Chapter One: Little Time

Bella POV

Sighing as I slammed the car door shut, I promised I'd never be seven months pregnant in July. It was hot, sticky, and humid...three things that were emphasized by my huge state. The only thing that kept me going was the fact that my fiancee was at home, already cooking for me.

I stuck the keys in the ignition and took another deep breath before backing out of the parking space. Being a second grade teacher, I was off for the summer. But, the Elementary school always held the festivities in the the huge field in the back of the building. I offered to help plan before I knew I was pregnant, and felt guilty for backing out when they were already short staffed. I groaned as I slammed on the breaks as I reached the rush hour traffic, and only prayed to get home soon.

I smiled when I saw his silver Volvo parked in his spot, and pulled myself out of the car. I waddled my way into the house, and smiled when I heard Black and White blasting from the upstairs. I walked upstairs, and could barely stifle my laugh when I saw Edward, on his knees, using a paintbrush as a guitar.

"Now I believe in miracles, and a miracle has happened tonight!" He screeched, completely out of tune.

"Hey there pop star." I laughed, bending down and kissing the top of his head. "Watcha doin?"

"Painting the nursery." He nearly shouted as I turned down the iHome. "I picked up the paint since you were staying late, and thought I'd get a head start...since...the paint fumes are bad for you, Bells." He said, pushing me out of the room.

"A little paint fume isn't going to kill him." I laughed.

"You really think it's a boy?" He asked as he helped me onto a stool in the kitchen.

"I have no idea." I smiled. "But, this baby won't stop moving and your mother told me you moved every hour of everyday."

"It's true." He agreed. "But, she insisted on playing Mozart for me all the time."

"And look where it got you."

"Awww, shucks." He smiled, leaning down and kissing me. Edward and I had met three years ago when he'd volunteered to play the piano for the Christmas Play at the school. His little cousin, Cody, was in my class, and forced us to meet...claiming we'd be perfect for each other. Cody had been right, and we talked for hours that night. The minute he'd brought me to his place for a family dinner after four months of dating, Cody immediately made sure it was known he'd introduced us and demanded we thank him at our wedding.

"It smells great, babe." I complimented. "What are you making."

"Your favorite." He smiled, opening the oven. "Chicken Pot Pie."

"You're right. It is my favorite."

"I know my fiancee." He laughed, kissing me yet again. "You're in for a real treat tonight." He said to my stomach. Edward and I were already engaged by the time I got pregnant, and we made sure people knew that wasn't the reason for our engagement. We'd already been engaged for a year and a half, but it had been the reason for postponing the wedding. I refused to look like a whale in my gown, and I refused to not be able to drink at my own reception.

"He's right, peanut." I laughed. "Daddy is a great cook.

Edward and I spent the night in our PJ's, eating, watching movies, and just being with each other. After the baby was born, we wouldn't have time for our lazy nights and then the wedding would be here. We took every chance we had like this and took nothing for granted.

"We still haven't talked about names." I pointed out as I brushed my hair before bed. "I do like peanut, but I'm pretty sure he or she will be bullied out of school if we keep that name."

"You're probably right." He laughed, sitting on our bed. "For a boy, I like Aiden Samuel."

"And for a girl?"

"Madeline Claire." He shrugged, and I felt tears forming in my eyes. I was an emotional person to begin with, and the damn pregnancy seemed to worsen it. I cried at the drop of a hat these days, and he'd noticed the tears streaming down my cheeks. "We don't have to go with that. It was just an idea."

"No, it's not that it's bad." I sobbed and he brought me into his tight embrace.

"Then...what?"

"It's...it's perfect." I sobbed even harder.

"Then why are you crying, love?" He asked as he stroked my back.

"I...I don't even know."

"Awwww, Bella." He tried not to laugh as he hugged me tighter. My huge stomach keeping us apart didn't help at all, and I sobbed because I couldn't even be as close as I wanted to be to him.

"I just wanna have him...or her!"

"I know." He sighed. "She's coming, Bells. Three months."

"Three months too long."

"Miss Swan! Miss Swan!" One of my second graders from last year called as she ran over to me. "Look what I go!" She said, pointing to an American Flag painted on her face.

"Looks good, Char." I smiled, at her. "Did you request a song yet to Mr. Masen?"

