25

I had to admit I was so selfish I wanted Jamie to be mine, all mine. She loved me because she thought I was her father, and Riley didn't deserve her love. He would hurt her with his rejection and I wanted to spare her that pain, whether it was right or not.

I put my arm around Jamie and said, "We're just talking about people we know. Did I tell you how beautiful you look?"

She smiled and leaned her head on my shoulder so I pulled her onto my lap. "You're growing up fast, Jamie," Charlie said as he stared at his only grandchild.

"I have on heels, grandpa," she said, thinking he meant her literal growth.

"Soon we'll be attending your wedding," Charlie added and Bella smacked his arm.

"Stop it dad, Jamie is going to stay a little girl and live with me forever."

"Perry Smith said he wants to marry me," Jamie said, "But I told him he is too stupid because he is in the slow reading group."

"That wasn't nice, Jamie," Bella said.

"Tell Perry Smith if he wants to marry you he has to come talk to me," I whispered in her ear. "We'll bury him in my mom's garden."

Jamie laughed and Charlie turned to look at me. "You have no idea how close I came to burying you on a beach."

"Hey, I wasn't in your jurisdiction," I protested and everyone laughed except Bella. She looked sad and I felt overcome with shame. "Jamie," I said, "I hope you meet boys who are much nicer than me. Your mom didn't deserve a jerk like me."

"I loved you, Edward. Even if you were a jerk," Bella said and Jamie protested loudly and wrapped her arms around my neck.

"Daddy is not a jerk," she said, "Jake is a jerk."

The group became quiet. Bella and I looked at each other and wondered if we were doing the right thing after so many mistakes to let Jamie believe I was her biological father. She was still young enough to let her believe without actually lying to her, but we both knew the day would come when she would ask questions.

After a few hours we headed home. It was a simple day, but we were now legally connected and could begin announcing the pregnancy. Are first order of business was to tell Jamie. She got in her pajamas and into bed before I came into her room.

Bella sat on the bed and I knelt on my knees as I held Bella's hand. "Honey, we have something to tell you," Bella said, "Edward and I were both only children, and we want you to have a brother or sister, so I'm going to have a baby."

"Really?" Jamie asked with wide eyes.

"Yes, in March," Bella said.

"We want you to know how much we love you and we want to have another child as sweet and loving as you are. You'll be a great big sister," I said honestly.

"Will this baby get sick, like me?" she asked to twist our hearts.

"We hope not, but if it does we will all pull together to get him or her better, just like we are doing for you," I assured her.

"Mom, are you going to get fat?" she giggled.

"Darn it Edward, we're going to have to bury Jamie in the garden, too," Bella teased and Jamie laughed loudly.

My phone rang and I looked down to see it was Riley, "Excuse me." I headed into the hallway and down the stairs as I answered the phone. "You better have some news for me."

I got tested, so where should they send the results," he said hatefully.

"Send them to Dr. Dunn in Forks. If you're a match he'll contact you with further instructions."

"You're barking up the wrong tree, I'm sure I'm not a match, hell I'm not even sure the kid is really mine. Girls are less than honest when they get caught with their pants down."

I took a calming breath and said, "Riley, you have no idea what a stupid fuck you are. You had an angel and you didn't even know it. I'll be waiting to hear from Dr. Dunn, you better do the same."

I got back to Jamie's room to find Bella singing her a song. She sounded like an angel and I felt a little guilty for getting hard as I listened to her sing. I went to our room and waited, but my exhaustion got the better of me and I fell asleep.

The sun was shining when I felt Bella get in bed; obviously she slept with Jamie because of a scary dream or something. I felt her kiss my bare chest and I moaned in pleasure. Her tongue moved over my nipple and I hissed at the sensation.

"Edward?" I heard Bella say, but her voice was coming from the other side of the room, not from our bed. I opened my eyes to see Tanya lying next to me and staring at Bella.

"Ah shit," I yelled and jumped from the bed, nude. I was aroused and tried to use my hands to cover myself as both women stared at my erection. "I thought you were Bella," I said to Tanya and then turned to Bella, "I thought she was you."

"And who is 'she'? Bella asked.

"Oh, this is Tanya, a family friend," I said to explain and Bella turned to look at her with crossed arms.

