Chapter 57: time for jungle cake
A/N: Anything Twilight related belongs to SM. I have to issue a Tissue Warning for this chapter... enjoy.
I looked in the rear view and saw that Anthony and Elizabeth were both asleep, so I turned to my sweet one and spoke as quietly as I could yet still be heard, "Bella, what would you think about us buying a place in Forks? It's so beautiful and so removed from our busy lives in Seattle."
She looked at me with a confused expression, "Baby I do own a house in Forks, you know that. My father's house is still mine."
"I know but I was thinking something a little further out, amongst the trees and away from everywhere else. I can just see us going back there more often to visit Emily, Sam and Thomas."
I looked in the rear view again and confirmed that Lil Bit was fast asleep. Her little mouth was pouty when she slept and she was holding the birthday cake cookbook that Alice brought her. Bella was allowed one job for the kids' party and that was to make the cake. So Lil Bit had been going through the book with Anthony excitedly discussing the options. Apparently this was very serious business for them both... so fucking cute.
Satisfied they were still asleep, I turned back to Bella, "Especially as I know you want to visit your parents' graves more often and Lil Bit will want to as she gets older and learns more about Renee and Phil."
"Hmm, it would be nice to have a place as a family get away where it is just us. Maybe a log cabin style place?" Bella was clearly warming up to the idea.
"Let's think about it some more love and then we can look at what's available. We may have to build something if there isn't something we like."
Bella yawned, "That's a good idea baby, but maybe let's not take on any more 'projects' for awhile?"
I laughed. "You're right. No more projects for you my little dynamo, you have too much on your plate already."
She nodded, adjusted her pillow and her eyes drifted closed. I reached to the music controls, changed to a relaxing classical playlist and focussed on driving my family while they slept. It was great to be driving again. With the family in the car there was no fear of me speeding, in fact I was driving under the speed limit all the way. Tyler would be so fucking proud of me! I could've asked Tyler to drive us but I knew he had a weekend planned with Zafrina and I didn't want to interfere. Anyway, I loved to drive and have missed it.
We were on our way home from a short family holiday. We'd been invited to La Push for young Thomas' naming ceremony, so we took the opportunity to have a few days away. Things had been so chaotic lately that I really craved spending time with Bella and the children just by ourselves, even if the only time alone with them was spent in the car and right now they were all asleep!
Jessica had booked us in to the same lodge we stayed in when we came down with Caius. He came down this weekend as well as Jacob, Leah and young Seth. Caius and Seth were still seeing each other although things were a little tense as I don't think Leah is too keen on my cousin. Not because he's gay, just that she's not sure he's good enough for her brother Seth. I have to say the jury is out on Caius with me too. I am glad my cousin is trying to be a better person, being more open and honest with himself as well as others. But I had a long history of bad experiences with him throughout my life and I wasn't ready to be all Team Caius just yet.
Rosalie and Emmett came down for two days once Rose closed the bakery but she's so passionate about opening the new Bakery she didn't want to be away too long.
Rose was now a full partner in Bella's Bakery, both the existing bakery plus the new one opening on the other side of town. Bella made it all legal last week. She wanted to move into more of a strategic management role with Rose handling the day-to-day operations of the shops. They had agreed to continue running the bakeries the way the original store had been run, since it was a profitable, successful model but Rose had some ideas she and Bella were looking at developing, including expanding the eat-in menu.
I was broken from my thoughts by the sound of my son's sleepy voice, "Hey Daddy, I've been asleep."
I smiled and caught his eyes in the rear view mirror. I spoke quietly to him, "Yes and your sister and momma are both still asleep so we need to speak quietly, okay?"
He shout whispered to me, "Okay, Daddy. Where are we?"
It made me smile, "We are very close to Nonna's and Poppa's. Did you like visiting Forks?"
"Forks is a funny name. Is there a town called Spoons, too?" He laughed at his own joke and I chuckled. The sound of his laughter brought joy to my heart.
