Thank you Moonstruck Kitten for getting this chapter back to me so quickly :)
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CHAPTER 8
I was nervous. And Edward, well Edward looked like he was going to pass out. What in the hell else could he have to tell me? That would have him this scared?
"O-okay?" My voice cracked a bit.
Edward swallowed dramatically and began. "Well I um … I ran into her … Tanya, a few months back, in Las Vegas. I was there for James' bachelor party, and well I got drunk and I made a huge mistake. I don't know what I was thinking, but … we uh … well she tracked me down a few months later … she's …"
Suddenly I was feeling nauseous. "Oh, god!" I screamed and ran back into my bathroom.
No no no no … this can't be happening! Please? No!
I emptied my already empty stomach into the toilet before resting my head on the seat.
"Bells …" Edward whispered behind me.
I lifted my head to look at him. He looked so lost … so broken. I almost felt sorry for him.
Almost.
"Why are you telling me this, Edward? Why? Why now? Jesus … she's pregnant?" I didn't wait for him to answer me. "When is she due?"
"Next month."
"Next month?" I hissed sitting back on my heels. "Masen's going to have a new brother or sister in a fucking month …? Don't you think that's something I should've known? Fuck! I thought you always used a condom, Edward? I swear to god—!"
"—I don't even know if it's mine!" Edward snapped. "We used a fucking condom that night! I remember putting the fucking thing on!"
I stood up to wash my mouth out and turned to look at him.
"She's fucking crazy, Bella. How do I know she's not trying to pass someone else's baby as mine?"
"You used a condom?" I asked.
"Yes, Bella. I used a condom. I know they're not a 100% effective, but fuck! I don't know, she swears up and down it's mine … James even said he thinks it is."
"So where is she now?" I asked.
"She's in Boston. But she'll be, um, well … well, she's gonna be coming here next week. She'll be here until she delivers."
"Until she delivers? And then what?"
I knew I was being irrational. This was really none of my business.
But it was…
"Masen will NEVER be around that women, Edward!" I hissed before he had a chance to respond. "I mean it! Never!"
"Jesus, chill the fuck out …" Edward groaned running his hand through his hair, "Trust me she'll never be around Masen … fuck! I don't even want to be around her!"
"Gonna be kinda hard don't ya think? I mean if the baby is yours …"
"Yeah if the baby is mine I'll have to deal with her in regards to that, but that will be my only dealings with her. That crazy bitch can fucking fall of Mount Rushmore for all I care …"
Edward turned to look at me and his eyes seemed to soften. "Bells, come in here and sit down please?" he pleaded gesturing to my bedroom. "It's been a really long day for you."
"Yeah, you can say that again." I sighed making my way back into my bedroom.
"Bella…"
I climbed up on the bed and turned to face Edward. "So where is she staying while she's here?"
He remained standing in the doorway from the bedroom to the bathroom. "Um …"
"Explain something to me, Edward?" I interrupted through clenched teeth. "How are you going to pull off keeping her away from Masen if she is staying in your fucking home?"
"She's …"
Tears flowed from my eyes as I interrupted again, "How could you do this, Edward…? Jesus, three kids … You get to explain this to Masen! Not me! And you better damn well not disrupt that little boy's life, Edward! I swear to god…!"
"Jesus! Will you stop interrupting, and just fucking listen? She'll be staying with me the first few nights, then she'll be moving into her own apartment."
Oh.
"We've already got a custody/support agreement drawn up. It'll be filed once paternity is established." I stared blankly at him. "You think I don't know I'm about to be a father of two, possibly three? FUCK! Only Edward Cullen could make a cluster fuck out of his life in a matter of months …"
"Edward … I …"
"And don't worry," Edward interrupted me. "I'll explain this to Masen. It's my screw up. Not yours."
I nodded.
"God, Bella … I'm sorry you have to deal with this ... shit! We'll figure this out … I promise."
"I'm tired, Edward …"
Edward nodded. "Of course. I'll go. Tell Masen I'll be back in the morning …"
"Edward," I sighed, shaking my head. "Its closing in on two. You can sleep on the couch …"
"You sure?"
"Yeah, it's fine."
~OOO~
I woke up the next morning to Masen's bubbling laughter flowing through the room and glanced to the clock – 11:42.
Holy shit!
I slowly rolled over and inched my way up. Of course the nausea reared its ugly head and I ended up making a mad dash for the toilet. Edward and Masen walked in as I was brushing my teeth.
"You okay, Bells?"
I spit the toothpaste into the sink and turned to him. "Been better … I don't remember it being this bad with Masen."
"Why you sick momma?"
I turned to Edward silently asking for help. "Well …"
"Mas, buddy … why don't you go pick up some of your toys? Mommy and I will be out in a minute."
"Okay daddy."
Masen ran towards the living room while I followed Edward into my bedroom. He waited until Masen was preoccupied then turned back to me.
"You ready to do this?"
"Um … yeah."
"We can wait if you want to, Bella ... I mean it doesn't even have to be today …"
"No," I interrupted. "I'd rather do it while you're here then to have him ask again and have to tell him on my own.
