Edward's POV
Driving through the streets of Forks, I was concentrating on the road and listening to the radio. My concentration wasn't necessary since I knew these roads like the back of my hand. But it provided me with peace of mind.
It gave me a reason not to not think about everything that happened at Charlie's house. Which was why my mind was unnecessarily focused on my driving. While my eyes were intently on the road, paying too much attention to every twist and turn.
Halfway through town the song Driver's License came on, blaring through my speakers. It was a sad song that made everything seem worse. I glared at my touch screen radio for a moment. To say the song – which was a favorite of Bella's – offended me at the moment, was a complete understatement.
Not wanting to hear Olivia Rodrigo sing the rest of that depressing song, I shut off the radio with a flick of my finger. Immediately my car was very quiet. It was an eerie sound.
Without anyone to talk to or the sound of background noise to keep me from thinking, my mind began to wander. Going to something that confused the hell out of me. It was something small, maybe even insignificant, nevertheless, I couldn't shake it from my memory. It kept creeping into the forefront of my mind, nagging at me and I wasn't sure why.
It was the memory of Bella scent. It seemed off somehow. She was pregnant and scents changed, but that wasn't it.
I had noticed the day before she asked me to toss out the Easy Mac and Cheese that she smelled a bit different. Her scent wasn't as sweet as I thought it should be – as sweet as it had been when she was carrying Lizzy. Back then, her fragrance was a very pleasant mixture of hers and mine, with a faint sugar cookie scent that was all Lizzy's. Bella had smelled pregnant then, there was no doubt about that.
However, this time around I hadn't picked up my scent or the new babies. Just Bella's. Though she smelled weird, kinda. Somehow she smelled a little less human and I wasn't sure why. It was very odd and didn't make any sense to me.
Not knowing what to make of Bella's new scent that I assumed was from pregnancy, I began to concentrate less on that and more on other things. My thoughts shifted and so did the focus of my worries, going to everything I was trying to avoid. Back to when words were said, and emotions ran deep. Back to when I was inside Bella's bedroom.
While I packed, Charlie spoke to Bella in the kitchen. He wanted her to understand that he wasn't kicking anyone out, not really. After all, my permanent residence was my parents' house – that was on my driver's license and school records – not his address. And under no circumstances was he hoping to send her packing due to an unplanned teenage pregnancy. That was something he said, he would never do.
His voice wasn't always even, sometimes very shaky and broke in the middle of his apology. I gathered he was afraid he would say the wrong thing and give Bella reason to not speak to him for a while. I doubted she would avoid talking to him for very long since they were very close, but he seemed to be fearful of that.
While he and Bella spoke, she had been very emotional. Her pregnancy mood swings were clearly visible. She ended up crying several times and even unleashed her temper. She yelled, cried, broke a coffee mug for good measure, said some things that were on her mind, and apologized, then cried some more.
I wasn't familiar with Bella's temper; in the whole duration we had been a couple I never heard her shout at anyone the way she did her father. Nor had I ever witnessed her break any objects in anger the way she did that morning. Which was why I had flinched a few times when she yelled. Her hollering was a bit frightening to hear. Though thankfully Charlie was able to talk her into a claimer state of mind as she ended up crying and apologizing again.
He had been holding on to his professional demeanor while I was trying to figure out why Bella was very temperamental.
Charlie seemed to chalk up her emotional side to pregnancy and I thought that too, to a certain extent. But if I was being completely honest with myself, something wasn't right. It was a lot like her scent, something was off about Bella. But what?
Bella hadn't been extremely moody when she was pregnant with Lizzy. She was more outspoken and very opinionated during that time. However, she never became angry at the drop of a hat. She had never cried one minute, and the next, having a full meltdown and breaking things.
In a way, the difference between her moods from her first pregnancy and this one was unsettling. I wasn't sure why, but it reminded me of a newborn vampire's temperament much more than a pregnant woman's mood swings.
Strange.
Not knowing what to make of that and not wanting to think about how angry my sweet Bella could get. I changed my thoughts, thinking back to when I was still in Bella's room, making sure I had everything out of the closet. I had been doing my best not to eavesdrop, not focusing on what they were saying. However, my mind was tuned into Charlie's whether I liked it or not. His thoughts were a mess and practically unreadable, so I didn't catch much of his unspoken words. Though I caught the love and concern he had for Bella.
