The Greatest of These…

Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the authors. No money is being made from this work. No copyright infringement is intended.

A/N: I know it has taken a really long time to update this story. This part has been especially difficult for me and I refused to post it until I was happy with it. A Huge Thank You to my betas – sillybella, be my escape, and Cocoa – for all your help and patience as I tried to 'get it right'. They were invaluable as I wrote, re-wrote, and re-wrote this chapter. Special thanks to sillybella, my biggest advocate on this story. Without your encouragement this may have never seen anything more than the bottom of the wastebasket.

Chapter 4: Love

By bronzehairedgirl

I heard them coming through the woods so I walked out on the front porch to meet them. Bella had been really upset the last couple of days, but I got the feeling she was holding something else back. Jasper told me what she was feeling earlier. Some of her emotions didn't quite fit the conversation. Something else was going on in that head of hers. I could see it in her face; there was something she wasn't telling me. It still drove me insane not being able to hear her thoughts. She edited far too much.

Emmett had told me he would talk to her to see if he could get to the bottom of it. I hoped she would open up to him. They will never know just how pleased I am that they have become so close. Emmett is a great brother. He readily accepted Bella as a sister. It is fun to watch Emmett and Bella interact. He lets her get away with saying or doing things that the rest of us would get pummeled for. Except for maybe Rosalie, none of the rest of us would ever get away with saying some of the same things Bella has said.

I am truly happy Bella has had the opportunity to experience having siblings. I had been an only child, but my family life had been much different than hers. It is somewhat comforting to know that even though we are dangerous for her, we can still be a positive experience in her life.

I caught Emmett's thoughts just before they emerged from the woods. You guys really need to talk. I convinced her to tell you what's on her mind. But Edward, you have to hear her out. Don't get upset. She's afraid of how you will react.

I saw them then. Emmett had his arm around Bella's shoulders and Bella was looking down at her hands as she wrung them in front of her. She appeared to be reluctantly allowing Emmett to lead her towards the house.

She looked up, and as our eyes met I could see the anxiety in her face as tension creased her brow. I stiffened in anticipation of the apparently bad situation and glanced at Emmett. Don't make this any harder on her than it already is Edward. She needs you to listen to her. Really listen. You'll regret it if you don't talk this out. So please be reasonable. For Bella. It was more of a warning than a request.

I held Emmett's gaze as they stepped up onto the porch. I told her to trust that you will understand. But you need to listen to the deeper meaning behind her words. Don't let me down, Edward. The forcefulness of that last thought had my attention. He continued his thought more gently this time. Don't let Bella down. I nodded to indicate I had heard him and I was willing to listen to what Bella had to say. He gave her shoulders an encouraging squeeze before going inside.

She led me over to the swing where we sat silently for a while. I wasn't sure whether I should get the conversation started or wait for her to start. I decided to just wait for her. I felt confident she would tell me if I didn't push too hard.

She took a deep breath – working up her nerve, I suspected – before speaking. "It wasn't just the abuse that bothered me." That much I had already figured out. I tried to read her expression in order to figure out what she wasn't saying, but she kept her eyes focused on a small patch of dirt below the swing.

"That night after hearing the news and then talking to Charlie and you, I knew more details than I really wanted to know. I fell asleep thinking about it."

I remembered that night. Bella had cried herself to sleep. I had tried to comfort her, but I hadn't been completely successful. I was too angry at myself for upsetting Bella further by telling her what I had seen through Carlisle's memories.

"I also thought about others who would be the best parents imaginable, but for whatever reason they can't have children." Her voice grew softer taking on a note of sadness. "And I thought a lot about Esme."

Esme? We all knew Esme's desire to be a mother, to have a child. My mind was racing, trying to put it all together, to figure out where she was going with this. She never said or did as I expected.

"I had expected to have nightmares that night." I knew she hadn't. She had startled awake once, but it wasn't the same as when she had nightmares. "I didn't have nightmares," she continued, "but I did have a dream that left me confused." Her voice trailed off with a slight tremor as she looked out toward the woods.

