A/N: Thank you to my beta! I think this is the longest chapter yet, it was thirteen pages long! Oh Twilight isn't mine.
Bella POV
Alice, to my surprise, actually let me leave the house wearing a pair of old jeans and an even older sweatshirt. She must have known how upset I was about Edward's reaction.
She told me that she was so excited to be an aunt, yet upset that Edward would act that way. She kept reassuring me that it was going to be ok. She could see glimpses into my future; Edward would come around.
"Alice, I already told you, maybe I don't want him to 'come around'. I can do this on my own." I stopped at one of the only red light in town, and glanced over at her in the passenger. I noticed that she wasn't her normal pixie self.
"What's wrong Alice?" I asked.
"Bella, I want to help you. So will Rosalie, Esme, Jasper, Emmett and even Carlisle. But most of all I want to help you. I love you like a sister, I've missed you so much."
The light turned green and I drove the short stretch to the local diner. I quickly parked and ran over to Alice's side of the car, pulling her into a hug. I didn't want her to think I was pushing her away, or that I didn't want her in my life. I did. I loved her like a sister also.
I felt two warm tears run down my cheeks and I heard Alice sigh.
"Isabella, you cry more than any human I've ever met. Now come on, let's go inside. The sooner you eat, the sooner we can go pick up the twins," She said, grabbing my hand and leading me inside.
The diner thankfully wasn't that crowded for a Saturday morning. Alice walked all the way to the back corner and sat down at the empty booth. I sat across from her, noticing that all the tables surrounding us were unoccupied.
Debbie, an older waitress walked over to our table. Everyone around here knows her as 'Aunt Debbie' because she's always acted like you were part of her family.
"Good morning, Bella! You've just missed your Dad by about an hour, sweetie." She smiled up from her order-pad.
"Oh it's ok, Aunt Debbie, I have to head over to his house after breakfast. How are you doing?" I smiled back at her.
"Oh good, sweetie. How are you? Oh, who's your friend?" She nodded over at Alice.
"I'm Alice Cullen." She flashed her white teeth.
"Oh! Doctor Cullen's daughter. Yes, yes I remember you now, sweetie. Do you two know what you'd like yet?" She questioned, putting her pen to her notepad.
"Can we have a couple of minutes, please?"
"Sure, darlings. I'll be right back." She said walking back towards the kitchen.
"I wonder what Eggs Benedicts taste like? I don't seem to remember." Alice said, looking at the menu.
Eggs Benedict did sound good, but my stomach was craving strawberry waffles with chocolate chips on top. Maybe I'll order both.
"What are you getting Bella?" Alice asked, putting her menu down on the table.
"I'm thinking…the strawberry waffles with some chocolate chips and a side of sausage, maybe bacon too. I'm debating between coffee and Sierra Mist to wash it down with," I glanced over the menu making sure nothing else caught my attention.
"Bella! You can't have coffee; you're pregnant! Soda for breakfast? Bacon, sausage! Do you have any idea how much cholesterol are in those?" Alice managed to squeak out in a low voice.
How did Alice even know that? She's never been pregnant and I doubt she's ever known someone who was.
I groaned. How was I going to survive without coffee? I was so addicted to coffee that I didn't even give it up for the twins and they turned out fine.
"Alice, come on. I've had a bad morning, I'm not feeling well and I want them!" I sounded whiney. I sounded like a three year old that didn't get a new toy.
I wanted to start kicking under the table and slamming my fist down on the table, when Aunt Debbie came back.
"Have you decided, cupcakes?" She asked us.
Alice spoke first. "I'll have the Eggs Benedict and a whole wheat blue berry muffin. Oh and a skim milk please!"
How could one person be so cheery in the morning? Whatever. I was getting the sausage and the bacon and the coffee! Ha! In your face, Alice!
Alice beat me to the punch. "Bella will have the strawberry waffles with chocolate chips on the side, a side of fruit salad and a glass of OJ."
Aunt Debbie quickly wrote it down, picked up our menus and said, "Ok. I'll be right back with your drinks, honeys."
