Author Note: Wow, what a response to the last chapter! There were 99 reviews, and all but two or three wanted to bitch slap Rosalie. Let's see what Bella does now that she's been put on the spot.

Thanks again to moosals, CozItRunsInMyBlood and NKubie for pre-reading. Stephenie Meyer owns all characters.


Chapter 12 — Whiplash

"Rose," Emmett warns, putting his hand on her arm.

Edward turns to look at me and I can feel my face turning bright red. I swallow thickly, not knowing how I can explain myself. I know I don't have to explain this to anyone, but I don't want any of them to think I got pregnant on purpose.

"Bella?" Edward prompts.

"I… I tried."

"What do you mean you 'tried,' dear?" Esme asks gently.

"I couldn't buy Plan B from the local pharmacy without my dad finding out," I explain, "So I planned to drive to the next closest town to buy it."

"Bella, you're 18 years old," Dr. Cullen interjects. "The pharmacist wouldn't be allowed to tell your father about your purchase. There are confidentiality rules."

"Maybe not, but what if someone overheard or saw me buying it? I'm from a town with 3,500 people. My dad is the Chief of Police so everyone knows him and knows who his daughter is. Word would've gotten back to him somehow, even if the pharmacist never said anything.

"Anyway, I was going to drive to Port Angeles the afternoon after Grad Night, but my dad was home, and I couldn't explain why I suddenly needed to make a two-hour round trip. I figured I could just go the next day, since he always goes fishing with his buddy on Sundays, but he was still home when I got up. I'd forgotten that his buddy's son was graduating that afternoon and we'd both promised to go to the celebration."

I look up at the others helplessly. "I couldn't skip school on Monday due to finals, so I planned to go after school. I thought I'd just call in sick to my job, but… I didn't know how to explain to my boss that I couldn't go to work but was well enough to be in school, without arousing suspicion.

"I'd looked up the chances of getting pregnant from one encounter on the internet, and it said there's a three to five percent chance. That didn't sound too high, so… " I shrug, feeling pretty stupid right about now. I bite my lip, nervously twisting my fingers together in my lap.

"I'm not an OB/Gyn," Dr. Cullen begins, "But I think you may not have understood what the three to five percent probability represented."

"What do you mean?" I ask, brow furrowed.

"Well, as you probably know, a woman is most fertile on roughly days 12 to 14 of her menstrual cycle, so there's around a ten-percent chance of any particular… encounter falling on one of those days. Pregnancy only occurs 25 to 50 percent of the time that sperm and the egg are present together.

"To determine your individual chance of getting pregnant from that one unprotected encounter, you'd have needed to factor in the timing of your cycle."

I stare at Dr. Cullen for a moment. Why didn't I think of that? "I—I just remember last getting my… my period in May," I reply, feeling my face blush bright red talking about this.

"I didn't do it on purpose, Edward," I cry, turning to where he sits silently beside me. "I swear I didn't! I took a stupid gamble because I thought the chances were so low."

Out of the corner of my eye, I notice the smug smile on Rose's face across the room, and I just want to punch her for ever bringing up the topic.

"I believe you," he says quietly, running his finger down my face before turning toward his parents. "Like I told you guys Friday night, Bella was planning to get an abortion because she didn't know how to get in touch with me. What I left out was that I found her at the goddamned clinic with a nurse about to stick a needle in her arm! She was going to go through with it if I hadn't intervened — this was not some plot to trap me."

There's nothing but silence for a few moments before Esme speaks. "Is your father still unaware of your pregnancy, Bella?"

"Yes," I whisper, hanging my head. "It'll break his heart when he finds out."

"I'm sure he'll come around, dear. With your mother's death, you're all he has."

"And that's exactly why he's always been so overprotective," I explain. "He wouldn't let me date until I turned 18, precisely so I wouldn't end up pregnant in high school the way he and my mom did."

Esme frowns. "I'm sure your father did what he thought was best, but… how can a young girl learn how to conduct herself socially if she isn't given the chance to spread her wings somewhat?"

"I was terrified when Edward asked me to go on the rides at Wild Waves with him," I admit. "I probably hadn't been alone with a boy since middle school."

"And when faced with my charming, handsome son…"

"You were easy prey," Edward finishes, standing up angrily from his seat beside me. He tugs at his hair then spins around and slams his fist into the leather cushion. And then he stalks out of the room.

I turn and watch as he heads toward the gorgeous spiral staircase just visible in the foyer. A part of me wants to go after him, but I'm not sure if I should, if it's my place. Biting my lip, I turn back around to face the others, my stomach in knots.

"We should hear his keyboard in a minute," Emmett says nonchalantly. "He always writes music when he's upset."

