EPOV
I rubbed my eyes, realizing it was still dark and wondering why the fuck I'd woken up so early. I went to reach for Bella and noticed something that scared me and comforted me in the same instant.
I blinked hard, trying to make sense of what the hell I was seeing. My mother was standing in the dark room watching over a still sleeping Bella, drawing a blue heart on the left side of her stomach.
"Why are you drawing on Bella?" I asked, dumfounded by her presence.
She flashed a serene smile, but didn't speak, only pointed to her doodle. I looked back to Bella, noticing the heart had swelled to twice it's previous size, because her stomach was now swollen and round.
My head snapped up, my eyes catching my mother's looking for confirmation that what I was seeing was actually real, and not some fucked up hallucination.
She smiled and nodded. I traced the heart with my finger, in awe. I couldn't wrap my head around it. Bella pregnant was nothing I'd ever thought I'd see.
How had this happened? When did it happen? Why the hell couldn't I remember?
The amnesia was pissing me off and the confusion of how Mom was there was becoming too much.
My irritation and confusion hitting its peak as my eyes actually opened.
Jesus. It was a fucking dream.
Your dead mother was in it, that probably should have been your first clue.
I reached for Bella, checking to make sure I wasn't still sleeping. My hand quickly going to her bare stomach. There was nothing unusual. Just soft, toned skin that I trailed my fingers over and around. I started kissing at her ear trying to wake her up, but she was being stubborn.
Why did I have babies on the fucking brain? It made no sense. I think Bella would rather crawl through broken glass than have kids. The thought wasn't exactly unappealing to me, but it wasn't something that a thought about a lot. I figured when our lives settled down and once I married her...
Was I really already thinking about that?
Fuck, yeah I was.
I'm sure that'll go over big with Bella. I've gotten proposed to more times than I can count, yet the one woman I'd actually like to go down that road with, would probably disembowel me for even bringing it up.
I smiled at the thought. That's my girl. My fucking amazing girl.
When the time was right she'd grin and bear it, but just to be safe I'd hide any and all sharp objects.
Smooth Cullen. You've got this all figured out don't you?
For the time being I did. It was as good as it was going to get for right now.
I was the motherfucking king, and not of the world. Forget that noise. DiCaprio could keep that shit.
Bella and I had survived our first real fight. I finally told her I loved her and she not only didn't run, but stayed and admitted she loved me back.
I was the best motherfucker in Hollywood.
Well, the best at winning Bella over anyway.
Whatever the fuck the title was, I'd take it.
The last twenty-four hours had been rocky, and that was a huge fucking understatement.
Her reaction to the job offer with Irina shocked me. I shouldn't have been surprised. Bella was always doing shit that made absolutely no sense to me, but I thought she'd be excited and happy and I would be the fucking hero.
There you go with that fucking hero stuff again.
At the very least, I thought she'd keep me around a little longer until I figured out the perfect fucking moment to tell her how I felt about her, but instead I almost drove her completely away.
I didn't understand how shit got so heated, but I knew it was entirely my fault. Nothing came out right. Telling her that I thought she would want to be more than a fucking receptionist, was the stupidest thing I could have said.
Besides my own reasons, I hated seeing all her talent go to waste while she sat at that desk and played gopher for Alice. She deserved so much better than that.
Apparently, I needed someone to write me some lines, because I botched that whole fucking argument. What I meant to say and what I actually said were two different things entirely and it almost cost me everything.
It was only when I saw her walking down the street to who knows where that I realized how badly I'd fucked up. I wasn't going to let her walk away. We had come too far and I'd be damned if I was going to lose her over something stupid. All the fucking games had to stop, I wasn't going to let her weird ass hang ups dictate what I did anymore. Even if she did leave me in the dust when she broke up with me, at least she'd know how I felt about her.
Then she surprised me a second time that night by not only staying put, and letting me keep my balls, but by telling me she fucking loved me too. I couldn't believe it, but her eyes said it as much as her voice did. The way she said it made me fall in love with her a little bit more. It was entirely and uniquely Bella. It wasn't overly emotional or cliched, it was just her lowering her last wall.
I thought for sure I was going to have to argue with her about self made cages, life being a fact and people falling in love, but I didn't have to pull out that Breakfast at Tiffany's monologue.
She was still hesitant about the job with Irina the next morning, but I decided not to push, mostly because Bella had her lips wrapped around my cock and I would have been a bigger fucking idiot than I'd been last night to stop that.