"Alice! First off, why did you order so much food when you know you're not going to eat it? And secondly, why did you order for me? I wanted at least one meat! Haven't you ever heard of having a protein, a vegetable and a starch for each meal?" I whispered, looking across the table.
"You will have each food group, silly! That's why I ordered the Eggs Benedict and the muffin. They are for you. You'll eat them, too. Bella, you're pregnant now, you have to eat healthy for my little niece or nephew." She clapped her hands together, bouncing up and down in the booth.
I smiled to myself. Of course that's why she ordered that food; she knew that I would eat all of it.
I wanted to start our conversation about the future when Aunt Debbie came back and sat our drinks down on the table. Alice scooted the milk towards me. "Let's talk, Bella."
"Carlisle and Edward haven't said anything have they?" I asked, biting my bottom lip.
Alice looked away and then back to me nervously. "No. I had a vision that Edward hasn't gone home, and Carlisle wouldn't say anything."
"I want everyone to come over tonight. Well, everyone but Edward, that is. This involves them, too and if they don't support my decision then I don't want them involved in our life." My hands automatically flew to my stomach and a smile crawled across my face.
Alice's too, as she clapped her hands together again, bouncing up and down. I was afraid that she was going to break the booth if she got too excited.
"Oh, Bella. I can't see anyone reactions yet but I know they are all going to love it! Hold on, let me call the house." She reached into her massive purse, pulled out a sleek silver phone and walked outside.
I watched her outside the diner window as she dialed a number, quickly spoke with the person on the other line, then dialed another number and repeated the process. Every few seconds she would jump up and down and I had to wonder who she was talking to. Edward? Carlisle?
She did one more 'happy dance', closed her phone and walked back inside. "How'd it go?" I asked, sipping the skim milk.
"Everyone thinks they are coming over because the twins are finally coming home. The last call was Carlisle. He wants to come, too. He wants to apologize properly."
I just shrugged. I felt bad for what I said early about Carlisle but how could someone want to kill my poor innocent baby? Alice glanced up towards the kitchen doors, and my eyes followed. Out came Aunt Debbie carrying a tray. My mouth started to water.
She walked over to our booth, placing the Egg Benedict and muffin in front of Alice, and my waffles and fruit salad in front of me.
Alice smiled up at Aunt Debbie. "Thank you! Mmm it looks so yummy!"
"Enjoy, you two. If you need anything just holler." She beamed, patting my arm and walking away.
Once again, Alice pushed her plate towards me and I dug in. I started with the waffles, dumping all the chocolate chips on them and shoving bites into my mouth. Once I devoured them, I moved onto the Eggs Benedicts, basically licking the plate clean. After finishing them, I picked at the fruit salad, eating the pineapple chunks and grapes.
I slurped down the glasses of milk and the OJ, debating if I should attempt the muffin. I decided to just get a doggie bag and taking it home.
I pushed the plate back in front of Alice, just in time for Aunt Debbie to think she ate off of it.
"Any desserts, ladies?"
We both shook our heads as she slipped the check onto the table. Without even looking at the check, Alice slipped her two twenties and told her to keep the change.
Alice packed up her purse, grabbed my muffin and scouted out of the booth, me following behind her. It was finally time to bring my babies home.
-:- -:- -:-
Alice wanted to run up to Port Angeles and search for toys for Eli and Masen. We managed to find a cute little toy shop called, The Toy Box.
Alice grabbed a basket upon entrance and started grabbing toys and games off the shelves. She grabbed a floor puzzle, a colorful pack of Go Fish cards, a stuffed horse named Nanny for Eli and a stuffed alligator named Teddy for Masen. She walked along the aisles grabbing kites, nets for catching butterflies, a pink jump rope and an orange Frisbee.
We walked further into the store, stopping at the back shelf to look at rows upon rows of 'craft supplies'. Alice skimmed over the shelves until she picked up colored markers, pencils and a large package of color construction paper. We found 'Painting Kits', 'Color Me, Paper Bag' Kits and finally a "Do- A- Dot' Book. She quickly turned on her heels and walked over to the register.
