Happily Ever After Update

Happy New Year, everyone! One final update before the year is done. And, with that, I'm marking this as complete, as well! 

HEA Chapter 5 on FFn

HEA Chapter 5 on AO3

HEA Chapter 5 on Fanfiction.Online

HEA Chapter 5 on Stars

HEA Chapter 5 on Wattpad

I bounced my infant son in my arms, but to no avail. He was screaming his head off. He was missing his mother and I didn’t have the necessary materials to calm him. He needed to be fed and my stubborn second-born child, Anthony Carlisle Emmett, would not take the bottle.

“Cut Daddy some slack, little man,” I groaned, shifting my six-month old son in my arms as I tried to encourage him to take the bottle. “Maman will be back soon. She can’t be at your beckoned call all the time.”

My wife, she needed and deserved some self-care. So, Emmett and I arranged for our wives for a day of complete relaxation. They were getting massages, hair color and haircut, and anything else they wanted. They deserved a day away from dirty nappies, crying babies and feeling like a human milk dispensary. She was a zombie most of the time, even with a full-time nanny. Anthony was not an easy baby. He had colic and would only calm down for Bella or Charlotte. Rarely did he sleep through the night and when he did, we wouldn’t get any sleep for nearly three days after that.

Don’t get me wrong … I adore my son, more than words can describe. He was just so different compared to Charlotte, who was a dream baby.

“Try giving him a bath, Daddy,” Charlotte said, blinking up at me. “That’s not his hungry cry. That’s his dirty diaper cry.”

“The fact that you know his different cries says something,” I deadpanned.

“That’s because I wanted to help you and Maman,” Charlotte giggled. “Once you get him clean, he’ll take the bottle.”

“Do you want to help me, ma petite?” I asked. She nodded eagerly and we walked into the nursery, and into the bathroom. Charlotte gathered the shower gel and shampoo, along with a fresh outfit for Anthony. I removed his clothes and diaper, placing him in his bathtub. As soon as the warm water surrounded him, his screams stopped and he watched me with wide, bright eyes. “Better, mon fils?”

“Maman rubs his belly and it settles him,” Charlotte said, her fingers running through his light brown hair.

“You’re going to be a good maman,” I breathed, winking at my daughter.

“Not for a long time,” Charlotte snickered. “Didn’t you say I’m not allowed to get married until I’m fifty?”

“I would like to be a grandfather at some point,” I teased. “Perhaps we can adjust that age to thirty?”

“Whatever, Dad. I want to go to university and learn all I can before I get married,” Charlotte said. “That way, when I ascend to the throne, I’ll be a fair and just ruler, like you.”

“Charlotte, you have given me the greatest compliment,” I murmured, leaning over to kiss her forehead. “If you rule like you care for your little brother, you will be a better leader than me.”

“Thanks, Daddy,” Charlotte breathed. 

A Modern Day Fairy Tale Update

AMDFT Chapter 41 on FicPad

AMDFT Chapter 41 on AO3

AMDFT Chapter 41 on FFn

AMDFT Chapter 41 on Wattpad

AMDFT Chapter 41 on Stars

I was sitting next to Rosalie as she slept fitfully. She’d delivered her baby girl three days ago after a C-section. She refused to hold the baby, explicitly saying she was simply an incubator and that Lauren and her husband, Tyler, were the parents. Lauren, Tyler and baby Olivia left the hospital the day previous, after Rosalie signed the adoption paperwork, relinquishing her parental rights. The original adoptive parents had backed out when they got a baby closer to home who was willing to have a more open adoption, a woman who wanted to have some sort relationship with the baby she'd given up for adoption.

The baby was clearly not Emmett’s. One of her attackers had been an African American student who was the vice president of the fraternity and the baby had dark skin and black curls. The DNA had been sent out to the lab to verify paternity, but her baby had been conceived when she was attacked.

“Bella,” Rosalie whispered, blinking up at me.

“You need your rest, sweetie,” I smiled, taking her hand.

“So, do you,” she muttered. “I know I’m an awful person, a despicable friend. I feel so badly that I pulled you away from your boyfriend.” She looked down at the gorgeous ring that sparkled in the lights. “Sorry, your fiancé. You should be with him. Celebrating with him, going out for Valentine’s Day.”

“I’d forgotten about Valentine’s Day,” I snorted. “Masen proposed, giving me this gorgeous ring, but I’d neglected to get him anything for Valentine’s Day.”

“You can give him you,” she shrugged. “Spend time with him. I’m going into an in-patient program. I won’t be able to have visitors. Not anyone other than family, not for a while.” She sat up, grimacing as her stitches pulled. “You’ve  proven to be a valuable, loyal and amazing friend. You calmed me down in a situation that was …” she trailed off. “I want to be that type of friend for you. Now? I can barely stand the sight of my own body. I’m sick of who I am. I love you, Bella. As much love as I can give and that’s not a whole hell of a lot. The minute amount I have, it’s for you. Some is for my parents, but I …”

“They hover,” I chuckled. “That’s because they worry, Rose. They heard you, begging for death.”

