THE OTHER WOMAN

HELLO TO THE HANDFUL OF PEOPLE STILL INTERESTED IN READING MY STORY! I'm extremely sorry that I haven't posted a chapter in five months. I had my exams and then I fell sick and then my college started. I guess I shouldn't be giving excuses. But, I feel really bad that I didn't post a single chapter. Again, I apologize.

Anyway, here it is. I am planning to end the story in the next two chapters, following this one! Enjoy!

DISCLAIMER: STEPHENIE MEYER OWNS IT ALL.

"Hello, may we help you?" Bella asks sweetly and smiles at him. His brown eyes sadden a little and he anxiously bites his bottom lip in a very familiar way. I think he is hurt she didn't recognize him. Why would she?

I take a look at his attire and he is dressed in a jacket, grey t-shirt and black jeans. His sneakers are worn out and his backpack is slightly faded. He clears his throat and meets Bella's eyes.

Fuck.

"Hi, uh… Hi, are you Bella?" He asks nervously and audibly gulps. "I'm—I'm Callum. Callum Swan."

February 14, 2016

BELLA

I am absolutely frozen where I stand as I stare at the teenager in front of me. He is the same height as me, a bit lanky, his brown eyes are achingly familiar and his hair is jet black, like Jake's. He has nothing but his backpack with him. Doesn't he live in West Glacier, Montana? What is he doing all the way here?

How did he know where Edward and I live? Has he been following us? I have no clue. Why is he here? This week has been the best week of my life and it's about to change.

Callum Swan. Yes, Charlie mentioned him in the letter. That's how I know who he is. I am not able to take my eyes off him. I'm unable to fathom how he found me? What do I do? Does he have somewhere to go? Is he really Callum Swan?

His brown eyes continue staring at my paralyzed face, and he gets fidgety and scared for some reason. His eyes suddenly glaze over with tears and I don't know what to do.

I am taken out of my reverie when I feel a warm hand on my back. I gaze at Edward who kisses my hair in a comforting gesture. I lean against him and he gazes at the boy again.

"Let's go upstairs, okay? Callum, have you eaten anything?" Edward asks with concern on his face and I stare at him in shock. How can he casually talk to some boy who claims to be my step-brother? Ugh. I hate my father.

Callum—if that's who he is—looks at Edward with wide brown eyes. "No, sir."

Edward chuckles softly. "Call me Edward. Let's get moving. It's not getting any warmer."

Edward interlaces our hands and we silently enter the building premises and reach the private elevator. The elevator ride is painfully slow and I can't dare to look at Callum. If Edward can trust the boy so easily, it must really be him. But, why the hell is he inviting the boy with to come up us? I want to yell at my fiancé but the shock of seeing my step-brother hasn't worn off yet.

Once we enter the foyer, I stare at Callum from the curtain of my hair and find him gawking towards the penthouse with his mouth hanging open. If we were in different circumstances, I would've considered the expression on his face to be cute. But right now, I want him out of here.

"Would you like anything to drink? Water? Tea? Coffee?" Edward asks politely and Callum shuffles his feet and stares at his shoes.

"Water would be fine, thank you."

"Okay." How can he show manners to this boy?!

Edward leaves for the kitchen and it's just the two of us standing in the room. I can feel his gaze on me but I am busy staring at my engagement ring.

"Bella?" He says softly and I don't meet his gaze. "Can I call you Bella?" I nod in response. "I'm sorry; I didn't mean to unexpectedly show up—"

Callum stops talking at once when Edward arrives with a glass of water. He gobbles the water and finishes it within seconds. He puts the empty glass on the coffee table and looks at the two of us.

"Take a seat," Edward says and Callum sits on the edge of the sofa. He puts his backpack down and stifles a yawn. I notice he looks dead on his feet. "I hope you like Chinese, Callum. Bella and I are making Chinese tonight."

I am boiling with anger as I gaze at Edward. How dare he invite him to stay for dinner? I don't want to involve my father or his family in my life. What he did to my mom, Jake and me is unforgivable. I can never forget that. I don't care if it's not Callum's fault! He lives with Charlie and I hate his family.

Callum gives a small smile and nods. "I like Chinese."

"Great," Edward flashes him a smile and Callum relaxes a bit more. "Can you give us a few minutes? We'll freshen up and get started on dinner."

"Okay."

Edward puts an arm around my waist and leads me to the bedroom. He gently shuts the door and I turn to him with my hands on my hips.

"Have you lost your fucking mind, Edward Anthony?! How dare you bring him here to your penthouse and invite him to stay for dinner? I want him gone! I want him gone right now! I don't want to see him! All he reminds me of is that his father left us. I don't want to see him. Why would you do this?!"

I sit on the edge of the bed and bury my face in my hands. I can't help but sob and feel pain rolling off me in waves. Callum is evidence that my father has had a happy life with some other woman while Jake and I were struggling to meet ends every day. I hate that the boy two doors away has had a better childhood than us. We deserved that too.

"Bella baby, calm down. Please," Edward begs over my cries and I feel him sitting next to me. He puts his arm around me and I try to breathe properly. "We can't talk if you cry so much, my darling. Hey, listen to me."

"I don't want to listen to you. Get him out of this house. Or I'm leaving right now." I snap and rise to my feet. I wipe away my tears and grab my purse.

"Bella love, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. Just listen to me for a minute." He says and his green eyes look earnest and anxious.

"I would've told him to leave myself but I don't want to talk to him. I hate his family." I croak out and clear my throat.

"Can you give me a minute to talk, Bella?"

"I hate you for doing this to me. I hate you so much, Edward." I turn and open the door. I hear Edward following me as I walk towards the entrance lobby.

"Bella, where are you going? Bella, wait. It's cold outside, baby. Bella, don't be ridiculous." Edward says from behind but I don't bother to acknowledge his presence.

Callum jumps to his feet when he finds me stomping towards the elevator. He walks in my direction and my vexation fuels. Suddenly, a warm hand grasps my wrist and I halt in my spot. I turn to Edward and he is irritated yet concerned.

"Bella, give me a chance to talk. Please." He says softly and I try to unclasp my hand from his hold.

"Let me go, Edward."

"Bella—"

"Edward, you're hurting me." I mutter and tears well in my eyes.

"Baby, just—" I cut him off.

"I don't want to hear it."

"God, Bella! Can—"

"No means no, Edward," I snatch my hand from his hold and turn to Callum. I retrieve the letter from my purse and throw it in his direction. He stares at me with wide brown eyes and glances at the pages for a fraction of a second. "Read that, Callum. Read that and throw it in the trash once you're finished."

"Callum, can you give us the room?" Edward asks and Callum nods immediately.

"No," I chuckle without humor. "No, it's alright."

"Bella baby, let's talk for a minute. I know you are angry, my love. I'm sorry. Don't leave, please." He begs, and a tear drops from my eye.

"I'm so sick and tired of this! Why can't I catch a break? First it was James, then Riley and later Tanya! And now my father! Callum," I turn to him again. "You and I have different fathers. I had a father once—who abandoned my mom, brother and me when I was four. You must have an amazing father. It's not the same for me. I hate that man. I hate him. I don't want to see him again. Ever. He is an asshole who cheated on my mother. He found your mother, so he left us. He said that in the letter you're holding. He didn't have the balls to come back to his children once our mom died. That's the kind of person my father was. He is dead to me. I hope you understand that."

I gaze at Edward and glare at him. "I can't be in the same room as him. Don't you dare follow me," He opens his mouth to speak but I shake my head. "Don't."

I don't glance at either of them as I reach for the elevator.

I need to get out of here.

I wrap my arms around myself as the cool wind blows against my hair. I carefully climb the bridge as I stare at the frozen lake on my left. A group of friends walk by me as they chat amongst themselves. I check the time on my phone and it's eight thirty already. I have to leave for the airport in ten minutes.

I booked an eleven pm flight that lands in Seattle early in the morning. I don't want to stay a minute longer here. Part of me feels like I've overreacted but then I think about that awful letter and it is physically suffocating to be in the same room as Callum.

Edward has been calling me every five minutes but I'm dodging his calls. I don't want to talk to him. How can he be friendly with that boy? That boy is the reason why I never had a family growing up. Edward chose that boy over me.

My stomach growls and I roll my eyes. Sure. Now, I'm getting hungry. I ate a pretzel and a hot dog when I came to Central Park but the baby is still hungry, I guess.

When I left the penthouse, I found Demetri and Matt waiting at the entrance, probably waiting to follow me but I sneaked out the back exit. I decided to come to Central Park because it's close and they will try to find me somewhere else. I hope they don't try to track my phone.

I stop at the middle of the bridge and continue gazing at the beautiful sight in front of me. There are a couple of small boats parked at one end covered in snow and the city lights are flickering against the frozen water. It's magical. It reminds me of the time Edward decorated his backyard to propose to me. I stare at my engagement ring and tears well in my eyes. I sniffle and tears stream down my face.

"Bella?"

I freeze when I hear a familiar voice. Oh god, hell no.

I turn to find Chris and Jill Hale staring at me with surprised faces. I feel embarrassed as I wipe away my tears. I try to smile but I'm sure it comes off more like a grimace. I bite my bottom lip and watch them approach me. I haven't seen them since Christmas. A lot has happened since the last time we met. Their daughter was kicked out of her own house and Emmett filed for divorce. This is awkward.

"Hey." I whisper shyly and Jill has concern written all over her face.

"Are you alright, dear? Where's Edward?" She asks and I clear my throat.

"He's at his penthouse."

"What are you doing here all alone? It's too cold to be out here." Chris points out and I fidget shyly. I don't want to discuss my personal problems with them.

"I was just leaving for the airport. I have a flight to catch to Seattle."

Jill gazes at her watch and then at me. "Honey, don't tire yourself out in your condition," My eyes meet hers in shock. She gives my cold hand a soft squeeze. "Esme told us when we came to Seattle last week."

"Oh."

"Let me call Edward." Chris starts dialing a number and my heart skips a beat.

"Please, don't!" I say in an alarmed voice and he looks startled. "I'm not… I mean, we had—I don't… We—"

"Why don't you come with us to our place? It's warmer than being here or travelling to the airport in this bizarre traffic. The weather reports say that there'll be freezing rain tonight." Jill suggests and I shake my head.

"That's kind of you but I don't want to intrude—"

"Bella, please. We consider you very close to our family. Please don't say that you will be intruding."

My will crumbles but I'm worried if Edward and others will be fine with it. What if she is there? I don't want to look at her or talk to her. Just like Callum. She put my baby's life in danger, the last time we met.

