A/N: Thanks for SM for inspiring us all with Twilight. Thanks to my beta and pre reader gooseonline. Thanks to each and every one of you for reading and especially for leaving reviews - I FLOVE THEM. So on we go with Edward's journey ... I do believe it is time for the Cullens to meet Anthony! See you on the other side.
Chapter 39 - brioche to die for
"Now kiddo when I say run you head for Poppa Carlisle okay?"
Anthony nodded up at Emmett with such a serious expression on his face I had to hold back my chuckle.
Emmett narrowed his eyes at Alice and taunted her as only Emmett could, "Alright Miss Alice fire one in here, Anthony and I ready for your heat."
I crouched behind home plate to catch as Emmett helped Anthony at bat. Alice wound up her pitch and the ball came hurtling toward Ant but he didn't cringe he held firm and even stepped towards the pitch. Good boy. I heard the crack of the bat hitting the ball and Emmett screamed, "Run Ant, run to Poppa."
Ant dropped the bat and ran to Carlisle who instead of waiting to catch the ball turned and opened his arms to his new grandson. Anthony ran straight into his arms and the two of them crashed over first plate. We all laughed. Emmett ran over and grabbed Anthony up off Dad and placed his little feet squarely on first base, before turning to help Carlisle up.
"Dad don't you know the rules? You're supposed the catch the ball not the runner!"
We all cracked up.
"Okay sportstars, time for lunch," Esme called and we all headed back towards the picnic tables.
"Did I do good Uncle Em?"
"You did great kiddo, you're a natural!" He swung Anthony up on to his shoulders and carried him back towards the picnic. "When we get home to Seattle I'm going to buy us season tickets and we'll go to every Mariners game - you and me." He swung Anthony down to the ground and patted his butt, "Now let's go wash our hands and we'll come back for FOOD!"
I was at risk of straining my smile muscles as I'd been watching my family expand and blend over the course of the day. Things were a little tense at first as Bob and Carol seemed a little tense but Esme and Carlisle embraced them, making them welcome in our group.
I watched as my brother and my son ran towards me from the rest rooms, I squatted down and reached my arms out as Anthony crashed into me and we rolled around on the grass. Emmett landed beside us and laughed, "You win kiddo. You're fast, just like your Dad. He was the fastest runner on the track team and on our football team."
Ant looked at me with wide eyes, "I am fast? Like you?"
I smirked at him, "Looks that way."
Emmett scruffed up Anthony's hair, which was also like mine and didn't need any help to be scruffy, "You are a chip off the old block, nephew."
Anthony smiled but then looked at me confused obviously not understanding Emmett's comment.
"It means you're just like me because I am your Dad."
"So ... you're the old block and I'm a chip off you?"
Emmett roared laughing, "That's it exactly Ant, you're smart like your Dad too!"
Anthony smiled at me and we just sat there and looked at each other with matching expressions on our faces. I think we were both just taking it all in. I grabbed his hand and we stood up together, "C'mon Ant let's go eat before your Uncle Emmett eats everything, one thing you need to learn about being a Cullen is to keep your hands and feet away from Emmett's mouth at meal times - he'll eat anything!"
Anthony laughed and we headed over to the others. Lil Bit ran over to Anthony and he opened his arms to her just like I had done a few minutes ago to him.
"Ant Knee, oo sit wif me pweease?"
"Sure Elizabeth, have you washed your hands yet?"
She shook her head to show she hadn't so he looked up to me, "Can I take her to wash her hands?"
"Sure, we'll watch from here."
He nodded and led Lil Bit towards the rest rooms. As they walked away the whole family fell silent to watch them. I looked over and all the women had tears in the eyes. Alice and Bella were holding hands. Esme had her hands over her mouth and her arm around Carol's shoulder. Carol had tears flowing down her cheeks.
Bella suddenly gasped and I turned to look at her thinking something was wrong, 'Shoot, we need a photo of that."
