What Happens In Vegas
Disclaimer: All content is the property of its respective owner and no copyright infringement is intended. Thus, this story belongs to me and I would like it to stay that way.
A/N: In celebration of the Blackhawks' win tonight, I am posting a little early! Thank you all for reading and all of your support.
Chapter 35: Reconnection
EPOV
Bella leaned down to kiss me softly and woke me sometime early Monday morning. I grabbed her neck and pulled her closer.
"Mmm, good morning," I whispered.
Bella giggled. "Good morning. I just wanted to kiss you goodbye. I'm headed to work."
"Wait! Do you need me to take you? How are you getting there?" I was instantly sitting up and trying to clear the sleep from my brain.
"No, go back to sleep. Angela is picking me up. I love you," she said quietly.
I flopped back down into the pillow. "I love you, too. Have a good day, baby. Call me on your way home." I heard the door shut and sank back into my dreams.
The light was coming through the windows at an odd angle when I woke again. My dreams had been vivid and my dick was throbbing. It was shortly after one, so I hopped in the shower to wash away the grime of sleep and my last shift. The smell of Bella's citrusy body wash still hung in the air and I inhaled greedily. While I loved holding her and taking care of her, I missed making love to Bella. The steam from the shower only enhanced the smell, and I stroked my cock to relieve the tension building in my body. Images of Bella ran behind my closed eyelids and I braced myself with one hand against the wall. In my mind, I saw her kneeling in front of me with her small hand massaging my balls while her head bobbed up and down my shaft. My grip tightened and I pumped faster, my moans ricocheting off the tile. Just as my imaginary Bella scraped her teeth along my dorsal vein, my orgasm hit me and I came hard. I needed the release but, as good as it felt, it was hollow. I couldn't wait to be with Bella again.
Once I was cleaned and dressed, I fixed a sandwich and ate in the kitchen. I had two hours until I had to leave for work and I didn't quite know what to do with myself. Bella had already done all the grocery shopping and I didn't have a piano here. I looked around the apartment and tried to figure out a place that my piano might fit. There wasn't an ideal place for it as every available wall had a full bookshelf leaning against it.
With our conversation from the night before fresh in my mind, I found my phone and called the realtor that had sold me the apartment.
"Janine Sulpicea. How can I help you?"
"Hey, Janine. It's Edward Cullen."
"Edward! It's so great to hear from you! How's the apartment?" She sounded enthusiastic.
"It's great! That's actually part of the reason I called actually. Do you have a minute?" I asked tentatively.
"Of course! What's up?"
"Well, I want to know what my best options are. I recently got married and we won't be living there. Would it be best to sell the place or to rent it out?" I asked.
"Well, congratulations! It's a sad day for all of us single girls in Chicago." She laughed. "I think I can get you a good price to sell. There are a few clients that are looking for a place just like yours right now. Do you have another place to live?"
I hesitated. This was one of those decisions that Bella and I should make together, but I could get a jump on it. "My wife has her own apartment, but we really wanted to get a house. Can you help with that?"
"That's what I do. Do you have any specific neighborhoods in mind?"
"Not really. I work at UC Med Center and she works over on Publisher's Row. We don't want to be too far from work," I stated.
"Amenities?" I could hear Janine writing on the other end of the line.
This was where it got tricky. Bella and I hadn't talked about this at all. I must have hesitated a little bit too long, because Janine cut back in.
"Edward? Just give me something to start with. If you want to add anything later, we can but I need something to go on."
"Okay. Um, at least three bedrooms and two baths, a big, modern kitchen, and a two-car garage. We do want a nice yard," I offered.
"All right, that will give me something to start with. I will send over the listings in the next couple of days!"
I gave her our address and breathed a sigh of relief. I would have to tell Bella about this on Wednesday when I got home. For now, though, I decided to get dinner ready so Bella would have something to eat when she arrived.
I pulled two chicken breasts out of the freezer and submerged them in a sink full of hot water to thaw. Then I dug through her cabinets until I located a container of rice, a bottle of barbeque sauce, a rice steamer, and a can of green beans. Following the rice cooker's directions, I poured in the rice and set it to cook while the meat thawed. The George Forman Grill that she had used the other night still sat on the counter, so I plugged it in and laid the chicken breasts on it after they defrosted. The green beans heated on the stove while I set the table.
It was just after five when I heard the front door open. I had finished applying the last of the barbeque sauce to the chicken and I was serving up both of our plates as Bella clomped into the kitchen.
"Hey, baby! You're still here!" she said happily. "What is all this?"
