CHAPTER ELEVEN

"James," I whispered.

Bella turned away and rubbed her face with one hand.

There was a lot of noise in my head. Almost as if someone had turned up the volume on Mother Nature. The birds chirped louder than I had ever experienced. The trees seemed to groan and creek from the soft wind and I swear I could even hear the snow falling onto the ground below. And only one voice came through loud and clear, Alice.

Over and over I replayed Alice's words in my head, whatever happens tonight is on your head.

This was all my fault.

Nothing made sense.

I could hear my mouth stuttering to find words. I finally had to look away from Bella.

I couldn't begin to fathom the events that were transpiring. How did this happen? I felt utterly incapable of finding the right words so instead I settled on a point of order.

"We need to get you inside."

Bella went back to starring at the house lost in her own thoughts. I reached out and grabbed her gloveless hand and it was ice. I pulled her along with me to the front door.

"Do you have the key or not?" I said probably a little too forceful.

Bella snapped out of her reverie and slowly walked toward the door with her key. I was so lost in my own thoughts that I didn't even look around when we entered. Bella slowly took her coat off and placed it on a stand by the door and I followed suit.

I went toward the fireplace and tried to turn my focus on lighting the logs inside. It was still too cold in the house and the last thing I needed was for Bella to get pneumonia. Bella stood behind the couch watching me and offering nothing.

"When did you find out?" I finally asked turning back towards her.

Bella looked at the ceiling and the fire I made caused the tears in her eyes to glisten.

"Monday."

I sighed loudly.

"Did you tell him?" I asked hating that this asshole would be in our lives.

Bella snorted. It was the first time she seemed to lighten up.

"I did. It was stupid of me to go to him, but I thought he had the right to know."

Bella came around and flopped onto the couch a little too harshly for my taste. My heart nearly stopped.

"He gave me a fifty and told me to have it taken care of. I can't do that. It wouldn't be fair for this baby to pay for the mistakes from my past." She sighed, "I went out and bought diapers with the money. I figured, what was a better use than something this kid will crap all over."

"When are you due? Do you know what it is?" Now I was ready for a thousand and one questions.

"I'm due July 31st! How very…Harry Potter of my uterus. And no, I won't know for weeks what it is."

We were quiet again even though I had questions. I just couldn't pick one. I sat on the couch near her but not touching. I didn't know if I had the right to touch her after everything.

"I didn't take my finals," She offered quietly.

"I know. You worried me when you didn't show up. I had to nearly threaten Alice within an inch of her life to tell me where you had gone. I didn't end up taking my literature final either," I said.

Bella's mouth opened ready to rebuke me, "No Edward! Why would you do that? I'm dropping out of school, but you should have still made the effort."

"Made the effort? For what purpose? I told you that I already had my degree. I was mainly here for the experience." I paused, "Wait, what do you mean you're dropping out of school?"

Bella shrugged, "There was a morality clause on my scholarship. I am knocked up without a husband…it doesn't matter. I have to focus on getting a real job, so I can support this baby."

I shook my head back and forth.

"Again. Bella. Please come to Caldonia with me," I begged.

Bella laughed out loud with frustration.

"Edward, I'm pretty sure that bringing home a girl who is knocked up by some other guy, is not exactly on the top of your parents Christmas wish list."

I knew that it wasn't. My parents would be horrified. I don't even know if they would allow me back in Caldonia with radical thinking like this. But this was more important than heir rites.

"Then…we don't tell them that it's some other guys," I said seriously.

Bella's mouth dropped once more as if she were considering it, but I could see her already getting prepared to turn me down.

"No. This isn't your responsibility. I'm not going to let you take on this burden especially when you have a chance at a bright future."

"I don't have a future without you," I began to say but she was already shaking her head brushing me off. "Will you just hear me out because I can promise this is one argument you will not win."

Bella folded her arms over her chest and sat sulking like a child waiting to hear what I had to say. In my mind I knew what I was asking for was crazy. But I couldn't walk away. This was just as much my fault as it was Bella's and if I walked away from her, I would be walking away from the only woman I ever loved. This baby would keep that from happening.

"I'm going to say this again because I don't think you heard me clearly when we were outside. I love you. So what argument could you ever concoct to that would challenge this?"

Bella took another breath and seemed to think over my words. She closed her eyes tight and then looked back at me.

