You Didn't Have me at Hello

a/n I don't own it

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Chapter 19 – Well, well, well + secret

Edward POV

It's been three weeks since the apology. It has been three weeks I have seen my family. Ugh It's been three weeks I have seen Bella – my Bella. That night Demetri showed up for dessert. I was taken to the game room with everyone else. I saw Angie and Alice trying to hear through the door as Brad, George and Jacob were making fun of them.

Brad had to smirk "Honey, leave Bella alone. She is probably nervous as it is and she knows that everyone is in this room listening to everything."

Angie scowled at him "No, I need to hear. If he so much says the wrong thing, I swear I will take his ball…"

George and Jacob chimed "Woa woah woa TMI!!!"

Rosie laughed "No worries Angie, we both can take a ball"

Brad louder "Girls there are kids in the room."

Alice then said "Can you all shut up? I can't hear."

When we heard growling we knew something must have happened. Emmett was playing with the kids and Shiloh interrupted. What was amazing was hearing the most beautiful laugh in the world – Bella's laugh chasing Emmett with Shiloh. I stayed back listening to her laugh. Jasper was next to me and saw my face. "Let her go man. Don't think of her and please stay away."

I felt insulted "Jasper, she is just the most fascinating woman on this earth."

"She is but I hate to tell you this but she is out of your league."

"Why Jazz, I think I can make her happy."

"Really – well I don't think so bro. I am letting you know that I wouldn't approve or allow it."

"Excuse me – you aren't anything to her…and you aren't my father!"

"No I am not your father, but I consider her the little sister that we never got to have. Emmett feels the same and we both won't allow it."

He left. Damn he have had to bring that up.

Dad overheard the conversation and he thought it would be a good idea to send me away. We had several conferences and business meetings to attend and so he and I would be attending them for the next three weeks. He took Mom as well to just take her away from the hustle and bustle at home. I think they just wanted to gang up on me and they did.

We talked a lot and they reminded me that though financially we had been very lucky, we did lose a vital member of our family. When I was two years old, Mom was pregnant again. She and dad were so happy because it meant another vital member of the family but they also hope that they would be getting a baby girl. Emmett and Jasper told me later in life that mom was just so happy. She knew in her heart that she was going to have a baby girl. She got everything ready and dad was so happy because he felt that they were having that daughter that mom wanted. He wanted to do everything he could to make mom happier than ever. It's not that she wasn't happy with our current family but as Jasper had told me that she just wanted to leave a female legacy in this world.

When was 8 months, mom went into labor. Carlisle and mom were scared, though they knew that the baby would survived. Once they got to the hospital, the results were not as we expected. Mom couldn't give birth naturally and when they went in to get our baby sister they found that our sister was suffering from a neural tube birth defects. It affected her brain and the doctor wasn't too positive on her outcome. Mom and dad had a chance to hold her and she passed in mom's arms 3 hours later. She never had a fighting chance. Our sister, Elizabeth Marie Cullen, was buried two days later in the Cullen plot. After a few weeks, Mom was back to herself again but we barely spoke of that until we three were away.

During our trip, my parents and I re-connected. We spoke about my past women, their lives, our work and I actually spoke about Bella and our new family. They both agreed that it would be up to me on Bella but they expressed their urgency to not hurt her. They had come to love her very much. That explained why Mom had her sparkle back in her their "daughter" came back in the form of Bella. Mom had a daughter now. Yes Rose and Alice were her daughter's as well, but Bella was different. My parents and I got closer and I realized more how much hurt I had placed on my family. There, I made a promise to myself to try to never hurt my family and those close me, especially Bella.

I was coming back into the office that Monday. I was so excited to see my family and Bella. I had gotten updates via email on how work was going. Jasper and I spoke at my apartment to catch up before we went to the office. He told me that the family hadn't seen much of George, Angie and Brad since they were starting to film the picture. Alice and Rosalie were working very hard on the carnival which was the weekend after we came back. Then I had to ask.

"Jasper, please, how's Bella?"

"She's good, though she is really working hard and long hours. Edward, she looks a little sick though, but that's because she isn't eating. I know Mom is going to flip when she see her."

"Is she happy? Is Demetri …"

"Edward, really…"

"Jasper, I promise – I am not going to hurt her."

"She's happy because she is working a lot. She enjoys her work, you know that. Demetri was here a few days and went back to Italy.I think they talk on the phone and email, but right now she really has been really putting her soul in her work. "

"Ok.."

"Edward, she is almost done with 1st Run on Experiment 6549."

"What? But we were so behind.."

"Yes, but she caught up. Edward, she is like you said, fascinating. She is just amazing. Do you know what this means? Our dream – our dream to prevent neural birth defect…"

"I know Jasper..I know…does Mom and Dad know?"

"No, we have that surprise for them today."

"Cool."

