Chapter 4

A good night's sleep was welcomed for my fatigued body. It had been a few days since my shopping trip, and I had been feeling better. I haven't thrown up once, and I'm starting to regain some sort of a sleeping pattern. But I knew that these were only temporary luxuries; and new symptoms for me to complain about would arise soon. I was eager for the sun to begin the new day. This was the date of my first doctor's appointment. Edward's excitement exceeded my own; if that was possible.

"Are you ready?" He met me at the doorframe after I stepped out of the shower.

"Give it a rest, babe." I secured the towel just under my arm. "Us getting there earlier won't change the time of our appointment." I pointed out.

"Maybe I should call Carlisle and tell him to cancel his other appointments; that way he could see us earlier." Edward reached in his pocket for his cell phone, but I reached my hand out to stop it.

"Calm down, dear." I kissed his nose lightly, and he chuckled at me.

"I'm just so excited. I feel like a kid on Christmas morning." His eye twinkled.

I quickly dressed, and did my hair. Edward had me in the car before I could protest about breakfast. I started to say something about it, but he quickly pulled a granola bar out of his pocket; just what I wanted.

"Thanks." I took it from his hand.

He spun off in the drive, and we arrived at the hospital in all of twenty minutes. I signed in, and took a seat next to Edward. He propped one leg on top of the other, and started to shake his foot nervously. I just began looking through a Parenting Magazine, when someone called my name.

I looked up to see a middle aged nurse standing next to the counter, where I signed in. Her voice was hoarse, and I came to the conclusion that she was a chain smoker. She smiled at me with yellow teeth, and ushered me back to take my measurements. I stepped onto the scales, as she fiddled with it to get an accurate reading.

"Hmm," She wrote something down on the clip board in her hand.

"Is something wrong?" Edward asked suddenly.

"Oh, no dear, nothing to be worried about; I'll just let Dr. Cullen take a look at your numbers. Nothing to be alarmed about at all," She smiled at me; her lipstick cracked on the sides of her lips. She took my blood pressure, and all the other normal vital signs. Edward and I were placed in room with a small bed with stirrups, and an ultrasound machine next to it.

"Change into this," She handed me a cotton hospital gown. "I'll just go get Dr. Cullen; he should be right with you." She closed the door behind her.

"What do you think she meant by 'hmmm…'?" I looked at Edward, as I pulled my shirt off, and replaced it with the gown. I shimmied out of my jeans, and placed them next to my folded shirt.

"She said it was nothing. Don't be so worried; it's bad for the baby." He scolded. I nodded and sat upon the bed.

A soft knock on the door signified that Carlisle was ready to come in. He strode in and sat down on the small round chair with wheels.

After writing a few things on the file, he looked up to me. "You excited?" I nodded eagerly as a response.

"Good." He chuckled, and then his face got serious. "Bella, I'm going to have to uhm, exam you." I blushed, but what could I do? No other doctor was able to exam me, under these extraordinary conditions. I'd be committed if any other doctor heard me say that I was having a vampire's child. I mustered enough courage to place my feet in the stirrups.

"You can wait outside, if you want." I looked up at Edward who was now sitting in a chair next to the bed.

"I'll only go if you want me to, love." He stated, and I shook my head. I didn't want him to go; no matter how embarrassed I was.

"Okay, Bella, this is going to be uncomfortable; maybe a little cold. You ready," Carlisle was at the foot of the bed with an odd looking instrument. It was long and white, and it had a camera at the end. I nodded a response, and took Edward's hand. I was thankful that he only kept his eyes on mine. I winced when Carlisle began. I was shocked at how cold it was. I closed my eyes hoping it would be over soon. Carlisle maneuvered it around for a moment and turned the TV looking screen towards us.

"Here is the uterus," He pointed, and I opened my eyes.

"The placenta looks healthy." He noted. I saw his long graceful finger point to something on the screen again. I could barely make it out on the grey, blurry screen, but I certainly saw something.

