Chapter 13: Lifted RestrictionsBPOV

I made sure that Anthony was snuggled in his stroller as I made my way into the mall. I usually didn't venture out too much with Anthony, since he was still so small, and I didn't want him to get sick. But today was an exception, I had been given the all clear by Dr. Stanley and I wanted to surprise Edward. I needed to buy new lingerie just for the occasion.

"Be good for mommy!" I said softly as we strolled inside the mall. I had made sure to go during the weekday when the mall would be at its emptiest.

I didn't linger on clothes, because most of it still wouldn't fit. I had lost a lot of the weight almost instantly, but I still had a small pouch. I wanted to work on that before I started buying clothes again. I was nervous about letting Edward see me again. My body was not as firm as before, I even had a scar across my lower stomach.

I pushed back all my insecurities going into Victoria Secret. I took a deep breath looking at all the silk and lace. I was a bit overwhelmed as I studied everything. What image did I want portray? Did I want to be sultry sexy? Or did I want to be more understated? Which would Edward prefer?

I roamed the racks holding up different things. Some bordered on obscene while others seemed too conservative. We hadn't been intimate in two months, the six weeks after Anthony's birth plus the two weeks I had spent on bed rest. I was starting to get desperate.

"May I help you?" A young lady with the perfect body asked.

"Just looking." I answered dismissively. The last thing I needed was Ms. Barbie helping me pick out lingerie. I wouldn't be able to pull off anything she would recommend. I was a mother now.

I picked up a few pieces heading to the fitting room. I felt awkward trying these things on with Anthony in the dressing room, but the plus side was that he was sound asleep. I tried on about four different outfits settling on a black silky number. It hugged my body perfectly, dipping low and accentuating my cleavage. Yet, at the same time it hid my scar and stomach.

Anthony began to whimper as soon as I slipped on my shirt. "What's wrong, my angel?" I asked putting the lingerie on top of the stroller and carrying him. He snuggled into me as I single handedly tried to maneuver the stroller out of the fitting rooms. I groaned in frustration as I hit the wall and then the other door. Strollers and baby accessories were not made for clumsy people.

I finally made it to the register trying to lie Anthony back down. However, as soon as I squatted in front of the strollers he began to cry. He hated the stroller, and preferred to be carried. He was definitely spoiled.

"He's adorable." The lady behind the counter commented as she rang up my purchase.

"Thank you." I said kindly trying to look for my card with one hand.

"How old is he?" She questioned as I handed her my Visa.

"Just turned six weeks." I sighed as she smiled brightly.

"Congratulations," She added as I took the pen to sign the electronic pad.

"Thank you," I said before packing my things and going.

"You're very welcome, and enjoy." She added with a wink as I turned red. Was I that obvious?

I quickly made my way out of the mall. Or as quickly as I could since I was steering the stroller with one hand and carrying Anthony with the other. My only saving grace was that the mall was empty. If the mall had been full I would've hurt at least half of the patrons with my clumsiness.

I opened the door of the back door of the Volvo sitting inside to strap Anthony to his car seat. I felt like crying the minute he began to scream and cry. Anthony was a calm child, but he hated to be in the stroller or car seat. He preferred the bouncy seat or his swing. "Come on, Anthony. It's just for a little," I urged the tears prickling at my eyes.

I was a horrible mother who was making her son cry. I tried guiding his thumb to his mouth, but that didn't work. I checked his diaper and looked at my watch. He still had an hour before his feeding, but he didn't want to be in his car seat. "Please, baby." I crooned touching his cheek softly. His face was red from crying, and I felt incredibly guilty for having him there against his will.

My phone began to ring and I was relieved when I saw Edward's number. "Hello," I said my voice cracking.

"Bella, love, what's wrong? Why is Anthony crying?" Edward asked his voice full of concern.

"Anthony is crying hysterically in his car seat. I can't get him to stop. I'm a horrible mother." I cried the tears falling down my cheek. "He's never done this before."

"Maybe he's hungry." Edward added as I shook my head forgetting he couldn't see me.

"He ate before I left to the mall. I can't do this by myself." I replied touching my baby who wouldn't stop screaming.

EPOV

The frustration in Bella's voice was obvious. I could hear Anthony's cries, and I knew she was loosing it. "My love, let him cry. You're not that far away from the house." I said wishing I didn't have a test in twenty minutes so I could rush to her aid.

"But I don't know what to do. I hate to hear him cry." She added. "Why am I so horrible?"

"You're a great mom, Bella. Just drive, and he will eventually calm down." I urged as I heard her sniffle.

