Come Love, See my Hands

Chapter 10

"Final Adjustments"

Bella's POV

Two months had passed.

The baby had grown to a visible size.

Alice and I had made up a few weeks ago, soon after I'd gone to visit Charlie in Forks, who was slowly beginning to smile again, knowing that I'd found someone to take care of me, and knowing I was happy with my life in Seattle. He still hadn't moved one item of my mother's, and a part of me hated seeing him like that…almost as though he expected her to come walking through that door someday soon.

I'd been back in Seattle for about a month now, finishing up last-minute wedding details with Alice, who had changed the date to early late September, instead of the third of March. She had murmured something about the weather while explaining this to me. I hadn't quite recollected it.

Edward's renovations were coming to a close, and he was starting to move furniture and decorations into the restaurant space.

I'd been having a wonderful time at my job at the daycare, watching and helping other people's children develop skills, and hoping that I'd do just as good of a job once my baby was here.

The girls I worked with were swooning and chirping about my pregnancy left and right, and I'd become close friends with each and every one of them.

Edward was growing increasingly impatient with my pregnancy, already excited to hold his child, to see his baby in his arms. The entire incubation process was driving him up the wall.

Both of us were relieved to have made it into my second trimester, to be rid of the monthly visits with my doctor, and to be reassured that the pregnancy would proceed.

Things were going much more quickly than I had expected them too.

Edward grew impatient with waiting until the restaurant was finished to move our things in, and we set aside time this weekend for packing boxes, and throwing out anything that wasn't of substantial value.

And now I sat in Alice's coffee shop, sipping on a glass of ice tea, across from Edward who had a wide smile on his face, I smiled back.

"Are you as ecstatic as I am, Miss Swan?" He asked, his eyebrow arching as he did so. I chuckled.

"Are you doubting my happiness?" I retorted, he chuckled also. We finished up our drinks and left the Café, hand in hand as we walked through the park across the street. He grew quiet, and I glanced at him repeatedly, assessing his expressions as each time they grew a smidge more solemn. I pulled him to a bench as we neared it.

I turned toward him as we sat.

"Hey, what's wrong?" I touched the side of his face, and his head turned toward me.

"It's nothing…" He shrugged.

"Edward…." I challenged him, an eyebrow raising.

"I feel like something bad might happen….I feel like I'm losing you…" His words came in a hushed tone, and I turned away from him, leaning my back against the bench, defeated.

"Where do you think I'm going to go? I don't necessarily have a back up plan here….you're it. I'm not going anywhere…" I replied, and he shrugged.

"It's just a feeling…" He whispered again.

"Well, it's a bad one. Stop having it…" I said sarcastically, and he let out a smile. "Listen." I turned toward him, causing him to face me.

"Nothing is going to happen. I'm not going anywhere, the baby isn't going anywhere, and you better not be going anywhere. We all need each other right now, and we're all we have. And the last thing any of us need is to be worrying about something taking any of it away." He nodded, and pulled me in for a kiss.

"I know, I'm sorry." He breathed.

"Don't apologize…just promise me you'll stop worrying. I don't want you to worry, it makes me worry." I placed a kiss on his lips, and then rested my head on his shoulder.

TWO MONTHS LATER

We had slowly moved everything into our new home, and purchased new living room and nursery furniture. Everything was finished, and Edward's restaurant was weeks away from its grand opening. Curtains were hung, tables were set, paint was dried, and food was soon to be delivered for the restaurant.

The weather had grown much more tolerable, and the May breeze was blowing about on a regular basis, the rain was unavoidable and a regular nuisance.

Alice and Jasper were coming over tonight to see the new place for the first time.

"Hey there…" I felt a set of arms wrap around my waist as I stood at the bathroom mirror drying my hair with a towel, I smiled and turned to face Edward, who kissed me longingly.

"Hey yourself." I replied, kissing him again. Edward crouched in front of me, eye level with my stomach.

"Hey to you, too." He smiled, placing a kiss on my stomach. I felt the baby kick my side.

"She's kicking…" I smiled, placing my hand over my tummy. We'd learned the sex of the baby about a month ago, and had taken it upon ourselves to buy only items that were pink in color for her room. Edward stood to meet me again, and kissed me once more.

"I missed you…" He said, another kiss.

"I missed you, too…" I said, resting my head on his neck. He'd been gone for a few days, picking up some last minute items for the restaurant in Toronto.

"How was it?" I asked pulling away from him.

"It was fine.." He paused, "It would have been better if you'd come with me.." He said.

"Sorry, I had to work. Besides, air-travel may have upset the baby. I hardly like driving back and forth in town… this whole thing makes me nervous…" I replied, glancing at the granite in the countertop. He wrapped his arms around me again.

