A/N: Song: "17 Magazine" by Relient K

Chapter 10: 17 Magazine

Talked to my sister late last night
She gave me some advice
And what she said was right

Talked to my sister late last night
Said I've got her on my mind
She said it's good I know my kind
And this time maybe she's just the one you need

Keep taking your time
You shouldn't go for her full speed
And maybe this time
Maybe she's just the one you need
'Cause I know that I've never seen
your motives more squeaky clean
And my 17 Magazine tells me that you're in love

I waited impatiently outside of the church's doors for Bella to arrive. I wondered if she ever made it out of bed after I called her two hours ago. The night prior, I had put her to bed after my siblings had left. Prior to that, Bella had been sleeping, curled up in my lap.

I didn't think I could get any happier. Bella had agreed to attempt a romantic relationship with me. However, I didn't think of it as an attempt, rather I knew we could make it work. We already were close friends and had a sexual attraction towards each other. What we needed to make it work was dedication and a commitment.

I took a look at my watch and knew Bella had plenty of time before the service began, but I was just impatient to see her if I had to be honest with myself. Since I knew that Bella and I were together, I was anxious to be with her again. I felt like a schoolboy again.

Luckily, I was able to stay distracted most of the time as the congregation members started pouring into the church. I tried to greet most of them, and of course, some stopped for small-talk. Although they were very friendly and great people, I wondered how they would react once they found out that Bella was having my baby. I winced at the idea.

Finally, I saw her Jeep cruising through the entrance and into a parking spot. As she climbed out of it, I noticed she was back to wearing her typical clothing and glasses. I caught her eye as she walked towards the church and she gave me a big smile.

I didn't have a reason to do so, but for a moment I dreaded that she regretted her decision to try a relationship with me, so I was relieved to realize that she was happy to see me.

"Hey Edward," she greeted as she walked closer to me.

"Good morning, Bella."

Just as I was about to offer her my hand, Bella tripped over the curb as she was apt to do. Luckily for her, I managed to catch her around her waist before she hit the concrete. I chuckled as she straightened herself while she blushed.

"You really have to watch where you walk, Bella."

"Oh stop it, Edward!" she playfully punched me. "You know I can't help it, no matter how much I am paying attention to where I am going."

My smile became larger as I grabbed her by her waist ad pulled her closer to me. Leaning down, I whispered in her hair, "You're really beautiful when you're frustrated."

"Edward, people will stare at us."

"I don't care," I retorted as I gave her a kiss on the cheek. However, I reluctantly released myself from her. "But we do need to go inside before the service starts."

As we walked hand in hand into the building, we were stopped multiple times, whether it be from one of Bella's youth students, or from a bold church member who witnessed how Bella ad I were acting as a couple.

Sometimes they were one in the same. I laughed when I heard one of Bella's high school students whisper, "Edward Cullen? You are so lucky!" Bella looked back anxiously to see if I heard her student. When she saw my laughter, she blushed a deeper red than the color that already tinted her cheeks.

Hand-in-hand, we finally made it into the sanctuary where we sat in the front row with the rest of my family.

"Hey you guys," Alice greeted with a big smile on her face.

Emmett's laugh followed as he greeted rather loudly, "Well if it isn't the happy couple who are expecting their first…"

Emmett would have continued if Rosalie didn't smack his head. That's what I loved about Rosalie. She was stubborn and tough enough to take on my boisterous brother.

"Ow!" Emmett patted the back of his head. "All I was going to say is that they were expecting their first Cullen Sunday dinner as a couple."

"Right." Rosalie rolled her eyes.

Dad gave Emmett a stern look before turning to me and raising his eyebrows. He looked down at Bella's and my clasped hands before looking at my face again. I nodded, knowing that he was asking if I ascertained Bella's feelings towards me. I noticed Mom now had a huge smile on her face as she watched us.

We settled down in our seats as Dad stood up to start the service.

All during the service, I attempted to remain focused on the scripture and Dad's sermon, but my mind and eyes were always drawn to Bella. I found myself lost again in fantasies of us as husband and wife with not only the child she was carrying now, but two other children. I had to keep reminding myself that Bella might not be thinking about marriage and life together yet. After all, she only said that she wanted to try a relationship.

