CHAPTER SIX

After their encounter with Jacob, Bella didn't hear much else from him. Eventually, Bella got the courage to tell Charlie, who was surprised, but still very supportive. As she grew and spent more time with Edward, she figured that she ought to introduce him to her father.

Charlie eyed Edward the first time they met. It wasn't like Bella to just get over boys. When James Gilgal broke her heart in sixth grade, she cried for weeks, but it seemed as though Edward took the place of Jacob almost too soon. But the more Edward came around and Charlie saw how he respected his daughter, he began to warm up to him. They ended up going fishing one day when Bella was at work, which took her by surprise, but not in a bad way. Those were the men in her life, and it was good that they were getting on well.

Edward and Bella stayed pretty stagnant in their relationship for a while. She had spent more nights with him than at her house, but all they did was talk and kiss. It was enough for both of them, but they also wondered if the other wanted more. They had yet to put a title on their relationship. Edward didn't want to mention it because he was worried that it would be too soon for Bella, and Bella didn't mention it because she didn't want to freak out Edward. However, as Bella was in the middle of her second trimester, belly growing more and more every day, she found herself letting words roll out of her mouth. They sat on the couch, laughing as they tried to balance a bowl of watermelon on Bella's stomach. Edward managed to catch it before it tipped over and coated the small girl with sticky juice. As the laughter slowly faded out and the young people were surrounded by a comfortable silence, Bella decided that it was the perfect time, "Edward, I really like you, and I'm sure you know that by now." She began, and they both knew that her monologue was going to last a minute by the way she started. "I mean, I know you like me too, but like… I can't tell how much. Because we spend a lot of time just kissing and eating, but nothing else. Like you haven't even asked me to be your girlfriend," She took a breath, but went on before he could interrupt. "Not that I need you to ask me, I'm a very independent woman, and I know I can ask you if I want to but-"

Before Bella could go on about how she was independent and cautious, Edward leaned down and kissed her. She immediately shut up and kissed back, adjusting her round body so she could get closer to him. She felt him lean to the side and place the bowl of fruit onto the coffee table before taking her into his arms. They broke apart long enough for Edward to mumble against her lips, "Please be my girlfriend."

A giggle erupted from the pregnant girl. She nodded, then leaned up to continue kissing him. They kissed for what felt like hours, and it may have been hours for all she knew. However, it all ended too soon when Edward pulled away and stood up.

"Let's go to bed." He said, offering her his hand. She gladly took it, and off they went. As soon as they laid on the bed, Bella found herself pulling at Edward's shirt. Desire took over her body, leading her to grasp at Edward's clothes while he did the same to hers.

They laid naked on the bed for a few silent moments, observing the way the other's body looked. Edward was the first to speak.

"Beautiful," He whispered, his hand reaching out to delicately rub over her belly.

Bella had never been called beautiful by a lover before. It was always sexy, or hot. The word itself made Bella twitch. "Huh?" She asked before she could stop herself.

"You are stunning, Bella." Edward reiterated.

A blush formed over her cheeks. Unable to find words to say in response, Bella pulled Edward closer to her by his arm. He climbed over top of her and straddled her, careful to not apply pressure to her baby bump. The same position Jacob was in when her baby was conceived.

You're being a victim, Bella. Her mind told her. This is Edward.

The voice in her head was right, but Bella couldn't find herself comfortable with Edward on top of her. "Let me," She whispered, nudging him to roll over. He did so, letting Bella take control.

It was nice to be in control, it made things much more comfortable. Bella allowed herself to experience good sex, not fucking, for the first time since in a while.

Bella woke up feeling fresh and happy. Edward was still in bed, which wasn't a normal thing when the sun was out.

"I wanted to see you when you woke up." He whispered, recognizing the confusion on her face when she looked at him. She managed to find Edward's t-shirt before falling asleep, and he had slipped on his boxers while she was in the restroom, so they were both semi-decent.

"Last night was really good." Bella whispered, letting her hand run through his crazy morning hair. If that was going to be her sexual experience, she could easily push the thoughts of Jacob to the back of her mind. Edward was front and center in her eyes, as well as the baby, of course. He was so attentive to her, rubbing her back through her morning sickness, bringing her orange juice in the middle of the night because she woke up needing it. He reminded her about her doctor appointments and drove her to them, waiting outside while she was being seen.

Edward grinned at her, his eyes crinkling up at the sides, then sat up. "It was really good for me, too." He agreed, letting his hand reach down and touch her leg. "Big day today."

Oh yeah. Bella thought. Gender day. She sat up in bed and rubbed her eyes, then pressed a small kiss on Edward's cheek. "I'm gonna shower."

"I may have to join you; we don't want to be late." Edward shrugged. He knew they wouldn't be late; he just wanted an opportunity to touch her skin again.

Bella left the bathroom door open, inviting Edward in silently, as she turned the shower on. He jumped up and followed her in.

The drive to the doctor was quiet aside from the hum of the radio.

"Will you come in with me today?" Bella asked as Edward parked in front of the front door of the office. He didn't seem shocked, which was what Bella expected. He turned his head to look at her and looked into her eyes.

"Sure." He told her, but that sure didn't seem too certain to Bella.

"You don't have to if you don't want to, I was just wondering because you always sit outside, and you said that this was your baby too, in a way, but I understand if you don't want to." Bella said, wishing she could fold herself in half. Of course Edward didn't want to go see another man's baby inside of his girlfriend.

"Bella, honey, I want to go with you. I just wasn't expecting you to ask me. I want to be as involved as you want me to be. I don't want to push any boundaries."

He was so sweet, Bella almost swooned. They walked in together and waited for the nurse. When they got back to the room, everything went by pretty quickly. When the doctor pulled up the image of the ultrasound on the screen, Bella looked to find Edward mesmerized with the sight. It was black and white static, but he couldn't help and try to decipher what parts were the baby and what parts weren't.

"Do you want to know the gender?" The doctor asked sweetly, watching the young couple admire the baby on the screen.

Edward looked at Bella to see her already gazing at him. "Do you?" He whispered, grasping her hands in his own.

Bella turned her head to the doctor and nodded, a nervous look on her face.

"Alright," the doctor said. She used the mouse on her screen to point out things about the images, telling them where the nose was and the fingers, she made her way over the body, but Bella stopped listening after she heard the word "boy".