A/N:

Okay, ONE more chapter, and then Edward will make a reappearance :-P Need to lay the groundwork for Bella having a baby, okay? :) For those of you who've read this before, you'll recognize quite a lot in this chapter, but also how I've changed it to show that Bella doesn't make this decision lightly.

It might have appeared that way in the end of the previous chapter, but she's thought it through a lot!

Title: The Perfect Partner Program

Author: MarieCarro

Beta: EdwardsFirstKiss

Pre-reader: brwneyedgrl01

Genre: Angst/Hurt&Comfort/Romance

Rating: NC-17

Summary: The summer of 2005 was the summer that changed Bella Swan's life forever. Sent to Ohio by her mother to attend a school for debutante girls not quite up to par, she meets Edward Masen, an apprentice. But is that really all he is? AH

Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

Chapter Word Count: 2, 346

CHAPTER 18 HUGE COMMITMENTS

"What about this one?" Becca held up one of the profiles in front of her and started to read out loud. "5'9; dark hair; blue eyes. Works as a lawyer. No major health issues in his family history." She glanced at me over the edge of the paper. "Sounds perfect, doesn't he?" she said enthusiastically.

"I don't care about perfect," I told her and browsed through my own pile of profiles. "All I want is someone who can use their brain and have genes that won't clash horribly with mine."

"As if any genes could clash badly with yours," Becca said and winked. "You're so badass I'm positive any guy's weaker genes wouldn't stand a chance against yours."

I laughed at her ridiculousness. "You know what I mean," I said and looked closer at one of the profiles. "Oh, I like this one," I said and handed her the paper. "6'1; dark hair; green eyes. He's of Scandinavian descent and a teacher."

Becca read through it and then let out a dreamy sigh. "It's a shame these profiles don't come with a picture. I would like to see these 'angular features' he describes." I laughed with her at that and then took the profile back. "But yeah, I like him. He seems like a decent donor," she continued. "Do you think you've found your baby daddy?" she asked and winked at me.

I didn't say anything while I thought it through. He was my favorite out of all the profiles I'd looked through, but it was a big decision I was making, and I didn't want it to be made on a whim, so for the moment, I put the profile to the side and continued to look through the rest of the profiles.

"Really? He's only in the 'maybe' pile?" Becca questioned. "Damn, you're picky."

I just shrugged, but when I noticed how I continued to glance toward that profile over and over, I knew that I couldn't deny it any longer. I reached for the profile and read through it again. "It's him," I finally said. "This is the donor I want."

Becca squealed and threw her arms around me, and the tears that fell from my eyes were unstoppable, but they were happy tears. It had finally sunk in that I was going to have a baby.

I would have a new little life growing into a human inside of me.

I would become a Mom.

A week later, I was at my gynecologist's office.

"Relax, honey! It will be fine," Becca said for the eleventh time, but I only squeezed her hand even harder.

"I'm scared," I breathed out from my spot on the hard exam table where the nurse had ordered me to lie down. "What if it doesn't work? What if the results are wrong? What if I can't carry a baby to term?"

"Please, honey, just breathe! The tests came back with only positive results. There is no need for you to fear that there is anything wrong with you! And you know there's no guarantee for it to work. We can only hope."

I nodded and tried to calm my breathing. She was right, and I already knew all of this. My fears were irrational, but I couldn't keep them at bay.

My doctor came in then. "Okay, Bella, are you ready for this?" she asked, and when I gave a small nod, she gestured for me to put my feet up in the stirrups.

The day before, I had been given medication that would cause super-ovulation because apparently, it increased the chance of becoming pregnant. However, I had also been warned that the risk of a multiple-pregnancy was higher.

I didn't know how I would react if I were to find out that I was pregnant with twins or triplets instead of just one baby, but I knew that I would still love them all equally. I would most likely need a bit more help from my family to take care of them, though.

The doctor inserted a plastic instrument inside, and at first, I thought it felt like any other gynecology examination, but when the instrument was inserted even further to open up my cervix, the discomfort increased into a pinching pain and I couldn't hold my groan in.

"Yes, I'm sorry, it can be rather uncomfortable," the doctor apologized, and I wanted to roll my eyes at her. It was just so typical of a doctor to apologize for pain they'd probably never experienced themselves.

I couldn't see what she was doing, but my guess was that she was inserting the catheter through the plastic instrument so that the sperm could be injected directly into my uterus.

She had walked me through the entire procedure earlier in the appointment for the sake of my comfort, and I was grateful for that now. It felt better to be aware of what was happening to me since I couldn't see anything.

"I will now proceed with the insemination," she said, and I saw from my periphery how she reached for the injection needle which contained the milky fluid.

Only two minutes later, I felt the removal of the plastic instrument, and I hissed when it touched my sore cervix.

"Okay," she said and got up from her chair to remove her gloves and throw them away. "Just lie still for a few minutes. You might experience some mild cramping over the next couple of days, but that's completely normal."

"How soon can I find out if I'm pregnant?" I asked and looked at her as best as I could from my still horizontal position.

"It can take a few weeks. Most women will have their answer in two, but there have been those that haven't received a positive test until a month after the insemination, so don't feel discouraged if that's what happens in your case. I know it can be tempting to take a test tonight, but that answer will be misleading." She started to put away the instruments and then told me to sit up slowly. "I will leave and let you get dressed."

Once I was redressed, Becca handed me my bag, and we went for the door.

"So what do you think? How do you feel?" she asked.

I shrugged. "I don't know. I don't exactly feel any different, but I think it would only be weird if I suddenly felt like I was knocked up."

She laughed at me. "Yeah, I guess, but it would also be kind of cool."

We went out to the reception area where the doctor gave me a few mild painkillers for cramps. She wished me good luck, and we left.

