AN: One more chapter, then the epilogue. Thanks for your reviews!
In the waiting room, Edward paced the length of the room, his heart pounding in his chest.
He was feeling everything now that the adrenaline had somewhat worn off. The fear clawing at his throat when he heard the gunshots, then the immediate relief upon seeing Bella—only for it to morph into something feral when he saw the blood clinging to her clothes and her pants in shreds, hanging tattered around her hips.
He scrubbed a hand over his face, the dried blood on his skin scratching slightly. The sight of her torn pants and the implication of what could have happened made him feel physically sick. The rage he'd swallowed down to focus on her threatened to bubble up again, but he forced it down.
This wasn't the time to lose control.
And now, every second of waiting felt like an eternity.
Solomon appeared then, his presence a calm counterbalance to Edward's agitation.
"She'll pull through," Solomon said, clapping a hand on Edward's shoulder. "Bella's tough. You know that better than anyone."
Edward nodded, his jaw tightening as he tried to find words. "I shouldn't have let her out of my sight," he finally said, his voice thick with guilt. "I knew what Caius was capable of. I should've—"
"Don't do that, son. You did everything you could," Solomon interrupted, his tone leaving no room for argument. "We did everything we could."
Before Edward could respond, a doctor appeared in front of them. He straightened immediately, his pulse quickening.
"She's stable," the doctor said. "The wound was deep, but we stopped the bleeding and repaired the damage. She's in recovery now."
Relief washed over Edward like a wave, leaving him almost dizzy. "Can I see her?" he asked quickly.
The doctor hesitated. "She's still under from the anesthesia. Give it a little time."
Edward nodded, but he didn't move far. He stayed rooted near the recovery room, waiting for the moment he could be by her side again.
…
Bella's senses returned in fragmented pieces, each one prying at the edges of the suffocating fog that surrounded her. At first, there was nothing but darkness—thick, endless, and heavy, pinning her down like a lead blanket. Her body felt like it wasn't hers, unresponsive and distant, as though she were watching it from somewhere far away.
The first sensation came as a faint noise, muffled and distorted, like it was traveling through water. Voices. Familiar but distant, their urgency muted.
"—will she—okay?"
"She's stable for now, but we need to monitor—"
The antiseptic smell came next, sharp and intrusive, slicing through the haze like a cold blade. It clawed at her senses, dragging her closer to the surface. Bella's nose twitched, the smallest movement, barely perceptible. Her breathing hitched, shallow and uneven, as a dull ache began to pulse in her shoulder, its rhythm a painful counterpoint to the steady beeping of a nearby monitor.
She tried to move, but her body resisted. Even the smallest shift felt like wading through quicksand. A faint groan formed in her throat, but it was more a whisper of intention than sound. The ache in her shoulder sharpened slightly, a cruel tether pulling her closer to reality.
Light. Too bright. It pressed against her eyelids, relentless and unforgiving. Her lashes fluttered, but the glare was too much. She squeezed her eyes shut again, retreating from the sting. Shapes moved in the periphery of her mind—indistinct figures that hovered and murmured, their concern thick in the air.
"Bella?" A voice, low and rough with emotion, broke through the static. Edward. His voice anchored her, threading through the disjointed fragments of her consciousness like a lifeline.
She remembered their words, right before the hospital.
Stay with me.
Always.
She clung to the sound of his voice, to the way it wrapped around her name like a promise. Her lips parted, dry and cracked, the effort to speak monumental. A faint, hoarse sound escaped—his name, half-formed but desperate. "Ed…ward…"
…
Edward leaned forward in his chair, elbows on his knees, fingers clasped tightly as if holding himself together by sheer will. Bella's faint whisper had snapped his attention to her, but it had been fleeting—her eyes fluttered briefly before falling closed again. She wasn't awake, not fully, and Edward's chest tightened as he sank back into his seat.
This was the second time he'd sat here, at her bedside, waiting for her to wake up after nearly losing her. The first time, she'd been battered and bruised from Caius's initial attack, and the harrowing sense of déjà vu, made his stomach churn.
His gaze lingered on her now, taking in the dark bruising that shadowed her cheekbone. The swelling distorted her delicate features, purplish hues deepening under the harsh hospital lighting.
A small gash on her temple had been stitched, framed by dried blood staining the edges of the wound, and an oxygen tube laid beneath her nose. The thick bandage on her shoulder peeked out from beneath the blanket, and he clenched his fists at the memory of the blood soaking her shirt.
