"Disclaimer - Twilight stuff is not mine. TB stuff is mine.

A/N-

Yes, I'm an a-hole (and so is Beta Lulu) because if you read the last AN's you know I played a very dirty trick on you guys (dirty like Edward and Bella on the piano and…*Lulu coughs* oh right, anyway). So, on with story and I still see several more chapters. :)

Housekeeping - Yes, there will be a sequel (All Bets Off) and it probably won't be right after because I've had another story in my head for a very long time and I want to write that one first. This one will have an epi, but the sequel will concentrate on a certain period of time and be more about Bella.

I plan on posting some outtakes…sometime. There's a bunch of things that just weren't usable or didn't fit that I still want to share.

I know everyone is dying for the bet to come out and it's coming soon, but we have some other stuff to deal with first.

Thanks to all the readers and to Beta Lulu!

Enjoy!

Chapter 14

The More Telling

EPOV

It was Friday afternoon and I was sitting on my bed next to Bella with my phone in my hand and Emmett's number on the screen. My finger hovered over the send button as it had for the past 15 minutes.

Bella had gotten the bulk of her school work today and for some reason that excited the shit out of her. She was labeling a map for Geography and I knew she was continuously stealing glances at me, but other than that she was ignoring my idiocy.

Finally, I pressed the damn button and listened to the ringing. I was getting ready to hang up when I heard my brother's voice.

"Hey, little bro what's up?"

"Hey Emmett, I just wanted to talk to you before you and Rose got here."

"Yeah, that would be good since I doubt you'll talk to us when we get there." His tone was rude, but I knew it was justified because all of the times they had visited in the past few months I had barely made an appearance and when I did I wouldn't talk or be much company at all. I see now how unpleasant I truly was during that time. I hadn't even gone to visit them once in Seattle since last year, even though my family and even Alice and Jasper on their own had gone up there several times.

"I know Em, I'm sorry about that. I was just going through some shit, but it's better now and that's kind of what I wanted to talk to you about."

"Yeah?" he asked skeptically. You're finally coming out of the closet?"

"No." I said in a growl because I was trying to have a serious conversation with him and he was pissing me off.

"Well, that's too bad." He said seriously.

"Fuck asshole, I'm trying to fucking talk to you so quit being a fucking douche!" I saw Bella shake her head a little, clearly in disapproval, but she never looked up from her paper.

"Sorry dude, geez. Fine, have your serious discussion then, Mr. Serious." His voice was taunting, but I was done giving a shit, all I had to do was spill the beans and then Bella would feel better about them coming tonight.

"Emmett, I have a girlfriend and she'll be joining us for dinner and well,-"

"What!? You have a girlfriend, like a real girlfriend or have you resorted to bringing your fuck buddies home, so mom will stop thinking you're gay, too?" I was pressing the volume button on the side of my phone as quickly and inconspicuously as I could because I didn't want Bella to hear this shit and as I was I could hear words like "chicken heads" and "skeezies" coming from Emmett.

"Yes, she's very much my real girlfriend." I looked over at Bella and she nodded her head and smiled at me which made me forget about the jerkface on the other line of the phone. "She's also pregnant and we wanted to tell you before you came so it wouldn't be a big surprise." Or you wouldn't act like a complete jackass which was what I was actually afraid of.

"Oh" was all he said and I didn't like the tone in which he said it. It was a drawn out 'that explains it' kind of 'oh' and I didn't care for that shit.

"No, not 'oh'. I love her and although the baby was a surprise, a big surprise, we're very happy about it." I was rubbing Bella's stomach and she was rubbing the back of my hand.

"Oh, well that's cool man. So, I get to meet this chick tonight?" I ignored the whole chick thing because it was pretty tame for the shit that Emmett usually said.

"Yes, but you already know her."

"Oh yeah? So, we went to school with her?"

"Yes,-"

"Fuck. It's not that one broad is it? The one with the-"

"No." I wasn't sure what he was going to say and honestly I didn't want to know, whatever it was the answer was no. "It's Bella Swan." All I heard was coughing, or rather choking, followed by cursing and Emmett telling Rose to take his drink the fuck away from him before he choked to death.

"Edward,-"

"I'll see you tonight, Emmett. Bye" And I hung up.

Whatever his response was going to be, I didn't want to hear it. I was sure that he would give me an ear full tonight and that was fine, as long as Bella was out of hearing distance then I didn't give a shit what lecture or whatever the fuck he had to say to me was.

"There Bella, that's all settled and everything's going to go just fine tonight." I patted her leg and she nodded her head, but it didn't really seem to effect her mood at all.

She had been quiet and distant for a couple of days now. She still smiled at me, curled her fingers in my hair, fell asleep against my chest, and told me she loved me, but I knew something was bothering her. I was convinced that it was the visit from Emmett and Rosalie, but now I wasn't so sure.

"Hey Bella, is everything ok?"

"Sure Edward." I saw her bite her lip slightly and I thought she was going to expand on that when the bedroom door flew open.

