Pen Name: Happy Bells

Story Title: Haunted Miracles

Description: Bella has a Halloween surprise for Edward, but will a past hang up prevent him from finding happiness in his wife's news? All Human. One- shot.

Word Count: 4343

*****

"Bella, you've put on weight." My best friend's voice was not accusing, to my surprise, but thoughtful- which I think worried me more.

"Thanks Alice." I grinned dryly, "It's a good thing I know your one track fashion obsessed mind well enough to not be offended."

Alice Cullen's eyes darted from my stomach to my face, "Watch it." She narrowed her eyes and grinned evilly, holding up a pin as a threat.

I grimaced, knowing that being stuck here in Alice's bedroom in a half complete mermaid costume put me totally at her mercy.

"Must have been all that food on honeymoon." I grinned, patting my stomach, "Rio had some rather interesting combinations." Some had had me throwing up like crazy.

I allowed my thoughts to drift next door, where my new husband was hanging out with his brothers, Jasper and Emmett, while Alice was fitting me for my costume for the massive Halloween party she threw each year.

Edward Cullen and I had got married three months ago before taking a really long honeymoon in Rio de Janeiro. When we'd returned, he'd surprised me with the most beautiful, cosy face brick home- just next door to Alice and Jasper.

Edward and I had been mutual friends for years through Alice and Jasper before he'd finally confessed he loved me, four months later, he'd proposed, saying he knew I was the one and that he didn't want to wait anymore.

And me being as crazy in love with the man as I was, couldn't say anything other than yes.

"I don't think it was the food that gave you those extra pounds on honeymoon." She mused, grinning at me.

I rolled my eyes, "What are you getting at, Alice?"

"I'd look more to the…nights of your honeymoon…" she trailed off suggestively.

I paled in the face instantly when I got what she was insinuating, "Alice!" I hissed in surprise.

"What?" she shrugged innocently, "You're glowing, Bella. Pregnancy hormones." She stated, looking proud of herself, "And that is not from food." She pointed to my stomach, "I know yours and Rosalie's sizes and you're 2¼cm bigger than when I measured you for your wedding dress."

"It's impossible, you know this, Alice." I managed to get out, "Please, don't let Edward hear you throw stuff like this around, it'll only hurt him."

She huffed in annoyance, "But Bella…"

"No." I said with finality, "You know it can't happened, just leave it. There's no way I'm pregnant."

I knew I was being harsh, but when Edward and I were first dating, he'd told me that due to a rather serious case of mumps when he was a teenager, he wouldn't be able to have children. I remembered his exact expression- he'd been terrified that I'd leave him because of it, in fact, he'd made me take some time away from him to think about whether I could handle not having kids in my future. That week had been unnecessary as I'd already loved him with all my heart, and time away from him would only hurt me.

I'd shown up at his apartment in tears, telling him that all I'd ever want in life was him and that he should stop trying to get rid of me. When he'd broken down as well that night, I'd learnt just how deeply the knowledge that he couldn't give me kids affected him, and I never truly bought it up again- it didn't matter to me- he was all I needed. All I would ever need.

*****

"Edward?" I called out when I walked through the door that evening after Alice had finally let me go. The house was quiet so I assumed that Emmett and Jasper had left.

But it was too quiet.

And I couldn't figure out why all the lights seemed to be off.

"Edward?" I called again, frowning slightly- I knew he was home.

Moving through the foyer into the living room, I noticed that there was in fact a light on, and it was coming from the small dining room just off the kitchen.

When I entered the room, I smiled widely: The few boxes we had yet to unpack were shoved out of the way, table clothes draped over them and candles strategically placed on them to light the room. The dining room table had been set beautifully- the silver cutlery gleaming softly, reflecting the red of the roses set in the table's centre.

Lost in the romantic surroundings, I jumped slightly when I felt two arms surround my waist from behind, but relaxed immediately when my body recognised his touch.

"Welcome home, Mrs Cullen." Edward murmured, his breath on my ear making me shiver.

Smiling widely, I turned around in his arms to face him, "What is all this?" I reached up to brush a lock of his bronze colour hair off his forehead.

He shrugged, "I wanted to surprise my beautiful wife with a nice dinner."

