Chapter Thirty Six

"Wow! Is that really her?" Rose asked as she felt Pea moving and kicking in Bella's stomach. Rose was just getting out of the bath tub when Pea became active. Bella sat on the toilet seat as she held the towel out to wrap up Rose.

"Yes, it is. She has been moving around a lot."

"Why?" the child inquired never moving her hand from Bella's stomach.

"I think lately she is getting bigger and doesn't have a lot of room in there. She'll be here around Thanksgiving time." Bella smiled.

Rose kept on touching Bella's stomach and watching it move. Her eyes grew big. "Did I do that in my mommy's belly?"

Bella nodded. "Probably. I think all babies do pretty much the same thing when they are in their mommy's bellies."

Rose touched Bella's belly for another moment before she got dressed. Once in her princess night gown, Rose brushed her teeth while Bella brushed her hair. When her night time bath was finished, she held Bella's hand and walked over to her bed. Carlisle was all ready waiting for them with a book.

"Princess, are you ready for bed?" He asked as he pulled down the covers.

Rose skipped over to her bed. "Yes I am. Daddy, did you know I felt the baby in mama's belly?"

"You did?"

"Yes. Pea sure likes to move around," she smiled as she sat on her bed.

Both of the adults laughed knowing what the child has said was true. Lately, Bella thought Pea was an acrobat and enjoyed moving in any position she could. Pea was waking her mother up in the middle of the night and was often uncomfortable.

Bella sat on one side of the bed while Carlisle took a seat on the other side. Rose had put the books that she wanted to read on her bed before she took a bath. Bella held one and Carlisle held the other.

"I have a question," Rose asked. "When the baby comes will you still keep me?"

Bella and Carlisle had both had this conversation with Rose separately and together. This concern seemed to be one that she still talked about frequently. She had been working hard with Jasper on this issue. Both Carlisle and Bella had figured Rose still harbored feelings about Victoria's abandonment.

"Yes sweetheart. You are stuck here with both of us and a baby who may wake you up in the middle of the night because she is crying. We are a family and we will all be here for each other no matter what," Carlisle smiled. "You know we both love you, right?" If Carlisle couldn't reassure Rose about how safe she was and how he and Bella weren't going to leave her, the thought the one thing he could do was make sure she felt loved.

Rose nodded. "Yes, I know." She got quiet as she fiddled with the sheet on her bed. "Do you think she'll ever come back?"

"I don't know Rose. I wish we were able to tell you something different, but we can't sweetheart." Carlisle answered her honestly.

"I knew you were going to say that daddy. Hey mama?"

"Yes Rose," Bella answered as she stroked the child's blond hair.

"I know I call you mama, but you act more like my mommy than my mommy does. She didn't even say bye to me when she left. Could I call you mom or mommy too?" Rose asked as her big blue eyes grew. The child looked scared.

Bella pulled her into a hug and looked at Carlisle. He beamed with love. "Rose, whatever you want to call me is fine. I love you. I also told you that I was never going to leave you and I mean that."

Rose started to cry. Carlisle rubbed her back as she laid in Bella's arms. "Rosalie, what is wrong? Sweetheart, why are you crying?" He asked.

"I'm scared about when the baby comes. I'm scared what it will be like. What if you don't want me because I'm not a baby."

"Shhh, its okay to be scared. We can't tell you what it will be like because we don't know. What I expect it to be like is crazy. It's going to take us a little while to get to know the baby and fall into a routine with her and you." Carlisle began to explain. "Remember in two weeks you are going to go to the big sister class? They are going to talk to you about what to expect and how to act around the baby."

"I know, but I still feel like you won't want me."

Bella interrupted the child before she could continue. "One thing is for certain. You are the big sister which means we might need your help doing things and helping us. We will need to work together as a family. We might get frustrated or angry but those feelings don't last a long time. We will always love you and each other. Those are the things that won't change," Bella continued to tell Rose. "Can I tell you a secret Rose? I get a little scared when I think of Pea coming."

"Really? You do? Why?" Rosalie asked as she wiped her eyes.