"Already on it," shouted Emmett who was holding his phone up and filming the two sweet children as they walked hand in hand away from us. "Rosalie would kick my arse if I didn't capture this on film for her."
I looked back to my son as he protectively led my daughter who was completely oblivious to everything except him. She was obviously singing something and skipping along.
"Oh Bella, that reminds me," Alice turned back to Bella, "I found the most adorable dance school for Lil Bit. They have classes for all ages, with a specially designed class for three to five year olds. It is all music, fun and movement. I think she'd love it. The classes are on Saturday mornings and Wednesday afternoons, can I take her next week to check it out?"
I snaked my arm around Bella's waist and kissed her neck, so delicious ... cinnamon and something spicy? I'd work it out one day. "It will have to be Wednesday Alice, tomorrow is my sweet one's twentieth birthday and we'll still be here. And next Saturday we'll be on a plane heading to Paris for our honeymoon." I kissed Bella's neck just below her ear and she moaned ever so softly and leaned back in to my chest.
"I'm just going to check on the babies," Esme said to Carlisle as she headed to the rest rooms.
Carol walked over to us, "You're getting married next week?"
"Yes, it is going to be a very small wedding, just family and our dearest friends since I don't actually have family." Bella paused and looked up into my eyes, I knew what she was going to say and gave her a nod and small smile. She turned back to Carol, "We'd really love you, Bob and of course Anthony to join us for the wedding."
Carlisle joined us then, "You can stay with us. Esme would love to have you with us for the weekend. You can catch us up on all of Anthony's stories, we've missed so much."
Carol and Carlisle shared a sad moment and I worried that it might get a little tense between them but then Bob walked over to us lightening the mood as he smiled at Bella and me, "We'd be honoured to join you for the wedding." He turned to my Dad, "And we'd love to stay with you and Esme. I think it would be great for us to get to know each other better, after all we are all Anthony's grandparents."
"We're back everyone. Our little man here didn't want to take Lil Bit in to the men's washroom so he bravely took her into the women's." Esme was holding hands with my two children and she looked the picture of pride telling us about Anthony's chivalry.
I leaned over to Carol and Bob, "You've done such a wonderful job raising my son. I will be eternally grateful to you both. Please know that I will always respect your place in his life as his honoured grandparents."
Carol hugged me and Bob shook my hand, "Thank you Edward. We love him so much. He's been with us since he was a little one we're all he's known really. But we want him to be with his father... to be with you." Carol looked straight into Bella's eyes then, "And we want him to know the love of a warm, kind, protective, ... mother."
A tear rolled down Bella's cheek and she whispered, "Thank you."
We both understood how hard it was for Carol to say that to Bella. She was admitting that her own daughter, Anthony's biological mother, did not give this kind of love to my son but she knew Bella would. I squeezed my girl, and then moved my hands to cover her abdomen where our child was safely nurtured.
"Momma, oo sad?" Lil Bit came over and hugged Bella's leg.
"No baby, these are happy tears," Bella reached down to pick her up but I stepped around her to pick up Lil Bit.
I went to hand Lil Bit to her when I realised I was surrounded by four beautiful bemused women giving me the evil eye.
"What?"
"Edward, I am pregnant not sick. I can pick up my daughter. Thank you for being so sweet but I'm not made of glass. I run a bakery, a catering company, an investment company and am about to sign a national distribution deal for Sweet Temptations. I turn twenty tomorrow, I am fit and I am able. I love that you care so much but picking up Lil Bit is no burden."
I kissed her nose as I passed Lil Bit to her, "Sorry love. I don't mean to smother you, I just love you so much."
The women around me chuckled, shook their heads and then disbanded taking their places at the table. I looked down as I felt Anthony take my hand as he waited for us to take our seats. I loved the feel of his hand in mine.
Lil Bit was in Bella's arms and playing with her hair when she asked, "Momma? wat is pwegnent?"