I revelled in his words, even after three months, my heart still sped up when he referred to me as his wife. He might've felt as though he wasn't a whole man for me, but our thinking was worlds apart in that aspect- I was so incredibly lucky that I was enough for him.

"I figured you might need it after a day with Alice." He chuckled, "She sent my costume over with Jasper."

"And?" I asked curiously as he walked to the table, pulling out a chair for me.

"I'm under strict instruction not to tell you." He grinned.

I rolled my eyes; Alice had planned both our costumes to match but had threatened us severely if we told each other what we were wearing. It was typical Alice- only she cared this much about Halloween.

"Champaign?" Edward asked, holding out the tilted bottle, ready to fill my glass.

I hesitated, Alice's earlier words about pregnancy suddenly making me unsure. I didn't believe her, it was after all, impossible, but suddenly the thought of drinking made me feel uneasy.

"No thanks." I smiled, "I'm not really in the mood for alcohol tonight."

Edward shrugged and left the room, returning without the bottle.

"You can still have." I protested.

He quickly kissed my cheek before returning to his seat, "The point of tonight is not the drinking, but spending some time with my wife."

The chicken Edward had prepared was divine and we actually talked very little while I dug in- I was extremely hungry for some reason.

I tried to help clear away afterwards, but Edward stopped me, taking the dishes and blowing out the candles himself.

"I love you Bella." He said, taking me tenderly into his arms, "Thank you for marrying me."

"Stop thanking me!" I told him firmly, squeezing him closer to me, "I love you, there's no one else I could've married."

His deep green eyes smouldered as he bent his head to kiss me, gently, soft brushes of his lips over mine. Every time I tried to deepen the kiss, he'd pull back slightly and carry on teasing me. I could feel the slight smile on his lips.

"Edward." I whimpered eventually when it became too much, "Kiss me, dammit."

He grinned wider and then relented, groaning when our mouths made proper contact.

Our kiss was passionate, urgent. My hands tangled in his naturally messy hair while his thumbs trailed fire along the skin exposed by my ridden up shirt.

"Bella." Edward breathed my name in a sigh and suddenly I was up in his arms bridal style and being carried hurriedly up to our bedroom. It had been the first room Edward had wanted to unpack and set up.

"I see how it is." I couldn't help teasing him as we both pulled away briefly for air, "Dinner was just a ploy to get me into bed."

Edward chuckled as he lay me back lovingly on the huge bed, "All it all is to me is showing you how much I love you."

And then words were no longer necessary as his lips returned to mine.

*****

"Edward?" I asked timidly as we lay lazily tangled together much, much later.

"Hmm?" he was tracing random patterns on my bare back as I lay curled against his side.

I paused for a moment as I wondered how on earth to talk to him about this.

"Bella?" he opened his eyes, "What is it?"

I sighed and decided to just ask, "Did you ever get tested again?"

He immediately stiffened, his hand stopping its actions along my back, and I knew he knew what I was talking about.

"I knew it." Was all he said, covering his face with his free hand.

"Knew what?" I asked, not expecting to not understand his reaction, "Edward?" I tugged on his hand but he held it there firmly.

Eventually he slid his hand from his face and looked at me, his stunning green eyes pained, "I knew you would want children." He murmured, "I just hoped it wouldn't be so soon." He sighed heavily and I immediately sat up, grabbing both his hands in mine.

"Stop it." I whispered fiercely, "It hurts me when you hurt yourself over this. It. Doesn't. Matter. To. Me."

"Then why did you ask?" he took one of his hand out of mine and used it to prop his head up off the bed.

"I was just curious." I told him, not daring to bring up Alice's false suspicions.

Edward sighed and pulled me down so that I was in his arms again, "I'm sorry for overreacting." He murmured in my ear, "But to answer your question, yes."

"When?" I asked softly, running my fingers through his hair soothingly.

"The day after I met you." He admitted, "Before we got together."

He didn't have to continue; his reaction a moment ago told me what the results had been. So instead of continuing, I lightened the mood.

"A bit presumptuous, Mr Cullen." I teased him.

He chuckled and kissed me deeply, making me forget what we were talking about until he pulled away and said, "I knew you were the one the moment I saw you. I just thought you deserved better than me."

