DC: I don't own it

Thank you to my reviewers!

So in the original plan for this story Alice was supposed to die when she was blinded. In the original version of the chapter Lord Cullen clawed her throat out and walked off. But I lost my nerve (which happens) and then it was going to be Jasper who killed himself I think it was because the story wasn't ready to let them go yet. It actually worked out because this provided a perfect link to something that will happen a bit later.

Also just to clear up incase there was confusion Edward didn't kill his father, Lord Cullen was much more powerful than Vincent was so the venom just paralyzed him (much like he had done to Jasper), which is why they had to make a hasty escape.

Chapter 21,

It was raining when Edward pulled up to a small cabin. He grabbed Bella and rushed them inside.

"Where are we?" Bella asked, shivering.

"Carlisle's place," Edward said flipping on a light. "It used to belong to our father but he gave it up after mom died. Carlisle wanted it so he got it."

"It's nice," Bella said looking around the living room. It was a cute little place. Hard wood floors and a welcoming hearth across from them. There was a big fluffy pale blue rug across the floor that Bella could practically see a little one rolling around on. There was a sofa that looked perfect for an afternoon nap and an end table with a lamp on it. There were wooden stairs leading up to some bedrooms and a hall leading off to the kitchen.

"I stopped off to get some things while you were asleep. Some food will be delivered tomorrow as well as some blood. I got some O for you and the baby."

"Thank you," Bella said.

"Don't mention it, I mean I have to provide don't I?"

Bella reached up and kissed him. "I mean for everything. For standing up to your father for me."

"You don't really understand just how much I love you yet do you?" he asked. "Bells the idea of losing you causes me pain. And now that I know you have my baby in you...the idea of him hurting you...either of you...made me crazy."

"Are we going to be okay? I don't know how to be a mom."

"I hope so."

Bella giggled and he swept her into his arms and took her into the kitchen. He dashed back to the car and came back with several bags. Apparently he had been quite the shopper. He pulled out two bottles of blood and heated them up. He gave one to her and she took it.

"Careful it's hot," he said.

"I'm fine."

"To a happy life and a beautiful baby."

"To a happy life and a beautiful baby," Bella agreed tapping her bottle against his before they took a drink. She could tell that Edward actually liked sharing a meal with her this way. She leaned over and kissed him. When they finished drinking he picked her up and carried her upstairs into the bedroom.

"Tomorrow we'll go and get stuff for the baby. A crib and some toys. A few clothes to start off with."

"You're completely in parent mode aren't you?" Bella giggled.

"Of course!" Edward laughed as he pulled the sheets back and covered them. "I'll be everything to this little guy that my father never was to me."

Bella giggled and snuggled into him. Edward rubbed her belly lightly with one hand and kissed her forehead. "Do you have any ideas for names?" Bella asked.

"Something that would be meaningful," Edward said.

"If it's a girl I want to name her Alice," Bella said.

"She'd like that. Or she'd smack you for lack of originality." Bella laughed and shoved him playfully. Edward kissed her cheek and smiled. "Alice is a beautiful name. Can we name her middle name after my mother?"

"Alice Caroline Cullen," Bella tried. "It sounds sweet."

Edward smiled and they kissed. "Perfect."

"She'd be proud of you."

"My mother?"

"I've heard what your father was like before she died. I think she would be proud of you for standing up to him."

"I'd like to think so," Edward sighed, "I wish I knew her. I mean I grew up hearing about this woman who was amazing and loving. I see her through the memories around me."

"She would have loved you. I'm sure of it."

"Me too," Edward agreed. "Enough talk for tonight love, you're tired."

"No I'm not," Bella said, failing to hide a yawn. Edward laughed and snuggled under the covers with her. They laid on their sides and looked at each other. "Are you sure we'll be safe here?"

"I'm sure," Edward said, "he doesn't care enough to come and find me. It would be a first."

"But what if he does?"

