26-29

Edward POV.
We were exhausted, completely drained, by the time boarded the flight home.
The last thirty-six hours hadn't been easy.
Far from it.
Granted, we… or Rose… got the "job" done, but I still wasn't sure if Emmett was worth it. The words he had thrown at Rose were nothing short of vicious. And there were times where I regretted ever calling her for help. But I had barely asked her to join me in Chicago before she accepted. It was clear that she still loved Emmett. Very much. This wasn't something she just did for Regan's sake. She flew out here for her own sake, too. Hell, as soon as she had arrived in Chicago, just mere hours after I had called her, she wanted to return to what was once her home. Luckily, I managed to convince her that it was better that we waited until the day after. The day after: today.
So, after Rose had settled in at the hotel, we met up in my suite to go over the events of my first try with Emmett. And I was brutally honest. I told her what I thought. I told her that Emmett's plan was to drink himself to death. I also told her that her husband was very aware of that it was Carlisle who was the problem. Emmett knew that our dad had gotten to him, poisoned him, and this was my so called brother's plan to escape it all – to take himself out. Very literally.
Understandably, Rose was upset… or devastated.
While she cried, I held her hand and explained to her that after seeing Emmett that day, I knew that his plan would give him some twisted version of redemption. He didn't want Regan to have what Emmett grew up with. So, he was eliminating himself. A noble thought, perhaps, but none that I could understand, nor sympathize with. Because to me, he was giving up. He was giving up without proving Carlisle wrong. He was giving up his wife and son. And I saw nothing heroic in becoming some martyr.
Hours later, Rose had left my suite to get some rest for our day to come.
I had called Bella, of course, filling her in, as well. Thankfully, I had her on my side. She told me that she understood how I failed to see Emmett as a brother. Not that Rose didn't understand, but it was different. We weren't in the same situation. Had it been Bella who was an alcoholic, I was pretty sure that I would walk through fire to help her. Just like Rose was preparing to do. But in Emmett's case, I just couldn't see it. Bella told me it was probably because we had different priorities, Emmett and I. Which was true. My brother and I never really shared views or opinions.
Digressing.
The morning after – this morning – Rose and I took a cab to Emmett's place.
She was nervous, but more determined that I had ever seen her. My words from the night prior had obviously gotten to her, and she knew how serious this was. And… simply put, she saw this as her final chance to get through to her husband. For her own sake, and Regan's. She wanted her family put together. And that I could understand. Family was everything to me, and regardless of how much I saw Rose, Regan, Alice, Jasper, Lucy, and even Esme as family, nothing mattered more to me than Bella and my children. It was just Emmett who I found unworthy of Rose's strength. Then again, I was professional enough to see that my personal opinion of Emmett was clouding my judgment. As a therapist, I knew Rose was right.
So, I set my past aside as we rang the doorbell.
We had a goal, and that was to get Emmett as far from Chicago as possible. This was what Rose wanted, and that became our agenda. At breakfast, we had already contacted the rehab facility in LA where Rose wanted Emmett to mend. Plus, even before Rose had arrived in Chicago, I had made my own arrangements. It wasn't easy, but since I went to school here, I still had a few former colleagues in the city, and they were able to help out, since I couldn't exactly prescribe sedatives to myself. But I knew I was going to need them. There was no way in hell Emmett would stay quiet throughout a flight to California.
Anyway…
When Emmett had opened the door, it was the same man I had seen the day before. He was haggard, spent and barely there. Dirty sweats and a t-shirt. Ironically, a t-shirt from Harvard.
His eyes were vacant.
Even as they landed on his wife, there was just nothing.
He simply didn't care anymore.
And the hours that followed were fucking awful.
At first, it was all attitude.
He was demeaning. Trying to be superior, basically trying to come off as the strong man we knew he wasn't. When he smirked and called me a fucking faggot, it didn't even touch me. I just pitied him. Unfortunately, he noticed my pity. That pissed him off. Which brought us to shouting and throwing things around. Nothing could calm him down, and I told Rose as much. He needed to exhaust himself, because if we got too close, he would launch, and I refused to have Rose anywhere near that.
I was pretty sure that it was when I showed how protective I was of Rose that something changed in Emmett.
I couldn't be sure, of course, but I'd say something tugged at him. Perhaps he realized that I was protecting his wife from himself. Whatever it was, it calmed him down for a while. And I saw so easily that, even though he was dead set on taking himself out of everything, he still felt. Because I knew pain. Having gone through abandonment myself, I knew what it all felt like, not to mention that I knew what it looked like.
Emmett was in pain.
He was also alone. At least, that's what he told himself that he was.
Rose, at this time, was pleading with him. She told him that they could work it all out if he just got help. She mentioned Regan and how much he missed his dad. She begged him to come with us to California. She promised to be there for him. Through tears, she was doing everything but kneeling in front of him. And in the meantime, I stood in the doorway to their living room, just watching the two of them. Because I knew Rose was the only one able to get through to him. Well, Regan would probably work better, but there was no way we were risking Regan. Not a chance. This wasn't an image of Emmett we wanted Regan to see, and truth be told, if Regan saw Emmett now… It could've gone in the opposite direction. Maybe that would've strengthened Emmett's resolve to stay away.
So…
Rose and Emmett. In the living room. She was crying and begging, and Emmett was quiet. Too quiet. And my mind kept spinning. Not as the former brother, but as the man with a PhD in psychology.
Emmett was still a textbook case.
So, I saw it before it happened. And when it did happen, I wasn't surprised. In an attempt to keep his resolve, he started pushing Rose away. Verbally. He accused her of being a shitty wife, he told her that it was all her fault he was this way, he spat out that she was a bad mother, he screamed in her face… And I was ready to step in with my fists. Christ, I was ready to smash his fucking face in. Even if I knew it was all bullshit, I still didn't want Rose to be there for what he said… or shouted. But Rose was never the blond trophy wife Emmett once pegged her to be, and maybe he always knew she was different… Regardless, she was strong. She gave me a warning look that told me quite sternly to stay the fuck away. Which I did rather reluctantly. Then she stood firm when it came to Emmett. I could see so clearly how she just brushed off each insult, because she knew they weren't true. That was probably the only reason I managed to stay back.
In the end, Emmett ran out of insults. He also noticed that nothing he said made Rose cower away, maybe like she did in the past. In any way, she didn't give him the pleasure of feeling powerful now. She didn't even look intimidated.
Then she spoke firmly. She was done begging. Now she was telling. "You're going with us, Em. You're my husband, and I love you, but… most importantly, you're a father. You're not going to let Regan down. I refuse to let you do this."
And I remembered Emmett replying. "I've already let him down. I'm not going anywhere."
Last but not least, the final nail in the coffin. Or… the opposite, actually. The words that saved his sorry ass. "Regan doesn't think you've let him down. But he will if you die."
That was probably the first time Emmett thought about the fact that all wasn't lost.
Being a disappointment was a big no-no for Carlisle. If you disappointed, you might as well lie down and die, which was what Emmett had planned on doing. Because to Carlisle, you don't get second chances.
However, with Rose he did have a second chance. Rose was nothing like our dear father. It was about time Emmett figured that out.
After that, Rose had left the living room, calling over her shoulder that she was going to pack their photo albums. She also told- or rather, demanded… that Emmett packed a bag. Because we were leaving.
To no one's surprise, Emmett didn't listen. Instead, he sat his ass down on the couch.
But it was the fact that he didn't argue with her that made me realize that we were winning. Or… Rose was winning. I still didn't know what I wanted, 'cause I knew the journey we had ahead of us. And I wasn't talking about a damn flight. No, I was talking about the months of rehab, the years of therapy… This wasn't going away overnight.
Though, it wasn't really about what I wanted, now was it?
No, it was about Rose and Regan.
So, when Rose returned to the living room and saw Emmett sitting there with a bottle of vodka, she just shook her head before heading for their bedroom. Without a word, she packed his bag.
And I managed to pry the half full bottle of vodka away from him while he shouted profanities my way. Not that I cared. He was acting like a child, for fuck's sake. He already knew that he was coming with us, but he refused to act like he had surrendered. A fucking stubborn piece of shit. That was what he was.
He fought and argued halfheartedly.
I tuned him out and called the airlines.
Three tickets to LA.
Rose walked around, making sure everything she wanted in LA was packed, because she wasn't returning. Ever. This was it. The last of Chicago.
When it was all done, Rose ordered some food for us while I made sure our belongings at the hotel was shipped to LA. There was no way we could return to the hotel now. Not with Emmett acting like a toddler. And the only thing we wanted now was to make sure he went with us. So… we babysat.
We also allowed him to have a few drinks.
If he didn't, we knew there would be hell.
He needed a buzz to stay calm, and if he wasn't calm, he wouldn't be let on the plane. Of course, we made sure he didn't get completely shitfaced. But the sad thing was that he was so deep into his addiction that he needed an insane amount of alcohol to get truly drunk. He could drink vodka as if it was water.
Hours later, it was finally time to leave.
Apart from muttering about how useless we were, Emmett went willingly and peacefully. He wanted this, but refused to admit it.
By this time, I just wanted to get back to my wife and children.
I missed them so much that it almost hurt.
When we arrived at the airport, we had some time to kill before boarding, which was all in our plans, because I still needed to make sure that Emmett got some shut-eye during the flight. So, when he wanted to have a drink before getting on the plane, we saw that as our chance.
Pardon me, but it felt fucking good to slip my brother that goddamn pill.
Rose definitely noticed my tiny moment of satisfaction.
And by the time we boarded the plane, Emmett was already yawning like a bear getting ready for hibernation or something.