My heart melted and ached all at the same time and when I kissed him, I sincerely hoped he could feel how much I loved him.

*****

"You look like a true underwater princess. You're beautiful." Edward told me with a smile as I walked out of the bathroom in my costume, the night of Alice's Halloween party. The mermaid costume I was in was actually a turquoise dress that fell to the floor in uneven ends. Alice had sewn sequins and shells all over the bottom half of the bodice and my hair was down in tousled waves- still damp from my shower for affect. My make up was minimal, but had been done with exact accordance to my best friend's instructions over the phone.

"Thank you." I smiled at my husband, my smile brighter than usual, "You, however, I might need to glue myself to your side tonight. To keep the admirers away." I let my eyes rake appreciatively over him, making him chuckle. He was dressed as a Hawaiian surfer. A shirtless Hawaiian surfer. With the brightly coloured board baggy shorts and even a shark's tooth leather necklace around his neck.

"I only have eyes for you." He whispered, kissing me gently as not to disturb my lip gloss enough to get me in trouble with Alice.

He grinned and took my hand, "Let's go beautiful."

I was almost giddy as he led me to the already noisy house next door, but not because of a Halloween party where my husband would get hit on and dancing would more than likely be forced on clumsy me, but because tonight was the night that I was telling Edward he was going to be a father.

I didn't know how it was possible, but the doctor had confirmed my pregnancy this morning.

After about a week of not feeling one hundred percent myself, Alice's words had come back to me, and I had started to look at my symptoms in an entirely different light: Tiredness from the most mundane, simple tasks like climbing stairs, nausea at random, unplanned times; but what had finally helped convince me was when my period was over a week late…and I realised that I hadn't had a period in the last two months.

So after two days of dwelling on this and avoiding Edward's constant concern, I'd finally phoned Alice this morning and asked her to take me to the doctor- I would have asked Edward, but I hadn't wanted to get his hopes up like that, only to cruelly destroy them if the results had been negative.

But they hadn't been and now I was officially having a baby in six months. I couldn't wait to tell him, and had wanted to rush right in and tell him the news this morning, but Alice had stopped me, saying that it would make her party even more special if she knew Edward was getting the news during it.

Now, as Edward and I walked into the party together, I was once again amazed at the simple decorations that were more effective than anything expensive and fancy would have ever been. A quick glance around the crowded living room revealed the walls were draped in orange satin, black shapes of bats stuck on and there was even a smoke machine in the corner by the bar, enhancing the already perfect atmosphere she'd created.

"Edward!" we'd barely spotted our friends in the crowd, when a high pitched, annoying voice called my husband.

I groaned as I watched the blonde sway towards us, dressed very inappropriately in a playboy bunny suit. Well if you wanted to call it a suit- she was obviously hoping to get laid tonight.

"Tanya." Edward greeted her like the polite gentleman he was.

"Your costume is awesome." She commented, her eyes lingering on his chest. She completely ignored me.

I squeezed Edward's hand then in a total 'I told you so' gesture. He grinned sideways at me.

"Thanks." He replied, dropping my hand and wrapping an arm around my waist instead, "It was nice seeing you Tanya, but we need to find the host." He gave her another polite smile and led me away, a huge grin on his face at my expression.

"Alice needs to get a job with better co-workers. She irritates me." I grumbled

Edward laughed, his eyes sparkling with amusement, "I wonder why."

I just pulled a tongue at him.

Eventually we caught up with Alice- she was standing with Jasper, Emmett and Rosalie; and we stayed and chatted awhile before I finally couldn't take it anymore.

"Edward." I leaned up to whisper into his ear, "I need to talk to you."

He nodded and we excused ourselves- I noticed Alice give me a wink and a thumbs up as we walked away to find somewhere quiet. I led him upstairs, and out to the large balcony that was just off Jasper's study- this was easily my favourite place in their whole house.

"Bella, love, what is it?" he asked, concerned as he stood next to me, leaning on the balcony.

"It's nothing bad." I grinned widely and he relaxed, feeling my elation, "I have fantastic news actually."

"Well?" he chuckled after my pause, "What is it?"

