Chapter 36: Announcements and Jealousy
A Week Later
Bella's POV
"I'm still so sore." I said.
"I know; do you want your medication?" Edward asked.
"No, when can we go home?" I asked.
"Carlisle is getting your papers ready and then we can head out." He said.
I was sitting on the hospital bed dressed in a t-shirt and jeans; it was the first time in normal clothes since before I went into labor.
"You okay?" He asked noticing me kind of close my eyes and fall forward a bit.
"I'm really tired." I said.
He came over and rubbed my back.
"I just feel like all my energy just drained out of me." I said.
"It may be that way for a little bit, it's your body readjusting to being back to normal." He told me.
Carlisle walked in with a clipboard.
"Alright, we got the all clear. That being said, I set up an appointment next week and I will be keeping a close eye on you, and I'm sure Edward will be as well." He said handing me the clip board.
I nodded signing the line that discharged me, I handed the clipboard back to him. A nurse came in with a wheel chair. I protested but Edward lifted me off the bed and set me into it anyway. Edward took over for the nurse while Carlisle grabbed my bags.
"Where is Carlie?" I asked.
"Alice has her at the house." Edward told me.
He pushed me out of the room and down the hall, it was going to be nice to be out of the hospital after being here almost a month. We went outside where Esme had the car ready for us to get in too. Esme smiled at me as Edward pushed me to the back seat, Esme opened up the car door and Edward picked me up and set me inside. I hissed in pain a bit, Edward kissed my forehead before closing the door. I heard Carlisle talk to Edward about taking care of me while he finished up at work. Edward nodded, they hugged, and then Edward got into the back seat with me.
"Let's go home." He said smiling.
"Yes please!" I said.
…
"Bella?"
I turned around.
"What are you doing?" Edward asked.
"She's so beautiful." I said turning back around and looking at Carlie.
Edward smiled walking over to the crib; he put his hand on my back and rubbed it.
"You should be resting." He said.
"I wanted to make sure she was okay." I told him.
He kissed my forehead and didn't argue with me. We stayed in the nursery for a few more minutes before going into the bedroom. I walked over to the bed and climbed into it with Edward following right behind me.
"I haven't slept for two weeks." He said as he laid down beside me.
"I would ask why, but I already know the answer." I said.
"This room seemed haunted without you in it. I would wait for you to walk in the room or walk out of the bathroom. I'd find your hair ties everywhere and your clothes that still smelt like you." He said.
We laid there looking at each other until Edward's eyes slowly started to close. I smiled giving him a small kiss on the lips.
Edward's POV
"I'm sorry Edward, she didn't make it. Bella is dead."
I shot up in bed gasping for air, I looked around the room and then at the bed and found that Bella was not in the bed. I began to believe that Bella being home was just a dream, but hoped the nightmare I had was wrong and that she was still with us just in a coma. I rubbed my face before getting out of bed. My plan for the day was to go see Bella, but first I had to make sure Carlie was taken care of. I walked downstairs and into the kitchen.
"Good morning Edward!" Esme said.
"Morning." I said sitting down on the island.
"Did you sleep well?" She asked smiling.
"No, I had another nightmare of the other night." I said.
"What happened the other night?" She asked.
"Bella didn't make it mom…" I said wondering why she didn't know this.
"I didn't?"
I turned around and Bella was sitting at the table.
"So it was just a nightmare?" I asked rushing over to her.
"Honey, I'm fine! I'm still sore and weak but very much alive!" She said standing up.
"Thank god." I said.
I pulled her into a hug and held her tightly.
A Month Later
Bella's POV
It's been a month since I woke up and returned home. So much has changed, yet so much has stayed the same. Carlie was a month old already and Edward and I finally had a grasp of her schedule. She was getting better at staying asleep through the night, and when she didn't she at least stayed asleep a good portion of the time. I had about another month or so before I had to go back to work. My boss told me with all that's happened to take as much time as I needed. I missed my children, I missed watching them file into the class room and sit down eagerly awaiting the day's lesson. I walked over to the crib and looked down at a sleeping Carlie. I had a feeling once it was time to leave for work again that it would be hard.
Edward was doing better, he kept having nightmares almost nightly and woke up thinking that I was gone or still in a coma. They stopped after about two weeks of me being home and I was glad when they did. Edward was back at work now, with much protest from him, and I was juggling being a stay at home mom. I tried my hardest to have the house clean and to have supper on the table when he returned home from work. He told me that I didn't have to do that, but I liked doing those things for him. There were nights he worked over time though because his boss asked him to be the go-to guy. I loved that he was needed, and that he felt needed, but I also missed him too. We were back at our house now and I couldn't lie, as much as I miss being around the family it felt good to be home.
"Okay Carlie, time to make supper!" I said.
I carried her down to the kitchen and placed her in the swing we had in there.
"Just swing there and be good while mommy makes dinner." I told her.
I walked over to the fridge and got out the things needed for steaks. Once I got the stakes on the stove I started getting the vegetables in pans. I placed them on the back burners and turned them to low. After flipping the steaks I started to slice a loaf of homemade bread that Esme sent us home with two days ago. Everything was going good until I decided to slice my finger open.
