Title: Living Life
Summary: When Edward fell for Bella he knew his life would change forever, watch as he navigates this life with just love and a plan.
Rating: M because we all love our OCD lovin'
Pairing: It's always going to be an E/B story
Disclaimer: No, I still don't own these characters. Although I wish I did.
Chapter 36 – Edward
Inspiring
"Is Bella ready?" Alice asked me as I stood outside the bathroom waiting for my wife.
"Does it look like it?" I asked Alice. I knew I shouldn't be so short with her but Alice had been stressing Bella out all day and I didn't like it. I knew today was important but Bella was in a very fragile condition and I didn't want anything upsetting her.
Today was the opening of the centre. Bella was due to give a speech on the steps any minute now, but she was throwing up in the bathroom.
"Is she still throwing up?" Alice asked me and I nodded. "Jeesh she really has bad nerves." Alice said and I nodded again not saying anything.
I knew half the reason Bella was throwing up was nerves, this was her business, she had thrown all of herself into this in the past year and she had a lot riding on this.
But the other fact was morning sickness.
It seemed once it started it didn't stop.
In a sick twisted way I was sort of happy she was throwing up though. It just reminded me that she was pregnant.
I was going to be a Daddy!
I was ridiculously happy right now and sort of in shock. I think Bella was too. We hadn't expected things to work so fast and now that we had it was still shocking how fast she had become pregnant. Plus I think now she was nervous something would go wrong, so we had promised not to tell anyone until twelve weeks, and that included Angela.
Bella didn't want Angela worrying about her, after today was over Angela was to go home and rest until her baby was born. Bella was terrified Angela would over work herself and was constantly making her sit down and take breaks. But of course I was a demon for suggesting Bella slow down, because she couldn't behave any different in case anyone caught on.
For some reason I went against my better judgement and read a bunch of stuff on the internet. I know what you're thinking, why do men do this to themselves? They freak themselves out by reading the scariest fucking thing that they could possibly find on the internet.
Since then I went out and bought all the baby books and read so many statistics that I felt sick.
There were so many things that could go wrong at this stage of the pregnancy. So I had been following her around like a crazy person all week. I wouldn't let her lift anything heavier than a dinner plate. I checked everything before she ate it. I had booked an appointment for her with her gynaecologist, which of course earned me a glare and the statement that she was 'pregnant not invalid'.
Yes I was being annoying but this was my child and I had OCD. Bella knew what she was getting when we got married, something she tells me she knows. But it didn't stop her for wanting to brain me when I asked her whether her bowel movements had been regular since the wedding.
"Honey?" I asked knocking on the bathroom door. "Is everything okay?"
"Yeah" She answered opening the door. She had touched up her makeup and her hair but she still looked a bit shaky and green.
"Are you sure?" Alice asked her.
"I'm fine...it's just did you see the camera? The news is here." Bella said and Alice nodded. "Alice would you mind getting me a bottle of water?" she asked.
"No problem." Alice said before disappearing off to find one.
"Are you sure you're able to do this?" I asked Bella and she nodded.
"I'll be fine. The cameras don't scare me that much but I needed an excuse" Bella explained.
"Okay, but if you feel tired or weak tell me." I told her and she nodded.
"I promise" She said kissing my cheek. "Stop worrying Hubward, you're going to give yourself wrinkles." Bella said as Angela waddled towards us.
"What did you just call him? Hubward." Angela asked and Bella shrugged. "I love that." Angela said. "Kudos to you."
"Will you sit down woman you're going to give me a heart attack." Ben said running up behind his wife. I have a feeling I would the exact same when Bella got to this stage of her pregnancy. Heck I was sort of like that now and she didn't even have a baby bump yet.
Yup I'm pretty sure I will suffer from many a panic attack and glares from my wife before this baby is born.
"Ben I tell you this every time you knock me up, women have been having babies for centuries, and this one is no different. I am fine!" She yelled before stomping off, Ben following after her.
"You are so going to be like that." Bella murmured in my ear and I smiled kissing her on top of her head.
"Excuse me, Mrs. Cullen?" a voice asked from behind us. We turned and saw it was Tia, Bella and Angela's new assistant. She was nice, a bit standoffish Bella thought but she couldn't complain the girl was very efficient. Even I thought so, in one day she completely organised the office and Bella's schedule to alone for 'boss time' and 'teacher time'. She had done the same for Angela as well as setting up billing systems and a petty cash system.
"Yes Tia" Bella answered.
"The camera crew are outside, and it's time for your speech." Tia explained and Bella nodded. Alice came back with the bottle of water and Bella quickly drank it as we walked towards the front doors. Bella was giving her speech on the doorsteps of the centre because the weather was great. I really hope it kept because after being in Brazil for two weeks I had gotten used to having the sun out.