Edward kissed her forehead. "Don't worry yourself with that. If he does come I will be here to defend you. I have a trust fund that became active when I turned eighteen and that should hold us for a while."

"How much?" Bella asked.

"Ten million," Edward answered with a casual shrug. "I wasn't lying when I said my family was among the wealthiest."

"I guess I should just believe things you tell me," Bella sighed lightly.

"Aw you mean you don't? Well fine then," Edward huffed turning his back to her. Bella knew he was smiling. She rolled over and shook his shoulder.

"Oh come on you know I wasn't serious," she pouted.

"Nope, nope, nope, my girlfriend doesn't believe me. I'm going to cry now."

"Alright fine be a baby," Bella sighed turning her back to him. She knew one of them had more willpower than the other...she just didn't know which one. She laid there, trying to out last her stubborn vampire when sleep began to settle. She closed her eyes and the baby fluttered a little. She was just about to fall into a deep slumber when she felt a cool arm around her middle. She smiled and laughed softly. "I win."

"Always," Edward murmured. He was certainly enjoying his new freedom with her. He pulled her close and slept with one hand covering their baby.

---

When Bella woke up the next morning she was alone. She stretched and looked over at the clock. It was flashing 12:00 which really didn't help her much. She got up and was going to leave when she got distracted by the blue curtains that had been pulled back. Behind them was a sliding glass door to a small balcony that looked over a breathtaking lake. Bella slid the door open and walked out. The air was chilly and smelled like rain. She leaned against the rail and smiled. The forest around them was massive and a deep healthy green. The lake sparkled in the sunlight.

"Carlisle would tell me how mom used to love being here," Edward said, making her jump. He got up from the chair he was sitting in and leaned on the rail beside her. "He said she loved how open and bright it was."

"It's lovely," Bella murmured. "It reminds me of where I grew up."

"Tell me about it," he said.

"Not much to tell that you haven't heard. It was a hole. Literally. It was about the size of the kitchen here. My father built most of it. I think someone was using it before and he just made it bigger to accommodate a family. We had Alice with us then. For a while we lived above ground but that was a very short time. I was only a few years old I guess. Sometimes I wonder why..." Bella hesitated, trying to find a way to voice something she never had the courage to ask her mother, "...I wonder why they kept me."

"What do you mean?" Edward asked.

"I mean when Alice and I were little mom got pregnant again. She didn't know that we snuck out after her and dad but they went into the woods to get rid of the baby. A part of me has always wondered why they kept me. I understand why they didn't keep the other baby. I mean two children already...but I can't imagine that I was planned."

"Neither was I if you can believe it," Edward said putting his arms around her for comfort. Bella smiled and leaned against him. "Mom wasn't supposed to have children again but she did. It's strange, missing someone you never really knew. But then again I think I did know her. I was in her for crying out loud. I only have one memory before I was born and that was being born."

"You vampires and your memories," Bella teased.

"Well I remember that humans need breakfast," he said lifting her up, "and that you haven't eaten yet."

"Have you?" she asked.

"No, but I'm not carrying anything now am I?"

Bella giggled and kissed his cheek. It all felt like a fairy tale. Like they were two characters in a cottage in the woods. Edward was so much brighter out here. Without the fear of his father popping in at any moment and discovering them, he was very happy. Bella wasn't used to being alone with him like this. All of her life she lived with at least three other people if not more. So now it was just the two of them.

After breakfast they went into the living room to watch some television and relax a bit. Bella laid on the sofa which was as comfortable as it looked and Edward sat on the floor beside her. Occasionally he would reach back and hold her hand or kiss it. When the movie started to turn a little dull for both of them he entertained himself by talking to the baby.

"Can he hear you?" Bella asked.

"Oh I'm sure," Edward murmured in the same soft voice. "But right now he can't understand me, so I could say anything in the world as long as it was in a soft comforting tone. Isn't that right baby?"

