I dunno what is the matter with me, I had 7 pages typed since Sunday…I have been out of the typing loop. So I just finished the rest of this Chapter up tonight NOW bed!

Hope you enjoy!

Chapter 36

Sunday February 10th 2013

He has her hand in his as they walk up the path to his parents.

She has grown to love these Sunday family dinners with the Cullen's. She takes a quick glance at Edward; his brow is deep in concentration. She knows he has been on edge since Tuesday night. She feels so guilty for keeping this from him causing him stress only to tell him by almost breaking his heart.

Edward stops when she stops. "What's wrong?" He turns holding her hand still and looking at her.

Bella takes her hand from his and she sees pain flash over his face. She places two hands on his jacket covered chest. "I'm sorry Edward"

Sighing out, he lowers his eyelids and holds her face with both hands. "It's okay" He sighs out again before breathing in deeply. He presses a kiss to her mouth.

She knows he is feeling stress from this, her, and then his new found role is taking a toll on him. He is so strong for her. Shaking her head she touches his hands on her face. "It's not okay" She whispers. "I'm not leaving, I know you are worried about that on top over everything" She rolls her eyes a bit. "Else"

He stares down at her. He has been stressing over things. The rest of the week was hell. He was worried each night that when he came home she wouldn't be there. At work he was slipping, and that never happens. He needs to get control back. He needs to center himself and sort everything out. But not in a way that he wants Bella gone and he wants to just stay focused on work and more work. He just needs everything to go back to 'normal' and not feel like things are hanging in the balance. He feels like he and Bella are hanging. That is his personal fear of her leaving despite what she is saying now.

"I promise Edward, I'm not" She whispers and pushes up to kiss him again. "I don't know why you want me, but you do, and you are the best thing that has ever happened" She confesses. "Please know that"

"I do" He whispers staring at her mouth. Leaning in he kisses her again. "I just need to get my head together and relax"

Bella nods and pulls his hands from her face; she nuzzles her nose and mouth into his palms as she holds his hands in her own.

Watching her he smiles. "I love you"

Lifting her eyes from their joined hands she grins. "I love you"

Edward picks up her right hand and kisses her knuckles lightly. "Let's go have a relaxing afternoon?"

"Sounds wonderful"

Bella laughs and places a hand on Rose's stomach. "It has gotten so big" She says. She saw Rose on Tuesday and her belly didn't look this large. But she was completely beside herself with what she was planning on doing, she probably just didn't notice.

Rose glares at Bella as she eats a little strawberry tart Esme made. "If you value your life Bella I wouldn't say that again"

Bella widens her eyes at the very cross pregnant woman. "It is beautiful Rose, your stomach" Bella gives the belly a light rub.

Alice smiles. "Rose just hush and eat up, we love your huge ass stomach"

"Oh my god, you two are evil" She glares sticking another tart in her mouth as Alice and Bella laugh with their hands on her stomach. "I hate you both"

"Sexy mama" Alice winks.

Edward walks into the room and looks at the three girls in a very, in his opinion, precarious position on the large couch. He looks at Bella smiling and rubbing Rose's stomach. His heart flutters at the thought of her pregnant with his baby. He relaxes instantly and feels a peaceful sensation wash over him.

All these years, Bella, it has clearly been Bella he was waiting for. Despite the past few days he knows that was just a bump, one of many they will hit, and they will hit them together. He runs his eyes over her.

Bella feels him and pulls her hand from Rose's stomach to turn her head. She offers him a kind smile.

Edward winks before leaving the room.

"I have been bugging Alice for years about having a baby"

Bella smiles sitting at the counter with her ice-cream and Alice. Rose and Emmett left a few hours ago, she and Edward will head home soon.

"She won't budge"

"We will when it is right" Alice huffs and rolls her eyes at her mother's back.

