Chapter 25

It had been weeks since I was released from the hospital. I was enjoying being able to move around freely at home and also sleep in my own bed but part of me was upset at the fact that I could not bring home Ethan yet. He had been in the hospital for almost a month now but Carlisle was just telling me about how Ethan may be able to be discharged in the next couple of days. I was beyond excited at that prospect. Ever since I was discharged Alice, Esme, Rose and I had been planning and decorating the nursery as well as stocking it with every supply imaginable for a baby. Alice had also gone a little bit over the top when it came to shopping for baby clothes. Ethan probably had more clothes than he would ever need for his first year of life however Auntie Alice insisted that he would be growing out of things like no tomorrow.

Since Charlie was going to need a lot of assistance getting around for the next few months Carlisle and Esme offered to have him move into their house. Charlie agreed after some gentle coaxing from Emmett and me. We argued that since the two of us already lived here why shouldn't he? At least now we could be a family especially with the approaching holiday.

"How's the nursery coming love?" Edward snuck up behind me and wrapped his solid arms around my shrinking waistline.

"It's almost finished. Esme said she's just waiting on the rocking chair she found and then it'll be complete." I continued to fold the new batch of washed baby clothes thanks to another one of Alice's shopping sprees.

"Do you need any help with that?"

"That'd be wonderful." I smiled up at him and placed some of the baby clothes in his lap. "How are classes going?"

"I cannot wait for the break to start. I'm going to have to start locking myself away though so I can cram for finals." He looked at me sadly as he said that. After I had been discharged from the hospital Edward and me had not been separated for very long. We spent every waking moment together just doing simple things like visiting Ethan or reading together.

"Studying…sounds like so much fun." I replied sarcastically. He responded by throwing one of Ethan's onesies at me.

"You know I'd much rather be spending time with you and the baby."

"I know. School comes first though. I feel bad enough that you've basically tied yourself down to Ethan and me and your life hasn't even begun yet. I'm not going to take your education away either."

"I want nothing more in life than to be with you and Ethan. I love you Bella. I love you so much that it hurts sometimes." Our conversation took a serious turn and I almost missed the playful banter that had been going on not 5 seconds before.

"I love you too Edward." He placed a gentle kiss on my lips before returning his concentration to the pile of clothes in front of him. "So what can I get you for Christmas this year?" I asked him quickly changing the subject.

"I already have everything I could want in life."

"You are a such a cheese ball!" I scoffed at him. "Now really, what do you want?"

"I think you'll figure it out."

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Before Edward could answer my question his phone began to vibrate in his pocket. While he answered the phone I took the folded laundry and took it over to Ethan's room. Esme's creativity surprised me. She had created a simple and unique nursery while still managing to keep it to something that I would like. She had chosen a pale blue and a light brown coffee color for the walls. All of the furniture was made of light oak and complimented the brown and blue perfectly. She had also taken several pictures of Ethan while he was in the hospital and had printed them out and framed them. My eyes scanned over the framed black and white photo of the first time I had gotten to hold Ethan.

Flashback

I had just been discharged from the hospital a few days ago and after a day of bed rest I had been allowed to come and visit my son who was still trapped in the NICU. I was sitting in the rocker with Edward by my side when a nurse approached us.

"Would you like to hold him Ms. Swan?"

"You mean…I can finally hold him."

"I think it would be okay if you did. It would probably be better for him." She smiled at me as she went to remove Ethan from the confines of the plastic container he had been living in and carefully made sure she didn't tangle the couple of wires that were protruding from him. "He could use some mothers love." She gently placed the tiny human in my arms and made sure that he was safe before giving us some time alone with him.

"I…it hasn't felt entirely real until right now." I cradled the baby gently in my arms. Edward had tears in his eyes as he looked on at the scene before him. I looked back down at my baby who had opened his eyes. He had the most beautiful chocolate brown eyes.

"He has your eyes Bella."

"Do you want to hold him?" There were too many emotions running through my mind and I needed a moment to collect myself before I had an emotional breakdown.

