CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

New Year's Eve brought us a gift that Christmas had not. The usual festivities were set for the stroke of midnight. We would have showers of fireworks cascading down over the palace and our great clock which was in the center of town would ring out bells for two solid minutes. I couldn't wait to kiss Bella at midnight, but my nerves were focused elsewhere that morning.

Bella was having her first "lesson" with Rosalie. I wanted to be a fly on the wall of that room but when my mother found me lurking, she immediately shooed me off. Whatever Rosalie planned on enlightening Bella with that morning, it would have to be quick. We had our first doctor's meeting at noon and I was also feeling nervous about that after spending the rest of my evening looking up everything I could learn on google about pregnancy.

I should have spent my time researching ways to pay for our government building renovation rather than finding all the ways to scare a person who was going through what we were going through. By the time I had shut off my computer, I was sure that my poor handling of this pregnancy and not ensuring that Bella was receiving the proper nutrition was going to result in something catastrophic.

I fruitlessly tried to press upon Bella the importance of eating more the next morning when I had Seth bring up a tray from the kitchen filled with an array of items. Bella looked exhausted just staring at all her options but in the end, she opted for the banana and a piece of bread before heading off to see Rosalie.

The deadline was looming as my father made it clear once again to be ready to share my opinion with the Upper and Lower houses of parliament as well as the Prime Minister come the second of January. How was I going to convince a group of high income earning politicians to trim the fat of their own perks before levying down heavy taxes on the people, so that said politicians could reside in a fancier building?

I found myself tapping a pen on my notebook while I looked up at the clock hoping that it was noon already. I was relieved when I was met with a time that told me that any minute Bella would be back.

Bella walked into my room with her teeth chewing on her lip.

"What happened?" I asked already knowing something was amiss.

Bella shook her head casually and shrugged.

"I…just nervous. I don't know why," she explained.

She sighed and walked toward the entrance to the Chesterfield Suite. I watched her like a hawk dying to know what she wasn't telling me.

"So…how did it go?" I asked her.

"Fine," She shrugged. "She said my curtsy left something to be desired. I had a feeling she picked that particular lesson just so I would be forced to curtsy at her over and over to make her feel special."

I nodded.

"Anyway, I am going to get changed so we aren't late," Bella looked back at her room and sighed before going in.

I knew something was wrong and it wasn't my paranoia that was telling me this. I knew Bella. If she was acting strange, it meant that she was either upset or embarrassed. I walked over to her room and found her in the closet staring at the clothes.

"What happened?" I asked.

Bella pulled the first dress she could find and began to undress.

"And don't tell me that its nerves. Please talk to me. Did Rosalie say something to you?" I pressed.

Bella waved her hand and walked past me.

"I can handle Rosalie," She said.

"That's not what I asked. We agreed to be honest with one another. What did she say to you?" I demanded.

Bella sighed irritated and rolled her eyes.

"It's nothing Edward. Just…leave me be. I need to get ready." She walked into the bathroom and looked around and paused before shaking her head.

"If you don't tell me. I will go down and find Rosalie and make her tell me and then you and I will have a serious discussion about our relationship and my expectations for my fiancé," I threatened.

"God, Edward. Can we talk about this later? We are going to be late. It really isn't as dire as you're making it out to be. Just forget about it and don't let it ruin this for us. I have far more to be worried about than focusing my attention on what Rosalie says to me."

"We have all the time in the world. The doctor will stay as long as needed. So, you might as well tell me now so we don't have to delay him any further," I replied.

Bella picked up her clothes from off the floor and placed them on the counter before grabbing her brush.

"If I tell you, you're going to ruin this day. I'm sure you will storm off to search out Rosalie. Cause a huge palace incident to which your mother and possibly your father will have to step in for and then we will never get to meet this doctor, and everyone will spend the evening pissed off at one another once again."

She had a point. My actions have proved in the past that I often didn't think when my mind turned to rage.

"Fine," I snapped. I walked out of the bathroom and went to wait in my room for her. My mind began to run with every possible scenario of what Rosalie could have said to Bella. I tried to think hard over what could upset Bella enough to act strangely but not too much where she storms about the palace screaming at me.

Bella walked in and wouldn't look in my direction. I got up from my chair and went to my door and held it open for her. We walked through the palace without touching one another or speaking. We had a small room on the lower level that we would use for doctors' visits and such. I opened the door and found that Dr. Molina already had it prepped for us.

"Doctor Molina, "I said extending my hand out.

He shook it and replied with the usual response.

"Isabella, please let me introduce you to Doctor Molina," I said.

Bella gave a soft smile and said, "How do you do."

"I am well, Miss Swan. I have your file from your previous doctor, but I see that it was from a university doctor and she was not as thorough as I would have liked so I will do an examination and take some blood and hopefully have you out of here soon."