"Alice, this is honestly too much. I don't even want to know how much this is going to cost. Plus it's setting a bad example for the kids. They're going to think that every time they see your family it's Christmas." Her shopping and gift giving was honestly getting out of control. Alice Cullen needs an intervention.
"Shut it, Bella. My family has all this money and we finally have someone else to spend it on. Seeing the looks on their faces is worth the money anyways. Plus, some of this stuff is for our house…for when we're babysitting."
I huffed. I was not going to win this one.
The young lady at the register managed to ring it all up and said, "The total is $62.83, Miss," before I could even blink. She wrapped the toys up in colored bags and placed them on the counter.
Alice reached into that mammoth purse and pulled out three 20s and a 5 dollar bill. "Keep the change. Thank you!" She grabbed the bags, and led me out the door.
We left the store headed back towards the car. I'd unlocked the doors and went to sit down when I heard the trunk close then Alice tapping her heel.
I stopped mid-sitting position and asked, "What?"
Alice crossed her arms in front of her chest. "Come on, Bella. I saw a really cute children's clothing store. I want to get the twins some new clothes! Pleeease," She drew out the please.
I groaned, stood up straight and the door. This was another battle I wasn't going to win.
I wasn't far enough along to complain about a sore back or feet, but I knew when the time was right, I'd use it as an excuse to get out of these insane shopping trips.
We walked two blocks, before Alice lead me into a clothes shop called Abra-Kid-Abra.
"Who do I want to shop for first?" She asked herself, taking in the store. Her face lit up and she briskly strutted over to the boys section. She picked up two blue shirts with airplanes and trucks on the front, looked at the labels then moved onto to next rack.
I rolled my eyes and followed behind her. At each rack she'd pick up shirts, pants, even little under-roos, read the labels and decided if she was keeping or putting them back. I lifted up the price tag on one t-shirt and my eyes bulged out; $29.95 for one shirt! Alice had at least four in her hands. I didn't even want to know how much the pants or underwear cost.
When we reached the end of the boys section, Alice fluttered over to the girl's section. She followed the same routine, picking up shirts, skirts and leggings, reading the labels and choosing their fate.
"Here, hold these. Don't even think about looking at the price tags." Alice said, throwing all of Masen's new wardrobe into my arms.
She picked up a pair of black and pink leggings, a pink skirt, a purple skirt and matching shirts. She turned her back to another rack picking up jumpers with different flower patterns. The next rack over was dress-up clothes. They had tutus, leotards, and fairy wings of different colors, Alice decided on pink.
"I think I'm ready to go, Bella, if you are," Alice raised her eyebrow.
As if I wanted to stay any longer than I had to. I was leading the way to the register when something caught my eyes. I shoved Masen's new clothes back into Alice's hands and walked over to the little multicolored table covered in stacks of blankets. I picked up the light lambskin blanket, feeling the soft skin against my skin, smelling the cleanness of it.
I felt tears collecting in the corner of my eyes.
"And so the lion fell in love with the lamb."
"What a stupid lamb."
"What a sick masochistic lion."
I remembered Edward telling me that. It was the first time he'd ever mentioned love. It felt like a hundred years ago, yet somehow at the same time it felt like yesterday. I sighed longingly. How did we get here? I flipped over the blanket and picked up the price tag; $99.99 plus taxes.
My face dropped, I couldn't afford that.
"Don't worry, Bella. I'll get it. Think of it as an early baby shower gift! Plus now you can't complain about how much money I'm spending," Alice tugged the blanket out of my hands.
"Thank you, Alice… for everything," I whispered, blinking back the tears. I grabbed Masen's clothes out of her hands, reminding myself that now I have to keep my mouth shut.
We walked up to the register and put the clothes down. The cashier took his time scanning each item and carefully folding it. Eight shirts, two pairs of pants, two pairs of leggings, two skirts, three pairs of 'under-roos' one fairy outfight, one lambskin blanket and a total of $554.09 later we left the store…without a single complaint from me.
