A/N: Thanks to everyone for the awesome reviews from the last chapter. I might not get around to reviewing every single one of them, but I appreciate them more than you realize.
Have you checked out the entries for Esme's Erotic Ecstasy Contest? The deadline to enter is October 31st, so if you want to submit something get on it. I may have an entry in the Naughty Heels Anonymous 80's music contest, which I did in collaboration with Risbee, so maybe you should go check out the entries and see if you can figure out which one is ours. Oh and go enter the Twilight Fright Night contest hosted by ARenee363 and WindyCityWonder. I might be doing an entry for that with Risbee as well. LOL
As per usual, I don't own twilight. I do own the New Moon Movie Companion book, thanks to my fuckawesome beta MaggieMay14.
BPOV
It was eight o'clock on a Saturday morning. I hadn't been up this early on a weekend in like 3 months and today more than ever, I wished I was curled up in my bed with Edward wrapped around me like a security blanket.
"Bella, they are waiting for us you know," said Edward as he came into the bathroom and found me pulling my hair up into a ponytail. I had showered the night before to try and sleep in a bit in the morning, but of course Esme had to call the house just after seven and remind us that they would be over at eight. What was supposed to be a quick shopping trip to get the baby a crib and a few things for the nursery had suddenly turned into an all day event beginning with breakfast.
"I realize this Edward, but I am dealing with a little excess baggage," I said as I motioned to my stomach and put on a small spray of perfume. "It's understandable if I go a little slow these days. I think they will be able to cope." Edward let out a small groan as he headed back into the living room to entertain his mother and sister for a little bit longer.
They were forcing him to join us for the shopping trip and he wasn't looking forward to it. He was excited about the baby, the crib and all the other little things we would need for the nursery, but we had already discussed what we wanted and he was looking for a day of peace and quiet. I couldn't blame him though; I wanted a day to relax as well.
"You are positively beaming," gushed Esme as I walked into the room tentatively. She was dressed impeccably as per usual and looked like she might be going over to Martha Stewart's later to watch other people garden or something. Alice was rocking a thick pink woolen sweater with a pair of tight jeans and ran over to me the moment she saw me emerge down the stairs.
"I am apologizing in advance for anything my mother may say or try to buy you today. Please don't hold it against me," she whispered to me as I let out a low throaty laugh that was caught by both Edward and Esme. I began to worry about what Esme and Alice may have talked about on their way over from the hotel that would make her apologize to me, but when my stomach growled, I forced the thoughts from my mind. The only thing I could think about was getting some sort of food in me.
We drove into mid-town and ended up having breakfast at a small restaurant which of course, Esme and Carlisle invested in. The food was excellent and the service was top notch, but considering everyone knew that Esme was in the building, it wasn't a shock. At just after ten, we walked into a store called Bellini, up near Central Park and I thought Esme was going to go into baby overdrive.
Edward wrapped his arm firmly around my waist as his mother's eyes lit up and she went over to the first crib she saw. I looked at the tag handing down and had to laugh, since it was called 'The Bella'. "Do you think it's a sign?" I asked Edward with a giggle as he looked down at the tag.
"A sign we shouldn't own it. I think it's too gaudy," he declared as he then led me over to a different crib that was a nice oak color and actually matched the wood floors in the nursery quite well. "This is more of what I had in mind." I watched as Edward's hands moved slowly over the bedding in the crib, which had a safari motif. It was cute, but I wasn't sold on it just yet, although the crib definitely had possibilities.
"What did you want in the nursery other than a crib?" asked Alice as she ran over to join us. We explained that we were looking for a changing table, a dresser, a crib and a bassinet so that the Peanut could stay in our room for the first few weeks after he came home from the hospital. She nodded her head and ran back to Esme, who was talking animatedly to a sales person. I cringed at the thought of what they were discussing.
"Do you think they realize that whatever they are doing right now is in vain because we will make our own decisions anyways?" I inquired as Edward nodded his head at me slowly before kissing my temple.
"I think my mother realized a long time ago that we make choices together. She just wants to feel involved, and I can't stay that I blame her since we did shaft her on throwing us a wedding," laughed Edward as a small display on the other side of the store caught my eye and I eagerly grabbed his hand and pulled him towards it with me.