Later, I called Esme to let her know of the press we would probably receive from the previous night. She thoroughly chastised my ass for getting into a very public fight, and I couldn't blame her. I knew it was a fucking stupid thing to do, but it was over and done. The tabloids would come up with their usual bullshit, that we were breaking up or however they chose to spin it. I didn't give a shit.
Nothing was going to fucking ruin this morning.
Except Hollywood Life and some perfectly good eggs.
I had started making breakfast and checking online to make sure the fabricated stories from last night, weren't too fucking out there. They all had their own versions of what went on. One had reported I was shacking up with Bree. Another had "inside sources" that Bella was sleeping with Emmett and that Rose was pissed and plotting a major revenge. Rose's rep Royce, would have a great time fielding that bullshit involving Rose and Emmett. He always said they should shake it up now and again. I bet he was lit up like a kid on Christmas. The fucker lived for drama and he'd just gotten handed a load of it.
I was relieved that all of it was easy on our end, but pissed that Em and Rose managed to get pulled into our bullshit through no fault of their own. At least we were family, and they understood. It wasn't until I got to the HL site and read their headline, that I became uneasy.
I laughed at first with the absurdity of it. Then I was horrified. Bella was going to go fucking crazy if she saw this. The affair with Em she might not care about, but this was going to get HL a fucking mailbomb or something equally as bad.
Bella and pregnant don't even belong in the same fucking sentence, unless "is not" or "never will be" is in between. The thought made me sad for a split second, but I didn't have time to think about it long, because I heard her coming downstairs. I hit back on the browser and went back to safer web territory.
I put a cover over the finished eggs and poured two glasses of juice by the time she got into the kitchen.
She was irritated by the article about her and Emmett, but she seemed to shrug it off quickly. I thought I was in the fucking clear, she'd never know about the HL shit, and we could go on with our morning. I must have still been tense though because she called me out on it.
Damn it. Might as well get this over with now. As she pointed out, she was going to find out either way. Slut one and two would be sure of that. I sincerely hoped Bella would take the job with Irina, if only to get away from those two shallow, crazy bitches.
Bella was completely fucking irate and shocked. She let out a shriek reminiscent of Renee and began doubting her body, which pissed me the fuck off. When she finally calmed down, she joked about suing them for defamation. I told her it wasn't worth it, and that nobody with half a brain was going to believe it anyway.
Renee would take that as a cue to call and ask Bella about all of it. I laughed loudly when Bella told her to refer the nosy people of Forks to Gossip Cop, considering she had just barked at me for doing the same thing to her. It was ridiculous to even worry about it in the first place, all this shit was going to blow over in a matter of days, like it always did.
I placed her plate of sunny-side eggs in front of her, to focus her on food, but instead of digging in, she looked like she was going to be sick.
She took off towards the bathroom. I was seriously starting to wonder if she was getting the stomach flu.
But she had been fine last night.
Except for when she got sick after I got home.
What kind of flu causes random nausea with no other symptoms?
She fell asleep during the premiere last night.
It didn't give me a whole lot to go on, but she had no fever...
Not Possible.
My head craned in the direction of the bathroom and I let out a long breath. Is that what my mom had been trying to tell me?
Cullen quit deluding yourself, there's no fucking way. It was just a dream.
Right?
I quickly made my way into the bathroom, just in time to help Bella up off the floor. She appeared to be fine again, or at least that's what she kept telling me, insisting it was nothing.
With the images of my dream fresh in my head and her symptoms, I practically demanded she go to the doctor. It only took a little bit of time to convince her, and for her to make an appointment, but her doctor wouldn't see her until a week later. If what I thought was happening was actually happening there was no fucking way she was going to wait another day.
I immediately called Dad to get a referral. He was happy to refer her to one of his golfing partners, even though he called me paranoid and like Bella, said she probably just had the flu.
It was the only thought in my head all morning. Is she? Isn't she? I was going crazy, I didn't know if I could fucking wait. How long did these tests usually take?
I had the brief thought of calling Dad a second time, to put pressure on his friend, but thought better of it. I didn't need anyone to know what crazy fucking thoughts were going through my head.
I ended up calling Bella at work to see if she had found out anything because the suspense was killing me and I wanted to make sure she was okay and to see if she had gotten any results.
As soon as I hung up with Alice, my phone rang and my father was on the other end.
"Hey Dad," I answered surprised, but thinking maybe he wanted to get together for lunch or something.
