As always, grateful for all the feedback. Also, thankful for Gabby's help with pre-reading for me.

We have a little time-jump =)

Edward arrived late at his parents' house on a Friday evening in early April. The meeting he'd been stuck in all afternoon had dragged for twenty more minutes after the official end of day.

"It won't take long," Edward told Felix.

"You know I don't mind waiting."

"Call Bella and let her know, I'll be home late," Edward said, as he opened the door and stepped out of the Caddy.

He was pleased to see Emmett's Jeep in the driveway. So, everyone was there, like he'd planned.

Four months had passed since he'd gotten engaged to Bella. Four months of arguments with Jasper about how ready Edward was to come clean to his family. Since the thought of telling them about his lifestyle, had entered his mind, Edward had been trying to find the best timing.

Of course, there was never a good time for such a conversation.

With the wedding a month away, Edward had decided to stop waiting for the moment such a conversation could be broached out, and to initiate it himself. He chose not to have Bella present, or in the known. She'd have probably stopped him again.

Edward stepped into his childhood house, taking his shoes off, before heading into the living room. They were all waiting for him, chatting, unaware of what he was about to spring on them.

"Honey! We thought you've changed your mind," his mom said, worried, heading over to hug him.

"I'm here. My last meeting dragged," Edward explained.

"So, why are we here?" Emmett asked, confused.

"Did you and Bella have a fight or something?" Rose interjected.

"Why is everyone asking me that?" Edward groaned.

Tanya had asked him the very same thing that morning, then Felix had voiced his concern about their happiness on their way to the office.

"I just talked to her earlier. She sounded off," Rose shrugged.

"Bella's fine. We're fine." He hoped that Bella was fine. She hadn't told him about anything upsetting her.

Granted, he'd rarely been home in the past couple of weeks. There had been out of town meetings and late hours at the office, but he planned to leave everything in order when they'd be on their honeymoon.

He'd kept the location a secret from everyone, knowing how people could slip without meaning. Edward had managed to book them a fortnight stay on a private island.

"I have something to tell you," Edward said, trying not to look at anyone in particular.

"You're scaring us, son," his dad commented, sitting straighter in his armchair. His mom went to sit on the arm of his chair, watching Edward, concerned.

Emmett and Rose held hands on the couch, watching him with identical puzzled expressions.

Fuck, Edward thought to himself. There was no going back from this. He ran a hand through his hair. "There's something I never told you about me. I'm tired of hiding this part of my life from my own family."

"Is this about what you told us last Christmas?" Emmett raised a brow, frowning.

"It has to do with it. There's more to that," Edward answered. His eyes slid to his parents, who were watching them curiously. "While in college, I discovered a club who taught me about a lifestyle I'd never known about." When no one made to comment, Edward went on, "I was introduced to the BDSM lifestyle."

The reactions of his family were pretty much what he'd expected. His mother gasped, her hands going to her heart. His dad stared at him with a blank expression, which was the worst if the past had taught Edward anything. Emmett looked impressed and slightly curious. And Rosalie…she'd pieced it all together, and there were tears in her eyes.

"I don't expect you to understand the depth of it. I know how you've all been curious about not meeting any of my girlfriends, in the past. It's because I never had a girlfriend until Angela. They had all been my Submissive at the time."

"Was she…?" his dad asked, in a deep, guarded voice.

"Yes. We dabbled with blending romance with my lifestyle. I didn't succeed in the perfect balance until I met Bella," Edward admitted.

"Bella?" his mom gasped. Her hands went over her mouth.

"Maybe I should explain to you that whatever you think this means, it's not true. Forget everything you've heard about domination and submission. Please, think of all the times you've seen us interacting in the past few years. We're as normal as you. Our level of trust and respect for each other runs deeper. Bella is free to choose for herself anything she wants. I don't have her constricted with anything."

His dad cleared his throat, looking uncomfortable. "All I've heard about this is nothing I'd seen at you."

"Exactly, because for everyone it's different. And, what you heard was probably based on ill information or trashy novels," Edward said softly. His eyes slid to his mother, who kept her horrified eyes on him. Edward's stomach turned.

Jasper had warned him multiple times to think through his decision, because he was likely to lose at least one member of his family. Edward hadn't expected that person to be his mother.

Rose crossed the room, wrapping her arms around him. Edward relaxed, basking in her reassurance. She'd been the one, he'd expected to bail on him.

"We have to talk in private about this," she whispered.

"Everything you're thinking it's the truth, most likely," he whispered back. "But, sure."