"Bella! It's already after 4 o'clock, what are you doing!?"

"Sorry Alice, I got caught up with this homework."

She scurried out of the room behind Alice after giving me a kiss and telling me she loved me. I could never grow tired of that.

Bella had told me earlier that Alice had planned to do her hair and makeup for dinner. Bella wasn't really into that shit, but Alice was and Bella was trying to go along with what Alice liked, I imagined, for the sake of their newly formed friendship. Ever since they had their little discussion they seemed to be like best friends which was good since Alice hadn't ever hung around a lot of girls, except Rose, and it didn't seem like Bella really had either.

Neither one of them had really told me what they talked about and I didn't want to ask, but I had known it went well when I walked into Alice's room and found both of them giggling and talking. Alice even had her hands on Bella's stomach and has recently taken to referring to herself as "Aunt Alice".

I piled all of Bella's school stuff on the desk and then changed my clothes from the dirty crap that I had wore to school (Alice's words) into something that was more appropriate for dinner (Alice's words again).

It didn't take me long to get ready, especially since Alice laid my clothes out for me, and I called Jasper to come over early so we could play video games or some shit.

He came right over and we took over the den to play the 'sniper with a big motherfucking gun' game, or at least that's how I referred to the game.

We both sat there in our appropriate dinner attire, both picked out by Alice, and shot a shit load of people until the girls walked in and then the game was long forgotten.

Bella was wearing a black dress that clung nicely to her curves and the small bump of her stomach. The front of her hair was pulled back, but the rest cascading down her arms in big curls. She had on just a slight amount of makeup, but she didn't need makeup to look beautiful.

I went to her instantly and took her hand in mine, kissing it softly. "You look gorgeous, Bella."

"Thank you. You don't look too bad yourself you know." She said with a smirk.

She jumped a little when she heard the front door slam shut, but I ran my thumb over the back of her hand that I was still holding to let her know that everything would be fine.

"There you guys are!" Emmett called from the doorway as he walked in with Rosalie following behind him.

"Shit, bro you weren't kidding she sure is pregnant!"

"Thank you for your expert diagnosis Dr. Emmett." Bella said in her sassiest voice, one that I don't think even I've heard before. She had her hand on her hip and her eyebrows raised as she was glaring at Emmett. Oh yeah, she could definitely hold her own with him; I knew I loved this girl.

"I'm sorry, Bella. I just didn't think you were that far along when Edward told me today." He had a remorseful look on his face and she held her arms out to him with a big smile on her face. He reached out for her instantly with a big, goofy grin on his face.

"It's ok Emmett." She said to him.

Alice and Rose were off to the corner chatting, but they were keeping a close eye on the situation. Rose was good at keeping Emmett in line, but it seemed Bella had it under control.

Jasper and I just stood there staring, not even pretending to be doing something else.

"Well, I guess I'll have to wait before I can pick you up and twirl you around again." Emmett said with a little huff.

"Yes, unfortunately you can no longer throw me over your shoulder and run around and I'm not sure you're going to regain that privilege even after the baby is born, but at least you'll have a nephew that will, eventually, enjoy being tossed around and put on your shoulders." She was smiling at him, but it was obvious that she was being completely serious.

"I can't believe I'm gonna be an uncle!" He shouted and the next thing I knew I was over his shoulder and being spun around in circles.

"Put me the fuck down you crazy asshole!" He didn't though, he just kept spinning around and around.

"I'm gonna be an uncle and you're gonna be dad! I just can't fucking believe it!" I couldn't really believe it either, not when I heard it out loud like that. It's funny how being upside down, spinning around, and being nauseous as fuck about two inches away from somebody's ass can put things into perspective.

"Emmett! Put him down before you break something!" Esme said as she entered the room. She didn't shout, but her voice was firm and he put me down instantly.

"Yeah, who gives a fuck about my neck or whether or not I puke all over the damn place, the top concern is obviously the fucking coffee table." I was stumbling around while I fixed my jacket and tried to smooth out my hair which wasn't happening because I was mostly pulling at it instead.

When I looked up I saw everyone trying very hard not too laugh and I just frowned, silent for the moment, because I thought I had yelled and cussed enough, well for time being anyway.

Bella's hands pushed mine out of my hair and hers actually were smoothing down my hair. She leaned close to me and started whispering reassuring things in my ear. I smiled at her and took her hand from my hair and held it. She moved to my side to stand next to me and that's when I saw everyone behind her that had been staring at us.

"What? Are we going to eat dinner or is everyone just going to stare at us all night?" They began to file out of the room and I turned to Bella and gave her a triumphant look because I hadn't used one foul word that time and I knew she didn't like that shit when I did, especially when my father and Esme were around. She gave me an approving nod and we followed everyone out.

We walked to the dining room, still hand in hand, and I was whispering in Bella's ear how beautiful she looked and how I had never seen another woman as beautiful as her. By the time we sat down her cheeks were a very lovely shade of pink.