Bella sighed. "I don't know what to expect. I wonder if we are ready for her. I wonder if she'll like me. I wonder if I'll be cranky from the lack of sleep. I wonder if I'll be any good at it. I don't know if I will be any good at it."

"At what?"

Bella smiled. "Being a mom."

"But you are a good mom. I even think you are better than my real one." She said now hugging Bella. "You never yell at me and you sing with me and read with me and you play with me. She never did any of that with me. Oh, and you do my hair really pretty. You do it way better than daddy ever did it. I know I have the best daddy and the best mommy and that mommy is you." Rose said now assuring Bella.

"Thanks honey," Bella said kissing the top of her head.

Rose pulled herself out of her hug and turned to her father. "Are you really going to marry her?"

Carlisle smiled as he tickled Rose. "Shhh, remember that's our secret? We are having a family dinner on Sunday and we are going to tell everyone then?" He couldn't help but continue to smile as he released her. "But yes Rose, we really are going to get married."

"I think tomorrow I shouldn't go to school and we should go looking at dresses. What do you think mommy?" Rose asked sitting on her father's lap and looking straight at Bella.

"Oh honey, I can't look at dresses until after Pea comes. I'm not going to have this big belly when we get married so I can't look at dresses until it's gone. Maybe I can get some magazines and you can help me look through them?"

Rosalie sighed. "It's not as good as looking at them and trying them on for real, but I guess that'll work for now. Can I wear a pretty dress?"

"Of course! You know what? I'll even have you pick out the one that you want all by yourself." Bella promised.

"Really? By myself?" Rose asked in disbelief.

"Yep, all by yourself." Bella smiled.

Rose jumped out of her father's lap and wrapped her arms around Bella's neck. "Thank you! Thank you! I promise to make sure it's very pretty."

"But Rosalie, you have to remember to keep this a secret until Sunday night." Carlisle reminded her.

She nodded. "Oh I promise daddy. I promise, promise."

Rose hugged both Carlisle and Bella once more before she settled into bed. Carlisle began to read the first book. By the middle of it she was fast asleep. Both of her parents kissed her check and said good night to her.

After exiting the child's room, Bella trotted down to the kitchen with Carlisle close behind. "That was a heavy goodnight conversation," Bella said as they reached the kitchen. She grabbed a glass and walked over to the refrigerator. She pressed on the front for ice and then water.

"Get use to it. It's only the beginning of lifelong questions." Carlisle replied.

Bella nodded knowing that parenthood wasn't going to be an easy ride. In the few months that she had been in Rose's life it wasn't easy. The answers weren't always there to questions. "I know. It scares me because I don't know what the hell I am doing."

Carlisle smiled as he too walked over to get a glass of water. "That's the thing when it comes to parenting; no one knows what the hell they are doing. You could read every parenting book out there but the truth is no one knows what to expect until it happens. Reading can prepare you but you don't know what to do until you are a parent. May I add that in the short time that you have been a parent you have done an excellent job." He told her as he kissed her.

Bella smiled as she answered back. "Remind me of this when they are teenagers and hate each other and scream and yell at each other and us."

Carlisle rubbed her back and stole another kiss. "I will always remind you how amazing you are."

Bella smiled as she broke their embrace. Her stomach growled. "I'm hungry. Would you want a hot fudge sundae? I'll make one that we can share."

"That sounds great but I think we used up all the ice cream last night." Carlisle replied sheepishly.

"Really?" She asked as she opened the freezer. She scanned and saw that Carlisle was right. "I thought someone was supposed to pick some up at the store this afternoon." She said as she looked at him.

"I forgot. I'm sorry honey."

"It's all right; I just really wanted some ice cream." She said as she looked at Carlisle with big puppy dog eyes.

"It's almost nine o'clock at night. We've got to get up and go to work in the early morning and get Rose on the bus." He explained as he kissed her head. "Tomorrow after work I promise to stop and get some ice cream."

She smiled politely. She placed his hand on her moving stomach. "I understand. I'll just tell Pea there is no ice cream tonight because daddy forgot to get some. She really wanted some moose tracks. I think she really likes peanut butter and chocolate you know. Oh and whipped cream. She loves whipped cream"

Carlisle shook his head. That was the exact moment for the first time in his entire life he had finally admitted Bella had him fully whipped. "You know, you don't play fair Isabella."