"I don't know…I've never…what if I drop him?" Edward looked so adorable as he debated between holding his son and the possibilities he had of dropping him.

"You've got to learn sometime. If you're going to drop him at least do it here where the doctors can fix him up." I joked.

"Bella, that is not something to joke about." I stood up with Ethan still gently cradled in arms and motioned for Edward to take my place on the rocker. After he had situated himself and made himself comfortable I kissed Ethan on the forehead and delicately placed him in Edward's capable arms. I felt a smile twinge at my lips as I noticed how tensed Edward became. Ethan began to stir and his little mouth opened slightly to let out a small wail.

"Edward, you need to relax. He can tell that you're scared and he doesn't like it." I watched as Edward's shoulders visibly relaxed and before long Ethan had cuddled up inside of the crook of his arm and was back to sleeping soundly.

"How did you know that?"

"I remember from when I used to babysit the baby next door sometimes." I shrugged. Now that the tender moment I was sharing with Ethan had been broken I was able to turn around and compose myself for a minute.

End Flashback

Esme had really outdone herself with this nursery. Poor little Ethan was probably going to go blind after all of the flash photography that had been going on. Between Esme and Alice alone there were so many photographs taken of his first weeks of life. Now the best of those pictures now adorned the walls of the nursery.

"Hey Bella, my dad was wondering if we could come down to the hospital." I turned around at the sound of Edward's voice to find him leaning against the doorway.

"Yeah, that'd be great." I pulled myself away from the photographs and made my way into my room to change before allowing Edward to escort me downstairs and into the car.

"Did Carlisle say why he wanted us to come down? Ethan's okay right?"

"Ethan's fine love. Carlisle just thought he looked lonely." I had a sneaking suspicion that Edward was lying to me and I couldn't help the worry that was beginning to settle my stomach. "Calm down Bella. If there was something wrong with Ethan I would've let you know." Despite Edward's reassurance I still felt that panic begin to overtake me.

As soon as Edward parked the car into one of the visitor's spots I dashed from my seat and into the sliding doors. I raced my way up towards the NICU and found Carlisle speaking quietly with Dr. Sheppard.

"Where is he? Is he alright?"

"Of course Bella, Ethan is fine. He's been stable ever since he was delivered." Carlisle calmed me down some but I was waiting for Addison Sheppard to break some sort of bad news.

"Actually, Ethan is doing so well in fact that I think should everything go alright tonight that he could go home tomorrow."

"You mean…I can take him home? He doesn't have to stay here anymore?"

"He's breathing on his own and he's almost a month old now, I think that as long as you bring him back for routine check ups there's no reason that he can't spend the holidays with the family." I attacked Addison Shepherd with the strongest hug I could muster while still being mindful of the incision in my abdomen.

"You have just given me the best Christmas present ever." I whispered to her.

"The good news does not end there my dear." Carlisle spoke. I looked at him curiously as I let go of Dr. Shepherd and regained my composure. "I am going to be releasing your dad today and he too will be able to come back and recover at home. He should be back on his feet in a couple more weeks." I felt the tears spill from my eyes as I was informed that both my father and my son would be coming home.

"I could not be happier right now." Edward wrapped his arms around me and pulled me into a gentle embrace.

"Let's go up and spend some time with your son." He reached down and grasped my hand in his before nodding at Addison and Carlisle.

"You know Edward he may not be your son by genetics but he is your son. I put you down on the birth certificate as his father."

"I know love, I just didn't know how you felt about me calling him my son right now."

"I think it would be a wonderful idea if you referred to him as your son."

"Thank you Bella you have no idea how happy that makes me feel." We stepped into the nursery and looked at our son who had now been moved out of an incubator. Edward reached into the bassinet and carefully cradled Ethan to his chest soothing him gently. I smiled at the tender moment between father and son. A nurse quietly approached us and gave us a warm smile.