"Daddy?"
"Yes Anthony."
"Are you happy you married Momma?"
This was a common conversation with Anthony. Maggie his counsellor said he just wanted to check in that everything was okay. He needed reassurance that his family was safe, that we would stay together and that we'd always love him. He had been through his mother's divorce from her first husband who had rejected him. Her second husband wanted nothing to do with him and she herself had abandoned him. Sure he had been living with his maternal grandparents who loved him very much but he had felt the sting of rejection more times than most people had in their whole lifetime and he was only five.
I gave a quick glance to my sleeping sweet one, "Yes Anthony. I love Isabella very very much."
"Hmmm," he nodded. I knew we weren't done so I just waited patiently but I didn't have to wait too long.
"Daddy?"
"Yes, Anthony."
"Are you happy to have another son?"
Ah, this was his new worry. Poor boy. Since we found out we were having a boy he'd started to worry that he was to be replaced.
"Yes. I am very happy that soon I will have two wonderful sons."
He smiled at that one.
My turn.
"Anthony?"
"Yes Daddy?"
"Do you like having a little sister?"
He chuckled, "I love having a little sister. Elizabeth is very sweet."
"Hmmm," I said mimicking him from earlier.
"Anthony?"
"Yes Daddy?"
"Are you happy living with me, Bella, Lil Bit and all your new family?"
"I love living with you and momma and I love the whole crazy family." He spread his arms wide and laughed when he said 'whole crazy family'.
"Oh yeah?"
"Yeah. I love Uncle Emmy because he's so loud and funny. I love Auntie Rose because she's so gentle. I was scared of Uncle Jasper at first because of his scars but I love him now because he helps me with baseball and is going to teach me to ride a horse. I love Auntie Alley because she listens to me and helps me with my reading. I love Nonna Esme and Poppa Carlisle because they love me so much and I love Uncle Marcus and Uncle Aro because I am a Volturi just like them!"
"Yes you are, son. Just like me you are a Masen, a Cullen and a Volturi."
"I am a Williams too," he whispered.
"Yes you are a Williams too, just like your..." I was about to say mother but he jumped in and finished for me.
"Just like Grandma and Grandad," he said firmly. He hated talking about Kate and avoided any mention of her.
"Yes, Anthony."
A small snuffly sound came from Lil Bit and she stretched, "Hello Daddy. I awake now."
"Hello, my little love. Did you have a lovely sleep?"
"Wes. I dweamed of monkeys and lions. I fink I want a jungle cake for my birthday."
I chuckled because on the trip so far she had 'decided' on three different cakes so far.
Anthony picked up her cake book, "Elizabeth, will you show me the jungle cake?"
"An-thon-ee, you can be a lion and I be a monkey at our party."
Ant had been teaching Lil Bit her th's, so whenever she said his name she practically spat as she exaggerated the sound by pushing her tongue out of her teeth. He didn't mind and just smiled at her efforts. He started flicking through the pages and they were lost in their little world of birthday cakes.
As we got closer to my parents house, I called out that we'd arrived, the children cheered while my sweet Isabella slept on. When I pulled in Dad and Ma were waiting for us, they came out to the car took the children and readied them for bed while I took care of my sleepy wife.
I carried my little baby momma up to our room, changed her clothes and tucked her in under the quilt. She snuggled in and was still asleep when I came to bed a few hours later having caught up with my parents over a glass of my favourite Irish Whiskey as they talked me through the arrangements for the next day's birthday party.
I showered, changed into sleep pants and slipped into bed exhausted from the drive. All the while Bella slept soundly. She didn't wake at all until two in the morning when she woke me with her mouth around my cock. She grinned up at me like the naughty little minx that she was. I pulled her up and under me and we made love twice before crashing back to sleep again. Lord, I loved her pregnancy hormones, so fucking much.
