A/N:

Huge big thanks to my beta dellaterra. You are the kink to my fluff, and I couldn't do it without you!

I do not own Twilight.

So here's an early update, to thank all of you who are reading and reviewing. You cannot imagine how MUCH it means to me to have your response!

ooOoOoOoOoOoo

Chapter 34: I've Got Some Unfinished Business With You

EDWARD

Okay, I now know that James was a competitor for the position that Ben and I share at the hospital, and that Victoria, in some fucked-up, awkward way seems to be trying to get him into Ben's shoes. I don't know if she's indeed, as I called it, "batshit crazy" or if there is method to her madness. It's a little scary, and I'm not at all sure what to do about it. Tell Ben? Tell Demetri? Call Victoria out on her scheming?

Does James even know what she's trying to do? Did he set her up to do it?

I groan and drop my head on the desk. I brought some work home with me and have been trying to get stuff done for a couple of hours but my thoughts keep turning to Victoria, and I hate that, in a way, I have brought her into our home. I don't want her in my home.

I shut the laptop and leave the room. I haven't told Bella any of this, and I'm not really planning to. She scared the hell out of me the other day when she had an almost-fainting spell. I'm not going to worry her. I know she would hate me for thinking of her this way, but right now, heavily pregnant, she is so fragile to me.

"Hey." Smiling, she looks up from her place on the window seat in the nursery. She's surrounded by onesies and blankets and tiny hats, folding them and placing them in little piles. She also has a small open suitcase in front of her.

"Are you packing your hospital bag?" I cross the room and sit down next to her.

It's a rainy afternoon, the drops pattering rhythmically against the windows. Bella looks all comfy in sweats and a wide blue tank top.

"Do you think we should take diapers?"

"No." I lift her feet and place them in my lap. "They provide them at the hospital." I gently massage her left foot, and Bella sighs. "I guess I should pack my bag then, too."

She looks at me quizzically.

"Pajamas?" I say, raising my eyebrows. "Toothbrush? Camera?"

Bella smiles sweetly, wiggling her toes to goad me to massage the other foot. And I oblige. Bella closes her eyes and hums happily. She has such pretty feet.

"But you only want to take pictures of Lizzie, right? Not of me, grunting and sweating? Or…" Her eyes get even bigger than they already are. "Down there?" she whispers in a funny voice.

"Mmm… Down there? What is that place?" I coo and bend down to kiss her ankle, which makes Bella giggle.

Her phone rings from the direction of the changing table, and I move to get it, but Bella swings her feet off my lap.

"Darling, I can get my phone. I may be a whale, but I'm still able to move." She kisses my nose and gets up. She's waddling just the tiniest bit.

"You're a small woman, not a whale," I call, but she's already opening her phone.

"Oh, hi Laurent... You did? They did?" She pauses while she listens to her agent. "Okay… Um, yes, sure. I'll have to check with Edward… Yes…" Her eyes meet mine, and she shrugs, making a gesture with her hand that implies a lot of input from Laurent.

"Yes," she says. "Okay, we'll see you there. Bye!"

She turns to me, a frown on her face.

"What?" I can't help it, I jump up and go to her.

"Okay, first, Look! New York called him. Instead of three pages, there will be seven…"

Bella looks stunned and overwhelmed.

"Wow, that's… wow." I wrap my arms around her. "I can't wait to see it!"

"And second, Laurent wants us to attend a fashion show by Vladimir Sloane. I wore some of his clothes for the magazine," she adds when she realizes that I am clueless.

"A fashion show, huh?"

"Don't you want to go?"

"Sure," I kiss her nose. "When is it?"

"Next Friday."

"Does he design maternity fashion?" I pull Bella with me and we sit back down. She nestles into my side, slipping her hand beneath my T-shirt.

"No, not at all. He made some of the jackets I wore, and a couple of the wider dresses. His things are beautiful."

"And you'll make them even more beautiful," I say cheesily, drawing her a bit closer into my side.

"Aww, aren't you cute?" Bella's hand slips lower on my stomach, her fingers spreading into the waistband of my jeans. She nuzzles my neck with her nose, then kisses me lightly. "You smell good," she whispers.

