Chapter 30

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

Chapter 30

"You still don't like flying, do you?" Edward teased as the plane began to pick up speed as it taxied down the runway.

"Whatever gave you that idea?" she snapped back at him and rolled her eyes when he glanced down at their entwined fingers. Of course his were white because she was gripping them so tightly.

She huffed and then said softly, "Sorry, I didn't mean to snap at you."

The plane lurched as the nose lifted and she sucked in a sharp breath and squeezed her eyes shut. Poor Edward had long since lost any feeling in his hand but he leaned over and whispered, "I've got you, love. It will be okay."

She nodded but didn't say anything.

He tried not to laugh at her, he really did, but when she heard him chuckle, she opened one eye and tried to glare at him. Of course that just made Edward laugh even harder because really, she still couldn't give anyone a dirty look to save her life.

Especially him.

Once the plane was high in the sky and leveled out, she let out a deep breath.

"You know, Beautiful, it's probably not good for the baby for you to hold your breath like that," he chided and then kissed the back of her hand...now that he had feeling back in his own.

Immediately her other hand found its way to her stomach and she rubbed it. Not that you could tell she was pregnant, at all.

It was mid-February and Isabella had surprised Edward with a trip to Ireland for Valentine's Day. He had fully recovered from the accident before Christmas, her pregnancy was going well, and it was a perfect time for them to go. Besides, she'd finally found something to do for him that was totally a surprise and unexpected and she couldn't have been any happier about that. She even had one more secret that she would spring on him when they got to Dublin, and she hoped it went over as well as she thought it would.

Things had gotten back to normal relatively quickly after the near-death experience from before Christmas. There were nights Isabella still woke up in a cold sweat and clinging to Edward but they were getting fewer and farther between. She spent a good deal of time talking to Nonna about everything she'd felt while Edward was technically dead, Father O'Connor as well, and it helped immensely in being able to come to terms with what happened.

She was pretty sure she would never forget what it felt like when the monitor made that long beeping sound that indicated his heart had stopped, but she also knew she would forever remember what it felt like when she heard it start again. That span of five minutes when the doctors and nurses breathed for him and kept trying to get his heart to beat again were the worst of her life, but in a way they were also the best because he came back. In the end, that was all that mattered. Medical brilliance, a miracle, whatever it was that brought him back to her, it made no difference as long as they were together and she knew, now, it would always be that way.

"Hey, what's with the frown?" he asked as he reached for her chin and turned her toward him.

She sighed and rubbed her stomach again. "I have to go to the bathroom for the tenth time since I woke up this morning," she grumbled.

He helped her get the seat belt off and he pulled her down on his lap when she walked past him. Kissing the side of her neck he whispered, "I know you get frustrated, Isabella. It's just one of the side effects of being pregnant."

One of the definite perks of owning your plane, he thought, as he continued to nuzzle the side of her neck and then ran a hand over his favorite effect of her being pregnant. Her breasts had always turned him on, but as the subtle changes her body had undergone became more noticeable, he found that he couldn't keep his hands off them or her either, for that matter.

Forgetting all about needing to use the bathroom, she relaxed against him. She also was aware of how nice it was to fly when you were the only two people on the plane. The flight attendant was behind the curtain so they were truly alone and never one to pass up an opportunity like that, she reached for his face and pulled it closer.

"I love being pregnant," she whispered right before she showed him how much.

Letting her tongue go where it willed, she licked across his bottom lip, then his top. Because it was so early in the morning and they hadn't eaten yet, knowing they would eat on the plane, he still tasted minty from his toothpaste. She sucked his bottom lip into her mouth and spent a long time nibbling on it. Her fingers found their way into his hair. His fingers were still playing with her much fuller and much more sensitive breasts. When his thumbs grazed her nipples she did her usual half squeak half whimper thing that never, ever failed to get his blood racing or turn him the fuck on.

"I love you being pregnant," he rasped back when she moved from his lips to the side of his jaw.

And Lord help him, he did.

He knew it was too soon to feel it, but every night he would lay beside her stomach and talk softly to the life growing inside. They'd been to the doctor and he knew she was in excellent health, as was the baby. Knowing the sex of the baby already was killing him, especially when they started talking about names and redoing her old bedroom into the nursery, but he held his tongue. That didn't mean he couldn't tease about guessing it was a boy, and he did that with an almost annoying frequency...ask anyone. He also thought Isabella was the most beautiful pregnant woman that had ever walked the earth; just ask anyone that, too.

"You're the most beautiful mom-to-be ever. You know that, right?" he asked her as he brushed his lips across hers once more.

She snorted and rolled her eyes at him, but then giggled. "Yes, Edward, so you've told me. Now, unless you want me to show you how un-beautiful I can be, let me up so I can go to the bathroom."

He got up and moved around once she closed the door behind her and he asked the attendant to bring them their breakfast now that they had reached cruising altitude. One of the cutest things, well he thought so at any rate, was that she was hungry. All the time. One of the things she craved, or as she liked to put it, her favorite thing to eat, was fresh pineapple. He couldn't believe how much pineapple she ate and poor Charlotte was doing all she could to keep the house well-stocked considering Isabella ate it as fast as Charlotte bought it.

Once they'd finished eating and Isabella had her fill of fresh pineapple cubes, she promptly settled into the large, comfortable chair and fell fast asleep. That was another side effect of being pregnant and was probably the one that was causing her the most annoyance. She was used to being busy, and to have to take it a bit easier and her need for more sleep was an adjustment she had to make.

He stood next to her as she slept and tucked the blanket around her before he sat down at the small table and pulled out some reports he needed to go over.

"She seems to be handling pregnancy well," Seth said when he suddenly appeared in the chair opposite him.

"That really shouldn't come as a surprise to you," Edward replied, not looking up from the paper he was reading. "Considering we've both seen what he'll look like, not to mention the fact that I've been assured her pregnancy will be an easy one," he said, smirking when he finally looked up.

Seth snorted but didn't comment. What response could he possibly have to that?

When Edward had first woken up in the hospital, Seth kept a very...VERY...close eye on his charge. It wasn't as if he had to worry about 'saving' him or anything, after all, that was no longer necessary, but after everything Edward had been through, it was safe to say he assumed there would more than likely be a few moments of struggling to come to terms with everything that had happened. He was only human after all.

