AN: We're moving a bit through time. This chapter leads up to Thanksgiving, which will be the next chapter. There will be two more chapters plus the epilogue after this.
As always S Meyer created the world of Twilight and the characters. This story line is mine, character names are hers. No copyright infringement intended.
How Can I Help You?
Chapter 27
Happy Birthday!
BPOV
The last few weeks had flown past. Riley, my sweet angel boy would be turning one on Friday. Only after Edward had threatened Alice with bodily harm had she finally given up on trying to convince us to throw an elaborate party for him. She was also rolling along with the new assignment we had given her. Alice was in the process of planning our wedding.
After a very successful meeting with Mr. Jenks and his partner Mr. Turner, all the paperwork had been signed and initialed and would be filed with the California family courts to initiate the change of Riley's birth record. Edward and I left the lawyers office smiling and hopeful that this would not take more than six or seven months. Edward drove us back to Forks so we could collect our children.
~~Flashback~~
When we walked into the cottage we were met by one half of the Cullen family. Carlisle and Esme were seated on the sofa across from Rose and Emmett. Riley was playing with his blocks on the floor between them until he heard us enter.
"Mamaa Dada" He squealed as we watched him jump up and run over to us. I scooped him up and heard Esme gasp as we covered him in kisses.
"Missed you, baby boy, so so much. Daddy and I can't leave you anymore."
Esme was beside us in short order. "You're engaged? Oh my babies… Congratulations!"
Suddenly everyone was surrounding us. "Yes, we're engaged. I asked Bella last night, and she said 'yes'." Emmett was pounding Edward on his back while Rose and Esme "oohed" and "ahhed" over the ring.
Riley got excited because everyone else was so excited. Edward explained that we wanted a small ceremony with just family and close friends and that we wanted to do it soon.
"I know Ali will freak out that we aren't doing the big wedding, but we've waited for this moment long enough."
We had already decided to wait until after my appointment with Todd to confirm the pregnancy and hopefully the first trimester before announcing the news to everyone. We were planning to tell the girls that evening, but since I was so early in the pregnancy anything could happen. I was exhausted and after the rollercoaster of emotions the past thirty-six hours has provided, I was ready to drop. The girls would be getting out of school shortly, but Edward had asked Shelly to pick them up. He took us home wanting me to 'relax'.
Edward was already becoming overprotective. He insisted on carrying Riley and all of his things into the house. I moved to grab our bags and he barked at me not to touch them. "Edward, sweetheart, I am capable of carrying bags, groceries, even our son. I promise not to over do it, but I will have to start drugging you if you smother me too much. Nothing has changed really since yesterday. The only thing different is that we know. I've got to move around, I need to live normally."
Edward wrapped me in his arms, "Sorry love, I will try to relax, but please no carrying anything heavier than Riley. I'm just trying to take care of both of you."
Later that evening, after we had all eaten dinner and the girls had finished all of their homework, we sat them down in the den to tell them our news. We told them that not only were we engaged, to which I had to explain how he proposed, but that we were also expecting a baby. I told them exactly how we were told and informed them that I was going to see my doctor to confirm everything.
Kate was bouncing with her joy that we were getting married and a new sibling was on its way. Irina smiled and looked happy, but she was a bit off. Edward and I spoke that night after all of the kids were in bed. We thought it would be a good thing to let Maggie know about the changes coming to our family so she would be able to talk about it with Irina in their next session. The last thing I wanted was for this to be a set back for her, she'd come so far since my return.
"She'll be fine, love," Edward tried to assure me. "It's probably just the realization that we are truly getting married. She's told me that she wanted this for us and that she wanted more siblings. Let's try not to worry too much right now; we'll just give her a few days to think it all through."
After catching up on work the next day, Edward invited Alice and Jasper over for dinner. We unleashed the party beast with our news. She was so excited for us, but completely crazed, especially when we dropped the bomb. "You have three weeks, Ali. Do what you can to organize a small affair, but the only guests will be those we invite for Thanksgiving."
Since we would be leaving for an extended weekend following our Thanksgiving dinner, Edward mentioned having the ceremony at our house with the family. I was all in favor of that and assumed three weeks wouldn't be enough time for Alice to go overboard with the planning.