"Not yet! What should I request?" She asked. Since the community was one of the smallest in Chicago, the school wasn't as funded as we'd like to be, and Edward offered to play 'DJ' for the party today.

"Pick whatever you want to, Charlotte." I said, and she bolted over to where Edward had his computed and speakers hooked up. I began to laugh as I saw his face after she'd whispered in his ears, and already knew the song she'd picked. After Call Me Maybe had stopped, I saw him take a big breath before What Makes You Beautiful came blasting over the speakers.

"Did you put her up to this?" He asked when I went over to laugh in his face.

"Nope." I answered honestly. "But, you did make a big stink about the song at the end of the year party I had for the class."

"I didn't make a big stink about it."

"Babe, you covered you ears and turned away from the kids dancing." I laughed. "If only you saw what I can see!"

"Don't you start!" I winked at him before I went to find Angela, my best friend and co-teacher. We danced together and all of our kids from the previous year had been watching us and began clapping once the song was over.

"We're gonna be a little patriotic for a bit!" I heard Edward shout as he played Pink House. Everyone joined in, even the elementary kids.

"Hey, babe?" I asked Edward after he was done talking to a fifth grade teacher. "I think it's time we leave."

"Are you okay?" He asked.

"Yeah, but I can't stand anymore...especially in this heat." I said, putting a hand on my stomach. "My backs killing me."

"Okay, well I'll pack up and we can go." He said, pausing the music, causing everyone to groan.

"You know what, you stay and finish up the party." I urged. "I'll have Angela drive me home."

"You sure?"

"Yeah, I mean it isn't a party if their's no music." I smiled, ruffling his shaggy hair. "Is it?"

"I suppose not." He replied, kissing me. "Text me when you get home."

"I will. Love you."

"Love you too." He called as I walked to find Angela. She decided to stay with me and drink tea instead of going back to the party until Edward got home.

"So, have you thought of any names?" She asked as she handed me the tea cup. "I mean, Edward's been telling me his ideas since the day you found out you were pregnant."

"He has?" I asked, since the other week was the first time we even mentioned picking out names. "He never said anything."

"Well, they weren't great names...and it was more of 'I think Samuel would be a good name, don't ya think' kinda thing. He wasn't literally telling me his ideas."

"He did mention Samuel as a middle name." I said. "Aiden Samuel."

"Well, no matter how many names he told me...he always came back to Samuel." She mused. Angela was Edward's cousin, and Cody's mom. Her and her husband, Ben, moved to Chicago three and a half years ago, and slapped herself when she found out Cody'd introduced us and that she didn't think of doing that. "I think he likes that name."

"Well, then Samuel will be apart of his name." I laughed, as we clinked glasses. We spent the rest of the time, thinking of baby names...good or bad. "What about Fedora."

"Fedora?" SHe asked, nearly spitting out her drink. "Isn't that a hat?"

"Yeah. But, some celebrity didn't stop that from naming her little girl that."

"Poor kid." Angela whispered as I heard the garage doors going up. Angela excused herself to help Edward, and I began cleaning up the kitchen.

"How was the rest of the party?" I asked after everything had been put away.

"Pretty good, except your kids kept requesting One Direction songs after you'd left." He huffed, pretending to be annoyed. "Thanks for that."

"Hey, I wasn't there." I defended. "I had nothing to do with it."

"Well, you should have played better music in the classroom!" He joked.

"I'll warn the third grade teachers to play Mozart and Bach next year."

"That's all I ask." He said, giving me a kiss. "Hi."

"Hi yourself." I whispered. "Ang, you're good to get home, right?"

"Yeah, I have Ben's car." She said, digging the keys out of her purse. "I'll see you guys tomorrow!"

"Bye Angela!" Edward called as he lead me upstairs, and when we got to the top...covered my eyes. "You ready to see the nursery?"

"Yes." I sighed. I knew what color we planned to paint it, but a few days ago, Edward got the idea to paint a mural on the wall. He gently guided me to the door, and walked me into the middle of the room. "Can I open my eyes?"

"Go for it." He urged, and he removed his hands from my face. I gasped when I saw what'd he and his buddy's had been able to do. Where the crib was going to go, they'd painted a giant tree with monkeys hanging off it, and a lion and an giraff hiding behind. "You like?"