At first, Edward hadn't remembered 'dying' or what had happened to him, but the moment Isabella whispered the words, "I'm pregnant' everything had come back to him in a rush. He remembered it all, right down to the smell of chocolate chip cookies. It was a bit of a struggle to keep himself under control and not lose it once he had a moment to let everything sink in, but the reality that he would get to stay with Isabella, watch their baby grow inside of her, and continue to live and love and be happy was enough to bring tears to his eyes. It was what he needed to focus on and focus he did.

"We're going to have a baby?" he had asked, playing his part well, though the smile that lit up his face was as genuine as was his happiness at hearing the words come from her mouth.

Seth continued to worry but surprisingly, Edward hadn't had too much difficulty understanding everything that had happened. Really, after all this time, you would have thought Seth would have known better, but Edward still continued to surprise him all the damn time; a fact of which continued to delight Edward to no end and continued to annoy the angel just as much.

Edward might have done all that was asked of him, and then some the angel would grudgingly concede, but that didn't mean that Seth would stop watching over him, or Isabella, or the baby that she carried inside of her. He meant what he'd told him all those months ago and again when Edward returned. They were stuck with each other.

Not that either minded no matter how much they liked to say differently.

"How are you feeling about going back to Ireland after all this time?" the angel casually asked, though he paid very close attention to see if there was the telltale sign of a dip between the eyebrows or a pinch of the bridge of his nose.

There wasn't.

"You know what? At first, when Isabella gave me tickets, I was shocked. I mean, I had been thinking about taking her...before, but I had no idea if there would be enough time. Then when everything happened, I kind of forgot about it to be honest with you. But now that we're on our way there, it's..." Edward stopped and shook his head.

"It's what?"

"I kind of feel like this is it, you know? Like once I get there and do what I need to do, I can just put it all, every bit of anger and frustration and bitterness, behind me and concentrate only on going forward. I know when Isabella planned on this trip she didn't really have that in mind, but it's what it is. I want to show her where I came from, but Ireland isn't home...Chicago is," Edward said quietly.

He'd turned in his chair and looked out the window and at the clouds that floated by the plane as they sped through the sky. It sort of reminded him of where he went when he 'died' and he was sure the annoying angel person was well aware of that fact, too, so he kept the observation to himself. They'd talked plenty once he'd gotten home from the hospital. It had to wait until he was at home because Isabella had never left his side, even after he'd repeatedly tried to get her to leave and get some sleep at the penthouse or at the very least a shower, but she'd adamantly refused. He'd been worried that watching him 'die' would have a lasting effect on her, but for the most part it hadn't. It would have been foolish to assume she wouldn't have a few lingering fears and the fact that she woke up sometimes clinging to him and crying his name alerted him to the fact that she'd had them; he supposed she always would.

He knew if the situations had been reversed he'd have driven himself crazy with all the 'what ifs' his mind could and would conjure up. She was so much stronger than he was anyway. There was no doubting that! And, there was no way he was asking Seth for his opinion either. It seemed, and he wasn't sure how it was possible, that Seth had fallen even more under Isabella's spell since she'd gotten pregnant.

"Well, the time you spent in Ireland will always be a part of who you are, Edward Anthony, but yes, Chicago is where your home is...where your heart is. It will be nice to show her where you came from. Even if Isabella isn't fully aware of why you want to go, I'm sure she has an idea," Seth commented.

Edward turned back around and faced him, nodding. "I'm sure she does, too. You know we've talked about Liam and Maggie. I even told her what I told Carlisle on Thanksgiving. I just want to enjoy our time in Ireland. It's been so long since I've been back."

Seth sighed and the plane shook and Edward didn't even flinch. He'd gotten so used to the angel's presence that when things like that happened, they no longer fazed him in the least. "You're not that Edward anymore," he reminded him quietly, well, as quietly as he was capable of.

"I know that," Edward replied back and ran his hands through his hair. "I'm not worried about ghosts coming back to haunt me either or anything like that, so don't start lecturing me," he warned with a stern look. "I want to show her all the things I loved about Ireland, even though it's not what I consider home anymore. I want to show her where I grew up and tell her all the things I remember and I want to find out what happened to Liam."

He was adamant about it, too.

Seth was a bit worried about what it would do to Edward to find the answers to the questions he had, but there was no telling him that some things were better left in the past. Also, for as hard as Edward had fought to face his past, Seth knew he deserved them as well. He might not like everything he learned, in fact it was assured he wouldn't, but Seth would be with him, just like always, if Edward needed him.

"Well, whatever you decide to do and whatever you find out, you know I'll be there if you need me, but until then, enjoy the rest of your flight with the lovely Isabella. Oh," the angel said in a most mischievous tone of voice, one that was matched by the impish twinkle in his eye, "don't worry about the flight; I've got you covered. One of the perks of having your very own personal guardian angel you know."

With that, Edward was alone once more and he muttered, "Damn show off, pain in the ass angel."

However, they did arrive in Dublin safely and with minimal turbulence. It was the smoothest landing Edward had ever felt.

"We made it safe and sound at least," Isabella said when she took a deep breath once the plane was finally on the ground.

"Of course we did, Beautiful," Edward chuckled at her.

She scoffed at him but then smiled. He looked so excited to be there and she couldn't help but be as well. The plane came to a stop and they both stood. Edward helped her put her coat on because February in Ireland meant the weather would be iffy...at best. A quick glance out the window let him know that at least, for now, the sun was out. That was liable to change as quickly as the wind, but they knew that going in. Coming from Chicago, neither one was afraid of a little wind or rain anyway, and besides, if it got too cold or too rainy, they could just stay in the suite in front of the fireplace. Neither one would mind that at all.

The car that Isabella arranged to pick them up was waiting and after loading their luggage into the trunk, they were on their way to the Shelbourne. Their trip would be an experience for both of them because Edward hadn't been back to Ireland since he left and she was only too happy to share her first trip there with him. They arrived at the hotel and it was as beautiful and elegant as Isabella had hoped it would be.

Once the bellboy set their bags in the bedroom of the suite, Edward placed an order for lunch because he knew Isabella would be hungry.