I was wrong. Alice spent the next two weeks driving me batty with all of her questions. In the midst of all the wedding nonsense, I was not only trying to plan Riley's birthday dinner, but I also had to visit my doctor.
Todd or Dr Philips, in his office, ran a urine test along with another blood test. He took all of my information and addressed my questions about the 'period' I thought I had just had.
"It's not uncommon to have some light bleeding at the very beginning of your pregnancy, due to the embryo implanting in your uterus. Usually is bleeding occurs it is much lighter and shorter than a menstrual period. You should only be concerned if you experience cramping in addition to bleeding, then you should rush to the hospital. Your urine did test positive and we are testing the blood now. It's too early to hear a heartbeat, but I would like you and Edward to come back the first week in December for an ultrasound. We should be able to accurately date your pregnancy then."
I left his office with my next appointment scheduled along with my prescriptions for prenatal vitamins.
I had informed the wedding Nazi that if the weather permitted, I really wanted Edward and me to be able to say our vows in the meadow. The logistics proved to be too difficult though. I didn't want anyone to fall while walking out there, and it was too far from the house should the weather turn, so we settled on the backyard. Alice suggested Edward and I say our vows on the deck above our guests. As we were holding the ceremony at noon on Thanksgiving, we would be eating our holiday meal that night.
I still insisted on cooking for our guests, so Esme and Rose would help me precook the side dishes the day before and Esme and Carlisle would take care of the two turkeys and ham the day of the wedding. I was exhausted after each of our marathon shopping trips and Edward finally had to step in.
I was overwhelmed with it all so I finally told Alice that anything she decided would be fine. The girls were my only bridesmaids and Riley was our little ring bearer. Carlisle would stand with Edward as his best man. The last decision I made was the only one I was excited about. I found my dress at the last shop we went to. I had intended to find a simple tea length dress to go along with our simple wedding, but I fell in love with the ivory confection staring out at me from the store's window. It was an ivory satin ball gown with pickup accents with a satin cuff neckline. I loved the lace-up back, but decided against the optional train. I knew it was meant to be mine when the store actually had one in stock that was my size but the bride changed her mind. They measured for the alterations and informed me that they would have it ready the Monday before Thanksgiving.
After the purchase of my dress, I was done wedding planning. Alice took over everything else, but I had my little boy's birthday to plan.
~~~End of Flashback~~~
It was now Wednesday; my baby boy would be one on Friday, and by the next Friday his daddy and I would be on our honeymoon. Edward insisted that after the holidays we would take a longer trip. He wanted to take me to Italy or Greece in the spring. I would look forward to that, but the short trip he'd planned was enough for me.
I was double checking my order for Riley's cake with Mrs. Weber when I heard, "BELLS" from behind me. I turned to see the face of my best friend running towards me.
"Angie! Oh my God! I'm so glad you made it home!" I had not seen Angela in months. We spoke often on the phone and she knew about Edward and our wedding, but like everyone else I had not told her about the baby yet. Honestly it was getting hard not to spill it. Alice had mentioned more than once that we needed to have a bachelor / bachelorette party. I wasn't interested, I knew Edward wasn't either, but there was no way she wouldn't be pushing drinks on me at anything like that and then she'd know.
Edward and I had amended our plan and instead of waiting until I was past 13 weeks, we were telling them at Christmas. We just had to make it that far.
"Bella, I'm just so happy for you and Edward. You're finally getting everything you wanted."
We spent time talking with Mrs. Weber. I adored Riley's cake. It was a Curious George cake and George was holding a small plate that contained Riley's individual cake and it was covered in miniature bananas. Mrs. Weber had even recreated the yellow hat that George kept stealing and she gave George green eyes like Riley's and Edward's.
Edward and I had started reading the George books to Riley and he loved them.
I called Edward to let him know Angela was in town and we were coming back to the house. Angie was dying to see Riley again as well as see Edward.
"Alright love, I'll ask Shelly to get Kate and Irina for you, while I bathe Riley. He had a little fun with his lunch today and ended up wearing more noodles and sauce than went into his stomach."
I laughed. Riley had discovered that Edward and I reacted in a funny way if he played with his food, and unfortunately he loved to make a mess. "Thanks baby."
