EDWARD
The gazebo in my parents backyard had been covered in white Calla Lillies and red Stargaizers, with a red aisle runner stretching from the gazebo to the back porch. Candles were everywhere, creating a romantic, intimate feeling.
My dad was in his black suit, with Esme beside him in a red dress that hit just below the knee. Jasper stood next to me, with a space left between us for Emmett, in a black suit, while I stood tall in my dress whites.
Alice and Rose were on the other side of the aisle from me in black dresses, halter tops, that hit just above the knee.
And then there was Bella, gorgeous Bella, in a wedding dress unlike any I'd seen before. It was strapless with a sweetheart neckline, and the bottom flared out like a trumpet. It was covered in what Alice had taught me was roucheing, and I'd never seen a more beautiful bride.
We exchanged vows, and I swear, every single one of us was either crying, or almost crying.
Dinner was heavenly, and champagne flowed. We danced in my parents' living room, and made sure every second was caught on video.
And then, even though we were adamant that gifts were completely unnecessary, my parents presented us with a set of house keys.
"I had bought a house in Everett a few years ago and completely remodeled it," my mother explained, "It's small, but a perfect starter home, and until you have to move again, it's yours. I won't take anything but 'thank you, mom, you're amazing,' as an answer," she beamed, "I've already furnished and decorated it to your tastes.
As the night drew to a close and early morning was approaching, Bella and I got into my car, with most of her belongings in the trunk, and made our way up to Everett. Made our way home.
We fell into married life easily. Mom had set up an office for Bella in the second bedroom, there were only two bedrooms and two bathrooms, a living room, kitchen, and dining room. It had a small yard in back, and an even smaller yard in front. It sat on Marine View Drive, with a perfect view of the base and the sound beyond it.
I went to work before Bella was up, and tried to return home in time for dinner, though I didn't always make it. Bella was in the office all day, writing, and then in the kitchen, cooking up something. Some days she worked in the yard, planting things, moving things, etc.
When we hit our first month anniversary, Bella was scaring the hell out of me. She was always sick. Throwing up in the bathroom, the kitchen sink, the yard, even down the side of my car once as she flung herself through the window.
"I think you should see a doctor," I said one night as we climbed into bed, "Maybe it's the..." I stopped, unable to finish that sentence.
"The cancer isn't back, Edward. I don't need a doctor to tell me I'm pregnant," She laid down beside me, staring up at the ceiling.
"Pregnant?" It seemed like such a foreign concept to me. Bella had been told that the chemo would damage her reproductive system, and that she may never have children. It wasn't impossible, but it was unlikely.
"Yeah, pregnant. At least, seven home tests have told me so."
"You're pregnant?"
She huffed, "Yes."
"So you're gonna have a baby? We're gonna have a baby? I'm gonna be a daddy?"
"That's usually how this works," she laughed.
I jumped up on the bed and bounced up and down, "We're having a fucking baby!"
"Edward! Get down," she laughed as I scooped her into my arms and continued jumping up and down.
"I'm gonna be a daddy!"
EDWARD
If you've never gone along to the OB/GYN with a pregnant woman before, I don't really recommend it. It's terrifying.
First they took what I could only assume was half of Bella's blood volume for 'routine testing.' When they had her up on this table, spread eagle, and shoved some stuff up there, before the doctor, Siobhan, as she insisted we call her, shoved her hand in there.
It was fucking awkward.
Then Siobhan brought out this giant wand, covered it in a condom, no kidding, and shoved that up Bella.
And then... then... a little peanut looking thing popped up on the screen, with a little flicker in the middle.
"That's the baby's heartbeat," Siobhan smiled as Bella cried, and I just looked on in amazement, "And this..." she maneuvered the wand around and another peanut popped up, "Is the other baby's heartbeat."
"Whoa, hold up," I suddenly couldn't thing straight, "Isn't that the same one?"
