And here is another chapter... is going to be a little weird the timing (christmas and new year's eve), but after this one, it will be according to the actual season...
Now, enjoy!
Bella's POV
After Andrea's first day out, after proving to myself that I could get better if I try, I start to see things a little different, a little more positive. For once, I don't cry much anymore, I try to nurse Andrea every time she needs to be fed, I don't feel anxious whenever I have to stay alone with her for more than two or three hours; this has been happening a more now that Esme decided to go to Forks for a few days before come back for Thanksgiving Day with Carlisle, Em and Rose; and my mom has a new job as a photographer and sometimes she needs to leave me alone in the mornings. Alice is still in classes for a few more days before the break. All in all, every day, every moment I feel better and that makes me happy.
I enjoy every single minute I spend with my little girl, even when she spend most of the day sleeping, but whenever she's awake, I love to stare at her, at those expressive beautiful eyes. Right now I'm waiting for Alice to come home from college, I already prepared something for lunch and Andrea is been awake for about 10 minutes now and I'm nursing her, when I heard keys outside the door and a few seconds later the most gorgeous woman came through the door...
"Hi, there are my two favorite girls in the world!" she cooed while walking toward us leaving her messenger bag on the floor beside the couch.
"Hi Love, how was your day?" I asked her right after she kissed me sweetly
"Boring, as usual when you both aren't with me, and yours? How long she's been awake?"
"About 15 minutes now, and as soon as she's finished, we can eat lunch."
"That would be great. I'm so happy for the coming break, I can't wait to spend all my day with you two... Bella, I've been thinking something..."
"What is it?"
"I want to put college on hold..."
"WHAT?"
"Shh... you're gonna startle Andrea..."
"What are you talking about Alice? You can do that!"
"Yes I can, Bella, I've been thinking a lot, I want to be with you and Andrea, you both need me here, and besides, I can go back once she is a little older..."
"Alice I can't let you do that, not for that reason; what would think your parents..."
"I'm 18 Bella, I can make my own decisions now, and is my decision to drop college for a while and stay at home with you, I can paint and even work as a photographer assistant with your mom and make my own money..."
"Stop it Alice, you're not going to do such thing, you hear me? I won't let you drop college just like that... Now, can you hold her, I'm going to heat up lunch..."
"This isn't final Bella, I already made up my mind, and I'll discuss this with my parents next week..."
"We'll see..." I couldn't believe that she is thinking that, I won't let her and that's a promise I intent to keep.
After that day when Alice told me about her 'great' idea, we didn't talk about it, we keep our routine like always until the Thanksgiving break. We are, well is more like she is and I'm being forced to, organizing a small celebration for Andrea's first month, Alice is planning to celebrate her two days after Thanksgiving and since all the family is going to be here it will be perfect, according to Alice of course!
"C'mon Bella, we need to go shopping, Andrea needs the perfect outfit for her first month alive, and so do you, we can go tomorrow..."
"Alice please don't go too crazy, besides is too cold to go out with Andrea..."
"No is not too cold, Bella, you're not going to escape from this, we're going shopping tomorrow..."
"Why are you so sure?"
"Because I know you, and I know that you want Andrea to looks like the little princess she is"
Alice's POV
After our almost argument about my decision to drop college temporally, I didn't want to bring the subject to Bella again, at least not until I could talk with my parents. Instead I decided throw some sort of a party to celebrate Andrea's first month, and of course, Bella thought that I was crazy, even more when I suggest the idea to go shopping to find the perfect outfit for our baby girl, and as usual, she fight me against, but eventually she gave in.
The next day as much as I would want to go to the mall early, I knew we couldn't, the earlier, the colder and that wasn't a good idea considering that we were going to take Andrea with us, so instead, I wake up early and went to make breakfast for Bella and I. Both of them were still asleep, but I knew that Andrea would not take long to awaken asking to be fed. And as I predicted, our little girl start to stir and fuss in her crib as soon as I walked into the nursery, I picked her up before she started to cry... "Good Morning my Beautiful Andrea, come on, let's go wake your mommy Bella..." I kissed gently her forehead and take her to Bella's and mine bedroom only to find that Bella was already expecting us; she was settling over the head and unbuttoning the top of her pjs...