He swore under his breath, his jaw tightening.
The team had crowded in despite protests from the staff. It was Solomon's withering glare that had silenced any further complaints, and now they all sat scattered across the room, their faces etched with worry.
Alice sat cross-legged on the floor, working through her fourth lollipop of the hour. Her jaw worked furiously, and the tension in her frame was palpable. "They can't kick us out, right?" she mumbled around the candy, her tone defiant despite her nerves.
"I'd like to see them try," Rosalie said softly, her arms crossed as she leaned against the wall. Her expression was calm, but her fingers tapped anxiously against her bicep.
Jacob sat in a chair near the door, his head tilted back, eyes closed as though trying to block out the reality in front of him. But the tautness in his shoulders gave him away. He wasn't relaxed—he was coiled, ready to spring at the slightest provocation.
Jasper stood by the window, staring out at the city below, his hands shoved into his pockets. Emmett stood beside him, digging into a bag of chips as he quietly ate.
The silence was broken by Jacob, voice raspy from exhaustion. "So, what now?"
All eyes turned to Solomon, who stood at the foot of Bella's bed, his arms crossed tightly over his chest. His face was impassive, but his eyes betrayed his thoughts—a storm of emotions from the events that took place. It had been unfortunately inevitable with Caius striking again, but he was still angry. Vengeful, even though Caius got what he deserved.
The Commander had first questioned why Caius had two bullet holes in him. Solomon was firm with his answer, stating that it was purely self-defense. He'd first hand over his badge before letting Bella take any kind of fall for ending that motherfucker's life.
Thankfully, though, Malek didn't press.
"Caius is dead," Solomon said finally, his eyes flickering to Bella. "That's the end of one nightmare. But it doesn't mean there aren't others waiting to take his place."
Edward looked up sharply. "What are you saying?"
Solomon met his gaze. "I'm saying we've disrupted his network. But taking it down completely? That's going to take time, and it's going to take all of us." He glanced at the team. "We'll celebrate the win today. But tomorrow, we start preparing for the next fight."
Rosalie exhaled, running a hand through her hair. "You think someone's going to try to take his place?"
"Someone always does," Solomon replied grimly.
Alice popped the lollipop out of her mouth with a soft click. "Let them try," she said fiercely. "We'll take them down too."
Edward glanced back at Bella, his expression softening as he reached for her hand. Her fingers twitched slightly, and his chest tightened with something fierce. "One fight at a time," he murmured, his thumb brushing against the harsh bruises marring her wrists.
He wasn't ready to think about the next battle. Right now, all he wanted was for Bella to open her eyes and come back to him fully.
…
Hours later, the sun was starting to creep up.
Alice was curled up on the small couch, her head resting on Jasper's shoulder, her legs tucked beneath her. Jasper had his arm draped protectively over her, his head tilted back against the wall, eyes closed but not fully asleep. Rosalie sat on the desk at the far end of the room, her back against the wall, scrolling idly through her phone. She occasionally glanced up, her sharp eyes flicking toward Bella's still form.
Jacob, Emmett, and Solomon stood near the door, speaking in hushed tones. Solomon's arms were crossed, his face drenched in exhaustion as he nodded at something Emmett said. Jacob leaned against the wall, his posture deceptively relaxed, but there was a load of tension in his jaw.
The team was tired—all of them running on coffee and willpower having been up for almost a full twenty-four hours. Solomon had told them to leave, but no one was budging.
No one could.
Edward still sat in the chair closest to Bella's bed, his hands resting on his knees, eyes fixed on her. He hadn't moved much in the hours since they'd brought her in, his gaze flicking between the monitors and her face, searching for anymore sign of movement.
When Bella's fingers twitched again, it was so faint Edward almost missed it. His breath hitched, and he leaned forward, his hand hovering above hers. "Bella?" he whispered. The team's gazes all seemed to sweep towards him at the same time.
Her eyelids fluttered, her lashes casting faint shadows on her unbruised cheek. Slowly, she turned her head toward him, her lips parting as she tried to speak. "Edward…" It was barely audible, a ghost of a sound, but it sent a wave of relief crashing over him.
"Bella," Edward said again, louder this time, his voice trembling. He gently cupped her hand in his, careful not to disturb the IV taped to her wrist. "Hey, I'm here. You're okay."
At his words, the room shifted. Solomon straightened, his sharp gaze snapping to the bed. Emmett and Jacob fell silent, their conversation forgotten as they turned toward Bella. Rosalie set her phone down, her legs swinging off the desk as she stood.
