A/N: Oh, lovelies. Some of us are not very happy with Edward at all. Let's see how our couple is faring.

A solid weight threw itself down onto his lap, jarring Edward out of his thoughts. He wrinkled his nose, the heady smell of a trough-full of perfume making his head ache instantly. A grating, hyena laugh made him cringe.

"Ah, honey. Why the long face, hmm?"

Edward looked across the saloon to where James and Felix were, their laps similarly full of women with garishly painted faces, their bosoms near falling out of dresses that hung off their shoulders. James raised his mug at him, grinning lasciviously.

Well, that explained who'd sent the whore.

The woman was wriggling, tightening her arms around his neck.

Her perfume was gagging him.

Carefully, Edward reached behind him, taking the woman's wrists and unwinding them. He stood, sliding her off his lap. "Ma'am," he said politely, tipping his hat.

Ignoring the look James and Felix gave him, Edward made for outside, draining the last of his drink as he went.

Course, he wasn't alone for long. James and Felix seemed to have shaken their friends long enough to bother Edward.

"What's gotten into you?" James grumbled.

"It's what hasn't gotten into him." Felix snickered. "I do believe our boy here is pining away for his little wife."

"Is that what it is?" James shook his head. "Going on three and a half months now, you ain't so much as touched a woman. That ain't right, even for you. That there ain't natural at all."

"Ah, come off it. You so concerned what I do with my pecker?"

"You been in a mood. Hand to God, your belly aching's getting on my nerves. You gettin' your wick dipped oughta brighten your cheery disposition some."

Edward looked out over the town, leaning up on the hitching post.

It was still early evening. He wasn't all too far from Carlisle's ranch. He'd have to ride through the night, but he could be there by morning. The winter was getting toward cold, but the night was clear. He'd be able to see by the light of the moon.

His purse was getting heavy with his part of the jobs he'd done these last months, and he didn't trust the post to get the money back to Carlisle.

Back to his wife.

He'd wondered often how Bella was faring.

Suddenly eager, Edward pushed himself up off the post, untying his horse as he went. "I'll meet you a few towns over."

"Ah, where you running to now?" James protested.

"Let him go. After he has a roll in the hay with that wife of his, he'll be back." Felix's guffaw made Edward bristle, but he wasn't going to stop to argue.

He had somewhere to be.

~0~

Life on the ranch started early, so Edward wasn't surprised when his brother came charging out to meet him just as the dawn broke. What was a little shocking was when his brother who, as far as Edward knew, had never raised a hand at anyone, hauled him off his horse and punched him straight across the mouth, sending him sprawling to the ground.

Were it anyone else, Edward would have been worked up quicker than a hornet with a broken nest. But this was his big brother, the only man he'd ever respected, and Edward had never seen him this angry.

And all his ire was directed right at Edward.

He propped himself up on his elbows, staring up. "Carlisle, what-"

"Don't you even speak to me," his brother snarled. "You said you didn't touch her, you sonova bitch! That's what you told me."

Edward looked down at his boots, feeling lower than the dirt caked all over them. "I said I don't remember touching her. It were only that once, and I was on a hell of a bender."

Hands on his hips, Carlisle scoffed. "Well, all it takes is once."

When Edward only blinked up at him, the elder Cullen brother shook his head and offered his hand.

"What are you getting at?" Edward asked, throughly confused as he let Carlisle help him to his feet.

"Your wife. She's pregnant."

Edward's stomach dropped right down to his boots. He stumbled backward and then fell right back down on his ass.

"Aw, Gawd," he muttered, knocking his hat off as he gripped his hair in his fists. "You sure?"

Carlisle crossed his arms. "Course I'm sure. Would I have clocked you if I wasn't?" He grimaced. "Though I should've when you abandoned that poor girl here in the first place."

"Is she... I mean, is she..." he waved his hand helplessly.

"She had a spot of trouble in the beginning. Terrible with the sickness. It only recently took its leave so she's a mite on the skinny side." A smile played at his lips. "But Esme's set on fattening her up now that she can keep something down, so don't worry none about that."

