DISCLAIMER: The characters do not belong to me…they are all the creation of the wonderful Stephenie Meyer.

Exciting Times

Edward's POV

"Edward, how much do you love me?" Bella called.

I looked up from the papers I was grading and found her smiling over the top of her book, her chocolate eyes were bright with amusement. "I don't think there are enough days, months, and years to quantify it. My love for you knows no bounds," I told her.

"Hmm."

"Why do you ask?" I questioned, moving away from the window wall and toward her.

She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth as she looked up at me. "Well, my feet sort of hurt and I was sort of hoping you would massage them for me."

I chuckled as I leaned in and kissed her lips. "I'm honored to rub the feet of the mother of my child."

Bella's entire face lit up as she smiled at my words. "I really, really love you."

I laughed as I sat on the arm of the sofa and took her feet into my hands. "I love you, too, my silly Bella."

She was so much better about asking for what she wanted these days, and it was an exciting time for the both of us as we dealt with the changes to her body and our relationship. I was learning to not be so protective and she was learning to take more precautions. And we were learning together how best to handle mood swings and Bella's heartache for her parents. Going through her items with Emmett had done her a world of good, and I was sure my mother's gift was going to help even more. She was putting the finishing touches on it and planned to give it to Bella next week during the weekly family dinner with everyone.

Bella was just entering the second trimester of her pregnancy, right at the end of week thirteen. I couldn't wait to get to week eighteen when the baby would be able to hear us—I'd already started trying to write a lullaby for him. Bella was excited for week twenty-four, when she would have proof for us all that she was carrying a boy.

That was another thing that had happened in the past few weeks…Bella had somehow gotten every single one of us to refer to the baby as a "him". But she still refused to talk about names. She said she wanted to wait to see the baby first and then she would be able to pick the perfect name for our perfect baby—her exact words and there was no arguing with her about it.

"That feels so good," Bella sighed, closing her eyes and relaxing further into the sofa. "Why does being pregnant have to take such a toll on your feet?"

"Your doctor told you that with a frame as small as yours, you're body is going to feel the affects of any extra weight."

"Sure, sure."

"Of course, it might have a bit more to do with the fact that you were walking around your classes today instead of teaching from behind your desk," I scolded her.

"How do you know that?" she blurted out, her eyes flying open at her self incrimination.

"Because I had a free period and checked in on you," I told her. "My understanding of our compromise was that you would stand only long enough to write assignments on the board."

"Yeah," she admitted, looking repentant. "I'm sorry, Edward. I had all this nervous energy today and I couldn't seem to get rid of it. Every time I sat in the chair, I started drumming my fingers on the desktop or tapping my shoes on the floor. I was disrupting my own classes!" She opened her mouth to say something else, but let out a loud groan instead. "Move your thumb back over my arch. Yeah, right there," she sighed. "I think I need new shoes."

"I think you need to follow through with what we agreed upon and sit down."

"You're going to end up strapping me to the chair if I don't, aren't you?" she asked, glaring at me.

"The thought has crossed my mind," I chuckled. "If you prefer, I could just tell Emmett that you're not taking care of yourself properly."

"You wouldn't dare!" she cried, her brown eyes wide with disbelief. The only person more protective of my pregnant wife than me was her big brother.

"If it means ensuring you and our baby are healthy and safe, there is nothing I wouldn't do," I assured her.

"Alright, I give up!" she cried, throwing her hands into the air. "I just wish you could be pregnant for one day, just one day, Edward Anthony! I would threaten you with being tied to a chair, take away your sugary snack foods, and tell you how your clothes 'appear' too tight."

"Bella, you are being amazingly absurd right now."

"What I am is tired, hot, and pregnant," she fussed, crossing her arms in front of her chest.

"Would you like me to turn down the air for you?"

Her face immediately softened. "Would you mind?"

I chuckled as I put down her feet. "Anything else while I'm up?"

"Some apple juice."

"Okay."

"With ice," she added as I opened the bedroom door.

"Juice with ice. Got it."

"And cookies!" she yelled out just as I reached the edge of the stairs.

I turned around and walked back to the doorway. "What kind of cookies?"