"Remember that day in class when I reveled in the fact that you didn't know there was a test and essay due? I knew then how I felt about you and it scared me. Scared me so much I wanted to find a way to get you out of my life. I was horrible to you because you were the first person I ever wanted and with that, it meant you had every opportunity to break me. My mother left when I was four. My dad died last year and because of that it, I walked around with this attitude that I had nothing more to lose. It was dangerous and stupid. I'm getting to a place in my life where I feel I could finally put myself back together. What if I go to Caldonia with you and you decide that you don't want this? You…will…break me."

I didn't know what to say to get her to grasp that I would never let that happen. I would move heaven and earth to make it work for both of us in Caldonia, even if it meant lying to the crown and giving them an heir that should never sit on throne. I should tell her of the crown, I know that but first I needed to get her to agree to come with me. One problem at a time. That and I was terrified it would change her mind. Part of me thought that I shouldn't tell her until we were pulling up to the palace. Casually drop it on her, oh yeah…I live in a palace, that's not going to be a problem, right?

Now it was my turn.

"When I first took an interest in you, I too was scared because I knew eventually I would have to return home and I didn't want to leave a broken heart behind especially since I knew I too would have a broken heart. I knew I was falling more and more every time I was with you. Jasper told me to imagine the future I wanted to have and fight for it. I didn't even think it was possible which is why I tried to end it with you the first time back before James and that party."

I turned and went to sit at her feet as I literally was preparing myself to beg on my knees.

"Bella, if you came to Caldonia, I would give you the world. I could never change my mind about you. This baby…there isn't anything I wouldn't do for you…or him or her. I. Love. You. I have said this now three times and I will continue to say it and tell you over and over until you believe it. I am prepared to fight for you and our future."

Bella once again closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She looked back at me and with a shaky breath, she whispered, "I love you too.

I didn't think, it was all too simple to just react. I pulled myself up and pulled her lips to mine. I ran my hands through her hair and invited every sense of mine to partake. The way she tasted. The smell…I would never be able to get enough.

"Does this mean you'll come with me?" I asked through breathes of air. She nodded her head and I was done. I was getting everything I wanted. Jasper was right. In the end he helped me get Bella just as he said he would. I would find a way to thank him later.

I continued to kiss her, and she matched my own intensity. Passion was something we would never have to worry about losing.

"I'm ready, Edward."

I pulled back to look at her. Stupidly, wondering what she meant. It was written all over her face. We had agreed to not have sex knowing how complicated it would make my departure if we succumbed to our desires.

I let out a slow breath and looked back at the fire I had made. It was perfect. Romantic even. I grabbed a blanket from off the couch and placed it on the floor beside the fire. Bella hopped off the couch and ran off returning seconds later with more blankets we could add to the make-shift bed.

She pulled me to join her on the floor and it didn't take us long to undress one another. Even though I could feel our nerves, we both had waited long enough for this.

We were both down to our final garments, but I made the mistake of stopping. I couldn't help myself. To see her nearly bare, there were just no words as I stared at her in awe.

"What?" She self-consciously began to cover herself with her arms. Her bare stomach first I noticed.

"No…please don't do that. I just wish you could see what I see. You're the most amazing sight I've ever beheld. I reached out toward her and placed a gentle hand upon her stomach. Her breasts moved up and down and she trembled from my touch.

"It's going to be okay, Bella. I promise," I vowed.

She nodded her head and placed her hand on top of mine as we glided them over the place our baby was growing. I brought her in for a gentle kisses and she removed her bra and pulled herself flush with my chest. I wanted to make love so badly but then my head started to play games with me. Normally for our first time I would take her naturally but with a baby inside, I began to worry if placing any weight on her would harm our baby.

Bella pushed on going more quickly and I kept wondering what position I should try out. My mind was rather pornographic as I quickly went through all my options.

"Edward, what's wrong? I can tell you're not…feeling this?" Bella stopped and pulled away.

"Oh no!" I immediately apologized. "I'm sorry… I feel so moronic. I…don't know what to do…"

She gave me a look and I realized how stupid I sounded.

"I mean…I don't want to hurt the baby," I finally fessed up.

Bella's face turned to amusement and she smiled her prettiest smile.

"Edward, the baby is the size of a grape. You won't hurt a thing, I promise."

