Bella's POV

I was reeling as I buried my face in my palms. I felt dazed, as if someone had hit me in the head.

Of all things, how...how could I be pregnant?! Edward's friends used condoms, and they never tore-Edward had always made sure of it. This could only mean that Edward was the one who had gotten me pregnant. But how?! He told me that vampires were never able to have children!

Oh, my God! What was I going to do? What would my baby be like? I never heard of a human-vampire hybrid before, and neither had Edward. I doubt that even Carlisle, our family, Tanya, or the Denalis knew of any either.

Unconsciously, I rubbed my stomach, then frowned. Edward, who was watching me, looked concerned.

"What is the matter, Bella? Is your stomach hurting?" he queried.

I shook my head. "N-No. It feels okay. Something is weird, though," I murmured, getting up to look at my belly in the mirror.

"That's impossible!" I whispered.

A baby bump was poking out of my abdomen. How could this be? I was only two weeks late, and it looked as if I were about three or four months pregnant! I didn't get it. I was never late before.

How was this possible? Was everything supposed to happen so quickly? I did not understand. What this some type of hoo-doo pregnancy, like the one on Seed of Chucky?

I pinched myself over and over. I was certain that I was dreaming. However, the pain in my arm told me that I wasn't.

Edward came over to me and patted my stomach lightly. "This grew very fast. I wonder why I didn't notice it before."

I snorted. "You're telling me."

He exhaled deeply. "We had better go to the clinic soon. But not today; we will go early tomorrow morning. If we head there now, we will be waiting all day for someone to see us."

"Yeah, that's true. Well, I'm tired. I'm going to lay down for a while and think. I need to try and grasp all of this."

"Okay, then. Go ahead. If you need anything, just let me know. I also have some thinking to do."

I did not reply, just walked into our room and settled myself on the bed. I massaged my temples. What was I going to do? I thought over and over again.

For a while, I laid there in a stupor. I couldn't get over the idea of my being pregnant. I wasn't ready to have a baby. In fact, I never planned to have any.

But I knew one thing. Now that I am going to have a baby, I did not want to have an abortion. No matter what, I couldn't kill a baby, especially when it was my own. Of course, I knew that I did not conceive my baby out of love, but that was neither my fault nor my baby's. I didn't even blame Edward for getting me pregnant. In this case, I couldn't. He didn't know that this could happen any more than I did. I rubbed my stomach again, this time lovingly.

I grinned to myself. I loved my baby already. I didn't care how it was brought into the world or if it was also Edward's (although I wished he/she was Carlisle's.) He or she was mine too.

Abruptly, my smile faltered. Now that I had decided to keep my baby, how was I going to protect it? Being in this house was too dangerous for me, what with Edward and his friends. If they hit me in the wrong place once, my baby was done for. I wrapped my arm around my belly. NO! I couldn't let that happen!

I knew now what I had to do. As much as I hated it, as much as I despised it, I couldn't fight them any more. Oh yes, even with the rules that I had set up, I still rebelled. I did not want them to think that they could just walk all over me. Not that it really mattered. They were bigger and stronger than I, and there was nothing that I could do to stop them once I was in their clutches.

I also had to do what they told me to do-really had to-even if I hated it and I didn't want to. This wasn't about me-this was about my baby. I did not care about me so much anymore. All I truly cared about now was him or her. I would do anything for my child, especially to protect it. I just wanted my baby to be happy and to be surrounded by kindness, generosity, and love. It did not matter to me if I was not, as long as he or she was. My happiness was not too important to me.

Some time later, I heard the door open. Then I felt the bed dip beside me. "Honey?" Edward mumbled.

Honey?! Was he talking to me?!

"Bella?" he whispered.

I turned over and gave him an inquiring look. "What?" I demanded, but not in an unkind voice.

He sighed and rubbed his face with his hand. "I have been thinking..."

I quirked an eyebrow. "And...?"

Edward exhaled once more. "I do not believe that it would be a good idea to have the baby. I never heard anyone conceiving a vampire-human hybrid child, so we cannot be sure how it will effect you. Well, we know one thing. You are going through an accelerated pregnancy. I am certain that that can't be good," he stated.