"She isn't at home," Chris says when I take too long to answer. "We haven't been in contact with her since January."

"Bella, come home." Jill says with a comforting smile and I smile back at her.

I hope I'm not doing something wrong.

February 15, 2018

I put my phone in my purse and enter my bedroom. My eyes widen with surprise when I find my mom sitting on the rocking chair near the fireplace. She has a gentle smile playing on her lips as she gazes at the tiny baby in her arms. I must be dreaming. This isn't true. She's in our home and she is in front of me.

Mom looks at me and her eyes light up. My legs finally function and I walk over to her. I put my purse away and curiously stare at the bundle in her arms.

"Hey, honey. How was work?" She asks and her voice is familiar and soothing.

"Mom, I've missed you so much." I choke out and carefully hug her. She laughs and pats my back.

"I know you have, Bella. So have I."

The baby gurgles happily and I carefully gaze at the gorgeous baby in her arms. The baby stretches its tiny arms in my direction and I instinctively reach for it.

"She has been asking for you. She missed you so much." Mom says and coos in the baby's direction. The baby offers the most beautiful grin I have ever seen.

"Hey, sweetheart," I whisper and take the beautiful baby in my arms. I gently rock her and her brown eyes curiously stare at me.

"She has your father's eyes," Mom says and I gaze at her. Her expression has turned haunted and chilling. "I hate that."

"She's gorgeous, mom. Don't say that." I hold my baby tighter to my chest.

"Give her to me. I'll take her away. She's going to remind you of that man all your life." Mom stands up and tries to snatch the baby. The baby whimpers and lets out a soft cry.

"Mom, don't touch my baby." I snap and go towards the balcony. I rock my baby and her cries calm down. I wipe away the tears around her eyes and kiss her forehead.

I gasp when I suddenly feel two hands trying to take hold of my baby. Mom glares at me and tries to take her from me.

"Mom, stop it! She's not like my father! Stop it!" I yell and mom chuckles darkly. I shiver from her cold gaze.

"She's going to leave you too, Bella. I'm trying to protect you. I want to protect you from people like your father."

"Mom, please." I sob and hold my little baby against me. Mom lunges for me and I forcefully push her off me. She screams as she topples and falls from the balcony.

"I killed my mom." I croak out and the baby wails in my arms. I try to calm her down but nothing works.

"Love, I'm home."

I whip my head towards the doorway and find Edward gazing at me with a beaming smile on his face.

"Edward." I whisper and swallow the lump in my throat. He walks in my direction and frowns at our baby.

"Oh no, why is my princess crying so much?" He coos gently, and the baby reaches for him. He gladly takes her and gently sways her from side to side.

"Edward, mom was here." I say and he smiles.

"Where is she?"

My eyes prick with tears. "She—She tried to take the baby away and—and I pushed her but she fell from the balcony. I killed my mom, Edward."

"How could you do that, Bella?" Edward demands angrily and I gulp. "How can I trust you around our baby when you killed your own mother?"

"Edward, I'm a good mom. I promise. I didn't do it. Mom said that our baby was going to leave me like my father so she was trying to take her away. I swear I'm good enough for our baby."

"You are never good enough, Bella," He spits angrily and runs a hand through his hair. "You are never good enough for anybody. You were not a good enough daughter, that's why your father left. You aren't a good enough wife or mother! Go away. We don't need you!"

"Edward, I'm sorry." I sob and try to stop my tears. "Please, stay with me. I can't live without you."

"Go find somebody else like your father did."

Edward turns away from me and I try to reach him. "Don't take her away from me."

I touch his arm and he turns around and pushes me. Suddenly, I topple and fall off the balcony just like my mom did. I can see Edward looking down at me with hatred in his eyes and our baby is reaching for me.

"Edward! Edward help!" I yell even though it's a lost cause. "Edward!"

My eyes snap open and I feel someone shaking me a little. I adjust my eyes to the dim lights in the room and find Jill sitting next to me with worry etched on her face. I feel tears on my cheeks and sweat marring my forehead. My body seems tired and weary for some reason. I had the worst nightmare ever.

"Bella, are you okay? Do you need something?" She asks and I nod.

"I need Edward," I whisper and a sob escapes my chest.

"He'll be here in five minutes. He's on his way." She says soothingly and I whimper.

"Thank you."

"He worries about you. He knew you were at Central Park so he called us to meet you there. He didn't want you to be alone and we live five minutes from his penthouse. He knew that you had booked a flight back to Seattle."

"How did he know that?" I ask myself and she chuckles.

"I don't know," She shrugs and sighs. "You have a fever, Bella. Why don't you close your eyes and try to rest?"

"He's coming, right?" I ask skeptically and she nods.

"I promise he is."

I shut my eyes and try to relax. I take calming breaths and slow down my erratic heart. I don't know how long I remain in my position but my ears perk up when I hear a velvety voice. My eyes snap open and I sit up in the bed.

Edward rushes inside and my eyes glaze over with tears. His green eyes soften and he walks over to me. I cry softly and Jill leaves the room. Edward takes off his shoes and sits on the bed. He gathers me in his arms and I cry harder than before. He rubs my back and repeatedly kisses my hair.

"Hush, baby. I'm here now. Don't cry, please."

"I love you, Edward. I—I'm sorry I said that I hated you. I love you so much."

"I love you too, angel." He pulls me onto his lap and I inhale his intoxicating scent.

"I had a terrible dream." I whisper and pull back to gaze at him.

"Do you want to talk about it, my love?" He wipes away my tears and kisses my forehead. "God, you're burning up, Bella."

I sniffle. "I forgot to take my meds last night."

He stares at me with a disappointed expression on his handsome face. "Bella, I think we've talked about this before."

"Sorry." I mumble and Edward reaches for my purse. He pulls out my pills and I quickly swallow them. I drink a glass of water and a shiver runs through me.

He wraps the duvet around me and I snuggle closer to his body. I kiss his chest and close my eyes. He puts his head atop mine and kisses my knuckles.

"Tell me about this dream."

I share the parts that I can remember and he intently listens to me. I have tears running down my cheeks by the end of it. He wipes away my tears and pulls me impossibly closer to him.

"I can't stop thinking about it," I whisper and he sighs.

"Your dreams are the reflections of the fears you have in the back of your mind," He says and continues. "First, you are going to be an amazing mother. I know you are scared of becoming a parent, I am too but as long as we are together, I think we'll be okay. Second, your father never left because of you. Don't blame yourself. And last, you are not the reason why your mother passed away. Please believe me."

I take in his words and nod my head. "I'll try to."

"I love you," He murmurs and strokes my cheek.

"I love you too, Edward."

I press my lips against his and he kisses my back. I put my arms around his neck and deepen our kiss. He gently tugs on my bottom lip and I moan. It's been hours since I last kissed him. I hate it when we fight. But, we still have to talk about the issue we fought about in the first place.

"Let's go back home." Edward whispers against my lips and my eyes snap open.

"Is he there?"

He sighs heavily. "Yes."

My eyes prick with tears. "I can't, Edward."

"Bella, will you listen to me this time?"

I nod and put my head on his shoulder. "Okay."

"Callum took a 6:45 am flight from West Glacier and landed in New York around 6:00 pm. He is fourteen, Bella. We had no clue if his parents knew he was away from home, or how he got the cash to come all the way to New York. We didn't even know if he had someplace to stay. He flew two thousand miles to meet you. I know you were taken off-guard, and you weren't particularly thrilled about it but can you try to see things from his perspective?"

I clear my throat. "What if my father and his wife sent him here?"

"They didn't," He whispers and strokes my hair. "I told him to call his mother, and she freaked out when she heard that he was in New York. She was preparing to fly to New York immediately, but he told her not to. She spoke to me too."

My heart skips a beat. "Why did you talk to her, Edward?"

"Bella, her son was sitting in a stranger's house. She needed reassurance that he was safe. Apparently, he used up all his savings to buy a ticket to come meet you."

"Why? I don't want to talk to him!" I say firmly and Edward kisses my hair.

"I know, my love. I know. He was worried about his father. But, after he read the letter… I don't think he can ever have the same perspective about his father again."

"I didn't mean to pit him against his father. He is just fourteen; he shouldn't be involved in such matters. He's too young for that." I murmur and he nods.

"Callum is a lot more mature than you think. He has few questions for you. Maybe he is the perfect way for you to get closure from your father. He doesn't expect you to see him again."

I swallow the lump in my throat and remain quiet for an immeasurable amount of time as I contemplate his words. If I meet Callum, I can make sure to pass the message along to Charlie to never interfere in my life again. He can leave me alone. I don't want Edward getting wrapped up in this mess.

On the other hand, I am not in the mood to talk to someone from his family. After years of pain, I can't be breezy about this. I want to kick the boy out of the house but he has nowhere else to go. I shouldn't be such a bitch.

"Okay…" I say and take a deep breath. "I'll talk to him. I need to tell Jake about this."

Edward sighs anxiously and runs a hand through his hair. "Bella, I'm about to tell you something. Please don't be mad."

"What did you do?" I ask suspiciously.

"Jacob's at the penthouse right now. I flew him here during the night."

"You what?!"

He flinches at my sharp tone and gazes at me. "Love, he needs to know."

"Did you tell him anything at all?"

"Uh actually, he found the letter in the great room. He isn't fond of Callum but doesn't seem as angry with him as you are."

"That's because Jake never had memories of his parents. I'm his family. And he doesn't care about anything else," I reason and my eyes fill with unshed tears. "He's going to be mad at me. I should've told him about Charlie and everything else."

"Oh baby, he isn't angry with you," Edward envelopes me in his arms again. "Jacob is worried that you had to keep everything to yourself. He isn't angry, I promise."

"Are you sure?" I whimper and hide my face against his chest.

"Yes, darling. Let's go home, please."

I lift my face and look at him from under my lashes. "Why did you tell Chris and Jill to bring me here?"

"I know you trust them and I love you. The weather is nasty and there is no way you were travelling in conditions like these."

"I don't know how to talk to him, Edward." I admit with trepidation and he kisses my forehead.

"Be patient, that's all I'll say. You need closure. We are getting married in seven days… starting a new chapter in our life. You have a successful career ahead of you; we're having a baby in September. There is so much to look forward to. We can't be tainted by your past. These recurring nightmares you have about your father… they leave you sobbing for hours. I can't watch that. That's why I wanted Callum to stay here. He is the closest person to your father… you can pass along a message of sorts… if you want. Finally get that man out of your life."

