I do not own Twilight or its characters. Stephenie Meyer does.
Gabby and April, thank you for prereading, and Fran, thank you for taking your time to edit. Any mistakes left are my own.
Ch. 25
Life got back to normal soon after that weekend. Something that Edward said to him must have finally gotten through to Alec. When Edward had left us alone, my sweet boy emerged again as he apologized to me through big fat tears.
Well, everything was almost normal. Rose issued Alec his first punishment that went beyond timeouts or being sent to his room. Television privileges were taking away and he had extra chores to do. He took his sentence without complaint and even tried to do more.
There were also a few more changes since then. Alec surprised us all by starting to call Edward, Uncle Edward—Alicia quickly followed suit. He even asked Edward to come fishing with him and Grampa Charlie. Edward quickly accepted and even suggested that Emmett would love to join them. Rose didn't admit it out loud but I think she was pleased that Alec had more male role models.
The biggest change was in Lucy. She'd only talk shyly to a handful of people, but she was talking. I was among the ones she would share her voice with, along with Jasper, Maria, Alice, Alicia, and Alec. We hoped, in time, she would be more comfortable and talk to everyone.
We decided to make my leaving a gradual process to ease the twins into the new arrangement. I would start by spending a couple more nights a week at Edward's…our home. We took the twins back to our place after school a few times, so they could get used to it.
Before I knew it, it was Valentine's Day, and I was ashamed to say that I didn't think twice about it. Although Tanya and I combined the classes to have a small party for the kids each year, I hadn't celebrated the holiday with anyone since—well ever.
We had an early dinner in Port Angels before joining everyone at the Whitlock's. Alice persuaded Maria to throw another barn dance for Valentine's Day and offer couples romantic sleigh rides. All the proceeds would go to Seattle Children's Hospital.
I stood near a post as I watched Rose and Emmett dancing together. They were at the awkward stage of somewhere between being friends and something more. They've been on a couple of outings with the kids but no solo dates as of yet. After Alec's reaction to me leaving, I think it worried Rose about his reaction to her being with Emmett on a date. If that bothered Emmett, he didn't show it—he seemed to be easygoing about the pace.
"It's our turn." Edward slipped an arm around my waist.
"Our turn for what?" I looked up at him curiously.
"For a sleigh ride. Jasper should be back with Alice and the kids in a minute" He grinned crookedly as he started to lead me to the doors.
"I'm surprised that you're going to let me," I teased.
As time went on, he was becoming increasingly more protective of me. Although I had been driving in snow for years, he insisted that he should drive the kids and me to school if there were so much as a flake in the sky. He even bought a Volvo, trading in his truck for a safer vehicle for when the baby came.
"The horses are going to go slow and I trust Jasper to control them. If Emmett was driving them, I might agree with you." Edward just smirked at Emmett's scowl when he overheard him.
We stepped outside into the cool night air just as the sleigh came pulling up. A grinning Alec bounced down from the driver's seat.
"Auntie Bella, Uncle Edward, Mr. Jasper let me control the horses." His eyes were filled with excitement.
"Wow, that was nice of him." I smiled as he hugged me around the waist.
Edward helped the girls climb out from all the blankets and off the sleigh. "Did you girls, have fun?"
"Yeah," Alicia cheered and skipped around with rosy cheeks and a large smile.
Lucy looked just as happy and gave him a shy nod. The girls grabbed hands with Alec and ran towards the dance.
"Wait for…whoa." Alice slid on a patch of ice.
Edward managed to grab her elbow and steadied her. She gave him a sheepish smile and muttered a 'thank you.'
"That wouldn't have happened if you wore proper shoes for once," Jasper grumbled under his breath.
Alice heard him and whirled around, narrowing her eyes. "There's nothing wrong with these boots. They are completely flat."
"There's no traction to them, they're smoother than a baby's bottom—you can't walk across ice on them." Jasper huffed in exasperation.
"My boots are perfectly don't you be a good little coachman, drive your sleigh, and mind your own business." Alice reached over and pulled the top hat Jasper was wearing down over his eyes.
She spun around to storm off. Just before she reached the doors, she stumbled but caught herself. Jasper saw it and snickered loudly; she flipped him off, before heading into the barn.
Edward sighed loudly and cleared his throat.
Jasper gave us an apologetic smile and tipped his hat. "Sorry about that."
"Beautiful, are you ready?" Edward pulled back the blankets and offered me his hand.
I climbed in first and he followed making sure the quilts were tucked around us tightly. Jasper urged the team to go and we took off across the blanket of snow. I snuggled into Edward to block the wind from hitting my face.
"I thought they stopped with their banter," I whispered.
"I think it's their twisted way of flirting with one another." Edward chuckled.