Bella's eyes widened and she looked at me in panic. Oh shit. I opened my mouth to speak but couldn't think what to say, when Anthony chimed in to save the day, "Pregnant means your momma is growing a baby which Daddy planted inside her, Elizabeth."
"I wov babees, momma." She wriggled and I had to resist the urge to grab her from Bella as she bent down to place Lil Bit on the ground.
"Food time, Ant Knee. I hungee."
He took her hand and they headed to the table while Bella and I stood gaping. I looked at Bella who'd started laughing, "Well Anthony explained that to her perfectly, didn't he? I honestly didn't know what I was going to say."
I shook my head and chuckled, "Sometimes I think we worry about these things too much trying to find the perfect thing to say while children just cut straight to the point and then move on."
Bella's stomach growled and I realised it had been hours since she'd eaten, "Baby, we need to feed you more often. I'm sorry, I was so distracted today with introducing Anthony to the family I haven't taken very good care of you." I pouted playfully, "Forgive me love."
She slapped my arm, "Well you can feed me now. I am starving and you know I don't feel sick at all."
Thank fuck. Hopefully we were at the end of her morning sickness and she'd gain back some of the weight she'd lost. I laughed as I watched her pile up her plate, "Take it easy love. Let's not push our luck."
Lunch was a noisy but happy affair. At first Bob and Carol seemed a little overwhelmed by our Cullen banter but they soon relaxed and joined in conversations. Carol was fascinated with Bella's business success and told Bella she often went to her bakery when she was in Seattle because her brioche was 'to die for'. Of course my sweet one had won their hearts already she was my angel after all.
Lil Bit had adopted Bob and halfway through lunch she got down from her chair, circled the table and climbed up into Bob's lap. Carlisle smiled at her sitting happily in Bob's lap and then looked to me. We shared a look of understanding, Carlisle was gaining a grandson today but Bob was clearly gaining a granddaughter. Our family merged at that moment.
After we'd done eating and cleaning up our mess, the grandparents all settled in together to chat, while Alice and Emmett were calling their partners to catch them up on the day so far.
Anthony tugged on my arm, "Daddy?" I loved it when he called me that.
"Yes Anthony?"
"Can we go to my meadow to draw now?"
I looked over to Bella who smiled and grabbed a picnic blanket, "Edward can you grab some bottles of water and some apples for us into the backpack so Anthony can take us to his meadow."
I threw the things together as she'd asked and threw the backpack on. I grabbed Lil Bit and swung her up on to my shoulders. She reached her little hands to my chin to hold on and I held on to them. Bella took Anthony's hand and he led the way.
Sitting atop my shoulders as we walked Lil Bit played with my hair and sang a little song about a horsey... "Giddy yup, giddy yup, giddy yup horsey... giddy yup, giddy yup, go, go, go ..."
"Lil Bit?"
"Wes Daddee?"
"Am I the horsey in this song?"
Bella burst out laughing.
"Wes Daddee, oo is my giddy yup horsey."
"Okay, little love, just checking."
She went back to her song and playing with my hair as I held on to her little legs to make sure she didn't fall.
"We're here." Anthony held out his arms as he invited us to enter the meadow. I lifted Lil Bit down and she ran over to Bella to take her other hand. We stepped into the meadow which was a mass of colours as it was filled with wildflowers.
"This is beautiful, Anthony, thank you for bringing us here," Bella squeezed Ant's little hand.
"I like to draw here."
"Okay, we'll set up our blanket and sit quietly while you draw." I dropped the backpack down and spread out our blanket. It was time for Lil Bit's nap so I reached into the bag and found the small pillow and threw it down for my girl's to share. When I handed Lil Bit one of her favourite books, 'Goodnight Moon', she lay down in Bella's arms and before the story was done she was in a deep sleep. So I reached back into the backpack to grab Bella her own book to read while she cuddled the sleeping little angel.