*O*O*O*

"So fucking good to hear your voice, baby," I sighed in contentment. "Can't wait 'til I get home."
As I cradled the phone between my cheek and shoulder, I managed to flag down a cab.
"Ditto," she replied softly. "How much longer do you think it'll be?"
"We're getting into a cab now," I muttered, gesturing at a very pissed off Emmett to get in the fucking car. Since he woke up, he'd been on edge. Not because he knew he'd been drugged or anything, but because he knew were heading for rehab now. This had to be his choice, which it was when he still had that buzz going on. But now it was wearing off. "Hopefully, I'll be home within a few hours."
As soon as we were all seated in the cab, I gave the directions to the driver before returning to my call with Bella.
"How are the little ones?" I asked, running a hand through my hair.
I hated being away from Ceara and Ailín.
Don't even get me started on being away from Bella now that she was pregnant.
It was fucking painful, for Christ's sake.
Being the worrier that I was, I always pictured the worst scenarios in my head.
"They're fine," she chuckled, and I could hear Ceara in the background. Damn, it was the middle of the night. What was she doing up? "They miss you."
Ah, melt my heart, why dontcha?
"I miss them, too," I sighed. "And what's Ceara doing up at this hour?"
Another chuckle.
"Alice kicked Jasper out, and he was a little loud when he came over to crash on our couch. Apparently, he had gone and called his very pregnant wife 'fatty' again, and he got a bit passionate when he tried to defend his actions. Anyway, Ceara woke up, but it's okay. She'll fall asleep at any minute now."
I rolled my eyes.
Would that idiot ever learn?
I was beginning to think that Jazz was a pain slut. He seemed to enjoy it when Alice got mad, and believe you me, she got mad with her fists when she was pregnant.
"Kick him off the couch," I suggested. "He could always sleep in Lucy's plastic castle in their backyard."
Bella laughed softly. God, how I loved that sound.
"Doesn't sound half bad. Maybe I will. He sure is moping around here."
Yeah, well, he never really thought things through. While he enjoyed Alice's wrath – for some weird ass reason – he loathed to be apart from her. Whenever he spent a night on our couch, he was always pouting and acting like… well, like a child. But he had himself to blame.
"I'm telling you, love… you should kick him out," I chuckled. "I don't want him waking up my little princess in the middle of the night."
I might have scowled as I said that, but I couldn't help it. I was a tad overprotective when it came to my children. But hey, they needed their sleep, right? Yeah. So, out with the couch-surfer.
"Tell you what, baby," she… she fucking purred. Damn. "If you promise tohurry back, I'll kick him out. Then we have very adult business to tend to when you get home."
I swallowed hard, reminding myself that Emmett and Rose were right next to me.
"Consider it done," I promised. "Kick him out."
Yeah, this daddy was getting some action tonight.
After ending my call with Bella, I spent the rest of the ride staring out the window.
We were quiet.
Until we reached the rehab facility.
The stubborn kid in Emmett reappeared.