Doctor Molina walked over to the examination table and handed Bella a sheet.

"Please undress from the waist down," He instructed.

Bella looked at me and seemed to be embarrassed which did not make any sense. I had seen her bare, up close and personal so why the trepidation as she went to remove her underwear. She folded them up neatly and held them in her hand and I walked forward to help her up on the examination table. Bella placed the sheet over her legs and lied back.

Doctor Molina had the monitors up and running and pulled the stirrups out to help place Bella's feet into them. I stood lamely by lost in my own head. Still running around with what Rosalie could have told Bella and delusions of why Bella was acting odd. I could see how tense she was as she tried to focus on the ceiling.

All the research I had done had not prepared me for the doctor did next. He pulled out a long instrument and placed some lubrication upon it and then went to push it inside the woman I loved.

"What are you doing?" I asked.

"An ultrasound, Your Highness," Doctor Molina replied pulling the crude instrument out from my fiancé.

I made a face and he went onto clarify.

"During the first trimester, it is hard to capture proper images on a standard ultrasound. We just want to monitor the fetus's progress and ensure a healthy viable pregnancy," he explained. He looked at me and waited for a response, but I didn't give him one. I don't know why this was upsetting me. It was completely natural and yet, it felt odd. "Can I continue?"

Bella sighed and nodded her head. I looked at her face and she cringed the moment that the doctor began once more. I walked over and sat down by her head and took her hand. Bella squeezed it and made a noise of discomfort every couple of seconds.

"I'm sorry, I'm being such a wimp. I can't even handle this, what am I going to do when the big show happens?" She said trying to make silly conversation to take our minds off what was happening.

"You're not a wimp. You're the strongest, most amazing and impressive person I know," I said bringing her hand up to give it a gentle kiss. Thoughts of Rosalie was finally gone to not ruin what was going to happen next.

"And there is the baby," The doctor said. We both turned our heads to the monitor and took in the grape-sized ball of perfection. Seeing it live and in person took my breath away.

I looked down at Bella and she is smiling in awe. I stand up to move and kiss her on the lips. And I don't care what origins this child has. I am his or her father and I fall in love even more at the sight of it growing. I fall in love even more with Bella and for the first time, I don't have any fears of becoming king because my job will be to make this world a better place for this child and I have the ability in my position to do so. This child was a true gift indeed.

"When would we be able to find out the sex of the baby?" I asked eagerly.

Doctor Molina didn't look up from his screens and replied, "Well, I can find out through a simple blood test and call you with the results in a couple of days if you like."

"Yes!" Bella and I both replied in unison.

It would be nice to not have to refer to it as an it or he or she. I would finally know if my firstborn would be a girl or a boy. I feel nervous and excited all at the same time.

I walk with Bella hand in hand and suddenly our battle that had been brewing earlier seemed forgotten. I know that it was something that would need to be addressed later, but I want to live in the moment for a little while longer.

Bella asks to return to our room before we go and find something for lunch. She heads towards my bathroom and asks that I go and bring her the clothes she was wearing from before that she had left in the Chesterfield bathroom. I oblige but instead head for her closet to find her something fresh. She needn't wear clothes over again. By the time I return, Bella has begun a bath for herself. I was not one to take baths, so it seemed odd that my bathtub was finally getting some use.

Bella lays back in the tub and turns off the spout only filing it half ways.

"What I wouldn't give for a proper bath," She mumbled.

I give her a look because I was confused.

"Hot baths aren't good for the baby," she says.

"Oh. Well, it's worth it," I replied sitting down on the ground beside the tub. I place my hand in the water and run it up and down her thigh.

"That was amazing today, Bella. I know that this situation may have not been what we wanted…but I am so incredibly happy that I almost don't even care about the circumstances that led us here," I confessed.

Bella smiled at me and reached out to squeeze my hand.

"It felt so different than the last time. When I went to the doctor at the university, I was all alone and scared and the moment he told me that I was pregnant, I cried because I couldn't believe that this was happening to me. I was angry and sad and then for James to treat it as it was no more than a stupid problem, I never felt more alone in my life. I thought about it, you know. An abortion. But, I just couldn't live with myself. I knew I would be forever plagued with guilty thoughts. I even felt guilty about feeling guilty and then you tell me that you not only love me, but you love me enough to want to raise this baby as your own…I fell even more in love with you. You made me feel safe when I had nothing left in the world. That is why I know I can do all this," She said raising her hands up, "If you had so much faith in me and this baby that should have been a stranger to you, I knew I could have faith in you to be there for me while I go through this transition in my life. That is why you need to let go of all this fear you have of Rosalie. No matter what she says or tells me of your past, it's not going to change my mind."