"Should someone… go after him?" I ask tentatively.

"Nah," Emmett shakes his head. "He'll work it out."

"I'm sorry, Bella," Esme says, looking at me sympathetically. "Are you all right?"

I nod silently, though I'm not really sure I am.

"Didn't you make cheesecake, Esme?" Emmett asks after a short silence.

She laughs quietly at his attempt to change the subject and lighten the mood. "Yes, I did. Is that your way of saying you're hungry for dessert now?"

Emmett pats his belly, smiling widely.

Esme stands then looks over at me. "Would you like to help me, Bella?"

"Um, sure." I follow her into the kitchen.

"I'm sorry about Rosalie," she whispers to me. "She's quite protective of her loved ones and thinks of Edward as her little brother. Or maybe she's just a bitch — sometimes I'm not sure," she adds with a wink.

"You believe me, don't you?"

"I do," she nods. "What's done is done and we need to make the best of it. Even when times were tough, I never once regretted the decision to keep my baby." I smile a little, hearing that.

Esme points me toward the cabinet with small plates and the silverware drawer as she removes the cheesecake from the fridge. When the first two plates are ready, I carry them to Emmett and Rosalie, trying to make nice with her.

"You're all right, Bella," Emmett smiles, "Bringing me the first piece and all."

Now that I'm in the family room, I can hear the faint sounds of music coming from upstairs. I hope Edward is all right.

Esme cuts four more slices then hands two plates to me. "When you're finished, why don't you take a piece up to Edward?" she suggests.

"Um, ok."

"His bedroom is the last one on the right."

I nod, starting to carry the plates into the family room. I set Edward's down on the end table beside me and cut into my cheesecake.

"Mmm," I moan as I bite into the piece. This is heaven on a plate. "Is this turtle, Esme?"

"Yes," she smiles. "Emmett's favorite."

"It's really good. I'd ask for the recipe, but we only have a small kitchenette in my dorm."

"Did you choose to attend college in Chicago because of Edward?" Rose asks.

I stop eating for a moment and look straight at her. "No, Rosalie, I made the decision to attend UIC six months before I ever met Edward. They offered me a scholarship that would pay for my entire tuition, and I couldn't turn that down."

"But what about your room and board? Did you have to take out student loans you're going to be looking for Edward to cover?" she persists. I want to wring this girl's neck. Or maybe pull out her hair — one strand at a time.

"Rosie—" Emmett begins, but I cut him off.

"Not that it's any of your business, but my dad set up a savings account for me to use for college with the life insurance benefit we collected after my mom was killed. He and my mother had me shortly after high school graduation and were never able to complete their education; he wanted better for me." And that is why I am so terrified of disappointing him.

I finish my last few bites of cheesecake while the others sit in stunned silence, then pick up Edward's piece and stand. "I'll take this to Edward now."

I climb the grand staircase, eyeing all of the family photos on the wall of both Emmett and Edward. I stare at one particular photo of Edward where he looks like he's barely able to stand on his own two feet. His hair is actually blond and he's sporting an enormous grin. I can't help smiling at the thought that my own baby could look like that. In another photo, Edward is sitting at an upright piano, grinning at the camera with his two front teeth missing. I remember reading that he starting playing at the age of four. Will my child have his musical ability?

When I reach the top of the staircase, I turn right, noticing that his door is closed. Does this mean I shouldn't enter?

I hesitate for a moment, then knock carefully before pushing the door open. Edward is seated at an electronic keyboard, across the large, masculine bedroom which is anchored by an enormous king-sized bed. I can't help wondering how many women he's had in it.

"Edward," I call, unsure if he heard me knock. I don't want to startle him. I cross the room until I'm within his peripheral vision. I notice he's got a notebook on his lap, where he's transcribing the notes that his other hand is playing.

After about 20 seconds, he stops, looking up at me.

"Your mother said I should bring you this," I tell him softly.

"Grab the chair from over by my desk."

Still holding the plate, I pull the chair over to rest beside Edward's chair. I guess he wants me to sit down.

"My hands are busy," he says with a teasing wink.

I frown for a moment, not sure what he's getting at. Then I cut a piece off of the end of the slice, bringing the fork to Edward's mouth. He startles me when he snaps his mouth around it, licking his lips when he's finished. He grins, then turns back to his keyboard, playing a few more notes with his left hand and transcribing them with his right.

I watch in confusion as his mood seems to have done a total 180 from the guy who stalked out of the family room. Maybe the music made him feel better? I cut off another piece, bringing it to his mouth the next time he stops playing, and he swallows that as well.

