Author's Note: Thanks again to moosals for pre-reading. Stephenie Meyer owns all characters.

This is the equivalent of Bella's chapter 30 (the final BPOV chapter). We've skipped over 28 and 29 as I mentioned in my last note.

Summary of Chapter 28 and 29: Bella feels the baby move for the first time and tells Charlie that she and Edward are together. Edward gets the line cook job at Bella Italia and accompanies Bella and Alice to Babies 'R' Us to shop for baby things. He also causes a bit of trouble when Bella is on the phone with her dad. ;)

Saturday, January 12, 2013

"Edward." A whisper cuts through the fog that is my exhausted brain, and then I feel someone shaking my shoulder. "Time to get up."

"I don't wanna get up," I mumble.

"I made you pancakes."

I blink one eye open to see my beautiful Bella smiling at me. My dick immediately recalls the last time we had pancakes. "Can I have you covered in syrup again?"

"Maybe," she replies with a wink. "I'll be back with breakfast in a few minutes."

When Bella disappears, I realize I'm hugging her fucking pillow again. I stretch my limbs then slowly sit up. I walk unsteadily to the bathroom for a badly needed leak and am starting to make my way to the kitchen when I remember that Bella said she'd be back.

I crawl back into our bed and prop the pillows up against the headboard. If I lie down, I'll probably fall asleep again. I've been working as a line cook at Bella Italia for five days now and I'm fucking exhausted. I forgot how much work working actually is.

Bella walks into the bedroom carrying a tray with plates of pancakes for us, setting it down across my legs.

"Thank you," I tell her, leaning over for a quick kiss. She climbs onto the bed, sitting cross-legged.

"I know your pancakes are better than mine, but I figured you'll be on your feet all afternoon cooking for the party," she explains.

Fuck. My parents' party. After Emmett's team won their playoff game last week, they decided to have another game viewing party for all their friends. I'll be cooking for everyone just as I did last week, and that's all fine and dandy; I don't mind that at all.

No, I'm about to shit a brick because Police Chief Charlie Swan — Bella's father who hates my guts — will be attending today's party.

I know Bella thinks I wasn't paying any attention to their conversation when she told her dad that we're together, but I was. I heard all of Bella's arguments, so I know her dad thinks I'm not good enough for his daughter.

And he's right — I'm not. But I'm going to try to be.

The first step was getting a job instead of just mooching off of Bella or my parents. I'm also doing everything I can to be a supportive father-to-be. I went into Hell On Earth, aka Babies 'R' Us, to spend hours shopping for baby things with Bella and Alice. Now that I've started working, I'm not home to cook dinner for Bella every night, but I've been cooking healthy meals for her in advance that she can just warm up. I'm trying to take care of my pregnant girlfriend.

But somehow, I don't think any of that will make any damn bit of difference to Chief Swan. I'll probably always be an ex-con in his eyes. On some level I really don't care if he likes me, unless he tries to influence Bella to leave me. Then we'll have a problem.

"Are you ok?" Bella asks, snapping me out of my thoughts. I shrug in response. "Edward?"

"I'm nervous about meeting your dad today," I admit. "I know he's going to hate me."

"He doesn't hate you, Edward," she lies.

"I bet he doesn't like me though."

"He looked at your case file to see if there was anything he could do to get you free," she points out.

"Yeah, for you. He didn't do that for me."

"It'll be fine," she tries to assure me, squeezing my hand. "He'll probably just warn you not to hurt me, the same as he'd do for any other guy I dated."

"Are we dating?" I ask with a grin.

"You've taken me on one date," she laughs.

"The day in Olympia? Yeah, I guess that counts. But now we're living in sin, and dads don't like that very much," I reply, rolling my eyes.

"Dad doesn't exactly know we're living together, but no, I'm sure he would prefer to think that I got pregnant via immaculate conception." See, that right there is why I know she's lying when she says he doesn't hate me — even Bella has been too scared to tell her dad that we're living together.

"Are you finished?" I ask, pointing toward her empty plate. When she nods, I pick up the tray, setting it down on the floor next to the bed. I then turn to her and pounce, leaning her back onto the bed and climbing over her. "How about we practice for our next child?"

"Who says I'll want another baby?" she replies with a grin. "I was an only child."

"We can still practice, right?" I begin sucking on her neck without waiting for an answer.

"Practice makes perfect," she mumbles, pulling me by the hair until I bring my mouth to hers.