"Alright, Edward." She said in a low voice.

"Call me when you get home." I reminded her. "I love you."

"I love you, too." She answered weakly before hanging up.

I paced the hallway of my class as I waited for Bella to call. I wasn't taking many courses, but they were still challenging nonetheless. Bella was a great mom. She never complained about waking up in the middle of the night to feed or change Anthony. I also woke with her sitting up with her as she fed him or changing him for her to sleep. I had even started to feed Anthony myself now that she had started pumping. However, Anthony did not like the bottle as much.

The minutes passed like hours, my nervousness only increasing. Was she all right? Should I have left? Why was she alone? All these questions rushed through my head until I heard my phone ringing. "Hello," I said relieved when I heard Bella answering and no crying in the background.

"We're home." She said as my breathing returned to normal.

"What was wrong?" I asked.

"He's hungry." She admitted. "He started drinking immediately. I feel so stupid for not knowing,"

"Bella, you were just overwhelmed." I pointed out. "Just relax, and I should be home soon."

"Good luck on your test." She added before hanging up.

BPOV

I tucked Anthony into his crib in the nursery. He usually slept in the room with us, but tonight Edward and I needed privacy. I made sure the baby monitor was on and I carried it to the bedroom. Edward was downstairs proofreading some papers, and I took the time to get ready for him. Alice was staying with Jasper while Esme and Carlisle had gone out on a date night. Everything was planned.

I took a slow shower using all sorts of lotions and soaps. I wanted to be perfect for Edward. I slipped on the slinky silk nightgown I had bought deciding against wearing anything underneath. My hair was curled slightly on the bottom, and I did nothing to my face. I knew Edward liked it most when I was wearing no make up.

I checked on Anthony one last time before walking downstairs to Edward's office. "Hi, love." I said in what I hoped was a sexy tone.

Edward looked up from his papers his eyes glazing over as he saw me. "Bella." He whispered as I approached him slowly my hips swaying as I walked.

"Edward." I called as he moved back allowing me to stand between his legs. His face was level with my full breasts.

"You're torturing me." He said as his hands trailed my thighs up to my hips his breath catching as he realized I was not wearing anything underneath my silk negligee.

"It's not torture, if we don't have to stop." I corrected bending down to kiss him and give him a full view of my cleavage. I kissed him passionately as he groaned into my mouth his hands sneaking from the back of my thighs up to my behind.

"You can?" He stuttered as I nodded sucking on his bottom lip.

He pulled me on to his lap my legs straddling his thighs. "I want you, Edward." I whispered in his ear. "I want you in me."

Edward kissed me frantically as he picked me carrying me upstairs as I reached for the bottom of his shirt. I needed him out of it and quick. Our lips broke apart only to remove his shirt as he placed me on the bed slowly crawling to me. "I love you, Bella." He whispered kissing me again.

His knees nudged my legs apart as he settled his body between them discovering every inch of my mouth again.

He slowly pushed my negligee up exposing me to him. I shivered as the cold air hit me, and stiffened when I realize he was taking me in. I felt self-conscious as his hands trailed my skin. The sensation was wonderful, but I couldn't help but feel less than perfect. My hips were rounder, my stomach was no longer as flat as before, and most noticeably I had a scar.

"What's wrong, love?" He asked wearing only his jeans.

"Nothing," I lied tears forming in my eyes. I knew I wasn't beautiful, I never was. But now I was even less, he deserved better.

"Bella, you're even more beautiful than I remember." He said as my tears kept on falling silently. Why had I done all of this and made a fool out of myself? How could I expect him to want me?

"You're just saying that." I answered trying to squirm away from him.

"My love, I think you're gorgeous. Everything about you is beautiful." He said touching my body.

"How can you say that Edward? I'm fat and I'm disfigured." I complained as he rolled off me and I brought down the night gown covering myself up.

"Love, you're not fat. You're perfect." He said in my ear bringing me close to his body. His hand slipped under my silk nightgown to lightly caress me scar. "And this is only an outward sign of how much you love our son. It's just as beautiful as the rest of you."

"I love you, Edward." I said giving him a hug and a kiss. "I'm just overwhelmed right now."

"I understand, my love. We don't have to do anything. " He assured me with a kiss. "I just want to hold you."

"I'm sorry." I whispered kissing him as I fell asleep in his arms.

A/N: I need your help once again in the form of suggestions of things that you find memorable with your children at around 6 months to a year. Any funny stories or things you want me to include will be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

Next Chapter: Girl Talk/Guy Talk

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