He hung up the phone and walked to the bedroom, smiling from the doorway when he found her standing in front of the window. She was turned partially sideways and of course her hands were rubbing small, soothing circles on her barely there baby bump. It never failed to make his heart stutter when he would catch her doing that. Even if she was barely showing, he knew there was a baby, his baby, growing inside of her and he never, ever forgot that.

"What did you want to do today?" he asked quietly as he approached her.

He stood behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist, covering her hands with his own. He used his thumbs to take over the circle making, though he wanted to touch skin and not the soft sweater she wore on the plane, so he slid his hands down and then under her sweater.

"Hmmm, you're so soft and warm," he whispered in her ear once he was skin on skin. "Are you feeling okay after the long flight?" he asked and then kissed his way down the side of her neck.

"I'm fine, sweetheart. Did I hear you order room service?" she asked and playfully growled at him when he snorted in her ear indicating that of course he ordered food.

His mouth didn't stop moving along the skin of her neck or behind her ear, especially when she'd tipped her head to the side to give him better access. His hands didn't stop either though they'd moved from her stomach to her breasts; a fact which she didn't seem to mind judging from the soft smile on her face and the way she pressed back against him.

"I say we stay here all day and make good use of the very large and very comfortable-looking bed, Beautiful," he said in a smooth, raspy voice.

Isabella couldn't speak because between his thumbs brushing over her now very hard nipples and his mouth that was doing wickedly delicious things to her neck, she could barely form a coherent thought. After a few more moments of pleasurable torture, she sighed and it wasn't the let's move this to the bed kind of sigh either, so reluctantly he pulled back after giving her one more quick, wet, open-mouthed kiss to her neck.

"Well, as you shot my plan all to hell, what did you have in mind?" he teased when he turned her around.

She rolled her eyes but resisted his adorable pout, though his offer was mighty tempting she had to admit. Shrugging her shoulder she said, "Well, considering the sun is shining, we should take advantage of that and start working on our list."

He chuckled at the fact that, yes, they did have a list, a rather long one actually, of the things they wanted to see and do while they were in Ireland. With one last forlorn look at the bed he turned back to her and smiled. "You got it, love. We can always save the bed for a rainy day. Lord knows it rains enough here to put it to good use," he laughed with a waggle of his eyebrows.

After they'd showered, separately much to Edward's regret, and eaten they headed out into the bright sunlight.

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

The afternoon of their fifth day in Ireland found them standing in front of a rather imposing-looking two-story stone building. Edward shuddered slightly as he stared at the front door and closed his eyes.

"We don't have to do this if you aren't ready," Isabella reminded him softly as she stood beside him with his hand firmly gripped by hers.

He squeezed her hand without looking at her, not taking his eyes off the door. "I'm ready. It's just hard to think about the last time I was here is all."

He hadn't seen the building in more than twenty years but he never forgot it. Not the way it looked. Not the way it felt like when he was inside it the first time. Not even the way the air smelled like burnt coffee and old paper. The first time he was at the police station all those years ago was because both his parents were dead. This time he hoped to find the reasons why.

For the past few months, even before his accident in December, he'd had Jasper making some discreet inquiries into the investigation of Liam's death. Once Jasper had time to digest everything Edward had told him about Liam and Maggie, he'd approached Edward and offered to try to find him information about Liam and what he’d possibly been involved in, if he wanted it, which after some thought, he realized he did. Desperately. Jasper had discussed a few things with Charlie as well, thinking that there would at least be some sort of professional courtesy amongst police officers, even if one was from America and the other from Ireland, that might make it easier to get the information. Of course looking into Liam's death got lost in the shuffle of Thanksgiving, the accident, then his recovery and Christmas so there hadn't been much time for Charlie to find out much of anything.

Now, here he was, standing in front of the same building he'd been in so long ago. After lifting their joined hands to his lips and brushing a kiss along her knuckles, he walked through the front door with her by his side.

A young man, one that looked fresh from police training, sat at the front desk and looked up when they approached. "Can I help you?" he asked politely.

Edward swallowed once and then straightened his shoulders. He had no idea where to start but he wasn't leaving without answers.

"My name is Edward Cullen and I'd like to speak with someone about a case," he said confidently, giving no indication of the fact his stomach was churning and his legs felt like they could give way at any moment.

"Is it about an active case? Do you have anyone in particular you're supposed to talk to?" the rookie asked in as professional a voice as he could muster while gazing at a rather intimidating-looking Edward.

Isabella, knowing full well the effect her husband had on people, stepped forward just a bit and smiled, totally disarming the young man. "We're not sure who we need to speak with, to be honest with you," she started. "My father is the Chief of Police in Wheaton, Illinois and he suggested we speak with someone from the cold case division?" she half asked, half stated.

"Ma'am?" he asked looking totally confused.

"Well, our question is about a very old case, from twenty years ago," Isabella stated and wondered if they would have any luck at all getting the information Edward wanted so badly.

Finally, the young officer comprehended what they were asking and began nodding his head. He turned toward his computer and asked, "What was the name of the individual involved in the case?"

"Connolly...Liam Connolly," Edward answered.

"Excuse me," came a masculine voice behind them. "Did I just hear you say Liam Connolly?"

Edward turned around and was face to face with what had to be the stereotypical Irishman. Pale skin, freckles across the bridge of his nose, bright red hair and eyes even greener than his own.

"Yes, is there a problem?" Edward asked immediately getting defensive.

He was nervous as all get out and being stared at by eyes that looked eerily similar to his own was already freaking him the hell out.

"No, not a problem," the man said in a distinctly Irish brogue. "Can you tell me why you are interested in talking with someone about a case that is more than twenty years old?"

Edward regarded the man with a level gaze and replied, "If you can tell me why you care."

The man looked from Edward to Isabella and then inclined his head indicating he wanted them to follow him. They walked through a maze of desks and found themselves in front of a door. Edward paled immediately when he noticed the nameplate on the door. "No fucking way," he said with a shaky voice.

"Edward, sweetheart, what is it?" Isabella asked nervously, knowing immediately that something was wrong.

"Shane Kilpatrick?" Edward asked incredulously.

"Holy shit it is you," Shane breathed out and then opened the door so they could have some privacy. "Edward Connolly, I can't believe it. When I saw that hair I thought you looked familiar and then when you said your...that name," he quickly amended once he noticed the icy glare Edward gave him at the almost mention of the word 'father.' "I knew it had to be you."