"I saw that Alice" Esme scolds. Turning she smiles and rests her hands on the counter. Taking care of people and things is her specialty that is where Edward got it from. The drive to be a doctor is all Carlisle. Edward looked up to his father something fierce but he is and always will be a mama's boy. He really got the best of both. Edward has a need to care for people, and the desire to be a doctor which just puts his caring gene to good use, great use. He is taking such good care of Bella, and she is doing a fine job of taking care of him. "So when you and Edward are ready…" Esme trails off with a twinkle in her eye. This is her family she is not going to sensor herself when talking about what she wants. It does no good.

"We are just" Bella starts with wide eyes.

"I'm just warning you" Esme smiles. "I know it won't be for a while but…don't make me wait too long"

"Yes mom, Edward and Bella will hurry that along at your special request" Alice can't contain her sarcasm, she mouths an 'I'm sorry' to Bella who just smiles and shakes it off.

"Hurry what along" Edward questions walking into the kitchen, Jasper and his father are close behind. He kisses Bella's head. She looks nervous. "What?"

"Oh mom" Alice rolls her eyes; she locks lips with Jasper for a few moments. After pulling away she continues. "She is already tormenting Bella about getting another grandchild, her first one is not even born yet and she is tormenting Bella into making another"

Edward laughs as his father kissing his mother to shut up her protests. There is no way she can save herself; he knows his mother, and how her mind works. Edward looks at Bella and smiles.

She shifts in her seat next to him, leaning in she knocks his shoulder with her own, biting her lower lip and smirking.

"So my mother has her hooks in you" Edward holds her hand lightly as they walk to his car.

"It is a done deal" Bella smiles turning and pressing her hand to his chest as he presses her into the car. Esme has her; she is in love with that woman.

Edward smiles down at her. "It was really nice to today"

Taking her hand from his she strokes down his face and looks up at him intently. "Do you feel better…about us?" She wonders softly staring into his blue eyes.

"Yes, but it wasn't like that" He almost argues.

"I know but you weren't feeling right" She dips her head and pushes up on her toes to kiss his Adams apple, it bobs under her lips.

"I'm okay now" He kisses her nose lightly, his hands fisting at her hips pulling her close, closer…never close enough.

Bella laughs and wiggles against him. "I'm so glad I told you Edward, I really am"

"Me too" He wraps both arms around her upper back and tucks her against his chest, her head under his chin. "You can tell me anything Bella, anything"

She nods and rubs his sides before wrapping her arms around him.

Monday February 11th 2013

Edward left home early this morning to get to the hospital. Bella has class at 10, his eyes drift to the clock and he smiles. 8:43. He knows she is stumbling out of bed. She is a morning person when she wants to be, but Monday mornings he has come to find that she is most certainly not. Laughing a bit he knows she is falling into the shower to wake herself up. He timed the coffee for her for 9 so she will have it nice and hot when she gets out.

"Knock knock" Riley pokes his head in. "Chief"

"Not you too" Edward laughs and rubs his forehead.

"I came to see how things are going" Riley smiles and sits, he is holding a chart, he is busy but has about 3 minutes to spare.

"Good, really good" Edward nods.

"Last week you were in another world"

"It's fine now" Edward smiles. "Things with Bella were a bit strained"

"Anything you wanna talk about?"

"No" Edward shakes his head. He looks at the number on a small post it. Bella uses them ALL the time around the condo for him. James. "But thanks"

"Sure thing, if ever you know" Riley looks at Edward.

"Really thank you Riley" Edward smiles. "So I spoke to Jacob"

"Ahh" Riley laughs a bit and shakes his head. "How was that?"

"He is trying but still such a prick"

"As long as he is trying" Riley agrees.

"Yeah, I guess" Edward rubs his chin.

"Any special plans for Valentine's Day…first one together right?"

Edward smiles. He thought about this a few months ago but the last week knocked him sideways a bit.

"You better get on it, women love that stuff"

Edward laughs and nods. "Why don't you have a girlfriend?" Edward wonders.

"I'm trying" He sighs with a smile. "I'll live vicariously through you with Bella for the time being"

Edward laughs. "Get out; I don't like the sound of that"

Smiling Riley bids his new Chief a farewell and heads back to work.

Edward looks at the number again in hopes something comes to him.

