Chapter 19: One down,five to go

Chapter 19

Late June-early July…

BPOV

I was seriously going to kill Esme. Knock her right over her little judgmental head and bury her in her backyard, right next to her beloved rosebushes. Because of her and her big mouth, I now had about six or seven reporters and their crew and their cameras in my front yard. I could only imagine what the neighbors were thinking right about now. I swear I was going to become blind from the constant flashes of the cameras.

“Mrs. Cullen! Over here!” a petite redhead hollered. “Liz Fields from channel 7 news.” She hollered, trying to shove her microphone in my face.

“No Mrs. Cullen, over here!” A Tall blonde haired man screamed. “Mark Daniels, channel 5. Are you going to sue your doctor for malpractice? How does it feel raising so many babies on your own?” he screamed, as a cacophony of other voices blurted out questions filled with complete and utter nonsense. The cameras were beginning to make me disoriented and I was just about to give the reporters a piece of my mind, when I realized I had six little people waiting on me in the kitchen.

“Get off my lawn, or I’m going to call the cops assholes!” I screamed, abruptly walking back inside and slamming the door behind me. I hurried to the kitchen and stopped in the doorway to check on my children. They were all babbling happily, seemingly talking to each other in their own little baby language. They all looked over at me and gave me a gummy smile. After checking to see that they were all still secure in their chairs, I quietly crept over towards the kitchen window, to sneak a peek outside through the blinds.

Most of them had left, but I could still see a few stray reporters lingering around, hoping to get a glimpse inside. See this is what I wanted to avoid. I knew I was lucky to have avoided attention this long, but this was just ridiculous. Women have children every single day, and for people to constantly badgering mothers and their families for information and exploitation of their children were just sickening. I knew it was going to come out eventually. I knew it wasn’t every day that a woman had multiples, let alone for the man who had now one of the top pharmaceutical companies in the country. I was no different than any other mother, I just had six times that amount, but you don’t see them getting screamed at about their personal life.

That reminded me, I needed to call Edward and tell him that he needs to have a little conversation with his overbearing mother about invasion of privacy or I was going to and it wasn’t going to be pretty. You see, Edward is sort of a Mama’s boy and does anything to please her, but I’m his wife and he should put my concerns before hers. I love her to death, but enough is enough.

I grabbed my cell and dialed Edward’s number and waited for him to answer.

“Hello…”

“Edward,” I trailed off, realizing I had caught the answering machine.

“…. you’ve reached Edward Cullen. I’m sorry I can’t come to the phone right now, but leave a message and I’ll get back to you.” Beep

I sighed and ended the call. No point in leaving a message when I knew he wasn’t going to call me back. I settled my phone onto the kitchen counter and rubbed my temples. I was on the verge of a migraine.

Unavailable and missing as usual.

Maybe it wasn’t Esme I needed to have a conversation with, but Edward instead.

……………..

“Come on Bells.” Liam whined, pulling on my arm.

“But…” I cried, frozen in place.

“They’ll be fine. We’ll only be gone a couple hours at most, maybe not even an hour and a half, sans the drive over.”

“But they’ll need me.” I replied, fighting his hold on my arm. Today my mother, Liam, and I were going to pay our respects to a family friend who had recently passed away. It was my mom’s best friend Jane who had recently lost her battle with brain cancer. I closed my eyes. I knew I was being dramatic and knew the funeral wasn’t even going to be that long. She had asked to be cremated and her family was holding a small wake.

The only thing that bothered me was that this was going to be the first time; I was away from my babies for an extended period of time. They hadn’t been out of my sight since I had finally gotten them all home and it was killing me.

“It’s okay sweetie, you don’t have to go if you don’t want to.” My mother croaked patting my hand. I closed my eyes.

Jane had been my mother’s best friend since college and I knew that she needed my support.

“Nah, I’m already dressed.” I joked. “Besides, I knew it had to happen sooner or later.” I said smoothing down the edge of my black blouse. I slipped on my flats and headed downstairs into the living where Edward, Carlisle, and my father were playing with the babies on the floor.

“You okay?” Edward asked, giving me a one armed hug, while holding a squirming Danny with the other.

“Yeah.” I lied, quickly grabbing Danny from his arms and pressing him to my chest. He was getting so big and I couldn’t believe how fast they were all growing up. I could feel my voice get caught in my throat and my eyes begin to water. Now I knew how Alice felt when she left ax for the first time. Liam looked at me for a second before grabbing Danny out of my arms and giving him back to Edward.

“Oh no booger, we need to go now. We already have a thirty minute drive ahead of us.” My annoying brother said grabbing my arm and guiding me over towards the door where our mother stood. Danny obviously feeling saddened by my departure began wailing loudly. I turned around and nearly ran to him and saw that Edward was bouncing up and down, kissing the side of his head.

