CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Bella was sent into the ballroom ahead of us. I made sure to have Alice waiting with Jasper to escort her in while my family and I were preparing to be announced. Rosalie wore a deep red tight dress. She didn't even try and bait me as I walked up and joined her. She looked lost in thought.

My mother arrived on my father's arm looking absolute perfection. Her dress was a mauve color and more mature and sensible. Her smile radiated as she slowly approached.

"Are you ready for this?" She asked kindly.

"Absolutely!" I replied confidently.

"Are you sure, Edward?" Rosalie asked with the rise of her eyebrow. "I can't imagine that Bella was able to master it in an evening after taking so poorly before I left yesterday."

There's the Rosalie I knew.

"She's going to do fine. Once we took away her heels, she did great," I smiled back at her condescendingly.

"She didn't wear heels?" Rosalie snapped, "Great, did you let her come barefoot? Might as well have."

I placed my hand on her shoulder and gave it a small squeeze.

"I know you are just as nervous for tonight as Bella is. After all, if she does poorly, it's due to the teacher, is it not?" I asked innocently.

"With what I had to work with…you can only put so much lipstick on a pig…" She began to say.

"Oh Rosalie, is it hard being around all this love? Don't worry, I am sure that someday…you'll find someone to put up with your crap and quite possibly love you for more than your title."

My mother stood between the pair of us, "Enough! What is the matter with you two? This should be a night of celebration and love. That is what the Saint Valentine Ball is all about. Cease all this childishness this instant."

Both Rosalie and I turned away from one another and prepared ourselves to be announced. I watched as the doors opened and Rosalie walked in having been announced. I had never wished so hard for superpowers than at that moment. What I wouldn't do to have Superman's ability of heat vision or super breath, so I could blow hard just once and send her tumbling in front of all those people. I nearly missed my name being announced and I felt my mother poke me in the back with her fingernail to wake me from my fantasies.

However, the moment I walked into the room and saw Bella, looking gorgeous and confident, all matters of Rosalie left my head.

I went to stand on the podium next to where they had placed my father's throne and waited for his speech.

"Thank you, everyone, for being with here with us this evening as we celebrate the greatest gift there is. Love. This evening is particularly great for my family and me as we are here to announce that my son the next king of Caldonia, has chosen his bride," My father announced.

I could hear a few gasps in the air as I stood with my self-assured smile waiting for the moment when I could go and take my love's hand.

"We are honored to have you join us as my son, Prince Edward begins tonight's first dance with the beautiful Isabella Swan. May you both find happiness in each other and love win out forevermore."

I looked to my father and gave him a curt nod and then looked out and let my feet walk to Bella. I see her take a small breath before I make it to her as she holds out her hand for me to take. I walk with her to the center of the room and we both take our position. The music starts up and I take my first step. She follows along beautifully and after a few seconds, I finally speak.

"You don't have to keep holding that breath, my love. You are doing this perfectly."

She gives me a little laugh followed by that award-winning smile and then finishes with biting her lip.

"Not so bad, really," She blushed and then her eyes looked out towards the crowd and I saw a look of fear come over them.

"My eyes, remember?" I squeezed her hand hard to bring her attention back quickly. I see her take a deep breath in once again. The ruby heart on her chest rising and falling slightly. "You're doing amazing, Bella. I told you that you could do anything."

She gave me a small smile and the song finally ended. I let go of her left hand and kept hold of her right as we gave our audience a small bow of appreciation. My father announced for everyone to feel free to join in and dance the night away. I walked with Bella off to the side where Alice was dancing in her place.

"Oh, Bella! That was amazing! You truly did look like a princess," Alice gushed.

"Thank you," Bella quietly replied.

"I guess it is time to formally introduce you to your awaiting public," I said turning toward the rest of the room.

"And now here comes the pop quiz," She said looking out over the crowd uneasily.

"Don't worry, I will be sure to point out Duchess Jane for you," I teased.

Bella kept looking around the room.

"I believe she is over by the bar," I said quietly.

"Who?" Bella asked.

"Jane. Are you okay? Are you even here right now?" I asked wondering what had her focus so torn.

"I was looking for Rosalie," She said.

"Why?" I asked disgustedly.

"Well…I kind of did something and I wanted to…uh…" She was so distracted she didn't even finish telling me why she would want to track down Rosalie.

