Just because I left you all so very confused with the last chapter :) and yes, it was a dream sequence! Thank you for all the reviews and of course, thank you Moonstruck Kitten and Angelnlove52 for all that you do!

See ya at the end ….

No copyright infringement intended.

CHAPTER 23

"Bella …"

I pulled away instantly at the sound of my name.

Was I imagining it?

"Baby, I'm here. I'm not going anywhere," he whispered hoarsely, it truly sounded like it hurt to talk. His face contorted in pain indicating my assumption was correct.

"Edward, oh my God," I cried, kissing every inch of his face. "Don't talk. Its okay, we can talk later. I'm just happy you're back … so happy!"

He tried to wrap his right arm around me but the cast caught him off guard.

"Bella? What's …?" He stopped talking and quickly looked around the room as I sat back with my right leg tucked under me. "What happened? Why am I here?" he asked, looking down to find his right leg casted as well.

"You don't remember?"

He shook his head. "No. I ... oh my God, baby. You're belly ..."

"I know," I grumbled, stretching my shirt out in hopes of hiding it a bit.

"Hey, don't do that," he scolded, slapping my hand away with his good hand before pulling me closer to him.

I watched sheepishly as he slipped his right hand under my shirt and felt my belly. His face was that of amazement, and then the twins did something that amazed even me—they both kicked Edward's hand. His head shot up and when his eyes met mine, they were alive with excitement, which only grew when they continued to kick wildly as he rubbed soothing circles into my protruding abdomen.

"They know it's you," I whispered, tears filling my eyes as he smiled a brilliant smile.

His eyes fluttered back to my abdomen and that's where they stayed—until I yawned. Loudly.

"Aw, baby," Edward replied solemnly, pulling his hand back. "Come here, lay down." Following his insistence, I laid down next to him, cuddling into his side on the hospital bed. "So how long have I been in here?"

"Six weeks."

"Jesus," he replied, squeezing me tighter. "How are you? The twins? Masen? Shit, please tell me you're not in financial ruins right now."

I giggled a bit into his chest. "Yup, Masen and I had to move into your place. Then child protective services—"

"Haha," he interrupted. "You're hilarious." I lifted my head up, with what I hoped was a smile that reflected exactly how happy I was he woke up.

I placed a kiss on his lips then settled back into his side with my head resting on his chest. "Your parents made sure Masen and I had anything and everything we needed … and even things we didn't. Masen and I are fine. As are the twins."

"Good."

"God I missed you," I breathed, kissing his cloth-covered chest.

"What happened, Bella?"

"Do you remember going for ice cream?"

"Yeah."

"Okay, do you remember leaving and the phone ringing?"

"Yup."

"Yeah, we took a step off the curb when the fucking cunt's brother called, you were distracted with getting your phone, and we … we didn't see the truck 'till it was too late. You pushed me out of the way … the … the truck hit you and you hit your head on the curb."

"What are they saying?" he asked, the doctor in him coming to the surface.

"They said once you woke up you'd probably have some memory loss, but you should be fine otherwise. They just didn't know when you'd wake up."

He nodded but didn't say anything. Neither did I. We laid in silence for a while before I slipped out of his arms and sat up. He looked at me curiously when I got off the bed.

"I should probably let the nurse know you're awake," I explained, gesturing toward the door. He nodded his affirmation but didn't say anything, so I left the room.

Forget a few things in there Bella?

"Excuse me," I said with a polite smile to the bitchy night nurse.

"Yes?" she sneered.

"Edwards awake." She stood there staring at me, but I didn't give her a chance to respond, I just turned around and returned to Edward's room.

It didn't take long for the room to fill with doctors and nurses, so I just sat quietly out of the way, rubbing my very pregnant belly soothingly. The twins were going crazy under my hand, kicking up a storm as I looked at my protruding abdomen. I was closing in on five months, but looked as if I were nearly seven—how the fuck was I going to make it another four months?

Yeah, Bella, ignore my question. Avoider. That's you.

Bite me.


It was shortly after five in the morning when the doctors and nurses cleared out of Edward's room. Dr. Richardson said he wanted to do a brain scan, along with some x-rays on his arm and leg, but as long as the CAT scan came back clear, he would be released sometime that afternoon—with the understanding he would follow all discharge instructions to the tee.

"Come here, baby," Edward cooed, pulling the blankets back for me. "Let's get some sleep."

I didn't hesitate. I nearly ran to the bed—to his arms, sighing when he closed his arms around me and kissed the top of my head. It felt good to be held by him again … to feel his lips against me.

"I'm sorry I worried ya," he whispered against the top of my head. "I love you, Bella. I promise you, I would never leave you given the choice. And I'd fight like hell if I wasn't."

I smiled widely, nodding my head against his chest, but I didn't say anything for a long while. I just laid there, relishing the feel of him rubbing soothing circles on the exposed skin of my lower back.

Finally, I breathed out a faint "I love you, too" before drifting into a peaceful sleep—the first one in forty-four nights.


I woke up sometime later to the faint whispers of Edward and Esme.

".… was she, Mom? I mean, really?"