"How do you...?" I was surprised by that, and before I finished my obvious question, she pointed to the baby monitor on the nightstand...
"I heard your sweet voice, besides I awoke when I couldn't feel you near me..."
"I'm sorry; I went to make breakfast..."
"I know babe, it's ok... Now, I guess there's a little someone that is hungrier than you and me..." she cooed while she takes her into her arms.
I couldn't stop watching the scene, every time that she nursed our baby girl, it was almost magical, it amazed me...
"Enjoying the view?" she caught me staring at her, great!
"I'm sorry..."
"Don't be, I know you like them..."
"Yeah... but beside the point, I love that, you and Andrea, the connection between you two... that is a powerful link..." I didn't realize that I start to cry until she wiped my tears with her hand...
"Baby, why are you crying?"
"I... I don't know, really... I love you both so much..."
"Alice... talk to me, are you jealous of this?"
"I don't know if it's jealousy, I don't know..."
"My Love, I don't know how or when exactly, but I'm sure that someday you will have this, I know that you someday in the future will become a mother too and you will be able to breastfeed your baby just like I am now... I just hope that..."
"What?"
"That I could still be around to watch you and share this experience with you..."
"Of course you will be, I'm not going to leave you, and I won't let you go, I love you Bella, and someday in the future, I want to marry you and have a family with you... besides, we already started, we have Andrea, our little baby girl..."
"I love you, my Alice... now, could you hold her while I clean myself, then we go have breakfast, ok?"
"Yeah, and I love you too, my Bella"
After breakfast, we both went to take a shower (separated) and got dressed and ready for our trip to the mall. We didn't spent much time as I would like to, the weather wasn't that cold yet since it was still fall, but it was cold enough to be worried about Andrea, we didn't wanted her to get a cold or anything like that, so we just went straight to the baby clothes section and choose a cute Burberry dress and a coat for her first month celebration and another cute winter outfits.
We decided to eat something at the mall before go back home, since neither of us wanted to cook. And around 3pm we were on our way back to the apartment, only to find a great surprise waiting for us...
"Finally you guys, we thought that you were trying to hide from us or something!"
"Rose, Emmett? Oh My God, what are you doing here?" I run and jump into my big brother's arms while they both chuckled at me.
"Well, we wanted to come to finally meet this little girl..." Rose said, she was at Bella's side in a moment opening her arms like a little girl waiting for her Christmas present. "I can't believe how big and beautiful she is..."
"Rose, are you crying?" I heard Bella asking her, and when I turn my face, I could see a few tears running down Rose's cheeks, I never had seen her this emotional, it surprised me...
"God, I'm sorry..."
"Come on, let's go inside, is cold out here for Andrea..." and we all walk into the apartment.
Bella's POV
We talked for hours and Alice showed them everything we bought for Andrea, all the time, she was on Rose's arms, she even helped me when I have to feed her and she change her diaper and hold her until she fell asleep.
"You will be a great mother someday Rose..." I was mesmerized by the way she was acting towards my little baby girl, she was so motherly and loving like I've never had seen her before; the way she always acted, and the way Alice had describe her personality was totally different from the way she was acting right now. I supposed to believe that this beautiful blonde woman was all bitchy and shallow, but no, she was showing that under that entire pose, she was indeed a loving and caring person, with so much love to give...
"You really think so?"
"I know so, I've seen the way you hold her and see her..."
"I just... I've had so many dreams... of my holding a baby girl, just like I am now... becoming a mother is my biggest dream Bella and seeing you right now it make me feel a little jealous..."
"Rose..." we stay in silence for a few seconds and then she just chuckle at my face, I wasn't sure if she was serious... "I'll put her on the crib now; we better go to check on our mates, I'm not sure if we should let them alone for a long time..."
"Yeah, I wouldn't want to find my living room destroyed!"
After lay Andrea back on her crib, Rose and I went back to the living with Em and Alice, we talk for hours about college and our lives; according to Rose, Jasper have found a new love interest on Victoria, Edward's twin sister, and they will probably will be absent on Thanksgiving because they will be having dinner with her family at Forks.