"Edward, something you care to tell me? Before I read it in the tabloids."
He always called me son, and his tone sounded pretty upset. "Um, no?"
I could hear a long breath on the other end. "I just had an extremely interesting golf game with Mona Peters. The associate I referred Bella to this morning."
His tone sounded grave. Oh, fuck something was wrong with her. I closed my eyes and ran my hand through my hair. "Dad don't beat around the bush, just tell me what's wrong."
"What's wrong Edward Cullen is that I'm too young and studly to be a grandfather," he hissed with little threat. " And if you would have beat around the bush I could be holding onto my youth for a while longer."
I choked on air and started coughing. Holy fucking shit. My father always did have a way of breaking things to me. Never thought he'd be telling me that I was going to be a father.
"How? What? How do you know?" I stuttered, trying to breathe normally again.
"Peters," he grumbled. "She could lose her license for...saying what she did."
"What did she say?"
"Nice shot... Grandpa," he whispered the last word. "I thought he was commenting on my age, which was just a cheap slight, until she told me that the name was actually very accurate, judging from Bella's test results."
My mouth was open. "Aren't there laws against that?" I asked stupidly, getting agitated that my father had this information before I did.
"Many," he informed.
"Does Bella know?" I asked ignoring his irritation. I hadn't heard anything on the news of an crazed woman targeting random strangers with hand grenades and I wasn't dead yet, so I was guessing no.
"No, Mona wanted to refer her to an OB colleague, Dr. Avery I believe, and have her give Bella the news."
"That's good. Perfect. I need the extra time and a fucking miracle to not have her kill me."
"It will give you another few hours to come up with something. Get a net, call the S.W.A.T. team, buy a ring..." he cleared his throat.
"Very subtle, Dad."
"It wasn't meant to be subtle. Your mother and I may not have raised a gentleman, but we did raise you to do the right thing."
"I'll keep that in mind," I responded.
"Take it to heart." I could hear the smile in his voice. "Your mother used to call you and Rose her..."
"Pair of hearts," I supplied.
"You remembered!"
Of course I remembered. I used to think it was lame, but in that instant I understood what she meant and what the dream from this morning was telling me.
"She found that quote," my father continued. "from Elizabeth Stone, when she was pregnant with Rose. She kind of adopted it, and then adapted it to her own saying when you came along."
"So Bella's really pregnant?" I could help the fucking pride or the smirk I was wearing. Even though I had no fucking clue how it happened.
"Yes Son."
The reality of everything started sinking in. "I still don't know how it's even possible, she was on birth control."
"You have Cullen sperm, it knows what it's goal is. You're not the first," he relayed proudly. "You know, your sister was conceived, even though I was using a condom and your mother..."
I tried not to be sick. "Way too much information Dad!" I responded, interrupting the rest of his story.
"I'm just saying, it's not unheard of," he countered quietly.
I was slowly getting used to the idea, that there was part of me out there. Someone I was going to be responsible for and someone I already kind of loved. A little girl with brown eyes and dark hair that had the same unique fire as Bella.
"I have no idea what to do," I blurted out, intimidated by the image my mind had conjured up. "I don't know how or what...I feel like I just skipped a big step in my life."
"Relax, becoming a father doesn't change anything," he said lightly, sensing my panic.
"No?" I questioned doubtfully.
"No," he paused. "It changes everything," he laughed, but then his tone grew serious again. "Pardon the pun, but baby steps Edward. Being a parent is a lesson of patience and progression, as your child grows and matures, so will you. And the fruit of your labor is something wonderful."
"I knew I was wonderful," I chuckled.
"Well, your sister is, but with you turning me into a grandfather, I don't know if I consider you wonderful anymore." His tone was mocking. "You're making me old, but I guess you were doing that before."
"That would be time," I argued.
"I don't look a day over forty," he snorted. "The word grandfather automatically ages you by ten years. I refused to be called Gramps or any variation thereof."
"Noted," I sighed agitated. Was his title really such a big deal right now?
He laughed heartily. "I'm just giving you hell son. I'm very excited, mostly. I expect to see you and my very near future daughter-in-law as soon as you two have a handle on this. Deal?"
I agreed, not really paying my Dad's marriage talk much attention. I was still reeling as we hung up.
This was really happening. I was really going to be a father, and Bella was...oh god.
This is bad.
This is fucking good.
The timing is bad.