"I'm assuming you used to wear Flower Bomb perfume," Bella said.

"Yeah, how did you know?"

"Edward, would you please put something on to cover your pecker. Tanya, would you please get out of my husband's bed," Bella said and turned to leave the room.

"You're married?" Tanya gasped.

"Yeah, um…can you leave so I can dress," I begged her.

She chuckled and rolled her eyes. "Edward, I've seen your dick more than you have." She got off the bed and headed out of the room.

I was terrified to face Bella and hoped Tanya wouldn't decide to share family stories going back to when I was fifteen. I dressed and ran down the stairs to find Bella and Jamie eating breakfast. I kissed them both and Bella tensed a little.

"Excuse me and mommy for a minute, Jamie," I said and pulled Bella up from the chair and down the hallway into my dad's office.

"Stop pulling me," she said and pulled her hand from mine.

"Tanya is an old friend; I have known her my entire life. We grew…"

"So you've fucked her, right?" Bella said and crossed her arms.

I ran my fingers through my hair and tried to find a way to make it sound better than it was. I gave up and threw my hands in the air. "Yeah, I have. I lost my virginity to Tanya."

Bella's eye got wide and her mouth fell open as she tried to find the words to say how outraged she was. "Here…she's here…in your bed."

"It is our bed, Bella. She didn't know about you, but I promise you will like her," I mistakenly said.

"Oh really, hum…let me go get Jake and see how buddy buddy you can be with him."

"I've shared a beer with Riley, how do you think it made me feel?"

"I've lived in Forks, where every girl with a broken hymen has been intimate with you. How do you think it makes me feel?" Bell screamed.

"You are the only woman I have ever loved," I yelled back at her.

"Are you sure I wasn't just the only girl who told you no," she accused.

"You're pregnant with my child, so exactly when did you tell me no?"

Her eyes got huge this time and she got right up in my face and said, "You egotistical bastard. You know I didn't give it up in school…I mean to you…I mean when I came to Forks…I…oh fuck you."

I smiled and she pushed me with both of her hands and I fell back into a chair. I laughed at her and soon she broke into laughter too and came to sit on my lap. "Edward, it was our wedding night and you fell asleep. Then I get out of bed to change Jamie's sheets and come back to find some woman kissing you."

"I had no idea they were coming, and Tanya had no idea I got married. I'm sure she is feeling awful."

"She should," Bella mumbled and I pulled her mouth to mine and kissed her like a new bride. She responded and ran her fingers into my hair as we escalated the kiss.

My father walked into his office and came to a quick stop. "Sorry, dad, we'll get out of your way." I stood and took Bella's hand to lead her into the family room to meet the Denalis.

Tanya stood when we entered the room and spoke direct to Bella. "I'm really sorry; please to judge me on this first meeting. Edward is like a little brother to me," she said.

"I doubt that," Bella said and gave me a disgusted look.

"Honey, the Denalis have been our friends since Carlisle and I first married. I hope you grow to love them as we do," Esme said and then turned to her friends. "Bella is such an amazing woman, and she had an adorable little girl, please come meet Jamie."

They all left the room and Bella glared at Tanya as she walked past her. I decided it was the best I could hope for and pulled an album from the shelf to show Bella what to expect in Brazil. She was fascinated and when everyone returned to the room Jamie began looking at the pictures, too.

"Can we ride those things?" she asked as she pointed to the jet skis.

"Sure, and there's a boat too. When it is cold here, it is hot there," I explained.

"Yes," Tanya said, "And there are wonderful little inlets where you can swim unnoticed."

I gave Tanya a warning look but she only smiled. "Look at the dolphins," I said and pointed at the picture.

"Will I see some, daddy?" Jamie asked and Tanya laughed loudly.

"Daddy? Oh God, please don't tell me you allow that."

Jamie looked at her with sad eyes and I handed her the album and stood, "Tanya, will you join me in the kitchen."

I walked angrily and spun around to get right into her face. "Jamie is my daughter and Bella is pregnant with our next child. I don't want you saying anything disrespectful to my daughter or my wife. Are we clear?"

"Edward, she is not your child. God, what is this woman trying to pull," she said adamantly.

"Bella spent summers here with her father. I didn't know about Jamie," I lied.

"She doesn't look like you," Tanya said.

