A/N:

I wasn't certain I would give this to you today or not because after this chapter, I don't have any more written chapters ready to keep updating.

I had hope to write some this weekend, but as luck would have it, I had some misfortunes with my finals assignment in phonetics which cost me 3 hours yesterday to no avail and then all of today to recreate from scratch, so that writing never happened.

After next week, I start a new kind of term at my school which will mean intensive acting classes all day every day for weeks, and I don't know how much time that will give me to write. Only time will tell, I guess.

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 37

PARENTS

Edward peeked inside Bella's room, and as he'd suspected, she was already asleep. He didn't want to wake her, so he quietly placed the backpack on the chair next to the bed and sneaked back outside.

The door had just clicked closed when Edward saw rushed movements hurrying toward him from down the hall in his periphery. When he turned his head, he saw that it was Charlie.

"Edward, what the hell is going on? Alice said Bella was in the hospital and that Carlisle got shot! I don't understand. Why? What happened? Did she get hurt?" He shot questions at him, one after the other, and he didn't even pause to take a breath in between.

"She's fine, Charlie. She's not hurt," he interjected as soon as he could, hoping he could calm the Chief down if his own tone was composed. "She briefly went into shock, but they've taken good care of her here. She's sleeping right now."

Charlie's breathing was quick and shallow with stress, but he was slowly calming down. "What happened?"

Edward gave him his best explanation of the events, but since he didn't know all the details himself, there were a lot of holes in the story. "I was just about to check on Dad. If he's awake and lucid, you can get the entire narrative from him."

"Right," Charlie agreed, but then locked Edward with his gaze. "And what's this I've heard about Bella being pregnant?"

Through his entire life, Edward had always been somewhat intimidated by Charlie. He held nothing but respect and awe for the man who had raised such a wonderful and amazing woman on his own, and while Charlie had always been warm and welcoming to Edward, his expression now was unreadable, and it made Edward nervous. Confirming to Charlie that he'd gotten Bella pregnant—through an unplanned, unanimous but naïve decision, no less—was one of the scariest things Edward had ever had to do.

However, despite the surge of fear shooting through him, Edward wanted to prove to Charlie that he was responsible enough to have a family with Bella, so he gathered all of his courage and nodded confidently. "It's true. It's still very early, but if everything goes well, Bella and I will be parents in September."

Charlie briefly glanced at the door to Bella's room before he gestured for Edward to come with him. He didn't want to risk waking Bella or upsetting her if she didn't like what he had to say to her childhood best friend and boyfriend.

"Edward, you've been like a son to me since the first playdate Esme arranged twenty-four years ago. When you started dating, I was nothing but supportive because I knew you had my little girl's best interest at heart. The two of you have been through a lot of ups and downs over the years, but I never interfered because I had to trust you were capable of solving it on your own." Charlie stopped walking and leaned back heavily against the wall as the worried stress that had fueled him on the drive from Ligonier gave way to exhaustion. "The first pregnancy, I can understand that was a mistake because you were both kids, and kids are irresponsible. That's what makes them kids. But now … you have me concerned."

Edward felt uneasy because Charlie wasn't angry with him or disappointed. He was just laying out the facts, and his concern was validated. Edward didn't know how to convince him that this time, things would be different.

"You just got back together," Charlie continued. "You're still getting to know each other again, you live separately, and both of your jobs are demanding and time-consuming. A baby never makes anything easier. Why weren't you being more careful?"

"I wish I could give you an answer to that question that could assuage your fears, but I can't," Edward said honestly and fought his impulse to look away from the man before him. "We took an unnecessary risk, and this is the consequence. I take full responsibility for my part in it, and all I can say to you now is that I will do my best to be there for Bella and our baby."

Slowly, he started walking again, and Charlie easily kept pace with him. "The timing isn't ideal," he agreed. "And yes, Bella and I just got back together, but I've known she's my future since I was eighteen years old. I'm ready to start that future in any way, shape, or form."

"You're saying all the right words, Edward, but what I want to know is your plan," Charlie pressed. "You make a good, steady income at the firm, I'm sure, but raising a child costs a lot of money. Bella lives for photography, and she won't want to stop working completely, so will you share parental leave with her? Are you prepared to maybe place your career on hold? To help her with night feedings, diaper changing, potty training, household chores, crying and screaming, and all kinds of body fluids?" He counted on his fingers as he listed just a few things that childcare entailed. "Having a baby means that for at least eighteen years, you'll be a dad first and a man with selfish wants, needs, and aspirations second. Are you truly ready for that?"

