19
For a few brief moments I thought it was over, all of it, I wouldn't have to worry about the scale, about Esme, about telling Edward I was carrying his baby. I straightened my shoulders and closed my eyes to welcome the completeness of my life.
I heard the ping of the gun, but I didn't feel anything. I opened my eyes and saw Emmett with his finger pressed against his lips telling me to stay quiet. He picked up his radio and said, "We're all clear."
A voice returned with, "Close it down."
He turned off his radio and put his hands on his knees and said, "Shit."
"Thank you," I said through tears.
"Where's your car?" he asked without responding to my gratitude.
"About two miles south from your parent's house," I answered with a shaky voice.
"Okay look, we need an alibi. Cops are going to be all over the place and we can't leave your car sitting there."
I nodded and hoped he didn't expect me to come up with it. He paced for a couple of minutes and turned to look at me. "Can you keep those tears up for a bit?"
"At least six more months," I said and placed my hand on my stomach.
"Turn around," he instructed and wrapped something over my eyes. I heard him grunting like he was pulling the large watercraft out of the water. He finally took my hand and pulled me into the cave. It didn't look very deep but we were walking for a really long time. When we emerged into a wooded area off the freeway he removed my blindfold.
His wetsuit was gone and he was wearing a pair of black slacks and a silk t-shirt. He took my hand and we walked along the road to my car. I gave him the keys and we climbed inside. I expected him to turn on the engine, but he only sat there looking in the mirrors.
"What are we doing?" I asked.
"We're waiting for the cops to find us. If they separate us, you say I met you at the pier to talk to you about the pregnancy. We've been here since midnight and I have been giving you advice."
We sat silently so I finally said, "Since we are pretending, why don't you actually give me some advice. What should I tell Edward?"
"Oh God, he only got out of the hospital two days ago," Emmett said and rubbed his temples.
I had to take some deep breaths to remain steady. Edward had been hurt and I was in Hawaii making out with Jake; kissing Jake as I carried Edward's baby. I finally managed the words, "What happened?"
Emmett rolled his eyes at my ignorance to think he would tell me so I told him what I did know.
"Was it James or Victoria who hurt him?"
"Edward and his fucking mouth," he said and looked in the mirrors again.
"He didn't tell me anything. I'm not stupid Emmett, I knew what he was doing and your mother filled in the rest. She also told me to stay away from him, so I can imagine how she is going to take the news she is going to be a grandma."
Emmett laughed loudly and turned to flash his dimples at me, "I really should have shot you."
"I may let you," I mumbled and looked out the window into the darkness.
We sat quietly again and I was beginning to feel very tired. He spoke softly and didn't look at me. "Edward thought he had it all planned out. He met with them and Jasper was waiting in the other room. He got them to admit the hit man was Laurent. When Jasper came running in James was waiting behind the door and knocked him out cold. They messed up Edward pretty good, but they didn't know Alice had a tail on Jaz. She showed up and stunned James and Victoria long enough for her to get Jasper's gun."
"They beat him bad enough to be in the hospital?" I asked with real tears falling.
He turned to face me with a pained expression. "Edward wasn't a field officer, either was Warren, they had no business going all in. They weren't prepared…mentally, for what could happen to them. If you mess around with sex perverts you're gonna get fucked."
I stared into his eyes and he nodded slowly. I shook my head refusing to acknowledge what he was telling me. "He called me, in Hawaii," I said and Emmett's eyes got wide.
"Really," he said with a smile, "Damn, he's tougher than I thought, or he's in love. Maybe he'll be happy about a baby, but I gotta tell you Bella, you whisper a word to him about me, I will kill you."
"Don't you work for the same people?" I asked in surprise.
"No, Edward is a prodigy, a math genius; he sits in front of a computer running algorithms. I work out and play video games."
"And your mom is a chef," I said and let out a disgusted breath. No wonder Edward lied so easily, his entire family life had been a lie. "You have to do something for me to guarantee my silence."
"Bella, you do not understand me. You talk, I shoot."
"I want you to buy Edward a month's worth of Count Chocula cereal," I explained.
He laughed loudly and the sound actually hurt my ears. I was about to tell him I was serious because Edward needed to be a child for awhile so he could recover, but a light shined into my car and Emmett whispered, "Here we go."
He rolled down his window and held up his hand to shield his eyes from the light. "What's going on officers?"
"Can we see some ID?" a man asked Emmett.