"How is my baby doing? Are you alright love, any of the symptoms bothering you yet?"
"Not yet, thank goodness, though if Alice pushes me one more time to do anything, I may remove her head."
"Don't worry love, I've got it handled. See you soon."
Angela and I left the bakery armed with lunch for everyone, boxes upon boxes of pastries, and a design in place for our wedding cake. Edward would be returning on Friday morning to pick up Riley's birthday cake.
"Does you mother want me to not be able to wear my dress? Thanks goodness it's next week, I won't have time to blow up."
Angela snorted, "Pfft, as if a couple of Mom's cupcakes or tarts would cause you to be too big for your wedding dress. Now if you were pregnant and waiting another couple of months to get married, then we may have an issue with your dress and I'd worry." I looked at her; she was wearing an innocent expression that she'd perfected when we were back in middle school starting mischief.
"Ang…what do you know, and how?"
She just laughed. "Bella, I've known you forever. So…are you?"
I nodded as she bounced in her seat. "We found out the day before we met with the lawyers to file the paperwork to change Riley's birth record. I was in shock, Edward was over the moon. We both wanted more children, but we just wanted to wait until after we were married. Then Edward proposed that night. I teased him about doing it just because he'd knocked me up again, but it was so romantic and he'd already talked to my dad and both girls. He'd been carrying the ring around waiting for the right time to ask."
"Why doesn't anyone know about the baby?"
"Well it's still really early. I wouldn't have found out for another couple of weeks if not for the paternity test. We wanted to wait until after my first trimester, but it's getting too hard to keep it quiet. The girls know of course, Todd and now you, but we're telling everyone else in the family at Christmas, so keep it quiet, ok?"
"No problem Bells, I'm just so happy for you both." It had taken me years, but Angela knew everything that had happened between me and Edward. She knew about Riley before I told Jake. She had pushed for me to fly to Forks and tell him, but when I balked she supported my decision. "It's taken a long time for you both to get here, but now you'll have it all."
We had just gotten settled in the den when I heard little steps running in our direction.
"Ry, slow down buddy, mommy isn't going anywhere."
"Mammaa" he shouted as soon as he spotted me. He hurried over as fast as his little legs would carry him. I picked him up snuggling him to me as I sat back on the sofa. Edward walked in from the kitchen looking his usual deliciousness again, sex on legs that was my Edward. Angela stood to hug Edward. "It's so good to see you, Angela. Welcome to our home."
He settled on the arm of the sofa beside me before leaning down to kiss me 'hello'.
"Mmm" he was smirking as he lifted his head, "Hi love, can I get you ladies anything to drink?"
I shook my head as did Angela. "We're fine, sweetheart. Mrs. Weber sent your sweet tooth a present or fifty, though. I set the boxes on the counter in the kitchen. You are going to love Riley's cake, Edward. She recreated Curious George perfectly."
We may not be going Alice crazy for his first birthday, but his first cake would be fantastic. Edward took Riley from me and set him on the floor so he could play.
"I'm sure it'll be great, love."
I sighed, "I can't believe he's one already. The time has just flown." I regretted that statement as soon as it was out of my mouth. Regret passed over Edward's beautiful face. He squeezed my knee before sitting down on the floor with Ry and his blocks.
We sat in the den catching up as Riley built and destroyed his empire again and again.
Shelly prepared a quick lunch for all of us and after we ate, she volunteered to take Angela back to the bakery before collecting the girls from school.
Edward put Riley down for his nap and we settled into our bed, just to rest. "I'm sorry, sweetheart. I hate that you missed so much of his first months. He was the cutest little squirming bundle of joy and now he wants to assert his independence. He wants to walk everywhere, until he gets tired. He doesn't want a bottle anymore, just sippy cups. He's grown so fast." My hormones have been bouncing all over the place lately, so it was no surprise that the waterworks turned on.
"Awe love, please don't cry. I know you feel bad for not telling me sooner, but Bella the last couple of months have been the best of my life. My children, all of them, are happy and healthy. I have the love of my life in my arms and this summer we'll have a new bundle of joy. They may grow up, live lives of their own making, but they will always be our babies."
I snuggled further into him and said, "I know they will and I can't wait until next year when we have the holidays with all four of our children."