"You hungry again, Bella?" Alice asked, throwing the rest of the bags in the trunk.
"Alice, it's only been three hours since we last ate. Let's wait until we pick up the kids, maybe they'll be hungry too." I shoved the key into the ignition and slipped into traffic.
Alice started playing with the radio dials, stopping on 90.1 FM.
"I love this song!" She shrieked, cranking up the volume, trying to do a dance in her seat as Miley Cyrus's 'Seven Things' pumped out of the speakers.
It's awkward and silent
As I wait for you to say
But what I need to hear now
Is your sincere apology
And when you mean it, I'll believe it
If you text it, I'll delete itLet's be clear
Oh I'm not coming back
You're taking seven steps here
I groaned.
"Eli is in love with her music, but I think she's giving off a bad message. I mean, just listen to this song. She's only, what? Fifteen, sixteen? And she's having these emotions. She's not going back to him and what'd the poor guy even do? Not text her fast enough? Try having the love of your existence tell you that he wants to kill your baby!"
It probably sounded a lot harsher than I'd wanted it to, but my stupid hormones were kicking it and I was getting irritated.
The seven things I hate about you
You're vain, your games, you're insecure
You love me, you like her
You make me laugh, you make me cry
I don't know which side to buy
Your friends, they're jerks
When you act like them, just know it hurts
I wanna be with the one I know
And the seventh thing I hate the most that you do
You make me love you
Alice giggled. "It's just a harmless song, Bella. You're so funny sometimes. I've already told you, Edward will come around."
I groaned again. "Well I guess Miley said it best, 'I'm not coming back.'" I muttered to myself.
-:- -:- -:-
"Alice Cullen, it's so nice to see you again!" Charlie said, pulling Alice into a bear hug.
I tried to nonchalantly glance around the house. "Is Sue here?" I asked.
"No, she went down to help Emily with the wedding. It's coming up here soon you know."
I let my breath out. Good. Technically the treaty was already broken, but I didn't want to start another fight over a Cullen being on La Push land.
"Oh, yeah. The wedding." I muttered to myself.
Alice looked at me with a questionable look. "What, you don't like weddings Bella?"
"No, Alice, I don't. My wedding was a disaster! Plus, guess how Jake met that little floozy he's with now…through Emily and her stupid wedding." I threw my hands up in the air. Why did it still bother me that it was someone else and not me with Jacob anymore?
"Bella. Stop that. Why does it matter about Jake? He chose his path and so did you. Aren't you with Edward? Besides your wedding wasn't a disaster and you know it." Charlie chided, a small smile turning up the corners of his mouth at the mention of my wedding.
I looked at him with shock in my eyes. "Yes it was! I was the size of a whale; I spent most of the night crying and irritated with Jake. Then, to top it all off, Paul got drunk and threw up on the pastor! I would call that a disaster!" I looked over at Alice, who was trying to hide her laughter behind her hands. Ha, ha. Very funny.
Who would have known the wedding reception would foreshadow the fate of our marriage.
"Kids are laying down for a nap, if you want to go wake them up, Bells. I want to catch up with Alice."
I walked into the living room, noticing the twins lying on the floor on a mountain of couch cushions. Masen was sprawled all over the cushions, his legs and arms spread so far apart that poor Eli was being pushed off. I had to laugh; Masen slept like his father.
Eli was half on the cushions and half off, clutching a blanket tightly to her body. Her thumb was in her mouth as she mumbled in her sleep. She slept just like me.
I walked over to my sleeping beauties. They almost looked too cute to wake up but I wanted to get them home.
"Eli, Masen, time to wake up." I gently spoke, bending down and slightly shaking them.
They tossed and turned, leisurely opening their eyes.
"Mommy?" Masen asked sitting up.
"It's me baby, ready to go home?"
He nodded his head, pushing Eli's arm.
"Eli, wake up! Mommy's taking us home to play with Edward and Emmett."
Eli shot up. "Let's go Mommy, let's go!" She jumped up and ran into the kitchen. I picked up Masen and followed.