"Edward,…"

"Yes.."

"You're different"

I took it as a compliment and smiled.

We went to work. There was so much excitement in the office. I guess everyone knew what this experiment meant to the group and especially to mom and dad. When I got to my office, I found that I had a lot of mail to go through and documentation to read. With all the work I had ahead, my priority was to see for Bella. I was starting to open a piece of mail when Alice came in like a hurricane, "Hello brother dear."

She gave me a hug "How are you my dear Alice?"

"Fine now that you are here. You have a lot of stuff to do around here. You need to give Bella a break. I need to see her."

"Oh so you really didn't miss me."

"I did but I miss Bella too, so PLEASE HELP HER."

I had to laugh, "Yes, Jazz has already updated me on everything. Has she really got the 1st run almost completed?"

"Edward, she is just amazing. I have never met a person like Bella. She is such a problem solver and excellent multi-tasker. Her team also loves her to death. Hey, why don't we get some coffee."

We were starting to walk out when the elevator doors open and I see my Bella coming out. She was tired, she looked so sick. Even as tired as tired as she looked, she said hello to everyone by their first names. As she got closer, she gave me her beautiful smile.

"Hello Edward, welcome back! How was your trip?"

"Good good, how are you?"

"Good, a little stressed, but nothing a good shot of tequila could take of."

Alice saw our interaction "Bella, we are getting coffee, do you need any?"

"That would be fantastic. Large black please, here some money.."

I had to "Bella not a problem. You can buy us coffee next time."

She smiled, "Ok, if you don't find me in the office, you can find me in the lab."

She left and I noticed that she had lost a lot weight and then realized that mom and dad are not going to like it. Alice noticed how I was looking at Bella.

"Edward, really, she needs help. All the clothes we got her are all loose. Angie and George called me a few nights ago and cursed us out for overworking her. George told us that she hasn't been sleeping and when she does, she has been having nightmares. She has been running more than usual and going to the kickboxing class like 5 times a week. I don't know what to do. She has this determination especially after she found out about Experiment 6549 and …

"She found out about Elizabeth…

"Yeah, Emmett told her by accident. Em told me that she cried so much when she found out and then promised that he could consider her his little sister. Ever since then Emmett has just been in heaven. He keeps telling us that he cannot believe he has a little sister."

"Are you ok with that Alice? I mean you have.."

"Edward, I am ok with it. Bella is his little sister and will always be. Just like she will be Jasper's little sister too. On the other hand with you, I don't know. You are looking at her differently…"

I changed the subject and we finished getting the coffee. As I went to Bella's office, no one was around. I went down to the lab and it looked like everyone was on pins and needles. I sawn Angela there..looking like she was about to cry.

"Angela, where's Bella?"

She pointed in the final room. She can't be testing it now.

"Angela, are you sure?"

"Edward, she worked on it all last night…she believes that it is ready.."

This first run is through a CDC computer generated program. It then links it to the FDA program. If they success in both, the findings can be presented to FDA and second phase can continue. Everyone was just looking in that room. Some I noticed were crossing their fingers, other had their hands together and were praying. I couldn't' believe how loving this team had become since Bella had arrived.

After 10 minutes of waiting Bella came out. "I can't believe it. "

She was standing there surprised but I couldn't tell if it was a good surprised or a bad surprised.

Angela spoke "Bella what?"

She smiled "It passed both tests. It PASSED!"

Everyone clapped and Angela went to hug Bella. I couldn't have been so proud of this team.

Jasper POV

I am so nervous. I really don't know how mom and dad are going to take this. When Emmett told Bella about Elizabeth, she completed went 360 and she has been a powerhouse on this experiment. She found the multiple mistakes but were difficult to find. I know she was running ragged on this project. She had been working on this project, the De Luca's project and the project with her old lab.

Rosalie came in "Did you hear Jazz? Bella and the team did it. It past both tests."

"Ok so let's get this party started."

Mom and dad were in the big conference room with the family. The other teams had joined us as well. We were just waiting for Bella and Angela to come in. Mom and dad didn't like surprises as well. They hadn't noticed on the bottles of champagne we got to celebrate.

Mom was getting anxious "OK, what's going on? I can't be waiting forever here.."

Emmett interrupted "Mom, just a few moments more ..

Then Bella came in with Angela. She looked so tired. Mom and Dad gasped to see her so different than what she was three weeks ago. She stood in the back and gave me the report.

"Mom, Dad – during your trip there was a breakthrough for Experiment 6549. The research team has placed their best foot forward and well, this morning the 1st run test completely successfully. We can now go to the second phase."

They didn't know what to do. They were shocked. Mom and dad held each other's arms and started to cry. We were all moved. I went to see Bella tearing up and see saw me. I mouthed her "Thank you." She mouthed back "You're welcome big brother." I smile and she slipped out.