"Okay. So, whenever you're ready?"
"Are you in a hurry to leave, Edward? What's the hurry?"
"No, I'm not in a hurry to leave. I just thought it would be better to get it done with … you know, so we can get on with our afternoon?"
"Um, okay …" I was scared to death to tell my three old he was going to be a big brother.
Edward apparently thought it would be okay to invade my personal space and pulled me into his arms. "It'll be okay … he'll be okay …"
A whimper escaped and I hoped like hell he didn't hear it. "I hope so …"
Edward placed a kiss on my forehead. "Come on ..."
My body was suddenly on fire.
Edward and I went into the living room. Masen was playing with Thomas and Percy on whatever track Edward had put together for him. I sat on the couch next to his train table.
Edward sat next to me. "Masen buddy, could you come here for a minute? Your mom and I would like to talk to you."
"Okay, daddy," Masen said getting up from his trains. He came to stand to my right, facing Edward.
I started, "Masen honey, you know how you came from mommy's belly?"
"Uh huh." Masen turned to Edward. "I was a baby in mommy's belly."
"I know you were, buddy." Edward smiled encouragingly. "So, what if mommy had another baby in her belly? Wouldn't that be cool?"
Masen snapped his head back to me. "A baby…? You has a baby in your belly, mommy?
I couldn't quite make out the look on my sons face, which terrified me. "Uh, yeah buddy, mommy does …"
I waited for Masen to say something … anything … but he didn't. He just stared at me.
"Masen?" Edward asked, getting his attention. "Buddy, you're going to be a big brother … You'll get to teach the baby all sorts of things."
Masen's face showed confusion. "I a big buther?"
"Yeah buddy, you'll have a little sister or brother." Edward answered. "You'll be their big brother."
"No siser. I buther."
"Yeah buddy, you're the brother, and you'll have a little sister or brother—"
Masen said adamantly, "I buther!"
"Yes Masen, you're the brother."
"No Edward," I interrupted, giggling slightly. "I think he's telling you he wants a brother, not a sister."
"Oh." Edward smiled meekly at me then turned to Masen. "Well, unfortunately buddy that's not our choice to make … You very well may end up with a little sister."
"No siser!" Masen exclaimed, stomping his little foot.
I turned my head looking at Edward trying to contain the smile that was threatening to show. Edward however was not having any luck containing his.
He turned to me and laughed. "Did he just stomp his foot at me?"
"Yeah," I giggled. "I think he did."
"Wow." Edward laughed. "I wonder where he got that from … Bella?"
I chuckled holding my hands up in mock defense. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Mmhmm," Edward replied shaking his head. "Sorry, little man, daddy can't give you this one; unfortunately it's out of his hands. You'll have to wait and see with the rest of us."
I knew Masen wasn't going to grasp the concept of 'wait and see', and that this argument could go on for hours so I decided to just end it now.
"So, buddy, you know how you asked what pregnant was?" I asked changing the subject.
"Uh huh."
"Well, that's what pregnant is. It means there's a baby in mommy's belly."
Masen stared at me for a minute before he spoke. "Why I not see the baby?"
"Because the baby has to grow, honey. Just like you did … we'll be able to see him or her around the time you turn four."
"I turn four?"
"Yeah, buddy, your birthday …"
"My birfday? I have a party?"
"Yes Masen." I laughed. "You'll have a party."
"Daddy come too?" Masen asked looking to Edward.
"Of course I'll be there!" Edward replied. His voice held no room for doubt.
"Yah!" Masen exclaimed. "I have a Diego party?"
And we are officially done with the baby topic.
"Sure." I smiled standing up. "Now, how about some lunch?"
"Yeah!" Masen cheered. "Mac n' cheese!"
Edward and I laughed. Macaroni & Cheese was Masen's favorite food, but it wasn't just any Macaroni & Cheese, it had to be Kraft Macaroni & Cheese.
"Okay … how about you? Hungry?" I asked turning to Edward.
Edward smiled. "I could eat."
I gave a small nod. "Mas, do you want grilled cheese or chicken nuggets?"
Masen didn't eat hot dogs. "Hicken nuggets."
"How 'bout you? I'm making hot dogs for myself."
"Hot dogs, please."
I made lunch while Edward played trains with Masen. Edward was Thomas and Masen was Percy. Percy was Masen's favorite.
Unfortunately for Edward, Masen's attention span was very small. "Daddy, we pay race cars now?"
Edward chuckled. "You bet, buddy."
Masen ran into his room to get McQueen and all his other racecars, while Edward picked up the train tracks and built his racetrack. I was just about to announce lunch was ready when Edward's cell phone vibrated on the kitchen counter. I stared at it for a moment then hesitantly picked it up.
Tanya.
I glanced to the living room where Masen and Edward were playing cars then back to the phone. Out of nowhere, my inner bitch took over.
I pressed the talk button and brought it to my ear. "Hello?"
**Author's Note**
As scared as I am to read them, please, please review :)