"No, there are two. Twins. I'll need to see Bella every week for the duration of her pregnancy. With her history, I just want to stay on the safe side."
"I can't have two babies," Bella sat up halfway, "I don't even know what to do with one."
"You'll be fine. Now, our goal for now is to get you to twelve weeks, the end of your first trimester. That's when the risk of miscarriage drops considerably. I don't necessarily think you're at risk, but with your history of chemotherapy, we cannot be too safe. Try to minimize stress, take it easy. Let yourself rest, eat well."
"You think she'll be okay, though? The babies?"
"I have no reason to think otherwise," Siobhan smiled, "Most likely, everything will be fine. Will you be delivering here at Swedish Hospital, or will you be going on to Bremerton Naval Hospital?"
"Oh no, here, definitely," I was adamant, "It's bad enough I gotta drive 45 miles to get her here when she goes into labor, I'm not driving 45 miles and then taking an hour ferry. Not happening."
"Then I'll see you in seven days," Siobhan smiled and left the room so Bella could get dressed.
"Two babies," Bella looked up at me, "Twice as much stuff."
"The family is going to flip," I nodded, "But I love you. Are you still sure?"
I'd been asking her everyday if she was still sure she wanted to be married to me. Especially since orders had come through and I was being sent to San Diego, to the USS Nimitz, in six months, and Bella would have to move with me, leaving our family back in Seattle.
"Two babies on my own from time to time. I'll figure it out," she smiled up at me, "I gotta say it, Edward, when you do something, you REALLY do it, don't you?"
I laughed, "Yeah, well, go big or go home."
BELLA
When the excited screaming and tears of joy were over with, Esme got right to work on finding us a house in San Diego, though Edward and I were adamant that we'd buy it this time. With my dad's insurance money and pension, not to mention my book deals, I was more than comfortable. Especially when you factor in Edward's officer pay, and the trust funds that Carlisle had set up for each of us as soon as came into the family, whichever way that may have been.
Rose decided that when it came time for Edward to deploy again, and we still didn't know when that may be, she'd be quitting her job and coming to stay with me as long as Emmett was gone. Esme would be flying down as often as possible, as well as Alice and Jasper.
Everyone immediately began kicking around names and nursery ideas, though we wouldn't know the gender for quite a while.
Edward became even more protective, if you could imagine. He didn't want me doing anything but laying in bed until we hit that twelve week mark, for obvious reasons, but I still moved around the house while he was at work, or else I would've gone stir crazy.
I got to meet all of Edward's fellow pilots as well. They all came to the house for a big BBQ Edward had thrown in celebration of his impending fatherhood. I was impressed to see that, just as Edward had described, they were a family. A big group of brothers, with a father thrown in here and there. They cared about each other, even loved each other. I suddenly felt much better about Edward being off on deployment if this was how it was between them.
After everyone had left and it was just Edward and I again, in the quiet dark, he finally confessed what I knew was coming. I just didn't expect it so soon.
"I need to be in San diego in four months, instead of six," his voice was low, "The Navy will come in and pack everything up, and it'll meet us down there. We need to get moving on that house."
I nodded.
"And I'll be deploying almost immediately. I hate it. I really hate it this time."
"How long?"
"Six months, they say."
"But it could be longer."
"Could be."
"So you'll leave when I'm four months pregnant, and come back when the babies are, should be, a month old."
"I'm sorry, Bella."
"It's fine. We'll video it, right?"
"It's possible that I could come back sooner. My time with the squadron is up just a few weeks before your due date. Unless there's some big reason for me to stay, they'll send me home."
"I don't want to hold onto maybes when they aren't definite. We'll deal with it. Rose will come down before you leave. Esme will come as my due date nears, Alice probably will to. I'll be fine. It'll be fine. You worry about coming back to me whenever that is."
"I always worry about you. I love you."
"I love you, too. Twelve more years?"
He nodded against my stomach, "Twelve more years."