I knew she was right, but I still felt a tad weary. Bella sensing my trepidation slowly stripped down until she was completely naked and suddenly all my worries weren't to be found in a ten-mile radius. We began pulling at one another. Each feeling never being enough. I guided her to the floor and ripped my boxers off my body ready for what I knew would be the greatest moment in my life. I settled myself in between her legs and ceased all our kisses. I wanted to look her in the eye when I entered her. I pushed myself in and she began to throw her head back and close her eyes, but my hands stopped her, and I made her continue to look at me while I pumped in and out of her. To watch her mouth attempt to hold its cries. To feel her nails, dig into my back. Her body adjust itself to allow me to go deeper and the way she would tighten herself around my shaft. I knew she was close, but I didn't want to stop. Being inside Bella made me want a whole different kind of destiny.

I hear her crying out, but I can't stop. The passion and ecstasy on her face pushing me to fuck her harder until I feel myself begin to fill her. Overjoyed that she was already pregnant because it would allow me to feel this.

I try and slow my breathing and even though I can already feel myself begin to soften inside her, I don't want to leave, almost as if I am afraid to never return. But she said, yes. Bella agreed to come to Caldonia. I would be blessed to be able to feel this way every single day for the rest of my life.

We had two magical days to ourselves. Bella's home was like a cabin nestled into the woods as if we were on our own deserted island. Nearly as perfect as a honeymoon, we spent every day making love all over that house. After three and a half months of fighting our primal desires it felt like the chains were broken; we couldn't get enough of one another.

The kitchen table. The stairs. Her small single bed upstairs. The guest bedroom. The couch. Over the kitchen sink. The shower. Whenever the feeling came over either of us, we just ran with it no matter where we were.

I pull out of her once more and help her stand back up as I finished taking her against the washing machine. She was determined to begin packing her clothes but seeing her bent over to place her items in the dryer was too much for me.

"You know, if we keep going like this, I could get knocked up twice," She giggled.

I took her in my arms and placed soft kisses along her neck.

"The more the merrier," I replied.

"You need to stop or else I will never get done packing and be unable to go with you tomorrow," She lightly shoved me, and I admitted defeat. We had a long day ahead of us. My only communication to the outside world was a text message to Jasper telling him that Bella and I would meet Alice and him on the tarmac at six p.m.

"So…I was wondering, does Alice know you're pregnant?" I needed to know just how many people would know the truth about this babies' lineage.

"I told her but when I found out I was so upset…she doesn't know about James. After the Halloween party, she actually left me alone about the details. Even with James spreading rumors of his conquest around campus, I think Alice never believed them."

I nodded. I was somewhat relieved because if Alice knew nothing then Jasper knew nothing. Jasper was the one I had been worried about. He held such reverence for the crown, I didn't know if he would ever go along with the lie. It was too much for me to ask this of him.

"That's good. So…only you and I will ever know."

Bella looked me in the eye for a moment and then nodded in agreement.

"Again…Edward, are you sur…"

I cut her off, "Don't ask me that. I want this!" I replied placing a hand on her stomach once more. "This is our baby. James never existed. I am the father. Right?"

Bella looked me in the eye and nodded once again.

I helped Bella with a heap of clothes back in to the house. For a second my heart stopped. Bella tripped up the stair and went flying. With quick thinking I drop all the folded clothes in my arms and reach out to stop her from hitting the ground.

We are both shaken a little.

"You need to watch where you're going," I said a little too harshly.

Bella straightens herself up and apologizes.

"God, Bella you nearly killed me. It's not just you I have to worry about now. Please be more careful."

"It's not like I look for things to trip over. I've always had balance issues since I was little. Don't worry about me, I'll be fine," She snapped.

I calm myself down because we had been enjoying an amazing two days and I didn't want to ruin it with a silly fight. I place two firm hands on her shoulders.

"I'm sorry. I just can't see you get hurt. Especially now."

She softened and walks into my arms to nuzzle herself into my chest.

"I didn't do it on purpose," She says again.

I place a hand upon her cheek and look into her eyes, "I know. It's one of the first things I noticed about you…your clumsiness knows no bounds."

She pretended to be upset. She pushed me away and went back to the mess of her unfolded clothes. I watched as she appraised each piece of the clothing before placing it in the suitcase. I sat at the kitchen table and watched her assess the house, often staring into space.

"Is everything okay?" I asked.

She looked around at the house once more.

"I'm just going to miss this place. I've lived here my whole life and now it feels weird to know I won't be coming back. I have so many memories here. It's weird," She explained.

"Of course, we can come back. There isn't any law in Caldonia that states once you're there you can't leave. I'm living proof. We'll come back," I vowed.

"I'm still going to sell the house. I need the money," she replied.

"No, you don't." I said quickly.

"I am contributing to this baby too. It's already enough that you want to take this on but I'm not going to let you do everything."

