Chapter 26

~~~~OOO~~~OOO~~~~

Chapter 26

"Emmett. Jesus, do you think you could slice the ball anymore than that?" Edward laughed as he watched his brother's golf ball go straight for about fifty yards before it took a sharp turn to the right.

"Shut the fuck up, Edward. Not all of us are married to the female version of Tiger Woods you know. Now, help me fix my fucking swing," Emmett grumbled.

Shaking his head while trying to keep from laughing, loudly, at his younger brother, he walked forward and adjusted Emmett's grip on the driver in his hands before standing behind him and moving his hips to square him up behind the ball. "Try that," Edward instructed.

He moved out of Emmett's back swing and then chuckled when Emmett hit the ball straight down the middle of the driving range before it bounced by the 230 yard marker.

"Holy shit!" Emmett crowed and he hurriedly placed another ball on the tee. When he looked up and saw Edward shaking his head, he gave him a calculated look and then asked, "How many yards did Bella add to your drive, Mr. Smugass?"

Edward harrumphed, and then realized Emmett hadn't said anything else. When he looked at him, Emmett crooked his eyebrow expectantly. "Fine, about 40 yards. Happy now?" Edward grumbled and then, well, he couldn't help but smile because he could remember, vividly in all matter-of-fact, just how Isabella had coaxed him to get those 40 yards.

He even groaned a bit when he imagined how it had felt to have her body pressed up tightly against his back as she wrapped her arms around his waist and held his hands in the right grip. He could practically feel the way her nipples brushed back and forth as she moved his hips into the proper position. He'd happily endure more lessons like that; it didn't even matter to him if it helped his golf game any.

He watched Emmett hit another almost picture perfect drive and amended his previous thought. As long as he could still beat Em, Jasper, and Alec he was happy.

Hell, he'd even accidentally on purpose develop a hitch in his swing if it meant more lessons from his delectable wife.

Edward and Emmett hit golf balls for over an hour, talking and enjoying each other's company. It was a gorgeous fall night and because it was now the beginning of October, there was a definite chill in the air as soon as the sun started to set. Isabella was helping Nonna and Renée at church and Edward had figured it was a great opportunity to spend some time away from the office with Emmett, just the two of them.

There wasn't any question that their relationship was in a much better place; hell, it was in a different stratosphere from where it was just a few short months ago. Edward rediscovered all those wonderful things about his brother that he chose to ignore over the years; his sense of humor, even if it did tip toward juvenile and crude from time to time, his ability to get to the heart of a problem without beating around the bush, and his unwavering sense of family and a loyalty that few could match.

For Emmett, it was like meeting his brother for the first time. He was amazed to discover how laid back Edward could be. It wasn't that big of a stretch to imagine how difficult it was to always be on guard, to always be afraid of saying too much or showing too much. Now that Edward didn't have to do that any longer, he most definitely wasn't the Iceman everyone had thought he was for so long.

Emmett found himself mesmerized more often than not at the office. He watched Edward with a new appreciation, marveling at how commanding he was, without seeming overbearing. How he could make decisions in the blink of an eye and never second-guess himself. How - now that he had let his guard down - he seemed to be thriving and how everyone seemed to admire and love him even more because of it.

It would have been easy, he supposed, to be jealous of Edward, but there wasn't a jealous bone to be found in his body, not even a hint of one. Edward was born to be in charge and now that he'd opened himself up and relied on the input of others, well, there was nothing he couldn't do.

Even outside the business aspect of things, the relationship between the two of them was thriving. In the few weeks that had passed since Edward had taken the steps to heal their family, things had decidedly taken a turn for the better. More times than Emmett could count, he'd come home only to find that Edward and Bella had taken the kids either out to dinner, or to the park, or even to the bookstore, just because they felt like it. Or, he would come home and find Edward and Jack in the basement playing the Wii or playing catch in the backyard while Rose and Bella visited in the kitchen with Emma playing happily at their feet. There were even a few times when their parents had joined them as well resulting in impromptu family dinners.

Emmett thought it was all...really fucking great to be perfectly honest.

He knew things were still strained between Edward and their dad, more so than with their mother. If he was being one hundred percent honest, he was more than a bit upset and hurt and disillusioned when it came to his mom and dad and he was struggling with how to deal with that. Hearing everything that Edward had to live through, only to be taken in and summarily ignored again, well, it tore at his heart in ways he couldn't even begin to understand.

Both men noticed that their buckets were empty at about the same time and after putting their golf clubs away in their bags, they walked toward the parking lot.

"Beer?" Emmett asked with a lift of his chin after he'd shut the hatch on the back of the SUV.

"Absolutely," Edward answered immediately and set his clubs in his trunk as well.

Isabella wasn't due to be done helping at the church for a few hours yet and he'd much rather spend that time with Emmett than being at home by himself. It made him pause when he realized how quickly things had changed. For so long he'd tried to find any and all excuse to keep from being at home, alone with Isabella, now it was as though he never wanted to leave, or at the very least, be very far away from her and sure as hell not for very long.

Edward followed Emmett to a bar that was on their way home from the driving range and they both ordered a beer and decided to split a pizza as soon as they sat down. Once the waitress left them their beers, Emmett tipped his toward his brother. "Here's to many more nights hanging out. You're kinda not an ass and pretty fucking cool when you want to be."

"Gee, thanks," Edward said in response and smirked at him across the table.

Both men clinked their bottles together, took a long drink of their beer, and sat for a few moments in a very comfortable silence. Edward tried not to think of the fact that not too long ago he wouldn't be caught dead sitting in a bar with his brother and Emmett tried not to think about the fact that he'd wished he could do something as simple as hang out and drink beer with his brother for longer than he could remember.