"Thanks again, Charlie. I think we'd better get going, the rest of the Cullens are coming over and I have to go home and make dinner." I placed Masen down on the floor and reached for their bags.
"Ok, Bells. Are you feeling ok? You're looking pale." Charlie asked with concern coloring his tone. I stopped in my tracks. "How about you two go out to the car with Alice?" I smiled down at my two angels.
Alice grabbed each of their hands and walked out the door. I turned back towards Charlie thinking of ways to tell him I was pregnant again.
There is no way to tell your father that you are once again having a child out of wedlock.
I sucked in a lungful of air…and chickened out. "Yeah I'm feeling a little sick still. We really should get going. Thanks again Dad. I love you." I pulled him into a hug.
He reached behind me and patted my back. "Anytime, Bells. I love you, too. Oh, Jake wants you to call him; he has a couple of questions about the divorce papers and wants to know how you're feeling."
I nodded my head and walked outside. Alice already had the twins buckled in and she was sitting in the front seat, bouncing up and down.
I climbed into the car, buckled my seatbelt and started the engine.
"Mommy, is Edward going to be there?" Eli said kicking the back of my seat.
"No, sweetie. I don't think so. Please stop kicking my seat." The kicking ceased. I looked into the rear view mirror and noticed Eli's face dropped. I looked over at Masen to gauge his expression. His face was beaming. I don't think he cared much for Edward. Emmett, on the other hand, was a God in his eyes.
Silence filled the car on the way home. No one wanted to say anything, not even Alice. We pulled into the yard.
"I have presents for whoever can beat me to the house!" Alice's voice sang out.
Masen and Eli's face both lit up. They quickly unbuckled their seatbelts and ran to the house, cheering when they made it to the porch.
Alice unlocked the trunk and pulled out the mountain of bags, carrying them herself to the house.
"You both win! I have oodles of surprises! Now to get all of them you have to be good for the rest of the day!" She giggled out.
-:- -:- -:-
I was finishing up the dishes while Alice sat on the living room floor playing Go Fish with the twins. I hated the silence because my mind wandered to that lambskin blanket and to Edward. What was he doing right now? Thinking about me? Missing me? Regretting having sex with me? Regretting what he said to me? When was he coming back? Would I let him come back?
I sighed.
"Everyone will be here in two minutes, Bella!" Alice shouted from the living room.
I heard Eli and Masen squeal in delight. I grabbed the last two plates off the counter then quickly washed and dried them. Two minutes on the dot, I heard a loud pounding on the door.
"I'm coming!" I shouted, as I vigorously walked into the living room.
"Bella, should you be doing that with the kids home?!? Ouch, Rosie! That hurt!" I heard Emmett's booming voice behind the door. His innuendo was not lost on me, either.
I flung open the door. One by one they all shuffled in; Emmett and Rose, Jasper (who walked over to Alice and kissed her on the cheek), Esme and lastly Carlisle. I breathed a sigh of relief; no Edward in sight.
When Carlisle walked by he gave me an apologizing smile. Words weren't needed, I knew he was sorry, and he knew I forgave him.
"Emmett! Emmett! Look at what Alice bought me, a stuffed alligator! His name is Teddy but I changed it to Emmett!" Masen ran over to Emmett, practically jumping into his arms.
"Wooow, that's so cool!" Emmett replied giving Masen a high five. I rolled my eyes.
"Why don't you two go upstairs, mommy has to talk about adult concerns."
The kids both groaned and walked upstairs. Emmett slide onto the couch next to Rosalie, pouting.
"I thought we were coming over here to play with the twins, Bella. You're ruining all of my fun." Emmett was actually whining just like a two year old. Rosalie smacked him on the back of the head.
"Ouch, Rosie! I was kidding…kinda" He replied rubbing the back of his head.
"Come on, Bella! Just tell them!" Alice said, jumping up and down.
"Tell us what?" Everyone but Carlisle asked in unison.
