A/N: First and foremost, I want to thank "Team At Last" for all their input: MizzezPattinson and Coldplaywhore for pre-reading and sheer awesomeness, Ubergeekness for makin' my words all purdy, and Detochkina for … everything. Seriously! The amount of editing and re-editing this woman does is mind bottling (yep, bottling. LOL)!

Secondly, I wanted to thank all of you for your kind words towards my pregnancy. You guys all have hearts of gold.

And hey! Don't stop leaving stories about your pregnancy - I love hearing the quirky little things that happened when you were pregnant :)

Lastly, thank you to all of you who are rec'cing this story out there. I don't have any idea who is being so kind to me (many of the recs are in communities that I unfortunately don't belong to, so I don't know who to thank), but each and every rec is so utterly appreciated.

Okay, on with the shitshow I like to call "At Last"!

WARNING: Use of sarcasm/snark ahead. Proceed at your own risk.


Chapter Eleven - Dear Unborn Daughter: I Will Never Ever Give You A Nickname As Silly As Pickle. How About … Potato Chip? Fruit Salad? Peppermint Bon Bon? Any Of Those Feelin' Right To You?

"Oh,baby pickle, I've missed you so much!" Mrs. Cullen exclaimed and gathered her son into her arms, hugging him tightly.

It was cute, it really was. I just couldn't wrap my head around his nickname. Or the fact that Edward was clearly a mama's boy.

Uh oh.

"I missed you too, Mom." Edward pulled himself out of his mother's grasp. His face was flushed pink and he looked more embarrassed than I'd ever seen him before.

It was at that point that it dawned on me. Edward wasn't nervous about his mom meeting me, he was nervous about me meeting his mom.

I smiled a little bit at that thought and reached out for Edward's hand. I squeezed it tight and smiled at him.

I hoped that he understood that I was by his side no matter what, and that an eccentric mother was nothing that I wasn't used to. My own mother, Renee, had been no pickle while I was growing up, either.

Pickle. Tee hee.

"And you must be Bella!" No sooner had these words left Elizabeth's lips and I was wrapped in as tight of a hug as a six months pregnant woman could be comfortable with.

"Oh!" I exclaimed in surprise, gently hugging her back. "Yeah, that's me."

She let go of me and held me at arm's length. "You are so beautiful, darling. I'm so glad that my pickle chose you."

Now it was my turn to flush crimson. "Oh, well, he didn't pick me, per se -"

Edward interrupted my embarrassing confession. "How about we get out of here? We can go back to my house. And I can make us dinner. Bella, you're hungry. Right?"

He was obviously desperate to get us out of there. I looked at my watch and grinned. "Oh yeah, it's three pm. Totally dinner time."

I was obviously going to play along. That didn't mean that I couldn't have fun at Edward's expense though.

"Well, I mean … I thought that maybe …"

Aww. It's too cute watching him get all flustered.

I bumped his arm with my shoulder. "I'm kidding, Edward. I'm actually quite starving, so dinner sounds great. Besides, Elizabeth's probably getting hungry now too, right? It's much later in New York then it is in Washington."

Elizabeth nodded. "I am quite hungry, actually. Oh, and Bella, dear? Please, call me mom. No need for first name formalities. We're family now."

I looked at Edward and raised an eyebrow. I had a feeling that he was withholding some information from his mother. Some very important information, in fact.

Edward quickly looked away, obviously hiding something from me as well.

As the minutes ticked on, the simple fact that he had kept something as a secret from me that obviously involved me started getting under my skin. The more I thought about it, the more I got upset. As soon as Elizabeth stepped away to get her luggage, I grabbed Edward's arm before he was able to walk away and help his mom.

"Family, Edward? Why does your mom have the impression that we are family?"

"Well, you see, uh …" He paused, trying to drag out the inevitable or stumbling for the right words, I wasn't sure.

I ground my teeth together. "Spit it out, we don't have much time before your mom comes back or needs your help."

"Well, the thing is, she, uhm, thinks that we're serious."

"Serious? Like, seriously in trouble? I'm not sure I'm following you."