“See? Edward’s got it, let’s go. Mom needs us.” Liam whispered in my ear and I nodded my head and followed the two of them out the door.

I could still faintly hear Danny’s wailing as we walked over to Liam’s car and it was taking everything I had not to run back inside and kiss his little head until he calmed down. His pain was mine.

Tears fell down from my eyes as I sat down in the backseat next to my mother, who was shedding her own tears. I looked down at my lap and grabbed her hand.

“I’m sorry. I’m supposed to be supporting you today and here I am bawling my eyes out.” I apologized laying my head on her shoulder. She kissed my temple.

“It’s okay sweetie. I was the exact same way. Your father had to physically carry me out of your grandparent’s house the first time I left the both of you overnight. You were just fine, happily cooing away in Grandpa Swan’s lap, while your brother over here screamed bloody murder that Gran had to call me just so he could hear my voice.” She chuckled. I rolled my eyes.

“Mama’s boy.” I muttered, earning a playful wink in the rearview mirror from Liam.

“You know it. Now let’s roll!” He beamed heading for the interstate.

I closed my eyes and laid my head back down on her shoulder.

I was going to be alright. I just know it.

……………………

6 weeks later…. Seven months, 2 weeks……

“So what’s going on with you girls?” I asked Rose and Alice as we all sipped or coffees in the park. The kids were at home with their respective fathers and I admit I was a little afraid to leave Edward alone by himself but he seemed to be handling it well, and so was I considering it was my third trip leaving them without breaking into tears.

“Nothing much. Same old things as usual. Jazzy and I have our fun time as usual by ourselves while Max stays with our parents and then we spend some time with him doing various things. I couldn’t be happier. It’s just me and my little men. What about you Bella? How are my little god children? Auntie Alice misses them.” Alice said.

“Becoming little terrors.” I grinned. “I usually settle them on the floor on their stomachs with me so we can have a little mommy and me time, but its so hard keeping up with all of them. They’re at the stage where they put everything in their mouths and I mean everything. If it’s not my hair, Edward’s nose, their baby toys, they try to “maul” off Jerry’s ear with their gums.”

“Jerry’s ear?” Alice questioned, I nodded my head.

Yep. I was worried at first having him around, because I thought he would get jealous, but he’s so gentle with them. He’s the sweetest little dog and doesn’t bark at them or anything. I thought he was going to be trouble but it seems like it’s the kids this time. The babies seem to be fascinated with his ears. It’s not like they can even really crawl yet, besides the occasional but scoot, but that doesn’t count. I swear whenever he’s near, they grab for his ears. Especially Auden. She stretches out her little chubby hand and grabs on for dear life to get him near her mouth. I think the poor dog is traumatized. I had to put Jerry in the laundry room until I’m sure he won’t become baby food.” I sighed.

“And Edward?” Alice questioned.

“Edward….well he and I… I don’t know what to say about him. All he does is work lately. It’s hardly like I even see him anymore. If he’s not asleep, or playing with babies, there isn’t any time for us. There is no time just to be Edward and Bella.” I answered, my eyes beginning to water at the fact that I missed my husband. Despite living in the same house and even the same bed, I actually missed my husband.  Alice grabbed my hand to reassure me.

“Don’t worry Bella. I’m sure he has his reasons for working so hard lately. You know he loves you. He’ll talk to you soon, I just know he will, and if not, there’s always Jasper. The two of them gossip like old ladies. He’ll tell me and I’ll get the information out of him. If he doesn’t tell me, let’s just say that I have my ways of getting info out of him, if you know what I mean.” She wagged her eyebrows suggestively.

“Gross Alice.” We both laughed and suddenly my attention was drawn to Rosalie who had been mysterious quiet the whole time. Rose always had something to say and for her to just sitting here not even drinking her hot chocolate was very unusual. She was just staring out into space mindlessly twirling the straw in her drink.

“”Rose, Rose?” I called out but she didn’t answer me. I looked over at Alice who looked just as lost as I did.

“Rosa-” Alice started, but was abruptly cut off my Rosalie’s monotone response.

“Emmett and I are getting a divorce.” She whispered.

“What?” I breathed. She cleared her throat and spoke a little louder.

“I said, Emmett and I are getting a divorce.” She repeated and I noticed how cold and distant her blue eyes seemed to be.

“When did all of this happen?” I asked. Rosalie looked down at her hands.

“About three months ago.”

“Three months ago!” Alice squeaked. “Three months ago? Why didn’t you tell you tell us sooner?” She asked accusingly.

“Well it’s not like the two of you have been around much lately. Bella has kids of her own to worry about all under the age of one, and you with your job and little family bubble, I just had no one to talk to and I guess I never found the time to tell someone really.”