He reached into his pocket and pulled out his wallet and handed his license to the officer.
"Cullen?" he asked.
Emmett smiled and nodded, "Yes, Carlisle is my father."
"Were you at the house tonight?"
"Sure, until around, what Bella, midnight?" he asked and looked at me.
"Yeah, about then," I added.
"Do you know about the shooting at the party?"
"What?" Emmett gasped giving a perfect performance. "Are my folks okay, and my sister?"
The officers didn't answer and looked in the car at me. I wiped some old tears from my cheeks and looked away.
"What are you doing here?" they asked Emmett.
"This is Bella; she's my brother's girlfriend. Um…we have an issue, we were discussing."
"You're going to have to be more specific, son," the man not much older than Emmett said.
He leaned his head out the window and whispered, "She knocked up."
"God, Emmett, you can say it better than that," I yelled and the tears began flowing again.
He ignored my outburst and asked again, "Who got shot?"
"The head of the governor's security detail."
"Oh man, Dad's gonna be all over the airwaves with this one," he chuckled and the two officers did too. "Can I go see my parents or is it being blocked off?"
"Do you live there?"
"No."
"Stay away until tomorrow then."
"Okay, thanks," he said and took his license back and rolled up the window.
We watched them walk away in silence and Emmett took a couple of breaths through his mouth.
"Can you take me to Edward?" I asked and he started the car without answering. He drove out of the city to a small wooded community and turned down a long driveway.
"Is this where he lives?" I asked.
"No, this is where I live; Rose is taking care of him." He pulled in front of the beautiful home and turned one last time to look at me. "Bella, I can't stress enough how serious I am about this. I don't care that you're pregnant; you tell a soul and I will kill you, it goes for my family, too."
"I don't know what you're talking about," I said and he smiled at me.
It was after three in the morning and I was beyond tired. We walked quietly into the house and he led me down a hallway to a door partially opened. I walked in to see Edward in a hospital bed. My tears were flowing quickly and I walked up to the bed and looked at his battered face. He opened his eyes and they were both filled with blood from broken vessels.
"Jessica lied," I said and watched tears fall from his eyes.
His hand rose and I took it and brought it to my mouth as my cries grew louder. "Come here," he whispered and grimaced as he scooted his body over.
I climbed onto the bed and lay in his arms as he groaned. I tried to pull away but he tightened his arms and murmured, "Un uh."
I put my hands softly on his chest and kissed his chin several times. "You're mother is going to kill me for being here," I whispered.
"I'm a big boy," he said.
"If it helps, I love you very much," I told him as my heart ached.
"It fixes everything," he whispered and I felt his arms loosen as he fell back to sleep.
I prayed he wasn't lying; I couldn't handle anymore lies from him. I was also afraid his mother would threaten me with Emmitt if I didn't disappear, making sure I actually disappeared. I was beginning to drift off myself when something caused my eyes to shoot open.
I felt a flutter across my stomach, as if someone was tickling me from the inside. I placed my hand on my stomach and felt a soft movement. I smiled and took Edward's hand and placed it in the exact spot. It took several moments but I felt it again.
My smile was huge and I looked up to see Edward's sleeping face; but I was shocked to see him looking at me. I automatically moved his hand away and my eyes dropped from his.
"Bella," he whispered. "I'm on pain pills."
"Just rest, we'll talk tomorrow," I said and watched his eyes fade.
I eventually fell asleep too, knowing we were all together, me, Edward, and our child. I didn't know what was happening in the world outside of that room. I didn't care about Forks, or Hawaii, or the investigation going on at the Cullens. Everything I cared about was right here in the hospital bed and my weight seemed like a silly concern after what happened to Edward. He needed me, and he needed me whole, so I had to get off my ass and grow up.
At nine thirty the next morning Rose came into the room to give Edward his medication. She didn't seem surprised to see me and also seemed to know my predicament. "I'll bring you some food when I bring Edward's."
I sat up and he stirred so I moved from the bed to give Rose access to him. She put some pills on his tongue and handed him a cup with a straw. "Will he be back out?" I asked.
"No, he'll be up for most of the day. He only takes the pain pills at night."
"Don't talk about me like I'm not here," he said in full grump mode.
"Shut up or go home," Rose said back to him.
"I don't have a home anymore," he said and let his head fall back.
I moved back to his side and put my hand on his heart. "Yes you do, you belong with me."
"You don't want me, believe me Bella, you don't want me anymore."