The two talked until their pizza came and then they dug in. Every now and then Emmett would make a comment about the baseball game that was playing on the television, but mostly they just ate. Finally, when all but two pieces of pizza were gone, Emmett sat back in the booth and regarded his brother before saying quite softly, "This was...really nice."

Edward had started to pick up his beer to take a drink, but at hearing Em's words, he set the bottle back on the table and looked across at him. "I'm sorry we haven't spent more time together," Edward said, and then began nervously peeling at the label on his beer bottle.

It had been a few weeks since the dinner at his house and though he felt so much better that everything was out in the open, he realized he and Emmett hadn't really had a chance to talk about everything either. His eyes pinched and he could feel himself frown as he remembered how devastated Emmett had been once he'd told them all of his time in Ireland. Emmett wasn't one to hide his emotions, never had been, so Edward was well aware of how much it had hurt Em to hear what he'd lived with for so long.

"Well, I'm just sorry that it took so fucking long to talk about it all. Damn, Edward," Emmett said as he struggled to find the words he'd been desperately trying to say for weeks now. "I just...I wish...fuck," he grunted and then blew out a frustrated breath. "I really fucking wish there was a way to go back and start over, you know? I hate, fucking hate, all the time that we missed. I hate that no one knew what you'd been through. I hate that Grandfather practically stole you away from us before we even had a chance to get to know you. I really, really fucking hate that Mom and Dad didn't try harder to help you," he finished in a tight voice that only underlined how hard it still was for him to come to grips with everything that had happened, both before Edward left Ireland and then after he'd come to Chicago.

Edward stared at him and tried to come up with a response. Finally he offered what little he could. "Em, what's done is done so there isn't any point in dwelling on it any longer. We've all made mistakes, and the only thing we can do now is try to move past them. I'm not sure any of us can...forget...but we can accept and make peace. Like you said, we've wasted a lot of time being angry with one another, and not even really knowing why. I don't know about you, but I'm really fucking exhausted from being so pissed off all the damn time and you have to admit, I'm a much more pleasant fellow to be around these days, yes?"

"God, isn't that the fucking truth?" Emmett grinned and then shook his head. "Are you really okay? I mean, you seem to be and you and Bella...I don't even know how to explain how happy you two look, but you know, I mean...you can talk to me...if you need to...about anything," he stammered out.

Edward felt his heart flutter and he had to adjust himself on the seat of the booth because the moment his mind wandered to his wife, he got hard, just like he always did these days. He could also tell he was sporting the same stupid, goofy grin, just like he always did whenever Isabella came up in conversation.

Hmmm, he thought, maybe the damn angel has a point with all his sighing and ogling...not that he would ever, EVER, admit that out loud. The being was annoying as all get out on a normal basis; there was no telling what Seth would do if he were to ever find out that Edward didn't mind anywhere near as much as he pretended in regard to the angel's appreciation of his wife.

"I am happy," Edward said somewhat dreamily not even stopping to mind that he probably sounded like a pansy ass.

"It's about fucking time, and you deserve it more than anyone," Emmett answered him immediately.

Edward didn't comment on that because he didn't really know what to say. They ordered another round of beers and when the waitress dropped them off at the table, Edward made sure to tell her thank you. He got a flash of a memory from years ago, of being rude to the poor flight attendant that happened to be working when he and Isabella had flown to Italy for their honeymoon and he cringed at the memory.

God he really had been quite the insufferable ass.

Emmett raised his eyebrow at Edward when he saw him shake his head. "What?"

"How in the world did all of you put up with me for all those years?" Edward asked incredulously. "Just thinking back on how I acted and some of the things I said, my God, Em, I was such a bastard."

Emmett slammed his hand on the table and then took a deep breath to keep from saying something he would regret later. "Edward," he said then snapped his mouth shut so he could exhale out of his nose. This time his voice was much calmer when he began to speak. "I won't blow sunshine up your ass and tell you that you were a peach to be around, but honestly, you weren't as bad as you think you were. On top of that, we all got used to it over time anyway."

He took a breath and he could tell Edward was about to disagree, but really, Emmett couldn't stand for Edward to castigate himself any more. He just...couldn't. "God damn it, no, Edward. You did the best you could, considering all the bullshit you were dealing with. None of us tried to help you, so it's a wonder you even bothered talking to us at all," he finished and then hung his head.

"Ah, fuck, Emmett," Edward huffed. "I'm sorry," and when Emmett glared at him, he lifted his hands to tell him to wait. "I didn't mean to bring this up and ruin a great night; we just haven't had much time to talk is all."

Emmett leaned his back against the booth and looked at his brother for a long moment before he said, "I know. I needed some time to let everything kind of sink in, you know? I hope you don't think I just blew everything off. I guess it wouldn't surprise me if you did, but, Christ, Ed, that was a hell of a lot to think about."

"No, I didn't think that," Edward stated. "I know you have questions, ask them, and then we can clear the air and be done." When Emmett's jaw dropped, Edward snickered at him and then rolled his eyes. "Really, Em, it's fine. Ask what you want to know."

So he did...for a good solid hour Emmett peppered Edward with question after question. Some were rather out of left field, some were right on the money and made Edward cringe, but he'd told Emmett to ask whatever he wanted to know and he meant it. By the time they paid their check and walked out to their cars, the two men were even closer than they were when they'd first arrived.

Edward thought over all the questions during his fifteen minute drive home but the moment he turned down the street to his house, the only thing he could think about was Isabella. He had hardly seen her at all during the day because they were both busy with meetings and then she'd left early to go meet Renée and Nonna. He really fucking missed her as crazy as that sounded, but he didn't much care.