"I am," I replied, then turned to her and kissed her softly on the mouth. "I made dinner."
"It looks delicious. Do you have time to eat with me?"
I smiled and gestured to the two place settings at the table. I helped her to her seat and served the meal. She told me about her day and Heidi's latest ideas. Bella laughed at the eagerness with which Heidi emailed and how she loved her enthusiasm.
Dinner did not last nearly long enough. Before I knew it, it was time for me to head to the hospital. I reminded Bella I would be here when she got home on Wednesday and told her to call me if she needed anything. Bella stood up from the table and grabbed my shirt. She wasn't all that steady on her feet but she managed to drag me towards her and kissed me like her life depended on it.
"I love you, Isabella Swan," I breathed against her lips.
"Cullen," she whispered.
"Yes, Bella?" I pulled back from her and waited for whatever she wanted to say.
She just stared at me like I was supposed to know what she was talking about. When I didn't respond, Bella started worrying her lower lip with her teeth. I pulled it out gently with my thumb.
"What is it, baby? What did you want to say?" I asked, still completely clueless.
Bella looked down at her hands that twisted together. "I was thinking, well, that if you don't mind, I would like to change my name to Cullen," she mumbled so fast I had a hard time understanding her.
I blinked a few times, sure I had not heard her correctly. When I realized she was completely serious, I couldn't stop the ridiculous grin that spread across my face. I picked her up, kissed her, and swung us both in a circle. Bella giggled and I smiled wider.
"I wonder if this is what it feels like to get a yes when you propose?" I mused.
"Does it make you that happy?" Bella laughed.
"Oh, baby, you have no idea! I love you."
"I love you too. Now, go to work!" Bella shoved me playfully and I pretended to stumble towards the front door.
The grin hadn't left my face when I arrived on the floor and grabbed a stack of charts from the desk. I was thumbing through them and humming to myself when Garrett interrupted.
"Dude, what gives? You're like this ultra happy version of Edward. It's freaking me out a little bit," he teased.
I grinned at him. "You asked Kate to marry you yet?"
"No! And keep it down! I kind of want it to be a surprise when I do!" he hissed at me.
"Well, when you do and she says yes, you'll understand."
"Um, Edward? You're already married, so I don't follow."
I shrugged. "So, I don't remember my proposal and, since it was a spur of the moment thing, there wasn't any nervous wait about it. Bella, however, has wanted to keep her maiden name since then," I explained.
"You wanted her to take yours?" Garrett surmised.
"Well, yeah. There's just something about it. Anyway, until recently, every time someone called her Mrs. Cullen or mentioned it, she would say that her last name was still Swan and insisted that she didn't want to take mine. Right before I came to work today, she told me that she wanted to change it."
Garrett smiled, nodded, and clapped me on the back. He told me that both he and Kate had Sunday off and he was taking her to the White Sox game. They were playing Oakland, Kate's hometown baseball team. She knew about the game, but she didn't know about the proposal he had planned. Andruw Jones had been one of her favorite players for years and, through the press office, Garrett had gotten him to agree to give Kate a game ball with Garrett's proposal written on it.
For a baseball fan like Kate, I thought it was a great idea. She wouldn't appreciate her relationship being broadcast during the game but she would like Garrett's understated plan.
Monday night was quiet, with only minimal need for surgical services. I was called to the ER a couple of times for consults and for a particularly difficult head wound requiring stitches. I hadn't seen Tanya since she left Bella's room more than a week ago and, while I believed we had parted on friendly terms, it was still awkward to work with her. Fortunately, she was busy with her own patients and we were able to avoid each other.
Surgeries started early on Tuesday and lasted through most of the day. It was after eight before I took a break and after eleven before I had a chance to call Bella. She was already in bed and mumbled a few sleepy words to me before I let her go.
Tuesday night was quiet and I managed to sleep for a bit in an empty pre-surgical room before the rush started again on Wednesday morning. Now, more than ever, I was sure that surgery was not the route for me. Maybe it would be different if I had my own practice, but I liked to be able to get to know my patients and their families. And, I liked having a family of my own.
I wondered when Bella would want to start thinking about children. It would obviously be awhile before we could start in earnest but the idea really appealed to me. Having had fatherhood snatched away before I knew it and having to consider it in retrospect gave me a different perspective and new priorities.
I clocked out just after lunchtime and made my way back home quickly. I stripped down to my boxers and crawled between the sheets. Bella's bed was soft and comfortable, cradling me and lulling me into a deep sleep.