Who gives a shit about timing? You wanted to be her fucking last. You wanted the fucking white picket fence with this girl.
I still want that. Even more so now.
So what's the fucking problem?
We're not ready for this. She is not fucking ready for this.
Who the hell is ever ready to have a kid? Even that K-Fed douche has can manage this, and you can help her manage this.
He's older than I am, and I can hardly manage myself.
Fuck older. You're turning twenty-nine in a week and a half. You're not exactly young.
Too young to have a kid.
Your kid will never have to worry about anything.
Other than those parasitic assholes stalking her like she's some fucking meal ticket.
I could deal with them, I'd protect my kid at all fucking costs.
Could I protect Bella though?
She can handle herself.
Not while she's pregnant she can't and she won't.
I mostly wondered if I could protect myself from Bella until she acclimated to this. Could she acclimate to this?
She's managed to deal with the paps,the high profile career and dating a public sex symbol, all while falling in love with who you really are rather than the public projection. I think she can handle this.
Was it fair to ask her? She didn't want this.
Sometimes we're given things we never knew we wanted.
Entirely too true. This was a blessing, I may not know how to handle the specifics or my hormonal presumably homicidal girlfriend, but I could fucking do this. Somehow.
My beautiful amazing girl was having my baby and I was somewhat shocked, somewhat scared, but mostly fucking ecstatic.
I could walk Bella though this. Maybe.
I should take out insurance on my boys before she gets home. If Jamie Lee can insure her legs I could insure my nuts right?
**Sexy Silk**
I called Bella throughout the day, wondering if she had gone into the office yet. Wondering if she knew.
Wondering if she was obtaining a hunting knife to gut me like a fish.
I had everything set up, the bracelet I had ordered earlier in the day had arrived an hour ago. I was going to let her bring the baby up, assuming I was still conscious after she walked in the door. Or alive.
She'll want you to suffer slowly. A quick death wouldn't be tortuous enough.
I waited for her, calling her again and again to see if she had gotten the news, but not outright asking her. It was closer to five when she texted me, letting me know that she was going into the office.
No turning back now.
There was no turning back before.
I hoped I did the right thing by not going. When I called an hour later and she didn't pick up, I started getting worried. I tried a second time, but there was still no answer. I started condemning myself for not going with her. I blamed all the usual suspects; traffic, a blown tire, maybe she stopped off for food, but I was lying to myself and I knew it.
Hell. What if she really was completely freaked out and she just disappears or decides she really didn't want the baby.
Our baby. It's half fucking mine. She wouldn't fucking do that would she?
She loves you, she may be out buying a rusty hanger to remove your spleen, but she wouldn't do that.
I called her again, getting nothing but her voicemail.
There had to be some fucking reason that she wasn't home yet. If she was coming after me, she would have been here by now.
Something was wrong. I felt it.
That thought cinched my decision to go find her. I needed to get Emmett first though. I needed an extra set of eyes.
"Jesus E, you look like shit," Emmett commented, getting in the car. "Rough night?" he winked.
"I don't have time for your perversion right now, Em. Bella is fucking missing."
"Shouldn't we be calling the police?" he questioned worriedly.
"Well, she's not actually missing. She's just... gone and I don't know where the fuck she is and she won't answer her phone."
"What the fuck did you do? This have something to do with the fight last night?"
Fuck I wish I thought. That would be entirely too easy.
"Rose called that shit," he smiled and patted me on the shoulder. "She'll cool down E. Chicks need to blow off steam, she'll turn up."
"She won't fucking turn up," I yelled, unleashing my frustration on Emmett. "I need to fucking find her, she was supposed to call me after..." I stopped short of admitting where Bella was supposed to call me from.
"After what E? What the fuck is going on? The fight didn't look that bad. She didn't even..."
I glanced at Emmett and back to the road slamming on my breaks for the red light.
"Fuck! Stupid goddamn light!" I yelled.
"Shit dude, calm the fuck down. What the hell happened last night?"
"I told her I loved her," I answered tentatively.
"Oh, well that explains it. I guess?" he acknowledged confused. "She waited till now to freak out about it?"
"She didn't freak. She said it back," I informed him with a half smile recalling the memory.
"Hell yeah!" he exclaimed. "About fucking time you two dropped the L word. So what's the problem? You love her, she loves you, things should be good, right?"
He stopped short trying to solve the puzzle he was missing pieces to. "Is she pissed about the job?" I had causally mentioned talking to Irina to Rose, so of course Emmett knew.
