Imperfectpictures

6/5/2019

Episode Forty-seven: Terrorist

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Episode Forty-Seven: Terrorist

We were awoken by the breakfast tray just after seven in the morning. Edward stretched behind me, humming as he worked out all of his kinks. He stood up slowly, moving to one of the chairs beside the bed. The breakfast didn't look that great, nor smelled that good, so I decided to just eat the fruit salad and drink the milk.

“I'll get you some better breakfast in a little bit,” he promised me. Edward took my hot tea since I wasn't going to drink it.

"Can you help me get a good shower first?" I asked. "I'm still feeling a little shaky, and the IV makes it harder."

“Of course,” he said warmly. “Besides shaky, how are you?”

“I'm okay, I'm ready to get out of here,” I told him honestly. “I miss our bed.”

“Me too.” He reached forward and rubbed my knee through the blanket. “Hopefully by tomorrow.”

“Today would be better,” I complained.

“You shouldn't rush anything,” he said, obviously worried. “I know you're stubborn and want to be better, but you...” he trailed off, frustrated and didn't know how to finish his sentence.

“I'll listen to the doctors, I promise. I'll be a good girl. Don't worry, everything is going to be okay.”

“Promise?” Edward asked a bit sadly.

“No, but I can try really hard to make it that way.” I reached for him. He took my hand and kissed my fingers. “Now, why don't you unplug me and you can get me undressed.”

He smirked a little at my wording. “Alright.”

Edward unplugged my IV from the wall socket and helped me slowly get out of bed. I went to the bathroom first and turned on the water on so it could get warm. When I was ready, He helped me remove my gown and steadied me so I could remove my pants on my own. Standing at the edge of the shower, he handed me things when I needed them. I felt so much better after using my soap and shampoo.

When I was done Edward helped dry me off. He stood behind me, our eyes watching each other in the slightly foggy mirror. I leaned back against his chest, my head coming to rest just below his pec.

"It kind of sucks that we have to go back to condoms for a while," I mused as he rubbed the towel just under my breast. I brought his hand with the towel up, letting it brush against my sensitive skin. "Maybe in a couple of months I'll get an IUD. Those are supposed to last a few years, and whenever we want to try to get pregnant in the future, I can just get it taken out."

He brought his cheek to rest on the top of my wet head. Edward looked sad and concerned.

“Will we be trying to get pregnant someday?”

He had been pretty clear about wanting children someday. “In a couple of years, maybe. I don't think we should wait too long if you want kids,” I told him thoughtfully. “But, it'll be all up to you when you want us to try. I don’t want it to interrupt your career any.”

“I was honestly thinking you were going to sack me once you got out of here. After the insanity my mother pulled, why would you want to deal with that?” He said quietly, his eyes a little watery. They were rimmed red already.

“Edward, I love you. I wasn't going to break up with you before. I just... panicked and was not thinking clearly at all, obviously. But, you treat me like a queen." I reached up and touched his cheek behind me. "And the way you stood up to her like that? Do you think I'm dumb enough to let a man who would go to bat like that for me go? I was just getting sick, and I didn't know why otherwise I would have given her a piece of my mind. She better watch out now. I'm not going to let her do anything to hurt you. That includes scaring me off. Lemon sucking gargoyle,” I mumbled the last part to myself.

"I am so sorry she said those things to you," he said softly. "I love you, too. I'm so glad you still want to plan a future with me."

"Your mother will just have to get over it when her grandbabies come out with a better tan than her," I joked, and he smiled, wrapping both of his arms around my waist.

“I hope they look exactly like you. Your eyes and your mouth,” he mused with a big dreamy smile, his cheek pressed into my wet hair.

“I hope they have your nose. Mine is so beaky. It’s too big,” I told him with a laugh. “And if we have a little boy, your chin.”

“I hope we have girls,” he replied, hopefully. “A whole house of little girls. It’s just what I'm used to”

I laughed, “we'll get whatever we get.”

“True.” Edward smiled almost blissfully as he kissed my shoulder. “So... in a couple of years then? I guess that gives us plenty of time to think of some good names.”

“There are probably going to be a few steps in between now and then.” I pressed his hand on my bare chest above my heart. “So, be patient. I just wanted to let you know what I was thinking. I’m not picking out our children's names yet.”

“Yes, ma'am,” he sighed, still happy, before picking up my hairbrush. Edward slowly ran it through my hair, gently undoing the tangles. “One year. I have it on my phone. I set a reminder.”

I giggled, turning to give him a kiss. “Mm, are you still going to try to surprise me or...?”

