A/N:

I have a fully loaded day tomorrow, so I thought I'd give this to you now instead. I know I don't, technically, have a set updating schedule, but I've just happened to update on Sundays lately. I wanted to stick with that, but I can feel the end of this term approaching fast.

At least, the homework reflects it!

Title: Love is Strange

Author: MarieCarro

Beta: Alice's White Rabbit

Pre-reader: LunaEclipse

Genre: Friendship/Romance/Drama

Rating: NC-17

Summary: Bella Swan and Edward Cullen live in the small town of Ligonier in Pennsylvania. They've been best friends since they were six years old, and not much can keep them apart. Bella wants to leave small-town life behind, while Edward is fine with whatever, but that's not the only complication in their relationship. What happens when they fall in love … with each other?

Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

CHAPTER 36

OVERWHELMED

At the hospital, they had to split up since Carlisle and Bella had to be admitted to different wards. Fortunately, Alice, who'd followed the ambulance in Edward's car, was there and could go with Carlisle.

Edward went with Bella, who was in considerably better shape now that her blood pressure had returned to a more normal level, and the siblings agreed they'd stay in contact to pass on any and all information.

I've already called Mom and Charlie. It'll take them a few hours to get here, but they're on the way, Alice texted, lifting a huge weight off Edward's shoulders.

"Charlie is a few hours away. So is Mom. Alice called them," he told Bella as a nurse performed a bunch of tests he couldn't name including a urine sample already sent to the lab.

Bella nodded and softly stroked her stomach, still worried since they hadn't received any answers yet. "So they all know now then," she said, not asking since she was certain that was the case.

"Most likely, yeah."

A wave of overwhelming emotions washed over her, and Bella had to blink back tears, threatening to push out. "This will be worse than last time." She sighed and sniffled when her protective wall crumbled.

Edward immediately got up from his seat and pulled her to his chest, allowing her to wipe her tears on his shirt. "Try not to think the worst, love. No physical trauma and there's been no blood. Those are good signs."

A new nurse entered, pushing an ultrasound machine, with Dr. Graham following. Bella visibly relaxed in response to her obstetrician's presence.

"Ms. Swan, I heard about the ordeal you went through. I understand you're feeling worried and stressed, so I'll do my best to give you all the answers I can."

"Thank you, doctor," Bella said gratefully and leaned away from Edward's shirt.

Edward grabbed his chair and pulled it closer to the padded cot Bella was on so he could hold her hand. He was maintaining a brave face, but he had a pit in his stomach the size of Texas, and he was just as worried as she was. The child in her belly had been unexpected and unplanned, but if they lost this second pregnancy, he'd be devastated, and he was convinced Bella would be even more averse to trying again in the future.

Only a few minutes passed, and the machine whirred to life, the grainy picture of Bella's uterus once again in front of them. But there was a huge difference compared to the one they'd seen three weeks earlier.

The little shape—the one that had barely been a blip a few short weeks ago—had grown and developed a lot.

And just as both Edward and Bella stared at the screen with slackened jaws in wonder, a sound filled the room. A fast, rhythmic sound that caused both of them to tighten their grip on each other's hands simultaneously.

"Is that …" Edward started but couldn't finish because of the thick emotions bubbling within him.

Dr. Graham beamed at them both. "Your baby's heartbeat? Yes."

"They're okay?" Bella asked softly. "Everything's fine?"

"As far as I can see, everything's proceeding as it should," Dr. Graham confirmed, and Bella turned her head to Edward. They shared a relieved kiss, but then Edward caught Dr. Graham looking through Bella's journals with concern marring his face.

"Is something else wrong, doctor?" he asked cautiously.

Dr. Graham hummed. "I don't like the look of how your blood pressure has spiked, Ms. Swan. I want to keep an eye on that, and I'll know more once we get the results of your urine sample." He looked back up at the couple. "In any event, I want to keep you here for observation tonight. While the shock seems to have worn off, I don't want to take any chances with this pregnancy."

A while later, as Bella settled into the room she'd been assigned, Edward offered to go home and get her the few essentials she'd need. "I also want to check on Dad," he said. "Alice hasn't texted, so I'm sure he's fine, but—"

"Edward, you don't have to explain yourself," Bella reassured him. "Of course I understand you want to see him. I wish I could be by his side myself. It's my fault he got shot." She grimaced as the memory of Carlisle falling to the floor assaulted her mind.

"No," Edward said fiercely. "It's George's fault. Not yours. You didn't invite him there, and you didn't pull the trigger."

"I riled him up," Bella insisted with watery eyes and her voice cracking. "He had a gun, and I snapped at him because he revealed the pregnancy. I threw our relationship in his face. Of course, it's my fault."

Edward hadn't heard those details before, and he understood Bella's guilty feelings, and he sympathized with her, but a tiny part, the absolute smallest and darkest part of his heart, was bitter about her recklessness. His father had been shot, and now Bella claimed partial responsibility for it.