The blood drained from my face. "Edward, NO!" I yelled, grabbing his collar in desperation. "Please, Edward, please let me have my baby. I don't want to have an abortion! I want my baby! I love him or her already. Besides, it's not just my baby. It's yours too! Would you really want to kill your own baby?"

It was apparent that I struck a nerve. He thought this over with a troubled, guilty expression. "No," he responded slowly after a few moments. "I could never do something like that. I could never kill any child, especially if it is mine. I suppose that we may have it..."

Sighing with relief, I embraced him for the first time in many weeks. Normally, I wouldn't have, but I was just so delighted. "Thank you, Edward. Thank you for understanding!" I cried.

He patted my back. "However, if something goes wrong, I'm afraid that we will have no choice but to take the appropriate actions. But I hope that that doesn't happen."

I groaned, but it was better than nothing. At least he wasn't asking me to get an abortion. Besides, he was right-something could go wrong in the future. Nothing terrible had happened yet, but if it did, I could be unable to have my baby. I cringed at the idea of it, but smiled after a moment.

I could have my baby!

Edward grinned at me in return and kissed me on the cheek. This time I allowed him to. I did not want our child to think that I hated his or her father. I didn't want him or her to hate his or her father either. I wanted my baby to love him and think that he was a good person, no matter what he had done to me. I could never love Edward back because he hurt me. But, it was important for me to try to get along with him, at the very least.

So when he kissed my cheek again, I reluctantly smiled again. "We still have to go to that clinic, though, and make sure that everything is okay. We also have to see how far along you are. Have you been late before?"

"No, never," I replied. "Just this month."

"Yes. You would have known if you were before. For the record, that baby bump is larger than it was a half a week ago. It came up at the beginning of last week, but I thought that you were getting a pot belly, what with all of the food you have been eating," he joked, nudging me.

I gave him a dirty look. "Oh, shut up. Don't you dare think of calling me fat," I muttered, causing him to laugh. "Speaking of food, I'm hungry!"

Edward's mouth fell. "You're hungry?! You just had breakfast a little more than two hours ago!"

"I don't care! I'm hungry!" I remarked.

He rolled his eyes. "Okay, then. What would you like?" he questioned.

"Something deep fried and greasy."

Edward peered at me sternly. "Now, Bella. You know that you need to eat healthy to make sure that our baby will be healthy too."

I roared in exasperation. "Edward Masen! If you don't make me something to eat RIGHT NOW, I will have a fit!" I shouted.

"All right, all right! Jeez! Two burgers coming up. Happy?"

I beamed. "Yes, quite happy!"

Shaking his head with a chuckle, Edward pecked my forehead and went downstairs. It wasn't too long before he came back with two cheeseburgers on a plate.

I moaned in longing. "Thank you," I said fervently.

I let the burgers cool off before wolfing them down. I could have given Jacob and his friends a run for their money; it took me less time to eat them than it took for Edward to fry them.

"Damn, Bella! You must be raising a monster in that stomach of yours," he teased when I had finished my food ten minutes later.

"Edward, shut up," I commanded irately.

"I was only kidding, honey," he murmured.

As soon as he left to take the dishes to the kitchen, I felt sleepy. I laid down and was out like a light almost immediately.

When I woke up, the sun was casting long, golden shadows on the wall. I looked at the clock. It was 6:23. I went to the bathroom before heading downstairs. I was hungry yet again!

Edward chortled as I skidded to a halt in the kitchen. "Right on time! You have to be famished. I could hear your stomach growling from our room," he smirked.

"Be quiet," I huffed, sitting down at the table. Why did he have to keep making fun of me? Couldn't he see that I found it annoying?

He just laughed while Victor served the meal. "Someone is grumpy today."

"Shut up," I growled through clenched teeth before spearing my fork into my steak.

Edward chuckled some more, but thankfully left me alone. His friends snickered, but became silent when I glared at them. Edward trembled with inaudible laughter.

(Next day-October 3rd, just so's you know)

Edward, his friends and I were all dressed by eight o'clock the next morning. They made sure that they had everything that they needed before we left the house. Tanya, who was also coming with us, stood by the trail.

