Ch. 64 Handle With Care

The flight back to Scotland was just as horrible as the first go around, but after two days of debating about it, I had convinced Edward that a cruise would not be ideal. I would rather just suffer through a day of choking on smoke than a week of seasickness and possible broken bones as our baby outgrew me. Edward could not deny that we should be getting back to Carlisle as quickly as possible to begin my blood—gulp—regimen. Plus I think he was trying to abide by the old adage, "happy wife, happy life." Wise man, my husband was.

"Iris, love, are you sure you're alright?" Edward's worried voice travelled through the bathroom door at the back of the plane. Airplane bathrooms of the 1970s were even grosser and smaller than the twenty-first century ones if you can believe it. I had spent way too much time in here. Fucking disgusting. My inner-nurse wanted to Lysol the shit out of this place. How humans have survived this far in time without the basic things we use in 2020 for hygiene and public safety is beyond me. Apparently, our older generations are a bunch of badasses who can survive world wars and less than desirable living—and flying—conditions, like cockroaches! But I am not too proud to admit that I am not a cockroach. I'm not even an ant. "Ugh..." I groaned as more heaving began.

Edward knocked lightly on the door again. "Love?" His concern for me was nearly palpable. This was my fourth trip to the bathroom during this flight. I had been dry heaving for the last half an hour since I no longer had anything left in my stomach.

"I'm fine, Edward. You know, we could have saved some money by telling them I would just be riding in here. They probably would've only charged us half price for the ticket." I could imagine Edward pinching the bridge of his nose and shaking his head at me. "I don't even know if this is morning sickness, the cigar smoke, or food poisoning from that satay cart earlier. I should have listened to you when you told me not to eat that...bleh...ohhhh..." I moaned as I leaned my head back over the toilet. God, this nasty bathroom was probably exacerbating my sickness. I gotta get out of here...how much longer...?

"It's just 45 more minutes, love. They're about to tell us to return to our seats and buckle up. Do you need help?" The helplessness in his voice was pitiful.

"I think I'll make it." Just then a fresh wave of nausea hit, and I turned back to the disgusting receptacle. "Or not..." Oh God...

The door swung open, and clicked shut so quickly that I wasn't sure if I heard correctly. I was too sick to look up and check. Kill me now, dark stranger. I don't have the energy to fight you...

"Come here, sweetheart." Edward picked me up off the dirty floor, leaned back against the sink, and held me in his arms awkwardly in the small space. He rubbed soothing circles on my back and crooned words of comfort in my ear. "Have a peppermint. I hear it helps." He pulled a mint from his pocket and placed the candy on my tongue when I lamely parted my lips.

"Are you always in the habit of carrying around peppermints with you, my dear vampire husband? That was really odd." I mumbled.

Edward laughed. "Only for you. I retrieved it from the stewardess. Feeling better?" Oh yes, the overly helpful attendant who frequented our bay of seats three times as often as the other passengers. I wonder why...Edward chuckled.

"A little." I spoke hesitantly waiting for a fresh wave to hit.

"Let's get back to our seat. The man sitting closest to here seems to think we're joining the mile-high club." He wagged his brow conspiratorially, and I huffed out a laugh despite my stomach cramping. Oh God...

As soon as the door opened, Edward placed me on my feet so as not to attract anymore attention, but he kept one hand under my arm and walked closely behind me, so that he could catch me quickly if need be.

I leaned my head back in the seat as Edward latched my lap belt and smoothed back my hair. "I don't remember Bella being this sick so soon...it's been four days. Hang on..." I held my finger up weakly to him as I tried to do some quick mental math. Bella was pregnant for roughly four weeks so 28 days...a typical pregnancy for humans is 40 weeks, so that's...carry the one...280 days—nice math Stephanie Meyer. I see what you did there...anyway that would mean that a day for me is ten days of a typical pregnancy. So my 4 days of pregnancy is equal to about 40ish days of a typical pregnancy which would put me at—

"Six weeks along." Edward answered for me. "You know, for how many silly predicaments you find yourself in, your mind is very methodological. It's intriguing to hear." He leaned over to kiss my temple.

"Umm thanks...? Was that a compliment or should I be offended, hubby?" I frowned at him.

"A compliment."

"Smart man." I leaned back in the seat once more and closed my eyes.

"Excuse me, sir, but we will be landing in thirty minutes. This is my last round. Could I offer you any refreshments or maybe a snack?" The attendant's sickly sweet voice made me want to vomit again. Ugh. Gag me. Why are these thirsty bitches always coming after my husband?!

Edward had to cough to cover a laugh, but after a second he said, "No, nothing for me, but maybe some water for my wife. She's pregnant. Isn't that wonderful?!" The joy and excitement in his voice was unmistakeable, and I peeked out of the corner of my eye to see the flight attendant smile tightly and nod.

"Mmhmm...congratulations to you both then." For some reason, I don't think she was as happy about that as she played off...She turned abruptly, skipping all the other passengers. Poor thing. She's probably going to go cry.

"Iris..." Edward sighed with a faint smile, but after all this time together, he was happily resigned to my petty jealousy.

For the record, she never returned with my water either...

Once we finally landed and were back to home sweet Glascow, Edward was right back to himself or maybe even worse than usual, protecting me from any and all perilous situations including but not limited to: people looking "suspiciously" in my direction at the aiport, strangers having "provocative thoughts" about me on the way through baggage claim and customs, and birds flying "much too close for comfort" overhead in the parking lot.

"Birds? Really Edward? Birds?!" I threw my hands up over my head is exasperation as he attempted to steer me toward the taxi.

"They could have darted toward you. Do you know how many diseases fowls carry?" His voice was rising even as he spoke. "And put your arms down. Pregnant women are not supposed to reach for anything." He was holding me close to his side...I guess so I didn't have to 'reach' too far...

OMG. "You can't be serious. Are you going to wrap me in bubble wrap too?" I was struggling to break free of him, but he only held me closer to him.

"If it comes to that I will do what I must to keep you and our baby safe. You have to be careful!" His forehead creased with worry as he looked over to me.

"I'm being very careful. What's going on? You were ok in the plane. What happened?" I dug my feet into the ground to make Edward stop. He just picked me up, carrying me straight to the door.

He ducked his head close to me just before he opened the door, and said in a low whisper. "This is NOT a typical pregnancy and this will only be for a few more weeks. Please just let me care for you in the only way I know how. The idea of losing you haunts my every waking moment which is twenty-four hours per day. I promise I will try to be more considerate of your...active nature, but you do need to rest and calm yourself for this to work. Please, Iris." He was nearly begging me, and my heart broke for him. I sighed and closed my eyes, leaning my cheek against his chest. He was afraid for me. He had been putting on a good show these last four days, but all that denial and repression was coming to a head.

"I'll take care of myself. I promise. This baby is so important to me too—"

"YOU are important to me. Never forget that. I love this child already as any father should, but I won't sacrifice your wellbeing either." Fine. You're slightly crazed, but it comes from a good place. "Thank you." He sighed and kissed my cheek. He placed me gently in the backseat of the car and told the driver where to take us as he handed me another peppermint.

This letting go of control thing did not suit me, but I guess it would be nice to be pampered for the next few weeks...

I looked out the window at the passing trees in a blur, and the motion made me dizzy. Oh God...Edward leaned past me to roll down the window in time for me to lean out and lurch the little bit of acid which remained in my stomach. Ugh...this is only the beginning...

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