Disclaimer: I do not own anything except the plot.

This chapter is all me, so just ignore any/all mistakes you encounter.

I had posted on my profile last December 2011 about my story schedule, but I guess not everyone read it. Anyway, I'm supposed to update Slither after I finished MP, however it's taking me longer to finish this one. For those who are asking about Slither, expect a chapter early next week. O_O

This was supposed to be one long chapter. However, I decided to cut it into two because I don't like long chaps. So here is the first part.

Enjoy! =D

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

EPOV

I was restless. It had been three days since I last saw Bella. The last time was when I lashed out at her when she told me she was pregnant. Blame it all on me, I was a fucking asshole and there was no other way to explain it.

The news had been so unexpected; I freaked out and just walked out on her. The shock didn't wear out until hours later.

Thinking of my actions made me cringe. There was no doubt she hated me…I hated myself for just leaving her angry and crying like that. It didn't help any that I had landed my drunken ass in Brazil, in the island I had bought for Bella a few months ago. After I left the apartment in my temper-induced daze, I went directly to the restaurant to drink myself into oblivion, eventually demanding Marcus to bring me to the fucking island. Don't ask me why I wanted to go because I don't have an answer to that. Then a storm had to hit just when we arrived, postponing our immediate departure back here. To add to all the shit that happened, electricity and all mobile connections were down, making me unable to contact her. Maybe it was a way of getting back to me for being the dick I was to her.

I just arrived a few minutes ago, fucking scared and excited to see her - to explain to her why I did what I did. But she was nowhere to be found. Fear was what had caused me to react that way. I was scared the baby would somehow come between Bella and me, and I would lose my wife. The baby – any child of mine - would become another vulnerable point of attack, and I didn't want to give my enemies more ammunition against me. Not to mention, I wasn't ready, at all, to be a fucking father yet.

But that same fear pushed Bella away, and now she was gone. My heart felt like it was being ripped apart.

As I stood in our empty bedroom, her absence a raging reminder of how stupid I was. The silence looming over me; the end so apparent it threatened to engulf me. Everyone was aware of how irrational I could become when I was angry, but it didn't excuse my actions. If only I stepped back a few minutes…hell, even a day before I reacted, she wouldn't have left. Many times during my long flight from Brazil to here I had thought how I felt about the baby. Honestly, I wasn't really sure. All I knew was, I couldn't live without my wife. If she wanted the baby, then I would have to learn somehow to just accept it, maybe even love the baby. Never once did I think I would arrive to an empty penthouse suite.

Her absence still stunned me. I never thought she would leave me. Well, what did you fucking think she'd do after you acted like the pompous ass you are? Seth was also nowhere to be found. I only hoped he was with her, because if he wasn't I was going to fucking kill him.

"Marcus, have you reached Seth yet?" I barked. I was tired and hungry. And now I was pissed, too.

"Not yet, Boss," he said. He looked at me quizzically, clearly waiting for any instructions from me.

"Tell me when you do," I ordered curtly. "And Marky, make sure Eleazar is on the next flight to Italy to take Vicky's place…coz she's on the way here now."

I had called Victoria before I left Brazil, so I was sure she had landed a few hours ago.

"I will, Boss." Marcus left me after that. He knew I needed some time alone to process this shit I was in.

Would I be a pussy if I thanked him? He was the one who took care of me while I was too drunk in another country. He was the one who prevented me from landing my ass in jail during our very short stay in the Galeao International airport. I was too angry to care, and I wanted to take it out on everyone, even the fucking airport police. If it weren't for him, I would have fucked up things more. Luckily, I had him to control me. I was even surprised he could do that. Aside from Bella, it was always Jasper who could calm me down.

Marcus was not only a very good bodyguard but also a good friend to me. He had earned a little more respect from me for what he did; I even let his snide remarks about me being a fucking selfish bastard slide. It was true…all fucking true.

That same selfishness, however, would make me get Bella back. I needed her, and that was that.

As quickly as I could, I went into my office and got the portable monitor, which I had forgotten in my haste to escape her three days ago. The small screen showed the red light blinking steadily in one area of downtown Seattle…that was Bella's location. Relief suddenly washed over me, making me exhale a long, deep breath. Although I could still feel my anger warring to come out, I knew I was calmer than I was when I first heard she was pregnant. I needed to control myself if I wanted her back.

We needed to talk, and we would talk. I could explain this to Bella so she could understand, and if she didn't…then shit! Her departure just cemented how truly I fucked things up between us.

The scary thing was, I wasn't even sure how to rectify it. All I knew was, I wanted her back.

xxxxxxxxxx

"Still nothing, Boss," Seth informed me, as I stepped off the SUV.

