Disclaimer: The characters belong to Stephenie Meyer. The plotline is completely mine. Chapter twenty-five
Bpov
While Edward and I were busy tickling Emma, Carlisle came into the make-shift tent and watched us quietly.
"Good afternoon, son. Bella," he said when we had given Emma mercy.
"Good afternoon, dad. How did you and mom fare last night?"
Edward stood to hug his father. "It went perfectly fine. Emma's been an absolute angel. Bella you've done a great job with her."
I smiled. "Thank you, but I promise you she can be a handful at times."
Carlisle waved my comment away and asked us to come with him for lunch. Apparently Esme had pulled out all the stops and was desperate for us to taste what she had whipped up. I hoisted Emma onto my hip and walked after Carlisle and Edward into the kitchen.
The Cullens might own a huge house, but they likes to do things simply when around family. It warmed my heart to know, because that was something I could see myself do if I were in their situation.
"Edward, Bella. So good to see you again," Esme chimed, pulling us both into a warm hug.
"You too, Esme. I heard Emma behaved herself last night."
"That she did. She showed me a side of Carlisle that I have never seen before in my life. Who knew he would be so inventive to build Emma a castle in the middle of our house?"
She kissed Carlisle's cheek lovingly before ushering us all to sit down and dig in. Edward winked at me when conversation dwindled for a moment. I knew he was going to bring up what we had found out last night. My stomach churned. I quietly put down my fork, not wanting to choke on my food when Edward told them.
"Mom, dad. Bella and I discovered something very interesting while we were on our date last night."
Carlisle looked from Edward to me and back, a sceptical look on his face.
"Dad, relax. It's not something embarrassing. We do have a five year old daughter at the table with us."
I laughed nervously. Edward winked again, trying to reassure me it would all be fine, but it did nothing to settle my nerves.
"I took Bella to the library last night after dinner. We spent some time looking through their collection, seeing as Bella is quite the avid reader, and then decided it might be worth our time to find out a little more about our blood-relatives. In case of hereditary diseases and such."
"That does sound like a good idea, son. I take it you two found something interesting?"
"Yes, we did. We discovered that Bella, who's real name is Platt, is in fact Esme's niece."
I sucked in a sharp breath. I wanted to slap him for dropping the bomb just like that, but I couldn't move. I slowly turned my eyes towards Esme, who sat frozen with her mouth agape.
"Esme?" I asked in an attempt to snap her out of it.
"Darling, snap out of it." Carlisle quietly urged, rubbing her shoulders.
Esme's head snapped up and her eyes found mine. She searched my face inch by inch and suddenly broke out in the biggest, goofiest grin I had ever seen.
"You're Andrea's little girl!Oh my god. I never thought I would gt a chance to meet you!"
She was out of her chair and pulling me out of mine in a flash. She hugged me so tight it was hard to breathe, but I refused to spoil her joy by being a baby about it.
"Nice to meet you, aunt Esme," I laughed.
She pulled back and cupped my face in her hands. "If I would've known, Bella. All the times I thought about looking for you, all the times I thought about looking for the girl Edward left behind."
She shot Edward an apologetic look. "I never told you this, but I heard you screaming in your sleep when you first came to live with us. I have always wanted to talk to you about it, but you never let me in far enough to ask and then the dreams stopped and I figured you found a way to deal with it. If only I would've pushed through your walls then."
She shook her head sadly. "Don't blame yourself, Esme," I told her. "When I look at how many roads could have brought us back together and how none of them ever did, I just have to accept that fate meant for us to only meet again when we did. It might not have worked out like this if we would've gotten back together sooner."
"I think Bella is right, Esme. Sometimes we just have to accept that there was nothing that could've changed the events that have passed. Edward and Bella were meant to be together eventually, life just took them the long way round," Carlisle added.
With that said we settled back down in our seats and finished lunch. We didn't really talk much, mostly because we were all still reeling about the revelations. It wasn't until Esme placed dessert on the table that I remembered the other bit of news Edward and I should share with them.
I looked at Edward and delicately pointed to my ring finger. He smirked and motioned for me to go ahead.
"Esme, Carlisle. Edward and I have some other news to share with you."
The both sat up straighter. "Edward asked me to marry him this morning and I said yes."
"Oooohhh! Oh my goodness! Edward! When did you turn into this romantic soul?" Esme gushed, her hands pressed tightly to her chest.
"I always was mom, it just was buried very deep after I lost Bella."
Carlisle came up to hug me. He leaned down to whisper in my ear: "I can see how much he loves you Bella. He'll do anything to make you happy and I am sure that as long as you are together he will be blissful for the rest of his life. Thank you for that."