I also caught his regret of working long hours. It wasn't clear but I believed he was feeling like a bad father. That somehow me and Bella having another baby while still in high school was due to his lack of parenting.
That last part, I really didn't understand. Everything was my fault not his. I didn't know why he would place the blame on himself.
By the time my side of the dresser was cleared out, I felt like a horrible person.
If it hadn't been for my stupid mistake of how Charlie found out about this pregnancy, he wouldn't have blown up at us. Nor would I have been asked to leave. Everything would have stayed the same and he would have had nothing to apologize to Bella about and she wouldn't have been upset.
By the time my belongings were packed their talk was done, Bella came up to her room to discuss some stuff with me. Her odd scent swirled around me as we sat on her bed and talked for a while.
In her room with her father downstairs - he was in the living room waiting for me to leave - things were decided. Bella came to the conclusion that it was best for her to stay, while I could not. There were many reasons for that, and I agreed to all of them. After all, our main reason for this was Lizzy; it was best not to uproot our daughter over my stupidity. Of course, Bella didn't put it that way.
Neither Bella nor I wanted to be without each other, that was for sure. Nor did I want to be without Lizzy. However, Bella and I made a choice and a few sacrifices along the way.
We knew it wouldn't be easy, and in a way that bothered me. Nothing was ever easy. It wasn't supposed to be, that was life. It wasn't always simple or fair no matter how we wished otherwise. But was living without the love of my existence and our daughter the right thing to do? I sure hope so.
I made it to the turn off on the long drive that led to my parents' house when my memories of the morning's events faded out. Reality began to sink in. I had never been away from Lizzy since she was born - other than going on hunting trips. This wouldn't be easy and maybe even difficult, it would definitely take some adjustment. More for me than my daughter, I hopped.
She was so little and needed to be with her mother. So, our arrangement was that she would live with Bella until we were able to afford our own place. Of course, I would see my girls daily, though I would miss them terribly when I was away.
"It's only temporary," I said to myself as I drove.
That was true. It was not permanent. Going back to living in separate houses – the way we had done before we became parents – was not a permanent arrangement. It was only until I was able to provide for my little family. But how would I make a living? I didn't know.
I was one-hundred-and-twenty-one-years-old in the vampire years. With that age alone, it seemed I should have everything figured out. That I should know everything there was to know about life, and I guess most people would believe that. However, that wasn't the case.
Despite the number of years I'd been alive, underneath it all, I was still seventeen. I was immature, often acting on impulse instead of reason. There were mistakes I made even though I didn't wish to. They were often simple mistakes that a mature adult wouldn't make. But I did. All because I didn't always think everything through.
Being seventeen, I wasn't really sure about long term goals or career paths. It may seem like a cliche, but more often than not I couldn't see past Friday night.
Maybe that was due to the age I was turned at. Or maybe it had something to do with being the youngest in my family. Everyone always made sure I was taken care of, especially after I came down with the flu in 1918 and had to be turned.
Among my brothers and their wives, I was the only one of my siblings who never worked. Ever. Nor did I ever live away from my parents as all of my siblings had and currently did. I was the only one that still had a room at my parents' house, everyone else had a job and lived on their own with their spouse.
My existence was spent repeating high school and going to college - being a forever kid - and not thinking much about life. It became boring at times, but it was all I ever knew.
There was never any need for me to get a job or a place of my own. My parents lived a comfortable life, never worrying about money and always provided for me. Not only did my parents accumulate money over the years, but once Jasper married Alice, we came into more money. She knew what stocks our parents should invest in, which made us very, very, very rich.
Truthfully there was never any real need for any of us kids to work. Though our parents thought otherwise and had a family rule that everyone over the legal age of adulthood needed a job. That rule never applied to me since I was frozen as a minor. I had the option to get an after-school job if I wished but never had the motivation to do so. Why would I? Mom and dad always made sure I had more than I could ever want. Plus, I had always been given an allowance that increased when Lizzy was born.
Having a job was never mandatory for me, aside when Lizzy was born, then dad said I needed to start looking for employment. Though that had felt more like a suggestion instead of a demand, probably because my parents never made me work before. So, I took my time looking for a job. After all, I knew my parents would take care of me, they always had.
In a way that made me spoiled, I think. It also made me comfortable and set in my ways. Much more than any of my siblings, because all of them were no strangers to working like I was. Though, now I needed to come out of my comfort zone and actually look for a job and eventually, a house for Bella, our children, and myself.