Alice stirred, blinking groggily as Jasper gently shook her awake. "She's waking up," he murmured, his voice soft but urgent.
Bella's eyes opened fully, glassy and unfocused at first. She looked around the room, taking in the familiar faces, the tension on their features. "You're… all here," she croaked, her voice hoarse from disuse.
"Of course we're here," Rosalie murmured quietly. She approached the bed, crossing her arms as she stood at Bella's feet. "You think we'd just leave you to sleep this off on your own?"
Emmett grinned, though the relief in his eyes was clear. "You scared the hell out of us, Swan," he said, his voice breaking the somber mood just enough to lighten the air.
Alice pushed herself off the couch, rubbing her eyes as she moved closer. "You couldn't give us a heads-up before getting kidnapped again?" she quipped.
Bella's lips curved into a faint smile, though it quickly faltered as pain flared in her shoulder. Edward was immediately there, adjusting her blanket and smoothing her hair back. "Easy," he murmured. "Don't push yourself."
She turned her gaze to him, her eyes glassy. "I thought…" Her voice broke, and she swallowed hard. She thought about that moment in the trauma room, when he'd been pushed away, when they were forced to part.
Thought about what would happen if she hadn't woken up.
"I thought I wasn't going to see you again," she finally whispered.
Edward's grip on her hand tightened, "You gotta do a lot more than that to get rid of me, Swan."
She offered him a faint grin. "Oh, sorry. Getting kidnapped by a deranged psycho was a little too tame, I guess."
The team laughed, the levity following her wake pulsing through the room. Solomon stepped forward then, his boots heavy on the tile floor, and placed a firm grip on the bed's rail.
"Bella," he said quietly, his voice rough with emotion he didn't bother to hide. "Kid, you scared the hell out of me.Again."
Bella blinked up at him, her face pale but her lips quirking into the barest hint of a smile. "Sorry, Sarge," she croaked, her voice weak and raspy.
Solomon huffed a breath that was almost a laugh, but there was moisture in his eyes. He pulled a chair closer, sitting heavily and leaning forward, his elbows on his knees. "Don't you 'sorry' me," he muttered, shaking his head. "You've got every damn right to be lying here, but that doesn't mean I won't tell you how much I hate it."
Bella's faint chuckle turned into a wince, and she smiled apologetically. "Guess I owe you a few gray hairs."
Solomon smiled at that, then straightened, giving Bella one last lingering look. "You rest up," he said, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "We'll take care of the rest. That's an order."
The rare vulnerability in his tone hit Bella harder than she expected. She nodded weakly, her throat tight as she tried to form words. "Thanks, Sarge," she managed, her voice cracking. "For everything."
Solomon squeezed her hand briefly before standing and turning away, his broad shoulders stiff as he cleared his throat. "I'll be outside if anyone needs me," he muttered, but the others knew he was stepping out to gather himself.
As the early morning dipped into late morning, the room gradually emptied. Alice and Jasper left first, Jasper supporting a groggy Alice who muttered something about needing better vending machine snacks. Emmett and Rosalie followed, each casting lingering glances at Bella as they said their goodbyes. Jacob gave her a quiet nod, squeezing her hand once and giving Edward a look that said silently but firmly,take care of her.
As if it was even necessary.
The silence that followed was almost comforting. Edward hadn't moved from his chair. He sat close, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees.
"You should go home," Bella said softly, her voice carrying a mix of weariness and affection. She tilted her head, giving him a pointed look. "You've been here all day. Get some rest."
Edward turned to her, a small smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. He leaned back, arms crossing as he studied her, his eyes warm but teasing. "How many times do I have to say it, Swan? I'm not going anywhere."
Bella's lips curved into a smile, a soft laugh escaping her despite herself. It felt good—light. She shifted slightly in the bed, wincing as she adjusted her position. "You're stubborn, you know that?"
"Takes one to know one," he replied, his voice filled with quiet amusement. His hand found hers again, careful to avoid the IV taped to her arm. Their fingers interlocked naturally, like a puzzle fitting together.
They sat in a comfortable silence, the soft rhythm of Edward's thumb brushing over Bella's knuckles impossibly soothing. The quiet between them was familiar, easy, like slipping into a favorite hoodie on a chilly day. She let her eyes linger on their joined hands, a small smile tugging at her lips.
"Hey, Edward?" she said, breaking the quiet.
Edward glanced up from where he'd been absently tracing patterns on the back of her hand. His green eyes, warm and curious, locked onto hers. "Yeah?"