Edward POV.
"Come on, Em," Rose sighed.
He didn't budge.
He just stood there, outside the facility, refusing to enter.
I knew he had seen the personnel inside, waiting for him. All he had to do was go through the door, but he just didn't. Instead, he stood still, staring at the ground. Fists clenched at his sides.
It was completely dark outside, of course, since it was night, but the light from inside made it possible to see, and it was so easy to see the internal struggle on Emmett's features. He knew his options, and now he was weighing them.
"Think about Regan, honey," she said softly, approaching him cautiously. I stayed back for now. "Don't you want us to have another chance?"
Her eyes flicked to me in question, and I nodded in approval.
On the flight, I had told her what to say and what not to say, and in Emmett's rather child-like state, promises would cause more harm than good. Had Rose promised him that everything would work out, he would hold onto that, and if he relapsed or slipped, he would blame her. Not necessarily, but it was a big possibility. Same went for "clean slates". I didn't want Rose talking to him about starting over, starting fresh… because there was no such thing as starting over. Emmett was going to live with his addiction for the rest of his life, and there was no going around that. It would get easier with time, but he would always carry his past with him.
When Rose once again turned to me, I nodded for her to continue. I also mouthed Regan's name, knowing that it was the one of the few things that would make Emmett sign in voluntarily. In the meantime, the staff was waiting inside, but I cautioned them with a shake of my head. It was important for Emmett, as well as Rose, that he went in on his own.
"Me and Regan are here for you, baby," she continued, now standing in front of him. Emmett had his back to me, and I stayed where I stood, about ten feet away. "Every step of the way, okay?"
Every step.
There would be many, but I knew that the first one was one of the most painful ones on a more physical level. With all those years of heavy drinking, going through detox wouldn't be an easy ride.
Then there was Emmett's personality. Admitting that he had a problem… Let's just say that I wouldn't wanna be his therapist.
He was arrogant and proud, stubborn and filled with anger.
"We need you, Emmett," Rose added seriously, and that was a good one. Emmett thrived on feeling important. "We won't leave you, but then you have to promise not to leave us, either."
I ran a hand through my hair, anxious. It wasn't going to get any easier. Actually, it was the opposite. The alcohol was wearing off, and with it, Emmett would only get more reluctant to do this. I could bet that he already wanted a drink.
But then, finally, Emmett spoke. Quietly. "Okay."
Yes. Good, Em.
I exhaled.
"Okay," Rose breathed out in relief, smiling up at him. "Let's go inside, baby. I'm here for you, all right?"
Looking back at me, I nodded for her to lead him in without me. I doubted my presence would do any good, especially when it came to my brother. He didn't want others to see him like this, and even though I had seen plenty, this would probably too much for him. Because to him, this was a form of defeat. This was him surrendering, and considering his feelings about me, I'd say it was best for me to stay back.
So, I waited outside.
While Rose got Emmett signed in, I just… paced aimlessly.
I was tired.
Eager to reach my wife.
But… there was a sense of calm… ease, and… I was pretty sure it had to do with Emmett. Maybe, just maybe, this could work. I hoped so, for Rose and Regan's sake. As for me… I seriously doubted I would ever see that man as a brother, but it'd be nice to… I don't know… be cordial with him? Perhaps. The future would tell.
Half an hour later, Rose walked out again.
"You okay?" I asked, frowning in concern. "Did everything go well?"
She nodded, hugging her body. "It's the first step, right?" she responded quietly, eyes downcast.
I sighed, dreading the journey. It was going to be long, but it wasn't just Rose and Regan. Bella and I would be there, too. Maybe even Alice. Jasper was another matter. There was no way he'd forgive Emmett. Hell, a big part of Bella refused, too, but for Rose she would be there.
"The first of many," I murmured. "But we'll all be there, remember?"
She nodded again, and I decided to let it go. She was understandably shaken and upset, and she needed time to let everything settle. So, I let her be and called up another cab… because it was finally time to go home.

*O*O*O*

"Christ, I've missed you," she whispered against my neck.
I tightened my hold on her, breathing in her flowery scent.
"Missed you, too, baby," I said softly, kissing the top of her head. My hands went to the tiny baby bump, and I shivered. Never had I felt more content. Even if we stood in the hallway instead of being under the covers in our bed, this was perfect. Home. "Let me see," I whispered, and she released her hold on my neck before kneeled before her. She smiled down at me as I lifted her t-shirt, and I… well, my grin was goofy, boyish even, as I pressed my lips to her stomach. "Feels like I've been gone for more than just a few days," I mumbled against her skin.
I hummed when she threaded her fingers through my hair.
"I know two little ones who feel the same," she chuckled quietly. "They'll be quite happy tomorrow morning."
Me, too. Me fucking, too.
After dropping a few more kisses on her belly, I stood up.
"Time for bed," I murmured against her forehead. "I want to make love to my wife."

*O*O*O*

Capturing her lips with mine, I kissed her deeply while I removed her clothes.
Her fingers worked my jeans.
"I love you," she breathed.
I sucked on her neck as I dropped her t-shirt on the floor. No matter how utterly exhausted I was, this was what I needed. Hard fucking was one thing, and we loved it, but after being gone for a few days… Christ, I needed to worship her. Slowly.
"Love you, too," I responded quietly before picking her up. She let out a little yelp before that girly little giggle of hers slipped out, and I grinned as I lowered her onto the bed. "You're just too cute for words." But when she was on her back… with me kneeling between her parted legs, there was nothing cute about this moment. "Fuck." She was all woman, completely naked and bare for me. Gorgeous, beautiful, amazing. Smooth skin, pale with just a hint of a tan thanks to California. She looked so incredibly… healthy and happy. Odd words, perhaps, but… she really looked like she loved her life. "Jesus, you're flawless, baby." I started by kissing her neck. Openmouthed… I tasted her skin. I shivered and hummed as she slowly dragged her finger nails along my back.
She arched into me as my erection brushed against her thigh.
Good thing I still had my boxers on.
It'd be so easy to just slam…
Not yet.
Kissing my way down her chest, I finally reached two of my favorite parts of my wife. Especially now. After giving birth to Ceara and Ailín, they were softer, slightly rounder. And fuller now when she was pregnant again. Bella thought I was going to miss the perky tits she once loved to tease me with, but she couldn't be more wrong. The traces that were left from carrying our children were a damn turn-on. A big one.
There was no stopping the low moan as I sucked one of her nipples into my mouth.
And it wasn't just her breasts. It was also her more curvaceous hips that I loved to grab… the few stretch marks on her stomach that I loved tracing with my tongue… and of course, her slightly softer and fuller thighs that I was fucking addicted to when I ate her pussy. Fuck, I could lick them, squeeze, knead, let my fingers dig into the backside of them…
Speaking of. It was definitely time to head south.
I left a trail of wet kisses on her baby bump, wondering…
Boy or girl?
This time, we'd decided to be surprised.
I couldn't wait.
"Edward," she moaned quietly as I settled in between her legs. I moaned, too – at the feeling of her fingers scratching my scalp, and… yeah, her arousal. Fuck, no enough. I just breathed her in while my hands moved on her thighs. "You're teasing me, baby."
I chuckled huskily.
After kissing the insides of her thighs for a little while, I moved my mouth to her pussy… right where she wanted me. My fingers parted her bare lips, and I groaned – rather loudly – when I saw the glistening of her juices. All mine. I licked slowly, starting right below her entrance, not stopping until I reached her clit. My tongue circled it, making her squirm for more.
"Touch your breasts for me, beautiful," I mumbled, then I wrapped my lips around her clit. As I suckled gently, I pushed two fingers inside of her with ease. She was hot, wet, and deliciously tight. Damn, she really was religious when it came to those kegel exercises. "Fuck, you taste good," I groaned quietly.
To make her even hornier, I focused on my fingers moving in her. I breathed hotly over her exposed flesh, feeling her muscles work. Whimpers escaped her when I curled my fingers upwards, and I knew she wanted my mouth on her again. But I loved to take my time. She knew that.
When a drop of arousal trickled down her pussy, I was there to lick it up. With my tongue flattened, I had her writhing in no time. And when her moans got louder, I redoubled my efforts, knowing that she was close. I licked, lapped, and sucked as I fingered her deeply.
"Close, Edward," she cried out, throwing her head back against the pillow. What a lovely fucking sight. Her tits were pushed up, her back was arched… "Fuck, fuck, fuck…" I kept licking and sucking as she climaxed, not slowing down until I saw her relax. That was my cue to get the fuck away, 'cause she was sensitive. With a last kiss on her clit – that made her shudder violently – I kissed my way up her body again. Her chest heaved when I reached her face, and I moaned as my rock hard cock came in contact with her pussy. That and… shit, when she tasted herself on my mouth… That did it for me every fucking time.
"I need to be inside you, baby," I breathed out before kissing her again. She nodded furiously before pushing her tongue into my mouth.
I filled her with one deep thrust, moaning at the feeling of being inside her. The sight of her writhing under me, clinging to me…
"I'll always love you, Bella," I whispered shallowly against her temple.
I moved with purpose. Long and deep strokes.
One hand held both of hers above her head.
Another slipped under her, finding her luscious ass.
Legs tangled together.
My muscles strained, my eyes closed, my breathing became labored.
Pressing our bodies even closer, both of us slick with a light sheen of sweat, I moved against her urgently.
I moaned quietly, willing us to last.
"Oh, fuck, Edward," she panted.
Dropping my forehead to her shoulder, I started to let go. I moved faster and a lot harder, all but ramming my cock inside of her. Pulling out slowly, only to slam in again. My fingers dug into her ass cheek, and hers dug into my shoulder blades. We were both so fucking close. I could feel it. She could feel it.
"I need you to come," I gritted out.
She panted and moaned, just like me, and slipped her hand out of my hold, only to move it between our bodies and down to her pussy. I groaned loudly against her neck when I felt her fingers at the base of my erection, and I knew that I had to look. It wasn't good, 'cause I was already too fucking close, but… Damn. I looked, and… Christ, my balls tightened, as did my abs, but I couldn't look away as she rubbed her clit with the heel of her hand. With each pass, her fingers touched my wet cock. Wet from her arousal.
Then, at last, I felt her constricting and fluttering around me.
With a silent scream, she fell apart.
Sucking in a sharp breath, I followed instantly. With my face buried in the crook of her neck, I spilled into her in several streams. Her muscles kept squeezing me as she rode out her own orgasm. It was mindblowing, leaving me a panting mess. Fuck, I wasn't twenty anymore.
"Oh God, Edward," she whimpered, relaxing once more. "That was…"
Yeah. Pretty much.
I pulled out of her, grimacing a little, and collapsed right next to her. Christ, I could barely move. My body was spent in the best ways.
"C'mere, love," I mumbled sleepily, dragging her equally tired body to mine. "My amazing wife."
She hummed against my chest and pulled the covers over us.
"Love you, Edward," she murmured softly, snuggling into my arms. "So good to have you home."
Fuck, yeah.
I'm not leaving again.