Edward ran a hand through his hair and waved to his mom, who was still waiting for her luggage to appear. "No, Bella. She thinks that we are together, and we are serious. She thinks we are only steps away from getting engaged."

"What?" I was unable to completely comprehend what the hell Edward was saying to me.

"I said, she thinks we're basically engaged."

His face was pained and flushed an even deeper shade of red than before.

"Why would your mother think that?"

"Because … that's what I told her."

"Why would you tell her that? Because you felt pressured to tell her that you were 'taking care of me' or something?" I rested my hand on my belly and started rubbing it, which was something I'd taken to doing lately when I was stressed. "Seriously, why the hell would you do that? Do you think that I'm going to run off and leave you without any rights right now? Because I swear to you, I don't intend on doing anything like that. Ever. So your mom doesn't have to think that you are marrying me to keep the baby in the family!"

"It's not that." Edward looked like he was struggling for words, and I felt bad for him. Almost.

"Then what the hell, Edward? Didn't you think that would be a lot of pressure to put on me?"

"Pressure on you?" he exclaimed, his voice getting bitter but not raising enough to have his mother question what we were talking about. She was still standing by the luggage, happily looking for her pieces to come down the conveyor belt. "How the hell do you think I feel?"

I held back the urge to slap him. "Well, having to lie that we are serious when we aren't even dating, I'd imagine that the pressure's pretty intense."

I started tasting bile, and I was surprised there was anything left in my stomach after all the puking I had done just a short while ago. I had to get out of there, the tension that was rolling off me couldn't be good for the baby.

"I'm so sorry, I wasn't thinking …"

"No, you weren't. I've gotta go, Edward. I'll call Ro to come get me, okay? Have fun with your mom, and please tell her that it was wonderful to meet her."

"Please, Bella. Please, don't leave."

"I have to. This stress can't be good for the baby." I turned to leave and hoped that I'd make it to the bathroom before I broke down.

Seeing the look of desperation and disappointment on his face when he told me what he lied to his mom about was the equivalent of getting kicked in the nuts. If I were a man. Or if I had nuts. Whichever.

He reached out an arm and grabbed onto me, holding me in place. "So stay with me. I promise to keep everything stress-free. I'll cook you dinner, and give you a foot massage, and rub that little spot in your back that drives you nuts."

As good as that sounded, I shook my head no. "I don't think that's a good idea, considering the fact that your mom thinks that I'll most likely be her daughter-in-law someday. She's gonna be observing me, and making sure that I'm good enough for you, and we both know that isn't the case. So this is a bad idea. I'm just a baby mama …"

"Fuck, Bella. How can you say stuff like that? Is it because your pregnancy brain clouds your judgement? So help me God, you better not believe that kind of shit.

"Let me handle my mom, okay? I'll get this straightened out. I promise. Just, please, don't walk away from me. Stay and have dinner with me. An early dinner, but one to hopefully make up for the lunch that you spent the last few hours puking up."

"This is such a bad idea, on so many levels." I was actually considering his offer.

"Since when is something that we do together a bad idea?"

I saw a hint of a grin playing on his lips. He, like me, liked to joke around when things got tense. It was one of the things that I loved about him.

"Uh, where to even start with that question?" I rubbed my chin, pretending to seriously contemplate my answer to him. "Oh, I got it! How about when we accidentally got pregnant?"

Edward's pseudo-playful mood transformed into something serious once more. "That was the best idea I'd ever had. The idea that lead to something that changed my life for the better in more ways than I can even tell you. The something made me want to be … better."

I stared at him for a moment. As beautiful of a proclamation as that was, something about it still sat funny with me. Was he serious? I mean, he'd said it before, but pretty words didn't make something true.

I decided to drop it, and make the best of the situation by poking fun at Edward. Humor was my favorite defense mechanism by far.

I exaggeratedly rolled my eyes before elbowing him in grand 'delayed reaction' form. "You are such a cheese ball, Cullen. You didn't have to resort to saying stuff like that, you know? I'll come back with you, and pretend to be your 'almost fiance' … but only 'cause you're feeding me. And 'cause I'm not in the mood to wait for Rose to give me a ride home. Oh, and don't forget about the back and foot rub."

