Sorry it took me a while to update! This is my first story so I'm paranoid that it isn't any good. I swear i must have re-written this chapter half a dozen times! To me it's a rather important chapter. I hope i did the ideas in my head justice! (Hope there aren't to many spelling errors! I'm normally good at checking but if you notice anything don't hesitate to mention it to me!) I also currently don't have a Beta. If you're interested, message me and I'll check you out!
* Italics = Someone's thoughts.
* (#) = Change in POV.
* (***) = Time passing.
So, that's it from me...
READ, ENJOY AND REVIEW!
Thanks!
Chapter 2
Bella's POV
I awoke to find Edward sitting exactly where he had last night, looking towards the cot in the corner. Toby was tugging at the bars of his cot, wanting to be let out. Edward turned to me when he realized i was awake, a worried expression to his face.
I had to conceal a laugh when i realized he didn't know what to do about Toby. I went to the cot and pulled him out. Walking to Edward i placed him in his lap, snickering a little.
"Here you go." i said, before promptly walking off to have a shower.
"But...What?!"Edward called out. As i reached the door i looked back at them. Toby was staring up at Edward who looked paler then he normally did (if that was possible) and a little scared. Smiling, i left the room.
The shower was warm and refreshing, exactly what i needed after last night. Edward had taken it all rather well, even comforting me a little. I was pleasantly surprised really, and glad to have it all out in the open. Toby was a big part of my life, a great part of it too. I wanted to share that with Edward. I knew that if he gave him a chance he would come to love Toby as much as i did. Thoughts of Edward and Toby filled my head. Playing, laughing together. Edward would make a great older brother.
I hurriedly finished my shower and changed into a fresh sky blue tank top and black jeans. I was eager to get back to my room to see how Edward was getting on with Toby.
What i saw when i opened the door made me burst into hysterics. Edward lay on the bad, Toby sitting on his chest, poking and prodding and occasionally yanking on Edward's hair.
When they heard me laugh they both turned towards me and smiled, obviously glad to see me. Edward immediately picked up Toby and tried to pass him off to me. I shook my head.
"You just need to get used to him." I insisted, Before heading towards the door to go have breakfast. Edward gave me a nasty look and settled Toby on his hip like he had seen me do, but otherwise didn't say anything. He looked so adorable with Toby, i could have watched them all day.
Charlie had already left for work so Edward didn't have to worry about being seen. He stood in the middle of the kitchen watching me prepare bowls of cereal for Toby and I, occasionally removing Toby's hands from his hair.
I motioned for him to put Toby in a chair and sit next to him.
"Here Toby, Breakfast buddy!" I chimed enthusiastically.
Toby tucked right in and Edward sat watching me curiously from his seat on the other side of the table. His expression something that looked like a mixture of interest and delight.
"What do you want to do today Edward?" I asked.
"Whatever it is we'll have to take Toby, i hope that's ok." Suddenly Toby started Yelling.
"Edwood!" I smiled happily, while Edward had a look of surprise then contented happiness plastered across his face.
"Edwood, Edwood, Edwood!" Toby continued his chant, now banging his spoon against his bowl, only stopping for mouthfuls.
"well..."Edward said, talking slightly louder then usual so i could hear him over Toby's chant.
"I was thinking we could maybe go to my house, I'm sure everyone will want to meet Toby." He said, smiling that lovely crooked smile i loved.
"Great idea. Oh, shoot! I forgot, Toby has a check up at the hospital at 2:00pm!" I exclaimed.
"I'm sure Carlisle wouldn't mind doing it, it he'd be in good hands." Edward stated.
"Yes! What a good idea. We can ask when we see him."
"It's Sunday so Carlisle is working the night shift. He'll be home." Edward said, matter of factly.
With that Toby stopped his wailing and demanded to be picked up. I left Edward to go get the Volvo while i took Toby upstairs to get him washed up and dressed.
20 minutes later we were ready to leave. Toby strapped securely in the back seat. He looked so cute in his rainbow colored long sleeve shirt, denim overalls and little red booties! I could have hugged him and never let him go. It was so good to see him again, and not lying in that horrible hospital bed with tubes sticking out of him every which way!
The drive to the Cullen's was quiet except Toby's occasional "Bewwa" or "Edwood" chant. We pulled up the Cullen's long, and surprisingly well hidden, drive he stopped mid-chant. He knew we were in a strange and unfamiliar place and he didn't like it. I repeated this to Edward after he glanced at Toby Worriedly. Edward just smiled at Toby reassuringly.
