Chapter 44 - Mistakes

BELLA

So I realized that my first mistake was leaving on foot. Yes, definitely a mistake in the winter. Thankfully, it wasn't snowing or raining right then, but that didn't mean the sky wouldn't open up any minute now. It did look rather ominous. My second mistake was overestimating how healed I was from giving birth. I was only a week out from my C-section. I should definitely not have been walking over five miles to the Cullen home. I stopped and rested several times, regretting the way I had left things, but unable to go back to where I knew my daughter wasn't wanted. Besides, at this point, I was already halfway there. Halfway to Edward, halfway home. My third mistake was feeding the baby. I ended up making myself freezing cold and completely parched, as I fed her while resting, trying and regain my strength. It was not looking good for me, but I had to keep going for my little girl.

It had taken me too long to get to their house. I had left around noon, and it was already getting dark. It was starting to get much colder than before. As I finally approached the Cullen's home, I saw a car parked out front and hoped it was Edward's. I noticed it had rental plates, and I was pretty sure it was. I knocked on the front door and leaned on it, completely exhausted. I shouldn't have done this. I shouldn't have left like I had. I should have stopped and called a damn cab or something, but no, I had to be overdramatic and walk out in a fit of rage, albeit justified at the time, at least in my mind. My father was right, though, I was throwing a tantrum, and I was being immature. However, his behavior had been no better, sparking my protective motherly instincts.

I realized it had been a while since I had knocked, and there was still no answer. I groaned in pain and frustration. I slid down the door and sat for a moment, before I remembered that Edward's room was soundproofed, so he wouldn't hear me knock.

I rested for a moment and then geared up to walk around to the back of the house where his room was. I cried in relief, when I saw his light was on and nearly fell into the windowpane. He heard the thud of me hitting the side of the house and shot up from his bed, running over to me, opening the window immediately.

"Bella! Oh, my god, how did you get here?" he asked, as I shoved Elizabeth into his arms, before I collapsed to the ground under his window. It was moments later that he was outside and lifting me off the ground, carrying me inside. "You're freezing, Bella! What did you do, walk here?"

He tucked me into his bed, trying to warm me, but I was asleep before I could answer him.

EDWARD

Bella was at my window, where she passed me my pink-cheeked baby girl, and then she dropped from sight. I quickly situated Elizabeth into the middle of my bed and then ran outside to find her collapsed on the ground and freezing cold. I didn't know how she had gotten here, and I was worried that she had walked. It was starting to look like she had done just that.

I called Carlisle, and he groaned and rudely told me to take the silly girl to the ER. I was starting to freak out, especially when Bella fell asleep and then didn't wake up. I carried her to my car, placing her in the backseat, and then ran back to get my baby girl. I didn't have a car seat, but I didn't want to lose Bella, either.

I laid little Elizabeth on the seat next to me and kept my hand on her as I drove. She fussed and squirmed, but she stayed in place. I picked her up and ran into the ER, telling them I needed help. They came out and moved Bella out of the backseat for me. I told them what I knew of her health, that she had just had a C-section a week ago, and that I thought she had walked from her father's house to mine, over five miles. They took her back, leaving me truly alone with my little girl for the first time. She looked up at me with her beautiful newborn blue eyes and made a squawking noise, not really crying, just making a noise like she was trying to talk to me. I spoke softly to her, trying to let her soothe my nerves and distract me from what was going on.

A nurse came over and asked if everything was alright with my baby. I told her I thought so, but decided that it wouldn't hurt to have the baby checked out. It turned out that being out in the cold for so long had given Elizabeth a stuffy nose, and the nurse taught me how to clean it out. She was too little to use a decongestant on so a booger sucker and saline was what the nurse taught me to use. Elizabeth screamed through the whole process, upsetting me more than it did her. The nurse stood by, patting my back, reassuring me I was doing fine, and that once her little nose was taken care of, she would be happier. The poor little thing nearly screamed herself hoarse, but she was finally cleaned out and quickly fell asleep, exhausted from fighting with me. I snuggled her close, needing to hold and comfort her as much as she needed me.

"Could you tell me how her mother is doing? I brought her in, but I haven't heard anything yet."

"Are you family?" she asked.

"I'm the father of her daughter, and I have a ring." I pulled it out of my pocket to show her the engagement ring I had been playing with before they had showed up at my window.

"Let me go check on Ms. Swan. I'll let her know you're here and find out if she wants to see you." I was anxious, as the nurse disappeared down the hallway. She came back with a wide smile. "She's awake and doing well. She's happy you're here. Follow me."

I hurried down the hall with my sleeping little girl. It was like little Elizabeth sensed her mother was near, because as soon as we entered, she woke up and started to fuss.

"Looks like someone wants her mommy," the nurse said.

There was some sort or plastic warming air blanket over Bella, and she had an IV as well. She was looking better.

"Well? How are you doing?" I asked.

"I'm okay. I luckily didn't tear my incision, they're just warming me up and hydrating me, before I can go back home."

"You're coming home with me, right?" I asked like a wussy.

She smiled brightly. "Yes, I'm coming home with you."

I let out a sigh of relief. "So, when did they plan on releasing you?"

"Tomorrow sometime, I think. They wanted to watch my incision to be sure they didn't miss anything."

"Better safe than sorry," I agreed.

The nurse butted in. "Her next of kin has been called. Her father should be here soon."

The heart monitor sped up, and I walked over to my girl, taking her hand and kissing her head. "Bella, what happened?" I asked.

She shook her head, looking upset. "I don't want to see him."

I looked up at the nurse. "Can you keep him away from her? He's the reason she's here," I growled.

The nurse looked confused and headed for the door. "I'll see what I can do."