"So do you," I murmur into her hair.

Bella uses her thumb to open the first button of my jeans. Her fingers travel lower, and she flicks open more buttons.

"You're rather straightforward today, Mrs. Cullen." I sigh when she touches me through the cotton of my boxer-briefs.

"Am I?" She squeezes gently and I get harder instantly. "Mmm…" She licks over the rim of my ear. "You like that…"

"I do…" My heartbeat and breath are speeding up as she sneaks her hand into my underwear. "Isabella…"

She knows that tone, and I can feel her grin. "Yes?"

"I'd throw you over my shoulder and drag you to my cave if I could. But I don't have a cave, and I doubt that little Miss Lizzie would appreciate the throwing-over-the-shoulder part. So…" I get up and pull her with me. "I will just have to drag you to our bedroom…"

She doesn't object, and moments later, we're undressing each other on our bed, kissing hotly in between. She feels so good, soft and warm and… womanly. Her curves are driving me insane. I open her bra and rain kisses on her collarbone and shoulders and breasts while Bella's hands sneak into my hair.

She shudders pleasantly when I lick a small circle around her nipple, being careful because her breasts are still tender. I open my eyes to enjoy the sight. Round and pale, with blue veins under the transparent skin, and…

I swallow and stare for a moment – long enough for Bella to open her eyes and look at me.

"What's wrong?" She's adorable, her lips swollen from kissing and her cheeks flushed.

"Your breast…" I can't remember being this much in awe, even though I'm a physician. The human body never ceases to amaze me, but this… this makes me lose my breath.

"What?" She sits up, almost bumping her forehead against mine in the process, and inspects her breast. "Oh my God." She stares at me with large, shocked eyes and disappears in the bathroom, muttering, "This is so embarrassing… so embarrassing."

"Bella!" I go after her. "Baby …" I knock at the door. "There's no need to be embarrassed. Please let me in?"

"No," she sobs from inside. "It's gross. Just gross…"

"Come on, love. It's not gross. Nothing happened. It's natural. Your body is preparing to feed our child! Please open the door. Please?"

After a minute, the door opens and Bella timidly looks at me. She has thrown on a T-shirt of mine, and I sure as hell am not going to tell her that there's a small wet spot forming on her chest.

"Hey." I wrap my arms around her, and Bella cries a little into my shoulder while I stroke her back. "Your body is getting ready for our baby. Isn't that wonderful?" I kiss her temple. "I'm seriously jealous that you will be able to feed her, nurture her. Only you have this capability, love."

She sniffles. "Still, it's mortifying… Just imagine you would have been…" Her voice drops and I have to strain my ears to even hear her, "sucking on it." She shudders, hiding her face in my chest.

I can't help but smile, because she's just so cute.

"Not that I'm into that kind of thing – " Now, I shudder, "but it wouldn't have killed me, I'm sure." Bella looks up at me, and I kiss her nose.

It's almost too much to take, how everything is changing.

"I thought this would only happen after the birth!" She bites her lip.

"I guess we'll just have to buy more books," I chuckle, glad that her mood has lifted. We stand like that for a few minutes, just enjoying being close to each other. I can feel our daughter kick lightly, and place my palm on the spot.

"I love you," Bella murmurs. "I love you so much, Edward. Sorry I'm such a crybaby…"

"I love you too." I kiss her lips. "I love you crying as much as I love you laughing."

We're silent again, and I wonder what she wants to do now. The mood is definitely no longer sexy, which is okay. We're going to be parents in nine weeks, and our life will change inevitably. Bella's body is preparing, but our minds need to catch up too sometimes.

"I think I'd like to take a bath," Bella says, looking at me with a small smile. "Will you join me?"

"Absolutely."

We relax into the warm water, my legs and arms wrapping around her, my hands splayed across her belly. The bath is scented with lavender oil and I can literally feel the tension leave Bella's body.

"Good?" I whisper.

"Hmm…" She threads our fingers on her stomach and slightly turns her head so she can kiss my chin. "You could actually do me a favor," she murmurs against my skin.

