Hello again and happy New Year!

I know I have no excuse but life has been hectic the past few months, and i had to deal with a lot.

I hope you all had a nice holiday and a great time!

Ok I had left this story to a cliffhanger, so there's the next chapter.

I hope you like it!

Enjoy! :D

"Hello?" I said cheerfully, and then I almost dropped the phone.

Chapter 3

"Bella?" said the voice I had missed so much, but at the same time dreaded to hear.

"J- Jake?" I managed to croak out.

"Yeah it's me, how are you?" he asked hesitantly.

"I'm okay Jake, thanks. And you?" I asked with a little too much concern in my voice.

"I'm good Bells, well... great actually..." he chuckled. And how is Edward?"

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Jake making small talk and asking about Edward?Jake loathes Edward!

"Bella? Bells, are you here?" Jacob asked amused and then I realized I had spaced out due to my utter shock.

"Um, yeah, sorry Jake, um... Edward is good, thanks." I replied still completely baffled.

He chuckled again "Good," there was a pause "I've missed you Bells." he said softly and I started panicking.

"Jake, I..."

"Bella, listen to me. It's okay, really. I've realized long ago that we are not going to be together, so I am trying to move on... Actually, I think I'm doing quite a good job at that." he said and I could hear the smile in his voice.

"Wow, Jake, that's really great... I'm so happy for you. " I replied cheerfully.

"Yeah, I am happy too. I finally started feeling better... but I owe it to someone..." he said shyly, almost embarassed.

"Yeah? And who is that wonderful person?" I asked, in a joking tone, but I was really curious to know.

"Well it's this girl I'm dating, and that's why I called. I want you and Edward to meet her."

I paused momentarily still processing the facts and then I realized my best friend who used to be in love with me had just confessed me his love for another woman. It felt weird.

"Baby? Who is it?" Edward called from the kitchen.

"It's just Jake honey." I said, hoping that he won't want to talk to him.

"What? Shut the fuck up! Let me talk to him!" he almost yelled. Poor him, he thought Jake was actually his friend. I smiled internally; this was my Edward, he always thought the best about people. "Hey Jake, Edward wants to t-" I didn't finish my sentence, as the phone was removed from my hands.

"As I leave and breathe, hello stranger!" he said enthusiastically "Where the hell have you been all this time?"

I couldn't hear what Jake was saying but from Edward's responses I assumed that he told him anything but the real reason why he's been lost all this time.

"Dude, seriously? I swear that's what Bella said... I can't believe you found a girl and you didn't tell me!"

"Right, of course we will join you for dinner! Can't wait to meet the reason you've been a stranger all this time. We have something to tell you as well!" he added proudly.

It was then that it hit me... Jake didn't know about my pregnancy. Oh crap! I wonder how he will take the news, because of course; it's not like I could hide it even if I wanted to; I looked like a bear already. Edward's cheerful tone brought me out of my thoughts and I realized he was still on the phone with Jake.

"Okay mate how's tomorrow evening? Yeah 8 is fine. Bring your girl with you alright? Bella and I can't wait to meet her! Bye mate!" with that, he hung up the phone.

"Wow!" Edward said turning to me. "Can you believe he just called after all this time? And he's got a girlfriend! I wonder who she is. It seems pretty serious." Edward started rambling on but I could only focus on what had taken place just minutes before.

Jacob Black, my best friend who used to be in love with me, after almost a year of absence from my life returned only to tell me that he had moved on and he actually had started a relationship with another woman. I was utterly confused, and to be honest, upset because I was supposed to be the one that would give him advice on how to take her on a date and to hear about his feelings. I had missed my childhood friend so much, and I was really sad that I wasn't there to share his happiness. Of course, it was you who took that happiness away from him, don't you remember? So why am I so pissed that he moved on without me?

"Baby? Baby?" I shook my head and saw a smiling Edward waving his hand in front of my face.

"Yeah, sorry I spaced out." I told him absentmindedly.

"I think our bean in there is distracting her mommy often," he said chuckling and rubbing my belly gently.

I laughed. "Yeah, I guess so." I put my hand on top of his on my belly and followed his circling motion.

"Bella, sweetheart, aren't you happy to hear of Jake?"

"Of course I am Edward, what are you talking about?"

"Well it just looks like you didn't really want to talk to him baby, and I've noticed that every time I talk to you about him, you just change the subject or avoid the conversation. Has anything happened between you two?" he asked curiously.

There it was, I was starting to panic again... I quickly said the first thing that came to me. "Well it's just that I'm kind of mad at him for disappearing like that, he shouldn't cut contact like that, he is my best friend and he doesn't even know that I'm pregnant!"

Edward's face softened "Yeah, you're right honey, sometimes I forget how close you two used to be, it must be hurtful for you to not have your best friend with you all this time. I'm sorry." He stroked my cheek affectionately, and I smiled at him.

"It's okay, besides you forget something Edward..." I said getting closer to him, well, as close as my baby bump allowed me "... you are my best friend, and it's you I need more than anyone and anything. It always was and always will be this way baby." I smiled and wrapped my arms around his neck getting on my tiptoes to kiss him. He met me halfway and I kissed his smiling lips.

We stood there kissing for a while and then he pulled away with a bright smile and looked at me with this look. The look that made me weak in the knees, and made me realize how lucky I was to have a man like him in my life.

"I love you. Always." I told him ardently. "Never doubt that. It's always been you Edward."

