Oh man my husband is cracking me up. We got back to Chicago this afternoon and he immediately called his man-child brigade over. They spent the next two hours fighting over what Jensen and I should name our baby. Apparently, if it's a boy, his name has to be Albert Matt Devon Paulie Pujols Henway. And if it's a girl, they want me to name her Colgate Henway. Like the freaking toothpaste.

I wanted to thank you all for your good wishes. That's very sweet of each and every one of you! My husband and I are very excited!

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BPOV, September 1999:

"So, what are your homecoming plans?" My father, Charlie, asked gruffly, looking up from his bowl of cereal and the newspaper. I froze while washing the dishes, a sudsy plate slipping out of my hands and falling into the soapy water; causing a large splash. Charlie laughed but set his newspaper down, obviously waiting for my answer to his homecoming question. "Any boys ask you yet?"

"Not exactly." I said evasively, picking back up the plate I had dropped and scrubbing it again.

"Well, I'm sure someone will. That Newton boy seems to have it bad for you." Charlie said wryly, shaking his head.

"That's not what I meant." I said slowly, turning off the water and turning around to face Charlie head on. "I kind of asked someone."

Charlie's brow crinkled, and he pushed his cereal bowl to the side.

"Um, who?" He asked, lacing his fingers together.

"Edward Cullen." I said quietly.

His facial expression didn't change.

"He from around here? I don't know that name…" Charlie finally said, scratching his chin absentmindedly.

"He lives a few towns over and he's homeschooled, but his sister Alice Cullen just started at my school this year. And dad…he's really special to me. I like him. A lot." I explained, wringing my hands together nervously. Charlie had always been extremely overprotective of me when it came to boys, especially if he didn't know the particular boy in question.

"I always thought you'd end up with Jasper, close as you two have been these last couple of years." Charlie said thoughtfully, raising his eyebrows at me.

"Jasper is my best friend, dad, and has been since the fourth grade. It would be way too weird. Besides" I sat down at the kitchen table across from him "Jasper is dating Alice. Edward's sister."

"Hmm." Charlie frowned and gave me a pointed look. "So is this Edward boy the one you've been seeing? The one you won't let me meet yet?"

"The very same." I said lightly, not exactly sure how to tell my father about Edward being deaf.

"So what's wrong with him that you wouldn't bring him over?" Charlie asked jokingly, making me bite the inside of my cheek.

Even though I knew Charlie had no idea about Edward's condition and that he was just joking, but the comment still made me angry all the same.

"There's nothing wrong with him." I said defensively, sharp edge to my tone. Charlie gave me a confused look and I sighed in defeat, placing my hands flat on the table. "Edward…he's deaf." I finally said quietly. "He can't hear or speak at all." Charlie cleared his throat, probably embarrassed by his previous comment.

"How do you care so much about him then? If you can't talk to him?" Charlie's voice was a little rough, but I knew he was just being his overprotective self.

"He's teaching me sign language." I said simply. "And he can read lips. Besides…we have more of a connection than just talking. It's like he can read my mind; he reads people very easily."

"Do I know his parents?" Charlie asked after a few moments of silence, and I knew he was silently telling me he was okay with me seeing Edward. Charlie was never one for emotional moments or real father and daughter talks, they made him uncomfortable.

"Maybe. His father's a doctor at the hospital here in Forks. His name is Dr. Carlisle Cullen." I muttered, taking Charlie's near empty cereal bowl and dumping the now soggy Cheerio's in the trash.

"Hmm…blonde? Tall?" Charlie asked, and I shrugged.

"I don't know, I've never even met him. Look, dad, Edward is coming over in a few minutes to watch a movie. Can he meet you then? It's very important to him that he formally introduces himself." I couldn't contain the smile that burst forth from my lips whenever I talked or thought about Edward.

"Yeah. That's fine." Charlie said, returning to the sports section of the newspaper.

I left him alone and busied myself with the dirty dishes in the sink, humming a tune quietly under my breath. I loved mornings like this; ones that were sunny (rare for Forks), bright, and full of promise. I was confident Edward would make a good impression on Charlie, he could be impossibly charming when he wanted to be.

Before long, I heard a car roll up the driveway and I peeked out the window to see Edward's silver car.

"Dad, he's here." I said, moving towards the door. "Please, be nice." I pleaded.

"I'm always nice!" Charlie shouted, obviously liking the fact he didn't have to lower his voice as a courtesy. I swung the front door open just as Edward got on the porch. His bronze hair gleamed in the rare rays of sunlight, and his emerald eyes were sparkling at me.

He waved as a hello and pecked my cheek as I stepped aside to let him into the house. Both he and Alice were teaching me sign language now, and I pleased to say that I had gotten a lot better.

"My dad wants to meet you. He's a little tough sometimes, but he's honestly just a little overprotective." I signed slowly, not wanted to make any mistakes. Edward nodded.

"Alright. And by the way, you look beautiful." He signed, and I glanced down at my appearance.

I certainly did not look beautiful. My hair was pulled into a very ratty ponytail and I was wearing a pair of ancient sweats. I swatted his arm playfully and rolled my eyes. He just shrugged and kissed my forehead before I took his hand and led him out of the hallway and into our kitchen.

"Dad." I said loudly, and Charlie looked up from his newspaper again. "This is Edward." Charlie stood up, coming over to us and folding his arms across his chest.

"Edward, this is my dad. Sorry in advance." I signed, and Edward and Charlie shook hands civilly. Edward gestured from himself to me to Charlie, indicating that he wanted me to translate for him. I nodded.

"He says that it's really nice to meet you." I said slowly as Edward signed the words to me, keeping his eyes on Charlie. "And that he wants me to know-" Edward stopped abruptly, then shook his head, and then made the signs again, this time much slower. "Oh, sorry." I blushed. "He wants you to know that he respects me and will never intentionally cause me any kind of pain."

It was little embarrassing having to relay the conversation to my father, but I didn't care. This was a part of Edward, and I would take any part of him I could get.

"Good. And it's nice to meet you too." Charlie said gruffly. He patted me on the shoulder, and then cast a look at the clock on the wall. "I have to get over to La Push; I'll leave you two alone." Charlie raised his eyebrows at me. "Behave." He said firmly, getting his coat and then slipping out the back door.

"He's a little rough around the edges." I signed as Edward followed me from the kitchen into the living room. He sat down on the couch as I put the DVD in. When I came to sit next to him, he shook his head firmly and pulled me into his lap so that we were both sprawled out on the couch, me lying comfortably across his toned body; our feet tangled together.

This was the closer we'd ever been. And for now, it was good enough.

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Sleepy, and a little nauseous. Gonna have some crackers and then get some sleep.

Xoxo- Melodyella aka Mellie