"What would that be?"

"You know how clumsy I am right now. I'm so immobile with that huge belly… Would you shave my legs for me?"

Three minutes later, we're sitting at opposite ends of the tub and Bella' s foot rests on my chest while I take my sweet time lathering up her calf. She smiles as she watches me.

"You like that, huh?"

"Um-hmm…"

I take the razor from her and dip it into the water before I place it on her leg and carefully run it over her skin.

"Okay?"

"Yes, Edward." She still smiles, considering me as I make my next moves, tickling my chest with her big toe.

"Be still, I don't want to cut you."

"Sorry."

"Your legs are so lovely." Pausing, I kiss her ankle, at which Bella giggles happily. "So are your feet." I kiss her toe.

"So do you want to paint my toenails too?" She bites her pointer finger to stop herself from laughing out loud, but I'm sure she has no idea how sexy that looks.

"Why not," I mumble thickly.

Thirty minutes later, we're on the sofa and I am painting Bella's toenails. We order in and watch Dirty Dancing. The night ends with us making slow, languid love, clinging to one another as we come, whispering, kissing, and falling asleep in each other's arms.

The next morning, a Sunday, I meet up with Emmett for a run in Central Park. We used to do this regularly a few years ago, but then I met Bella and he and Rose had Anna and our biweekly jog wasn't on the list of priorities any longer.

It's good to meet him, because Emmett is exactly what I need right now after my girly day with my very sweet wife. He punches me whenever I slow down, and entertains me with his typical crude jokes. He also asks about Bella and the baby, and we get to talk about how Rose's pregnancies affected their relationship. I stop him before he tells me stuff I really don't need to know about my big sister.

We part with a hug and Emmett says something like, "See you next weekend, then."

"Next weekend?"

"Um, yeah? Your parents' forty-fifth wedding anniversary?"

"Oh, fuck, I almost forgot. Sure. Yeah, see you then. Give my love to Rose and the kids."

"Edward?" His clear blue eyes look puzzled. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah," I mutter. "Pregnancy brain, you know?"

Emmett guffaws and slaps my back.

How could I forget about that?

BELLA

It's Thursday, which means that I'm meeting Lucy from the prenatal class for our pregnancy swim group. On one level, I cannot wait for the baby to be born, because everything seems to be about her, and I hardly exist as a person. And then, I'm so scared how it will be once she's with us. Edward and I will never be the same again.

I'm afraid.

I'm really afraid.

I have been reducing my antidepressants to the very minimum, and every test that could be done has told us that I'm okay, and that the baby is okay. Most importantly, I feel okay. Everyone tells me that mood swings are to be expected, so I guess I'm normal.

All I want is to have my baby, and have her healthy and happy. I can't wait. She's moving all the time, reacting to my voice, and to Edward's too. Whenever he talks to her, face near my belly, she either stops or starts moving. I imagine her listening to her daddy as she swims around in my womb. Well, hardly swimming around anymore. It's getting tight in there.

Swimming is what I am doing right now, chatting in between with Lucy.

"Do you think we'll need one of those Diaper Genie things?"

"We got one," I say. "But who knows if you need one?"

"Adam keeps bringing stuff into the house. And his mother is knitting as if the baby's going to be born in December."

We both laugh. It's good to have a friend who's in the same situation. Angela and Rose are my only female friends with babies, but they have little time to meet with me, having their kids and their careers.

Lucy and I stop by our favorite pastry shop and share a piece of pecan pie before we part ways. Edward is working late and Seth and I made plans to have dinner at his place. We see far too little of each other.

He greets me with a big hug and a smacking kiss on my cheek.

"The pizza dough is waiting," he smiles as we walk into the kitchen. "You just have to choose your toppings!"

While we work on our dinner, Seth tells me about his latest jobs, making me laugh as he describes a photo shoot at the zoo with members of a small jazz band. It rained and all the animals were inside. In the end, they took photos in the aquarium.

"Is Collin still in Berlin?"