Quiet times had been few and far between in the last weeks and I knew it would be just as crazy in our house until after Christmas. Edward had been trying to change his scheduled trip to Los Angeles, but to no avail. The client was insistent that everything be completed the week prior to Christmas so Edward decided to turn it into a family trip. He wanted Kate, Irina, Riley and I to accompany him for the six day trip. The girls were excited about the prospect of shopping and star sightings while I was just happy we wouldn't have to be without him. Eric had already signed off on my trip because I could still work via email.
We heard the front door open and soon Kate and Irina were piling into bed with us.
This had seemed a tad strange to curl up with the girls on our bed, but after Irina snuck into our room in the middle of the night, a few nights after we told them about the baby and the wedding, I got used to it.
~~~Flashback~~~
"Bella…are you awake?"
I opened my eyes to see Irina's face, extremely close to mine. I was eternally grateful for two things in that moment. First, that I didn't scream and wake Edward after being startled. The second thing, that I was wearing one of Edward's old UDub shirts. I'm not sure Irina could have recovered from getting yet another anatomy lesson seeing her me and her father naked again.
"Rini, what's wrong?" I looked at the clock on the nightstand and it was just after two in the morning. I had only been asleep for a couple of hours.
"Ca-can I sleep in here?" She asked.
I pulled the covers back so she could slip in beside me. "What's going on, sweetheart?" She was trembling from the cold, so I wrapped her up in the blanket and my arms.
"Please talk to me, Irina."
"I'm sorry if you and Dad have been worried. I talked to Maggie tonight. I'm really okay with everything. I guess I was just in shock. Dad told us he was going to ask you to marry him, but just didn't expect it to be that soon. I'm glad you said yes though. You belong with us. You're my Bella, our Bella, and I can't wait to have a new brother or sister. For Ry's sake I hope it's a boy. I don't know if you've noticed Bella, but there is a distinct lack of males in the Cullen line." We giggled softly, but it was enough to wake Edward. He didn't say anything about Irina being in our bed. He just pulled me back against him, wrapping his arms around me before drifting back to sleep. I felt like a Bella sandwich with both Edward and Irina flanking me as I fell asleep.
~~~End Flashback~~~
After that night, the girls knew they were welcome to come to us as long as our door wasn't locked and as long as they did knock if it was closed. The readily agreed to those conditions as none of us wanted them to walk in on something they shouldn't see.
It was nice to spend time with them at the end of the day and they knew that if they needed to talk to us, they could come to us.
"How was school, girls?"
Irina sighed, "Boring! I don't know why we had to go. It was the last day before the Thanksgiving break, so it's not like we were doing anything anyway."
Kate thumped her sister's head, "Duh…Rin they wanted some 'alone' time."
"EWWWW" Irina twisted her face and we all laughed.
"Well that's something we aren't getting these days. Your Aunt Alice is driving me crazy. I'm hoping things won't be as crazy after the party Friday, but I'm not holding my breath. I kissed Edward's chin and sat up intending to start getting dinner ready.
"Whoa, headrush." Edward was up in a second holding me steady.
"I guess I spoke too soon about not having any symptoms, huh baby?" Edward asked Kate to get a wet cloth and asked Irina to get Riley up. He was starting to talk to us through the monitor. "Dada…Mamaaa…up. Wy up Dada. Up up up!"
And the quiet bubble has been burst again. I stood up slowly with Edward's help. He draped the wet washcloth over my neck and it helped immensely.
"I'm fine, baby. Would you go tend to Riley while I make sure we have everything I need for dinner?"
Edward insisted that we order out, especially because I would be feeding a small army
in the coming days. I was also sent to bed early to 'rest'. At least I didn't have to 'rest' alone, but after all that 'resting' I fell into a deep sleep.
With the help of Kate, Irina and Shelly we had the living room and dining room decorated with Curious George and all set for Friday afternoon's party. Our guest list was up to 17, including the five of us, Shelly and her husband, Esme, Carlisle, Charlie, Rose, Em and baby Emmaline, Alice and Jasper, Angela and Ben.