It had been a week since my arrival here in Seattle. I had tried all means of contact with Bella, but she refused to talk to me. Most of my time was spent inside the SUV, waiting like a goddamn stalker…waiting until she gave me a little of her time. It even came to a point where I was so frustrated I had nearly broken down her apartment door. It was a good thing Alice was there with me, and she prevented me from smashing the door open like I wanted to. She said it would make matters worse, and grudgingly I took her advice.

Seth was my link to Bella, my inside information to what she was doing daily. I wasn't sure if she was aware he had been sneaking out almost every night so he could come and talk to me, but if she did then she didn't reprimand him. I wanted to talk to her personally, but this was better than nothing. Bella had disallowed Seth the use of his mobile phone, making him unable to update me on what she was doing on an hourly basis. It was a means of defiance, which got me all riled up in the beginning. Now, I understood she was sending me a message loud and clear.

She didn't want me. Too bad for her, because that was fucking unacceptable! I would get her back if that was the last thing I would do.

"How is she?" I asked, taking another drag of my cigarette. My eyes stayed on him while I attacked the cancer stick.

"She's not doing well, Boss," he answered. His expression told me he was concerned, but I didn't give a shit at this moment.

"I know that, Seth. You keep on saying that!" I yelled, chucking the cigarette butt down the concrete pathway. "I want details! I want to know what she's been doing. Tell me whether she's eating…whether she's sleeping well during the night…whether she's still always crying." That last sentence made me cringe. I was the reason she was crying, and no matter how many times I would want to hit my head on something hard for being so fucking stupid, I couldn't undo what I did.

"She locks herself in her room most of the time, Boss…wallowing. Sometimes, she doesn't even come out the whole day…but I encourage her to. And sometimes she listens." He took a moment to check my reaction, but I just stared at him, processing everything he said. I wanted to hear more, so I just waited for him to continue.

"She eats because I force her to," he said, looking tentatively at me, afraid I would get angry at what he said. I wasn't, but I couldn't help grinned my teeth in frustration. If I didn't act like the douche I was, we wouldn't be here. "But I know she cries when she's alone in her bed at night."

Although I tried, I couldn't help feel jealous. Seth was there for her, and I wasn't. It was my fault, but it didn't mean I liked where we were at the moment. Just as the malicious thoughts started to ebb in, I squashed it away, but it didn't mean I wasn't pissed.

My expression might have given away what I was thinking, because I could see the panic in Seth's eyes.

"No, that's not what you think, Boss," he said quickly. I was scowling at him, but made no move to do anything more. "Before I sleep, I make sure everything's been checked properly. The last few nights I passed her room, I'm sure I could hear her sobbing. That's why I know she cries…not because…of what you think," he explained rapidly.

"What do I fucking think, Seth? Tell me," I asked gruffly, trying to aggravate him. Deep down, I knew he wouldn't do anything like that. I was just angry, and I wanted to fuck somebody up. He was a very good target at the moment.

"You know I wouldn't do that to you, Boss," he said seriously. He was looking so uncomfortable now, and I kind of pitied him.

I sighed. "I know." Seth was loyal; he wouldn't do anything to jeopardize his position in my unit. And he would not intentionally hurt me, or my Bella. I had assigned him to protect her, and he was doing a hell of a job.

"Seth, I think it's best you get back inside." It was Marcus. I could hear the warning in his voice, and I was glad he was here with me. Maybe I would give him one of those automatic rifles he always wanted.

Seth was still looking at me. He was watching me, clearly waiting for my instruction. I nodded, and he slowly made his way toward the door. He knew to come meet me here tomorrow.

This was what you get for being a fucktard!

I would wait until she was ready to speak to me. I would be patient, even if it was so damn hard to do…because it was Bella I was waiting for. My pregnant Bella.

xxxxxxxxxx

"Do you think she'll ever get out of that damn house?" Jasper asked.

I glanced towards the opposite direction, to the building opposite to where I was currently residing. Jasper followed my gaze.

"I don't know," I answered dejectedly.

He smiled encouragingly, and wiggled his eyebrows. "Well, it's a good thing you were able to rent this place so you can stalk her…again," he said. I knew he couldn't resist adding that last bit because of what happened after New York, and a smile escaped my lips. Waiting inside an SUV for hours at ends wasn't very rewarding, so instead I found this apartment across from where Bella was currently staying. Well, it was more like I bribed the owner of the place and forcefully evicted the tenants, compensating them with a year's worth of their supposed rent.

That was five days ago, and I had been here since then.

"What was I supposed to do...just leave her here? No fucking way!" I said. "She's not even talking to me."

"Thinking before acting is always good, you know. You should've prevented this if you hadn't given into your anger and lashed out at her," he replied flatly. His eyebrow arched when I scowled at him. "For God' s sake Edward, she told you she was pregnant and you walked out on her...your wife! Of course, she'd be devastated...and pissed."

