Like I said in the last chapter, this pregnancy won't be step-by-step, hence the time jump between then and now.
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
BELLA - 29 weeks pregnant (7 months)
Here's an update.
So remember how Bossman bought me that shower radio, and every morning I have been syncing songs from Spotify for my daily enjoyment? Yeah, well it only continued to get better and better especially as I got pregnant and pregnant-er. Baby Bossman has been playing some God-awful tricks on my emotions, and these disco showers are a saving grace. Some mornings I just want to stand there and have a little cry, but if I shove on a bit of Ricky Martin it gives me a whole new look on whatever made me feel down. Maybe that was why Bossman bought it for me in the first place - he didn't want me to be a moody bitch and so he gave me something to help my moods simmer down.
Recently my go-to band has been the Spice Girls - I bet that didn't surprise anyone - and it was because of my jamming session to Wannabe, that I had the following conversation with Bossman. See, it had been a struggle thinking of a name for Baby Bossman, so I came up with a few ideas if Baby turned out to be a girl. No, we don't want to find out the gender. Bossman and I are all about surprises.
Edward and I were relaxing back on the bed and he had plumped up my pillows to help support my aching back. Movement had become very hard, and I felt like the size of a fucking elephant even though I knew I was still going to get a lot bigger. "I've been thinking of some names..." I pulled down the band of my maternity pants and rolled my t-shirt up and underneath my tits in order to let my bump 'breathe'.
"Oh yeah?" Edward put his book down to pay attention to what I was saying.
"Mhmm. First I was thinking Emma is a cute name, but then I thought of how Edward, Lillian and Isabella are all beautifully old names and so the name Victoria came to mind and how that would fit in quite well. Either that, or we could spice it up a little and go with Geri? Or Mel/Melanie; it's up to you."
A loud, bellowing laugh appeared from Bossman. "Bella, I love you, but we're not naming our child after a member of the Spice Girls. We may as well just call her Ruby Rose if that's the case!"
I slowly turned my head to look at him, "that could work..."
"No."
"Dammit."
"And anyway," Edward continued, "we would want a solid name for when they enter the ring - our name means everything when it comes to boxing."
"Woah, woah, woah, stop the fucking bus. You've already got one of our kids into that deadly sport - I'm putting my foot down with this one. I am more than happy if they join the Glee club; as long as they won't be getting punched in the face."
According to research our baby is now approximately the size of a butternut squash, and by looking at the size of my stomach I wouldn't deny it. Now, call me stupid, but I never realized how much we go through when pregnant. I have severe heartburn, I haven't done a shit in days, and if I thought I was gassy before... God, it's ten times worse now. Who would have thought making a baby would cause you to fart left, right and center? I never knew that.
I can't sit down for long periods of time, nor can I stand up for long periods of time. At first Edward was a bit unsure of what that meant when it came down to sleeping, but I can't remember the last time I had a full nights sleep, so there is no need to worry there. If I want to roll over onto my side I need to literally hold my bump as I turn otherwise it would fall and bring me down with it.
But the number one thing that is really grinding my gears? We haven't been able to have sex all week; Bossman and I are both feeling just as frustrated. We were told that, as long as we felt up to it, it's perfectly safe to have sex until the baby is born, however because I feel so lethargic and heavy as soon as I am in position I can't move from there. It's like I have turned into a sack of potatoes. Then of course I immediately start crying, and no man wants to have sex with a sobbing, farting, pregnant lady who hasn't shaved in over a week.
How the hell is Bossman still with me?
Big Foot Bella, that's what they should call me.
However, despite all the negative sides, there are plenty of positives. Firstly my tits have gone up two cups sizes - for someone who has always been quite flat-chested, that's a dream come true. Secondly, I have three weeks left until I go on maternity leave and I don't need to return until I feel fit and I am comfortable leaving my baby for a day. I guess that is the perks to the grandfather of your baby being your boss's boss. Even if Alice hadn't accepted the idea, if Carlisle says that I am free to return whenever I am ready, then there isn't much she can say to that. Thankfully Alice has been amazing and was more than understanding.