He parked the car in the garage and hurried inside the house, feeling his heart rate spike as soon as he'd closed the door behind him. She wasn't anywhere to be found downstairs so he quickly raced up the stairs. He knew she was home, her car was in the garage, and when he turned left at the top of the stairs he heard the shower as he got closer to their bedroom door. He started taking his shirt off before he'd even opened the bedroom door and in the blink of an eye had gotten completely undressed, leaving a trail of clothing, shoes, and even keys and cell phone on the floor in his wake. He didn't care, the only thing he was focused on was the fact that she was naked and he wanted her.

He always wanted her. Every second of every day it seemed like and if that was supposed to bother him...well, it didn't...not even a little bit.

Quietly he opened the door and was inundated with steam, which was just fine with him because it allowed him to enter unnoticed. He could make out her silhouette, though just barely, but what he saw was enough to make him harder than he was already. She was humming as she stood under the water, with her head tipped back and he watched, transfixed, as the water cascaded over her body. He watched her as long as he could stand it, which really wasn't that long at all and when she turned around and hung her head beneath the streaming water, he opened the door to the shower and stepped in behind her.

"I was wondering how long you were going to wait," she told him as soon as he pressed his body against hers.

She lifted her head up and then shifted her weight so he was aligned perfectly with her body. She fit perfectly in front of him as was apparent when his hardened length was nestled right up against her ass. His hands slid around her waist and then covered her breasts. She lolled her head backward, tilting her head to the side so that he could kiss up and down the side of her neck.

"I missed you today," he whispered as he flicked her pulse point with his tongue.

She relaxed against him even more, enjoying the feel of his hands as they traveled over her body and the way the warm water softly pelted her skin. "Mmmm, missed you, too," she said in a raspy voice and her breath caught in her throat when he pinched a nipple, rolling the sensitive flesh between his fingers.

"I need you, now," he told her as he spun her around and then lifted her up. She immediately wrapped her legs around his waist and when her back touched the cool marble of the shower, she barely noticed. All she could see and feel was him.

He was so hard, so ready, and apparently so was she because she slid down his length with no trouble at all. He dipped his hips and then thrust one time, hissing in pleasure as she settled around him.

"Oooh...Edward," she breathed out, caught by surprise at the warmth that spread through her body the instant he was inside of her.

"Kiss me," he told her and growled just a bit, though the sound echoed off the walls of the shower, when she reached up and wrapped her arm around his neck and pulled his head down to hers.

Their mouths fused together with her top lip between both of his. For just a moment, they both stilled, breathing the same breath in the steamy shower. It had only been hours since they'd seen each other, but you would have thought it had been days or weeks the way they craved each other. Isabella slid her lips back and forth across his, relishing how they felt and tasted, and then let her tongue drag across his bottom one. Slowly and gently, which was the exact opposite of what her mind and body were telling her, she pressed her tongue into his mouth, groaning softly in the back of her throat as his taste exploded in her mouth. She kissed him until she had her fill, well actually it was more like until she saw stars because she wasn't breathing and then moved from his lips to the spot where his neck and his shoulders met. As she lapped up the water, she wondered how it could taste like him.

His fingers kneaded the muscles in her ass as he pressed her against the wall of the shower. He dipped his head so he could reciprocate her actions and when he did, he could feel her breasts firmly against his chest, especially her nipples.

Lifting one hand from her ass, he covered a breast with his hand and then rubbed his thumb across the sensitive peak. As soon as he did so, he felt her clench around him and the flood of heat that suddenly appeared he knew had nothing to do with the warm water of the shower and everything to do with him.

God how he loved the way she responded to him, the way he knew exactly how to touch her, to move inside of her to elicit those sweet and fucking sexy little whimpers and moans that he knew as well as he knew her voice. He knew that she loved to have the skin on in the inside of hipbones rubbed in a circle, how she loved to have the spot behind her ear sucked just right, but she didn't like him to kiss her earlobe. He knew, for some unfathomable reason, her left breast was more sensitive than her right, and that without fail, she would come, and come hard, if he breathed in her ear at the same time his fingers rubbed her clit.

He knew her...mind, body, heart, and soul and she knew him the same way and it was the best fucking feeling in the whole world.

Well, besides being inside of her and as soon as he had that thought, he began to move. Slow and steady, with long, deep strokes, he moved.

"Ah...God, so good," she breathed against his neck as she clung to him.

Grunting, he said, "Fuck, yes."

He rolled his hips and she squeezed him tightly, both around his neck and around his length, deep inside of her. Her nails scratched his scalp when she ran her hands through his hair and he sucked in a breath through his nose.

"I fucking love when you do that. Do it again," he told her as he bent his head down and breathed in her ear.

When she did it again, he felt himself grow even harder inside of her.

"Faster, Edward. I'm so close," she panted in his ear.

"Kiss me again, Beautiful," he demanded.

She did as he asked and as soon as their tongues twisted and twirled he started pumping faster. His legs burned but he didn't care. He heard the telltale hitch in her breathing and the squeak that always meant she was close.

"Come, baby." He wanted, needed, to feel her come around him before he let go, but it was getting harder to hang on. He spread his legs just a bit more and tilted her forward just enough so that he hit that perfect spot deep inside of her. When she threw her head backward, stretching her elegant neck, he knew she would let go any moment. "That's it, come for me."

Her walls fluttered and spasmed as her orgasm flowed through her body. He cupped her ass in his hands and thrust, one time, inside of her and then felt his own orgasm, shivering as he came hard in a few powerful bursts. Limply, she sagged against him when he pulled her up and wrapped his arms around her.