Bella tilted her head, her smile turning a bit sly. "About that question you asked me yesterday morning…"
His eyebrows lifted slightly, and a smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. "Oh, you mean when I asked if you wanted pancakes or waffles?"
She rolled her eyes, swatting lightly at his arm with her free hand. "Don't play dumb, Masen. You know what I mean."
Edward leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms with a mock-serious expression. "I'm gonna need you to be more specific, Swan. You said a lot of words yesterday."
Bella smirked, shaking her head at his antics. "Fine, I'll spell it out for you," she said, eyes narrowing. "I've decided you're tolerable enough to live with. So, if the offer's still there, I'll move in with you."
His smile widened into a full-blown grin that made her stomach flip. "Just tolerable, huh?"
"You want me to take it back?" Bella quipped, raising an eyebrow.
"Not a chance," Edward said, leaning forward, his voice lowering playfully. "You're not wriggling out of this one. You're stuck with me now."
Bella laughed, her shoulder twinging slightly, but she didn't care. "I don't know. What if you start leaving socks everywhere, or hogging the blanket, or—"
"First of all," Edward interrupted, "I don't leave socks everywhere. And second, if anyone's a blanket hog, it's you. I nearly froze to death last week."
"You're so dramatic," she shot back, her eyes sparkling.
"Says the woman who once yelled at me for chewing too loudly," he teased, leaning closer. "You sure you're ready to live with me?"
Bella pretended to think for a moment, then gave him a mock-serious look. "I'm willing to risk it."
Edward laughed, the sound rich and warm, and reached for her hand again. He brought it to his lips, pressing a soft kiss to her knuckles. "Good. Because I've been waiting for you to say yes since the that one time you passed out on my couch and tried to deny you snore."
"I do not snore!" Bella insisted, narrowing her eyes at him, though there was a growing smile pulling at her lips.
"Oh, you absolutely do," Edward countered, his grin wicked. "It's kind of cute, though."
She groaned, tilting her head back against the pillow. "You're the worst."
"But still, here you are," he said, his voice softening as he leaned closer, his forehead nearly touching hers.
Bella shook her head, a laugh bubbling out of her. "Yeah, here I am."
And she truly felt wholly, undeniably happy.
…
Bella sat across from Kebi, her eyes zeroing on some dust sticking to a corner in the ceiling. It had been almost six weeks since Caius met his end, and while the physical wounds were healing, the emotional scars were harder to mend. This was her second session back with Kebi, and she couldn't deny that she missed it.
Kebi sat, pen in hand, but she wasn't writing. She gave Bella a warm, encouraging smile. "You seem different today. Lighter."
Bella nodded slowly, her fingers fiddling with the edge of her jacket. "I feel different. I… I don't feel like I'm carrying the weight of the world on my shoulders."
Kebi tilted her head, her eyes thoughtful. "That's a big shift. What do you think brought that on?"
Bella exhaled, her gaze dropping to her lap. "I think... it's knowing for real that Caius is gone. That he can't hurt me or anyone else ever again, that we don't have to look over our shoulders anymore. But also," she paused, choosing her words carefully, "I've started to truly accept that I'm allowed to lean on people. That I don't have to be strong all the time."
Kebi nodded, her expression warm. "You've been through hell, Bella. It's okay to let yourself feel the relief, the happiness. You've earned it."
Bella gave a small, genuine smile. "Yeah, I guess I have."
"And it's okay to let those around you in, to let them share the burden. You've got a strong team, a partner who clearly cares deeply for you."
Bella's smile widened at the mention of Edward. "Yeah, he's… he's something else."
Kebi chuckled softly. "Hold onto that. Healing isn't linear, and there will still be hard days. But you're doing the work, and that's what matters."
Bella nodded, feeling a newfound sense of wasn't a dramatic moment, not the kind of epiphany that hits like a bolt of lightning. No, it was quieter than that—subtle, but steady. The kind of peace that comes from surviving, from pushing through the dark, and realizing there's still light waiting on the other side.
She'd spent so long clinging to the idea that she had to handle everything herself. That leaning on anyone else—letting anyone in—was some kind of failure.
But she wasn't that person anymore.
The walls she'd built around herself, brick by stubborn brick, weren't gone, not completely—but there were cracks now, and through those cracks, she'd let people in. Solomon, her team, and Edward… God, especially Edward.