We ate while mostly Emmett and Rose talked about the end of their first year in college. It was common for them to do most of the talking when they came home to visit and currently Esme was asking them about their classes.

I noticed that Bella was intently listening and would glance up at whomever was talking in between bites. She seemed comfortable here - in this situation, in this house, next to me. It made me smile which was the constant effect she had on me.

Bella was helping Esme serve dessert when Alice spoke up. "So, we're all heading up to Port Angeles to catch the late showing of that new Tom Cruise movie. Do you guys want to come?" She asked us and I froze as I watched Bella stop in the middle of lifting a slice of pie up on the server and just hold it there while her hand shook.

Emmett wasn't sure what to make of it. He leaned his dish forward and back a few times and looked up at her expectantly waiting for her to serve it, but she never looked at him. Finally, he just tipped her hand a little and let the slice fall on his plate and that seemed to snap her out of it.

"Oh, sorry Alice. I think I'm going to have to pass this time. I just know I'll fall asleep in the theatre." She patted her stomach while she said it because she was fucking smart and knew that no one would force her to go out if she said she was too tired.

"Oh, we could probably catch an earlier show if we go right now. I just want us to all do something together." She was pouting a little not because she was trying to get her way, which she was, but because she truly just wanted us to all be together. Alice missed having all of us around now that Emmett and Rose were off to college and whenever things were done as couples I always bailed because I had never dated before, before now, so Alice saw it as a great chance to have some awesome triple date kind of bullshit.

"Why don't we go to the mall tomorrow and then all of us girls can hang out and catch up." It never ceased to amaze me how fucking smart Bella was. If there was one thing that could get Alice it was shopping and I knew she had her.

"Really!? That would be so much fun!" Alice was no longer concerned about us going to the movie and instead she spent the rest of dessert planning our shopping trip.

I didn't think us guys really needed to go, but Bella insisted saying that she was sure that there was something we could do while the girls were shopping. Her exact words were "you guys can go to the arcade, pig out at the food court, or do whatever the hell it is that guys do." At that point, I agreed with her completely knowing why she had made such a sacrifice just to get out of going to the fucking movies and I knew she meant business. No one else noticed her mild profanity, which wasn't much of a profanity at all, because they were used to my mouth that rivaled that of Andrew Dice Clay, but I knew that Bella would never use such language in front of my parents, and at the dinner table no less, if she wasn't upset.

Bella insisted on helping Esme clear the table after everyone had finished dessert while Alice, Jasper, Emmett, and Rose were getting ready to leave for the cinema. I walked out with them and Alice, who was as hyper as ever, was bouncing next to Jasper and talking about how excited she was about tomorrow. He whisked her into the back of Emmett's jeep and Rose gave me a quick hug and smile before she joined them. That just left Emmett and I standing in the driveway.

"You and Bella seem really happy together."

"We are." I replied simply.

"So, are you getting ready to take her home? I figured she had to be home at a certain time and that's why she didn't want to go to the movies." Yeah, I wish that was the reason.

"No, she actually lives here now."

"What!? I can't believe Dad let your pregnant girlfriend move in!"

"She didn't have anywhere else to go." I stated it like a fact because it was, but I still couldn't hide the sadness in my voice.

"Oh" was all he said and he looked down for a moment because that shit was sad. "But that's not why-" I couldn't stand to let him finish that sentence because I had fucking had it with people thinking I was only with Bella because she was pregnant. Even though it was really just Bella who had thought that, out loud anyway, but her opinion was the most important and I couldn't stand that anyone would think that.

"No, that's not fucking why and if you say anything like that in front of Bella I will punch you in the fucking face. I love her and for some fucked up reason, that has nothing to do with her being pregnant, she loves me too, so just drop it!"

He just stood there for a moment staring at me until Rose stuck her head out of the window and yelled at him.

"If you don't come on right now I'm going to get in the driver's seat and-".

That's all it took for Emmett to say "later dude" and take off running.

I went back into the house to find Bella helping Esme load the dishwasher. In fact I had never even opened the dishwasher before in my entire life, I wasn't even sure how to open the motherfucker since the handle seemed to be hidden somewhere, but I wasn't going to admit that to Bella.

When she was finished with helping and talking with Esme she went upstairs with me, but was still quiet and distant which was how she'd been for the past few days and I was hoping with this dinner behind us that we could get back to where we were, but then the whole movie thing fucked that up, or more so I had fucked that up.

We had a nice routine about most things and bedtime was no different. She changed her clothes first and then opened the door when she was done and would start brushing her teeth. I would go in with my pajamas and brush my teeth next to her. It was like synchronized swimming or some shit the way we spit toothpaste and rinsed our brushes, never saying a word, but never getting in each other's way or spitting on each other either.

When she was done she left the bathroom and closed the door, so I could change. We had seen each other naked, obviously, but it was what Bella seemed comfortable with. When I left the bathroom in my flannel pants and t-shirt she was sitting on the bed using my cell phone and talking in a quiet voice. This was also a part of the routine. She would call Jacob or Emily and check in and talk to them briefly before we went to sleep.