"Well, I kind of wish Edward was here…or supportive." I muttered the last part to myself, "But I guess it's going to be just me telling you the good news…""Where is Edward, by the way? I thought he was here," Jasper asked, giving Alice and I confused looks.
"I. Don't. Know." I evenly spaced and weighed my words. I looked at the Cullen family, waiting for their approval to continue.
"Anyways, I wished Edward was here with me to tell you the good news. Edward and I are expecting…" I trailed off waiting for their expressions.
"Expecting what?" Emmett's voice broke the awkward silence.
"A baby! Duh!" Alice leaped to my side and grabbed my hand.
"A what?!" Emmett, Rosalie, Jasper and Esme all said at once.
"A baby." I placed my hand on my stomach. "You know, a baby. I'm going to be a mother again." I smiled at myself.
"Edward's going to be a Dad, no way!" Emmett's booming voice said, between fits of laughter.
"I'm going to finally be an Uncle." Jasper said to himself in quiet reverence.
"We're going to be grandparents?" Esme inquired, looking into Carlisle's eyes. I knew that if she could cry she would right now. "You knew all along, didn't you?" she asked, playfully swatting his arm.
"Yes I did, love. I knew we were going to be grandparents." He smiled up at Esme. He truly was happy now. I think seeing Esme so happy has changed his mind about my baby.
I looked over at Emmett again to see the spot next to him on the couch was empty. I was about to ask where Rosalie went, when Alice spoke up. "She went into the kitchen. It's hard for her. Edward's getting what she's always wanted."
I glanced up into the kitchen, pulling away from Alice. I felt sorry for Rosalie. I don't know what I would do if I couldn't have the twins or my new baby.
I walked turns the kitchen, my eyes falling on Rosalie sitting at the table, her head in hands, dry sobbing.
"Rosalie, are you ok?" I asked, walking over to the table and taking a seat.
She lifted her head off the table and stared at me. Her hair was sticking up as if she ran her hand through it too many times, and her eyes were empty of emotions.
"I'm so happy for you Bella. I don't really understand how it happened, but I'm so, so happy for you."
The whole scene broke my heart. I reached across the table and grabbed her hands.
"I'm going to need your help, Rosalie. I can't do this alone and Edward isn't…he isn't supportive. I need your help and your love for my baby." I squeezed her hands.
She squeezed my hand back and weighed each word in her mind. She smiled and then frowned.
"What did you mean Edward doesn't support you?" Her voice rose on the last word. She shoved away from the table and stood up. I sighed, dreading the words I was about to utter.
"I mean, he doesn't want me to have this baby."
Rosalie ran into the living room, drawing everyone's attention to her.
"Did you know that Edward doesn't want Bella to have their child? That makes me sick to my stomach!" Rosalie was seething with anger.
"What?!" Esme, Jasper and Emmett said at once.
"Bella, tell me it isn't true," Esme cried, and stood to walk over to me, gathering me in her arms.
"It's fine, Esme. I can do this by myself. Let me rephrase, I can do this with everyone's help. I love this baby and I know he isn't a monster. He's just a baby, he can never hurt anyone." Tears stared to fill my eyes as Esme wiped them away.
"I'm going to kill my dim witted brother. He just got you back and he's already ruining it!" Emmett said standing up. He walked over to Jasper and Carlisle.
"Come on lets go find him." He muttered as they walked out the door.
"It's going to be ok sweetie, I promise, we're here sweetie. We're here." Esme said, pulling me into another hug. Soon I felt another set of arms around my tiny body, then another.
Esme was right, they are here. All the love and support one baby could want is here.
A/N:Hey everyone! Long time no see, haha. Don't you just wish you could go shopping and drop over $500 and not even make a dent in your pocket? haha. Those are real stores, the toy store is really in P.A. but the clothing store is in Vancouver. If you go to the website you can see the clothes and toys and the cute lambskin blanket.
I was going to put this up last night, but it was my 21st birthday so I was dragged out to the bars. I'm going to try to update again this weekend. I'm thinking in Edward's POV. So thank you for reading and hopefully reviewing ( some love please?) I love you guys!