Moving Forwards

Isabella Black

Jake wasn't having it. To me, after a few days of mulling over the idea of a family vacation in Dubai, Dubai started to sound like a realistically good idea. A little sun, a few beaches, seeing my kids smile again-all that equal good idea in my non-nebulous head.

However, Jake didn't think so.

Two nights after Christmas, after I'd done my nightly routine and climbed into bed beside Jake, I'd tentatively brought up the idea of joining Edward in Dubai. Jake almost lost it entirely.

"Are you out of your goddamn mind? I don't trust that man as far as I can throw him, and I can't throw that son of a bitch far. There is no way in the world that we're going on a vacation with him." he'd argued.

"Jacob, I think this is a really good idea. The kids really want to go. He has invited us as well, so we can stay together as a family. Besides, we will mostly have the house to ourselves. He's there for business. He just wants to spend time with the twins."

"More time," Jake spat bitterly. "He spends almost every waking second with them. At the rate he's going they're going to start calling him daddy and then who the hell will I be?"

I blinked up at him-at an utter loss for words. As far as I knew, not one of the kids has called Edward dad, or daddy, yet. That title resides with Jacob. But the thought that the kids could, or mostly likely will start calling Edward dad or daddy freaked me out to some extent. But at the same time, it wasn't completely in a ghastly way-it sort of thrilled me, but only just slightly.

I know, it's possibly wrong-because of my husband-to feel a sort of repressed joy that finally-the kids were accepting Edward, but a part of me just finds it so…superb-feels so 'about time' about it, that I can't quite find the same dissatisfaction in it as Jacob.

Edwards really proven himself these last few months, and upon realizing that a few months back, the hatred and ill health I wished upon him dissipated with the past. It all paled in comparison to the amazing job that he's been doing with Sara and Danny. It's not that I want him to be the most important male figure in their life, I want him and Jacob to share that job. What I want is for everyone to accept everyone. I want us to be one big happy family. And from where I'm sitting the only one-and rightfully so-I think, that doesn't want that is Jacob.

But why?

Besides his thoughts of Edward coming in and swooping up his entire family, why does he have such a problem with being a content family? Yes, it's hard to share the kids, but for the sake of the kids I would have thought he would want to put all this behind us and start a new chapter. I guess I was wrong.

But honestly, if anyone should be hurt or hateful towards Edward, it should be me. But I'm over it. I no longer detest the man. On some level, we're actually friends. So why is Jacob so against-even the idea that Edward and the kids are getting closer. Jacob is always going to be daddy. And when the baby is born, he'll really be a daddy, times three.

"Jacob, you'll always be daddy to them. Right now, Edward is just a trustworthy friend. He's just barely grown on Danny. And yes, Sara likes him a lot, but isn't that what we want for them? To like and trust him? He's not going anywhere Jacob, you know that and I know that, and so does the kids. You need to figure out a way to get along with Edward babe. I don't want to walk in here with the kids one day and see you two going at it. I won't put up with that. So for me and for your family talk to him."

Jacob did not talk to him.

We only had one more day to make up our mind and then Edward would be on his way to Dubai. Instead of trying to do as I'd asked, he ignored my suggestion completely.

His response when I asked him why he didn't go see Edward after work or before work, 'I had to be at the garage early Bell, there was a car that was due for pick up before noon and we had a lot more to do on it.'

And after work? I had asked him. 'I'm tried as hell babe. I just want to sleep.' So I told him fine, sleep. I'll pack. And that's where we were, arguing about the trip I now really wanted to take.

"Excuse me?"

"There is no excuse for you right now. I specifically asked you to do this, not for you or your man pride, but for your family and for me especially. The fact that you totally disregarded my wishes gives me the right right now to do the same to you. We are, as a family, going on an all paid vacation to Dubai and you are going to be on your best behavior in front of Edward and thank him in kind for doing this for us."

He jumped from the bed, fuming. "Like hell we are. We're not fucking going with him, and I won't repeat myself."

"To hell with you, I'm not a goddamn straw. I do not and will not bend at your every wish. Particularly not when you couldn't even talk to someone for me-for the kids. Who, by the way, really wants this. And I for one will not be disappointing them. Their bags are already packed in Edwards car. He said we could bring ours in the morning." I moved around him, packing the essentials. I would have to buy a new swimsuit there. My baby belly was overwhelmingly huge for me to sport my older one.

"We're not going Isabella. I forbid this."

"Good thing we're in the year 2012 and not 1955.

"Yes, I am your wife. Yes, I will support you in all that you do. Yes, I will love you unconditionally. No, I'm not a fucking pet you can train. No, you do not control me. No, you will not and never even attempt again to forbid me to do something. And no, with the attitude you recently have you are not going on vacation. But yes, I am and so are the kids. I will not pass up this opportunity because my husband is being a douche. Now if you'll pardon me, I have more packing to do."

We left around five in the morning to catch our flight. As promised, Edward had a private jet, sorry, the company jet. It was located in a deserted part of the airport. I'd never been anywhere near that part of the airport. Not even when flying, so I was surprised when he didn't park the car in one of the designated lots, but drove right up to the plane, stopped the car and asked us to bored the little plane while he spoke to a few people that were mulling around the jet.

Waking Danny and Sara, yet again, was the worst. They were both grumpy and surprisingly enough they wanted Edward. Sara even called him daddy. My god was Jacob going to die. I, myself, could only stare at her stupefied.

"Hey," I whirled around, startled to hear Edward so near. "why aren't you guys boarding?" He asked amused at my facial expression, I'm sure.

"She…has she been calling you daddy this entire time?" I asked, still so, so stunned.