Edward took his time to answer because he didn't want to just blurt out his answer and have Charlie believe he was just saying stuff to appease him. "Yes, Charlie, I am," he said carefully. "I know it will be a tough challenge, and I know there will be stuff I might have to give up, but to have a family with Bella would make it all worth it. I'll gladly help her with everything, and I'd never ask her to stop working if she doesn't want to. I love my job, but my career has never been the most important thing in my life." He paused for a moment as he contemplated telling Charlie what he wanted to ask Bella and quickly decided he had to share that if he wanted the man's support and respect. "I'm going to ask Bella to move in with me. When the baby's born, I don't want us to be living in different places."

Charlie folded his arms across his chest and nodded. "That's a step in the right direction, at least," he said, not at all opposed to the idea, and then he relaxed his tense and confrontational stance. "Look, Edward, it's not that I'm not happy you two are working it out. I'm just worried, that's all. Bella's my entire world. You know that."

"I understand," Edward said. "You've done everything you possibly can for Bella, and if we have a daughter, I can only hope to be half the father you've been. And I'm not just saying that to get back on your good side." Edward gave Charlie a cautious but playful smirk, and luckily, Charlie received it as intended.

"No, son, to get back on my good side, I'm expecting much larger bribes than an attempt to inflate my ego."

The two chuckled lightheartedly together and then made their way to the other ward and Carlisle's room.

~~LiS~~

Edward's leg was relentlessly bouncing up and down as he sat and waited for Bella to finish in the bathroom. He had yet to speak with her about his proposition, and he was acutely aware of his building nerves.

He was about eighty percent certain she would accept once he'd explained why he saw it as the most logical next step, but it was the other twenty percent that had him in knots. She could still surprise him as she had a tendency to do.

Bella looked refreshed and well-rested when she exited the bathroom, and Edward's gaze was drawn to her. There was an aura of peace surrounding her, which he'd only briefly seen when they were back in Ligonier, but now it enveloped her entire being.

When she noticed he was staring at her, she smiled self-consciously. "What?"

He didn't want to burden her with his thoughts just yet after seeing her at such ease, so he just smiled back. "You're beautiful." Some color rose in her cheeks, and he was happy to see his words affected her so much. Every day, he found a new reason to fall deeper in love with the amazing woman before him—the woman who knew him inside and out—and he'd do absolutely anything for her.

"I don't think I'll ever get used to how sweet you are," she said and raised her hands to cool her heated cheeks. "I've known you most of my life, and you still make me blush."

"And I take pride in that," he said, his smile growing into a grin. He took a deep breath and prepared to take the leap and straight out tell her what he wanted, but he was interrupted mid-breath by Dr. Graham's impeccable timing.

"You're both here. Great! I got the results from the lab for you right here," he said and walked into the middle of the room.

Bella went over to Edward, and he immediately got up from the chair, offering it to her while he sat down on the armrest, despite the fact there was an entire bed to sit on. They entwined their hands and looked at Dr. Graham expectantly.

"Your urine sample looked fine, but the blood test revealed you have a low platelet count. For now, it's nothing to worry about. I want to keep a lookout for any other symptoms though. The spike in your blood pressure appeared to be temporary, most likely due to the stress you endured, but the ultrasound last night showed your baby's development is right on target. I feel confident to discharge you; you can go home." Dr. Graham smiled gently at the couple.

"Thank you for everything, doctor," Bella said and squeezed Edward's hand.

Dr. Graham left to get Bella's discharge papers in order, and Edward cleared his throat. "Speaking of home … maybe it's time we discuss that?" He ended it like a question, and he didn't sound as confident as he'd wanted at all.

"Yes, I think we should," Bella agreed, and even before Edward could open his mouth to say anything else, she continued. "Ever since the break-in, I've felt so unsafe in my own apartment. Just the thought of going back there, to spend any nights alone, freaks me out." She slipped her hand out of Edward's and started to pick at her cuticles, something she only did when she felt particularly anxious. "I know I could try to find a new apartment"—Edward's heart sank—"but I don't want to." She leaned against him, absorbing all the comfort and safety he gave her in every way she could. "I feel at home with you, and I don't even care if it's too fast to be moving in together. I know this baby is still uncertain, but if everything goes well, we need to start preparing for becoming a family."