Yum, Bella tastes like maple syrup, which has me immediately hard as I remember licking the syrup off of her that day we spent in bed. When I need to breathe, I finally leave her mouth to kiss and suck along her jaw, her neck, her collarbone…

"Your beard is scratchy," she complains. "And don't you dare give me a hickey a few hours before we're seeing my dad."

"Oh fuck." I quickly lift my face from her skin. "He might see the beard burn, too."

"He's not going to hurt you, Edward," Bella laughs. I'm not so sure about that.

I reach down to the hem of her pajama top, tugging it up over her head. My hands immediately go to her newly bountiful boobs, kneading them lightly.

"I thought you said once that you weren't a boob man."

"I'm not, really," I chuckle. "But all guys are to some extent." And hers are fucking spectacular. I take her left nipple in my mouth, suckling gently. I fucking love it when Bella tangles her hands in my hair, scratching my scalp, so I can't resist rubbing my hard-on against her leg.

I don't think I'll ever tire of her tits but eventually my dick wants in on the action. I tug her pajama pants off, then have to kiss her again. I wrap my arms around her, rolling us over until she's on top.

Bella gives me a questioning look. "You're not really supposed to lie on your back anymore, right?"

"Um, soon I guess, yeah," she replies as she sits up, straddling me. She stares into my eyes as she lowers herself over me, and God she feels so fucking good bare. I don't know if I'll ever get used to the feeling. She reaches for my shoulders to brace herself but I grab her hands with mine, holding them tightly as I smile to encourage her.

Slowly, she starts to move, rolling her hips, still maintaining eye contact. I begin lifting my hips to meet her downward movement and we quickly fall into a rhythm.

"So good, baby," I moan. I know she's still uncomfortable with being on top, but she's getting there.

Bella leans down to kiss me, lifting my hands up above my head. "Mmmm," she moans as we kiss. "I need more," she whispers.

"As you wish," I growl.

She yelps as I roll us over once again, pistoning my hips harder and faster until she's screaming my name, squeezing me so fucking tightly.

"Fuck, fuck!" I yell as I quickly follow her over the edge. I pull out and roll us onto our sides, wrapping my arms around her and burying my face in her neck. Bella scratches her nails through my hair as our breathing slows and I feel like fucking purring.

"Can we stay in bed until we need to leave?" I ask sleepily.

She gently lifts my face to hers, kissing me way too chastely. "Are you still going to want me like this when I get fat in a few months?"

"You won't be fat," I scoff. "It'll be my baby in there, and yes, I'll still want you."

"Promise? I won't blame you if you don't."

"Bella," I say sharply. "You'll be even more beautiful when you're hugely pregnant with my child."

"Sex might get kind of awkward then," she notes.

I roll my eyes, shaking my head at how little faith she has in me. "Then I'll get creative, like the doctor said. I can start now if you want…"

By mid-afternoon, I'm cooking in my parents' kitchen while Bella sits at the granite island watching me. I may be showing off, just a little.

As a tribute to my new job, I'm going with a bit of an Italian theme this time, making appetizers of bruschetta and pull-apart cheesy garlic bread. My chili was so popular last week that I'm making it for a second time, along with lasagna and a variety of flatbread pizzas.

The guests start arriving about 15 minutes before kickoff, but Bella's dad isn't here yet. Shortly before game time, Mom and Bella help me carry the plates of appetizers to the family room and then I take the same recliner from last week. I pull Bella onto my lap and in no time my hand is underneath her sweater, as I can't stop touching her skin that's so fucking soft from those lotions she's always using.

"Cut it out," she scolds me. "My dad is going to be walking through that door any minute." Fuck. I grin sheepishly as I pull my hand out, afraid I'll lose my fingers if he catches me with my hands all over her.

The Packers get off to an early lead after an interception return for a touchdown. Just as we all calm down from celebrating, Mom calls out Bella's name. I look up and see her standing in the doorway with the guy I recognize from Bella's wedding photos. I really hope he didn't bring his gun.

His eyes narrow as he takes in his daughter's position on my lap. "Um, hi, Dad," she calls. "Um, this is Edward." Dad nods, acknowledging that he heard her, before glaring at me as Mom shows him to an open chair that's been brought in from the dining room.

"Fuck, he hates me," I whisper in her ear. "Did you see the way he glared at me?"

"Imagine what he would've done if you'd still been trying to molest me," she retorts. I scowl and she leans over to kiss me chastely. "It's gonna be fine."

