I knock on the door, and he tells me to come in. I enter with a smile, and he grins at me, and my heart starts to beat faster.
"What can I do for you, Ms. Swan?" he asks.
"Your mom called three times while you were out, lunching, and asked for you to call back. Your father asked us to come by his office if we could. Lauren Mallory called; I told her you were busy, as you asked me to. And Mr. Smith wants to know if you would like to have lunch tomorrow to discuss the project" I said.
"You're such an efficient PA" he said amused, "Schedule lunch with Mr. Smith, please. If Mallory calls again, please, ask her not to do it again" he gets up and grabs his suit jacket, "Let's go see my dad. And… I will call my mom"
"Please do. You said that last time, and she's still waiting for a call, Mr. Cullen"
He smiled and we walked out of his office.
"So, what are we going to do tonight?" he asked as we walked to the elevator.
"We?" I asked with an arched eyebrow. "I thought we were going to keep business strictly while in the office"
"We left my office and yours" he said smirking. "Come on, dinner, bar, home?"
"Sounds good. Chinese?" I ask.
"No"
"Pizza?"
"Yeah!"
"Okay, we'll go to Luigi's, hit the bar, and home"
Edward and I were best friends, roommates, and he was my boss. Well, he said he wasn't, but I was his PA, and so he was my boss. We went to his dad's office, and Carlisle greeted me with a hug and kiss in the cheek.
"How are you, dear?" he asked pulling a chair for me.
"I'm good, Carlisle. Thank you for asking. My roommate is kind of bugging me, but I survive" I said and he smiled, "How are you?"
"I'm good" he said leaning back in his chair, "Esme misses you. You both" he said looking at Edward pointedly.
"I'm going to call her" Edward sighed.
"You said that last time, am I right, Bella?" Carlisle asked with a smirk.
"Yeah. You're such a bad son, Edward" I said playfully.
"Anyway" Edward said clearly trying to change the subject, "What brings us here?"
"Well, as you know, I'm getting old" Carlisle said.
"Yes" Edward teased.
"What?" I said, "Come on, Carlisle. The high school copy girl has hots for you. You're great"
"Ugh. No, don't want to hear 'hots' and my dad's name in the same sentence" Edward said.
"Well, thank you, Bella" Carlisle said chuckling. "I'm glad I… Don't seem so old"
"You should use your accent more. Girls love it" I said playfully.
"Oh, really? Well, how does that sound?" Carlisle asked playfully, his accent increased.
"Oh, Carlisle, dear. I'm almost immune to it, now. Too many years with you. But I'll call copy girl" I said in my awful British accent.
"Can we get back into the subject?" Edward asked as we laughed.
"Okay" Carlisle sighed, "I'm retiring"
"What?" Edward and I said.
"I'm retiring. I want to stay home, with Esme. Enjoy my oldness"
"You're kidding!" I said shocked, "You can't!"
"This business will implode!" Edward said almost hysteric.
"No. You'll take good care of it…" Carlisle said.
"Me!" Edward gasped.
"Well, you're my son…"
"Dad" Edward started to protest.
"No. Edward, hear me out. I'm not leaving tomorrow. Maybe in a few months, a year, top. You have time to get used to it. You'll do great"
Edward nodded stiffly, pinching the bridge of his nose, clearly in deep thoughts.
"Well. Congratulations" I said, "I'm happy for you, Carlisle. And you too, Edward. I'm sure this will be good"
"Thank you, Bella" Carlisle said.
"Eh, I'm going to… leave. Let you talk…"
"No, stay" Carlisle said as I got up. I sat back down and arched an eyebrow, questioningly. "I need to talk to you too, Bella"
"Okay" I said carefully.
"You're a friend, not just for Edward, but for the whole family. You're a great friend, and I trust you. You were an amazing employee the past couple years, and clearly essential."