The next morning was well organised chaos, if there is such a thing. There was a petting zoo setting up in the back yard. Esme and Zafrina were decorating. Isabella was finishing off the Jungle Cake. Rosalie was putting the last touches to all the food, Alice was setting up the costume and photography booth and Carlisle was keeping the children busy and away from all the activity.
"I am sooo glad I told you to tone it down Ma! I can't imagine what you would've done if I'd let you loose. You don't think this is all a bit over the top?"
We were all dressed in Alice's creations and the whole backyard looked like a Carnival.
"Edward Masen Cullen! I have missed the first four year's of my grandson's life and I am celebrating with him and my new granddaughter for the first time. NOTHING would be too much. So get over it."
I kissed her cheek, "Thank you Ma."
She blushed, "Right then. Is everyone ready? The other children will be here in a few minutes."
Bella came down the stair in her costume and Emmett ran up to her, picked her up and starting spinning her around.
"Hey Belly boo, you look so cute," he laughed.
"Emmett, put my wife down this minute!"
Emmett placed Bella down gently as she giggled and gave him a quick peck on the cheek. I pulled her into my arms and gave her sloppy kiss. She pushed me away giggling even more. She looked so fucking cute in her Lion King outfit.
After much discussion where Elizabeth and Anthony changed their minds repeatedly we had finally decided on a Lion King theme for the party. Alice made these amazing costume things that you just put your head through and they were a sort of headdress thing that went over your shoulders. It gave the illusion of the character without having an annoying mask or being in a full bodied costume.
The kids chose Nala and Simba for Bella and me since they had a baby in the end of the movie and we were going to have a baby too. Bella made a magnificent lioness and I took every opportunity to nuzzle her neck under the mane of her costume.
Lil Bit wanted to be Zazu so Alice made her an amazingly colourful, feathery Toucan costume. Anthony and Seth chose Timon and Pumba which was hilarious. Jake and Leah surprised us by choosing to be the naughty hyenas Shenzi and Banzai with Emmett as the undignified crazy-eyed third hyena 'Ed'. Idiot! Rosalie chose the more dignified Sarafina while Lil Bit and Anthony insisted that Dad and Esme be Mufasa and Sarabi.
Alley looked really cute as Rafiki while Jasper looked amazing as Scar. Lil Bit chose that character for him because she said he wouldn't need a costume because of all his scars. Once he put the headdress on he started roaring and chasing Lil Bit around Esme's garden until he caught her and started flying her around holding her high over his head. She squealed with delight especially when Anthony and Seth grabbed him around his legs and he roared his lion's roar again as they laughed hysterically.
I looked over and saw a tear roll down Alley's cheek but then she just smiled and ran over to join in.
We'd hired a bus so Tyler could bring the children from the Leah's day care centre at the Homeless Shelter over for the party. When they arrived Leah, Zafrina and Alice helped them all get into the costumes and took their photos in the booth. It was perfect since Anthony and Lil Bit went to the centre for a playtime each day and both had really lovely little friends there.
The children ran around and played all the games which had been set up for them.
Jasper carried Lil Bit over to the petting zoo Esme had organised so Bella and I went over with Anthony and Seth. All the children loved petting and feeding the animals so we left them to it. Bella and I sat on a haystack just far away enough to keep an eye on them.
"Baby look at Carlisle," Bella turned me to see what she was pointing at. I looked over and there in the midst of complete chaos with children running around him in all directions was Dad swinging gently on the swing under the huge maple tree with little Zane from the Shelter asleep in Dad's arms. Zane was a lovely little boy and Jacob had been working hard to help his father find a job as it was just the two of them since Zane's mother had died of a drug overdose. Zane was quiet and kept to himself, he was very smart but quite small for his age. I smiled at the sight of Dad holding Zane, he was such a natural. I hoped I would be that natural with our new son when he was born.
"You'll be fine Edward," Bella whispered to me. She always seemed to know what I was thinking. "You are so wonderful with Elizabeth and Anthony. You'll be fine with the new baby."