"We're having a baby. I'm pregnant." Just as my smile widened, I noticed his completely fall off his face.

Then something happened that shocked me completely.

His expression turned blank, cold- it was an expression that he'd never used with me before, one that I'd never expected him to use with me.

My smile faltered further, "Edward?"

He laughed but the sound was hollow, "Whose is it, Bella?"

I stared at him confused, genuinely confused as to why he'd ask that. "Ours, Edward." I said, "How can you ask that?"

He shook his head once- a hard gesture-before taking a step away from me and the balcony railing, "Because, Isabella," he growled, making me flinch, "I can't have children, remember?"

Then he started to walk back inside and the full impact of his accusation hit me, "How could you ever think I could betray you like that?" I whispered, the hurt tears starting to fill my eyes.

He paused mid step but didn't turn around, "I want you out of the house by the time I come home tomorrow night." Then he left me there without another word.

I stood there silent for a moment, letting what had just happened sink in, before the sobs overtook me with such force that I crumbled to my knees. What the hell had just happened? That was supposed to be some of the happiest news of our lives, and instead of joy and happiness, Edward wanted me…gone? More sobs attacked me, maybe he'd already wanted to get rid of me and this had just been a good excuse, maybe that's why this seemed so sudden. He couldn't really believe that I could do that to him, could he…?

I don't know how long I sat there crying and clutching myself together, but when I finally couldn't cry anymore tears, my heart still cried and I let my hand go down to my stomach, stroking it lightly with wonder.

"I love you, baby." I whispered hoarsely, "Daddy may not want us, but I do and I promise I'll protect you no matter what." My heart ached so much in that moment that I actually felt as if my chest would crack open. I didn't know what to do now. Didn't know if I could gather myself up enough to actually figure it out.

I wasn't sure exactly what happened next, all I know is that I was suddenly lifted off the ground, big hairy arms around me as I hung over the balcony edge- I let out an uncharacteristic shriek and my sobs started all over again- the scare breaking my fine layer of composure.

"Geez Emmett! You weren't supposed to make her cry!" I recognised the voice as Jasper's as the arms started to pull me back, safely onto the balcony.

"I'm sorry Bella." Emmett was the one currently holding me, I noticed now that I could take everything in again, "It was just meant to be a joke. Ha ha?" he offered weakly.

And I couldn't help but smile slightly, Emmett was a jokester and he always managed to make me smile, it was a mask because he tended to be uncomfortable around too much emotion. But this didn't stop him from placing me back on the ground and wrapping a comforting arm around my shoulder. Both he and Jasper were the best brother-in-laws I could ask for.

Jasper came around to my other side and placed a hand on my knee.

"Where's your other half?" he asked, making me shake my head and try not to cry harder. The worst part was that I didn't know. I didn't know if I would ever actually see him again.

"I'm pregnant." I blurted out as a way of response- I might as well tell them, who knew if I'd ever see the family I loved so much after tomorrow.

Jasper snorted, "And our idiot brother doesn't believe you." Was his statement. He knew of Edward's hang up.

"Son of a…" Emmett trailed off, "Want me to bea…talk some sense into him?"

I knew he wanted to help, but I couldn't everyone see that if he wouldn't listen to or believe me, he probably wouldn't listen to anyone.

"No." I whispered, "Guys, I hate to be rude…" I was barely holding it together.

"But you need to be alone right now." Jasper finished. He'd always been good at being able to tell what people were feeling.

The brothers both stood.

"Well congrats anyway, Bella." Emmett said with a smile and after each giving my shoulder one last comforting squeeze, they headed inside.

*****

"Alice, can I stay here with you guys tonight?" I asked my best friend when the party started winding down. I'd stayed up on the balcony as long as I could get away with but I knew I couldn't stay there forever.

I obviously wasn't doing a good job of hiding my emotions because as soon as Alice turned from the kitchen sink and laid her eyes on me, she immediately asked "What's wrong?"

That's all it took for me to burst into tears. Again.

"He doesn't believe it's his." I sobbed.

"What!" Alice shrieked, "That..." Alice trailed off, obviously not finding a strong enough word to describe my husband. Instead she just came and wrapped her tiny arms around me.

"Want me to talk to him?" she asked softly.