"I love." I cried, and I felt the tears coming on again.

"No! No, don't you cry!" He urged as he hugged me tightly.

"I'm...I'm not." I lied through my sobs. "It really is perfect, Edward."

We spent the night together on the blow up mattress in the nursery. It was a wonderful thing to just be able to cuddle up to him, and be content. I knew so many couples who had to be doing something to be happy with one another. They had to be having sex, or going on elaberate dates, to have fun, or be happy with each other. But, with Edward, we could just lay together for the rest of our lives and be happy.

"You ready to go?" I asked as stuck my head in our master bathroom. It was Sunday, and Sunday meant brunch with the Masens. It was how it'd been since his oldest sister moved out, and that was how it would be until the last Masen died.

"Yeah." He huffed, giving up on the tie he'd been trying to tie. "Let's go."

"Hold up, and come here." I commanded. "Let me help you."

"The tie really is over doing it."

"Oh yeah?" I asked. "You say that after your mother hounds you for a half hour about not wearing a tie." I laughed. His family wasn't stuck up or anything, and they were the sweetest people, but they had money and were proud of who they were. Dress was important in their house.

"I doubt it'd be half an hour." He huffed as I finished tying it. "Maybe like, twenty-five minutes."

"Whatever you say, baby." I laughed, grabbing my purse and heading downstairs. Since they lived in the city, it was a good half hour to their house and it was miserable. Even with the air blasting, I was sweating like crazy.

"Babe, stop worrying about it." He urged when he looked over and saw me fanning myself with the notebook I kept in my bag for the grocery store and other things. "You look beautiful and I don't think people are going to be smelling you."

"They won't have to since I'm radiating the stink like a fucking fan!"

"Honey!" He screeched as we stopped at a red light. "Please, just calm down." He said as he rubbed his arms with his hands. I looked at the thermometer that was built into the rearview mirror, and saw that it was only seventy-eight and I had the air blasting like it was one hundred and five degrees outside.

"You can turn down the air."

"I'm fine." He protested as he turned the air back up. "You do what you need to make yourself comfortable."

Another ten minutes, and we pulled into the Masen driveway. Everyone was already there, including Angela and her family. Edward raced around and helped me out of the car and held my hand as we made our way up to the front door. The hello's were crazy as always...everyone needing to hug everyone and I was even sweatier by the time we sat down in the living room.

"How're you feeling, Bella?" Edward's oldest sister, Annie asked. Her and her husband had been in Washington DC for the last two months, and last time they saw me...I was still pretty small.

"Hot." I laughed. "But, fine otherwise."

"She's been a real trooper." Edward said, grabbing my hand. "It's been hot as hell these last few weeks, and she's been helping with the Forth of July party in our town."

"She did a great job." Ben pointed out. "It was the best party they'd had since we'd been there."

"It wasn't all me." I defended. "I had a lot of help."

"Yeah, but you made it come alive." Angela complimented, making me blush.

"Yeah! It was awesome!" Cody chimed in. "There was a balloon man and a face painter! Oh! And a airbrush dude."

"It sounds like fun." Elizabeth chimed in as she came out from the kitchen.

We spent the rest of the day at their house, and only left because I began having Braxton Hicks contractions. Edward insisted on going to the hospital, but I'd been having them since the end of June and I had a feeling I'd know when they were going into labor contractions. We got home, and jumped into the tub together, and just enjoyed another night of just being together.

"Are you sure you're feeling okay?" He asked as I came out of the bathroom from washing my face. "You don't wanna go to the hospital?"

"Edward, it's been hours and my water didn't break."

"What if it broke while we were in the tub?" He asked. He'd been cool, calm, and collected during the pregnancy, but I could tell he was becoming more nervous as my due date got closer.

"I would have felt a 'pop' and then the water would have become murky." I explained to him. "I'm really, fine, Edward."

"Okay." He said wearily before there was a loud POP outside the house. We both jumped, and he pushed me to the ground. He went over to the window and sighed relieved about something. "Just a car backfire."

"God, you scarred me!" I yelled, pushing him away, but unable to stifle a laugh. "I thought we were really being shot at!"