"Bella, what is going on? Tell me?" I asked stepping in front of her line of sight.

"I did something stupid," She cringed.

I waited for her to continue.

"I thought that maybe…she would be happy but now I am kind of worried because I don't see her anywhere," She said returning to her search.

"What did you do?" I pressed.

Bella looked back at me and bit her lip in trepidation.

"You know that fancy credit card you gave me a couple of weeks ago?" She shrank away from me. "Well, I kind of used it to buy Emmett a plane ticket for this event. I told him that Rosalie was miserable and thought that getting him here…it would be romantic. I thought it would be romantic but now I don't see either one of them so either they never met up or…one of them killed the other. Either way, I have a feeling that it went wrong, and I promise to never use your money again because it obviously gets me into trouble. I will cut up the card the second we get back to the bedroom."

I stood there trying to comprehend her story.

"Emmett is here?" I asked now looking around the room myself. Someone as big as Emmett would certainly stand out.

"I…believe so. His plane was supposed to be here a couple of hours ago. I sent a rented tux to his room and told him what time this thing started. I thought he would come in and his eyes would meet Rosalie's across a crowded room and then magically they would be pulled to one another while the string quartet played their never-ending tribute to Mozart," She sighed picturing her fantasy.

"Have you been binging romantic comedies while I was at work?" I asked.

Bella shook her head clear of her fantasies and sighed.

"Come on, we have some people to meet. But please don't worry about Emmett and Rosalie. Besides, Rosalie and I kind of got into a little discussion earlier so she might just be trying to steer clear of me."

Bella stopped looking around the room and gave me a threatening eye.

"What happened now?" She asked irritated.

"Oh honey, let's not looks so upset. We just announced our engagement. The people want a shiny happy couple, "I said plastering on a fake smile. Bella followed my lead and plastered a fake smile on her face as well. We began to walk hand in hand with one another.

"You and Rosalie have got to grow up already," Bella said out of the corner of her mouth.

"You and my mother would make a perfect pair."

I introduced Bella to every and any person of consequence that evening. I somehow managed to steer clear of my past girlfriends. Most people were kind and congratulatory. Only a few seemed to have hidden their true feelings behind their fake smiles. You were never going to make everyone happy. Bella however, remembered every name and was the epitome of cool, calm and collected. She was a true queen in the making.

I took a glass of champagne and tilted it toward her and said, "I have waited for you to be here at one of these events since I knew you were coming with me to Caldonia. I wish you could partake with me, so you could get the full experience."

Bella laughed and took my arm.

"I am pretty sure that I am getting the full experience already. I mean, look at this place. You weren't lying when you told me of canapes and Mozart and…champagne. So…still no chance of making your Founder's Day ball a little funkier with Bryan Adams and pizza bites?"

I smiled and leaned down to kiss her, "I wish!" I whispered.

"I guess I will have to hope that getting funky with you in the coat closet won't be off limits," she joked.

"I will see what I can do," I laughed softly.

"Your Highness, why haven't you taken the time to properly introduce me," Jane who I had attempted to avoid that evening managed to seek us out and cease our rather inappropriate conversation.

"Hello, how are you this fine evening. I apologize for my manners. Isabella, I would love to introduce you to Jane the Duchess of Longwell."

Bella took a small breath before holding her hand out slightly for Jane to take and said, "It is a pleasure to finally meet you. I have heard so much about you."

Jane looked impressed, "Really?"

"Yes, Princess Rosalie has been kind to show me the ropes as they say, and she said that you are absolutely superior when it comes to the royal members," Bella continued with a small lie.

"Is that a fact? I have not seen Rosalie this evening other than her introduction. She must have slipped out. Is she feeling well?" Jane asked somewhat disinterested.

"I haven't a clue. I have been so focused on sharing this ball with my Bella," I said forgetting myself for a moment. "Isabella."

I cleared my throat and looked around, "Well, it's been lovely, but I believe it is getting rather late and I know Isabella and I have an early morning, so I think it's time that we slip out ourselves."

I took Bella's hand and gave Jane a curt nod before walking with my Bella toward the door. As our night had to come to an end, Bella asked if I wouldn't mind if she went ahead and went by Emmett's room just to see if he did arrive. I told her that I would accompany her because I didn't want her walking about the palace alone at this time of night. Truth was, I was just as curious to find out if Emmett ever made it here and whether he saw Rosalie. I hadn't caught sight of either of them the whole night and I was admittedly distracted by it.

