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I hope you all are enjoying the last bash before fall. I don't have a lot to say so I will just shut up and post the chapter.

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Labor Day 2

"Look who finally decided to make an appearance," Jake grinned, sitting back on the couch, he propped his feet on the coffee table. "I thought we were going to have to come up there and drag you guys out of that bed."

Bella's cheeks flushed as Jake wiggled his eyebrows in her direction. Walking through the living room, she knocked his feet off the table. "Shut up, Jake. When you and Neal first started dating we didn't even know what he looked like. How often did we get to see his pretty face? Almost never."

"We had business to attend to," he laughed, grabbing Bella's hand, he pulled her toward him. "I swear you get bigger every day. I so can't wait to meet them."

"Me either." Sitting on the edge of the couch, Bella passed him a half-smile. "I'm so freaking nervous."

"Why?" Jake's hand smoothed over Bella's belly. It amazed him there were actually human beings baking in Bella's stomach. When one of the babies shifted, creating a hard little ball, his gaze twinkled back at her. "I wonder if that is a head or a butt."

Bella stretched trying to ease the baby balled up against her ribs. "Do you have any idea how uncomfortable that is? Whenever they tense up like that, it feels like a boulder in my abdomen. It's very weird." Smacking Jake's hand away, she rubbed at the swell until the tension eased. "Edward's parents are coming, and Charlie will be here anytime. What if they don't like me?"

Jake rubbed her back in an effort to comfort her. "I don't see why they wouldn't like you. You are beautiful, sweet and the mother of their grandchildren. How can they not?"

"I don't know. Normally, you meet the parents before having their grandbabies. It's sort of out of order here," Bella stood up and began pacing. She shot a few glances toward the staircase to make sure Edward wasn't coming. "I know it's stupid, but sometimes I wonder if he would've made the same decisions if it hadn't been for the babies. Ya know. Would he be here? Or still in Indy? Would he have chosen to be with me if … if … you know."

"If you hadn't gotten pregnant?" Jake supplied, his gaze immediately darting to her belly. "Honestly, Bells, I personally think he would have chosen you even without the babies. Just because you are pregnant doesn't mean he had to give up everything and come here. He could've been like seventy percent of men and dealt with it through a lawyer or avoidance. He didn't do either of those things."

Bella smiled softly. "I hope you're right because I think … Well, I know, I am falling in love with him. I just want him to feel the same way."

"Shut up," Jake's eyes widened and he shook his head in disbelief. "That guy looks at you like you hung the moon. There's no way the feelings are one-sided. It's true. I didn't care for him very much while he was in and out, but he has really stepped up. And I think you two are good for each other. He's not as bad as I thought he would be."

A creak overhead drew Bella's attention to the stairs. As soon as she saw Edward jogging down the staircase, her heart did a flip before resuming its beat. A wave of warmth spread throughout her chest when their eyes collided, and that same heady awareness crackled between them.

What she loved more than that sparkle in his grayish-blue eyes, was the way he came right to her, wrapping an arm around her waist and dropping a kiss to the tip of her nose. "Alice ran to the grocery store to pick up more pop and some burgers. I should go start setting up the backyard. Dad just messaged and said they are twenty minutes away."

"Wonderful," Bella mumbled, her hand sliding down his abdomen, as another splash of nerves darted through her. "I set a tablecloth on the counter for the picnic table in the back. And the grilling utensils are on top of them."

"Hey, Jake," he waved absently, his main and only focus on the woman before him. Edward dropped another kiss on her forehead with a nod. "Okay, I will get everything out there. Do you have a cooler for ice?"

"Yes, it's already out back on the porch. Emmett put it thereafter he and Rose went to the lake yesterday. Make sure he didn't put fish in it, I told him not to, but …" As Edward would've stepped away from her, she looked down at the jeans molded to his ass. Unable to help herself, she swatted his backside. "Did I tell you how good you look in denim?"

He flashed her a knowing smile as he pointed toward the backyard. "I gotta go before I take you right back upstairs." Turning backward he walked, his eyes never wavering from hers. His eyebrows lifted with suggestion. "Stop looking at me like that."

"Like what?" Bella asked innocently, batting her lashes.

"Like you want to eat me alive," he informed, his straight teeth making an appearance. With a great deal of effort, he forced himself to turn around and keep going.

He was just stepping out onto the back porch when Alice pulled into the parking spot and cut her engine. He crossed the freshly mowed lawn to her car. "Need some help?"

Alice smoothed some strands of hair behind her ear as she threw the car door open wide. "Yes. I bought half that damn store. I went for just a few things and walked out with two hundred dollars worth of groceries."

Edward lifted the trunk and piled bag after bag on his arm. "You never did know when to quit. Sort of like those Christmas lights last year. Jesus, Alice, do you know how difficult it was putting all those lights up, was?"

