Disclaimer: Twilight isn't mine. Thanks to letempspasse for making sure this chapter was in tip top shape!
Edward POV
Bella was really starting to worry me. Her fever finally broke around 4:30 and I sighed with relief. I feared that if I continued to hold her that temperature would drop, so I wrapped her up in blankets and scooted off the bed.
At vampire speed I ran downstairs, grabbing the paperwork off the table and darted back to our bedroom.
I was just settling in to finish my case study when I felt Bella tugging on the blanket.
"I won't go with you," She muttered in her sleep, starting to toss and turn.
"I said I won't go with you!" She shouted, springing up. She looked over at me and I noticed the tears in her eyes.
"Bella?" I asked, rather worried.
"Edward?" She replied, raising an eyebrow at me.
"Did you have a nightmare?"
"Not that I remember," She said again, an eyebrow still raised with disorientation.
"You were screaming in your sleep, 'I won't go with you!' You don't remember at all what it was about? Was it maybe about Jake or the pack?"
She shrugged her shoulders and rubbed the tears off her cheeks.
"Maybe, I honestly don't remember, though. I can never remember my dreams anymore." She looked down at her hands in her lap.
I didn't want to push it further so I decided to change the subject.
"Are you feeling better?" I asked instead.
She shrugged again and lay back down. "Actually, I am. I mean besides the stuffy nose, I'm feeling much better. Want to check me out in the morning? I think it's time for the twins to come home." She yawned.
"But right now I just want to go back to sleep. I'm so tired. Can you make sure I'm awake by ten please?" She asked, drifting back into dreamland.
I was thankful that Bella was feeling better but I still wanted her to take it easy today.
I wasn't one to come between a mother and her children. Plus, I was excited to see Masen and Eli; to become more involved in their lives.
I might not be their biological father, but I want nothing more than to be a father figure to them. Yes, it was going to be hard to explain to them why they and their mother were growing older while my family and I stayed frozen in time. I had to have them in my life, though, regardless of complications. All these years I've been simply just surviving, but now I was actually living.
When I finished my case study, I glanced up at the clock and noticed it was only 9. I still had another hour to go until Bella wanted to be woken up. I figured I'd start making her breakfast around 9:30, which would leave me a slow thirty minutes to myself.
I got up from the soft comforter and walked over to the dresser, looking through it for an outfit for the day.
Bella had cleaned out Jake's dresser, his side of the closet and basically any other space he occupied in the house. She packed up her car as much as possible and had to make two trips down to him. When she arrived back to the house, I'd already stowed all of my clothes and personal things in his place.
I rummaged through my drawers, finally finding a pair of black jeans and a soft gray long sleeve shirt. After dressing, I looked over at the clock and noticed that I'd only killed twenty minutes. Another forty minutes until Bella wanted to awaken.
I decided to just make my way door stairs and get a crack on breakfast. I flipped on the light switch and frowned. The kitchen was how I remembered it, nothing had changed. The same white, hideously tacky tiled floors, fading yellow cabinets, the small tiny stove and kitchen sink. The only new thing this kitchen had seen in the last thirty years was the new kitchen table.
I rolled my eyes and sighed. As I stuck my head in the fridge to see what food I could actually produce, I started to wonder if Bella would be upset if I surprised her with a new kitchen.
I closed my eyes and pictured it in my mind; Esme, Rose, Alice and Eli taking Bella away for the day. Carlisle, Emmett, Jasper, even Masen and I would work all day redoing the kitchen. Maybe Charlie would swing by and help. We would paint the walls a little blue, put in new light cocoa brown cabinets and dark blue granite counter tops.
We would install only stainless steel appliances of the highest quality; a new refrigerator, a double sink, dishwasher and stove. The finishing touches would be the new light maple hardwood floors and a vase of freesias on the window sill, aglow with fresh, white paint.
I couldn't quite imagine Bella's face when the girls would bring her back. She was either going to be shocked or she was going to be infuriated. In my mind I pictured her loving it, running into my arms and telling me it was perfect. But I knew Bella, I doubted that in the last six years, she had taken a sudden liking to surprises.