Bella paused outside the door before taking a breath and knocking on it. We waited a couple of seconds before she attempted to try once more. It then occurred to me that if Emmett wasn't there, I might know where he could be.

I began to walk towards Rosalie's suite beckoning for Bella to follow along after. I rapped on the solid door harshly and then took a step back to wait for an appearance. Bella stood by with her teeth between her lips anxiously waiting as well.

After a few minutes, Rosalie answered the door looking disheveled with only her head peeking out.

"What?" She snapped.

"Uh…is Emmett in there?" Bella asked cautiously.

Rosalie sighed.

"Yes…obviously," Rosalie replied annoyed.

"Oh good! Then you got my present," Bella chirped.

Rosalie looked at her as if she were crazy.

"You see because… I was the one who paid for his ticket out here…so he could escort you to the ball…" Bella continued.

Rosalie softened a smidge and relaxed her stance at the door.

"You did that for me?" She asked softly.

Bella began to fidget with her necklace.

"I…just thought that everyone should have someone they love to dance with them at this ball…I don't know if you two actually made it to the ball but well, my intentions were there," Bella explained. "Just…tell Emmett I would like to see him sometime tomorrow if possible."

Bella turned to walk awkwardly away, and I went to follow on after her.

"Bella," Rosalie came out in the hall wrapped in a sheet. Bella and I turned back to her surprised. "Thank you."

She gave us a small smile and then retreated back into her room. I stood there with my mouth hanging open. Did my cousin seem genuine with her gratitude? Bella smiled at me and turned back around with her head held high.

"All a part of my plan," She boasted.

I could not even begin to comprehend all the steps Bella had to take to get in Rosalie's good graces. It would be an Everest challenge for any person and yet, if anyone could, it was Bella. I wasn't sure when Emmett was planning on returning back to the United States. I waited in anticipation because I wondered what this would mean for Rosalie. Would she actually consider a relationship with Emmett? I couldn't begin to fathom how this all transpired.

The next morning before we were to go and have breakfast, my mother wanted to go over a timeline with us. Even though she would normally be against having a child born out of wedlock, she thought it might be preferable than Bella in a wedding dress with a huge baby bump. Since our daughter was due in July, my mother had set the wedding for late September. While I was preparing to get the palace ready for the Founder's Ball, my mother spent time with Bella planning out the wedding.

There was a great team in place to ensure that this ball would go off without a hitch. There would be a silent auction which included high-end items including my beloved Zenvo car and we had hoped that the majority of our funds would come from the auction. Well-known and well-off people from all over the world were about to attend our Founder's Day so it was imperative that we put our best foot forward.

News broke in the United States of Bella's impending status and I was told it was hitting every news outlet hard which explained the growing group of paparazzi camped out at every exit. I didn't even get a chance to take Bella for a ride in my car. Once upon a time, she wanted to go and explore the outside world but now, she seemed highly content to never leave the palace walls.

"Would you please do me this honor," I coaxed.

Bella sighed exasperatedly. "Edward, it's just a car. I'm sure your space car is very cool, but I don't go all goo goo over a car. I'm sorry. If you want to take it for one last ride, then go. Please go! I have a lot to do around here."

"First of all, it's not just a car," I began. I picked up my knife and began to cut a portion of my ham at breakfast. Bella sat by eating some fruit and yogurt. "Second, it would mean a lot to me if you came. I don't like you closing yourself up behind these walls. You haven't been outside the gates in nearly a month. I need you to go out with me. We can even be just Edward and just Bella, if you like," I said referring to our alter egos.

Bella smirked at me and shook her head.

"Just Edward and just Bella in a half-million-dollar car. Yeah, that sounds like just Edward and just Bella," She said.

"Oh, so you need some backstory to complete the role play?" I asked. "Okay, fine. The car was loaned to me from my dear Aunt Bessie who's dying wish was for her only nephew to drive that beautiful car just once with the love of his life. Dear Aunt Bessie believed that when two people entered that car, they would forever be in a union."

Bella stared at me with no humor in her eyes.

