Disclaimer: I don't own anything. Stephenie Meyer owns it all. I am merely having fun with her characters.

Author's Note: HUGE shout out & thank you to my beta dolphin62598 for getting these chapters back to me so quickly! And another big thanks to my pre-reader teacher1209 for reading over these and giving me her thoughts! Another BIG shout out and thank you to LunaEclipse17 for creating the kick ass banner for this story! You can check it out on my Facebook page. I also have other pics posted for this story in an album called A Lie Upon Your Lips on my Facebook page. Song Inspiration for this chapter: Out of my Head by Fastball

Chapter 14

EPOV

Out of my Head

Things could not have gone worse. A part of me wondered what exactly I was thinking would happen when I showed up unannounced at Bella's place. The other part of me just could not stop being completely relieved that Paul was no longer in the picture.

I hated making her upset. Especially being so pregnant. God she was fucking beautiful pregnant. Everything about her was glowing. She stunned me with her beauty & I had to gawk at her and take in every inch of her.

How could Paul abandon his children and leave Bella to care for them all on her own? Don't get me wrong, it made me selfishly happy but it seems to me that Paul should do the right thing at least by his children even if he did not want to be with Bella any longer. I know up until my encounter with Claire at Forks General I had been a complete asshat when it came to the subject of children, but seeing Bella with her children growing inside of her cemented my newly discovered feelings of being a father. I would be a father to children with Bella in a heartbeat if she ever gave me the chance.

Bella threw the kid stuff at me and I froze. I wanted to tell her desperately about my time spent with little Claire but I feared she would not believe me. She did not seem open to listening to anything I had to say.

What was I doing standing out here in front of her apartment pacing like a mad man? I'm sure I looked a sight pacing back and forth running my hands through my hair in frustration, practically pulling it out from the roots.

I noticed two guys go in to her building and they looked at me with disdain. I wondered if they were going to see Bella and I kept trying to decide in my head if it would be a good idea to go back up and try to say my peace with her.

The more I paced the more my heart and head kept agreeing that I needed to go back up and try to convince Bella to listen to me.

I continued to pace and think and mumble to myself as I saw two more people enter Bella's apartment building. Two women this time, very pretty, carrying four large pizzas. I also wondered if they were friends of Bella's. She did say that her friends were helping her with the nursery today. Then after a moment I realized I knew who they were. I recognized them from Bella's Facebook profile picture.

Finally after what seemed like hours of looking like a crazy man, the pacing stopped and it was as if a lightbulb went off in my clouded brain and I realized exactly what I needed to do. I needed to go back up those stairs and try to get Bella to hear me out, whether her friends were there with her or not. She had to know she would always be the one for me.

With new found resolve, I marched myself back up to Bella's apartment.

Before I could talk myself out of it, I was knocking on the door. I immediately recognized the woman who answered the door as the smaller one of the two ladies I saw bringing the pizzas into the building. A look crossed her face as if she knew exactly who I was. And if I was being honest, for as small as she was, she still came off pretty terrifying with her fierce facial expressions.

Very matter-of-factly, the tiny woman asked, "Can I help you?" I couldn't help but notice the brittle tone. Yep, pretty sure she knew my name already.

Alright, Edward…out with it already.

"I need to speak with Bella. Is she still here?"

She eyed me from head to toe, monitoring everything about me. Curtly she replied, "Yes. But you need to tell me exactly who you are! I don't just let strange men into my best friend's apartment." She finished by crossing her arms over her chest.

I smiled at how protective this tiny little thing was over my Bella.

"You're protective of her…I like that. I'm Edward…Edward Cullen. She knows me…I'm from Forks. I am just not sure she will see me…" I was not able to continue the rest of my thought as the woman in front of me cut in to my sentence.

"Let me stop you right there…Dr. Cullen. That's right…I know exactly who you are…and you will not be seeing my friend. Not now not ever if I have anything to say about it."

I begged the pixie like woman in front of me to let me just speak to her for a moment, to just please ask Bella if she would see me.

She finally turned and asked Bella if she would allow me to come in, the whole time never budging from where she stood to keep me out of the apartment. Bella told her she did not want to see me and that I needed to leave and not come back.