“I still want to die,” she muttered. “No matter how much I shower, I can’t stop that feeling of being used.” She looked at me, drawing her legs up and wrinkling her nose. “Thank you, Bella. I will never forget what you did for me.”

“I hope you can get over this,” I murmured. “I hope you can get your happily ever after with Emmett.”

“Doubtful,” Rose snorted humorlessly. “If you could tell him that I still care for him. Maybe, when I’m … not on the verge ending it all, I might reach out to him. I don’t know. Right now, I just can’t look past tomorrow, an hour from now.”

“One day at a time, Rose,” I smiled, squeezing her hand. “Will you be okay? I’m going to step out and talk to my friend who’s been hanging with me.”

“I want to sleep. I’ll be fine,” she said, curling back up and tugging the blanket up to her chin.

“And Rose, regardless, you call me at any time. I’m here for you,” I said, standing up from my spot next to her bed. “So are your parents. Your friends.”

“I know,” she sighed. “I just feel closer to you than to my friends from university or even from home. They don’t understand why I can’t ‘bounce back’ from what happened.” Rosalie just rolled  her eyes, flipping off the lights and ending our conversation. I frowned, walking toward the doorway. “I may never ‘bounce back.’”

“You need to adjust to a new normal,” I suggested. “I’ll be back, Rose.”

A Modern Day Fairy Tale Update

AMDFT Chapter 3 on FicPad

AMDFT Chapter 3 on FFn

AMDFT Chapter 3 on Stars

AMDFT Chapter 3 on AO3

AMDFT Chapter 3 on Wattpad

I arrived in the states, landing at a private airfield in New York State. My passport was scanned and stamped before I was shuffled into a waiting limousine. Inside, I was greeted by a familiar face. “Cullen, you fucker,” barked my best friend, a slow grin spreading over his tanned skin, making his teeth appear blindingly white.

“Hello, Jake,” I smiled, hugging him. He was dressed in a black suit, his face covered in stubble and a friendly grin. “Long time, no see.”

“I know. The last time I saw you, it was my engagement party to Leah a few months ago,” Jake nodded. “And if I recall, you were quite drunk, my friend. How’s the hangover?”

I rolled my eyes, remembering fondly about his engagement party and how Leah’s roommate, Claire had flirted with me. I got drunk to forget her constant pawing. Blinking back to my friend, I smiled, “How is she?” I asked, settling back into the leather seats.

“Excellent. Buried, head-long, in wedding plans. You’re still my best man, right?” Jake asked.

“I wouldn’t miss it for the world,” I smiled crookedly. “Now, what are you doing here?”

“I’ve been temporarily reassigned by Diplomatic Security,” he chuckled, sitting back and crossing his legs. “When your mother said that you were coming to the states instead, they wanted me to be your personal valet and body guard. The fearsome twosome is back in business!”

“What about your position with the FBI?” I asked.

“It’s still there, but I’m on special assignment to work with you,” he answered. “I think it was your mother’s impassioned plea that got me reassigned.”

“I’m sorry, Jake,” I frowned. “I can only imagine … I know your position with the FBI is one that you’re proud of and you shouldn’t have to be my personal body guard forever.”

“Masen, don’t even sweat it,” Jake said, waving his hand. “I’d just closed up a case and was twiddling my thumbs before I got my next assignment, filing reports and that sort of bullshit. So, when diplomatic security assigned me to you, I jumped at the chance.”

“I’m glad,” I smiled. “Really glad. I think with your help, we can find my brother.”

“Your highness, you’re needed at the Gevalian Consulate,” said the driver.

“Understood,” I said. “Let’s go, please.” The limo pulled away and we made our way to the consulate. I checked in with the diplomat assigned to the United States. She gave me an itinerary of my stay. I wrinkled my nose at the sheer amount of lunches, banquets, charity events and diplomatic dinners I needed to attend, but there were a number of opportunities to look for Emmett in New York. When I was done, I got back into the limo and drove to the secured condo in Central Park West. Getting the keys and speaking with the building manager, we rode up to the penthouse. “Are you staying with me, Jake? Shouldn’t you be ravishing your fiancée?”

“I am staying with you and Leah is staying with her parents, trying to save some money for our wedding,” Jake shrugged. “I’ll be leaving once you’re inside so I can pick up my shit from executive apartment.”

I arched a brow. “I don’t understand, Jacob. What are you talking about?”