I watched as Bella's eyes started to water. "I don't want to stay here, Edward."

I gripped her hand. "Marry me. Marry me, Bella, and we'll move up to Seattle, so we can both finish school."

She looked at me wide-eyed. I pulled the ring from my pocket, and she smiled. "Really? You really want to marry me?"

I nodded yes. "The question is; do you want to marry me?"

She let out a laugh and nodded yes. I slipped the ring on her finger, kissing her softly. "How soon do you want to do it?" I asked.

She smiled and answered, "As soon as possible."

"Tomorrow it is," I said smiling. I would run down and get the marriage license as soon as the place opened. I was sure the hospital chaplain wouldn't mind performing the service for us.

BELLA

I had the most beautiful ring on my finger. Edward had asked me to marry him, and he seemed so anxious to get it done fast. I had to admit, so was I. So when he walked in with a marriage license and the hospital chaplain, I couldn't help but laugh. "You weren't kidding."

"Nope," he said kissing our daughter's head. "You're mine, Isabella Swan, and I don't ever want to be without you again. We're getting married, and we're going to make a life for our little family," he said and leaned over and kissed me.

A couple of nurses came in and acted as witnesses, and when the chaplain pronounced us husband and wife, they clapped and whistled excitedly. At lunch, one of them brought us some cake to feed to each other, and it was perfect.

Later in the evening, Edward stayed with me well past visiting hours, because he was now my husband. I felt giddy, as he snuggled next to me in my bed. My oxygen count was a bit low or something, so the doctor wanted to keep an eye on me a little longer. I told him I felt fine, and he reminded me I was on pain medicine. Yeah, I was kind of glad that was going on.

Edward impressed me with his booger sucking skills. Not mine or his, but the baby's. He was really getting the hang of taking care of our little girl. Edward had just finished up cleaning out her little nose so she could nurse, when Carlisle came walking in. He frowned deeply, as he looked over my chart and then scowled down at me, crossing his arms over his chest, as he eyed my wedding rings. "So, Charlie tells me you threw another tantrum and stormed rudely out of his house, landing yourself in the hospital, and now you don't want to see him."

Edward stood up immediately. "I don't know what he said to upset her or why you're here, but if you talk down to my wife again, I'll call security to escort you out, or I'll throw you out myself."

My chest swelled with pride for my husband. I had a husband.

Carlisle shook his head at him, glaring. "I can't believe you actually married her, Edward. What were you thinking? I haven't even gotten the paternity test results back yet."

"You took a paternity test?" Edward asked shocked.

"It was in your best interest, Edward. You're going to be fairly wealthy when your trust kicks in. You're still young and very good looking, so you could've easily found someone who was your equal, someone worthy of the Cullen name, and yet you've gone and thrown it all away for some skanky small town white trash and her bastard child. It's pathetic."

Edward shot across the room enraged, grabbing Carlisle by his coat and hurled him out of my room onto his ass and slammed the door. I didn't realize I was crying, until Edward was wiping my tears away. "Don't cry, Bella, he's a narrow-minded, pretentious prick and always has been. He's got his head so far up his ass he has no clue how truly shitty he is. We'll be fine, baby. We don't need them. We have each other, and that's all we need. That's all I need," he said and kissed my lips lightly.

The next morning, we were released. Edward had picked up a car seat, thankfully. He drove us over to my father's house while he was at work, so we could pick up our two little suitcases, and then we headed for the Cullen's house to get his stuff. Demetri was expecting us that night, with the promise of a care package from Momma D. He insisted we stay with him until we got our own apartment, hopefully by the end of the month.

Esme saw us pull up and looked worried as we walked in. I kept Elizabeth tight in my arms, finding strength in being her mother.

"Why didn't you bring your bags in, dear? Edward, where are her bags?" Esme asked looking flustered.

"We aren't staying here; you can ask your husband why when he gets home."

"No, no, please. I'll fix it, whatever it is, I swear I'll fix it," she begged, and I saw tears start falling down her face.

I actually felt bad for her and walked over and hugged her. She held me tightly and sobbing into my shoulder. Edward came back with Max on his heels, pulling his suitcases behind him and carrying Max's empty cat carrier.

"Edward, please," she cried.

"Did you know about the paternity test?" he asked coldly.

She looked taken aback. "I…I…I…" she stuttered, and he shook his head at her, heading for the door. "No, wait," she called after him. "I wanted to open a trust for Elizabeth. Carlisle refused until her paternity was proven. Edward, please, I'm sorry."

He tucked Max into his carrier and then went out and put his suitcases into the trunk of his car, placing the cat carrier on the backseat next to the Elizabeth's car seat.

"Edward," I spoke softly, "It wasn't her fault, she didn't say those horrible things about me, he did."

Edward lowered his head to the edge of the car, taking in a deep breath. He walked over to Esme and hugged her. "I'm sorry, but we can't stay here. After the way he treated Bella…Esme, she's my wife," he said pleading with her to understand why we had to go. She sobbed openly, but nodded okay, hugging him again. "You're welcome to come and visit once we get settled, Esme. Just leave your asshat of a husband at home," he spat.

"I'm so sorry, Bella," Esme gasped between sobs. "Whatever awful things he said, you know none of it's true. You're a wonderful girl, so beautiful and sweet. Edward's so lucky to have you."

I walked up teary-eyed and hugged her, squishing little Elizabeth between us. "Thank you for all your help, Esme," I said and kissed her cheek. "Say bye-bye to grandma Esme, Elizabeth, we'll see her again soon," I said trying to give her hope, and she smiled through her tears, kissing Elizabeth's little head.

We tucked our baby into her car seat and headed for Seattle, ready to find our new home and start our future together.