"Lemon."

"So you want apple juice and lemon cookies? Anything else?"

"The air turned down."

"Besides that?"

"Chicken wings."

I tried my best not to laugh, but being that I had never experienced cravings myself, I couldn't understand her desire to pair apple juice and lemon cookies with chicken wings. "What flavor?"

"Barbecue. And blue cheese on the side. But no celery," she added, her nose scrunching up in disgust.

"I almost feel as though I should have a waiter pad in my hands."

Bella smiled, ignoring my teasing. "Thank you, Edward."

"You realize I don't have chicken wings in the house, right?"

"Of course I do. Bring me the juice and cookies and then you can go get the wings."

"Alright," I chuckled, leaving the room again.

"But turn down the air first!" she yelled after me.

I chuckled again, shaking my head as I lowered the temperature on the thermostat. I headed down the stairs and into the kitchen to fix her a snack.

We had spent most of this Tuesday night in our room, both of us grading papers for our classes. It was part of a compromise I'd made with Bella. We would spend weeknights focusing on our jobs and Bella would relax on Saturdays and Sundays. So far, it seemed to be a really good compromise between us.

When I got back to the room with her snack, Bella was on the bed with her papers spread out around her. One of her hands was absentmindedly running back and forth across her stomach and she was humming softly while reading over a paper…She was absolutely breath-taking.

She looked up and smiled at me, her face radiant with her happiness. "Thank you, Edward."

I carefully set the tray over her legs and then kissed her lips. "You're welcome. I have my cell phone. Please don't hesitate to call if you think of something else you want."

"I love you."

"I love you, too," I said, kissing her again. I lowered my head and kissed the slight bulge of her stomach. "Love you, Baby."

Bella put her hand to my cheek and I lifted my head to look at her. "Hurry back. We'll miss you," she whispered, kissing me chastely.

With one last kiss to her forehead, I turned and left the room. I ran down the stairs and out to my car, wanting to complete my errand and return to Bella as soon as possible. I had never liked leaving her side, and now that she was pregnant, I found it even harder. But Bella wanted chicken wings, so it was my job to get them for her.

One thing you learned during the craving stage, it helps to have your wife's favorite eating establishments in your phone. I called the wing place she liked best and ordered her two dozen wings, knowing whatever she didn't eat tonight would get finished off tomorrow. That was the second thing you learned…It was better to have too much food than too little.

Twenty minutes later, I was home with Bella, watching a movie in our room while she happily enjoyed her dinner. We were watching Nine Months with Hugh Grant and Julianne Moore. The guy was an idiot. And the sad part was, his reaction to the news of a baby was the same as a good percentage of the male population. How on Earth any man could turn away from his child, much less the woman he loved…But maybe that was the key. Too many times, relationships had more to do with sex than love. I was blessed to have found the perfect woman and to have her love me so completely.

Once Bella was done eating, I put the tray into the corner of the room and turned out the light. I snuggled with her in the bed and before the movie credits had a chance to roll, Bella was asleep, snoring lightly. I covered her with the throw blanket from the sofa, hoping she wouldn't wake without me next to her. She'd been a little clingy the last couple of weeks, not wanting to let me out of her sight. I'd tried to get her to talk to me about it, but she just kept blaming it on her hormones. I was pretty sure she was having nightmares again and just didn't want to admit it.

I reached into my nightstand and pulled out the journal I was keeping for her. I moved over to the sofa, turned on the lamp, and started writing.

You have really been taking a toll on your mother's feet in the past few days. She was complaining again today of needing new shoes. I had to threaten to tell your Uncle Emmett just to get her to agree to sit down at school. If I haven't mentioned it before, you should know your mother can be a little bit stubborn.

We have an appointment with the doctor tomorrow and your mother is extremely excited for it. She knows we will hear your heart beating strongly inside of her and it's a sound she can't wait to experience. There's nothing more in this world I love to see than your mother truly happy. And she's always happy when she thinks of you. Your mother has always been beautiful to me, but whenever she thinks of you, she glows. I'd always thought that was just something men said to pregnant woman to make them feel better about all of the changes they go through, but I know now that it's true.