“Ehhh... I've got a few months to prepare. We'll see, we'll see.” He brushed his fingers over the curve of my breast lovingly with the most tender touch. “I promise I'll try to reign myself in.”

“I don't believe you.” I wrapped my arms around him, pulling him down for a kiss. I heard the door open. We both looked at the bathroom door in unison. “Could you get my clean clothes from the bed?” I asked quietly.

“Yeah,” he smirked at me. “I'm all wet,” he murmured as he looked down at his shirt.

“That's what she said,” I grinned at him. He swatted my backside lightly before going out the door, making me laugh. He quickly shut the door behind him so he wouldn't expose my wet nakedness to anyone. I assumed it was a nurse or a doctor. I slipped on my panties from before.

"What are you doing here?" I heard Edward ask in a grave voice. I didn't hear the answer. "Well, now is not the right time."

I decided just to put on my gown and yoga pants from before. I poked my head out to see his mother and father standing there.

“I'm sorry, love. Let me get your things,” he muttered, his face red when he saw me.

“It's fine. I'll change later,” I said, rolling out of the bathroom. He came to help me, holding my hand as I walked weakly back to the bed. Edward plugged me back in as I adjusted the mattress so that it was sitting up completely. He put my clothes back in their bag, moving to cover my feet with the blankets so they wouldn't get cold. I pulled them up completely, holding them in my fists in my lap.

“How are you feeling, dear?” Edward's father, Carlisle, asked me with his hands in his pockets.

"Tired. I'll be fine in a day or two," I replied quietly. "I was fortunate Edward was there."

“You gave us quite the fright. I've not seen anyone ever have a seizure before,” he said with his heavy Scottish accent.

“I have. It's not fun.” I picked at the blanket. “I'm going to be real honest with you both. I don't wish to quarrel with you in any way. I'm not, as a matter of fact. Because it won't change anything. On either side. You’ll not like or respect me anymore no matter what I do. So, I’m going to take the highest road I can. I will not fight with you.”

Edward's mother stared at me stone-faced. She hadn't said a thing the entire time I had been out of the bathroom. She did not want to be there. Edward's father was trying though. He looked so apologetic, his eyes nervous and sad.

“Oh, no dear. We don't want that either.”

"I wasn't well enough to defend myself before, but I can now. You don't like me," I said to Edward's mother directly. "Fine. Whatever. You don't know me, but I couldn’t care less that you don't want to be friendly. Class? You know... You're probably right. I'm not really classy. But I am a college educated, classically trained musician and artist. I've put thousands of hours into charity work that has made a real difference in hundreds, if not thousands, of lives. I am a good person with a kind heart, but if you think I'll allow myself to be spoken down to again, you have another thing coming to you, Judge Cullen,” I told her evenly. “But, this has nothing to do with my class or my creed, whatever that really means. I will not be bullied into leaving your son. I'd like to have a good relationship with you. I'd like your son to have a good relationship with you. I will behave in such a way that will encourage that. Can you say the same?”

Esme was actually taken aback. She opened her mouth several times before sniffing deeply.

Edward scoffed beside me. There was pride in his voice when he spoke, “well, Mother? Nothing? You have nothing to say?”

“What am I to say? I have obviously been made the villain,” she retorted, throwing her hands in front of her and refusing to look at Edward or myself.

He laughed angrily, “get the hell out of here with that self-pity bullshit. You made yourself the villain. Apologize and promise to be nice or get the fuck out.”

“Don't speak to your mother like that,” Mr. Cullen complained weakly.

“No,” he shook his head. “You came here. I'll speak how I like. I'm embarrassed and ashamed at how you treated a person whom you just met with such contempt, Mother. I’m disappointed in you and in father for standing by and accepting it.”

“I am trying to protect you!” She snapped at her son.

“Christ! From what, exactly? Being fucking happy? No, can't have that, now can we?” He growled back in a low tone with his hands tightly clenched at his side.

“She's a gold digger!” Mrs. Cullen hissed.

I laughed loudly. I might have been tired, but I had to energy to get mad at that bullshit. "Really? You sure about that?"

Edward was quick to give her an answer. "She's making her own money. And do you know how much money she's made me? I'm... I'm going to be honest with you, it's kind of unfair how much I'm using her right now, and she definitely deserves more than what I currently give her, but she gets anxious every time we talk about money. That's our issue to work on, though. We've already discussed a prenup, by the fucking way. She's insisting on it. Not that it's any of your business what goes on in my relationship. I'm not sure what you think you know about us, but I'm pretty sure you're very wrong."

