A/N: Two reviews! Woot! 32 hits though…hmm, methinks those numbers are a bit off balance. Ah well, it's early yet. Thanks goes out to the two people that did review. You guys rock! It totally made my day.

As for chapter 2…I hope you enjoy. I felt like I struggled with this one, but not as much as I'm struggling with chapter 3. I'm hoping to work it all out over the weekend. Remember to review. If I suck…just tell me, I won't get too offended.

Stephenie Meyer totally owns this…not me, not at all.

EPOV

"Leaving, Dr. Cullen?" I heard a nurse ask.

"Yes," I replied quickly, making a beeline for the door. After a 36 hour shift, I didn't want anything standing between myself and my bed. Complete exhaustion didn't matter to my wife unfortunately. She would insist on my attention the moment I walked in the door, talking incessantly about whatever I missed in her "important" life. Contrary to her belief, I didn't care about the rumor mills of high society Chicago. It was enough to bore any man into a coma. All I wanted was sleep. As if she would allow me that bit of solace.

My drive home was fast and uneventful. Even with a lack of sleep, I felt the need to put myself and others in danger with my reckless driving. Aside from working in an ER, it was the only excitement my life had, and oddly, one of the few things I felt I had control over. Lucky for me, Tanya's car was not in the drive. I shouldn't be surprised; she shopped more than my sister. What was surprising, my sister's yellow Porsche sat in Tanya's spot instead.

Alice. I couldn't remember the last time I had seen her. I knew it had been months. Between my long and frequent shifts at the hospital, and my wife's ceaseless need for attention, I had little time for anything, or anyone, else.

"Edward!" My sister squealed, launching herself into my arms. "I called the hospital to find out when your shift ended. I hope you don't mind." My desire for sleep called out to me, but I couldn't deny Alice anything.

"No, not at all, what brings you here, sis?" We walked hand in hand into the dark house and back to the kitchen. I was never more grateful for one of Tanya's shopping trips than I was right now. If she were here, Alice wouldn't be. Alice plopped herself onto a barstool while I fished a couple of waters out of the fridge.

"Only to check up on you, brother dear," Alice answered with her tinkling voice and a mischievous glint in her eye.

"I don't believe you," I replied with a laugh. "You always have a purpose." Alice laughed freely at my assumption and it surprised me how much I had missed my sister. I missed her ease, her laugh, her happiness. It was infectious, and I needed it more than anything. I longed for the days of our childhood, where she would sneak into my bedroom to stay up late watching bad horror movies our parents refused to let us watch for fear of nightmares. Nightmares were never a problem. We always thought Emmett could protect us from anything those movies could throw at us. Life was so much simpler then.

"You're looking well enough," she changed the subject, "except for those awful bags under your eyes. When was the last time you slept?"

"I'm as well as can be expected for someone who just finished a 36 hour shift."

"I guess that answers my sleep question," she mused. "And how is your lovely wife?" her tone changing to something more spiteful at this question. Alice and Tanya hadn't been on friendly terms since the wedding. My lovely wife, as she put it, was still harboring a grudge over "stealing her thunder" on her wedding day.

"Same ole, same ole," I replied, and nothing could be more truthful. We were in a rut. I went to work to avoid her; she went shopping to spend my money. We never had meaningful conversations. We rarely did things together, other than the occasional benefit, in which Tanya insisted we attend so she could improve her social status. There was nothing I could see happening that would change our situation.

"Oh Edward," Alice sighed. She pitied me. That was the last thing I wanted from someone in my family. Yes, our relationship was strained at best, but hopefully we would work through it, eventually. If not, there was always the counseling option.

"It's nothing to worry about," I assured her. "This is how some married couples are. We can't all be like you and Jasper, or Emmett and Rose, or even mom and dad." I knew I was lying to her and to myself. I couldn't help but feel shafted by my marriage. I had three near perfect relationships in my family, yet I was the odd man out. Tanya and I were in love. However, it wasn't like the love I witnessed between my siblings and their spouses. All relationships are different though.

"Yes of course," Alice said softly, strangely answering my question. She was staring off into space, still thinking about what I had said. I hated the thought of her pitying my situation, I could feel anger rise because of it, and the last thing I wanted was to be angry with Alice. I rarely saw her as it was. It would take me forever to come around to apologize for an unwarranted outburst. She sensed my mood and then dropped a bomb to take me out of it.

"So I just wanted to tell you that I'm pregnant," she announced with a gust of air. Any irritation I was feeling immediately washed away. A bright smile lit her face, and mine as well, because it was just so damn infectious.

"Alice! That's wonderful news!" I lifted her into a hug. "I'm so happy for you and Jasper."

"I know! We're so excited!" Alice went on talking about how far along she was, when the baby was due, how mom was ecstatic, while my thoughts went to first time we thought Alice was pregnant.

