Chapter 20: First Words
BPOV
I was a total basket case. It was now late March, and the jury was about to reach a decision for my mom's future. My mom had remained out of jail, but was in the psychiatric ward in Seattle. Phil had assured me that she was receiving treatment, and was getting better.
I had not gone to the court, because I couldn't take it. I didn't want to see Renee in handcuffs, or see her being led away to jail. My only hope is that they kept allowing her to receive treatment and possibly give her probation. I wanted her to get better.
I smiled at my son as I sat with him on the floor. He had been sitting unassisted for almost two weeks, and seemed to reach all milestones early. He was even able to go from sitting to craling position without any assistance, I knew it was a matter of time before he would start crawling.
"Pee-ka Boo!" I said covering my face with his blanket before quickly removing it. I smiled at him as he laughed clapping his hands. I was amazed at how fast he was growing. He was almost six months old, and getting bigger and smaller everyday. My baby was growing up.
"How's my favorite grandchild?" Carlisle asked as he came in smiling at us.
"Say hi to grandpa!" I said tickling Anthony's sides and pretending to make him wave.
Carlisle approached us giving Anthony a kiss. "Have you heard anything?" He asked me as I shook my head.
"Emmett was going to call me, when the jury reached a decision." I sighed as Anthony grabbed Carlisle's nose.
"What are you doing, Anthony?" Carlisle inquired playfully as he placed Anthony's hand on his own nose make him giggle.
"You really shouldn't worry. Her mental status will almost guarantee that she'll get help." He assured me as I sighed. I wasn't sure if he was right. Renee had refused the lawyer Carlisle had recommended. She had used one of the state lawyers instead.
I nearly jumped out of my skin as my phone began to ring Emmett's name and goofy picture flashing on the screen. My heart was pounding in my chest. What was going to happen? Had the jury decided?
"Go get the call." Carlisle said as he sat down with Anthony. "I'll watch him."
"Are you sure?" I questioned as he gestured me to go.
"Hello" I said after taking a deep breath. No matter what I thought, I couldn't change the ruling.
"Bella, it's Emmett." He said as I rolled my eyes.
"What did they rule?" I asked wanting skip the useless chatter. I was to nervous for it.
"The jury ruled that she was incompetent." He began to explain. "The judge is mandating she receive medical attention in order to stay out of jail, and she is on probation for ten years. She is also going to need somebody to have power of attorney. Phil is looking into that."
"What a relief." I sighed. "Where is she now?"
"She's being transported back to the hospital, she has to stay there until a doctor rules she is safe to be back in the community." He continued. "I think she's starting to understand just what she did. The medication and counseling she's receiving has been helping."
"How do you know?" I inquired wishing now that I had gone.
"Well, She looked sorry, and was happy to see me. She even hugged Rose." He said as I felt a tear fall down my cheek. "She asked about you?"
"What did you say?" I questioned.
"She wants to see you. I told her you stayed home with Anthony." Emmett continued.
"I should go see her, but I don't want to go alone. She hates Edward." I reasoned trying to figure out how I could go.
"I'll go with you, whenever your ready." Emmett offered.
"Thanks, Emmett. I'll consider it." I replied feeling better as I hanged up. My mom was not going to jail, as long as she behaved herself.
"Someone wants their mommy!" Carlisle said with a huge grin.
"What happened?" I asked staring at my baby.
"Listen." Carlisle answered.
"Ma-Ma!" I heard Anthony distinctively say making my heart soar. I couldn't believe he was saying his first word.
"That's right Anthony, I'm Ma-Ma." I encouraged taking him. "Can you say it again?"
"Ba!" He continued leaning into me as if he were giving me a hug.
"Come on, Ma-Ma!" I said the last part slowly looking into his bright green eyes.
"Ma!" He repeated as I gave him a kiss.
"Ma-Ma." I urged making sure to exaggerate my mouth movements. I wanted to hear him say it again.
"Ma-Ma!" He repeated giving him a kiss.
"Did you teach him?" I asked Carlisle as he shook his head.
"We were playing with the blocks, when he looks toward the kitchen and said Ma-Ma. As if saying that you're in there." He explained.
"He's so smart." I said tickling his sides as he giggled and cooed.
"He is." Carlisle agreed as a distinct smell informed me that Anthony needed a change.