"Oh baby, I love you too. Both of you. And I've been nothing but happy since the day I met you." he said and as he leaned to kiss me again, I gasped and grabbed his hand.

"Look! Can you feel it?" I said and he gasped when he felt the small nudge coming from inside my belly.

"Oh my god! Bella..." he said amazed and fell on his knees, his hands still on my stomach. "Hello princess, I'm your daddy and since we can feel you moving I guess you can hear me as well. Mommy and I love you so much... I can't wait till mommy is ready to have you so we can meet you and see your beautiful face. I bet you'll be gorgeous. And just so you know, you're not allowed to date like, ever." His last statement made me laugh but along with the laughing came the tears. I sniffled and started running my fingers through Edward's hair, while he was giving small and sweet pecks on my belly.

He smiled and looked up, and when he saw me crying he got up and cradled my face in his hands.

"Love, don't cry. Didn't you know that I loved her from the day you told me she existed?" he chuckled.

I sniffled again "Yeah but sometimes, I just can't wait for her to be born, so we can spoil her, so I can hold her in my arms and nurse her. To make sure that she is real. That, all this is real. This... a family with you has been my dream since I met you Edward. And I just can't believe it's coming true. Sometimes I still think that I'm going to wake up and find myself alone in my old bedroom at my parents' house." I sobbed in his chest.

He hugged me tightly and buried his face in my hair and whispered. "Do you remember what we said in our vows? Always and forever baby. Don't worry, I promise you, we're never going to lose this. What we have is too strong. I love you so much, my Bella, I would give my whole life for you, for both of you. Nothing and no one will separate us. So don't cry."

"You should blame your daughter for that, she makes me an emo. One moment I'm happy the next I'm a sobbing mess." I joked through my tears.

He chuckled "I know, she's a very bad girl, she takes after her momma." He winked at me.

"Oh really? Well would you like me to show you how bad can I be?" I replied, playing along.

"Well, be my guest!" he said and his eyes turned dark.

He took me in his arms lifted me up and he carried me upstairs.

And I showed him.

Twice.

After a while we were both laying in bed, and I was curled up in Edward's body relaxed and blissful.

My mind replayed the events of this morning and I felt a wave of relief overcoming me. I realized that there was no danger anymore. Jacob had moved on and my marriage wasn't threatened by anything. He had his girl now, and he was happy and for the first time, I allowed myself not to feel guilty about everything.

I sighed audibly and Edward heard it. He shifted softly and murmured, "You know, we were supposed to go baby shopping..."

"I know..."

"Good, so are you still up for it?"

"Yeah, totally. It has to be done anyway. I refuse to let Alice pick everything about the nursery. She is your sister but she can be a pain in the ass sometimes." I chuckled.

He laughed, "Yeah. That I agree with."

We slowly got up and got dressed, we would take a shower but it was getting late and Edward had to get to work in a couple of hours.

I decided that I should meet Jacob so we could talk in private before we met with his girlfriend. I had to talk to him, make sure that the feelings he had about me are long gone, and well, because I wanted to know how is he, and if this new girl makes him happy. I needed to know that he's happy. Happy without me. This was the only way to stop the guilt from eating me alive every day.

We left the house with Edward and went shopping; we took my car since I would be meeting "Alice" afterwards.

In the store, we picked up the cutest crib ever and matching changing table and high chair. We also bought a recliner for me to sit in when I nurse my baby, and a load of stuffed animals and huge bears and toys. Those were for later, but I couldn't resist, I had to buy them. I wanted to spoil my baby from the first day of her life. We paid and arranged for them to be delivered and assembled at home in a few days.

I was waiting in the car while Edward was arranging the delivery details and I took the opportunity to text Jacob.

We need to talk. ~B

The answer came about 10 seconds later, as if he was waiting with the phone in his hand.

Yeah, I agree... tell me when and where. ~J

At our usual. Meet me there in 30 minutes. Edward can't know. ~B

Ok. See you in 30' ~J

Just then Edward got into the car and took my hand.

"Everything alright?" he asked smiling.

I smiled back. "Everything perfect, did you like everything we bought?"

"Yeah I loved them actually. So cute, our baby will be like a princess in her nursery."

His cheesy comment made me laugh and I decided to add a little teasing "Yeah, all we need now is a frog for her to kiss."

Edward tensed, and I laughed harder. "I can't believe you get pissed off with the idea that our daughter is going to be a woman someday and she will find herself a boyfriend. Would you like it if Charlie was like that with me? Especially with a gun in his possession? You would be dead before you had the chance to get to know me."

"Every dad is different. And no one is going to steal my baby's innocence. I won't let them."

"Edward, it's not stealing if the decision is hers. What would you say if someone told you that you stole my innocence?"

He struggled to find an answer to that.

"Well as I can recall, I gave my innocence to you quite willingly. That's what's going to happen with her as well. Just try to remember, the whole point is for her to be happy." I said wrapping my arms around his waist above the console.

"Okay maybe you're right, but I need time to process it," he said and sighed.

"You have all the time you need baby, at least 10 years from now till she consciously starts looking for boys." I teased again.

"Bella!" he protested.

"Okay, okay, I'll shut it. Now cheer up and let me take you to work." I said smiling, and with that I backed off the car and headed for the clinic.

So what do you think!

Please review and tell me :)

Many thanks to my wonderful beta EdwardCullen123 :D