Hi everyone! I think i am finally over my cold and I feel much better. Thank you all so much for your encouraging words and your congratulations on my first pregnancy. I am so excited but sort of scared. Im only 4 months so I have a long way to go and plenty of time to prepare myself.

I hope you all enjoy the chapter. :)

Disclaimer: These characters belong to Stephanie Meyers.

Bella Pov

I stare after Edward even when the door is closed and I know that my boy is long gone. I miss him already and the ache in my chest is so great I can hardly push back my tears. I know I'm being dramatic and I know that I'll see him tonight, but any length of separation makes it hard to breathe.

I do well with Edwards texts throughout the day while I'm in class, and his frequent visit to the bookstore when I'm at work. However, it's times like these when I miss him the most. Times when I know he'll be too busy driving and too busy handling family matters. We won't speak until he's home, and that thought literally crushes me.

Instead of being there to comfort my boyfriend, I'm forced to sit at a table with cheaters, backstabbers, and a shifty-eyed bimbo. I love my family but we are a fucked up bunch.

Looking around at each of them -even Jenna- I realize that I am the only tense one. Without Edward here somehow I feel like the outsider... like this isn't my family at all. It's not intentionally done for the most part -Jenna is the exception- but I can't help how I feel. I feel like I don't fit nor belong which is tragic because I genuinely love each of them except my evil half sister. She can jump head first off a bridge for all I care.

Garrett nudges me. "You're quiet." He says, and I roll my eyes. How very observant of him.

"Don't have much to say." Then I look between Carol and Jenna, deeply engrossed in conversation about horses of all things. Why the fuck does Carol all of a sudden care so much about horses? When has she ever mentioned her obsession with them?

"Can't get a word in with these two anyway," I lift my chin in their direction and when I glance at him he's shaking his head with a grin on his face.

"How are you jealous? She's my mom." He asks but in a teasing tone, still grinning.

My mouth still falls open in shock. "Jealous?" I whisper-shout. "Jealous? Me?" He nods. "Of her?" he nods again. "You're insane."

"At least I'm not jealous of someone stealing my mommy and daddy away from me." He mocks me, making baby noises, poking out his lip.

I shove him. "God, I am so glad we didn't grow up together. It would have sucked living with you as an older brother."

He nudges me again and looks between Charlie and Carol as he speaks. "Now that our parents are getting busy, we technically are brother and sister."

I shove him again making a face. "You're disgusting. Who wants to think about iur parents having sex?"

"Well they do." He says and I turn my face up in disgust. "I'm being real Bells. You have to get over this mommy, daddy shit. We're adults. Who gives a shit what these old fuckers do?"

I stare quizzically as he speaks only to shoot him a look of reproof before replying in a hushed tone. "I give a shit."

He purses his lips and shakes his head again. "Well stop! You are preg-"

I stop Garretts words pinching his arm and twisting. He yelps. "Shut the fuck up!" I haven't told them that I'm pregnant.

"What?" He asks incredulously.

"I haven't told them." I whisper, glancing at Charlie and Carol to make sure they aren't looking in our direction.

"Well get a move on it. From Edwards calculations you're about two months. You'll be showing soon I think."

I punch him again. "Lower your voice, God!"

"What are you two whispering about?" Charlie asks, drinking down his third beer.

"Nothing!" I answer quickly... too quickly.

He makes a face, scrutinizing me, but there's a grin on is face as he chews his food.

He nods as he speaks, "Alright then."

I nod, blinking my eyes with pursed lips to throw off his cop senses.

Nothing is wrong here daddy!

A thought occurs to him, and it shows across his entire face. "So, Bells, isn't your boyfriend graduating this year?"

"His name is Edward, and yes he is."

"What will you do when he graduates? Isn't he going away to some fancy medical school?"

"Actually no, he's going to the medical program at our school."

"Isn't that convenient." Jenna says snidely between bites of food, her eyes never shift from her plate.

"What can I say? He can't stand the thought of being away from me." I lift my shoulders and smile innocently at her.

She nods, her tongue in her cheek as she scuffs. "Right." She drags the word out.

I turn my attention away from her, needing to think about something other than slapping her out of her chair.

I turn to Garrett. "Can you take me to Edwards parents house?"

He scratches the back of his head deep in thought. "I don't see why not."

I smile happily and glance up into Jenna's eyes. I roll my eyes and both steathily and childishly I lift my hand from underneath the table and flick her off.

She purses her lips glancing down, there's a hint of a grin on her face.

"Can we leave now?" I ask Garrett. He nods and stands, reaching over to shake Charlie's hand.

"You two are leaving?" Carol asks, looking up at us with sad eyes, completely ignoring Jane.