"No, I don't think that's what I should do at all, Jake." She said in a harsh whisper before she hung up on him. I was sure that she did just hang up on him because I heard no "goodbye".

"Is everything ok?" I asked her as I rubbed my hand over her back.

"No" She sniffled, but she didn't look up.

"Does this have anything to do with tonight?" I wasn't sure if she told Jake about why she was upset and he suggested that she move back to Emily's. The very thought made me nervous; I couldn't imagine not seeing her everyday.

"No"

"Is this what has had you upset the past few days?"

"Yes. It has to do with my dad." I had been so wrong, nothing new there.

She didn't say anything else. She just rolled over and got under the blankets. I knew she would talk about it when she was ready, so I turned off the lights and got into the bed behind her. She was already asleep as I took my spot behind her and wrapped my arms around her. She didn't turn around, but I heard a content sigh as her hand found my arm and I quickly drifted off to sleep with her.

I awoke to a beeping and I swatted at my nightstand, effectively knocking down the alarm clock which apparently wasn't even going off.

"Hello" I heard Bella's hoarse voice say.

There was no further response when Bella removed the phone from her ear to look at the screen and then held it out towards me. She must've fallen asleep with my phone in her hand.

I looked at her inquisitively as I took the phone. "Saggy Tits is calling you" she said, carefully annunciating each word to ensure that it sounded as ridiculous as possible because it really was.

"What the fuck do you want?"

"Who just answered your phone and what in the hell did she call me? And Eddie don't tell me it was Alice either because I know it wasn't." God, her voice was annoying.

"Shit, I was sleeping, so no it wasn't Alice. It was my girlfriend who was also sleeping so when I hang the fuck up on you, which I will, don't fucking call back."

I did hang up and I didn't even hear a response from her before I did. I turned the phone off and let it fall to the floor. I took Bella back in my arms and nestled against her, getting comfortable to go back to sleep.

"Why did you say 'girlfriend'?"

"Well, because I was under the impression that you were. It's the same thing I said to Emmett. Are you not my girlfriend or am I not supposed to tell people you are?"

"But that's just it. You didn't tell her I was your girlfriend."

"Fuck, Bella. I was half asleep. If you want me to call her back and tell her that Bella Swan is my girlfriend and in my bed I will."

"No, it's just that…well, no one knows."

"What do you mean no one knows. People know."

"My parents don't know. Angela, who I've been avoiding, doesn't know. I'm glad I don't have to go to school because I don't even know what I would say. I don't even know what to say to Angela."

"People know your pregnant." I said pointedly.

"Well, sure they do I worked at practically the only grocery store and restaurant in Forks for about a week. I'm not surprised. What they don't know is that you're the dad." There was that word again and I was glad that Bella couldn't see the panic that just flashed across my face when I thought about all the responsibility and everything that that word entails.

"Not even Charlie." I said and it wasn't a question.

"No, although he has been asking Jake and his dad a lot of questions."

"And?"

"Jake won't say anything well, except that he's not the father. I know Charlie has had his doubts about that the whole time and then what I said in Florida didn't help that, but of course Charlie had never seen me with any other guy either."

"What do you want to do?"

"I don't want to talk to Charlie or even Renee for that matter, but especially him. He abandoned me when I needed him and he said some pretty hurtful shit that I just can't forgive him for yet." I nodded thinking that I wasn't much better.

She had turned around and was looking up at me, so I knew she saw the guilt that was in my expression. I mumbled something about if I lived a hundred thousand years I would never forgive myself which was something I had told her before and just like the first time she put her finger on my lips and shushed me.

We laid there, but didn't fall back to sleep, so after awhile we went down to have breakfast with the family. Esme had made French toast and scrambled eggs. Bella took a plate full of eggs, but no French toast and when I asked her about it she mumbled something about being sick of stupid French toast. At least she ate all the eggs which went along with my mission to fill Bella with protein…wait that didn't sound right, never mind.

Alice and Rose kidnapped Bella right after breakfast to get ready for their shopping trip. I knew Bella really wanted to get along with Alice, but I didn't know how much more of her makeovers she could handle. At least I put a curb on Alice ordering shit for Bella, well I think I did anyway.

Bella came down with the other girls who were laughing and talking, but Bella looked deep in thought.

"Hey Love, you look beautiful."

"I think Alice is having entirely too much fun dressing me. I'm like her pregnant Barbie doll." She gave a smirk to Alice who shrugged innocently.

Bella did look beautiful, as usual. Her hair was curled again, but pulled back in a ponytail so the smooth skin of her neck was exposed, making me want to kiss and bite it.

Alice was complaining about the guys and girls taking separate cars, she obviously didn't trust us to endure her all day shopping excursion.

"Alice, you don't have to worry. Edward will drive them in his car. I know he won't leave us there by ourselves." Bella smiled at me because she knew it was the truth as did Alice who instantly agreed much to the chagrin of Emmett and Jasper who absolutely would abandon their girlfriends at the mall to get home in time to watch the game.