“May I ask what happened?” she took a deep breath and looked back down on her hands.

“Remember when I had the hysterectomy a while back?” She whispered. I nodded my head while Alice just looked lost. I shook my head at her and gestured for Rose to continue.

“Well you know I was afraid to tell Emmett. I was so scared about his reaction and I waited awhile, so you can only imagine how Emmett felt when I told him.”

“How long are we talking here? A couple of days? Weeks?” Alice asked.

“Months. Two actually.” Rose whispered.

“What the hell Rose? How could you do that to him?” I blurted out. She threw me and angry glare.

“You don’t think I know that? I was scared and for once I wanted to put my feelings first before I told him.” She responded angrily.

“Please continue.” Alice urged.

“Anyway, when he did find out, he was livid of course. He wasn’t really mad at me for having one, just the fact that I withheld it from him so long. I mean I wanted him to be in my position. I love kids. Hell Emmett and I were talking a little ways back about baby number two on the way and here I come with cysts in my ovaries. I was just so ashamed that I couldn’t give him what he wanted; what I wanted.” Rosalie rambled.

“After that, Emmett became distant from me. No more sweet kisses, no more cuddles, hugs, or anything. Of course he was a good father to Marley, but to me it was like I didn’t exist. I could tell he was hurting, but I was hurting too and I didn’t mean to do what I did, but it just happened.”

My breathing hitched at what she was implying. “Rose you didn’t.” She nodded her head.

“He caught me too. I didn’t want to do it, but he practically drove me away into the arms of another man. I just wanted to feel something after I had the operation; something to make me feel like I wasn’t less of a woman. I wanted that love back, I yearned for it, and then he caught me. Oh god, he caught me and I will never be able to remove the look of anguish on his face and I knew it. I knew I had crossed the line. Lying is one thing, but cheating took it to a completely different level. He gave me the papers less than a week later. I’ve been staying with my parents ever since.” She whispered before breaking into heartbreaking sobs. Alice and I wrapped our arms around her as she gripped onto our clothes for dear life. I closed my eyes and made a silent prayer to whoever was up there that Rosalie would be fine and that I never ended up in her position.

EPOV

“Bluuu!!” I looked over to see my daughter nearly mauling Jerry with her little chubby hand.

“Auden no.” I told her, and she turned her little head at me in wonder. She, along with her brothers Noah and Gavin were situated on their stomachs by my legs on a blanket while Brayden, Danny, and Ethan lounged in their swings sound asleep. I was playing Baby Einstein in the background, but none of them seemed to be paying attention. The three of them were gurgling happily playing with the random baby toys strewn across the floor.

After making sure, they were all okay, with Auden trying to figure out what my sock was made of, I turned back to my laptop. I was working on a major deal. Ever since merging with Mr. Volt and his company, business had been booming. Money was coming in and we were slowly but surely gaining back the income that we had lost. The only downside to it all was that I had to work long hours and by the time I got home, I was exhausted. You would think that since I was one of the owners I could have a little downtime, but sadly not. I had to work just as hard as my other employees.

It was all worth it though. We needed this money. I saw the way our house was slowly falling apart. The overflowing clothes baskets, or the toys and bottles constantly scattered across the floor. Every step you made in this house, whether you were on the top or bottom floor was filled with some sort of clutter. This house just wasn’t meant to support eight people and a dog. It was honestly the only thing that kept me going.

I knew Bella was getting worried with the extensive hours I was working and I knew I was wearing a very thin line between the both of us, but this was all for my family. I needed to do this and if I had to suffer a couple of headaches and backache to do, then so be it. I quickly closed my laptop and seeing that Auden was beginning to fall asleep, I carefully picked her up and settled her into her own swinging chair, before sitting back down on the floor next to my boys.

I played with Noah and Gavin a for a while until I saw that they were getting tired. I was getting a little drowsy myself and decided I would settle on the couch with the both of them and take a little nap. I quickly took my glasses off, knowing they were a magnet for grubby hands and settled them each against a side of my chest and watched as they snuggled against the bare skin of my chest. It wasn’t long before they both fell asleep and I took the time to study them.

They were both taking after me it seemed. The two of them had my wild reddish hair, square face and nose. The only difference it would seem to distinguish them when they got older would be their eye color. Noah still had his eye patch and was constantly irritated by it, but his eyes were getting stronger. In that department he seemed to be taking after Bella. One of his eyes were a dark bluish brown that was getting darker every day,  while his patched eye rivaled between turning green or staying its bluish hue. Despite that little difference, they were carbon copies of one another and if it weren’t for that, I would be embarrassed to say that I couldn’t tell my children apart.