His words slowly sink in and I become familiar with the idea that I'll get rid of the most horrid person from my life. I feel safer just thinking about it. Charlie doesn't deserve us. We are too good for him. I need to say goodbye to that man and his family. Forever.

"Let's go home." I murmur and his answering smile is jubilant. I lean forward and kiss him gently.

"You need a good night's sleep. Everything else can wait."

"Yes, sweetheart."

Edward helps me off the bed and I make my way to the bathroom to freshen up. I step out and Edward is nowhere to be seen. I gather my purse and phone before stepping out of the room. I find him sitting in the great room with Chris and Jill.

"Bella honey, how are you feeling now?" Jill asks and there is a concern in her voice. She walks over and gives me a warm hug.

"I'm better now, thanks." I whisper and she releases me.

"You need to take proper care of yourself."

I smile at her. "I will."

"Do you want me to make you some tea? I'm making coffee for Edward and Chris."

"I would like that, thank you."

"Come on, take a seat."

I make my way over to Edward and sit next to him. He puts his arm around me and soothingly rubs my arm. I feel his lips pressing against my hair. I gaze at Chris who is staring at the coffee table with a thoughtful expression on his face. I look at Edward who is playing with a lock of my hair. He meets my gaze and sends me a questioning glance. I shake my head and he offers a soft smile.

Jill emerges from the kitchen, holding a tray in her hands. I pass a mug of coffee to Edward and grab a cup of herbal tea for myself.

"So Bella, we read about your book launch in the newspaper. It looked like it was a huge success. Congratulations." Jill says and I flush.

"Thank you."

"We're buying a copy first thing tomorrow." Chris says and I laugh.

"Maybe I can bring one for you. I have a bunch of them at Edward's apartment."

He nods. "That would be great. You can sign it for us."

"We're so proud of you, Bella. I know it wasn't an easy journey for you." Jill whispers with a kind smile.

"It wasn't but Edward made it a lot easier." I smile in his direction and he kisses my cheek.

"How is Jacob? Is he still interning at your firm?" Chris asks and Edward nods.

"Yes, for the next few months. We have to evaluate him at the end of his internship. But, he's a smart kid."

Chris offers a remorseful nod. "It's really commendable that the two of you have achieved so much even through all your struggles. Some kids have everything yet they make permanent mistakes that ruin their lives."

Edward squeezes my arm and my heart lurches, looking at Chris and Jill. Of course they are devastated about their daughter. If only she were a quarter as great as her parents. They didn't deserve her. They must feel lonely without her.

Edward clears his throat. "Do you know where she is?"

Jill blinks back her tears and shrugs. "We don't really want to know about her. We don't answer her calls or reply to her texts. She hurt us badly."

"Are you ever going to get in touch with her again?" I ask gently and Chris shakes his head firmly.

"Never. It's better that way. She put people's lives in danger, she toyed with everyone's sentiments, and she lied and betrayed her close ones. We feel like it was our mistake—we gave her a bad upbringing."

"It wasn't your fault," Edward argues. "You can't control her life. She made all the decisions herself. You are wonderful people, and that's the reason everyone in our family still loves and cares about you. Especially Emmett."

Jill wipes away her tears and smiles. "Emmett has been very supportive through everything. She was so lucky to have him."

"You still have us," I whisper and they gaze at me.

"I know," Chris smiles and pats my hand. "We're grateful for that."

"I hope you're attending our wedding." Edward says and Jill chuckles.

"Chris has the tickets ready, don't worry. We're coming."

I can't help but grin. "That's wonderful. We're so happy you'll be there."

"We wouldn't miss it for the world."

Why couldn't I have parents as wonderful as them?

February 15, 2016

"Are they up?" I ask Edward as I dress in the closet. I put on a striped cashmere sweater and matching track pants.

"Not yet," He whispers and settles on the sofa. "Are you feeling alright?"

"I just threw up and my stomach feels like crap. But, I'll be alright."

"Really?"

I nod. "Yes, honey. I'm fine."

I make my way over to him and he offers a gentle smile. He opens his arms and I curl up on his lap. I kiss the side of his neck and lift my face to gaze at him. His green eyes look patient and warm. I stroke his hair and he sighs.

"I love you, baby." He whispers and gives me a soft kiss.

"I love you too."

"Are you hungry? I can make breakfast for you."

I nod. "I'll help."

Edward interlaces our hands as we make our way to the kitchen. I'm in the mood for pancakes and scrambled eggs. I haven't eaten since yesterday afternoon. I'm starving. We start the preparations and Edward receives a phone call from Kyle. Ugh.

I scoop the pancake batter onto the griddle and sigh. Edward stands behind me and his free hand wraps around my stomach. His face presses against my hair as he talks to Kyle on the other line. I tremble from his touch.

"Two minutes? Okay, I'll wait on the line," Edward whispers and his lips press against the side of my neck. I let out a shaky sigh and carefully flip the pancake. "I'm sorry, baby. This won't take long."

"Are you talking to me or Kyle?" I ask tersely and he drags soft kisses on my neck.

"I'm sorry, but it's important. I need to go into the office tomorrow. We were supposed to work on the budgeting of the Dubai Project last evening but then…" He trails off and I nod.

"Oh, it's fine."

He inhales against me. "You smell divine."

I blush and shake my head. "Thanks."

"I can't wait to feel our little girl kick," He murmurs and caresses my belly.

"He will be here soon."

Edward laughs softly. "I think we have a few months left to argue about that."

"We are not keeping it a surprise, right?" I ask and he shakes his head.

"I can't wait for nine months to find out." He mutters and I giggle.

"Good."

Edward resumes his conversation as I stack up a pile of pancakes. Jake will eat large amounts and even Callum might, I don't know. Edward nuzzles my hair and my eyes race over to the corridor when I see Jake walking towards the great room. His eyes fall on me and his lips curl into a big grin.

Edward steps back and I turn off the stove. I make my way over to him and he envelopes me in a tight hug. I smile and kiss his cheek.

"Hey, Jake."

"Hey, good morning."

I release him and stroke his cheek. "Did you sleep okay?"

"Bells, you know I sleep like the dead," He jokes and gazes around. "Fancy place, eh?"

I roll my eyes. "Yes, very fancy."

"Damn, I'm famished. You're making chocolate chip pancakes?"

"Yep," I look over his shoulder and back at him. "Can you uh, check on Callum?"

His eyes harden. "Sure. And we have a lot to talk about."

"I know."

Edward ends his call and his green eyes send me a comforting look. I relax a little and walk over to him. He sighs and opens his arms for me. I tightly hug him and feel his hand running up and down my back. I need to be ready for the inevitable. I need to talk to my brother and Callum. Get this over with and go to Seattle because I don't have time for this crap in my life anymore.

I lift my face and gaze at my handsome fiancé. He leans down and gives me a soft kiss. He runs his nose down mine, and pecks my lips again.

"He is still asleep." Jake announces and our moment breaks. I turn in his direction and nod.

"We'll have breakfast after he is up," I say and Jake opens his mouth to argue but then sighs dejectedly.

"Fine, whatever."

"… and then I left this building. End of story." I dictate and watch Jake stare at the coffee table with a thoughtful expression on his face.

"You—you've never encountered him face to face?" He asks and I shake my head.

"Just saw a picture of him," I whisper and blink back my tears. "I might still have it. I can show you."

"I don't want to see it," Jake mutters and I grow silent.

"I understand. You can ask me when you're less mad at me." I say in a small voice and he lets out a humorless chuckle.

"I'm not angry with you, Bella. Why would you think that? I don't want to see his picture because I don't care what he looks like. He has always been dead to me. And he always will be."

"Really? Are you sure?"

Jake nods confidently. "I'm sure."

"I never knew how you felt about our parents. You never wanted to talk about it. I wasn't sure how you were going to react to any of this." I confess and he looks away from me.

I gaze at Edward sitting on the other end of the sofa and he motions me to remain patient. I nod at him and turn to my brother again.

"Bells, to me—family is anyone who loves me unconditionally," His gentle brown eyes meet mine. "You have been there for me since the moment I was born. I can be difficult to handle at times, rude and sometimes self-obsessed, but you love me even though I have flaws. You have taken care of me every single day. You've never turned your back on me and you sacrificed a lot for me. I owe everything to you."

"When I was young, I used to be sad that I didn't have parents but my friends did. If I had parents; they would take me to the park, drop me off at school, play with me and fulfill my every demand, no matter how ridiculous. But you were there, to do it all for me. You did everything you could to make sure I never missed the love of a parent even though you never had it."

"I always knew that no matter what happened you would always be there for me. Always. I love you. You are the only family I need, Bella. Nobody else matters to me. It's been a hard life for us all these years and I'm so glad you are finally happy. The happiest you have ever been. You deserve all of it. And I cannot emphasize enough on how lucky Edward is to have you."

"Oh Jake," A sob escapes my chest and there are so many emotions bubbling inside me at this moment. I jump to my feet and make my way over to him. I embrace him and cry in his arms. "I love you too."

I don't know how long I remain wrapped up to him as I cry tears of relief and sorrow at once. I'm moved by his touching words and his deep love for me. He is never open about his emotions but I never knew that he thought so highly of me. I was terrified of this confrontation but it turns out he doesn't care about the father who abandoned us.

"Bells, why are you crying so much?" Jake asks and I pull back. My tears blind my vision and he is nothing but a blurry figure in front of me. He wipes away my tears and I sniffle.

"I'm just so emotional and relieved right now. I felt like I was hurting you by not sharing anything. My hormones are all over the place and I'm hungry." I croak out and he laughs.

"Alright," Jake looks over my head and nods slightly.

"Bella?" Edward calls my name softly and I turn to him. His lips curl into a heart-stopping smile and he outstretches his hand in my direction. "Come here."

I stand up and make my way over to him. He settles me onto his lap and I curl closer to him. I hide my face against his neck and close my eyes.

"Feeling better?" He asks and I nod. "Good."

"Thank you for bringing him here." I mutter and he kisses my hair.

"I love you."

"Love you too," I rest my head on his shoulder and play his fingers. My stomach growls and he chuckles. I blush and stare at him from under my lashes.

"Looks like my baby's hungry," He whispers and kisses my cheek. "Let's go eat."

"But—"

"Hush, Jacob and I will eat with him. Don't worry."

"Fine."

Twenty minutes later, as I'm drinking a glass of freshly squeezed juice; Callum hesitantly steps into the great room. His shoulders are tense, his eyes are wary and there is fear on his face. I sigh with a hint of remorse. I did this to him. He looks at us at the dining table and audibly gulps.