"This is going to be hard for you to work through, but it isn't any different for me. I had to listen to you through the walls for months, seeing everything in my head, so what happened wasn't any different for me."
"You know?" he whispered.
"Yes, and I love you as much as I ever have."
He kept his eyes closed and refused to look at me. I knew I had to clear up some things and I hoped he was strong enough. "Edward, your mother asked me to stay away from you, and not because you were in danger, but because she thinks I'm too screwed up for you."
"What?" he asked incredulously.
"I believed her; I thought I was too screwed up, too. But who isn't, I have issues over my weight and it will be in my head forever. I now know I can control it. The things you have been through this past year are going to be in your head forever, but you'll learn to control them. I don't want to stay away from you and I don't want us to be over, but you need to know I met a man in Hawaii and we messed around. We did not have sex but we did do other things."
"Other things, like what?" he asked and I had so hoped he wouldn't.
"We kissed, we slept under the stars on the beach, fully clothed," I added. "He took me to get a tattoo and we touched each other intimately, still fully clothed."
"He inked your body?" he yelled loudly and I suddenly became terrified to show him my tattoo and very relieved he wasn't yelling about the other thing.
"I picked it out because I wanted something to remember you by," I said and crawled onto my knees and pulled my shirt up to show him what was peeking out from my jeans.
He reached over with his hand and pushed my jeans down to get a look at the entire picture and then smiled and looked up at my eyes.
"You just shock the hell out of me, constantly," he said with a laugh.
"Well, hold on because this one might actually stop your heart," I said and bit my lip for courage.
"You have more tattoos?" he asked.
"No, I have something for you, a gift, one you can't return, ever."
"Does it involve a grass skirt and a coconut bra?" he asked with a chuckle.
"No, it evolves diapers and pacifiers," I said and watched his smile disappear.
"Edward, I'm three months pregnant with your baby."
20
Edward stared at me with a sullen face and I felt my breathing pick up as I realized he was not happy about what I had just told him. I don't know what I expected, he was lying there barely able to move and I just changed his entire life.
I climbed off the bed and moved to a chair as I waited for him to say something. He finally gave me a disbelieving chuckle and said, "Bella, we only had sex once, and you were not even menstruating."
I realized he thought I was mistaken, because I was so naïve about sex I couldn't possibly know anything about being pregnant. "I took a test," I said softly.
"Are you having any symptoms?" he asked and I could tell he was trying to wish it away.
"I felt it move, last night," I said as I began to cry.
"Oh God," he sighed, "It wasn't a dream."
I jumped up, ready to bolt from the room, when Rosalie walked in with breakfast. She looked at me and then over at Edward, sensing something was wrong.
"Sit down," she said and I obeyed. She gave me a plate with eggs, applesauce, and wheat toast. Edward's had runny eggs and yogurt and the sight of it made me sick. I looked away as she spooned it into his mouth.
I finally took a few bites of my food and she began talking. "Emmett and I have a lot of stuff we have to work through. We talk it out, fight it out, sometimes we even throw things, but at the end of the day I can't imagine being married to anyone else."
"Bella's pregnant," Edward said and Rose smiled because she already knew.
"And you're fighting over names?" she teased.
"I can't do it on my own, I don't know what I'll do if he doesn't want me," I said and looked back at my plate.
"I never said I didn't want you," Edward said loudly. "I'm just not ready to be a father, I mean look at me."
"I didn't want this baby," I said adamantly. "I was ready to get rid of it. But I felt it kick last night and I want it now. I want to be a mother and I want you right there with me, Edward. If you won't do it, I have to walk away from you forever."
"I need you, Bella. I need you to be here for me, I need to be selfish and lean on you," he said.
"A wise woman once told me, I'm not the one to tell you love heals all wounds, I'm the one to tell you to get off your ass and grow up, she was right. You got me pregnant Edward. We had unprotected sex because you wanted to play the expert and I was too stupid to think ahead. Now, we're having a baby."
"I'm sorry if I can't be happy about the thought of becoming a father as I lay her and grow sick at the remembrance of what happened to me. I can't…."
"What did you think was going to happen, Edward?" I yelled loudly. I never had the guts to stand up for myself but I was going to fight for my child. "You had both men and women orgasm over the sound of your voice, over the erotic things you said to them, over the instructions you gave them. Did you really think once you met them they would hand over information for nothing? You had toys for God's sake."
"It wasn't real when it was over the phone," he said and I stopped him again.
