I don't own them, but I sure like to use them in my story. No copyright infringment intended.
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Chapter 36
BPOV
The month leading up to Christmas had kept both Edward and I very busy. We still made time for each other as often as possible, and we ate dinner together almost every night.
I didn't have a class for ground school, so they were sending me out on upgrade and re-currency check rides.
Two days before Christmas, I found myself waking up in the L.A. house, on another overnight check ride. When I went to sleep the night before, there was a tiny, hardly there bump, but all of a sudden, my growing stomach got my attention. What was once a slight rounding to my abdomen, was now a noticeable bulge. In fact, I couldn't do the button on my uniform pants and I was very uncomfortable tucking my shirt in. I was so excited that I called Edward right away and he was overjoyed and wanted me to stop at the office as soon as I was back in Seattle and finished at the airport so he could check it out.
Luckily, this overnight was uneventful.
During my check ride trip at the beginning of the month, Emmett and I had a shock when we arrived at the house. Upon pulling up out front, we were taken aback to see that there were a handful of police officers scattered around the yard, in addition to remnants of the windows littering the grass.
I had an eerie feeling that we were being watched as we surveyed the damage, but casually looking around the surrounding area, I couldn't see anyone.
After assessing the condition of the house and talking with the neighbors and police, I called Edward and immediately, he wanted to come down to be with me, but I assured him that Emmett would see to my safety and that I would be home the next afternoon.
He wasn't happy that I wouldn't let him come down, but agreed that the last thing he needed to do was to cancel on patients.
Since Edward knew a lot of people in L.A., he was able to pull some favors and a contractor was at the house within an hour to take measurements and close up the window openings once the police were done with their investigation.
Emmett and I went to the hotel reserved for the flight crew instead of staying at the house for the night, and the rest of the cleanup went smoothly.
On Emmett's next trip, two days later, he called to let us know that everything was put back together, the cleaning service had been there, and he had reset the alarm system. The police were still investigating the incident and had some leads on the vandal's identity.
Edward's patient schedule had filled up quickly and both Ed and Edward were no longer working half days. Lately, a day or two each week, they were actually comfortably booked. The future of the practice looked promising and they had even discussed adding an associate if things continued to grow as much as they had been in just the month that they had been open.
The construction on the new house was progressing nicely and not only did we have a foundation, but a basement as well. At the pace that they were moving along on the construction, we would be moving in just before the baby was born.
I was looking forward to the New year's ball even though I wasn't allowed to help with anything. Edward was keeping everything a secret, including my dress. He had picked it personally and each time I asked about trying it on for size, he would change the subject. His normal avoidance tactics included mind-blowing orgasms, not that I was complaining or anything. I just hoped he hadn't picked some mu-mu tunic something or other.
The phone calls had stopped at Thanksgiving and I ended up sending Renee $3,000 for her egg donation. The check was written for the money order from Jasper's office account, which I reimbursed, so that it couldn't be directly tied to any of the important people in my life. Jacob hand delivered it to Renee in Arizona. To make it official, he may have gave her a little warning about leaving Edward, Charlie and I alone. We have found that Jake can be rather intimidating when he wants to be, and at 6' 4", 250 plus pounds, it only takes a little effort on his part.
I was reminded everyday of how wonderful my friends were.
My upper thigh was regaining its muscle tone since I had been doing my physical therapy with Esme. The indention from the bullet hole was gradually filling in and Edward was sure it would be back to normal in no time. My foot was healing nicely and as long as I don't overdo it, I only walk with a slight limp. Some days I forget that I am still recovering, but am quickly reminded when it swells and then hurts for a couple of days.
o ~ O ~ o
EPOV
The month leading up to Christmas was hectic.
My work schedule was filling up quickly and I had a lot of planning and coordinating for the New Year's Ball. My mother and Angela were my right hand ladies and I couldn't have accomplished everything that I wanted to do without them. Every time Bella and I had some time together, she grilled me about different aspects of the ball. It was taking everything in me not to spill my guts about the plans that I had made to surprise her since I was so excited.
I even picked out her dress myself and I haven't told her anything about it. Charlie is the only one that knows exactly what I have planned and I swore him to secrecy. Emmett knows a few things, but I couldn't tell him to much because he would buckle under the pressure that Bella could put on him. He is such a wuss when it comes to her. He would spill it all to her in a heartbeat.
o ~ O ~ o
"Honey, can I try on my dress yet?" Bella asked as she came out of the closet the morning of the ball, completely naked, I might add.