"No, she looks exactly like her mother, but with lighter eyes," I said and Tanya looked toward the other room and I could tell she was considering the news I had given her.

"I think you should get a paternity test," she said and I clenched my teeth.

"I love them, Tanya. You are walking a very fine line."

"You just turned twenty-four, how could you want this life?" she demanded.

I stared at her as I shook my head. "I always thought you were so sweet and such an understanding woman, but you're just a bitch, aren't you?"

"We were the perfect pair, Edward. You were just a male version of me. Remember who you're talking to, you won't be loyal and you know it."

"My daughter is fighting for her life, I would never hurt her," I said with conviction.

"Well, maybe there is a way out for you after all," she said with a laugh.

Bella walked into the room and walked right up to Tanya. I stood stunned when she spoke softly and said, "Surely you aren't suggesting my baby die, because that would mean you are heartless."

Tanya didn't answer, but she smirked at Bella, causing my wife's hand to pull into a fist and swing directly at Tanya's jaw. Tanya screamed and fell to the side as she looked to me for help. I reached out for Bella's hand and pulled her from the room.

Her entire body was shaking with anger and she looked at me with tears in her eyes. "She actually wants Jamie to die. I want her out of this house, or I'm going to my fathers."

Tanya ran to her parents and there was a loud commotion coming from my father's office. The Denalis came out and announced they were leaving. I held Bella close to me and refused to offer any apology or solution.

We had been married less than twenty-four hours and my wife was confronted by my past. I ruined our wedding night and now made her first day as Mr. Cullen miserable. I had to do something to make her happy to be my wife.

"Bella, let's take Jamie and go to the meadow. She won't be exposed to germs and I can carry her. She is stuck in this house so much."

"I'm sorry for our friends," Carlisle said.

"It's okay," Bella offered him. "It isn't your friends that were the problem. It is Edward's past that I need to learn how to deal with."

"Well, I take responsibility for that, too. We were very indulgent with our son."

I wanted out of there as quickly as possible. I knew I hurt my parents and now I was hurting my wife. I wanted to get them alone where I could show them how much I loved them. Bella went to get Jamie ready and my father pulled me into his office. I expected a lecture but he wanted to talk to me about Jamie's medical needs.

"Son, have you prepared Bella and Jamie for what is to come? They need to understand the effects of the chemo."

"Yeah, I'll talk to them both at the meadow," I promised and left to spend the day with my girls.

We picked up some food and drove to the spot I now loved. I thought of it as ours and it was where I got Bella back. We put down a blanket and I sat Jamie in the shade. Bella handed her a cookie and she only nibbled on it.

"Jamie, you have Chemo again in two days, and your mother and me have to go back to work soon. We need to talk about a few things."

"Okay," she said and I glanced at Bella to see how she was doing.

"The medicine is going to make you sick, it will be helping your body, but you will feel so much worse. And one of the ways we can tell if it is helping you get better is if your hair falls out."

She only looked at me so I knew she didn't understand what I meant, so I explained further. "Honey, you will go bald, but it doesn't last, your hair will grow back."

"Bald like Mr. George?" she asked and Bella nodded as her eyes filled with tears.

"Jamie, it might help if you shave your head, and daddy will shave his head, too. We can do it together."

Bella reached out and wiped Jamie's tears. "Honey you can wear a wig and nobody will know. You can pick any wig you want in any color."

I decided to let her process the information before adding anything more. She looked at me and asked, "Are you going to wear a wig?"

"No," I laughed. "I don't mind looking like Mr. George," I said and had no idea who he was but both Bella and Jamie laughed.

"Okay," Jamie finally said, "I'll shave my head and wear a wig."

"That's my girl," I smiled and felt my phone vibrate.

I looked at it to see it was Dr. Dunn. I quickly answered and heard him say, "Edward, I got Riley's results."

I got up and walked away a few feet to hear what he had to say. His words would give Jamie hope for a full recovery or it would send us on a worldwide search and possibly end the life of our baby.

26

I extended my arm and leaned against the tree to steady myself to hear the news I was about to receive. I had my back to Bella and Jamie so they wouldn't see my reaction. I took a deep breath and told him to go ahead.

"He's a perfect match," he said, and my knees buckled and I grabbed the tree tightly.

"Say it again," I begged.