*O*O*O*

I woke up the next morning to the best sounds in the world.
It was obvious that Bella had let me sleep in, 'cause I was all kinds of rested.
After a quick shower, I pulled on a pair of pajama bottoms and a t-shirt before I followed the sounds to the kitchen downstairs. And the sight that greeted me was a beautiful one. I stood, leaning against the doorframe, watching Bella as she prepared lunch for the little ones. Mentioned little ones were sitting at the table, throwing toys around.
"Good morning, baby," she said softly, never turning around from the stove.
I grinned.
And two kiddos turned around.
Toothy grins that lit up their faces.
"Dada!"
"Dadaaa!"
Yeah, this was home.
"Morning," I replied, walking over to Bella first. Standing behind her, I snaked an arm around her, letting my hand rest on her stomach as I kissed her shoulder. "Making baby food?"
"Yep," she snickered, turning around in my embrace. "Potatoes, sausage, peas, and carrots. Lovely, eh?"
Not really, no.
"All mashed together in an awful mess," I chuckled, grimacing. She grinned up at me, and I kissed her nose. "I guess I missed breakfast, huh? You could've dragged my ass down here."
She shook her head, sliding her hands up my arms. "You needed your sleep. As for breakfast; I may or may not have saved you some pancakes, bacon, and eggs."
I groaned as I nuzzled her neck. "That sounds…" My stomach growled. "Yeah. Perfect."
"Coffee with that?" she laughed softly.
"Please." I nodded, grinning like a fucking boy. Then I had my little ones demanding attention again, and it was about time I greeted them. "Want some help?"
She smirked. "No. Go say hi to the kids. They've missed Daddy."
She knew me so well.
With a slap on her ass, I turned to my two hurricanes. Actually, Ceara was the hurricane. Ailín was a lot calmer.
"Dada!" Ceara gushed as I picked her up from her chair.
"Hey, baby girl," I responded, peppering her pretty little face with kisses. "Do you have any idea how much I missed you, hmm?"
She just giggled and squished my cheeks together.
"Did you miss Daddy, too?" I asked, now making farting noises on her cheeks. She squealed and laughed, and I walked over to Ailín's chair to pick him up as well. I grinned ear-to-ear as he held his arms up for me. "Hey, little man. C'mere." With them both in my arms, I sat down in my chair. "Don't worry, buddy. I'm not leaving you alone with the girls again," I murmured, kissing him on the forehead. "Us guys gotta stick together, right?"
Bella huffed, glaring at me playfully.
I winked at her.
That always worked.
Ceara was oblivious, talking away in her own little language.
Then it was time for breakfast – or lunch, and… Damn, it was like a clichéd painting, but I wouldn't want it any other way. It was me and my family around the kitchen table. Laughs and fuckawesome pancakes… It was more than I had ever dared to dream about having.
Hopefully, Rose and Regan would have this with Emmett one day.

Edward POV.
"Don't stay too long, Edward," Esme told me sternly as I grabbed my car keys. "I want to see the baby, too, and you're not as important. You can come back here and watch Ceara and Ailín."
She makes me feel so loved.
"Gee, thanks," I said sarcastically.
Bella just laughed and put on her shoes.
It was time. Well, um, not for us. But Alice was in labor.
"I'll be back in a few hours, okay?" I sighed, dropping a kiss on Ceara's cheek. Esme nodded, though she wished I didn't have to leave at all. She would rather see herself at the hospital and me here with the kids. Because apparently, I wasn't all that important. I knew she was going to tell Jasper the same thing when it was Bella's turn to give birth. Jazz wouldn't be important then. Nana Esme was very important, however.
"Come on, Edward," Bella chuckled.
After kissing Ailín goodbye, too, we were out the door, leaving Esme behind with the kids.
"My car," I said, opening the door for her. She was in love with our new SUV, but it wasn't necessary to drive it when it was just the two of us. So, the Volvo it was.
Once we were both buckled in, I started the car and backed out before taking her hand in mine. Threading our fingers together, I kept our hands on my thigh as I drove toward the hospital. And I had to wonder… why did all the kids decide to be born in the middle of the night? I'd been peacefully asleep after a spectacular round of love making with my wife… only to be woken up a few hours later by Bella, telling me that Alice was in labor. Seriously, couldn't she have waited? Good thing it was Saturday tomorrow and not a workday.
"Should I call Rose?" she asked quietly, and I glanced over quickly to see her chewing on her lip. "Alice left it up to me."
Returning my gaze to the road, I sighed, thinking things over. It had been a few weeks since Emmett got into rehab, and Rose had been incredibly focused on him ever since. Between Regan, school, and dealing with Emmett, she was always tired. It was a good thing that they still lived in the little house we had built them in the backyard, because Regan was often with us after school.
"Text her," I decided. "She needs her sleep. She can always visit tomorrow. I mean, we don't know how long we'll be at the hospital."