Edward brushed his hand over her stomach and Bella felt the flutter again. "How fast do babies develop."

"Carlisle told me that human babies are really slow and take nine months, vampire babies develop quickly and take about four to five. I can't say how fast he'll go though. Carlisle is coming this evening and he'll take an ultrasound and project the date of birth. I'm also going to ask him how to do a few things just incase."

"Like what?" Bella asked, rubbing her belly as well.

"Well delivering a baby for starters. The nearest hospital is an hour away and Carlisle is even further. Also to be safe I want to know how to do an emergency c-section if I need to. I know the theory behind it but theory can only take you so far."

"Let's hope it doesn't come to that," Bella said. Edward nodded in agreement.

"You be good in there, don't hurt your mommy."

---

They had just made it back from shopping when Carlisle arrived. He waved to them and Bella had never been happier to see the gentle doctor. She was equally happy when she saw that Esme was with him.

"Well there they are, the two runaways," Carlisle laughed. He hugged his brother and Bella hugged Esme. "How are you two?"

"So far so good," Edward said picking up the box with the crib in it. "Getting ready for the baby."

"Good, good, probably a year or so here and everything will have blown over enough for you to come back home."

"We can only hope," Edward sighed. "How long did it take for him to wake up?"

"An hour. Which I have to congratulate you on little brother. I don't think the old bastard has ever spent a full hour in paralysis since his father was alive. But he is pissed."

"Hence the hasty departure. Thank you so much for the help."

"No problem," Carlisle said grabbing several bags from the car he drove. "I brought your clothes and I picked up some for Bella. The basement has a lot of clothes from when we were little. He had them shipped out here when we all grew up."

"Where'd you get the wheels?" Edward asked as he helped Carlisle unload the equipment.

"Emmett," Carlisle said with a shrug, "after Rosalie got pregnant again she wanted a bigger car. So he got a hummer. She slapped him."

Edward barked a laugh and Carlisle carried the machines inside.

"I was in such a rush to give you what you needed and get you out that I left my hospital I.D in my wallet. So I'll be needing that."

"Yeah I saw that," Edward laughed, "it's on the end table there. Thanks again, really."

"No problem, I brought everything you'll need. Father tried but since you're a legal adult he couldn't freeze your accounts. That pissed him off even more."

"Do you think he'll come after us?" Edward asked, setting the machine he carried down in the living room.

"I'd say no, he's thundering around the house cursing your name and hopping you die."

"Lovely."

"Bella if you'll give me a moment to set everything up I'll give you an ultrasound and we'll be able to see what we're dealing with."

"Alright, can I get you anything?"

"No, I'm fine, but why don't you and Esme have some tea."

"Come on dear, let's let the boys chat," Esme said putting her arm around Bella. They walked into the kitchen and Esme put on a pot of tea. Bella had noticed that everything was set up just as it had been back home. She then realized that she had thought of the Cullen mansion as home.

"I hope he isn't taking his anger out on you or Carlisle."

"Lord Cullen is really a spoiled brat just like Edward. The only difference is Edward has a heart left. You'd be surprised how similar they are. I think they'd be surprised. Of all his son's, Edward is the closest to his father or at least who he used to be. Carlisle is more like his mother. She was sweet and compassionate."

"So who is going to take over the family and all that now that Jasper is gone?" Bella asked pouring a cup of blood when she felt the familiar weakness set in.

"Well, the only one who can," Esme said with a shrug. "Now that Rosalie has taken Emmett's name whatever son she has will inherit the McCarty line. After that accident...poor dear. But Carlisle will inherit everything that his siblings don't. Each of the siblings will get a fourth of the estate so added to that Carlisle will take control of the mansion the businesses and most importantly he'll become Lord Cullen and take the seat in the government."

"Is that what Carlisle wants?" Bella asked.

"Of course," Esme said, "knowing what his father isn't afraid to do if he disagrees that's enough motivation."

"Anna?"