She was reading a book about microfinancing which she's promised to hand over to me as soon as she was finished. I was intrigued that her investment focus was on small low-interest loans to small business owners who would normally be considered high risk and who would not qualify for a loan, yet her business 'Artemis' turned an increasing profit each quarter.
When she talked about the book and its principles she became so animated and passionate, I loved listening to my Boardroom Bella.
I pulled out my own book which Jasper had recommended about letters between a Union soldier and his wife during the Civil War. I loved it and had promised to give to Bella once I had finished reading it.
I sat down with my book as close to Bella and Lil Bit as I could manage and then I reached out to seat Anthony between my outstretched legs. We both seemed to need to keep close to each other, it was such a new and wonderful feeling.
I looked over his shoulder to see to find that Anthony was working on a beautiful drawing of the wildflowers that surrounded us, he even included the corner of the blanket we were sitting and just a hint of Lil Bit's feet. It was not only well drawn but the composition was really interesting.
"Nonna will really enjoy taking you to some art galleries in Seattle, Anthony. Your drawing in excellent."
Anthony smiled at me and went back to his drawing.
Bella leaned over and whispered in my ear, "You know where else they have some excellent art galleries baby? ... Paris!"
She winked at me and I knew she was thinking of bringing Anthony on our honeymoon with us and Lil Bit. I loved that woman so fucking much. I smiled and nodded to her, deciding that I would approach Bob and Carol with the idea. Fuck I'd take them with us if I had to but I really wanted my son to come with us.
After about ten minutes of companionable silence Anthony spoke in a quiet voice, "Daddy?"
"Yes Anthony."
"Is Elizabeth my sister now?" His eyes never left his sketch pad but he had stopped drawing.
His question caught Bella's attention as well as mine and we both put our books down. I answered him trying to keep the curiosity from my voice, "Yes Anthony, Lil Bit is your sister now."
He was quiet for a moment but I knew there was more, so I waited.
"Daddy?"
"Yes Anthony."
"So you're my Daddy and Elizabeth is my sister."
"Yes."
"And Bella is Elizabeth's momma?"
"Yes Anthony."
He picked up his pencil and was about to draw again when he turned to me but looked at Bella from the corner of his eye. She smiled at him. I think she knew what was coming next but it caught me by surprise.
"Daddy?"
"Yes Anthony."
"If Bella is Elizabeth's momma and Elizabeth is my sister … does that mean that Bella is my momma too?"
Bella quickly but gently sat up without disturbing Lil Bit. She reached her arms around Anthony and I reached my arms around both of them.
Bella took his chin and turned his little face towards her and smiled at him, "Yes Anthony, if you want me... I will be your momma too."
As she lay back down to take Lil Bit back into her arms my sweet one gave me an insanely happy smile when Anthony quietly replied, "Yes, I want you to be my momma too."
A/N: So the Cullen family is larger now. Bella's birthday tomorrow, I wonder what they'll do? I'd love to hear your thoughts on their day in the park.
Book credits:
Lil Bit's book (an all time favourite) - 'Goodnight Moon' written by Margaret Wise Brown, pictures by Clement Hurd Publisher: HarperFestival (January 23, 2007) ISBN-10: 0694003611; ISBN-13: 978-0694003617
Bella's book on micro financing (I love this book): 'Fortune at the Bottom of the Pyramid: Eradicating Poverty Through Profits' by C.K. Prahalad. Publisher: Dorling Kindersley Pvt Ltd (December 1, 2006) ISBN-10: 8177587765; ISBN-13: 978-8177587760
Edward's book (so amazing they only saw each once in six years but wrote to each): 'Dear Catharine, Dear Taylor: The Civil War Letters of a Union Soldier and His Wife' by Taylor Peirce, Richard L. Kiper, Catherine L. Peirce and Donna Vaughn Publisher: Univ Pr of Kansas; annotated edition edition (November 2002) ISBN-10: 070061205X; ISBN-13: 978-0700612055