Worth the Fight Teaser

 "We're going outside and it's snowing. Why are we going outside while it's snowing, Edward?" Bella grumbled.

"Because it's pretty and you wanted to see the city, love," Edward answered, wrapping his scarf around his neck.

"Can't we come back in the spring or summer?" Bella pouted, tugging on a beanie, covering her mahogany curls. "I want to see the city, but not at the risk of losing my fingers due to frostbite."

"You're spoiled with the weather in Seattle, Bella," Edward deadpanned. "I grew up in the northern tundra of Chicago. This is nothing. When I was in middle school, we have about three feet of snow dumped on us. We were off of school for four days because of snowpacalypse." Tugging on his gloves, he gently turned her. "I'll keep you warm, angel. I promise."

"We can stay warm in bed," she quipped, kissing his jaw.

"First stop on our tour is Ground Zero, Bella. Let's go," he pressed, grabbing her hands.

It had been a couple days since the fight. Charlie and the rest of the Bull Dog family left after Alice issued their statement regarding the findings about Jacob and the Volturi. With that announcement, ESPN wanted to interview Edward, but he asked for time to process. They made tentative plans to meet up at Bull Dog within a week. It would give him an opportunity to pull his thoughts together and not lose his shit on camera.

Today was going to be a day for them to play. It was not about Edward training for a fight or Bella keeping Bull Dog afloat. It was about two people having fun, getting lost in New York City. Since Edward was still sore from his fight, he asked for a car to shuttle them from each location. They rode down to the lobby, getting into the waiting limo. The driver pulled away from the curb, weaving through traffic and arriving at Ground Zero.

May We Meet Again Update

MWMA Ch. 15 on FFn

MWMA Ch. 15 on AO3

MWMA Ch. 15 on Stars

MWMA Ch. 15 on Wattpad 

Everything was secured and Charlie was in the command center, preparing for our departure. I was strapped in, squeezed in between Carlisle and Aro's orphaned son, Demetri. Demetri's hand was in mine as I tried not to cry. To be honest, it was a losing battle with tears welling. I stared, unseeingly at the bulkhead in the surgical bay.

"Swan to Ark Station, thrusters will deploy in T-minus five minutes," Charlie's disembodied voice said through the intercom system. "Make sure everyone is strapped in." There was a pause and he let out a breath. "May we meet again …"

"May we meet again," I whispered back. "We will find each other again, Charlie." My eyes fluttered shut as tears streaked down my cheeks, the battle lost. "I love you …"

Carlisle took my hand, squeezing my fingers. "We'll figure out a way to get Charlie down to the Ground. I promise you," he murmured. "We did not spend hours and all of our blood stores to put him back together for him to die of hypoxia."

"How can we do that? It's not like there's rockets to get up to the outer ring when we get down to the surface," I hissed angrily. "He's going to die up here."

"We have the most brilliant minds on the Ark, we can figure something out," Carlisle soothed.

"T-minus one minute," Charlie announced. "Ren, hug our baby girl for me."

"I will," I replied, even though he couldn't hear me. I closed my eyes, trying to imagine Charlie in the command center, preparing the Ark for its final departure and descent to the Ground. As the engines roared to life, I slipped my arms around Demetri, providing him comfort when all I wanted was my husband's arms around me giving me comfort.

"Ten … nine … eight … seven … six … five … four … three … two … one … launch," Charlie counted.

May We Meet Again Teaser

 Everything was secured and Charlie was in the command center, preparing for our departure. I was strapped in, squeezed in between Carlisle and Aro's orphaned son, Demetri. Demetri's hand was in mine as I tried not to cry. To be honest, it was a losing battle with tears welling. I stared, unseeingly at the bulkhead in the surgical bay.

"Swan to Ark Station, thrusters will deploy in T-minus five minutes," Charlie's disembodied voice said through the intercom system. "Make sure everyone is strapped in." There was a pause and he let out a breath. "May we meet again …"

"May we meet again," I whispered back. "We will find each other again, Charlie." My eyes fluttered shut as tears streaked down my cheeks, the battle lost. "I love you …"

Carlisle took my hand, squeezing my fingers. "We'll figure out a way to get Charlie down to the Ground. I promise you," he murmured. "We did not spend hours and all of our blood stores to put him back together for him to die of hypoxia."

"How can we do that? It's not like there's rockets to get up to the outer ring when we get down to the surface," I hissed angrily. "He's going to die up here."