It was the same oak crib as the previous display, but this one had a bedding set covered in trains which made me get a little bit too excited. "This is it," I declared as Edward quirked an eyebrow at me in surprise.
"This is the first store we've visited and the second crib you've looked at and you've declared it perfect for our little peanut?" he asked as Esme, Alice and the sales person they were speaking to came over to join us. Alice was the only one who looked at the crib set as excited as me.
"It's perfect. Trains… just like how you and Edward fell in love," she announced as I nodded my head and Edward finally understood my excitement about it. The moment I saw it from across the room, I knew I wanted it just because of the symbolism. There were different trains on it, but the meaning was still the same and I wasn't shocked when Edward turned around and announced to the sales person that we would take the entire set, which included a dresser, changing table and rocking chair.
"You are seriously choosing this one?" asked Esme as she pointed at the set Edward and I had just agreed on. "We have all day to go shopping and you pick the first crib you see in the first store we visit. Can I just say I am a little disappointed that this won't take all day?" I looked over at Esme and shocked her as I wrapped my arms around her and gave her a big hug.
"Actually, it's the second crib we saw and the second bedding set we saw, but it's perfect for us. We met because we were traveling by train across Europe. How sweet is it that we are sharing our mutual love of trains with the baby?" I said as I finally released my mother-in-law and stepped back to my husband, who looked just as surprised as his mother that I had hugged her. "If you want to make this day of shopping last longer, why don't we go looking for clothes for the Peanut?"
"I came all the way down from Boston, so I would like more than 2 hours of breakfast and a little crib shopping with you girls."
"I think we can manage to find something to keep ourselves busy," gushed Alice as she got a small glint in her eye and I looked at her warily.
"Fine. You girls lead the way," I replied hesitantly.
Esme and Alice nodded happily and I gave Edward a reprieve once we were done paying for everything, or once Esme was done paying for it since she insisted, no matter how hard Edward and I tried to convince her otherwise. "I'll see you in a few hours back at the house," I told Edward as he left us and we arranged for delivery of the furniture for the weekend after Thanksgiving. Since Edward and I would be heading back to Forks to see my parents in three weeks, we decided it would be best to wait until we returned to get everything set up for the baby.
As we left the store, Alice hailed a cab and before I realized it we were at a salon a few blocks away and as we were being seated for pedicures, Rosalie walked in with a huge smile on her face. "I called in a few favors," said Alice as I looked at her incredulously.
"How the hell did you get pedicure appointments for the four of us on a busy Saturday with no notice?" I inquired as Rosalie sat beside me and offered me a small hug. We still weren't on the best of terms, but every day things were improving between us.
"I happen to know a few people," laughed Esme. "I let Alice drop the Cullen name a few times and here we are. I must admit, I am rather giddy about the prospect of spending the next few hours with my daughters," said Esme sweetly as I realized that she thought of me like one of her own, which was a wonderful development in my eyes. Rosalie and Emmett had gone earlier in the week to see Esme and Carlisle to mend fences with them and they had called Edward and me afterwards to let us know how things had gone.
Apparently Esme and Carlisle were most disappointed about the fact that Rosalie and Emmett had left them in the dark for so many years about the potential grandchild they would have had, but Emmett had to remind them over and over again about how at the time, they weren't exactly the stellar parents that they are now. In fact, Emmett told them point blank that at the time of the pregnancy they hadn't been in the country to talk to anyways since it was one of the periods where Carlisle was traveling a lot for work. Carlisle and Esme eventually conceded that they weren't exactly the best parents at the time and they all made amends, for which we were all thankful. There was no way any of us could handle Emmett and Rosalie's wedding if the family was in shambles.
"So, Bella… have you changed your mind about being my maid of honor?" asked Rosalie with her eye brow raised. Esme and Alice were not aware that I hadn't agreed to stand up for Rosalie after the argument and the look on their faces was one of pure shock.
"You're not doing it?" asked Alice as I shook my head tentatively. I hadn't yet decided to do it again and as the pregnancy progressed, I wasn't even sure I would be up to the task. I didn't have the time to do all the little things she had requested of me before, so unless there was a change in the way she was doing business, I didn't really want to do it.