"I didn't ask for your fucking opinion J, so shut the fuck up!" I hissed.

He didn't seem threatened by me. "Well, I'm giving you mine. Just a thought before you do something drastic again."

It was a warning, something I was aware I needed to heed. My patience was wearing thin, and I didn't know how long I could take Bella's stubbornness. I was halfway out of my mind with worry about her. Fuck! I had thought by now she would have given me even a little consideration. I was shocked, for Christ sakes! She should at least try to let me explain to her.

My frustration was getting the best of me, but I was resolved to not let go of my control…to not break down her door and steal her away to lock up where she couldn't escape me. The thought was tempting, though, and it was taking every ounce of my resolve not to do just that. Manhandling her wouldn't get me what I wanted. She would defy me just to rile me up.

"Edward, you have to be calm. You know she loves you…just give her time. She'll come around. That's what they always do…our women, I mean," Jasper said.

"I hope she does. I'm losing my mind over here," I growled, and he laughed. The fucker! He was mocking me, and I glared daggers at him. I wish I could shoot him in the nuts; that would fucking show him.

"Just hang in there, Edward. You deserve what she gives you, so suck it all up," he said, retrieving a pack of cigarettes from his jean pocket.

The font door slammed and Marcus appeared. He looked out of breath, like he just ran a marathon.

"Boss, Bella's going out," he said, panting. "Seth said she's all dressed up, and looked kind of excited."

I leaped out of my chair even before he finished his sentence. Walking toward the window, I moved the curtains aside and checked. I was just in time to see Bella get inside of the black Lincoln with Seth.

I didn't want to waste any time so I scrambled to get my leather jacket. I was halfway out the living room when I remembered Jasper.

"I need to deal with this, J," I said and slipped on my leather jacket.

"Thread lightly," he advised. He gave me a smirk and tipped his non-existent hat to me. "Go get your wife back."

I nodded my head, before turning my back on him. I exited the building, Marcus hot on my heels. It was a good thing the black SUV was waiting in front when I came out. I was getting restless by the second; I didn't want their car to get too far.

Vicky was driving, as usual, and the glint in her eyes told me she, too, wanted Bella back. I didn't want to dwell too much on the reason behind it. As long as we were on the same page, then everything was cool.

We followed Bella's car into a mall. By now, there was no doubt she didn't know about us trailing them – her. I wasn't sure what her reaction would be when she saw me, because I would make sure she knew I was following her, but at the moment, I wasn't too concerned about that. All I could picture was her face and her eyes; how I would love to see her smile at me again.

The black Lincoln stopped in front of the mall entrance, and Bella stepped out. My car was two cars away from hers and was slowly inching forward, but I couldn't wait any longer. I opened the door, leaving Marcus and the other two men trailing behind me. I even sprinted so I could catch up with my wife.

By the time I caught up with her, there was no denying she was aware I was there. She was almost within my reach when she turned to face me; her glare stopped me momentarily in my tracks. It was not the anger I saw that made me falter, but the obvious physical changes in her. She had clearly lost a couple of pounds, but despite the thinness she was glowing. There was still no apparent bulge in her belly, but I noticed her breasts - they looked bigger. I forced myself to look at her face. It wasn't good to think with my dick especially when I was trying to win her over.

"Babygirl," I whispered. "I'm-"

She turned away from me, cutting off the apologies I wanted to say. Her warning was clear – she didn't want me here – but it didn't mean I would listen. I was determined to show her I was fucking sorry, so even if I would look like a fucking douche following her around, I would do just that. And that was what I did the whole two hours she was inside the mall.

At one time, she even went inside a maternity clothing shop. Maybe she thought a visit inside a shop that would remind me of the pregnancy and the baby would stop me from following her. Fat chance. Instead of just staying outside to wait for her, I went in myself and offered to pay for all the things she planned to buy. But all my efforts fell on deaf ears – she ignored me, like I wasn't even there at all. I took it all in stride though. She was still angry with me. I got that. When I got too close, she made it clear she didn't like the proximity one bit, so I made sure I was approximately one meter behind her. I knew we were attracting attention because Marcus and the other two men looked so out of place in this mall, but there was nothing I could do about it. It is what it is.

It was a good thing she had decided to go home after only a few hours. I heard women could spend almost all day inside a mall if they wanted to; that was what Alice would do.

I only hoped she would know I was trying; she had to know that.

Once we returned to her apartment, it was the same as before. She ignored me as usual, and she didn't need to ban me from coming in for me to know I wasn't welcome just yet. I was still not forgiven, but I would be.

Bella Cullen would forgive me. Maybe if I chanted it over and over again, it would come true.

Bella should already forgive him...yeah?

Okay, press that review button and tell me what you think.

Thank you for reading! *Huggles*

P.S Part 2 will be posted in a day or two.