Chapter Thirty One

September 2005

"He's beautiful," Bella said softly as she brushed a fingertip along the baby's cheek.

"He looks like his daddy," Rosalie said with a tired giggle.

"God, don't tell Emmett that; we'd never hear the end of it." Bella told her with a grin.

"That's the truth," Rosalie commented as she gave an eye-roll. "Listen, Bella, I'm really sorry we won't be able to go next week…"

Bella shook her head. "I was the one that wanted to get married in Denver and I was the one that wanted to get married in September. I think Edward's just glad that we're finally tying the knot; he could care less when, where, who's there, or anything else."

"It's going to be beautiful," Rosalie told her.

Bella nodded. "I like the fact that we rented out the whole resort for the wedding and it's only our close family and friends. Do you think you and Emmett will be able to handle things…?"

Rosalie let out a snort. "Trust me; Mama McCarty is going to take very good care of us. Once Emmett picks her up from the airport this afternoon, he won't have to worry about wiping his ass if he didn't want to."

Bella wrinkled her nose. "Okay…ew."

They both laughed and Rose said, "Well, it's true. She knows what she's doing. I'm not worried as long as she's here. Now…when she goes home in two weeks…"

"Esme will be just down the street. I feel sure she can help as well."

"Good."

Just then, baby boy McCarty, (because they were still arguing about a name) began to whimper. "I think he's hungry," Bella said as she handed the newborn back to his mother.

"Awww…yep, he's his father's," Alice said from the doorway.

"Alice?"

"Alice!"

"Hey, guys," she said shyly. "Am I invited?"

"Of course! How did you know where to find us?" Rosalie asked as she accepted the blue teddy bear from Alice, who was being squeezed hard by Bella.

"Well…Emmett called Jamie, who told Miya, who I keep in contact with, so…" she bit her lip. "I…I waited until Jasper left with Edward. I know it's almost lunch time, I just wanted to say 'hey'."

"We're so glad to see you!" Rosalie said, accepting a hug from Alice. "Now his whole family is here."

Alice had tears in her eyes and Bella broke out into sobs. "Bella?" Rose asked. "Are you alright?"

"My hormones are shot," she replied tearily.

"And why would they be shot?" Rosalie asked, her eyebrow raised.

"Well…because…"

"Oh. My. God," Alice said. "You're pregnant!"

Bella bit her lip and nodded.

"How far along are you?"

"Only a few weeks; I just got my test back yesterday."

"Does Edward know?"

Bella shook her head. "Not yet. I wanted to be sure. I'm…I don't know how he's going to take this news."

"He's going to be thrilled," Alice told her. "He's going to be so excited he won't know what to do with himself. You're marrying him, having his baby; life is going to be perfect for you two!"

"And what about you, Ali," Bella asked. "We haven't seen or heard from you in forever. How are you?"

Alice shrugged. "I have good days and bad days. Some are really hard. Others…are much easier. Miya has become a very good friend. I've…I talked to James and we're in the 'forgive and attempt to forget' stage. I'm doing some work for The Disney Channel now, so that's good. They're keeping me busy and I really like it. The Disney kids are really sweet and it's easy to be happy around them, you know?"

"What are you doing for Disney?" Rosalie wanted to know.

Alice smiled. "Some movie about a high-school musical. It looks like it will be fun. The lead actor and actress are really cute and so full of sugar you feel like you're going to go into diabetic coma, but I'm having a blast with the choreography."

"It's good to see you and see you happy," Rose said as she nuzzled the baby closer to her. "He needs formula before my milk comes in. Do you want to feed him, Alice?"

"Me?" she asked uncertainly.

Rosalie nodded and passed the baby to her. "The nurse just brought in his bottle made up. He doesn't get a full one, just about three quarters. Any more would bloat him and give him a tummy ache."

"Somehow I doubt that," Bella said with a giggle. "I mean, at nine pounds, fifteen ounces, I think little Emmett could take it."

"Emmett Junior," Alice giggled as she teased the baby's mouth with the nipple of the bottle. He latched on hungrily and started making an almost humming noise as he slurped away.

"I can't believe you're pregnant, Bella. How did that happen?" Rosalie asked as she stood and stretched gently. She'd had the baby naturally, and outside of some aches and pains, she was a poster-child for natural birth. She hadn't even required stitches, earning some glares from the nurses that had their children with more difficulty than she.

Bella smiled and got a far-off look in her eye. "Well…you know they were on tour in Singapore…they've just got a huge Asian following…"

Flashback – July 2005

"And I want to dedicate this song to my wonderful fiancé, Bella Swan," Edward said on stage of the packed-to-capacity Singapore Indoor Stadium. "This is off our new album. I hope you enjoy, INCOMPLETE!"