"It was real to me, and it was real to the men and women who called and sent you pictures. It was real when you called them babe, and honey, and sweetheart. It was real when you told them they were beautiful and only full bodied women could please you and you had a boyfriend. If you play the sex game you're gonna get fucked," I yelled loudly.
He threw off the covers angrily and pulled up his shirt to show stitches, then pulled down his pajama bottoms to show the reconstructive surgery he had on his genitals. He was swollen and looked distorted but everything was in its place.
"There, now you know," he said and looked away so he wouldn't have to see my face.
"Are you really that stupid, Edward Cullen? I spent my entire life trying to see myself for how I really looked. I still look in the mirror and see an obese woman looking back at me sometimes, because I have a hard time loving myself. But I have always loved you and when I look at you, all I see is perfection. Even now," I said and walked over to pull his pants back down, "All I see is perfection."
He looked at me and I saw his chin shaking and his bloody swollen eyes filled with tears. "When I look at you, all I see is perfection," he whispered.
"And when our child looks into our eyes it will only see perfection, too. I won't be the fat girl, I'll be mommy. You won't be the disfigured man, you'll be daddy."
"I'm scared," he said softly and pulled me onto the bed.
"Well, write an algorithm and get over it," I said and he actually laughed. The sound of his genuine laughter made my heart soar and the knowledge I got him to laugh did wonders for my psyche. I moved my mouth to his ear and asked, "Do you want me and our child?"
He ran his fingers over the tattoo on my hip and whispered, "Oh God, yes."
I moved to his mouth and kissed him lightly over and over again until Emmett came into the room. I wondered if Edward could write an algorithm to keep Emmett from killing me. He walked up to the bed and gave us a funny glance.
"Did you tell him?" Emmett asked.
"Yes," I said and tried not to look at him so he couldn't find any reason to off me.
"Didn't dad ever talk to you about wrapping your junk," he said to tease Edward.
"No, he felt I was handsome enough to procreate but you aren't."
I laughed and Emmett pushed my shoulder, "Stop laughing, unwed mother."
"Hey," Edward yelled in warning to his brother. "Don't tease her, Emmett."
"Bella and I have a bond, don't we Bella?" he said and winked at me when I glanced at him.
"Sure, Emmett lifts weights so he can pummel me, and I jog so I can run away from him," I said with a smile.
"Ah Bella, you're so funny, you can never run far enough or fast enough to get away from me," he said and I got his warning loud and clear.
I took a deep breath and looked at my own hands anxiously. Edward noticed my reaction and looked back at his brother. "Get the fuck out of here," he said to Emmett. I was relieved when he obeyed and walked away. I wondered how long Emmett was going to keep warning me and if I would spend every Christmas around the tree being threatened.
"I'm sorry," he said to my tense face.
"He's just trying to tease me, I shouldn't be so sensitive," I said and hoped he bought it.
"Bella, we need to talk about a few things," he said softly and my heart dropped. I knew he was right, but I wanted to lie in his arms and pretend everything was okay for just a little while.
"My mother told you to stay away from me?"
"I'm sure she wants the perfect woman for her son, I mean, look at Rose and …"
"Stop," he said forcefully. "My mother doesn't pick who we fall in love with. She brought you to me; it means she knows I love you."
"Yes, she knows, but she thinks I will be too much heartache for you. People don't understand the damage done by meanness. I try really hard not to let the negative words come out, but I've heard them for so long."
"I'll talk to her, but Bella, just so you know, I choose you. I won't let her feelings change anything."
"She's your mother, Edward."
"Right, and you are my heart."
I kissed him again and tried to be gentle, but I loved him so much. He held me tightly and finally pulled away to asked about something else. "Jake," he said sadly.
"Was a very nice man, but he wasn't the right man, and before you say anything I want you to remember what I put up with," I said to defend my actions.
"I just find it difficult to wrap my brain around it because it was after we made love."
I reached out and pulled on the waist of his pants and said, "So was this."
"I was doing my job," he said.
"I was listening to your mother," I responded.
"Will I ever have to see the guy?" he asked and I smiled at his jealousy. Who ever thought someone like Edward would have a reason to be jealous because of me.
"Not unless you buy pineapple from a farm in Kona."
"Damn, I loved their fruit," he smiled and I felt we were making really good progress.
We began kissing again and I wanted to ask him about James and Victoria but Jasper walked in. I felt my face redden and I couldn't look at him. Alice walked in behind him and I wanted to ask Emmett to come shoot me.