"Thank you, Carlisle. I try to do my best"
"I know you do. And that's what I want to talk to you. Edward will be in a lot of pressure when he takes my position, and I would like to count on you to help him"
"Of course. If he wants, I'll stay as his PA and help…" I stopped as Carlisle shook his head.
"I mean, you and Edward, as partners. Edward is the owner of course; he would own the whole company. But I would like you both to manage it…"
"W-What?" I stammered. "Are you serious?"
"Yes, pretty much" he said with a smile
"Carlisle… I-I… I can't. I don't have the right…"
"You have the right, because I'm giving it to you. And Edward of course"
"I don't deserve… I'm not prepared for this…"
"Bella, you do deserve, and yes, you're prepared. You worked with Edward all this time, you know as much as him. You're ready"
"E-Edward?" I asked shakily.
"Yeah?" he asked taking his face from his hands.
"Were you listening?" I asked getting annoyed.
"Yeah. Something about partner" he mumbled.
"Bella would be your partner. You two would control the business, together" Carlisle said. "You would own it, but both would manage"
"I agree" he said immediately.
"Edward! What?" I said.
"I need you, B. I can't do this on my own" he said. "You're the best person I can think of to do this"
"Well, then, it's decided" Carlisle said happily.
We exchanged a few words about a dinner, and then Edward and I walked out of his office. We both stood in silence in front of the elevator. When it arrived, we entered and Edward looked at me. My hands were shaking.
"A drink?" he asked.
"Please" I said quietly.
He pushed the first floor button and the doors closed. He took my hand and squeezed. I looked at him and he smiled at me.
"We're in this together, B" he said, "It will be awesome!"
I couldn't help but smile back. We went to the bar then. We didn't even stop for dinner. We went straight to vodka. Since we got a taxi to the bar, and the bar was a couple blocks away from our house, we walked back home. And by 'walked', I mean, Edward stumbled and I supported him, with his arm over my shoulders, and my arm around his waist.
"You're so going to regret those last shots" I said as he stumbled on the flat sidewalk, "We have work tomorrow"
"B! We're the bosses now. We work whenever we want!"
"Okay, Edward. Whatever you say" I laughed
"B… I love you" he said, slurring.
"I love you too, E" I chuckled.
"No. I mean it. I love you. You're the best. I don't know what I would do without you"
"Thanks, honey" I said patting his side.
"And you're the only girl I ever had a serious relationship for more than a month" he slurred.
"And Alice?" I asked amused.
"No" he hiccupped, "Ali is my bestie. Kind of my little sis"
"Oh, she's your bestie?" I laughed, "And me?"
"You're the woman. The love of my life"
"God, Edward. You drank too much" I laughed.
"No" he stopped walking.
I turned my head to him, trying not to laugh and he looked in my eyes, wobbling a little.
"I love you" he said seriously. "I really do"
I smiled and patted his cheek.
"Love your drunken ass too, E"
He reached and held my hand to his cheek, leaning into it. I stopped laughing, because this wasn't funny anymore. He leaned in, his vodka breath in my face.
"I'm gonna kiss you" he whispered.
I wanted to laugh. What kind of man says that when it's so obvious what he's going to do? A drunk man. I knew I should pull away, but I just couldn't. I was frozen. And then there was a cry, and he stopped. The cry got louder, and he pulled away frowning.
"Why are you crying?" he asked.
"I'm not crying, idiot. It's a baby" I said rolling my eyes.
"You have a baby!" he asked shocked.
I rolled my eyes again and looked around, since the cry wasn't stopping. I realized the cry was coming from the neighbor's house that was abandoned since he moved out, three months ago. I looked around and didn't see anyone.
"Wait here" I said as Edward leaned against light pole.
I walked to the house, intending to knock when I saw the baby. A white bundle in the porch.
"Oh, God" I said.
I took off my jacket and kneeled, taking the baby in my arms, and putting my jacket around him. He stopped crying as soon as he was in my arms and I looked around for someone. Anyone. I knocked on the door, but the house was abandoned as it was for months.