The crowd went wild as he sat down upon the stool in front of the beautiful white baby grand piano. Jasper walked up to the microphone and his gravely voice started singing;

Empty spaces fill me up with holes
Distant faces with no place left to go
Without you, within me I can find no rest
Where I'm going is anybody's guess

Jake picked up on the beginning of the chorus, and the others joined in softly…

I tried to go on like I never knew you
I'm awake but my world is half asleep
I pray for this heart to be unbroken
But without you all I'm going to be is, incomplete

Jasper started singing once more. When they were in the recording studio, Edward had tried to sing some of the verses and had gotten so emotional; he had to pass it on to Jasper.

Voices tell me I should carry on
But I am swimming in an ocean all alone
Baby, my baby
It's written on your face
You still wonder if we made a big mistake

Edward had asked Bella to be there tonight. Usually she didn't come to the shows, choosing to stay on the bus or in the hotel, but she had a special place in front, off to the side of the stage, watching them perform their hits, but this song…

I tried to go on like I never knew you
I'm awake but my world is half asleep
I pray for this heart to be unbroken
But without you all I'm going to be is, incomplete

Her and Edward's eyes met, and suddenly it was just them…the audience disappeared.

I don't mean to drag it on
But I can't seem to let you go
I don't wanna make you face this world alone
I wanna let you go...

She mouthed 'I love you' to him and he blew her a kiss.

I've try to go on like I never knew you
I'm awake but my world is half asleep
I've pray for this heart to be unbroken
But without you what I'm going to be is, incomplete...

Incomplete...

The music faded out and Edward said, "I wrote this during the hardest part of our relationship…and I'm proud to say that I didn't let her go, she didn't leave, and we're about to get married!"

The crowd went wild once more as they finished their set. Once they were done and had sung an encore and had signed all the autographs they could, they went back to their hotel to change and rest. Edward had refused to stay in the same hotel with the other men, choosing instead for him and Bella to stay in the luxurious Scarlet Hotel in one of the "Passion" suites.

The next day, Edward was almost jumping with excitement as he woke Bella up with sloppy kisses. She giggled and then began to moan as he kissed down her body until he reached her mound. "I love you, Bella," he told her as he looked up at her.

"I love you too, Edward," she said sleepily.

He smiled as his tongue lapped at her and she writhed from the sensation, her hands fisting in the sheets. "Ungh, Edward!" she cried as his fingers joined his tongue, gently probing her until she achieved climax.

She lay in a sated, panting puddle as he slithered back up her body. "I can't believe you're mine, Bella. Whatever did I do to deserve something this wonderful?"

She smiled and pulled his mouth down to hers. "I don't know, but I'm so glad you did it. Thank you, Edward. Thank you for having faith in me. I know I'm not the easiest person to live with…"

"Shhh," he said into her mouth. "It isn't the first time we'll fight, Bella, and it won't be the last. Now, shut up and let me love you."

"Please…" she breathed as he slowly sheathed himself in her.

They loved slow and languidly as the morning passed, stopping only for nourishment by way of room service before showering together; loving one another, not with intercourse, but with tender kisses and touches. They were not rushed; they savored their time together.

Once the sun was high in the sky and beginning its decent, they dressed in cool white cotton; he in a button-down shirt and a pair of cool khaki pants to face the burning humidity of the July weather, and she in a beautiful white and pink-flower-print sundress. They made their way outside and walked toward Chinatown to do some shopping and sightseeing.

They were there for only a short period of time when he noticed her shoulders were turning pink from being out in the sun, so he bought her a beautiful Asian umbrella and he took her picture with his phone; the sun at her back and a beautiful smile on her face. She was his angel, and he was her savior.

After visiting Chinatown and buying a few trinkets there, along with purchasing her a silk shawl because once the sun set, she began to get cold, they made their way to Raffles Hotel for drinks in the famous Long Bar for a "Singapore Sling" before they walked over to where the other men were staying at Swissotel for dinner on the seventieth floor in the Equinox Complex.

They were fortunate; they didn't meet up with any of the others and just enjoyed themselves with a nice dinner and a great view of the city.

End Flashback

"And that was the day this little one was created. I had forgotten my birth control pills. I didn't think about it until I heard the message from Walgreens letting me know they were ready for pickup. It was too late then either way, but this baby was created in love. Of course it deserves a chance to live and thrive."

By then, both Alice and Rosalie had silent tears falling down their faces. "That's beautiful, Bella. We're so happy for you!"

