Worth the Fight Update

 I apologize for the late posting. I've been battling a migraine all day and I trying to kick it.

WTF Ch. 44 on FFn

WTF Ch. 44 on AO3

WTF Ch. 44 on Stars

WTF Ch. 44 on Wattpad

"I think that's the last box," Bella said, wiping her hands on her jeans. She took a look around the new home that she and Edward purchased together. It was on Bainbridge Island, just around the corner from where Emmett and Rosalie lived. It was Rose who told Bella about the place, and they jumped at the chance to purchase it. The timing of the sale, though, was chaotic, to say the least. "What were we smoking when we pulled the trigger on buying this place?"

"We wanted something bigger," Edward replied, adjusting a frame on the wall. "Your home on Mercer Island was great, but it had only two bedrooms with a loft." He walked over to her, pulling her into his arms. "You love this new place."

"I do, but I'm never moving again. We're never moving," she said, poking him in the chest. "We're dying in this house."

"No one's dying anytime soon, angel," Edward snorted, kissing her nose. "Have you heard from Rose today?"

"She sent a text. She hates being on bed rest, but her blood pressure is too high. They may induce labor as early as today," Bella replied. "Princess Hannah will be her sooner rather than later."

"That little girl is going to be so spoiled," Edward laughed. "How many outfits have we gotten for her?"

"I want my niece to be the best dressed baby on the planet," Bella scoffed, giving him a wry smile. "Anyway, I have to go into Bull Dog. I need to finalize travel plans for Brady, Collin and the new guy, Trevor, for the fight in Las Vegas. Have you worked with Trevor?"

"I have. He's got some fast hands and excellent footwork. I can see him going far," Edward grinned. "We sparred when he 'tried out' for Charlie. I won, but it was a close call." He sat down on the couch in their family room. Bella sat down on his lap. She trailed her fingers down his cheek. "I think I'm going to announce my retirement soon. Charlie's getting queries about when I'm fighting again …"

Falling for a Dark Soul Update

FFADS Chapter 19 on FFn

FFADS Chapter 19 on AO3

FFADS Chapter 19 on Fanfiction.Online

FFADS Chapter 19 on Stars

FFADS Chapter 19 on Wattpad

“Esme?” I called, walking into the kitchen. She hastily wiped her eyes, turning around and giving me a watery smile. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine, sweetheart,” she answered. I arched a brow, like how I did with Edward. “I can see why he loves you.”

“He hasn’t said it, but I understand why he’s hesitant,” I shrugged.

“My son had such a difficult life and he always kept everyone at arm’s length,” Esme muttered. “Even his father and me. Edward doesn’t trust easily, but he let you in.”

“He’s easy to love,” I murmured. “And those people who hurt him deserve to rot in hell.”

“Trust me, many of them are,” Esme replied darkly. “Edward lived in about twelve homes before he came into our custody. Out of the twelve foster families, nine of the parents were arrested for child solicitation, molestation and wrongful death.”

“Somebody died in their care?” I hissed.

“A little girl,” Esme growled, “In a home in Dwight. Anyway, they were put away for life. The district attorney wanted Edward’s testimony because he’d told his case workers, but they didn’t listen. He stopped telling them and took the abuse until …” She walked over to a cabinet and poured herself a glass of bourbon. “Want some?”

I nodded and sipped the drink. “You wouldn’t let Edward testify.”

“He was finally accepting that he was a part of our family. Carlisle asked him if he wanted to testify but my son told him that no one cared what he said years ago. Why would they care now?” Esme frowned. “I never, in my wildest dreams, imagine seeing Edward as comfortable as he is with you and your sister. He never smiled. When he did, it was forced.” She took a sip, leaning against the counter. “He’s brilliant, ambitious, funny but he never let down his walls. To see him today? It’s like he’s a whole new person. I’m crying because I’m happy that he has someone that loves him unconditionally.”

“When we first met, Edward and I did not get along,” I snorted. “Oil and water, really.”

“He told us about how he treated you and the guilt he felt afterward. If anything, you’d figure he’d be understanding since Katie is in a similar situation with losing her parents,” Esme shrugged. “But, she has you.”

“Unlike Edward,” I frowned. “I also think that’s why Katie and Edward are so close. They’re kindred spirits, really. They both lost their parents at a young age without the ability to understand why it happened or cope with that sense of loss.”

“You also lost your family,” Esme argued.