"Love you," she murmured in his ear and then voiced her displeasure when he slid from her body.

"Love you, too," he said with a grin once she was standing up, though a bit wobbly, when he put her down. He kissed her forehead and then her lips, saying sweetly, "I love coming home to you like that. I hate when we're not together, but that certainly makes up for it."

They finished their shower, taking time to wash each other's hair and body and by the time they got out, the water had turned cold. She giggled and rolled her eyes at him when they walked out of the bathroom and she took in the mess he'd left on the floor.

"What? I heard you in the shower. You know I can never resist when you're naked," he told her with a sexy smile and then picked his things off the floor.

Once they'd dressed, or not dressed for bed as the case was, they crawled into bed.

"How was your evening with Emmett?" she asked once she'd found her happy place on his chest.

He didn't stop running his fingers through her hair, but he didn't answer right away either. After a few minutes he sighed. "It was really great. We got a chance to really talk about everything, got some shit straightened out, so it was good. I just...I wish," he stumbled and she immediately raised her head and turned, resting her chin on his chest while she looked at him.

"What, sweetheart?" she questioned, though not with a hint of anything other than encouragement.

He'd done so well dealing with everything, so much so, she had a hard time not waiting for the other shoe to drop. They'd spent a lot of time talking, while they were curled up in bed, sitting outside on the deck, or when they cooked dinner together, about everything. He was still very angry and hurt, and she didn't blame him in the least; she was, too, and he didn't blame her either. It was a lot to process, a lot to come to terms with and they were taking it day by day. They didn't talk about his past or his parents every day, but each knew if something was bothering them, they could talk about it. It was very freeing to know that they had that level of trust with each other and it only cemented their bond to each other even more.

"I really fucking hate that Emmett is mad at Carlisle and Esme. I mean, I understand it, but I don't like it. I just want all this shit to be behind us, you know? Now that everything is out there, I want to leave the past in the past," he huffed and then adjusted them so they were lying face to face on their sides.

"Edward, you know that just because you've forgiven Carlisle and Esme doesn't mean everyone can forget what happened. They have their own failures to deal with and it's not easy, especially for someone like Carlisle. Forgiveness doesn't automatically make things all better, it just makes it easier to go forward," she told him while she ran her fingers through his hair.

"I am still so mad at myself for hurting you the way I did," he told her in a pained voice. "I wouldn't have blamed you if you hadn't forgiven me. I don't deserve you, but I'm so fucking grateful you did."

Forcefully, she held his face in her small but very strong hands and then rolled over so she was on top of him. Looking down into his eyes, she said in a fierce voice that was full of all the love she had for him, "You do deserve me, Edward, just like I deserve you. We were meant to be together, don't you know that? There isn't anyone that could make me as happy as I am or feel as loved as I do but you. You say I am your reason, but don't you know by now you're my reason, too, my everything? There is no me without you..." Her chin quivered but she kept staring into his eyes, willing him to understand the depth of her love for him and her unwavering belief in what she'd said.

"Ah, fuck, Isabella," he groaned and then crushed her body to his. His mouth was on hers instantly and he kissed her until all the chaotic thoughts he had calmed so he could focus solely on her.

When he pulled back he pushed her hair back over her shoulder with one hand and with the other traced the friendship bracelet on her wrist. "I do think we were meant to be together, but I still have such a hard time forgiving myself for hurting you the way I did. I wasted so much time, love, time that I'd give anything to have back so that I could love you the way I've always wanted to. Time that we could have spent starting our family or time that we could have just spent together. I'll never get that back, no matter how happy I am now."

He really hadn't meant for the conversation to take the turn it did, but he couldn't stop it now. Of course he lived with those thoughts every day, they never went away, and he didn't think they ever would. In all honesty, he wasn't sure he ever wanted them to. He hated living with the constant reminder of all the pain he'd caused her, but it helped him make damn sure to appreciate every day with her all the more.

He really didn't think there was too much wrong with that.

"Oh, Edward," she sighed in a much softer tone. She scooted down his chest and he tucked her head beneath his chin. Slowly she began to run her fingers through the hair on his chest and then quietly said, "We've been given a second chance and I, for one, am not going to waste it by living in the past. You have to let it go, sweetheart. You didn't hurt me on purpose and I know that, especially now. We have our whole lives together; let's focus on that, okay? Neither one of us knows what the future looks like, but I know as long as I'm with you, it doesn't matter."

Edward couldn't help but squeeze her tightly and he tried with all his might not to let her see just how much her words had affected him, only because if she asked, he would tell her everything and he wasn't sure that was such a good idea. Somehow he figured there were rules against that or some shit, and he most definitely did not want to go about breaking any. He figured it was much better to be safe than sorry in this particular instance.

After another moment, he slid her off his chest so she could roll over and he could wrap his arms around her. He pulled her to him, and then sighed into her hair. "I love you, Isabella. I'll love you forever," he told her softly.

"I know. I love you, too, and we'll always be a part of each other," she said right before she drifted off to sleep.

He closed his eyes, letting her scent and her love surround them and as he followed her in sleep, he got that warm feeling he always did when the angel was hovering.

"Thank you," Edward murmured and immediately felt a kiss to his forehead. "Damn angel," he barely whispered before falling completely asleep.

He missed the look of supreme satisfaction and love as well as the twinkle in Seth's eyes before he disappeared, leaving his two favorite humans wrapped in each other's arms.