"It's looking like that," Esme said sadly, "he's a horrible man that Lord Cullen. He's using blackmail to get what he wants. But it works. Carlisle will do anything to keep his daughter safe even if it means giving up what he loves doing."

"Maybe Edward could instead."

"If Lord Cullen hasn't officially disowned his son yet it's only a matter of time," Esme said sadly, "it breaks my heart because Edward would make a great Lord. He has his father's firm hand but his mother's heart. He's always been good at politics and even though he couldn't match Jasper in military expertise he's not stupid. If his father would only just open his eyes and see his son but he's so blinded by a tragic accident."

"Do you think I'll survive this baby?" Bella asked. Esme shrugged. She honestly had no idea.

---

"Will Bella survive through the pregnancy?" Edward asked as they set up. His voice was so quiet the girls in the other room had no idea.

"It's hard to say," Carlisle said, "vampire birth is different than human birth. The baby is much stronger for starters. I lost count of how many times you and I kicked mom in the ribs and hurt her. But she has a vampire's placenta," which means it's stronger and able to withstand the strength of the baby. Bella will be in pain for the next months, especially when the baby grows but the placenta will help her. You could feel it under her skin I'm sure."

"Yes."

"This won't be fun for her I'm sure," Carlisle said nodding to the machine. "Might burn a little."

"She'll be fine," Edward assured him, "she's strong like that. I just hope that she's strong enough to handle this. I mean they told mom that she wasn't strong enough to have me and look what happened."

"We can only hope for the best," Carlisle said, "I wish I could stay and keep an eye on her but I can't. I want you to call me though. Every day you have to call me and tell me what is going on. You are to take pictures as well, I packed you a camera, and you are to e-mail them to me daily so I can measure the growth. Then I can give you a prediction of a due date and hopefully I can be here to help. I'd like to avoid a vaginal birth if possible. There, we're ready." Carlisle called to them in a normal tone.

They came out and Carlisle told Bella where to lay down and pulled her shirt up to reveal the swelling belly that had grown since the night before. "You have some mild bruising down here, is the baby kicking?"

"Sometimes. Is it too early for that though?"

"I'll see in a moment," Carlisle said. "Now this will burn. It's not meant for human skin but it will leave no lasting damage. Let me know if it's too much okay."

Bella nodded and Edward held her hand. Carlisle spread some gel over her stomach and Bella felt a cool tingling sensation. "That tickles!"

"It'll numb your skin a little. Now here we go," Carlisle turned the machine on and pressed the camera against her skin. He was right, there was some burning. It felt like she was out on a warm day. She looked on the screen as Carlisle moved it around. "There he is, he's hiding from me."

"Wow," Edward breathed beside her. He squeezed her hand and Bella smiled.

"Looking at it, I'd say you're about a month and a half along. There are his feet, oh..."

"Ow!"

"Sorry about that, he's excited. Wait, she's excited."

"She? You're sure?"

"If she's developing like a normal baby there should be a little penis right about there," Carlisle said, "looks like you're going to have a girl."

"Oh my god I'm going to have a girl! Ow!"

"She's definitely excited," Edward said. He put his hand gently on Bella's side.

"There's her head, and if I turn the speakers on..."

Bella heard what sounded like the purr of a humming bird's wings. "Her heart," she whispered, "it's racing."

"We'll keep an eye on that," Carlisle said, "but I figure it's because she's part human. I'll burn this onto a DVD for you two."

"I'm going to watch this so many times," Edward said with a laugh, his eyes fixed on the screen. "I can't believe it."

"She's so real," Bella whispered touching her stomach. She saw a shift in the baby. Her head turned, almost into Bella's hand.

"She's responding just like a vampire baby would. She already knows your voices. Yours especially Bella, but she's been hearing it every moment she's been alive."

Carlisle turned the machine off to save Bella's skin and the parents seemed a bit down. It seemed they loved watching their baby. Carlisle smiled at them and put a blank DVD into the connected computer.