"How's the patient?" Jasper asked and I waited for Edward to speak.
"Well, I just found out I'm going to be a father, so my injuries seem less traumatic," he said and I wanted to cringe.
Alice gasped loudly and ran over to give me a big hug. Her actions seemed authentic but I kept waiting for her to ask Edward if he was sure it was his. She noticed my hesitation and finally took my face in her hands and kissed me right on the lips.
"What the hell," Jasper yelled and Edward brought his hands to his crotch and yelled out in pain.
"Now you've kissed us both, so get over it," Alice said and giggled at the reaction of the two men.
"That turned you on?" I asked Edward as he continued to moan in pain, noting our kissing didn't stir anything.
"It just shocked me," he said and Alice laughed.
"Bella, I apologize for my actions," Jasper said. "My brother was known for picking up women from that club and I thought one of them may have been involved. When you showed up after suddenly talking to Edward through the wall I figured you had been sent to watch us both."
"Can we just forget the whole thing?" I asked.
"Gladly," he replied.
"So are you having a boy or a girl?" she asked.
"I don't know, I'm only three months along," I said.
"Can I help with your nursery?" she asked.
I looked at Edward and said, "We're going to need a bigger apartment."
"No, we need to look for a house," he corrected.
I was floating on clouds. I was getting a life I never thought possible, a wonderful man, a home of my own, and a child. But the reality was a man who needed a lot of healing, a home where we would both need to work out of the house, and a baby I had no idea how to care for. Life was charging right for me and I felt a bit overwhelmed.
Alice pulled me from the room so Jasper and Edward could talk and I was stunned when she put her finger up to her lips and tiptoed back to the doorway to listen. I wasn't sure I wanted to hear them, if Edward admitted something negative it would remain with me always.
"A baby," Jasper said and Edward sighed.
"God, I'm terrified," he admitted. "But, it's Bella, and I want a life with her."
"How are the nightmares?" Jasper asked and my ears perked up.
"It's not the things they did; it is more the things they said. I don't think I'm that person, I did what I had to do to find the killers of my partner."
"You know the truth; don't think about it too much."
"Jaz, I thought I was so prepared, Warren didn't stand a chance."
"Yeah, I didn't even make it all the way into the room. I let you down, Edward, I'm sorry."
"God Jaz, she laughed when I cut her, she laughed."
It was quiet and I wondered if they were done talking. Edward finally said, "It wasn't the same, talking about sex with a man and…"
"Edward, you were violated, it didn't matter who was holding what."
"Yeah, like I said it was what they said that is the hardest to deal with," he said sadly and I walked off. It wasn't that I didn't want to hear anymore. It was the feeling like I was violating Edward by listening without his knowledge.
Alice followed and sat next to me on the couch. Rose was on the computer and turned to look at us. I wanted to hear the detail and didn't want Edward to have to tell me.
"I need to hear what happened, all of it," I said and Alice nodded.
"It's going to be hard," she said and Rose came over to sit on the other side of me.
I was ready.
21
Alice took my hand and looked behind her to make sure Jaz wasn't coming into the room. She scooted closer and said, "I only know what Jaz has told me. Edward changed the way he spoke to his clients and got a call from a woman wanting to bring another man into the relationship with her and her boyfriend." "She was really aggressive and kept asking about his physical level. He told her he had to be careful because he was in a relationship with a state senator and she became adamant they meet. He rented the room ahead of time and hid a knife under the mattress. He gave Jaz a room card and a code word to rush in with a gun."
"They showed up and the guy just wants to watch. The woman is all over Edward and he backs off and says he can't do it because his high profile relationship will get him in trouble and he wishes the senator could be taken out. The girl tells him they killed Warren and they can get the senator killed. He acts like he doesn't believe her and they finally admit their buddy is the head of security for the governor and they have already been paid to take out some political rivals."
"Edward figures he got the information he needed and he reaches for the knife under the bed, but the guy pulls a knife out of his boot and he wrestles with Edward. Jaz hears the code word and when he runs into the room Edward has the knife and Jaz is hit from behind by the man."
"Edward stabs the woman but she has gotten the knife from under the mattress and she swings at Edward. The man grabs him and beats him until he can't respond, then he has the woman hold Edward while he rapes him with the knife. He cut him up after Edward passed out, slicing his abdomen his testicles and a gash to his penis. But the guy doesn't cut anything vital, thank God for you."