I had almost forgotten. An easy thing to do when my hand was on my fiancé's naked thigh. I go to open my mouth and Bella shoots me down.

"I did not bring that up so you could return to our earlier argument. I just want you to let it go, Edward. For the sake of us all, please let it go and I will too."

"I can't. I can't have someone poisoning your mind against me. I need to know what she said," I pleaded.

Bella sighed and looked away.

"You're going to think it's stupid and I don't even know why I allowed it to irritate me."

"Please Bella," I said.

Bella looked up at me and let out a breath before turning away.

"She made a comment on how you set all your girls up in the Chesterfield Suite. That it was your modus operandi to set the girl up and provide clothes and…just that pretty much there was nothing special about me and I shouldn't get comfortable no matter what baby I am carrying."

I could already feel the rage boiling inside me.

"Edward, I know she was just saying it to get to me. Please don't do anything. Please do this for me," She begged.

I don't answer lost in my own thoughts, so Bella moves toward me and captures my face in her hand.

"If you do this for me, Edward, later tonight after everyone has gone to bed, I will suck your dick so good and hard that you won't even remember you have a cousin."

That definitely snapped me out of my dark thoughts. It would amaze me how dirty my girl could be at times. I feel myself straining through my pants with a need to be inside her. And I want that reward, but Rosalie is out of line and I would not stand for it. I bring her in for a deep kiss and my hand makes it way up her inner thigh to find its destination. I sink my fingers inside her and she moans into my mouth as I pump them in and out. Bella opens her legs to me and allows me further access, but I pull myself up from the bathtub, pulling my fingers out and end our kiss.

"Nice try, baby but that's a promise I can't keep," I said retreating quickly from the bathroom.

I hear her screaming my name in anger and splashes of water meant for me but thankfully I am too far away to catch any fallout. I grab onto my bedroom doorknob and charge out. I see Angela and am thankful. I ask her to go and check on Bella and make sure she can help her out of the bathtub. With all that water she just soaked the floor, I would be devastated if she were to slip in my absence. Angela lets me know that Rosalie is in her room and asked to not be disturbed but I don't care.

I am at her door before I know it. I pound loudly upon the sturdy cream door with golden inlay. I wait for her to come but there is no answer.

"Rosalie! If you don't come out here this minute, I will have no problem entering without your permission," I yelled.

Rosalie pulled the door open looking flustered. She was normally impeccably kept but now she looked like a tornado had hit her. I pushed past her not wanting to have this impending match in the hallway for all the servants to hear.

"Edward, this is highly inappropriate," She snapped holding her robe tightly closed.

"Probably about as inappropriate for you to tell my fiancé, your next queen, that I operate a certain way with women and therefore she is nothing special," I growled.

Rosalie rolled her eyes and scoffed. "Was there anything that I said that was untrue? Did you not entertain your past lovers in the Chesterfield Suite and for the short time they capture your interest are privy to certain benefits, sexual and otherwise?"

I pointed a threatening finger at her, "Your job is to ensure that she is educated in proper decorum. You will not bring up my past to find ways to push her buttons. If you don't think you can do this simple task, then leave. We don't need you here. We don't want you here. Do everyone a favor and go, Rosalie!"

We both stare at each other with all the hate in the world boiling in our eyes. I was waiting for a response when I hear a loud crash come from behind me. I look over toward Rosalie's closet and as I take my first step toward it, Rosalie comes flying at me and jumps in front of me.

"Fine. I won't enlighten your perfect little princess anymore. Just leave!" She orders but my curiosity is peaked, and I don't listen to her feeble attempts to get me out of her room. I go towards the door and Rosalie is grabbing onto me and trying to stop me, but her attempts are futile.

I pull open the door and I am shocked. Horrified. Silenced. And suddenly pleasantly overjoyed.

"Hey Eddie," Emmett says standing in his tight white undergarments holding up one of Rosalie's dresses over his chest for coverage. Rosalie's luggage laid haphazardly on the floor. It seemed to have fallen over and thus the loud crash we heard.

I turn back to Rosalie who has her hand covering her face. I look up and back between the two just checking that my eyes weren't failing me.

"You both have a brilliant new year! I know I will," I sang as I turned and walked out.

A great weight had been lifted. I knew Rosalie would do anything to keep me from spilling her indiscretion. I needn't worry any longer on her finding ways to play with Bella's mind and emotions. Emmett was the best Christmas present I could ask for. A one-night stand to end all turmoil I could ever feel.

I arrived back to my room with an extra bounce in my step. I might have even been whistling when I pulled open the door. Bella sat on the bed awaiting my return and wringing her hands in worried anticipation.

"Hi, honey," I sang.

Bella's face questioned my pleasant attitude. I flopped down on the bed beside her.

"Hi, …are you okay?"