The sky was darker and the air was heavy with the scent of frying bacon when I woke hours later. I pulled on a pair of jeans and ran my hands through my hair in an attempt to wake myself up. I strolled to the kitchen and found Bella standing over the stove, flipping bacon and drinking a glass of wine.
"Hi, baby," I said through a yawn. "How was your day?"
She spun on her heel and spilled a little of her wine in the process. "Hey! You're up. Are you hungry?"
"I'm starving. What are we having?" I took a seat at the kitchen table and blinked through my exhaustion.
"Bacon and eggs? Is that okay? I just wasn't up for anything complicated and I didn't want to wake you before you were ready," she said.
"That sounds great, angel. What can I do to help?"
"Nothing. Just sit and I will serve you in just a minute!" Bella put the last of the bacon on a paper towel covered plate and cracked several eggs right into the skillet. Moments later, she scooped heaps of scrambled eggs onto two plates and placed them lightly on the table.
We ate in silence for a few minutes. There were times that it looked like Bella wanted to say something but she never did. She didn't make random conversation either, so I knew something was on her mind.
"What is it, Bella?" I asked quietly when I couldn't take it anymore.
She deliberated for a second, then stood and hopped across the room. When she came back, she was clutching a large manila envelope.
"Would you care to tell me what this is?" she said, dropping it next to my plate. There was a trace of irritation in her voice that she didn't bother to disguise.
The envelope contained a note from Janine and several MLS home listings.
"This," I started, "is from my realtor. I called her on Monday about the other apartment, like we discussed, and she offered to see what was available as far as houses went. I was going to talk to you about it tonight." I took a deep breath and let it out slowly, nervously awaiting her reaction.
"So," Bella stated. Her eyebrows were furrowed in concentration and thought. "After one conversation, which we really didn't finish, you have your apartment sold and us moving to the suburbs?"
"Not at all!" I hastened to assure her. "We agreed that we didn't want to pay for both, so I took some steps to remove that burden."
"But I thought we were still undecided as to where to live," she said plaintively.
My shoulders relaxed and I reached across the table to take her hands in mine. "Baby, I don't want to live there and I don't think you do either. If we did, it would always be my place and you wouldn't feel at home there. You never have. Until we find something else that we both like, we should stay here where we are both comfortable, right?"
"Well, yeah, but," she started and then stopped abruptly. "The houses?"
"Nothing more than research. Janine asked and I gave her some ideas."
She cast a curious eye at the envelope and I handed it over. "What did you tell her?" I could tell she was still trying to give the appearance of disapproval, but she was intrigued.
I grinned. "Three bedrooms, two baths, a nice yard, a garage and a really big kitchen."
Bella shoved our dishes to the other end of the table and spread the listing sheets around. Janine had been busy and had printed out fifteen listings, ranging in price from $85,000 to $500,000. Her note indicated that this was merely a small sampling of what was available.
Bella and I spent the next couple of hours dissecting each house and what it offered. At one point, I got up and grabbed one of her notebooks to make notes in. I promised to call Janine the next day and get some more houses that had all the features she wanted. For the first time since we started talking about living arrangements, Bella actually looked excited.
I cleaned up the kitchen while Bella continued to pour over the sheets. As soon as I had everything put away, I locked up and returned to the kitchen. Bella was tapping her pen against one house that she had obliterated repeatedly.
"I think you've demonstrated your dislike of that house enough, baby," I laughed.
"I'm just trying to figure out what I want!" Bella defended.
I nuzzled my nose into the hair covering her neck. "I know what I want," I whispered.
Bella's head fell back onto my shoulder and she let out a little whimper. "Please don't tease me," she moaned.
I laughed lightly and picked her up bridal style. I shut off the kitchen lights as I walked out of the room and took her back to the bedroom.
I bounced Bella onto the bed and she giggled. She directed me to her pajama drawer where I found the set I got her before Alice's wedding. I held them up and looked at her questioningly.
"Those will work. I think I can get them over my cast," she responded nonchalantly.
"Have you ever worn them?" I asked carefully.
"I wore them when we were in Forks," she answered with a shrug, not quite meeting my eyes.
I nodded and tossed them to her. She struggled into them while I changed, then I carried her to the bathroom so that she could complete her evening rituals. I collected her crutches from the other room and leaned them against her nightstand, in case she needed them later.
Bella and I crawled under the covers and I switched my bedside lamp off, plunging us into darkness. I pulled Bella against my chest and listened to her heartbeat. Sleep was not coming easily after the reminder of my idiocy.
"Edward?" Bella whispered into the night.
"Yeah, babe?"
"I really do like the pajamas."