Edward hung his head and said nothing. Bella had been a skinny little thing to begin with. With a sigh, he let his hands drop as he stared sightlessly forward. "She must hate me."

At that, Carlisle squatted, his expression turned compassionate again. "As it happens, your Bella's one amazing gal. Don't know how, but you done struck gold when you weren't even looking. She misses you, Edward. Ain't never stopped watching the horizon for you to come on home."

His heart did an odd little flip in his chest. Edward rubbed at his chest distractedly. "That don't make a lick of sense," he muttered, mostly to himself.

"You're going to be a papa," Carlisle said quietly. "You've got to wake up, son. You and I both know you don't deserve that girl, but you got her, and she ain't going nowhere. You got this one chance to turn yourself around. You can still be a respectable man, the kind of man your child can look up to."

~0~

Bella was in the hen house humming quietly to herself as she gathered up the eggs when an excited set of feet came running.

"Bella, Bella!"

The birds squawked in protest and panic as Emmett came bounding up the cockwalk.

"Easy now, Em. You got fire under your boots, boy." She chuckled. Emmett was always amusing, too full of energy for this early in the morning, but amusing just the same.

He cocked a grin at her. "Uncle Edward's here."

Quick as that, Bella's stomach began to twist and her hands trembled so hard she near about dropped the basket of eggs she carried. "Edward's here?" she echoed, touching the back of her hand to her suddenly heated cheek.

"Sure, 'nuff," Emmett said. "Well, come on then. Dontcha want to see him?"

Bella smiled gently, ruffling the boy's hair. "Go on. Work still needs doing regardless. I'll be in shortly."

When the boy had scampered off, Bella sunk to her knees, holding her knuckles against her lips. Esme said the baby made her prone to fits of mood, so that must have been why she felt suddenly weepy.

She'd had her fair share of bad days since Edward had brought her here. Not because Carlisle and Esme weren't kind, honorable people. They were friendly. Emmett was a hoot and the baby, Alice, was as sweet as could be.

Still, it hadn't been easy. She knew how to be of use and did her part on the ranch. But she felt like a burden, as much as they both assured her she wasn't.

It was also sometimes difficult. Her own father had loved and doted on her mother well enough, but watching Carlisle with Esme was another world entirely. Carlisle didn't just dote, he near about worshiped the ground his wife walked on. His touch was tender, the look in his eyes absolutely adoring. Didn't matter how small his touch was, whether it was just a squeeze of her hand or a full on kiss, the love he had for her was present in every action.

Part of her ached. In the night when she was alone and couldn't sleep, she stared out at the stars and let herself imagine what it might be like for Edward to look on her like that.

She absolutely believed what Esme tried to tell her, that Edward was a kind, good man at heart. In many ways, he was the same lost little boy who'd run away from his pain. He'd forgotten what home looked like was all.

Bella certainly understood that. She hadn't had a home for true in years - since her Ma and Pa fell ill.

He was a good man, and maybe he didn't care for her the way Carlisle cared for Esme, but he didn't hate her either. She'd seen glimpses of the tenderness in the way Edward did his damndest to take care of her that week it took them to get to ranch. He was a better man than he thought himself. There was even a certain sweetness in his guilt, though it was maddening.

Why couldn't he see his place was with his family? Even taking herself out of the equation, there was an empty place at the table where he belonged - with his brother, his sister-in-law and the children.

Even in the limited exposure she'd had to her wayward husband, she knew without a doubt he belonged here among good people, not where he thought he belonged with the likes of James and Felix.

Bella let her hand drift down, cupping her belly. She gripped the fabric of her dress, biting her lip nervously.

Over and over she had to tell herself she'd done no wrong. It was right for a husband to lay with his wife. Children were the whole point of that union, weren't they? She didn't want to feel bashful. She fervently hoped he would be pleased.

She foolishly hoped he would stay, if not for her then for the child.

Climbing to her feet, Bella set out for the house. She stopped at the water pump, suddenly self-conscious. The water was frigid, but she ignored her discomfort, trying to scrub away some of the dirt she knew was on her face, her neck. It weren't no use though. There was plenty of dirt to be had and not enough time for a proper bath.