I felt tears running down my cheeks at the realization how much Carlisle loved Edward as his own son, despite the fact that he had only lived with them for five years. Carlisle released me with a kiss to the top of my head and I was immediately enveloped in Esme's warm embrace.
"Welcome to the family, Bella. We already love you and Emma so much. I couldn't have asked for a better match for Edward."
"Thank you for taking him in when he needed you most," I whispered back.
"Why is everyone hugging and kissing everyone but me?!" Emma suddenly exclaimed.
I quickly pulled her from her high chair and hugged her close to me. "Because we just told grandma and grandpa that mommy and daddy are getting married."
"Oh, right!"
I laughed when she put her head on my shoulder and hummed the wedding march. How on earth she learned that, I would probably never know.
"Are you flying out to Phoenix to tell your parents the news?" Carlisle asked me.
"We haven't really talked about that yet. The moment was right to tell you and I don't want my parents to be the lasts ones to know, but Edward won't be able to leave town until after the competition next Saturday..." I trailed off, looking at Edward.
"I have Friday completely open, so we could fly out as soon as my last rehearsal in Thursday is over and fly back in time for the competition on Saturday afternoon. That way we can tell your parents before Rose and Em get back from their honeymoon and we can tell them and Alice as soon as they get back."
I nodded. "Maybe we should talk to Jasper when we're in Phoenix too."
"That's up to you, love. I don't want you to feel obligated to talk to him. If you feel better telling him over the phone, then we can do just that."
"I'll think it over. It's not Friday, yet."
~*~
Edward and I spent the remainder of the afternoon with Carlisle and Esme, talking about our plans for remodelling and redecorating Edward's apartment, our ideas on what we wanted to do for our wedding and my new job. When it was time for us to leave, Emma was sleeping soundly in my arms. I was pretty worn out myself and looking forward to sinking down into Edward's soft bed.
I wasn't in the car for five minutes when I drifted off to sleep, only to be woken by Edward carrying me up the stairs to his apartment building.
"I can walk," I murmured groggily.
"I like carrying you. Emma's already asleep in my guest room and I'll let you nap a little while longer in my bed. I'll wake you both when it's time for dinner."
I nodded my consent and allowed my eyes to droop again. I didn't even register when Edward put me into bed.
The second time I woke up, Emma was lying in front of me, her face really close to mine, her small fingers playing with my hair. She smiled mischievously as she watched me get my bearings.
"Hi, baby. Did you sleep okay?" I whispered.
"Yes. Daddy is cooking dinner and he's singing," she murmured back.
"Is he? How did you find me?"
"The door was open and I saw you. Is this where we are going to live?"
"Yes, but we need to change some things first. I didn't tell you yet, but Friday you, me and daddy are going to Phoenix to see grandma and grandpa. We are going to tell them that daddy asked me to marry him, but until we told grandma and grandpa you're going to have to keep it a secret. Can you do that?"
She looked very serious. "I'll try, but it's so hard, mommy. I want to tell everybody that my mommy and daddy are getting married."
I laughed quietly as I scooped her up and hugged her close. Suddenly I heard Edward calling out frantically for Emma.
"Edward! She's in here with me." I yelled.
He was in the doorway in a flash, wearing that heart-melting crooked grin.
"Now this is a sight I hope to see a lot from now on," he said, leaning lazily against the doorjamb.
"I could say the same thing." I laughed.
His grin widened as he strode over to the bed and sat down on the edge. He softly stroked Emma's curls, who had now turned to face him.
"Hey, baby," Edward whispered lovingly.
"Hey, daddy. Is dinner ready?"
"Yes, actually it is. Are you girls hungry?"
"I am. Don't know about mommy."
I chuckled. "I am too, so let's get out of bed, shall we?"
Emma nodded and scooted out of the bed. She took Edward's hand and urged him to come with her. I followed them feeling overwhelmed with the love for my family. I seemed to be in a perpetual state of happiness the past couple of days. It was wonderful albeit unusual for me. When I came into the kitchen, my daughter and her father were huddled together, whispering into each other's ear. I cleared my throat, but neither of them acknowledged me.
With a huff I sat myself down onto one of the chairs. Waiting patiently until the two of them were finished with whatever they were discussing, I thought about what it would've been like to have Edward with me during my pregnancy instead of Jasper, Rosalie and Jacob. As that thought ran through my mind I remembered what it was like without him.
September 1st 2001
I woke up nauseated, again. I had been throwing up pretty much every day since I found out I was pregnant. According to the doctor it should only last about another week or so and then I should start feeling a hell of a lot better. I was crossing my fingers he was right about that.