Once there Tia and Alice walked outside while Bella turned to me looking panicked.
Oh crap, she was the comforter in this marriage, not me.
"Tell me you love me and everything's going to work out?" Bella asked panicked.
Okay that I could do.
"I love you so much and everything is going to work out Baby, I promise." I told her and she nodded. I had used the pet name I always used when trying to comfort her and hopefully it worked. "Now let's go out there. I want to see my wife blow everyone away." I told her and she smiled as I leaned in and kissed her. Closed mouth of course because she hadn't gotten a breath mint or brushed her teeth after throwing up. I love her but 'ew'.
She took a deep breath and chugged another bit of water before I opened the door and took the bottle from her. Angela was standing at the podium as Bella and I came out. All our family was there so that made for a big crowd but there was also what looked to be another one hundred people standing outside. The police had been fore warned about the camera's and had shut off the street but we never imagined this many people would come.
I looked out and saw some children who had physical disabilities others looked a bit anxious of the crowd but they kept their eyes trained on the door. I saw one girl look at Bella in awe, like she was an angel.
I suppose in a way she was. She was coming to help them. This building would help them, not just with their education but the programmes run from this building also dealt with helping the children adjust with whatever they had. It would teach them how to be independent and that they could make any life they wanted for themselves all they needed was a little push. They would meet children here who would deal with the same problems they did and possibly make friends for life. Other children would be able to talk to the staff that were the best at what they did, we had made sure of that.
Yes they looked at Bella like she was an angel. I knew the feeling; I remember how I felt the first night she took me home with her and cared for me. She had helped me so much, with such simple techniques I know my parents had felt annoyed with themselves for not thinking about them first.
My stutter was all but gone now of days and my tendencies were a lot calmer.
Yes I freaked out about some things, but they were the major ones. The little things only bugged me when I was stressed and as time went on I found myself having less bad days. But if I still had them I knew they weren't that bad because I would still have Bella and now my child at the end of them.
I was pulled out of my thoughts when I heard Angela tapping beside the microphone.
"Hello everybody, I'm Angela Cheney. I work here at the Cullen Learning Centre. I'm looking forward to everyone seeing the centre and meeting all of you. But before we begin I would like to introduce you to the centre's founder, Isabella Cullen." Angela said and everyone clapped. I squeezed Bella's hand and kissed her cheek before she went up to the podium.
She cleared her throat and smiled out at the crowd.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, Friends and Family, and of course all of you wonderful boys and girls, I'm as so happy to see you standing here in front of me. My name is Isabella Cullen, the founder of this programme. We've been working very hard to make this come to light, and I can't wait for you to see inside the building. But before you do I want to explain the background to this program." She said. Everyone in the audience was watching every movement she made.
Out of the corner of my eye I saw Aro Volturi and his wife watching intently from where they stood. I had to make small talk with them later, oh joy. But for Bella I would do it. Aro was a very important investor in the centre and he had given a lot of money to the programme.
"They say it only takes one minute to change your life" Bella said and I looked back towards her, not wanting to miss a moment of it. "For me, that moment came when I met Edward Cullen. My husband. From the moment I met him I knew he was different, I knew he was special. I would soon learn he had severe OCD." She began looking out at the ground. I didn't know she was going to mention me in her speech and I felt embarrassed a little but this was her moment. "It struck me that Edward felt he was weird and that he couldn't be normal. That just because he was different, he could never do what he wanted. But I must say to anyone out there who feels like this is the case, it isn't true. After many conversations with him, and a lot of reminders he would honestly tell you that all it took was a little push for him to be happy." Bella said glancing at me and I smiled. "As I got to know Edward though, he confided with me that he would have loved to have been helped as a child. And I knew what I wanted to do in life."
I felt my father's hand on my shoulder squeezing it. He and my mother had tears in their eyes as they watched their newest daughter in law open something that wasn't just her dream but mine.
"The idea of this centre is to live out the idea that all you have to do to be happy is to just enjoy living life." Bella said. "Inside these walls we understand that everyone is different but that isn't a bad thing. It is an amazing thing. We aim to prove that all those differences are what make you, you and that's the best person you can be. No one get's turned away when they need help. We will help you learn and grow to be the best person you can be. Thank you all for listening and I can't wait to work with you." Bella said before stopping and everyone clapped.
I was so proud of her, as she stepped down from the podium. Alice then rushed Bella over to the front door where they placed a giant ribbon, making Bella laugh. Jasper handed Bella the giant scissors when she looked around her. She looked over at me and beckoned me forward making me smile.
"You have to help me do this" She said as we walked up to the door. I helped her hold the scissors as Jasper took a picture of us, before we cut it and everyone cheered.