However, the most important fact of all was that he hadn't been there himself. He didn't know what had actually happened minute by minute, and he had meticulously trained himself to never judge a person until all the evidence was on the table.

He sighed and dragged one hand down his face. "What do you want me to say, Bella?" he asked. "Do you want me to agree with you? That because you lost your temper for a second in a highly stressful situation, you're to blame for everything?"

Bella started to earnestly cry and buried her face in her hands as the guilt she felt threatened to choke her.

Edward continued, but he talked softly and slowly approached her until he was perched on her bed. "That everything George has done is on you because you used to date him and brought him into our lives? You broke up with him and chose me, so therefore, you're responsible for his actions? Hell, then I'm just as much to blame for coming back into your life, for falling in love with you all over again and wanting to be with you."

Bella raised her head and looked at Edward, her cheeks wet from her tears. He cupped her face in his hands and used his thumbs to wipe the streaks away.

"You're not responsible for George's actions or decisions. He chose to bring the gun, and he chose to stalk you. None of this is your fault." He leaned closer until their lips touched, and Edward tried to pour all of his reassurance and love into the they parted, he stroked her hair and just looked at her. "None at all," he said again to drive home the point as well as shutting up the darkness within.

She nodded tiredly. The clock read a few minutes past five, and yet she was drained and felt as if she could sleep for a week. "Tell Carlisle I'm thinking of him, okay?"

"Of course." He kissed her forehead and made sure to turn off the ceiling light before he left because he'd read the exhaustion on Bella's face and knew she'd most likely fall asleep within the half hour.

When he found Alice, she stood up from her seat and hugged him as tightly as she could.

"Is everything okay with Bella and"—she stopped briefly before continuing—"… and the baby?"

He nodded. "For now, yes. We're still waiting for a few lab results though."

"Okay. Good," she said, then her entire expression changed from worried to angry as she punched his arm … hard.

"Ow! What was that for?"

Her scowl deepened. "That's for allowing me to endanger your high-risk pregnant girlfriend by letting her sleep alone in my office while a psycho-stalker was after her!" She hit him again, and Edward flinched. "And that's for keeping it all a secret from me!"

"Ow! Okay, fine; I'm sorry, Alice! But this was between me and Bella."

The third punch was the hardest yet.

"Bullshit!" she spat. "The second you two decided to ask if Bella could sleep in my office, I was a part of it. Do you think I could have lived with myself if my decision had caused you to lose another baby?" Her eyes started glimmering with unshed tears, and Edward understood that underneath the anger was more worry and fear than anything else.

He reached out for his sister—his twin—who had always had his back and hugged her to him. "I really am sorry, Alice. It wasn't our intention to put you in this position. It was selfish of us."

"Are you sure everything's okay with Bella and my niece or nephew?" She sniffled.

Edward smiled. "We got to hear the heartbeat," he said, wonder coloring his voice. "It was amazing, and the doctor said everything looked fine."

"Then I guess I forgive you," she mumbled before stepping out of the hug. "But don't you dare pull anything like that on me ever again, do you hear?"

"I promise. How's Dad?"

"He's fine. A little irritated, but that's nothing new. You know what a terrible patient he is." Alice rolled her eyes, and Edward chuckled because it was true. Carlisle Cullen was an excellent surgeon and doctor with the best bedside manners you could ask for, but as a patient, he became nothing more than a cranky old man. "He's asleep now, but you can see him later."

"Mom will be able to calm him down when she gets here," Edward said, an amused smile still on his face.

"Yeah! Luckily, she'll be here soon with Charlie. He decided to abuse his siren, and they've gone way over the speed limit. Last I heard, they had already passed Harrisburg."

Edward explained to Alice he was gonna go home to get Bella a few things and asked if she wanted him to get anything for her.

"If you could get me a proper cup of coffee, I'd appreciate it," she said and glared at the small paper cup of hospital coffee next to her chair. "They shouldn't be allowed to serve that to humans."

As Edward approached the entrance of the hospital, he saw three familiar faces by the information desk.

"Look, we may not technically be family, but she's like my sister! I need to know she's okay!" Emmett argued with the receptionist, a highly pregnant Rosalie tapping her foot impatiently next to him, and Jasper talking angrily to someone on the phone.

"Hey," Edward said as he walked up to them, and they all turned to him simultaneously. It took a second before they realized it was him, and they all jumped in at the same time.

"We got a call from Alice!"

"What the fuck happened, man?"

"Is Bella okay?"

"This one right here was of no help at all."

"Did your dad get shot? Was it George?"

Edward held up his hands to stop them. "One at a time, please," he pleaded, the exhaustion in his voice apparent.

Emmett stepped forward. "How's Bella? Alice didn't tell us anything."

"She's fine, but the doctor wants to keep her overnight for observation."

"Why? Was she hurt?" Rosalie interjected, and her eyes were wide with worry.