"What is it?" Edward asked stumbling to me. "Is that a baby?"
"Yeah" I said trying to see through the window.
"Shit! What the hell, Bells?" he asked. "How?"
"It was in the porch. There isn't anyone here. Someone left the baby" I said hugging him close to me, to protect from the cold.
"Eh… There is a bag" Edward mumbled.
I looked at the ground and saw a white bag, those you use to carry baby stuff.
"Let's go home" I said grabbing the baby.
"And the baby?" Edward asked following me stumbling.
"I can't go to the police now, Edward. We're drunk. And it's late. We'll figure it out in the morning, sober"
"You're serious?" he gasped.
"Yeah" I said running up the steps of our porch.
I got my keys and opened the door, going to the living room, leaving Edward behind. I heard him close the door, and I dropped the bag in the coffee table. I put the baby in the couch, and kneeled in the floor in front of him. I unwrapped him and gasped
"Edward, this baby can't be more than a month old!"
"Yeah… The bag is from the hospital" Edward said coming from the kitchen drinking a mug of coffee.
I looked at the bag and back at the baby. Just then I realized he was wrapped in a white blanket with the hospital's symbol. The bag had the symbol on it too. The hospital gave this to his mom, so… The baby was recently out of the hospital. The baby opened his eyes and gave me one of those toothless, lazy smiles that babies give. I smiled in return. His eyes were bright blue, but I knew this might change. His hair was dark brown, and he had that baby fat that made babies cute, and made you want to squeeze them.
"Bella, don't" Edward slurred.
"Don't what?" I said playing with his little fingers.
"I'm drunk and I can see you're getting attached"
"Go to sleep, Edward" I said cutting him off.
"Whatever" he said and went stumbling to his room.
It was a boy, and he was such a good boy. He didn't cry at all. He whimpered, and made cute sounds, but that was it. I cleaned him, changed him, gave him milk, there was some in a bottle in the bag, and he fell asleep as I had him in my arms, and bounced lightly. I went to bed, laying him in a pillow, making sure there were others around, blocking him from rolling over or something, and slept beside him.
The next morning I woke up with the sun in my face. I frowned at the window, turned on my side, and smiled at the baby. He was peacefully sleeping. I took his hand in two of my fingers, and he unconsciously wrapped his hand around my fingers. I grinned and played with the little hair he had with my thumb of my other hand. I leaned my head in the pillow he was, taking deep breaths to inhale his scent. Suddenly my door opened.
"Shit!" Edward said.
"Shh" I said glaring at him.
"It wasn't a dream!" he said pointing to the baby.
I shook my head, still playing with his hair. He started to squirm, and opened his eyes lazily. He started to wiggle, and let out a cute squeal. Edward sat in bed, I just felt the mattress dip, I didn't take my eyes from the baby.
"We should get going… We have to go to the police or whatever…" he said.
I looked at him frowning, and back to the baby.
"How can someone leave such a beautiful baby? A treasure?" I asked quietly.
"Bella…"
"I mean… She just left him, in an abandoned house. If we didn't find him, he would be dead from the cold…"
"Bella" Edward warned.
"And didn't she think of his future? He could be sent to an awful family, that won't ever love him like he deserves…"
"Oh, no"
"What?" I asked smiling at the baby's smile.
"Don't get attached, Bella. It's not yours" Edward said.
The baby started crying, and I sat up, picking him up.
"He must be hungry" I said.
"Bella, don't. We'll take them to police, and leave"
I stared into the baby's blue eyes, fighting tears and nodded weakly. Edward sighed and walked away. I got up, cleaned the baby a much as I could since I couldn't give him a bath, changed him, and gave him the some warm milk, and bounced around with him in my arms. He would make cute sounds and I would do it too. Edward appeared in the living room, in suit, ready to work.