Bella smiled as we opened the doors and everyone started coming inside. We all stood for pictures, Bella's parents and mine beaming with pride for her right now along with myself. We then made sure to get a picture of Bella with the staff and the photographer walked around getting pictures of people enjoying the centre and all it's amazing features.
Bella stood with Aro and Mrs. Volturi for photos of the gym that he had sponsored before calling me over to talk.
"The equipment is just wonderful Mr. Volturi" Bella said her head of physical therapy Benjamin Stokes came in and started explaining the equipment to some of the parents. He excused himself for a minute before Bella introduced him to Aro, seeing as Aro had provided all the equipment for the room.
We left them talking and went to see how all the other rooms were doing. Some parents were talking to the psychologists on the team while others were talking to the teachers. The kids were more interesting to watch. A lot of them stuck to their parents, obviously a bit shy but some of them were happily asking questions and pointing out things.
Bella looked so happy it was amazing.
"Mrs. Cullen?" a little voice asked and we both looked down.
A little boy who looked about then stood in front of us.
"Hey, what's your name?" Bella asked.
"I'm Andrew" He said and she smiled.
"Hey Andrew this is my husband Edward." She said and I smiled.
"Hi" I said.
"Hi Mr. Cullen" He said. "Um Mrs. Cullen... I just wanted to say thank you because... um... sometimes the boys in my school call me strange... but you said none of us were strange or weird so next time they tell me I'm going to make sure they know..." Andrew said and Bella smiled at the little boy.
"You're welcome and you remember that." She said and he gave her a big smile before running back to his Mom who was talking to Angela. "Our kid better be that cute or I'll want a refund." Bella said and I laughed. "I'm being serious."
"Deal" I told her kissing her temple before discreetly running my fingers over her lower abdomen. "I'll still love you Baby, even if you're not adorable." I teased and she laughed.
"Oh who am I kidding it's us mushed together in a miniature version, it's going to be so cute some might think it was illegal." She said and I laughed at her rambling.
We then decided we should go mingle some more but according to Alice when it was for business it wasn't mingling it was networking. Bella and I were calling it bullshit but you win some you lose some when it came to Alice.
The people who attended today were actually pretty great to talk to, especially the kids. I could see so much of myself in each and every one of them and I think my siblings could as well. I noticed Emmett talking to a kid who was watching a little boy who Bella told me had OCD. She had recognised him from his application form.
Bella was thriving talking about some programmes with some of the parents so I excused myself and went over to Emmett.
As I approached them I heard him talking to the kid.
"Believe me, I know it's hard. You want a little brother who wants to play football with you and roll around in the mud bud, and listen to this because I had no one telling me this stuff when I was growing up, maybe next time you get frustrated with him ask him what he wants to do instead. He might surprise you."
"You think?" the kid asked.
"I'll let you in on a secret; my little brother hated playing outside as a kid. He was much like your little brother. One day when we were kids I got annoyed with him because I was bored, it was his birthday and instead of having a birthday party he decided to just have Mom cook his favourite dinner. I finally asked him what he wanted to do and he said he wanted me to teach him how to play football. I know sometimes you might think you got a raw deal with your brother but he'll surprise you."
"So you're saying I should let my brother pick?" the kid asked Emmett who nodded.
"Let him get comfortable with the idea and he'll be much easier to be around. Let me tell you." Emmett said.
"I'll try that." The kid said "Thanks Mister" He added before running over to his brother.
"Nice advice" I said and Emmett turned around.
"You heard that?" Emmett asked and I nodded.
"I'm surprised you remembered that." I said "That birthday I mean."
"Are you kidding? That was the day I told Mom that I was sure you weren't an alien." Emmett said and I laughed. "How are you doing?" Emmett asked.
"What do you mean?"
"Well talking with everyone, being the one giving the support. I know Bella's normally the giver and you're the receiver." Emmett said.
"She's actually doing okay. I'm just the proud husband." I said with a shrug.
"That is still so weird" Emmett muttered.
"What? That I'm married?" I asked him and he nodded.
"Seriously less than two years ago I thought you were going to be a hermit." Emmett said.
"I know" I told him remember some of his harsher words at the time.
"And now you're somebody's husband" Emmett said patting my shoulder.
About to be somebody's father, I added mentally feeling a sense of dread, happiness and excitement at the thought of my child growing inside of my new bride.
"Yeah it's weird" I told him. "I don't regret the way I got together with Bella but I do regret that it took me losing you to get her."
"Well you can't shake me for long" Emmett said. "I was so proud of you organising that meeting between the five of us."
"It needed to be done." I told him. "Just because I'm the youngest doesn't mean I should leave it up to you and the other knuckle head." I told him referring to Alice and he nodded.
"Well thank you. You did what each of us should have from the beginning. You're a great man Edward." Emmett said.
