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 …"

May We Meet Again Teaser

 "Hey, Bells," Lauren smiled from her spot in the command center. "How are things?"

I walked over to her, sitting down and scrubbing my face. "Stressed, to be honest. Did you hear about the visitor who appeared like a forest fairy from the Drop Ship?"

"There was a hubbub about someone arriving, but not who," Lauren said, her smile falling. "Where they injured?"

"Yeah, but I can't really say much since I want to protect their privacy," I explained. "Long story short, things are not okay at the Drop Ship."

"I can imagine," Lauren sighed. "The Drop Ship had some tech, but not a lot. Plus, the people who remained back there were not the smartest tools in the shed, especially with Jacob as their leader. He doesn't seem like a planner like you and Edward. If it weren't for you two, we'd be a mess and still be searching for this installation. You know?"

"Thank you, Lauren," I said. "I don't know how much I needed to hear that. There are moments where I feel like I have no clue what I'm doing."

"I beg to differ. You got us here," she began, ticking off the positives. "You set up a working government and an amazing community in the mountain. We don't feel like prisoners from the Sky Box. We feel like a family. Plus? You've got an amazing partner with Edward. He clearly adores you. He'd give everything to protect you. Hell, it was because of him that we're down here."

"I'm grateful for Edward … in more ways than one," I whispered, sitting down next to her. "He was a friend when I needed a friend. He gave me human contact when I felt isolated from the world. And, now? He's my best friend and so much more … I can't imagine not loving him."

"Wait, you love him?" Lauren asked.

"Very much so," I blushed. "The way I told him wasn't the most romantic, but it worked for us."

Worth the Fight Update

 WTF Ch. 43 on FFn

WTF Ch. 43 on AO3

WTF Ch. 43 on Stars

WTF Ch. 43 on Wattpad

"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.

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.