She pulled away, her hand lingering on his shoulder, before she returned to Emmett, who grinned mischievously. Edward hoped he wasn't going to say something out of line in front of the parents.

"Now that tying up thing makes a lot of sense," he said, chuckling.

Edward groaned, narrowing his eyes at the oaf. "You don't know half of it," he chose to say.

"Some things are better left unknown," his dad said slowly, making Edward cringe.

"Yeah. Trust me."

"Why did you tell us now?" his dad asked.

Edward combed a hand through his hair, keeping his eyes on his mother, who seemed to have stopped breathing. Her eyes were on Edward, but they were looking through him, trying to process his confession.

"Like I said, I'm tired of hiding from my own family. Besides, we've been checking the confirmation list for the wedding, and some of them are friends from the BDSM community. We can't exactly tell them to hide, but they're aware not all of our guests are as receptive to their lifestyle as us."

"Are Jasper and Alice…" Rose left the question hanging.

Edward could bet she'd seen similarities in the way he and Bella acted to how Jasper and Alice acted. "Yes."

"Thank you for telling us, son. It must have been difficult." His dad walked to him slowly, catching him in an unexpected hug. "Give Esme a few days to process this. She'll come around."

Edward nodded, returning his dad's hug. "Thank you, Dad." He went to his mom, noticing how she winced as he touched her shoulder. "Let me know when you want to talk to me about this."

She nodded, catching his hand. "Do you hurt Bella?"

"Moooom…" Edward groaned. "No! This lifestyle is not about pain. Just…come by when you're ready to talk about it. We'll explain to you."

"We'd like a demonstration," Emmett called loudly.

"Emmett," Rose snapped, giving her brother a sympathetic look.

Edward rolled his eyes at Emmett. "Too bad. Bella's all mine and no one gets to see her naked, besides me."

"Way to put kinky images in my head, only to ruin all the fun," Emmett grumbled.

"Ooookay! We're going home." Rosalie stood, hoisting Emmett up by his elbow. "Our neighbor will be happy to be relieved of babysitting duties."

His dad walked them to the door, while his mom went upstairs, visibly disturbed. He patted Edward's back. "She'll come around, son."

"I hope so," Edward whispered.

They bid goodbye to Emmett and Rosalie. His dad stopped Edward from getting in his car with a hand on the door.

"I saw Bella at the hospital earlier."

"What?" Edward stiffened. "She didn't mention anything."

"It was probably nothing. I don't know what colleague of mine she saw. She was leaving when I spotted her."

"Maybe she went to see Victoria. Bella mentioned her brother had called about his wife being admitted the other day."

His dad nodded. "That poor woman is in a terrible shape. I'm up to speed with her case."

"Did Bella look worried?" Edward checked, eager to get home and ask why she hadn't told him about not feeling well.

"Of what I could see, she looked troubled. I bet she'd visited her sister-in-law, like you said."

"Yeah." Edward nodded, but he didn't believe it. "I'm sorry for springing this on you, but there was never a good time to tell you. And I've been meaning to come clean for months."

"I've told you for years what a control freak you are, kiddo. Little did I know how true my words were."

Edward grinned, clapping his dad's back. "Night, Dad."

"Good night, son."

Edward got inside the car. He knew instantly that something was wrong by the way Felix turned into his seat to look at him.

"Tanya called me earlier."

"Okay?" Edward urged him with his eyes.

"She said Bella has been all over the place the whole day, and a little while ago, her friend showed up and she left with him on his bike."

"Fuck!" Edward spat.

How could Jacob Black help Bella more than Edward? What did he know?

Edward saw red at the thought of Bella confiding in her friend about whatever was going on, without telling Edward first.

"Do you know where he lives?" Edward tried to keep his voice guarded. "I bet you've driven Bella over to his house in the past."

"Yes, sir."

"Take me there."

"Mr. Cullen…" Felix said in warning. "I've been gone as much as you have, but Tanya told me some things…" He gulped thickly. "Have you spoken with Bella lately?"

"Yes! What sort of fucked up question is that?"

"She hasn't told you anything…"

"Like what?" Edward demanded. "You know how I hate dragging answers out of you, Felix!"

"Bella hasn't been feeling well lately. She hasn't told Tanya anything, but you know how Tanya is – she noticed it, even if Bella has probably been trying to hide it."

His dad's confession about Bella visiting the hospital and Bella seeking her friend's shoulder to cry on, worried and angered Edward.

"Drive to Black's house."

Felix nodded, withholding any further comment he wanted to add.

They arrived fifteen minutes later. Felix pointed out the correct apartment building door.

