Future-Take # 10: Forever

EPOV

"Grandpa!" I felt a small body slam into my leg causing me to wobble slightly. I looked down into the bright brown eyes of my five-year-old granddaughter Abigail. She raised her arms to be picked up and I quickly bent down to pick her up and onto my hip, ignoring the slight pang I felt as she kicked her feet excitedly.

"Ab, what did I tell you about jumping on your grandfather?" I fought a smile as I caught glance of my wife.

She was just beautiful as ever with the one streak of grey through her dark locks and dressed in a pair of comfy jeans and a sweater. She entered the room with our two-year-old grandson Phillip in her arms followed by Daniel and his very pregnant wife Rachel. All the kids and their family were coming in to celebrate my birthday. They all had ventured off into their own lives and it made both Bella and I happy to have them home with us and away from their hectic lives.

"Relax love, she's fine." I began pressing kisses all over her face, her little squeals of laughter making my heart swell with adoration. I kissed my daughter in law's cheek and greeted my second youngest son.

"Hey old man, how it's going? Turning the big six three eh? Man you're really getting up there." Daniel cackled. I used my free hand to smack his head.

"Just pray you live that long. I'll have you know that sixty-three is the new thirty and I can still run circles around you." I boasted. "I mean this morning, your mother and I..."

Daniel raised his hands in mock disgust. "Whoa, children are in the room including yours I might add. That is my Ma you're talking about and it's kind of gross." Daniel whined, earning a soft smack on the cheek from Bella.

"Mom..."

"Oh shush. You're the first to arrive. Your siblings and their significant others will be here soon." She smiled.

"Are you guys sure you can handle all of us plus fifteen grandkids?" Daniel asked.

"Trust us, if I can handle the eight rascals we had that included a certain someone, we can take on anything."

"We'll see." he smirked.

"What have I told you about challenging me son?"

"I swear you two will never change." Bella grinned. "Don't forget that Sam is bringing her new boyfriend over so I need you two to play nice. You both are the worst of the bunch." She pleaded and then I realized that she was talking to the both of us. Daniel and I both huffed our displeasure, earning a nasty look from our wives.

No men were good enough for our girls but I just had to suck it up and let it go or I would be the one sleeping on the floor with the dog.

Lets face it.

I was old.

Once I got down, I might not be able to get back up.

"Whatever you say love." Daniel gave me a shit-eating grin and I smacked his head once more.

"Now go help your wife relax upstairs and let me play with my grandchildren. You're no fun." I laughed as he flipped me the finger humorously.

Two hours later our house was filled with the chatter of our family and the delicious smell of food coming from the kitchen. I was currently stretched out on the floor, covered in toys and grandchildren.

All fifteen of them were all under the age of ten and were currently giving me a run for our money. Our kids were all out gathering supplies for my birthday party tomorrow, leaving Bella and I with the grandkids.

I loved them all greatly, I mean they were a part of Bella and me and would carry on our bloodline, but dear old Grandpa Edward definitely wasn't as young as he used to be body wise and keeping up with all of them was wearing me out.

They currently had me in a headlock, while simultaneously dressing me up in various costumes, while also having a hand painted in polish by the girls.

Yes nail polish.

Bubble gum pink with glitter.

My granddaughters were a handful alone and I would let them do whatever they wanted to me, though if you asked me in front of my friends I wouldn't admit it.

"Breaking Grandpa again, I see." I heard Bella say in amusement and I caught the distinct smell of her decadent white chocolate macadamia cookies.

It made my mouth water

They were chocolaty and crunchy and just plain delicious.

Lucky for me, I still had my own teeth.

Suddenly my line of vision became a flurry of limbs as they all gathered around their Nana and left me on the floor. I moved a few toys out of my way and pulled myself onto the chaise in the corner of the room, thanking whoever was up there for the soft cushion against my now aching back.

Bella soon followed and sat down beside me while the grandkids munched away happily on their snack.

"Feeling those aches and pains huh?" She smiled.

"Yeah I guess I'm starting to realize that I'm not as young as I used to be."

"Tell me about it, crows-feet and gravity are a pain in the but." Bella replied. I

looked at her face, the only lines she had on her face were a few laugh lines, but the rest were virtually nonexistent. Sans the lone grey streak in her hair, she barely looked a day over forty let alone a woman who was a year away from sixty.

And Gravity?

Sure she was a little rounder in places, but still perky in my books.

Trust me I know, I saw firsthand earlier this morning. I caught her attention.

"Crows-feet my foot. Love you are still as sexy as the day I met you." I planted a sloppy kiss against her cheek.

"Grandpa?" Elizabeth, the eldest of the grandkids asked, crawling onto my lap.

"What does sexy mean?" My eyes widened and I turned to my wife who had an amused smirk on her face. I mouthed for her to help me out but she just shook her head.

Traitor.

"Um, something you don't need I know for about fifty years." I laughed as I began tickling her sides. The other grandkids feeling left out jumped onto the couch smothering Bella and I with their hugs and kisses.

The chaise barely held two people let alone that number plus fifteen, but somehow it worked as we gathered them into our arms.

That was how they found us later that day watching television.

I was quickly brought back to the days when we would curl up on the bed with the kids to watch cartoons. I felt a content smile spread on my face.

We were older, the kids were older and many things had changed, some for the good and some for the bad.

One thing I knew wouldn't change was the love we had for our family and that was something that would go on forever.

And there's our final Happy Ending. Thanks for reading.

Xoxo Sylvia Cullen

WLTYAS readers I will be back up Sunday with an update.