"Above all, I craved to seize the whole essence, in the confines of one single photograph, of some situation that was in the process of unrolling itself before my eyes." ~Henri Cartier-Bresson
Chapter 14
Nurse Bripete knew that if she were to receive the same news as Miss Swan, she'd want to know sooner rather than later. It was taking all her strength to not bolt from Dr. Flores' bed and race to the phone. They'd shared a wonderful night together, as well as an active morning. However, since nurse Bripete couldn't let go of her guilt. She knew she had to call Bella Swan.
"Doctor Flores?" nurse Bripete began.
"Briana, please. Call me Art." Briana was well aware of the doctor's first name, and that it was short for Arturo, but she'd never been given the privilege of addressing him as such.
"Yes, of course, Art…sorry."
Doctor Flores stroked Briana's face with a single finger, intent on enticing her into making love to him once again. "What were you wondering, my sweet?"
"Well, it's Miss Swan's test results. I tried to speak with you about them yesterday before we became…distracted."
"Yes, I recall. What about them has you so concerned?"
Nurse Bripete was immediately back in her professional nurse mode. "Well, sir, despite the fact that we ran a basic STD panel, we also did a standard blood panel, and since Miss Swan was inquiring about an IUD implant… well, she came back with an elevated HCG level."
The look on Dr. Flores' face said it all. "Well, I suppose a positive test is important news, isn't it, Nurse?" Nurse Bripete knew that Doc-…Art was very stimulated at the prospect of role play, even if playing Doctor wasn't all that adventurous of a scenario.
Nurse Bripete gathered her sexiest porn star voice, "Why yes, Doctor, yes it is."
Doctor Flores acquiesced and excused nurse Bripete from bed with the promise of her immediate return once she'd concluded her call with Miss Swan.
O_o
"I think it's a practical choice, Edward."
"It seems a little invasive, though, to have a piece of plastic implanted into your uterus. Why not take the traditional route of birth control pills? You are a responsible young woman, Miss Swan. I would suggest you take it with your Flintstone each morning," Edward finished, with a playful look in his eyes and a slight twitch in his mustache.
He knew a woman's body and fertility were her choice, but he wanted Bella to know that he was committed to healthy choices, and not afraid to discuss intimate issues. He also wanted her to know that he was well aware of her sophomoric taste in vitamins. However, to Edward, it was just another thing to cherish about his inamorata.
"Oh, Edward! You jester! Don't think I didn't notice the fruit rollups in your pantry!" Bella coltishly chided.
The pair continued to giggle and gaily combat one another, for they both cherished the playful nature and comfort the other possessed in the bedroom. They'd had such a rocky start and each party was afraid their intimacy would never be anything but awkward.
"Bella? Can I ask you something?"
"Of course, Edward, anything!"
"Well, in my research, I found a few things I think I…you…might like to try. I feel a bit like a deviant for asking but, well…you mean so much to me. I feel like I can be honest and share myself with you, Bella Swan and…"
Bella understood Edward's pause to be a way to gather his wits. He was somewhat embarrassed about the topic he was
about to broach; this she could plainly see.
"Perhaps if I show you…" Edward began again, motioning to the laptop on the dresser. He slid from the bed, in full denuded glory, and scampered to retrieve the computer. While Edward wasn't ashamed of his body, per se, he was by no means an exhibitionist either. Plus, the apartment was a bit chilly. Bella had been impressed with his proportions previously and he didn't want her to see what a little chill in the air could do to a fellow.
He quickly jumped back between the warm sheets, settling in next to Bella. He opened the laptop and entered the address. He knew it by heart, and quickly tapped it out before hitting Enter. Bella watched the screen closely over his shoulder, anxious to find out what had Edward grappling for words and turning shades of raspberry; she didn't have to wait long.
"Oh my!" Bella said, a bit shocked with the depiction in front of her. It was an image of a man's face between a woman's spread legs.
Edward was a giddy schoolboy as he responded. "I know, but that's not even the best one! Look at this." Edward clicked on the word Exotic in the left column.
"Wow, they really make use of all the furniture in a home, don't they?" Bella responded, as Edward scrolled through the various illustrations on the page. There were several positions taking place on the bed, a couch, chair, ottoman and even a swing apparatus.
Just as Bella was about to ask him to open a position entitled: Sitting Bull, her phone rang. She glanced at the caller ID on the bedside table.
Briana Bripete.
The only Bripete that Bella knew was nurse Bripete. But why would she call from her private phone?
Concerned with the oddity of the call, Bella answered. "Hello, Bella Swan speaking."
"Bella, thank goodness I've caught you. It's nurse Bripete, from Dr. Flores' office?"
"Yes, yes. How are you this afternoon?"
"Good. I'm sorry about calling you from my private line, but I'm not in the office today, and we got your blood work back. I wanted to touch base with you regarding the results as soon as possible."
Bella was suddenly very nervous. Scenarios swiftly began flitting through her head as to what the lab had found.
Oh God! It was an STD panel. I've got the CLAP!
Edward could sense Bella's rising panic. "Who is it, my dove?"
"Oh, gosh, Edward! It's the doctor's office," Bella clipped while covering the mouthpiece of her phone. "They have my blood results and its terrible news! I'm infected!" Bella shouted in hysterics.
"Miss Swan? No Miss Swan, no… you are not-" But Bella wasn't responsive.
"Bella!" nurse Bripete shouted into the phone. She wasn't in the habit of yelling at her patients, but Miss Swan was being a bit frantic.
"You do not have an infection! Take a deep breath," nurse Bripete assured.
A few moments passed where the nurse could hear Bella practicing deep breathing exercises.
Well, she is already halfway through the Lamaze course, nurse Bripete thought.