With a pretend look of surprise she looked at him with a grin. "Dr. Cullen, I have no idea what you are talking about. I was only stating a simple statement about your daughter and her love for a certain dairy dessert and her food preferences."

He placed his glass in the sink and kissed her. "You owe me you know. Big time."

She smiled as she held his hand while he walked towards the garage. "You are the best you know. I love you and thank you."

He kissed her one finally time as he opened the garage door. "I love you too but you still owe me. I get to choose what you owe me."

He walked towards his car as Bella called out. "Hey baby, Pea says thank you too."

He shook his head as he started his car and drove off. Bella closed the garage door and made her way to their room where she changed into her pajamas.

As she entered the living room her telephone rang. "Emmett, how are you?" she asked

"I'm good. Riley just got called into work tonight. There was an accident or something, so I'm not up to much. How about you?"

"I'm good and getting ready for bed. Carlisle just left to get ice cream. He should be back in a few minutes."

Emmett laughed. "That man would do anything for you. It seems like you have him trained."

"I'm afraid it's not that. It's just that I might whine and pout a little bit and he doesn't want to listen to it." She explained.

"Right. Whatever the reason, you have trained him well. Oh, the reason I called. I wanted to ask you if I could borrow your Glee DVDs? Riley has never seen it and I think he'd think it was cute." Emmett asked.

"Sure. It's actually Carlisle's but I'm sure he won't mind. I'll bring them into work tomorrow."

"All right, I'm going to get going. I'll see you tomorrow. Oh yea, can you tell Carlisle something for me?"

"Sure Em, what is it?"

Emmett made a whipping sound with his voice into the phone. "You have trained him and he is so whipped."

"You can bring that topic up with the good doctor in the office tomorrow. Good night Emmett." She smiled as she hung up the phone. She laid on the couch and turned on the TV.

About forty minutes later the door bell rang. She wiped her eyes realizing she had fallen asleep. She walked towards the door. She was surprised when she saw who was on her doorstep.

"Riley. This is a surprise. I didn't know you knew where I lived. Won't you come in? Would you like something to drink?" Bella offered as she opened the door for her friend's boyfriend. Before he could answer, Bella spoke up again. "By the way, Emmett is borrowing Glee so you can watch it. I love the show and it's really cute. Carlisle and I watch it all the time. I hope you like it too."

A pained smile appeared on Riley's face. "Thank you Bella. I'm sure Emmett and I will enjoy watching it." Silence filled them as Bella offered him a seat on the couch or chair. She left the room to get some water for the two of them. When she returned she sat on the couch and looked at him. He looked as if he was trying to formulate his thoughts.

"So what brings you over here tonight? It's later, wow, it's almost ten o'clock." Bella smiled.

Riley took a deep breath as he placed the glass on the coaster. "Bella, I don't know how to say this to someone who is like family to my boyfriend so please just listen." He reached for her hand and held it as he began. "Tonight there was an accident, a pretty bad one."

"That's terrible. Did you have to go and investigate? Emmett said you were called into work."

Nodding slowly, Riley continued. "Yes I did have to leave Emmett and yes I had to investigate. Bella, I'm just going to say this. Carlisle was in a car accident. His car was hit by a drunk driver."

Bella stood up and let go of Riley's hand. She walked over to the big picture window and shook her head. She wrapped her arms around herself as she gazed out the window. "No, it wasn't Carlisle. It must have been a mistake. He just ran to the store to get ice cream. He should be back any minute." She glanced up at the clock before looking out the window again. "I don't know what's taking him so long, but he should be back soon."

Riley stood up and walked over to her. "I'm sorry Bella. Carlisle has been taken to the hospital. I tried to get the extent of his injuries but he hadn't been evaluated at the time I arrived. They were taking him away when I got to the scene."

Shaking her head, Bella began to cry. She began to beg as she looked at Riley. "No, not him. Please tell me this is a sick joke. Please tell me he's okay. Please?"

Riley pulled Bella into his arms. "I am so sorry. I wish I were lying Bella. I wish it wasn't him and I wasn't here right now. I'm really sorry."