I was stuck in dreamland when I looked up at the clock. It was time to start making Bella her breakfast. Since Bella was sick the day before, I decided to make something that would be easy on her stomach. Scrambled eggs with toast and orange juice were her best bet.
I grabbed the cartoon of eggs, butter and orange juice out of the fridge and made my way over to the counter. I put the items down on the counter, reached up to the cabinet and pulled out a mixing bowl.
I cracked one, two, three eggs, added a little water and started whisking. I was in the middle of whisking up the eggs when I heard a car pull into the drive way. It was too early to be Charlie or Sue and Jake wouldn't have driven here. That's when her thoughts entered my mind.
Edward I have a surprise for you two! Oh and I think the new kitchen is a good idea, it gives me a reason to go shopping! Alice sang in her mind.
The last time she had a surprise for us it was my parents and a new dining room table. I reached down and grabbed a pan out of the bottom cabinet when I heard Alice enter the kitchen. I tried reading her mind but she was blocking it with a stupid Britney Spears song.
"Now Edward, didn't anyone ever tell you, it's not polite to read people's thoughts? Where's Bella, still sleeping? Good, she's going to be sick for awhile, she should rest up." She walked over to the new dining room table they bought us and sat down.
Great, just what I wanted, Bella to be sick for days or even weeks. I don't have the heart to tell her that the twins might not be able to come home just yet.
"Bella's going to love the eggs and toast. You were correct, the eggs and toast are perfect for her sensitive stomach. I wonder what eggs and toast taste like, I can't seem to remember," she rambled on.
I tried reading her mind again but she was still blocking. What is this surprise she's hiding?
"Bella should be waking up on her own in five minutes. She's going to be rather hungry, so you better get started."
"Maybe if I didn't have a little pixie bothering me, I could get this done," I said, a smile tugging at my lips. I turned back to the stove and started making the eggs, and putting toast in the toaster, when I heard the bedroom sheets rustling.
I heard Bella's small feet hit the floor and travel down the hallway. It was time for her morning 'human moments' and I gave her privacy. I heard the bathroom door creak open and Bella's feet making their way down the hall again, then the stairs.
She isn't going to fall, keep making breakfast. Alice smirked.
I heard Bella enter the kitchen.
"Mmm, smells good Edward," She said, walking up to me and placing a kiss on my cheek. I noticed she had a bad case of bed head and that she was wearing one of my t shirts and a pair of boxers. She had two different colored socks on and had never looked sexier in her life.
She didn't even notice Alice was in the kitchen. She turned her back to me, leaning against the counter.
"Oh hello, Alice! I didn't even see you there. What's up? I'm sorry the twins won't be back until tonight," She said, taking her bottom lip between her teeth.
"Hello to you, too, Bella. I actually have a surprise for you two! Speaking of the twins, why did I see Elizabeth playing dress up with Rose and not me?" Alice pouted.
Bella groaned and slumped forward. "Alice, I'm really not feeling well and I'm not in the mood for any more surprises. Can't you just come back tonight with the 'surprise'? The twins will be here, and I'm sure Eli would love to play with you. Tonight." she stressed with loving emphasis.
Alice stood up from the table and walked over to us, a huge smile across her face.
"Well, okay… but I figured that the two of you would want to be the first to know that Bella's pregnant! I mean the little bugger is only a week old, but still a baby!" Alice chimed, clapping her hands together and jumping up and down.
As soon as the words left her mouth, she stopped blocking her thoughts and I could see it.
The vision she first saw when we came back, Alice looking into a crib, looking at my baby.
Bella's belly swelling with my baby.
Bella wearing my mother's wedding ring.
Bella with red eyes, quickly fading into a warm golden color.
I called Carlisle to come down, too. He should be here any minute…he doesn't know why. He got that job at the hospital as the new Head of the Pediatric Department. He can help us right now, Edward. She needs to be checked out. The baby is growing; fast and strong.