"He'll be the perfect donor. I'll get in touch with him and begin the preparation for a December procedure. We'll have to put Jamie in a hospital in Seattle for the blood cell kill. She'll be highly susceptible to infection and it is a very dangerous time for her before getting the new cells."

"Okay," I said unable to say anything else.

"We'll check for remission after two rounds of chemo, we don't want to tax her body too much before the procedure."

"Okay, it sounds good," I said.

We hung up and I turned to look at my girls. Jamie looked totally oblivious, just as a seven year old should, but Bella was watching me closely. I nodded slightly and Bella covered her mouth with her hand. I tried so hard to remain composed but as soon as I sat down Jamie asked, "What's wrong, dad?"

I pulled her to me and sobbed loudly. I was so relieved and felt I was handed a miracle. Bella wrapped her arms around us and she cried along with me. Jamie was confused and thought we got really bad news. She began to cry and asked again what was wrong.

I let her loose and smiled down at her. "Jamie, we got some really good news. We found someone with the same blood you have and he'll give you his healthy blood to make you healthy."

"Do I have to drink it?" she asked.

Bella and I laughed. I was so excited and began talking quickly, explaining a transplant in terms which were way too difficult for Jamie to understand. Bella fell back onto the blanket and took a deep breath and shook her head. She looked so tired and I wanted to make her life better. I wanted her home with Jamie and resting so I decided to go work with Jasper as soon as possible.

We could pay for insurance until I got them put onto mine. I also wanted to adopt Jamie as soon as possible. When we decided to head home Bella took my arm as I carried Jamie. I smiled and she winked at me.

All the drama over Tanya was long forgotten and it turned into a joyous day. We told my parents the second we arrived and Bella stepped from the room to update Rose so she could post it on Jamie's web page.

By the time to long day ended I told Jamie goodnight and waited for Bella in our bed. I wasn't going to fall asleep no matter what. She came in and ran to jump onto the bed. I laughed as she attacked me with kisses.

"Bella, I want you to quit your job and stay home with Jamie. I'll start working with Jasper on Monday and we can keep COBRA benefits for a month."

"Okay," she said quickly and I looked at her with raised eyebrows. I had no idea it would be so easy to convince her.

"No discussion?" I asked.

"Nope, you are a miracle maker Edward, and I'll do anything you want," she announced.

"Really?" I smiled. "So if I ask you to remove your clothes?"

She sat up and pulled her shirt off, so I put my arms behind my head and watched. She continued to remove all her clothes and reached for my pajama bottoms. I let her removed my own clothing as I grew more aroused.

"Now what?" she asked.

"Rub your body on mine," I said with a soft voice.

She moved to my feet and crawled like a snake up my body, stopping to rest her breast on the sides of my cock. I smiled at the sight so she sat up and held my member against her pelvic bone as she rubbed it up and down. My breathing picked up and she raised just enough to tease me against her wet vagina.

"Now what, Edward?" she asked with a breath.

"Sit, hard," I panted.

She continued to tease me and I tried to lift my hips but she moved higher. I was just about to protest when she came down hard onto me. I cried out with pleasure and she moved to clamp her hand over my mouth.

"Shhh," she laughed.

My happiness over the news we were given coupled with her body was too much for me. I was rock hard and flipped her over so I could get what I needed. I couldn't move slowly, I was so hot for her and I needed to have her over and over again. I pumped with a fury as she tightened her legs around me.

"Bella, I need you hard," I grunted. She placed her feet on the bed and began meeting me with her own thrusts.

"Fuck me hard," she cried and it made me even harder to hear her say that. I got on my knees and held her up as I moved with a vengeance. Her breasts were moving in rhythm with my thrusting and I stared at the amazing sight.

It made us feel alive and invincible. It was so different from our tender lovemaking. This was proving we were powerful together and nothing could hurt us. I now realized why I always had sex like this when I was younger. I needed to feel powerful because inside I felt weak. I was beginning to finally understand myself and I had Bella to thank for it.

The next day I got out the shears and Bella cut my hair first so Jamie could watch. She stared in amazement as my long hair fell to the ground. It would be nothing like hers but she didn't think I looked too weird with my hair shaved. She willingly sat down and Bella cut off a lock of her hair to keep as a memory.