Both men stared at each other until Isabella broke the spell by asking, "Edward, you know this man?"

It was kind of obvious they knew each other but she couldn't help but ask the question. He was still unabashedly staring at Shane, who returned the stare exactly the same way.

"We went to school together, Beautiful. I knew him before...when I lived here," Edward whispered and then had to sit down because his legs totally gave out underneath him.

A flood of memories assaulted him, flashing and flickering. Image after image burst behind his eyelids like fireworks exploding in the sky on the Fourth of July. Him in the second grade, getting picked last in gym class for kick ball. Then in fifth grade when he wanted to play baseball but didn't know how. Eating lunch by himself during middle school. A flash of red in his mind and he could picture helping Molly McNamara off the ground like it was yesterday.

Isabella knelt down in front of him and watched, nervously, as he took a few deep breaths with his eyes closed. "Edward, are you okay?" she asked as she put his hands between hers.

He exhaled on a long breath and then looked deep into her eyes finding the endless love and support he knew he'd find. "Yeah," he whispered, not paying attention to anything other than her. "Just got overwhelmed there for a second. I'm okay," he told her and leaned forward to kiss her forehead.

"Edward Connolly, I can't believe it," Shane said, louder than he intended to.

"It's Cullen, not Connolly," Edward answered with heat, but then took a deep breath. "I was adopted by my aunt and uncle before I left here. I haven't been Edward Connolly for more than twenty years."

Shane held up his hands and sincerely said, "I'm sorry, Edward. I didn't know. There were stories, of course, once you left, but we were just kids back then," he trailed off. He didn't want to offend him anymore than he already had.

"Sorry," Edward responded. "It's still kind of raw."

"I understand. Now, tell me what I can do for you, Edward. I'd like to help you if I can," Shane told him honestly.

Edward sighed and shifted in his chair, pulling Isabella's hand onto his lap. He opened and shut his mouth a few times not knowing where to start or how much to say. After thinking that he didn't want to come all this way and not get the answers he wanted, he decided to be completely honest. "Isabella and I are expecting a baby," he began, taking a moment to look at her with a warm smile, "and when the baby is born, it's going to be the beginning of a new phase for us. I want to begin it without the ghosts of my birth parents and what happened to them and to me hanging over our heads. It's taken me more than twenty years to get to this point, but I'm ready to find out what really happened to Liam, if I can, and lay them both to rest."

"First of all, congratulations on the baby," Shane said genuinely. "There is nothing better than being a father." He glanced at a picture on his desk.

Edward only gave it a passing look before he nodded his head and said, "Thank you. We're really excited about it."

"Mrs. Cullen," Shane started formally and was interrupted when Isabella said, "Bella, please."

Smiling Shane nodded and then asked, "Bella, I heard you tell Officer O'Neil that your father is a police officer as well?"

"Yes. He's the Chief of Police in Wheaton, Illinois. I know Edward and our friend, Jasper Whitlock, as well as my dad, have been able to gather a bit of information about Edward's birth father but we've quite honestly been left with more questions than answers," she told him.

"Charlie, my father-in-law," Edward said leaning forward, "has been able to get a copy of the autopsy report as well as the police report and some notes from the case file, but like Isabella said, it was really not much to go on."

Shane snickered a bit and then opened a drawer beside him. "Chief Swan is something else," he began and then smiled when both Edward and Isabella looked at him wide-eyed and slack-jawed. "It really is a small world sometimes," he said almost to himself and pulled out a large folder with the name Liam Connolly written across the front. "I've spoken to Chief Swan a couple of times over the past few months, but he never mentioned you by name, Edward, only saying he was looking for some information for a friend. I imagine he was trying to protect your identity until you decided what you wanted to do with the information. I actually had some more reports and notes to send him, but I haven't heard from him since before Christmas?" he questioned.

"I, ah, was involved in a rather serious accident," Edward stated and then winked at Isabella when she snorted loudly at his understatement, "right before Christmas. Then with my recovery, the holidays, and finding out Isabella was pregnant, it has been kind of a whirlwind for the past few months as I'm sure you can imagine."

"Well that makes sense then...and I'm glad to see you've recovered?" At Edward's nod he kept going. "Like I said, I had some more information to send to Chief Swan but as you're here, how about I go over it with you?" He waited until Edward and Isabella both indicated for him to go on. "I happen to be in charge of what you called the cold case division, Bella, as was my father before me, so I was even able to get his old notes from Liam's...murder," he said carefully.

"Son of a bitch," Edward hissed under his breath and felt Isabella squeeze his hand. "He really was murdered then?" he asked again, though he had always known that was probably what had happened to Liam, but hearing it now, definitively, was still hard to hear.

"He was," Shane answered simply. "Why don't you take a few moments to read through this file and I'll go find you two some bottled water and then I'll answer any questions you have. I'll leave you alone and be back in just a bit," he told them before he stood up and left the room.

Gingerly and with a shaking hand, Edward reached for the folder and set it on his lap. Isabella scooted her chair as close to his as she could possibly get it and let go of his hand so she could wrap her arm around his shoulder.

Kissing his cheek she said, "I'm right here, Edward. You can do this. Let's find out what happened to him and then you can put this all behind you."

He exhaled deeply and leaned into her, drawing on all her strength. "I love you so fucking much, Beautiful. I couldn't do this without you," he told her as he stared at his birth father's name on the folder.

"You could, but you don't have to. I love you, Edward. Together, okay?" she asked and waited for him to look at her before she reached across and opened the folder.

Together, they sat huddled close and read page after page of reports, notes, and interviews. There were pictures, some too graphic to spend much time looking at, as well. Every now and then Edward would mutter "fuck" or "oh, God" under his breath and Isabella had to fight to keep her stomach from twisting and her breathing under control.

Liam Connolly was definitely murdered, having been stabbed multiple times in the stomach and bled out before help was even summoned by a passerby on the street. It also was believed to have been a hit by a crime syndicate. Apparently the import/export business he owned and operated would be a perfect cover for them for money laundering and weapons especially, so the syndicate began to wine and dine him and Maggie shortly after Edward was born. They took them out to expensive dinners, the most exclusive clubs in Ireland, and exposed them to a whole different world, one where the money along with everything else, flowed freely. For anyone it would be hard to resist the pull of all that money, but especially so to people as selfish as Liam and Maggie were. They did indeed live that separate life that Edward mentioned to everyone when he first told them all about his family, until Liam had apparently decided he'd had enough and wanted out.