"Oh, right! I have to get ready" I said looking at the baby, "Can you take him?"
"What?" he asked fearful.
"Take the baby"
"N-No"
"I need to get ready, Edward"
"Can't you just do it with him?" he asked eyeing the baby as if it was a bomb.
"I don't have enough arms. Just hold him while I go"
Edward continued to eye the baby so I gave up. I went to my room, put the baby down in bed, he started squirming, and got ready as fast as I could. When I was ready I got my things, the baby's bag, and stared at the baby in bed. He was asleep.
"Bella, let's go!" Edward called.
I sighed, picked him up carefully, and went to the living room. Edward opened the door for me, and we got into his car.
"Careful with it. I don't want a mess in my car" Edward said glancing at the baby.
"It? It's baby, Edward. Stop being an ass, he won't do anything. He's asleep" I hissed.
He rolled his eyes and started the car. I stared at the baby's face the whole ride, and when Edward stopped the car, got out and opened my door, I didn't move.
"Bella?" Edward asked.
I looked at the police station's door and back at the baby.
"Bella? We're late already. Come on"
I took a deep breath and got out. Edward locked the car and started walking ahead, and I moved slowly. When we were reaching the door, the baby started crying loudly and I stopped. I stared at the baby, crying, and started to back away.
"Bella!" Edward called.
"I-I can't" I whispered.
"What?"
"I-I can't" I said pulling the baby closer, "I can't leave him"
The baby calmed down, so I turned away and walked to the car.
"No, no, no" Edward said following me. "We have to"
"Please, Edward. I can't do it" I cried.
He blocked my way to the car's door, and I glared at him.
"Look, Bella. We have to go to work. Let's explain, leave the baby, and we can go. In a few years you get married and have your own. But this is not yours, and we have to leave it"
"Stop calling him 'it'" I growled.
"Whatever" he said rolling his eyes.
I glared at him, turned and started to walk away.
"Where are you going?" Edward said tiredly.
"Home" I said.
"We have work!"
"I'm not going today. You don't need me much today"
"Bella, come on" he whined, "Let's go"
"And the baby?" I snapped, turning to glare at him.
He sighed and glanced at the police station. I growled at him and he stared at me shocked and amused. I suddenly waved for a cab, the car stopped.
"Bella, don't" Edward said.
I opened the car door, entered and closed in Edward's face, giving the driver my address. Halfway there, I changed my mind, and asked for the driver to leave me at the mall. He did, I paid him, and I got in the mall.
"We can do this" I whispered to the baby, "Right?"
He smiled at me and I smiled back. I spent a couple hours in the mall, and when I came back home, Edward wasn't there. I put the baby down in the portable car seat, seemed comfortable enough, since he slept like an angel the whole way back in the taxi. I made space in my closet, put the clothes I bought for him, cleared drawers for diapers and stuff, put food in the kitchen, and relaxed in the couch, watching the baby. A couple hours later the crib, stroller and changing/bath table arrived and I asked to put everything in my room. I gave the baby a bath, changed and was making him a bottle when the front door opened. I turned, to face Edward and met him, and Esme.
"Esme" I said, "Hi"
"Hi, dear" she said walking to me, her eyes in the baby.
"You told her" I said to Edward.
"Yeah, I called her" he said. "This is insane, and she'll help you see it. Put some sense in your head"
I glared at him, and Esme touched my arm softly.
"Can I?" she asked nodding to the baby, in the carrier close to my chest.
"Yeah, sure" I taking him carefully, "Careful, he's very squirmy"
She took him in her arms, and he opened his eyes, and smiled at her. She smiled back and played with his hair.
"Oww, hi, little one" she cooed.
"Mom! You're supposed to make Bella see this huge mistake! Not help her in her too early midlife crisis!" Edward said.
"It's not a crisis" I said quietly, continuing making the bottle.