"I should go take care of that." I said covering my nose as Anthony laughed at my expression his feet kicking.
"Did you go poopey?" I asked Anthony walking upstairs to the change him.
"Ma-Ma-Ma-Ma-Ma!" He kept repeating as I laughed. I knew he was going to be repeating that consistently for a while.
I quickly discarded his diaper before picking him up and sitting on the rocking chair. "Can you say Da-Da?" I asked hoping I could surprise Edward when he got home. He volunteered twice a week at the hospital where Carlisle worked.
"Ma-Ma!" He said with a smile.
"I'm Ma-Ma, but can you say Da-Da?" I urged sitting him on my lap. "Da-Da!"
"Ma-Da!" He said instead as I sighed. At least he was closer.
"Da-Da!" I repeated yet again as he laughed at my expression snuggling into me and rubbing his eyes. "I guess we'll try later." I added
I gently rocked him to sleep humming a lullaby. He would learn to say Da-Da when he was ready, and not before.
EPOV
There was no further need for me to volunteer at the hospital. I had gotten in to the school of my choice, but I felt bad leaving. I only worked there a few hours a week twice a week. So it wasn't impossible for me to do.
Besides I would have all day tomorrow to spend with Bella and Anthony. It was going to be a big day, we were going to introduce real food to him for the first time. It was rice cereal, but it was still food.
I arrived home finding Bella doing homework in our room. "How was your day?" I asked giving her a kiss.
"The jury made their decision." She answered as I scolded myself for forgetting.
"I'm sorry, Bella. I forgot that was today. I was going to call you." explained as she smiled giving me a kiss. I had remembered early in the morning, but with all the work I had forgotten.
"It's alright, Edward. I know you're busy." She replied placing her notebook on the bed.
"But what happened?" I inquired hoping things had gone Bella's way. I assumed they had, because she seemed happy.
"They deemed her incompetent, and she has to receive treatment to avoid serving jail time and she has ten years probation." She explained with a sigh. "Emmett says she wants to see me, he thinks the treatment she has received over the last three months has helped."
"Are you going?" I inquired not wanting to agree of disagree without knowing what she wanted. "The choice is yours."
"I want to go, and Emmett promised to go with me." She replied with a worried expression. "I just don't want to get my hopes up."
"I'll go if you want me to." I offered. Renee was not one of my favorite people, but I was willing to go and support Bella.
"I'd rather do this with just Emmett. I don't know how she will react to you, it might worsen the situation." She replied as I nodded, understanding her completely.
Anthony's babbles began to filter in through the monitor as Bella laughed taking my hand and leading me towards the nursery. "What are we doing?" I asked since we usually allowed him to babble all he wanted.
"Watch" She said with a huge grin as we approached the crib.
I smiled at my boy who was sitting in the middle of the crib with his small blanket sucking his thumb. He looked up at me raising his arms to be carried. "Ma-Ma!" He said clearly as my eyes widen is shock.
"Did he just speak?" I asked Bella as Bella nodded.
"What did you say, Anthony?" I probed lifting him up as he giggled and cooed. "Can you say it again for daddy?"
Anthony looked at me observing me closely saying a bunch of nonsense syllables. He seemed to be totally ignoring my request.
"He was saying this afternoon." Bella added as Anthony turned to the sound of her voice.
"Ma-Ma!" He repeated throwing his arms at Bella.
"That's right," Bella said taking him.
"Can you say, Da-Da?" Bella stated as I joined in repeating "Da-Da!"
"Ma-Da!" Anthony said instead causing both of us to laugh.
"Has he said Alice yet?" Alice questioned running inside much to Anthony's amusement.
"Just Ma-Ma!" I stated as my sister pouted.
"Ma-Ma!" Anthony said yet again causing Alice to squeal in excitement and Anthony to smile.
"Say Ali!" Alice urged as we all laughed.
"He'll get there." I assured her.
"He'll be coming to his cool Aunt when he gets older, just wait and see." Alice teased as we rolled our eyes heading downstairs for dinner. My son was growing up way too fast.
A/N: I'm sorry this is late, but I was waiting for the site to get alerts in order. I hate when the site does this!
I hope it was worth the wait, and every update should be back to normal.
Thanks for the reviews!
Next Chapter: Not Sure (It's saved at my house, and not work) Sorry!
Muggleinlove