Becca kept up our conversation as she drove me to my parents' house where it had been decided that I would sleep tonight.

Sue was an obstetrician and wanted to be close if my cramps became too bad. She would then be able to soothe the pain with some light abdominal massage.

While Dad had somewhat opposed my decision of becoming a single mother, Sue had supported me all the way. She truly was the mother I'd wished I'd had from the beginning.

As soon as we pulled into the driveway, Sue came running outside with Dad in tow. "Well?" she asked when she stood in front of me.

"It's done," I replied. "Now all I can do is wait and hope it works."

"Oh, I know it will! I can feel it," Becca said with confidence when she climbed out of the car as well. "In nine months, there will be a small one sleeping in a crib at your house, darling. Mark my words!"

I truly hoped she was right.

{=A=}

I paced back and forth in front of the bathroom door with my entire family watching me. The curiosity and nervousness were palpable as we waited for the test on the bathroom counter.

I was able to wait for twenty-five days before I decided to take my first test, even though I had to fight the urge to run down to the drugstore on the fourteen-day mark. My period was yet to make an appearance, but it wasn't the first time it had been late, either, so it wasn't a sure sign that I was pregnant.

My hands were shaking with nerves, and when the timer beeped, I flinched away from the bathroom door, suddenly feeling scared of the result.

"I can't look," I whispered out and pleaded to anyone of my family members to look for me.

After a few seconds, Dad got up from his seat and went into the bathroom. He patted my shoulder on the way and gave me an encouraging smile.

I saw how he looked at the test, but he didn't move a single muscle in his face, so I had no way to read his reaction. He calmly picked up the test with a piece of paper and came back outside.

Every single person in the room stared at him and waited for him to say if it was a positive or negative test, but he only had eyes for me.

For the longest few seconds of my life, he gazed into my eyes as if he was searching for something there. It appeared he found it because suddenly he smiled and handed me the test.

"Congratulations, Doll," he said, and I quickly looked down at the test before I dared to hope.

The stick showed the simple, blue plus sign staring back at me and I burst into tears. My family rose from their seats and enveloped me in a group hug that was filled with warmth, love, and support. It was everything I could ever have wanted and wished for.

When I was released, I grabbed Sue's hands. "Do you want to be my obstetrician?" I asked hopefully, and her eyes grew misty.

"Absolutely," she said and cupped my cheek. "We might not be blood, but you are my daughter, Bella, and I would love to be by your side, every step of the way."

"We all will," Sam promised. "You are like the sister I never had, after all," he continued which earned him a slap on the arm by Lilly, but she was also laughing along with him.

"You bet we're here for you, Bella. We're family," she said, and little Bella, who wasn't very little anymore at the age of ten, agreed before hugging me around the waist.

"I will be the best cousin ever," she said and looked up at me with her blue eyes that contrasted dramatically against her black hair.

"I love you all so much," I told them all. "I really do, and I want to tell you that I wouldn't be where I am today without all of you, so thank you."

{=A=}

My first trimester wasn't an easy one. I suffered from severe morning sickness, except it wasn't just in the morning. It was all the time and I quickly discovered that some foods that I used to love now made me gag.

"Why did I do this to myself?" I moaned one morning as I knelt in front of my toilet yet again.

I had, with relief, found out during my first ultrasound at twelve weeks that I was only having one baby. I would already be a single mom, and I was sure one child would prove to be more than enough.

I was absolutely ecstatic when the time came to start planning for the nursery because I would finally do something meaningful with one of the bedrooms in my too-big-for-one house.

Sue had asked me if I wanted to know the sex of the baby, but I had decided that I wanted it to be a surprise. I would love the child equally no matter what the sex, but it did present a challenge to the interior designer that I hired for the nursery.

Since most baby-things were categorized by gender and therefore in colors with light pastels, pinks, and whites for girls, and more earthy and dark tones for boys, I had most things customized to make them as neutral as possible.

The only reason I'd been able to afford it all was due to the money I'd inherited from Nana and Pops when I had turned eighteen. It hadn't been a very large sum, but with the help of Becca, who had a knack for numbers, I'd invested that money into the stock market and it had steadily grown while I served in the army.

It had made it possible for me to buy my house, and it meant everything to me that it wasn't necessary for Dad to pitch in financially.

He was more than capable of helping me; his own savings had definitely improved since Renée and her extravagant lifestyle had exited his life and was no longer a financial drain. Sue also earned a substantial salary, and in a household with two very good incomes and no need for an expensive lifestyle, it wasn't particularly difficult to save on a monthly basis.

"What color do you want the walls?"

I took a moment and looked around the bare room that would become my baby's nursery. "I'm thinking that maybe not just one solid color would be best; perhaps mural on this large wall here?"

"What kind of mural?" the designer asked as she wrote down what I was saying in her notepad.

"A forest during sunset, and maybe a lake," I said, listing off my suggestions. "And I want hardwood floors, not carpet." I made another turn. "And baby-safe stained furniture."

"Okay, perfect." She closed the notepad with a smile. "I think I have everything for the decorator and carpenter to get to work."

"Thank you," I said and shook her hand. "I can't wait to see the result."

A/N:

Just letting you know off the bat that Edward isn't the donor! Bella went to a Seattle-based sperm-bank, and Edward isn't from Seattle and has no reason to have ever donated his sperm there.

I'm telling you because many thought he was the donor in the previous story, so many, in fact, that I had to clarify in the story that he's not.

I also want to let you know that I updated the previous chapter with a few changes since apparently there had been a mix-up between the army and the air force. I apologize for that mistake, and I hope the changes have reduced the irritation caused by my lack of knowledge :-D

On Friday, you'll see Edward again ;-)

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