As I was looking at Bella, I saw Alice silently laughing at me from the corner of her eye. She had caught me in the act of not paying attention to church while staring at Bella. I grinned back at her before finally turning my attention back to my dad. I had a feeling that I was going to get teased mercilessly later.

"Edward and Bella sittin' in the tree. K-I-S-S-I-N-G," Alice chanted as Alice, Jasper, and I piled into my car after the dinner at my parents' house.

I couldn't remember having a better time at dinner than today, even when Bella did join us previously. I suspected it had something to do with being able to hold her hand under the table while she snuck loving glances at me. I observed that even my father was extremely happy for us; and Mom… Well, I was convinced she had a permanent smile plastered to her face. Even Emmett's jabs at our impending parenthood could not break the mood, although they earned many glares from my parents and slaps from Rose. However, I believe that it was Mom who finally who put him down a notch when she started implying that she wanted a grandchild from him and Rose soon, as well.

He was quiet after that.

We were not on our way back to Alice's and my house while Bella followed in her own car. As soon as we were out of ear-shot, Alice began teasing me.

"First comes love, then comes marriage… Oops. I mean first comes baby in the baby carriage, then comes love, then comes marriage," Alice poorly tried to create another rhythm with her rearrangement of the words.

"Seriously, Alice. What is your age again?" I glanced back at her in the rear-view mirror.

"Hmm," She pursed her lips as she twirled a piece of hair with her finger. "Twelve?"

I glanced over to the passenger seat and pretended to whisper, "Jasper, are you sure you want this for the rest of your life?"

"Hey!" my sister exclaimed, reaching over to slap my shoulder. "I resent that."

Jasper smiled while he reached for Alice's hand to give her a kiss. "I'm definitely sure."

Not much could cause my sister to blush very easily, but I noticed that whenever Jasper declared his love for her, even in the smallest way, blood would rush to her face. I truly was happy that my sister found a good man to spend the rest of her life with. She obviously was deeply in love.

My sister quickly snapped out of her embarrassment and began taunting me again. "So, Eddie, are you going to sleep with her again before marriage? Hmm?"

"Alice! I'm not discussing that with you!"

She shrugged, "I mean, you already have a bun in the oven, there isn't much else that would stop you two from doing it again. Or are you going to turn pure and wait until marriage?"

"Alice!"

Jasper rolled his eyes and spoke for his fiancée, "She's just trying to live vicariously through you, Edward. She's just sexually frustrated since she has five more months."

"Jazz!" she screeched, hitting him this time. "How could you?"

He reached over to pat her knee. "I'm just kidding, honey. I really can't blame you if you are. I am, too."

Oh man. The expressions on their faces made me want to get out of the car quickly. I didn't mind sex coming up in the conversation, but not if it involved my sister.

"Okay, guys. Seriously, there's a brother in the car."

Luckily, they snapped out of it and Alice became serious again. "Edward, what are you going to do about marriage and all that?"

"I've thought about it," I began. "Dad made a good point, though. Pregnancy is not a reason to run into marriage; not when your spouse is supposed to be the most important in the family unit."

"But you guys would be," Alice argued. "You two love each other, don't you?"

I sighed, "I do, but Bella never used those words with me."

"She does," my sister responded, convinced. "Do you not see how she looks at you? She may not even realize it yet, but she definitely loves you."

"How can you be sure?"

Alice rolled her eyes. "I'm a woman, Edward. We know these things."

"But, don't you think it would be a little too early to bring up marriage?"

"Geez, Edward. I'm not going to make the decision for you. You're a big boy; you can do it yourself. Do you want to marry her?" I nodded my head. "Then the least you can do is talk about it with her. She won't run away from you even if she isn't ready for marriage yet. She wants you too much in her life for that."

As we pulled into my driveway, and I looked back to see Bella pulling in behind me, I knew there was only one thing to do. I was going to put myself out on a limb and talk to Bella. What's the worse thing that could happen?