She didn't know if the baby was human, vampire or a mixture of both. She also couldn't tell when or how Bella's change was going to happen, but it didn't matter. I could not let this happen. Bella had the twins; she couldn't change and still be a mother. I couldn't take her life away from her. I couldn't let this monster in her stomach grow and be born.
-:- -:- -:-
Bella POV
I couldn't believe what Alice had just said. Me being a mother again? Edward being a father to his own child. Edward, Masen, Eli and I having our own little family. I couldn't help but smile.
"Alice, are you sure?" I whispered to the floor, a small grin on my face.
"I've already seen it, Bella. I can't tell if it's a boy or girl yet, but I'm hoping it's a girl!" Her voice, like the melody of wind chimes rang out.
"I've seen other things too, Bella. I've seen a lot of other things just like…" She was about to finish, when Edward cut her off.
"Stop, Alice." Edward demanded abruptly, removing my freshly popped toast slices and placing them alongside the eggs already on the plate.
"She doesn't need to hear these things, because it's not going to happen," he was barely audible.
"Edward, no. That's not going to happen either," She said, staring into his eyes. I wish I knew what visions she was having, what conversation he was hearing.
"Alice, I said stop! I'm not letting this happen. I'm not letting this monster be born!" He spat out with utter disgust.
"What?!" Alice and I said at the same time. I backed away from Edward, towards Alice. Edward followed me, reaching out for me.
"Isabella, you have to understand," He pleaded, standing in front of me.
He placed his hand on my non existing baby bump. "This thing growing in you, it's not human. It's a monster. We're going to take care of this."
What was he suggesting?
"What do you mean take care of this?" I asked.
"We're going to get that thing out of you!" He said, as if I should have known that's what he meant. He took his hand off of my stomach as if it was burning him.
I placed my hand on my stomach, on my baby.
"Edward we can't do that. This baby is a little life. It's part me and part of you. It's our baby,"
I said again, trying to knock some sense into him. I felt tears escaping my eyes.
I heard a small knock on the door and Alice disappeared to see who it was.
Edward kept staring at me, never leaving my eyes, a look of pain and disgust on his face.
"Bella? Edward? What's going on, are you hurt?" Carlisle spoke with such worry and concern.
Carlisle looked over at Edward and I knew he was asking him the same question in his mind. Edward was about to answer, when I beat him to it.
"I'm having a baby," I announced, trying to sound strong.
I looked over at Carlisle to try and gauge his expression.
His returning gesture was sad and worried. Didn't he mention earlier last week that he went back to school for his PhD in Pediatrics? That's why Alice told him to come over. He assumed I hurt myself but really it was because I was pregnant.
"Bella, how far a long are you? Have you told Jake yet? If not, you have to tell him, he is the father of this..." Carlisle was abruptly cut off by Edward's growling. He actually had his teeth bared at Carlisle.
I'd never seen him act this way towards Carlisle of all people. Carlisle looked over at me with confusion on his face.
"It's Edward's," I barely whispered but I knew he would hear me.
"Oh my, Bella. How is this even possible?" He asked, incredulous, looking between me and Edward.
"Well, Carlisle, it all starts when a boy loves a girl," Edward replied with dry humor.
"Don't be smart, Edward. I know how it happens, but how did this happen? I've never heard of this happening before. Don't worry, Bella; we will get this fetus out of you as soon as possible."
I looked at him in utter shock. I guess it's true; like father like son. Edward didn't want me to have this baby; Carlisle didn't want me to have this baby. I had to protect my baby. I love this baby.
I won't let anyone hurt you. I told my baby, in my mind.
I rubbed my hand in a circular motion on my stomach and started to cry. The more I thought about how Edward didn't want this baby, the angrier I got.
"Bella, are you listening to Carlisle? He said it would be an easy procedure, he could probably do it tomorrow night at the house."
"Get out," I mumbled to the floor. I didn't want to see his face. I know that if I looked at his face, I would break down.