It wasn't clear what prompted him to change his mind. He started refusing to do as he was asked when it came to changing shipping orders so that the illegal goods could be sent without a trace. He'd been warned plenty of times about the ramifications of saying no to the syndicate, but he did it anyway. Toward the end of his life, when Edward remembered the nights his father would pace in front of the windows too afraid to go out, the warnings became more pointed, especially in regard to Maggie. It was hard for Edward to read the account of one low-level individual who knew about the hit comment on the fact that when his family was threatened, as the syndicate often did to try to persuade people to follow along, the only thing he cared about was Maggie. The hit was carried out, obviously, and the last notes Edward and Isabella read indicated that the man that had murdered Liam had been caught a few years after during an investigation into another crime and was killed a few years after that in prison.

"Holy shit," Edward murmured quietly when Isabella closed the folder and slid it from his hands and set it back on the desk.

"Are you okay, Edward?" she asked anxiously and squeezed his shoulder with her hand.

He breathed deeply in and out a few times but he nodded his head. "Yeah, I really am. I mean I have always kind of known that is what happened to him, but to finally read about it and know for sure it's just..." he trailed off with a shrug of his shoulders.

"Closure," she told him quietly.

He pulled her onto his lap, not that she didn't go willingly. He wrapped his arms around her and nuzzled her neck, letting the scent of her surround him and remind him of what was important: the fact that he loved her and their son more than anything else in the world and they were all that mattered. He laid one hand on her stomach, wishing that he could feel the baby move, but it was still just a bit too soon for that. He'd heard the heartbeat and seen the sonogram pictures, and even though he'd already seen the boy he would grow into years from now, feeling him move inside of Isabella would be a tangible reminder of what was most important. Being a good husband, being a good father: the things his birth father most assuredly was not. THAT was what his purpose in life was.

He was done being angry at and mourning for people who didn't really deserve it, lamenting what might have been. He was done with it all. He'd come to get answers and now he had them. His father had been murdered because he'd gotten involved in things he shouldn't have and because of that, his mother couldn't and wouldn't live without him after he was gone.

"I love you," he whispered against the skin of her neck, kissing his way down her jaw and then he turned her head toward his and kissed her.

When she pulled back so she could take a breath, she ran her hands through his hair and kissed his forehead. "I love you, too, Edward. It's done now, you know. I'm so proud of you for facing this and putting it behind you. Only forward now, right?" she asked.

"Only forward," he answered back. "Just the three of us and I can't fucking wait."

She giggled and wrapped her arms around his neck, telling him in his ear, "I think it's a lot more than just the three of us, sweetheart. Do you forget who our family is? Jack and Emma have already picked out names."

He chuckled and was about to say something when they heard the door open. "Everything okay?" Shane asked as he stepped inside.

Shane sat back down behind his desk and handed them each a bottle of water and waited while they took a sip. It didn't appear that Isabella had any intention of getting off Edward's lap and he didn't seem to mind that in the least so Shane asked, "Do you have any other questions?"

Edward shook his head and looked at him. "Not really. I mean that was all pretty self-explanatory. After all these years there really isn't much left to say anyway. I wanted to know what happened to him and now I do."

"For what it's worth, Edward, I'm really sorry," Shane said a bit nervously.

"Shane, it was a long time ago and I'd pretty much figured that had been what had happened to begin with. I won't lie. It kind of sucks knowing he didn't care enough about me to be the least bit worried about what would happen to me, but it's really not surprising," Edward stated rather matter-of-factly.

Isabella gasped and looked at him and was more than a little bit surprised that his eyes weren't pinched and his face was relaxed and his eyes calm.

He smiled her smile at her and she sighed and relaxed against him, marveling at just how far he had truly come.

Shane answered a few questions and made a few comments before there was a quick knock on the door followed by it opening.

"Shane, love, I brought your dinner," came the sweet voice of what had to be his wife judging from the huge smile he got on his face. "Oh, my, I didn't realize you had people in here," she stammered, sounding embarrassed.

Shane couldn't help but chuckle at her and then looked pointedly at Edward. Ever since he realized who Edward was he'd been trying to figure out how to get this moment to play out and now here it was. Fate sure did have a way of working things out when you damn sure least expected them, he thought for a moment before standing up to greet his wife.

"Ah, sweet girl, tis okay, come in," he said warmly.

Isabella slid off Edward's lap and stood up smiling at the other woman as soon she caught her eye.

"I have someone I think you'll be most happy to see," Shane said and chuckled when he noticed the questioning look on everyone's faces.

Edward stood, trying to be polite while his mind raced to figure out who Shane could possibly want him to meet. When he turned, he almost fell back in his chair again. The curly, red hair was a dead giveaway as was the disarming smile.

"Molly?" Edward asked in disbelief. The two continued to stare at each other and he could tell she was trying to figure out who he was so he said, "It's me...Edward."

Recognition lit up her eyes and she flung herself at him wrapping him in a huge hug. "Edward, oh my God! It's you," she said over and over and then stepped back, embarrassed once again when she heard the laughs of Shane and Isabella. "Oh, goodness, I'm so sorry," she cried apologetically when she glanced at Isabella.

"It's quite all right," Isabella said sweetly knowing full well all about the redhead that Edward had cared so much about all those years ago. "I'm Isabella Cullen. It's so nice to meet you."

"Molly Kilpatrick," Molly answered unnecessarily. "Edward, what in the world are you doing here, and Cullen? Why did you change your name?" she asked as she peppered him with questions.

Shane, knowing his wife, interceded and said, "Mol, he came to ask about his...about Liam."

"Oh," she said softly and then sadly looked at him and nodded her head.

Isabella, if she'd had any reservations about the exuberant woman, certainly didn't after that. In fact, she couldn't help but smile at how much it seemed she still cared for Edward.

"Listen, our kids are with Molly's parents for the night. I can put this in the refrigerator to eat tomorrow," Shane said indicating to the wrapped plate of food Molly had brought with her. "Would you two like to have dinner with us? There's a pub down the street we could go to. I know Molly would love to catch up with you, Edward...and so would I."

