Recap:

"Edward, we need to talk." He silently nodded and kissed my head again. I grabbed his arm and assisted him to the bedroom. His balance was not great. He gripped tightly on his cane, it was hard for him to walk. I could sense the frustration from him, but he put on a brave face. I felt guilty I had not been there for his recovery. Would he forgive me?

We stopped at our bedroom doors and I took a deep breath. It was time. Time for the real and honest truth.

Chapter 21 The Honest Truth

Thanks for the support on the last chapter, this was a quick turn around.

I helped Edward settle on to the bed. Though he was mobile, it was extremely difficult for him to navigate around. I hoped with time his mobility would improve. I moved his cane to the side of the bed as his eyes lingered on me. Suddenly, I felt insecure. What if he noticed the baby? I was close to being 4 months pregnant. There was a definite bump starting to protrude from my stomach. My body had been changing every day. The IV had helped me keep more food down, which aided in the baby's growth.

My breasts had also increased. I actually needed to buy new bras. I forgot to ask Rose and Alice in all the madness. I was always fairly blessed in the breast department, but the new increased size had made me feel insecure. I felt they had increased a solid cup size, but couldn't be certain. I crossed my arms over my chest, hoping Edward didn't notice the new changes in my body.

His eyes roamed along my arm. I gently released my wrap and exposed my hand and arm to Edward. His eyes flinched in response. It was not the prettiest sight. The bright pink skin contrasted against my own fair skin.

His fingers gently traced along my scabs. He paid extra attention to not hurt me. Our eyes again spoke unspoken words to one another. Finally, he cleared his throat.

"Bella, what were you thinking?" He sighed. His eyes welled full of tears. My stomach dropped, and I knew now how reckless my actions had been. I had put everyone at risk. Especially our baby.

"I'm sorry, I know. I should have stayed inside." I bit my lip at him. I knew it was careless and there was not a genuine reason I had to go outside during the lockdown.

"I'm so happy you're okay. Likewise, I'm happy that James is gone. If I had lost you, I don't know what I would have done." Tears fell from his eyes now. I gently wiped them from his face.

"I'm sorry I brought so much chaos here. Sorry you were injured. Sorry for telling your father our wedding was not real. I'm sorry for it all." I cried. Edward pulled me to him as I sobbed.

"Bella, don't ever think you're a burden. You didn't cause this. What would have happened if we never met? What would have James done?" He spat as he wiped away my tears, this time. I shuddered and wondered if James would have made me disappear like so many others had.

"Everything happened the way it was supposed to." He said calmly. His eyes held mine. So much love and emotion laced behind them.

I nodded my head and bit my lip again. It truly had. He had saved my life.

"I'm sorry about the wedding. I know it was wrong of me. I just didn't want to let you go." He sighed as he lowered his head. He was ashamed of his actions.

I pulled his chin up and kissed his lips simply. "Everything happened the way it was supposed to." I grinned at him. His face lit up as he pulled me closer to him.

"You're not mad anymore?" He asked. I shook my head no. I really wasn't. I knew now this all was our path no matter how unconventional, we were meant to find one another.

"No Edward. I love you. I'm happy you did it. You saved me, Eddie." I beamed at him.

"You love me?" He questioned. His eyes widened as a large smile formed along his lips. I nodded my head and laughed. He was elated. His lips found mine again as he tried to deepen our kiss. His hands lightly explored my breasts. My eyes grew as his face looked slightly puzzled. He had definitely noticed the increase. It was hard not to. I pushed him lightly back and cleared my throat.

"We have more to talk about." He nodded his head as his gaze on my breasts moved to my face.

"There's been so much misinformation out there. I feel uncomfortable by it all. I didn't capture Joseph Martin. I didn't do anything." Edward eased me as he rubbed my back. I was overwhelmed by the press and the new attention focused on me. It only was going to get worse from here. That was certain. The car ride back from the Hospital was alarming. Paparazzi and citizens swarmed around us. The attention had never grown to this level before.

"I know love, we will address it at the right time. Currently, both of our recoveries are important. When you're more settled in, we will talk it over with everyone and game plan from there." He continued to rub my back to soften my worries.

"How is your stomach? Are you feeling better?" He silently asked. My eyes darted to my stomach, I shifted uncomfortably as I knew it was time to tell him. How would he take this news?

"I have medication. I'm doing a lot better." I weakly smiled. I took a deep breath and held Edward's hands. My lip was losing the battle with my teeth as I tried to form the correct words to tell Edward we were both going to be parents in 5 months.

