"Two?" Rosalie shouts in shock.
"Twins," the doctor nods, "can you see the two sacks on the monitor?"
He's talking to me. But I'm unable to answer.
I am in total shock.
"How far along is she?" Rosalie asks.
"Not far," the doctor shakes their head, "about eight or so weeks. You passed out due to stress - it's why you missed your period."
I hadn't even noticed that.
"You have to move back with me. You can't be alone with this," Rosalie looks at me.
"No father?" The doctor asks.
It isn't judgemental. It's innocent. But it still stings.
"He's in space," I answer.
It sounds ridiculous as I say it.
"He works as an astronaut," Rosalie clarifies, "he'll be there for another five months."
"Well he'll be coming home to a beautiful surprise," the doctor smiles, "you would be almost ready to pop by the time he returns."
"How do I tell him when he won't even contact me?" I ask as we get into my car.
"We'll have to get him to. This is different," Rosalie huffs, "I can't believe I'm going to be Aunty."
"What about Emmett?" I ask shocked.
"Oh, he cancelled visiting. He'll just come again when I'm home," Rosalie shrugs.
"No. Oh. Bring them here," I suggest, "Cooper would have more fun here anyway. Emmett might be able to get me connected to Edward."
"Great idea," she nods.
"He is going to hate me," I sigh leaning my head on the wheel, "he'll think I am trapping him or this is for a story."
"For the job you quit?" Rose scoffs, "if you were after a story you would have stayed employed."
She has a point.
"Two babies," I say incredulously.
"You'll make an amazing momma bear," Rosalie pats my shoulder, "I will be here every step of the way, Bella. I promise you."
"I would… we would be lost without you," I place a hand on my stomach.
"The four musketeers," she winks at me, "I can't wait to cuddle them!"
"I know I should feel ashamed. I should be scared," I say, "I'm barely making enough to keep a roof over my head and now I have two more mouths."
"Come back and live with me," she insists, "we'll find you more copywriting jobs and you can have my full support. I'll be there for doctor office visits and most importantly when they're ready to come out."
"You can't put your life on hold," I shake my head, "what if in nine months you want to take the next steps with Emmett."
"Then he will need to be okay with the fact that a step with him doesn't mean a step away from you," she shrugs, "you're my soul mate too."
I take her hand in mine and kiss the back of it.
"You have this," she smiles at me, "they'll be beautiful, kind and strong like you."
"And with your influence they'll kick ass," I giggle.
"You bloody bet," she laughs loudly.
Emmett agrees to fly to Forks with Cooper. Thankfully he asks zero questions.
Cooper springs at me upon seeing me, but then retracts shyly to Emmett almost immediately once he spots Rose.
"I'll leave you guys for a bit," I say, "I have some stuff to do in the kitchen."
This was private. Their first real glimpse at what a family might mean for the three of them.
I give Emmett a kiss on the cheek before fleeing.
Sitting down at the small kitchen table I had installed to replace Dad's favourite place in the house, I pull the scans out once again. I stare down at them amazed.
I'm suddenly letting myself feel anticipation.
What will they look like? Will they be both girls or boys? Or both! Will they have my eyes and his smile?
Then the hard questions.
What if he doesn't want them?
Rosalie ducks her head into the kitchen and smiles at me.
"Cooper has found the TV," she says, "I told Emmett you need to talk with Edward."
Emmett follows his girlfriend into the room, immediately taking in the ultrasound pictures. He pauses in shock.
"Is that…" he begins.
"Edward's?" I interrupt.
He looks at me speechless. I simply nod.
"They're going to be here in a little under seven months," Rosalie says, "so Bella needs to contact Edward. She wants to do this right. Even though he doesn't deserve a minute of her time."
"They… there's more than one?" He takes a scan from the table.
"Twins," I nod.
"Two," he smiles slightly, "wow. Congratulations Bella."
It's not the reaction I expected. Emmett had truly been on my team since that day Edward ignored my profession. He'd called his brother, screamed at him, told him he was making the biggest mistake of his life. He'd called to check in regularly and allowed Cooper to send me drawings regularly. Alice had also checked in a few times. Sending postcards from her honeymoon, and calling to apologise for her brother.
She too thought he was being unfair.
"I can try call him," Emmett nods, "like a FaceTime thing. If he doesn't answer he will call back."
"Oh I need to work up courage first," I laugh nervously.
"You are the strongest person I know," he waves at me smiling, "we're here for you. Both of us."
"Okay," I nod, smiling at Rose takes a seat beside me, taking my hand in hers.
Emmett pulls out his phone and hits FaceTime to a weird looking number. I watch it ring anxiously. Thankfully he doesn't pick up.
Rosalie and I both let out a shaky breath.
"Thank god," I mutter.
"Oh, he's calling," Emmett says, answering.
"Shit," I mouth to Rose.
"It's okay," she nods.
"Brother," Edward says, "what's happening? Is my nephew wanting another tour. I've given him four already."
"No man. Look, don't get mad at me okay," he says, "but you need to speak to a certain someone."
Edward is quiet. Contemplating what Emmett said.
"You need to grow up, put your big astronaut pants on and listen carefully," Emmett says, "are you seated?"
"There's no gravity," Rosalie says.
"I'm in bed," Edward says, "I'm strapped in."
"Are you going to sleep or waking up?" Emmett asks.
"Waking up. I'm about to get ready for breakfast," he says, "today is my off day."
"Great. Then you'll have time to process this," he says.
Then suddenly the phone is in my hand. Rosalie's arm is wrapped around my back, she's pulled in right beside me, but she isn't in frame.
"Hey," my voice cracks.
"Bella," he says awkwardly.
He's trying a smile, but it doesn't meet his eyes.
"How are things up there?" I ask.
"They're okay," he nods, "I'm settling in."
"Oh. Great," I say.
"I heard your father is sick," he says suddenly, "I hope he is doing better."
I bite back anger. He knew my dad was sick before he left but he was too proud to call and check on me.
"He's fine," I nod.
"Emmett said you needed to talk," he says.
"Yep. I know your mind will string together a narrative I can't control, but it's black and white on my end," I say.
He looks at me concerned.
"I'm just going to spit it out because these are the hardest words I'll ever say," I sigh, "I'm pregnant."
For a moment I think the phone has frozen. His face lacks any expression. It's just blank.
"Pregnant?" he asks softly.
"There's more," I say, "there's two. I'm pregnant with twins."
"Shit," he mutters, "two babies."
Rosalie rubs my back in small circles.
"I don't really know what to think," he says.
"You don't need to make decisions," I say, "I want to see it through. I've had a little time to think it over and I'm prepared to take it all on. You're welcome to do what you want to do, but I want my cards on the table."
"How far along are you?" he asks.
"Eight weeks. It would have been that first time in the hotel."
"I'll be home for them," he nods, "I promise."
His sincerity shocks me.
"I need to go... but I'll call you later, okay?" he says.
I look up to Emmett who nods reassuringly.
"I'll talk to soon," he says, "It's going to be okay."
"You're not angry?" I ask shocked.
"I'm shocked. I'm not angry," he says, "I'm not sure the exact time I can call, but when I do be alone? I have a lot I need to say to you."
Thank you so much for reading. Please drop me a review if you enjoyed.