"I don't know the apartment number, though."

"Wait here," Edward instructed him, opening the door and stepping out of the car.

The front door of the building Black lived in wasn't locked, which was a good thing. He stopped by the mail boxes. It didn't take long to find Black's name on the sixth box, so he took the stairs to the second floor.

Black's apartment was in the corner of the hallway. Edward pounded on the door, aware he had to know all the facts before he lashed out, but it hurt to know that Bella would go to her friend with whatever was bothering her.

Black answered, startled at seeing Edward. "How did you…Just come in." He stepped out of the way.

"Where's Bella?" Edward barked, storming inside the apartment.

"In the bathroom," Jacob answered. He folded his arms across his chest. "So, you decided to care for your girlfriend?"

"Excuse me?" Edward narrowed his eyes at the asshole. He didn't even bother to correct him that Bella was fiancée, not his girlfriend anymore.

"You heard me! You were so busy with your business trips, that you failed to see what was under your nose!"

"What the hell are you talking about?" A chilling thought crossed Edward's mind, but he dismissed it as soon as it formed. Bella would never cheat on him – not with Jacob Black.

But then, Bella appeared into his line of view, dressed only in one of Black's shirts, looking pale. "Oh, shit!" Her eyes widened when she spotted him.

"What's going on here?" Edward spat, not looking away from her eyes.

"Sit down, honey." Black steered her to the couch, handing her a can of soda. Then he turned to glare at Edward. "Remember, when Bella introduced us? You thought I acted like an asshole for not noticing she wasn't feeling well. You're doing it now, too!"

"Don't fight," Bella mumbled, taking small sips from the can.

"What's wrong?" Edward asked, mollifying the tone of his voice. He went to sit by her side. "Bella? Are you unwell?"

She shook her head, avoiding his eyes. After another sip from her drink, she turned to her friend. "Can you lend me a pair of pants, too?" she asked softly.

"What happened to your clothes?" Edward demanded.

"It was an accident," she mumbled.

"Bella puked all over her dress."

"You rode his bike!" Edward gasped, understanding why she wasn't well. Though, Bella had gotten over her aversion for bikes ages ago. She had even dared to ride Edward's bike on her own, not that long ago, but only for a few laps in their driveway.

Bella glanced at Edward, catching his eyes, as a small smile pulled at the corner of her lips. "It was the pineapple on the pizza."

Edward cringed. "Your friend has the worst taste in food."

Black retrieved a pair of his shorts. Bella had to roll the elastic band several times for them to fit around her waist.

"You can keep them. They might fit you one day," he joked.

Bella turned scarlet, meeting Edward's eyes briefly. "Fuck you, Jake," she grumbled.

"Love you too, honey."

"Okay, let's go." Edward took Bella's hand, pulling her to the door.

"Wait." She returned to her friend's side, hugging him tightly. Edward couldn't hear what she whispered to him, but the way Black looked at him when their eyes met above her head, made Edward anxious.

Bella was quiet as she walked by his side, climbing first in the backseat of the Caddy. She greeted Felix quietly, hugging her arms around her stomach and drawing her legs up, as she stared out the window.

Edward carded his fingers through her hair, growing more worried by the minute. He chose to allow her to decide when she was ready to talk about it. He wouldn't push her.

At home, Bella avoided the kitchen area, heading right to their bedroom. The inviting smell of dinner reminded Edward that he hadn't eaten properly since his hurried lunch break with Ben around noon time. It was past eight o'clock in the evening, at the moment.

Edward followed Bella, finding her sitting on the bed. "Are you hungry?"

"Not particularly," she answered. "Go and eat. I'll bet you are."

Edward tugged at his tie, keeping his eyes on her. "I want to talk to you. I know I've been gone a lot lately, but you…" So much for giving her space, Edward thought to himself. "I have something to tell you, too."

"I'm going to take a shower."

Edward nodded, throwing his tie on top of the chest of drawers. He rolled up his sleeves, as he returned to the kitchen.

Tanya was ready to serve dinner.

"Just for me," he said. "Bella won't join me tonight."

Tanya caught her lip between her teeth, reflecting Felix's worry from earlier.

"How long has Bella not been feeling well?" Edward asked, choosing not to beat around the bush.

"Uh, a while." She handed him a plate of lasagna. "Look, Bella doesn't know I've noticed this. But it's almost impossible not to see things around here, especially when Bella hasn't been exactly hiding it."

Edward chewed slowly. "So, you haven't spoken to her?"

"No."