I squeezed her into me and kissed the top of her head. "I'm glad."
"I didn't wear them after we got home because they made me think about you. I just missed you so much," she said quietly.
"I know, baby. It's all right."
"Can I ask you another question?"
I chuckled. She seemed as keyed up as I was. "Whatever you like, darling."
"How many kids do you want?"
I froze. I knew that Bella could feel my body tense up but I just couldn't move. Since I had just been thinking about starting a family earlier, it seemed the time had come for the conversation.
Bella misunderstood my apprehension and started back-pedaling. "I didn't mean—it's just that we were talking about houses and bedrooms . . ."
"No, Bella, it's all right. I was just thinking about this earlier." I pulled her a little closer to me. "I'd like to have a couple, at least—a boy and a girl, if we can manage it."
I felt Bella's soft laugh through my chest. "I always wanted an older brother. Being an only child is not that much fun. I can just see a little bronze haired boy tormenting his little sister."
"Hmmm. A beautiful little girl that looks just like her beautiful mother?" I could see my little girl so clearly.
"Ugh, well, maybe with green eyes? Brown is just so boring!" Bella complained.
"No! Your brown is gorgeous!" I protested.
"Flattery will get you everywhere, Dr. Cullen," Bella mumbled.
My cock twitched at her words and I thought of just where I wanted my flattery to get me. Once I started with Bella, I couldn't stand to stop. I needed to be inside of her again like I needed air. Knowing that we couldn't though, I shifted away from her and tried to adjust myself. Bella just giggled at me and burrowed further into my side.
Before I could stop myself, I blurted out the question that had been on my mind all day. "When do you want to start making those kids?"
"What?" Bella sounded a little shocked.
"Um, well, I mean, it's just that . . . never mind," I mumbled.
Bella sat up slightly. "No, not 'never mind.' Are you asking when I want to start our family?" Her voice was firm with no nonsense.
I tried to choose my words carefully before I spoke, but when I opened my mouth, all that came out was "Yes?"
"Oh." Bella paused and took several deep breaths. I could smell salt in the air and realized she was crying.
"Oh, baby, no! Don't cry," I shushed. I pulled her head back to my shoulder and rocked her slightly, trying my best to provide some comfort.
"It's just that, we should be getting ready and thinking about nurseries. If I hadn't been so stupid, we would have a baby to prepare for. I want him!" she wailed.
"Shh, baby. It's okay. It's not your fault. You're still here and we can try again, whenever you're ready," I said soothingly. She only sobbed harder. I knew how she felt, though. I felt the ache left by the baby we never knew acutely and I knew it had to be ten times worse for her. The image of James kicking Bella through the window flashed before my eyes and they swam with tears of my own.
We fell asleep holding each other tightly and letting our tears fall freely into the dark night.
BPOV
When the alarm went off Thursday morning, it was like I had gone several rounds with a boxer and lost. My eyes were swollen and my head foggy. As if I hadn't done enough crying while Edward and I were apart, I had to cry again with him here by my side.
The rational part of my mind told me I shouldn't be so upset by the miscarriage. I hadn't known about the pregnancy and it wouldn't have been all that well-timed. The sad truth was that it still hurt; it hurt a lot.
Edward was still asleep when I left him and started to get ready for work. Jane and I had arranged for today to be a half day since I had no idea how long my doctor's appointments would take. I also wanted to go by the social security office and have my name officially changed. After Edward's gleeful reaction, I was even more excited and determined to have it done as soon as possible.
Edward was awake when I emerged from the bathroom. He leaned against the headboard and looked just as worn as I did. His eyes were swollen too, and I realized he had been crying with me last night. He patted the bed next to him in a silent request for me to join him.
I crawled up next to him and leaned my head on his shoulder. Edward snaked his arm around my neck and held me to him.
"What time do you want me to pick you up today?" he asked, his voice still rough and hoarse from sleep.
"My appointment is at noon, so 11:15?"
"I'll be there. Are you going back afterwards?" His question was interrupted by a large yawn.
"No. I have another appointment at three."
Edward raised his eyebrows and I cautiously explained. "I made an appointment with my regular OB/GYN. I wanted to see her to make sure that everything is okay."
Edward nodded. "That's a good idea. Do you want me to come with you?"
"Yes, if you don't mind," I said quietly.
He kissed me softly and leaned his head back against the headboard with his eyes closed. I knew he was still tired from his long shift so I slid out of bed to finish getting ready while he rested.
I kissed him goodbye and he promised to meet me at the office in a few hours. Angela was already waiting at the curb when I stumbled out the front door. I would be so happy when I could have the stupid cast off. She helped me into the car and we drove to the office.