Esme sighed. "She dealt, Edward. For Masen. Had it not been for him she never would have left your room, but she pulled it together for him."

"Where is Masen?"

"With Renee and Charlie," she supplied just moments before I heard a door open then close.

"We all took turns staying with him at night, so Bella could stay up here with you. She'd leave after he went to sleep … returning before he woke up the next morning. Sunday through Thursday, your dad and I split with the Swans. We tried to keep him at home during the week. Alice and Jasper took him on Friday … Rosalie and Emmett on Saturday …. We managed."

"Wow, thanks Mom, Dad … for everything. Please, let me know how much I owe you—"

"Oh, Edward," Carlisle interrupted. "Don't worry about it." I figured Carlisle must have been the one who opened the door. "We're just happy you're okay. If taking care of our grandchild and future daughter-in-law was the price we had to pay, I'd gladly pay it again. Not that I want you to go into a coma for another six weeks."

Everyone laughed, but no one said anything.

"Carlisle …" Esme finally said, breaking the silence.

"It's alright, Es. I took care of it."

"Took care of what?" Edward asked, and I figured that was my cue to wake up—plus my bladder was on the verge of exploding.

I whimpered, stretching out a bit as I nuzzled my face into Edward's chest before opening my eyes to see Esme sitting in front of me.

She smiled warmly. "Good morning, Bella."

"Mmm, it is a good morning," I replied honestly, reaching up to place a kiss on Edward's lips before sitting up completely.

I glanced to the clock – 8:03. "I better call mom, I don't want her to worry."

"I already called her, Bella," Carlisle smiled. "She's going to bring Masen up here at about ten."

I nodded. "Thank you."

"Not a problem."

I sighed, climbing off the bed. I had to pee and then I knew it was time to talk about that fucking—Apparently, God didn't think it was time.

"Good morning, Doctor Cullen," a short little redhead greeted. "My name is Kimberly, and I'll be taking you down for the CAT scan and then over for a few x-rays."

Thank you, God!


"You didn't tell him, did you?" Carlisle asked shortly after they wheeled him out .

I shook my head. "No. It was late when he woke up and it just didn't come up."

"I get that you don't want to talk about this, Bella. But, that's not going to make it go away. You have to know that."

"She nearly killed him, Carlisle! He was stepping off that curb distracted by her phone call."

Carlisle sighed and Esme pulled me into her arms.

"It's okay, dear," she cooed warmly, kissing my head.

I didn't even realize I was crying.

"Would you like us to tell him?" Carlisle finally asked.

I shook my head. "No. I'll do it."

Carlisle nodded but didn't say anything else.


They rolled Edward back in about an hour later.

Seeing as though I had about an hour before Masen would be there, I knew the time of avoidance had passed. Edward deserved to know, I just had to find the words and strength to tell him.

"Ed-ward," I said, sitting on the edge of his bed, my voice cracking a little at the end.

"She's mine, isn't she?"

My eyes shot up to find him staring at me, waiting. Waiting for me to confirm that yes, Tanya Denali did indeed birth his child.

"Yes … he is."

"He?"

I nodded, a small smile playing at the corner of my lips. "Yes, he. His name is Liam James, he has her last name right now … until you sign the birth certificate, I suppose …. He, uh, he was born on March 2nd… I should probably let Tanya tell you all this …."

He looked at me curiously for a second before turning to his parents. "Can you give us a second?"

I didn't look at either of them but assumed they agreed since I heard the door open and close before Edward pulled me into his arms. He didn't say anything at first, he just held me, which was why when he finally did talk, I was startled a bit.

He of course chuckled. "We knew this was a possibility …."

"I know … I just …I love you, Edward. So much …."

I heard his heart rate increase under my ear and his voice was tight when he spoke. "I love you, too. Just as much …. I meant it when I said it was you I won't live without, Bella, not again. So, if you can't—" I pulled out of his arms and stared at him for a minute before leaning forward and placing a kiss on his lips.

"I'm not going anywhere, Edward. I let her run me off before, never again. She may have had your baby, whatever …. She had to get you drunk and dye her fucking hair to get hers …. I'm not going anywhere. We are in this together, forever … I just hate her…."

He laughed.

"I seriously hate her," I replied sternly. "She almost killed you—"

"That wasn't—"

"Don't!" I interrupted through clenched teeth. "Do not stick up for her, Edward. No. She almost killed you. Her phone call almost took you away from us. Permanently. So no, you don't get to stick up for her."

He stared at me, his mouth opening and closing a few times before he finally spoke, pulling me back into his arms. "Okay, I'm sorry."

I clutched him to me and let him calm me.

"So, tell me about him," he said, breaking the silence.

"I haven't seen him," I answered honestly into his chest.

He pulled back to look at me. "Bella, are you going to be able to do this?"

I released a long gust of air then responded honestly, "I know this isn't his fault, Edward. I'm not going to say it's gonna be easy, but we'll figure it out." He didn't look convinced. "I'll be fine, Edward. I promise."

"I'm not gonna lose you—"

"You're not going to lose me," I interrupted. "Not over this …. Well, if you start banging her again then yeah—"

"God," he interrupted with a shutter. "That's not even funny."

