Blockbuster Teaser

 Driving back to the house, we all changed out our dress clothes. Bella checked in with Rose and Emmett while Seth went scrounging for something to eat. “Son, we’re going for a picnic,” I quipped.

“I’m hungry. I couldn’t eat breakfast because I was too nervous,” he said, his mouth full of some cereal. He looked at me. “You’re not going to cook, are you?”

“One time,” I huffed. “I burnt dinner one time!”

“You burnt dinner to a crisp, Edward,” Bella teased. “It wasn’t salvageable. The smell didn’t leave the house for well over a month. Even now, there’s a hint of burnt smell.”

“I promise to not cook,” I snickered. “I can chop things and then we can go exploring …”

“Good thing you have a bunch of nosh in the fridge,” Bella quipped, pulling out containers of pasta salad, antipasto, vegetables, crackers, meat, and cheese. Tossing in a few bottles of water, some soda, and cookies, we loaded up into the Range Rover. I navigated the freeway, arriving at Griffith Park. Bella giggled.

“What is it, Mom?” Seth asked.

“It was about a year ago that we had our first date. At this very park …” she responded, looking at me with a fond, loving smile. “A year …”

“Actually, our anniversary is tomorrow,” I grinned, parking the car.

“Yeah, you need to go out on a date or something,” Seth said. “Without me. I love you both, but if I learned anything about all this is that you need cherish the ones you love. Mom, you’ve been a rock for me and my fears, dealing with my mood changes, but when was the last time you did something for yourself? For each other?”

“Seth, when you have children, you will learn that your world revolves around them. I’d do anything for you,” Bella said. “As would Edward.”

“I know that. Especially now,” Seth argued as we got out of the car. We grabbed the picnic basket with a blanket that I had in the storage of the back of the SUV. We walked to a beautiful meadow and sat down in the shade a large tree overlooking the city of Los Angeles. Before we could get comfortable, Seth shot me a look.  “Dad, I think I left something in the car. Can you come with me?”

“Stay with your mom. I’ll get it,” I offered.

“I’m not sure where I left it. Mom, we’ll be right back,” Seth said, grabbing my arm and dragging me away from a perplexed Bella. She shook her head, spreading out the blanket and pulling out the containers.

“What did you forget, kiddo?” I asked.

“I didn’t forget anything. Mom came downstairs before I could I talk to you,” Seth said, arching a brow at me.

“You’re as subtle as a Mack truck, Seth,” I laughed.

“I wanted to apologize first,” Seth whispered, looking at me warily. “I was awful to you when we got here – a total asshole.”

“You weren’t very nice, but I get it. You’ve been dealing with a lot of crap,” I reasoned, wrapping my arm around his shoulders. “I wish I could take away the pain and aftermath of what you’re dealing with what happened over the summer.”

“You have, Dad,” Seth grinned, hugging me. “I wasn’t being fair. I lashed out at you when I should be lashing out at the douchebag who took me. I’m sorry.”

I kissed his forehead. “I love you, Seth. Nothing will change that,” I murmured. “Your recovery will take time. Hell, look at your mom. You’ve seen how she still struggles. And it’s been how many years since she had to deal with Jacob’s abuse?”

“True,” Seth agreed. He worried his lip, looking blankly at the car ahead of him.

“I’m not negating how you feel, but Jacob is the worst type of abuser. He was a narcissist with delusions of …” I trailed off. “Pardon my language, but he was fucked in the head because of how he was raised. The whole nature versus nurture thing … he was groomed to be an abuser, to use women in such a heinous way. He was and always will be a monster.”

“You can say that again,” Seth snorted humorlessly. “I know that you won’t abandon me or that you forgot about us while you were working. I was just so angry at the world.” He stopped, taking my hand. “The other thing I wanted to talk to you about was … when are you going to marry my mom? I’m proud to be a Swan, but I know I want to be a Cullen. So does she …”

I grinned crookedly. “Funny you should ask that. Bella hinted at this being a year since our first date and that this was where we came.”

“But, you said that your anniversary is tomorrow,” Seth said, arching a brow.

“Exactly. You said it yourself, we should go out on a date and tomorrow … I want to treat your mom to a day she won’t forget,” I replied. “Ending in a proposal.”

Married to the Mob: Fighting for Freedom Teaser

Five Years Later

“Mom! You promised we could go visit Dad,” Charlie said, his hands on his hips. It was the last day of Spring Break and my kids were all very antsy. He looked so much like my husband, with his unruly hair and piercing green eyes. However, he also looked like my father, as well. Every so often, he’d make a face that was so distinctly my father.

“We’re going,” I chuckled, packing up the diaper bag with bottles and extra diapers. “Go get your sister while I load up the baby.”

“Libby!” Charlie bellowed as he ran up the stairs.