"She was," I answered, mentally cursing the fucking traffic lights in this city. "She may still be...I don't...I'm not really worried about it right now." I stepped on the gas and plowed through the finally green light.
"E you're losing me...if she not pissed about the job and you two were in your L bubble, what the fuck was so awful that she..."
"She's pregnant Emmett," I answered cutting him off. I might as well tell him now. I needed to talk to someone about it anyway, might as well be his gossip girl ass.
He was quiet for a couple of seconds and his eyes widened and his hands went up. "I swear, E... you know me bro... there's no way in hell that I'd touch..."
He thought I was talking about the stupid HL crap and started pleading his case. I smiled at his stupidity, it was something familiar. "I know that, Em. It's mine."
Silence again. "Holy. Shit. You knocked up Bootylicious? How the hell did you mange that?"
"I don't fucking know, she's on the pill. It doesn't really matter does it?." I certainly wasn't going to go into the finer points of Cullen sperm theory like my father.
"Well fuck, I'd be screaming it from the goddamn rooftops if it was me! You're that .1 percent. Your swimmers must be like James Bond; covert ops, defying the odds and dropping bad ass one liners while he..."
"Don't." I cut him off.
His grin widened. "Taps Pussy Galore."
"Very fucking funny, Em."
"I'm just trying to relax you, man."
"You and Dad both," I muttered.
"Dad knows? And I know," he paused assessing the situation, "And Rosie doesn't know? Fuck dude! I'm going to guard my balls indefinitely if she finds out I knew before her!"
He would be worried about his fucking balls after I tell him that my girlfriend is pregnant.
"You? Fucking hell Emmett!" I groaned. "I managed to knock up Bella! I'll be lucky if I have a dick left once I find her, never mind my nuts!"
"Good point. You're sure you want to find her? I'd be going on the lam." He muttered something about not even Bond finding his ass.
"Thought you'd be bragging?" I questioned.
"I could brag while I was laying low," he confirmed. "Where are we going anyway?
"The doctor's office, I'm hoping she's still there."
Sort of.
I mostly hoped she wasn't on some type of rampage through L.A. or getting a small arsenal together.
We pulled into the parking lot of the medical complex, not seeing Bella's car anywhere caused the panic to well up, but the ambulance and cop car I saw scared me shitless.
Em and I jumped out of the Vanquish and raced over to the ambulance.
"Caffy?" I questioned, seeing that normally smug asshole with a bandaged lip and orange face brought a smile to mine.
"What happened asshat?" Emmett goaded. "Someone finally put you in your fucking place?"
"Cullen? What the fuck are you doing here?" he coughed weakly.
"He really shouldn't be talking," the EMT lectured, smiling at me with a look of recognition. "He was attacked." She hesitated on the last word, like she was humoring him.
Caffy glared at me through red puffy eyes, like he'd been crying. "That's personal information!" he snapped at the girl.
One of the officers that had been formally leaning up against the cruiser, came towards us.
He introduced himself as Officer Jenks and clarified, both mine and Emmett's names. Which made no fucking sense. We weren't involved with any of this.
"I'm over here!" I heard Caffy yell. I turned to see the EMT grinning over at me, but quickly turned her head back to him when she realized she'd been caught.
"He's banged up pretty bad, but nothing too serious," the officer assured me, like I gave a shit.
I shrugged. "Asshole finally got what he deserved."
I had no fucking idea why he felt the need to tell me anything. Now that I knew it wasn't Bella I was relieved, but wondered what the hell he would have been doing here at the same... Mother of god.
"Christ, did Bella...?"
You already know the answer to that question.
"We have a security tape," the officer started to answer. "Your girlfriend, she has a red Mini Cooper, correct?"
I nodded.
Fuck. I guess I was foolish to hope for no rampage. At least she took part of it out on Caffy.
Was she okay? Where the fuck was she?
"He detained her by grabbing her arm and blocking her door," he continued. I felt my jaw tightening. "She got him with some pepper-spray and then pardon my language, kicked the shit out of him."
"That's Bella," I responded, shaking my head. "Did she look okay? Was she injured?"
The officer shook his head. "She looked to be fine when she drove off. She's got a nasty right hook and knew how to defend herself," he offered, writing something down.
"Cop's daughters usually do," I replied running my hands over my face, exhaling a sigh of relief and frustration. She was driving around the streets of L.A. amped up on adrenaline and hormones. I only hoped she'd stay off the sidewalks.
