Bella

I opened the door and was met by a huge vase of flowers.

I couldn't see who it was, and I was confused. "Hello?"

"Um, Bella, I know I already said sorry once today, but I feel it's necessary for me to do it again," Edward's unsure voice came from behind the flowers. I peeked around and saw him shifting nervously.

I knew Angela had had something to do with the size of the arrangement. "Angela's?"

"Um, yes, I found her very helpful."

"That's a really big arrangement."

"Yes, well, I'm really big sorry," he said nervously, and I couldn't help but smile at him.

I moved a few plates of brownies and had him set the flowers on the kitchen table. They stretched out, almost covering the whole table, and they smelled beautiful. Angela had outdone herself on this one.

"They're beautiful, thank you, Edward," I said sincerely.

"They're not as beautiful as you, and I really am sorry I freaked out on you. I promise not to do it again if I can help it."

I wished he could keep that promise, but if he really wanted to see me, I was pretty sure he would be losing it again sometime soon. I wanted to take advantage of him being here while I could.

I was always selfish like that.

I could feel my skin crackle in excitement with his close proximity, as he continued to babble nervously.

"I mean, a woman like you, I should've known. I mean, you're obviously beautiful, and to expect you not to date is just ridiculous…"

I silenced him, when I stepped closer to him. He got stuck on the word "I" and repeated it several times, before I pulled him down to kiss me and put the boy out of his misery.

Sometimes he just talked too much.

Edward

She kissed me. My body felt like it exploded into flames. It had been too long since I'd had her in my arms, and I wanted her badly. I had never wanted anyone else in my life, just her. I didn't care how many kids she had, as long as she was mine.

We both pulled back panting, and I heard the creak of a door upstairs. I looked to where the sound was coming from, and my heart stopped.

There, at the top of the stairs, was my inner child standing by Bella's bedroom door. Did he want me to take Bella to bed? Because that was one task I would happily complete.

I heard Bella's voice, "Go to bed." Now I was hearing things. He didn't move, just kept staring at me. "Go to bed, now!" she snapped. I was sure she had said it this time. I was hoping we would be on the same page, but when I turned to her, she was looking up the stairs at the boy.

"But, Mom…" the boy whined.

"You can see him?" I asked, and she looked at me strangely.

"Edward Masen Swan, go to bed now! I mean it, or I'll take away your keyboard," she threatened and the boy begrudgingly went back into her room.

Wait, that was her son? He looked just like me! She had even named him after me. If she missed me, why didn't she just come home? Why did she have to go and find my doppelganger?

"Bella?"

"I can explain, sort of."

"I don't understand. Did you screw the first guy you could find who looked like me?"

"What! No, I didn't!"

"Are you still seeing his father?" I wondered if she had taken off on him like she had taken off on me.

"No, I'm not!" she snapped.

"So, you just ran out on him like you did me? Did you do the same to the other kid's dad? Do they even know they exist?"

"No, he doesn't know about them, and if you don't watch your mouth, he never will!"

"What do I have to do with you telling their dads about them?"

"Edward, are you that stupid?"

A little brown-haired, brown-eyed girl snuck down the hallway and was watching the exchange. I knew we needed to stop.

At Bella's last words, the little girl gasped. "You're not supposed to say stupid, Mommy."

So I wasn't hallucinating all this time. I was seeing Bella's kids.

They had been right there all the time, and I hadn't even realized it.

I'd thought I was freaking crazy.

At the sound of the little girl's voice, the little boy started coming out of the room again.

"I'm sorry, baby. I know I'm not supposed to say stupid," Bella apologized to her daughter.

Her son had made his way down the stairs and was standing with the little girl now, holding her hand. "I thought you said our dad was nice?"

He thought I was his dad? I wished I was. It sure would simplify things.

"I know, honey, and he usually is. I just haven't gotten around to explaining things to him," Bella said to her son, confusing me further.

Did she want me to play dad? Even after what I had said to her? But what about their real fathers? Didn't they have the right to know?

"Can you guys give us a minute?" Bella asked the kids.

They made their way down the hall where the little girl had come from. Once out of earshot, she turned and looked at me nervously.

