The Little's Swan {Complete + Edited}

'Birthday Disaster'

Bella looks to him appalled. "Why would you even think about that?" Edward turns her wrist over and runs his hand over the horseshoe shaped scar on her forearm. Edward shrugs.

"I considered it. Once. When James had you trapped." He gets a pained look on his face. "I didn't know if I'd find you in time. If I'd gotten you killed -"

Bella shakes her head. "It wouldn't have been your fault -"

"But you have a daughter Bella." Bella looks down at Athena and smother her hair back. "Either way, I had a plan."

Bella looks to him confused. "What plan?"

"There are... ways for us. At least one way. I would have gone to Italy, provoke the Volturi..."

"The who?"

"Is there something you'd like to share with the class, Edward?" The teacher stares at Edward with an unhappy look. Athena looks up from her drawing and to Edward curiously.

Edward talks to the teacher politely. "Certainly not. But I apologise for being a distraction. Perhaps you should rewind to act five, scene one, line twenty-eight eighty-nine 'if you had the strength of twenty men it would dispatch you straight.'"

The teacher just looks at him, then moves off, intimidated.  "Eyes on the screen, people."

Bella is too concerned to be amused. Edward looks down at Athena who smiles at him before showing her picture. It shows a picture of him, Bella and Athena. Together like a family.

{_}{_}{_}{_}{_}{_}{_}{_}{_}{_}{_}

Cullen House

Alice tugs Bella and Edward into the living room, Athena is at home hanging with Charlie. Esme and Carlisle hug Bella warmly.

"Sorry about all this. We tried to rein Alice in." Carlisle says with an amused smile.

Esme laughs. "Like that's even possible. Happy Birthday, Bella."

'Flash!' Alice snaps a picture of Bella with them. Bella looks over to Alice who holds up her camera.

"Found it in your bag. Mind?" Emmett moves to Edward's side and nudges him.

"Dating an older woman. Hot." Bella catches it. Edward elbows him sharply to shut him up. Emmett looks to him, feigning confusion.

"What?"

Rosalie steps up. Shoved a silver package at Bella. "It's a necklace. Alice picked it out." She walks away, bored. Bella gives her a smile. She sees Jasper across the room. They wave to each other.

Alice aims the camera at the couple. "Show me the love." Edward pulls Bella into an embrace, they look deeply into one another's eyes. 'Flash!' "For your scrapbook. Now open your presents."

Alice drags Bella over to a table piled with elaborately wrapped gifts, a huge cake and a tall stack of china plates.

"Alice, I'm the only one who even eats cake. That thing could feed fifty."