*O*O*O*

As it turned out, Alice had already given birth by the time we reached the hospital.
Kiddo number two was evidently eager, and it was an exhausted Jasper we met in the waiting room.
"They're moving her into a private room as we speak," he drawled as Bella hugged him.
I smirked, squeezing his shoulder. "Tired?"
He chuckled tiredly. "You can say that, but Alice is worse."
Well, that goes without saying, dude.
"You're kidding," I deadpanned.
"Yeah, yeah," Bella said, waving me off. Lovely. "Can you tell me everything, Jazz?"
I pulled her close, smiling as Jasper's face lit up. Despite exhaustion, he was a happy Daddy, of course.
"Everything went well." He grinned. "Emily Isabella Whitlock is healthy and fucking adorable."
And Bella turned around in my arms and started bawling against my chest.
"Hormones," I whispered quietly to Jasper.
He nodded solemnly in understanding.
A couple of hours later, it was Alice and Bella sitting on the hospital bed. Little Emily in Alice's arms, and Jasper was right. She was really damn cute. Much like their Lucy, Emily took after her mom.
In the meantime, Jazz and I sat in two chairs next to the bed, talking quietly about everything and nothing. We were all tired, and I knew that Bella and I were heading back home soon.
"So, how's Emmett doing?" Jasper asked quietly, eyes still on the girls.
My eyebrows raised in surprise.
He rarely asked about Emmett.
Since Jazz was the one who had to deal with me when I was depressed, it was hard for him to even consider giving Emmett a chance. Not that I could blame him. I was having a hard time with that, too. I already suspected that I'd never see Emmett as a brother, or a friend even, but… eh, it was what it was. I stuck around because I saw Emmett's wife as a sister. Funny how things worked.
"He's… doing okay," I responded slowly. It was the truth, after all. Emmett wasn't doing perfectly, and we didn't think he would either. But he wasn't giving up, and that was what mattered. "They're focusing on his anger issues right now."
I wasn't surprised when Rose told me about Emmett's first group therapy. He had ended up in a fight and chairs had been thrown around, and it was because he had behaved like a fucking dick when someone else had talked. That was Emmett's thing, to ridicule. Safe to say, they had backpedaled and removed group therapy from Emmett's schedule. At least for now. Now he just had solo sessions with his therapist.
"Rose told me she and Rege were gonna visit soon," Jasper mentioned, still quietly. "Is that a good idea to have Regan there so soon?"
I honestly didn't know.
Rose had already been there a couple of times, and it had went well. Only short visits were allowed right now, which was good, I thought. It was easy to overwhelm, and Emmett easily lost his temper. Of course, we didn't want Regan anywhere near that, but it could also go the other way. Regan could work as a motivation for Emmett to fight harder, and if that was the case, a visit could do them good. Plus, Regan missed Emmett like crazy.
"We'll just have to trust the staff," I replied with a shrug. "They know what they're doing."

*O*O*O*

The next few months passed in a blur.
I worked.
I spent time with my family.
It was life. Routines. Rushed breakfasts, because I resented my alarm clock, or… sometimes it was because I dragged my delectable wife with me into the shower. Though, with her hormones, she was the one who dragged me. Don't worry, I only complained until she dropped her clothes. Then it was work, either at the university or at my private practice, and when I got home, it was time to spend some time with the kids while Bella prepared dinner. Dinner was eaten together as a family, and we took turns to feed the little ones. We had our balance perfected. Two parents – two children. Baths and bedtime stories followed, and then it was just me and my wife, spending some quiet time on the patio. I loved those hours. We would sit in one of the loungers, sometimes talking, sometimes being quiet, sometimes making love, sometimes it was me doing the talking… with her growing belly, of course.
On the weekends we all got together, usually at our house. Kids everywhere. Screaming came from Emily, splashing in the pool came from Regan, goofing around came from Lucy, and… then there were Ceara and Ailín. Christ, they were talking non-stop, and I often ended up chasing them around. With Jasper's help if he wasn't chasing Lucy.
Esme took pictures.
Often.
The women… well, they gossiped.
And somewhere in between chases, diaper changes, and gossip, we manned the grill or prepared whatever it was that we were having for dinner. It was life, like I said. And it was good. Really fucking good.
Emmett was a topic, too, obviously.
Same went for Rose's move.
She had moved into a condo with Regan, and they were preparing for Emmett's homecoming. There was no date set, but judging by his progress, a few more weeks.
Granted, his time in recovery was far from over, but he was getting more and more ready to be reunited with his family. He was also back in group therapy, apparently a lot calmer now. He still had his temper, and he suffered from migraines often, but his time in rehab had taken him down a peg or twenty. They didn't put up with his bullshit there, and Rose was the same. Whenever she visited, she showed her newer self, and she was in charge. If Emmett behaved like an ass, she took him down.
And today… Christ, today was the day Bella and I were visiting.
Rose and Regan were gonna be there, too.