Spicy Edward was a sexy Edward. I kind of liked him all fiery. Especially when it was for me. I wanted to grab him and kiss him, but I didn’t. I just gnawed on my bottom lip and twisted the blanket in my lap in my clenched fists.

Someone knocked on the door. It was the nurse to give me some more medicine. One was a pill, and another was a shot through my IV. Edward brought me the cup of water quickly so I could take the pill.

“Alright. This will sting,” the nurse warned me as she took my hand to place the syringe into the IV line. She plunged it in very quickly.

It was like fire in my veins. I shrieked in surprise, my non-IV hand flying to the sheets in an effort to keep from ripping out the line.

"Breathe through it. Give it a few minutes, and it'll pass. Deep breaths," she told me. It kind of rang hollow in my ears.

Edward rubbed my back with one hand, and the other smoothed over my hand. I gripped his fingers, trying to close my eyes and just work through the pain.

“You are so strong,” he whispered in my ear. It was a little less distant. Oh, I was hurting him...

“Sorry,” I said breathlessly, loosening my grip. “That's what woke me up yesterday. Oh, god. That hurts so much.”

"That should be your last dose," the nurse said to me. "It's to help flush your system. Your blood work looked like it was moving in the right direction. They're going to run a few more tests this afternoon. If they look good, it's possible you'll be let go later tonight or in the morning."

"I hope so. Thank you," I replied quietly as the pain began to fade. I pressed my face into Edward's cheek, my eyes closed. It made me feel so blurry, and the pain had caused me to break out in a cold sweat. The nurse left quietly. The room was silent beside my pained panting.

“I wish I could take your place,” he whispered so only I could hear it.

“Sweet man.” I leaned back against the mattress, feeling very dizzy and a little high. I swallowed back my stomach, rubbing my forehead with my still stinging hand.

Edward faced me, stroking my other hand soothingly in his own. He wasn't looking at me or at anyone else.

“I want you to know, I'm not going to waste another second of my life trying to please you. You're not about my happiness, you're about controlling me. You might have cowed the girls, but I'm not going to be intimidated or talked over anymore. If you want to have a relationship with me, you need to work on some of your behaviors. I have boundaries, I expect them to be respected. I had to move to a different bloody country an ocean away to get away from you. You'll not keep me away from my sisters or my nieces. Or, my friends. This has nothing to do with Bella and everything to do with the fact I’m not willing to go along with you anymore.”

“Anthony,” she sighed. “I want you to be happy! That's why I'm trying to-”

“Esme, stop,” Carlisle said to his wife softly in the hopes of not making her madder. “This is not the time or the place. He's said his peace. He is an adult.”

“Please leave. My girlfriend is, as you can see, currently in the hospital. You're not going to harass her a moment longer. She needs to focus on recovering, not defending herself against such prejudice,” Edward said firmly but calmly. He was starting to get mad again. His mouth was so tight I could see the muscle in his cheeks flex.

"I am not a racist!" She actually shouted back at him. It shook some of her perfect hair loose from its stiff styling. Mr. Cullen was not expecting that reaction, his eyes wide in shock at her wild display. He looked away, slowly closing his eyes in a pained expression.

“You are screaming in a hospital. What are you doing? What is actually wrong with you?" Edward actually chuckled, rubbing his neck with the back of his hands. He still couldn't look at either of them. This was very hard on him. "You are insane. Leave. Just go. I'm not going to ask nicely again," he said as evenly as possible. His fingers were trembling.

She turned to leave quickly, slamming the door dramatically behind her. She left her husband behind. His face was so downfallen, his frown so deep it gave him jowls.

“For what it's worth, I think you're a fine woman. I'm sorry you're having a rough time of it. I do hope you feel better. I... I don't know what to say about her. It’s so much. Son, it's...” he trailed off his Scottish accent thick because he was emotional, walking up behind Edward to rest his hand on his son's shoulder.

“It's not okay what she's doing,” he replied simply.

“No, it's not,” he agreed quietly with his son. “I'll talk to her. She'll see reason.”

"I don't think I want to see her again," Edward said painfully quiet. "This is abuse, and I'll not tolerate it. I'm an adult. It doesn't matter if she sees reason or not. The damage is done."

“If that's how you feel,” he said sadly.

"It is," his son said quickly. He shook his head. "She's crossed too many lines, and this is just the last one for me. I've had enough. I'll not take her cruelty a second longer, and I won't let it be directed towards Bella."

“I understand.” He patted his shoulder again. “When you've calmed, we'll talk again. Ms. Swan, do feel better.”