Riley caught Bella right before she fell to the ground. He held her in his arms. Bella sobbed in Riley's arms. She felt like she was going to stop breathing. "Was it really that bad?"

Hesitantly, Riley looked at her and whispered. "The jaws of life was used to remove him from the car."

Bella sobbed again as she walked away from Riley. She went into the next room and began to get her purse. She walked back into the room and began to mumble. "I have to get to him. I have to see him."

"I don't think you should drive like this. If you'd like I'll drive you back on my way to the station."

Bella nodded. She made sure she had everything she would need. She didn't care that she was still wearing her pajamas. Then remembered. "I can't. Rose is sleeping. I can't make her go to the hospital. She'll ask all these questioned and I don't know what to tell her."

Riley rubbed Bella's back as he looked at her. "I'm still working otherwise I would stay with her, but call Emmett. He'd come over in a heartbeat. He loves you so much Bella."

Bella nodded as she picked up her phone. She sobbed so hard that she couldn't get words to leave her mouth. Riley did the talking for her. Emmett promised to be at the house in ten minutes.

"Is there anyone else to call? To bring you and stay with you at the hospital?" Riley asked.

Bella called Charlie. A woman picked up the phone and she asked for her father. Bella didn't have the time to question who the woman was. She cried telling Charlie about Carlisle's current state. Charlie promised he was on his way.

While she was waiting for Charlie, Bella ran upstairs and threw on her yoga pants and a t shirt. She grabbed one of Carlisle's sweatshirts pulled it over her body. She quickly picked the collar up to her nose and took a sniff. It smelt of him.

Bella picked up the phone in their room and called the hospital. She explained that she was Carlisle's fiancée and asked about his condition. The nurse regretfully told her that she couldn't share that information over the telephone. Frustrated Bella hung up and the phone and found Emmett in her living room with an overnight bag. He held Bella while she cried again. Once she was calm, Riley got off the phone and walked towards Bella.

"I know this is hard Bella, but can I ask you a question?" Riley asked. Bella nodded as Emmett still held onto her. Riley took that as a sign to proceed. "Do you know a Victoria Hale?"

"She's Rose's birth mother. She and Carlisle were together a few years ago. Oh my god, was she found? She's been missing? Is she all right?"

Riley took a deep breath. After the breath escaped his mouth he looked at his new friend. "She was the driver of the other car."

"What?"

"Yes. She was definitely drunk and we are running some drug tests on her too. She seemed pretty loaded from what the arresting officer stated." Riley explained.

"Victoria hit Carlisle? Was he meeting her? Did she know who she hit?" Bella questioned out loud. She was trying to make sense of the situation.

"It seems as if Carlisle was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. We've wanted to talk to her for a while. When she sobers up we can. And no, she doesn't know who she hit yet."

Just as Bella began to past together the pieces of that evening Charlie came rushing into the living room. He flung his arms around his daughter. Bella tried to remain calm but tears were on the brink of falling from her eyes again.

Riley explained what was going on with the car accident and with Victoria. He didn't want Bella to repeat any of it. She was living it she didn't need to recite the details. Bella grabbed her purse and headed out the door with Charlie.

Charlie drove quickly to the hospital. Bella left the car before Charlie had put it into park. She ran inside to the nurse's station.

"Hi, my name is Bella Swan. My fiancé was in a car accident and brought here. His name is Carlisle Cullen. Can you give me any information on his condition?" Bella explained as Charlie caught up to her.

The nurse typed in his name and then her eyes found Bella's. The look she gave made Bella's heart stop. "Ms. Swan, I'm sorry but he is in serious condition. The doctors here thought it was best to med flight him to Seattle. I don't have any other information other than that. I'm sorry."

Bella nodded as she began to cry. Charlie put his arm around his daughter and let her cry. He thanked the nurse and they began to walk back to his car. As he sat in the driver's seat he looked at how upset and tired his daughter looked. He sighed. "Next stop, Seattle Memorial Hospital."

Author's Note: Please don't hate me! Let me know what you are thinking. Thanks to everyone who reviewed! I'm responding to those now!