She took a deep breath and said, "Edward, my son is named after his father."

I didn't understand. We had never had sex. I was still a virgin. She couldn't mean me. Had she met another guy who looked like me named Edward Masen Cullen?

My confusion must have shown clearly on my face.

"You're a doctor, Edward! You know you got close to…and you…right next to my…with no protection!" she tried to explain, stammering in frustration.

My eyes widened. "Are you s-s-sure?" I stuttered.

Crap, she was right.

"I'd found out I was pregnant the day before I left the hospital. I knew you wanted to be a doctor, and I didn't want to stand in your way."

"You…you left, you didn't say anything, and you just left?"

"I thought it'd be easier on you that way. I didn't want to stop you from living your life."

"You left. You didn't tell me. How could you not tell me? Did you think I wouldn't be a good father?" I was furious and hurt all at the same time. How could she have knowingly taken off pregnant with my son?

"Edward, you were only seventeen and had plans to go to medical school and see the world. I didn't want to hold you back or tie you down."

"I was doing my residency when we met! I already was a doctor, Bella. You wouldn't have interfered with anything."

"But you said you wanted to travel with Doctors Without Borders. How could you being doing your residency at the same time you were going to music camp, football camp and high school? Edward, it's not possible! I left so you'd have a chance at your dreams."

"I know it doesn't make sense, but my mind works a little differently than most. I was doing my residency back then. It was only a large monetary donation from my parents that allowed me to socialize with kids my age. High school was sort of like a hobby. I'd tested out of it when I was eight." I grimaced when I realized I had given away how different I really was.

She covered her mouth and started crying. I stepped forward, trying to figure out what had happened.

"So it was for nothing? How could you not tell me? We lived together for a MONTH!" she yelled at me. "You talked about becoming a pediatrician. You weren't a doctor!"

"I had to do two extra years in residency to specialize."

She was shaking her head no.

"You left and didn't tell me you were pregnant, because you wanted me to go to medical school?" Some of her final words clanged in my head. She had told me to become a doctor and save people. I, being socially awkward, hadn't realized how out of place that statement was at the time. "Was that the only reason you left?"

"You're way out of my league, Edward. I knew it'd be just a matter of time before you realized you could do better and moved on. I didn't want you to feel trapped because of the kids."

My brow furrowed. I didn't understand. "What do you mean? You're perfect for me, Bella."

She let out a sigh and leaned against the kitchen doorway. "You never did see me like I really am. I'm a plain, nerdy geek, Edward. You're amazing and beautiful, and so incredibly smart. You could have any girl in the world. You shouldn't be tied down to someone like me."

"You don't want me?" I asked. I hated myself for letting the words slip out of my mouth.

"How could I not want you, Edward? You know I do, I always have." She paused, and I wondered what she was thinking. "I just don't want to hold you back or make you feel trapped."

"Momma!" her little girl called.

She let out a sigh. "I have to take care of that. You can go if you want." She turned and disappeared down the hall.

Did she want me to leave? She did say if I wanted. What if I wanted to stay? What if I wanted to talk to her more? What if I wanted to meet my son? Would she let me?

My chest tightened. What if she was still seeing her daughter's father? What if she wanted me out of the way? What if she loved him more? She had to love him more. She'd obviously had sex with him, and we hadn't even done that!

Crap, I wished she would come back.

I sank into a kitchen chair, waiting for her to return. She walked back in and stopped, looking startled, as if she was surprised to see I was still there.

"Bella, are you still seeing your daughter's father? Is that why you want me to go?" I asked on the verge of a panic attack.

She looked at me confused. "Edward, they're twins."

Her words sank in slowly.

They were twins.

Twins.

I looked up at her shocked. "You had twins?"

She nodded her head yes. "We had twins," she corrected.

"We had twins," I repeated smiling.

She nodded her head yes.

"So, that adorable little girl is mine, too?" I asked, hopeful that there was no other man.

"Yes, she is. They're both yours, Edward," she confirmed.

I started crying and laughing at the same time.

I couldn't believe it, I was a father.

I was a father!