As the game progresses, her dad keeps throwing glances our way. I hold Bella tightly in my arms like some sort of shield. He won't hurt me if Bella's in the way, right?

With two and a half minutes remaining in the first half, Emmett catches a long pass for a touchdown to tie the game 21-21. The crowd goes wild, and Mom and Dad beam with pride for their son. One day I want them to be just as proud of me.

"I need to set up dinner," I whisper, asking Bella to let me up from the chair. She gets up to join me, helping me in the kitchen by putting the pre-made pizzas into the oven. When the food is ready, she carries it into the dining room for the other guests.

"Dad just got some food," Bella says quietly as I work away in the kitchen. "I'm sure you're going to impress him." I hope so; if he hates my cooking, he'll never approve of me for his daughter. Bella kisses me before leaving to fix her own plate of food.

When all of the food is done and set out in the dining room, I can finally leave the kitchen to fix my own plate. As I carry it back into the living room, I pass by Bella and her father and can't help overhearing their conversation.

"Now that you're back in Seattle, were you planning on going to the cemetery?" her dad asks.

She nods. "Jasper said he'd take me Tuesday afternoon. I need to say goodbye."

I'm fucking awful with dates but I think back to when Bella first told me about Jake and I realize that Tuesday is the third anniversary of his death. As I take my seat in the recliner, I wonder why she's asked Jasper to take her to the cemetery. Why wouldn't she ask me, her boyfriend?

"Everybody loves your cooking again," Bella says as she comes to sit with me.

"Even your dad?"

"He cleaned his plate."

I smile and she wraps her arms around me, leaning her head on my chest while I eat. I try to just enjoy the snuggling and not get upset about the fact that she doesn't seem to want my support. We'll definitely have to talk about this later.

After San Francisco takes a 38-24 lead early in the fourth quarter, the writing is on the wall. A handful of guests start to leave as the mood sobers. I head out to the kitchen to start cleaning things up.

Hearing the last of the guests leaving, I know I'm on borrowed time. I'm not going to get out of this without officially meeting Bella's father. Fuck.

Mom comes to help me out after saying goodbye to everyone. "He's not an ogre, Edward," she says quietly, no doubt noticing my nervousness. "You'll survive."

"But with my balls intact?" Mom shudders — guess she doesn't like to hear about my balls.

When Bella steps into the kitchen and looks at me expectantly, I know my time is up. "Come on, let's do this," she says, pulling me by the hand. Mommy! I grip her hand tightly as the two of us return to the family room. Her father stands there, arms crossed, moustache twitching. Fuck, is it too late to run away?

"Dad, this is Edward Cullen. Edward, this is my dad, Chief Charles Swan."

Chief Swan holds his hand out and I reluctantly let go of Bella's hand to shake it. "It's nice to meet you, Sir."

"Edward," he nods. "Congratulations on your release from prison. As a cop, I really hate to see fellow cops get the wrong man."

"It was definitely a relief; I was afraid the day would never come. And, um, thank you for any part you played in it. I'm so happy to be out and back with Bella," I add, putting my arm around her.

He looks over at us, watching the movement of my arm. Fuck, maybe that wasn't my brightest idea. "I didn't realize before — you're really starting to show now, Bells," he says.

"Um, yeah," she replies, turning a delicious shade of pink. "I know women usually say they get bigger faster with a second pregnancy, but I wasn't sure if that was going to apply to me."

"You look beautiful, baby," I tell her quietly, pulling her closer.

"She does," her dad agrees. "I can't remember the last time I saw my daughter this happy. I'm going to assume you had something to do with that."

"I hope so," I answer. "Bella means a lot to me, Chief Swan. I know what she risked for me, and I'll never forget that. If she'd gotten arrested because of me, I…" I trail off, shaking my head. I don't even want to think about that.

"That whole situation could've turned out a lot worse."

"I know," I reply guiltily.

"I think it's time you and I had a man-to-man chat," Chief Swan suggests. "Is there somewhere we can talk in private?"

I swallow hard before nodding. "The back deck?"

Bella squeezes my hand as I reluctantly pull away from her, leading the way to the deck. Once he's closed the door behind us, I move to the railing, staring out at the blackness of my parents' backyard. I try not to show that I feel the chill in the air on my bare arms — wouldn't want Bella's dad to think I'm a wimp. I hear footsteps as he comes to stand next to me, folding his arms along the railing.

"Did you think for one minute," Chief Swan begins, "About what could have happened to Bella for helping you?" I sigh, closing my eyes. I should've expected this question.