“But, I’m twenty-eight. I have the coping skills to work through it. Yes, I struggle with their absence. I have days where getting out of bed is a struggle,” I shrugged. “Therapy has helped. Katie and I go to a grief counselor. I got the name from the preschool I enrolled Katie in. I didn’t know anyone when I moved here from the Pacific Northwest. I toyed with the idea of seeing a psychiatrist, but I didn’t want to take medications unless absolutely necessary. I miss my mom. There are moments when I wanted to call her to tell her all about Edward …”

The oven dinged and Esme checked whatever was inside. “I hope you like lasagna,” she said.

“I love it,” I smiled.

 

A Ilha Do Amor Repost

A New Year, A New Life AIDA Chapter 26 on FFn

“I’m surprised that the paper sprung for a Christmas party,” I said, putting on my drusy earrings. I was dressed in a simple red dress with my drusy jewelry as my accessories. “With all that happened after the fall out with Alec, they would probably want to save money.”

“Didn’t we have to pay to go?” Edward asked, slipping on his black suit jacket. The man looked downright sinful in his black suit and white shirt. It was cut perfectly for his athletic body and I wanted to crawl up his muscular form and have my wicked way with him. Oh, right. I couldn’t. I was having my special time of the month…erm, quarter. “Bella, stop drooling. I’m not going anywhere.”

“It’s just that you look so damn sexy, Edward,” I said, sashaying over to him and wrapping my arms around his neck. “I want you.”

“I offered but you said that you didn’t want due to your girly issues,” he smirked, kissing my nose.

“Yeah, talk about gross,” I grumbled. “I’m sorry. I’m just really horny when I get my period.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” he said, squeezing my ass. “Back to my question, wasn’t there a fee we had to pay to go per person?”

“Yeah, ten bucks, roughly. It’s paying for the rental of the room at Il Terrazo Carmine and it’s not an open bar,” I said, kissing his stubbled jaw. “Hmmm, you smell good.”

“Thank you, love,” he said, smacking my ass. “Now, we’ve got to go before you toss me on the bed and have your wicked way with me.”

“You say that like it’s a bad thing,” I teased, cocking my hip.

“It’s not, but didn’t Marcus say that it was imperative that we all be there?” Edward questioned, arching a perfect brow.

“Crap,” I said, wrinkling my nose. He chuckled. Edward kissed just behind my ear and sucked on the sensitive skin there. “Keep that up and we won’t be leaving. I’ll want to make love to you; my period be damned.”

“Come on, my beautiful girl,” he said, tugging on my hand. “Let’s get going. It’ll be a fun night out.” I picked up my clutch and we walked out to the foyer of the apartment. Edward helped me with my coat before he put his coat on, leading us down to parking garage. Sliding into his car, he drove us to Il Terrazo Carmine and let the valet park his sleek red vehicle. Inside of the restaurant, we walked back to the large banquet room that the Times rented out for our party. Immediately, I saw Paul and Rob.

“Bells!” Paul squealed, rushing toward me and throwing his arms around my neck. “Thanks to you, your hot boyfriend and your amazing dad, the Seattle Times is safe from the tyranny of Alec Wright.”

“He’s been announcing that every five minutes,” Rob deadpanned, tugging his boyfriend back and threading their fingers together. “But, he’s not the only one who is excited at the departure of that guy. A lot of readers are now happy that the paper is getting back to what it was prior to Alec’s arrival.”

“That’s because we’re able to report the news,” I said. “Not some one-sided view of the news. Marcus has been incredibly happy, handing out challenging assignments and raising the bar. It’s been crazy.”

“You love it, though,” Edward said, wrapping his arm around my waist. “You actually come with a twinkle in your eye as opposed to a frown and a daily death threat to your boss.”

A Modern Day Fairy Tale Update

AMDFT Chapter 50 on FicPad

AMDFT Chapter 50 on FFN

AMDFT Chapter 50 on AO3

AMDFT Chapter 50 on Stars

AMDFT Chapter 50 on Wattpad

Sitting next to Masen, I watched as Jake and Leah danced at their wedding. My feet were in Masen’s lap. “It was a perfect day,” I said, reaching over to Masen’s hair and brushing it back off his forehead. “Beautiful wedding.”

“It was a beautiful wedding,” Masen agreed, kissing my left hand. My engagement ring was on a necklace, as we’d decided not to steal Leah and Jake’s thunder. “I can’t wait until this is us.”

“Only, I’m certain that our wedding will not be this understated,” I snorted. “How much of a media circus will our wedding be? Not that I mind … I want the world to know that we’re solidly a couple.”