“Your big brother has two volumes, little one. Loud and louder,” I whispered conspiratorially to our third baby, another boy. A baby boy who was named for a fallen friend, Demetri. I lifted him from his high chair and grimaced. Demetri, unfortunately, would be our last baby.

Elizabetta, or Libby, was an easy pregnancy. She was named for her paternal great grandmother. I experienced no issues with her and she practically slid out of my body. I bounced back and a couple years after her birth, I got pregnant with Demetri. His pregnancy was not easy. I was hospitalized several times for dehydration because I could not keep anything down. I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes, placed on bed rest for a majority of our pregnancy. Esme and Sue had moved into the house to help out with Charlie and Libby. It drove Edward crazy.

Demetri James Cullen, or D.J., was born via C-section and I had my tubes tied after his birth. Edward and I made that decision because he hated that I was so sick, shackled to our bed. He couldn’t bear to watch me wither away. He said that he’d get a vasectomy, but I said that I’d get my tubes tied.

My oldest son and my baby girl came downstairs. Libby had obviously dressed herself. Her bright red hair was a snarled mess and she wore the mismatched outfit, with a tutu over her shoulders like wings. “Oh, child. You are a mess,” I laughed. I balanced Demetri in my arms and turned Libby around.

“Mom,” Charlie whined.

“It’ll take ten minutes, bud,” I said, frog marching Libby up to her room. I put D.J. into his crib. He started wailing, but I ignored it. I changed Libby’s clothes, much to her protestations. “Mommy, I want to look like a princess. I’m Daddy’s princess.”

“I know, baby girl,” I said, putting her into a pretty purple dress. “But, princesses need to have their hair combed and the tutu is for dress up or when you have dance.” I sat down on her bed and guided her to sit in front of me. I quickly brushed her hair, tossing it up into a ponytail. She was squirming, making it difficult to fix her hair, but she looked much better. “Pick a pair of shoes, Libbybell.”

“Kay, Mommy,” Libby said, picking a pair of sparkly shoes.

After Libby was dressed, D.J. was changed and Charlie stopped having his temper tantrum, we loaded up into our Range Rover. I drove us to the Cullen Pier. Edward’s business venture with Alistair had blossomed. The Cullen Consortium was one of the foremost investment capital firms in the Pacific Northwest. I was so proud of him, of what he built with his partner.

“Mom, after we visit Dad, can we go to the Jimmy’s? I want to see Ganpa,” Charlie said, bouncing in his booster.

“Oooh, I wanna see Gandpa,” Libby squealed, clapping her hands.

“Sure thing, Charlie,” I smiled, parking the car. Grabbing the stroller and taking Libby’s hand, we walked to the entrance of the Consortium. Charlie’s hand was on the stroller. “Go open the door, Charlie and hold it open for me.” He scurried to the door and I walked through it, ruffling his hair.

“Mom!” he whined. “I worked hard on this hair.”

“No amount of work will help you, buddy,” Edward laughed. “I’ve got the same problem.”

A Modern Day Fairy Tale Teaser

I noticed some small changes in the apartment. It seemed warmer, homier. I was pacing the length of the living room. Jake had texted Masen, explaining that they had picked up Alice and she was beaten up pretty badly. My fear was that she was raped. “Bella, she’s going to be okay,” Masen replied, taking me into his arms.

“What a cluster,” I grumbled. “You don’t have to stay, Masen.”

“I’m not going anywhere, cherie,” he said, taking my face into his hands. “I love you. You’re my family.”

“Even though my family is fucked up?” I snorted humorlessly.

“Every family is fucked up,” he smirked, kissing my nose. I slid my arms around his waist and snuggled into his embrace. The door opened and my dad struggled to stand. Masen helped him to his feet while Linda came out from the kitchen, her hands wringing in a towel. Jacob was helping Alice; whose face was a rainbow of colors.

“Fuck,” I spat, walking over to her and wrapping my arm around her waist. “Alice? You should be in the hospital.”

“No. No hospital,” she said, her voice muffled. “I’m okay, Bella.”

“Come on, Ali. Let’s get you cleaned up,” I sighed.

“I can do it myself,” she muttered. She moved away stubbornly, but I followed her into the bathroom. She removed her clothes and I saw some bruises on her back. “Bella, I’m fine.”

“Those black welts on your body indicates otherwise, Alice,” I argued. I waited on the toilet as Alice showered. She huffed in the shower. “I know we don’t have the best relationship, Alice, but I’m concerned. You’re covered in bruises and living in an abandoned building.”

“Dad kicked me out,” Alice said, pulling out a towel and wrapping it around her body behind the shower curtain. “He kicked me out because of you, Bella.” She stepped out of the shower and I could see more bruises on her thighs. “I wasn’t raped, Bella. I was pushed against a railing.” She held out her arms. “No track marks, either.”