"Hello there," she greeted us.

"Hi Tanya," Edward and the others returned. I nodded politely.

After exchanging more pleasantries, we made our way to the cliff. Then Edward tied a rope to a boulder and threw it over the edge of it (the cliff.) Soon, we had all climbed down to the other trail. I breathed in the smell of the fresh air. It felt good to be outside after being cooped up for so long. I grudgingly had to admit that Edward was right-I did need to get out more often. Well, maybe I will if I make my mind up to it.

We made our way down to the van. This time, Edward drove and allowed me to sit in the passenger seat. Tanya was going to sit in the back with the guys.

The trip to the clinic was not long, only about fifteen minutes. Edward yelled to his friends to wait in the vehicle while we took care of business. Then he stepped out of the van and walked around to open the door for me.

"Come on," he ordered, taking my hand as I jumped out.

The waiting room was practically empty. Only a few people were sitting there. Edward laid a hand on my back and steered me over to the window. A nurse was residing behind it, typing something on a computer. But she looked up as Edward and I approached.

"Good morning. How may I help you?" the nurse queried in a strong Scottish accent. She stared at him as if he were an angel or a god.

"Good morning. My girlfriend here, Isabella Swan, found out that she is pregnant yesterday. We want to see how far along she is and if everything is all right," Edward proclaimed.

"Do she have medical insurance? If not, I am afraid that she will have to pay," the nurse admonished.

Edward shook his head. "No, she does not have her insurance card. But I have money to pay for everything. How much will it be?" he inquired.

The nurse told him and he gave her a stack of bills. After counting them, she nodded and handed me a clipboard of documents. I sat down to fill them out, then gave them back to her. She smiled and told me that a doctor would see me shortly.

I read a magazine as we waited. Finally, after about an hour and a half, another nurse poked her head into the room. "Isabella Swan?" she called.

"That's me," I announced as I stood up. Edward did the same.

"Good morning. I am Dr. Paltz. Would you please follow me?" she asked with a cheery smile.

She led us to another room. "Just wait here for a moment. I will be right back with your folder."

I nodded.

A few minutes later, she came back. "All right, now let's see," she murmured to herself, scanning my files. "Oh yes. Well, we will find out how long you have been pregnant, and then you will have a physical. Let's get to it, shall we?"

Then she took us to another room and did an ultrasound. I was grateful that my bruises and welts had faded into nothingness days ago. That would take some explaining to do. Afterwards, she instructed us to head back to the other room while she got the results.

It did not take too long for her to receive them. When she came back, she perched in a chair across from me with another smile. "Well, it looks like you are about nineteen weeks pregnant."

Edward blinked in surprise as I gaped at her in utter astonishment. "Three and a half months? Are you certain?"

"Yes, I am quite certain. Your baby is fine and completely healthy. Now, let's proceed with your check-up."

Once she had, she nodded in approval. "You have been keeping yourself healthy too! Everything is fine. I am glad to see that. All right, I want you to come back in three weeks..."

"I beg your pardon, Dr. Paltz, but I am afraid that we will be out of town by then. We are going back to the United States in a few days. We are only here in Newton Mearns on vacation," he explained.

Dr. Paltz inclined her head in understanding. "Well, when you are there, I would still recommend for you to see a doctor. Now, Miss Swan, I want you to continue eating healthy. Do not take medicine because it can harm your baby. Here is a brochure. It will explain how to take care of you and your baby. You may leave now. Good luck with everything, and congratulations! I know that your baby will look like the best of both of you!"

Edward and I shook her hand before checking out and leaving the clinic.

As we headed over to the van, I turned to him. "Are we really leaving in a few days?" I questioned.

"No. I only told her that because we are not ever going back. We can't. I don't know when you are going to give birth, but with this accelerated pregnancy, I know that it will be soon. How much sooner, I do not know. But we cannot go back...it will be too suspicious. Dr. Paltz will wonder why your stomach grew so big that fast. We have to go to Glasgow to pick up some medical supplies. It won't take long to get there, only about twenty-five minutes at the most. We will also stop at a bookstore to purchase a book on parenting. Brad can also buy one on birthing procedures. He may already know how to do it, but I don't want to take any chances. But if he can't do it, I can. I watched Carlisle help women give birth several times. He even showed me how to do it."