A few minutes later, the plate is empty. I look around for a place to set it, finally just setting it down on the floor.

"Can I hear what you've been working on?"

Nodding silently, he places both hands on the keyboard and begins playing an angry melody. I can feel the emotions just pouring out of the song. I can't believe he wrote this just in the short time that he's been up here.

"I hope that's not directed at me," I joke when he's finished playing. He shakes his head, still not speaking. I kind of regret asking him to play for me, since his mood now seems to have swung back around. He seriously gives me whiplash.

Very tentatively, I reach out, caressing the top of his hand. "I don't blame you, Edward," I whisper.

"Maybe you should."

My heart beating madly, I slowly trail the same hand up his arm and his shoulder until my fingers are buried in the soft hair above his ear. It's my turn to comfort Edward for a change. He closes his eyes, sighing in what I hope is contentment as I scratch his head lightly. Being so close to him, touching him… none of the bad things matter anymore.

Suddenly his eyes spring open and he grabs my wrist, pulling it away. Before I can even blink, he's tugged me forward until I'm straddling his lap. "You really shouldn't have done that," he growls.

The moment his lips touch mine, I'm right back on that tour bus, right back to that girl who would do anything he says. My mouth opens instinctually now and his tongue caresses mine. His left arm winds around me, pulling me close, while his right hand buries itself in my hair, allowing him to turn my head just the way he wants so that he can deepen the kiss.

"Fuck, baby," he moans, moving to kiss along my jaw down to my neck. "Why can't I resist you?" I whimper a little as he begins sucking on my neck.

"I knew it was too quiet up here!" Emmett's deep voice booms out. Edward stops what he's doing immediately, and we both turn to look over at his brother standing in the doorway.

"Your mom sent me up to collect your plate so she could start the dishwasher," he adds, a twinkle in his eye. "Good thing you can't get her more pregnant," he snickers.

"Emmett!" Edward yells.

Grinning the entire way, Emmett crosses the room to where I'd set the plate on the floor, picks it up then leaves without saying another word.

As soon as he's gone, Edward closes his eyes, sighing. He stands both of us up then lets go of me, taking a few steps back.

"I should take you home."

"I-I can stay. I mean, I don't have to be up early tomorrow for class," I shrug. I really, really want to get back to what we were doing, though Angela's warning to make him work for it rings in my head.

"Carlisle has an early shift tomorrow. I don't want to make too much noise and keep him up." He walks over to the nightstand next to his bed, picking up an iPod, then walks right past me on his way to the door. I follow silently.

"I'm gonna take Bella home," he announces, barely stopping on his way to the kitchen.

"Thank you for dinner, Esme," I call to her.

"Wait up a second, please, Bella." She proceeds to the wet bar where she's set her purse, pulling out her phone. "Could I get your number? I'll call your phone then so you have mine. Please call me if you need anything while Edward is out of town."

I recite the digits, then press ignore when my own phone rings a few seconds later. "Thank you for everything."

"Of course, dear. You're part of the family now," she adds with a smile.

In the car, Edward plugs his iPod into the stereo system. "We won't start real work on our next album until we get off the road, but I recorded some ideas I've had. You can listen," he says, pressing PLAY.

"Wow, thank you!"

He just shrugs, backing out of the garage. I'm honored that Edward would let me hear his ideas, but as the minutes tick by, I start wondering if he did this so he didn't have to talk to me.

The music ends just as he exits the interstate downtown. "Those were amazing, Edward," I gush. "You are so talented."

"As least I can do something right," he mutters. I decide to ignore the implications.

"So what's the plan for tomorrow?"

"Is ten too early? I thought I'd come get you and we could go up Willis Tower, so you can get a feel for the whole city. Unless you've already done that?"

"I haven't," I reply softly. "That sounds great."

He nods. "After that we can head over to Millennium Park. I think the first band is on at one. We come on stage at seven. I'll make sure you have a good seat," he grins.

"Can Alice come too?" I ask. "She's a fan as well."

"It's free… anyone can come."

"I mean in the good seats." I roll my eyes.

"Tell her I'll save her one if she promises to stay at least two feet from me at all times."

I giggle. "You're not still mad at her for that, are you?"

"What do you think?" he asks, giving me a crooked grin as he pulls the car over to the curb.

"Thanks for bringing me to dinner," I tell him as I open the door. "Your parents and brother are great."

"Sorry about Rose; she can be a real bitch." Can't argue with that.

I wave to Edward as I step out of the car and close the door. As I head toward my dorm, I can't hold back my grin.

Edward kissed me.


A/N: So Bella stood up for herself a little bit there!

And Edward kissed her. Oh dear.

Next update on Friday.