Monday would be my first day at the new school. I would be attending the same school as my cousins Rosalie and Jasper and Charlie told me there would be another cousin there as well. I hadn't met her yet, but I knew her name was Lauren and according to Charlie she was very popular. I had shrugged it off, I didn't care to be popular.
Soon enough I wouldn't be able to hide my baby-bump any further and I would be a social outcast. Meeting Rosalie and Jasper had been proof enough of that. Three weeks ago Renee and Charlie had invited Charlie's sister and her husband over. They had taken their kids with them.
As soon as they had stepped in I had known they heard about my 'situation'. I hated that Charlie and Renee had already dished out that I was pregnant, but there was nothing I could do about it. Aunt Vera and uncle Robert had been friendly enough and so was Jasper, but Rosalie had been as cold as ice from the moment she saw me.
That particular meeting had not warmed me up to the idea of going to the same school as them, but I hardly had a choice in the matter. It's not like I had anywhere else I wanted to go.
I was curious as to whether or not Tyler and Kate were still in my old school, but I was afraid of what might happen if I ever were to face Tanya again. If she ever found out I was pregnant with Edward's child she might become really nasty.
With a deep sigh of resignation I hoisted myself from the bed in order to hang above the toilet. After my now regular morning routine I made my way downstairs. Charlie was already at work and Renee had left me a note saying she was out for the morning, running a few errands.
"Great, more time to wallow in my own misery," I muttered as I pulled out a bowl and box of cereal.
Just as I was about to pour the milk in the bowl, the doorbell rang. I groaned when my stomach objected to the delay in breakfast, but went to open the door. In front of it was a tall, dark skinned boy with shoulder length black hair. He flashed me a dimpled smile that made me feel a little better.
"Hi! I'm Jacob Black, you must be Bella."
"Yeah, I am. Uhm, what are you doing here?"
"Oh, right. Sorry. My dad, Billy is a close friend of Charlie. He asked me to stop by to invite you all over to dinner tonight."
"I'll ask Renee when she gets home. Do you want to come in for a drink or something?"
"No, I'm on my way to work. I'm late enough as it is."
"Oh, right. Well, have a good day at work, then."
"Tell Renee to call my dad about dinner," he said over his shoulder as he walked back to his car.
July 29th 2007
"Bella?" Edward's voice dragged me out of my musings.
"Yeah, sorry I spaced out for a minute."
"It's fine. What were you thinking of?"
"Being pregnant. I'll tell you more about it later tonight when Emma's in bed."
"I'm going to hold you to that. You ready for dinner?"
I nodded as he placed a plate in front of me. Dinner was a quiet affair, but not uncomfortably so. Edward's cooking skills were far better than I had given him credit for and I told him so. He simply laughed at my assessment.
After dinner Emma watched tv with us for about an hour before Edward got her ready for bed. I basked in the idea of having him to share the responsibility with. He came back and sat down beside me with a big grin on his face.
"What?" I asked him.
"Emma gave her approval of the ring I have for you."
"You have a ring?"
I was a little astounded. He had not left my side since he asked me to marry him early this afternoon, so when would he have gotten a ring. I didn't have time to ask him, though, because he was on one knee in front of me with a velvet box sitting in his palm.
"Bella, this afternoon I asked you to marry me in a moment of overwhelming emotions. I ask you again now, with my head, heart and soul all in it. Bella will you be my wife?"
"Of course I will."
I was crying again. It didn't matter that this was the second time he asked me, my heart still hammered in my chest and my eyes still filled with tears.
His radiating smile made him look so adorable, I couldn't resist, I just had to kiss him. His mouth met mine just as eagerly. We kissed for several minutes before Edward remembered that he was still holding on to the ring.
He pulled away and opened the box to reveal a white gold ring with a oval shaped sapphire. It looked like and antique and it was almost like it was made especially for me.
"Edward, it's perfect," I breathed.
"It was my mother's engagement ring. I inherited it when she passed away. I've kept it hidden in one of my favourite books since I was placed into foster care."
He took it out and gently placed it on my finger. It was a perfect fit.
A/N: Next chapter will be another Bella's pov. She'll tell Edward about her pregnancy and the birth of Emma. After that we will dive a bit more into Edward's past.
I hope you all still enjoy the way things are going. There will be more Emma interaction after the chapter on Edward's past and we'll finally find out what Bella's parents and Rosalie and Emmett think of the recent developments. I am aiming to have the next chapter up on the 12th at the latest.
BTW: Please check out my poll with regards to my next vampire endeavour.
Thanks again for reading.
Hugs, Mo