Edward opened the door for me. I stepped in and he climbed in seconds later. He drove onto the street and took the north road out of town.

Before I knew it, he was parking in front of a building. "Wait right here. I am going to take Brad with me. We won't be long."

He got out of the car, and I heard him open the back door. I watched as he and Brad entered the building. More than a half hour later, they came out with huge boxes and bags. They lugging them into the back with the others, then Edward climbed in.

Our next destination was the bookstore. He went inside by himself this time and came with five minutes with another bag. After that, we returned back to the house.

By the time we were over the cliff, I was starving. I raided the kitchen's refrigerator as soon as we walked through the door.

"Fuck Bella!" Edward exclaimed. "It is not even lunchtime yet! Can we get into the house properly before you steal all of the food?!"

"Nope!" I replied, beaming at him.

"Wonderful. Now, I have to go shopping again," he grumbled.

"Good! Bye-bye! Return with a lot stuff to munch on!" I declared.

Rolling his eyes, Edward headed upstairs.

Once I was done eating, I went to our room. Edward was there reading a pregnancy and parenting book. He looked at me and grinned. "Are you finished stuffing your cheeks?"

I laid down with a grunt. "Shut up, Assward."

He threw his head back and laughed. Normally, if I said that, he would probably smack me or beat the living piss out of me. "Enough of that, honey. Our baby doesn't need to hear you talking like that."

"But you just said 'fuck' several minutes ago, so you shouldn't talk. You are just as bad if not worse."

"True, but you have no cause to repeat what I said."

"Shut up!"

"All right, I will, but only because you will probably pitch a fit."

"Damn right."

We read the pregnancy and parenting book for a while. It was very interesting and straightforward, not too hard to understand. After that, it was time for lunch. I ate so fast and so much that I was certain that I looked ridiculous. Not that I really cared, of course.

I took a nap when the meal was over. I was going to read the book again with Edward, but I dozed off. I usually did-I always seemed to get sleepy when I was done eating lunch.

When I woke up a couple of hours later, Edward was gone. He left a note telling me that he was going to the market. The pregnancy book was on the side-table drawer, however. Since there was nothing else to do, I read some more of it until dinnertime.

Edward had long since returned to the house-he was in the kitchen when showed up.

"Good evening, Miss Out-of-control Hormones," he smirked.

"Don't play with fire, Edward, or you're gonna get burned," I muttered as I perched on my chair.

He and his friends snickered.

"Good one," Edward commented with a laugh.

I shot him a fake smile. "Thanks," I returned sarcastically.

After dinner, Edward and I headed back upstairs. I was so full that I thought that I would explode. I was tired and wanted to rest. When I made myself comfortable on the bed, I rubbed my stomach.

"Did you have enough food?" I whispered to my baby affectionately with a chuckle. "Mama loves you."

Suddenly, I felt a jolt from the inside of my abdomen. It did not hurt, but it caused me fold in half.

Edward looked worried. "Bella? What's wrong?" he demanded.

I straightened. "The baby...I think...No, I don't think, I know...that it kicked me. Either that, or it punched me or moved."

"Oh really? Let me feel!" he implored.

I moved my hands so that he could lay his head on my belly. His expression lit up when it thumped him. "Our baby is going to be a strong one. Just like you."

"Yeah," I agreed. I had to be strong to face with all of the shit that he and his friends had put me through.

Edward kissed my baby bump. "Hi there, little one. I am your papa, and I can't wait to finally meet you. I love you so much," he cooed. I could tell that he really meant it, and I was overjoyed. At least he loved our child.

The baby moved again. We laughed quietly, and for a moment, things were almost the way they used to be for us. Almost, but no. It never could be anymore. I sighed.

"What happened to you, Edward?" I asked morosely. "You used to be so kind, but after you left with Tanya, you changed for the worse. I don't even know who you are anymore. You hurt me and treated me so hatefully."