"Dear Aunt Bessie?" She questioned. "Maybe if you said you had a dear Aunt Iris, I would have believed you. I mean, come on. Who would name their child Bessie? It sounds like a name for a cow." She reached over and stabbed the piece of ham I had just cut off and then proceeded to eat it. Something she would only do when we were alone and able to be ourselves. Thankfully, she knew the decorum when others were in the room.

"I happened to like the name Bessie. It was on my short list of names for girls," I lied knowing it would get a rise out of her.

"Dear God! Why would you do that to a child? Can you even imagine? Baby Bessie? That's like child abuse."

We kept teasing each other and having an easy fun conversation until Bennett came through the door looking apprehensive.

"My apologies for disrupting your breakfast, Your Highness. Doctor Molina is here and said that it is pressing that he speaks with you both," Bennett said.

Bella looked over to me with worry clouding her eyes. I gave a small reassuring smile hoping it wasn't anything that couldn't be worked out. I'm sure that the doctor just needed to go over some information. Nothing too serious.

"It's okay, Bella," I began to stand and place my napkin down. "Are you finished?"

She nodded and followed my lead. I reached out to take her hand and we followed Bennett to the exam room. I could feel the tension in Bella's hand and I wished I could make her feel better but as we walked closer, I too began to worry as my mind flooded with every possibility I had seen on Google.

Doctor Molina rose from his chair upon seeing us and gestured for us to take a seat across from him. Bennett closed the door behind him, giving us our privacy.

I kept Bella's hand tightly in my own as we waited for the doctor to tell us why he brought us here today.

"Your Highness…and Miss Swan," Doctor Molina began and then sighed before opening his folder. "I am afraid that I have grave news. Your blood test results came back from the sample I had taken on Friday. It seems that combined with your first-trimester blood screening that the fetus has tested for a ninety-nine percent probability for Down Syndrome."

The doctor paused allowing us to take in the information. I could practically feel my heart stop at the words. Out of my peripheral, I can see Bella taking the same reaction I was having. I knew I needed to ask questions, but my mind must have turned to mush.

Down Syndrome. One of the phrases that every couple never thinks they will hear come from their doctor's mouth. It had been one of the pregnancy possibilities that I had looked into when I had researched a couple of weeks back, but I glanced over it because I never thought in a million years it would happen to us. How was this happening to us? Hadn't we been through enough? Did we really deserve this?

"At nineteen weeks, we are still within the window for termination. I can set it up and we could evacuate the fetus as soon as you like," The doctor continued.

"What?" Bella gasped. "What….what…that…no…I…"

She couldn't form a proper sentence but at least she was attempting to speak. I sat there lamely unable to do even that. My mind attempting to remember any and everything I may have read about Down Syndrome, but I hadn't read much. I, however, knew just in passing what it was. Completely ignorant to the overall disorder but I had seen children and adults in passing inflicted with the handicap.

"Miss Swan, I understand that you may need a couple of days to process this information but, having a baby with severe mental and physical disabilities can be too much to handle. I urge you to think hard and long about this decision. Don't you think it would be best to terminate under these circumstances?" He asked.

"Why? Your parents didn't. And maybe they should have since you obviously lack compassion," Bella snapped. She looked over to me hoping that I would say something, but I was still reeling from the information. She scoffed and got up from her chair and made a hasty exit.

"Your Highness…take the next few days and think this over. How about we meet next Monday and you can tell me how you want me to proceed," Doctor Molina said.

I nodded slowly, still unable to find words and sluggishly rose from my seat. I walked out the door and wandered aimlessly around the palace lost to my own thoughts. I knew I should go and be with Bella. She obviously needed me, but I was of no use to her like this. Instead, I found myself wandering over toward my study and finding my place behind my desk.

I took a deep breath in and tried to clear my head. No longer were their fantasies of my beautiful brown-haired doll running at me and twirling her in the air. The moment that the doctor said those two words, all fantasies I had turned black and vanished.

I pressed the button firing up my computer and waited impatiently for it to load. I needed to research. I needed answers to all the questions I was unable to voice to the doctor. I needed to know how to convince Bella that maybe our doctor was right. Maybe, we should let this fetus go.

AN: Thank you for reviewing and reading. I wrote this whole story to get to this point.

Story is mine. Characters belong to Stephenie Meyer.