~~~~OOO~~~OOO~~~~

"Donna, will you check with the caterers and make sure they'll have everything set up in time?" Edward asked and then smiled as he released the button on the intercom on his desk.

"Are you nervous?" the angel smirked from the corner.

Edward snorted and rolled his eyes but didn't comment. Instead he finished what he was working on and then looked at Seth.

"The only thing I'm nervous about is the fact that she's going to kill me for making such a big deal about this," Edward said and then literally cringed when he thought about all the different ways the afternoon could go.

Seth laughed loudly and Edward raised his eyebrows at him. "It wasn't that funny," he mumbled and tried like hell not to smile himself.

For the past few weeks Edward had been working with Jasper to change the business plan for CP and make sure everything was legal and air tight. It's not like Isabella didn't know he was naming her his successor, but he'd purposely not mentioned anything about any sort of formal recognition ceremony. It was bit macabre he supposed, to make a celebration out of the fact that he was letting everyone know what would happen when he died, but no one besides himself and the annoying being in the corner knew it would become necessary sooner rather than later.

His sole purpose in making such a big deal out of it was to show her that everyone, not just him and the family, had the utmost faith in her as a businesswoman, not just as his wife. She'd more than proven herself over the past few weeks as her project with Emmett continued to garner countrywide attention and praise from all directions.

He'd said it before and he would continue saying it over and over again, he was so fucking proud of her he could hardly stand it. She'd thrived with each success and at night when they were at home talking about their days, she had idea after idea that she couldn't wait to share with him and he loved every fucking minute of it. She was the smartest person he knew, and he could, and often did, spend hours just listening to her talk. Not just about work either, but everything: sports, current events, popular culture and serious topics like religion and politics, too. She was most passionate when she talked about her work with the after school program and her next project was going to be a literacy campaign to help the programs like the one she volunteered in.

Yep, he was proud as a peacock and didn't try to hide it in the least.

"You invited her family as well as Carlisle and Esme I take it?" Seth questioned, even though he already knew the answer.

"Yes, and you damn well know I did, too," Edward remarked.

The angel chuckled again. "Eddie, you just make it so easy sometimes. You would really think by now you would know better."

"Hmph," Edward snorted and then took a moment to look through the papers Jasper had left him one more time.

Seth let him be, choosing to instead think about the past few weeks and how far Edward had come since he'd finally told his family everything. There were good days and bad of course; it would be wholly unreasonable to assume or expect that there wouldn't be instances when the residual hurt and anger Edward still had would come out, but it was less than Seth had anticipated. There were moments of awkwardness toward Carlisle and Esme and there were uncomfortable discussions with Jasper and Alec when they had questions, but all in all, things were progressing better than he'd ever hoped.

When Edward and Isabella had the discussion about children, it had...well for lack of a better way of saying it...it had shocked the shit out of him. The others of his kind had taken great pleasure at his utter surprise. Even Gideon hadn't been able to hide his mirth as his ice blue eyes twinkled more than all the stars in the sky. Seth of course knew that Edward had thought of having or not having children with Isabella, they'd discussed it plenty of times, but the fact that he'd been so ready to talk about it the day after revealing everything to his family and friends had completely blindsided him.

Like he'd commented many, many times, Edward didn't do anything halfway.

When he questioned him about it at the first opportunity, the reason Edward had given him had rendered him speechless, a feat that was becoming more commonplace with each passing day, much to his consternation. He'd told him, very simply, that when, not if, because he'd given up using that word some time ago, his time was up, Isabella wouldn't be alone. The support system she and any child they would be blessed enough to have was so big and so strong, he was sure they would see her through even the darkest of days and times.

"She loves you too much to kill you my friend, and we all know the lovely Isabella can't hold a grudge, at all," he grinned, showing his perfect teeth.

"No, she really can't, but Lord knows I've been on her bad side. I love Isabella when she's feisty, though not particularly when it's directed at me," Edward answered with a grin of his own.

Of course his grin was for a much different reason, at least it better be. Picturing his wife when she got all riled up about something never failed to turn him on, so the cheeky angel better not be implying the same thing or there would be...well, he would be in trouble.

Seth smiled at Edward and then in a more serious tone said, "Edward Anthony, come sit for a minute. We have some time before the others get here and I want to talk to you."

Edward's stomach tightened but he did as he was asked and took a seat on the couch, looking at Seth with a terrified look on his face, one which caused the angel to snigger.