"He's right you know?" Dad's voice interrupted clapping my shoulder. "Both of my sons are. You make some mistakes, you both do. But that no one's perfect."
"Thanks Dad" I said and Emmett nodded.
"Plus we're one good looking group of men." Dad added and Emmett chimed in with his own 'hell yeah' while I rolled my eyes at the two of them. "Deny it all you want but we got our women around our pinkies."
"More like they have us around theirs." I told him and Dad thought about it before sighing.
"Bugger you're right." Dad said and we all laughed. "Well no matter what I'm exceptionally proud of the two of you." He said and we smiled "Oh and of course your sister. Just covering my basis, that girl has supersonic hearing." He added and Emmett and I laughed. "I better go, I can see your mother talking to Mrs. Volturi, and I really don't want to end playing tennis with your boss on my days off." Dad said walking off.
"He's getting worse with age" Emmett said and I nodded. "But he's right."
"Thanks Em. How the twins?" I asked him wanting to changed the subject.
"Great, loud. But great. Parker keeps looking at them as if to say 'this is great and all but I think we should bring them back now'" Emmett said when Rosalie pushed the stroller over. Parker was holding onto the side "There's my family." Emmett said.
"Look there's Daddy and Uncle Edward." Rosalie said and Parker signalled to me he wanted to be picked up.
"Hey Bud" I said picking him. "How are you Rosalie?" I asked her.
"Tired but I'm okay." She said. She looked tired. I supposed having three kids under the age of four was a lot of work. "This place looks amazing. You and Bella are going to do some great work here." She added.
It was weird, I wasn't used to Rosalie acting so human but I think it was something I could get used to. She was slowly returning to the person that she was the first time I met her. The kind of person I could seeing being friends with Bella.
"Thanks, that's the plan." I said tickling under my nephew's chin causing him to giggle.
"Well don't let us keep you; I just wanted to say congratulations about this." Rosalie said.
"It's mainly Bella; she'll be around here somewhere." I told Rosalie who nodded.
"But it must be great to know you're the inspiration behind it." She said.
"I like to think she would still be doing something in this capacity even if we hadn't met."
"Are you kidding me? Without she would still be calling me to get her out of bad dates while spending her working week trying to stay of Mike Newton's good side without sleeping with him." Rosalie said and I shrugged. "Give yourself some credit" She added.
I never thought about it like that.
I was always the one giving Bella credit. She was the one who saved me. She was the one who helped me. She was the one who changed me.
But... could it be possible... could it be possible that I had changed her too?
I thought back to this first time I met Bella. I had been taken by her beauty but there was an incredible sadness to her. I would soon become distracted by a sick cat and an angry brother but her eyes had stuck with me that day because I marvelled at how they could be so deep at such a young age.
I'm not saying in any way that Bella needed as much help as I did but... I looked over at my wife. She was smiling as she chatted to her father and step mother. She was beaming with happiness, you would never be able to tell that she had ever stressed about money, a career... she was breath taking right now.
Had I done that?
I knew she loved me, she told me often enough. But I was truly seeing that she was happy and that was because of me. I was the one who made her that happy.
I felt like the Grinch at the end of the movie when his heart grows three sizes.
"That smile is because of you Edward" Rosalie said. "I know I gave you a lot of crap but you're definitely the best thing that ever happened to her."
"Thanks Rosalie." I told her and she nodded. "I'll see you guys later" I told them, they were heading off; the three kids needed naps as well as their parents. I thanked them for coming before going and finding my wife.
Slipping my hand into Bella's I gave it a quick squeeze.
"I love you" I told her kissing her when we got a minute alone.
"I love you too Baby." She said with a smile of her face.
We stayed talking for hours until the centre was cleared of people. Bella stood there smiling as I rolled up my sleeves and began sweeping the floor.
What?
I may be married and expecting a baby but not everything changes.
"Baby?" Bella asked me and I looked up. "This is where it all begins isn't it?" she asked her hand resting where she would be showing in a couple of weeks.
"Yes" I told her leaning on the handle of the sweeping brush. "You ready for everything to change?" I asked her.
"Are you?" she asked.
"When you're with me? I'm ready for anything." I told her walking over and kissing her.
"I feel the same way." She told me. "I really feel like we're living life to the fullest right now." She said.
"Really?" I asked her and she nodded. "Good me too." I told her kissing her cheek.
"Best year of my life Hubward." She said.
Winking at her I repeated something she had told me a hundred times.
"The best year of your life so far Mrs. Cullen."
And would you believe that is the last time you'll hear from OCDward until the Epilogue, yep we've only got one more regular chapter to go and then we're finished. I just don't know what I'm going to do without these characters but I think their story is told now.
Review please and tell me what you thought about the chapter.
Love The Irish Cullen.