"Yes mom the three of us are leaving." He sets her with a disapproving glance, and she subtly pouts.

"Will you all be here Sunday?"

"I don't know mom. I have school work to catch up on." We all watch as her caramel colored eyes slowly fill with tears, saddened by the news.

"We'll try our best." I jump in. Garrett is being very patient with his mother, but I can tell his mothers not so subtle attempts at making Jane feel unwelcome are prooving to be a problem.

Garrett nods in agreement, which instantly perks Carol up.

"I will cook all your favorites." She smiles, and Garrett rolls his eyes, but grins as his eyes connect with Jane standing uncomfortably beside him, her arms wrapped around her body.

"I'll come, but I'm bringing Jane." he says, his eyes never leave her face. "She loves chocolate chip pancakes."

Jane smiles, her eyes dashing between Garrett and Carol. Carol however is staring at her son with wide eyes. She did not expect to have to make Jane's favorite breakfast food.

Dad jumps in then, squeezing her shoulders. "Then it's settled. We will see you kids tomorrow for brunch."

"I have to get going too." Jenna stands, and bends to grab her purse. She then straightens and walks to Charlie kissing his cheek. "Happy Birthday Charlie." She begins to walk to Carol, but remembers something and turns back to him. "You're still taking me fishing tomorrow right?"

"After brunch we can head on out." He says, taking a drink from his beer.

Jenna nods and walks over to kiss Carols cheek. As she does, I make my way over to my dad and bend to hug him around the neck.

"Happy Birthday daddy." I whisper for only him to hear.

"Thank you." He pats my arm. "I love you Bells. You have no idea how much." I squeeze his shoulders for good measure because I can tell the old stiff is getting sentimental on me. I blame Carol for this new version of my dad.

"I love you too." I kiss his cheek, and walk over to hug Carol.

I hear the front door open and close and realize Jenna has left. Garrett and Jane then say their goodbyes, before we exit and make our way to the Cullen home.

My phone sings with a text just as I hop into Garrett's truck. The words displayed their cause me to smile and quickly type a reply.

Edward Pov

Wish you were here with me. -E

I send that text while sitting in my living room watching my best friend cry all over my mom and sister. I was the last to arrive at my family home, which surprised me because no one answered their phones and Victoria was hysterical.

When asked why they allowed her to call, they all replied with mixed answers with one common statement. None of them knew she had called me. Apparently they all knew I was with Bella's family and didn't want to interrupt. Victoria snuck away to call me and it got me thinking. Did she call because she knew that I was with Bella? Did she do this out of jealousy?

My suspicion was confirmed when I received news that her mother was actually making a speedy recovery. Victoria's hysteric tears are of joy and so are my moms and sisters.

I am extremely happy that Victoria's mother is recovering, but somehow I feel this news could have waited for my Sunday morning visit. Victoria knew where I was and whom I was with, yet she chose to deceive me to have me by her side.

As soon as I figured out what she did, I took a step away from her and my family and she could tell I was a little upset. She could tell that I knew what she had going on. So instead of crying all over me, she laid her head in my mother's arms and continued to cry. I would no longer cater to Victoria's needs. She wants my every waking moment to revolve around her, and that can't be. Victoria will have to seek attention elsewhere, because I can see clearly now that we can no longer be friends.

With that lasting thought I turn to my dad, "Text me which hospital her mother is in so that I can visit and send flowers."

"You're leaving?" He asks, his wide eyes move from my face to Victoria across the room and back. "She will have a fit."

"Then you all will have to deal with it." I make a move to leave, but he grabs my arm.

"Edward, you are the one that coddled her for ten years." My dad gives me a very seriously look.

I look down in shame, nodding my head. "And I am sorry for that. I created a monster, I am aware." I place both hands on my hips and turn my head in her direction. I have always felt it my duty to look after Victoria as she done for me when we were kids. In my mind she rescued me and I could never repay her.

"We were all saddened by the news, but Victoria made it seem a lot worse than it was. She wouldn't let any of us go to the hospital since her mother arrived and now I know why."

I turn to him and raise a brow. "Why?"

He removes his glasses and rubs his eyes. "She was lying about her mother's condition. Her mother was hit by a car pushing Victoria out of the way. Victoria was too drunk and high to realize what was going on." My dad explains.

I shake my head and my eyes meet Victoria's momentarily before she looks away receiving the tissue offered to her.

"You have got to stop giving her money, Edward. She's not using it for school anymore. She is using it for drugs and alcohol."

Victoria has never been an over-indulger, but of course lately she has been in a deep depression and I am not sure who she has become. Ever since she met James she's been this way and I even feel guilty for that. I am partly to blame for her even being introduced to James. He should have never been at my party in Aspen. She should have never been at that party. I should have listened to Bella.