Edward's face fell. "I know, and I am sorry. And I understand how you feel about me. Truly, I do. I know that you will never believe that, but I just want to let you know that I am. I really don't know what has come over me. My temper is always causing me and others grief, especially those I love and care about," he stated, sighing as well. Then he took my hand. "But I am trying very hard to learn to control my temper. It's not easy, but soon it will be. Just give me a chance. Please," he begged.

I narrowed my eyes at him, deliberating. Perhaps I could give him one. He looked as if he was being honest about what he said...this time, anyway. Not that he never seemed to mean it, but for just this once, I was willing to believe him.

"All right...I will give you a chance to learn how to reign in your temper. But it will be your last, and it is only for our baby that I am doing this. If you ever hurt me again, or our child, I will never forgive you or accept any of your apologies. I wouldn't even consider giving you a chance if I weren't pregnant. You will treat me with respect. You will not hit me, or share me with your friends. They hurt me too. I want us to get along for the baby's sake, and we need to start getting along now. Do you understand me, Edward Anthony Masen?" I demanded firmly.

He gave a crooked smile. "Yes, of course I do. Besides, I wouldn't dream of risking your anger, especially now with all of those hormones."

"Edward! Shut up about the hormones already!"

"Okay, okay! Sorry!"

"You better be."

"I am."

"Wonderful."

Edward shook his head at me. "Little meanie," he grunted playfully.

I rolled my eyes. "Shut up," I hissed. I patted my stomach. "I apologize that you had to hear Mama and Papa bantering, baby. Your father is just being annoying."

The baby kicked as if he/she agreed.

"Hey, Edward, our baby said stop being an irritating vampire and leave Mama alone before we both jump you."

He chortled. "Whatever you say." He pecked my cheek.

For the rest of the evening, neither of us did very much. We were mostly quiet unless we talked to our baby. Every time we did, the baby would move or kick me.

"Maybe it likes to hear our voices," Edward remarked.

I nodded. "Yeah, maybe."

When I was ready to go to sleep, I changed into my nightclothes before climbing into bed. Edward wrapped an arm around my hip.

Shifting, I complained, "Let go of me. You're making me cold."

"Oh, I apologize. But I need you. Turn over."

There was no need to do this-he did it for me. I groaned as he ripped off my panties, but I didn't fight him. That did not mean that I wanted to, however. I didn't want to at all. I didn't hold him either. I just tried to keep calm. It would harm my baby if I stressed myself out. And anyway, I did not want to risk Edward's temper. Then again, he didn't want to hurt his baby, and he wouldn't.

Would he?

I just laid there and folded my hands under my chest when he entered me. He grunted as he began to thrust in and out of me. I did not feel anything, but I moaned when he asked me to. Well, fake moaned anyway. Of course, he couldn't tell that I did.

"Yes! Yes! You love it, don't you!" Edward half-hollered.

"Mmmmm, oh yeah! It's...ugh...it's so good!" I screamed, lying my ass off. "Faster!" I added, wanting him to get this over with as quickly as possible. I was tired! I wanted to sleep!

"Certainly," he moaned, picking it up a notch. "Tell me that you love me again."

I grew quiet, knowing that I couldn't say it. But I had to, even though I knew that I wouldn't mean it. I placed my hand on my belly. My baby. I had to protect him/her-that was my number one priority.

Closing my eyes, I prayed for strength before opening them. "I...I...I...I love you," I lied as I swallowed back tears of regret.

Edward gazed at me with adoration before kissing me deeply. I did not kiss him back, but he didn't seem to realize it. "I love you too, Isabella. Cum with me. Say my name."

Obediently, I squeezed my walls around him. "EDWARD!" I bellowed, pretending to fly over the edge.

"BELLA!" he growled. He rode himself out before collapsing on his side.

I turned over. I hated it. I hated having to lie and pretend to do something, or feel an emotion that I did not. But I loved my baby more than I hated to do any of that.

As I mentioned before, I would do anything to protect my child, no matter what it was. Anything.