"And here, Bella is your baby." I felt my eyebrows soften as I looked at Edward. He had a smile on his face that melted my heart. I then looked at Carlisle, who was smiling just a big. "My grandchild looks very healthy." I beamed at the thought that I was giving this wonderful man a grandchild that he apparently longed for. He removed the instrument from inside me, and I scooted up on the bed to sit a little straighter. My heart was swelling with pride. I just saw my baby, our baby; a whole new life that was going to depend on me for everything for the rest of its life; or at least the next eighteen years. I felt something dripping onto my gown, and I noticed that I was crying. I wiped the tears away, and cleared my throat.

"Now what?" I asked.

"Now, I'll step out, and let you get dressed, and I'll meet you in my office and we can talk a little more." I stood up, turned the screen off, and ghosted out of the room. Edward offered a hand to help me stand.

"I can do it." I mumbled stubbornly. He smiled and took away his hand. I swung my legs off of the bed, and reached for my clothes. He handed them to me, without me even seeing him move. "Thanks." I slipped on my underwear, and then my jeans. Luckily, I was allowed to keep my bra on, so I removed the gown without being shy. I handed the gown to him, and he folded it for me.

"Ready?" He asked as I smoothed my hair.

"Yeah," Edward opened the door for me, and we made our way down the hall. We came to a door with a prestigious wooden sign on the front. The sign announced that we had arrived at Carlisle's office.

"Come on in," Carlisle opened the door before either one of us could knock. "Have a seat."

I took a seat in the plush leather chair, and Edward sat next to me. I didn't exactly know why we were here; I'd already had my exam.

"You're probably wondering why you're here." Carlisle broke me away from my thoughts.

"Yeah," I agreed quietly.

"Well, it's important for me to tell you the dos and don'ts of pregnancy." He continued. "I'm going to give you some pre-natal vitamins that you should take once a day. And, as you know, you should abstain from drinking, smoking, and caffeine. But, in your case, I don't think that will be an issue. But I just had a chance to look at your numbers, and you are a little underweight. To be safe, I'd like you to start gaining a little more."

"Okay, is that all? I'm just underweight?" I must have looked relieved because the two men chuckled.

"Yes, that's all. Nothing to be alarmed about," Carlisle stood up. "Okay, you are free to go. I'll see you guys back at the house." He ushered me and Edward to the door. We signed out at the front desk and left to go home.

"How was the appointment?" Alice nearly tackled me when we reached the front door.

"Fine, Alice." Edward answered for me. He turned to help me with my coat. "Bella and Baby are doing perfectly fine." I nodded in confirmation.

"Great! Not that I was worried or anything," Alice mused. "So, should I start buying pink or blue?" She grinned up at, as if she didn't already know the answer.

"Alice, honey, you know it's much too soon." I didn't see Esme standing there, ready to hug me.

"I know, but I really can't wait any longer. I'm going to go crazy." Her little lips buzzed around the words.

"Calm down, if you aren't careful, you are going to ruin the surprise for the two of them." Jasper took hold of her tiny waist.

"I would never." Alice defended. "Unless, you want to know," Her eyes darted to me.

"No! I want it to be a surprise for her." Edward looked at me.

"I don't care. I'm a planner, and it is driving me insane not knowing what to colors to pick." I protested. I really did want to know.

"How about a compromise, you wait until you are four months, and we will let Carlisle tell us with the ultrasound." Edward suggested.

"I don't see any harm in that." I sighed.

"Good," He kissed my hair. "Now, let's get you something to eat. I know you must be starving."

"Not really, actually," And then Carlisle's words sank into me. The fact that it was unhealthy for my baby for me to be underweight was a gnawing thought in my head. I slumped off into the kitchen after Edward who already had my banana split made up. The comforting sight of him quickly overwrought the worried thoughts in my brain. I breathed a content filled sigh, and dug into my banana split.

AN- Ugh, this chapter sure did take me long enough. I don't really have a lot to say in this AN, other than, sorry it took so long. I'm not really sure where I'm going with this anymore, but I'm going to continue. It's just taking longer than I thought trying to get this plot laid out like the way it is in my head.