*O*O*O*

"Ready?" Bella asked softly, squeezing my hand.
I kissed her temple.
"I guess," I muttered.
I'd much rather be home with my family, especially with Bella so close to her due date. She was eight months and two weeks pregnant, and I could come up with hundreds of things we could spend our Sunday doing, but no… Instead, we were here. Outside the place that had been Emmett's home for the past months.
Rose and Regan were already inside.
Here we go.
After signing in, we were led to the massive garden out back.
It didn't take long before we spotted Rose, Regan, and Emmett at one of the many picnic tables. With his back to us, I studied my brother as we approached. I couldn't see much, but it was easy to see that he had gained some weight. That was normal, of course.
"Uncle Eddie, Aunt Bella!" Regan called when he noticed us. He waved us over, grinning widely. "Look, Dad! Aunt Bella's gonna have a baby again soon."
I chuckled quietly, closing the last distance with my hand on Bella's lower back. I was man enough to admit that I was using her as a shield. She knew it, too, but she also knew how uncomfortable I was. It was a good thing that Regan was here. He was great at keeping the tension a bit lighter.
"Hey, guys," Rose said as we reached the table.
"Hi," Bella sighed, and I helped her slide into her seat before I followed. "Jesus, I'm just so done being a whale," she muttered. "How far was it between the car and here?" She smiled up at me. I knew she was doing this to relax me. I was grateful to say the least. "Two hundred feet? And I'm sweating like crazy."
Rose laughed, nodding like she knew what Bella meant, which she obviously did, since she was Regan's mother and all. "Just two weeks to go, honey."
Bella sighed again, and I knew she was thinking something in the line of, "Let those two weeks pass, for fuck's sake."
Or something.
Quit stalling, Cullen.
Right.
It was time to face Emmett, which I did rather reluctantly. But my body was still angled toward Bella.
Yeah, he was as uncomfortable as I was.
We were both wearing clothes for comfort – jeans and t-shirts, but we looked stiffer than men in starchy suits. He was pretending to focus on Regan who sat in between him and Rose… sorta like I was pretending to focus on Bella. Wow, this was… something. But… we were here, and… it was actually he who had told Rose to ask us to come. It was probably because of his therapy; I knew he needed to make amends or some shit like that.
"So…" That was Bella.
Awesome.
"Yeah…" And that was Rose.
There was no way this could get any worse, right?
I doubted it.
"Oh, for the love of…" Emmett sighed. "Rosie and… um, Isabella… mind if I talk to Edward alone?" Uh… I mind. "We already know this is the opposite of casual, but…"
"Of course not," Bella murmured to my absolute horror. She noticed the panic in my eyes, no doubt, but she just smiled in encouragement before she got up… as gracefully as she could. I should've helped her, but I really didn't want her to leave. "We'll leave you two alone for a bit."
Soon, it was just me and Emmett.
I watched the ladies leave with Regan.
They left me.
Just. Like. That.
"Congratulations," Emmett muttered, leaning his forearms on the table. Eyes downcast. "Um… Rose told me a few months ago you were having another kid."
I blew out a breath.
"Yeah," I replied slowly, looking out at the open garden. I struggled internally. A part of me – a big part – just wanted to get up and leave. Another part of me still thought the man across from me was too weak and pathetic to fight for. And then there was a small part… and that part encouraged me to stay. That part also told me how huge it was for him to take the first step. No matter how small that step was, it was big for Emmett Masen.
"Remember when you asked me why I gave Regan your name as a middle name?" he asked quietly.
For some reason, my heart was pounding in my ribcage.
I nodded, knowing he'd see me in his periphery because I could see him in mine as I kept my gaze focused on the garden to my right.
"The truth is that I don't know," he chuckled humorlessly. Quietly. "But… it wasn't some sham. I didn't say it was in your memory or anything." Right, because they killed me off. "I just… wanted to."
I swallowed.
With my elbows on the table, I looked down and tugged at my hair.
My knee kept bouncing.
"Was it just them?" I asked, never looking up.
To my surprise, Emmett understood what I was referring to.
"Yeah. Well, it was Dad's idea, and…"
I nodded, understanding. "His word was law."
It was what I had thought.
There was no way Elizabeth could come up with the idea to tell people that I had died, and… for some reason I doubted it was Emmett. I didn't think I ever thought it was his idea.
Carlisle was another matter, though.
"But I still went along with it," he sighed.
Yeah, he did. He went along with it.
At least he didn't place blame on Carlisle.
He knew he'd fucked up.
Looking out over the garden again, I admitted, "I knew what kind of pressure you were under."
It was the truth, and I could only imagine how it had increased after I left.
"Not an excuse, though," he replied with another sigh. "You were under the same pressure growing up."
True.
.
.
"Listen…" He cleared his throat, and I finally managed to face him. He was still looking down, though. "I'm uh… I'm not in that place yet… I'm not ready to apologize."
I already knew that.
I knew it was going to take time.
Hell, I wasn't even sure if I was ready to hear an apology.
But it was nice… I guess… to find out that there was an apology coming my way… some time.
"But I… Fuck," he rubbed the back of his neck, "what I am ready to do, though, is to say thank you."
I frowned, wondering where he was going with this.
And for the first time, he faced me.
"Before… in Chicago." Ah. Right. "You had no reason to go there, but you still did. And… you called Rose. Had it not been for the two of you…"
I nodded with a dip of my chin, eyes on the table again.
This was uncomfortable of epic proportions.
I didn't know how to feel.
Was I supposed to feel relief?
Happiness?
I didn't know, and I didn't feel any of that.
Perhaps it was because I worked as a therapist. I knew that he still had so much work, and… Well, he was leaving this place behind soon. What I worried about was temptation. Would he relapse as soon as he got out? Would he lose his mind because Rose hovered over him as a babysitter? Because that was only normal for a spouse in this situation. And I could definitely see Emmett get riled up over that.
"I know it's gonna get tough," he sighed. "But I'm gonna fight."
I was good at nodding, so I did that again.
"That's good," I answered quietly, needing to say something. "You have a lot to fight for," I added, because it was nothing but the truth. But I was sure that Emmett knew that by now.
"I know," he replied, just above a whisper, and it felt like those two words were filled with a lot more, but I couldn't read into it.
We were quiet for a moment after that.
I returned my gaze to the garden.
My mind kept spinning.
.
.
"I resented you."
I knew that, too.
Or, at least I figured it was something like that.
"You stood your ground. You never let Dad run your life."
No, I didn't.
"You rather took the insults."
"Pretty much," I said.
.
.
.
He sighed. "Are you happy, Edward?"
Stunned by his question, I faced him.
"With your life. Are you happy?"
I had no idea what he was on about, but… "Very."
Very was an understatement.
I had everything I wanted in my life.
Everything was complete for me.
My wife who I adored, loved, and cherished. She was my soulmate. She could read me like an open book. She was always there for me. She supported me. She never hesitated to give me a swift kick in the balls if I needed it. A proverbial, mind you, thank God, but still… She was just there. Through thick and thin.
My children… There were no words to describe how vital they were. It was amazing how they could brighten your day by just looking at you. They could also make you bitch and complain, but none of that mattered in the long run. They loved unconditionally.
My friends, or rather… family. Alice, Jazz, Esme, Rose, Regan, Lucy, and Emily… They were all so incredibly important to me, and if there was one thing I had learned, it was to hold onto to the ones you love.
I never took them for granted.
"That's what I want," he told me, bringing me back to now. "I want to be able to have one word for it all. If someone asked me today if I was happy, I would need hours for all the buts and ifs and despites."
I cracked a small smile.
"You could have it, you know."
He smiled wistfully before looking over his shoulder, toward Rose and Regan.
"That's what I'm fighting for."
Glad to hear it.
Baby steps.
A long journey.
But I could see it. Down the road, I was beginning to see everything work out.
"Should we call the wives back?" he asked, even smirking a little.
That was… odd.
To see resemblance between us… Yeah, that was weird, but it was definitely there.
"Sounds good," I replied.

