Chapter Four: Hold You?

Flashback:

I smiled softly as she stuck her thumb into her mouth, her tiny figure relaxing into my arm. I slowly stopped bouncing and stared at her as her eyes closed and she fell back to sleep. I chuckled and ever so gently touched her face with my free arm, "Little Bella…"

End of Flashback

Edward's POV

It was around 6 in the morning and most of us were in the living room lounging around. 30 more seconds…Alice thought suddenly, impatiently and involuntarily started squirming in her chair. Rosalie caught this and readied herself leaning slightly off the couch. Alice softly breathed in sharply, her eyes filled with anticipation…5 more seconds. Before either girl could move, I bounded up the steps and skidded into Bella's room right as she started crying. I chuckled triumphantly and gently picked her up from the crib, Alice and Rosalie at the doorway moments later with disappointment etched on their faces. Ugh I shoulda known! I saw it coming! Alice complained. Idiot. Rosalie huffed and strutted away crossly.

I raised my eyebrows at Alice, who had her arms crossed. She broke out into a smile moments later. Awfully fond of her I see? I snorted and rolled my eyes, swiftly walking past her and in the kitchen shortly after. Bella started squirming in my arms, wanting to be put on the ground. I did so and she started crawling around on the kitchen floor immediately.

She was now just about 10 months old and as energetic as could be. Once again I tried to hear her thoughts, but heard nothing. I sighed in frustration and opened the fridge. We had discovered this about 4 weeks ago. Carslie suggested that I might be able to hear her if she were older, but I still heard nothing; not a peep.

I grabbed her bottle from the fridge and turned to Bella, who was trying to stand up under the table by holding onto a chair. Moments later she lost balance and tumbled to the floor, eyes widened. I chuckled and gently reached in and pulled her out, sitting her on the counter.

"Hungry?" I asked smiling, handing her the bottle.

Bella grabbed the bottle with her chubby hands and managed to hold it properly. She suddenly took her bottle out of her mouth and held it out to me, pointing it to my mouth.

"No thank you, I already ate" I said chuckling, which was true. I had already gone hunting at midnight. Bella opened her mouth and giggled loudly. It was a game she like to play these days; trying to feed everyone with her bottle. One time she was so determined that she actually stuck her bottle into Emmet's mouth while he was hooting with laughter. I watched until Bella finished all the contents in the bottle smiling in satisfaction. I smiled back and placed her empty bottle next to her on the counter.

"Hold you?" Bella asked, putting her arms in the air, indicating that she wanted to be held. I smiled and embraced the baby, smiling even wider when she wrapped her tiny arms around my neck. Yes, Bella's first word…or words, was "hold you"

About a week ago I was in Bella's room with Esme, getting ready to tuck her in at night, when sat at my feet and suddenly said "hold you?" At first, Esme and I were too shocked to say anything. "Hold you?" Bella demanded again, this time putting her arms in the air. I slowly bent down and picked her up, my eyes still widened in shock. Esme didn't mind at all that the words weren't directed to her. She sped out of the room to tell Carslie. I smiled and gently placed Bella in the crib.

"Hold me" I told Bella, trying to correct her.

Bella shook her head "hold you?" she questioned, sitting up.

"hold you again?" I asked.

"Hold you?" Bella said once more, putting her arms in the air. Delighted, I picked her up and wrapped her in my arms.

After saying her first words, throughout the week she only asked me to 'hold you'. Of course this pleased me greatly, but it was clearly evident that Rosalie was furious. She envied me greatly every time Bella would ask me to hold her. Lately, she tried to make Bella say it to her by holding out her arms and saying 'hold you?' But Bella would merely smile widely and open her arms in the same manner, not a word escaping her lips. Of course Rosalie and others still adored her greatly; it was just me that they were a bit annoyed of.

I walked into the living room with Bella still tightly embraced in my arms and sat next to Esme on the couch. "Why don't you ask Esme to hold you?" I asked Bella as she released her grip from my neck and contently sat on my lap. Bella opened her mouth and giggled, opening her arms out wide to Esme. I smiled apologetically to Esme, who merely cuddled Bella in her arms, smiling at me. She didn't mind at all.

Carlisle was downstairs moments later, all dressed and ready for work.

"Have a wonderful day dear!" Esme said, standing up and front of Carlisle. Carlisle kissed Esme on the cheek before reaching for Bella and giving her a warm hug.

"Stay out of trouble baby girl!" Carlisle said before handing Bella back to Esme and left in a hurry.

"Shouldn't you be out hunting with the others?" Esme asked, turning towards me.

"Already did" I said shrugging.

Esme smiled, she loved every bit of the fact that I was very fond of Bella.

"Why don't you go out and take Bella for a walk downtown a bit?"