I smiled and turned back to see where the kids were. Lil Bit, Alice and Jasper were sitting on the hay scattered on the ground playing with the rabbits, Lil Bit was singing 'wittle Peter wabbit' to them. So fucking cute.
The boys were feeding the goats and laughing at their noises. It was great to see Anthony so happy. He and Seth were such great friends. We'd discussed it with Leah and Jacob and we'd all agreed to send them to the same school in September. The boys were really excited about it. I was a nervous wreck about it but I had a few months to get used to the idea.
I could see Tyler and Zafrina playing 'pin the tail on the donkey' with some of the children and chuckled watching huge Tyler with a blindfold on trying desperately to find the wall with the picture on it and going the completely wrong way. The kids all thought it was hysterical.
I saw Emmett and Garrett were setting up the food tables under Esme's instruction so I went over to help them leaving Bella with the boys.
I gave Garrett a one-armed man hug, "Hey Garrett! Where's Vicky?"
"Bathroom."
"Sick again, huh?"
He just nodded glumly.
We set the tables up and Esme shoo'ed us away while she and rose started dressing the table with cloths and decorations.
Emmett, Garrett and I perched on the stone wall on the patio to get out the way while still able to see everyone.
Garrett rubbed his hands over his face, he looked pathetically comical with his glum expression while wearing a giraffe headdress.
Just then Vicky came out trying to put on a Zebra headdress, she started to walk towards us but then stopped turned a weird green colour and then ran back into the house waving off Garrett who obviously wanted to go and help her.
Frustrated he plonked himself down between us again, "I'm just so worried about her. She's so sick and has been for weeks. It can't be normal to be this sick."
"Isabella had a hard time of it too, man. It was hard to watch. You feel pretty helpless," I commiserated with him.
"When Rosie was sick I wanted to punch a wall. I mean, I was so happy she was pregnant but then I felt like a selfish prick because she was so sick," Emmett shared what we'd all three felt.
We nodded, which probably looked pretty funny with our headdresses bouncing along with our nodding.
"Vicky won't let me near her. She doesn't want me to see her throwing up. Normally I don't give a shit and just help her anyway but today she told me to 'piss off and have fun'." We all smiled because that was so Vicky. "And this probably sounds really selfish but when she's not sick she's so tired she won't let me touch her."
Emmett gave him an arm punch, "I hear ya, but don't worry man, it doesn't last forever. And once the vomiting stops then the sexy times begin!"
Emmett and I high-fived each other.
"Good times!" I affirmed remembering Bella's sexiness from the night before.
I looked over to my sweet one who must've sensed my gaze as she gave me a smouldering, sexy look which made my dick twitch. I adjusted myself as subtly as I could and turned back to talk with Garrett who was watching us and raised his eyebrow at me.
I laughed with embarrassment at getting caught sharing sexy thoughts across a kids party with my very sexy baby momma. "Sorry man, what can I tell ya. Once the hormones kicked in for the second trimester my girl became insatiable. I go to work to rest!"
Emmett laughed at me, "Is that why your office was locked the other day? Were you taking a nap?"
"Ah, no. I locked the door because my sexy little lioness came into 'visit' me for a little afternoon delight after her momma-yoga class," I waggled my eyebrows at them.
The two men groaned.
Rosie came over and tickled Emmett's ear. I swear he purred.
"Come on you gossiping old men, time to bring the kids over for food. Can you go round up the little ones please?" We mumbled our agreement and she turned to walk away. Emmett was mesmerised as his head moved with the sway of her hips as he watched her walk back to the kitchen.
Garrett stood up and smiled, "So what you're saying is that after the drought comes the rain?"
"What we're saying my friend is once those baby hormones kick in, after the drought comes the flood!" Emmett slapped him on the back and went in search of his wife with a wicked glint in his eye.