He looked relieved but still pained. I wanted to wring his neck.

"Stop with the mood swings, Edward. I said I'll come back with you, don't make me regret letting you off the hook so easily. If you don't stop being all emo, I might have to force you to pretend propose to me in front of your mom." I chuckled. "That would be hilarious, actually, watching you try to struggle your way out of that one."

"You wouldn't." He smiled a little brighter.

"Oh yes I would. Don't call my bluff, or you'll be sorry."

"I'll be sorry, huh? Well then, Isabella Marie Swan, will you marry me?" If he wasn't being all ridiculous, it would have been nice to pretend that he was serious.

But he was laughing, and I couldn't even have my little moment there. Jerk.

I hit him in the arm again. "Stop it, smartass. I'm not kidding."

Edward's eyes shone. "Who said I was kidding?"

"Har har. You are really funny. Where's Elizabeth? I hope she's hearing this right now, Pickle."

"Hearing what, my dear?" Elizabeth questioned from behind me, surprising me and causing me to jump a mile out of my skin.

"It's nothing, mom. Bella's just surprised daily by how gentlemanly I am."

Elizabeth seemed appeased. I smirked an evil little half smile at her naivete.

"Gentlemanly, my ass," I said under my breath, just loud enough for Edward to hear me. He chuckled and grabbed my hand before reaching down and lifting some of his mother's luggage with his other hand.

"Right this way, ladies," he said as he started to walk towards the exit. "Spaghetti sound good for dinner?"

XXX

I was fed and sated for the time being.

Dinner was a fun affair - I was able to tell some stories about "Seattle Edward" and Elizabeth told me a few stories about "New York" Edward.

Honestly, the two Edwards were the same person - gentle, caring, sweet, and a little rambunctious. In other words, perfect.

Elizabeth was surprisingly very easy to talk to. Well, in all honesty, I shouldn't have been surprised that she was as easy going as she felt - after all, she was Edward's mother.

After dinner, I wandered over to Edward's couch while he and his mother stayed in the kitchen to do dishes. Edward insisted that I go lay down and leave the dirty work to him and his mom - apparently, they were used to bonding over dishes.

My nickname for Edward's mom was June Cleaver.

Once I got myself comfortably situated onto my side (which was the only way I was allowed to lay, according to my doctor), I found myself slowly drifting to sleep.

I started dreaming that I was able to overhear Edward and his mother talking while cleaning up the kitchen. Which was a weird dream if you ask me, but I unfortunately couldn't control my dreams, you know?

"She's perfect for you, Pickle," Elizabeth said.

"I know, mom. Trust me, I know."

"So when are you going to propose to her? A girl like that won't wait for you forever."

"I … I don't know. I'm still so nervous she's going to reject me."

"I brought your grandmother's ring in case you wanted to use it. Or part of it. Your father and I had it appraised a few years ago when you were still dating Tanya, just in case, and it would be really easy to just use the main diamond from the ring and make Bella her own, one-of-a-kind piece of jewelry."

There was a moment of silence that passed through the two of them.

"Tanya? Really, Mom?"

"We weren't sure, Edward. We wanted to be on the safe side though, just in case. And now that you have Bella, I'm really glad that we already did our homework."

Another moment of silence passed.

"I'm glad too, but I just … I don't know what's gonna happen with Bella."

"What do you mean, pickle?"

Edward let out a sigh. "It's complicated."

"I can do complicated. Lay it on me."

"I don't even know where to start. And to be perfectly honest with you, I don't really want to share this with you, if you wouldn't mind. I just wouldn't hold your breath on Bella being 'Mrs Cullen' any time soon."

"If you don't want to talk about it right now, that's fine. Just understand that your father and I find it completely admirable that you want to eventually make an honest woman out of Bella. And oh, Pickle, is she ever lovely! I couldn't have asked for anyone better for you, or for my unborn granddaughter. I know I said it before, and I'm not kidding. She's the kind of daughter I've always wanted, always dreamed of. And so pretty, too! You never told me how much of a natural beauty she was."