Speaking of changes…I don't know what kinds of food you're going to end up liking, but you sure are changing your mother's tastes. She ate lemon cookies today. Bella has never liked anything lemon flavored before. Next thing I know, she'll be asking me to get her bacon. Your mother and I have a mutual dislike for that particular item, just so you know.

Your Aunt Alice is having a great time planning out your nursery. At last count, she had five different sketches of what it might look like in both color schemes. And when I say sketch, I don't mean just the room. I mean the room, the furniture, the decorations, and every article of clothing she plans to stock your closet with. Your aunt has also been yelling at me to hurry up and find a house or decide to stay here with Grandma Esme and Grandpa Carlisle. I would love to get your mother a house, but I don't know that I can pull it off before you arrive. Uncle Emmett and I are making improvements to the house he and your mother grew up in, but we haven't had many offers on the house yet. Your mother doesn't want to let Grandma and Grandpa buy us a house, and I agree with her on this one. This is a big step and something we should get to do for ourselves. Things will work out for the best either way, I'm sure of that.

Your mother is stirring so I'm going to end right here so that she doesn't find out about this journal. Bella, when you read this one day, I hope you'll know just how much I love you and our baby. You both are my life.

I quickly slipped the journal back into my nightstand and joined Bella on the bed just as her eyes fluttered open. "Edward?" she called, her voice heavy with sleep.

"I'm right here, Love. Do you need something?"

She sighed and scooted closer to me, putting her arm around my waist. "Just you, Edward."

"Why don't we get you into your pajamas and call it a night?"

"I'm not in them already?"

"No, Bella," I chuckled, kissing her forehead. "You feel asleep in your regular clothes."

"Again? I'm sorry, Edward. I keep trying to stay up and spend some time with you."

"It's okay. You don't need to be worried about me. Just take care of yourself and our baby. If that means you fall asleep early, then so be it."

"But I feel like I haven't gotten to really spend any quality time with you."

"We went shopping together this past weekend," I reminded her.

"Edward, shopping is not quality time," she groaned.

I chuckled at her continued hatred of shopping. We'd had to go shopping in secret to get Bella some more maternity clothes. We'd tried to go with Jasper and Alice a couple of weeks ago, but it had ended with Bella in tears and Alice lamenting the loss of a perfectly good shopping day. Alice had much more expensive tastes than Bella, and while she wanted to dress Bella for any impromptu mother-to-be fashion shows she might come across, Bella wanted to be comfortable. After the eighth or ninth straight argument, Bella burst into tears and wouldn't come out of her dressing room stall until I went inside to get her. Jasper and I had never crossed a mall so quickly in all of our lives. Alice apologized the entire way home, and, of course, Bella forgave Alice as soon as she calmed down.

But maybe I could use her hatred of shopping to get her to agree to a quiet day at home. "Okay. What if we plan to stay in bed all day Saturday? We can talk and watch movies. Would that seem more like quality time to you?"

"No. Let's go on a picnic, Edward."

"Bella, it's February. It's too cold outside."

"Then let's go to Florida for the weekend and have our picnic there."

"You would really let me spend the money to fly us down there for one weekend?" I asked incredulously. Flying to Florida she'd be okay with, but buying maternity clothes required bribery on my part.

"No," she sighed heavily. "I just want to do something different. I don't want to shop and I don't want to sit around all day."

"We could go to the aquarium," I offered.

"And take the chance of me falling into the shark tank? No, thank you."

I chuckled at her, hugging her close. "Yes, my silly Bella, if anyone could manage that, it would be you. What else can we do? How about a museum?"

"Just not the glass one. That would end worse than the shark tank."

"Okay," I chuckled. "How does the Frye Museum sound? You love the lighting there."

"I like that idea. Let's do that."

"Can I take you to Canlis for lunch?" I asked, hoping her cravings would make her agree. Bella hardly ever let me take her anywhere fancy.

"Well…"

"Remember how much you liked their tenderloin and truffle fries when I took you for your birthday last year?"

"Why do you always want to take me expensive places? Can't we just go to Panera and put the money you would have spent toward our house fund?"