"I know, sweetheart…it makes me nervous too." He said, placing a kiss on my cheek.

"Have you heard from Alice and Jasper yet?" He asked me.

"Yeah, they'll be over at eight." I turned to face him, and kissed him before leaving the room.

Alice's POV

"Jasper…." I said his name with enough urgency that I knew he would be next to me in seconds.

"What is it?" He asked, his expression changing when he saw what I held in my hand. He lowered his head.

"Honey, I thought that we agreed to stop doing this to ourselves…." He took the small piece of plastic from my hand and sat it on the counter, taking my hands in his as he did so. He placed a kiss on my forehead.

"We've got to stop worrying about it so much. You know what the doctor said…" He trailed, I was still in shock, too surprised to say anything.

"Look at it…." I said lightly, a smile touching my lips. He obeyed, picking it up off of the counter, and comparing the result to the box that sat next to it. I could tell he was surprised when both items dropped from his hands, and his lips were on mine. We both chuckled.

"We're having a baby…" He smiled, kissing me again. I nodded.

"Yeah, we're having a baby…" I replied, a small tear falling as he wrapped me in his arms.

Bella's POV

Alice and Jasper would be over soon, we had snacks on our coffee table, and I was sliding a dress on over my pregnant belly. I smiled as I glanced in the mirror, realizing how much the baby had grown. Edward walked in, and leant against the doorway.

"I love you…" He greeted me. I smiled, and met him in the doorway. "I felt like I needed to say it again.." He smiled.

"I love you, too…" I kissed him, and we both went into the living room, sitting on the couch while we waited for Jasper and Alice. Edward got a phone call a few minutes later, and headed to the back entrance of the apartment, unlocking the door and revealing our friends.

"Hey." I smiled greeting Alice with a hug. She looked happy, something I hadn't seen in a while. We showed them the rest of the house, and I was taken aback when Alice didn't get upset when we showed them the nursery. She looked happy for us.

We all moved into the living room again, and Edward went into the kitchen, checking on dinner.

"Drinks?" He asked Jasper and Alice, failing to make eye contact with me when he asked, for obvious reasons.

"Not for me…" Alice declined, still smiling. This, too, had me confused, Alice had never had a problem getting a drink or two in when the opportunity presented itself. Edward looked surprised by this too.

"Jasper then?" Jasper nodded, and went into the kitchen with Edward, they joined us again within thirty seconds.

"Alice…" Jasper said, giving her a look. "Don't you have something to say.." He smirked.

"We have something to say…" She smiled, looking at Edward and I.

"I'm pregnant…" She let it out…and I couldn't contain my excitement, I was hugging her instantly, and congratulating her repeatedly.

If anyone deserved to have a baby, it was Alice and Jasper.

They were seemingly the best possible parents I could ever imagine.

We ate dinner at the dining table we had moved in from Edward's old apartment. And we were so at ease here, each one of us happy in our own ways. But, happy together, nonetheless. We were all starting our lives together. And there wasn't a better feeling in the entire world. What more can one ask for other than friends, family, love, and stability? There was nothing more to be given.

We finished dessert, and Alice and Jasper were putting on their coats about to head out the door when I heard the phone ring. I went to answer it quickly.

"Hello?" I said.

"Bella…something's happened." The voice was familiar. Jacob Black, a childhood friend from Forks.

"What do you mean, something's happened?" I asked, my voice growing solemn. I watched as all three of the people standing near the door gradually moved back inside, listening to my conversation.

"It's your father….He's dead…" I felt a pang in my side, and lost my breath immediately.

"You're sure?"

"We're all sure…I'm so sorry, Bella."

"Tell everyone I'll be there in a couple of days…I'll start making arrangements from here, I'll be there in time for the funeral." I hung up the phone. And It was Edward who caught me as I fell to the floor, tears streaming down my face already. Alice and Jasper were on either side of me, concerned on their faces.

"What is it, Bella?" Edward's voice was the first one I responded to.

"My father's dead…" I sobbed. I felt him help me from the floor, and he helped me to the bedroom as I sobbed into his chest. He laid out some sweat pants and a tank top for me to change into, and kissed my forehead.

"Change into something comfortable, I'll be right back, alright, love?" He said, and I nodded, wiping tears from my cheeks.

I heard him go back into the living room where Alice and Jasper stood.

"I'll call you…" He said to them, before the walked out the door.

Song:

"Suggestions" by Orelia (plays when bella answers the phone)

A/N.: Sorry for the long wait, not sure when I'll be able to write again. I've been pretty busy. I graduate in about 7 weeks, so I should have more time then.