Hey guys, I'm so sorry I didn't get a chapter posted for you last week. Real life was kicking me in the ass. I'm also letting you know that I might be late next week due to family get togethers we'll be attending.

Beta'd by Brie and kitch…but I might have fucked up their work by getting wordy after the fact.

Hope you all enjoy this. xx

Chapter Eleven

Confession #11: All awards shows involved getting dressed up, lots of alcohol—before, after, and during—and a lack of food throughout the process…unless you're coffee girl. I was just in awe.

By some sort of miracle, we managed to sleep in the morning of the Oscars. It was a rarity now, because coffee girl never seemed to find a comfortable position anymore—even with the army of pillows she had at her disposal.

I was mesmerized by the beach-ball belly she was sporting. I'd done that to her. She was suffering for me—for us, for our child. Doing what I could, I rubbed the stretch mark prevention cream into her skin. I loved how our little bean followed my movements with his own wave-like motions.

When I finished, I went downstairs and made breakfast for us. Coffee girl arrived just as I plated up our food. She dug in to her eggs like it was her last meal and tried to slyly shovel my eggs onto her plate, but it didn't work. She smiled and then kissed my cheek in thanks before she got up and made me a café au lait. I was enjoying the added benefit of being able to drink coffee in our house again and it made me smile. Although I'd learned how to make them for myself years ago, they never compared to hers.

As cheesy as it sounded, I loved how we each did little things for each other simply because we wanted to and we could.

The doorbell rang just as we finished breakfast, and Bella quickly excused herself to begin her torture, as she called it. I just stuck the dishes in the dishwasher and waited to be summoned for my turn.

I passed the time by watching mind numbingly boring television. Reality TV, to be exact. I never understood how people could expose themselves repeatedly to the public just for money. An interview was one thing—answering questions that you'd never be asked in a normal setting—but to regularly allow people into your home was crazy to me.

Whatever...to each their own, I guess.

When the time arrived for me to get ready, I was showered, shaved, and dressed in less than half an hour. Bella grumbled about how easy guys had it as she munched on the chicken pasta salad I'd brought her before I had begun my routine. The hair stylist made quick work of my chaotic hair, though I thought it looked exactly like it did when I'd first sat down in the chair to begin with.

I slid on my socks and shoes while Bella brushed her teeth and then reapplied her lipstick. The stylist and her assistant helped Bella step into her dress, and I was left standing with my mouth hanging open.

The blue ice dress made coffee girl's pale skin glow, and it hugged her body beautifully. She refused to 'borrow' jewels and wore her sunflower diamonds as always. I loved that about her; she always was herself, even when wearing thousand-dollar gowns.

"You're stunning, love." I was still in awe after all this time.

"Thanks. You looking ravishing in your monkey suit, too," she teased as she pretended to straighten my black bowtie before dusting invisible lint off my shoulders.

I offered her my arm, and we headed down the stairs, the stylist following behind with Bella's shoes and handbag. She took the purse into the kitchen and began stuffing it to the brim with snacks.

"What are you doing?" It was a stupid question, but I still asked it.

"You know the next time I have chance to eat will be more than five hours from now...I need provisions if I'm going to make it until then."

Small packs of almonds, raisins, her favorite beef jerky, and banana chips joined her lipstick, powder, dental floss, and breath mints. I was shock by the amount of items she managed to cram into that tiny bag.

"I need you to hold my phone," she said as she finally snapped the purse closed.

With a chuckle, I replied, "No problem."

Alec and Jane arrived with the black limo. The drive was nothing short of the usual humdrum of the Los Angeles traffic, and the red carpet was a constant flow of shouting and shuffling followed by the usual interviews.

Bella answered the 'who are you wearing?' question what seemed like a hundred times, while I was only asked twice. It took almost an hour before we were finally escorted to our seats, which were in the first row. That should have been telling, but I'd been clueless even then.

Less than forty minutes later, the show began. It wasn't our first award show of the season, but it was the biggest. I'd won a Golden Globe and a People's Choice Award earlier this year. This was the most I'd been involved in the show due to the fact that Bella and I were singing.

At just under an hour into the program, it was our turn. We stood on the dark stage while my co-star in Say Something announced us.

Singing in front of such a large audience was surreal, but somehow, someway, I lost myself in the song with coffee girl. Under two single spotlights, we breathed life into each other. We brought everything and delivered our best performance ever, though I was partial to the first time we sang it together in our home.

When the last note rang out and the stage darkened, our mics were turned off and Bella declared she had to pee. Even through the heaviness, she brought light to the moment.

I continued to love her beyond all measure.

~o~o~o~

By the time the third musical performance began, Bella was halfway through her snack supply. The show wasn't even close to over. I hoped she would be able to make it through, but if all else failed I would order her a pizza that she could munch on backstage. If Ellen could make it happen, so could I.