"Bella, for God's sake, open your eyes. This baby isn't yours, and you have to give him up"
The baby started crying, and I turned immediately to see what I could do. Esme tried to sooth him, but he squirmed, and she passed me him. After a moment he calmed down.
"You're good" Esme said.
"Thank you" I whispered. "I scheduled an appointment with Rose, so she could check on him. She doesn't know of course. She thinks the appointment is for me"
"That's good" Esme said. "Is he sleeping well?"
"Yes, very well. If he's comfortable, he sleeps in an instant"
"He's so small" she said looking at him in awe.
"I know. He had hospital clothes and hospital bag, so I guess he was born recently"
"He kind of looks like you" she mumbled. "The hair, and smile…"
"Mom! Look what you're saying!" Edward cried out.
"Edward, it's what she wants, what he wants. He's hers" Esme said.
"Well… Ahn… Not here" he said.
"Excuse me?" I asked.
"I won't live with a baby"
"You're… You're throwing me out!" I asked shocked.
"No. Not you" he said.
"Fuck you, Edward. I won't give him up!" I said, "Even if I have to move out"
He stared at me, looking shocked, angry, hurt…
"You would change your whole life, everyone's life because of a baby you found?" he asked. "You're crazy" he whispered.
I looked down at the baby, and didn't even realize I was crying until a tear fell in his little hand.
"Edward" Esme sighed.
Suddenly I felt him arms around me, carefully not to crush the baby, and I buried my face in his shoulder.
"Sorry" he whispered, "Don't move out, please. I'm sorry"
"I can't give him up, Edward. I love him already"
He kissed my forehead and sighed.
"I don't like this, you're giving everything up for him. But if it's what you want…"
"It's what I want" I whispered.
"Okay, then" he sighed.
I kissed Edward's cheek and smiled at him. He smiled weakly at me, and pulled away.
"So, a name?" Esme asked excitedly.
"Ahn… Charles Anthony"
"Bella, no" Edward protested shaking his head.
"Why not?" Esme asked.
"I'm not his father" he said.
"I know. You're my best friend" I said.
"You don't have to…"
"I want to, Edward" I said smiling, "Besides, if I wanted you to be the father I would put Cullen" I joked.
"Oh, that's a great idea" Esme said.
"What?" Edward and I asked.
"The baby needs a father" Esme said, "And you'll live together…"
I looked at Edward, waiting for him to freak out. The blood drained from his face, he stared at nothing, his hands shaking, totally in shock.
"Edward, she's kidding" I said worried when he didn't breathe.
"No, I'm not" Esme said.
"Yes, you are" I said forcefully, "Edward is doing enough enduring me and the baby. He isn't the dad, Esme"
"Oh. I just… wanted to… a grandson, I guess" she said sadly.
"You can see him as grandson, Esme. Just don't scare Edward. Poor guy" I said smiling.
"Really?" she asked excitedly.
"Of course. You're like a mom to me" I shrugged.
She hugged me, careful with the baby, and then looked down at the baby. I passed him to her, and she immediately got happy, and went to the living room, cooing at the baby. I looked at Edward, and he was staring at me, kind of pale.
"Edward, stop it. She was just saying. I know you're not the father…"
He nodded so I shut up. I got the bottle for the baby and smiled at him. He was still kind of frozen.
"Edward, you're starting to scare me" I said.
"Sorry" he said shaking his head, snapping out of it. "Ahn, shouldn't we call social services?"
This time I froze.
"I-I don't think it's a good idea, Edward" I mumbled looking at the bottle in my hands.
"Why not? You have to legally…"
"Social services would take him away" I whispered.
"They wouldn't…"
"Come on, why would they let me, a single woman, with no boyfriend, living with her friend, and putting the baby in her own room, have him? It makes no sense. They would give him for someone else…"
"Okay, so we don't call social services" he said, "Calm down"
"Okay" I sighed.