"How long is a while, Tanya?" Edward asked carefully. His mind was wandering toward all possible scenarios of what could be wrong with Bella, though he realized that he knew the answer.

"Around the time your trips started intensifying? And it's not just being sick. She's been overly emotional." Tanya met his eyes, worry dancing in her dark eyes. "Uh, when you couldn't make it home for dinner on Valentine's Day…" she said softly, aware what that day meant for him. "…Bella started crying and pulled the tablecloth off the table, sending everything to the floor. We'd worked that whole day on dinner."

Edward knuckled his temple, swallowing his bite of lasagna. "Bella told me that she wasn't upset we had to cancel our reservation at the restaurant."

"Because she'd prepared dinner for you two…here…at home," Tanya explained. "And, just the other week, when you left in hurry. Do you remember the time?"

Edward nodded. "I was going to miss the plane." He hadn't, because Felix had floored the acceleration. "But I remember that Bella had been trying to talk to me that morning, though, I'd been in a hurry to leave."

"Well, she was pretty upset when the door closed after you. I'm not going to repeat the words she called you." A smile played on Tanya's lips. "I swear, I'd never heard anyone talk to you…or about you…like Bella, and still be around the next day."

Edward laughed. "Haven't you figured it out, Tanya? Bella's got me wrapped around her little finger. And this evening?"

Tanya shook her head, shrugging. "Bella left a few minutes after you went to work, this morning. I thought she was going to the bar, but she returned a couple of hours later. She looked shaken, but somewhat more relaxed than in the past couple of months. She's been distracted the whole day. When Felix called to say you'd be home late, she cried out in anger, calling you another colorful name, before storming out. Not long later, her friend showed up. I told her, you might be upset when you returned and found out where she's gone."

"Do I want to know what she told you?" Edward asked, amused.

"I'm going to quote her 'Tell him to go to hell…and never return,' end quote."

Edward choked on his next bite. He hadn't expected anything so harsh. His eyes met Tanya's again. "Do you think what I think…that she might be…" He left the words hanging, afraid to say his theory out loud.

The idea of Bella being pregnant thrilled him, yet, it terrified him.

"I don't know what to think, Mr. Cullen. It might be that." Her voice was soft.

"I'm going to talk to her. Please, store away the lasagna. I might find it delicious, but Bella didn't seem to share my opinion when we came home."

"Of course."

Edward found Bella in the bedroom wearing one of his shirts, for which he was grateful. He'd hated seeing her dressed in another man's clothes.

She was sitting on top of the bed with a pillow on her lap.

Edward sat at her side, covering her fingers over the pillow. "Hey, you know you can tell me anything."

Bella chewed on her lip, anxiety radiating from her every pore. If Edward's theory was right, her reaction proved it correct.

"Bella," he coaxed.

"You said you have to tell me something," she mumbled.

A smile tugged at his lips. "So, I'll show you mine, and then you show me yours?" he teased.

A giggle escaped her lips, as her fingers curled around his.

"I was late because I went by my parents' house," Edward started. Bella met his eyes, her anxiety multiplying. "Rose and Emmett were invited there, too." Edward didn't allow Bella much to overthink his words. "I told them."

"Oh, God! Why?" she moaned.

"You know this is what I've been thinking about for months."

"Yeah, but…" She squeezed his hands, rubbing her thumb over the top of his hand. "How did they take it?"

"Surprisingly well."

"So, no one is upset about the news?" she asked, incredulously. Her eyes searched his, probably seeing his guarded look.

"Mom might need some time to wrap her head around this," he admitted in a small voice. "But Dad was surprisingly supportive. Rose figured out exactly what I was trying to say, connecting my story to the time I'd been in the hospital in college."

"What did you tell them, anyway?" Her brows creased in worry.

"Just the gist of it – how I discovered this lifestyle in college and the reason why I never had a girlfriend, because they were all my Subs."

"Jesus, Edward!"

"It's not like either you or Jasper have been a real help in making me find the perfect speech. I was going with the wind."

"No wonder you scared poor Esme!"

"Like Dad said, she'll come around. Now, your turn."

"Did you tell them…about us?"

"They figured it out. That's probably when Mom stopped thinking rationally." Edward scooted closer. "Bella, tell me what's going on. I know we haven't had the time to sit down and talk in months, busy with my travelling and with the wedding, but I can tell something's bothering you."

"I think everyone noticed it."

"Yeah, Tanya just caught me up to speed to what an asshole I've been."

Bella's wet, brown eyes met his. "No! It's me, who's a mess."