“It will be insane. Especially in Gevalia,” Masen chuckled. He lifted me onto his lap, his hands gliding over my back and nuzzling my neck. “Have you seen the footage of Prince William when he married Kate Middleton? Prince Harry marrying Meghan Markle?”

“Oh, fuck,” I giggled.

“You’re a normal woman from New York, marrying a prince,” he said, his lips moving along the column of my neck, moving to my ear and suckling on the earlobe. “A modern-day fairy tale, cherie.”

“Complete with the dead mother, a single, broken father, evil sister and sad backstory, forced into indentured servitude because of our woes. Holy hell, my life is a Disney movie,” I quipped, melting against him. He pulled back, his handsome face in a deep frown. “What? What’s with this face? I don’t like the frowny face, Masen.”

“I hate that you had it so bad, Bella,” he whispered, tracing my cheek with his fingertip.

“I don’t have it so bad now,” I whispered back, taking his hand and kissing his palm. His gaze softened, kissing me tenderly and holding me to his body. I draped my arms over his shoulders, idly playing with his hair as it brushed the collar of his suit. He sighed heavily, clearly still upset at my life prior to our relationship. “Masen, please don’t dwell on the past. We can’t change it.”

“We can only learn from it. I know,” he said, staring at me. “Where did your therapist get that little gem? The Lion King?”

“I think so,” I snickered, kissing his nose.

“I need all the single ladies out on the dance floor,” the DJ announced. “It’s time to toss the bouquet. Single guys … you’re on deck!”

Leah glided over to me, grabbing my hand and tugging me off Masen’s lap. “Come on, Bells,” she sang. “You’re still single.”

“No … I’ll break something,” I whined, following her to the center of the dance floor. Rachel hugged me and I pouted as I stood next to my friend. “Rachel, I will be pummeled by these girls. I’m puny compared to them. I’m also gimpy.”

“You’ll be fine, Bella,” Rachel scoffed, flipping her long black hair over her shoulders. “I have an in with the bride. She married my baby brother.” She clapped her hands together with an evil grin. The DJ was playing Cyndi Lauper’s “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” as Leah sashayed to the front of the dance floor. She was wagging her bouquet, a beaming grin on her face. Rachel rubbed hands together, taking a more athletic stance. In her bridesmaid dress, it was hysterical. I just hid behind her, praying I wouldn’t get trampled by the thirty women huddled on the dance floor. As the chorus swelled, Leah turned around and prepared to throw the bouquet. Instead, she ran to me and handed it to me. “Told you!” Rachel crowed.

“What?!” I squeaked, holding the beautiful bouquet in my hands.

“We all know you’re next,” Leah said, hugging me and taking a quick glance at my necklace with my engagement ring. The photographer came over and took our picture before she was led to a chair where Jake was waiting to tug off her garter. Jake pulled the same stunt that Leah did, tucking the garter into Masen’s pocket. The four of us smiled happily  and the rest of the wedding was a blur of cake, champagne and dancing.

Bree Tanner, reporter for Vanity Fair

A Modern Day Fairy Tale Teaser

Charlie and Linda were preparing to head back to the states. He had a doctor’s appointment at the end of the week with his neurologist. My parents made arrangements for their departure. Alice was being detained in the cells beneath the palace. She was on day three of her interrogation. She adamantly refused to answer questions, only saying that she didn’t do a damn thing wrong.

The bug in the bathroom on New Year’s Eve said another thing. As did her accomplice, who was being deported and exiled from Gevalia. Alice was going down.

She would not terrorize my girlfriend anymore.

Bella was over her sister’s bullshit and was getting angry that Alice was denying any wrongdoing. So, I was going to take my girl on a short trip in Europe before returning to the United States. We were going to Paris for a couple of days before spending time in Spain. Bella always wanted to go to Paris and see the Eiffel Tower, Mona Lisa and Notre Dame. I’d been to Spain on holiday and loved its romantic feel.

I wanted to woo my girl; sweep her off her feet and by giving her the world, I’d do just that.

With my mother’s blessing, I made the arrangements for three days in Paris and three more days in Barcelona before flying back to New York City. I had a few more official actions to complete as a diplomat before my return to Gevalia for the Gevalian Independence Day celebrations at the end of February. I was hopeful that when I returned, I’d have a new fiancée and Bella would become my queen, my wife, my partner.

I’d finished designing her engagement ring and it was nearly complete, using the diamonds from my grandmother’s engagement ring. It was an eclectic blend of an old-world style, with a modern, contemporary twist.

Engagement Ring Before

Engagement Ring After ... when will he drop to one knee?