Hi Again! I had promised the lovely Cared, who reviewed this little story over on Rob Attack, that I would post last Friday in honor of the great review. Then real-life happened and this was the soonest I could update. I still adore her for the great review! I also adore beachcomberlc for betaing this madness and not complaining, at least not to me, when I rewrote this chapter.

I don't own Twilight. I do have my e-reader back after the good folks at Sony fixed it. I'm off to upload some books to it.


Chapter 12

Bella and Edward stand outside the window for what feels like merely minutes to Bella, but when Edward informs her it's been almost two hours, they decide to make their way back down to the cottage. Edward laughs as he watches Bella adjust to her newfound abilities, jumping lightly over rocks and climbing trees with the greatest of ease. He's actually surprised at how well she is acclimating to everything considering the circumstances.

As they approach the small stone house, Edward falls into step behind Bella and decides to share a bit of information with her. "My mother…her name was Elizabeth," Edward utters as Bella turns, just before she opens the door. "Even though I have no claim on your daughter, I think it's a lovely name for her."

"Well, let's face it, she wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you." Bella pushes open the door and steps inside as though she lives there too.

Though they haven't discussed where she would be living, it is just a given that she couldn't stay at the main house as long as Elizabeth is there and Bella's control of her bloodlust is still uncertain. "She would probably be with Child Protective Services, in foster care with hopefully a good family, but you never know. Don't get me wrong, I'm still pissed the choice was taken away from me, but I think once I can actually be her mom, things may get better."

"Is that something you think you want now? To be her mom?" Edward questions as his eyes turn towards his bedroom, where he can see that everything has been put back into order. There is no bloody mess on the bed, no surgical tools and everything looks just as it did before he brought Bella home with him.

"I think so. I mean, it's not like I have much choice, right?"

"Oh, don't you think for one second that Rosalie wouldn't adopt that baby from you in a heartbeat," Edward grins as Bella rolls her eyes before looking at the collection of music Edward has organized on a bookshelf in the living room. Her eyes drift over the dizzying array of CDs from all eras, as Edward sits down on the couch as a sudden feeling of anxiety overcomes him. He's still a bit nervous about Bella's reaction to everything, especially considering how well she seems to be adjusting suddenly.

"I'm sure she loves my little girl, but I think once I can be trusted with her, I will have adjusted to the idea motherhood a little bit more, you know?"

"If you aren't certain, there's still time to-" Bella cuts Edward off from his train of thought by putting on a Debussy CD.

"I'm certain, alright? Stop pestering me about it," Bella snaps, before she lightens her mood considerably, realizing she is being a bit of a bitch. "I know a few days ago I didn't particularly want this, but seeing her and how perfect she is, has made me have a change of heart. I'm going to try and do this… parenting thing. I mean… I'm going to do it. No 'try' about it."

"Good, that's great," Edward responds, as they stare at each other silently, while Claire de Lune plays around them. As the song nears its end, Edward can see that Bella's expression has changed to sadness, and if she was able to, he knows she would be crying. "What's wrong?"

Bella collapses onto the couch beside him and lets out a huge sigh. "My mother used to love this song, and listening to it reminds me of her, and how much I miss her. She would have loved being a grandmother," Bella admits sadly, as Edward wraps his arm around her shoulder and offers her a gentle and supportive squeeze. "I'm not going to remember her forever, am I?"

"Unfortunately, no," Edward responds as Bella tenses at his side.

He stands up and begins searching through a drawer in his desk near the back wall, and when he comes back, he's clutching an old leather bound notebook. "My suggestion is to record all your memories while you still have them because they fade pretty quickly, sadly. One hundred years from now, you will remember flickers and thoughts, but not full memories like you do now. At least if you write them down, you'll have something and maybe you can share it with Elizabeth when she's old enough to understand."

Bella takes the proffered book and holds it tightly in her hands, before running her fingers over it reverently. "Do you remember your family?"

"I'm at that bits and pieces stage. I remember the basics like their names, where we lived and what I loved about them most, but I can't recall specific events anymore. I wish I'd had the foresight to write things down, believe me." Edward takes his place beside Bella again and watches as she flips the book open and stares at the blank pages. "There's a couple of pens in the cup on the desk if you want to write. It's not like you can sleep, after all."

"Wait? I can't sleep?"

"Not in the traditional sense, no," Edward replies as Bella quirks her eyebrows at him in question. "I'm sure you could lie down and close your eyes, and simulate the act of sleeping but you won't actually fall asleep."

"Then why do you have a bed?"

"Comfort mainly. It's nice to just lie there sometimes and listen to the rain fall against the roof or read a book. Anyways, go write. I'll be back in a bit."

"Thanks," Bella says softly, as Edward tells her he's going to head out for a run and give her some privacy.

*~HOS~*

Once his run is over, Edward decides to give Bella more space and he heads to the main house. As he walks in the back door, Carlisle and Esme are playing chess in the living room, while Alice is shopping online and Jasper is reading a book. Emmett and Rosalie are nowhere to be found, Edward figures they are probably fornicating, like usual.

"Their romantic life has taken a hit since Tiny came into the house," Jasper drawls as he looks up from his book to his brother. "Rose spends all her time with the baby, who is sound asleep by the way."

"I figured as much," Edward states as Carlisle and Esme pause their game, more interested in Edward's arrival. "Bella has named her Elizabeth, so we can stop calling her Tiny." From the corner of his eye, Edward can see Esme smile at the mention of his mother's name. "And no, I had nothing to do with the name."

"It's a very beautiful name, for a very lovely girl," Esme states. "Did you come up here to see her?" Edward's instinct is to shake his head, but instead he nods in agreement. After all, Edward hasn't seen the baby much since she was born, unless it was behind cover of glass like Bella, or while she was being held by Rose down in the cottage.

Esme leads Edward down the hallway towards a spare room that wasn't really used for much of anything. The house had far too many rooms as it was, and though this room was Edward's for a little while, it has long since been abandoned, until now.

As Esme pushes the door open, Edward can see a small bassinet set up with a light projecting swimming fish onto the ceiling. "She doesn't need the light, but Alice thinks it's cute." Esme smiles as she pats Edward on the shoulder and he tentatively steps in. "I'll give you some privacy. She should wake up soon for a bottle, so if you want to stay and feed her, let me know."

When Esme leaves, Edward sits silently in the rocking chair in the corner and simply watches as Elizabeth sleeps. She doesn't move much, but to Edward, she is the most adorable baby ever. He can't even fathom the fact that Bella intended to give her away, because after just watching her for less than ten minutes, he can't take his eyes off of her.

Almost twenty minutes later, the baby begins to fuss and fidget, and Esme comes in without hesitation holding her bottle. She quietly picks up Elizabeth and hands her over to Edward, showing him how to hold her properly, before handing him the bottle. "Just place it against her bottom lip, and rub it a little bit, and she will latch on easily."

Sure enough, just like Esme told him, Elizabeth begins sucking at the bottle almost immediately after Edward offers it to her. She makes herself scarce and while Edward cuddles the tiny baby, he can't help but kiss her softly on the forehead. "I promise no one, and I mean no one, will ever hurt you. I will keep you safe, forever."