"Yes, but look what it got ya," she answered, smugly. She gathered the remaining bags and followed him across the yard. "Without my help, you wouldn't have a girlfriend and two babies on the way. Sometimes there is a method to my madness."

"True," Edward agreed, pulling the screen door open for Alice to enter. "Where is your loverboy today? Are you introducing him to Mom and Dad?"

"Edward, we were on a couple of dates." Alice sat her bundle of bags on the countertop. "We're not in that place of meeting the parents yet. Plus, I don't know if we're going to keep seeing each other or not."

"Why not? I thought you guys were hitting it off." Edward plucked the items out of the bags one by one and set about putting the groceries away.

"We just …" Alice's voice trailed off as she too sorted through the contents she'd bought. Grabbing two boxes of shells and cheese, she headed toward the pantry. "We just want different things."

She slipped the boxes on the shelf before her roaming gaze landed on Edward. Mystified, she watched him closely for several quiet moments. "You've shocked the hell out of me."

Edward paused to glance at Alice, his brows drawing together. "Why?"

"You've changed so much," she smiled, walking across the kitchen, she brushed the hair off his wrinkled brow. "I never thought to see the day you put anything before work. When Bella first got pregnant, I was so worried …"

Edward picked up on the energy she was exuding. "You were worried I wouldn't step up and be here."

Alice bit her lip as guilt slipped into her expression. "I know, it's a lousy thing to think. But you never showed much interest in the whole family thing, and I'm guilty of believing you'd …"

"Bail?" Edward asked, shuffling out the back door, headed for Alice's car with her close on his heels. "Alice, it's not like I didn't want those things. A family, a girlfriend, kids … it's just I didn't really know how to have both. I still love my career, but … I-I …"

He realized he was about to voice his feelings for Bella to his sister and stopped. If he was going to tell anyone that he loved that woman, Bella would be the first one to hear them. Waving off Alice, he grabbed two cases of pop. "You were right. There are more important things than being stuck in an office all day."

Alice was right behind Edward as he delivered the pop to the porch. "What were you going to say?" When he merely shrugged, she guessed, "You were gonna say you love her, huh?"

Edward busied himself opening cases of pop and putting them into the cooler, anything to avoid Alice's snooping. "Maybe."

"Awww," she grinned, crossing the porch to give him a sideways hug. Patting his waist, she continued, "Don't be bashful. It's kind of obvious. You would've never come here to Fort Wayne, of all places unless you did. Have you told her?"

"I haven't exactly told her yet and, I would appreciate it if you kept it to yourself. The first person she should hear it from is me." Edward shot Alice a warning look, his hands coming up to rest on his hips. "I mean it, Alice. Don't be running your trap. I don't care if she is your best friend."

"I wouldn't dream of telling her. That's all on you," Alice nodded, digging in her pocket, she pulled out a fake key and sealed her lips. "I will let you know a secret Rose and I have been working on though."

Edward bent lower, his ear close to Alice's mouth when her tone dropped into a whisper. His eyebrow lifted as he waited. "What?"

"We're planning a baby shower on Halloween for her. You should see the freaking cake and decorations we ordered." Alice was so excited, she could barely contain herself. "And the best part is, we want everyone to be there. You, Jake, Emmett, Neal if he wants to. It will be the last bash before the babies come."

If anyone could plan a party of the year, it was definitely Alice, Edward thought with a laugh. He was about to say something more when the hinges on the screen door squealed and Bella stepped out of the house. Immediately, Edward left Alice standing there staring back at him when he abruptly went to Bella's side. "Hey, baby."

She kissed him back when he leaned down to press his lips against hers. Releasing a deep breath, she gave him a nervous look before biting her lip. "Dad will be here any …"

Bella's explanation was cut off when Edward's own phone rang. Digging into his back pocket, Edward lifted the cell up to see the number. Not recognizing it, he held a finger up for Bella to wait a second. "Hello?"

"Hey, man, are you busy? I know I should've called before I drove here to The Fort, but it was sort of an unexpected trip. Are you busy? I'd like to swing by and catch up."

Edward's fingers tangled with Bella's as he listened to the caller. He knew that voice, but—beat the shit out of him—he couldn't place it. "Who the hell is this?"

"Jasper, dude? I didn't think it had been that long since we talked. You already forgot all about me?"

Edward rocked back on his heels, his gaze going from Bella to Alice. "No, man, I guess I wasn't expecting to hear from you. What are you doing here in Fort Wayne?"

"I met someone on—I know, I know—online dating, and she lives here. She invited me over for a cookout with her family. Kinda nervous. I was hoping to swing by and see you for a few … maybe have a beer or two."

"Hell, I don't see why not," Edward confirmed, rattling off his address as a car pulled in. His fingers tightened around Bella's, realizing this must be her father. "Jas, come on over for a while. I have to get off here, for now, Bella's dad just pulled up."

"See you in a few, man."

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