Edward let out a chuckle. I pictured him rubbing the back of his neck by this point. "Yeah, she's gorgeous. She was wearing makeup earlier today, because she wanted to make a good impression on you. But what she ate for lunch upset her stomach, and she ended up puking up everything, which ruined her makeup. She was so devastated that her perfectly made-up face had to be wiped away. Though, to be honest, I feel like she's more beautiful without the makeup."

I think I started to smile. At least, it felt like that's what I was doing in my dream.

Even dream Edward was a cheese ball.

"She wanted to make a good impression on me, huh? What a silly girl. I loved her before I even met her."

"I told her that, but she wouldn't listen."

"You know, at least she isn't so self-confident that she doesn't care what others think because she knows that her shit don't stink. Right?"

"Oh, Mom. You have such a way with words." I could hear Edward smiling as he said this, his voice sounded so happy.

I sighed. I liked when Edward was happy.

My dream morphed into something different then, and Edward and Elizabeth's voices disappeared. The next thing that I remembered, Edward was carrying me to his bedroom.

"Edward?" My voice was thick with sleep.

"Shhh, babe. I've got you. I'm just going to bring you to my bed, okay?"

"K."

The idea of sleeping in Edward's bed while his mom was visiting gave me happy butterflies. I was so content at that time, and I snuggled a little deeper into Edward's arms.

He smelled so good.

Edward reached his bedroom and nudged the door open with his toes, all the while mindful to not hit me on the door or the frame.

"My Prince Charming," I mumbled into his shoulder. He chuckled before placing me down onto the edge of his mattress.

"Do you need to change? I kept the clothes that you like in the top drawer right over there."

"K. Toothbrush?"

"In the bathroom. Along with a hair brush and showering supplies for tomorrow in case you don't want to go home right away."

"I live down the street, Edward."

"I know. I just wanted you to feel at home here. With me."

I smiled sleepily, feeling the happy tingles bubble up in my tummy again.

Edward returned my smile. "Let me know if there's anything you need, okay?"

Something was tugging at the back of my mind, still foggy from sleep. "Yeah. Oh, hey, before I forget?"

"Yeah?"

"Do you know someone namedTanya?" I asked, remembering her name from my dream but feeling that there was some kind of importance that went along with it.

His eyebrows raised in surprise. "Tanya? Why do you ask?"

I frowned and rubbed my eyes. "Not sure. Just curious, I guess?"

"An ex. The one from college that I introduced to my mom. Someone completely in my past."

An ex?

How odd that I dreamed of Edward and Elizabeth talking about a Tanya when a Tanya really did exist in Edward's past.

I must be psychic.

Edward sensed that I was lost in my head for a moment. He started rubbing my arms before placing a quick kiss on my forehead.

"Is everything ok?"

"Yeah. Just … tired, I guess. And I'm remembering some kind of weird dream, where you talked about a Tanya. Odd, right?"

"Yeah." He rubbed the back of his neck. "Odd."

"Alrighty. I'm gonna change and go to bed. You'll come back here when you're ready to sleep, right?"

"Of course."

I watched as he walked out of his bedroom. He was carrying himself differently, like he was on edge or worried about something.

Edward was acting weird. I was just too tired to get to the bottom of it.

There's always tomorrow.


E/N: As usual, reviews get teasers. I hope that I was able to respond to all of your reviews - I'm so touched that so many people left one last week!

There won't be an update next Wednesday - it will be next TUESDAY instead! YAY! It's my birthday next Thursday and my wonderful hubby is taking me to CHICAGO! (Yay! I'm so excited!) I won't be around my computer Wed-Fri, so you guys are getting an early update. It's 'cause I adore you all so much!

Thanks so much for reading. I'm so happy that people are still reading this story!

(And, because I'm in one of those moods today - thank you for the reviews, alerts and favorites. You all make me smile like you wouldn't believe!)