He had a way of seeing her, not just the version she tried to present to the world but the messy, vulnerable parts she thought she had to hide. And he didn't flinch, he didn't try to fix her or make her something she wasn't. He just stood by her, steady and unshakable, until she was ready to meet him halfway.
It was terrifying at first.
Letting someone in like that felt like handing over the sharpest weapon and trusting them not to use it, but Edward wasn't anyone else who had let her down or hurt her. Not her mom, not her father, not the various letdowns that tried digging their claws growing up in the system
He was Edward—warm, patient, and endlessly there. And for the first time in what felt like forever, Bella didn't feel like she had to fight so hard to hold herself together.
She'd grown, she realized. The scars she carried, both physical and emotional, weren't weaknesses. They were proof of her resilience, of how far she'd come. She wasn't just surviving anymore; she was living.
And maybe that wasn't the end of the story, but it was a damn good place to start.
Edward's face came to her mind again—his smile, his laugh, the way he always seemed to know when to push and when to just sit quietly beside her.
She felt her lips curve into a soft smile.
He was her home in a way she'd never expected, and she was finally starting to believe she deserved that kind of love.
Yeah, she thought. I've earned this.
…
Outside, Edward leaned casually against his car, his face lighting up as soon as he saw Bella. He greeted her with a broad smile and pulled something from behind his back—a baseball cap with their precinct's name emblazoned on it. He plopped it onto her head, adjusting it and pushing her hair behind her ears. "Ready for the big game?"
Bella raised an eyebrow, grinning. "Am I ready? Are you ready, Masen? I'm about to show you how it's done."
Edward laughed, opening the passenger door for her. "Big talk for someone who just learned what a pop fly is."
Bella rolled her eyes as she slid into the seat. "Yeah, yeah. Just drive, slugger."
The community baseball field was alive with energy, the shouts of players mingling with the cheers of families and friends gathered on the sidelines. Members from precincts across the city had come out for the annual inter-precinct game, a tradition that was as much about bragging rights as it was about camaraderie.
The CI Unit, representing the West Precinct, was clustered near the dugout, donning matching caps. Emmett was at the center of it all, holding a bat over his shoulder and grinning so wide it practically split his face.
"I'm just saying," Emmett started, responding to something Jacob had said, "they should've let me pitch for the Mariners. I'd have been a fucking legend."
Jacob leaned on his bat, snorting. "Sure, Em. And they'd love the free comedy act when you face-plant on the fucking mound."
Jasper, adjusting his glove, grinned. "Or when you send a fastball straight into the dugout. Insanely legendary stuff, man."
"Hey, Whitlock, keep talking, and I'll make sure you don't need a dentist to knock out those pearly whites," Emmett shot back, grinning, and Jasper laughed, flipping him off.
Edward wandered over, tossing a ball casually in the air before catching it in his glove. "Face-planting's generous," he quipped, his green eyes twinkling. "I'm betting Emmett trips over the mound before he even gets the pitch off."
Emmett glowered, tossing his glove at Edward, who caught it effortlessly with a laugh.
Nearby, Bella stood with Alice and Rosalie, watching the banter unfold. Alice handed Bella a glove, bouncing lightly on her toes. "You're playing, right?"
Bella hesitated for a moment, flexing her still-healing shoulder. "Yeah, but I'm sticking to the easy stuff."
Rosalie smirked. "Smart. Let the boys embarrass themselves while we look good."
Alice grinned, nudging Bella. "Think we can take South down again this year?"
"Oh, definitely," Bella replied, adjusting her cap. "They're still recovering from last year's loss."
Edward stepped up beside Bella, nudging her with his elbow. "Just don't hurt yourself trying to show me up out there," he teased, his grin playful.
Bella turned, raising an eyebrow. "Oh, I'm sure. But thanks for the concern, Masen. I'll just make sure I'm the one saving your ass when you miss a catch."
"Fair deal, Swan. But don't get too comfortable—I'm not planning on missing."
On the sidelines, Solomon manned the grill, flipping burgers with an air of authority. The smoky aroma wafted across the field, mingling with the faint scent of fresh-cut grass. Sue Clearwater, the precinct's desk sergeant, stood beside him, holding a soda and chatting animatedly. Bella caught sight of them and grinned, nudging Alice.
"Look at Solomon," she said, her voice low. "Sue's got him smiling."
Alice's eyes sparkled with mischief. "Oh, she's got him more than smiling. Look at the way he's nodding at everything she says."
Bella laughed softly, but her attention turned back to the field as the rival precinct strolled up, their captain, Officer Clark, leading the charge.