"I think he's getting hungry Bella." I nodded and Edward handed him over to me. I took my place in the rocker and cradled my son to my chest. Edward was kind enough to drape a blanket over me and then turn around to give me privacy. I didn't know how I would ever repay him for all of his kindness and understand towards me. Most men would have turned their backs on a challenge such as this but not Edward. He was holding strong and never complained about anything. I almost feared that any day now he would realize how much of a burden Ethan and me really were to him and leave us. In the back of my mind, I knew Edward could never be like that but part of me still wondered how he was managing to cope so well with all the sudden changes that had taken over his life.

After I had gotten Ethan settled and could feel him gently suckling I informed Edward that he could turn around. He quickly turned to face me and flashed me that beautiful crooked smile that I adored so much. We sat there in silence as our son drank himself to contentment. It wasn't but a little while later when I handed him over to Edward to burp so I could clean myself up. When I returned to where Edward and Ethan were I found my baby boy sound asleep on Edward's chest.

"Oh to be a baby…" I sighed. I could only wish that life were that easy again.

"You know how hard eating can be, it really tuckers you out." He saracastically replied as he gazed down at the sleeping baby. He continued to rock back and forth in the other rocking chair he had brought over as our son slept and I continued to gaze upon them. Carlisle came up a short while later disturbing the calm silence that had descended over us.

"I'm getting ready to discharge Charlie and I would drive him home myself but I have two more surgeries lined up for this afternoon so would you mind taking him home?"

"I can take him home." Edward quietly whispered so as not to wake the little angel. "You can stay here if you would like Bella and I can come back and get you when I get Charlie settled."

"No, it's okay. I should probably go back and get things ready tomorrow since Ethan will be able to go home." He nodded and stood up carefully and placed Ethan back into his bassinet being sure that he was safe and sound before leaving.

"I love you my little munchkin. Don't get into too much trouble while mommy and daddy are gone." I smiled to myself as Edward took on the role of father. It all came so naturally to him and part of me was slightly jealous. "Let's go get your dad home."

I followed him out into the hallway and down to my dad's room already missing my little munch. We knocked on the door and entered to find Charlie already up and moving about packing the items we had brought him from home. He was looking so much better now then when he first woke up. The color in his face had returned and he was back to his usual fatherly self.

"Hey dad, you all ready to get out of here?"

"Hell yes! I have been cooped up within these four walls for way too long. I need some fresh air and some real food." Charlie joked as he placed the last of his clothes in the duffel bag. Edward took it from him despite Charlie's protests and brought it down to the car.

"I just need you to sign these forms right here Charlie and then you'll be all good to go." Carlisle handed him the discharge papers, which Charlie eagerly signed. "Well, it looks like I will be seeing you at home." A nurse walked in pushing a wheelchair for Charlie so we could get out of there.

"Let's get out of this place." I chuckled at my dad's excitement. Charlie was never one for emotions and seeing him act so much like a child was really tickling me pink. I followed the nurse out to a waiting Edward and slid into the front seat of the car as Edward sped off towards the house. I wasn't sure how much better my life could get right now. My father had been discharged after making a full recovery, my son was coming home tomorrow, the man who had taken away everything from me was dead and would never interfere in my life again and I had the most wonderful and caring man who loved me despite all of the baggage that I carried with me. If this was how the rest of my life was going to be, I had no complaints.

A/N: Sorry that this update took me a while to get up but it's finally here. The next chapter will be the one you all have been waiting for for a while now so get excited. I've already started writing it and I hope to have it up on the day that New Moon premieres. I am really excited about this one and I can't wait for you all to read it. I can only hope that it satisfies the romantic element that you are wanting this story to have.

Thanks to everyone who's stuck with me this far. I hope you will continue to read this story and let me know what you think. Let's get excited for New Moon, it's almost here and I cannot wait. Maybe it will even stimulate all of my creative juices so I can post a whole bunch of new chapters. Anyways, I hope that you enjoy this one and as always don't forget to let me know what you think. You guys are truly awesome and I couldn't have written this without all of your support.

Now let's get pumped for FRIDAY!!!!!

~Jess