"So, he's yours. It's not like anyone will go asking if you had a pregnant belly the last nine months"
"Right"
"You have to get him documents soon. And put him on the insurance…"
"Yeah" I sighed, "Thanks, Edward"
"You're welcome"
He nodded, staring at the floor, and I walked out of the kitchen to the living room. Esme and I fed the baby and Edward just sat in the other couch, staring. Carlisle arrived soon, and quickly got to know the baby. Carlisle and Esme really did see him as a grandson already.
"Good boy. Good boy. Pops going to teach you all about the Yankees and we'll go to all their games…" Carlisle cooed at the baby.
Esme chuckled from beside me, where she was helping me make dinner.
"Pops Carlisle?" I asked laughing.
"Yeah… doesn't sound nice" he frowned, making a silly face to Charlie. "Let's stay with Grandpa, better, right?"
Charlie giggled and the phone rang. Edward, who was still staring at the scene, snapped out of his seat and ran to the other room to answer.
"He's edgy" Esme sighed.
"Of course. His parents are treating his best friend's kid like their grandson… He's pressured, Esme. It will take some time for him to understand we don't expect anything from him"
"Yes…" she mumbled, "But you still could use our name…"
"No. It's not his responsibility, and even if he knew that, people would assume…"
"Bella!" Edward interrupted. I looked up and he brought me the cordless phone. "Your dad"
I took it and Esme took over on cooking. I walked to my room, and closed the door.
"Hey, dad" I said.
"Hey, kid. How are you doing?"
"Good. Things are good at work, Carlisle is thinking of retiring, and I might be promoted"
"That's great, honey! For you, I mean. Why is Carlisle retiring?"
"He thinks he's getting old" I said playing with one of the toys I left on the bed.
"Bull shit" he snorted and I laughed.
"How are you, dad?"
"I'm good. Waiting for you to visit"
"Sorry, dad" I said and heard Carlisle's laughter and smiled, knowing it was probably because of the baby. "Actually, dad, I have something to tell you, so I might go over soon"
"You need to come to tell me? That serious?" he said playfully, but also curious.
"Ahn, not bad. Just… Really exciting news"
"Bella… Is everything okay?" he asked worried.
"Yeah, perfect!"
"You're making me worried"
"No need"
"Bella, when are you coming?"
"Ahn…" I thought how long would take to get everything ready, and considering the baby's age and health… "I don't really know. But soon"
"Do you want me to go over there? Maybe it's easier…"
"Really, dad! That would be great! I'll send your airplane tickets…"
"Bella, I can buy them myself"
"But I was going to pay for mine, and… Edward's." I lied, "And it's easier for me. Not a problem"
"Okay" he sighed.
"Thanks, dad. For everything"
"You're welcome, honey"
We scheduled to talk more about his visit tomorrow and I went back to the living room, to find just Carlisle and Esme.
"Edward?" I asked taking the baby from Carlisle.
They exchanged a look, that didn't seem good to me.
"In the porch, went to get some air" Esme said, lying.
"Okay" I let it pass.
Carlisle started to help Esme with dinner, so I went to the porch, looking for Edward.
"Hey" I said founding him in the swing bench we had.
He looked up at me, at the baby and gave me a weak smile.
"You still don't like the idea" I said sitting beside him on the bench.
"What? No, no!" he denied. Lied.
"Edward…"
"Fine. I don't get it. I don't like it. But it's what you want…"
"It's your house" I said quietly.
"It's our house"
"Your parents got it for you. You let me live in the other room, paying a ridiculously small amount of money…"
"It's not rented, why I would take your money..."
"Edward" I interrupted and smiled. "It's okay. I get it. We're twenty-seven. You're not ready to have a baby around you. Even if you did and I don't want to, you'll take some responsibility, you're like that. So… I'll find a place…"
"What?" he gasped. "Bella, no!"