"So, how are things going?" Angela asked vaguely.
"With what?" I asked. I wasn't being intentionally obtuse, but she could have been asking about a lot of things.
Angela rolled her eyes. "With Edward."
"Oh," I said with a blush. "Things are good. Did I tell you that we found our wedding video last weekend?"
"There was a video?" she practically screeched.
"So it seems! We watched it and I think I fell a little bit more in love with him than I already was," I told her.
"That's great! Just be careful. I don't want to see you get hurt again," she cautioned.
"I will be. Marriage isn't easy, or so I'm told, but we are both committed to making it work."
Angela nodded and then started regaling me with stories about her and Ben. She had said her piece and that was the end of it. It seemed that she and Ben had gone to his family's place for dinner the night before and there were more "redneck antics," as she called them.
The morning progressed quickly and, before I knew it, it was eleven and time to pack up. I gathered the manuscript I was working on and shoved it in the backpack I had begun carrying. I truly hoped I didn't need it after today.
Edward was leaning against the side of his Volvo, waiting for me in front of the building. He gently took the backpack from me and helped me in the passenger's seat. We pulled out into the lunchtime traffic and sped toward the hospital.
Dr. Caruthers was in his office when we arrived and he redirected us to an examining room with a smile.
"It is certainly good to see you up and about, Bella," he commented as we followed. Edward walked close to my side. I could see him itching to touch me but knew that if he did, it would only throw me off balance.
"It's good to be up and about. I can't wait to be off of these things though," I laughed.
"Let's see if we can make that happen then!" Dr. Caruthers chuckled.
Dr. Caruthers had me remove the skirt I was wearing so he could remove my stitches. Once they were out, he used a saw to cut off my cast. I was a little sorry to see it go as everyone had signed it but it meant freedom to me and I wanted that more than I wanted the signatures.
I scanned my leg and took in the huge incision along my shin. There was more lettering and I recognized Edward's initials. I giggled and smiled at him. His return smile was almost mischievous. While Dr. Caruthers cleaned things up, Edward leaned over and whispered in my ear.
"Maybe you'll let me write on you with something else a little later."
I blushed deeply and ducked my head.
"All right, everything is healing nicely. You do need to abstain from vigorous exercise for another six weeks or so. Sexual activity should be fine but watch both areas carefully. I'm sure Dr. Cullen can do any other follow-ups, if needed, but let me know if any complications develop," Dr. Caruthers advised.
"I'll do that, Dr. Caruthers. Thank you so much. Is there anything special I need to do for care?" I asked.
"Not really. Just follow your normal routine and keep both areas as clean and dry as you can."
He gave us the official papers and sent us on our way. It was only 1:00 and Edward suggested that we grab a bite to eat before my other appointment. I asked that we grab something fast because I wanted to go over to the Social Security office over on Cottage Grove while we were in between appointments. His eyes twinkled happily and he pulled through Taco Bell to get us lunch on the way.
The Social Security office wasn't too busy when we arrived and the lady at the counter was nice enough. She perused the forms, identification, and marriage license that I produced from the backpack. With a few clicks on the keyboard, she informed me that my new card would be arriving in two weeks, handed me a letter and bid us a good day.
Edward clutched my hand nervously as we strode from the building, and I cocked my head in question. He continued to stare straight ahead so I stopped in the middle of the sidewalk and tugged on his arm.
"Edward? What's the matter?"
His eyes got wide and he stuttered, "N-nothing. Why would you think something's wrong?"
I pulled my hand from his and crossed my arms across my chest. "You're frowning."
"I'm not frowning. I was just thinking! Nothing's the matter."
"Tell me what you were thinking about?" I asked.
"You. You changing your name. Us buying a home. Work. Our future. All of it. I was just picturing it all and I must have zoned out a little."
The breath left my body and I froze as my earlier insecurities came roaring back. "You don't want this," I stated.
"Oh, Bella. That's not it at all!" He walked toward me and laid his hands on my shoulders. "I was day dreaming!"
"Day dreaming?" I asked skeptically.
"Yes! You just made your name the same as mine. We've been looking at houses and talking about children. I've been thinking about what I want to do for my career once my residency is over. While you were talking to Ellen in there, I was imagining coming home after a day in my pediatric office to our little house in the suburbs with those two kids we talked about last night running around in the back yard. You were flipping steaks on the grill, wearing an apron, and laughing at their game of tag." Edward's lopsided grin lit up his face while he talked and I could see the sheer joy in his eyes.