“Leah’s folks, Harry and Sue? They’re freaky conservative. When they found out that Leah was living with me, they threw a shit fit. So, Leah moved back in with them to mend fences and save money. Her dad was not going to pay for the wedding if we were living in sin,” Jacob shrugged. “I couldn’t afford the apartment we had without Leah’s help. So, when the lease was up, I moved out, putting my furniture into storage. I’d been staying in an executive apartment, using my federal discount.”

“Jake …” I frowned.

“I stayed there only for a week, Edward,” he laughed, slapping my arm as he opened the penthouse door. He did a quick look, gesturing for me to come inside. “My reassignment to work with you is advantageous. Almost no living expenses, save for food and my contribution to the cable bill, like before? Because I know you won’t let me chip in for paying for this place. It’s a little above my pay grade.” He made a face, shrugging nonchalantly.

“This is true, Jake,” I snorted.

Special Agent Jacob Black

Crown Prince Edward Anthony Masen Cullen

A Modern Day Fairy Tale Update

AMDFT Chapter 2 on FicPad

AMDFT Chapter 2 on FFn

AMDFT Chapter 2 on Stars

AMDFT Chapter 2 on AO3

AMDFT Chapter 2 on Wattpad

Looking down at the mounting bills, I tried to keep tears from falling from my eyes. We owed money to the bank for our mortgage, Sal for repairing our ovens, my father’s medical bills for his weekly physical therapy, our electric bill, phone bill and our rent, which, thankfully, was rent-controlled. I didn’t get paid so we could cover the costs and living expenses for our family. But, my biggest fear, losing the bakery that had been in our family for four generations, was sadly coming to fruition. With the growing pile of debt, I feared we’d never get out of this without declaring bankruptcy.

And let’s not forget my student loans … but that was a whole other can of worms. Thankfully, I’d been able to defer some payment due to my financial situation, but that was another bill waiting to be paid and be paid soon.

Scrubbing my eyes, I sat back and took a few calming breaths. It was close to midnight. I’d have to be back down at The Swan Family Bakery, Inc. in 1897 by four tomorrow morning to prepare for the morning rush. We were one of the few remaining family bakeries in our tiny neighborhood in Brooklyn. There were two Jewish bakeries and then ours, which specialized in Italian delicacies and some Gevalian treats, calling on my great-grandfather’s heritage. It was a blend of Italian sweets, French baked goods and Gevalian chocolate. I also had an espresso maker, cappuccino maker and a fridge with sodas, but we were barely scraping by. 

“Isabella, sweet girl, you need to go to sleep,” said my father, Charlie. “Staring at the bills will not make them magically go away.”

“We need a million bucks, Pop,” I said, standing up and walking out of the tiny office. “Or more. We have enough to cover the mortgage, electric bill, our standing order with the grocer and Sal, but we may have to ask the doctor for an extension on your therapy bills and I’ll cancel my cell phone. I’m here most of the time, anyway. You can reach me here.”

Charlie, with a trembling hand, frowned deeply and patted my cheek. “You should not be shouldering this burden, sweet girl,” he said, his voice tired, weary. “All of this would be so much easier if it weren’t for my medical expenses and Alice’s inability to understand that we’re struggling.”

“I’ve talked to her, but she keeps bitching that I’m not her fucking mother,” I growled, turning off the lights in the office and following my father up the steep stairs to our two-bedroom apartment. Alice, the selfish cow she is, took the bedroom that we once shared after I moved out for college and I was relegated to the couch when I moved back home after my dad was first diagnosed, just after I’d accepted a position teaching in Connecticut. It was a nice apartment, just under a thousand square feet with hardwood floors and antique charm. Our furniture was old, but well-maintained and it was homey, warm and comfortable.

“She is an entitled little snot,” Charlie grumbled. “I love my baby girl because she’s so much like your mother.”

“Mom wasn’t spoiled like this, Daddy,” I argued. “She worked right beside you until she went into labor with Alice. She worked hard.”

“This is true, but Alice’s ambition is just like your mother,” Charlie snorted. He kissed my cheek. “Why don’t you take my room?”

“If I do, you won’t be able to walk for days, Dad,” I said. “The doctor said you need the support. I’ll be fine.” I hugged him and watched as he shuffled to his room. I went to the bathroom, stripping out of my dusty clothes and pulling on some pajamas. Brushing my teeth, I went back to the living room and tugged out the bedding from the chest we used as a cocktail table. I made my ‘bed’ and set my alarm on the phone that I was canceling tomorrow because we needed the money. I’d rather cancel Alice’s phone. It had unlimited text, data and minutes, but she’d bitch if she didn’t have her phone.

She’d bitch about every damn thing if it were up to her.

Swan Family Bakery

Living Room/Bella's Bedroom

Charlie's Bedroom

Alice's Bedroom

Bathroom

Kitchen

Isabella Swan

Charlie Swan

Alice Swan