BPOV

What had I done? I should've just went to the stupid movies because now here I stood, right inside the entrance of hell or rather the Northgate Mall. I didn't want to drive all the way to Seattle and I doubt Emmett or Rose did either because they freaking live here, not at the mall, but here in Seattle. Despite our arguments, Alice said that since the teachers at school thought I was on bedrest this was the best mall to go to and no one ever argued with Alice's reasoning. After having to stop at a gas station three times so that I could pee we had finally gotten here.

Edward had his arm wrapped around me and he would occasionally whisper things in my ear. I didn't really want him to leave, but I knew that he wanted to hang out with his brother and Jasper.

"Here's my phone, if Alice gets out of control just call Gaysper or Gaymett."

"How clever of you." I said rolling my eyes at him and he just shrugged obviously not disputing how childish it was.

I stood there looking down at his phone as he kissed my forehead and went to walk away.

"Edward?" my voice cracked when I called out.

"Yeah"

"Wh-what's my name under?" He looked down and so did I.

"You wouldn't give me your number and I saved the number from the phonebook as 'Bella's House'."

"Oh" was all I said because I was wondering about how different things would've been if I would've just given him my number that day in class when he asked me for it or if I had just went on a date with him…

"Bella, I don't care if you check. I'll see you soon." I stopped him so I could kiss him before he walked away and then he turned to Alice.

"Don't take all fucking day, Alice, she doesn't need to over do it by walking around the fucking mall all day."

She pretty much ignored him and we walked away. I followed behind them as I continued to stare down at the phone.

"What are you doing, Bella?""Um, he said I could check it, but I don't know if I should."

"Check it for what?"

"To see if he put my name in here as 'Bella' or something mean like he does with everyone else."

"Oh, well if he said he put your name in as Bella then I'm sure he did. I'm just Alice in his phone. Well, I was 'Pain in the Alice' for awhile, but he changed it."

"I wonder what he would do if I deleted a number." I said thinking aloud.

"Whose?"

"Saggy Tits" I said in a hostile tone.

"Tanya?" They both said in unison and I began laughing hysterically because I hadn't realized how saggy her tits actually were, but then again I hadn't seen her naked either and that thought abruptly ended my laughter.

"Why would you delete that number?"

"Because she called this morning and it pissed me off. She woke us up and it just sucked."

"Well, deleting it isn't going to stop her calls. The only reason why he keeps those numbers in his phone is so he knows who it is when they call and he can ignore it."

I nodded because I trusted Edward and I wasn't going to check his phone or delete anything from it. I wasn't even going to call 'Saggy Tits McGee' and tell the whore to lose Edward's number even though I struggled with my self control the most with that last one.

We went to every clothing store in the mall, but I mostly just sat there while Alice and Rose tried stuff on.

It had been a few hours when the phone rang and we all thought it was Edward calling to check up on me and I answered it quickly as I was desperate to hear his voice.

"Hello" I said with a involuntary smile on my face.

"What the fuck? Doesn't Edward answer his own phone anymore or are you his fucking secretary?"

"Listen Bitch. I'm not his secretary. I'm his girlfriend which is exactly what he told your dumbass when you called this morning and woke us up.

"Edward never has girlfriends."

"Yeah, and he still doesn't have girlfriends." I replied accentuating the 's' sound. "It's singular, one girlfriend, me." I heard a huff from Saggy and Alice and Rose were laughing hysterically in front of me.

"Who's laughing in the background?" I didn't respond because quite frankly I didn't think it was any of her damn business. "Is that Alice!? It is isn't it? Wait, who is this?" I sighed before I continued, but this is what I wanted right?

"It is Alice in the background. Well, Alice and Rosalie and we really do need to get on with our shopping, I'm afraid you've wasted enough of our time." I hung up without saying my name.

I just didn't think it would be fair to Edward if it came out like this. Edward had to go back to school on Monday and deal with all these people and I didn't, thankfully.

"I know why she called." Alice said in a sing song voice.

"Why?" I asked hesitantly, but still curious.

"Because Edward is finally himself again. Well, better than himself actually because he was disagreeable even before, before you were gone, but after…" She trailed off and I could hear her voice shake a little when she started to talk about it and her eyes drifted before she regained her thought. "And now he's just in a perpetually happy mood." She patted me on the back because she considered me the reason for that and I suppose I was.

"How bad was it…when I was gone?" I pretty much whispered it like it was a dark secret because that's how it felt. I knew how bad it was for me, but I never imagined that it was the same for Edward.

"Horrible" She shook her head as if she was trying to shake free the memories of it and maybe she was, so I never asked her to elaborate.

The phone rang five more times and each time I checked it before answering and when I saw it was Tanya I just pushed 'ignore'. Finally, on the fifth time she called Rose snatched the phone out of my hand and after pushing a few buttons declared that Tanya's number was blocked.