“Will you stop with the wall? You called me, Alice. You asked for help and you got it. You’d think you’d be a little grateful,” I sighed. “Look, I’m worried. You were kicked out because of your actions, not living up to the expectations Dad gave you and stealing from your family. Not mine. I want us to have a relationship. I know that you’re …”

“Bella, I’m tired. I don’t want to do this now. I just want some pain killers and to sleep,” Alice grumbled.

“You may have a concussion, Alice,” I argued. “You shouldn’t sleep.”

“Maybe, in time, we can have a relationship. For now? I just need to sleep,” Alice said wearily. She walked to me, her grey eyes appraising me. “Thank you for helping me, Bella. I appreciate it.” She hugged me awkwardly before ducking out of the bathroom.

I huffed out a breath, tugging on my hair and glowering at the bathroom door, which was partially open. There was a quiet knock on the wooden door. “Yeah?”

Linda walked in, giving me a tender smile. “Alice is in her room.” She sat down at the edge of the tub. “What’s wrong, Bella?”

“Alice still blames me for …”

“She reached out, sweetie,” Linda murmured, taking my hand. “It’s a step in the right direction. I’m upset that she was hurt, but she’s here and she’s safe. From what Jacob said, Seth is working with the police department to find Jasper, but as far as we know, he’s in the wind.” She pressed a set of keys into my hands. “Go to my apartment. You and Masen can stay there. I know you want to stay close.”

An FYI regarding this upcoming chapter. It will be posted a DAY early due to plans on Friday. I'm playing a musical mom for a friend, taking her daughter to her first rehearsal for her new production since my friend is double-booked. Her son is starting pee-wee football. Thank you for your patience! 

Picking Up The Pieces Update

Picking Up The Pieces Chapter 16 on FicPad

Picking Up The Pieces Chapter 16 on Stars

Picking Up The Pieces Chapter 16 on AO3

Picking Up The Pieces Chapter 16 on FFn

Picking Up The Pieces Chapter 16 on Wattpad

“I can see how much you adore her,” Billy smiled. “I know that Jake must have had a hand in guiding the two of you together. I think you’re a good man. You’ve made my third daughter smile again. You brought her back to life. I’ve seen her at her darkest, her emptiest. I saw her scrape herself out of that dark hole and start fresh in Forks. She struggled, but she’s flourished up there. She wouldn’t have done that down here, surrounded by the memories of Jake and what she’d lost.”

“I’m afraid that if I ask her, she won’t …” I whispered, my nose wrinkled.

“Edward, Bella may be the most stubborn woman in the world, but she loves you so much,” Billy said. “And I know that you want to give your mother something to live for. Esme is an amazing woman. Strong, compassionate and caring.  And she loves Grace and John like they were her own blood.”

“Do you think she’d say yes?” I asked, watching my girlfriend. “And are you okay with me …?”

“Edward, Jake sent you. I’m more than okay with you marrying her. You have my blessing and I’m certain that Charlie feels the same way,” Billy chuckled. “Now, why don’t you brave the sun and have fun with your girl? If what I gathered from Rebecca, this is going to be nice and cool compared to the ire of Rachel.”

“Why can’t she see that Bella’s happy?” I growled, standing up and putting on my own sunglasses.

“Because Rachel is not happy,” Billy sighed. “I’m going to call her and try to reason with her. I know she wants to see the kids, but I don’t want her to cause you or Bella any undue stress.”

“What happened with Rachel?”

“She’s …” he trailed off. He got up, nodding to Bella and the kids. He walked away, and I went into the pool, playing with the kids and racing John and Ryan until my muscles burned. That wasn’t the only thing that was burned. I could feel my shoulders ache from a new sunburn. We all went back to the hotel. Ryan and Billy drove separately, back to Ryan’s house and then to Billy’s home.

We ate some snacks and went to visit some of Bella’s old teacher friends from the elementary school worked at in Phoenix, before heading to Billy’s house. His residence was a bit outside of Phoenix, on the property of the reservation. His was one of the nicer homes in the reservation. His position as a tribal elder gave him that luxury. A number of people were in the backyard, which was decorated with twinkle lights and paper lanterns. Bella was hugged, and the kids were doted on. I was introduced and the cold shoulder I was expecting was not there. I was welcomed like a long-lost brother.

An hour passed, and I was drinking some alcoholic beverage made on the reservation grounds. It was strong, but delicious. I was laughing with Ryan and another worker from his company, Quil, when I heard an angry shriek and harsh slap.

“You bitch!” came the bitter sound from a tall, exotic woman. “How dare you bring him here!”

“Hello, Rachel,” Bella sighed, cupping her cheek, her eyes narrowed.