I stroked their little faces with the pad of my thumb for a bit, before I found myself slowly drifting off to sleep. I snuggled closer to the couch, making sure the both of them were safe against my chest before soundly falling asleep.

I woke a couple of hours later feeling groggy but well rested. I looked down at my chest to see Gavin and Noah still soundly sleeping when I noticed a shadow nearby the couch. Bella was sitting with her knees against her chest watching the three of us curiously. She had a camera resting in her hand, and I had no doubt in my mind that she had taken a picture of us while we were asleep.

I noticed that her arms were red rimmed and I knew that she had been crying and that something on her mind. She had been out with the girls earlier and I suddenly wondered if something had gone wrong. I carefully got up with both of them in my arms and walked over to the swings and laid them down. They both huffed a bit at being roused but quickly fell back asleep. The others were still sleeping and I knew that once they did wake up, they were going to be hungry.

I looked back over at Bella, who still looked conflicted as she watched me from her perch on the couch.

I quickly walked over to her and pulled her to come lay with me on the couch. I quietly took off her tennis shoes and pulled her with me as I lay down on my back. She quickly molded herself to my body, her warm breath tickling the hairs on my chest as she pulled herself even closer. I heard her take in a few deep breaths and I knew that she was breathing me in; something she told me soothed her.

She stared up at me with watery blue and brown eyes and suddenly I was reminded of the days when we first met. The moments were we would constantly hold silent conversations through our prolonged stares and instantly know whatever was going on with the other person.

Bella looked so conflicted. I could see the want and anguish in her eyes, but also some fear?

I pulled her even closer if that was even possible and rubbed my nose against her neck. Her scent did things to me that drove me wild and I understood how that whole scent thing was mutual. I heard her sniffles get louder until she was silently crying against my chest.  I quickly began consoling her until her crying had begun to cease. I could hear her soft breathing in my ear and I knew she was falling asleep. Crying always took a lot out of her and knew she must have been exhausted.

When she finally succumbed to her exhaustion against my chest, I stayed awake. I wondered what had happened to make her break down like that. Bella was one of the strongest people I knew and for her to cry like that and I was seriously worried.

Despite those circumstances, I was glad to have her close to me. I missed the intimacy between us and desperately wanted it back.

I guess time would tell.

……….

“Come on, come to daddy.” I cooed to Ethan who was looking at me like I was crazy. Ethan so far was the only one who seemed like he was ready to crawl. He was currently about 5 meters away from me and I was trying to do anything in my power to have him crawl to me, but nothing seemed to be working.  All of the babies could hold their heads up and were scooting around but none of them seemed like they wanted to crawl. I knew babies developed at different stages so luckily I had nothing to worry about, at least not right now.

Ethan made a grunting noise and looked like he wanted to come in my direction, but flopped back down on his stomach. He gave me a look of defeat.

“It’s okay baby boy. You can do it.” Bella cooed. She had Brayden and Auden in her lap and was currently feeding them some veggie puffs that instantly dissolved in their mouths. That’s when an idea struck me.

“Hey love, pass me that can of baby puffs will you?” I asked. She passed me the canister and gave me a bewildered expression.

“Edward what are you up to?” she asked. I shook my head at her.

“Just testing a theory.” I answered. I then poured a few of the puffs in my hand before arranging them in a straight line against the blanket on the floor. I kept a couple in my hand, before calling out to Ethan once more.

“Ethan? Come here son?” I smiled, as I caught his attention and grinned as he gave me a gummy smile.

“He is not a dog Edward. I can’t believe you’re trying to get him to come to you by using food as bait.”

“You never know until you try.” I turned back to my son and called his name once more. He lifted his head and got on his hands and knees. His eyes instantly were drawn to the food on the floor and he cautiously crawled forward to the first puff in front of him.

“There you go. That’s my boy. Come on, come to daddy.” I cooed, as I watched my son crawl to the next puff and another and watched as he continued until he was right in front of me. I picked him up and pressed kisses to his face, earning a couple of squeals from him.

“Love, did you see that?” I beamed. I looked over to see Bella holding her video camera.

“Did you get that all on tape?” I asked. She nodded her head.

“I’m so proud of you E.” I grinned, raising him above my head, where he happily drooled down on my face.

“Eww…” I acted disgusted, which only caused him to drool some more.

I quickly wiped my face and settle him back on the floor where he began crawling round the floor.

“Looks like we need to baby proof the house.” I grinned as I watched his newfound curiosity spread now that he was mobile.

“I’ll get some baby gates tomorrow at the store.” Bella replied.

“Oh and get about fours cans of these.” I picked up the baby puff can and waved it at her.

“Why four?” She asked. I gestured to Ethan who was crawling over to his mother.

Because we have one down and five to go.