Alice texted jasper to let him know, or rather to let Edward know, that we were going to eat lunch. We talked a lot about college with Rose who seemed happy to regale us with tales of parties, pranks, and other dormitory shenanigans. She even got serious and told us about the classes she had taken so far and different speakers and exhibits that she had attended at the college. She had heard world renowned authors and artists speak of their works.

Alice and I sat there, wide eyed, listening to her as we ate. It was an experience that I would never let Edward give up, especially having been already accepted into an Ivy League school, but I was glad that Carlisle wouldn't let me give it up for myself either.

Alice then dragged me, literally, into a baby store as she oohed and ahed over all the cute little outfits and stuff. Even Rosalie was holding up little outfits that had matching everything to go with them. They really were adorable…and very expensive.

"We'll have to get stuff for the baby when the nursery is done." Alice declared and then she left the store. I put down a tiny little suit I was holding and followed her. I thought it would be much harder to get her out of there, but was glad that she left so easily. "Esme is so excited to get started." She said in a happy tone as she continued to talk about the nursery and I think she was excited about it, too.

"I just hate for her to have to do all that work when we'll be moving out in the fall."

"Bella, it's not work for Esme. She loves doing that type of thing and she wants to do it for you and Edward, and especially for the baby." I knew how heartbroken she was over the loss of her son, so I wouldn't deny her any happiness with her grandson and I did fully consider him to be her grandson.

"Of course, but nothing too fancy." I said, futilely I know.

"Esme wants to get paint next week, but you really need to pick a theme first."

"A theme?"

"Yes, a theme, a distinct, recurring, and unifying idea."

"Alice, I know what a theme is. I just don't know one for a nursery."

"Oh, well I'll get you a book or something that you and Edward can look at." I nodded in agreement because there would be no use in arguing. "Or you could let me pick something?" She said it like a question because she wasn't sure if I would want her to or not.

"Yeah, Alice I think you should because you're way better at that kind of stuff than I am." I said honestly. I kind of wanted to help, but I would let her choose because I knew it would turn out great and I was so happy that she wanted to be involved with the baby.

"I need to sit down." I said as I took a seat on a bench in the middle of the mall. Alice, who would literally shop until she dropped, of course didn't want to stop but did only because I needed to.

"Look, it's the boys!" I said as we saw the three of them walk out of a guy's clothing store.

"Edward!" I used every last bit of my energy to jump up and run to him.

He quickly caught me in his arms and held me tight. It was like we had been separated for a lot longer than a few hours, but I hated to be away from him.

"We were just getting ready to get some ice cream perhaps you ladies would like to join us."

"We just ate Edward and we have three more stores to go to." Alice said and I'm sure three meant something closer to eight.

"Speak for yourself. I never turn down ice cream." I winked at Edward and he held me close to his side.

"We didn't even get to go to the lingerie store." Alice whined. My worst nightmare come to life. I wanted nothing to do with tiny, lacy undergarments especially after my three month long love affair with ice cream.

"I'm sure these gentlemen would love to assist you in picking out little, see through…" that's all I had to say before they were at their sides.

"Fuck yeah, I love the underwear store!" Emmett said, a little too loud for the middle of the mall, and we all chuckled.

They went one way and we went the other towards the food court to get ice cream.

"You know my one weakness, it's so unfair." I teased him.

"You only have one?" He whispered against my neck as he placed soft kisses all the way up to my ear.

"I suppose not." I said quietly.

"Me either" he whispered in my ear.

I playfully slapped my hand on his chest and began to scold him when we stopped dead in our tracks.

"Bella?"

"Hi, Ang. You know Edward." I used my hand that I was just hitting him with to present him as if I were Vanna White and he were the mystery phrase. This was beyond awkward.

"I do." She said and I could see the confusion on her face.

"You should come over sometime, so we can catch up." I offered, sounding lame.

"Yeah, so you're back at your dad's? Because last I heard you were staying in La Push with…" She trailed off, but I was sure what she heard.

"I'm staying at Edward's house, but you really should come over sometime."

"Yes, you're welcome any time." Edward said very politely and with a gorgeous smile. He could be very deferential when he wanted to be, you know when he wasn't being the complete opposite.

Angela wrote down Edward's phone number and took off to meet her mom somewhere.

We got to the ice cream place and ordered a very large brownie sundae that we shared. We sat at a small table with the sundae in the middle and at one point I attacked his spoon with mine and when I was winning he put whipped cream on my nose. We were almost done and eating the waffle bowl it came in when the others approached us laughing loudly, Emmett of course the loudest.

He walked up to the table and dropped a box right in front of me. It was wrapped in light pink paper and had an opalescent ribbon around it.

"What's this?" I asked.

"Amelia Earhart. He found her." Edward answered seriously as he took a big bite of the waffle bowl. I smirked at him because he was returning the sarcasm I had used against him so many times and surprisingly I liked it.

"Duh, it's a box, a present. I get it. I just don't know why." I said while rolling my eyes at Edward.

"Just open it!" Emmett whined impatiently.