"It's okay. I have money saved, since I didn't pay rent or anything the last few years. I have a good salary, and if I need money, I think I can count on you, or even in your dad, to give me a raise…"
"Bella, that's stupid. You live here with me, that's it. You're not moving out"
"I'm not taking the comfort of your home, Edward"
"I'm not letting you leave your home" he said matter-of-factly.
"Thanks" I whispered.
He gave me a smile and leaned back on the chair. An amused smile on his lips, he thought he won.
"But I'm still moving out" I said.
I got up and entered the house before he could protest. Esme and Carlisle gave me weak smiles when I entered and I smiled back.
"No!" Edward yelled entering after me.
I closed my eyes and sighed.
"Edward?" Esme asked.
"You can't!" Edward continued.
"I've already decided!" I said walking to the living room.
"I won't let you! You don't have to! I'm telling you it doesn't matter!"
Charlie started crying in my arms, and I tried to sooth him, but he was just getting louder, as Edward.
"Come on, Bella! It's just a little baby! I don't mind! I won't even notice him!"
"Edward…"
"Look, what do you want from me? What can I do to make you stay?" he pleaded. "I'll do anything. You want my name as his father, fine! You want money? Fine! Dad can give you a higher position until he retires, if you want more money… Anything!"
"Edward, you can't buy me to stay" I said still trying to sooth the baby.
"I'll do anything! Anything, Bella! Please! Just…" he shook his head and closed his eyes, "Can you make him stop?"
"I'm trying!" I said annoyed. "Shhh, baby, baby, shh"
"Do you want me to take him?" Esme asked while eyeing us.
"Yeah, please" I said passing him to her.
"Shh, baby boy…" she cooed.
"What does he want? Why isn't he stopping!" Edward said frowning.
"If you weren't yelling, he wouldn't be crying!" I snapped.
"Now it's my fault he cries! He's a baby. Babies cry for everything!" he snapped back.
"You can't stand a little crying! How do you expect to live with him!"
"He was quiet!"
"He's a baby! Babies cry!" I said rolling my eyes, repeating his words.
"But you would calm him down! It wouldn't bother me for long!" he said.
"It shouldn't bother you at all! That's why I'm moving out!"
"You're moving out?" Carlisle asked.
"Yeah!" I said.
"No!" Edward said.
"It's not your decision, Edward" I said losing my patience.
"It's my fault" he said, "And I'm trying not to have it in my conscience"
"Tell me one reason I should stay!" I said.
"Because this is your home!"
"I can by my house, and make it home with Charlie"
"Because… You're not used to living alone"
"I wouldn't be alone, Charlie would be with me"
"Dammit! Because! Because you live with me! Because this is your house too! And because you shouldn't have to move out because of a baby!"
"You still don't agree with my decision to keep him! You think he's a mistake!" I said angrily.
"Edward, calm down, please" Carlisle tried.
"It's a problem just have him! But he's changing your life upside down! And mine too!" Edward snapped.
"Silence!" Esme screamed.
We fell silent, just Charlie crying. Esme sighed and rocked the baby back and forth.
"You two fighting isn't helping on calming the baby" Esme said. "So, take the fight outside, or end it now"
"Sorry" I said extending my arms to her.
She deposited the baby in my arms, but he still didn't stop crying.
"Please, baby, stop. Shh" I said with tears in my eyes.
"Let me try?" Carlisle asked.
Charlie passed back and forth between my arms and his grandparents' but didn't stop crying a minute. Edward sat in the couch, gripping his hair, clearly losing his patience.
"Maybe we should call Rose" I said. "This is not normal! He's crying for almost half an hour"
"I'll call her" Carlisle said.
The rest of the night was a mess. For the next hours everyone came. Rose with Emmett, both shocked with the baby, but immediately tried to help making him stop. They couldn't make him stop either. Rose, pediatrician, didn't find anything wrong with him. He was perfectly fine, but still didn't stop crying. We called Alice, and Jasper, hoping that with the time they spend with their niece would help. They were also shocked, but let the explanation for later, worried about the baby. We were all tired of trying to make him stop. We were tired, period. Edward started drinking after Charlie completed an hour crying nonstop. I had to send Carlisle and Esme home; both tired and had work in the morning. Rose and Emmett left after them, also having work early in the morning.