I relaxed my stance and smiled back at him. I took his hand and we started walking to the car again. I chose to avoid the mention of those children again as it made my heart ache, but I did focus on the new information he supplied. "So, a pediatric office? Tell me about this."
Edward blushed a little and ducked his head. "It's just that I've been thinking about what I want to do when I finish my residency. I know I don't want to be in the hospital setting."
I sat down in the car and waited for him to get in the driver's seat. "Why not?"
"The hours mostly. I cannot imagine trying to keep up this schedule with a family. Right now, I don't have a choice, but I don't want it to always be this way," he explained.
"And a pediatric practice?" I pushed.
Edward remained quiet as he drove down the road, somewhat aimlessly. I was prepared to prod him when he spoke. "I like spending time with my patients and getting to know them. It was really the only thing I liked about the NICU. The patients stuck around longer than a few days and I got to know the families and little things about them. I want that. I like the idea of watching my patients grow up and treating all of them, not just a specific injury or illness. My dad loves surgery. And I get that. I understand the thrill of saving people and being the fixer." Edward paused and took a deep breath. "That's just not me."
Edward glanced over to me nervously.
"Wait! You need to turn left there!" I shouted as I noticed him getting ready to turn past the street my doctor's office was on. Edward cut through the traffic and made the turn, barely avoiding another car turning right onto the same street.
"What the fuck?" Edward shouted.
"I'm sorry! My doctor's office is down here!"
Edward continued to mumble under his breath as I gave him directions to the office in question. At last, he pulled into the parking lot and slammed the car into park.
"Edward," I started but he cut me off with his hand.
"It's okay. You're okay, I'm okay. Just give my heart a few minutes to restart please," he begged.
I giggled and he offered me a half-hearted smile.
"So, about your pediatrician idea?"
He turned his head swiftly to look at me.
"I like it."
"Yeah?" he asked, the hope in his voice evident.
"Yeah."
He leaned over and kissed me hard on the mouth. I wound my hands through his hair and held him to me, deepening the kiss along the way. His tongue wrapped sensuously around mine and I sank into him a little more. Eventually, though, reality intruded in the form of a honking car horn somewhere nearby.
We pulled apart with one last, chaste peck and Edward got out to help me into the building.
Dr. Austen's office was busy as usual, with a number of pregnant women sitting in the waiting room reading magazines. I checked in and took the seat beside Edward. He was trying not to stare at anything but his eyes were huge as he took in his surroundings. I didn't know if it was the sheer number of pregnant women in one room, or just the atmosphere in general that had him discombobulated.
Lisa, Dr. Austen's nurse, led Edward to the room I would be in while she took my vitals and samples. When I walked into the exam room, she handed me the paper sheet and vest and told me to disrobe. Edward's eyes were like saucers.
"Please tell me your doctor is a woman," Edward practically whispered as he took in my paper-clad form.
I just laughed at him and shook my head. Moments later, Dr. Austen opened the door with a wide smile.
"Bella! It's good to see you!" she greeted me jovially. She turned to fully enter the room and froze when she saw Edward. "Dr. Cullen?" Immediately, her demeanor became one of concern and confusion. Edward's out-of-place look didn't change.
Dr. Austen whipped around to me. "Bella?"
"Um, Dr. Austen, this is my husband, Edward Cullen. Edward, Dr. Austen," I said awkwardly as it was obvious they already knew each other. I just couldn't figure out how.
At my words, Dr. Austen visibly relaxed and held out her hand for him to shake. "It's good to see you again."
"You too, Dr. Austen."
"Oh please. Call me Jane," she requested.
Edward's brow furrowed. "Jane Austen?"
"I know. My mother thought it was a riot when I got married, but Austen was so much better than Schicklegruber." She sniggered. She moved to her stool and sat comfortably facing the two of us. "So, what brings you here today, Bella?"
I could barely get my mouth to move. I tried to tell her why I was here; my mouth formed the words. Only, when I actually spoke, what I said was "You two know each other?"
Dr. Austen laughed. "We've met. Dr. Cullen, Edward, assisted on a couple of my deliveries a while back."
Edward smiled. "Do you remember the night you brought me dinner and fed Carlos?"
I nodded.
"While you were having fun playing with the babies, I was helping Dr. Austen with a difficult delivery," he explained.
"Carlos was really cute," I mused. I felt the now familiar pricking of tears in my eyes and fought to pull them back. Edward was instantly at my side, rubbing my shoulders.