Bella smiled. "So, I'm not telling Edward until we've actually tied the knot. I want to leave it a surprise for as long as I can."

"I can't believe you're getting married in the Mile High City," Rosalie said wistfully. "I wish I could have talked Emmett into that. The weather is going to be so wonderful."

"Yeah, but the big ole' McCarty wedding was fun!" Bella told her. "I enjoyed going to a 'shindig'."

"Ugh," Rosalie said, but then giggled. "It was fun watching his redneck family members get drunk, or 'lit' as they say."

"Then they brought out the honest-to-God moonshine…" Alice said with a grin.

"Ah, that stuff was wicked," Emmett said, coming in. "Remind me not to drink that sh-uh-stuff again," he told Rosalie.

She smiled at him. "Cutting out the cursing already, Em?" she teased.

He nodded and took the now satisfied baby from Alice. "Yeah, gotta be good in front of the kid." He glanced at Alice and bent down to hug her. "Hey, shortcake; glad to see you."

She smiled and hugged him back. "I'm glad to see you too, Emmett."

Just then, a nurse came in. "And how is the happy couple? Still doing well?"

Rosalie nodded. "Yes, we're fine, and so is the baby. He just ate a ton."

"That's my boy," Emmett said with pride.

"And you have friends!" the nurse continued. "Of course, I know who you are. I promise not to bug you." She looked around the room. "Where are the other boys? Wasn't Edward here earlier?"

Bella's eyebrow went up at the direct question, but Emmett said, "Yeah, he went on; said you had a ride, right B?"

Bella nodded. "We drove over separately. He had some things to do with…" she bit her lip.

"With Jasper," Alice finished softly. "I saw the three of you boys leave," she told Emmett. "That's why I came in when I did."

"Yes, well, will he be coming back?" the nurse asked.

Emmett turned and looked at her. "I think…" he read her nametag, "Lillie, we are good to go here, really."

The woman must have realized she over-stepped some boundary because she gave a little nod of her head. "Of course. Buzz the nurse's station if you need anything."

They all watched her go, and Emmett said, "Babe, I want guards in here or some shit."

Rosalie laughed. "Emmett, I'm fine, the baby's fine, it's all good. This is just a fan, one of your more rabid ones, granted, but there you go. It'll be fine."

His eyes narrowed at the door where he could see her talking with some of the other nurses. He hugged the baby a little closer to him and said, "I'm still not happy."

Alice laughed. "Papa Bear is in the house. Watch out."

"So, shorty," he said, plopping into the recliner she had vacated; the baby now on his shoulder, "What's up with you?"

A week later; Bella paced nervously in her room. She had been horribly sick with morning sickness, which luckily had been attributed to nerves as she hadn't told anyone besides Rosalie and Alice yet. She wanted it to be a surprise tonight when she told Edward.

"Here's that ginger ale," her mother said, coming back into the room.

"Thanks, Mom, I needed it."

Renee grasped her daughter's face gently. "It will be okay, darling. Edward loves you more than his own life. I promise things will work out perfectly for you."

Bella swallowed hard and tried to keep down the bile, but it rose once more and she dashed for the bathroom.

"Are you sure you're alright, Bella?" her mother asked.

"Yeah," Bella managed. "I'm fine. Could you go get me some crackers please? And could you go get Esme to come help with my dress?" Bella asked from the bathroom. "I'll be right out. I knew that cream cheese didn't taste right on that bagel this morning…" Which was no understatement; she hadn't been able to each much of anything without heaving for days now.

She stood, washed her face once more and brushed her teeth for the fourth time before she made her way back out into her room. The view was magnificent; the colors of fall were beautiful and there was an excellent nip to the air that signified autumn was approaching. She knew she had made the right decision when she had suggested this place. She had always loved the mountains, and Denver, Colorado was the perfect place to be today. The sky was a beautiful shade of blue and the air was crisp and tart…it was perfect to go along with the browns, reds and yellows she was using in the wedding along with the apple and autumn dishes she had been secretly craving for the past week. She could almost taste the cinnamon and nutmeg now.

There was a knock at the door and Esme and Lynessa came in; both in their bridesmaids gowns. Esme's was a deep chocolate, befitting the Matron of Honor and Lynessa was beautiful in a gown of bright yellow, highlighting her auburn hair.

"How are you, dear?" Esme asked as she took in Bella's sallow appearance.

"I feel fine," she reassured them.

Esme's face looked wary as she said, "When are you going to come out and tell him, Bella?"

"What?" Bella asked as she slid into her slip.

"That you're pregnant," Esme stated flatly.

"What?" Lyn asked, looking up from the make-up compact she was opening to do Bella's makeup.