"Damn it!" I cursed.
I yanked my finger back as Carlie started to cry.
"Shhh, Carlie it's okay, mommy's okay!" I said rushing over to the sink.
I heard the front door close, keys being tossed on the table and the kitchen door open.
"Bella? What's wrong with Carlie?" Edward asked.
"She's just fussy, I scared her." I said.
"Did the mama scare you?" He said bending down giving her a kiss.
She immediately stopped crying and started laughing.
"How was your- Bella?! What happened?!" He asked rushing over to me.
"Decided it would be fun to slice my finger open." I said.
"Let me see." He said taking the paper towel off of it.
"It's not too deep." He said.
He got the bleeding to stop and bandaged me up before leading me to the table to sit down.
"I can finish supper!" I told him.
"Nope, just sit and relax my love." He said.
…
"He's been sick for a few days, but his medication is in the bag." Rosalie said.
"Rose, I have this." I said laughing.
"Right, sorry." She said.
We waved goodbye as I shut the door.
"Auntie Bell, I don't feel good." Mason whined.
"I know honey, are you hungry? I can make you some soup." I said.
"I just want to seep." He said.
I smiled and walked upstairs; I got him changed in shorts and a loose fitting t-shirt. I cracked the window a bit before tucking him into bed. I shut the lights off and crossed the hall to our bedroom. I picked up the clothes that were on the floor and tossed them into the basket before cleaning up a bit. An hour passed and I walked back into the nursery to check on Carlie and Mason.
"Mason, time to get up honey. I'm going to make you some soup." I said.
I knelt on the ground and brushed his hair out of his face, I realized right then something was wrong. He was burning up, worse than when I put him down.
"Mason, wake up sweetie." I said.
I shook him gently a couple times but when he didn't wake up I panicked. I ran over to the phone and dialed 911.
"Yes, my name is Bella Cullen. My nephew isn't waking up. Yes, it feels like he has a high fever." I said.
I gave her the address and hung up. I immediately got Carlie out of her crib, got her dressed, and strapped up in her car seat. I was getting the diaper bag ready when I heard pounding on the door. I made sure Carlie was okay before running downstairs.
"He's upstairs in the nursery!" I said.
"Are you the only one home ma'am?" The paramedic asked.
"No, my daughter is with me. Can I ride in the ambulance with her?" I asked.
"How old is she?" He asked.
"She's about a month old." I said
"That should be fine." He said.
Edward's POV
I looked at the clock, three more hours until I was home with my family.
"We have a three year old boy coming in, high fever and unconscious." Someone said.
"Oh boy." I said.
We gowned up and headed outside.
I never had my heart sink into my stomach so fast before, never again did I want to see what I was about too. The paramedics unloaded the gurney; my eyes went straight to Bella who got out of the ambulance holding Carlie. Then I actually looked at the gurney to see Mason laying on it with a breathing mask on.
"Bella!" I said.
"Edward!" She said.
She rushed over to me and hugged me.
"What happened?" I asked.
"I don't know! Rose said he was sick and he was fine when I put him down for a nap!" She said, she was crying.
"Here, let me take Carlie." I said.
"He had a fever before I put him down, but I made sure to keep him cool so it would go down!" She sobbed.
"He'll be fine." I said.
"Rose is going to kill me; she'll never trust me again! How am I supposed to take care of Carlie when I let this happen?" She wailed.
"Stop that right now Bella! Rosalie will not blame you for this! And you are an amazing mother! Things like this happen all the time, more than you think! Everything will be okay." I told her kissing her forehead.
…
"Bella!" Rose said.
Rosalie and Emmett came running into the hospital.
"I'm so sorry! I never expected this to happen!" I said standing up.
"Of course you didn't!" Rose said hugging me.
"You aren't mad at me?" I asked.
"Bells, why on earth would we be mad at you?" Emmett asked.
"Because your son is in the hospital." I said.
"For something out of all of our control!" He said.
"Can we see him?" Rose asked.
I nodded and showed him where he was at. I explained that he was still unconscious but the doctors said his fever was going down. He just happened to be in the same room I was when I as in a coma.
"I hoped to never be back in this room again." Edward said as I walked up to him.
I rubbed his back.
A Couple Hours Later
"He's going to be okay." Carlisle said.
"Oh thank goodness!" I said.
"You should be able to take him home tomorrow morning." He said.
"Thank you dad." Rose said.
"Anytime." He smiled.
…
Edward's POV
"I know what you are saying! Oh man I had this patient the other day; she was so delusional she thought that she was delivering a monkey baby. She wasn't even pregnant!" I laughed.
Emmett laughed with me.
"Don't eat too much boys, dinner will be ready in an hour or so!" Esme said as we snacked on chips.
"Yes mom." We said.
Charlie walked through the door.
"Hello Charlie, it is good to see you!" Esme said hugging him.
"Good evening Esme, thanks for having me." He smiled.
"Anytime, we love having you here!" She said.
"Edward." He said.
"Charlie." I said smiling and shaking his hand.