"Bella, I'm going to implore you to reconsider, because you can't really leave the confines of the seat since they are soaking your feet and you are basically forced to listen to me," laughed Rosalie as she glared at me. I suddenly wished I was sitting beside Esme and dealing with her stares. "If I can promise you that all you need to do is show up at the rehearsal, accept your attendant's gift and then stand up for me… will you do it?" she asked as I began to contemplate her offer.
"What about all the other stuff?"
"Masen, our new and fabulously gay wedding planner will be doing everything. He takes every single call from my mother about the planning and basically tells her to go fuck herself and that it is Emmett's and my day," she chuckled loudly. "Sorry for cursing Esme."
"No problem, Rosalie dear. I've heard worse in the past few weeks anyways," she said with a sigh as she swatted her hand playfully towards her soon to be daughter in law.
"Come on Bella, what do you say? I know we have had our issues, but you are my best friend and I can't imagine anyone else standing up for me on the biggest day of my life," she stated stoically and I reached out and hugged her reluctantly. "I love you."
"I love you too Rosalie and if you can promise that you won't be calling me at three in the morning to ask about whether people should throw rice or blow bubbles…"
"Oh we can't do either of those, the church won't allow it," she interrupted and I frowned at her slightly. "Sorry about that. Please continue."
"As I was saying, if you can promise that you won't call to ask my opinion on some of the most asinine things possible, then I will agree." I was a little surprised at my own response since it was only two weeks ago that I thought I wouldn't even be able to walk through the door of the church and support them, but now I was ready to encourage them with their wedding. "I know Edward agreed to stand up for Emmett again, so it's only logical. I don't really want my husband dancing with anyone else anyways."
"I don't care why you do, as long as you do. I don't think the day would be complete if you and Edward didn't join us at the altar and stand up for us," Rosalie stated with a big smile on her face. "I can't do it without you Bella."
"Okay. I'll do it, but just because I already have the dress and it won't fit anyone else," I said with a nervous laugh as Rosalie hugged me, raising her feet as the water splashed onto the floor, much to the disgust of her manicurist.
The rest of our morning flew by in a blur. We chatted briefly about the wedding, but then the girls seemed genuinely interested in our plans for the nursery, paint colors for the house and various other things we wanted to do in our new place. We had a few rooms left to paint, and Edward was having them taken care of over the Thanksgiving weekend, at a slightly extra cost because of the holiday. He didn't care though. His main concern was that I would be out of the house for several days in a row, thus not exposing me and the Peanut to the fumes.
I was still dreading Thanksgiving back in Forks with every fiber of my being. I knew the reaction I would get from my mother about the fact that Edward and I had eloped would not be a good one. Perhaps I could postpone it until we left to come back to New York, that way we wouldn't have to listen to her bitch for days about it.
When we finally finished up for the day, I was relieved to get home to Edward. I was even more relieved to discover he had completely unpacked all the boxes for his office and we could actually sit in there and use the computer. "Bored today?" I inquired as he took a seat on the couch and rested. I went to sit beside him, resting my head on his chest as he stroked my hair slowly.
"It was just a bit lonely without you here. Did you have a good time with the girls? My mother didn't harass you too much about naming the Peanut Edward, did she?" he inquired as I shook my head in the negative and nestled more into his chest. I felt so comforted and calm as we sat together resting.
I suddenly felt a strange sensation in my stomach, sort of like a butterfly or something and I was immediately alarmed and sat up straight. "What's wrong?"
"I don't know," I admitted quietly to Edward as I grabbed his hand and rested it against my stomach. "I think the Peanut might be kicking." Edward's eyes lit up in excitement as I felt another fluttering sensation and he pressed his hand firmly against my stomach.
"Holy shit, that is too cool," he gushed excitedly before bending over, closer to my stomach. "Are you gonna be a soccer player? I bet you will," he said sweetly as we got yet another kick and Edward looked more excited than I had ever seen him. I was 26 weeks pregnant already and it was sort of surreal to have this happening all of a sudden, even though I knew it would be coming soon.
"I love you," said Edward as he kissed my lips gently and then bent back over my stomach again. "I love you too little guy."
EPOV
Even now, as we drove into the town limits of Forks, I felt somewhat tense about what to expect when we walked into casa de Swan. We hadn't seen Bella's parents since July when we announced our impending little bundle and things hadn't gone too well at the time. I wasn't expecting a smooth response when we finally told them about the wedding.