“Thank you, Mr. Cullen. I'm sorry,” I answered him with a soft voice.

“You've done nothing wrong,” Edward was quick to tell me. “Don’t apologize.”

“I'm sorry that he's collateral damage. He's been nothing but polite to me thus far. He's not the one who said those things to me. I can't imagine this is how he wanted to spend this time with you. I'm sorry for the pain this has to cause him,” I told my boyfriend who was still too mad to see any of that.

“That's very kind,” the older man said with a nod. “Thank you. Anthony, I'll ring you later.”

Edward didn't say anything else as his father left. He looked so tired. I tugged him closer to me, hugging his head to my chest. He grumbled, pressing his face into me hard. He put his arms around me, his whole body tight.

"You want to order breakfast and watch some dumb shit on the computer?" I asked him as I stroked his hair. He nodded but didn't move. I didn't mind, it helped to slow my heartbeat as well. After a few minutes, I put the bed back, and we adjusted so that he still had his head resting on my stomach with his feet dangling off the bed. I continued to soothe him with my fingers in his hair, slowly drifting off to sleep with him on me.

I was awoken by the door being slammed open. Both Edward and I jumped.

“No! I said gently with the door!” I heard a familiar voice shout as a couple of small pale skinned red haired children came rushing in. “Wait!”

“It's okay,” I laughed as I saw them. They looked so excited to be there. “Hi, ladies.”

Edward was rubbing his eyes which were a shiny pink. He had been crying, my poor darling. He smiled at his nieces, still pleased to see them despite his unhappiness.

“I didn't expect to see you today,” he told them pleasantly.

“Tony, come help me. I'm babysitting for Irina,” Sasha said from the doorway. She was trying to push a baby in a stroller while still holding a box of cookies and a stuffed animal. “The girls wanted to bring you something to make you feel better.”

“Aw, Tim tams will definitely make me feel better,” I said as Edward brought me the package and small stuffed llama. “I love llamas. They're mean and like to spit at people,” I told the girls. They giggled at the fact. “Thank you.”

“You're welcome,” Sasha said after hugging her brother tightly. She pulled him back to look at him, putting her hand on his soft cheek. “Oh no. Has the terrorist struck again?”

“She's insufferable,” Edward whispered to his sister angrily. “I swear, I'll move you all out to live with me to get you away from her.”

“Tony, I know you would. It's not that simple,” she answered him in exasperation. They must have had this conversation before.

“I know,” he sighed. “I just miss my girls.” He scooped up both of his nieces and pulled them onto his lap as he sat down on the chair. They both loved their giant uncle. ”Do you want to come live with me?” He asked them in a bit of a pout.

“Yes!” They giggled at him.

“Maybe you can stay with him when you have a school break,” Sasha said to the excited girls.

“You can come swim in my pool. We could go hiking in the mountains and go to the ocean. I could take you shopping and buy you all the pretty things you want. Maybe Ms. Bella can take nice pictures of you for your mummy and me. Would you like to be models for a real photographer?" He asked them, trying to force himself in a better mood by thinking about pleasant things.

“I'd love to take their picture,” I promised at him. “They're so beautiful. They'll be great pictures. Maybe I can do it while we’re here.”

“Oh, do you hear that?” He asked the two smiling girls. They were totally enraptured by him. “I think they’ll be beautiful, too.”

“How are you feeling, Bella?” Sasha asked me gently.

"Weird," I replied to her quietly. "They just drugged me. I think I need to eat something," I mumbled. I decided to take a cookie out of the package to go ahead and eat one. When I peeled it open both girls looked over at me hopefully. I offered the cookies to Edward.

"One each. They're for her," he told them sweetly. They both eagerly took one, and he took one as well before putting it on the bed beside me.

“You look better. You were looking rather green around the edges at the restaurant the other night,” she said. “I thought it was the overwhelming company.”

“It probably didn't help,” Edward said through his bite of chocolate.

“I feel bad for ruining our time here,” I told them both honestly.

“No. I'll not hear that. You poor darling. You literally saw ghosts for two days. You didn't want this to happen,” my boyfriend quickly argued with me.

“She saw a ghost?” One of the girls asked him in surprise. He didn't realize how close they were listening.

“I was talking to someone that isn't here anymore that I miss very much,” I answered them instead of making him give them a response.

“Who?” She asked, still curiously. I couldn’t remember either of their names for the life of me.

“Well,” Edward licked his lip as he considered his answer. “a couple of people actually.”