Rosalie put her arms around me and held my shaking body. I thought they all had sex together, I didn't realize he was brutalize with a knife. His surgery was reconstructive internally, everything externally was surface stuff.
"Why did he have to work a sex line, what did that have to do with Warren?" I asked.
"Warren took a call one night which was a wrong number. The person thought it was a sex line. He talked to him or her for a long time and kept up the charade for several weeks. He told Edward he was getting all kinds of information that would get him a better assignment."
"Then why did Jasper think it was someone from a club?"
"Warren was a player and picked up women all the time. He told Jasper he met a really pretty woman who was into kinky sex, dangerous freaky stuff. Jasper believed she was the one who killed him."
I wanted to tell Rose I loved her husband for being a government hit man, but it would only get me shot so I hugged her tightly instead. Alice jumped up to wipe her tears and tried to look okay for Jasper and her brother. She headed back into his room and left me alone with Rose.
"Let me make you a protein shake," Rose said and I nodded.
She gave me one last hug and looked right into my eyes and said, "Bella, I'm not a stupid wife."
I gave her a confused look and she looked deeper at me, "As a wife, I know things."
"I'm really glad your husband plays video games all day," I said and she smiled before heading into the kitchen.
She made a shake for both me and Edward and I returned to his room. I gave him the shake and climbed up on the bed next to him. He drank from the straw and when Jasper and Alice left he asked me to help him to the restroom.
He moved painfully slowly as he walked by shuffling his feet. "Don't worry if you hear me scream," he said and shut the door. I felt he was the bravest man in the world. I also wanted James and Victoria to be Emmett's next targets.
I walked back to the bed and was sipping on my shake when the bedroom door opened and Esme walked in.
Her face said it all. She was livid I was there and looked around quickly for Edward. Carlisle walked in and I spoke to him, "Edward's in the bathroom."
"How is he doing?" he asked.
"He slept well, and he ate breakfast and is drinking a protein shake right now."
"What brings you here?" Esme asked.
"Um…I got back from Hawaii and needed to talk to Edward about something," I said stupidly.
"He's been there often, I'm sure there is nothing you need to tell him in his weakened state."
I had no idea how to respond and luckily Edward opened the door and emerged from the bathroom. He smiled at his parents and shuffled back to the bed. I helped him climb back up and he held my hand tightly.
"Did Bella tell you the great news?" he asked and I shook my head to tell him to stop.
Carlisle smiled at me and Esme simply stared.
"Edward, not now," I said softly and dropped my head.
"Nonsense, they will be thrilled. Mother do you remember when you sent Bella to me in Port Angeles? You know, before you told her to stay away from me?"
Her eyes moved to me again and she said bluntly, "I told her to stay away before sending her to Port Angeles, get your facts straight, son."
"It doesn't matter, she came and I got her pregnant. Isn't that wonderful news?"
Esme smiled but even I could tell it wasn't genuine. Carlisle stepped up and shook Edward's hand and kissed my cheek. "It is wonderful news," Carlisle said.
"Bella," Edward said, "Why don't you run home and unpack while I speak with my parents."
I was grateful for the way out and gave Edward a quick kiss and made my exit.
I drove home, making sure to note every turn so I could find my way back. I took a long shower and put on clean clothes. My computer was still in Forks and I knew I would have to go get it soon. Edward would not be able to travel the far distance so I decided to be with him tonight and then go to Forks to tell my parents about him and get my computer tomorrow.
I wouldn't mention the baby just yet, I would let them get used to the idea a man actually wanted me first.
I stopped by the store and got Edward some soup and headed back to Emmett's house. I was relieved to see his parents had left and helped Edward take a shower and fed him the soup. He was beginning to have a lot of pain so I got his medication from Rosalie.
I was exhausted and feeling a bit nauseous so we both quickly feel asleep. By morning Edward felt a bit warm so I gave him some Tylenol and put a cool cloth on his head. He quickly went back to sleep. I left my parents phone number with Rosalie and left for a quick trip to Forks.
As soon as I arrived my mother told me Rosalie had called several times and needed me to call her back immediately.
I ran to the phone and called Rosalie. Emmett answered and I quickly asked, "Is Edward okay?"
"Yeah, he's running a fever; we're keeping a watch on it."
"What does it mean?" I asked.
"He probably has an infection, it isn't unexpected. The doctor came by and he'll check on him again tonight."