But despite how much I might moan and complain about certain things, I would happily go through all of this again if we decided to pop another one out. Especially when I feel little kicks and movements; that brings me the greatest pleasure. Baby Bossman has been pretty active recently, and Edward is certain that he/she's practicing their jabs and uppercuts, but I put my foot down on that idea. Watching Lily in the ring scares the living shit out of me, I think I would just about die if I had to watch both of them. I've seen the consequences Edward faces after a match, and I've sat beside Lily in the hospital after hers.
Nuh-uh, not happening, my friend.
0-0
It was two-thirty in the morning, and I was sitting up in bed playing a game with Baby Bossman. It was a game where Baby responded to my touch. If I rubbed the top right of my bump, they would push up into it. It seemed as though Baby was much more active during the night, hence why I cannot sleep, but I love these little playing sessions. Sometimes if Baby pushes hard enough it looks almost like that birth scene from 'Aliens' where the thing pushes out of Sigourney Weaver's stomach.
"Ow!" The sudden jolt of pain made me jump and accidentally elbow Edward in the back, "calm down in there, little one," I winced as the pain in my side continued.
"What's wrong?" Bossman turned over rubbing his sleepy eyes.
"I'm sorry," I placed one hand on his bare shoulder, "I didn't mean to wake you. I currently have a teeny-tiny foot stuck under my ribs. At least, I assume it's a foot." I had been warned about this, and I was told that the feeling is exceedingly uncomfortable and painful. Well they weren't wrong, 'cause no matter what position I sat in nothing seemed to work. I even rubbed away at my side in hope that it might have made Baby Bossman remove their foot and continue their party elsewhere, but no.
"Baby please," I begged, "we were having so much fun before you kicked me and I accidentally woke Daddy up. Let's return to that, yeah?"
"Have you slept at all?"
From the look on Edward's face I could see he was trying to fight off sleep, but the cute little bastard stayed awake to make sure I was alright. "An hour - maybe two - and then this little one decided to have a late night Womb Rave. But don't worry about me - you have a busy day tomorrow and should get some rest."
He stole a quick glance at the clock beside him and groaned with one hand covering his eyes. "Bella it's two-thirty in the morning. Your alarm will be going off at 6 o'clock for work and you've only had an hours sleep? No - I'm going to phone Alice and Rose first thing in the morning and say you won't be coming in; you need to rest up."
"Edward," I groaned, "I'll be fine; I've survived a full day of work with no sleep before. I think I can handle this."
"That may be so, but you were not seven months pregnant at the time. I'd never forgive myself if I allowed you to leave this house and something happened."
Baby Bossman finally removed their foot from under my ribcage and so with the help from Edward I turned onto my side and curled myself around my pregnancy pillow. Honestly, that thing is a God send. It may look like an oddly-shaped penis, but the relief it gives when it takes the full weight off of my bump and I can cuddle my legs around it... I'll never want to part with it. The good thing is I can use it even after I have given birth - it can help support me and the baby when I am nursing and we could be stuck in one position for long periods of time.
I managed to find sleep pretty quickly, but one hour and seven minutes later I was once again being kicked awake. "Excuse me," I prodded my bump with a finger, "can you keep it down in there? Some of us are trying to sleep."
In response to my voice and prodding I received a series of violent kicks and nudges, "oh, so we're playing that game now, are we?" We continued the touch game from earlier until Baby pushed down on my bladder and I just about pissed my pants. Literally.