"Her father is a badge?" the officer questioned, drawing me back into the conversation.
I nodded. "Retired Chief of Police, actually."
A retired chief of police who was going to use me as fucking target practice once he found out I knocked up his daughter.
The offer chuckled again. "She takes after her dad then. No prisoners for her."
Emmett was laughing so hard he was doubled over. "You got your ass kicked by a fucking girl you pussy?" he yelled, through his hysterics
A pregnant girl. Pregnant with my kid and that asshole had fucking grabbed her.
"That bitch is going to be in jail, and I'm going to sue you for every fucking dime you have Cullen!" Caffy asserted from the back of the ambulance.
"You stupid asshole! You stalk her like a goddamned predator... and put your fucking hands on her and you think you can sue me?" I responded, seriously losing my shit. "My lawyer will fucking destroy you."
"I was only doing my job, it's not my fault if that bitch misinterpreted what I said," he barked.
I stormed over to the back of the ambulance and got in his bruising face. "It's a damn good thing the cops are fucking here and that my girlfriend already maced and beat the fuck out of you because I wouldn't be taking pot shots asshole!"
Emmett grabbed my shoulder, pulling me back. "He's not worth it E. Bella needs you. Your ass can't be in jail right now." Emmett was being the voice of reason? This entire day was so damn confusing.
"She pregnant Emmett," I hissed quietly. "She shouldn't be going around like fucking Xena or some shit."
"Xena has nothing on Bella! Look at this motherfucker! I bet she took it easy on him too," he bellowed loud enough so Caffy could hear. "I'm only pissed we didn't get here in time. I would've liked to have added a few more bruises." He started punching the air like he was fucking boxing with someone.
I snickered. "You would've had to compete with a hormonal, presumably aggravated Bella. So good fucking luck with that."
Jenks had taken a slight stance in front of Caffy and started speaking again. "Actually, he's already been charged with harassment and trespassing. We're booking him after he's finished up here."
"Are you kidding me! She sprayed me and destroys my personal property and I'm the one who's being arrested?" Caffy yelled, outraged. "I'm the one who called you! Did you pigs not get that she assaulted me!"
"You need to quiet down, or we'll also cite you for disturbing the peace." The other officer informed gruffly, coming up to the ambulance, starting to read Caffy's rights.
"Oh, this is rich! That loose little bitch gets away with teasing me and destroying my property and I'm going to jail. There's no fucking justice! You people ask for this!" he screamed at me. "You'd be nothing without us! We give you your fucking fame! You're an ungrateful bastard just like your kid will be! I told her she should get rid of it and save herself the trouble, Cullen!"
Did he know? Was he fucking bluffing? It didn't matter, he wasn't going to be breathing for much longer anyway.
Both Emmett and I turned. I was within an inch of his face before Emmett was holding me back.
"Say one more fucking thing about my kid asshole and you won't have to worry about jail," I seethed.
"Is that a threat? He threatened me! You heard it!" he yelled at the officer. "I want to press charges."
"I didn't hear anything," Officer Jenks countered. "You hear anything Paul?"
"I couldn't hear a thing with him yelling," he answered with a smirk. "Let's get loudmouth into the car."
"You both have a nice night. If it's any help she went out the northwest exit," Jenks motioned.
"Thanks," I responded, still glaring at the mouth breathing parasite.
"This is bullshit! You'll be hearing from my..." Caffy's yells were cut off as he was shoved in the back of the squad car.
**Sexy Silk**
I'd been driving around with Emmett for fucking hours and still no Bella. I couldn't stop all the terrible things that were going through my head. I knew we had very little chance of finding her, as Emmett pointed out, but sitting and waiting for her to come back would have driven me crazy. Well, crazier.
I had already left her three voicemails and she hadn't responded to any of them. I hated to think of what that meant. If she was pissed enough to unleash that kind of attack on Caffy, I wondered what the fuck she had in store for me. If she came back at all. I'd take a million fucking beatings if it meant she did.
We pulled over to get gas in the Vanquish. I made Emmett do it, because I was not in the fucking mood for any type of fan encounter.
I left her one last voicemail, praying to fucking god that she got it and came home. My cell battery died right after I hung up.
Emmett got back in the car. "I think we should pack it in E. She doesn't want to be found."
"What if she decides to do what Caffy told her to do Emmett. I couldn't..." I couldn't even finish the damn thought.