Garrett and I split up calling in the children and sending them towards the tables which were now covered in delicious foods. I looked around satisfied that most of the children were seated and eating all the special party food treats gleefully with only my own children missing from the table.
I turned back to the petting zoo area to find that Bella and Lil Bit were crouched down near the hay truck trying to coax out Anthony.
"An-thon-ee pwease come out. You is my brovver and its our birf-day party. pwease. I need you."
There was a muffled sound that I couldn't quite hear but then Lil Bit spoke again, "No, they won't. Momma and Daddee won't let the bad ladee take you away I pwomise."
What the fuck? What bad lady? Who the fuck was trying to take my son? I picked up my pace to get around to them more quickly but when I turned the corner who should I come face to face with but the wicked witch herself. Kate.
I stopped frozen for a moment staring at the woman who had lied to me, lied to her parents and abandoned my son. If she were a man I'd have punched her square in the jaw. "Fuck."
Bob stepped forward, "I'm sorry Edward. We didn't think he'd get this upset. We wanted to bring Sasha to see her brother but Kate insisted on coming too. I am so sorry Edward."
I pressed my lips shut tight and shook my head. I knew if I let one word out of my mouth I would scream. I pushed past them and crouched down next to Bella. Lil Bit had crawled in under the truck and was sitting with Anthony holding his hand, their costumes lying on the ground next to them. Anthony looked at me, his eyes wide and full of fear. I sat on the ground and took off my headdress too. I reached my arms out to him, "Come here son, I'll keep you safe."
He got up and dove into my arms curling himself so small as if he wanted to get in my pocket. I held him as tight as I could manage without hurting him. Bella tried to get Lil Bit to go back to the party with her but Lil Bit shouted, "I not leave An-thon-ee."
So the two of them sat next to us.
We sat there for what felt like hours but would've only been ten minutes at most. The whole time I was stroking Anthony's back and whispering to him that I loved him and would never be parted from him again. His grip on me got tighter and he shuffled himself in my arms to hug me impossibly closer.
I kissed the side of his head and leaned back from him to look in his eyes, "Anthony Cullen, you are my son. I love you to the moon and back and I will NEVER, EVER leave you."
He gave me the smallest smile.
Bella leaned over to us with Lil Bit in her arms and whispered so only we could hear her, "Edward, why don't you, Lil Bit and Anthony go back to the party with your friends, while I get rid of the bad lady."
I looked at Anthony questioningly and he smiled again. So I nodded and turned to look at Bella who was staring daggers at Kate. Oh Shit. My little lioness looked ready to attack.
I stood up with Anthony still hanging on to me for dear life. I reached one hand down to Lil Bit who gripped me tightly. "Bob, Carol if you'd like to bring Sasha over to the party I am sure we can find another costume for her."
Bella took off her party headdress and took a step towards Kate. As I passed her she gave me an 'it's okay I won't kill her look' but I could see she was just waiting for the children to be out of earshot before eating Kate alive!
Esme, Carlisle, Emmett and Alice met us as we approached the party and when I told them what had happened, they all looked as though they wanted to join Bella for the Kill Kate party.
Zafrina helped Bob and Carol provide a headdress for Sasha, she chose a Toucan costume and Lil Bit took her hand, "You and me is two Too Cans!" They laughed and I wondered at how easily Lil Bit made friends with people. She was such as happy little soul.
I stood Anthony down on the ground still holding his hand, I leaned down to look in my son's eyes, "Do you want to say hello to Sasha, Anthony?"
He just shook his head, squeezing my hand tighter, looking over to where we left Isabella and Kate.
I couldn't quite hear Bella's and Kate's voices but I could hear that they were angry. We took a step away from the noise of the party, to try and hear what was being said. I wanted to make sure Bella was okay and not getting too stressed. Anthony was also listening and I wondered if it was a good idea or not to let him hear this. As we got closer we could hear them a little more.
"You've got some nerve telling trying to send me away. He is my son and I have every right to be here," Kate shouted.