Angus followed me to the bathroom - I've found that he's been doing that lately. Like when Edward was recovering after his fights Angus stuck around him like a fly on a crap because he sensed that something wasn't quite right, and for the last few weeks he has been staying right by my side even when I'm going to the bathroom he'll sit at the door until I exit. "Now," I stood from the toilet, flushed, and went to wash my hands, "are you going to let me relax now, or should I just cross sleep off my list for the night?" It seemed as though Baby Bossman had settled down and so I chose that as my hint to go back to bed, but the second my butt sank into the comfortable mattress the sudden urge to eat something washed over me. I hadn't felt the slightest bit hungry until that very moment but when Baby is hungry, I have to eat. With an exhausted sigh I stood back up and plodded my way downstairs to the kitchen. I could have asked Edward to get me something, but I had already woken the poor soul up by punching him in the back, so I didn't want to bother him again.
God, I really need some sleep.
I had had five hours sleep last night, spent nine hours in the office yesterday and so far tonight I've only sleep for a few hours again. Maybe Edward is right, maybe I should stay home today? I am fortunate enough that my job allows me to work from anywhere with access to the internet, and so even though it helps to to be in the office it wouldn't matter too much if I stayed here. It would also mean that I wouldn't need to suffer a forty minute journey to Manhattan and back again. Yeah, I think I need a day to rest.
When I finally arrived in the kitchen I went on a search for what to eat and how to satisfy my needs. I raided the fridge, the pantry and even the Goddamn fruit bowl, but nothing seemed appealing to me. "For goodness sake," I whispered harshly to myself, "please just make up your mind!"
I would slap a bitch for a Cinnabon right about now... Why is the nearest one so far away, and why are they not open 24 hours?
Ooh, would Yogurtland be open? No, fuck, it's four in the morning. But I really want some York peppermint pattie, with Hershey's chocolate milk topped with chocolate sprinkles and crushed Oreos.
Hold up. I've just thought of something.
With a smile on my face and a bounce in my step, I headed for the freezer and pulled out a drawer to reveal my secret stash of Ben and Jerry's ice cream. Edward tries to eat healthy and keep his body in good shape, but if he came across a tub of Ben and Jerry's he would devour it in five minutes flat - hence why I have a secret stash. I filled a bowl with a few heavy spoonfuls, threw the tub back into the freezer and plodded up the stairs.
0-0
"Bella...Sweetheart, are you awake?" After a minute or so I finally came round to the sound of Edward's beautiful voice, "good morning," he smiled. Oh what a glorious sight; a bare-chested Bossman with a decent stubble growing across his jaw, his eyes looked as though they were still adjusting to the light that poured in through the window and his hair... well, one look at that fiery mop and people would think we had been having plenty of sexy-date-nights, but ya'll know that ain't the case. It has been six days, but who's counting, right?
As I lay there and took in the finer details of this beautiful man, said beautiful man started to laugh. "What?" I asked and looked around the room, "what is so funny?"
"Did you get hungry last night, Bella?"
I just so happened to catch my pajama t-shirt in the corner of my eye, and the dribbles of chocolate ice cream that now stained the front. "Oh," I smiled sheepishly, "yeah, I really wanted frozen yogurt, but ice cream had to do instead."
"Sweetheart, I hadn't even noticed your shirt. It was your face that amused me."
Oh, thanks Bossman. Asshole.
But wait... "my face?"
Edward turned over in the bed to retrieve his iPhone from the side table. He turned on the front-facing camera before passing it over to me. The first thing I noticed were the seven chins that made it look as though my head just molded into my chest without a neck between them - I'm such an attractive woman - but then I saw the real reason why Edward laughed at me, "oh fuck..." Not only had I dropped more ice cream down my shirt than I had actually consumed, but I had somehow managed to get half the fucking bowl around my mouth. It looked like when a baby eats chocolate pudding.
Or, no - you know what this looks like? Picture a '90's boyband and then the awful facial hair they all seemed to have. Like AJ from the Backstreet Boys. Yeah, that is what I had recreated on my face. See? I'm not a messy eater, I'm an artist.
