I sent Edward a text telling him that we had to meet up. I had to tell him that I planned on telling Charlie sooner than later.
"Edward, are you available to come over so we can talk?-B"
"Yes, when?-E '' This was typical of Edward lately, no more than a couple words as a reply. He stopped calling me after I made my great escape and the follow up conversation that night, he would still text me a flourish about being torn and loving me.
"As soon as you're available. I'll be home all day today.- B"
"ok, I'm on the way.-E" I don't know why I was surprised that he would respond so quickly.
About 10 minutes later there was a knock at the door. I opened it to find a depressed and broken looking Edward. I've never seen him like this. He was dressed in a hooded sweatsuit with the hood up covering his head and most of his face, very un-edward like.
"Edward." I said curtly. He clenched his jaw. "Are you ok?" I asked, the question really meant was it safe. I used to not fear his thirst but now, I didn't know what to expect. He nodded, never meeting my eyes and walked past me into the house.
He sat in the middle of the couch and stared up at the ceiling, I stood next to the couch waiting for him to say or do something, anything. He barely moved.
"Edward?"He nodded, I huffed. "Why'd you come if you are going to act like this?"
"Bella…" His voice was oddly distant and… Rapsy? It was a surreal experience since his smooth tone was all I'd ever heard.
"NO! You don't get to be exasperated with me! I am all alone and pregnant with your child, and you can't even look at me."
"Bella…" He looked as if he could cry, he would.
"I only asked you to come here so that we can discuss our plans moving forward. I can't continue to live my life in limbo. I'm starting to show and I don't want to hide him from charlie anymore."
"Him?" he said very quietly. I could barely hear lifted his head and his eyes flashed to my bump and up to my face so fast I barely caught it. I gasped at how black they were and took several steps back.
"Edward, When was the last time you went hunting?" I tired to sound concern for him rather than me but I was concern for all three of us, if I was being honest,
He did not answer immediately but I knew it had to be a very long time. He just put his head on the back of the couch and continued staring up at the ceiling.
"Isle Esme…" he breathed. I was shocked so it's been weeks."It has been a very long time. The longest I've gone since, well you know." I stared at him as his adams apple bobbed when he swallowed. "Charlie will be here soon. What do you need to talk to me about? You will do whatever you want to do… I have no say in the matter." He stated as a matter of fact but his eyes never left the ceiling.
This is the most dangerous he's ever looked at, I shouldnt have let him come here. What if he can't hold it together with Charlie here. We only have about 5 minutes before he pulls into the driveway.
"I know he's coming, I can hear him too, I was trying to give you a chance to at least give your opinion." I rolled my eyes but kept my distance.
"Bella, how could you hear the cruiser?" His black eyes finally met mine.
Realization washed over me and my hands flew to my bump."I don't know". I really wasn't sure how I heard him. He was farther still when started to hear the tenor of the cruiser's engine.
I was stuck in shock, we both were but by the time Charlie came into the house Edward had placed his head back on the back of the couch staring at the ceiling.
"Hey Char…Dad. How was work?" I asked feigning nonchalance. He walked toward my voice and stopped at the sight of Edward.
He eyed him but still spoke to me "It was fine Bells. I'm guessing you two are trying to talk it out…" he asked with a lifted eyebrow.
"Hello Charlie." Was all Edward said likely too low for him to hear. I rolled my eyes. He and his family were always about the facade. I guess he no longer cared about that.
"Actually Dad, we have to talk to you but could we have another couple of moments alone?" I sat next to Edward hoping to convey that we were working it out. He gave me a slight nod then walked upstairs to get comfortable.
"Edward, please talk to me. As we can see your fears have not come to pass. I have noticed I heightened senses but that may be a good thing. I am still human. Touch my skin. I'm still soft. Look at my body, it's changing everyday." I felt tears sting my eyes "I can still cry." I choked.
He had to see that although something is changing I'm still ok. Maybe, just maybe this will work out.
He lifted his head and his eyes met mine. Dark and tired.
"Isabella." He lifted his hand to touch my face but thought the wiser and rubbed his legs."I am cursed and under no circumstance could this work out for any of us."
I was heartbroken, still. "What more can you be scared of? I thought your fears were based on my safety, I'm safe. There is nothing more to worry about." I tried to convince him that his behavior was not necessary.
"Bella, a representative from the Volturi showed up to the house last week. Although they promised to let us be for the time being we were already on the radar from our last trip to italy. I'm so sorry Bella. I'm so sorry…" His breath caught. "They are going to come eventually and we will fight but if they had their way they would take you and our child back with them. Carlisle has been reaching out to his friends to see if they could help if things went to war. I just don't know what to do." I was in shock trying to absorb his words.
There is an impending war with an ancient vampire society all because I got knocked up on my honeymoon.
"Bella please move, your stillness resembles mine… I don't like it." I took a deep breath dramatically letting my chest rise and fall.
"OK, I hear what you are saying and I understand that things will be very…difficult very soon." I huffed." But Edward we still have right now. We still have this moment and in this moment we have a miracle." I very gently picked up his hand and placed it on my baby bump, on our baby.
He closed his eyes and we just sat for a moment. Then suddenly his eyes popped open and he opened his mouth to speak but nothing came out."What? What's wrong" I all but shouted.
"I…I I can hear them, the baby." I blinked in shock.
"Holy shi…" I did shout that time.
"Bella, He, They have a similar thought process as your dad, its moods more then words. Of course they don't have words yet."
My commotion caused Charlie to start to make his way back down the steps. We stared into each other's eyes and both nodded. It was time.