9Raising the Littles – Chapter 5 - Buttfaced Miscreant
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
A/N: Sorry, I had to take an off week. I got swamped with sorority initiation and midterms. This week everything will be back to normal. 3
Song for this chapter: 'Whatever it Takes' -Imagine Dragons
Chapter 5: Whatever it Takes.
I ran back to my house, enjoying the wind as it hit my face and embracing the speed. Running straight to my room I found myself looking for my human possessions, things that Carlisle had grabbed for me, but I hadn't remembered any of them at the time, so I hadn't cared. The box had been placed on my couch, probably after my pixie-like sister had a vision. I quickly went through my things and found what I was looking for. A black velvet ring box contained what was meant to be Bella and I's wedding rings. I gently opened the box, looking at the silver and silver diamond bands that sat nestled in blue velvet. Gently I lifted the band that was supposed to be put on my finger months ago. Holding it in between my thumb and forefinger, I looked at the inscription, "I love you" and what was supposed to be our wedding date. Bella's ring was engraved with "I love you too" and the date. Making sure that it was safely placed back in the ring box, I grabbed the next item, a sonogram picture. It was from the first sonogram that Bella had. Now looking at it, I could see the second baby. In this picture the twin only looked like a shadow. I stared at the photo and recalled my twins in my head, marveling in how human biology works.
I heard footsteps coming towards my door, with the right weight and gait to be Carlisle. He walked in through the open door.
"Did you find out who she was, son?" he asked calmly.
"She's my fiancé." I kept my gaze on the box in front of me. "I have twin children. They're six months old, Anthony and Riley Masen." I finally looked up at the man who I considered to be my adoptive father.
"Do you remember any of it?" he asked, impressively he was keeping his face impassive.
"As Bella spoke, I started to recall everything. I left her dad. I left her pregnant and alone." I said, emotion filling my voice. "I told her. I can't run away from this dad. She needs me. Our children need me. And…. I need her. Now that I remember I think I'm too selfish to leave her too."
"I wouldn't expect you to son." Carlisle said.
"But what about Rosalie and Jasper? They'll be upset that they're around."
"I'll deal with them if they cause a scene. But to be honest, Rosalie probably won't; you know that she wants kids. She's not going to deprive you of that. Jasper will be upset over his bloodlust, but I can't see him being mad because you're happy." Carlisle laid his hand on my shoulder. "I'm proud of you son. I know that this was a shock to you, and that being near her will be difficult. Thank you for not running." He left my room, leaving me alone with my thoughts.
Glancing at the clock, I figured that it was late enough to go to Bella's house. After the run to her house I saw the light in her bedroom and a soft glow in the room next to it, probably from a nightlight. The nursery. I smiled as I climbed the tree to enter through the open window. Bella sat on her bed reading 'Wuthering Heights', a baby monitor sat next to her leg. Her room was filled with opened boxes, things sorted into haphazard piles.
"You came." I moved to sit next her on the bed.
"I told you I would."
"I know." She blushed, "Sorry for the mess, I've been busy unpacking the twins' things and haven't really gotten around to my own."
"I can unpack for you, if you'd like" I suggested. She looked at me with her tired eyes,
"You don't have to" she said.
"But I want to, I know that you're tired. When you go to sleep I'll take care of it." I told her. She looked at me with relieved eyes and cuddled into my chest,
"Thank you". I kissed her forehead.
"Of course." I sat holding her as she read. After about a half hour she put the book down and cuddled into my chest.
"I love you Edward" she said.
"I love you too, my Bella." I held her as her heartrate slowed as she slipped into her dreams. When I sure that she was fully asleep I gently extracted myself from her arms and rose from the bed. Before I started working on Bella's room I walked out of her bedroom and into the one next to hers. I walked into a room with a Winnie-the-Pooh themed nursery with white furniture. There were two cribs right next to each other. On one side of the room there was a dresser and a changing table. There was a grass-like rug on the hardwood floors. On the other side of the room a rocking chair sat next to a bookshelf. Walking to the cribs, I stood in between them, looking at my children.
Riley was wearing a baby purple onesie and slept with her thumb in her mouth. I soundlessly kissed my right pointer finger and just-barely touched her forehead. Repeating the process with Anthony I looked at my son as he slept in his green onesie, his hands bunched under his head.
"I love you babies, I'm so sorry I haven't been here, but I'm not going to leave this time." I vowed before I left the nursery to return to Bella's room.