My soon to be husband and an already overprotective father kept saying it wasn't too late to cater the night, he didn't want me to exert myself. I was going to have to sedate him as I got further along in my pregnancy. I informed him that I was perfectly fine to cook for my family. It was Riley's first birthday and he would be eating my lasagna for the first time.
Friday morning dawned and I had slept very well. Edward sent me to bed early again, but much to my disappointment he didn't join me. He explained that he had one last present to assemble for Riley, then he'd come to bed. I had slept so soundly that I never heard when he came in, but I did feel the tickle of fingers down my back as he coaxed me to wake up.
"Wakey, wakey, love, it's Riley's birthday. Time to open presents."
He was so adorable, sitting in his pajama pants trying to wake me.
"Edward, honey it's not even seven o'clock. The sun isn't up yet, besides I thought Riley was opening his gifts with everyone tonight."
Edward nodded, "He is, I just need to show you this one present before everyone gets up. It's too big for the living room so I set it up out front."
I narrowed my eyes at him. "You didn't get that play set I told you not to buy yet, did you?"
He shook his head, "No, sweetheart. I promised we'd wait for his third birthday for that one. I just had to get this one though. Please, come see." He pulled out the pout that would move mountains and I laughed.
"Alright, just let me have a moment in the bathroom and I'll be right out." I completed my morning routine in record time. Edward led me towards the front door, but before he opened it, he turned and said, "Just remember that I love you and our family very much." He then covered my eyes and led me outside.
"I love you, Bella." "I love you too, Edward." He was starting to freak me out. Not a good idea of something to do to a pregnant woman.
He removed his hands and sitting before me was a cream colored version of his new car, The Infinity QX56, with a giant red bow on the hood.
"Edward Anthony Masen Cullen…" He tensed behind me, ready for my wrath. "What have you done?" I was really trying to keep a stern tone to my voice, but I could tell I was failing at it. "You know Riley won't be able to drive this for at least 15 years." I laughed and threw myself into his arms.
"You shouldn't have, ya know." He held me close, "You needed it, love. You are transporting precious cargo everyday." Because I was still wrapped around him, Edward ended up carrying me over to the driver's door.
"It's just like mine, Bella. The only difference is yours has a bench seat in the middle row. That gives you space for one more person." I had to give him the eye for that response. "In case you have Emmaline or something like that." He added trying to look innocent.
"Thank you sweetheart, I really love it. What will we do with the Navigator?"
"Ah, I thought perhaps we'd give it to Kate in February when she turns sixteen." I nodded my agreement to him.
I suddenly felt very naughty. "You know Edward, the rear seats fold flat, how would you like to test the shocks on this baby?" I wagged my eyebrows at him.
With a smirk he just said, "After you, love."
~O~O~O~O~
That evening surrounded by our family and friends we watched as Riley fisted his little banana cake in both hands and tried to put both fists in his mouth at the same time. I was taking picture after picture along with Esme. We wanted to make sure every moment was documented for his albums. Kate was bouncing with her joy that the Navigator would be hers in a few months. She was also pestering every adult male in the room to take her out driving.
"Kate," Charlie piped up, "You still need your license before you can get behind the wheel, but I'll talk to your dad about taking you out to the middle of nowhere to let you practice after Christmas, alright?"
"Thanks, Grandpa Charlie. Bella refuses to take me and Dad is nervous about it."
"Kate, you know why Bella won't, and I will take you, just let it wait until after the holidays." This was one occasion where I was actually grateful for Edward's
overprotectiveness. I wanted nothing to do with Kate being behind a wheel of a car.
Edward walked over, pulling me back against his chest and wrapping his arms around my waist. His palm rested over my abdomen. "Are you two alright?" He whispered against my ear. "Yeah, just a little tired. I may go to sleep after Riley is cleaned up. He's had such a great day."
Riley had been a little overwhelmed by all the people and all the presents but he had fun tearing everything open and one by one the toys were being played with and each person was getting a little time with the birthday boy.
"Just think, love. Next week at this time we will be relaxing in a large Jacuzzi tub all by ourselves, celebrating our marriage."
I turned in his arms. "I can't wait, my love."
~O~O~O~O~
Two regular chapters left. The next chapter is the wedding, Thanksgiving, and their weekend away.
I've added links to Bella's dress and engagement ring at my profile page.
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