*O*O*O*

Nine days later, I sat in the chair next to Bella's hospital bed.
Emmett's words about wanting happiness often popped up in my head.
Especially in moments where I reveled in how my own life had turned out.
Through my childhood with a vile bastard of a father, a mother without a backbone, and a weak brother.
Through my years of depression where I questioned my own value.
Through my time with Jasper. I loved him deeply, and we completed each other for the time being. He was my rock, and I was his.
Then, finding my Bella. How she took over from inside out. She became my world, and she gave me even more. She gave me herself when she agreed to be my wife. She gave me Ceara and Ailín. She made my dreams come true, and in LA we built our life.
And now… Now I was holding my newborn son in my arms.
Rían Anthony Cullen.
According to Esme, he was going to be another wild child. Good thing we'd had plenty of practice with Ceara.
Poor Ailín, eh?
I breathed him in.
My heart was full.
There was truly nothing missing in my life.
I hoped Emmett would feel this one day.
Everyone should.
There was nothing like finding that place in life where you belonged.

Edward POV.

Epilogue

"That's wrong, Dad," Ceara said, shaking her head at me as she snatched the decorations from my hands. "You know nothing of color coordination."
"You know what, princess? You're right," I told her. "So, allow me to leave, okay?"
She wasn't even listening anymore.
Instead, she was focusing intently on the Christmas tree she was decorating.
At the age of eleven, she ruled all holidays that demanded decorations.
Because she knew best.
"I can help, I can help!" Rían volunteered.
Poor guy was gonna get shot down.
"No," Ceara replied flatly, then turned back to the tree.
"Be nice, sweetheart," I sighed.
While this was playing out, I could hear oh so many snickers coming from behind me.
Jasper and Emily, of course. They were both taking Ceara's commands.
Then there were Emmett and Lily. They were on fudge-duty, wrapping the pieces of candy in colorful paper. Fudge that Ceara and the women had made earlier this day. Had to say, it was fun to see Emmett doing something so… domestic. Not that it was an unusual sight anymore, but still. I grew up with him, and yeah… this was new. Somewhat. As for Lily, their five year old daughter… Well, she was like Ceara. In fact, I recalled hearing my girl telling Lily that she was Ceara's second in command this lovely Christmas.
"Dad!" Emily groaned. "That's all wrong!"
I laughed under my breath, turning around to see Jasper making… um, whatever it was. All I knew was that he was surrounded by decorations.
"Sorry," Jazz muttered. "But you told me to-"
"I told you to do it right," Emily snapped. "Not… not this! Look, it's a disaster! It's supposed to be an angel, and it looks like a constipated pig!"
Emmett and I exchanged amused looks, and we knew what was next.
We actually looked forward to it.
It was tradition.
"You know what?" Ceara said, and… here it comes. "You're excused. Emily, Lily and I will handle this."
Thank you!
"Let's leave, yeah?" I grinned.
Emmett nodded furiously.
Jasper nodded furiously.
Where to?
The kitchen was out of question, because Bella, Alice, Esme, and Rose were preparing dinner… while drinking too much eggnog. And as much as Emmett loathed tiptoeing, he preferred not to be in the same room with alcohol. During his first few years of sobriety, we all refrained from drinking alcohol around him, because he did, in fact, relapse once. Luckily, it didn't take much for him to get his ass back in rehab, and we were all able to look passed it somewhat easily. But after a few years, he put his foot down. He was sick of everybody tiptoeing around him. So, alcohol on barbecues and holidays was always fine, he just avoided being too close.
Anyway… the kitchen was out. Besides, even they hadn't been drinking, it was off limits for men. 'Cause of all the gossip and shit like that.
Same went for the entertainment room in the basement of the cabin. That was where Regan, Lucy, and Ailín were watching movies.
That left us with three bedrooms and… outside.
That last one wasn't appealing considering the fact that we were in Aspen for the holidays.
It was cold, ya know?
"Now what?" Em asked, rubbing the back of his neck.
Jasper rubbed his chin, also in thought.
I scratched my eyebrow, thinking of possibilities.
"Um, we still have the cigars," Jasper said.
We all turned to the door leading outside.
The snow was falling, but we'd still be under a roof.
"Bundle up, fellas," I decided.
A few moments later, we were all standing outside.
The heaters were running on full force, thankfully making a big difference.
And the Christmas cigars were lit.
I sighed… in nothing but contentment.
This was life.
It hadn't been an easy road to travel.
Years of hard work.
Emmett had worked hard to reach a point in life where he was happy. But he was now. It had been a few years now since I had asked him if he was happy. Five years, to be exact. I had asked him when his daughter was born.
"Are you happy, Em?"
"Very."
Granted, he still lived with a craving, but it wasn't that hard for him to fight it anymore.
"Damn, this is nice," Jazz sighed, referring to… everything, really.
And he was right.
We were all in that perfect place in life. A place we weren't leaving.
Hell, after the hard work to reach this place, you'd be a fool to fuck it up.
It had taken two years for Jasper to allow Emmett into his life.
I never really had a choice to allow him into mine, but… it all worked out well. I wouldn't call the three of us best buddies or anything, and I was right from the beginning; I still couldn't see Emmett as my brother. But we were more than cordial, at least. More than acquaintances. Almost… almost friends. We spent holidays together. Some barbecues, too. And Emmett and Jasper were at least nice to each other. There was no longer a grudge. The anger had dissipated, and issues had been solved instead of forgotten.
More than ten years had passed since that day Rose and I managed to get Emmett into rehab, and since then we had all pretty much fought together. Sure, I fought more for Rose and Regan's sake, but we were still there. All of us. Alice was, of course, more accepting than Jasper, but that was understandable. After all, only Jasper knew how I was back then.
We moved on, though.
That was all that mattered, and it took a lot less strength to deal with acceptance and forgiveness than holding onto anger. Anger aged you. It was tiring. Which Jasper eventually realized.
"Regan ran into Elizabeth in Chicago," Emmett mentioned quietly, immediately getting my attention. We had feared this. Regan went to college in Chicago, and we knew that Carlisle and Elizabeth kept track on us. They had tried to contact Emmett a few times, and Elizabeth had even called me once. But for me and Emmett, it was easy to tell them to fuck off. Yes, even Emmett, thankfully. He didn't even call them Mom and Dad anymore. But Regan was another matter. He was all heart. There was nothing deceptive about him, and he accepted everyone.
"When?" I asked, frowning.
"Few days ago," he sighed, looking out over the snow covered mountains. "Right before he went home for the holidays." Then he… smiled? Yeah, a smile was definitely there, tugging on the corners of his mouth. "Carlisle died a few weeks ago. Heart attack."
Whoa.
Died. He was dead.
Huh.
Well, there you go.
I took a drag from my cigar before exhaling the thick smoke slowly.
"Jesus, look at you two." Jazz snickered. "You're both failing miserably to hide those grins."
Glancing at Emmett, I saw that Jasper was right.
And I could feel my own mouth curl into a satisfied smirk.
Emmett shrugged, no longer hiding his amusement. "Ah, fuck it. The bastard had it coming," he said with a firm nod.
"Well said," I agreed. "Good riddance."
"Hear, hear," Jazz chuckled.
Then we returned to the silence for a while.
A very comfortable silence.