He cupped my cheek and brushed his thumb along the curve of my face. "I'd rather not talk about them at the moment."
He kissed me heatedly, parting my lips with his tongue. I could taste the fruit punch on his breath. My hormones went into overdrive, and I wished we were alone and didn't have to wear so many layers. Though with how warm I was getting the lack of clothes…
Jasper cleared his throat loudly.
Right. We weren't alone.
I looked around to see that we had stopped in the middle of the apple orchard that had been decorated with white lights.
"This is really pretty," I commented, "but why did we stop?"
"I want to show you something." Edward stepped out then proceeded to help me.
The cool air hit me and I shivered from the change of temperature.
"Can't you show me from the sleigh." I desired to be snuggled back with him under the blankets.
"I'll make it quick, and then I'll happily warm you up." He started to lead me down the row lit by lights.
He came to a stop and took my both my hands in his. Before I could ask him what he was up to, he knelt down on one knee before me. I let out a small gasp and took a tiny step back.
"Isabella Marie Swan, I knew you were the one since the moment I first saw you when we met at this very spot. You are a beacon of light in my world, and I don't know what I would do without you in it. I couldn't think of a better place to ask you this question than right here. I promise to love you always; will you marry me?" He pulled a ring out of his pocket, and even with the tiny amount of light the diamond sparkled.
"Yes." I nodded and tears filled my eyes.
Edward's grin took up his whole face as he tugged off my glove. He slipped the cool metal onto my finger then kissed my hand. He rose to his feet and kissed me tenderly.
"Let's get back and tell the others," he announced exuberantly.
We trudged back to the sleigh hand in hand. Jasper looked up when he saw us, with a curious expression.
"So…" he prompted.
"So…When are you going to man up and ask my friend out rather than just rag on her shoes," I quipped.
He was caught off-guard by my question and his jaw slacked. His mouth opened and closed a few times.
"I don't think I've ever seen you rendered speechless." Edward chuckled.
"Are you going to tell me her answer or not? I could leave you two stranded out here so you have to walk back." He quickly changed the subject.
Edward held up my left hand. "She said, yes."
"Congratulations. I know there will be a crowd waiting for you two. Shall we get back?"
"Yes, I don't want her getting sick," Edward agreed.
Apparently, I was the only one that didn't know Edward was proposing to me tonight. Waiting for us outside the barn was a small group of our family and quickly cheered as Edward held up my left hand for all to see.
"Auntie Bella, can Lucy and I both be flower girls? Auntie Alice said she can make us matching twirly dresses. Alec can be your ring bear." Alicia danced in front of me with Lucy shyly smiling by her side as I tried to walk back inside.
"I don't wanna be a bear, can I be a dog like Jake?" Alec asked.
"Guys, relax and let your Aunt breathe," Rose cut in then shooed them off to the dance floor.
"Congratulations, I'm so happy for you." She hugged me. "Let's see how the boy did." She grabbed my hand to examine the ring.
The large, round diamond had sapphire hearts on either side. The white gold band was intricately designed with diamond chips.
"Wow, he's got good taste. That has to be at least a karat," Alice awed.
"By the way, I'll make the girls' dresses, if that's what you want. She just asked for matching dresses not matching flower girl dresses." She lowered her voice.
"I like that idea and if you're up to it, maybe you could make mine," I suggested.
Her eyes lit up with excitement. "I would be more than happy too," she squealed.
Rose smirked and elbowed me. "You realize you just unleashed a monster, right?"
Alice narrowed her eyes playfully. "What do you think about the color orange for a bridesmaid dress? I think it will be excellent color on Rose. A dress with big puffy sleeves and a hoop skirt," she taunted.
"As long you make yourself a matching one?" I laughed as her smirk fell.
"Welcome to the family, little sis." Emmett picked me up and swung me around.
Although my morning sickness had vanished, my equilibrium was still off. My stomach turned and I clamped my eyes shut.
"Emmett, put her down," Esme scolded.
"Are you okay." Edward wrapped his arm around me and rubbed small circles on my back.
"Give me a minute," I asked with eyes still closed.
"Want me to go push him into a manure pile. I'll be happy to," he whispered.
"No, then the smell might really make me sick." I opened my eyes to look up at him. "So do you think we can escape soon?"
"Let's give them five more minutes then they probably won't bug us about it," he agreed.
Five minutes ended up being a half-hour.
"Ready?" Edward managed to slip away from a conversation with Charlie and Emmett.
"Just about. I wanted to remind Alice she was taking the twins to school on Monday. Have you seen her?" I scanned the room.
"Uh—there she is." Edward gestured to the far side of the room, by the hallway.
"Ali." I waved my hand over my head to get her attention.