0-0
Skip forward a few hours. The time was eleven a.m. and I had set up my work station in Edward's office to allow me the chance to answer emails and phone calls. Alice was more than understanding when I told her I wouldn't be able to make it in, she mentioned that my health and the health of the baby was too important to put at risk. I offered to sort out the emails that would come flying through the system, but I wasn't allowed to spend the whole day at this desk and I had to take frequent breaks and naps. Alice can be very demanding.
Lily had gone off to school quite happily and for once Edward drove her there himself instead of getting Josh or Trent to do it. I had a feeling he wanted to talk to her about something, but it was sweet either way for the two of them to spend that little bit of time together. He had offered to collect her again when the school day finishes and then no doubt the two would disappear off to the gym for an hour.
Siobhan was here somewhere; she had mentioned something about it being laundry day so she'd be walking back and forth from bedrooms to the dryer room etc., which meant that for the majority of the day I would be alone and free to get my work done without distractions. I played Einaudi on Spotify and the soft piano playing helped me focus on the task ahead. Chances are, if I listen to a song with lyrics in it then I'll focus more on the lyrics and completely lose my train of thought.
Three o'clock soon came, Edward put an end to his work in order to collect Lily from school, Siobhan had gone back to her house until later on in the day when she would return to make us dinner, and I had sent off my final email. I had found myself falling asleep at the desk so I chose to end my day there. I went through to the kitchen, grabbed myself an apple and a bottle of water before making myself comfy in the living room, to watch something on television, eat my small snack and catch up on much needed sleep.
I had barely taken a bite from the apple when the front doorbell rang. Strange, I thought as I heaved myself off of the couch. Anyone that knows the code for the gates at the bottom of the road would have their own set of keys, and if someone visits that doesn't know the code they would need to ring up and we'd let them in.
The first place I checked was the screen which showed the camera at the gates and, just as I thought, they were closed and no-one was waiting to get in. Maybe Siobhan has left her keys at the house and has returned for something... unlikely, but possible.
Without a second thought I unlocked the door. At first I thought I was seeing things, but after a quick pinch to my arm I realized that no, this was not some horrible nightmare. "How the fuck did you get here?" I spat at the last two people I had ever imagined standing behind that door. Yep, you guessed it - Lauren and Old Man River.
Lauren had a face full of disgust, "eurgh; such language," she flicked some blonde hair away.
"Listen, bitch," I took one step closer to them, "are you going to answer my question or not? How the fuck did you get up here?" It seemed as though neither of them were going to say anything. So childish. "Fine," I smiled a false smile and pulled my iPhone from my pants pocket to dial Edward's number.
"Hey babe," from the way his voice sounded slightly far away I instantly knew he was using the hands-free in the car, which also meant they were on their way home. Now, I wouldn't say I was scared - cause this bitch and her elderly husband don't scare me, however I was scared of the fact that I was completely home alone, seven months pregnant, and unsure of what Lauren was actually capable of. I was scared for my baby. If she can slap her own daughter then she could do anything to me. Edward's cheery voice made the tears well up in my eyes, but I had to sound strong.
"Are you on your way home?" Yeah, who was I fooling? No matter how strong I tried to sound, that idea flew out the window the second I began to talk.
Bossman knew me far too well. "Bella, what's the matter? Is the baby okay? Are you okay?"
I saw the smirk on Lauren's face - she'd found my weakness. "Um... yes, we're okay, but there is someone here to see you. Um... are you almost home?"
"Sweetheart I can tell by your voice that something has scared you but I promise you that everything will be okay. Lily and I are less than five minutes away, so you just have to stay strong until we get there. I love you, Bella; I am going as quickly as I can."
"We love you too."
Lauren had already started laughing before I had hung up the call and pocketed my phone once again. "Oh Bella, I really thought you might have had a bit more sense than that. Just make sure you don't get too attached - Edward doesn't have the best track record when it comes to being a father. I should know."
I saw red.
This tramp really does have a death wish.
Had I not been carrying Baby Bossman at the time, I would have pounced.