"Well, better safe than sorry." He laughed, getting into bed. "Besides, what's the likelihood of a shooting in Bridgeview?"

"You're right." I agreed, leaning over and turning off the bedside lamp. "Love you."

"Love you too." He whispered, kissing me before settling on the bed.

We both jolted awake to the breaking of glass. I turned the light on, before he reached over me and turned it off again.

"What's going on?" I whispered. "Was that our window?"

"I think so." He answered, grabbing his phone from the bedside table and handing it to me. "Call 911."

"Okay." I nodded. "Where are you going?" I asked as he grabbed his old baseball bat from the closet and headed to the door. He opened it a crack and then shut it quietly.

"Here, come with me." He whispered, grabbing my hand and leading me out of our room into the nursery. "I want you to stay in here."

"In the babies closet?" I whispered, clutching to the phone.

"It's the only room in the house that's empty." He explained. "They'll look in here, realize there isn't anything in here and move on."

"What about you? This isn't big enough for both of us."

"I'm going downstairs to check it out." He said as he tried moving away from us."

"The hell you are!" I nearly yelled before he covered my mouth.

"I'll be fine, Bells." He whispered. Just stay here, and call the cops." He said before kissing me and closing the closet door. My hands stumbled across the touch screen and I could barely breath let alone dial a number. But, I was able to get to the keypad and dial 911.

"911 what's your emergency?"

"There are people who just broke into my house." I panted.

"Okay, miss. Is anyone hurt?"

"No I don't..." I began to say before I heard Edward's screams and a shot. I knew the minute I heard the sound that it was a gun, not another car backfire. "Edward!"

"Miss!" The operator called.

"Help."

"We will, we need to know your location first."

"543 Kelton Avenue." I sobbed before hanging up the phone. I clutched my stomach and began to pray that they'd missed and Edward was okay. I stopped breathing as I heard the door open and prayed they'd just leave us alone.

"Nothing." A deep voice said. "Let's go."

Not soon enough, I heard sirens in the distance and then, more breaking glass. I assumed they'd gotten scarred and ran from the house. I stood up and opened the door, quietly making my way downstairs. I nearly threw up when I saw Edward's limp body on the ground, covered in blood.

"No!" I called, running over to him. "Edward...Edward wake up!" I called, slapping his face. I moved his body so his head was laying in my lap. "Edward, come on. The police are here...we gotta talk to them." I did what I thought was going to work, and began to give him mouth to mouth.

"Edward, this isn't funny!" I screeched after he still hadn't opened his eyes. "Please, wake up." I cried.

"Miss, are you alright?" I heard a strangers voice ask. "Were you hit?"

"No, but my fiancee is refusing to wake up." I cried. I noticed the man was a police officer by his uniform, and a look of heartbreak in his eyes.

"We're going to get him to the hospital so he can be helped, okay?"

"Can I ride with him?"

"Yes." He sighed. "We have to talk to you later though."

"I didn't see anything." I whispered as they lifted Edward into the ambulence. "Don't waist your time."

"We still need to talk to you." The EMT's helped me up in the back, and I just sat with Edward, holding his hand. His face was pale white, and his beautiful hair was covered in thick, red blood. When we got to the hospital, I wasn't able to go back with him, and I sat alone in the waiting room. I only called Angela, not ready to deal with his folks yet, and she promised she wouldn't say anything.

"Bella!" She called as she rushed into the room, wearing her PJ's. "Have you heard anything?"

"Not yet." I said as the automatic doors opened, and a doctors in scrubs walked through them.

"Bella Swan?" He asked and Angela and I rushed to his side. "I'm so sorry."

"No." I cried, leaning against Angela.

"We did everything we could to help him, but he lost too much blood and the bullet went straight into his lung." He sighed. "The lung was full of his blood by the time we got into the opperating room to try and save him."

"You're lying." I cried as Angela had to hold me up.

"I wish I was, miss." He said. "There wasn't anything anyone could do."

"NO!" I cried as I finally fell to the floor. "NO!" I cried into Angela's arms. I began pinching myself, trying to wake myself up from the horrible nightmare I was having. But, when I didn't wake up in my bed next to Edward, I knew this was really happening. Edward...my Edward was murdered.

And I wouldn't rest until I found the son of a bitch who killed him.