Chapter 10: Darci Gets Discovered

Bella POV

The week passed without much fuss. I spent most every afternoon with Edward and his family. Alice and Rosalie informed me I needed to step up my wardrobe and at first I griped but then I relented. They also went crazy buying for Darci. I swear they bought everything in sight for that child.

" Alice what in the world is a two month old going to do with a pink rabbit 4 times her size?", I asked as we went to the checkout counter in Toys 'R' Us." Relax Bella we are going to use it as room decoration for her nursery at our house.", she color me stunned." Your putting in a nursery at your house for my child? Alice that is so not necessary. It is way too expensive. I mean I totally apprecaite it. I know you all are crazy about my daughter but get serious.", I said.

Alice and Rosalie just laughed and Alice replied." We are serious and yes we are crazy about you and Darci and you both deserve the best. So just hush up and enjoy being spoiled. Besides this was a combined idea of Edward and Esme along with the rest of us in agreement so there's no reason to fight it."

I finally just gave up. I could see there really was no point in arguing with her. I knew already what Alice wants she gets. Inside though I was really bursting with happiness that I had finally found what I had been searching for all of my life. I had true friends and that point was nothing short of being rammed home when we got back to Forks later on that afternoon.

Edward POV

I was really happy when Bella agreed to let Esme keep Darci so she could go shopping with Alice and Rose. In no time at all Darci had all seven of us wrapped tightly around her little fingers. We would do anything for her or Bella. Speaking of Bella, I was getting more and more attatched to her. We have so much in common. It's funny how that happened but it's no less true. She and Darci have become the sunshine of my long life. Everyday there is something new to discover about one or both of them. I have fallen really fast and really hard for Bella. She is beautiful inside and out. I know she probably doesn't know it but she and Darci both have my cold dead heart in their hands.

I was sitting on the couch holding Darci while Esme was heating her a bottle. We were waiting on the three girls to return from shopping. I was taking Bella to the grocery store later on this afternoon. Esme wanted food in the house for Bella since she was here alot of times. Charlie came over quite a bit too. His thoughts were always happy and positive ones when he saw how we treated Bella and his grandchild. Bella had yet to reveal to the rest of my family about how Darci came to be but they would never ask her about it. They were all waiting patiently for her to tell them if and when she was ready.

Finally around 3 in the afternoon the front door opened and in came Bella, Alice and Rosalie loaded down with bags and boxes." Jazz, Em, come up here, please.", Alice called. They had been down in the basment playing Halo on the playstation.

They were upstairs in the living room quickly, too quickly. Bella had the funniest look on her face but she said nothing. I heard the thought in her mind though about how fast they managed to get upstairs and how Alice barely raised her voice to call them. I suppose she will figure it out sooner or later and when she does I will gladly explain it to her.

Yes, I will be free to explain to her about us without fear of getting in trouble. The Volturi were wiped out just before we moved back to Forks. Eleazer is now the Elder and keeper of our lives now. Lucky for us he believes as we do that vampires and humans can coexsist in peace and harmony. While it's true we still don't go around advertising our exsistance we will be truthful to most people if we are confronted about it. However we still kep our distance from the shapeshifters on the Quilute reservation as they still don't trust us anymore now than they did years ago.

" Damn babe, did you buy the mall out?", Emmett asked as he picked up bags and boxes as instructed by Rosalie." No, we didn't we left a little bit to be delivered tomorrow.", she replied.

Esme came in to inspect what was bought. I was still holding Darci when Bella cam over and took her from me so I could help get things up stairs. She kissed me on the cheek and thanked me." What are you thianking me for, love? I haven't really done anything.", I told her. She looked at me like I had suddenly grown another head and said." You and your family have done more than you will ever know for me and this little one and that is what the thank you is for." I could tell she was serious. I knew by being able to read Bella's mind that she had never been treated exceptionally well until now. She had been a parent long before she got pregnant to her own mother.I was more than happy to give her whatever she needed or wanted.

When all the new stuff was in the room we were making into a nursery and all Bella's new things were in my car. We took off for her house. Esme wanted to keep Darci but Bella said she hadn't seen her allday and wanted to take her with us so I put her in the car too. We arrived at Bella's a few minutes later. I got out and went around to open the door for her and helped her out." Edward will you get the bags while I get the baby?", she asked. " Yes love, I 'll do that.", I said as I reached in the back and unbuckled Darci from her seat and handed her to Bella. I gathered up all the bags and we made our way in the house. We took everything upstairs and put it away and then we took of again to the grocery store.

Bella POV

Edward and I were having a good time shopping. We were in the baby food isle getting some cereal for Darci when Jessica passed by. She came over to us. I braced myself for what was about to go down.

" Hi guys.", Jessica greeted us. " Hi Jessica.", I replied while Edward gave a nod of his head. " Fancy running into you two here and why on earth are you buying baby cereal?", She asked. I took a deep breath and Edward put his arm around my shoulders then I answered," We are buying cereal for Darci, my daughter." Jessica's ajw dropped open and her eyes got wide as she took in what I'd said." And why are you here buying baby cereal with her, Edward? Bella, I already told you about certain things and how they are here in Forks.", she told me before giving him a chance to answer her question to him. I looked at his expression his eyes were pitch black and he was glaring at her. " I am helping Bella with her shopping and I'm here with her because I choose to be. I understand you think you know things work here in Forks but you certainly do not know how things work with the Cullens. We approached Bella not the other way around. If you and the other gossips have a problem with it then I suggest you come to us.I will only tell you once Jessica.", he told her.

Jessica looked like a deer caught in headlights as she stood motionless. When Edward turned his head to look at Darci, Jessica snapped out of whatever haze she was in and bid us goodbye. As she walked off she was dialing numbers on her cell phone. I knew that by dinner time had come I would be the talk of the town. Well who really believes in starting over anyway. I'm still glad I have Darci.

Edward POV

I knew as soon as we saw Jessica it was gonna be bad for Bella. Jessica was one of the biggest gossips there was in all of Forks. I hoped whatever happened Bella wouldn't let it get her down. I hope she knew she would always have me and my family to be there for her. I would see to it that no harm came to either one of them. Anybody that wanted to them harm would have to get through me and my family first.