I looked up at Rose and gave her a quizzical look, but she just shrugged her shoulders.

"He bought it and had it wrapped before I could even get a look at it." She replied and I knew that didn't sound good.

I sighed and began to open it because it wasn't ticking or anything. Well, that I could tell anyway. I removed the ribbon, tore the paper carefully, and then slowly removed the lid of the box. Under the tissue paper lied a pink shirt. I pulled it out and it unfolded revealing a picture of a dinosaur and the words "Pregasaurus Rex". I turned it around and showed everyone. Edward frowned and gave Emmett a dirty look before looking at me apologetically.

"Emmett you should take it back." Edward said sternly.

"No, I like it." I said honestly although I'm not sure why I did.

***

When we got back we went up to Edward's room and I was hanging up the Pegasaurus Rex shirt when my eyes drifted over towards the weight bench as if I had caught it staring at me. I got tingles just looking at it and I quickly walked out of the closet to see Edward standing nervously by the bed.

"Bella I have something for you, but I don't want you to freak out or anything." I could see that his hands were behind his back and between him and the rest of his family I was starting to feel really bad about all the stuff they were giving me. I mean they were already giving me a place to live. "It's not a stupid shirt or anything." He grumbled as he took a step closer.

I held out my hands in front of me. "Do you want me to close my eyes?" I asked feigning seriousness.

"No, here." He said as he laid a small box in my hands and I frowned at him.

"Really, a phone, Edward? This is too expensive."

"Yeah, well in case of an emergency you should have it."

"That's true." I unwillingly conceded and then I frowned when I thought of something.

"What's wrong? If you don't like that kind we can get a different one." He said quickly.

"No, it's not that. It's a very nice phone. I was just thinking how I don't even know your phone number." I was back to wishing we had just exchanged numbers months ago like he had wanted to, but I suppose regret wasn't going to help anything.

"I programmed it in there already."

"Yeah? Did you give yourself a smart name like 'Baby Daddy' or something?" I was purposely teasing him, but he didn't look very amused.

He wrapped his arms around me so fast I yelped out of shock. I had dropped the box with the phone in it on the floor, but just as quickly as he grabbed me, he spun me around and had laid me back onto the bed and was playfully growling in my ear.

"What did I tell you about that, Bella?" I smiled because I liked forceful Edward. It's not like he was being rough, but he was definitely in control.

"You said nothing." I said defiantly. He made a face at me and then lightly bit my neck.

"Yes. I. Did."

"No, you said not to use 'Baby Momma" and I didn't".

"You just did." He growled at me and then kissed me hard and passionately.

We were interrupted by a knock on the door and I never in my life wanted to scream at someone as bad as I did at that moment.

The rest of the weekend was spent hanging out with Edward's family. Alice seemed to like all of us hanging out together since she was continuously coming up with things that we could all do together. We watched movies and played board games or we would just sit around and talk. I had never seen Alice so happy, aside from when she was doing my hair and makeup, and I suppose if I were being honest I had never been this happy either or felt like I belonged somewhere like I did now.

***

EPOV

Monday morning and Bella was driving me to school. I was trying really hard not to make her nervous, but I was fucking nervous. Not because she wasn't a good driver because she was cautious as hell, but because I had no fucking control and it was my new goddamn car.

I raked my hands through my hair a few times and stared out the window. I did not remember the school being this fucking far from my house.

"We can go back. I don't have to have your car today." She said in a soothing voice.

"What are you talking about, Bella? I'm not worried." I lied, but she had asked me to use the car and Bella never asked for anything, with the occasional exception of frozen novelties, so there was no fucking way that I would go back and not let her borrow my car.

She nodded her head and kept driving. I knew she didn't believe me.

"Call me if anything's wrong. Anything." I said while taking my phone out and putting it on silent.

I looked at my phone for a moment and wondered if Bella had ever gone through it. I didn't think she did because she wasn't like that, but I changed all of the more 'descriptive' names just to be on the safe side. Fishy McFisherson is now Lauren Mallory and The Blackhole is now Jessica Stanley and of course Chesty Chels is just Chelsea Hansen now. Bella told me that Saggy Tits McGee is now blocked, thank you Rose, but just the same I changed it to Tanya McGee. McGee wasn't even her real last name, but I couldn't remember what it was, so whatever. There were others too, a lot of other chicks, but most of them, like fishy and loosey goosey, were just broads from school that would hit on me all the damn time. I guess Mike wasn't as bright as me because once someone got a nickname like Big Tuna I wasn't about to investigate that shit for myself, but he on the other hand didn't seem to care.

She pulled up by the front door of the building I had to go in and I leaned over to give her a kiss. She tensed a little because there were people all over the damn place, but she relaxed and forgot all about those fuckers when I slid my tongue in her mouth.

"I love you, Bella."

"I love you too, Edward."

She gave me a big smile and I had to admit she looked hot behind the wheel of my kick ass car.

"Call me if you need anything and I'll call you at lunch."

"Ok, bye."