"Good morning, Callum," Edward greets him and nods. "Bella made breakfast. You didn't have dinner last night. You must be hungry."

"Bella, I'm so so sorry…" Callum starts off as he marches towards the dining table. Jake sighs and crosses his arms over his chest.

I cut him off. "Callum, have breakfast first. Then we'll talk."

He nods meekly. "Okay."

There is an awkward silence in the room as Edward serves breakfast for Callum, Jake and himself. I pour them each a glass of orange juice and Jake is barely able to contain his excitement about eating breakfast. Ugh, it's like he was starving for months.

I receive a call from Edythe to discuss the book tour and talk to her in the bedroom. About twenty minutes later, I'm done with the call and everyone has finished breakfast.

I take a seat next to Edward and clasp my hand with his. I look at Callum who is squirming in his seat. He finally speaks up.

"Bella, I'm very very sorry that I showed up at your home without prior notice. I know it came as a shock to you and you are bound to feel angry. I'm sorry. If you would've told me that you didn't want me here, I would've left immediately. I just wanted to get to know my father's family. You were the most accessible one. I'm sorry if you felt pressured about it. Edward was kind enough to offer me to stay but I would've left."

I sigh softly and his earnest expression makes me believe him. "It's okay. I'm touched that you wanted to reach out and meet me. I want to know why you came all this way."

"Dad sometimes spoke about you; he has a couple of your pictures on the wall… He always wanted to meet Jacob. When we saw your name and photo in the paper with Edward—dad called you on your birthday. He tried to call you on multiple occasions. You never answered. Edward's people even came to warn him not to contact you or Jacob."

"About a week or two ago, dad dropped by a letter at your apartment. He was hoping you would call. He has recently lost a lot of sleep over you. He really misses you and wants to know about Jacob."

"But, I read the letter you gave me last night," His brown eyes sadden and lips turn down a little. "He never told us about the other part of the story. What he did was unfair and wrong. I don't know what to say. Dad shouldn't have done that."

I try to contemplate what to say without offending him in any way. I gaze at Jake and he is patiently staring at me. His expression is clear to me—He has nothing to say. Edward squeezes my hand and nods reassuringly.

"Callum, the memories of my father are a blur to me now. I blamed myself all these years for him leaving us. Part of me still does but I'm trying to change that. Jake and I didn't have a good childhood, we struggled a lot. Just because your father was not ready to take responsibility of the children he abandoned."

"I would've wanted to reconnect with him, give him a chance to get to know Jake and be a part of my life. But I am not the reason why I never want to see his face again. It's my mom. She loved him. Your father should've left her way before anything happened. He cheated on her. She was an amazing person. The best mom in the world," My voice breaks and my eyes prick with tears.

"He left her when she needed him the most. She was pregnant, Callum. He didn't give her health a second thought. Charlie leaving us affected her both mentally and physically. If he hadn't left, she would probably still be with us. Jake would've had a mother."

"He has a son, probably my age. Charlie left us for your mom and brother. What about us? Did he ever think of that? He has a family now. You and your brother are fortunate enough to have a set of parents. I wish Jake and I were that lucky. All these years, I wanted an explanation from him. I kept wondering what made him leave us."

"I read that letter and you know what? It made me angrier than I was before. I resent him and there is nothing anybody can do about it," I put my hand on my belly and gaze at his vulnerable face. "I found out about a month ago that I am having a baby. And you won't believe how many self-doubts I have had about my parenting since then. My Nana looked after Jake and me but I still don't know if I'll be a good mother."

"The only reason why I'm confident about having this baby is Edward. I know we are in this together. I know he is never going to leave me. I know he is going to be the best father our baby could have. What if my mother felt that way about my father? I can't imagine how heartbreaking it would be for me if Edward left. I gained a different perspective about Charlie after I became pregnant. And it made me feel grateful for having Edward in my life. He is everything to me."

I turn to Edward and he scoots his chair closer to me. He wipes away my tears and kisses my knuckles. He strokes his thumb on the back of my hand and I relax from his soothing touch. I take a deep breath and look at Callum again.

"I can't see him again, Callum. I'm sorry if I hurt you in any way. I just can't. Jake is independent enough to make his own decision. I'm happy to know that your father has a family who cares so deeply about him. You were concerned about his well-being and decided to talk to me. It's brave of you. Brave and reckless, I'd say. Please don't do it again. God forbid something happens to you."

Callum nods and clears his throat. "I promise I won't."

"You look mature for your age. I hope I didn't victimize you in any way. Last night, I was… shocked and angry."

"I understand. I didn't have your number to call and leave a message. I was just curious to find out about my step-siblings. I've only heard stories about you and had mental pictures of how you both looked. That was, until I saw your photos in the paper. Things have been stressed in our house lately and I thought if I could mend things between you and dad… it would help him."

My eyes soften at his thoughtful gesture. It is sweet of him to be concerned about his father. He just wanted to get to know his extended family. There is no harm in that. Charlie is lucky to have a son like him. Charlie was also lucky to have children like Jake and me.

"You are a good kid," Jake speaks up for the first time in a while. "Don't blame yourself for anything. Your father has hurt my family, and it's too late to make amends. I have never met him nor do I want to, but Bells is right. He is lucky to have you."

Callum's lips turn up a little. "That really helps, thanks. I'm just disappointed I couldn't solve things."

I reach over and squeeze his hand softly. "You were the perfect closure I needed, Callum. Thank you."

He nods and sighs softly. "I think I should get going now."

Edward clears his throat. "I've booked a ticket for you. Your flight leaves in two hours. This flight will be far more quickly than yesterday's."

Callum chuckles. "I don't doubt that."

I bite my bottom lip thoughtfully and contemplate whether to do what I have in mind. I can express myself better with words.

"Callum, why don't you freshen up?" I suggest softly and he rises to his feet. "I have something to give you. For Charlie. Will you give it to him for me?"

"Yes, of course."

"Okay."

Edward sends me a confused look and I just kiss his cheek and make my way to the bedroom. I open the nightstand drawer and find a notepad inside. I grab a pen from my purse and sit on the bed. I flip open the notepad to a fresh page and smile as I start writing.

Charlie,
I find myself smiling as I write this. Not because of you, but because of me. I am a fatherless daughter that survived your failure…

About twenty minutes later, I exhale deeply as I finish writing the letter. I fold the pages and hunt down an envelope in Edward's study. I seal it and carry it to the great room where Jacob and Edward are chatting about cars.

Edward has a curious expression on his face as he looks at me. His green eyes fall on the envelope and they fill with recognition. A smile tugs on his lips and he pulls me down next to him. I wrap my arms around his neck and kiss him.

"How do you feel?" He whispers and runs his nose down mine.

I can't help the smile on my face. "Lighter than air. Thank you for being here."

"I've got your back, always."

I peck his lips. "That's exactly why I'm marrying you."

"And I thought it was because of my looks."

"Well you are easy on the eyes too. Sometimes," I shrug and he chuckles.

"Sometimes."

I put my head on his chest and turn to Jake—who is furiously typing something on his phone.

"Where's Charlie's letter?" I ask him.

"In the fireplace." He says without taking his eyes off the screen.

"Cool."

Callum returns to the great room freshly showered with his backpack. We all stand up and I walk over to him. I give him a light hug and offer a small smile.

"All the best for everything you do in the future. Stay safe." I whisper and he nods.

"Thank you, Bella. It was nice to meet you. I'll see you around, I guess."

Edward pulls out a wad of cash from his wallet and offers it to Callum. "You don't have any cash with you; keep it for any kind of emergency. You might need it."

Callum hesitates. "Thank you but I can—"

"Take it, please," I say softly and he sighs. "Use it as seed money for your savings."

"Thanks guys." He shyly takes the cash and puts it inside his wallet.

"Jacob, you want to drop Callum off at the airport?" Edward asks and Jake gives him a skeptical look.

"Which car are we talking about?" He asks and I roll my eyes heavenwards.

"This is ridiculous." I mutter under my breath.

Edward chuckles. "My Vantage is here?"

Jake gapes at him. "Fuck yes! Let's go, Callum!"

"Is it expensive?" I ask Edward and Jake shakes his head.

"It's an Aston Martin, Bella. Yes, it's expensive."

"What if you crash it, Jake?"

"I'm not you."

"That's a low blow." I whisper and Edward pulls me in his arms. He kisses my hair and I sigh.

"Goodbye, Callum. Let's hope we meet again sometime." Edward says and Callum nods—his face wistful.

"Here." I pass him the envelope and he puts it in his bag.

Edward and I watch them walk into the elevator and I wave as the doors close. I let out a deep sigh and sag in his arms. He rocks me back and forth and I unwind against him. I breathe him in and close my eyes. I tremble as I feel his lips brush against my ear.

"You did exceptionally well. I'm so proud of you, Bella."

I blush and nod. "You have no idea how relieved I am. With that letter… I finally ended everything. I hope he gets the message that his mistakes are unforgivable."

"He will, love. There is no need to look over your shoulder anymore. It's all done." The finality in his voice fills me with solace.

"That sounds good."

I pull back and stretch up on my toes to press my lips against his. He smiles and eagerly kisses me back. His hands wander inside my sweater and a shiver runs down my spine. My heart races in my chest and I feel his hands slowly tugging on the hem of the sweater.

"What are you doing?" I whisper against his lips.

"Undressing you."

My cheeks flame with a blush and I open my eyes. His green eyes look sensual and hungry right now. "Do you have any self-control, Edward Cullen? The step-brother I never knew just left. He is probably still in the building."

"Yes and we are celebrating the closure." He hikes my sweater and I swat his hands away.

"No."

He pouts adorably. "Bella, it's Valentines week. Our first Valentine's Day was a bummer. I had plans for us. That involved handcuffs and a sex swing. Jacob won't be back for a while. The traffic is terrible."

I gasp softly. "Is that why you sent him away?"

He scoffs. "No. I wanted him to drive my car. I'm not that selfish but partly, yes. He had to go."

"You have no self-control, do you? It's such a shame. I thought you were the patient one."

His expression hardens, and he glares at me. "You don't think I can resist?"

"Prove it. No sex until the wedding night." I challenge him and smile sweetly.

"Deal, Ms. Swan," He smirks at me and his hands brush against my sides. Goosebumps rise on my skin and I immediately regret the deal. "Because I'm having my doubts about you already."

I look him square in the eye and place my lips millimeters apart from his. "I think I'll be just fine, baby."