"We have the most brilliant minds on the Ark, we can figure something out," Carlisle soothed.

"T-minus one minute," Charlie announced. "Ren, hug our baby girl for me."

Worth the Fight Teaser

 Early the next morning, Bella snuck out of the bedroom. Edward, despite being exhausted, tossed and turned. His body took a beating, and he was paying for it now. In the living space, she found Carlisle and Charlie. “Good morning.” She kissed her father’s cheek and smiled at Carlisle. “Can Edward get a massage this morning? He was in pain last night.”

“Take it easy on him,” Carlisle answered. “Avoid the bruises on his body, especially around his ribs. There are some small fractures in the bones.”

“Can he also get some pain killers? He’s not fighting for at least a month. One Vicodin won’t kill him,” Bella huffed.

“I have some, but I’m not going to drug him without his consent,” Carlisle said, checking his watch. “I have a teleconference meeting in an hour. I hate talking over Zoom. I’ll leave some Vicodin with your dad, but don’t push it. Edward is very particular about what he puts in his body.”

“I know,” she nodded. Blinking to her dad, she smirked. “Don’t you have some fighter to train? Or a meeting to go to?”

“Actually, I don’t. I was hoping to spend the day with you and Edward,” Charlie retorted with a shit-eating grin.

“Dad!” Bella huffed. “Really? I don’t think so.”

“He doesn’t,” Carlisle snickered. “He’s actually checking out another fighter to possibly join the Bull Dog family. Your car will be here in ten minutes.” He got up from his spot. “I’m going down to the business center and then I’m meeting Alice and Esme to go out for lunch and an afternoon of shopping.”

“Oooh, have fun,” Bella sang. “Better you than me.”

“I’d rather have a hip replacement without being sedated,” Carlisle grumbled, picking up his computer bag as he left.



Worth the Fight Update

 WTF Ch. 40 on FFn

WTF Ch. 40 on AO3

WTF Ch. 40 on Stars

WTF Ch. 40 on Wattpad

"Follow the light, Edward," Carlisle commanded. He moved the light slowly across his field of vision, then moving it up and down. Edward's gaze followed it, sharp and clear. "Good. Does your head hurt, aside from the stitches above your eyebrow?"

"The jaw and temple are the most tender," Edward said, pointing to where he had several bruises. "But, my ribs hurt the most."

"Let me take a few films. The blows might have aggravated the previous breaks," Carlisle said. "Do you want to shower before I take the x-rays?"

"Yeah, I can't handle my own stench. Plus, Jacob? He was rank," Edward shuddered. "I really don't want to put on my suit, though."

"We've got the press conference after this. Sorry, son," Charlie chuckled, wearing his own suit, having changed after the fight. During the fight, he was in a pair of black cargo pants and black long-sleeved shirt. It allowed him to carry a lot of supplies without having to carry a bulky bag. It also hid any blood spatter from the fight. Now, Charlie was in an all-black suit with a purple tie that matched the tone of Edward's fighting trunks. "You represent Bull Dog in all facets, Edward."

"Okay, okay," Edward snorted, sliding off the table and into the private bathroom.

Worth the Fight Update

WTF Ch. 39 on FFn

WTF Ch. 39 on AO3

WTF Ch. 39 on Stars

WTF Ch. 39 on Wattpad

 “Gloves, mouth guard, water bottle, ID,” Edward mumbled as he packed his bag. “Trunks? I need trunks.”

“In our haste, I forgot to give you the trunks,” Bella said, scurrying over to him. She was in a pair of jeans and one of his button downs for before the fight. She’d change into a black cocktail dress with sky-high heels for actual event. “Here, Edward. You have to wear our colors, baby.”

She handed him a box with the Bull Dog logo etched on top. He placed the box on the bed, opening it and grinning. Inside was a pair of deep purple trunks, with matching compression shorts for underneath. Under the trunks was a bright red robe with the Bull Dog logo on the back and his name spelled above his heart. “Wow … this is awesome! Thank you, angel.”

“Looks much better than the Volterra colors,” she said, taking the trunks and placing them in his bag. Turning and taking his hands, she smiled up at him. “You are going to kick so much ass, Edward. I’m proud of you and I love you so much.”

He leaned forward, pressing his forehead to hers. “I love you, Bella. I couldn’t have done this without you or without your dad. I’m so afraid that he’s pissed that I’m retiring.”