Alice, as Bella had referred to her, then instructed her husband and their friend to show me my way out. I put my hands up in surrender. I didn't want to cause any more trouble than I already had. I turned and made my way back out of the building.

I could tell the two guys from the apartment were following me. They were so close I could almost feel their breath on my neck. I had nowhere else to be at the moment so I stationed myself on the bottom steps of the apartment building outside. As I placed my head in my hands, I heard a voice.

"Dude, I'm Emmett by the way and this is Jasper."

I looked up to see Bella's male friends standing in front of me.

Emmett looked like he could be a linebacker on a football team. Where Jasper, as equally tall as Emmett was more lanky and nerdy looking.

Jasper spoke next, "I'm not sure what you came to say and I'm sorry Bella would not hear you out. But she is happy here and she is making a life for herself and her twins. You should just leave her be man…for now. She doesn't need any added stress at the moment."

"Ya, Bells is like a sister to us and we take care of her and look out for her. Just go back to Forks, man. Bella doesn't want you here at this time and added stress can't be good for her and the babies," Emmett stated. Everything in his words were telling me to go away but there was something in his facial expressions telling me something else but I could not put my finger on it in that moment.

I couldn't speak yet so they just looked at each other and went past me to start heading back upstairs. "Hey guys," I said quietly. I felt them stop behind me. "Thank you for looking after Bella. Can you please just tell her if she is ever ready to speak to me, I'll always be waiting. I don't care how long it takes."

They did not respond with words but it was almost as if I could feel their nod like they were telling me that would pass my message to her. I just hoped that one day she would listen.

I couldn't force myself to move from the steps. This was the closest I had been to Bella in months and I just wanted to hold on to that for a little longer. I figured I should probably call my mom and let her know how epically I had failed and perhaps gain some good advice from her.

"Edward?" My mom answered.

"Hi Mom."

"What is it sweetie?"

"I messed up, Bella won't see me. She won't even give me the time of day, a chance to try to explain things to her or beg for her forgiveness."

"Oh, honey. I'm so sorry."

"Am I too late, Mom? Should I just leave her alone and stop trying? I don't know what to do."

"Edward, I truly believe you and Bella are soulmates! It can never be too late! However, maybe this is just too much for her right now. Her hormones have to be all over the place, especially carrying twins. Perhaps you should just get the first flight home and we can regroup and talk strategy on how you can win Bella back. For now I think giving her some space might be best...at least…perhaps until the twins arrive."

"Sounds good Mom. I hope you're right and I haven't lost Bella forever. I love her so damn much."

"I know you do my sweet. Hurry home safely & we will talk soon. I love you Edward."

"I love you too Mom."

I dropped my head to my hands after I placed my cell phone back in my pocket. I heard a throat clearing beside me and looked up to see a brunette, older woman standing beside me holding three paint cans she was trying to carry all on her own. She had one in each hand and she was trying to keep the third one tucked up under her arm.

I jumped up to try to help her and she brushed me off as she placed the paint cans down on the ground and motioned for me to sit back down. The longer I stared at her the more I realized this woman looked just like an older version of my Bella.

"Phew those cans are heavy! Not sure what I was thinking trying to carry those three at once. Those boys upstairs can go to my car and get the rest."

She sat down beside me. Those boys upstairs…the paint cans…yep she was Bella's mom alright.

She continued, "I couldn't help but overhear your phone conversation. You were talking about my daughter…Bella?" She reached out her hand to me, "I'm Renee Dwyer, her ever fabulous mother." She had a very friendly smile and kind eyes like her daughter.

As I shook her hand, I introduced myself. "I'm Edward Cullen. Bella and I…"

She put her hand up to stop me. "I know who you are Edward. I don't need the details of your past with my daughter. I'm guessing you came here to try to win her back?"

I nodded.

I felt so defeated so my voice was a whisper when I asked her, "Can you make Bella talk to me?"