I finally shut the door even though I really didn't want to leave her. She gave me a small wave and I waved back. I stood there for a minute watching her drive out of the parking lot. Most of the people that were milling around had made their way to class, so I was surprised when I heard a voice.

"W-was that Bella?"

"Yes, Chelsea it was." I said without feeling because I really didn't like talking to her.

"You let her drive your car." It was just a statement and she made with a really hurt sounding voice.

I wouldn't ever let Chelsea drive my car. She had begged and begged as preparation for her driving test. She had asked if we could go out in the country, past La Push, and drive around. We did occasionally drive out towards that way when I wanted road head, but I never let her as much as sit in my seat.

At that moment I kind of felt bad for Chelsea, I had never meant to use her, not really anyway, but there were a lot of things that I've done, mostly bad, that I didn't mean to.

"I'm sorry Chelsea."

"You said you never let anyone drive your car." Her voice was still small and hurt sounding.

"I don't. I mean I didn't. Bella's different." I sighed remembering all the times I had called Chelsea 'Bella' when I was drunk. "Bella's just that girl for me and you're that girl for someone too and I hope you find him because you really do deserve that." She smiled at me and for once I didn't see all the things that made her not Bella, I just saw Chelsea (but for the record her blush is still ugly).

"Thanks, Edward. That really does mean a lot to me and I'm sorry too." She looked down and I wasn't really sure what she was sorry about, but she continued. "I told the principal that I thought Bella had an eating disorder. I'm the reason why she got sent away." What the…

"Chelsea, what the fuck are you talking about?!"

"I'm sorry, but I thought if she went and got help, which I really did think she needed, that you wouldn't always be thinking about her and stuff. I guess I didn't think it would really happen and I didn't think it would affect you like…like it did."

"So you are the one that started that rumor?"

"No. I mean I guess so, but I really didn't think it was a rumor at the time. The principal called Chief Swan and then she was gone. From what I heard around school she got sent to her mom's to get better at a clinic."

"And now you know that that wasn't the case?"

"I know she's pregnant if that's what you're asking. About two weeks ago she applied for a job at the grocery store and my dad mentioned it. He said he wasn't going to hire some knocked up, teen, but I talked him into it."

"I don't even know what to fucking say to you, Chelsea." I was trying to keep my voice down, but I was pissed and it was the truth I really didn't know what the fuck to say to that.

"You don't have to say anything. I made a mistake and I apologize for it. I know now that there's something special between you and Bella, I didn't get that before, but now I do." She said it almost nonchalantly and shrugged her shoulders before she turned to walk away, but I grabbed her shoulder to stop her.

She turned back around and looked at me, but she didn't really look surprised and I let my hand fall from her shoulder.

"Thanks Chels." She hadn't even questioned my motives for being with Bella and for that alone I was thankful. "I accept your apology and like I said I'm sorry too."

She wrapped her arms around me and it felt beyond wrong to have her in my arms, but I patted her back a couple of times and then she walked away. My love affair with vodka, and several of his friends, had afforded me the luxury of very few memories of that time, but I'm sure holding Chelsea like that had always felt just as wrong. Of course this time it was just a gesture of forgiveness and wasn't meant as anything romantic.

I was sitting in class when I got a text from Alice. I had looked instantly when my phone buzzed. I held it under the desk and read it quickly thinking it was from Bella.

"WTF dude! Saw u w/chesty ~A"

"Fuck off ~ E"

I knew I would need to deal with this proactively with Bella since I was afraid that it would get back to her somehow. I was contemplating just calling her and telling her when the bell rang for lunch.

I was walking down the hall with my phone in my hand not wanting to wait until I got somewhere quiet to call Bella, but then it started vibrating.

"Hello"

"Edward, come out to the parking lot, please." She sobbed.

"On my way." I hung up and started running to the door.

I could see my car as soon as I stepped outside. I abandoned the sidewalk and ran right through the soggy grass and jerked the car door open so fast I probably came close to braking it, but I didn't give a fuck as I hurled myself into the car.

"Bella, what's wrong!?"

She crashed into me and just collapsed in my arms as she sobbed.

"I tried. I really tried." She said with tears running down her face. I fucking hated to see her like this.

"What happened?"

"I went to Charlie's." She sobbed.

A/N -

Dun Dun Dun…Sorry for the cliffy, but I'll update quickly :)

Links to outfit pics on my profile. All the credit for Pregasaurus shirt goes to Lulu.

Andrew Dice Clay - Comedian from New York that was extremely popular, and controversial, in the early 90's

Dishwasher - I joke with my husband that the dishwasher company must've done a good job hiding the handle since he never loads the motherfucker

Vanna White - Co-host since the early 80's of the game show "Wheel of Fortune"

Things have come full circle with Chelsea, so we can now be done with her.

Please review and I will send you a sneak peek. If you don't want one just let me know in your review. Yes, I'm back to bribery, lol.

Reviews are better than brownie sundaes with Edward…yeah not really, but it's a good combo.