“He’s not, baby. He gets it,” Bella vowed, playing with his hair at the nape of his neck. “Don’t think about that. Think about the fight.”

Charlie barged into the room, scowling. “Tick tock, Masen. We’ve got to be at weigh-in …”

“I was just giving Edward the trunks,” Bella retorted, scowling right back at her father. “Yeesh, Dad. Calm your tits.”

“Sorry, Little Bells, but we’ve got to go. The limo’s here,” Charlie said.

Worth the Fight Teaser

 “Gloves, mouth guard, water bottle, ID,” Edward mumbled as he packed his bag. “Trunks? I need trunks.”

“In our haste, I forgot to give you the trunks,” Bella said, scurrying over to him. She was in a pair of jeans and one of his button downs for before the fight. She’d change into a black cocktail dress with sky-high heels for actual event. “Here, Edward. You have to wear our colors, baby.”

She handed him a box with the Bull Dog logo etched on top. He placed the box on the bed, opening it and grinning. Inside was a pair of deep purple trunks, with matching compression shorts for underneath. Under the trunks was a bright red robe with the Bull Dog logo on the back and his name spelled above his heart. “Wow … this is awesome! Thank you, angel.”

“Looks much better than the Volterra colors,” she said, taking the trunks and placing them in his bag. Turning and taking his hands, she smiled up at him. “You are going to kick so much ass, Edward. I’m proud of you and I love you so much.”

He leaned forward, pressing his forehead to hers. “I love you, Bella. I couldn’t have done this without you or without your dad. I’m so afraid that he’s pissed that I’m retiring.”

“He’s not, baby. He gets it,” Bella vowed, playing with his hair at the nape of his neck. “Don’t think about that. Think about the fight.”

Charlie barged into the room, scowling. “Tick tock, Masen. We’ve got to be at weigh-in …”

“I was just giving Edward the trunks,” Bella retorted, scowling right back at her father. “Yeesh, Dad. Calm your tits.”

“Sorry, Little Bells, but we’ve got to go. The limo’s here,” Charlie said.

May We Meet Again Update

MWMA Ch. 13 on FFn

MWMA Ch. 13 on AO3

MWMA Ch. 13 on Stars

MWMA Ch. 13 on Wattpad

“A minute, Chancellor,” Sinclair replied. “And, sir? In peace may you leave the shore …”

“In love may you find the next,” added Esme.

“Safe passage on your travels,” said Alec.

“Until our final journey to the ground,” cried Carlisle. “I shall miss you, brother.”

“May we meet again,” Renee sniffled. “And, we will meet again, Charlie. I love you.”

“I love you, too, Ren,” I choked out, pressing the buttons to release the Ark. “May we meet again.” I disconnected the call and released the Ark from the central ring. The station vibrated with the power of the thrusters. I fell onto my ass, groaning as my injury barked. I monitored its departure, breathing deeply as it cleared the central ring. Scrambling up, I walked to the window as I watched what remained of the Ark descended into the atmosphere. Pressing my hand to the window, I repeated brokenly, “May we meet again.”

“Dad?”

I blinked my eyes, trying to reconcile the fact that my daughter was standing before me. She wore a doctor’s coat and a warm smile, reminding me of her mother, but a younger version. You’re losing your shit, Swan. Bella is on the ground. She’s not on the Ark.

“You’re not losing it, Dad,” Bella snorted. “I’m here. In a sense.” I walked over to her, reaching out to touch her, but her form evaporated like a puff of smoke. She reappeared the same way, but standing further away. “I’m in your mind, Dad. I’m just … I’m here to help you. This is not your end.”

“But, baby girl, I deserve this fate,” I argued. “I hurt you. I hurt your mother. Let me do this one last thing. This is my penance. My choices broke our family.”

“The Ark broke our family. It was overcrowded, overwrought and overused. All in all, the time of the Ark is in the past. Our time on the ground is our future. Now, I’m going to help you join your family so the real Bella can actually forgive you. She might be a hard nut to crack … In time, though, she will forgive you.”

“Ain’t that the truth?” I huffed. “My daughter is more stubborn than me.”

“And, she’s far more brilliant,” dream Bella smirked. “That’s why your brain conjured me and not, let’s say Carlisle or your wife. I can help you get out of this pickle. Have you ever had a pickle? I’ve heard they’re delicious and I want to try one.”