Edward decided to save her the trouble of finding the right words. He was pretty certain he knew exactly what was going on.

"Look, I know," he said softly, catching her chin between two fingers. "When did you find out?"

"How?" Bella gasped, paling.

"I don't have to be a genius to figure it out, Bella. Besides, everything that Tanya told me, seeing you like that at Black's house, and Dad telling me how he'd seen you at the hospital earlier today…it all makes sense. Don't forget, I've been here once before," he added quietly.

A sob caught in her throat, and she threw her arms around his neck. "I don't know how this happened!"

"Should I demonstrate to you how it happened?" he joked, stroking her back. "I'm pretty sure it involved both of us naked, doing the oldest of dances."

"Shut up, you!" A mad giggle exploded from her lips. Bella pulled away to wipe at her eyes.

Edward cupped her wet cheek, leaning to kiss her. "When did you find out?" he repeated.

"For sure? This morning."

Edward understood why she'd been so upset. Bella had probably planned to tell him over dinner, the only time they actually had for themselves lately.

"I'm sorry, baby. I should have seen you weren't feeling well lately," he whispered against her lips. "I've got one more trip planned, to Boston, for next week, then you'll get sick of me."

"Don't mention the word 'sick'," she groaned, pressing her forehead against his shoulder. "I'm nauseous all the fucking time."

Edward hugged her tightly, choosing his words carefully. He knew how Bella felt about babies. "Is this what you want?"

"It's too late to make any decision."

"What do you mean?" He pulled away, staring at her, confused.

"I'm thirteen weeks along, close to fourteen, actually. I've been thinking about how did it happen, and it might have been on Christmas holiday during the trip? I had alcohol around that time, which might have messed up the pills. I don't have any other explanation."

"And you didn't think to go to the doctors until now? Or tell me?"

"My period came in January and February…a little and for only a couple of days. The doctor I saw today told me that happened in some cases. But my mood swings and how overly emotional I got over stuff that didn't usually bother me, made me think I had a serious case of PMSing." She threw him a grin, sniffing loudly. "Things started hinting at this last month when my period never came. I never told you, but the reason I've been avoiding you in the morning is because your cologne had me kneeling in front of the toilet."

"Christ! We've fucked this up."

Bella swallowed hard. "Don't worry. Now, we both know what's going on."

"Again, is it something you want?"

"It hasn't sunk in yet. You know this is something I never wanted, but from the moment we both agreed babies were off the list, I knew that I wouldn't mind if it happened with you. Besides, we've babysat Cynthia and Elliott and Ruby so much, we'll ace this shit!"

Edward laughed loudly. "I'm pretty sure it's different."

"Check with me in a few days or weeks or months…when I'll finally grasp what's going on," she said, amused.

"Thirteen weeks? That means we know what it is?" He frowned, trying to remember at what stage you could tell the sex.

Edward realized he was in shock over the news, too, since he hadn't acted quite as required. But Bella wasn't overly excited, either.

He might need to talk to Jasper about this, prepare himself for how the news might make him overreact when it came to Bella's safety. Edward already planned on talking to her about spending less time at work.

Like Jasper had told him some time ago: not every success ended in failure, happiness didn't necessarily end in tragedy – there was always life after what Edward believed to be the end.

"On the next appointment, which is in two weeks."

A thought occurred to Edward. "Oh, no! Will you be allowed to fly? We might have to rethink the honeymoon."

"We'll have to ask. I'm as much in the dark regarding this, as you." Bella smirked, catching his eye. "So, we're flying?"

"That's all you get to know." He kissed her brow.

"Are we on for dinner at your parents' house tomorrow?"

"I haven't been kicked out yet," he joked. "I hope that seeing us tomorrow…in a new light, let's say…it will help them understand that we're not different than them."

"Until we close the bedroom door," she giggled.

"What happens in our bedroom, stays in our bedroom," Edward chuckled. "Are you tired?"

"Not exactly. I've been all over the place today," she admitted. "If you're tired, don't mind me. I've got a date with my favorite fictional character." She pointed to the book on the bedside table.

Edward rolled her eyes. Bella had found the longest series on earth, probably, and she was making her way through them. It didn't help that she'd coerced Alice into joining the fan club, and whenever they got together, it was all they talked about.

Thoughts?

There are two more chapters before we're starting with the outtakes. I'll post them as chapters after the Epilogue.

Let me know if you'd like them as a separate entity. I won't mind creating a new story just for the outtakes - there are quite a few :)

PS: If you follow Illicit Affair, I'll see you tomorrow for the update.

Reviews are love.