I slowly nodded, even though I hated taking Bella out; so much could happen to her. Esme sensed my tension and said "I know you want to protect her, but it's only fair that she gets to see the world and go have some fun as well" Esme said.

I sighed and said "I'll take her for a spin in the car."

Esme nodded happily before handing Bella to me and leaving in a hurry; she hadn't gone hunting yet.

"Wanna go outside Bella?" I asked the baby girl with enthusiasm.

Bella cocked her head slightly, as if she was trying to comprehend what I had just said. I chuckled and stood with Bella in my arms. We were in front of my Volo in an instant. I opened the door to the back and strapped Bella into her car-seat. She started squirming moments later, obviously unhappy with the situation.

"Sorry, I'd prefer you sit on my lap too" I said, trying to soothe the unhappy girl.

I shut the door and went over to the driver's seat. While I was starting the engine, Bella was still squirming uncomfortably.

"hold you?" she suddenly whimpered.

I turned around and saw tears streaming down Bella's chubby cheeks. I felt a strong urge to hold her again and just have her sit on my lap during the whole ride. But I shook my head "Sorry Bella, you have to be patient" I said firmly.

Bella soon stopped crying as I drove out of the driveway and headed down the street towards the highway. I decided to take her downtown to a new shopping mall. About 20 minutes later (since there were too many cars to go too fast), we stopped in front of the new shopping mall. I turned around, only to see that Bella had fallen asleep in her car-seat.

I chuckled and got out of the car and sped to the other side, opening the door. I gently shook the sleeping baby, who awoke moments later. "We're here Bella!" I said with enthusiasm, unbuckling her from the car-seat. Bella widened her eyes and smiled brightly.

"hooold youuu" she demanded this time. I smirked.

"Anything for the little princess" I said, picking her up with one arm and shutting the car door with the other. As we entered through the big doors of the mall, Bella immediately pointed to a section that was filled with toys. I chuckled and walked over to a shelf that had a number of dolls placed for sale.

"See anything you like?" I asked Bella. She suddenly reached for a golden teddy bear with angel wings. I smiled and handed her the teddy bear. She giggled delightedly and hugged it "Hold you?" she squealed.

I laughed at her thrilled expression. "you want the teddy?" I asked. Bella opened her mouth and giggled. I'll take that as I yes. After we bought the bear, it was getting quite crowded in the mall. Daylight was peeking in and mall was filled with activity. Despite the loud noise, Bella seemed perfectly content to be carried in my arms, cuddling her bear close to her. It was around 8 in the morning and I groaned inwardly, everyone would be back at home by now.

I decided it was best to head home in order to avoid accusations such as 'hogging' or 'selfishness'. Bella was a lot more willing to sit in her car-seat, now that she had her bear.

"Are you going to give it a name?" I asked while we were on our way home. I turned around and saw Bella looking at her bear, as if she was thinking of a name for it. I chuckled when she was silent for quite awhile; Alice or Rosalie would name it.

By the time we were back at the house, I was surprised to see that the others still weren't back yet; I heard nothing as we entered into the driveway. Bella on the other-hand. Had fallen asleep again. Oh well…more time with Bella I thought, smiling to myself. I gently carried Bella into the house, holding her teddy in my other hand.

When we were back up in her room, I placed her teddy in her crib and carefully laid Bella down next to it. My thoughts of her being asleep were gone when she unexpectedly stirred and opened her eyes. I look down at her and smiled.

"Go to sleep with teddy" I said. Bella took her teddy and giggled softly.

"hold you?" Bella asked sweetly, raising her teddy in the air. I chuckled and picked them both up. Bella dropped her teddy as I gently cuddled her tightly into my chest. Bella quickly forgot about her teddy and smiled widely at me when I pulled away.

"did I hold you good enough?" I asked.

Bella looked at me confused "hold you?"

I chuckled "you don't have to hold me anymore"

"hold me?" Bella said smiling.

My eyes widened momentarily "hold you?" I asked, still in shock.

Bella nodded her head vigorously "hold me!"

With that, I embraced her again warmly. Her tiny arms were once again wrapped tightly around my neck. She pulled away moments later and yawned. I chuckled, staring straight into her brown eyes.

"Sleep now Bella…" and with that, I gently laid her back into her crib, adding in her teddy moments later. Bella smiled once more before closing her eyes. I chuckled and leaned forward against the crib, watching my perfect little angel drift off to sleep.

Aww~ Edward and Bella are getting closer aren't they? Haha Hope ya'll liked this chappie~ Please review! I'd love all of your feedbacks! Once again, thanx so much to all who reviewed for my previous chapters! Stay tuned for more!

Hope ya'll are having an AWESOME summer~

Hannah :D