"Bella, did you feed him?" Jasper asked while using the computer to see if he could find something on the internet about nonstop crying.
"Yes! Fed, changed, bathed, rocked…" I said tiredly rocking him in my arms. "Everything. Rose checked on him. He's fine!" I whined.
"Keep calm, honey" Alice said, "Maybe… He misses… Never mind" she mumbled.
"What?" I asked fighting tears. "Tell me, I'll do anything"
Edward groaned from the couch where he was laying.
"Maybe he misses his mom" she said sadly, "You're his mom, but maybe he hasn't… understood that yet"
I looked down at the baby and leaned against the wall. I slid to the floor and let the tears fall.
"Please, baby!" I cried, "You're scaring me. Please! Please, stop!"
He didn't and I hugged him tight to me. I was breaking down, because I decided to become his mom, but I didn't understand what he wanted, he needed…
"I'm sorry, baby. I'm trying, I'm really trying…" I cried.
"Shhh, Bella" Edward said.
I looked up to see him crouched in front of me. He put his hands on my knees, and gave me a weak smile.
"Don't laugh, okay?" he asked.
"What?" I whispered sniffing.
He extended his arms to me, silently asking. It was the first time he would hold the baby, so I carefully put the baby in his arms. Edward started humming a familiar melody. He was a little awkward in holding the baby, but after a moment, he found the right way to hold him.
"Do you hear me? I'm talking to you. Across the water…" he sang.
"Boy I hear you, in my dreams…" I sang too.
Alice and Jasper hummed loudly the melody, while Edward and I sang. It must have been awful, but in a minute, Charlie stopped crying, and smiled up to Edward.
"I wish we had one more kiss. I'll wait for you, I promise you, I will. Lucky I'm in love with my best friend…" we sang and Charlie squealed.
I chuckled with him, while Edward continued to sing and gently rock the baby. When the song ended, Charlie was peacefully sleeping.
"Wow" Alice said, "Edward is a natural!"
I sighed and smiled at Edward. He gave me a weak smile, and gave me the baby. He helped me up, and I went to put Charlie on the crib.
"You scared us… What were you trying to do?" I whispered watching he settle in his new crib. "Just an excuse to connect with Eddie?" I laughed.
I pulled the hair from his forehead and turned off the lamp, before going to the living room. Alice and Jasper were getting their things, and Edward was drinking another glass of scotch.
"Thanks guys, I'm sorry" I said.
"Not a problem" Alice said and Jazz smiled. "But next time you decide to make me an aunt, give me a nine month warning" she teased.
I chuckled and nodded. They left with promises of coming back the nest day to visit Charlie, and I sat beside Edward on the couch.
"We have to work in… six hours" I groaned.
"Dad called some time ago. Told us to have the day off" he said quietly.
"Edward… I'm so sorry. I really am. I know it annoyed you like hell…" he snorted at the understatement, "That's why I'm moving out"
"Bella…"
"Edward, it's decided" I said standing up, "We talk tomorrow, I'm going to sleep…"
He cut me off, standing up, walked to me, and kissed me. I froze for a moment, but it was so good, I kissed him back. When he pulled away, leaning his forehead with mine, both breathing heavy, we looked into each other's eyes.
"I wanted to do this last night" he whispered.
"Ahn, yeah, you almost did. But… I thought you were drunk?" it came out as a question.
"I'm just braver drunk" he chuckled.
"Okay…" I sighed, "What does this mean?"
"It means… I… like you?"
"Oh, good. Since we live know each other for fifteen years and live together for five…" I said sarcastically.
"Shut up" he chuckled.
"Make me" I dared.
And he did, with a kiss.