When I ask Rose about her parents and the reason why neither her or Jasper will be having dinner with them, she told me that her parents were celebrating their wedding anniversary traveling through Europe, but that they will be back for Christmas and New Year's eve, so they will be celebrating with the Cullen's and my mom and me in Forks. That was news for me, I wasn't even thought about that yet, but apparently I already have plans for the holidays and I was happy for that.
When dinner time came, we order pizza and they stayed for a little while after that, then they went back to her hotel room, we would invited them, but we didn't have room for them. That made me think, it wouldn't be a bad idea to buy a bigger apartment, but that thought will be for later.
The days went by and finally Thanksgiving comes, Alice's parents, Em and Rose, and my mom and me we all celebrate at my mom's apartment since it's a little big that ours. The next day we celebrate Andrea in our apartment with a cake and a sleeping baby. Right after the cake, when I take Andrea to her crib and Emmett and Rose went to who knows where, I walk back to the living and I found my mom, Alice and her parents waiting for me with hot cocoa and coffee mugs...
"Ok, now that Andrea is sleeping on her crib and Bella is here, Alice would you tell us what is that you want to talk about?" Carlisle asked, and I immediately knew what was all this about.
"Alice No! We talk about it and I'm not letting you do this..."
"Do what? Alice, honey?" Esme asked a little worried for her daughter.
"Bella, I'm sorry, but I already decided, and now they deserve to know. Mom, Dad, I'm going to leave the university for a while, maybe a year I haven't decided yet..." the only sound after her 'news' was the gasp coming from Esme, apparently Carlisle wasn't surprised with Alice's decision, and even more surprising, neither my mom, in fact, her smirk told me that she already knew about this...
"Mom, do you knew about this?" I couldn't resist the urge to ask her.
"Yes, she did Bella, I talked with her about the possibility of working with her and she told me that even when she wasn't happy with me about leaving college that she would support me and she will hire me..."
"Carlisle, do you knew this?"
"Not exactly Esme, but I suspected that something like this could happen, especially after Bella's depression. Alice, you have to know that I don't like this either, but you're old enough and it's your decision."
"Thank you Dad. Mom?" I could see that she was worried about Esme's reaction more that Carlisle's.
"Well, I supposed that you made your choice, I'm not happy with it, but as your father told you, you are old enough to make your own decisions now."
"Mom... I want to do this for Bella and Andrea, I know they need me, and if I work with Renee, I won't be away all day, only a few hours at week..."
"Alice, I don't want you to do this..."
"Bella, please, don't you understand? I feel miserable every time I have to leave for college, I miss you and Andrea every minute I'm not with you, I love you so much that I don't want... No, I can't stay away from you for that long..."
"I'm... I'm sorry babe; I didn't know you felt that way..." I didn't know what else to say, I love the idea of having Alice with me all day, but not if that meant her to drop her education just like that. But now, I can accept the idea, knowing that eventually, both of us will return to college.
Alice's POV
Another two weeks gone by, and I am finally over with college, the holidays have started and Bella and I are packing to go and spend as much time as we can in Forks. Renee will be come to spend Christmas with us, but she will stay in Seattle for a few more days, and I will start to work with her when we come back in January.
We both are extremely excited, almost as the rest of the family since this will be Andrea's first Christmas, and even when she is too little to understand, we are going to make sure that she remember, taking as much photos and videos as we can. She is a month and a half and she's growing so much, which gives me the perfect excuse to go shopping.
We drive to Forks around noon, so we will be arriving close to dinner time, Emmett is already there, Rose and Jasper and their parents, Ed and Vic with their parents are there too; and all of them will be reunited on Christmas Eve at our home.
Once we arrived, after greeting all the family and settling in our room for a needed rest, all the family went out for dinner in Port Angeles; Bella and I wanted to stay in home after five hours driving, but my mom managed to convince us.
The following days, we start to get all the Christmas decorations while Emmett and Rose went to find the perfect tree. Once they came with the most spectacular tree I've ever seen, they started to put all the decorations and lights on it, my mom, Bella, Em, Rose and even my dad; while all of them were working on that, I held my little girl who was wide awake...