Well, it weren't like her fine looks had made a difference before.

Her heart beat too quick as she approached the house, pushing the back door open quietly, listening.

It was Esme's voice that reached her first. "Edward Cullen, you stop going on like she's some fragile little flower you're trampling underfoot."

"Tell me true, Esme. She ain't really happy about this, is she?"

Bella leaned against the wall, closing her eyes, resting one hand over her baby and her forehead against the wall. He didn't sound happy.

Esme sighed. "Truth be told the poor child cried for near about a whole day when she figured she was carrying. That what you want to hear?"

There was silence.

"It's an overwhelming thing even when your husband hasn't hightailed it off to parts unknown." Her voice was harder than normal, pointed. "But then she dried her tears, picked herself up, dusted herself off, and started asking me every question she could think of. You could learn a lot from that wife of yours."

"She's strong, ain't she?" Edward asked quietly.

"To say the least. She's been through a lot." There was a pause. "But so have you, Edward. If you'll only let yourself see-"

"This ain't about me," he snapped, sounding irritated. There was the scrape of a chair across the wood floor. "I best go find her."

He was walking in her direction before Bella had time to react so he near about barrelled right into her.

For a few seconds they only blinked at one another.

He was as stunningly handsome as she remembered - all sunkissed skin and fine features. His eyes were storm of green, his tense chin rough with stubble.

He swallowed hard and, with noticeable effort, made his smile gentle. "Hey, chickabiddy," he greeted quietly, his words just a whisper.

~0~

It was evening before they really had a moment to talk. All that day, Edward hurried to make sure he got to all Bella's chores before she could. At least, he tried to get everything done. Little Alice made that difficult, insisting on clinging to her Uncle's neck.

"They always had a special connection," Esme explained. "Emmett loves Edward and vice versa, of course. But Alice..." She clucked her tongue. "We thought maybe she was dumb for a while. She ain't never said a word till well after her first birthday. Edward came around, picked her up, and started chatting with her like they were already mid-conversation, and 'for you knew it, she was jabbering back."

The way they sat, their heads bent together, made Bella hope. She had to admit she felt a little trepidation over what kind of father Edward would be - Lord knew the home he'd come from - but seeing his gentleness with tiny Alice and remembering the care he'd shown her, Bella's worries were put at ease.

Course, Edward was a whole other story.

Bella's wayward husband could hardly stand looking at her, and though Bella knew it was his misplaced sense of guilt, that fact still ate at her, making her ache. There was this tension between them, this yawning chasm she didn't know how to bridge. She didn't know the rules here - whether or not she should touch him, whether or not she should push him to talk.

It was awkward between them, but not so uncomfortable. Sometimes she caught him looking at her, his eyes roaming her body, his lips turned up at something she said or did, and it gave her hope.

That night, when the children were long asleep and Carlisle and Esme headed to their room, Edward tentatively took her hand. Bella's cheeks flushed, butterflies fluttering in her belly as she tried not to let on how absurdly pleased she was at the gesture. She was silent as she walked beside him to her room.

His head was bowed as he sat on her bed. He idly turned his hat over and over in his hands.

Bella bit her lip, not knowing what she was supposed to say. "I almost feel like I should apologize," she admitted finally, resting her hand against her stomach in case he didn't know what she was talking about.

At that, his head snapped up. "What?" He huffed, shaking his head. "Bella, you ain't done nothing wrong."

"Well, you ain't neither," she returned, sitting beside him, feeling a little uncertain.

His nearness made her throat tight, but Bella pushed by that. She was a wife and would be a mother soon. It was time to stop acting the child.

Pressing her lips together tight, before she could talk herself out of it, she untucked her shirt from her skirt and reached over, taking his hand.

"What-" he began but cut off as she took his hand, slipping it under her shirt, pressing his palm flat against her skin.

He sucked in a breath. In the soft candlelight, she could see the way his eyes widened, his lips forming an 'o' of surprise. He shifted on the bed, angling his body toward her and putting his other hand on her. "I can feel it," he said wonderingly.

Bella couldn't help the smile that spread across her face then.