He is going to make this annoyingly difficult for me.

February 16, 2016

"Edward! You're home!" Alice squeals from two doors away and I resist the urge to run to the door and greet him.

I check the time on the clock and it's five-thirty. For the first time in a while, Edward is home on time. He left at eight in the morning. I don't know how he can tirelessly work such long hours. I turn my attention back to my laptop screen where I'm uploading a new recipe. It's going to be my last one for a while, since I'll be busy for the next few months.

I tried to make something new and quick. It's Vietnamese grilled pork chops with chilled rice noodles. It takes forty minutes to make and I think Edward will like it too.

"… stay here and don't come out. I have a surprise for you!" I hear Alice talking to Edward and their voices increase in volume.

I turn towards the entrance of the family room and find Alice pushing Edward inside. She waves at me and disappears from sight. I put my laptop away and Edward smiles at me. As he walks closer in my direction, I notice how worn out his face looks. He throws his jacket on the armchair and plops down next to me.

"Hi, baby. God, you look exhausted." I whisper and scoot closer to him.

Edward pulls me to him and buries his face against my neck. He inhales deeply and I soothingly stroke his hair.

"I missed you." He mumbles and I sigh.

"I missed you too, Edward. Long day?"

He nods. "Yes. I'm so glad I'm finally home."

"Me too."

Edward releases me and gives a quick kiss. "What's up with Alice?"

"I don't know. She said that she wanted to show us something." I mutter and put my head on his chest.

"I guess we'll just have to wait."

"Hmm."

We sit in comfortable silence and fill each other in on what happened throughout the day. I sit up straight when I hear familiar little footsteps stomping somewhere in the house. Edward smiles curiously at me and I shrug in response.

"Is that Jared?" Edward muses and I chuckle.

"Maybe."

"Jared stop! Don't go in there yet!" I hear Alice hiss and we share a smile. I have no clue what she is doing.

"I wanna see Edward Bella!" He answers petulantly and I shake my head. He's the cutest boy ever.

"Wait. Why don't we first…" And their voices fade away.

"What the hell is going on?" Edward murmurs to himself and nuzzles my hair. His eyes fall on the coffee table and he frowns. "What's that?"

I stroke his cheek and give him a chaste kiss. "That's our wedding invitation, sweetheart. Thank you for being involved in the wedding." I say dryly and he gives me an apologetic smile.

"I'm sorry, baby. Of course it's our wedding invitation. I know that."

Edward leans over and grabs it. He stares at the envelope and opens it. He smiles reading the details and flips through the other cards that give the information about the reception and RSVP process. He traces the calligraphy and frowns softly.

"Is that real gold?" He asks with surprise and I nod. "Fancy much, Alice?"

I chuckle. "Esme and Carlisle selected the design."

"Oh," He smiles and puts it away. "It's nice."

"Yeah."

I close my eyes and cuddle closer to him. He puts his arms around me and gently strokes my hair. I sigh and try not to fall asleep. It's very easy to fall asleep in Edward's arms. But, I want to see what Alice is showing us tonight. My eyes snap open when I hear multiple footsteps approaching the room. We turn and see Alice standing in the doorway, buzzing with excitement.

Edward sighs impatiently next to me. "Alice, what's going on? Bella is exhausted. Can you wrap this up, please?"

"Fine!" She rolls her eyes in exasperation but smiles. "We were doing our final trial run for the wedding outfits. And we thought the bride and groom should approve of them."

"What are you…" My sentence trails off when she moves aside and two tiny figures run in our direction.

Jared looks adorable in a black tuxedo and Vanessa is dressed in a pale pink spaghetti strap knee-length flower girl dress. Edward and I have the cutest ring bearer and flower girl. I have no idea when Alice managed to get this done. It completely flew out of my mind. They are going to have a lot of fun this weekend.

"Oh my gosh, you guys look so adorable!" I gush with delight and look at Edward, who is grinning at them. "Edward, what do you think?"

"You two look so grown-up in this! It's amazing." Edward says to them and they beam at us.

Vanessa tugs on my hand and I gaze at her. "Bella look!" She twirls for me and the skirt flows effortlessly. I clap my hands and she jumps with delight.

"It's fantastic! Do you like your flower girl dress?" I ask and she nods.

"I love it! Mommy says that I look like a princess."

I smile and kiss her cheek. "Yes you do, sweetie. You look like a beautiful princess."

Ness looks at the doorway and I follow her gaze. I find Maria, Alice and Victoria standing in the doorway holding matching grins on their faces.

"Mommy, Bella says I look like a princess too!" She squeals and Maria smiles.

"Of course she did, honey."

Jared crawls onto Edward's lap and tugs on his bowtie. "Edward, mommy make me wear this. I no like it. I take it off?"

Edward chuckles. "Well, you can right now. But, you'll have to wear it on the wedding day. Even I'm going to wear one. And Alex, Emmett, Jacob and Will are also going to wear ones too."

He gasps. "Really? I am grown-up?"

"Of course, you're a big boy now. Here," Edward helps him take off his bowtie and undoes the first button of his shirt. "There you go."

"Thank you!"

"You're welcome, buddy." Edward kisses the top of his head and smiles.

Jared crawls over to me and gives me an adorable smile. "Bella, I'm a big boy."

"I can see that and you look so handsome! Both of you look great." I say and ruffle his hair. He smiles shyly and tightly hugs me.

"Oh, he's so cute." I whisper to Edward and put my arms around Jared. Edward chuckles and kisses my hand.

"Edward, look!" Ness tugs on his hand and twirls for him too. He gasps happily and she giggles.

"Oh my god, aren't you the prettiest princess ever!" He tells her and she jumps onto his lap. He laughs and kisses her cheek.

Alice, Maria and Victoria walk into the room and settle on the armchairs and sofa near us. Alice tells us that she designed Vanessa's outfit at her workshop last week and Jared's tuxedo was tailored at the same place where Edward and the groomsmen are getting their tuxes. Alice always takes care of everything.

The kids start babbling about the wedding and they are ecstatic to miss school and fly in a plane to a different country. I don't think they understand the entire concept of a wedding yet but I'm glad they are looking forward to it. Edward told them that Rome has the best pizzas in the world and they are over the moon about it.

A while later, Matt enters the family room and Ness runs over to him. She hops into his arms and he smiles at her. I haven't seen him smile that often.

"Daddy, look! I'm a princess." Ness says, and he kisses her forehead.

"Yes you are. You look beautiful, Ness. Did you say thank you to Ms. Alice?"

"Yes, daddy." She squirms in his arms until he sets her down and claims her place back on Edward's lap.

"Mr. Cullen, Mr. Volturi sent a couple of files over that require your attention." Matt says and Edward nods at him.

"Alright, I'll check them out later. Thank you."

"And your jet is ready for tomorrow. I've told First Officer Dern that you'll be at the tarmac by six-thirty, max." He informs and Edward sighs.

"Thank you. I might have to call Alex and tell him to be on time."

"We're doing a final once-over on security in Rome." Matt informs him.

Edward frowns. "Alright, I'll join you. I want to have a look as well."

Matt nods and gazes at Maria briefly before leaving. Edward sets Ness off his lap and stands up. He kisses the top of my head and smiles.

"Alright ladies, I'll see you in a bit. Bella, take your meds." He says pointedly and I nod.

"Yes, sir."

"Bella," Ness pats my cheek. "Where daddy and Edward go?"

"They had some work to do, baby. They'll be back soon." I reassure her and she nods. She starts toying with my engagement ring and stares at it with a fascinated expression on her face.

Maria chuckles staring at her daughter. "She couldn't stop talking about the ring when she saw it for the first time. She wanted a ring just like that one. It's crazy."

Victoria laughs. "Can you blame her? It's precious. Edward has such a good eye for jewelry."

Alice rolls her eyes. "I don't know why Edward is getting credit for it. It's our nana's ring."

I snort. "He loves when people compliment him. He doesn't even correct them."

"He is a butthead." She mutters and the kids giggle.

"Mommy, Alice said butthead," Jared says from my lap and laughs. "Edward is butthead."

Victoria tries to hide her smile. "Jared, don't say that. That's mean."

"Alice said that too, mommy. I wear this to school, mommy?" He points to his tux, and she shakes her head.

"You can't, honey. Or it will get dirty."

"No, mommy! I wear it every day!" He jumps off my lap and runs out of the room. Vanessa carefully gets off the sofa and sprints after him.

"Oh their outfits! What if they spoil them!" Alice panics and scurries after them and Maria follows. Victoria looks at me and gives me a meaningful look.

"Give it a lot of thought before you decide to have kids."

What just happened?

February 17, 2016

"Edward?"

"Yes, baby?"

"Edward!" I say firmly but he doesn't take his eyes off the laptop screen. I huff and cross my arms over my chest.

I stare out of the window and realize we've almost reached the tarmac. Once Felix stops the car in front of the jet, I grab my coat and step out. I put it on and tighten my arms around myself as I climb the stairs. I spot Caius, the pilot and First Officer Dern waiting at the entrance. I offer them a polite smile and they congratulate me on the engagement. I mumble a thank you and make my way to my family.

I try to brush off my irritation with Edward and focus on the people present on the jet. We are flying with our family; even Senna and Jasper are on board. Esme and Jane eagerly stare at me and wave me in their direction.

"Hi, dear. How are you feeling?" Esme asks and gives me a quick hug.

"I'm good."

"Any hint of morning sickness? Or maybe you want to catch some sleep?"

I sigh with a smile. "I threw up an hour ago; I think I'm okay for now. And I'll try to stay awake for the majority of the flight."

Esme laughs and rubs my arm. "Please sleep if you feel like it. Alice is going to tire us all out. She has games planned for everyone."

"Oh god, that sounds dangerous."

Jane looks over my shoulder and frowns. "Where's my nephew?"

I roll my eyes. "Your nephew is working in the car. He is being a pain in the ass this morning. He is constantly working, and he was on a conference call in the doctor's office. Nobody in the Radiology department wants to hear him yell at Dave about some statistics that went wrong. Ugh! I'm so annoyed with him."

Jane stands up and smiles softly. "Don't get mad at him. You're getting married in five days! Do you have a copy of the ultrasound picture?"

My mood brightens at the mention of my peanut. I beam at her and open my purse. I pull out a copy and hand it over. Our baby has grown a lot since the last ultrasound. He looks like a little person with arms and legs. I can't wait to feel him grow inside me.

"Oh, the baby's so cute!" Jane gushes and Esme beams looking at the picture.