"Nope."
"Edward, come on. Tonight is the ball. What happens if my dress doesn't fit?" She stood there with her hands on her hips trying to entice me. There has been a lot of enticing lately, not that I am complaining. This pregnancy horniness has definitely worked to my advantage.
"Bella . . . we've been over this. It will fit. I know every curve of your beautiful body . . . your exact measurements, so your dress will fit you perfectly."
"Did you allow room for my huge stomach?" She had walked over to the floor length mirror and was checking herself out from head to toe.
I followed her over to the mirror and put my hands on her hips, looking into the mirror over her shoulder. "Babe, stop worrying. Do you really think that I would take a chance on you not being the most exquisite woman there?" I had to roll my eyes. We've had the same conversation every day since I told her that I was taking care of all of the arrangements, including her dress. "And, your stomach is not huge. You don't even look pregnant yet, and your little bulge is adorable."
I gently caressed her stomach. I couldn't wait to meet the little person that she had growing in there.
"Okay, okay, so tell me what the schedule is for today." Bella plopped down on the bed.
"My mom will be over this afternoon between four and five. The pampering starts at six. The ball starts at 8:00. Your dress will arrive at 8:00."
"Eight? How do you expect me to be ready and at the ball when my dress is only coming at the time it starts?"
"I don't. The team to get you ready will be here at 6:00. You will be pampered and prepared then when your dress gets here, you will be ready for it and then the limo will pick you and your dad up here at 8:30."
"Wait a minute, my dad and I?"
"Yes, your dad and you, my sweet. I'm going to go to the hospital around 5:00 and get ready there, after I make sure that everything is perfect." I pulled her into my arms. "My mom is going to be over later with some stuff that you will need and your dad is coming before all of the beauty prep people get here."
"So, we aren't going to the ball together?" Bella asked with a hint of annoyance in her voice.
I knew that was going to be the hardest part of my plan.
"No, sweetheart. I don't want you to overdo it tonight and I would much rather you lasted through the ball drop instead of being there for the beginning. Please don't be mad at me. And don't think that this is anything like the last ball. I will be waiting at the bottom of the stairs for you to make our grand entrance and I won't leave your side for the rest of the evening.
I really didn't want to be there without her, but for many reasons, this is the way that it had to be.
As Bella pondered and pouted, I pulled her back to the bed with me and for the remainder of the morning and into the afternoon I continued with my distraction techniques by making love to my beautiful wife and napping wrapped in each other's arms.
o ~ O ~ o
BPOV
We were interrupted from out little bubble by Elizabeth at 4:30. I don't think that Edward realized how late it really was because he jumped up from the bed and started rushing around the room, gathering his stuff and quickly dressing.
Before he left for the hospital he came over and sat down next to me on the bed.
"Bella, I'll see you in a little while. Enjoy your day and the pampering. I put a lot of time and effort into planning the perfect evening for us, so please trust me even if we aren't driving together."
"I'm not too happy that we will be arriving separately, but for now, I'll trust you. Please, once I am allowed to be at the ball, don't leave my side."
"I won't. You'll see. This is a night that I have planned completely around your happiness." He leaned down and gave me a toe curling kiss. "I'll see you soon."
"Hmmmmm. I can't wait."
Edward walked to the door, turned to look at me, smiled, winked and blew me a kiss. I couldn't help but smile. Shortly after he left our bedroom, Elizabeth came to the door.
"Bella, would you like to start with a nice soak in the tub? Edward asked that I make sure you stay off your foot as much as possible so that you will last the evening without too much pain."
"A soak sounds great." I got out of bed. Luckily I had on a nightshirt. "So, do you know anything about my dress?"
"No. Sorry, sweetie. He wouldn't tell me anything. I think he was worried that I would tell you if I knew what it looked like."
"Can I trust his fashion decisions? He hasn't bought me any clothes and I'm a little nervous."
"Yes. You can completely trust him. He picked out my dress, let me get it to show you." Elizabeth left the bedroom and I slipped into the bathroom to start the water in the tub.
A couple of minutes later, she was back in the bedroom and unzipping a long garment bag. I stepped over to her to take a closer look.
"Oh, Elizabeth, it's beautiful."
