny at the same time, because dad wasn't expecting it.
Just then Erik showed up. I introduced him to Zafrina and they hit it off right away. "So, you think you can dance burlesque?" She asked him
"Oh yeah. My sister and I seen your show. That was when we saw Bells. She and I have been dancing together since we were eighteen. We have the same training. I pick up choreo quickly."
"I trust Bella. You got the job. We start tomorrow at 8am. Can you make it with your classes?"
"Yea. No problem. Exams aren't for another few weeks, so I am good to miss a few days." He tells Zafrina. She nods and goes off to talk with Alice about costumes.
I look at Erik and we both giggle and hug. "I am so excited to be dancing with you again Bells!"
"Me too Erik! I have missed it so much." I see Peter out of the corner of my eye, and call him over. "Erik, I want you to meet someone special. Erik, this is Peter. We danced together in New Orleans. Peter, this is Erik, we dance together at NYU."
"It is nice to finally meet you Erik, this one," Peter points to me, "has told me so much about you."
"She has talked you up to me too."
I leave them to talk, as we all sit down to eat. We had antipasti, gnocchi, chicken, steak, vegetables, you name it, we had it! I was stuffed. I had already taken care of the bill for the food, so all they had to do was clean everything up, and the hotel staff assured me that they would wait for them, and I could leave.
As we made our way through the lobby, we were all talking and having fun, making plans for tomorrows rehearsals when all hell broke loose. Seth was the first to notice and yelled "Everyone get down!" And then shots rang out! Edward who had been a few steps in front of me talking with Jasper were crouched down with their nines drawn, as was dad. Emmett was crouched near the front desk. The rest of the security had theirs drawn and were higher up, shooting. Peter had himself on top of me and Rose, who had Lily tucked under her, laid out behind a couch, while Erik and Alice were huddled together just across from us. Zafrina and mom, who had been talking to each other were flat on the floor holding hands behind one of the couches in the lobby.
"Rosie?" I head Emmett yell out.
"I'm good baby, we're good. Take care of it!" She yelled to him.
For what felt like hours, when in reality only lasted a few moments, guns fired, glass windows were broken, and curses were yelled. Then, it was quiet.
AHHHH! Don't hate me! I know I left you with a cliffie, but I promise I will be back on Friday with more. Leave me some love!