"I have never been better," I sighed in relief. "Let's just say that after what I just witnessed, Rosalie will be of no consequence forevermore."

"You didn't kill her, right?" Bella tentatively asked.

I laughed at her preposterous notion.

"I have enough dirt on her that she would have to be a complete idiot to ever get on my bad side."

"Dirt?" Bella questioned.

"I may have caught the princess in a compromising position with someone she wouldn't want anyone to know about."

I jumped up from the bed and went over to the tray of fruit on the side table and began plucking some grapes off the vine.

"Edward…you're not seriously going to blackmail Rosalie?" Bella asked.

"It's not blackmailing," I defended.

"Having information you intend on releasing only if a person doesn't do what you wish…that's blackmail." Bella scratched her head and added, "How are you smarter than me?"

I gave her a look and sat back down on the bed.

"I never told her that I would do such a thing. She just…has a healthy understanding that her poor actions may have consequences if she is unkind. Besides, I doubt I will be the one to release said information. The person I caught her with has a big mouth so I'm sure it's only a matter of time before Emmett spills the beans," I explained.

"EMMETT!" She gasped.

"Emmett," I repeated. "And now that you know, I'm not the only one with said information."

Bella stood up from the bed and walked in a circle trying to comprehend what I had told her.

"You know…" She started and then stopped, "Look, Edward, Emmett may have a big mouth, but he also has a big heart. He would never tell anyone if that was Rosalie's wishes. He…doesn't do the one-night stand thing. Contrary to what you may think, Emmett is a gentleman. I highly doubt he is sleeping with your cousin, so he can knock, slept with royalty off his bucket list. I may not like Rosalie, but Emmett's happiness means more to me than some petty dispute. .Alone."

I folded my arms across my chest and huffed; sulking like a child. Bella was the only one who I would listen to. I knew she had her mind in the right place, so I shouldn't go against her wishes.

"I still think it's just a silly one-night stand. Maybe two nights," I said.

"I don't. If anyone can through Rosalie's icy facade, it would be Emmett," Bella disagreed.

"Would you care to make a wager?" I dared.

Bella gave me a threatening look. "I will not be betting on my friend's happiness."

"Sounds like someone isn't so sure of themselves. Chicken!" I teased.

"I never realized you were a gambler. Perhaps we should bet on something else. Care to wager on the chances you going to get some tonight?"

My teasing smile ceased immediately, and I took a deep breath and learned that the best thing I could do was walk away. There was no way Bella was right. Firstly, Emmett would be leaving in two days' time so how exactly was this possible relationship going to work. Secondly, we were talking about Rosalie. No amount of charm in the world would manage to get Rosalie to disregard her position. She may think that Emmett is a good lay but when it came down to it, she would never bring Emmett to a royal court and confess her undying love. The man would have to be a miracle worker.

Rosalie believed in the system of perfection which was probably the reason why she was so cold. When my mother would speak of how the people regarded us as a template for perfection, Rosalie was practically the face of the campaign. The only mark that marred her record would be her mother divorcing her father. Which is why I believed she worked so hard on maintaining her facade. She knew that there was supposed to be some wealthy, highly intelligent, highly motivated man to stand beside her. As much as I liked Emmett, he wasn't any of those things.

The only reason I was able to get away with marrying a commoner was females were forgiven by our society when they captured a male's heart. A man was still expected to be the head of the household. To bear the weight of important decisions. With Rosalie being a member of the royal family, she would hold to great a power over Emmett. It wouldn't be right. There would be no balance.

Bella sat down beside me and took my hand in hers.

"Hey, it was just a joke. You don't need to take it so seriously," she said.

I shook my head and wiped away my thoughts. It was Rosalie's problem to deal with. I had everything I could ever want right here in this bed.

I laid back and pulled Bella with me and placed my hand on her stomach.

"I don't need to think about them. Tonight will mark the end of a fantastic year. The year that compelled me to move to a foreign country. The year that crossed my paths with the woman I will love for the rest of all our years. The year that brought my first baby. I can't wait for the new year because I know that as amazing as this year was, next year will be incredible."

"Even with the looming doom of parliament?" Bella asked.

"I am not afraid anymore and it is because of this baby, I finally realized what a gift my position is. To have the ability to change the world even if I can only change Caldonia to be a better and brighter country, I will change my son or daughter's world. How could I not stand and take up the challenge?"

Bella smiled at me and then reached up to gift me with a kiss.

"No matter what happens, we are so proud of you," she said.

In a few short days, I would see if I was worthy of her sentiment. It would be something I would always strive for. I say a small prayer in my head and hope to remember this moment in the future if I was ever met with a challenge. To make Bella proud, I would know I was doing right.

AN: Thank you for reading and reviewing.

Story is mine. Characters belong to Stephenie Meyer.