"I have something called HG. The full name is Hyperemesis gravidarum. It happens with some women in early pregnancy." I bit my lip harder as my eyes found his. He was silent as he processed the information. His eyes were unmoving. Silence swept us. I instantly regretted telling him. Worry filled my mind as more silence filled the air. I dropped my hands from his, disappointed in his reaction. Or lack of one.

"You're pregnant?" He finally asked. I looked at my stomach and pressed my hand along the small bump.

"Yes, I am 14 weeks. Almost 4 months along." My eyes found his as his eyes roamed my body. Fully realizing the subtle changes. His eyes lingered on my stomach as silence overtook us again.

Tears welled in my eyes as the realization that he did, in fact, not want this baby. I looked away from him as I forced myself to hold back my emotions. I stupidly let myself assume he would want us. I shifted my body away from him as I continued to shake back my tears. I would do this alone.

"The baby is healthy, if you were wondering." I suddenly spat. More silence loomed around us.

"When did you find out?" He quietly asked. I shifted uncomfortably. I knew I should have told him sooner.

"Two weeks ago. Just before the attack." I breathed out quickly. Edward suddenly walked away from the bed, hobbling. He was unable to pace back and forth. So, he huddled in a corner as his fists balled up.

"You knew for two weeks?" He exploded. He seemed exasperated. I squinted my eyes as his words filled the air.

"Edward, so much has happened. We didn't have a moment alone." I quietly cried. It was a lame excuse and I knew it. He should have known right away. I fidgeted with the bedsheets as Edward continued to sigh. He was disappointed in me, it was utterly apparent.

"Bella, what if James had harmed the baby? Truly, what were you thinking?" His rage had softened as his eyes roamed my stomach. He hobbled over to the bed and stared at my stomach further. I felt exposed to him in such a new, raw way.

His hand found mine. His other hand pressed lightly against my stomach. My tears fully fell now unable to hold back anymore.

"I could have lost you both." He cried as he pressed his head against my stomach. We both silently let out a few cries. Emotions waving over the both of us.

"So you do want this baby?" I questioned. He chuckled a deep laugh and hugged me tightly.

"Of course I do. I can't say I was expecting this, but I love you Bella. I want every part of you. Including this baby." He grinned as his hand roamed over my stomach. I kissed him lightly as I felt a massive weight come off my shoulders. He knew, and he wanted us. Both of us!

"I'm not going to lie, this will take me some time to adjust to. Bella, he could have killed you both. Have you been checked thoroughly? Did the burns affect the baby?" He angrily asked. He was right to be angry and concerned. We easily could have lost our baby.

"I understand Edward. I'm sorry. I was reckless and we are lucky. He is safe. Esme made sure I had the best doctors to check me over." I smiled at my stomach as I rubbed my hand over Edward's.

"He?" He suddenly lit up.

"It's just a guess. I didn't find out the gender. Everything is healthy. Our NIPT results came back with no abnormalities. Our little one just wanted to hold on." I sniffled lightly at him. Our poor baby had been through so much in such a short amount of time.

"Who else knows?" He mused quietly as his hand continued to stroke my tummy.

I filled him in with everything that had happened and everyone who was aware. We mutually agreed we would need to tell Charlie and Carlisle soon.

"Your dad still thinks our wedding is a complete sham." I sighed. It had been uncomfortable between the King and me. He was weary of the whole situation.

"I think we should show them both the video" Edward casually said as he adjusted his body closer to mine.

I was afraid of what Charlie and Carlisle would think. They both would be so disappointed.

Edward cupped my face in his hands. "Bella, we love each other. We are having a baby. They can get over it. We both could have died. Aren't you done living in fear of what ifs?" His lips found mine as I was unable to answer. I was done living in fear. I just wanted Edward and our baby. That's all that really mattered.

We attempted to deepen our connection, but my arm and his leg proved to be difficult. We striped off in bed and held one another. Edward's hand cupped my growing stomach as he fell asleep. As I drifted off, I realized there was so much ahead of us. We needed to be careful. We would need to tell everyone very soon.

Discretion was at the upmost importance. We were not ready to share with the world the news of our newest addition to the Cullen family.

We were just about to enter the second trimester, which meant I would be showing fairly soon. My princess events would resume, and there was only a short amount of time before the baby would be visible.

I held my stomach and felt grateful for the rollercoaster that had been our lives as of late. I wouldn't have changed it.

How will both Dad's take the news of everything?