"Edward, you look like you're going to be sick! Come now, do you really think I would do anything to ruin Isabella's day? We haven't had much time to talk lately that's all," Seth told him with a slight shake of his head. Once Edward took a deep breath, he went on. "How are you feeling about everyone being together again now that they've all had some time to digest everything you told them?"

"Ah, I think it will be good. Things are still kind of strained with Mother and Carlisle but with everyone else, things are really good," he said, sounding very much at peace.

Seth prodded a bit because Edward did indeed sound relaxed, well for him any rate, and asked, "Do you think you'll ever acknowledge Carlisle as your father? It seems that no matter how angry and hurt you were by your adoptive parents, Esme has always been Mother but Carlisle has never been Father."

Edward inhaled deeply through his nose and then leaned forward, resting his forearms on his legs and then turned to look at Seth. He'd often wondered the same thing, many times in fact, especially as he and Isabella spent more and more time talking and even more so when the subject of children came up, as it did frequently these days. "Maybe, if there was enough time," he answered Seth. "I don't exactly have a positive reaction when I hear the word father, you know?"

"Considering what you and Isabella have been discussing of late, don't you think you might want to try?" the all-knowing angel asked with a raised eyebrow.

The angel was right, as he always was when he tried to make Edward admit something he didn't want to and Edward didn't like it any more in this case than he had in any of the others either.

Damn it all.

Edward didn't say anything but he didn't need to for Seth to know he'd gotten his point across. "Look, Edward, I'm certainly not going to tell you that you have to start calling Carlisle Daddy and go out and buy him one of those obnoxious t-shirts that proclaim him the 'World's Greatest Father' but it is something to think about just the same. If you are looking for positive role models for how a father should act, you don't have to look any farther than Charlie or Emmett. Both epitomize what the word means and you couldn't do much better than to emulate either one of them."

"You got that right. Charlie and Emmett are both amazing fathers. Maybe you need to have the right genes or some shit to be a good father, that would explain Carlisle I suppose, considering we all know Grandfather would never win any father of the year awards," Edward huffed.

"That is certainly true, Edward, but humans are, for the most part, very flawed beings. Your Grandfather made his own mistakes, ones that though Carlisle didn't intentionally set to repeat, he did nonetheless. However, the thing that separates your Grandfather and Carlisle the most is the fact that Carlisle is well aware of the mistakes he's made and is truly remorseful for them," the patient angel said in a sincere voice.

Edward made some sort of sound that was a cross between a snort and a scoff before saying, "Well, he's certainly acting like he's trying hard, I'll give him that much."

"He's doing more than acting, my friend, and you acting like a spoiled brat about it doesn't become you in the least, you know," Seth remarked with a very pointed glance.

Properly chastised, Edward sat back. "Twenty years of behavior is kind of hard to change overnight so cut me a damn break, okay. And, I know that tone, so why don't you tell me what you mean by that comment instead of reprimanding me like I was a child."

Seth let Edward's belligerence slide, only because it was done more out of reflex than anything and because he did have a point. Edward had a stubborn streak that was a mile wide and he'd fallen back on it and used it as a defense mechanism for more than half his life. No one, not even Seth, could expect him to completely let go of that this quickly. The only person that he didn't use it with was the lovely Isabella and that was because, well, she was Isabella.

Seth arranged himself in the chair and then looked at his charge. He had been waiting to bring this next topic up until just the right time and considering the turn the conversation had taken, he figured that time had come.

After Edward had shared his secrets and his painful past with his family all those weeks ago, Seth had left him in the very capable hands of his wife and instead, spent some time observing Carlisle and Esme on their way home. He was most glad he did because although he was certain that both Carlisle and Esme were sorry for what they had and hadn't done in regard to Edward, witnessing their naked and raw remorse was at once both moving and hard to watch. If he'd had any doubt, and he admitted to having a little, about Carlisle's sincerity, he didn't after hearing and seeing what he had. He knew Edward needed to know, too, so that he could truly open himself up to the new relationship he was trying to build with the man that was his father in every sense of the word.

"Edward, you know by now that I can do many things so it shouldn't come as a surprise to you that after you had talked to your family, I spent some time observing Carlisle and Esme after they left your house. Let me assure you my friend, there is nothing either of them want more than to earn your love and forgiveness and to be allowed to be the parents they should have been from the very beginning," Seth told him.

Edward sucked in a sharp breath and then ran his fingers through his hair as he tried to keep his composure. He wasn't sure why the angel's words affected him so much, but they did and his heart was positively pounding in his chest. Actually he knew exactly why he was reacting the way he was; Seth had never lied to him, he couldn't, so he knew that what he just told him was the truth, a truth Edward desperately wanted to believe.

"What did you hear?" Edward questioned, and it tore at Seth's heart to hear the vulnerability that Edward tried so hard to keep buried in his voice.

Seth closed his eyes, though he didn't need to because his kind had perfect recall, but he did it just the same and was immediately transported backward. Keeping his eyes closed, he began to speak in the quietest, gentlest voice Edward had heard yet and Edward stared, transfixed, as his guide began to speak.

"If there was ever a time I wished I could read minds, it was then, Edward Anthony, because neither one spoke much during the drive home, but you could certainly tell they were both deep in thought. The anguish and the guilt just poured out of them, so much so it was like they were inside an impenetrable bubble. They didn't even touch each other, which you know is not the norm for your parents. Carlisle asked Esme one time during the entire drive if she was okay, but she was so overcome with everything she couldn't even answer him, she just nodded her head.