I glanced over at Bella, her head resting against the window as she slept and I felt bad about the fact that I would need to wake her as we neared closer to her parents' house. We had flown in early that morning from New York and had rented a car out of Sea-Tac. I rubbed her thigh gently as I tried to get her to wake up.
"Bells, we're almost there," I said as we turned onto the main street that went through town. "You better wake up, cause I have no idea how to get there from here," I claimed falsely as she stirred and sat up a bit more within her seat.
"Turn left at the next street," she said coolly, and I could tell she was getting nervous again. It seemed like the only time she wasn't nervous in the past few days was when she was asleep or at work. Then again, she could have been nervous at work but I wasn't there to see it. "When do you think we should tell them?"
I pulled in front of her parents' house and glanced up at the front porch, which was decorated with pumpkins and a big plastic turkey for the holiday. It was a bit gaudy, but there was no way I was saying anything to Bella or her parents about it. I did not have a death wish and I really wanted to be around for the birth of my son.
"I think we should get it over with as soon as we can. I mean, they will appreciate it even less if we wait till Thanksgiving dinner with the rest of your family right?" I asked curiously as Bella nodded her head and she went to step from the car. I quickly got out and ran to her side, helping her as she eased her way out since she was still tired. I gripped her hand tight in mine as we made our way up the front walkway and were greeted by an ecstatic looking Charlie.
"Get your ass on up here girl," he stated as he looked at his pregnant daughter with a wide smile. "Your mother just ran to the store to get cranberries since we ran out of them. Why she went I don't know since I don't even like them." Charlie then wrapped Bella up into a huge hug before letting her go and looking at her belly. "Jeez… you certainly are pregnant aren't you?"
"Did you think we were kidding when we told you five months ago?" she asked as I laughed slightly and Charlie gave me a decent handshake.
"Good to see you too Edward," he said as he then held the door open for us and I thanked him casually. "I hope the flight and the drive from Seattle weren't too rough on you guys."
"No, Bella here caught a quick nap from Port Angeles down to Forks, so it was nice and quiet," I said with a wink as Bella smacked me playfully on the shoulder.
As we waited for Renee to return, we sat in the living room and chatted happily about how our jobs were going and Charlie told us about all the family members who would be coming over for dinner the following night. It seemed that Charlie's brother, Colin and his wife Lesley would be making the trip from Portland with their young daughter Anna Beth and would be spending the night with us as well. Renee's two spinster aunts were also coming over, but since they lived nearby they wouldn't be staying overnight, which was a relief. Not that I didn't enjoy Bella's family since I had met them over thanksgiving the past two years, but the house wasn't exactly equipped to hold the entire group for long periods of time.
"Whose car is in front of the house?" shouted Renee, when she showed up half an hour later. When she walked into the room and saw Bella and me, her eyes lit up. "I was hoping it was you guys." We both stood up and Renee pulled us into huge hugs, which was a bit surprising. She hadn't been overly supportive about the baby when we told her several months ago, but now she seemed to have done a complete 180 degree change.
"It's good to see you too Mom," Bella said quietly when we were finally released from Renee's grasp. I saw Bella glance over at me as we sat back down on the couch and Renee took a seat on the arm rest of the recliner that Charlie was perched in.
"How's my grandchild doing?" she asked as Charlie's hand began to stroke her knee slowly. I leaned back against the couch and rested my arm over Bella's shoulder as she leaned into me.
"He's doing really good," I stated. Bella had wanted to tell her parents all of our big news in person and she had given me permission earlier in our trip to break the news about the baby being a boy. She wanted to be the one to tell them about the wedding, so it was a no brainer for me.
"Did you say it's a 'he'?" inquired Charlie as we both nodded our heads. "I'm going have a grandson. This is fricking fabulous. All the guys down at the station were certain you would be having a girl." Renee then began gushing about clothes, nursery furniture and whether or not we would have the Peanut circumcised, so we quickly changed topics, seeing as this was something we hadn't decided as of yet nor something we wanted to discuss at length with my parents.
"Edward and I have something really important to tell you guys, and we wanted to do it before the family got here tomorrow," started Bella as I felt her grip my hand nervously and all the color drained from her face. I used my hand that was across her shoulder to rub her arm soothingly and tried to calm her down.