"Our first grandbaby, Jane," Esme says with marvel in her voice. "Soon we'll get to hold her and babysit her."

"Him." I correct them and they laugh.

"We'll find out soon." Jane responds and I smile.

I hear laughter coming from the neighboring section and the voices increase in volume. Suddenly, I'm swooped up in a pair of strong arms. Will spins me around and I squirm because of the lack of oxygen.

"Will, can't breathe." I mutter and he releases me. I take a lungful of breath and he grins at me.

"Hey Will, look that's the baby," Alex says as he looks at the ultrasound copy. Alice, Emmett and Jacob hover over it and Will joins them.

"I can't see." Will grumbles and tries to snatch it.

"You'll tear it!" Alice yells angrily and I roll my eyes. My baby is going to have mature aunts and uncles. I'm never letting them go unsupervised with my child.

"Is that your only copy, Bella?" Esme asks with an apologetic smile.

I shake my head. "Edward and I have a copy each."

"Great."

Senna exits the lounge area after ending a phone call. She smiles at me and I smile back. She sighs with exasperation when she sees everyone hovering over the copy of ultrasound. I turn and find Carlisle and Anthony fiddling with an iPad. Carlisle smiles and offers me a nod.

"Dad wants to see The Office. He loves it." He explains and I nod.

"Cool."

"Jazzy!" Alice squeals when Jasper enters the jet with a few files in his hands. Alice hugs him and kisses his cheek.

"Hello, darlin'. Hey everyone." He greets and beams at me.

"Is Edward still in the car?" I ask and he nods.

"It's urgent," He waves the files at me. "Don't be mad at him."

I roll my eyes. "Sure."

"Bella, did you start working on the nursery?" Alice asks and I look at her.

"Um, I think it's too soon. We don't know the sex of the baby yet. I would like to know that first." I shrug and she nods.

"That's true but you'll be busy until May. That's three months. And then you'll need to rest for the last two months. You won't have a lot of time in your hands." She explains and I feel panic set in.

What if we don't have the nursery ready before the baby comes? I want to be a part of designing the nursery along with Edward. I want to go baby shopping to buy cute outfits and toys.

"Bella, Alice is overthinking. Don't worry. You'll have enough time for everything. Trust me." Esme says and I snap out of my thoughts.

My eyes prick with tears and I nod slowly. "Okay."

"Bella sweetheart, are you crying?" Alex asks in a soft voice and I shake my head. "What's wrong?"

"I want to design a nursery for my baby." I say and a sob escapes my chest. I feel Jake hugging me and I weep against his chest.

"Don't cry, Bella. We'll help you design the nursery whenever you want. It'll be ready within days. It won't take long."

His words put me at ease. I'm sure it won't take a lot of time.

"Really?" I whimper and pull back to look at him.

He nods and wipes away my tears. "I promise."

Edward walks in with his laptop in one hand. He looks at everyone standing quietly and his green eyes fall on me. His expression turns anxious, and he rushes over to me. I release Jake and Edward cups my cheek with his free hand.

"Bella baby, what happened? Why are you crying?" He asks and I shrug his hand away.

"I don't want to talk to you." I snap angrily and stomp over to the nearest empty seat. I buckle in and look out of the window.

"What happened?" Anthony asks clueless and I blush brightly.

"Bella just had a moment, that's all." Esme says calmly and I attempt to smile in her direction.

The pilot asks everyone to take their seats and I force Will to sit next to me. Carlisle and Anthony sit across from me, Edward and Esme are seated diagonally and Jane and Jacob sit across them. The rest are seated behind us.

I toy with my engagement ring and hear Hazel, the air hostess making safety demonstrations. Once her footsteps fade away, my heart speeds up. I hate take-offs. Edward always calms me down, but he is not next to me. I close my eyes and take a deep breath. I grab Will's hand in both of mine and snap open my eyes.

Will gives me a comforting smile and leans closer. "Should I switch places with Edward?"

I shake my head. "That's not necessary."

"You'll be fine, darling. I'm here for you." He kisses the top of my head and I smile.

"Thanks."

"And talk to Edward in a bit. He'll get cranky if you stay irritated with him. Plus, he has been facing on some technical issues at work regarding his Dubai project. He wants to finish everything before the wedding so that you guys can spend the maximum amount of time together. You know his job is not easy. Cut him a little slack."

I frown hearing that. I don't know anything about his work problems. He hasn't shared any of his work issues with me since I became pregnant. Even when I asked. I hate to see him stressed about work.

"He should've spoken to me about it." I whisper and stare at my knotted hands on my lap.

"Bella, you've been busy, and he doesn't want to stress you out." Will says easily and I look up at Edward.

His green eyes meet mine and he smiles hesitantly in my direction. He mouths 'Sorry' and I shake my head. I should be the one apologizing. I try to blink back my tears and Will pats my hand. I glance at him.

"Should I switch places with Edward?" Will asks again and I offer him a small smile.

"Yes, please. Thank you."

Will grabs Edward's attention and they exchange seats. Edward buckles in next to me and my nerves go away as soon as his hand interlaces with mine. I turn to him and his warm hand strokes my cheek. I sigh and lean into his touch.

"I'm sorry, Edward. I didn't mean to be rude. You should've told me that you were having trouble at work. I was being stupid and selfish." I whisper and his eyes soften.

"No you weren't. You just want to spend time with me. That's not a tough request. But, I do have urgent work to do. I promise I'll finish it as quickly as I can. I want to spend our time in Rome with no interruptions."

I smile and stare at him from under my lashes. "I can live with that."

"I love you, baby." He whispers and I blush.

"I love you too."

I clutch his hand in mine when the jet starts steadily moving. Edward squeezes my hand and I look at his handsome face.

"Did you show mom the copy of the ultrasound?" He asks and I nod distractedly. My attention is on the jet that is about to take off. "Bella baby, focus on me."

"Okay." I murmur and exhale deeply. He smiles and kisses my knuckles.

"You're going to love Rome. You'll be able to see the city skyline from our penthouse suite. It's breathtaking." He says and my eyes widen in surprise.

"Really? That sounds exciting. But, we won't get a lot of time to see the city."

"I know, love. That sucks," He plays with my fingers. "But we're leaving Sunday night."

"And where are we going?" I ask casually and his green eyes look at me.

"We're going to—" He stops mid-sentence when he realizes he was about to tell me. He glares at me and I can't help but laugh.

"I'm not even sorry."

"I know that," He leans over and pecks my lips. "You're sneaky."

"You still love me."

"Immensely." He says smoothly and I register the jet has already taken off. I smile and shake my head.

He makes me forget everything.

"Is it a doll? What are you drawing, Will?! It's ridiculous!" Alice yells in frustration and I stifle a chuckle. I stare at the timer and look at Alice's team.

"Time up! Your minute is over." I announce and they sigh dejectedly.

Alice came up with the idea to play Pictionary during the flight and she has been badgering everyone to be a part of it. It's almost eleven at night, Anthony has already left to go to sleep and the others have been forced to be here. Except Edward. He is working in the conference room. He went to work soon after we had dinner.

Everyone is divided into two teams. Alice's team has Will, Senna, Jane and Carlisle. Alex's team has Esme, Jake, Jasper and Emmett. I decided to be the person who works the timer. There are two architects in the latter team; Alice's team doesn't stand a chance.

I stare at the notepad in my hands and see that Alex's team is leading by five points. The score is 4-9. Plus, Alice is a sore loser.

"What were you trying to draw, Will?" Carlisle asks and Will scratches the back of his head.

"Uh, it's a baby," He points to the cylindrical object. "And that's a woman," He motions to the stick figure. "She's a mom! The word was 'mom'. How could you not get it? It was right there."

I laugh along with others at the horrible drawing and Senna throws a pillow in Will's direction. Jane is trying to hold back Alice who is ready to beat the hell out of Will. He settles on the far end of the couch in the lounge and keeps a careful eye on Alice.

"Alright, I think the clear winner of the game is my team," Alex says with a smirk and stands up. "So, Alice just tell me that 'Alex, you're the best and I suck at Pictionary.' We can put an end to this game right now."

Alice fumes with annoyance and huffs. "Whatever, Alex."

"Ooh, what happened pixie? I thought you said this game was a piece of cake for you." Alex teases her and I shake my head.

"Shut up." She snaps and looks away from him.

"And I thought this game was going to be a challenge." He plops back on the couch and smiles smugly.

Everybody starts chattering amongst themselves and Alex tells me about a Pictionary incident from a few years ago. I try to listen to him but my mind keeps going to Edward—who is sitting two doors away. I miss him for some reason. I wish he was here playing with everyone.

Esme and Jane leave for bed but Carlisle decides to stay back with others for a while. Hazel serves wine to everyone and Alex takes a glass for himself. He shifts in my direction and the aroma of fruity, earthy scent makes my stomach churn. I spring to my feet and rush to the nearest bathroom.

I spot the toilet seat but it's too far. I make it to the wash basin and throw up my dinner. Why the hell is it called morning sickness? I puke at all times of the day and night! I hate this. Once I'm done, I turn the tap on and the contents disappear from my sight. I wash my mouth and return to the lounge area where my purse is.

I find all eyes on me as I get my purse and Alice meets me gaze. She offers me a sympathetic smile and I smile back. I enter the bathroom again and brush my teeth. I clean myself and decide to go to the conference room.

I knock on the door and open it. I find Edward sitting at the head of the boardroom, typing something on his laptop. His green eyes look at me and he smiles. I enter the room and he springs to his feet. He quickly puts the glass of wine far from his reach and I smile at his thoughtful gesture.

Edward settles on the chair and I walk in his direction. I take off my flats and sit on his lap. He sighs soundly and I curl closer to him. He takes the purse from my hand and puts it away.

"Do you want crackers or something? I can ask Hazel—"

"No," I mumble and shake my head. "I'm fine."

"Okay," He kisses my hair and rubs my back. "Hopefully, you won't throw up again during the rest of the flight."

I pull back and sigh. "I hope I don't throw up when I walk down the aisle."

He smiles and pecks my lips. "You won't, darling. Don't worry."

"If you have work, I can leave."

"No, don't go. I'm getting bored working all alone." He pouts and I giggle.

"You know you can work later, right?"

"I know. I'll just finish up this report and we'll go to bed. You need sleep."

I smile and kiss him. "Okay."

I wrap my arms around his neck and snuggle closer to him. I close my eyes and let out a yawn. I feel his lips pressing against my cheek and hear him type something. I listen to his steady heartbeat and the soothing sound sends me into a deep slumber.