She laughed whole heartedly, "Oh sweetheart. You are going to have to learn one thing about that beautiful stubborn daughter of mine! NO one can make her do anything! She is so hard headed, just like her father! And when she has made up her mind about something or THINKS she has, sometimes it is just best to let her have a breather and let her think things through before you try talking to her again. Otherwise it is just like talking to a brick wall. Believe me I know!"

I could not help but laugh with her because she was right. Bella was the most stubborn, hard headed and magnificently beautiful woman I had ever known.

"My mother just advised me to come back home to Forks and regroup before I try talking to her again." I told her.

"Then I would say your mom is pretty smart, Edward. Give Bella some time, she sees you here, she knows you came in person to try to talk to her. That will eventually mean something to her. She is also being overrun by all kinds of hormones right now and her emotions are a roller coaster. Just give her some time. I think you'll be surprised by things that come to pass. Everything is not always as it seems."

That was the exact same thing my parents kept telling me.

"Thank you Mrs. Dwyer, " I said as I stood.

She stood as well, "Oh no, none of that Mrs. Dwyer crap, please call me Renee."

"Renee," I said and smiled. "It was a pleasure to meet you and I hope I get to see you again."

"I am confident that you will," she said as she picked up two of the paint cans and headed into the building. "Emmett and Jasper are going to have to come down for the rest," I heard her trail off as she entered the doorway.

I wished so badly that I was up there helping Bella decorate that nursery and prepare for her twins. I had to think positive. Both Bella's and my mother said the same thing. Give her space. Give her time. Let her regroup. I was not going to give up hope. I would go back to Forks and plan my next move.

I walked to a nearby coffee shop to plan my Uber ride on my phone. I did not want to stand around Bella's apartment complex looking like any more of a weirdo than I already had.

The driver arrived and we were on our way to the airport. All I brought with me was my wallet, keys and phone. I had not thought anything threw when I left Forks, I just got here as fast as I could. There was something to be said for traveling light.

On the ride to the airport, I decided to send Bella one simple text.

I love you…I've always loved you since the day we met. I'm not giving up on us. There is so much I need to say to you. I will find a way to make you see we are perfect for each other.

I didn't expect a response from her but I really hoped she would read it.

A loud pop and the car going crazy brought my attention from my phone. I looked up and the driver was grabbing on to the steering wheel trying not to lose control and get the car pulled over to the side of the road.

Great, blow out.

The driver kept apologizing over and over. I reassured him things happen, it was not a big deal. For whatever karmic reason, he did not have a spare tire. He was calling for roadside assistance as I called for another car.

I really needed to get to the airport so I could get back to Forks and work out my plan for winning Bella's heart.

I waited for my new Uber driver to arrive and I heard my phone chime.

Edward…please just not right now.

I felt heartbroken.

I knew that I hurt her badly but I would give absolutely anything to take that hurt away. Not for the first time, I wished her twins were mine, she would have to talk to me then. She would have to allow me into her life if for no other reason than to be a father to our children.

How in the world could those babies not be ours and only hers? I could imagine a beautiful little girl who looked just like Bella and a handsome little boy who looked just like me. I wanted those little ones to belong to me…and not just because then Bella would have to talk to me…because I wanted to be their dad.

This realization floored me and I was pretty sure I still had a look of shock on my face when the new driver arrived. I knew after my interaction with young Claire at the hospital that I was ready to have children but it just hit me that I so wanted the children Bella was already pregnant with to belong to me.

I got in the car and the driver started the trek to the airport. As soon as I arrived, I ran to the ticket booth. I was anxious to get back to Forks and chat with my parents. They would know the best way for me to win Bella back.

Once I was at the ticket booth, I explained to the attendant that I needed to purchase the first flight out. She told me that the next flight out would not be until tomorrow due to some plane malfunctions.

Was she serious? She told me I would have to get a hotel room and return tomorrow. I went ahead and booked the ticket and ordered another car to come get me to take me to the hotel room.

What was going on?

First, the blow out on the driver's car.

Then the plane issues causing no flights out until tomorrow.

Something told me the universe was against me leaving Phoenix and getting back to Forks tonight…but why?

Author's Note: Going to leave it here. You know what to do. I should be able to update the next one from BPOV tomorrow morning.

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