"Not physically, no, but the doctor wanted to take precautions. He couldn't say if all the stress might have had a negative impact on the baby."

The three froze and blinked at him, and Edward instantly realized they had no idea Bella was pregnant.

"Baby?" Emmett asked carefully. "Are you saying my Belly's pregnant?" Jasper gave him a look, and Emmett huffed. "Shut up, I know how it sounded."

"How far along?" Rosalie asked, her hands on her own round stomach.

"Ten weeks," Edward replied. "Which is why we didn't tell anyone."

"Yeah, of course," she said in agreement.

"And how's your dad?" Jasper asked.

"He's also fine. I don't know all the details yet though." Edward buried his hands in his pockets, uncomfortable with the situation. "I get you guys want to be here, but Bella needs rest, so maybe we can arrange for you to see her tomorrow when she gets out of here? I'm just gonna get some stuff for her at home."

"Edward, wait," Rosalie said when he started toward the entrance. When he stopped, she waddled up to him. The adorable walk caused him to imagine Bella in Rosalie's place, and he wanted to smile but thought it inappropriate for the moment. "On the behalf of all the Hales, but especially me and my parents, I'm so sorry for what George has done to you and Bella. I doubt I'll ever be able to forgive him."

"Thank you. I appreciate that," Edward said with a small smile.

A short while later, Edward walked through his house and collected the few things Bella had there. All of it fit inside one backpack and didn't even fill it up.

He stared at the content, and in the deafening silence of his own bedroom, he crumbled. His knees gave away, and he sank down on the edge of the bed.

Never in his life had Edward been as terrified as he was when Alice called him and told him the panic alarm in her office had been set off. He had immediately known something was wrong, and while he had initially believed it was because of Riley, knowing now that there had been a very real possibility he could have lost his dad, Bella, and their baby caused a tsunami of suppressed emotions to well out of him.

He couldn't remember the last time he'd sobbed that hard, his entire frame convulsing as everything poured out of him with his tears.

"Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck," he repeated over and over under his breath, unable to stop. His hands trembled, and he had to clench them together to regain control.

When the tears finally stopped, Edward was uncertain how much time had passed, but he knew he had to get back to Bella. He looked at the backpack again, and in that moment, he decided he didn't want them to live separately anymore.

He didn't care they'd only been back together a few months. Edward knew Bella was the woman he would marry in the future, and she was currently carrying their child. The threat George posed was gone, and they would finally be able to just focus on their relationship. Edward didn't want to miss any milestones with the pregnancy, and he'd promised he would be there every step of the way.

It wouldn't be like the fiasco with the promise ring this time. He knew Bella now wanted the same things as him, and she knew he'd never strip away her independence.

Edward grabbed the backpack and left his house with new determination. Bella would most likely already be asleep when he returned, but the next day, he would lay all of his cards on the table and tell her he didn't want her to ever move out of his house.

It was dark when he returned to the hospital—Alice's coffee cup in one hand—and to his shock, Riley was standing outside the entrance smoking a cigarette. He narrowed his eyes and strode up to him.

"What are you doing here?" he demanded.

Riley grimaced and appeared almost contrite. "Look, I'm not here to cause trouble. I've been at the police station, giving my statement, but I had to check that Dr. Cullen was okay. The receptionist said you left earlier, and I hoped I could talk to you."

"About what?" Edward asked without letting down his guard. He couldn't forget that had the whole debacle with Riley never happened, Bella wouldn't have been at Alice's office that day.

Riley sighed. "I know you hate me, and you know I'm not particularly fond of you or Bella either. But there's a huge difference between feeling something and actually hurting the person. When Dr. Cullen got shot today, I realized I'd lost sight of the oath I took in med school and even the reason I chose that profession to begin with. My Brianna would hate the person I've become, so I'm gonna change that."

"Uh-huh," Edward said. He had a hard time feeling any sort of sympathy for Riley.

"I just wanted to let you know that I'm moving from Ligonier and as far away from New York as I can. Maybe to Arizona, California, or even Washington. I need to get away from everything that reminds me of all my shit and triggers my anger, and that includes you and Bella."

Edward nodded slowly and thoughtfully. He had never thought he'd see the day when Riley Biers tried to make amends. "All right then," he finally said. "Good luck with that then, I guess." He started to pass Riley toward the entrance.

"And one more thing"—Edward stopped again and turned around—"tell Bella I hope everything's okay with the baby. I would never wish harm on a child, no matter how small."

With those as his final words, Riley left, his back hunched and hands deep in his pockets as he walked across the dark parking lot.

A/N:

Yes, I went there and (sort of) redeemed Riley. He was never supposed to be the big bad villain in this. And actually, while George took on that crown, he's not the only villain either.

This story is about different kinds of love. How it can make us thrive or fuck us up completely. It's about romantic love, familial love, friendship love, obsessive love, life-changing love etc etc. In a way, love is the villain in this story as well as its main theme.

Until next time,

Stay Awesome!