Luckily, Jamie was a beautiful girl and her shaved head just accentuated her eyes and cheek bones. She was still gorgeous and when Bella held up the mirror Jamie actually smiled. She rubbed her hand over her head and laughed loudly.

"It feels so much lighter," Jamie noticed and I agreed with the statement as my own head felt lighter.

"We can look online for different wigs and see what style you like," Bella told her and Jamie only shrugged. Her bravery touched my heart and I was so proud of the strong spirit she had.

I left them to their online shopping and headed out to Port Angeles to check out my new job. I thought I would feel like a failure having my friend support me, but I was determined to do my best to increase his business and really be an asset for him.

I knocked on his office door and walked in. He nodded and tossed me a cigarette while he talked on the phone. I set it back on his desk and sat in a chair to wait for him to finish. He hung up and smiled at me. "Nice hair."

"Jamie shaved her head today," I informed him.

"I heard the fucker was a match," he stated correctly.

"Yeah, it gives Jamie a better chance of complete remission, but it will still be a tough road," I said. "But, I'm here to help Jasper, let me know what I can do for you."

"Let me give you a rundown of the business, from start to finish, and get your ideas."

I listened to Jasper for over an hour and something jumped out at me. "You talk about fixing the hull, but what about interior fixes. If you are selling an old ship what updates do you offer on the inside?"

"I don't," he said and could tell where I was going with this.

"So you pull it into dry dock and they have to take it somewhere else and pull it again? A ship is a home for the crew and it should be upgraded along with the repairs," I said as Jasper nodded enthusiastically.

"Tell you what," Jasper said, "You get me some numbers and look into the demand. If you can find a way to do it cheaper than competitors I'll put you in charge of it."

He got up and walked across the hallway to open a door to a small office. "Here you go," he said and I stopped before walking in.

"Jasper, I want you to know…."

"Hey, stop being a pussy," he said and walked back into his office.

I walked into the small room and looked out the big glass window overlooking the warehouse. I stared at the large ship being welded and smiled. It wasn't medicine, but it was fixing what was broken and I could be happy with it.

I began making phone calls and lined up some meetings for the following week. I left when it was dark and drove home feeling like I had accomplished something for my family. I walked in the door and Jamie came running in to see me.

"Daddy, look what Alice made for me," she said and pulled on a small hat with hair hanging from the bottom. It looked so real you would swear it was Jamie's hair.

"That's amazing," I said and when she handed me the hat I put it on my head.

"Daddy, stop," she laughed. "You look silly."

Bella walked in and laughed at the sight. "Edward, you are a very handsome man, but you make an ugly ass woman."

"Hey, our child will look just like this," I teased.

Jamie laughed. "No, it will look like me," she said and Bella looked away.

I noticed Jamie kept rubbing her port so I moved her shirt to look at it. "Is this hurting?" I asked.

"No, it itches," she said and I looked closer at it.

"Is something wrong?" Bella asked with a worried voice.

"No, it looks fine. I'll just put extra antibiotic on it tonight. Are you keeping it dry?" I asked Jamie and she nodded.

"Speaking of which, let's get you in the bath, young lady," Bella said and they both headed upstairs. I loved seeing Jamie so active and feeling good, I knew tomorrow would be a different story. I waited for Jamie to get her in bed and came in to tell her goodnight.

Jamie handed me the swab stick with the antibiotic cream and I put on extra before covering it with a large bandage. "Are you up for your chemo tomorrow?" I asked her and she nodded with fear in her eyes.

"Just remember it is killing the cancer in your blood and someday this will all be a distant memory, but we all need to be brave right now."

"Are you coming with me?" she asked.

"No, mommy will be with you tomorrow and then I'll be home on Friday. But, mommy is going to quit her job so she can be with you all the time. Grandma and Grandpa Cullen are here, too," I said without realizing I had never referred to them in that manner.

Her eyes grew wide and she said, "They're my grandpa and grandma?"

I looked at Bella in fear but she placed her hand on my shoulder and said, "Of course they are, you're a Cullen aren't you?"

Jamie smiled and nodded proudly. We both gave her a kiss and as we started out the door Jamie said, "I miss my friends, can I see them soon?"

"You have to be very careful with germs, Jamie, but you can use my computer and talk to them online," I offered and she nodded with a big smile.