I almost laughed through my sobs, imagining how that conversation would go, "Don't Alice, please. He wants me out the house tomorrow. Can I stay here for awhile?"

"Of course." She said sympathetically, "You know where everything is, go on upstairs." I could see the anger behind her eyes and prayed that she wouldn't do anything about it, because as much as Edward hurt me, I could actually see this from his side.

The bed in Alice's guest room was huge, one of the most comfortable things I'd ever laid on.

But I could not for the life of me sleep that night.

I sighed irritably and rolled over for the millionth time that night. That's when I heard it.

The bedroom door opened slowly, a small creak coming from the hinges. My eyes immediately flew closed as I tried to adjust and even my breathing. I knew it was ridiculous being scared, the security here was really tight, it was probably Alice checking on me- even though that was a funny thought, being one 'o clock in the morning.

I felt a hand stroking my hair and I couldn't help but tense, "Bella." The voice was completely familiar, yet I had never heard so much pain in his voice before- even when he told me he couldn't have children.

My eyes flew open again and I could see my husband standing there, the soft moonlight from the gaps in the curtain illuminating him softly.

I sat up and turned the bedside light on and when I met Edward's eyes, they matched his voice. Pained, haunted.

"Bella." He said again in a whisper, "I'm so sorry. So sorry." He came and hesitantly sat on the edge of my bed.

I didn't respond, the ache in my chest, as well as the shock of seeing him again, wouldn't let me.

"Don't apologise." I eventually whispered, "You don't want me anymore, I get that. Don't make it any harder."

Edward let out a groan, "Bella…Geez Bella…I don't deserve you." He choked out and I realised he was holding back tears. Was he really apologising for wanting me gone here?

He let out a ragged breath, "I thought fate was teasing me with something I thought I could never have, Bella. Do you know how much joy filled me when you told me when you were pregnant? In that one second, I had everything."

"Well why did you leave?" I asked, "How could you think I could ever cheat on you?"

"Because I'm an idiot and I don't deserve you." He said, "But that baby is mine, Bella, I refuse to believe anything else anymore." His eyes were filled with so much love and longing that my heart ached- this time for him.

"You believe me?" I whispered.

He nodded, "And I never meant to doubt you, Bella, I just–"

"Never thought it would be possible?" I finished.

"Yes." He murmured, "But that's no excuse for how I took the news. I'm so sorry. I'll spend the rest of my life making it up to you."

I felt a gust of air fill up my chest as I let myself breathe again, "That sounds like plan."

Edward smiled tentatively, "You'll keep me?"

I grinned and nodded before sobering, "I need you to trust me, Edward, do you know how much it hurt that you thought I could ever do that to you? After everything we've been through."

"Yes, Bella, I saw your face." He was deeply contrite, "And it nearly killed me to leave you there, but I needed to get my head out of the clouds before I could accept it."

"And now?"

He let out a deep breath, "I don't know how it happened, but I'm ecstatic." His smile was genuine as he reached over to hesitantly touch my stomach. "I love you Bella, love that you've given me this."

I smiled and tilted his head up to look at me, "I love you too." His hand trailed up from my stomach, up my chest to rest on my cheek. His touch made me shiver.

Then without another word, he kissed me, letting everything he felt into that kiss- love, happiness. I finally knew that he knew this baby was his. A true miracle.

"Let me take you home." He whispered against my lips.

"I don't want to worry Alice by disappearing." I protested weakly, wanting nothing more than to curl up on our bed with him.

He shook his head, "She'll know. She just came from our house with me. Man that women has a vocabulary…"

I pulled back, wounded, "You needed Alice to believe me?"

His eyes widened and he pulled me to his chest, "No Bella! No. I was going to come to you tomorrow…well, this morning, but she just sped up the process."

I relaxed at his words, "Then take me home Edward."

He kissed me again and then he was carrying me next door, our giddiness both making us laugh like teenagers sneaking out.

And I knew we would be perfectly okay from here on out. Me, Edward, and our little boy.

I'm thinking that I'll maybe add another two outtake chapters to this story: one where Alice spoke to Edward and the night where Bella goes to Edward's apartment after there week apart.

Please review? Tell me what you thought?