February 18, 2016

My eyes flutter open and I wake up to the view of the beautiful city of Rome. I sigh softly and brush the stray hair away from my face. I pat my hand to the side, expecting to find Edward sleeping next to me but feel nothing. I turn and find a note kept on the pillow. I sit up and rub my eyes. I grab my phone and check the time. It's five thirty in the evening. Whoa. I slept a long time.

We landed in Rome around noon and had lunch at a local pizzeria. It was the best pizza I had ever had. We reached the hotel around one-thirty and everyone retreated to their respective rooms. Edward booked a Penthouse Suite for us at the Rome Cavalieri Resort which is the best suite in the hotel. There is a jacuzzi bathtub upstairs that has a gorgeous view of the city. It's absolutely breathtaking.

Edward and I fell asleep soon after and now he's not here. I reach for the note and open it. I read what's written inside.

Hey, beautiful. I'm sorry I'm not there with you right now. Alex, Emmett, Jacob, Emmett, Jasper and Will are forcing me to go out for drinks with them. Please punch one of them in the face once we come back. I'll be back soon. Hopefully. I miss you and I love you.

I chuckle and shake my head. Maybe I will punch one of them in the face. I wanted to take a bath with Edward. Never mind. I can discover the city on my own, I guess. I can take a walk and have some time alone with my thoughts. It's been a while since I have had time for myself. I get excited at the prospect of roaming the city.

I hop off the bed and take a shower. I dress in an emerald infinity wool sweater and matching skirt. I don a pair of black glossy leather boots and grab a black leather tote. I put on a brown wool trench coat and a hint of mascara. I am ready. I run a hand through my messy hair and look at my reflection in the mirror. Not bad.

I leave the hotel and walk the streets of Rome. I feel like I'm dreaming. I would've never thought I would get to see Rome, much less, get married in a city so beautiful. It's a magical feeling. I walk past a lot of restaurants and snap pictures of things that I like. This city is full of life. I scroll through the pictures I took and feel a flash going off near me. I look up and see nothing. I'm probably day dreaming.

I spot a cute little arts and crafts store and smile to myself. I think I'll check it out. Alice has already planned to drag me to the brand stores tomorrow but I would love to visit this one. I step inside and find it's a lot bigger than it looks. I skim through the collection of fine leather purses and belts. I spot a section of accessories.

I select two pairs of earrings I like and an anklet. It's delicate and beautiful. I pay for my items and take the change and the bag from the person at the counter. I check the time on my phone and see that it's seven in the evening. Shit, where did the time go?

I didn't realize while I was walking that I have wandered far from the hotel. Way too far. Maybe I should call Demetri and ask him to pick me up. I'll call him once I'm closer to the hotel. As I walk towards the exit door, I see pairs of eyes staring at me. I blush from the unnecessary attention and gasp internally when I find almost twenty photographers standing outside the store, taking my picture.

I step back and realize that it will be impossible to step out and get rid of them. They will follow me everywhere. My heart starts thundering in my chest and I blink my back the tears that build up in my eyes.

I ignore all the eyes staring at me and go to a secluded spot where I can't see anybody. My hands turn jittery and I call Edward. I press the phone to my ear and wipe away a tear from the corner of my eye. He answers on the first ring.

"Bella, where are you? I was just going to call. Are you in Alice's room?" He asks curiously and I clear my throat.

"I went out for a walk and now I'm in a store. There are twenty photographers standing outside. Edward, I'm scared." I whisper brokenly and bite my bottom lip anxiously.

"Why didn't you take Demetri with you, love? I told you to take him everywhere. Wait there, we'll be right there." He says and I can hear him walking.

"Please come fast."

"I'm on my way, baby. Send me the location, okay?"

"Okay. I love you."

"I love you too, my darling."

I hang up and immediately send him the location. I tap my foot nervously and try to calm myself. I walk towards the counter and notice security has shut the door. I sigh with relief and a man approaches me.

"May I help you, ma'am?" He asks in a thick Italian accent.

"Is there another way to exit the store?" I ask hesitantly and he nods. He leads me to the back of the store and opens the door.

I suppress a sigh when I find paparazzi standing at the back exit as well. I ask him to shut the door and he follows me back inside the store. He offers me a glass of water and I take an inviting sip. I hear whispers going around the store and even though I don't understand Italian, I feel like they are talking about me. Since they keep looking my way and murmuring to each other.

A few minutes later, I receive a text from Edward that he is outside. I sigh with relief and thank the salesperson for attempting to help me. I swing open the door and find Demetri standing right outside. He nods at me and weaves us through the people escorting me to the waiting car. I feel lightheaded from the flashes and fight the urge to run away.

The passenger door opens and I quickly enter the car. I am immediately enveloped in my favorite arms. Edward holds me to him and I take deep breaths. I don't pull back and feel the car moving. Edward rubs my back and I sniffle softly.

"Baby, you're shaking," Edward whispers softly and kisses my hair.

"I'm sorry. I just got overwhelmed. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have called you. I feel like I'm overreacting." I say and a sob escapes my chest. I cry against him and gasp when Demetri suddenly stops the car.

I pull back and see photographers hovering over the car from all directions, trying to snap a picture.

"You weren't overreacting, angel. Don't say that," He says and wipes away my tears. "Look outside. Their number has increased. They could've trampled you for all I know. I'm so thankful you called."

"I get nervous every time I see somebody taking my picture. I hate being photographed by them." I mutter and he laughs.

"I know," He gently kisses me. "You only take pictures when I force you to."

I chuckle. "Yes and Alex sneakily takes them too."

"So do I."

My eyes widen with surprise. "Really?"

Edward pulls out his phone and opens the photo gallery. He scrolls through the photos and my mouth falls open when I notice that more than half of the photos are of me. Pictures of me sleeping, smiling, laughing, staring into space, talking to someone and many are from my book launch. How did I not notice him taking these?

He closes the application and I see a picture of us on his home screen. It's from our trip to Vienna. He locks the phone and I see a picture of me on his lock screen. It's a different photo of me every week.

"You're sneaky, Mr. Cullen." I whisper and gaze at him. He smiles and kisses my forehead.

"I look at my screen every time I miss you."

"Me too." I show him my home screen and it's a picture of us.

Edward presses his lips against my hair and pulls me closer. "I love you, baby."

"I love you too."

We sigh in unison when we see that the car has barely moved. Demetri is trying to hold in his irritation as he tries to find a way to get rid of the mob of people around us. Edward leans forward and clears his throat. He helps Demetri navigate away from the crowd and a few minutes later we finally get away from the madness.

"What the hell was that?" I murmur in disbelief and Edward shakes his head.

"That was ridiculous. Demetri, we'll have to upgrade security for Saturday."

"Yes, sir."

Edward wraps his arms around me and I curl closer to him. I kiss his jaw and his tense body relaxes a little. I run my hand through his soft hair and he sighs. He takes my left hand in his and plays with my engagement ring. He puts his hand on my belly and I cover it with mine.

I rest my head on his shoulder and stare at his handsome face. I wonder what is going on in his head. I raise my other hand and caress his cheek. He blinks rapidly, as if snapping himself out of his reverie.

"Hey, are you okay?" I ask gently and he nods, offering me a smile.

"Yeah."

"You seem lost."

"Just thinking about you and our baby." He says softly and I smile.

"What about us?"

His lips curl into a smile and he touches his forehead to mine. "How much I love you both."

"I love you too. And our baby loves you too," I whisper, and he chuckles. "Really. Our peanut just told me that."

"Yeah? I'm glad you guys are talking about me."

I laugh and kiss his cheek. "We always talk about you."

"Hmm," He gazes out of the window and back towards me. "Do you want to have dinner, baby? I can book a table at the restaurant in the hotel where we're staying. The food is really good."

"Sure. I'm getting hungry."

"Okay," He pecks my lips. "And might I say you look absolutely beautiful tonight."

I blush from head to toe. "Thank you, Mr. Cullen. You're very kind."

He shifts closer and his hot breath fans my face. "We're going to have a romantic dinner, and then we'll go back to our room and get into the bath upstairs. We'll take a late night bath and not have sex, because someone challenged me."

My throat goes dry and desire pools in the pit of my stomach. I can hear my heart thundering in my chest and I stare at him from under my lashes. "We can make an exception for tonight."

He smiles and kisses me. "I don't think so."

He is such a tease sometimes.

February 19, 2016

"Oh my god, you look so beautiful!" Esme gushes and claps her hands. Jane gives me a big grin and nods her head in approval.

"Do we still need to make any changes?" Alice asks and I shake my head.

"No," I breathe out and sigh. "I think it's perfect."

"You look gorgeous, Bella. You're going to look more breathtaking with your hair and make-up done." Angela says and I blush.

"Thanks."

I stare at my reflection in the mirror and my heart skips a beat. It's my final wedding dress fitting before the wedding ceremony. The dress fits me perfectly and it looks amazing. I can't believe I'm getting married in two days. I am going to have a nervous breakdown thinking about it. I try to keep the trepidation out of my thoughts.

Emily and Senna compliment me on the dress and I can't take my eyes off it. It's the most beautiful wedding dress ever. It's not flashy or too simple. It's perfect. Perfect for me.

"Okay, I'm taking it off now." I announce and jump startled when there is pounding on the door of Alice's room.

"Who is it?" Alice asks with irritation and the knocking stops.

"It's me! Open the fucking door. What the hell are you doing in there all morning?" Emmett yells and Jane shakes her head. She walks over and opens the door.

Emmett stands at the doorway and looks at everybody before his eyes fall on me. He gives me a big grin and I flush.

"Whoa, Bella. You look superb. Amazing. I'm literally speechless." He says and I blush redder.

"What's going on?" I hear Edward ask outside and my heart stutters. I need to see him. I haven't seen him all day.

His footsteps near the room and Emmett smacks his head before he can look inside.

"What the fuck, Emmett!" Edward snaps and he sounds frustrated about something.

"You can't see the bride in the wedding dress before the wedding, you fucking idiot!" Emmett answers and I don't hear my fiancé say anything in response.

"What do you want, Emmett?" Esme asks, and he rolls his eyes.

"Well, Edward is being a grumpy ass and refusing to go out because he wants to see Bella. Since you ladies are going to leave shortly, Bella why don't you go see your pain in the ass future husband? He is going crazy. We have plans for him," He wiggles his eyebrows suggestively and I shake my head.

"Do whatever you want, just don't get him sick." Senna reminds him and Emmett nods.

"Don't worry. We'll try to behave ourselves." He winks at her and she shakes her head.

