No copyright infringement is intended, and Twilight doesn't belong to me.
Thank you to the wonderful and talented Dowlingnana for again wielding her red pen, to shape me into a better writer.
Any and all mistakes are mine, I still dabble.
Sorry for the long delay. I will never walk away, things in real life are just BLAH and UGH lately.
Hope this finds you well.
Etched Swan Chapter 20
After breakfast is finished, Esme tells us she has the cleanup taken care of. We need to head out to purchase the things we wanted to get before our flight. Our first stop is Target, where we fill an entire cart full of things for Sasha. She already has a bunch of clothing, but mostly things like uniforms she wears while at school. We also get a few games, and electronics that are age appropriate for Sasha. When we are done with Target, we head downtown to the Magnificent Mile. We go to a few of the places Edward wanted to take me and Sasha. Then we head to The American Girl store. Edward had Esme set up a small shopping trip. We arrive at eleven when they open, and are greeted by our personal shopper, Lauren. We have lunch in their in- store restaurant and then Sasha picks out the doll she wants. We end up spending two hours there, and all of the big items will be shipped to our home in Washington. When we leave Sasha has her new friend, Blair Wilson. The doll has long red curly hair and green colored eyes, and Sasha has the book about Blair written by Jennifer Castle. This doll was perfect for Sasha, because in the story of her life, Blair loves to cook. After we leave, we head back to the Cullen Estate so that we can all leave together for our flight to Seattle.
When we arrive, Esme lets us know that Carmen, Eleazar and Diego are meeting us at the airport. We are taking a private plane to Seattle that Aro and Randall set up, so that we can bring more things without the hassle. It is just after three-thirty when we are all settled on board, and we set off toward Washington.
After the flight lifts off and the seat belt light is off, Edward and I settle at a table with Sasha and Maggie and play some of the new board games we purchased. We spend the flight laughing and enjoying ourselves. When we are about twenty minutes from landing, we get all the stuff put away and move back to our seats and get buckled in.
When the plane lands, all of our luggage and things from the plane are loaded into a box truck. There is a moving crew there, and our belongings are being delivered to the Airbnb, or our home respectively. This was another thing that Aro helped plan out with Randall. As well as a rental vehicle for Randall to use to transport those staying at the Airbnb.
It's shortly after six in the evening when we make our way into the terminal. Carlisle, Esme, Carmen, Eleazar, Diego, Waylon, Randall and Cora all say their goodbyes for the night.
Edward, Sasha, Maggie and I make our way out to the loading area, where we are met by an enthusiastic Alice.
Jasper, Emmett, and Rose are all waiting at our house for us to arrive. Rose is using the lasagnas that I had prepared before we left for Chicago to feed us all tonight. She also got several salads, and ordered pies for dessert.
As I predicted, Alice loves Sasha and Maggie immediately, and I drive us home, so that Alice, Maggie and Sasha can sit together in the backseat. I smile at Edward, as we listen to Alice self-dub herself as Aunt Ali. Maggie seems to like Alice, as much as Sasha, as all three of them entertain each other with their animated conversation. They even make plans to go shopping and get the stuff to help decorate Sasha's bedroom. Alice warns them that they have to include Aunt Rose, since she is the expert in decorating. The forty-minute drive is filled with tons of plan making and laughter.
When we arrive at the house, there are streamers and a welcome home banner hanging along the fence. I smile seeing how much my family loves and supports Edward.
When we pile out of the Escalade, Emmett comes out the back door. Edward and I stand back and watch as Emmett is right there, waiting to meet Sasha.
"Hi, Uncle Emmett," Sasha smiles up at him and he bends down and gives her a huge Emmett style hug.
I laugh as she lets out giggles when he picks her up and spins her around.
"Okay, Em, let me introduce Sasha and Maggie to everyone else," Edward says as Emmett puts Sasha down and shakes Maggie's hand. "Okay sweetheart, you obviously have already met your Uncle Emmett, this is his better half, your Aunt Rose, and that quiet guy over there is your Uncle Jasper."
"Hi, Aunt Rose, I want you to help me decorate my room."
"I plan on it, Sasha, and we will have so much fun. Hi, Maggie, it is great to meet you, thanks for taking such wonderful care of this sweet girl."
"Of course," Maggie says, shaking Rose's hand.
"Hi, Sasha, did you have a nice flight?" Jasper asks.
"I did, and I am so happy to be here."
"It's nice to meet you, Maggie," Jasper says, giving her a wave.
"We are all happy you and Maggie are here with us," I say.
After we get inside and Edward, Sasha and I have a chance to clean up, we sit down to dinner.
"This is so good," Maggie says after taking a bite of the lasagna.
"Bella made it, and she is going to teach me to make it too," Sasha states with a huge smile.
Everyone agrees that my pasta is the best.
