Un-betad

Characters aren't mine, that is all.


Word Prompt: Purge

Having to send Edward back from R&R again was as hellish as I remembered it the first time. I survived by routine and to have it switched for two short weeks, made it very hard to just bounce back. Even knowing we only had four short months left until this deployment would be over it still made it hard.

My mom showed up at my house with a large McDonalds fry and vanilla milkshake, just as she had the day he left, and we sat around sharing funny stories about our time together. Unlike Edward's first R&R where we went to Texas, this time we stayed home and his family came in for a few days. Outside of that, we closed up the house and just tried to be normal. We ate out, went to the movies, did some shopping, but, mainly, we just spent a lot of time in bed.

Even though I was still in college, most of my classes this semester were online, and I pre-did most of my work ahead so I spent very little time at the computer. I'd mainly wake up after Edward had gone to sleep and slip away for an hour or two. When he'd groan about me being gone, I'd slip back into his peaceful arms and go back to sleep.

In other words, it had been perfect, until it was time to watch the plane leave again. Despite knowing I'd still talk to him daily, it was start hard letting go.

"Bella, it'll all be over soon," my mom reassured me before she left as I tried to purge the negativity from my mind.

"I know that," I agreed.

Getting back into my routine at first took some time, but then life just got wacky. No matter how much sleep I got, it wasn't enough, and no matter how long Edward and I talked, I still cried. I felt like I was going out of my mind, and finally I called my mom hoping she had a clue.

She arrived thirty minutes later with a bottle of water and a pregnancy test. I thought she was absolutely insane, in fact, I laughed in her face, but humored her.

"I'm on the pill," I reminded her, but she shrugged.

"It's not full proof," she countered, as I groaned and locked myself in the bathroom.

As the two little pink lines popped up, I started bawling. I wasn't sure if I was crying because Edward wasn't here or if it was the fact that we weren't trying for a baby. I still had years of school ahead of me, Edward would be deploying every other year as long as we were here, and suddenly everything seemed to crash around me.

My mom knew the answer as soon as she saw my face, but she didn't say a word as I laid my head in her lap and cried. She left a few hours later with the promise that it would all be okay, and as much as I knew she was right, I was terrified. I wrote myself a note to call the doctor in the morning.

When the phone rang that night I actually considering not answering the call, but decided I couldn't be selfish. We were equal's, and I had to remember that.

"Baby, what's wrong?" Edward asked as soon as he heard my voice.

"Um," I stuttered. I hadn't even thought about how to tell him and now I had to. "Well, are you sitting?"

"Yes," he drew out. "Bella?"

"Okay, so I know we talked about waiting, but I'm pregnant," I rushed out scared that I would lose my nerve.

When the phone went silent, tears began to roll down my face. I was sure Edward was as shocked as I was, but would he be angry? I hadn't even thought about anger.

"You're sure?" he asked quietly a few seconds later.

"Yes, I took a test earlier today, and it was definitely positive," I affirmed.

"Wow, I'm sorry I'm not there," Edward immediately apologized as shock shot through me. "I love you, baby. I know this isn't how we planned it, but you're happy, right? I mean, we wanted a baby eventually, and…" he rambled on for a few seconds as relief flooded through me.

"I'm terrified," I admitted honestly, "But, yeah, I'm happy. I mean, this wasn't our plan, but I'll be the best mom I can be. I miss you so much."

"God, Bella, I miss you too," he replied. "I promise to make up for missing it all when I get home. We have a lot to talk about when I get back. I can't really talk here, but I'd like you to start considering the idea of moving."

"Moving?" I questioned knowing Edward and I agreed to stay at Fort Campbell while I finished school. Of course, now I wondered if school was really a priority anymore, but his comment came so far from left field.

"Yeah, I wish I could say more, but it'd mean more time home," he answered, and I nodded to no one. I knew the codes, and I knew he couldn't talk about it, even if I wanted him to.

"I'll start thinking about it," I promised. "I'm also going to call the doctor in the morning."

We hung up a few minutes later, and I went to bed feeling a little more confident. Though I was scared and terrified and excited and nervous, but when Edward came home and the first thing he did at the airplane hangar was drop to his knees and kiss my stomach, I knew we'd be fine.

We'd make it together.


Another update when my kids go down, and it'll be marked completed :)