I had just had the first dance with my beautiful wife. She was beautiful in her white gown, there was no denying that. I had everything now. I had one more year of medical school, a loving family, enough money that I would never want for anything, and now someone to share my life with. I was completely content.

Tanya's father had joined her for the next dance. I was heading to my mother's table to ask her to join me, when I noticed Alice and Rosalie standing before her table.

"That was a nice little stunt you pulled, Alice," I began. "What on earth was so important that you had to bolt out of my wedding? I'm hurt," I feigned. Everyone's eyes turned to Alice. It was clear they were all wondering the same thing.

"Well I guess it was just a little morning sickness," Alice said quietly, but not quiet enough. Everyone's eyes widened, including Jasper's. I thought I saw a brief exchange between them, but the shrill noise coming from my mother drowns whatever opportunities I had to decipher it.

"Oh my God, Alice!" my mother squealed. "I'm so happy. How far along are you? I'm going to be a grandmother!" I could see tears brimming in her eyes. She was completely overjoyed.

"Yes, my love, how far along?" Jasper chimed. Was it just me, or was Jasper getting this first hand? Shouldn't he know if he knocked up his wife? Something wasn't clicking.

"Oh, just about four weeks," Alice replied, but she wasn't looking at anyone when she did. Her eye contact was failing miserably. She was lying…outright. Why would she lie about something like that? How was my mother's lie radar faulty now? She always knew when we lied! I looked at my mother to see if she was buying it. All I saw was sheer happiness.

"Alice….dance with me," I demanded. She wasn't going to get out of telling me the truth. I had to know what would make her lie to mother and everyone else for that matter. Was she ill? Was it something more serious? Surely, Jasper would have told me if something was wrong with Alice, but he looked just as clueless this time.

"Oh no, Edward, you have to dance with mom next," Alice had effectively side stepped me for now. I did need to dance with my mother, and soon judging by the way Tanya was shooting daggers my direction.

"Soon then," I said, letting Alice know she wasn't off the hook all while taking my mother's hand to guide her to the dance floor. Esme could talk of nothing but the coming baby. With my marriage, and her two oldest already married, she had been anxious for grandbabies. Alice would get a mouthful from me for giving our mother false hope.

I never got to dance with Alice that night. She and Jasper had escaped soon after the cake was cut. To say that Tanya was pissed would be the understatement of the century. Not only did one of her two bridesmaids leave her wedding before she threw the bouquet, Alice's baby was now the prime topic of discussion among the guests. Alice had effectively, whether intentional or not, stolen all the attention from the bride.

"This is for real this time, I promise," Alice stated, bringing me back from the memory. I only smiled at her. I didn't hold a grudge against her for it. She had her reasons, whether she knew them yet or not. I still had no idea what they were, but I wasn't sure she did either.

"Alice," I began. I wanted some answers and I had waited two years to ask them, but I was cut off by the sound of a car door slam.

"One day, Edward. I'll explain everything, hopefully." She seemed to doubt herself. She was, truly, just as clueless as me. I heard the front door open and the distinct sound of shopping bags hitting the floor. I groaned internally. "I had better go," Alice said softly. I didn't want her to, but I didn't want to her to deal with Tanya either.

"Eddie! Could you help me with these bags?" Tanya called. God, I hated that nickname. Alice and I slowly made our way towards the front of the house. "Oh, hello Alice," Tanya's tone was cold. I was amazed she even said anything to my sister.

"Tanya," was Alice's short reply before turning towards me. I gave her another big hug, promising to see her soon; she left without saying another word. There was always something about Tanya that seemed to suck the life out of Alice. I wanted Alice out as quickly as possible. She should never be anything but happy.

"What was she doing here?" Tanya asked. I didn't miss the tone in her voice. I picked up her bags and made my way up the stairs to the bedroom, trying to avoid the coming fight. The tension was coming off her in waves and I knew I was in for it.

"She's pregnant," I muttered, hoping she wouldn't hear me clearly, but also hoping she didn't really care about the answer to ask me to repeat.

"She's pregnant!" Not too lucky today. I should have known, after all. I could have been sleeping now if today were a lucky day. "Is it for real this time?" her tone, dripping with malice. Tanya was not a forgiving woman. That was something I didn't learn until after we were married. If I was truthful to myself, I didn't know most things about her until after we were married. It all happened too hastily. We met, I was lonely, my siblings had found their soul mates, I was desperate. We were married two months after our initial meeting. End of story.

"Yes," I replied simply. Less was always more in these situations, and I didn't want to get into a full blown fight now. Lack of sleep was causing my mind to dull; word vomit was likely to ensue if I didn't put an end to this. "Now if you don't mind, I'd like to get some sleep."

"Fine!" she huffed and stormed out of the bedroom. I couldn't care less about her wrath, and I didn't think about it again once my head hit the pillow.