Edward looked at Isabella and she immediately nodded her head. "That sounds great," Edward answered.

Edward watched with a much lighter heart as Shane put Liam's file back into the drawer and gave him a nod of acknowledgment when Shane looked at him. Yes, it was time to close that chapter and that case for good.

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

"Mom. Dad. How was your flight?" Edward asked the next afternoon when they met the CP jet at the private hangar.

"Just fine, son. How are you enjoying your trip so far?" Carlisle asked as the airport personnel helped put their luggage in the trunk of the car Edward and Isabella took to pick them up.

Isabella had told him that morning over breakfast, after an early morning love making session, that she had asked Carlisle and Esme to meet them for the last two days of their trip. There was one thing left for Edward to do before they left Ireland and it was something that Esme needed every bit as badly as Edward did. The relationship between Edward and his parents had only continued to flourish after Thanksgiving and the first time Edward called Carlisle 'Dad.' Not only did Carlisle become 'Dad', but Esme went from Mother to 'Mom' just as seamlessly.

The angel was not the only one to observe that when Edward decided to do something, he sure didn't do it half-assed.

The relationship only grew after Edward's accident and Isabella couldn't be happier about it. Carlisle and Esme attended Mass with them every weekend, without fail, and Sunday dinner was at their house, too; a dinner that Charlie, Renée, and Nonna made sure to attend as often as possible. It was during one of those dinners that Esme had remarked to Isabella her wish to visit her sister's grave and pay her last respects because she wasn't able to all those years ago and hadn't been in a good enough place until now to be ready to do so. Isabella had then asked her if she and Carlisle would like to spend the last two days of their trip together so that she and Edward could go to the cemetery together.

The tears and the fierce hug Isabella received upon her question were all the proof she needed that she had done the right thing, as were the smiles on all their faces as they stood on the tarmac waiting for the luggage to be loaded into the car.

"How is he, dear?" Esme asked her as she hooked her arm in her daughter-in-law's. "He looks so happy, so I'm guessing things have gone well?"

"Things are great, Esme, and so is he. This trip has been just what we both needed. A chance to get away from everything for a few days before allowing him to find the peace he's fought so hard to get. He's just..." she stopped and watched as Edward threw an arm casually around Carlisle's shoulders as they laughed about something, "perfect."

Esme, being the proud mother she was, didn't disagree...not one bit. "And you, darling, how are you feeling? The traveling hasn't been too hard on you or my granddaughter?" Esme teased.

Edward was always so adamant it was a boy she couldn't help but taunt him with the fact she thought it was a girl. Actually, she didn't have a clue nor did she care in the slightest. The fact that there was going to be another baby in the family was all she cared about, and that it and mother were both healthy.

"Nope, we're great, too," Isabella said as she ran her hands over her stomach.

Esme beamed at her wondering if she'd ever been so happy. Her family was thriving, and it had grown by leaps and bounds thanks to her incredible son and his amazing wife and all the people they loved and brought into the fold, which made Esme love them as well. Sophie, whom she'd always had a soft spot for, Max, and Alessandra just completed the picture.

Once they were settled in the car and on their way to the hotel, they caught up on all the things going on at home and the trip passed quickly. They arrived at the Shelbourne and each party went to their rooms to get cleaned up for dinner, meeting in the lobby a few hours later.

The group decided on Chapter One and once they were seated and everyone had a glass of wine, even Isabella, Carlisle made a toast saying, "To finding peace and the strength to lay the past to rest," and looked at both his son and his wife with much love and support.

"So, Edward," Carlisle said a short time later once they'd been served their dinner, "why don't you tell us what you were able to find out about Liam?"

After taking a sip of his wine and taking Isabella's hand into his, he told them about the folder full of information Shane had let them look through. Esme and Carlisle reacted much like he and Isabella had but he could tell that they also were relieved to finally know everything and be able to move on. When he told them about seeing Molly and who she was, Esme got misty-eyed and reached across the table to hold his other hand.

"I'm so happy you saw her again, and Shane, too. Things sure do have a funny way of working out, don't they?" she asked him and Edward could only nod in agreement.

He had a feeling Seth, the others, and most assuredly the Voice had a hand or two in it all, but he wouldn't have it any other way.

The next morning arose and unlike the past few days, it was overcast, cool, and damp.

"Isabella, love, are you going to be warm enough in that?" Edward asked as he sat on the bed and tied his shoes.

"I'll be fine, Edward. It's not that cold out and besides, I plan on being right by your side so I'll have you to keep me warm anyway, won't I?" she asked sweetly and it was exactly the right thing to say judging from the tender smile he gave her back.

He stood and walked to where she was putting her coat on and held it while she slid her arms inside. Turning her around he couldn't help but stop and stare at her, looking deeply into her warm, brown eyes. Lightly he ran the backs of his fingers down her cheek and then his thumb across her bottom lip.

"Thank you for helping me take this last step," he whispered in a voice full of emotion.

She lifted her arms and held his face between her hands. "I will always be by your side, Edward, to help you in whatever way I can, just like you'll help me." Lowering one hand she pushed up the sleeve of his sweater and traced the friendship bracelet on his wrist. "We're best friends, sweetheart. Lovers, husband and wife, and now mom and dad," she told him with tears in her eyes. "We're also Cullens and we stick together no matter what. Being there when you need me, loving you and supporting you is as easy as breathing, my love. It's what I do and what I'll keep doing every day, forever."

"Ah fuck, Isabella," he hissed and then crushed her body to his, kissing her hard and deep, pouring every ounce of love and want and need he had for her into it. "I love you so damn much, la mia ragione," he whispered tracing her pendant with his finger. "I love you, too, little man," he said with a drop dead sweet, sexy, lazy smile at her before he bent down and kissed her stomach reverently.

"Edward, I swear," she huffed at him but couldn't help but laugh at how confident he was that the baby was a boy.

"What? I know I'm right. Watch, you'll see," he told her as he led her toward the door.

"And if it's a girl?" Isabella asked as they stepped on the elevator.

He pushed the button for the lobby before pulling her into his arms. "Then I'll love her every bit as much as I love her mama." With that he kissed her on the tip of her nose right before the doors opened.

