Raising Patricia Cullen Ch.7
(Bella's Pov/a month after Christmas)
Patricia was almost 8 months old. Dad has assured Edward and me she was reaching all of her milestones perfectly. He even said she's a little advanced which scares me. A few weeks ago Alice was holding Patricia up in a standing position and Patricia started to bounce.
Since then that's one of Patricia's favorite thing to do besides playing peek a boo with Emmett. Jasper and Edward still practice throwing flowers with her. I smile hearing her laughter at the simple act of throwing flowers. Edward and I finally picked a date. We would be getting married June 15th, two days after Patricia's first birthday.
June 16th is when I will be changed into a vampire and taken away from Patricia. Dad changed the plan after thinking about it late one night. Edward was taking me to Isle Esme instead of the family taking Patricia. Dad said it will be easier for me to wake from my change without humans being near.
When the time comes dad and mom will move the others to Alaska and Dad and Edward will start to train me. I'm ready for the change but it's still scary knowing I will be away from my baby for at least 3 months.
I'm snapped out of my musing by Alice yelling for me. I rush into the front room, my heart pounding thinking something is wrong with Patricia. I glare at Alice when I see nothing is wrong.
"Just watch" Alice says and Edward wraps his arms around me. I watch Patricia and gasp when she crawls to the coffee table and pulls herself up with it. The family clap and cheer as Edward and I rush to her side.
"Ma, Da" she says and let's go of the table. Edward catches her before she can fall. Edward throws her into the air and she giggles.
"Good job baby girl" I praise and kiss her cheek.
"Should we see if she does it again?' Edward asks and I nod. He sets her near the coffee table. She crawls over and again pulls herself up and starts to bounce.
"Dad when do babies hit this milestone?" I ask as panic takes over.
"Between 8 and 9 months." he says. "Relax love. In a week she will be 8 months" Edward says to stop me from panicking any further. I nod and take a deep breathe.
"Ma" Patricia calls demanding my attention. I look down at her and she is smiling at me and I smile back at her. I sit on the floor next to her and Edward sits on her other side.
"Are you having fun baby?" I ask and she bounces some more and giggles.
I smile at Edward and he smiles back at me. The family starts leaving the room until it was Edward, mom, dad, Patricia and I left in the room. Mom has her camera taking pictures and I roll my eyes.
"You're going to want these pictures when you're changed. Not all of your memories will stay with you during the change." she says and dad rubs her back. I look at Edward confused and he sighs.
"Bella mom only has memories of her abusive husband she has no memories of being pregnant or the short time she had with her son. The only reason she remembers what he looks like is dad got her his birth picture and the only reason she knows where his grave is because dad found it for her." Edward says. I look at mom and she looks sadly at me.
"So I might not remember my pregnancy or giving birth to Patricia but I could remember my Rape?" I ask. "
It's possible sweetheart but with these pictures we have taken over the past year we will show them to you and hopefully you will remember these moments after a while." dad says and makes his way to us.
"This is why I have been recording all of Patricia's firsts. You haven't noticed but I have them all upstairs on discs for when you are changed in the event you don't remember" he says and I nod and lean into him.
He hugs me and I cry into his shoulder.
"Love you could always just not be changed" Edward says.
"No I still want to." I say and he nods. Patricia crawls over to dad and I and I place her in my lap.
"Pa" Patricia says and dad looks shocked. He picks up Patricia up and holds her to him and mom makes her way to him. I get up and Edward gets up also.
"Do you want to go for a walk with me?" He asks and I nod. We go to the hall closet and put our snow boots and winter coats.
"Be safe" dad calls and Edward and I roll our eyes.
We walk out the door and towards the side of the house towards the forest path that Emmett kept somewhat snow plowed. Edward grasps my hand and we walk into the forest. After a while Edward stops us at the gazebo Emmett built. We sit on the swing and Edward starts a fire in the fire pit to keep me warm.
"How long do you plan for us to stay out here?" I ask.
"An hour or so. You just needed to get away from the family for a while. Let them bound with Patricia" He says.
"As long as she doesn't tart to say any more names of our family" I say and I try to keep the anxiety out of my voice, by the look Edward gives me says that I failed.
"I know your stressed love but she is just a little advanced which will save us in school later on." Edward says and I smile. I lean into Edward and he wrap his arms around me.
"Are you still sure you want to be turned love?" he asks.
"Yes I do Edward! I'm never going to change my mind Edward I want to be with you forever." I say and lean in and kiss him.
"What about our daughter love? Are we going to change her when the time comes or are we going to let her die?" Edward asks and his voice is thick with emotions.
I take a deep breath trying to calm my nerves and emotions before speaking to Edward.
"I don't know love. I have tried not to think about that. I don't want to condemn our daughter to being immortal but I also don't want tot watch our baby die of old age." I say but by the end I'm crying.
I turn and bury my head into his neck. Edward holds me and rocks us for a while until I calm down. After I calm down we just sit there and watch the fire. Edward adds more wood to the fire and I look at him confused.
He has a smile on his face as he sits back down. Before I can ask him about the smirk I hear our daughter's giggles. I look up and mom and dad and Patricia are walking down the path towards us. In mom's hands is a bag with s'more stuff.
Dad sets Patricia down on Edwards lap and grabs a roasting stick. Dad starts to roast marshmallows as mom starts to prepare the chocolate and graham crackers.
"Do you want a marshmallow Baby?" I ask Patricia and she nods her head. I grab a marshmallow and hand it to her. Dad finishes the marshmallows and mom and him make the s'mores. Mom hands m one and I thank her.
"Ma" Patricia says and reaches out t me.
"What's up baby?" I ask and she tries to grab my other s'more. Edward chuckles and grabs another marshmallow for her.
She gurgles happily as she eats its. We stay outside until it gets really dark and Patricia starts to yawn. I pick her up and we head back to the house once there Edward and I take Patricia up to bed before we head to our room forth night also.