"Before — before the police showed up at the house, no, I didn't. I didn't expect to get caught." I shrug, turning to face him. "But I swear, I tried to protect her. I tried to make it look like she didn't have a choice except to help me."

"I had to call in a favor with a friend of mine," he growls. "Had to practically beg the D.A. to listen to me, to understand that she wasn't well."

"I know," I whisper, hanging my head. "Bella told me you had talked to them. I don't… I don't know if I'll ever be able to thank you enough for that. If Bella had gone to jail because of me, I…" I stop, shaking my head. "I just couldn't deal with that."

"Do you really care about her?" he asks pointedly.

"God, yes. I love her, Sir," I reply earnestly, praying that Bella's father can hear the sincerity in my voice.

"You know, I read through your case file for Bella. Learned a lot about you that way — I know you're a punk who likes to hang out in bars, picking up a new woman every night." He looks me in the eye before continuing, "Am I supposed to believe that you've changed?"

"I have changed," I insist. "Yes, I've had my share of women in the past, but… none of them were what I was looking for. I didn't know what I was looking for — not until I met Bella."

"So help me, if you ever hurt my daughter, or my granddaughter—"

"I won't hurt them," I interrupt emphatically. "Bella and our daughter mean everything to me. I want them to be proud of me."

"Isabella has spent the last three years miserable, punishing herself for a goddamn accident. For a while there, I thought I'd never see her beautiful smile again. I don't understand it, but for some reason, you make my daughter smile, you make her happy. As long as you keep doing that, then you and I have no problems. But if you go back to your old ways, I'm not responsible for my actions. Capisce?"

"I get it, Sir," I nod. "I know I don't in any way deserve someone like Bella, but I could never make myself walk away from her. I love her too much. I'm in love with her. And I hope that she never comes to her senses and sends me away. I can promise you that I'll never do anything to cause her to rethink this."

"You make a lot of promises," Chief Swan says. "See that you keep them," he adds, holding his hand out. I grasp his hand in mine, shaking it firmly.

"Now let's get back inside before Bella thinks I've decided to castrate you or something," he chuckles, a glint in his eye. Fuck. I nod, leading the way back to the house.

Once we're inside, Bella returns from the direction of the kitchen, looking at me anxiously. She wraps her arms around me, and I gratefully hug her back.

"Bells," her dad begins, "Sorry but I really need to get going."

"Oh, you're not going to stay in town tonight?" I tighten my arms around her. The last thing I want is for Bella's dad to spend the night in our house. I know I won't get any nookie tonight if that happens.

"No, I have an early shift tomorrow," he replies. Thank God.

"Ok, well, please drive safely. You weren't drinking, were you?"

"One beer in the first half," he answers. "I'll be fine. Do you want me to call you when I get home?"

"Oh, um, I'll probably be asleep. This baby makes me tired," she complains. I try hard to control my chuckle. If Bella is tired tonight, it'll be because I wore her out.

I decide to stay where I am as she walks her dad to the front door. "Are you all right?" she asks when she comes back to me.

"Sure," I reply. "Totally unscathed."

"What did you and Dad talk about?" she asks curiously.

"Man stuff."

"Not for a woman's ears?"

I sigh, hugging her close. I don't want Bella to be reminded of just how little I deserve her. "We have an understanding, but I don't know if your dad will ever be my biggest fan."

A half hour later, the kitchen is cleaned up, we've said our goodbyes to Mom and Dad, and we're on our way to our home.

"Did your dad like Jacob?" I ask, wondering if he's just programmed to hate any man who's sleeping with his daughter.

"Um, yeah, I guess. But Jacob's dad was his best friend, so…" Yeah, that doesn't make me feel better.

Once we get home, I head straight for the couch, pulling Bella onto my lap. There's something we need to talk about, though I'm a bit afraid of her answer.

"Why did you ask Jasper to take you to the cemetery?" I ask quietly. "Do you not want me there?"

Her mouth opens and closes a few times as she stares at me. "I figured you'd have to work," she finally replies. "And even if you were available, I really didn't think you'd want to go."

"It's my job to support you, baby."

"Yes, but—"

"I'll see if I can trade shifts with someone and take you, ok? I want to be there for you, always."

"Ok," she whispers, letting me pull her close. I need Bella to understand that I'll always be there for her — she can count on me.