Bella ran off to the restroom again to check her teeth and touch up her lipstick. Not only had she wanted to make sure she looked nice once the camera panned to her, but she had told me there was no way she would make it through the 'In Memoriam' without crying. Everything emotional affected her exponentially since becoming pregnant. Shortly after she arrived back in her seat, it was time.

I sat, a wound-up ball of nerves for her, as Bella and the nominees in her category were announced. I held my breath while she squeezed the life out of my hand. I wondered if she was anxious too, and I knew then that she was.

"And the Oscar goes to… Isabella Cullen."

The music began as I pulled her to her feet. Coffee girl was still in shock.

"Holy shit. I won."

"You did, love. Get up there and accept your award." I helped her up the stairs and then quickly returned to my seat. I didn't want to miss one second of her moment.

"Wow. This is so surreal. Sorry, but I needed his help up. My center of gravity is completely off and it's all his fault anyway. Now, where to start...my parents!" The audience laughed, and I was positive that my red cheeks were as visible to everyone as Bella's were while she was overtaken by another Renee moment. "Mom, Dad, thank you so much for your constant love and support. For the piano lessons, the vocal coaches, and the guitar lessons. I aspire to be half as wonderful of a parent as you guys have been.

"To my husband, Eddie, you're my muse, and the reason music continues to speak to me. I love you." I couldn't resist blowing her a kiss at her lovely words.

"To Marcus and the entire production team for Say Something, thank you for this opportunity. I will forever be humbled by the honor you bestowed upon me. Alec and Jane, your guidance within my career is a huge help.

"And lastly to the Academy, thank you for this honor."

I was so happy for coffee girl. I knew she never expected to win, so seeing the shock and awe on her face was amazing. I honestly couldn't wait to get home that night so I could re-watch her win over and over again.

At that point, it didn't matter to me if I won or not; Bella's award had already sealed this night into the top ten best nights of my life thus far.

~o~o~o~

It took about fifteen minutes after Bella returned me, Oscar in hand, for my category to roll around. She was holding onto it for dear life.

"Congrats again, coffee girl."

"Thanks, Eddie. It's your turn now."

I clung to her as the nominees were broadcasted.

"All of the men in this category delivered equally powerful and thought-provoking performances. Now, here are the nominees for best performance by an actor in a leading role."

I sat anxiously waiting for the video montage to finish...that was the hardest part, the waiting.

"And the Oscar goes to… Edward Cullen."

"You did it, Eddie. You won," Bella whispered before I swept her up for a searing kiss and then dropped to my knees and kissed her baby bump.

With one last kiss to her lips, I practically jogged up the steps to receive the award.

"Wow…thank you to the Academy, not only for this recognition again, but for honoring my wife with hers first because I couldn't have become this character without her." The audience cheered, and so I paused before continuing. "John was by far the hardest man to become, but you, Bella, you made it possible for me to leave him on set. You gave me the ability to release the angry and bitter man I had to portray behind and be nothing more than the man you love at home when all was said and done. You are my passion."

I could see the tears on Bella's beautiful face. "I love you more every day, coffee girl." I had to look away or I would have begun crying myself as I went on to thank the rest of the cast and crew, Marcus, the producers, my personal team, and the rest of my family.

I exited the stage and proceeded to the press room. I answered many questions, but the ones I was most proud of were about Bella. She was my reason for everything.

Once the show ended, we all made our way to the after parties. First, we headed to the Governor's Ball, but only after Bella got her dinner…Jack-in-the-Box once again. Bella was most excited about getting her award engraved, and I believed that was the only reason she was still awake.

There was a line for the engraving but it moved fairly quickly since they had three people working on the statues. Bella went first, of course; I was still riding her high along with her. I hadn't even given myself a chance to acknowledge my own achievement.

They handed the engraved plate over for her to check that everything was spelled correctly, and it was. They then attached it to Oscar, polished it once more, and handed it back to her. Bella thanked them; then it was my turn, and the process was repeated.

As we made our way to our table, Bella began speaking. "Thank you for giving me this night, but I want you to know that none of this would have been possible without you. Your talent inspires me every moment of the day and you earned that award that you're carrying around just as much as I did. Please, for the rest of the night, let it be about both of us and not just me. You are a true talent as well."

I heard her words and agreed to her wish. It was easy for me to make everything about her, but she wanted it to be about us, and I could live with that.

The rest of the evening passed in a blur. Accolades were passed around and more industry connections were made, but all I could truly concentrate on was the fact that the next big event in our lives would be the birth of our child.

That was more moving than all the awards I could ever be given.

Thank you so much for reading. I hope you enjoyed this as much as I did writing it. The baby name will be revealed soon. Leave me some love if you so desire. xx Dee