"Bella," I groaned, knowing she had just won the discussion by using the house thing against me. "Fine. We'll go somewhere simple."

"Thank you, Edward," she replied, kissing my chin. "I love that you want to lavish me with fancy things, but I really, truly only need you."

"I don't exactly agree with that statement, but it's late and you need your rest. Let's get you changed and into bed."

Bella changed into one of her new maternity pajama sets and then crawled under the covers. "I'm glad you made me get these. They're really comfortable."

"You should be comfortable, Bella. You're working hard to grow a healthy baby for us," I replied, scooting in next to her.

Bella turned on her side, pressing her back against my chest, and my hand moved to cover the small bump of her stomach. "I'm so excited for tomorrow, Edward," Bella yawned. "I want to go now."

"From that yawn of yours, I would say your body would prefer you sleep first," I murmured, pressing my lips against her soft neck. "I love you, Bella."

"I love you, Edward," she yawned, reaching back and patting my cheek. "Can we have waffles for breakfast?"

"Of course, Love," I replied, trying not to laugh. It seemed that most of Bella's thoughts were about the baby and food these days, not that I was complaining.

"We'll go see Plain Jane who doesn't stand in the rain," Bella mumbled. I didn't reply, having no idea what that was supposed to mean. I would have to ask her tomorrow and hope she remembered. I waited up long enough to be sure Bella was sleeping soundly and then I let my own self drift off for the night.

Bella woke me the next morning, shaking my shoulder and begging me to get up. Our appointment wasn't until ten-thirty, but she was too excited to keep still. And because I could deny her nothing, I got out of bed at six-fifteen, dressed quickly, and then took my beautiful wife in search of waffles for breakfast.

After breakfast—where I learned that Jane had been a waitress there and that Emmett had liked to call her Plain Jane as a joke—we headed back to the house to wait for it to be a little closer to Bella's appointment time. We found my parents sitting at the kitchen table, drinking coffee and talking quietly.

"Good morning," Bella and I greeted.

"Edward! Bella! Up so early?" my mother asked.

"Edward took me for waffles," Bella said happily, rubbing her hand over her stomach. "The baby really likes whipped cream."

"I'm sure he does," Esme chuckled as she winked at Bella. My mother knew just as well as I did that it was Bella that loved the whipped cream. The baby was just the excuse she used to not feel guilty about eating it.

"How have you been feeling, Bella?" Carlisle asked, always the doctor.

"Still kind of tired at the end of the day, but nothing too bad. My feet have been bothering me this week," Bella replied.

"It might be your shoes. A pregnant woman's feet tend to swell and if your shoes are too tight, it will make you more uncomfortable," my father explained.

"See, Edward! It might not be from me standing up," Bella said defiantly, even poking her tongue at me.

"Standing doesn't help," my father pointed out. We all chuckled at the pout that took over Bella's face at his words.

"Are you excited for your ultrasound today?" my mother asked with a huge smile.

"Esme, what are you doing this morning?" Bella questioned, her head tilting to the side just a little. I wished for the millionth time that I could understand what was going on in that beautiful head of hers.

"I'm sure you don't have anything that can't be rescheduled, Esme," my father said quickly. I wondered if he had some idea of where Bella's question would lead.

"Well, okay, then. I guess I'm doing whatever you have in mind, Bella," my mother said. "What do you have in mind?"

"You're going to get your first glimpse of your grandbaby," Bella declared happily.

My mother got up from the table and hugged Bella, tears standing in her eyes. "Oh, Bella, dear. I would love that."

Bella giggled from within my mother's arms. "It's no big deal. I just know they didn't have those sorts of things when you were pregnant with Edward and Alice, so I thought you might like to see it for yourself."

My mother pulled back, taking Bella's face into her hands and smoothing her hair away from her face. "I would love it. Thank you so much, Bella."

"No, thank you!" Bella chuckled. "It's probably a good idea to have some extra help for Edward with the way I get all moody and start crying. We're going to hear the baby's heart today and I just know I'm going to be a happy mess from it."

"Bella, you've been much calmer the past few days. I'm sure you'll be fine," I said, taking her into my arms.

"I have been a little better," she agreed, smiling up at me. "And the best part is, I haven't been sick two mornings in a row."