"For all you know that's why she kicked the shit of of him Bro," he consoled. "Bella is unpredictable, but she loves you. You guys will work this out and she will definitely come back."
I could only hope that he was right. "Thanks Em."
"Anytime." A wide grin spread over his face. "Dude, you're gonna be a dad!"
I was fucking beaming, momentarily distracted by Emmett's declaration. I was going to be a dad.
Providing I could find Bella.
I took Emmett home to Rose, asking him to keep his mouth shut, but knowing him, Rose would fucking know within the hour.
I was on edge the whole way home. Trying to figure out where she might have gone or what she might be thinking.
When I pulled into the driveway and saw her car, all the air left my lungs. She was here. I quickly turned off my engine, slowly getting out saying a silent prayer of thanks as I closed the door.
She was standing by the front door of the house, with her phone by her ear looking like she was ready to take off. Her face panicked and puffy and her hair everywhere, frantically trying to lock the door.
When she saw me, she stopped. Everything fucking stopped. Was she trying to leave? I didn't see any bags with her.
She launched herself at me. I thought she was trying to tackle me to the ground, but she actually jumped on me, and I caught her with unsteady arms as she started babbling. I caught every other word, but knew she was apologizing and felt bad for disappearing. She had tears in her eyes as she continued to ramble.
I'd never seen her cry before.
She looked vulnerable and fragile, yet so fucking beautiful. She was here, and she wasn't killing me, she actually wanted to see me. I couldn't stop myself from kissing her, because I fucking could. Because she was having my baby, and she was safe. Because I knew they both were. And I was so fucking grateful.
I poured all my relief and love into that kiss, and her lips in tongue were meeting me back with the same force and passion. She fucking missed me, loved me and needed me. I could feel it.
I could also feel Slugger starting to go up to bat, which was not happening right then. I broke the kiss to give that fucker some time to go back to the locker rooms until we figured this out.
She placed her hand over the one I had on her cheek, and asked for me to tell her she didn't just do that.
I knew immediately what she meant. She had sounded just like her mother, scarily so. That thought had Slugger heading for the showers and not wanting to take the field ever again.
Not the fucking time to bring that up.
"No, you didn't," I lied.
"Thank god," she whispered, opening her glassy brown eyes.
We talked about where she went after she beat up Caffy. We both admitted that we'd gone out of our fucking minds. She asked me how I knew about the baby, but I didn't want to try to explain the weird dream with Mom, or the conversation I had with Dad so I told her it was a long story. It was then I noticed that she was gripping the bracelet I had gotten for her. I put it on her, a little put out that I wasn't there when she opened it, but glad that I got to put it on her.
She asked me if I was alright with "all of this". It was the second time she had sidestepped the word baby. I challenged her to say it, but she came up with her own inventive way of describing the creation of our child.
I fucking loved this woman.
Our verbals sparing dwindled and I accepted that she wasn't going to say it, but I needed her to understand that I was more than "alright" with us having a baby.
"You're asking me," I started, drawing her into my arms. "If I'm alright with the woman who owns me in every way, who I love insanely and unconditionally, if her being the mother of child and giving me the most amazing thing on the planet is alright?"
I put my hand under her shirt and stretched my fingers over her stomach, my palm going right over where I had seen Mom draw the heart.
"Yeah, I think I'm alright with that."
The tears spilled over her eyes and her lip trembled. Maybe I didn't make it clear enough? I begged her not to cry and started mirroring her babble from earlier, looking for the right words to try to calm her down.
She started smiling, even though tears were streaming down her face.
Guess I said the right thing after all.
I meant fucking every word.
I relaxed and told her I should start taking notes, because I was sure to need them.
"You'll catch up," she laughed.
I was sure I would, eventually.
I didn't know how or what that would entail, but about three things I was absolutely positive; life happens, Bella was going to be an amazing mother, and her ring wouldn't be coming out of a Cracker Jack box.
A/N: I know, Meyerism here too. I figured tit for tat and all that. Bella had one last chappy, so his needed one also;)
Breakfast at Tiffany's-Can anyone else hear Moon River?-Probably just me.;) Double imaginary points to anyone who puts in their review what town Doc Golightly says he lives near- *giggle* -, Bond references and more.
Smooches to all my wonderful readers- you guys blow me away everytime. Hope you're still enjoying this, we've still got a bit left to go. ; )
*Waves goodbye and says thanks* until next time!