"You being good to my girl?" He asked.
"Wouldn't have it any other way sir." I said.
"Good, that's good." He said.
I heard my mom greet Jacob and Julia as they entered the house; I walked out into the living room and greeted them both. We made small talk for a few minutes before I walked upstairs. I walked into the nursery and my heart swelled with pride and love instantly. Bella was sitting in the rocking chair, her head was to the side and her chest rose and fell slowly. Sleeping on her chest was our beautiful daughter; I stood there leaning against the door frame watching them for a few minutes before I decided it was best to take Carlie from Bella. I managed to remove her from Bella's arms without waking her. I laid Carlie down gently in her crib and covered her up before walking back over to Bella. I smiled as I gently kissed her on the lips; she jumped a little before processing what was going on. I felt her smile before kissing me back; she wrapped her arms around my neck slightly pulling me closer.
"Mmmm, we should stop this before it goes any farther." She whispered pulling apart.
I sighed, "Yeah, I suppose we shouldn't do that with a house full of people."
She gasped, "We have company! And I'm up here sleeping!"
"Relax! No one is upset, mama needs her rest!" He said.
"It's been a month Edward, I'm rested enough." I said standing up.
We walked downstairs hand in hand until we reached the bottom. Bella broke free and started making her rounds with saying hello.
"Where is Carlie?" Jake asked.
"She is sleeping right now." I said.
…
"So I bet you are all wondering why you are here." Jake said standing up.
"Jake?" I asked.
"Well, I must thank Esme and Carlisle for opening up their home and hosting this lovely dinner party!" He said tipping his wine glass at them.
"You are very welcome Jacob." Carlisle said smiling and tipping his glass back.
Esme grabbed Carlisle's hand and smiled.
Jake smiled down at Julia.
"I have an announcement to make, well more like Julia and I have an announcement to make." He told us.
We all waited in anticipation.
"Julia and I- We, we are expecting!" Jake announced.
The whole room gasped and the next ten minutes were spent hugging and congratulating.
"Congratulations!" I said hugging them both.
"So how far along are you?" Esme asked.
"About four and a half months!" Julia said, she was wearing a loose fitting shirt.
She smoothed it back to reveal a small little bump.
"The doctor said everything is going perfectly!" Jacob said.
I smiled, but I wasn't going to like. I wave of jealousy spread over me as I watched the two of them kiss and giggle, Jake's hand was placed on her belly. By four and a half months I was diagnosed with pre-eclampsia and had any chance at a normal pregnancy ripped from me. Many would call me a baby, or selfish, but Jacob and Julia weren't the only ones to be having babies. Everyone was getting pregnant, all of our friends it seemed like, and each one had the perfect pregnancy. This was just the last straw; I couldn't help but feel jealous. Of course I was happy for them, they deserved the chance to be parents. A cry rang from the baby monitor and I took the chance to escape before I could spoil the moment.
"Mommy is here." I said as I softly scooped Carlie up.
I rocked her.
"You were worth every ounce of pain mommy and daddy went through, yeah." I said.
"Bella?" Edward said.
I looked at him.
"She's just fussy. I fed her a half an hour ago and her diaper is dry." I told him, ignoring the real reason why he was up here.
"Are you okay?" He asked.
"You know, we really should paint the nursery a light pink color. Now that we know she is a girl." I said commenting on the yellow wall paint.
"I suppose, but we can do that another time." He said.
"I was also thinking it would be neat to get wooden letters and put her name above the crib." I said.
"Bella." He said walking over.
He picked Carlie up from my arms and placed her in the crib. He walked over to the door and closed it before walking over to me.
"It's not fair." I mumbled and looked at the ground.
"I could tell you were upset, and I knew you were hiding it with a smile." He said.
"Every one of our friends are getting pregnant! Every one of those friends are having amazing pregnancies and not once thinking what it would be like if their world was turned upside down!" I hissed.
"Bella, honey, you can't keep going on like this. I know you are jealous but constantly wishing your past was different isn't going to change anything! We had a rough experience, but that doesn't curse us for a better one!" He said.
I wiped my tears away.
"I just want to experience what they are experiencing! I want to wake up each morning and know that I am succeeding in keeping my baby safe in me! I want to buy things for them knowing that I will for sure be able to have them!" I cried.
He hugged me.
"And we will do that, lots of times!" He said.
"It could come back." I said.
"And it could not, but we can't let that control our lives!" He said.
"I guess if it does come back we'll know how to handle it." I sniffled.
"Very good point. We can create a 'Keep Bella's Blood Pressure Down' kit!" He said.
I giggled.
"Keep stuff like books and chocolates in it." He said.
"Can we put some magazines in it? And my iPod?" I asked.
"Of course." He said.
"I love you." I said.
"I love you more." He said.
We gave each other a kiss and went back down to the party.
Hello! I know, I know. It's been a LONG time! But I only write when I'm in the mood because otherwise I am coming up with stupid ideas or staring at a blinking curser. I hope you guys don't hate me too much! Let me know your thoughts on the chapter and if there is anything you would like to see!