So behind schedule…with everything. I might be leaving my beloved city of Chicago to move somewhere out of state in the near future, but we still aren't sure yet. It all depends if my hubby gets the promotion he's shooting for. If that happens, this is going to experience a bit more of a delay.
But as you can see, this story is started to wrap up and it shouldn't be too much longer now before it is finally all finished. As always, thank you so much for reviewing. It's just wonderful.
The (Panic! At the Disco oriented) Faithful Chapter Playlist:
Sarah Smiles by Panic! At The Disco (this is my ABSOLUTE favorite song at the moment)
Always by Panic! At The Disco
Memories by Panic! At The Disco
Trade Mistakes by Panic! At The Disco
This chapter has not been to the pre-reader yet. But when Wendy is free to look this over, I'll make any corrections that are needed.
Be sure to look at my author's note at the bottom about the poll of my profile page.
…
BPOV
"What about Lynnette?" I asked, glancing up from the baby names book that was propped up against my huge belly. "It means 'pretty one'. That's nice, right?"
Edward shrugged, his hand lazily rubbing my stomach. "Yeah, it's nice. But I don't know. I kind of think we should wait until she's born until we give her a name. Like, instead of trying to make her fit the name that we choose, we should find a name based on how she really is."
I frowned, putting down the pen I had been using to circle the baby names that I liked. "Really? We picked Liam's name out when I was only six months pregnant, just like I am now with this baby girl, and I think it fits him perfectly because we picked it out with him in mind."
"I just think we should just do things differently this time around," Edward finally said, looking up at me through his long eyelashes. "I…I don't want you to go through what you did after Liam was born," he added as an afterthought.
"Don't even think like that, Edward," I scolded, pinching his cheek playfully. "Things were really hard for me then, okay? And it's different now. We don't need to change anything, because you and I have both done our best to provide for our son and he's perfect just the way he is."
Edward was quite for a second, pondering. "Okay. I get it. I'm just a little unsure, you know? It's scary going into this again, even though things really are different this time around."
I leaned over and pecked him on the lips, and then turned the page of the baby names book. "Alright. So I want to at least have a couple names picked out for her when she's born. We don't have to have a final name picked out, but I want some options."
"Lynnette is okay," Edward said, peering at the book. "But what about Madelyn? Or Marianne? I like both of those."
I nodded, relishing in the moment, loving how domestic this felt. "I like Madelyn, but Marianne seems a little old fashioned. I don't know how I feel about that, even though old fashioned names are supposedly making a comeback." I paused, flipping through a few pages in the book. "Ooh, I like Ella. That's pretty, and it's nice and simple."
"It's pretty," Edward said softly, kissing me gently on the lips again. I could feel the curve of his smile against my own lips as he started to pull away from me, and I couldn't help but smile back.
"So those are the three names we'll keep as options…Lynnette, Madelyn, and Ella." I circled all three names in the book, and then shut it and set it down on my bedside table. "Three months left," I said softly, rubbing my stomach. "And then she'll be here, and we'll be parents again."
Edward smiled crookedly, placing a quick kiss on my belly. "I know, Bella. And I can't wait."
I laughed, twirling my wedding ring around my finger. Thanks to the weight I had gained during my pregnancy, the ring fit a lot better now, and I wouldn't be taking it off again for a very long time. "Liam is getting impatient too. The other day he asked me if I could just have her now instead in a couple of months. I think he's getting tired of fat, tired, and emotional Bella and wants the regular me back."
Edward gave me a little glare for calling me fat, and then took my hand in his. "He's just excited. But he does like helping you, and he told me that he's practicing to be a big brother." My heart nearly melted at the thought of my sweet baby boy growing up so much and so fast. I nearly started to tear up, but instead focused on Edward. "I think this trip will be good for him. He and I haven't gotten to spend any time together alone over the past couple of months."
"You'll both have a lot of fun. And truth be told, I'm looking forward to a relaxing week by myself at home. It'll be nice and quiet, and maybe I'll actually be able to get something done."
In three weeks, Edward would be taking Liam with him on a trip to New York City. Originally, we planned to go as a family over Liam's Spring or Summer break, but then with my sister and sister-in-law having babies in the spring and summer, and now with my own pregnancy, the family trip was postponed. Instead, Liam and Edward would get to spend a week together by themselves, something that had never happened before.