"She's only done it twice." He said softly with a stupid, goofy grin planted on his face. "The first time was on Christmas and the second time was yesterday when you were dropping off their bags. If it bothers you, I'll ask her to stop…" he trailed off, his face scrunching in distaste.

"No," he started again, shaking his head. "I won't. I am her dad Isabella. And I know, I know that Jacob was there for them when I wasn't. But she's mine. And so is Danny. They are my kids. His is on the way." He pointed, almost harshly, towards my stomach. "So if she wants to call me dad, or daddy, or papa, or whatever else, she can, because I am all of those things. And I won't let anyone take that away from me."

"I'm not…I mean I don't want to take that away from you, from any of you. By that, I mean Jacob as well, but it seems like you do.

"I admit I was surprised to hear her say it. I mean, she just called you daddy. How monumental is that? It's huge Edward. But the fact that you're claiming to be the only father she has-they have…no, that's not right Edward. They have Jacob too, and you have to respect that relationship just as I respect the relationship they have with you, they're biological father. So, like I was saying. I don't have a problem with them calling you dad or any other form of the word. In some ways I'd wished for them to someday see you as just that. And to hear them say it… You just don't know how happy I am- not just for them, but for you too."

"So you're not…angry?" he asked hesitantly.

I laughed, shaking my head. "No, I'm not angry Edward. I'm really happy about the way things have been going lately. Unfortunately, I do have to acknowledge the big purple elephant near the plane. When you first found out about them I thought that all our lives were about to be ruined. I know-" I said quickly, interrupting his would be protest. "I was wrong. I was wrong about many things.

"God, Edward, I should have looked for you, any of you. I just wanted…you had hurt me so much Edward…I thought we were it. And then you just, crushed me. And, you know the funny thing? I still don't know why you did it. I mean, I remember you saying that you didn't want to be in Forks anymore. That you didn't want to be with me anymore. You said, you didn't want to get tied down in a small town and if you were with me then that was exactly what was going to happen. I was born for a small, closed in town. That's what you told me."

"Isabella…"

"No, let me finish. You're better than that town, better than me. Do you remember saying that? We're done, you said. I hope you can find happiness here, but I never can. That's what you said to me Edward, do you remember? And that look, that hateful, insufferable look that you gave me before you walked away. God, you made me feel so disgusting, so dirty. And then you were gone. You didn't even give me a legit reason why.

"I never looked for you because I knew that one day you would know about them and I wanted you to suffer. I wanted you to suffer how you made me suffer. So, when you found out, initially I was odious toward you. God, just the sight of you made me go nuts. But when I found out why you were there, at my wedding, I wanted you to hurt so badly. I wanted you to see how amazing they were without you, and that was wrong of me. It was wrong, so wrong. So for my part, I'm sorry. For the time you missed with Danny and Sara, I am sorry."

He blinked at me for several minutes before looking away. But I saw, I saw his watering eye in the hazy green.

"Um, lets just get the kids and get on the plane." He said, not looking at me. "We have a schedule to keep with and we have about a sixteen hour flight. I have some calls-"

"Edward," I begged, lightly grabbing his arm as he moved to pass me. "Please-"

"Don't, just don't, not right now. I have so much… look, if we talk right now, I'll come off as a prick. I'll be Jacob number two." He said, a weak non-comical chuckle following. "There is so much from that time that I want to talk about with you, stuff that I too am sorry about. But to hear you say that you kept Sara and Danny away from me as a punishment. That's low…even for you Beanie." I gasped-he smiled. It did not reach his eyes.

"So, lets just get on the Jet, buckle the kids down, and then when we're safe to move about the cabin, we can put the kids in the bedroom in the back of the jet and we can talk why they're asleep. Okay?"

He begged, pleading with me to agree to this. I nodded my head and let him go. Together we gathered the kids while the staff that I'd completely forgotten about, grabbed our bags and helped us board the jet.

My head was whirling. He called me Beanie. Beanie, his nickname for me. Every time we made love he'd say, he'd say, 'fuck, I love you Beanie. Do you hear me Bella, I fucking love you.'

Oh my my.

Upon entering the jet, I was struck with awe. It was absolutely beautiful. The seats, crisp and cream. The carpet, also cream and seemingly lush. There were two long sofa's one against each wall of the cabin. There were two square tables, four chairs at each table. It was amazing.

Edward took my hand and led me through the first, second, and third cabin. All looking similar to the first. We ended up in the fourth cabin, closer to the bedroom. There, three unfamiliar individuals greeted us. Two men and a young woman.

"Welcome Mr. Cullen, Ma'am. I'm Peter your pilot." He addressed me. "This is Gill your co-pilot and this is Charlotte, your attendant. I just want to assure you that everything is looking good and the weather is ostensibly perfect the entire time we're to be airborne. However, we do have to make a quick stop in England as requested, but other then that we should mostly be in the air. If you would please take your seats. We should be lifting off in moments."

After we first, buckled the kids in, then ourselves, we sat and waited for further instructions from Peter. It wasn't long before he warned us that we would be taxiing down the landing field. Then we just were. At however many miles per hour, we were speeding down the airfield, the plane jerking us farther into our seats. I held on to my armrest and prayed that we would be in the air soon. I hated liftoffs and loved landings. There was nothing like being on solid ground.

Once sturdily in the air we were given the okay to move about the cabin. Edward took that as the all right to relocate the kids. I tried to offer my help. But he insisted on doing it himself. I let him.

It wasn't ten minutes later before he was once again sitting in front of me, trying to get comfortable. Unfortunately, for him, I was ready for answers. And today, he was finally going to give them to me.

Now, where do I start?

Oh yes, "Edward, how long had you been thinking of leaving me?"

A/N: Things should start to be looking up.