XXX

Over the next few days, my baby bump expanded so fast that I swore that I could literally watch it grow. By the end of the week, Brad told me that I was the equivalent of six months pregnant. (He and Edward had bought an ultrasound machine in Glasgow, among other devices that they would need. They had it up in one of the spare rooms, along with a hospital stretcher.) I was happy about that: The morning sickness had gone away by the middle of the week. Still, I could not believe it. Six months already! And it has only been three weeks.

Edward and I were also told what the gender of our baby was. It was a male. We were going to have a son! Edward was wild with delight, but then again, so was I. I wished that Carlisle was here. I missed him so much.

"I want to name him!" he proclaimed.

Being in one of my irritable moods, I told him no. "Because I'm going to name him," I stated when he asked why.

"No! Let me do it!" he pleaded.

"Oh, come on, Edward. I want to! Please," I begged.

"Well...you can do the middle name," Edward conceded.

I sighed, but nodded and grinned. It was better than nothing.

He rubbed my stomach. "I will name him Edward, after me and my father," he announced.

I had a feeling that he would. Of course, I wouldn't have, but it was his son too. He did have a right to give him his name. "Edward, it is then. As for his middle name, I want it to be...Jacob," I declared.

Edward made a face, as if he would said no.

I jutted my bottom lip out pleadingly.

"...All right, if you insist. Edward Jacob. It has a nice ring to it," he mumbled thoughtfully.

"Mmm-hmm. We can call him EJ for short," I added.

He inclined his head, then kissed my abdomen. "Well, little guy. It looks like your name is Edward Jacob Cullen!"

I laughed. "Yes, baby. But your papa and I will call you EJ. Do you like that nickname?" I cooed.

EJ kicked me, and I swore that I heard him giggle in approval.

"Sounds as if he likes it," I noted.

Edward chuckled and rubbed my hand. "We are going to have a baby boy!" he declared with excitement.

I returned his smile wanly.

To my astonishment, he had kept his promise of not losing his temper. I knew that it must have been difficult. When I was in one of my moods, I had often yelled at him, or said rude things to him. I called him terrible names. However, he remained in control.

He treated me like a queen for the past week. He did everything I asked (or told) him to do. He waited on me hand and foot and spoiled the shit out of me. I still did not love him, but with the way things were going, I was almost friends with him. At least we were getting along.

Thankfully, his friends did not bother me. Edward had made it clear-on no uncertain terms-that if they wanted sex, they had better ask Tanya for it. Either that, or jerk off. He himself had stopped raping me, and I was grateful for that.

"But you cannot ask her to 'help' you anymore. If you do, you will regret it. She is the mother of our child. It is my job to make sure that Bella and our baby is safe from harm," he concluded.

"Nice speech, coven leader," I commended sardonically, rolling my eyes. But I was happy that I wouldn't have to deal with them.

Edward just snickered at me.

In the meantime, I had kept to our bedroom. I spent the days reading children's books to my son (of course, I didn't know that he was our son at the time) and talking to him.

"I am going to make sure that you have a wonderful life. I will make sure that you have whatever you need and that you will have the best of everything because Mama loves you. Mama loves you more than anything. I know that Papa does too," I whispered to EJ, rubbing my stomach.

Edward also spoke to him. He would also sing to him and play piano music for him. Our son apparently enjoyed it; he kicked me and rolled around a lot.

Nothing made me more delighted know that Edward truly did love our son. Perhaps being a father would help him turn over a new leaf...well, help him do this more. He was very much like his old self now. Still, I did not want to take too many chances. I did not trust him completely quite yet.

Anyway, let's return to the present.

I slowly climbed off of the hospital stretcher. My back ached as it often did now. EJ was continuing to kick me. It hurt a little. "Settle down, EJ," I cooed half to myself.

He must have understood because he stopped moving.

Edward lifted me up. "Tired? Do you need to rest?" he queried.

"Yes. Just take me to our room, please. My back hurts," I said.

"Okay, let's go," he announced.

When I was gently placed on the bed, Edward laid next to me. "Comfortable?" he inquired.

I nodded. "As comfortable as I can be," I sighed.

He pulled me close to him. "Why don't you take a nap? I'll be right here."

"If you say so."