Her eyes widened and a slightly guilty look came over her face as she walked towards us. "Are you leaving?"
"Yes, I wanted to remind you about Monday," I answered wondering why she was acting so odd.
"Monday?" She sounded confused.
"You're taking the twins to school," I prompted.
"Right…right…I remember now. By eight, right?" She nodded quickly and turned her head to the side distractedly.
"Alice"— I was about to ask if she was feeling all right when I spotted something in her hair—"you have hay in your hair." I plucked it out and held it for her to see.
Her eyes landed on it and she blushed.
"What is going on? You're acting weird, even for you?" I asked.
"I'll tell you later. One minute, Alicia, I'll help you." She scurried away.
Alicia looked up from the middle of the dance floor with a bewildered expression.
"O—kay," I mumbled.
Edward and I headed out of the barn and passed Jasper heading inside.
"Have a good night. Congrats, again." He smiled, his mood appeared to be lighter.
"Thank you. Good night." Edward nodded.
He glanced behind us at Jasper's retreating form and smirked. "Looks like they moved on from flirting."
I looked and saw a few strands of hay on Jasper's back.
"But he just came in, and she was down the hall," I questioned.
"Down the hall, where there's a back door and path to the main barn." Edward waggled his eyebrows.
LIL
We celebrated our engagement multiple times that night. Not even making it to our bedroom the first time.
I awoke next morning to Edward's hand sliding over my belly. Then a swift jab from inside me not liking his hand there.
"Ooo.." I was suddenly was wide awake.
"Did I hurt you?" Edward pulled his hand back sharply.
"No…I felt the baby." I placed his hand back.
The baby kicked once more.
"Did you feel that?" I looked at him expectantly but he looked disappointed.
"No…but I think you popped." He traced a circle around my belly button and started to smile again.
He was right, my bump seemed to double in size overnight. He reached for some cocoa butter cream to rub on my belly. His hand crept up and brushed my breast, his eyes darkened as he leaned in to kiss me.
Woof
His forehead rested against mine. "I'm being summoned, I'll be right back." He sighed then slipped from the bed and left the room.
I settled back against the pillow just as my phone rang. I reached over and grabbed it, noticing it was my mother.
I hadn't talked to her in months. She didn't even know about Edward let alone the baby. I tried several attempts to contact her but the few times she returned the calls I was in the middle of class and had my phone off.
"Hi, Mom," I said cheerfully.
"Hello, darling. I have the most exciting news to tell you." I rolled my eyes as she went on and on about her cruise and Phil.
"So, Spring training starts around your break. You should come down for a visit. There are some handsome guys on Phil's team you could meet," she gushed.
"Actually, Mom, I'm seeing someone and it's very serious. In fact, I'm having his baby." I braced myself for her reaction.
"You're pregnant and you haven't told me before now," she accused.
"I've tried to contact you, but you only just returned my phone calls." I rolled my eyes.
"Still, are you and…I don't even know his name. Are you and John Doe getting married?" She started to get dramatic.
"His name is Edward and he proposed to me last night," I answered, holding up my hand to look at my ring sparkle in the morning light.
"He proposed because he knocked you up? Sounds just like your father," she quipped.
"That's not why he proposed." I wasn't surprised by her comment but it still hurt.
"He's going to leave you, mark my words. You should've gotten married first to hold on to him. But then I suppose you're still too young to think about that and to be having babies. Isn't it enough that you're raising that girl's kids and now you've saddled yourself with your own. You won't get your life back until they're adults—trust me, I know." Her words stung.
I was saved by Edward coming back into the room. His smile dropped from his face when he saw me crying.
"I have to go. I'm sorry that I was such a burden." I clicked the phone off and tossed it onto the bed.
"Who thinks you're a burden," he asked angrily.
"It was just my mother being my mother. Let's just say she's still bitter about being a young mom." I sniffled.
He picked up my phone and started tapping at the screen.
"What are you doing?" I asked.
He held up a finger. "No…I'm not calling to apologize and neither will Bella. If anyone is owed an apology, it's your daughter. She has never been, or will ever be, a burden on anyone. If you don't want to be a mother or even a grandmother, then don't bother calling. I won't have my wife or my child's feelings played with." He hung up.
"I can't believe that you just did that. She's going to hate you." I looked at him in shock.
"Let her." He shrugged before crawling across the bed to me. He lifted my shirt and rubbed my belly tenderly.
"Thank you." I kissed him.
"You're more than welcome, beautiful." His hand slid up my torso.
"Now where were we?"
A/N:
Thoughts? Did he propose better this time? What do you think it going on between Alice and Jasper? And Renée?
Thank you for your love and reviews you have given my story.