2brown-eyes pre-reads all the words!

We're going on day 3 with Wonder Boy still MIA. He hasn't been into Cullen Corp, and he missed the emergency board meeting last night where Grandpa Cullen's will was the main topic of discussion.

I have feelers out.

When I know, you'll know!

Alice Knows All

Rose appears at that moment and drops off Edward's pie, so it gives me a second to collect my thoughts. He shoves a bite in between his perfectly plump lips. "Mmmm."

That scatters my thoughts even further.

"Uh…" I'm unable to form words for a solid ten seconds. "Who says I even want kids?"

His smirk doesn't fall like I thought it would. "Don't you?"

The assumption that I do brings me up short.

Do I?

After the life I've had?

"I think so," I say, pretty much voicing my thoughts as they solidify. "Of course, that would be only after I've gotten my shit together. I'd never allow my children to go through the things I did."

"Our child would have the best of both worlds," he murmurs softly, catching me off guard. "His father's wealth and his mother's beauty and humility."

Tears spring to my eyes so fast I don't have time to beat them back. "And if it doesn't work?" I whisper, allowing all the vulnerability I feel to seep into my tone. My voice cracks. "If we try this and it fails, for you, it's no harm no foul. It wouldn't be like that for me. Would I lose my child because I don't have the resources to stand up to your family?"

"I would never keep our children from you," he says forcefully. "I'll put it in writing."

"Ah, the prenup." I snort a laugh.

"No." He leans forward, his green eyes as firm as his tone. "The only kind of prenup we'll be signing is one where the things you need to see in black and white are addressed."

"So I'm the gold digger."

"Don't be so cynical." He rolls his eyes. "How about this? What if it does work?"

I open my mouth and then close it right back. Visions of me with this gorgeous man, laughing and kissing and loving each other filter through my mind, and it feels more like a fantasy than anything that could ever be real.

"Can I be honest?"

He huffs a laugh. "You haven't been?"

"Fair enough." A smile lifts the corners of my lips. "I don't know much about rich people and the family dynamics at play, but it sounds like you're rebelling. Rebellion usually brings fallout, and I don't want to become just another casualty in that war."

"Name your terms," he says firmly, drawing his phone from his pocket and unlocking it, fingers poised.

I roll my eyes. "You're ridiculous."

"I'm listening."

"Okay," I say slowly, ordering my priorities like I might actually do this. "An ironclad custody agreement for our possible future children, an apartment in my name, fully paid for, if the worst should happen. And fifty thousand dollars, no sixty so Rose can pay taxes on it, in a trust that she controls so that it can't be taken away from me under any circumstances."

His brows furrow, but he types away on his phone. After a beat, he lifts his eyes. "And?"

"That's all." I shrug.

"Spousal support?" he asks. "Child support? A car?"

I shake my head. "I don't want your money, Edward, and I'm positive you'll make sure your children get everything their hearts desire."

"So," he says, typing again as he talks, "a prenuptial custody agreement, an apartment on the upper west side near Twilight Academy where our children will attend, and a million-dollar trust in my wife's name for Rose to oversee. Also, fifty thousand per year in compensation to Rose for her diligent work."

"I did not say that." Even as I'm mortified by the amount he added to the terms, my heart thumps against my ribcage. To be made feel like you matter is heady, and warmth blooms inside me.

"You're worth much more," he says, pocketing his phone.

"I don't know about that," I muse, wondering for the first time if I could put a number on my worth. "But as someone who isn't interested in marrying anyone you've ever met before, how can you possibly make an offer like this to someone you've only spoken to"—I pause, looking to the clock on the wall behind the counter—"for a total of an hour?"

"Honestly, Bella," he says, smiling in such a way that my stomach flips. "This conversation has shown me that you're even better than I first suspected. You're not vapid or rude or jaded by the life you've led. You're this young, beautiful flower that is going to open up and shock everyone."

I take a deep breath and blow it out. "Okay."

"Okay…" His expression morphs, and the excitement brimming in his eyes only solidifies my decision more.

"I'll do it."

He jumps up, pulling me out of my seat and into his arms. I'm shocked at first, but he's so warm and smells so good that I melt into him, pushing my arms around his broad shoulders and hugging him back. Exuberance stirs inside me, and I can't remember the last time I felt this happy.

He draws back, our faces so close I can see the tiny, gold flecks in his irises. "Bella," he breathes, his eyes roaming my face in question.

I'm terrified, but I give a slight nod.

He moves in.

Just as I can taste the apple on his breath, a commotion behind us steals his attention.

"You can eat shit and die, you fucking asshole!" Rose is at the door, yelling at some big bulky guy who's dressed in a smart black suit that's covered in apple pie.

"Oh no," I mumble, putting two and two together.

"Oh, it's so on, Blondie," the guy says, taking a finger and swiping it through the mess before sticking it in his mouth. "Delicious."

My friend nearly blows her top right there in the middle of the diner. She charges him, claws out, but Charlie loops an arm around her waist just in time.

"I guess they won't be needing an introduction." Edward's lips twitch.

I burst out laughing.

Acutely aware of everywhere we touch.

She said yes!

I'm on ch 30, and it's gonna run over that another couple chapters, I think. Gotta wrap it up with style hehe.

So, with 25 days to Christmas, I "may" need to bump it to DAILY (all 7 of them) postings. Actually, as I type this and do the math, if I do 32 + epi - the 8 posted = 25, so let's go for that :D

Daily for the win!

See you tmr, and the next day, and the next… you get the idea :)

And P.S. The love you're giving this fic makes me happier than Edward's stupidly gorgeous smirk.