"What?" Edward questioned.
"I said get out! Everyone out of my house!" I shrieked looking up at the three vampires standing in my kitchen.
"Bella?!" They all said at once, their voices blending together and forming one voice of surprise. I don't know if they were more surprised that I was mad about terminating the pregnancy or the fact that I was screaming and sticking up for myself.
I shoved as hard as I could against Edward's chest but he didn't move.
"I said get out. If you want nothing to do with your baby, you want nothing to do with me! I can take care of myself, Edward Cullen! I did it six years ago and I can do it again, now get out! All of you!" I took one more look at Edward's face, seeing the pain in his eyes.
I ran past Carlisle and Alice and up the stairs, locking myself in the bathroom. When I was first pregnant with the twins, I had morning sickness real badly, so I figured the bathroom was the perfect place to be held up in.
I sat down on the edge of the bathroom, putting my head in my hands.
What did I just do? I knew Edward and I should have been more careful but he told me he wasn't able to reproduce. I should have known, though. Fate was never on my side, I should have known this was going to happen.
"Bella, please come out," I heard Edward beg to the door.
"I said get out of here, Edward Cullen! I don't want to see you anymore. I don't want to see you in this house. I'm not coming out until I know you're gone!"
It was true, too. I knew there was no way to know if he actually left and I knew that he wouldn't go easily. Hopefully he would know how hurt I was and that leaving would make it easier on me.
"Fine, I'll go, but I'll be back, Bella. Please, you have to think this through. Alice can't see if the fetus is human or a vampire; it could be dangerous, it could kill you. Think about Eli and Masen. Think about Charlie and Renee. Please, please just call me later tonight. I love you."
I could sense that he was gone. I got up and walked over to the sink to splash some cold water on my face. I ran my hands under the faucet and splashed some on my face looking at myself in the mirror.
What am I going to do as a divorced single mother of three, from two different fathers? Who knows what this baby was going to be? But that doesn't matter. I love it. No, I love him.
I heard another knock on the door.
I was about to tell Edward to go away when I heard Alice say, "Bella please let me in. Please."
Alice, oh Alice! My savior. Even if her thick headed brother and father didn't support me, I knew that she did.
I walked over to the door, took three deep breaths and let her in. She all but ran in and pulled me into a hug, rubbing my back. I started to cry. Stupid hormones.
"Shhh, Bella. It's going to be ok. Unlike my stupid brother, I want you to have this baby. I'm here for you Bella and I know Rosalie and Esme are, too. Of course Jasper and Emmett will be happy because we're happy."
I couldn't help but laugh between my sobs.
"Alice, what am I going to do? I have no job, barely any money and no father for my children. I feel like a whore on welfare!" I sobbed some more.
"Oh, Bella stop. First off, screw Edward; you don't need him. And secondly you have us. It's going to be ok, I've already seen it. He'll come around."
I looked into her eyes. "What if I don't want him to come around? Alice, he wanted to kill our baby! I can do this, I know I can do this." I chanted the last sentence more to myself than her.
She sighed and broke out of the hug. "I know you can do this, Bella. Now clean yourself up. I'm taking you out for breakfast to celebrate then we are going to go get Masen and Elizabeth. It's about time those two came home to their mother!"
I couldn't help but laugh at her. She knew where my weak spot was. She was correct, though.
It was time for those two to come home. She wiped the tears away from my eyes.
"Just let me get dressed ok? I've been craving strawberry waffles and now I know why." I couldn't help but revel in the smile that seeped through my words.
My hand automatically went to my stomach, to my baby.
I love you little baby, I won't let anyone hurt you. I told him one more time.
A/N: Ok I lied! Don't hate me, I had to do it. Everyone saw the whole pregnancy coming, so I had to throw you guys off a little so you wouldn't see it coming. I know I'm sneaky ;-] Haha. I'm going to try to put another chapter up before Thursday, so keep an eye out for it. Thank you so much for reading, now scoot your little butts over the review page and leave me a lovely review. Much love.
-BB