"You guys ready to lose?" Clark called out, tossing a ball in the air.
"Lose?" Emmett replied, his voice loud and mocking. "To you? Please. We've got this in the bag."
"Yeah, right," Clark shot back. "You're all talk, McCarty. Let's see that swing."
The game started, and chaos followed immediately. Emmett pitched the first ball like he was in the majors, only for the batter to crack a line drive straight past him. Jacob dove for it in the outfield, missed, and landed face-first in the dirt.
"Nice catch, dipshit!" Rosalie yelled from third base.
Jacob flipped her off, spitting out a mouthful of grass. "I'd like to see you try, Hale!"
Edward stood in the outfield, catching pop flies with ease and making it look infuriatingly effortless. He jogged past Bella, who was stationed near first as a placeholder rather than an active player.
"How's the view from first base?" he called, tipping his hat, and Bella grinned at him, leaning back, not even trying to hide the fact that she was checking out his ass.
"Fucking amazing," she said with a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Keep turning for me, Masen. It's really inspiring."
Edward stopped mid-stride, spinning around to walk backward, his grin widening. "Oh, so you're inspired now? Maybe I should stick around, let you soak it all in."
"Maybe you should," Bella teased, her smirk daring him.
Without missing a beat, Edward stopped mid-step, his eyes narrowing playfully. He jogged over, grabbing her by the waist and pulling her into a searing kiss, entirely ignoring the whoops and hollers from their team. "You're in trouble," he murmured against her lips, the edge of a growl in his voice.
Bella laughed, her head tilting up to meet his gaze, her eyes sparkling. "Promise?"
"Yo!" Emmett yelled from the pitcher's mound. "Stop trying to bone on the field! We've got a game to win!"
Edward tightened his arm around Bella's waist, pulling her in for one more kiss while flipping Emmett off with his other hand, and Bella laughed against his lips. They broke off and Edward jogged back into position with a smirk.
The game continued, the madness and fun between both teams running high. Alice hit an impressive double, grinning as she slid into second base. Jacob nearly collided with Jasper during a pop fly, both of them bursting into laughter as they narrowly avoided disaster.
The rival precinct wasn't giving up easily, though. Clark managed a solid hit that sent the ball soaring past Edward, earning a few loud cheers from his team.
"Don't get cocky!" Rosalie yelled from third, her voice sharp but teasing. "You're still down two runs!"
When Bella stepped up to bat, the team collectively cheered. "Easy on her!" Alice shouted from second base, though her tone was clearly teasing. Bella managed a bunt that rolled just past the pitcher. It wasn't much, but it was enough to let her jog to first base, earning cheers from her team.
Edward leaned on the dugout railing, his grin wide and teasing. "That's my girl," he called out, his tone full of warmth and pride.
Bella smirked, catching his gaze as she dusted her hands off on her pants. "Careful, Masen. You keep hyping me up like that, and I might start thinking I'm good at this."
"You're already good at this," he shot back, his voice low enough that only she could hear as she passed. "And if you're not, well... you make it look good enough to fool everyone else."
Bella's cheeks flushed, but she tossed him a playful glare. "Eyes on the game, Casanova."
Edward straightened with a smirk, tipping his cap. "Whatever you say, coach."
By the time the game ended, sweat dripped from every player, and the West Precinct stood victorious, their cheers echoing across the field. The South Precinct groaned but accepted defeat gracefully, clapping as everyone gathered near the picnic tables.
As the team lined up for burgers and drinks, Bella found herself beside Edward. She leaned against the table, watching as Solomon handed a freshly grilled burger to Sue, his normally stern face lit up with a soft smile.
Edward followed her gaze, chuckling. "Think we'll get a wedding invitation soon?"
Bella grinned. "Not before we start placing bets in the bullpen."
They grabbed plates of burgers and chips, settling onto a picnic bench. Edward slipped his arm over the back of Bella's seat, his fingers brushing her shoulder lightly. "How's it holding up?" he asked, nodding toward her shoulder.
"Sore," Bella admitted, "but worth it. I needed this today."
Edward smiled, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "You look happy."
"I am," Bella said, leaning into his touch. "Thanks to you and these idiots."
The noise around them was loud and messy, filled with laughter, playful arguments, and endless teasing. It was chaotic and imperfect, but as Bella looked around, she felt a warmth settle deep in her chest.
Her family—her loud, ridiculous, fiercely loyal family—was all here.
And everything felt like it was exactly where it should be.