With the early sunset in Seattle in January, I pick Bella up from work around 3pm on Tuesday. She gives me directions to the cemetery; otherwise we drive in silence. Once we've passed through the gates, she quietly tells me where to turn until we reach Jacob's grave.

Bella takes a deep breath and opens the car door, walking slowly across the grass. She didn't ask me to come along, but I want to be there if she needs me, so I follow her.

A large bouquet of flowers sits in front of Jacob's headstone; clearly someone else has been here today. Bella jumps when I touch her arm, like she didn't even know I was beside her.

"I need to talk to Jacob alone, Edward," she whispers. "Can you wait by the car?"

"Sure, baby," I reply, kissing her cheek before heading back to the car.

I keep an eye on Bella, watching as she kneels on the ground and runs her fingers over the stone. When I can hear her sobbing all the way from the car, I move quickly to her, kneeling beside her and taking her in my arms. I stroke my hand through her hair, not sure what I can say to make this better.

"Come on, baby," I whisper when her sobs finally quiet somewhat, helping her to her feet. Her knees buckle and I lift her off the ground, carrying her back to the car. I gently put her down beside the car and open the door, helping her inside.

After a quiet drive home, I lift Bella out of the car over her protests, carrying her into the house and to the bedroom, where I carefully lay her down on our bed.

"Why don't you take a nap," I suggest quietly. "I'll wake you up for dinner in a couple hours." I kiss her cheek and walk away, not really wanting to watch my girlfriend cry herself to sleep over another man.

I head to the living room and turn on the TV to the Food Network. Leo is sleeping in the corner of the couch, but he gets up to climb onto my lap, so I pet him for a while as I watch TV.

When I start to get hungry, I get up to fix dinner. I got some fish at the grocery store while Bella was at work today, so I decide to fry that up with a package labeled "Harry's Fish Fry" that I find in the fridge. I also steam some fresh veggies for my pregnant girlfriend since I feel guilty about feeding her fried food.

When dinner is almost ready, I go to wake up Bella. I brush my fingers through her hair and kiss her cheek gently, trying not to startle her. "Wake up, baby," I whisper. When she slowly regains consciousness and sits up, I kiss her softly. "Dinner in five minutes, ok?" She nods so I head back to the kitchen.

A few minutes later, Bella steps into the kitchen and quietly takes a seat at the table. "Um, I saw something in the fridge called Harry's Fish Fry," I tell her as I set her plate down.

"Harry Clearwater is a friend of my dad's," she explains. "He's famous for this back in Forks."

I eye Bella curiously as we eat, but stay mostly quiet. I don't really know what to say to her. She's obviously still very upset over Jacob. I don't know how I can ever live up to her memories of him. I idly wonder if everyone who's dating a widow or widower feels like this at some point.

Once we've finished eating, we clean up in silence and then head into the living room together, where I immediately reach for the remote control. It's Chopped night.

"Edward," she begins quietly, "I need to explain something to you."

"It's fine, Bella," I lie. "I know you're missing Jacob right now." I don't want to hear about what an awesome person he was or how much she loved him. The guy was probably fucking cheating on her!

"That's not it," she insists, climbing into my lap. She brushes her fingers through my hair, then kisses me softly. "Do you remember when you told me that maybe Jake wasn't the love of my life?"

I nod, wondering where she's going with this. "You got mad at me, even though I was trying to make you feel better."

"Did you… I mean, were you trying to say that you were my one great love?"

My eyes widen as I stare at her. "I—no, I wasn't. I mean, I didn't recognize then what I felt for you." But I do now, baby.

"You are," she whispers. "I realized today that in ten years with Jake, he never made me feel as loved and desired as you do. You were right that day in everything you said. I made so many mistakes trying to save a marriage that wasn't meant to be saved.

"Jacob and I weren't soul mates. We were best friends who thought we were in love. But now I know what it really feels like to be in love." She leans forward, kissing me passionately, and the hurt that I've been feeling for the last few hours vanishes with each touch of her lips. She loves me; Bella loves me more than Jake. Fuck, I don't know what I ever did to deserve her.

When she pulls back, I tenderly hold her face in my hands, unable to keep from smiling. "I love you so much, baby. I didn't know it that day, but I know it now. You are without a doubt my one true love, and I will spend the rest of my life trying to make you happy."

"Forever," she whispers.

"Forever," I agree with a nod.

A/N: Edward's not afraid of anything — except Charlie, and Alice, and losing Bella, and being a father, and…

Who's ready for four all new chapters in a row?