---

It was hard for Edward to imagine that anything could go wrong after seeing his baby on the monitor. But a week had passed and now Bella was obviously pregnant and in pain. He rubbed soothing circles on her stomach to calm the baby. It wasn't her fault that she was hurting her mother, after all she didn't know any better.

Another month passed and Bella was still in pain. Carlisle projected the due date to be in a month and a half. He had also trained Edward in what to do incase of an emergency. The parents-to-be were extremely nervous but happy. Every night they curled up together and watched a movie or a sitcom. Bella found she was really enjoying one about a vampire family and their crazy neighbors.

They stayed up one night watching a vampire comedian. Edward laughed a little more often, having understood more of the references, but Bella was enjoying herself. She had a few questions when the vampire mentioned his clueless wife when they were in an accident.

"And there I was my arm almost cut in half, blood everywhere and she's complaining about the carpet!"

Edward laughed and that. "I didn't know vampires could bleed," Bella said.

"Oh yeah, we just don't have blood like you do. We also don't do it often."

"Well your skin is so tough."

"Exactly. But we class our blood differently than humans do. For instance I have W-Z blood. The W stands for class and Z is my blood type. It's like O for humans, you know, the most adaptable."

"What does your blood look like?"

"It's not as dark as yours, but it's like a pale red."

"Haha you have pink blood."

"Light red! And we don't need as much of it. My blood has more venom in it than a vampire of a normal class. That makes us stronger. It's a strange system that Carlisle could explain much better."

"So what kind of blood do you think our baby will have?" Bella asked, rubbing her stomach once.

"Probably more of mine. Vampire blood is a little more on the dominant side."

"Everything about you people is more on the dominant side," Bella sighed.

"Such is life," Edward shrugged. He hugged her close. "But there is nothing submissive about you."

Bella smiled and kissed him. "Well I have to keep you on your...ow!"

Edward heard a snap and jumped up. Bella cried out and he saw a foot move under her skin.

"Calm down baby, calm down," Edward murmured rubbing Bella's stomach. "She was just startled."

"I think something broke," Bella groaned with tears rolling down her cheeks. She bit back the string of profanities she really wanted to let out. Edward carried her up for an x-ray (thanks to Carlisle's paranoia they had a machine set up) and checked her out.

"Cracked a rib," Edward said, "Carlisle said it was bound to happen. She doesn't know her own strength yet."

He went across the room and grabbed some pills from the cabinet. Bella took them from him and swallowed them.

"Pain killers," he said. "You'll need them."

"How much longer until she's here?" Bella asked.

"A month or so by Carlisle's guess," Edward said rubbing her shoulders. "There isn't much I can do about your rib though so I'll call Carlisle and find out. Those should make you a little sleepy."

"That's fine," Bella sighed. "I'm tired anyway."

"Alright, do you want to take a bath before bed?" he asked, feeling bad about her being hurt and not really being able to do anything.

"Take one with me?" she asked.

Who was he to deny her? He carried her into their room where a large bathroom connected off to the side. He undressed them both and looked at his pregnant girlfriend. She was breathtaking to him. He gazed over her swelling breasts and to the large round belly that was referred lovingly to as their baby. There were faint bruises on her stomach but so far nothing too damaging. He knew the worst was yet to come though. The last month was approaching and their baby was going to be stronger and bigger.

Edward drew a hot bath for them and was testing the temperature. Bella watched him, always marveling at the perfect cut of his body. She watched the muscles ripple in his arms as he worked. She watched as he bent over, showing her more of his delightful backside. She absolutely loved it when he bent over naked. He was perfect and he was hers. Edward reached for her hand and helped her into the tub. He got in and sat behind her, letting her lean back against him.