Emily clears her throat. "Bella, you can have five minutes with Edward. Or else we'll miss our appointments. We're already late because we've been trying on our wedding outfits. We still have to get ready to go out."

Five minutes? If I change quickly, I'll have more time on my hands.

"Emmett, give me two minutes."

Emmett nods and leaves the room. I grab Angela's hand and drag her to the bathroom. She helps me take off the wedding dress and brings in the outfit Alice picked out for me today. It's a mini skirt, and a cropped sweater. The skirt is really short. Edward is going to freak out. Anyway, I want to have a good time with my friends tonight. I can wear what I want.

I change into the clothes and put a hint of make-up on my face. I brush my hair and take off my flats. I put on my black over the knee boots and groan. My feet hurt but they look sexy. I grab my coat and rush out of the room as fast as possible.

I make a beeline for our suite because I know that's where he'll be. I enter the penthouse and my breathing catches in my throat when I spot Edward standing in the bedroom, leaning against the floor to ceiling window. He is dressed in a white henley, a black cardigan and grey jeans. He looks like a model posing for a photoshoot.

Edward turns in my direction and his green eyes darken as he stares at me from head to toe. I walk over to him and jump into his waiting arms. I press my lips against his and he passionately kisses me back. His arms lift me higher and I fold my legs around his waist. I feverishly kiss him, pouring every ounce of energy into our kiss. It's been way too long since I last kissed him.

A few minutes later, we break apart gasping for breath and I look at his handsome face. Edward cradles my face in his hands and touches his forehead to mine. He settles on the edge of the bed with me straddling his lap.

"You look sexy, Ms. Swan." He whispers seductively and I wrap my arms around his neck.

"I can say the same about you, Mr. Cullen."

He strokes my thighs and pulls back. "It's really short."

"I know," I cup his cheek and give him a chaste kiss. "But, I like it."

"I like it too," He smiles and plants a kiss on my engagement ring. "Don't let anybody hit on you."

"I make no promises," I wink and his smile disappears. "I mean, if a man talks to me in a thick Italian accent, I might throw myself at him."

He growls softly and roughly kisses me. I am taken aback by his force but I reciprocate the gesture with similar intensity. "You. Are. Mine."

I breathlessly stare at him and nod. "I'm yours, sweetheart. Now and always."

"Do you have to leave soon?" Edward asks and I nod. He pouts and snuggles against my neck. "I'll miss you."

"I'll miss you too. Please be careful tonight. Have fun but try to come back before morning."

He chuckles at that. "Of course, my love."

"We have the rehearsal dinner tomorrow at five in the evening." I remind him and he groans.

"Yeah, that sounds fun."

I giggle. "Don't be so grumpy. It can be fun."

"Fine."

"I just wish we didn't have to go. We could've spent the day in bed, watching movies." I mutter and he pulls back to look at me.

"We can do more than watch movies, baby. I'll lock the door so that nobody can enter." He whispers and his hands gently travel inside my skirt. Goosebumps rise on my skin as his tantalizing touch leaves me craving for more. I try not to lose focus of our conversation and instead decide to change the topic.

"Where are you going tonight?" I ask and quickly stop his hands from reaching the waistband of my panties. He huffs grumpily and crosses his arms over his chest.

"Way to ruin it, Bella. And I don't know where they are taking me. I don't care."

I giggle. "Okay."

Edward pulls me closer and kisses me. I smile and eagerly kiss him back. I knot my hands in his soft hair and enjoy the silence around us. There is nothing heard but our ragged breathing. I could kiss him all day.

A few minutes later, I hear a lot of commotion and I break our kiss. I turn to find Alice, Alex and Emmett standing by the edge of the bed, glaring at us. I blush furiously and look away from them. Edward kisses my forehead and tightens his arms around me.

"Get out. Now." He snaps and Alice sighs.

"Edward, don't bother. I'm here to take Bella. You can have all the fun you want on your honeymoon. But for the next three days, we're here to have some fun!" Alice shouts and tugs on my hand.

"Oh, okay." I mutter and carefully climb off his lap.

"We're way behind schedule, Bella. Let's go! Everyone's waiting downstairs!" She says excitedly and I turn to Edward.

He stands up and I give him a parting kiss. Alice groans and yanks me away from him. I huff but follow her out of the suite.

"You guys are impossible." She mutters and I laugh.

"I'm not even sorry."

I just love him so much.

February 20, 2016

I hear something ringing near me. I frown and try to fall asleep. What the hell is that? It sounds familiar but I'm too tired to open my eyes and look around. As I drift off to sleep, the noise wakes me up again.

I sigh and open my eyes. I turn to the nightstand and find my phone ringing. I yawn and sit up on the bed. I check the screen and see Alex's name flashing on the screen. I notice the time and my eyes bulge out of their sockets. It's four-thirty in the morning.

I turn to my left and find the bedside empty. Edward is still not back from his bachelor party. What in the world are they doing? How wild is their party that they haven't returned to the hotel at four thirty in the freaking morning!

My bachelorette party was amazing. We spent a few hours at the spa and it was the most relaxed I had been this month. Then we went for dinner at a restaurant and my friends got drunk and embarrassed themselves singing karaoke. It was fun. We were back by eleven-thirty and I went straight to sleep, hoping Edward would come back soon. But, he isn't here.

I snap out of my thoughts and answer the ringing phone.

"Hello?" I mutter and hear harsh breathing on the other line.

"Bella, are you up?" Alex asks. and he slurs his words a little.

"I am now," I say with irritation and shake my head. "Where on Earth are you?"

"We're in the hotel. Can you open the door, we didn't want to knock and disturb you." He says and I roll my eyes at his drunken logic.

"Sure." I hang up and flick on the lamps.

I get off the bed and put on my robe over my camisole and panties. I pad along the hallway and unlock the door. My eyes widen when I find Will, Alex and Edward standing on the other side. They are clearly hammered and seem to be barely keeping it together.

"Hey, Bells!" Will smiles and waves at me.

"Hello, Will. Don't you think you guys partied too hard?" I ask and Alex sighs.

"We're not sorry," He says stubbornly and crosses his arms over his chest. His eyelids are half open and it's a funny sight. "Edward was such an ass. He wanted to leave at one. But, we got him drunk." He gives me a proud goofy smile and I glower at him.

"Thanks for that."

Edward quietly walks in my direction and winds his arms around me. He tightly hugs me and buries his face against my hair. I stroke his hair and sigh softly.

"Hey, baby. Let's get you in bed." I whisper and he nods.

"You smell nice, Bella." He whispers back and I hum in agreement.

I look over his shoulder and stare at Alex and Will. "Thank you for bringing him here. Please go to your rooms."

"Okay," Alex nods and puts his hand inside his jacket. He retrieves his hotel key card and throws it in my direction. "Catch it! And keep it safe or else I won't be able to get into my room."

I gaze at Will. "Will, take him to your room please."

"Okay. Bye, guys!" He yells, and I shut the door in their faces. Will's room is two doors away; I think they'll be safe.

I release Edward and take his hand in mine. He touches his forehead to mine and sighs. "Bella?"

"Yes, honey?"

"I love you."

I smile and stroke his cheek. "I love you too. Come on, I think somebody needs to sleep."

He chuckles. "Who's somebody?"

I shake my head and Edward leans against my body for support as we walk in the bedroom's direction. We reach the bed and he throws himself on the mattress. He sighs loudly and suddenly sits up.

"Whoa," He frowns and looks at me. "Are you okay? You seem dizzy. I feel hot."

I smile and stand in front of him. "Let me help you."

"You're so nice," He slurs and takes off his jacket. He throws it on the coffee table and smiles. "Perfect."

I take off his watch and get his phone out of his jeans. I put it on the nightstand and he looks at me with wide green eyes.

"You're so pretty." He whispers and I can hear the marvel in his voice. I giggle at his cute expression and kiss his forehead.

"Thanks, sweetie."

I help him out of his cardigan and he kicks away his shoes. I pick up his jacket and cardigan and carry them to the closet.

"Bella! Bella? Where are you?! Bella!" He shouts and I roll my eyes. I put his clothes in the closet and slide it close. I hear his phone ringing. "Bella, my phone is making sounds."

I chuckle and walk back to the bedroom. Edward is intently staring at the screen and has a frown on his face. He looks at me and waves the phone in my direction.

"It's Mishtchell. The whisky guy." He says and brings the phone closer to him.

My eyes widen. "Edward, don't answer the phone."

"I wanna answer it!" He replies petulantly and I march over to him. I grab the phone from him and put it on the nightstand.

"You are not answering any calls! You're going to sleep now!" I raise my voice a little and he puts his index finger to his lips.

"Shh, you'll wake the baby," Edward whispers and pulls me closer. He kisses my belly and rests his head there. "Is the baby sleeping, Bella?"

I stroke his hair and sigh. "Yes, honey. And I think you should sleep too."

He smiles and kisses my belly again. "I love you, baby. If you sleep now, I'll buy you anything you want once you grow up. A car, a building… maybe a com—"

I cut him off. "I think you've spoiled him enough already. He's already asleep. Don't disturb him."

Edward frowns and pulls back to look at me. "We're having a girl, Bella. She's going to be so beautiful, like you," He puts his lips against my abdomen. "You're not dating until you're forty, okay?"

I try not to laugh and straighten myself when he glances at me again. "Bella, you don't think we're having a girl?"

"We'll find out soon, Edward."

"Say it's a girl or else I won't sleep." He mutters stubbornly and I shake my head in exasperation.

"Edward, you're being—"

"Say it's a girl or I won't sleep." He repeats and I sigh defeatedly.

"Fine. We're having a girl. Happy? Let's sleep now."

He grins at me. "Okay."

I help Edward lie down and pull the sheets over his body. I take off my robe and switch off the lamps. I get under the covers and he immediately wraps himself around me. I smile and kiss the top of his head. He snuggles closer and takes my hand in his.

"Sorry." Edward suddenly whispers and I frown.

"What for?"

"I got drunk. You leave me when I get drunk. Don't leave me, Bella. I love you." His voice is heavy emotion and my eyes soften.

"I'm not going anywhere, baby. I'm right here. I love you."

"Sorry." He mumbles sleepily and his light snores fill the silence of the suite. I tighten my arms around him and shut my eyes. Poor baby. Alex and the others shouldn't have forced him to drink so much. He will wake up with a pounding headache.

Tomorrow is going to be hell for him.

SPECIAL THANKS TO EdwardsFirstKiss FOR EDITING THIS CHAPTER!

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