We parked out the front of the house and, after unbuckling Toby, walked to the front door. Esme was already there, door open, smiling in her motherly way.
"Bella, so good to see you." She beamed.
"And who is this?" She asked. Surprised and interested, after noticing Toby curled up in my arms, not dropping her welcoming hostess demeanor. Toby however buried his head deeper into my shoulder. He knew she was talking about him.
"It's a long story." Both Edward and I answered simultaneously.
"Alright. Well come in." She didn't press the issue. I wondered briefly what she was thinking. I quite often recently have found myself wondering what it would be like to be able to read people's minds, and why Edward hated it so much. Actually, when i thought about it, i guess i could understand.
Jasper and Emmett were in the living room playing some game on Emmett's X-box 360 while Alice watched from the couch. Carlisle and down the stairs when he heard us enter. Everyone turned and said 'hi', but if they noticed Toby they didn't say anything. I sat on the couch at the other end from Alice and Edward sat in the middle. Esme sat in the main armchair with Carlisle sitting on the arm. Jasper and Emmett turned to face us from their spots on the floor, their game completely forgotten.
"Where's Rosalie?" I asked. Edward paused, obviously reading someone's mind for the answer.
"In one of her moods." He stated after a brief pause. Emmett grimaced.
"Don't worry about it. Besides she can hear us." He said.
"Why don't you introduce us to your friend Bella." Alice said. A slight smile on her lips. She already knew, but how much i didn't know.
"Well, what does everyone know?" Alice had clearly had a vision but i didn't know how much she had seen or if she had told the rest of the family i couldn't be sure.
"Nothing. Alice won't tell us anything." Jasper sounded slightly put out. He was also sitting a little further back then everyone else.
"OK. Well everyone, say hi to Toby." I started.
"Hi Toby." They all chorused with their angel voices.
Toby looked up from my shoulder for the first time since we had entered the house. He looked around at the Cullen's the promptly buried himself back in my shoulder.
"Sorry. Meeting new people scares him." I said. Everyone just smiled encouragingly.
"So. Um, yeah this is Toby. He's my baby brother." I waited with baited breath for the reactions. Everyone looked shocked but didn't say anything. Finally Alice piped up.
"He's so adorable!" She squeaked. Everyone stared at her for a moment before simultaneously bursting into laughter. It took a few minutes but they eventually quieted down.
"How old is he?" Esme asked. Her curiosity getting the better of her.
"4 and a 1/2. His birthday is September 27th." I told them the exact same thing i had told Edward. I glanced at Edward for support. I wasn't sure i knew where to start. He nodded and put his arm around my shoulders for support.
"When he was 2 he got really sick. I mean REALLY sick. No one knew if he would make it or not. His doctors recommended he move out here with Charlie and I to help further his recovery." I could see Carlisle's doctor switch flicking on and he seemed curiousand worried but refrained from saying anything. Everyone else was staring at Toby. He had finally relaxed slightly and was playing with the pocket of my jeans, seemingly fascinated.
"What did he have?" Carlisle's doctor curiosity finally got the better of him.
"Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia." I answered. Somewhat of an expert by now.
"Really?" Carlisle didn't seem shocked but he seemed to be in contemplation. Everyone else looked shocked, their eyes trained on Toby, watching his everyone. Esme looked like she would have been crying if she could have. Everyone seemed to be waiting eagerly for me to continue. So i did.
I told them almost exactly what i told Edward. Finally i reached the end of the tale...
"So i had the operation and he got the bone marrow transplant. Then when it seemed everything was gettin better he got GvHD. He ended up healthy as ever. Though he still needs weekly check ups. Speaking of which, we have an appointment at the hospital in half an hour." I finished.
"I could do it here if you'd like." Carlisle offered.
"Really? I was going to ask if you wouldn't mind but i forgot." I admitted.
"Certainly, we can do it any time." he smiled. Toby chose that moment to speak.
"Bewwa! Hungry!" He shouted.
"Toby Hungry!" I laughed.
"I think he should have lunch first." I said.
Esme jumped up, eager to help in some way.
"I could cook something if you'd like." She said.
"Thank you but i already packed a lunch and he needs to watch what he eats." I said, apologetically. I turned to Edward.
"Would you mind getting my bag out of the car." I smiled.