Edward was always a good bathing partner, especially when things got heated. But she was too pregnant for that. He dipped a large glass jar into the water and poured it over her head. He did it a couple times, knowing how much she loved it. He squeezed some of the shampoo into his palm and rubbed it into her hair. Bella could hardly suppress the moan she felt bubble in her throat as his fingers moved in slow circles along her scalp, massaging it and scratching it lightly with his nails. He combed his fingers through her hair a few times and then washed his hands off before grabbing the jar again. He repeated the same procedure with conditioner and Bella felt like she was in heaven.

"If you were a kitten you'd be purring," he murmured.

"Your hands are amazing," she sighed. She tilted her head back as he washed the conditioner from her hair and combed his fingers through to get rid of any tangles. Then came his favorite part. He grabbed a bottle of body wash (especially for humans) and rubbed her shoulders and arms. He had her sit up strait and he rubbed her back, focusing most of his attention on her lower sides where the weight of the baby was starting to cause aches.

"Warm enough my dear?" he asked. Bella nodded. Edward washed her belly, rubbing soothing circles his hands dipped under the water to get most of her but like with her back he wasn't interested in cleaning her off.

"Mmm I can tell when you're planning something," Bella sighed with a smile.

"What would I be planning?" Edward asked innocently, his hand rubbing her thigh.

"What indeed," she whispered leaning back to kiss him. Edward smiled against her lips. His fingers slipped between her legs and brushed against her opening. Bella moaned softly and he brushed against her clit.

"Oh look what happened by accident."

Bella rolled her eyes but didn't stop him. She was thinking of a way she could get him back when his fingers hit the right spot and she gasped, arching her back and into his hand. The battle for control was short lived if it had even managed to start at all. Edward's fingers moved at a speed she couldn't achieve herself, rubbing her clit and pumping in and out of her. His free hand came up and cupped her breast.

"Do you like this?" he purred in her ear.

"Oh yes," she moaned. She bit her lip as he rolled her nipple lightly between his thumb and finger. "Edward...oh..."

"If I could I would be inside of you, doing what my fingers are doing now."

Her mind was static. His fingers moved faster. She gripped the side of the tub.

"My beautiful Bella," he whispered, "you know how I love it when you cum in my hand."

"Y-yes," she moaned. She dropped her head back against his shoulder and he kissed her neck. He took his hand from her breast and tangled his fingers in hers. He moved his fingers faster against her clit. Her body trembled and she released. Edward felt the water get a little warmer and he smiled.

"How was that baby?" he asked.

"Amazing," she sighed, falling limp against him. The baby was squirming inside of her. She didn't seem to enjoy that nearly as much as her mother did. "She...ow...is giddy tonight."

"Don't worry you'll get attention too, just a much different kind. And remember if a boy ever touches you there he'll burst into flames."

"Oh lord," Bella sighed.

"What? She's going to look like you and she is going to be gorgeous. Boys are going to be all over her and I know how they get. Believe me."

"If I recall you were quite the player Mr. Cullen."

"Just keeping busy until I could meet you. Are you tired?"

"Very," Bella sighed. Edward laughed and helped her out. He dried her off and dressed them both for a nice comfortable rest. He listened to her sleep and knew that this was everything he wanted. The woman who, for all intensive purposes, was his wife and their unborn baby. He could imagine thirty some years ago, his father laying in the very same bed with his wife, watching her sleep, wondering what their newborn would be like.

The fear that Bella wouldn't survive was back again. She was so fragile. There was so much that could kill her that wouldn't even phase him. What if she didn't survive the birth? Was there even a way he could prevent that should it start to happen? What if he had to choose? If he could only save one...they were both so precious so him. He hadn't even met his daughter and already he was willing to die for her, just to keep her safe.

But that wasn't going to happen. He told himself that as Bella stirred slightly in her sleep but didn't wake. She was going to be fine. She was going to give him a beautiful baby girl and they were going to be a perfect family.

TBC

Woot update again! I have Legal Assassin from Repo! playing in my head. I don't know why. I loves that song though :)