Liam was over the moon, and I knew that he'd starting packing his suitcase over a week ago in anticipation. He was nearly as excited about the trip to New York with his daddy as he was about his new baby sister, and I didn't blame him.
Even though Edward always made plenty of time for Liam at home, I thought it was a good idea for the two of them to have a little time alone with each other before the baby was born. Liam would have to miss a week of school for the trip, but Edward and I had decided that it was worth it. He was in first grade, not high school, and missing a couple of days wasn't going to hurt him.
In fact, missing school to spend some much needed time with his father was probably exactly what Liam needed right now.
…
"And then we got on the big boat and stood at the front and sailed in the water. And you know what? We sailed right past the Statue of…the Statue of Liberty, and it was so tall! It was taller than Daddy, Uncle Emmet, and Uncle Jasper put together! We didn't get to go inside of it though, but that's okay because we walked around outside and Daddy let me get a hot dog and a lemonade-"
I smiled as I listened to my son's rambling. He and Edward had been in New York City for two days now, and even though I already missed the two of them terribly, I was glad they were having so much fun together. Yesterday they had spent the day playing and walking around in Central Park, and today they had gone to some of the more tourist-y spots, including the Statue of Liberty.
"Tomorrow, Daddy said he's going to take me to his job and then he said we could go to a really big Toys R Us and some candy stores!"
"Wow, baby, that sounds like so much fun!" I said enthusiastically. "I'm so glad you're having lots of fun."
"I am," Liam confirmed. "And so is Daddy…oh. Daddy wants to talk to you. Bye Mommy, I love you. Tell my baby sister that I love her, too."
I smiled widely, tears blurring my vision momentarily. "I love you too, baby, and so does your baby sister."
Liam said goodbye again and then I heard the phone changing hands. "Hi, sweetheart."
"Hi, Edward. I'm so glad Liam is having a good time…is the trip going well?"
"It's great, Bella," Edward laughed. "Liam is behaving like an angel…tomorrow I've got to do some photos in Time Square and then we're going to some cheesy stores I thought Liam would like. How are you doing, by the way? Are you feeling okay?"
"Don't worry, Edward, I feel great. Yesterday Rose and I went shopping with Luca and today I've just been lazy…I read for most of the morning, cleaned a little bit in the afternoon, and then I had pasta for dinner and sat down to watch some pointless television. My only complaint is that my back is killing me…I've definitely gotten to the extremely uncomfortable stage of my pregnancy."
"I'm sorry, baby. I'll be sure to give you a nice back rub and massage when Liam and I get home. Take it easy this week- you deserve a break."
I sighed, knowing that I would never really be able to take a break. Being a mother and wife meant that I was always thinking about someone else and their safety and happiness. "Okay, I'll be sure to try."
Edward laughed. "You do that. I've got to go now, okay? I promised Liam I would take him swimming and if we don't do it now, we'll never find the time."
"Alright. Have fun. I love you and I miss both of you."
"We love you and miss you as well, Bella. And the baby, of course. Tell her goodbye for me and that I love her."
"I will," I promised. With a final goodbye to Edward, I hung up the phone and leaned back in my easy chair, frowning slightly. My back really hurt. It was terrible.
I practically hobbled towards the hall closet to get my heating pad, and on my way back into the living room I suddenly felt a sharp cramp. I froze for a moment, immediately terrified. I winced as the cramping started again, and my mind began to race.
Forgetting the heating pad and my sore back, I hurried back into the living room and grabbed my cell phone, frantically dialing a familiar number. I inhaled sharply and tried to breathe through the pain of the cramps, but they were getting sharper.
"Hello?" My mother answered the phone cheerfully, and I nearly forgot my panic at the sound of her comforting voice. However, another painful cramp brought back my fears.
"Mom, its Bella. I don't know what's going on, but I'm cramping really badly and I think I need to go to the hospital.
…
Sorry for that cliff-hanger and shortish chapter…but I'll update again in the next three days.
Visit my profile page for a poll over what Edward and Bella should name the baby, and be sure to review.
Xoxo- Melodyella aka Mellie