"I'm coming back," I told him and began making a mental list of the things I needed to throw into my car.
"No, he's sleeping and needs to rest. Just do what you need to do and we'll keep you posted."
"Okay, I'll call you later," I said.
I packed up my car in case I had to leave quickly and finally filled in my mom about Edward. We sat at the kitchen table eating almonds and drinking herbal tea.
"I met my neighbor, a man named Edward Cullen. He's so sweet and treats me really well," I told her.
"What does he do and can we meet him?" she asked with unbridled enthusiasm.
"He's a mathematician and he just had some surgery, so I want to head back tomorrow. He's running a fever and they think it is an infection."
"They need to feed him garlic, actually placing just a bit of pure garlic under his tongue would help the most," mom started in.
"He is under a doctor's care, mom," I laughed and couldn't wait for her to meet him. "I am so crazy about him, he's beautiful and sexy and so kind."
"He isn't the man you met who lies is he?" she asked with concern and watched me carefully for a reaction.
I couldn't explain his family dynamic or the fact he was trying to avenge his partner, so I lied to her. "No, Edward is wonderful."
"I know you haven't dated much, Bella. Is there anything you want to ask me?"
"Mom, even fat girls have urges and curiosity. I think I got it all down," I said and blushed deeply.
"Well, be careful and always use protection. It is easy to get caught up in the moment and you can never be too careful. Men are not always careful because they aren't the ones who end up pregnant. You never want to trap a man; they react automatically and feel the need to run."
I didn't tell her I should have talked to her three months ago and I had already trapped him. I stayed quiet and let her continue her diatribe feeling guiltier as she droned on.
The phone rang just as I was getting ready for bed and Emmett told me Edward was being taken to the hospital. He asked me not to come since nobody would be allowed to see him. They were all waiting at home and Esme promised to keep them appraised.
"Emmett, call me anytime and let me know what's going on, don't worry about the time, and I'll leave for Seattle at first light."
"They'll give him an antibiotic drip, he'll be fine, Bella."
"Call me, please."
"Okay, get some rest; you have to think about your baby."
I got in bed and held my stomach needing to feel my baby moving to reassure me things will be okay. I waited for almost an hour until I felt the soft fluttering. I smiled and tried to imagine a little boy or girl that was a mixture of me and Edward.
I secretly wanted a boy, so I wouldn't worry about him becoming fat like me. He could be tall and thin like his father. I decided to look into some books to teach me how to care for a baby. I had never once babysat or even held a baby. I hoped Edward had more experience and would be willing to teach me just as he had with other things.
I finally fell asleep after setting my alarm for four in the morning. I wanted to be home early so I could see Edward if he was feeling better. I made a mental note to find out what hospital he was in so I could go right there when I arrived.
My alarm sounded and I dragged myself out of bed. I felt a bit sick and sat on the edge of the bed to settle my stomach. The phone rang and I quickly grabbed it, hoping to hear Edward was fine and possibly going home.
"Bella," Emmett said with a really soft voice.
"Yeah, I was up, how is he?"
"Bella, honey, I am so sorry," he said in just a whisper.
"What?" I said loudly. "Emmett, what?"
"He got a blood infection, Bella. He went downhill so quickly, none of us were there when he passed."
I slid from the bed onto the floor and the phone dropped from my hand. I struggled to breath and pulled my hands to my stomach. I felt the familiar flutter and screamed as loud as I could. My only happiness was gone and I no longer wanted to live.
I screamed as I tried so hard to keep the truth from settling into my brain. As long as I screamed it couldn't be true. My parents came running into the room and I fell into my father's arms. My mother grabbed the phone and spoke to Emmett.
She hung up and got onto the floor with me and my father. "Bella, honey, I'm sorry," she cried with me.
"What's going on," my father asked with terrified eyes.
"The man she was dating died," my mom said and I screamed again to make her stop.
My father was trying to soothe me the best he could and I pulled away to crawl to the wall and cling to it. I pounded on the hard surface as I screamed even louder. "He's gone," I sobbed. "We need him; I can't have this baby without him."
"Renee, what is she saying?" my father asked with a tight voice.
"She's upset," my mother said to dismiss my words.
"No," I yelled. "I'm pregnant, I'm having Edward's baby."
"Bella, you're talking crazy," my mother said and I turned to look at them.
"I'm three months pregnant, mom. I'm having Edward's baby and he's gone. I want to die," I screamed and my father rushed over to pull me back into his arms.