The trip to the cemetery was quiet, but not tense. They'd stopped on the way so Esme could buy some flowers, bright yellow daffodils, which were always Maggie's favorite as Esme had told them. The car stopped outside the gate to the cemetery and the group walked the short way to the headstones together. Carlisle stopped them all a short distance from them so that Edward could have a few moments alone first.

"Son, why don't you take a few minutes by yourself and then we'll join you," he told Edward.

He kissed Isabella on the side of the head one time before walking forward on shaky legs. For over twenty years he'd thought about what this moment would feel like and now that it was here, he wasn't sure what to feel about them. What he did feel though was Seth's presence all around him, combined with Isabella's and his mom and dad's. It warmed him and gave him the strength to take the final few steps he needed until he was right in front of them.

The graves were marked with simple headstones that were blank except for their names and the years they were alive. No sayings, no words of remembrance of loving mother and father, his name wasn't even on there as a surviving member of their family, but he found that while he was a bit hurt by that, he was mostly okay with it, too. He wasn't a Connolly. He was a Cullen...he would always be a Cullen.

"I want to tell you both," he began as he stared at the pale gray stones, "that it's taken me a long time, but I'm happy. I don't know if you care about that or not, but I wanted to tell you anyway. I don't hate you for what you did to me either. I did for a long time, but I don't anymore. I'm trying to work on forgiving you and I'll get there, though it will take me some more time." He took a deep breath and closed his eyes trying to keep the tears that threatened from falling. "I'm going to be a dad soon and I can't imagine ever treating my son the way you treated me, and I know I won't. I'm not you," he bit out as he glanced at Liam's grave. In a softer tone of voice he finished. "I hope you both keep working toward your redemption because I'd like to see you both again someday. It's pretty great up there," he said with a smile and could swear he heard the chuckle of the as of now invisible angel, "so I hope you get to enjoy it. Be...at peace," he whispered and held his hand out because he could feel Isabella behind him.

Immediately her hand was inside of his and he pulled her close to his side. Carlisle and Esme stood on his other side and after they said a quiet prayer and Esme had a few moments alone with her sister to say her final goodbye they began to walk back toward the car.

He stopped and looked back at the graves one last time before looking at Isabella and said, "I'm ready. Let's go home, Beautiful."

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

May - Memorial Day Weekend

"Uncle Edward, are we going to take the boat out soon?" Jack asked as he shook his hair out, flinging water every which way.

"Buddy, you just got out of the pool and now you want to get in the lake?" Edward asked with a chuckle, especially when Jack looked at him like he had two heads. "Fine, yeah, let me find Aunt Bella and tell her we're heading out. Go tell your dad we're going and Grandpa Carlisle and Grandpa Charlie, too."

The family...the whole family...had gathered at Carlisle and Esme's house on Grand Beach for the holiday weekend. Things had moved at a frantic pace ever since Edward and Isabella had returned from Ireland and it was really the first time everyone had had a chance to get together. Not only were they celebrating the first weekend of summer, unofficially, but there was plenty of other good news to celebrate as well.

In a move that was totally cliché and totally unexpected from Marcus, he had finally proposed to Camille on Valentine's Day. He'd whisked her away for a whirlwind trip to Cabo San Lucas and asked her to marry him on the beach in the moonlight beneath the stars. Because they had been together for so long, and Camille knew that Marcus would ask sooner or later, she had most things already planned so the wedding would be taking place in the fall. Edward had been honored to be asked to be the best man and Alice had been asked to be the Matron of Honor.

Alice and Jasper had had their own news to share with everyone as well. Shortly after Valentine's Day they had announced that they were expecting a baby. Everyone was so thrilled for them because they had been married as long as Edward and Isabella and Emmett and Rose, not to mention that Alice had had one miscarriage already. She was past the first trimester when they had made their announcement due to them wanting to wait until it was safe to inform their friends and family. They also wanted to wait until Edward had recovered from his accident and didn't want to steal any of Edward's and Isabella's thunder from their own announcement. Jasper was beside himself he was so excited and on more than a few occasions could be found betting on the gender of his baby with Edward. There was quite the pool already from people taking part in the action. Edward sat back and watched, smirking the whole time knowing that he had the whole thing in the bag...right down to hair and eye color.

He didn't feel the least bit guilty, either.

Alec and Alessandra were completely inseparable and she had moved in with him before they even got to Christmas. They both knew that the other was it so there was no use pretending otherwise. She started staying there every night after Edward's accident and never left, even when Edward had been released to go home. Edward chuckled a bit to himself when he remembered Isabella coming to find him in his office after her usual lunch with Alec sometime in early April. She had been positively giddy and practically bounced off the walls. Of course he thought it was because she was so excited to see him but she shot that theory down in a hurry, much to his chagrin. Instead she had gone on and on about how adorable Alec had been while he hemmed and hawed before outright asking her if she thought it was too soon to be thinking about asking Alessandra to marry him. Edward remembered picking his jaw up off the floor and saying something to the effect of it being fucking time Alec found his own woman instead of wanting his all the damn time...which had earned him an arched eyebrow from his lovely wife. In truth, Edward was ecstatic for his friends, because he considered Alessandra one of his closest friends now.

A few weeks earlier, Emmett had told them during their weekly trip to hit golf balls and then beer that he and Rose were talking about having another baby and Edward was thrilled when he thought about being an uncle for the third time. He even got a little misty-eyed when he thought about the fact that if it happened quickly, both their babies would be close in age and he couldn't help but love the fact that they would grow up together, especially when you added Jasper and Alice's baby in the mix. Emmett and Isabella's project was entering its final stages and Cullen Publishing was flourishing so Emmett and Rose thought it would be a perfect time to concentrate on their family for a bit. Edward couldn't agree more.

Sophie and Max's wedding was approaching and he and Isabella spent as much time with the two of them as they did with the others...sometimes even more. Isabella had enlisted Sophie's help, and Esme's as well, with her literacy campaign for the after school projects and it made Edward stop and wonder how the hell it was that his wife, his long-lost close friend, and his mother all wound up working together, and from everything Isabella told him, absolutely loving it. He also considered Max one of his closest friends and was really happy he seemed to mesh so well with the others.

Charlie, Renée, and Nonna were all fine, as were Carlisle and Esme. The latter on cloud nine at having a house filled to the brim with people. Luckily for them all, Emmett and Rose also had a house there to accommodate everyone.