"Don't you fucking dare. You can talk shit about me all you want, but I won't allow you to talk shit about the man I love and the father of my child." My arms went around my bump protectively.
But you still haven't told me how you got through those gates... c'mon bitch, fess up.
"So who gave you the code? Somebody must have, otherwise you wouldn't be standing on my doorstep right now."
"Your doorstep? I thought this was Edward's house? I believe you live in a rundown house in the next town along, am I right?" How the hell...? "Or maybe that's why you got yourself pregnant?" Lauren kept spitting her venom all whilst taking small steps towards me. "Land yourself with that mistake just so you can live in this house?"
Something I have learnt throughout the past few months - you never want to piss off a hormonal, pregnant woman; especially when your refer to their children as 'that mistake'. "Now you listen here, you piece of shit; my child is not 'a mistake' and I didn't follow in your footsteps and get myself knocked up simply for Edward's money or the house he lives in. And is it really any of your business either way? No. So how about you and Old Man River fuck off back to the cave you crawled out from?"
The sound of tires tearing up the cobble stoned driveway came into ear shot, and from the sound of things Edward was driving at some speed. Lauren turned her head in direction of the car, "perfect timing," she smirked.
Bossman slammed the car door and came storming up to the house. If looks could kill... "If you have laid one finger on her I will personally see that you never see the light of day again."
Eric held out a wrinkly hand like he was trying to stop Edward in his path, but my Bossman simply brushed past him and came straight over to me. "Are you alright?" He hugged me tight, kissed my head and rubbed my bump with one hand, "did they hurt you?"
"Not physically," I spoke truthfully. I could have easily said that everything was fine, nothing hurtful was mentioned and all had been sorted, but why should I? "but trust me, Boss, if she talks down about Baby Bossman one more time I will not be held responsible for my actions." I could see the fire in his emerald eyes and the vein on his forehead that was ready to pop. "Don't," I held his cheek in my palm, "don't give them the satisfaction."
"What the hell are you doing here?" I think we all turned when Lily announced her arrival. She walked past her mother and the walking corpse with her school bag over one shoulder, a gym bag on the other and her lacrosse stick held in one hand.
Can I borrow that for a second?
I could make Lauren into a human kebab. In one end and out the other.
That is if a stick could fit up her tight ass.
"Lillian you know how I feel about harsh language."
Lily looked at her mother like you or I would look at dog crap that you'd just walked in. "I don't give a shit. You don't have any control over my life anymore. I might have been a scared, innocent little girl that you could push around, but that has all changed now."
"Lillian I am your mother and I have more control than you may think?"
"Really? Like what? Give me one example. I think all these injections and body enhancements have done something to your head, because you are sounding slightly delusional to me, love."
Oooh, apply a cold compress to that BURN!
I had the sudden urge to whoop and cheer, but then I remembered this was a serious conversation and I needed to keep a straight face. But later, when they left, I would whoop and cheer.
"Now if you have finished insulting my family then please tell me exactly why you are here, and what it would take for you to fuck off and leave me alone."
I knew Edward wasn't too fond of Lily using that sort of language, but I had a feeling he would let it slip by that one time. Emotions were high, y'know?
"Edward," Lauren sighed in our direction - Bossman still stood protectively in front of me. "Do you really allow our daughter to walk around speaking such vulgar language?"
"My daughter is a well-mannered, polite girl who I am exceptionally proud of whether or not she uses 'vulgar language' once in a blue moon."
"Okay, okay - enough!" Not gonna lie, Lily is kind of scary when she reaches boiling point. "Dad, please don't drop to her level; they're not worth it. And Mother, why don't you tell me exactly why you are here? And give us a proper answer this time, because I am sick and tired of trying to decode your stupid riddles.
Oh shit, Lily means business. And it looks like we are finally going to get some answers.
0-0
This chapter was getting far too long, so you get an extra chapter in this story by me cutting this into 2.
Thank you very much for reading, did you have a favourite moment or line?