"Yeah." Seth nods sadly. "The tour's going to last another six weeks."

"Oh, shit." I lean my head against his shoulder.

"It's okay," he says. "You know how much I work. We email. We skype. Have phone sex…" He grins.

"Phone sex is fun," I chuckle, chewing on a piece of bell pepper. "Not that Edward and I have been doing that lately."

"Well, why would you? You're in the same city, the same apartment."

"Yeah. It's good." I steal a slice of zucchini.

Thirty minutes later, we sit down to have our dinner. It's great to spend time with Seth, and we laugh about almost anything. The pizza is fantastic and I eat two large slices. When we're finished, Seth and I sit on the terrace. After three days of rain, the weather has improved, but it's not as hot as before.

"Are you nervous yet?" Seth asks.

"Mmm." I press my lips together, unsure whether to tell Seth how nervous I really am.

"Mmm?" he repeats.

"Terribly." I let out a huge breath. "I'm afraid I'll fuck up as a mother. With the poor example I had myself…"

"Hey, you also have my mom as an example." Seth grabs my hand. "You'll be great, Bells. You have the biggest heart of anyone I know."

"Thanks, Sethy." I squeeze his fingers. "But, you know, I'm also freaking afraid of the birth."

Seth's expression changes, now looking painful. "I imagine that," he says. "Aren't you going to have an epidural?"

"I don't know yet. There are pros and cons."

"What does Edward say?"

"Wait for the moment to come. Maybe it won't be that bad."

Right, who am I kidding? I'm going to press a watermelon out of my vagina. Well, a cantaloupe, hopefully. Jesus.

My phone beeps with an incoming message.

Hello my lovely love. Bad news – I won't be able to go to the fashion show with you tomorrow night. I know, I hate it too, but I can't help it since we'll be away all weekend. Sorry. I love you so much. E

"Oh, fuck it," I sigh as I close my cell.

"What is it?"

"Edward won't make it to the fashion show I told you about. He has to work, and can't get out of it because we're going to be away all weekend."

"Oh, no." Seth looks sympathetic. "Um, would you like me to come?"

"You would?"

"Of course!"

And so it happens that the next day, Seth is my date for Vladimir Sloane's fashion show. He looks amazing when he collects me in a cab, dressed in a grey Gucci suit. The show is lovely, with tall, thin models floating over the catwalk in chiffon and silk. The audience consists of rich, thin society ladies who slipped the show in between their Botox appointment and a cocktail party.

Thin waitresses in tiny dresses hand out champagne after the show and we mingle. Well, Seth slips my arm through his and we walk around, greeting dozens of people I have only seen in magazines, and a few I actually know.

"Isabella Swan!"

Oh, God. It's Vladimir Sloane himself. He's as tall as Seth, with sleek brown hair and grey eyes. Small, black pupils. An ice-blue suit, and very black lashes.

"So good to meet you in person! I loved the pictures Alistair took of you!" He kisses the air next to my cheeks. His accent is very British. Alistair, the photographer, seems to be his boyfriend. Or something.

"Hello," I smile, feeling slightly overwhelmed. I introduce him to Seth and we chat about fashion and photography. Vladimir seems nice, if slightly blasé.

"What would you think about doing another photo shoot? When you're not so pregnant anymore?"

He clearly isn't one to ask about the pregnancy and such. I guess in his world, it's just a nuisance.

"Are you serious?" I stare at him. From the corner of my eye, I can see this blond model whose name escapes me. She's on the TV all the time, advertising some lipstick. It feels surreal.

"Sure. As I said, I adored your photos." He air kisses first me and then Seth. "Got to mingle, but we'll keep in contact!"

Seth giggles and takes a sip of champagne.

"You're a model!" He kisses my cheek. "Alice will freak out!"

"You're freaking out," I chuckle. "This is crazy. Ouch." A sudden kick from Lizzie startles me.

"Are you okay?" Seth asks worriedly.

"Yeah, but would you mind terribly if we went home soon?"

Edward isn't there when I get back. He sent me a message earlier, saying he'd been held up and wouldn't make it until midnight. I feel hot and uncomfortable, and after I've taken a shower, I climb into bed. Cedric curls up next to me.