May We Meet Again Teaser

 “Sinclair, when does the window open?”

“A minute, Chancellor,” Sinclair replied. “And, sir? In peace may you leave the shore …”

“In love may you find the next,” added Esme.

“Safe passage on your travels,” said Alec.

“Until our final journey to the ground,” cried Carlisle. “I shall miss you, brother.”

“May we meet again,” Renee sniffled. “And, we will meet again, Charlie. I love you.”

“I love you, too, Ren,” I choked out, pressing the buttons to release the Ark. “May we meet again.” I disconnected the call and released the Ark from the central ring. The station vibrated with the power of the thrusters. I fell onto my ass, groaning as my injury barked. I monitored its departure, breathing deeply as it cleared the central ring. Scrambling up, I walked to the window as I watched what remained of the Ark descended into the atmosphere. Pressing my hand to the window, I repeated brokenly, “May we meet again.”

“Dad?”

I blinked my eyes, trying to reconcile the fact that my daughter was standing before me. She wore a doctor’s coat and a warm smile, reminding me of her mother, but a younger version. You’re losing your shit, Swan. Bella is on the ground. She’s not on the Ark.

“You’re not losing it, Dad,” Bella snorted. “I’m here. In a sense.” I walked over to her, reaching out to touch her, but her form evaporated like a puff of smoke. She reappeared the same way, but standing further away. “I’m in your mind, Dad. I’m just … I’m here to help you. This is not your end.”

“But, baby girl, I deserve this fate,” I argued. “I hurt you. I hurt your mother. Let me do this one last thing. This is my penance. My choices broke our family.”

“The Ark broke our family. It was overcrowded, overwrought and overused. All in all, the time of the Ark is in the past. Our time on the ground is our future. Now, I’m going to help you join your family so the real Bella can actually forgive you. She might be a hard nut to crack … In time, though, she will forgive you.”

“Ain’t that the truth?” I huffed. “My daughter is more stubborn than me.”

“And, she’s far more brilliant,” dream Bella smirked. “That’s why your brain conjured me and not, let’s say Carlisle or your wife. I can help you get out of this pickle. Have you ever had a pickle? I’ve heard they’re delicious and I want to try one.”

May We Meet Again Update

MWMA Ch. 12 on FFn

MWMA Ch. 12 on AO3

MWMA Ch. 12 on Stars

MWMA Ch. 12 on Wattpad

“According to Sinclair, the outer most parts of the Ark will most likely be where it breaks apart,” I said, reading off the tablet. “Take everything from these storage containers and bring them down to the promenade. These are medical supplies. They need to be tacked down to protect the contents inside.”

“Yes, Dr. Swan,” said Angela Weber. She held her baby in a sling, picking up a smaller container.

In the madness, I gave her baby a booster of its pain shot, along with the medications Bella had promised her. I was sitting on the floor, taking inventory of what we needed to take as opposed to what we wanted to take.

“Dr. Swan, we have some bins of extra clothing,” said a male voice. “Keep?”

“Yes, keep. We don’t know when or if we can make new clothes. Those can be brought to the dining hall,” I explained. “Thank you.”

“No problem, Dr. Swan,” he said, grabbing a few guys to carry the bins to the dining hall.

I worked for another hour until my communicator chimed from my pocket. Pulling it out, I saw a message from Charlie to meet him in the command center. I handed off my task to Alec, who had just come from a shift in medical and went to the command center. The surviving members of the council were already there, gathered around the center console with Sinclair. I walked over to the console, giving my husband a kiss on the cheek and nodding to the rest of the council. “When are we going to begin our descent?”

“We need one more orbit to line everything up. We’ll be landing about five miles from Mount Weather. At least, that’s where we project where we’ll land,” Sinclair explained, pointing on a map.

“And the Ark?” Charlie asked.

“After we disengage from the center ring, we’ll use thrusters to push us into the atmosphere. I’m not going to lie … it’s going to be a bumpy ride, but we’ll have control. I’ve linked the command center and the thrusters to a console in medical to allow me to pilot the Ark down to the ground. My main concern is, of course, where the Ark will break apart,” Sinclair frowned.

Dr. Alec Foster

Chancellor Charlie Swan

Dr. Carlisle Cullen

Esme Cullen

Commander Marcus Blake

Dr. Renee Swan

Chief Engineer Sinclair