"Hello Alice" Bella answers as she is leaving the building that she has been in for five hours doing work. It is kicking her ass. She is good, smart but being out of the education system and out of a routine, jumping back in is a bit straining.

"Got a bun in the oven yet?"

"Alice!" Bella exclaims.

"Where are you, school out?"

"Yes, I'm walking back to the condo"

"I'll be there in 10, we are going to get an early dinner"

"Okay…let me call Edward"

"Sure thing, see you in a bit"

"Bella?" He answers his phone, everything alright?"

"Hi, yes" She smiles; the worry in his voice is comforting, unnecessary but comforting to her.

"Charlie okay?" He then questions because she speaks to Charlie each Monday after school.

"I am not upstairs yet" She is sanding in the lobby of the building; Felix is watching her like a hawk. She will need to ask Edward about that.

"Oh…"

"I just called to say HI!" She shouts with a laugh, she can hear the sigh in the phone. "Everything is fine, Alice just called, and she wants to do an early dinner"

"Okay, have fun"

"I just wanted to let you know what time are you done tonight?"

"Around 6 or 7" He answers. He has been there since 7, he is done. He needs to meet with Aro this evening just to go over what the plan is for tomorrow. He has some shadowing, plus he has a surgery also. Busy. AND James on top of all this. Edward rubs his forehead.

"So I'll see you when I get back then"

"Sounds good, have fun"

"Thanks, I'm gonna call Charlie quick and then head out with Alice"

"Sounds even better" Edward smiles at how well Bella and Charlie are getting on, moving forward together.

Bella smiles, she knows he is happy about her growing relationship with Charlie. She is happy as well. "So I'll see you when I get in?"

"You will" He smiles to himself. "I love you"

Bella breathes out. "I love you too Edward"

"I was wondering what you thought, Edward too, about me coming up for the weekend"

Bella widens her eyes. "Oh, I"

"It's okay Bells" Charlie laughs. "If it is too much"

"No, it's not, it's just" She licks her lips. The weekend means Sunday and Sunday is Family Day at The Cullen's… it also means possibly having to explain why she and her father are not close or rather why she and her father are just getting to know each other.

"It's fine Bella"

"No, I want to" Bella almost shouts. She looks at the door, Alice. "One second" She shouts out running over to the door and pulling it open.

"Hi" Alice smiles then sees the phone and puts her finger to her lips.

Bella mirrors it and turns to finish her talk with her father. "When were you thinking?" She speaks.

"This weekend?" He offers. "Or next"

"Can it be next…so I can sort something with Edward, work is so funny with him at times" She means his schedule.

"Sounds good, I'll book a hotel"

She wrinkles her brow. "I'll talk to Edward, you could maybe…if he agrees stay here" She doesn't want him to spend money when they have a spare room here.

Charlie smiles to himself. "I'll speak to you um" He is guessing Monday but before seems like a better plan.

"Wednesday?" Bella offers, she watches Alice watch her, even though Alice is trying to pretend she is not listening.

"Wednesday" Charlie agrees with a smile. "Have a good night"

"You too" Bella smiles and hangs up.

"So" Alice says spinning on her toes.

Bella smiles and shakes her head. "Ready?"

"If you are"

"I am"

"So Rose is due in May I was thinking a March baby shower, we will know the sex, go all out and crazy" Alice smiles before popping a piece of steak into her mouth.

Nodding Bella grins. "Do you think she will tell us the sex?"

"If she knows what's good for her, yes" Both women laugh.

Edward sits on the couch and looks at James' number again, he pulls his phone out and dials it. He doesn't want to call from work, or the house phone. His cell seems like the best option.

"Hello?" He doesn't know this number.

"James?" Edward questions.

"Here, who is this?" James grunts into the phone.

"Edward Cullen"

A pin could be heard if it dropped.

"I'm thinking a Sunday in March, either 1st weekend or the last weekend, I don't want to wait too long, so maybe the 1st Sunday, and a Sunday because she won't suspect anything as we go there each Sunday anything"

"Good thinking" Bella has never done this, planned a party with a girlfriend for a girlfriend. She likes how it feels.