I should be happy about the offer, and about the baby and everything, but I'm not. I feel sad, and lonely, and frightened.

EDWARD

I have a four-hour surgery behind me, and I want nothing more than to get back home to my wife and daughter. Just when I'm ready to leave, shutting down my computer, yawning while I do, there's a knock on the door.

"Come in."

Not again.

I'm so tired of her bullshit.

"Hello, Edward," Victoria smiles. "Long day?"

"You can say that again. I was just leaving."

"You know," she says, closing the door behind her and walking up to me, "I have been thinking." She sits on my desk.

"If you're here to spread rumors about Ben again, I'll let you know that –"

"A proposition," she interrupts me. "An idea. Since you clearly are not going to do me the favor I asked of you."

I rake a hand through my hair.

"You call that a favor? Telling a lie about my partner and friend?"

"You'd get someone much more capable in exchange…" She smiles again, and it reminds me of a shark.

"Like your husband?"

I don't care if this was a clever move, but I'm tired, and I'm tired of her games. I don't care if she knows that I know.

"I know that he was a contender for the job, Victoria. I'm sorry –" I rub my eyes. "I'm sorry you're disappointed, but he has a very good position at Mount Sinai, doesn't he? So what do you want? Even if Ben left, that wouldn't mean that James would get his job."

Victoria is silent for a few moments, her expression unreadable.

"What do you want?" I say tiredly.

"That you recommend James for the job."

"I'm not going to get rid of Ben. What even made you think of this idiotic plan?"

"Just imagine, Edward," she says, cold eyes fixating me as she crosses her legs. I'm still not over the fact that she sat down on my desk a few seconds ago as if it were hers. "If I touched you now, and someone came in… that wouldn't look very good to your pretty little wife, would it?"

I stare at her.

"Just imagine, Edward," she repeats. "If I told people that you touched me. And that I didn't want you to. That would look very, very bad. To your wifey, and to the rest of the world. And how would you prove me wrong?"

"What… why… What have I, or my wife, ever done to you? Why are you so mean?"

"You have everything. Success, money. And a baby. Do you have any idea how hard it is for me to hear your endless gloating about your wife and her pregnancy? How much you're looking forward to –"

"What? What is this even about?"

My eyes are burning, my head is reeling.

"Just that. You have it all."

"Is this about money?"

She slowly shakes her head, laughing bitterly.

"I'm going to do it, Edward. Sexual harassment. Admittedly, it's not going to be easy, but then it wouldn't be the first time you'd be fucking a co-worker right?"

I'm just so shocked and disbelieving that I'm sitting there with my mouth open.

"Does the name Lauren Mallory ring any bells?" she asks sweetly.

I swallow.

"What does Lauren have to do with any of this?"

"I think you know that," Victoria tells me, still sickeningly sweet. "You were rather… close to her at one time, weren't you?"

Fuck, fuck, fuck. Why do mistakes you made always return to bite you in the ass?

"That's ridiculous," I shout, lowering my voice immediately. "That was years ago…"

"Yeah, seems she's still not over you. She works at Mount Sinai now, and I met her at a party. What an interesting conversation that was."

"So you're telling me that you're going to blackmail me? Accuse me of sexual harassment if I don't lie about Ben? That's just crazy, Victoria." I get out of my chair. I need some distance between us. I walk to the window and stare out into the city lights.

"Think about it Edward. It's your choice."

"No one's going to believe you." I turn around.

Victoria has stood up as well, eyeing me coldly, her hand on the doorknob.

"They will. If I have bruises to show for. And another woman who worked with you to add to my testimony."

The door closes softly behind her.

I just make it to the bathroom, where I lose what I had for dinner six hours ago.

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A/N:

Dear, dear readers, thank you from the bottom of my heart for your support. I promise this will be angsty for a very short time only. I want Edward and Bella to be happy with their little Lizzie just as much as you do.

I always love to hear your opinion, so please leave me a review?

Have a wonderful weekend!

Your harperpitt