Disclaimer: All recognizable characters are the rights of Stephenie Meyer. No copyright infringement intended.

Three years later…

"Edward I need you…" Bella called.

Edward walked around the corner from where he had been unpacking in the living room. "What's up babe?" He saw what his wife was doing and immediately jumped in to stop her. "Bella, stop, you know you're not supposed to be straining yourself. Doc Gerandy said the twins could come early."

Bella laughed at her husband. "Sweetie, I still have three months until they are here. I just need you to move it so I can get it unpacked." She looked around and grew concerned when she didn't hear anything. "Where are Matty and Maya?"

Edward hefted the box up on the table top and then moved to wrap his arms around Bella's expanding waist line. His movements received a couple of kicks. "They fell asleep about twenty minutes ago."

Bella nodded and extricated herself from Edward's grasp. She turned and kissed him softly before turning back to her box. "Sorry, honey, I'm just hot. Now get back to work."

Edward chuckled and walked back to the living room. Before he got there, his pager went off. He knew Bella was going to be upset, so he called Rose before he went to her.

"I'm on my way Edward. Emmett will ride with you."

"Thanks Rosie."

Edward wandered back into the kitchen to tell Bella that he had gotten called in. He knew she was going to be upset, but she was beginning to slowly be okay with his job again. He hadn't had an accident on the job for at least a year. The only reminders of his last one were the burn scars on his left arm.

"Bella, honey, I've got to go. Rose is on her way over to help you."

Bella looked at her husband and felt the usual fear run down her spine. She sent up a silent prayer and then gave him a smile. "Be careful. I love you."

Edward grinned, "I love you too. Kiss the kids for me." He kissed her mouth and was gone.

**HH**

"Mommy, I hungy." Maya whimpered.

"Me, too."

Bella smiled at her three year old children. "Okay, I'll make some grilled cheese." She turned to her niece and smiled, "Emily would you like one too?"

"Sure Aunt Bella. Do you want me to go play with M and M while you get it ready?"

"Thanks that would be very helpful. Just be careful of all the boxes."

She watched as Emily took each of their hands and took them to play.

"You are doing a great job with her." Rose commented.

Bella turned to her sister, "It's the least I can do after all that Felix and Demetri did for me."

"Bella, you adopted their daughter. I don't think it's the least you could do. You did what you thought was right. Maya would have been left alone. You and Edward saved her from an uncertain future." Rose turned back to her son, as he nursed.

Bella put the sandwiches on the griddle and thought back to the day that her father delivered the blow about her friend's death. They had been on their flight to get Maya when the plane went down, killing everyone aboard. She and Edward hadn't given it a second thought, before they had made arrangements to get Maya to America and home with them. A year after fostering her, they officially adopted Maya.

"Bella, do you have to work at the bar tonight?"

"No, Tanya and Kate have everything under control. Jazz said he would stop by there and check things out for me."

"Who's waitressing tonight?"

"Jane and Heidi." Bella commented as she flipped the sandwiches. She still couldn't believe that Felix had left her the bar. Bella plated the kid's lunch and called for them to come eat and then commenced cleaning up the mess.

Rose watched her sister bustle about, despite her growing belly and wondered if she ever ran out of energy. She was like Alice, especially when she's pregnant. "Don't you ever settle?"

Bella giggled, "Rose we just moved in to this house, I want to get it unpacked. I can't relax in clutter. You know this. You've known me my whole life."

"I suppose so. Well, let me put Eli down and I'll give you a hand."

For the next couple of hours the sisters worked side by side, unpacking boxes, cleaning crevices and taking care of the children. Bella knew that Edward had called Rosalie over to help distract her and was glad for it. Ever since the accident that had almost killed him, she was scared for him to go out on a call. She wondered if that fear would ever abate. She doubted it.

**HH**

Edward walked up the stairwell at the station and was met with a surprise. His dad stood at the top right beside the Chief Commander and the Commissioner.

"Dad, what's going on?" He asked as he came to a stop in front of them.

"I think I can answer that for you Mr. Cullen. Why don't you follow us into the office?" Commissioner Banner said.

Edward looked at his father before following them into the office. Carlisle shut the door once everyone was inside.

"Have a seat son." Carlisle said.

"Edward, we have been receiving reports on you. Your conduct and leadership skills are exemplary. These are all things that we look for in a chief."

Edward looked at the three men before him, "I'm sorry, but chief of what station?"

Carlisle cleared his throat. "I'm retiring Edward."

Edward opened and closed his mouth in shock before finally being able to speak. He turned to the Commissioner, "Are you telling me that you want me to take over this house?"

"That is exactly what we are saying. Would you be willing?"

"I, uh…I would have to discuss it with my wife first."

"Of course, we'll give you two days and then meet back here on Monday morning. Agreed?"