Bella and I headed to our room and I brought up the idea of getting a computer cam for her friends so she could see them and talk without having to type. I promised Bella I would look into a computer we could drop off to her friends, taking turns and giving Jamie some socialization.

We got into bed and I held her in my arms as I told her all about my time at work. I was excited about the possibilities and Bella listened to me drone on and on. I soon realized she had a big day and needed her rest to keep up here strength. I placed my hand on her stomach and asked, "How are you feeling?"

"Good, I have an appointment in two weeks. I feel pretty good, I was really sick with Jamie," she said.

"I'm sorry you had to go through it alone," I said and my mind wandered to Lauren.

"It was easy to tell my mother, but it broke my heart to tell my father. He felt like he failed me because he wasn't around to demand boys treat me with respect. I tried to tell him it wouldn't have mattered; smooth talking guys are a dangerous breed."

I lay in the dark with Bella in my arms and I thought back over the years and could not think of one time I ever worried about a father. Charlie was the only one I acknowledged and it was because he wore a badge and could make my life miserable. I also thought about Jamie dating and what smooth talking boys would try to do with her. "Oh God," I moaned, "Why couldn't Jamie be a boy?"

Bella laughed and looked over at me, "Feeling a bit guilty, Daddy?"

"More than a bit," I admitted.

"Well, I'm putting Jamie on birth control the second she starts high school," Bella said with conviction.

I chuckled, "There's no need, I'm going with her on every single date."

"How many girls did you sleep with that you actually took on a date?" she challenged me.

"Okay, I'm going with her every time she leaves the house," I corrected and Bella laughed.

She placed her head on my chest and sighed. "Edward, I hope we get to have these worries with her. I want her going out with friends as we have to wait up to see if she has been drinking or having sex. I'll happily take these stresses if my daughter can only live."

"We have a match, we'll get her through this and be a closer family for it," I said, but I had to admit I was just as terrified as she was. I couldn't image having to bury Jamie and being able to continue on with a baby. There was something deep in my soul which told me the baby was coming to save us from our despair and it scared the shit out of me.

27

Jamie's second treatment was a little rougher for her. She was very nauseous and it took everything we had to keep her hydrated. Her port got a yeast infection and we worked like crazy to get it cleared up. Bella was exhausted and I felt guilty going to work where I could forget for just a bit.

I was getting some great information for Jasper and he was growing excited for the expansion. I was interviewing fishing crews when I met a young lady named Brea. She worked on her father's crew and gave me some great insight into what was needed on a boat and what should be changed.

I was sitting with her at lunch one day when a woman who looked very familiar walked in. I stared at her, trying to figure out how I knew her, when it dawned on me it was Stephanie. "Shit," I mumbled and Brea turned to look where I had been looking.

"Hey, Stephanie," she called out and the woman came toward our table. I prayed my new hair cut would keep me from being recognized, but Brea took care of that. "This is Edward Cullen," she said and I nodded as I took a drink from my coke.

"I know Edward…intimately," she said. "How are you?"

"Good, how are you?" I asked and prayed she didn't tell me about an abortion I was unaware of.

She laughed and shook her head. "I actually just got a new car."

I almost spit my coke across the table and we both laughed together. "Um…I'm really sorry Stephanie, I was really a jerk and you were a very nice girl."

"Oh God, I was a whore and I know it," she said and I shook my head in disagreement. "But Brea's a great woman, you'll be happy with her."

"Oh…no…"

Brea jumped into the conversation and said, "Edward's married, we're having a business lunch."

"Married?" Stephanie asked loudly and then really laughed. "Who in their right mind would marry Edward Cullen?"

I let my head drop and I felt awful, I wanted to tell her a wonderful, beautiful woman who inspired me to change agreed to be my wife, but I was suddenly worried about what Jamie was going to hear when she announced to her friends she was a Cullen. I really hoped she gets well and I can move them to Chicago.

I decided to end the lunch and set some cash on the table and excused myself. I had enough information from Brea and didn't want to give anyone reason to gossip and worry Bella. I headed home early and decided to give Bella a break and let her rest since Jamie had another treatment today.

I pulled into the garage and my mother met me at the door. I could tell by her face something was wrong. I waited in my car with the window down for her to come speak to me. "Dr. Dunn called, Riley isn't responding to his calls. Bella's very upset."