"Is there something wrong the baby?" inquired Renee solemnly. I could tell she was just as anxious as Bella and the way Bella was reacting, wasn't making it any easier. She looked like someone had just run over her beloved dog, not that she was announcing to her parents that we were married.
"God no. The Peanut is healthy and everything is just fine," stated Bella and I noticed her teeth clench and her fingernails were practically digging into my skin. I was getting so unhinged watching Bella try to talk to her parents about this, and I just gave up.
"Bella and I got married in Vegas back in July after we left Forks," I announced as Charlie stared at the two of us for a moment before he got out of his chair and wordlessly walked out of the house through the back door. Bella tensed even more beside me and I felt like shit, even though all I wanted to do was relieve her stress.
"Well, I have to admit I'm not really surprised, unlike your father who seems shocked. I'm kinda happy that you guys did it before the baby came, but disappointed that we won't be able to hold you a grand Forks style wedding," said Renee as Bella laughed at her slightly, most likely at her idea of a big Forks wedding, which was something Bella simply wasn't interesting in having.
"Well, we have the video here, so we can all watch it together. It was really nice and small and I'm sorry we didn't tell you sooner," stated Bella as she began to cry and Renee came over to wrap her arms around both of us again.
"Bella, your father and I didn't exactly do things the old fashioned way either. Hell, we had you a few months after got married, so that tells you that we weren't traditional. I might struggle in deciding what is best for you, but I have to admit, when you are with Edward, you are the happiest I have ever seen you," Renee said with a small smile in my direction. "I've resigned myself to the fact that he is what is best for you and that you two will do things your own way. Charlie and I didn't do things the way my parents wanted, but twenty years later we are just as happy as we were the first day we met. I wish I had remembered all of this before I pressured you when you told us you were pregnant."
"Thanks Mom," said Bella as she hugged her mom again, who then pointed to the back door.
"I think you should go have a talk with Grandpa. He'd be lying if he said he wasn't looking forward to walking you down the aisle one day. Show him how happy you are Bella, and he will be happy too," explained Renee as Bella headed from the living room and out the back door.
I went to grab our luggage from the rental car and hauled it upstairs before joining Renee in the kitchen where she was attempting to make a pumpkin pie for tomorrow. I offered some assistance, but she just handed me a beer and insisted I sit down and let a load off, which I did eagerly.
"How long have they been out there?" I asked as I pointed to the back door and Renee shrugged her shoulders. "Do you think they are alright out there? It's a bit chilly and Bella didn't take a coat out with her."
"I'm sure they are fine Edward. They are probably sitting in his old car talking about stuff. Charlie wouldn't do anything to risk her or the baby, so don't worry about it. Why don't you tell me some of the names you and Bella have been considering for the little one?" she requested and my tension eased as I began to tell her some of our preferred names. I wasn't surprised when Renee voiced that she was partial to the name Charlie and I let out a small laugh. Bella had mentioned it in passing as a potential middle name, but we felt bad excluding my father, so it was quickly shelved.
Just as Renee shoved her first pie into the oven, Charlie and Bella walked in the back door, her with a large blanket draped around her shoulders and I let out a small sigh of relief. "Is everything okay?" asked Renee as she closed the oven and tossed her oven mitts on the counter impatiently.
"Yeah, we've straightened out our issues and everything is perfectly fine, right Dad?" said Bella cheerfully as Charlie hugged her side and kissed the top of her head.
"Everything is great. I might not be able to walk my girl down the aisle, but I get something even better, a grandson who will be my pride and joy, just like his mom," stated Charlie happily and I had to admit, I felt a twinge of overwhelming pride myself. I was so happy that I had married into this family even if Bella's mom's opinion of me seemed to go up and down like a fucking teeter totter.
"Alright then. So we're all happy now, at least until tomorrow when our family gets here," laughed Renee as Bella ambled over to my side and I hugged her close.
"Is everything really alright?" I whispered to her as I saw Charlie and Renee hugging out of the corner of my eye.
"Yeah. Couldn't be better Mr. Cullen."
"Glad to hear it Mrs. Cullen."
A/N: Okay, fic rec time again and I suggest you check out: The Pattinson Project by bettygale and 3,2,1 by heather dawn. If you aren't reading my collaboration, Maybe I'm Falling For You, that I have been working on with my partner in smut, flightlessbird11 I suggest you get on it.