"When they arrived at their house, neither one made an attempt to exit the car and go in the house, they were just...numb. Finally Carlisle prodded her to get out and they walked, silently, into the house and you could tell the moment they did so, the atmosphere changed. I can't really explain it but to say it was if the weight of all they'd done wrong suddenly surrounded them and they couldn't make it another step. They both collapsed on the floor, crying in each other's arms. Edward, please make no mistake, I know, more than anyone, perhaps even you, just how greatly they failed you, but I have never seen such anguish or remorse from two people as I did when they cried to each other. They do love you, more than you can probably imagine, and they are hurting and so very, very sorry. The last thing Carlisle told Esme, after she'd asked him how to earn your forgiveness was," and the angel repeated verbatim what he'd heard, "'We try, Es, every damn day, to be the parents we should have been all this time. Me more than you; you've always let him know how much you've loved him, even if he didn't acknowledge it. Me? I've squandered away twenty years that I can't ever get back, but I can make sure to embrace this second chance he's given me and I fully intend to do just that.'"

Seth looked into the shell-shocked look of his charge and smiled lovingly at him. "Edward, they love you, both of them. Carlisle has to learn to forgive himself so that he can move forward with you. You, my young and very stubborn friend, must learn to forgive yourself for hurting Isabella, as well. I know you love her, Isabella knows you do, too, but until you let go of that last bit of self-hatred you're clinging to, you won't be completely at peace. She's forgiven you, Edward, it's time to forgive yourself. Just like Carlisle must forgive himself in order to embrace, fully, the second chance you've given him. You don't have to forget your mistakes, you won't ever, but you do have to stop dwelling on them."

Edward sighed deeply, breathing in and out a few times and then pinched the bridge of his nose before turning to Seth. "I know," he said, and the angel was pleased as could be that the words weren't tinged with reticence, but instead a firm resolve to do just that. "I don't want Carlisle living everyday in the past. It's time for all of us to stop looking behind and focus on what's in front of us, though for some of us, the horizon is much shorter."

Seth didn't comment on that, because he couldn't. Anything he said would be a hollow platitude and he and Edward were way past them anyway. Trying to lighten the mood after the heavy conversation they'd just had because it was almost time for the others to arrive, the being said with a mischievous twinkle in his eye, "Well, if the lovely Isabella kills you for springing this impromptu get together on her, you won't have to wonder anymore when your time will be up, will you?"

"Ah, shit, you don't really think she's going to be that mad at me do you?" Edward squeaked and then swallowed convulsively.

It went without saying how much he really fucking hated when she was mad at him! It was something he avoided at all costs actually. That wasn't to say he didn't enjoy teasing her when he was in one of his moods just to see how far he could push her, but he certainly never got her angry on purpose. He was an idiot at times, but not even he was stupid enough to provoke her on purpose.

"Relax, Eddie, what's the worst she can do? You and I both know you don't ever mind when a bit of that Italian temper comes to light. Now, if I'm not mistaken, and you know I'm not ever wrong, it's time to head downstairs to the reception room and get ready for this long awaited presentation," the cheeky angel said with a shit-eating grin.

"It would help a whole fucking lot if you didn't seem to enjoy it when I screwed up so damn much," Edward grumbled as he stood up and put his suit jacket on.

"And deny myself one of my favorite pleasures? No way," Seth said before disappearing, though it would only be for a few minutes.

"Damn bossy, smart ass, annoying angel," Edward muttered as he stepped on the elevator to go down to the reception room and quickly said a prayer that Isabella didn't kill him.

Isabella walked into the reception room and when she noticed her parents and Nonna standing with Alice, Carlisle, and Esme, she knew something was up and she had a feeling she knew what it was. She should have known the second her assistant, Meredith, reminded her that she had blocked off her calendar from 2:00 on that something was going on, she just didn't think it would be this.

Her husband, she swore to herself and shook her head.

"Bambola!" Charlie said loudly when he noticed his daughter approaching. He was so damn proud of her he could hardly stand it, and he wanted everyone to know it, too.

"Dad," Isabella greeted him with a smile and then let herself be wrapped up in a tight hug.

"Now you listen to me, daughter of mine, no getting upset with Edward, you hear me? He really wanted to do this for you, it's important to him that everyone knows that you have his full support and faith, not because you're his wife but because you are qualified to run this show if it ever came down to it," Charlie told her in his no-nonsense way, though it was tinged with an overflowing amount of love and happiness.

Isabella felt any residual annoyance over today's events melt away and then nodded at her father. It went without saying the immense joy she got from watching the two most important men in her life bond the way they had and it was one she knew each treasured beyond measure. For her dad, he got the son, the partner in crime he'd always wanted and for her amazing husband, he got the acceptance and the guidance that he'd craved for so long from a man he looked up to more than anyone.

She made the rounds hugging and kissing her mom and Nonna, visiting with a very enthusiastic Alice and then catching up with Carlisle and Esme for a few minutes. She was quite surprised, and more than a little relieved she had to admit, at how easy it was to be at ease around Carlisle and Esme, though she figured a lot of that had to do with how Edward acted when he was around them. Of course when Esme looked like she did now, with a mother's beaming smile, it didn't hurt.