I took a deep breath and swallowed around the lump forming in my throat. "Um, why we're here, right? Two weeks ago, I had a, um, a miscarriage. Dr. Stanton"—I looked to Edward for confirmation that I had gotten the name right and he nodded—"said that everything was fine but I wanted your opinion."
"I think I've missed something. Why would you go to Peter Stanton if you thought you were having trouble with your pregnancy? I didn't see any of this in your chart," Dr. Austen said, confusion evident in her voice.
I pulled the paper vest tighter around me as I prepared to tell this story over again. Edward, however, beat me to it.
"Bella was attacked by the rapist that has been plaguing Chicago. She fought back and he kicked her through a window. The force of the blow to her abdomen caused the placenta to detach and the significant blood loss from the rest of her injuries forced her body to terminate the pregnancy. She was in surgery when the abruption occurred and Stanton performed an emergency D & C," he reported, somewhat mechanically. I didn't understand how he could be so detached.
Dr. Austen was making notes while he talked and glancing at me periodically. When he finished, she sighed. "Let me go pull up the records from the hospital and I'll be right back."
"I can't stand this," I whispered after she left the room.
"What, baby?" Edward leaned down to ask. He was still running his hands over my arms in a gesture of comfort.
"I feel like I am living someone else's life. Like this all happened to someone else and not me," I choked out.
"It'll be okay, angel." He placed a kiss on the top of my head as Dr. Austen reentered the small room.
"The good news is that Peter Stanton is one of the best. If it couldn't be me in there for you, I am glad that it was him," she announced. "His notes are very clear and your follow-up tests indicate that everything went well. I want to do an ultrasound today and a pelvic to make sure. Does that sound good to you?"
I assented and she had the nurse wheel in the portable machine. She ran it over my stomach and made several markings on the screen before turning it off and wiping the jelly off my stomach. "I don't see any scarring, so that is definitely positive news. Put your feet up here, please," she directed.
I abhorred the stirrups. Nothing ever made me feel more exposed than those stupid foot rests. It was extra awkward with Edward in the room but he acted as if he saw this every day. That was until she pulled out the speculum. His hands tensed on my shoulders and he glared at it as if he wanted to crush it into a small lump of metal in the shape of his fist. I couldn't blame him. I would cheer him on for hours. I just focused on my fantasies while she performed the exam and tried valiantly to mask the bubble of laughter that was threatening to escape. Edward's expression was priceless and I added it to the speculum-crushing scenario. It was a mixture of disgust, curiosity, jealousy, and lust.
Dr. Austen brought me back. "Everything looks good, Bella. You are healing normally and you should probably expect your normal cycle to start back up within the next month or two. Because of the miscarriage, you will probably be late and that's okay, too. Do not, however, start your next round of birth control until you start your period. Also, it is fine if you all want to try again, but you do need to wait until after at least one menstrual cycle to conceive. Lastly, it is okay to grieve and a normal part of the healing process. Don't fight it. If you need to talk to someone, do it. I'll make sure Lisa gives you the name of a good psychologist on the way out. It doesn't show weakness and it's not silly." She fixed me with a hard stare. "Don't try to be strong and push away your feelings on this."
"Yes ma'am. Thank you," I chuckled weakly.
"One more thing. Sexual activity is permissible, but if you experience any pain during or after, I need you to let me know right away."
We both agreed and she shook our hands. Lisa came in once I was dressed and gave me the forms for check-out and the therapy referral. Before I knew it, we were on our way home. Edward was still quiet and I wasn't sure why. I squeezed his hand to get his attention and he glanced over at me.
"What is it?" I asked quietly.
"Just worried about you," he answered, just as quietly.
"Why?" I asked, surprised. "Both Dr. Caruthers and Dr. Austen said I was fine."
"I know, but I love you and that's my job," he said simply.
I chuckled under my breath and smiled at him. When we got home, we walked hand in hand into the apartment and immediately started on dinner. It was comforting cooking together. We worked as a team and teased each other as our meal took shape. The playful banter continued while we ate and while we watched a couple of recorded episodes of Big Bang Theory. Edward told me that he had gone to school with a few guys like that and he seriously doubted any of them could land a "chick like Penny."
"And what makes you think that you could either, mister?" I teased as I slapped his shoulder.
"Because I landed one better, missus," he smarted back.
"Oh, you did, did you?" The grin on my face belied the skepticism in my words.
"Uh huh." Edward's eyes smoldered and he leaned over me, pressing my back into the arm of the couch. His long, lean body covered mine and he captured my lips with his. I could feel the fire and passion behind his actions but our movements weren't hurried. I licked across his bottom lip to taste it and he opened his mouth, his own tongue darting out to tangle with mine.