"I don't plan to do everything. That whole birthing part, that can be your contribution. I don't want any part of that," I joked. I went to her, "Let's not sell this house yet. Give it some time and real thought. If you still feel the same way later down the road, then you can sell it, if you like."

She acquiesced and returned to her piles of clothes. I walked back to my chair and went back to watching her. I could see something in her eyes that caused me to wonder though. She had agreed to come home with me, but I never wanted her to regret her decision. I needed to know how she truly felt.

"You, know…if you wanted… we could stay here," I said.

She stopped folding and looked over to me.

"Your…dad…"

"It's our decision. We could go to Caldonia….make love. We could stay here…make love…"

"I'm sensing a pattern," She joked.

"Oh, it's a promise. Wherever you want to be, that's where we'll be. I don't ever want you regretting this decision. I know I'm asking a lot but if we went and you were miserable or worse resented me for this…"

"I want to go," She interrupted. "Besides…like you said, we can do what we want. We'll try this and if we find that it isn't for us, we can come back, right?"

She could come back. Once I went home and made the commitment to my role, it would be nearly impossible for me to just leave the citizens of Caldonia in my cousin, Rosalie's clutches.

I lied.

I nodded my head and agreed for the time being. Somehow, I would ensure that Bella never wanted to leave. I would give her whatever her heart desired. I would make her dreams come true, so she would never come to regret this decision.

With Bella packed and ready, we parked Alice's car in the garage and closed up the house. I had a private car service come to pick us up at one p.m. It was a long drive to get back to the plane which was scheduled to leave at six pm. Without Bella noticing, I had taken the diapers she had purchased and gave them to the driver, asking for him to find a place to donate them. I didn't even want one cent of James to be a part of this. I wrapped Bella in my arms and let her sleep on my chest the drive out. I had already packed the things I would be taking home and Jasper planned to make sure that everything would be ready for our flight.

I began to think about what my parents were going to say. They did not know that I would be bringing home one and a half house guests. I already knew they would scream and shout at me for "impregnating" a girl. From here on out, this baby was mine. Only Bella and I would ever know the truth. I knew what my parents would do. They wouldn't kick me out of the palace as I'm sure some parents would do. After a brief time of being upset, they would go straight into planning mode. First, there would be an announcement of our royal engagement. They would see to it that we were married before Bella would begin to show. If she was about seven weeks along, how many more weeks could we go without her showing? We would need to be married. It was one thing to impregnate a foreign girl but to have a baby out of wedlock? That wouldn't happen. After we were married, we would prepare for the birth of our child and Bella would continue with learning what it meant to be a part of the royal family.

After the birth of our child, the cycle would start all over again. Nannies. He or she would attend the best schools. Speak five languages before the age of five. Have teachers and tutors to ensure that he or she was well rounded. Special classes in music and combat. Days fully planned so that any time was left limited and encouraged only for rest and reading.

I look down at my Bella and brush a gentle hand over her hair pushing it to the side, so I can see her face.

And she slept not knowing what was ahead.

We finally arrived at the airport and with all the thoughts in my head, I hadn't slept even a minute. I see Jasper and Alice get out of a car as we pull up. I shake Bella awake and she wipes her mouth before starching with a yawn.

"Ready?" I asked her but mostly asking myself.

She looks over at the plane and turns back to me with a smile and nod. We exit the car and Alice and Jasper walk over but I can see that Alice's face is a mixture of happiness with questions.

"Exciting day," Bella greets them.

"Yes…it is," Alice replies searching her over. "Jasper, would you mind helping Bella tell the porters which bag should go where."

Jasper and Bella walk over toward the trunk of the car and begin to search over the bags.

"Did you tell her?" Alice asked.

I sighed and shook my head.

Alice nodded once and looked over to Bella, "If you don't tell her before we get on this plane…I will."

Alice walked back over to Jasper and took his arm. I could feel my heart begin to accelerate. Bella came bouncing back over to me, excited.

"You ready?" She asked.

I nodded but stopped her.

"Wait…before we go," I turn her toward me and release her. She's standing there in front of me and I knew this was it. My whole fantasy could be dashed in the next few seconds.

"There's something I have to tell you."

AN: Thank you for reading and reviewing. I know I've been leaving you all with cliffhangers so in honor of my birthday on Saturday, I will be posting again on Friday night.

DISCLAIMER:STORY IS MINE. CHARACTERS BELONG TO STEPHENIE MEYER.