The news was like a piano falling 10 stories. The words tipped slowly from nurse Bripete's mouth, gaining momentum before crashing into Bella's ears.
"Miss Swan. You're pregnant."
O_o
"There's no need to call 9-1-1, sir. Just elevate her feet and get a cool compress. She will wake up in a few moments," nurse Bripete assured Edward. He was a bit peeved at the woman on the other end, because she'd obviously delivered news that had dismayed his precious dove. It had to be something pretty momentous to garner her fainting response. While it wasn't in his nature to be rude, he was certainly terse in his response. He thanked the nurse, and then ended the call.
He was worried about Bella. What on earth did the nurse tell her that caused her to faint?
"Edwar…" Bella whispered, struggling to regain conciseness.
"Bab…can't see. No…"
"Bella, I don't know what you are saying!"
After a few more seconds, Bella had gained enough of a frame of mind to complete a thought.
"The computer, Edward! The baby can't see it…see that! Close it! Oh God, we are already letting the baby watch porn!
Edward shook his head; ready to call nurse Bripete back and tell her Bella was suffering from delusions.
"Bella, what are you talking about? Does your head hurt? Are you injured anywhere? You fainted. Are you okay?"
Bella gasped as Edward finished his inquisition, her hands forming a protective barrier over her stomach.
It was at that moment that Edward put two and two together.
"Bella? Are you…"
O_o
"No, I understand. There's no need to call 9-1-1, Miss Swan. Just elevate his feet and get a cool compress. He will wake up in a few moments," nurse Bripete assured Bella.
"Okay, thanks for your help. Sorry for bothering you again. We've just had some rather…well, shocking news."
"It's no problem, Miss Swan. Please be sure and call into the office first thing Monday morning to set your first appointment, alright?"
Bella thanked nurse Bripete and went to retrieve a cold compress from the freezer. She knew exactly how Edward was feeling. Blind-sided hadn't begun to cover it. As Bella sat stroking Edward's face, she thought briefly about how this had happened. She could have sworn that she had her period only a little over a week ago. I thought you couldn't get pregnant until 14 days after your period! Stupid Luteal cycles!
Not to mention they had used protection. But never the less it had in fact happened, and there was nothing to be done about it now.
As Bella sat on the floor next to a comatose Edward, she had a sudden vision of a baby with her lover's eyes and hair. She couldn't help the small smile that twitched on her lips. While this hadn't been in her five year plan, she also couldn't deny that sometimes fate worked in mysterious ways.
"Femblys…" Edward mumbled, alerting Bella to the fact that he was stirring.
"Did you have a nice nap, sweetheart?" Bella asked.
Edward moaned, wiping his eyes, hoping to clear away the confusion. He looked around briefly, wondering how he'd ended up supine on the floor. Bella brushed his hair from his face, a look of complete adoration etched in her features. As Edward looked into his dove's eyes, he knew the past couple of hours hadn't been a dream. Ready or not, Bella and Edward were going to become parents.
O_o
Now fully clothed, Edward and Bella sat facing each other on the sofa. Their postures were slightly rigid, but given the circumstances, that was not entirely surprising. They had been sitting this way for ten minutes, stealing glances at one another and then quickly looking away.
"So…" Edward finally started, giving a slight head bob.
"So…" Bella answered, returning the gesture.
The exchange quickly evaporated as they sank back into awkward silence for another twenty minutes.
"Bella?"
"Yes, Edward."
"I understand if you are hesitant about birthing, and then raising a child. But you should know I can do this on my own. I don't expect anything from you."
Bella couldn't help the giggle that escaped her. She suddenly thought she was starring in a Lifetime movie. And wait, wasn't the woman supposed to say that to the man?
"Edward, I know this is unexpected. And we have quite a lot to discuss, but know that I will not be handing my child over to you."
Edward immediately shrank into the couch. He was devastated that Bella didn't want his participation in the life of their child. He closed his eyes, brows knitted together while a feeling of tightness overwhelmed his chest; then felt a hand softly caress his fingers.
"Edward, please look at me."
He reluctantly looked up, worry marring his angelic face. Bella hated that he was feeling any kind of negative connotation regarding the blessing of a child.
"Sweetheart, I was hoping we could do this together. A child is a reason to celebrate, and despite the unexpected nature of its inception, it is a great bestowment."
Edward smiled, thinking Bella couldn't have matched his own sentiments any more perfectly.
"Bella, you don't know how happy it makes me to hear you say that. I was so afraid you wouldn't want this with me. I know we have only begun our relationship, but the moment I saw your breasts in my studio, you were the woman I knew was meant to make all my dreams come true."
Bella leapt into Edward arms, hugging him tightly. There was so much ahead of the bumbling pair, but Bella and Edward both knew they would do it together.
"Well, I guess we know what we have to do next."
"Yes, nurse Bripete told me I needed to schedule my first prenatal exam."
"No, I meant that I needed to call the Judge. We'll need to get married right away, Bella."
"Oh, well, I guess I hadn't thought of that. But Edward, you know that my father has a shotgun, right?"
"Yes, well had I done this properly, there would be no shotgun wedding, now would there?"
"No, I suppose not," Bella answered. But something was still nagging in the back of her mind, and she couldn't let it go.
"Edward? How do you think this happened, anyway? We used protection."
Edward was frozen in fear from Bella's quandary. He'd imagined he'd never have to speak of that day again, but it seemed that he was going to have a reminder- for the rest of his life, no less- that he'd been untruthful to Bella.
"Well, Bella…you see…um…here's the thing…"
A/N: Well, folks...what's up with Awkward jumping the gun...a little much perhaps? It seems par for the course (for these two idiots anyway).