That yellow bellied piece of shit, he was going to run out on her again. But Riley didn't figure on being chased this time and there was no corner of the earth he could hide in. I would hunt him down and drag his ass to Forks.

I got out of my car and went in to find Bella washing the bedding Jamie had thrown up on. I pulled her into my arms and held her as she cried. He gave her a child unwillingly and was now purposefully taking it away from her.

"Don't worry, Bella. He can't hide, I'll find him by pressuring his father," I promised her.

"Why would he hurt her, Edward? She's done nothing to him, nothing."

"He's a coward, and I have to be grateful he is or I wouldn't have you and Jamie. But, I won't allow him to hurt her, I promise."

"I'm so tired," she sighed and I held her away from my body to look at her.

"You get right in bed, I'm taking over today," I said and turned her shoulders to send her away from the washing machines. She walked slowly to our bed and I worried about her stamina. I continued on to Jamie's room and found her so pale and crying with no tears.

"Hi, princess," I said and she tried so hard to smile but it wouldn't quite form. "What can I do for you, sweetheart?"

"Can you take the balloons out of here, they get on my nerves," she said with a hoarse voice.

I reached out and gathered the Mylar balloons and put them in the hallway. When I came back into the room Jamie looked even paler. I pulled out my phone and called Dr. Dunn. I told his nurse to have him call me right away and then called my father, but he didn't answer either. I felt Jamie needed a blood infusion of red blood cells. If nothing else it would make her feel better.

I sat on Jamie's bed for half an hour and she never moved once. I finally picked her up in my arms and carried her to my car. I never realized how horrible it was to wait for a doctor to call. Every minute seemed like hours.

I was almost to the hospital when Dr. Dunn called. I gave him a run down on Jamie's condition and he was going to call and set up an infusion. Jamie was so lethargic she didn't even respond when they accessed her port. I wanted to talk to the doctor on call and ask him why her levels weren't check when she was in earlier.

A young man walked up to me announcing he was the resident in charge. He looked younger than me and I worried for my daughter. "My daughter is severely anemic, why wasn't she checked earlier today?"

"Um…she seemed fine when she received her treatment," he said and I took a deep breath to calm down.

"I want her checked every time she comes in, she a little child for God's sake, do your fucking job," I yelled and felt a hand on my shoulder. I looked back to see my father giving me a warning look. "Do you ever answer your phone?" I yelled at him.

"Excuse us," he said to the resident and pulled me into an exam room. "This doesn't help, Edward. I realize you are stressed…."

"Stressed, you think I'm merely stressed? Bella is a walking zombie and Jamie is non-responsive. Riley isn't responding to Dr. Dunn's calls. I am nowhere near stressed, I'm out of my fucking mind," I yelled loudly.

I thought he would lecture me or tell me to grow the hell up, but he pulled me into his arms and held me tightly. "I'm so sorry, son," he said and I clung to my father as I let him carry some of my burden. His shoulders had always seemed so broad and I needed them right now.

"Dad, I have to go after Riley. I'm going to fly out tomorrow night so I can be back by Monday for work. Can you look after Bella and Jamie?"

"Sure son, are you sure it is necessary to go to Chicago?"

"I'm not going to Chicago, I'm going to Arizona," I told him and he nodded and placed his hand on my cheek.

"Edward, I'm very proud of you, son."

Those were the words I needed to hear and terrified I would never deserve. I didn't care about the town gossip, my father was proud of me and that was all I needed to hear. I let him give me one last hug and headed back to check on Jamie. She was lying in an infusion chair and she looked so tiny. I sat next to her and she turned to look at me.

"Daddy, I don't want to be sick anymore," she said with a faint voice.

"You'll feel so much better after the blood infusion, I promise."

"I was thinking," she said and I leaned closer to hear what she had to say. "Maybe if I died you could be happy with the new baby and not worried all the time."

I tried not to respond with the shock I felt and leaned in more and kissed her on the nose. "I can't imagine one day without you. The worst day with you here is a million times better than the best day with you gone. I love you, Jamie, with all my heart." She smiled softly and I added, "Your mommy would never be happy without you Jamie. You are her reason for breathing."

"I'm trying to be brave," she said and I had to work really hard to keep my tears at bay.