Before me hung a champagne colored, floor length, empire waisted gown with a full beaded chest area, and capped sleeves. It was truly gorgeous.
"All I had to do was show up and they took a little off of the length. I think yours will be stunning if mine is any indication of my son's taste."
"I hope so. I'm just worried about my pouch in the front that seems to be getting bigger by the hour."
She reached out her hand and placed it on my rounded stomach. "It's a beautiful little pouch. We'll know in a couple of hours what the dress is like. Have faith in him."
"I supposed so. Oh, I better turn off the water."
"I'll go down and get us a little snack. Take your time in the bath and I'll see you down stairs when you are done."
I walked to the bath, removed my nightshirt and climbed into the hot water.
o ~ O ~ o
While Elizabeth and I were enjoying our snack at the kitchen table, the doorbell rang and she jumped up to get it.
"Bella, you have a delivery." She announced, handing me a wrapped box.
"I wonder what it could be." I quickly removed the wrapping paper and opened the box. Inside was a dark blue jewelry case.
Slowly and carefully I pried open the case to find a stunning diamond and ruby necklace with matching earrings.
"Oh. My. God. What did he do? This has to . . . I don't think I have ever seen so many diamonds in one place before."
Elizabeth came to stand behind me. "That is beautiful. I told you my son has great taste." She gave my shoulder a gentle squeeze from behind. "He married you, didn't he?"
I couldn't take my eyes off the jewelry in my hand. "I'm speechless . . . wow."
Needing a little privacy, I walked into my office and called Edward to thank him for the beautiful necklace and earrings. I got a little emotional when I talked to him, but was able to settle down after we spent a few minutes on the phone. We spoke to each other in hushed whispers and made promises of the future to each other until he was called away to deal with some of the ballroom issues.
Walking back to the kitchen in a daze, I stumbled into my father.
"Sorry, Dad. I didn't know you were here already. And, I guess I wasn't paying attention to where I was going."
He pulled me into a big hug.
"I can understand why. That is some husband you have there. Elizabeth showed me the gift. I'll warn you, that is just the first of the surprises he has for you this evening." He gave me a sly smile.
"Dad, do you know what he has planned?"
"I might, but am sworn to secrecy. I won't give out classified information."
"I'll torture you."
"Couldn't be any worse than what you have already put your old man through, so try your hardest."
"Wait. What have I put you through?"
"Oh, I don't know. Hummmm, let me think . . . oh yeah, remember the time that you called me from Johnstown to ask for a ride home after both engines conked out on you from carburetor icing . . . or the time that I heard you on the scanner declaring an emergency when you were in the single engine airplane and there wasn't the sound of a humming engine behind your voice . . . or how about the time that you came home and told me that you got married on your birthday to a man you hardly knew and I didn't even know that you were dating . . . or maybe when the state police called the station to let me know that your helicopter had gotten shot down in a heavily wooded area and that they were sending out search parties for the survivors."
"I'm sorry dad . . . I'm sorry that I have put you through all of that." I started to cry again.
"No, sweetheart. Don't cry. Those incidents were torture, but I knew during all of them that you were okay. I never lost faith in your wellbeing because I could still feel you with me. It's always been you and me kid. Always. I was a little worried about you and Edward right after the helicopter accident. But now, I am confident in your relationship with him, and just know that he has completely proven to me over the last month or so his dedication to you and your marriage. He loves you. Tonight is going to be a fairy tale for you. Just go with it. Don't question what is happening. Think of yourself as Cinderella and I am your fairy godmother. I will stay with you until you reach the ball and your prince will be waiting for you."
I had to laugh. My dad, a fairy godmother? I smiled and giggled a little bit as I wiped the tears from my cheek. "Now, that will be an image that I won't be able to get out of my head. Did you bring a wand with you to change my old robe into a beautiful gown?"
"Not quite, but I may have a few tricks up my sleeve."
I pulled him in for a tight hug. "In case I forget to tell you later, I love you and you are the best dad in the world."
"I love you too, kiddo. Now, let's get you out there and ready for your mice and birds to transform you into a princess."
"Mice and birds? Seriously dad, didn't the fairy godmother just wave her wand?"
"It's been 20 years since I read that story, give me a little leeway."
o ~ O ~ o
A/N: Thank you for reading and sticking in there with me. Pictures of the necklace can be found on the Twilighted forum thread. I will also post pictures of the other things that Bella receives from Edward.