"Look at those bright lights Andrea, do you like it?" I was cooing to her, she really was staring at the lights... "What are you looking at now my sweet baby? Ah, that's an angel, a beautiful angel, just like you sweetie..." It amazed me how she could focus on certain things, colorful or shiny, even when she was born three weeks earlier, she is a smart baby girl. And I was happy, having a moment with her; Bella let me have her for a while. Normally she is either asleep or in Bella's arms feeding, so now is my turn, and I couldn't be happier.
"Remember this Alice?" my dad asked me holding a snowman that I made when I was 8 years old.
"Oh God, I can't believe that you still have that" I grab it and I notice Andrea following it with her eyes... "Do you like it baby? I made it when I was little, some day you and I would make one of this, or whatever you want so we can put it on the tree..."
After the snowman, I started to wander through the house, trying to show Andrea every shiny object I could find, mostly there were Christmas decorations in silver and purple, and every single one she stared at it with interest; then I put her a jacket, gloves and hat and grabbed one of her blankets and went outside, where my dad and Emmett had put some lights and stars. At the door, my mom had placed a beautiful Christmas wreath with silver bows on it.
"Can you see the bows my sweet angel? And look at that, there are more bright lights baby, you like those, don't you?" After a little while, I decided to go back inside, and walk again through the living and the dinning areas, just rocking my little baby; she suddenly started to fuss and I knew that she was probably hungry, so I went to find Bella, but she wasn't in the living room anymore neither in the dinning nor the kitchen, just when I was about to go upstairs to find her Em stopped me...
"There you are pixie, Bella and mom asked me to tell you that they went to the store, they will be back in a while..." he noticed Andrea fussing and at the verge of crying... "What do you do to her? Why she is upset?"
"She is hungry, and I don't know if Bella left any bottles for her..."
"Oh, she did, they are in the kitchen..."
"Oh, ok... thanks Emy Bear!" he ruffled my hair and kissed Andrea's head; I slapped his hand away and went back to the kitchen to grab a bottle.
I went upstairs to my bedroom, I lay on the bed resting my back on the headboard, put the bottle on her mouth and she started to sucked. I sang to her a sweet lullaby until she fell asleep. I was happily comfortable with her in my arms that I didn't want to put her on the crib (yeah, my mom had bought a small crib only for the holidays!), so I lay more on the bed, I put Andrea onto my chest and I stay just like that, listen to her steady breathing and tracing small circles on her little back and butt...
Bella's POV
When we started to set all the decorations, I felt a lot of emotions, I had never celebrated Christmas this way, or at least not since my father forced my mom to leave. After that, he never wanted to have any decoration, especially not the tree, on Christmas Eve, we sat alone to have dinner like if it was any other day. So, for me, to celebrate this with all this friends who had showed me affection and love, I felt special. Even more when they started to tell me stories about other years and the meanings behind a few of the tree decorations, most of them were funny stories about how both Em and Alice had made them. That's when I saw Alice with Andrea on her arms, she was showing her everything, my baby girl was on the stage in which she is starting to notice things, is fun to watch the concentration on her little face.
After a while I saw Alice walking outside still with Andrea, I stayed inside, I wanted her to have some alone time with our baby, I knew that once my mom and the other guest arrived, Andrea will be in everyone else's arms, so for now, I'll let Alice to have her moment with her.
Around 4pm, Esme asked me to go with her to the store, she said that she needed some things for dinner, I agreed to go with her, but before I needed to leave at least a couple bottles for Andrea, I knew that she will be asking for milk soon.
I asked to Emmett to tell Alice about me going for a while and the bottles that I left in the kitchen.
I talk to Esme about my idea to buy a bigger apartment in Seattle, she told me that it was a great idea, she even offer me her help to find a good one and to decorate it. We spend about 40 minutes in the store and then we back home to start cook the dinner.
When we came back, I notice that Alice wasn't in the living room with the rest of the family. "Hey guys, do you know where's Alice?"
"Hmm nope, I haven't seen her since she went to feed that little muffin'..." Em told me with a wink and a huge grin on his face, he knew I didn't like that nickname for my baby.