“Someone I loved a long time ago who died before I even met your uncle. He was my husband. And, I'm guessing my grandmother?” I asked Edward. He nodded. “I bet that was fun. Was it nightmare fuel?”

“At one point you were speaking in Latin in between seizures. I haven't slept very peacefully lately, no,” he answered me as he leaned his head back against the chair. He was only semi-joking.

“Oh no...” I wondered what I would have said. I suddenly knew exactly what words I spoke. It popped into my head, the phrases repeating over and over again in my grandmother’s voice. Oh, no.

“Domine Iesu, dimitte nobis debita nostra, salva nos ab igne inferiori...”

Edward visibly shuddered as I spoke.

“What does that mean?” Sasha asked curiously. She didn’t seem bothered.

“Oh Jesus, forgive me for my sins. Save me from the fires of Hell. It’s either me or us, I don't remember. It's one of the rosary prayers,” I informed them quietly. “There is more to it. My grandmother liked that one a lot,” I mumbled, feeling a little embarrassed for some reason. “I guess I was trying to perform my own exorcism,” I joked weakly.

“I'd like to never see anything like that ever again,” he said to me with a frown. One of the girls had found his phone in his hoodie pocket and started to play YouTube on it so both of them could watch while still sitting on his big lap. He had an arm around each to make sure they wouldn't fall off.

“I'll try not to get possessed,” I replied sarcastically. The little one in the stroller began to whine at being left out of the action. “Since I'm not contagious, can I hold her?” I asked Sasha. She was in charge.

“Be my guest.” She hoisted the baby out of the seat and brought her over to me. We arranged her on my side without the IV so she couldn't pull on it.

She was pretty and pale with large green eyes just like Edward's. Her nose was petite, and she had the most beautiful perfect pink cupid bow lips. She rested on my thigh, my arm around her to keep her upright. She was good at sitting up on her own. "Oh, my goodness. You are so pretty."

“Thank you.” Sasha beamed at her niece. “She's a good baby, too.”

“So many fat rolls.” I squeezed her little thighs that were poking out of her purple onesies. She giggled the best giggle when I delicately pinched at her, her little leg wiggling at the touch. I did it again on the other side, this time earning a head bobbing laugh.

“Baby laughs are the best,” Edward chuckled.

“Can I keep you?” I asked the cute baby. She wrapped his fingers into my curly hair. “Is that interesting stuff? Don't eat it.” I pulled the fist away from her mouth. She grinned at me, going back for more hair to grab. I pretended to nibble at her fingers, making her giggle some more. “Here, let's pull on this instead.” I freed my hair and showed her the stuffed llama which she instantly brought to her mouth. “Eddie, she looks so much like you,” I told him in awe.

“Our genes are strong,” his sister laughed. “We all look alike.”

“I guess I know what our babies are going to look like,” I said to the tiny child, dancing the llama in front of her. “They're going to be sooo pretty,” I teased her with the toy, making it kiss at her cheeks and nose. She liked it. “Boop.” I made it kiss her nose, making her go cross-eyed.

“Well, that's a given if you're the mother,” Edward said to me smoothly.

“Shhh,” I told him, making him smirk. “Stop it. My hormones are already stupid right now. I don't need you saying such things. Especially when I'm half tempted just to piss off your mother.”

He laughed, “that will just be a bonus when it does happen.”

“Are you having a baby?” One of the little girls asked suddenly, distracted from her video. “Aunt Irina went to the hospital to have Ava.”

“No, darling. She was very ill because of a mistake with her medicine,” Edward answered soothingly. “She's almost better now though.”

“Maybe when I'm all better we can have a picnic at the beach where we're staying. We can invite all the kids over. Maybe we can grill out,” I said, making Edward smile at me. “I can take pictures for you with you and your nieces. Your sisters, too.”

“You don't want to leave when you get out of here?” He questioned.

I shook my head. "No. We still have almost three weeks here, and you must be so behind on all the videos you wanted to make."

"I don't care about that in the least. Seth and Tyler have loved their vacation, by the way. They're making videos for the channel actually, as we speak," Edward informed me.

“I don't want you to get behind.”

“Behind on what? I'm the one who decides how much I post. No one else. Darling, you're sick. You come first. You are more important to me than anything else,” he told me firmly, looking directly into my eyes with such intensity. “I'll understand if you want to go home. This has been traumatic.”

“No, I want to stay,” I said again.

The baby kicked her legs in my lap, tugging on my hair again. She pulled at the ends of my curls, smiling as they tangled with her fat little fingers. I made the llama kiss the baby again several times to get her attention. Edward watched us with a small, adoring smile.

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