Bella's dreams were usually very telling, her subconscious trying to work something out. "What did you dream?" I asked, curious now, as she seemed to be getting to what had been bothering her.

She looked at me; the anxiety on her face and her increased heart rate had me worried. She looked back down at her twisting hands as her hurried words came out in a whisper. "I dreamed that we had a child, Edward."

I stared at her, dumbfounded. What was she saying? Did this dream mean she wanted to have a child one day? That was one of my reasons for wanting her to stay human. But I also knew that it wouldn't happen with me. Was she about to tell me she had changed her mind and wanted all the human experiences she would lose if she were changed? I could be happy about that. However, wanting a child meant something else entirely – someone else. Leaving Bella again after I had just gotten her back seemed impossible. But I would if she asked it of me. If that was what she truly wanted. Even as my panic began to rise I knew I would do it for her because I loved her more deeply than she could ever comprehend. I looked away trying to hide the pain I felt. I didn't want her to hold back what she had to say.

"Edward," she lovingly whispered my name. "I finally realized what the dream meant." I waited, unable to speak. There were too many thoughts and emotions swirling through my brain to form a coherent sentence at that moment.

Bella gently placed her hand to my cheek and I leaned into her touch. I savored the feel of her while wondering if this would be the last time I would get to indulge in this pleasure. "I truly love you Edward. So much that if you ever wanted a child, even though I know it's impossible, I would want that too, with my whole being."

My mind was in overdrive. She wants a baby! And I could never be the one to fulfill that desire. I looked at Bella. I could see she needed me to understand something, but I was having a hard time fighting back my panic. I finally found my voice, "Bella, if this is what you really want, then I can't take the possibility away from you. If you stay human you could..."

EDWARD! Listen to her! Emmett's thoughts broke through my panic, loud and clear.

"No! You don't understand what I'm saying Edward," she yelled in frustration.

Calmness washed over me, relieving my anxiety. Emmett must have warned Jasper he might be needed. I knew they could hear us from anywhere in the house. As my panic waned I realized I would have to thank them rather than be angry at the intrusion.

I saw Bella relax and heard her heart rate slow as she continued. "I have always thought that I didn't want children. I grew up having to take care of my mother and was forced to be the parent. My mother wasn't ready for parenthood; she wasn't ready to take on the responsibility having a child requires. I've never even had the desire to have children because, honestly, I wanted to be free of that responsibility. But my love for you changed everything."

She paused, searching my face for some hint of understanding before continuing with renewed vigor. "My dream didn't have anything to do with a desire to have children. My mind chose the thing I didn't want in order to show me the depth of my love for you. Having children is not about receiving love, it's about giving love unconditionally – that's what the dream meant. Don't you see? Your wishes, dreams and desires have become my own. I love you that much."

She waited for me to say something. I was overjoyed with relief that this conversation turned out to be the opposite of what I had thought. She had only been trying to express the depth of her love for me. I smiled as I reveled in the miracle of her love even though she could never possibly come close to loving me as much as I loved her. "You love me so much that you want what I want?" I watched her closely. Did she really understand what she had just told me?

"Yes!" she exclaimed, smiling at my apparent understanding.

My smile grew; I had her. "So…does that mean you will marry me?"

Her smile disappeared and was replaced by a frown. "No," she stated with a hint of frustration in her tone.

"Then you wish to remain human?" I feigned innocence, already knowing the answer.

"Edward," there was a clear note of warning in her tone, "why can't you understand how I feel about you? I love you more than life itself."

I did not doubt her love for me even though I did not deserve it. I would enjoy the miracle of her love for as long as she would give it. "I know you love me as much as you are capable, but it still can never compare to my feelings for you." She sighed and shook her head. Deciding to drop our ongoing argument for now I pulled her close and leaned down to kiss her. The moment before our lips touched I whispered, "I love you too Bella. I will always love you. Truly and deeply. Forever."