Already home, I pulled into the large garage and parked next to my favorite car, my Vanquish. In no time at all I was out of my SUV, grabbing my two duffel bags and backpack out of the trunk. Shutting the trunk and walking further into the garage, I took quick notice that both of my parents' cars were there.
Seeing my father's car was surprising, I had expected him to be at the hospital. He normally didn't take the day off, but for whatever reason he was home today. Well, in a way that was better than just my mother being home. I would be able to speak to both of my parents sooner rather than later.
Walking out of the garage and up the short walk that led to the front door, I heard my father's thoughts and saw him on the porch. He had tools scattered about, along with a large Amazon box next to him. He was occupied with installing what appeared to be a doorbell, but not too busy to greet me.
"Edward," he said cheerfully, with a screwdriver in his hand. Instantly he noticed my peculiar Minecraft outfit and his thoughts began to change, from a casual greeting to playful teasing. 'Interesting outfit choice, Son.'
"It is." I agreed in a dull tone. "Not my first choice in clothing, I must admit. But I'm sure Emmett's very enthusiastic that I'm wearing these."
I was sure of that. Just as I was certain Alice had seen me wearing these strange clothes in a vision and had informed Emmett. Because he had texted me seconds after I left Bella's, saying it was about time I got my Minecraft on, whatever that meant. He then asked if I'd want a matching hoodie and socks with Pokémon characters on them. Or Pickle Rick boxers, socks, and a beanie because he wanted to provide me with more character clothing.
Utterly ridiculous. I made no effort to reply.
"Wearing character clothes is a one-time deal." I said matter-of-factly. My words were more for myself than for my father.
Dad laughed. I didn't.
I wasn't in a laughing mood, no matter how silly my outfit was. I just couldn't feel anything other than uncertainty and anxiety.
Dad made a mental note of my mood and changed the subject.
"Since I've been working so much, not to mention putting in quite a bit of overtime these last few weeks. I finally took the day off." He began, looking at the old doorbell he was preparing to remove. 'It was your mother's idea for me to stay home. So, is replacing the doorbell.'
"Making some home improvements in your free time. That's always fun." I said the first thing that came to my mind.
'Yes. I'm upgrading our house with a doorbell and camera system. I also bought your mother an Alexa and programmed it to turn on the lights and such. Got to keep up with the times.' He grinned, happy with his upgrades.
Not having much to say, I gave one tight nod in acknowledgement.
"I have to admit, I wasn't expecting to see you this early." He said, hoping to get more of a response out of me than nodding my head. "I wasn't aware you would be picking up Lizzy this early."
"I'm not here for that." I said, my voice lower than normal.
'You're not?' He silently questioned.
I sighed and shook my head no. Lizzy was staying with me until the evening. It's what Bella thought was best, and I complied. However, I didn't have the energy to say that. Or even to explain to my father why I was home.
Upon my silent answer to my father's unspoken question, he noticed my luggage. Everything I once kept at Bella's was now in the bags I held. It was obvious I was coming back home.
From the filter of his mind, I saw myself take a long, deep breath. I stood with my back pressed against the wall, soaking in my melancholy mood. He quickly picked up on my uneasy vibe and became concerned. His mind was reeling with questions and speculations.
"Son, did something happen between you and Bella?" He asked. In his mind, he was fearing she and I had a fight and broke up.
His worries were far off the mark though I understood why he would think those things. Bella and I were normally together all the time, and now I was alone. Not to mention, I had my belongings slung over my shoulder, ready to stay.
I had to admit, with my sorrowful mood and my bags - as full as they were - slung over my shoulder, I looked like a man who received the boot from his girlfriend. Thankfully, that was not the case. Bella and I were still in a strong relationship.
Dad's golden eyes were intently on me. He was waiting for an answer.
Another sigh, another shake of my head, telling him no without saying a word.
Giving a nonverbal answer was a lot easier than speaking. However, this did not curb my father's worries. If anything, it made him fret even more.
His thoughts went from bad to worse. Where he was once fearing the possibility of a breakup, he was now thinking of horrible possibilities about Bella's wellbeing, that might be the reason why I returned home alone.
Several different things crossed his mind all at once: a werewolf running on his hind legs, causing mayhem and running off with a young woman, in London a few centuries ago. More recently, an older woman in the ER with an infected spider bite on her neck. A rogue zombie in Sweden attacking tourists in the seventeenth century. A medical chart from the 1970's, showing an unlucky person who was bathing before work, got soap in their eyes, moved the wrong way and became tangled up in a shower curtain. This person ended up falling on the floor and ended up with a few broken limbs and a concussion.