She turned around, knowing Edward had walked in. She couldn't help but giggle at how apprehensive he looked as he approached and she thought, for like half a second, to try to scowl at him, but she just couldn't do it. Stepping forward she immediately wrapped her arms around him and stood on her tiptoes to give him a full-on, lip-smacking kiss.

"Does that mean you're not mad at me, Beautiful?" he asked her as he kissed her forehead.

"I know this is important to you, so no, I'm not mad at you."

"Thank God," he breathed out exaggeratedly and then winked at her. "I was worried all damn day."

The formal part of the announcement passed and Isabella couldn't help but feel her heart soar as she listened to Edward extol on how capable she was. She listened to him say how Cullen Publishing was lucky to have her and how everyone from him down to the interns that worked part-time had the utmost faith in her abilities. It threatened to bring tears to her eyes, but more than that, she found that she stood up taller, straighter because she was proud to be thought of as so capable. The fact that Edward had so much faith in her made her happier than she could explain, though she had every intention of trying, numerous times, when they got home later.

Preferably when they were both naked.

A short time later, as she received congratulations from some of the department heads, Alec cornered her. "So, are you letting him off the hook for this little shindig?" he asked with a grin as he popped an hors d'ouerve in his mouth.

"I suppose I'll let it slide," she chuckled back at him.

"Seriously, Bella, this is a big deal. I know it seems a little...dark I guess...to be celebrating something that would only take place if something happened to Edward, but if you think about it in terms of him telling the world you are the best person to take over, it's well...it's fucking huge," Alec told her.

She sighed and then smiled sweetly when she spied Edward holding Emma as he talked to Rose and Alice. "His faith in me blows me away, but I am proud of the fact he thinks I can do it, and the rest of you, too. I'm honored actually, not that I even want to think about it, mind you."

Jasper had walked up and slung an arm around her shoulder and kissed her on the side of the head. "Darlin', I'm so proud of you. Though, if the time ever came, you have one less thing to worry about than before," he said with a glint in his eyes.

"Dude, what the hell are you talking about?" Alec asked.

Jasper motioned them both closer, though he hadn't moved his arm from around Bella. Conspiratorially he whispered, "I just heard from one of my buddies down at the Merc, Vincent is about to be voted out at Sinclair Publishing. Apparently the Board has caught wind of all the shady deals he's been involved in and he's overextended the company so much that the banks have started calling in their loans and there isn't enough money to pay them. More than likely Sinclair Publishing is going to have to file bankruptcy but Vince is definitely out as CEO."

"Fuck yeah, that bastard is getting what he deserved." Alec cackled gleefully and then crooked his eyebrow when he noticed the frown on Bella's face.

"Honey, what in the world is the matter with you?" he asked incredulously.

"All those poor employees," Isabella said immediately, thinking of all the people that would be without jobs once Sinclair Publishing filed for bankruptcy. All because of Vincent and his greed.

"And, that, Darlin', is why you are better than all of us put together. Only you would think of the people who worked for Vincent first," Jasper said and couldn't help but kiss her cheek again.

Isabella blushed, as she normally did when under such scrutiny, and then rolled her eyes at Jasper's comments. "Well, none of the people that work for Vincent should have to suffer for his mistakes, it's just a shame that's all."

"You don't fool me for a second, Isabella Cullen, if you could find a way to give every one of those people a job, you'd do it in a heartbeat," Alec told her and didn't even try to hide the adoration in his voice for his friend.

Isabella scoffed but as soon as she was about to say something she felt a tug on her hand and smiled when she saw it was Jack, dressed in his jersey from the Chicago Fire soccer game he'd attended with her, Edward, and Charlie. According to Rose he hadn't taken it off in the two days since they'd gone.

The game had been beyond fun, not just because the game itself was exciting, but because they all had enjoyed themselves so much. Charlie and Edward talked throughout most of the game, that was when Jack wasn't seated between the two of them soaking everything up. Edward had been adorable to the extreme as he peppered her with question after question about the mechanics of the game, along with asking her about her own memories from when she had played. He was totally enthralled and looked at her like he'd just discovered her secrets all over again. The questions continued long after they'd gotten home as she told him stories she hadn't thought about in years. Afterward, they had made love so tenderly that the memory brought tears to her eyes as well as making her wish they could hurry up and go home.

"Aunt Bella, can I have a piece of cake?" Jack asked and looked at her like she was the best thing since sliced bread. He loved his Uncle Edward and thought he was pretty cool, but his Aunt Bella, well the only people he loved more were his mom and dad, and in his way of thinking, they didn't count because they were, well, Mom and Dad.

"Sure thing, buddy. If you promise not to tell your mom, I'll even give you an extra big piece, okay?" Isabella said with a wink as she led him toward the tables where the food was spread out.

She got Jack his cake and then stood with him as he ate, asking about school and his next baseball game. She felt that tingling feeling she always got when Edward was either close by or looking at her and when she looked up, she lost her breath for a moment. He was still standing with Rose and Alice, but now also Carlisle, Esme, Emmett, and Jasper, and he was still holding Emma. He was holding her hand and they were waving at her, with silly smiles on their faces and she wasn't sure she'd ever seen a sweeter sight.

The next thought she had was that she couldn't wait until it was their son or daughter he held in his arms. Blowing a kiss at him, she vowed that they would indeed be practicing when they got home.

~~~~OOO~~~OOO~~~~