Emmett and Jasper tell us how the truck from Chicago arrived earlier this morning and all the boxes marked Maggie were put in the basement apartment, and all of Sasha's boxes were put upstairs. We agree to work on unpacking tomorrow, and just relax for the night tonight.
After dinner and dessert, we show Sasha and Maggie the whole house, and we even tour Alice and Jasper's home and Emmett and Rose's. Maggie, Rose and Alice seem to hit it off exceptionally well and I can see we all will be good friends.
Sasha, tells us what color she would like her room painted, and Edward, Emmett and Jasper promise her they will go get the paint in the morning and get it done. Sasha is excited about the sleepover that Alice and Rose planned and set up in the living room of the basement.
By nine o'clock us girls all decide to head downstairs. The guys are all hanging out at Rose and Emmett's to play some video games.
I wake in the morning, like normal at the crack of dawn. I gently get up so I don't wake or disturb Sasha, who wanted to sleep next to me. I smile looking at my best friends, Sasha and Maggie all still sleeping peacefully. Taking the back steps up to the four seasons room, I head for my bedroom. I want to shower and get dressed for the day before starting breakfast. I smile when I see Edward is sleeping in our bed. After my shower, Edward is awake, but still in bed.
"I didn't mean to wake you," I say with a smile. "But, good morning. How did you sleep?"
"Good morning, I slept okay, but missed you beside me."
"I slept okay, but I had a cuddler near me all night. Sasha loves to cuddle, and I think one of the things we need to get her is a body pillow to sleep with. It was really cute, and Blair is a cute doll, but not comfortable to have her wedged between me and Sasha all night. I slept well though, she is such a lovely girl, Edward. You honestly could not have been blessed with a more wonderful child."
"You love her," he says.
"Yeah, I do love her. It is impossible not to."
"Yeah, I loved her as soon as I knew she was in Kate's belly. It about killed me to think she was aborted. I feel as if a piece of me that has been long dead is now alive and thriving. I really have to make a time soon to see doctor Banner. I think it would be good for all of us. I know we have Waylon, and I know he will see us all together, I just think it is best to have someone for me. If you want, I can see if he can recommend someone for just you."
"I have someone I talk to, he doesn't give me any advice, but he listens and I usually work things out on my own pretty well."
"Bella, I love you, but talking to Jerry's headstone is not going to help keep you and your perspective clear."
"I know," I sigh, sitting down next to Edward.
"I love you, Bella, and I am so happy that you are in my life, so we, together, can share our lives with Sasha."
"You are such a wonderful man, Edward. I love you too, and Sasha is such a wonderful child."
"I meant what I said in Chicago," Edward says as he looks me in the eyes.
"You said quite a few things in Chicago," I say with a smile.
"Bella, I'm not asking now, but I want you to be my wife. I want you to be the mother Sasha has never had. I want us to be a family."
"I know things for us have come together fast, Edward, but I want that too. You make me whole."
We kiss, and continue to cuddle for a short while. When I start to hear movement downstairs I get up and head down to start breakfast.
After a fun filled breakfast, our house fills with the likes of Carlisle, Esme, Deigo, Carmen, Eleazar, and Waylon. We all split off, the guys all go to get paint, and us ladies all head out to the stores to find more things to help decorate Sasha's room.
Rose drives, and Alice rides in the passenger seat. Grandma Esme, and Grandma Carmen as they called themselves this morning, are both in the second row with Sasha between them. Maggie and I sit in the back.
The talking is loud and fun, the two grandmas are busy interacting with Sasha, Alice and Rose.
"Maggie, can I ask you a few questions?"
"Of course," Maggie says with a smile.
"Are you interested in sticking around this area?" I ask, wanting to see what she thinks. I know she loves Sasha, but I want her to choose for herself.
"I haven't seen much, but so far other than being a bit dreary, it doesn't seem too bad. I really don't have much family or anything, and honestly for the longest time, Sasha has been the only thing close to family I have had. So, I guess in that aspect I would like to be close to where she is."
"Edward and I want that too, but we don't want you to feel like you have to feel obligated. We are glad you love her, and have been her family. Have you ever thought of what you would like to do for work, besides being a caretaker, or are you interested in going to school?" I ask.
"When I was younger, I wanted to be a nurse, but I don't think I could see traumatic kinds of stuff and be okay. I really enjoy teaching Sasha things, so I guess I'd like to be a teacher or take some classes to see what I would like. I did take a lot of classes online over the past several years, and I have all of the general required college course work completed."
"Well, we are not far from the University of Washington, and we would be more than happy to help you get the ball rolling on anything you want or need as far as that goes."
"I want to make sure we get Sasha settled in before I just up and move," Maggie whispers, like she is worried.