"You are extremely brave, honey."

Speaking to her for those few minutes made me excited to get on that plan and beat the shit out of Riley Biers. I hoped he didn't call Dr. Dunn because I wanted my pound of flesh. I would never let him out of his responsibility to save Jamie. I would drag him back for the bone marrow but never let him near Jamie. She would never set eyes on the man who failed her.

When the infusion was over her color was much better and she was talking to the nurses. I felt a sigh of relief as I carried her to the car. She had her arms around my neck and kissed my cheek several times, making me smile.

I was walking through the door when Jamie tensed and buried her face in my neck. I looked up to see Jake standing on the walk with his uniform on.

He glanced over at us and his eyes narrowed. "Edward," he said with a slight nod and I refused to answer. "Is that Jamie?" he asked. "Hi honey."

Jamie never let her head rise and tightened her hold on me. "I've got you, baby. He can't hurt you." I continued walking in the parking lot and said, "Jamie, did Jake hurt you, more than your arm?"

"He was mean," she said.

"Did he hit you?" I asked.

"No, he told me mommy didn't want me around all the time. He said she liked him better than me."

I couldn't believe he could be jealous of a child. He was older than me and acted like a child himself. I sat Jamie in the car and knelt next to her. "Jamie, Jake lied because he wanted Bella to himself. He is selfish and he lied. Your mother loves you more than anyone else in the world."

"I'm so glad you came home Daddy. I missed you. Why did you leave?"

Man, I wanted Bella here so badly. I was afraid I was going to say something wrong or something that would lead to other questions. I didn't want to lie and tried to find words that could mean different things. "Honey, I needed to grow up and your mother needed a home for you. She chose the wrong man, Jake, and I didn't think she wanted me anymore. We both made mistakes, but it is all fixed now."

She smiled and accepted my explanation for now. I drove home and found Bella still asleep. I left her alone and she slept through the entire night. I took advantage of the free evening to call Rose and Alice and ask them to help out for a couple of hours in the afternoons so Bella could begin taking naps. They were happy to be of help.

Jamie came downstairs in her nightgown with a box. She sat next to me and asked, "Dad, can you play paper dolls with me?"

"What's that?" I asked and she laughed.

"Here, you can be Tiffany," she said and handed me a flat hard copy of a little girl with blonde hair.

"I'll be Veronica," she said and showed me another flat doll.

"What do I do?" I asked.

"We play," she said and held her paper doll up by mine and began talking in a high pitched voice. "Tiffany, do you want to go to the mall?"

"Jamie, you can't go to the mall, there are too many germs," I said, without understanding the playing had started and she laughed loudly.

"No, the pretend mall," she clarified.

"Oh, okay," I said and used my own high voice. "Sure, Veronica lets go to the mall and check out the boys."

God I hoped Emmett and Jasper never caught wind of this. I would have to move right away or at least give up one testicle. She walked her doll down the couch to the other end and I moved quickly to catch up.

"Look, isn't that dress cute?" she said in the odd voice again.

"You should buy it," I said.

"I'll try it on, you wait for me," she said and moved her paper doll behind the couch. She opened the box and pulled out a dress with tabs to wrap around the paper doll. She brought it back over the arm of the couch and said, "What do you think?"

"It's perfect," I said and moved Tiffany around to look at it from every angle.

"Let's get a tattoo to go with our new dresses," Jamie said and I looked at her with wide eyes.

"Veronica you are so crazy," I said with my Tiffany voice. "Tattoo's are so ugly and hideous and only stupid people would break their daddy's hearts and get one."

"Dad," Jamie complained.

"I know, let's go home and watch a Disney movie, it would be so much better than getting a tattoo."

"Dad, stop it," she laughed.

"I know," I said as I continued on as Tiffany, "Let's get manicures and pedicures."

Her face lit up and she jumped right back into character. "Okay, let's go."

We now marched over to the chair and talked about music and movies. I was so glad we never got to boys or liquor. When she finally tired of the game she took Tiffany and put her back in the box. She turned to walk up stairs and I called out to her, "Jamie."

"Yeah," she answered and turned to look at me.

"You never speak of this to anyone, okay?"

She laughed and rolled her eyes. "Mom was right, boys are babies," she said and headed up the stairs.