I went upstairs and to Alice's bedroom, I opened the door as quietly as possible and what I found was a lovely surprise: Alice was sleeping lying on her back with a sleeping Andrea lying on her chest, Alice's hands on our baby's back and head. I couldn't help the urge to grab my camera and take a few pictures of them, it was a beautiful sight.
The following days went fast, Christmas Eve finally came and all the guest, including my mom had a great time, the dinner was delicious and the presents were great too, the one who received more was, of course, Andrea, she got from clothes to music CD's and a few toys from Baby Einstein, everyone else got clothes, music CD's, DVD's books, and in Emmett's case, a couple videogames for his X-Box, seriously, that man is like a five year old boy!
Then, it was New Year's Eve, and this time the celebration was on the Hale's house, it was a bit more formal, and Alice forced me to wear a dress and heels. At the end of the night, went everyone was counting down to midnight, Alice and I were holding each other with Andrea in my arms, I kissed her with love and then we kissed our sweet angel, who was sleeping. It was definitely the ending of a rough year, but the start of a great one.
Three Months Later…
After the holidays, we went back to Seattle, my mom had hired Alice as her assistant in her Photography Studio, and she didn't have to be there all day, so she could spend more time with Andrea and me.
The last month, Esme came to helped me with the search of the new apartment, and after 4 days, we found the perfect one, it was, obviously, bigger than the one we lived before, with two bedrooms plus the master bedroom and master bathroom, another bathroom in the hallway, a bigger living room dinning and kitchen. And the best part is that it was really close to the one we were living. So, we moved the following week with the help of my mom and Esme. Alice was ecstatic of course, I keep it in secret until the day we had to move in, and I made her happy.
We were now in the beginning of April, Andrea was five months old, she was growing so fast, she could sit herself for a little while at times, she is starting to like the formula, so I don't have to nurse her all time, only at nights, is something that I still enjoy and I don't want to give up just yet.
I don't got bored as much as the first months, now I'd started to design and paint, there were two of my favorite activities, and lately I found that is relaxing; whenever I have time, when Andrea is taking her naps I use the time to either design crazy things on my laptop or paint, I have finished two paintings one of them is an abstract landscape and the other is totally different, is a beautiful portrait of my little girl.
My relationship with Alice has grown as well, the love I feel for her is bigger every day. I was planning on showing her that love tonight, with a special homemade diner; and in order to do what I've been planned, I ask my mom for help with distracting Alice all day until 6pm. I decided to order Italian food and spend all day playing with Andrea so by the time Alice comes home, she was exhausted and sleeping. It actually works, by 5:30, Andrea was ready to fall asleep for at least six hours, I knew the consequences, she would be waking up in the middle of the night, but it would work for my selfish purposes. The food arrive just in time and I put it on the oven to keep it warm, than I got a text from my mom telling me that Alice was a bit anxious to get home, and that at 6pm she will be out driving home as fast as she could, that gave me at least another 40 minutes. I quickly set the bath for Andrea and it took me 10 minutes to bathe dress her into her pjs, another 10 minutes to feed her with formula, this time I haven't enough time for breastfeeding. She was fast asleep, I laid her down in her crib and ran to the bath, a very fast shower, a new sexy set of lingerie, a light blue simple but elegant and sexy dress and heels and five more minutes to set the table with candles and a nice wine, everything was perfect and just in time for me to catch my breath. I heard her keys on the other side of the door, I dim the lights and when she entered she saw me and smiled...
"Wow, you look... amazingly gorgeous..."
"Thank you my Love..." I grab her hand and pull her into my body... "I love you and I want to show you just how much, I have dinner ready in the oven..."
"And Andrea?"
"Sleeping..."
"And this dress?"
"Is for you... but that's not the only thing that you would be admiring..."
"Then, what else is what I would be admiring?"
"What is under the dress... but you're going have to wait until after dinner..."