"What?" Alice frowns.

"Nothing" Bella shakes her head and just smiles. "So are you going to order invitations?"

"Well" Alice moves and reaches into her bag. "I got a few samples, but I wanted us to do it together, you know" She shrugs one shoulder and waits for Bella to respond.

"I'd love to see them" Bella smiles, reaching her hand across the table she takes the five sample invitations from Alice and looks over them.

"Esme is on board so maybe later this week us three can get together or something" Alice is a pusher, she can tell Edward doesn't want her to push too much. So she is going slow-ish with Bella. But Bella seems very receptive so she will just do her thing.

"I love this one" Bella holds it up and turns.

"Esme did too" Alice laughs. "I like them all, so" She grins.

Bella nods looking at them all again.

"How was dinner ladies?" Their server comes over.

"Lovely" Alice smiles.

He takes their plates.

"Thank you" Bella mutters with a smile.

"Can I show you the dessert menu?"

"Bella?" Alice arches an eyebrow.

"Best part of the meal" Bella grins.

The pin has dropped and can been seen, certainly not heard.

"Dr. Edward Cullen" He speaks again, he doesn't hear a dial tone.

"How did you get this number?" James growls into the phone.

"Bella, we need to meet and talk" Edward lays it out.

"We have nothing to talk about" James bites out.

"I disagree" Edward responds, his tone very cool and relaxed. Inside he is reeling and nervous. He wants so much to handle this, take care of Bella, and let her have the peace she deserves.

James clears his throat. He is just thinking of ways to contact Bella and deal with her for being such a two timer.

"I think I should make this clear before we say anymore, from here on out you deal with me, me only"

"Who do you think you are?" James growls. "If I want to speak to Bella I will"

"Bella is off limits and that is that" Edward growls roughly into the phone. "We need to meet, when are you free, and it needs to be soon"

"Fine, the slut is off limits, Roger that"

If he could fly through the phone and knock this guy flat he would. Edward rubs his eyes, he looks at Bella enter the condo, he wanted this done before she came home. She smiles at him and wiggles a doggy bag. He gives her a tight smile. Holding up a finger he stands and goes into the bedroom to shut the door.

"I'm free anytime"

"Wednesday at 3pm, Harry's, you know it?"

"I know it" James answers his tone annoyed. This should have been easy but she had to go and open her mouth. He won't move on anything until he hears what this Edward has to say. If he likes it he will keep quiet…for now. If he doesn't well all bets are off, or on.

"Don't contact Bella, if I find out you have…" His brain can't even wrap around James contacting Bella and causing this happy carefree mood she has been in to disappear. This is the real Bella, the happy woman that feels secure. He won't let this asshole ruin that feeling for her. Therefore he can't process the homicidal thoughts towards the man if he contacts her, so he just better not.

"I won't contact her, just be there"

"I will" Edward confirms. "Wednesday, Harry's 3" He restates before hanging up not wanting to exchange another word tonight. He looks at his phone before resting it on the night table and heading out of the bedroom.

Bella looks at him as she is unpacking the doggy bag, she got him a dessert. "Everything alright?"

"Perfect" Moving towards her, he smiles and kisses her head. His hand reaches up around her and rubs her back lightly. "How was dinner?"

"Really wonderful" She admits, she feels light and happy. Bella watches him slide onto a stool in the kitchen. "I bought you dessert" She grins pulling the white carton open.

"Yum" He smiles taking the plastic fork from her.

"Double chunk hot fudge brownie, with caramel sauce and pecans…the ice cream is a bit melted" She looks at him digging in.

"It is amazing" His mouth is full and running over.

"Did you have dinner?" Bella grins placing her hands on her hips.

Edward shakes his head and swallows.

"Naughty"

Laughing he continues to eat.

She stands watching him. "Edward?" Her voice is a whisper.

He lifts his head and licks his lips. His fork rests down as he waits for her to speak again.

"Say it"

Edward lets out a little laugh. "Tell me a secret"

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Cheers!