For a brief moment, I was caught up in these strange images of my father's mind. Somewhere from his time served on the Volturi, where others were from his time as a doctor working in the emergency ward.
Figures danced across in his memory, flashing from bright to dark and back again. Scenes changed and now he was thinking of an old news story we saw on our black and white TV many years ago. The possible abduction of a sleepwalking child who wandered outside one night. The child was found, but not alive.
It had been a heartbreaking story and now a father myself, I couldn't bear to hear about anything of that nature, even an old secondhand memory.
I cringed. Dad noticed and apologized.
He shook his head and quickly changed his thoughts. Some of what was going through his mind was supernatural mishaps, while others were just freak accidents. All of which he believed had the potential to happen to Bella. After all, she didn't merely attract danger, she courted it. Literally.
His mind was now on a recent patient of his, who cut off a finger slicing an onion. A second passed and a new image replaced the old. Another medical file made its way from his mind to mine. This time it was of a teen who burnt the left side of his body trying to strain broccoli.
Dad's memories did not stop there. His thoughts were changing fast, all about various cooking accidents. Possibly because he was aware of Bella's clumsiness, as well as her love for preparing food.
"Edward, did something happen to Bella?" His voice trembled, dreading to ask anything more. A thought of the ICU unit crossed his mind.
Not giving an answer I stared at him, expressionless. Did I look that bad? Was it possible that my anxiety gave me the appearance of someone who's loved one was hospitalized? Did I seem to be in grief?
"How bad is she hurt?" He didn't wait for me to respond. He was now picturing her in a hospital bed, hooked up to life support, basically on her deathbed.
"No, Dad, she's not injured." I spoke fast, shaking my head. "She's safe at her house."
"Bella's not hurt. She's, okay?" He checked.
"She's not injured." I said once more.
For some reason I couldn't bring myself to say she was okay. Maybe that had to do with knowing the truth; she wasn't alright. Not in the emotional scene at least.
"She's fine?" He asked, sounding a bit more relaxed.
I fell silent, not knowing what to say next. I stood there as motionless as a statue while my father looked at me. He was analyzing me, trying to figure out what was wrong.
"Bella isn't injured. She's safe at home while you are here. Nothing happened to end your and her relationship, though you didn't come to get Lizzy. But you brought your belongings and plan to stay." He spoke out loud, trying to piece everything together. "Is that right?"
"Correct." I gave a one-word answer.
My spoken words swirled in my father's mind. He couldn't make the connection of what was wrong. Though he knew something was definitely not right.
'Son, is it fair to say you are not having an easy day?' He chose to communicate in his thoughts rather than out loud, in hopes to get more of a response from me.
Not feeling like speaking, I nodded my head in agreement.
'Whatever is going on, you can always tell me.' His "voice" was full of compassion.
Of course, I knew that. He was my father, the man who raised me and shaped me into who I was. I knew I could tell him anything without judgment. But would he take this news better than Charlie did? I sure hope so.
"I need to talk to you and mom together." I whispered.
The thing that was on my mind - what I needed to say would definitely not be easy and was better if I killed two birds with one stone. Telling them at the exact same time would be best.
I knew this wouldn't be easy, no one said it would be.
The first time admitting to my parents that I got Bella pregnant due to faulty birth control, was difficult. They took the news of a teen pregnancy no differently than most parents would, they were not thrilled. It didn't matter that I was a vampire who lived for many years, I was still and would be forever seventeen. Not to mention in their eyes, I was still their baby.
'This doesn't look like good news. I wonder what's going on.' My father pondered to himself. He was preparing for the worst but hoping for the best.
Since his thoughts weren't spoken out loud, I chose not to reply. Though I did ask where my mother was. I wanted to get this over with as soon as possible.
"Your mother's inside with Lizzy." Dad put the screwdriver down. "Let's go find her. Shall we?"
"Let's," I agreed, hoping I would be able to find the right words for what needed to be said.
In one quick move he opened the door and walked inside. I followed behind, placing my stuff in the living room on the loveseat. Eventually I would take my belongings to my room and put them away. But first, I must tell my parents the truth. The reason why I would no longer be at Charlie's house at nightfall.