"What if I can't wait, I'm not that hungry... at least not for food..." by now, our bodies were impossibly close her face was on the crock of my neck, her lips grazing lightly my skin, her hands on my waist and her thumbs tracing small circles there. One of my hands was on the back of her neck and the other on her back, pulling her closer, as if it was even possible. My head resting on her shoulder, I was biting my bottom lip trying to prevent the moan that threatened to escape. The food was longer forgotten, the only thing on my mind at this point was Alice, her sweet scent, her delectable body, her soft lips on my skin... I couldn't deny any longer, I wanted her, I needed her and if I didn't take her in that moment, I was sure I would die of sexual frustration...
I took her face with both of my hands and leaned in for a passionate kiss, this time it was her turn to moan into my mouth... I move one of my hands to her waist and it didn't stayed only there, I lift the hem of her shirt and placed my hand flat against her bare stomach, slowly I moved my hand upwards until I reached the swell of her breast... she broke the kiss and stopped my hand grasping it by the wrist, she chuckled at the confusion on my face...
"Let's go to the bedroom, it's more comfortable there..." she then grabbed my hand and led me to our bedroom...
Alice's POV
Today I was a little suspicious, Renee asked me to stay with her and helped her to organize some photos, which were something that I normally don't do, but never less I stayed without a question. I had the idea that Bella was planning something, since the morning when I leave the apartment for work I noticed she was almost eager to be alone. During the day I tried to distract myself, but by 4pm I was desperately to go home, but was then when Renee asked me to stay; was then that I knew Bella was up to some kind of surprise for me. I went along with Renee without much complains, until finally around 5:45 she told me that at 6pm we could go home. I was excited and anxious.
When I got home, after drive incredibly fast, I was gladly surprised with the sight of my perfect lover...
"Wow, you look... amazingly gorgeous..."
"Thank you my Love..." she took my hand and pulled me closer to her body "I love you and I want to show you just how much, I have dinner ready in the oven..."
I was excited for what was about to come, I knew then that we weren't to eat anything that was in the oven, but I didn't care, all I needed in that moment was her, there have been at least two weeks since the last time we made love, and to say that I was a little frustrated by now was a understatement. I couldn't nor didn't wait any longer, I needed her desperately...
"What if I can't wait, I'm not that hungry... at least not for food..."
Taking advantage of the proximity of our bodies I put my hands on her waist and started to trace circles in it with my thumbs, while my face rested on the crock of her neck, I nibbled and kissed and sucked her, I could sense that she was trying to suppress a moan; then she took my face between her hands and kissed me with force, love and lust, she pressed her body even more against mine... She placed her hand from my back to my waist underneath my shirt, then she move said hand upwards to my breast, but before she reached it, I stopped and break the kiss. I had to chuckle at her face full of confusion, I wanted to take her right there, but I thought that it will be much more comfortable if we moved to our bedroom, so I grabbed her hand and lead her there.
Once we were inside, she pushed me against the wall, kissing me again, only this time was more softly but still with lust and passion.
"Hmmm... I missed this..." she whispered against my lips
"I missed this too my Love, I missed you..."
Just when she was about to kiss me again and I was about to pull down the zipper of her dress, the door bell interrupted us...
"Ugh... Who the hell dare to interrupt us?" she groaned with frustration in her voice
"I don't know, but let them, they'll go eventually..." I said and proceeded to kiss her again.
And again the doorbell rang; this time was me who groaned frustrated... "Whoever it is, is going to regret interrupt me when I'm trying to make love to my woman!" I separated from her and walk to see who was on the door; I didn't even bother to look through the peephole.
"Yes?" I asked annoyed while opening the door
"Um, I'm looking for Miss Isabella Swan"
"Well, she is busy..."
"I'm Bella Swan, what can I do for you?" she came behind me with a polite smile.
"I'm sorry for interrupt you Miss Swan, I'm Larry Jensen and this is Danielle Leary, we represented your father Charlie Swan..."
"Miss Swan, May we came in, please? We need to talk to you, about your father..." the woman Danielle was the one to ask, I was hesitant to let them in, I knew very well that Bella didn't want anything to do with her father...
"Look, I don't know why you are here, but I don't have nor need any kind relation with Charlie Swan, so if you could please just tell me what you need so we can finish this..."
"Alright, Miss Swan, I'm so sorry to have to inform you this... your father... he died this morning..."
Haha... more drama!
Thoughts?