I smiled, bringing my lips to his, and it didn't take long for that familiar tingle, or the burning need between my legs, to return. I whimpered, moving closer to him. I was almost in his lap when the door opened.

"DADDY!" Masen exclaimed excitedly.

I quickly climbed off Edward's lap and looked up to find four pairs of knowing eyes staring back at me with laughter written all over their faces.

"Masen!" Edward yelled with the same excitement his son carried.

"Yous awake!" Masen cried, crawling onto the bed with Edward and I.

"I am," Edward replied, pulling Masen into his lap.

"Good. Momma was really sad."

Edward looked to me then back to Masen. "I know, buddy. But momma's gonna be just fine now, 'kay?" Masen nodded then settled back against Edward's chest.

"When is she gonna be here?" I asked after a few moments of silence. Edward squeezed my hand.

"She's not," Carlisle answered. "I told her Edward was going to be busy with tests all morning, and with luck he'd be released this afternoon …. I told her you'd call her later, Edward." Edward nodded but didn't say anything.

"Daddy?"

"What buddy?"

"When you come home?"

"Soon buddy."

"Good. You go to my house wiff momma, or my house wiff you?" I looked to Edward to gauge his reaction. I know where I wanted him to stay.

"I don't know yet, Mase …."

"Nana Née says my house wiff momma is easier …." He turned his head to my mom. "Whys again my house wiff momma easier?"

Renee laughed shaking her head. "When Carlisle called this morning, I mentioned to Charlie that Bella's house being a one story would probably be easier … with the broken leg and all."

Edward nodded his understanding, but didn't say anything. Neither did I.


Dr. Richardson came in shortly after one to release Edward. He said Edward's CAT scan came back clean and his x-rays revealed his fractures where healing nicely. The Doctor said he was going to have someone from the cast room come down and remove the casts and then he was going to place him in a fracture boot but his arm was good.

"When can I go back to work?" Edward asked.

"Well, I'd rather you didn't push yourself …" Dr. Richardson replied, purposely leaving it there I assume.

"I'm alright—"

"I tell ya what," Dr. Richardson interrupted. "You take a couple weeks, rest… RELAX, and then we'll discuss a slow return … so long you're still doin' well, no headaches …. Deal?"

I looked to Edward, who happened to turn to me at the same time. I didn't say anything, just waited for his answer.

Finally, he turned his attention back to Dr. Richardson and replied, "That's fine."

The idea of relaxing with Edward for two weeks sounded awesome! Too bad, it wouldn't just be us.


"You know your sister is going to be knocking down your door soon if you don't call her," Esme spoke as we wheeled Edward out of the hospital.

"I know. I'm gonna start making calls once I get home."

My heart fluttered at that. I really hoped he'd stay with me and Masen at my house. I mean, Renee did have a point. My house would be easier.

The hospital valet was already waiting with my car when we reached the main doors.

"So, are we taking Masen with us?" Renee asked.

"No, he can go with us," Edward answered immediately. "And thanks again, Renee, Charlie, for helping Bella with Masen over the last few months."

"Oh, not necessary," Charlie responded. "We'll always be there if Bella needs us."

"Yeah, well, not again anytime soon I hope … no offense," Edward retorted.

"None taken."

Edward stood from the wheelchair and turned to me. "Let's go home," he said, bringing his lips to mine for a quick kiss before opening the passenger side door.

"I can still drive," he informed with a laugh, opening Masen's door. "Broken left leg."

I laughed. "Shouldn't I strap him in?"

Edward smiled, shaking his head. "Naw, I got it, baby."

I shook my head, a small but happy smile playing on my lips as I turned back to my parents, as well as Esme and Carlisle.

"We'll call you. And thanks again. I really appreciate everything you've done for Masen and me."

Renee pulled me in for a hug. "You're our little girl, of course we're gonna be there during the rough patches."

I hugged her back. "I love you, mom."

"Oh, baby, I know. And I love you, too."

I pulled back and Esme was the next to pull me in for a hug. I could hear Carlisle and Edward chuckling behind me.

"Oh dear, you're family. You always have been …." She whispered the next part in my ear, "And someday soon, you'll truly be my daughter…. Does Edward know you changed Masen's last name yet?"

"Nope," I replied in the same whisper. "Tonight."

"Oh, he's going to be so happy," she replied, letting me go.

I just nodded, turning to look at Edward as he closed the door. Masen must've been being silly, cause he was laughing and shaking his head.

Masen's name change wasn't the only exciting news I had for him.

"Ready to go?" he finally asked, meeting my eyes.

I could see the same need in his eyes that'd been in mine since he woke up. The need to be connected ... to feel whole again.

I nodded, said my goodbyes, and then got in the car.

Edward slid into the driver seat, adjusted his mirrors, then turned to me. "Your house?"

I smiled widely, nodding.


Liam James was born on March 2nd, 2010 at 12:28 am. He weighed 8lbs, 9oz and was 22inches long.

**Author's Note**

Ok, I know A LOT of you are super pissed right now, but PLEASE stick with me! This WAS the plan all along …. I promise, I will not disappoint :)

Please, though I am nervous, review!