"This is all my fault." I tell my dad, and upon hearing my words he tilts his head to the side trying to understand why I would feel responsible for this. "I am the reason she is with her current boyfriend, and this behavior didn't begin until she met him."

"That is not your fault. Don't put this on your shoulders Edward. You have enough weight as is." He looks sincere, but even he has no idea how much pressure is on me. I have a son or daughter coming and that has been pushed to the forefront of my mind. "No more money Edward."

"Okay, I promise."

"She needs to get a job and she needs to go back to school, but it is not your responsibility to help her with those things. Do not let her guilt trip you into anything. Do you understand me?"

"Yes sir." I turn my head to look at him as he places a hand on my shoulder, leveling me with a stare.

"Ignore her calls if you have to. For god sakes, you shouldn't even be here. You let her guilt you into coming tonight which only leads her to believe she has some control over your life."

"No. I just-" I rub the back of my head, and take a breath. "I thought her mother died. That's how she made it sound."

"Furthest from the truth. Her mother will in fact be coming home Monday."

I shove a hand through my hair and tug fiercely as my mind races. "I feel like I lied to Bella. Victoria's lies caused me to lie."

"It wasn't on purpose. Just tell her the truth now that you know. Bella will understand."

Tilting my head to the side, I regard him curiously as a thought hits me. "That reminds me, I meant to ask you about this as soon as I returned but it slipped my mind. What did you say to her before our trip to Miami?"

He looks away uncomfortably, and clears his throat. "An abundance of things that I now regret. She's a lovely girl. I just wanted to remind her that you are going down the right path and there is a possibility that she could deter you. I wanted to make sure Bella and I were clear that you were not to be deterred or distracted from your goals."

"You also told her about the ring. You had no right to do that Carlisle. When the time was right, we would talk about marriage, but that was for the future."

"I just thought she should know."

"Talk of marriage in our fragile state?" I shoot him a rather perturbed look. "It almost killed us." I pause and take a long breath. "We are dealing with alot right now."

"I didn't know."

"You wouldn't know because it's not something to talk about with others." I bow my head and shake it trying to shake off my foul mood. "Please stay out of our relationship."

"Done. I would like to apologize to her in person."

"Not necessary. We have moved on."

He nods, but doesn't look happy about it. "You should go home. Nothing is happening here." He pats my back and leads me towards the front door. To my surprise, just as the front door opens, I see Bella standing there midknock with wide eyes. When she sees me her face breaks into a smile and my smile shortly follows.

"I missed you." She whispers breathlessly, her eyes still wide and set on my face. I pull her close and into the house closing the front door behind her.

I kiss her forehead and she looks up at me with sad eyes. "Is everything okay?" She asks sincerely, then her eyes move away from my face to where my family is. Her eyes scan each face slowly before her sympathetic eyes land on Victoria. "How is she?"

How my girl can feel any sort of sympathy for Victoria is beyond me.

I hold her chin turning her eyes back on me. "She's fine. You should have stayed at dinner."

She rolls her eyes. "It was awkward without you there."

"They are your family."

"You are my family." She retorts, her eyes flashing lovingly before a beautiful smile spreads across her face. "I should be here for you. Are you okay?"

I nod and bend my neck to capture her lips in a much needed kiss. She wraps her arms around my neck and I squeeze her close to me, my arms wrapped around her tightly as if she could slip between my fingers.

I pull away when we are forced to take a breath, but I continue to hold her. She tilts her head to the side, her eyes searching mine.

"You're not okay." She points out. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing. I just want to take you home and forget about this day."

She smiles and nods her head. "I want to speak to Alice first."

I pull her back. "I don't want them to see you."

She furrows her brows. "What? Why?" She snatches away from me and folds her arms across her chest. "Are you ashamed of me?"

"Of course not." I rub her arms, and my eyes sweep the living room slowly. "Victoria is a problem and I don't want her upsetting you."

"I'm capable of handling myself Edward." She tries to walk away again but I hold her fast, stopping her from proceeding out of the dark entryway.

"You're mad at me?"

"Is it obvious?" She says, her brow raised in question.

I can't help but smirk, which only pisses her off. "You don't have to protect me all the time."

I roll my eyes and dip in order to become eye level with her. "We go in there together, okay. Just- don't let her upset you."

"Fine." She says, her eyes on my chest and not my face as she pulls away, and begins to walk.

I tug her hand. "Hey." I call, and she stops and turns back to face me. "Are you mad at me?"

She shakes her head no. "No."

"Then give me a kiss."

Without hesitation she steps back in front of me, wraps her arms around my neck and pulls me down for a soft lingering kiss.

Thank you for reading! :)