Edward nodded along, slightly stunned Bella's thoughts were so perfectly aligned with his own.

She tilted her head back to look at him. "When we found out I was pregnant, you said you were prepared to let me move in the next day, and I don't want to assume anything, but if that's still what you want, I want that, too."

There was a moment of silence as Edward looked at her, drinking her in, and just as the pause was about to become awkward and her eyes widened with uncertain fear, he gave her a toothy smile. "Sorry, I'm just relishing hearing you taking the next step to advance our relationship first," he said teasingly.

Bella rolled her eyes and buried her face against his waist while letting out an embarrassed groan before laughing along with him. "You're such a jerk. You actually made me scared for a second," she mumbled against the fabric.

He chuckled. "Don't you know by now I want it all with you? I'm just waiting for you to give me the green light."

She pursed her lips when she leaned her head back, her eyes danced with amusement. "You really want to get that ring on my finger, huh?"

Edward bent forward and planted a kiss right on her mouth. "Only when you want it."

About an hour later, when all of Bella's paperwork was in order, she could finally go along with Edward to visit Carlisle, and as soon as she stepped through the door, Esme pulled her into a hug.

"Oh, honey, I'm so relieved to see you're well. Carlisle told me everything that happened. It must have been so stressful for you. How are you feeling? Edward told me last night everything's fine with the baby, thank goodness. Please, sit down."

"Mom, stop fretting and take a breath," Edward insisted and led her back to her seat after giving her a hug of his own.

Bella sat next to the bed and faced Carlisle. She attempted a small, uncertain smile since she didn't know if he was bitter or feeling any resentment toward her. "I heard the surgery went well. How are you doing?"

Carlisle's eyelids were somewhat heavier than usual, and his speech was slow but clear. "Don't worry about me, sweetie. I'm on a lot of painkillers right now, and I can't feel a thing."

She scooched forward to the edge of the chair and grabbed his hand, which was limply lying on top of the covers. "I need to thank you, Carlisle. I'm pretty sure you saved our lives, but I hate that you had to get hurt in the process."

"You don't have to thank me," he insisted, but he was blinking slower each time and he looked a few short seconds away from unconsciousness. "Just take care of yourself and my first grandchild, okay?"

He had already fallen asleep before Bella could even open her mouth.

"He was in and out of sleep all night," Esme explained and lovingly stroked the few gray-streaked blond locks that had fallen forward away from his face, and then started fussing with his blanket. "But the doctors said he should have an easy recovery. The bullet didn't hit any vital organs, but he's not allowed to work for a few weeks at least. I've hounded him to take a vacation for months, so maybe this was a strange blessing in disguise," she said, doing everything she could to remain optimistic. She didn't want to even entertain the thought that something much worse could have happened.

"We're not gonna disturb then," Bella said and rose from her seat.

"I'll take Bella home, Mom, but is there anything I can get for you?"

Esme shook her head. "No, I'm fine."

"Are you sure?" Edward checked again. "You have the key I gave you, though, right? You shouldn't have to sleep here tonight as well, and my guest room is for you to use however you want."

"Thank you, darling," Esme said appreciatively. "I just want to stay with your father for a little while longer."

"Okay. I'll see you a little later then, Mom. I love you."

The sentiment caused the exhausted Esme to tear up and give her son an affectionate smile. "I love you, too, darling."

A/N:

"Parents" was quite a fitting title for this chapter wasn't it?

I do hope you liked it. One of my biggest regrets in the first version of this story was that I down the road forgot to include the parents even though they continue to be a part of our lives even after we grow up to adults. They became less than secondary characters in the first and even then I made them out to be this big deal in both Bella and Edward's lives so I don't know why I phased them out back then.

I think I was too focused on the main story and sometimes, I had to throw them in here and there as a mere mention and reading it over again now makes me cringe :-P

But, I learned from my mistakes.

Please, savor this one. I don't know when I'll be able to update next, but as always:

Until next time,

Stay Awesome!