*O*O*O*

I chuckled quietly, leaning against the doorframe.
The women were… tipsy, to say the least.
Cooking, giggling, drinking, talking.
"I wonder how long it's gonna take for them to notice us," Emmett whispered, standing slightly behind me.
"Forever," Jasper responded under his breath. "They have everything they want right now."
"No way," I whispered. "Bella always wants me around."
So, there.
Jasper and Emmett didn't believe me, so I decided to just fucking prove it.
I pushed myself off the doorframe, walking toward the stove with purpose.
"Oh hey, Edward," Esme giggled upon seeing me.
Her eyes were glassy, and as I looked around, I noticed that same went for Alice and Rose.
So…
When Bella turned around, I wasn't surprised when I saw her eyes.
"Hello, Mrs. Cullen," I murmured, towering over her. I kissed her on the forehead as my hands rested on her hips. "Having fun?"
"Very," she… Christ, she was also a giggler. Especially when she was a bit drunk. "We're singin' and cookin'… Ya know, jingle balls and all." She slapped her hand over her mouth. "Oops."
"Jingle balls!" Alice guffawed.
"Now that's something to hang in the tree!" Rose cackled.
I shook my head at my wife, stifling a snicker or two.
"Hmm, what can I do for you, my sexy husband?" she purred, placing a hand on my chest. Damn, she was all over the place.
"You're so fucking adorable," I chuckled, dropping a kiss on her nose.
"Mmm, aren't I?" She smiled… rather seductively. "And we still have half an hour before dinner's ready…" She trailed off suggestively, arching a brow at me.
I swallowed hard.
"Oh, yeah?" I whispered against her temple. "Does that mean you can escape for a while?"
"Absolutely."
Oh, thank fuck.
Believe me, I had the widest grin on my face as we passed Jasper and Emmett in the doorway.
See ya later, suckers!
"Alice!" I heard Jasper say. "Get over here."
"Rosie, you too!" Emmett exclaimed.
I chuckled, happily letting my delectable wife lead me up the stairs.
And into our bedroom.
Thank God the kids were sharing the entertainment room in the basement.
"I want you right here, Mr. Cullen," she murmured, sitting down on the edge of our bed. And she parted her fucking legs. "There's only one thing I want right now."
Goddamn.
"And what's that, baby?" I asked huskily, standing in between her legs… just like she said. See, I can be an obedient boy.
She didn't answer.
Instead, she let her fingers do the talking as she unzipped my jeans.
"Fuck," I whispered under my breath. "You wanna suck my cock, baby?" I tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. "Is that what you want?"
"Yes," she whimpered, pushing my pants down… along with my boxers. "Fuck, yes."
I moaned.
Threading my fingers through her hair, I pulled her closer to my hardening cock. I knew my semi would be rock hard in no time. This was Bella Cullen, after all. Her tongue was wicked. And those lips…
"Shit," I groaned quietly.
Her tongue swirled around my shaft.
My head fell back, my eyes closed.
Wet, hot… holy suction.
Yeah, rock hard. Fuck.
"Jesus, Bella… your mouth."
She hummed.
I started thrusting gently, but I knew right away that that wouldn't suffice, because my girl didn't like it gentle. She didn't like it slow. So, my thrusts became harder, reaching deeper and deeper, and when I slid down her tight throat, she swallowed around me.
"So fucking good," I breathed out.
Wrapping her hair around my fist, I held it tightly as I controlled her movements. Over and over, I pushed my cock down her throat. Her teeth grazed against my erection, not too gently, because I loved it hard, too. Same went for when she tugged on my balls. Fuck, this woman made me whimper.
But as I felt myself getting too close, I pulled out abruptly.
"I need to fuck you, Bella," I panted.
Her turn to whimper, and before she could really respond or react, I pulled her up to a stand before walking her over to a wall.
"Spread your legs," I ordered quietly, bunching her skirt up. Damn, she went commando today. "Hands on the wall."
She obeyed, of course.
Man, was she wet.
"Please, Edward," she moaned as I dragged my cock along her pussy. "Fuck me."
With a low groan, I plunged into her.
Fuck.
There was no waiting, no build-up.
It was fast, it was hard, it was just what we loved.
"Rub your clit for me, baby," I moaned.
My fingers dug into the soft flesh of her hips. The muscles in my thighs strained and ached as I kept pounding into her, but I couldn't stop. She still drove me insane… with lust, with need, with love.
"Oh, God… I'm close, baby," she gasped.
I know.
I could feel her muscles working, clenching and tightening.
"Come with me, Bella," I panted.
Since I'd just had her mouth on me, I knew I wouldn't last.
Christ.
I swiveled my hips, angling to reach deeper, and it was with a loud moan she let me know that I had reached that sweet spot in her. It was quickly followed by her orgasm, and I clamped my hand over her mouth to muffle a scream. Just the thought that I could still make her scream was enough to push me over the edge, too, and after a few more deep thrusts, I shot my release into her.
"Fuck," I snarled, biting down on her shoulder.
I ground my hips closer, panting as my cock released the last of my climax.
"Oh, my God… Oh, my God," she chanted breathlessly.
She was trembling and shivering, and I could feel her knees starting to give, so I pulled out of her, quickly tucking myself in before leading her over to the bed.
With her sideways on my lap, I kissed her until we were both smiling goofily. Fuck, how I loved her.
"No more eggnog for you, honey," I chuckled quietly, watching her beautiful eyes. They were still a bit glassy, and her grin was the cutest. And my wife was a light-weight. Three drinks and she was done for.
"And no more cigars for you," she huffed playfully.
I laughed, nuzzling her jaw. "Once a year, baby. I smoke a cigar once a year."
"Yeah, you're such a man."
I smirked. "Oh, I think you know that I'm all man."
She nodded solemnly.
"I love you," I murmured, resting my forehead against hers. "Know that?"
And there was that smile again, the shy one. Christ, after more than a decade together, a few words or compliments could still bring out her shyness. It wasn't often, but when it appeared, it was a reminder of what she had before me. She always gave, and always without returning.
"I love you, too," she whispered against my cheek.
Unfortunately, our moment was cut short when we heard Ceara screaming downstairs.
That was a part of life, too.
She and Rían were both hotheaded, and I could imagine they were fighting over Christmas decorations right now.
"I'll deal with them, and you finish cooking," I chuckled, dropping one last kiss on her soft lips. "Your husband is fucking starving."
"Yes, sir," she replied, giving me a mock-salute before standing up.
I swatted her on the ass, 'cause, um… it called out to me.
Ya know?

The End