"Your morning sickness should be all done now that you're in your second trimester," my mother said.

"Good! I was beginning to worry it was never going to go away," Bella replied, leaning into me and resting against my chest. "I've eaten enough crackers to last a lifetime. I wonder how my mother managed to do it twice. Maybe I'll get lucky with our second baby and not have morning sickness at all."

"Second baby?" I asked curiously.

Bella looked up at me with a shy expression. "Well, yeah. I sort of imagined us with one of each, just like with Alice and you, and Emmett and me. But let's not let our first born be as bossy as Alice and Emmett were to us."

"Agreed," I chuckled, leaning down and kissing her lips softly.

"What time should I be ready to go?" my mother asked.

I replied "ten" just as Bella yelled out "nine". My parents laughed at the two of us and I just shook my head at Bella's excitement. "Love, showing up early won't make the doctor see us any sooner. If we leave at ten, we'll get there by ten-fifteen—plenty early and still time to wait."

"I know," Bella sighed. "I'm just really excited."

"It's hardly noticeable," my father teased, smiling at Bella. Bella just smiled back in reply, hugging me a little tighter.

After spending a few more minutes with my parents, Bella and I wandered over to my piano. I played her lullaby, or as she liked to call it, her "super-secret composition". I managed to convince her to pick up her guitar and play for me. It was the country song she'd made me listen to on the night she'd moved into the house. It was nice to hear her play, even if she hadn't felt up to singing for me. She said she was too excited and wouldn't be able to keep her voice steady.

After playing a few more songs for Bella, we headed into the living room to relax and wait for the time to pass. Bella stretched out on the sofa and rested her head in my lap, looking up at me and talking about everything that popped into that amazing head of hers. She started off telling me about a camping trip her family had gone on and how she'd fallen out of the canoe…twice. That somehow led her into a conversation about her favorite type of pie—apple—and how she really needed to learn to bake. And from there, my beautiful wife's mind tied some invisible string between apple pie and kangaroos. Bella informed me that one day, she and I would have to go to Australia, and while there, we would have to visit the Sydney Opera House, meet some Aborigines, and take pictures of kangaroos for Emmett. For some reason, I immediately pictured Emmett trying to lasso a kangaroo.

Bella glanced up at the clock above the television and squealed excitedly. "It's five 'til. Can we please leave now, Edward?" Between the shine in her brown eyes the way she had said "please", there was no denying her.

I smiled and leaned down, placing a light kiss on her soft lips. "Let's go, Love."

"Yeah!" Bella cheered as I helped her up from the sofa. "Esme? Are you ready?"

"I'm ready, Dear," my mother replied, walking in from the kitchen. "Oh, I wish Carlisle could have come along with us, but he had a surgery scheduled for this morning."

"Maybe next time, Mom," I said, opening the door for Bella and her. I kept Bella's hand in mine, making sure she couldn't run off and end up tripping and falling—she was too excited for her own good. "Bella, if you stop tugging on my arm, I can lock the front door faster," I told her.

"Sorry, Tutor-boy," she chuckled. "I'm excited! I want to see our baby again and hear his little heart."

Her excitement was infectious and I found myself hurrying to lock the door so we could be on our way. Hopefully, the doctor would have nothing but good things to report about Bella and the baby. These were exciting times for us both and I wanted us to enjoy them without worry—just like Emmett had told me to do.

Hello!! I sure hope you all are having a wonderful Saturday. I love this chapter because we finally start to see a bit of the Bella from LLC, full of humor and enjoying life with Edward. We are moving forward a little to get them to that happier stage. And I've decided on the drama! I really think you guys are going to like it. The source will be introduced in a few more chapters.

Just want to give a shout out to my new beta who started with this chapter. My good friend, George, has agreed to help me weave a fine story for you all. So yeah!

And if you have the time on this lovely Saturday (at least where I am), please take a moment to head over to my website and visit the October is Pink section. I've got a special little deal posted for anyone who spends the time to go over and do something to help women everywhere. The link is on my profile page.

As always, thank you all so much for reading and reviewing. It's amazing to have this human story loved so much!