I was about to go over and intervene when I heard the scarily calm, deep tones of my sweet one, "You. Have. No. Rights. To. MY SON. Anthony belongs to me and to Edward. You may have given birth to him but you are not his mother. You have never been a mother to my beautiful boy and you will never come here and upset him again."
Anthony looked at me and we smiled listening to my lioness protecting her cub.
"Your momma loves you little man."
He nodded his head slowly.
But then Kate's nasal tones like nails scratching on a blackboard made us both wince as she shouted again, "You have no right to judge me. Who are you anyway? You're a teenager with one child and another on the way. White Trash. We both know you are after Edward for his money. Why else would you be with him?"
I dipped my head in sadness. How dare she speak like that to Isabella. I was about to go over to kick her out when Anthony ran forward.
He stood in front of Bella defending her, his hands on his hips and such a fierce look on his face. "You go away Kate. You are a bad lady. Bella is my momma now and she loves me. My Daddee and Momma are going to have a baby boy and he will be my little brother, just like Elizabeth is my little sister. We are a family. Not you. You are not my family and I don't want you here. You are ugly and mean and a bad lady."
He turned away and reached his hand out for Bella. She took his hand and they walked back to the party. I walked over to Kate who was standing with her mouth hanging open having been put firmly in her place by my five-year old hero. I was so proud of him.
"Kate, if you ever come near my wife or my children again I will have you arrested. Now I want you to turn around and leave here right now. Bob and Carol will bring your daughter home to you later this evening, after she has had time to play with her half-brother."
She turned and looked as though she was about to say something but I had heard enough from her. I held up my hand, "Don't speak Kate. I am so glad you left me when you did, Kate. I can only imagine how sad my life would've been being married to a viper like you. Instead, I am married to an exquisite woman who is kind and compassionate in ways that inspire happiness and joy in every one she meets. I have two wonderful children and am soon to be blessed with another. You are a hideous, sorry excuse for a woman. I pity you for never knowing what a gift you had with Anthony. He is a beautiful, kind, intelligent, gifted little boy. I am in awe of him more each day. But believe me when I say, you will never hurt him again. He is mine and Isabella's to love and to protect." I leaned in close to her face, "And believe me Kate, I will do whatever I have to to protect them. Now go away and NEVER come back."
A look of fear crossed her face and she took a step back from me. Good. She turned and sped away from me like her arse was on fire.
Watching until she drove away I said a silent prayer to whatever power was looking out for me thanking them for saving me from a lifetime spent with that vile woman. When her car disappeared from view I turned to go back to the party only to see my son standing there watching me. He must've been there the whole time and heard my every word.
I gave him a small smile and opened my arms to him. He ran into them and we hugged for a long time before we turned and headed back to join our family.
Bella smiled at us as she looked up from the table where she was seated with Lil Bit on her lap. Sasha was sitting next to them on Carol's lap and they were all chirping happily away to each other.
Lil Bit saw us coming and shouted, clapping her hands, "Yay! An-thon-ee's back. Time for our Jungle Cake."
A/N: So Anthony kicked Kate's butt! Well done little man.
Sorry if I made you cry but if it helps I cried too. I apologise that this update took a little longer than expected, I started a new job (and it is wonderful) so I've been pretty tired. I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Let me know what you think. See you soon. Love you guys.
some credits:
Lion King characters mentioned are from Disney's Lion King.
The Lion King (1994 Film)
The Lion King is a 1994 American animated musical adventure film produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and released by Walt Disney Pictures. It is the 32nd animated feature in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series. Directors: Rob Minkoff, Roger Allers
The song Lil Bit was singing to the Bunny was 'Little Peter Rabbit' which is a children's nursery rhyme:
Little Peter Rabbit
Little Peter Rabbit had a fly upon his nose,
Little Peter Rabbit had a fly upon his nose,
Little Peter Rabbit had a fly upon his nose,
So he flipped it and he flapped it and the fly flew away.