"Well, of course she is. When? Hong Kong?"

"Singapore," Bella told her.

Esme grinned. "Oh, yes, that's right. Carlisle said you two didn't come out of your room the whole trip."

Bella's face bloomed with color. "We did so, just not with the others…"

Esme chuckled. "Well, there you go. So…he doesn't know, but are you excited?"

Bella's hand traveled down to her still-flat stomach. She had felt the hardness there and knew she wouldn't be able to hide it for much longer anyway. "Yeah, I really am."

"I'm so happy for you, Bella. You both deserve the world," Esme said, gathering the younger woman into a hug. "I'm so glad my brother found you."

"I'm so glad to be calling you 'sister'," Bella told her.

"Oh! You two!" Nessie said as she blotted her eyes with a tissue. "Thank God I have on waterproof mascara!"

They all laughed and proceeded to finish fixing Bella's hair and makeup, before slipping her into a stunning dress made of the most beautiful colored crème silk with chocolate colored accents. She opted for a tiara of gold with dark brown and yellow stones and tiger's eye; something she had helped design to match her dress. The look was completed with opera length gloves and Audrey Hepburn makeup and hair.

"You look like a vision," her mother sobbed. Edward's mother was also there, though slightly more stoic, she gave Bella a kiss on the cheek and her something 'borrowed'; a pair of yellow diamond earrings that had been in the Masen family for generations.

"Edward's gonna bust a nut when he sees you," Nessie whispered to Bella, causing her and Esme to burst into laughter.

Just then, Charlie came in. "It's time, Bells."

Bella took in a ragged breath. "I'm ready," she told him. She accepted her dried-flower bouquet from Esme and said, "Let's go get me married."

Edward was all smiles as he stood up front with Carlisle and Jacob. Jasper had decided to sit this wedding out since it hadn't been that long ago he was up there quote; "In a monkey suit for Jake, I'm not doing it again until my own, bro." That had earned him a few growls from Bella, who had all intensions of hooking him up with Alice. And though Alice had declined the invitation, Bella was still hoping she would show, even though Bella knew it would be too hard for her to come.

The wedding march started and Edward gasped as Bella walked toward him. She was beautiful. He grasped her hand and they smiled at one another. "Thank you," he whispered.

She smiled a secret smile "I'm sorry it took me so long."

"I don't care; I would have waited a hundred years for you, Bella."

The wedding went by quickly for them and before they knew it, they were walking out of the small chapel as husband and wife. "What do you say?" Edward asked her.

She turned to him and smiled. "About what?"

"What do you say we ditch the reception and go straight to the honeymoon?"

She giggled. "Let's stay for a little while. After all, you aren't the only one that has waited for this day for a while."

He laughed and pulled her to him for another kiss. "Alright, we'll stay. But only because I am a very giving, kind, considerate man, who is willing to share his new bride for a very, very short amount of time."

She grinned. "I promise not to make you wait too long, Mr. Masen."

He placed a delicate kiss upon her lips. "And I promise not to make you wait too long either, Mrs. Masen."

"Bella Masen," she said, rolling the name around on her tongue. "I like it."

"I love it," he said, grasping her lips for a more passionate kiss.

They traveled together into the reception hall after the pictures had been taken and did the usual; the cake cutting, drinking the champagne from each other's cup…though Esme had made sure to switch the glass Bella would be drinking out of to sparkling grape juice, just like the kids were drinking.

Finally, he has had enough of sharing her and leads her out amidst a hail of bubbles in the hallway and carried her up to their suite. Once there, he carried her over the threshold and sat her tenderly upon the bed.

She reached for him and brought his face down to hers. "Edward, sit by me."

He gave her an unsure smile, but sat next to her. She turned just slightly and grasped his hand. "Edward, I love you. So much so that I gave you one of the best gifts I could; I became your wife."

He nodded, still unsure where all of this was going, when she began to brush the back of his hand with one as she ran her other hand up his arm. "Well…I have a wedding present for you."

"You do?" he said excitedly. "But…wait. I didn't get you a present."

She smiled secretly. "Yes, you did. In fact, you gave me the same gift; you just didn't know it."

His brows knit for a moment before she moved his hand to her stomach. He just looked at her confused before she smiled. "You're going to be a daddy, Edward."

"No…are you sure?" he asked softly, his hand just beginning to move over her stomach.

She bit her lip and nodded, tears now surfacing in her eyes. "I'm positive. It happened in Singapore."

He looked at her for a moment before he said, "Oh no; this baby was made in Singapore, not in the USA."

They looked at one another and burst out in laughter.