I closed my eyes and was asleep in minutes. In my dreams, I could hear EJ's soft, peaceful breathing, as if he were napping as well. He sounded like he didn't have a care in the world. Well, as long as I was here, I would make sure that he didn't.

October 8th to October 14th

The next week went by as rapidly as that last one did. My stomach ballooned to an enormous size. EJ's kicks, which did not hurt too much in the beginning, caused me a great amount of pain now. He seemed to be so restless.

The constant hunger, moodiness, and fatigue that had plagued me at the start of my pregnancy had prevailed. In fact, it had gotten to the point where it had become haywire. I always seemed to be famished, tired, or upset. I craved sex often, but I didn't want it from Edward.

I cried a lot too. I wanted to go home. I missed everyone, especially Carlisle, more than ever. Were they still looking for me? I hoped so! I would be heartbroken if they had given up on me. But that wouldn't happen because I knew that they wouldn't. Ever.

No matter how much or how often I ate, though, I had grown thin, weak, and paler. Edward put me on bed-rest to save my strength.

"You are likely almost ready to give birth. That is probably why you are feeling like this. Look at your belly. You have to be at least eight months now," Edward observed on Wednesday.

"Quit talking, and just give me that fucking plate, Dickward!" I commanded, snatching it from him. Then, in asides to EJ, I muttered tenderly, "Excuse my language, baby. Mommy slipped again. Sorry, Edward."

Edward snorted, not offended by my dirty mouth. "Yep, you are definitely almost ready."

By now, we had gotten the baby clothes, enough to fill a department store. They were various sizes, since we didn't know how big he would be. They were all different colors too, except pink, lavender, and orange. We had also bought the crib, a car seat, toys, pampers, bottles, etc. We had to get them in Glasgow because we did not want to risk being seen by Dr. Paltz. She would notice that something was out of place.

"I wonder who our baby will look like," I remarked on Tuesday evening.

"He will look like the best of you and me, as Dr. Paltz told us," Edward whispered.

I giggled. It felt nice to laugh; I really had since I had been forced to come here. "That's probably true," I breathed.

On Saturday, my belly had stopped inflating for good. It took a while for us to be certain of this because it always seemed to be growing. But Brad told us that it did.

"She has reached nine months, but she is not in labor yet," he told Edward. "Let me know when she is."

"Don't worry. You know that I will," Edward stated.

(October 15th)

Edward and I were relaxing on our bed again. I was skimming through a book while he was listening to music on his IPod. His arms were behind his head and his eyes were shut. It was mid-morning. The sun was out and it was warm. A light breeze occasionally tugged on the curtains.

"If I weren't on bed-rest, I would go outside. The weather is beautiful today," I commented aloud.

"Mmm, it is," he agreed, opening his eyes. "It's too bad that you rarely have before. The area surrounding the house is magnificent. You would like it."

"Sure is. Perhaps when EJ is born, I will take him out with me. We wouldn't go far-we would only stay in the yard. He would probably love that."

I peered out of the window longingly for a moment, then turned my attention back to the novel I was reading. Edward closed his eyes again and went on listening to the classical stuff that he adored.

I had thrown the novel aside minutes later, and was reaching for another, when I began to feel strange. Nothing hurt, but something was just...odd. I felt lightheaded, as if my brain had been stuff with wool.

Then, abruptly, I had an urge to pee.

"Edward, I need to go to the bathroom," I mumbled.

He picked me up right away. As he did, my bladder let loose. A clear, gooey liquid spilled onto the bed. The covers were drenched in seconds. We gaped at them in alarm.

And then a bolt of pain erupted from my stomach. It hurt so bad that I screamed. My yell brought Edward back to reality. He sprinted out of the room.

"What's going on?! ARRGH! WHAT'S GOING ON?!" I hollered as another shot of pain charged through my abdomen.

He kissed my forehead. "It is time," he declared.

(A/N: PLEASE REVIEW! The more, the better. I apologize if this chapter went by too fast for you, but I hope that you still found it good. I will post Carlisle's POV in the next chapter, or the chapter after next, so that we will see what is going on on his end. Ciao! I will update ASAP!)