All things Twilight belong to Stephenie Meyer, I just play with her toys.

Many thanks to Midnight Cougar for her beta'ing and support! xo!

Chapter 21 - Thin Ice

Having Bella at my place was great, even with her hormonal swings. I brushed her outbursts off, hoping they were just do to her hormones and getting used to being around each other all the time, and did everything I could just to make her happy, especially after she threatened to leave. I hadn't done anything wrong… except not get enough variety of food from the grocery. Apparently, all I had purchased was either 'rabbit food' or cold cuts, and neither appealed to her. Though I knew there was more, but I wasn't going to argue with the pregnant woman. I wasn't suicidal.

That was the last time I made that mistake. Knowing her penchant for Mexican mixed with Chinese and Italian, I bought everything in the foreign foods aisle at the grocery. The one staple that always had to be around was chips and salsa, so I made sure they were always stocked.

We continued sleeping in my bed together as we had that first week. It was a good thing I had a king sized bed, because her pillows took up half of the bed. I loved being near her, near them. I felt calm in her presence, and calm knowing if something happened in the middle of the night I was right there to help.

We were caught in a weird limbo between friendship and more. It was natural, but still an odd place to be. I wanted to kiss her, and kiss her often, but I didn't know if we were really there yet. We'd shared a few kisses, but they were all in response to some event.

"Ugh, I am such a fat cow right now," she complained one morning as she looked at her profile in a dress in the mirror

"No, you're not!" I argued as I draped a tie around my neck and under my collar.

"No? Then what do I look like to you?" she snapped, turning to look at me, her arms crossing over her chest.

"The most beautiful woman I've even seen," I said without missing a beat and smiling.

She rolled her eyes, her arms unfolding. "Yeah, right."

I moved in front of her, cupping her face in my hand and raising her eyes to mine.

"Bella, to me, there is no woman more beautiful than you, especially right now."

She pouted. "Why do you do that?"

"Do what?"

"Be all sweet."

"I'm only telling you the truth," I said as I walked toward her and leaned down to place a kiss on her forehead.

Bella had other ideas though, and tilted her head up so that my lips met hers. I moaned as she wrapped her arms around my neck and up into my hair. My hands moved to rest on the sides of her stomach.

"You can kiss me, Edward, it's ok."

"Why… why is it ok?" I questioned, stunned by her actions.

"Because I like you, too," she declared. "Why else would I have agreed to move in?"

"So, I can do this then?" I questioned, leaning down and kissing her again.

"Mm-hmm."

My hands pressed slightly into her stomach to feel my little girl, but what I felt instead was the muscle hardening. Bella's happy face turned to pain and she leaned over a little, groaning as her hand twisted into my shirt.

"Are you ok? Is it time? Do we need to go to the hospital?"

"No, it's fine. They've been going on for a few days now, the doctor said it's perfectly normal," she stated, rubbing her stomach as she straightened back out. "See, much better."

"You'll call me… "

"Sssh," she soothed, her fingers trying to smooth the lines on my forehead. "I'll call you the moment anything interesting happens."

I pursed my lips.

"She'll be here soon enough, when she wants to."

After another morning kiss I headed out the door and to the office and Bella did the same. She was only ten days away from her due date and it was going to be her last day at work before going on maternity leave.

I was going insane, waiting impatiently for my daughter to arrive.