I lost myself in the sensations he was evoking in me. It had been so long since I had really been able to feel him like this and it was heavenly. There was nowhere else I would rather be, ever. Edward's hands snaked underneath my shirt and I felt his palms brush over my nipples. They hardened even further with the contact and I moaned in appreciation. My own hands ran over the tight muscles of his back and I grazed him with my short fingernails. His responding hiss only stoked the flames that licked at my body. The more we touched and kissed, the more frantic our moves became. I couldn't pull him close enough, couldn't love him enough.
Edward pulled back, panting for air. His eyes were dark and hooded with lust. I didn't think I had ever seen him so primal, so raw, and it made me want him even more. He surveyed the room, looking for something, and pulled me off the couch when he didn't find it. Before I knew what was happening, he was cradling me in his arms and placing small kisses anywhere he could reach.
He placed me gently on the bed and climbed in with me. He lay down on his left side and gently brushed the hair off my face. Edward placed a soft kiss on my lips. The time it had taken to move from the living room to the bedroom had slowed him down a bit. I tried to pull him back to me but he resisted, simply running his hands lightly over my arms and ribs.
"Edward," I whined. I wanted him. I wanted to feel his weight on top of me and his cock inside of me.
"Shh, my Bella." He pressed his finger to my lips. "I have missed you so much. I need to slow things down tonight and love you. Can we do that?"
I nodded shyly and let him lead. Very slowly and carefully, Edward lifted my back off the bed and removed my shirt. He dropped it off the side of the bed, not caring where it landed. I unbuttoned his and slid it down his arms, discarding it like he had mine. I took my time, exploring his body, rememorizing it. He licked and kissed his way down my neck and across my collarbone. His fingers fumbled with my bra where the clasp was smashed against the mattress. After what felt like several tries, he finally unclasped it with a huff and I giggled at his frustration.
"You think that's funny?" he growled.
I giggled again and he attacked my breasts with his mouth. My giggles instantly turned into moans and I felt the area between my legs grow hotter and wetter. While he was lavishing his attention on my chest, his hands swept down my stomach and shifted my thighs. When his hand trailed over the inside of my right thigh, I immediately tensed against the pain. Edward felt my stutter and pulled back.
"Baby, are you okay?" he asked, concerned.
"Yeah, that area's just a little tender," I breathed.
Edward's brow furrowed and he pulled away from me. His arousal hadn't diminished any and, truthfully, neither had mine. I reached for his dick and ran my hand over the head. I wrapped my hand around his shaft and pumped up and down. Edward's head fell back and he issued a low guttural moan.
"Oh, Bella," he sighed. I moved to take him into my mouth, but he stopped me. "No, baby. I want to be inside you. Lay on your side."
I did as he asked and he spooned behind me. Carefully avoiding the inside of my thigh, Edward lifted my right leg. His long fingers brushed over my hip bone and down to my slit.
"Mmm. You are so wet for me. Tell me what you want," he murmured into my ear, startling me.
"You. I want you inside me, now," I demanded.
"Like this?" With one quick movement, Edward thrust deep inside me. I could not stop the scream of pleasure that came from my mouth. We rocked our hips together, never fully separating. Edward kept his arms wrapped around me, one of his hands massaging my breasts and his lips worshipping my neck. I was completely lost in a sea of feeling.
The only sounds in the room were our combined moans and grunts and the sound of Edward sliding in and out of me.
"Bella, baby, I need you to come for me," Edward grunted.
"Ungh, I am so close," I panted. Edward snaked one of his hands down my body and circled my clit. My moans became louder and I could feel my orgasm building.
"I love you," Edward whispered as he pinched my clit. Between his words and his motions, I fell over the edge, his name falling from my lips as I did.
Edward pumped into me twice more before going rigid and spilling into me. "I love you, Bella," he murmured to me. "You are my whole world."
I snuggled further into his embrace and he tightened his arms around me.
"Thank you, Edward," I said softly into the darkened room.
"For what, angel?"
"Staying with me when I needed you the most."
"I wouldn't have been anywhere else. I only wish I had been there before. Thank you for forgiving me and loving me anyway."
"I wouldn't have it any other way."
Edward kissed me softly and pulled the covers over us. I fell asleep cuddled up against Edward's chest and dreamed of the future he had envisioned earlier.
We are nearing the end here. There are still a few chapters to go. If there is anything you would still like to see, tell me now! Thanks for reading and reviewing. Also, do not for get to support FGB2. Lots of great authors have put themselves up for auction to raise money and we all appreciate each and every dime that you donate.