"Sure love." He said, walking out of the room.
Alice was curling Toby's hair around her fingers, while Jasper and Emmett watched on, looking at Toby like he was a wondrous new being from outer space. Toby was oblivious to all the attention as he kept tugging at my hands, trying to get me to play a game of 'Pat-a-Cake'.
Edward bought my bag inside and handed it to me while returning to his original possession next to me on the couch. I pulled out a banana and some jam sandwiches i had packed earlier. Toby loved jam, especially strawberry.
Peeling the banana, i broke off small pieces and handed them to Toby. He plucked them out of my hand eagerly and stuffed them in his mouth one handed, while his other hand reached out for more. Everyone sat in silence watching Toby eat. He really was adorable, already wrapping everyone around his cute little fingers.
"He's very cute isn't he." Emmett said, a slight smile on his face. Everyone turned to stare at him. Emmett didn't usually show that kind of affection to anyone but his family and even then it was never so... Honest!
"What?!" He asked.
"He is. Just look at him." Emmett sounded frustrated now. We stared at him for a few more seconds before turning back to Toby.
Toby was sitting dangling his legs over the side of my lap, smiling up at everyone his goofy little smile, banana squished in his hands. Cute little dimples appearing at the corner of his cheeks. Emmett was right. He was extremely cute, though i am slightly biased. I thought. Also, for the first time i noticed how much of a resemblance Toby had to Emmett. The dimples the curly hair... They really did look alike. I wonder what Rosalie would think of that. I decided it was a good thing nobody could hear my thoughts, i don't think Edward would have liked that one much.
Toby finished his banana and sandwiches without to much mess, thankfully. I would have hated to get jam or squished banana on the beautiful white couch. I packed up his food scraps and handed him his sippy cup. Best not to take chances.
"So where do you want to do this check up?" I asked Carlisle. Everyone seemed to be brought out of their stupor, remembering that Toby was no ordinary little boy.
"In my office would be best. Would you like to do this now?" He asked politely. I just nodded. I was always extremely nervous before Toby's checkups. I just wanted to get this over with.
I stood and placed Toby in his usual possession on my hip. Carlisle and Edward stood too. Everyone else stayed seated. They were probably curious but decided that they shouldn't interfere.
I turned to walk towards the steps but Edward gently held me back. I looked up at him questioningly. He just stared at the top of the steps, as did everyone else. Alice, Esme, Emmett and Jasper now on their feet.
Rosalie appeared at the top of the stairs, a look of indifference on her face. I smiled at her. Toby, seeing my reaction to the newcomer, waved his hand and smiled at Rosalie. Rosalie smiled back at him briefly, before her face twisted into something mixed with pain and longing. Edward growled suddenly and sprang forward, knocking her to the bottom of the stairs and pinning her there.
Emmett had started to growl and move forward, Jasper grabbed him roughly and gave him a look. He stopped struggling. Carlisle and Esme were standing by the chair they had been sitting on, shocked looks on their faces, and Alice's face had gone dreamy. She was seeing something.
Everyone turned to Toby when he started to whimper. I placed my hand over his head and held him to my chest protectively, shushing him quietly.
Edward conversed quickly in vampire speed with Rosalie before letting her up. She fled outside, just a blur of motion to my eyes.
Jasper released Emmett who chased after his mate. Edward came over to me and wrapped his arm around my waist protectively. Not looking at me.
"Carlisle. Can this be done quickly, i want to get Bella and Toby home." I could tell Edward was doing his best to keep his voice level.
"Of course Edward." Carlisle looked curious but didn't press his eldest son. He moved towards the stairs, Edward closely behind, steering me to follow.
"Edward. What was that all about?" I asked. Slightly annoyed at him.
"Nothing ok. I'll tell you later." He continued up the stairs.
"No. Now!" I said, with slightly more defiance then i usually used. Edward sighed, running a hand through his hair.
"Toby is Rosalie's singer." He said.
***
Yes! One more Chapter. I hope it was long enough for you!
I could have made it longer but then i wouldn't have been able to stop where i wanted to!
Anyway... REVIEWS PLEASE!!!!!! If it will make you REVIEW I'll beg!
*gets down on hands and knees*
"PLEASE REVIEW MY STORY!!!!!!!!!!"
There. Now that's done, you can go review!
Hope you liked the chapter. The third chapter should be up within the week!
Thanks: Quilyrulz :] (your faithful writer)