Which left...him and Isabella.

As he walked through the house that had belonged to his grandfather, Edward couldn't help but think about how sorry he was for him and the fact that he never experienced having the house full of family and loved ones and laughter and love. The next thought he had was were it not for Seth being sent to help him when he had been, even though he'd screwed that up right from the get-go, his life might have been much the same, as distressing as that was to think about.

He continued on through the house heading straight for where he knew she'd be and sure enough, she was curled up with a book on the window seat in the library. Her eyes were closed and the book was laid over her now very prominent baby bump and he couldn't help but stare at her. The sunlight streamed in through the tall window making her hair look almost red as the sun glinted off the highlights. Because it was already warm outside, it was up in a ponytail though a few wayward pieces curled softly around her face. She was wearing a short white and navy sundress and she'd kicked off her flip-flops so she was barefoot. He sighed; he was so glad she could walk around barefoot again. He really, really adored her feet.

"Are you going to keep staring at me or are you going to come give me a kiss?" she asked with a smile, though she kept her eyes closed. She stretched much like a cat as it laid in the sun and he thought she was the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen.

Though he thought that at least twenty times a day to be honest.

He grinned at her, even though she couldn't see him, and walked into the room, squatting beside her. Instead of kissing her, which was what he really wanted to do mind you, he lifted the book from her stomach and placed a gentle kiss there first.

"Hi, little man. You're so good letting Mommy take a nap," he whispered and then turned his head and raised his eyebrows at his wife. "What?" he asked, grinning.

"Are you going to kiss me anytime soon?"

"Shh, you just sit there and look gorgeous. Me and the boy are talking," he told her in his most serious voice. "Now, you keep Mommy company while me and your cousin, your crazy uncle, and your two granddads go out on the boat and do manly things like drive really fast and see who can make the biggest splash. I can't wait until you're old enough to come with us. It's going to be so much fun." He chuckled when she snorted at him and though he wasn't looking, he could feel her roll her brown eyes at him. "I'll be back before either of you can miss me."

Her sweet, happy giggle filled the room and he smiled against her stomach when he felt her fingers in his hair. "You guys have fun, but hurry back, okay? I've missed you today," she told him quietly as she ran her finger down his cheek and then across his lips when he turned and looked at her. "Now come kiss me like you'll miss me and go do your fun guy things while me and little man stay at home and wait," she pouted at him.

"Aw, Beautiful, I'll stay with you," he told her kneeling beside her and wrapping his arms around her.

"I'm teasing, Edward. Your mom and I were going to go through a few catalogs with my mom, Nonna, Alice, Rose, and Emma while everyone else went swimming before dinner. Go have fun and you can make it up to me later," she told him before pulling his head toward her so she could kiss him.

Their tongues tangled, twisted, and twirled until they were both gasping for breath. He'd maneuvered her so that she was sitting up and facing him and he'd worked his way between her legs. Sliding his hands up the smooth legs that had been warmed by the sun, he leaned forward and felt his son nudge against his stomach. "You wait your turn, buddy, me and Mommy are saying goodbye," he said out loud before he kissed her again.

He almost hated to leave the two of them but he knew Jack would be devastated if he backed out, so with one final kiss, he stood up, wincing once he was upright. "I'm too old for that shit," he whined as he rubbed his knees.

"Whatever, Edward. If that's the case, maybe you'd best let Emmett drive the boat. You know he's younger than you...faster reflexes and all," she taunted him and grinned wickedly at him.

"I'm telling you, no love," he chuckled. "And you know there is no way in hell I'm letting anyone else drive the boat...not even Charlie." Edward smirked and then bent down to kiss her on the forehead. "I'll be back soon, okay. You rest. I'll even give you a massage tonight. Love you, Beautiful, both of you," he said and then went to go find the others.

Hours later, after a raucous dinner, giving his wife a massage, and sweet, slow loving, Edward slipped out of bed and pulled on a pair of shorts because he couldn't sleep.

"Drink that. It'll help," came the voice he expected from the corner.

Edward glanced down from where he stood in front of the window to the table beside him and found a very familiar glass of amber liquid.

"I've missed this stuff. Thanks," Edward said as he lifted the glass and took a sip.

As the taste of the warm, smooth liquid exploded in his mouth and flowed over his tongue and down his throat he closed his eyes and was immediately brought back to the very first time he'd tasted the angelic scotch. So much had changed since that eye-opening plane ride. He shuddered when he thought about the man he used to be while at the same time he cheered the man he had become.

A husband, a father, son, brother, friend...all things that made him...him. Happy. Fulfilled. Loved beyond measure.

"Good day, today, huh?" Seth remarked casually though both knew there wasn't anything casual about his comment.

"The best, but tomorrow will be better. It always is," Edward answered just as casually and then took another sip of his drink.

"Yes, that's true. So, when are you going to tell everyone the boy's name?" Seth asked with a grin and when Edward snorted at him, his blue eyes twinkled more than Edward had ever seen them.

"Who says we've decided on Cameron Seth for his name? You know Isabella. She could change her mind tomorrow," Edward taunted with a nonchalant shrug of his shoulders.

Seth barked out a laugh, one which shook every window in the room and made the floor rumble. "No chance in hell of that happening, Eddie, my boy. None."

"Eh, I suppose you're right, but you never know. If you don't stop ogling my wife from up there when she's traipsing around in her bathing suit, I reserve the right to change it...just so you know," Edward remarked with a raised eyebrow, meeting the ice blue twinkle with a gaze of his own.

"Fair enough, my friend, fair enough. Now, how about I help you sleep? You're too old to keep up with everyone else. You need all the rest you can get," the angel told him with a completely straight face.

Edward really was too tired to argue so he climbed into bed and as soon as he did so, pulled Isabella to him and curled his body around hers, with his hand protectively over her stomach like it always was now. Seth grinned at his two, well now three, favorite humans and waved his hands over their heads. Once Edward and Isabella settled against their pillows he bent down and kissed them each on the forehead, whispering, "Rest well, my young ones. I love you all very much."

"Love you, too," Edward whispered with a smile on his face.

Seth was speechless for a moment and then disappeared, a blinding smile on his face.

"Damn angel," Edward murmured before sleep claimed him.

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