The little bulge at her abdomen wasn't visibly perceptible, but with her hands against her bare skin, it was definitely there. It was a little ball of taut, firm skin different from the softness of the rest of her body.

When she'd felt it first, that was when she knew that though she was scared half to death at the idea of birthing a baby and being a mother, she loved this child. The time since she'd figured out what was happening, why the nausea wouldn't leave and why the curse hadn't come on her, she'd wished for the chance to make Edward feel what she felt.

Maybe they could be a family.

Edward gasped a little, his eyes shining with emotion as he pressed against her skin.

Then she saw the darkness encroach again. His breath stuttered and he pulled his hands back. His brows furrowed, and the tortured expression returned with a vengeance. "Bella," he whispered, sounding suddenly every bit the lost man Esme claimed he was. "Tell me what you need, what you want. I want to take care of you, I do. I owe you that. I owe you so much more."

Bella bit the inside of her cheek. There was too much she wanted to say, but she didn't know if she had the right. He was a man with a will of his own, and she hadn't the right to ask him to be somewhere he didn't want to be.

"Will you stay with me tonight?" she blurted. Instantly, her cheeks burned. "Just to sleep."

He looked surprised, but a small smile played on his lips. "Girl, you're a hard one to shake, ain't you?" he murmured, his tone soft. He lifted a hand, drawing his fingers down her cheek. "Why do you look at me like that? Like I'm a man anyone could want, let alone a sweet thing like you?"

Bella was perplexed. "You're my husband," she said, not quite understanding why he seemed to want her not to want him.

His smile was gentle. "I am at that." He looked conflicted for a moment before he leaned forward, tentatively pressing a tiny peck to her lips. "I'll stay, chickabiddy. If it pleases you, of course I'll stay tonight."

She didn't miss his qualifier, but she would take a step forward where she could get one.

"Oh. I almost forgot," Edward said suddenly. He pulled his satchel over to him and rummaged through it. "I have something for you."

Curious, Bella peered into bag, her eyes widening when he pulled out a case. He smiled, watching her as she opened it.

Inside was a little pistol. It was kind of pretty with pearl inlaid in the handle. Bella stroked it, a little awe struck.

She couldn't remember the last time anyone had given her a gift.

"I told you I'd get you one," Edward explained, taking the little gun out. "What do you think?"

"I think..." Bella bit her lip, her eyes darting up so he would see she was teasing as she spoke, not wanting to seem ungrateful. "It's a tiny thing. I feel like it'd do more damage if I threw it at someone."

He chuckled and put it in her hand so she could feel the weight. "It'll do more damage than it looks like. I'll take you out in the morning, learn you how to shoot good and proper."

Smiling, Bella kissed his cheek. "Thank you."

"Course." He ducked his head, looking as shy as she felt. "I know I missed your birthday, after all. 'Twas the least I could do." He breathed out and in steadily for a moment. "Bella, I'm trying. I am. I want to give you what you need, what you deserve." He swallowed, brushing her cheek again. "You and the baby."

Bella looked down at the pistol, turning it over in her hands, thinking about how dangerous his life was.

He could kill or be killed with a gun like this.

Bella's throat got tight so it was hard to speak. "What if..." Her voice was breathy. "What if what's best for us is to have you here? Have you home."

He didn't answer right away. "I gotta make money somehow. How am I supposed to provide if I hole up here?"

"There's plenty of work to be had here, Edward," she said quickly. "Carlisle would help. You know he would."

She saw her husband's jaw tighten. "I don't want his help. Not with that."

Maybe she was new at marriage, but she knew better than to push. It was a raw, unhealed wound between Edward and his brother. Carlisle had his own regrets on that score.

Edward was a man with scars, and he wasn't going to change overnight, if he changed at all. She would have to weather the tides with him, see what shore she washed up on. It would have to be enough for now that he was obviously not simply casting her aside.

A/N: Many of you saw the baby thing coming. If y'all know anything at all about GinnyW, you'd know a fic for her has to include a pregnancy. Ginny loves her some baby fic!

Many thanks to GinnyW, jfka06, and barburella for all their help and love.

And thank you to all of you. I wish I could review reply to everyone because your words mean so much to me.