"Maggie, neither Edward nor I want you out of Sasha's life, as a matter of a fact, we were thinking that after she was comfortable, and things are in a routine for all of us, that we might offer you your own space. We want to keep you close, and allow you to use or rent one of the apartments we are having remodeled above our shop. Again, this is not a right now thing, and for now we are perfectly happy with you being in our home."
"Thank you," Maggie whispers.
"Of course. I cannot begin to tell you how very much appreciated you are, by all of us. You have done an amazing job caring for Sasha, and we are eternally in your debt," I say.
We arrive at the At Home store and all pile out, to go look at what they offer in way of girl's bedroom decorations.
After two hours, and goodness knows how many things were sent to be tallied for both Sasha and Maggie, Esme whipped out a Black Amex card and said put everything on this.
We set up for everything to be delivered the next day, and we left.
Our next stop was the Outlet Collection, where we went from store to store for a while, before going to Johnny Rockets for lunch.
After we all eat, everyone decides we need to go to a few more stores.
I tell them I will catch up and call Edward.
"Hello."
"Hey, how is things going for you guys?" I ask.
"Well, the room is painted, we got that quick dry paint. We have the ceiling fan going, as well as some box fans to help it dry. We've already pulled up the protective covering on the floor, and Emmett is vacuuming the room right now. Jasper, Diego, and my dad are putting together the entertainment center, desk and bookcase. Once the paint is dry, it says it takes a few days to completely cure, but as long as we wait to hang anything heavy on the walls, they will be fine. It doesn't even smell bad, which surprised me."
"That is good, we have gotten so much stuff for her room, and bathroom. I'm glad we decided to put her into the other master bedroom, instead of a smaller bedroom. She will need the room for all her stuff."
"What do you want to do for dinner, my dad said something about all of us getting together?"
"I think it would be best if we went someplace, the house is going to be busy as it is. I think for tonight it needs to be us, Sasha and Maggie staying at our place. Everyone else needs to go home. Sasha can sleep in the spare room for the night, or downstairs with Maggie if she wants. I just think after dinner, we need a quiet night."
"I agree, and Waylon said he wanted to meet with you, Sasha and I at some point this afternoon to see how things were going," Edwad sighs.
"I will talk to the girls; you talk to the guys. Let Waylon know right after dinner we will meet at our house, for an hour or so. I will let Esme and Alice pick where we go, and I'll let you know."
"Okay, I love you, Bella."
"I love you too, Edward."
"Bye," he says, and I return the sentiment and end the call.
After catching up to the rest of my group, I let Esme know that she should talk to Alice and find out where would be best for all of us to go together for dinner, around five-thirty, and after dinner, just Maggie, Sasha, Edward and I are going back to our house. I also inform them of our meeting with Waylon.
Esme agrees and her and Alice start discussing what would be best.
"Sasha, what kind of food sounds good for supper?" Alice asks.
"I think pizza sounds yummy."
"Pizza it is," Alice says and she pulls out her phone.
I listen as she tells them a time and lets them know we will need a table that will seat at least sixteen. She also pre orders several appetizers and garlic bread, as Esme hands her a credit card.
I send a text to Edward to let everyone know we are going to Razza's Pizzeria for dinner, and to meet there at five-thirty.
After we shop at a few more stores, and take the smaller things with us to the vehicle, we decide to head over to the restaurant.
When we arrive and find parking, we see the guys have already arrived. We all make our way in and sit at the huge row of tables they reserved for us. There are several baskets of wings, cheesy garlic bread, and mozzarella sticks brought out as soon as we have our drinks ordered.
Edward and I sit with Sasha between us, Maggie and Waylon are across the table. Everyone is chatting and carrying on, and I am glad that we are at the end, so it is easier to talk with Waylon and tell him all about our day. Waylon smiles and nods as Sasha tells him all of the things she got for her new room, and how happy she is to get to decorate the walls how she wants.
Waylon asks her if she has ever decorated her room before, and she and Maggie explain that the school she attended allowed only table top pictures, and the basic decor was not to be changed.
Dinner is a very animated process once the food starts arriving, and Sasha loves the house special pizza, and of course the chocolate mousse torte dessert she picked.
When dinner is done, Esme again whips out her black Amex card.
We let everyone know that tomorrow we will be busy the next few days, but that in two days Rose and Alice can finish helping set up Sasha's room. After everyone says their goodbyes to Waylon, Sasha, Maggie, Edward and I, we leave to go to the house in Edward's vehicle.
The drive is quiet after the rambunctiousness of eating dinner at a table of sixteen.
A/N: So things are going to be wrapping up here soon. The characters stopped talking to me, and now I am feeling like they are in limbo. I struggled to get this chapter written, between real life and writers block it has been a huge pain in the rear. If there are anything you wish to be addressed in this story, please let me know. You can PM me, and I am open to suggestions. Thanks for sticking this out with me, I am sorry it has taken me forever to get this chapter out.
I appreciate you all, thank you for having some patience in me.
Kasi~