Once agreements were made they left Edward and Carlisle alone. "Dad, are you sure about this?"

"What, retiring? Yes, your mother and I have discussed this quite a bit and have decided it's time." Carlisle grinned and then chuckled, "Besides, I want to play with all these grandchildren you keep giving me."

Edward laughed and got up to hug his father. He wondered how Bella was going to react.

**HH**

Emmett arrived home and found Rose sleeping in the recliner with Eli asleep on her chest. He smiled and walked to pick up his son. He quietly carried him to his room and placed him in his crib. Once he was settled, Emmett rounded the hallway to check on his daughter.

"Watcha doing kiddo?"

Emily looked up at her father, "Homework. I want to be able to have fun this weekend."

Emmett walked forward and kissed her forehead. "Alright, don't stay up too late."

He walked back down the hall to find his wife waking up. "Did you put Eli down?"

"Yea, babe. Did you eat?"

"No I waited for you." Rose stood up and crossed to him. "Are you hungry?"

Emmett smiled, "Not for food."

"Why Mr. McCarty, are you trying to seduce me?" Rose asked seductively.

"Yep, is it working?"

Rose just giggled as her mouth met her husbands.

**HH**

"J.W. come here now!" Alice hollered for her son.

She watched as he toddled his way to her, "Yes momma?"

"Come here sweetheart." She waited until he was at her feet. "Can you tell mommy why she stepped on your truck?"

"No, sowwy momma."

"It's okay baby. Please put it in the toy box okay."

He picked up his truck and ran away. "Jasper, dinner!"

"Coming darlin'."

Alice smiled and went back to the kitchen and finished preparing their dinner. She was craving Velveeta shells and cheese and tuna right now, so Jasper had to eat it too.

"Oh…Alice what the hell is that smell?" Jasper came in fanning the air.

"Tuna. Sit." Alice ordered. She was extra bossy when she was pregnant.

"Oh…" Jasper sat and kept his mouth shut. He would grab something at the bar later when he met up with Emmett and Edward.

**HH**

Edward was just walking down the stairs when a knock sounded on his front door. He detoured to it and opened it up. He smiled at the person on the other side. "Jake, good to see you. Come on in."

"Thanks. I was wondering if I could talk to you and Bells." Jacob asked.

"Sure, we were just about to eat. Are you hungry?"

"I could eat," he smiled.

Edward led the way to the kitchen, "Babe, set another place. Jake's here."

"Unca Jake!" Matty and Maya squealed.

"Hey guys. Watcha eating?"

"Roni…"

"Mm, where's mine." Jake grinned when Maya held out her spoon for him.

"Maya, eat your dinner."

Matty and Maya went back to their macaroni and cheese, while Jake greeted Bella.

"How are you feeling?" He asked as he gave her tummy a rub.

"Fine, but Jake I am not a magic genie lamp, so don't rub me." Bella snickered.

Bella served Edward and Jake some dinner and then sat down to her own. "So what's up?"

Jake looked at the couple who had become his closest friends. "Uh, well, I'm kinda lookin' for a job."

"What? Why?" Bella wondered.

"I had to quit, I couldn't work there anymore, especially after I found my boss in bed with my girlfriend."

"Oh, Jake, I'm sorry. I really thought Claire was it for you." Bella patted his hand.

"Well, I might know of a place. In fact I was going to call you, after I had this conversation with Bella. I guess you could hear it too." Edward grinned.

"Tell me what?"

Edward explained about his dad and about his promotion.

"You mean you wouldn't be in the thick of it anymore?"

"I would still go, but I would be more supervisory than anything else. Would you be okay with that?"

"Yes, call the commissioner now!" Bella bounced.

"Calm down, babe. I'll see him a couple days and give him my answer." Edward turned to Jake. "Do you think you're ready to come back? We're gonna be a man short."

Jacob looked at Edward. "Are you sure?"

"Jake you've been sober for three and a half years. I think it's time." Bella smiled.

"Well okay then, but you have to clear it with the guys and the commissioner."

Edward nodded, "Just come down to the station with me on Wednesday and we'll get it done."

When they had everything settled, the three of them enjoyed their meal and watched as the kids covered themselves in macaroni. Bella smiled quietly. She thought about how rough things had been for all of them and realized that it had only made them all stronger. She wasn't sure what the future would hold, but she knew that they could face anything, as long as they faced it together.

AN: Well that's all she wrote. I hope you enjoyed this story. I want to give a shout out to teamswitzerlandmom, without who I might not have written Fireward very well. Thanks Missy! I appreciate it so much!

I have an idea for a new story, but I am going to finish Game of Love first. A little hint though, it's a Soldierward story. I hope you will all put me on author alert and keep an eye out for it. Until then…happy reading and reviewing!

Liz s