Flabbergasted Phenomenon

Summary: "This is the most unique situation I have ever heard of with a human and a vampire," was what Carlisle said, but all I could think was, "I'm going to have a baby."

Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight, New Moon, or Eclipse. I just own the scenarios where I thrust my favorite vampire and his family and the love of his life! Yay for me!

Chapter Sixteen: The Hospital Trip

"Alice is going to have a fit if she catches you."

"I know, shh!" I hissed, pressing my fingers against my lips and narrowing my eyes at Edward. Currently we were standing in the hallway outside Edward's bedroom, my body against the wall. I kept my eyes on the stairs as I inched forward.

"It would be easier if I ran you to the car."

I shook my head stubbornly. "That would be too obvious. She knows I'm up to something."

I wasn't really up to anything. I was just wearing an outfit that Alice would probably have a conniption about if she caught me wearing it outside of my bedroom…maybe the house, if I was lucky.

I really wasn't sure what was wrong with sweatpants and a t-shirt, especially these sweatpants because they were more like yoga pants than anything else, and she bought them for me! And the t-shirt I was wearing would be covered by a sweater, so its plainness wouldn't be noticed.

"Oh, Edward, get my sweater, please!"

Edward chuckled, he obviously found my little game amusing, and he was going to play along, even though getting my sweater wasn't a part of the game, I just didn't want to get it. When Edward came back, I slipped the sweater on and stared at my feet. Thank goodness my shoes were up here in the first place, and I didn't have to go off looking for them.

"Just to let you know, I asked Jasper to keep her distracted this morning."

"Great," I said, taking Edward's offered hand and leading the way to the stairs. "The getaway should be quick then."

"And painless, at least, on your part. I don't know about me."

I tiptoed down the stairs, Edward walking beside me, keeping a firm grip on my waist incase I lost my footing.

I exhaled in relief when we managed to get to the front door without any episodes. "You don't think she'll make me change if she catches me, do you?"

"I wouldn't count on it. With your limited wardrobe, which is shrinking, and the fact that you're only going to the hospital to get an ultrasound and not anything else, she should let you off the hook. But let me tell you, she's been pestering me about taking you shopping. She wants to so badly, it hurts."

"I know, I know," I opened the front door and stepped outside. "We'll go when I have absolutely nothing to wear."

We walked around the house to the garage, and I stopped when I saw Alice sitting on the hood of Edward's car, a hurt expression on her face. "I can't believe you would try to avoid your best friend and sister like this! And to think that you thought I wouldn't see this. You're in for it big time, Bella; you're going to shop until you drop this afternoon!"

"No Alice," I begged. "I have so much to do this afternoon after my appointment! I have homework and another doctor's appointment at four!"

Alice seemed to contemplate this for a second, and then she sighed, hopping off the car. I looked down at her when she stood in front of me, her hands on her hips. "I do not like this avoidance Bella; I won't kill you because you're wearing clothes like that. Anything that's comfortable."

"Thank you—"

"But that doesn't mean designer maternity clothes are any less comfortable." She smiled at me brightly for a second, and then her expression became a little less cheerful. She handed me a small package of tissues. "Keep this handy; you're going to need them this afternoon."

"Why?"

She didn't reply, she just ran off, leaving me and Edward in her wake. I looked at Edward, and he was staring at where she was just standing. "That vampire, she just never knows when to quit, does she? Always making us have surprises."

"Us? Edward, I've been surprised more times than I can count from the two of you put together."

"Well, our surprises," Edward said, opening the car door for me and waiting until I had my belt buckled before crouching down and looking at me. "They always seem to make bad things happen. Remember her surprise of not telling us you were pregnant? Or her surprise of—"

"Okay, I see your point. Stop looking so smug!" He smirked at me and kissed my cheek before shutting the door and getting in on the drivers side.

"You're lucky that I was restrained in this seat, or I would have—"

"Would have what?" Edward countered, starting the car and cranking the heat up. I could see my breath it was so cold.

"I would have kissed you to death!" I laughed at the prospect of kissing Edward to death, and the only sound in the car was my soft giggle. Edward easily reached across and grabbed my hand, caressing the top of it with his fingers. I looked at him, smiling, and Edward kissed my fingers, before throwing the car in reverse and speeding away.

"Whip lash," I mumbled beneath my breath, looking at Edward as he drove. My breath caught in my throat as I stared at him. My own personal God was smiling, and it made my heart nearly burst from my chest. Edward looked at me, head cocked to the side.

"Breathe Bella," he warned, and I sucked in a breath, still trying to comprehend why Edward was looking so beautiful while he drove. After a second I closed my eyes, a heavy blush covering my cheeks.

Hormones, I thought decisively, knowing they were going to be the death of me. My attention was brought back to Edward when he asked, "What are you thinking?"

"About my hormones," I said, my cheeks burning even more. "And how they're going to be the death of me."

Edward chuckled and squeezed my hand reassuringly. I kissed his fingers and nuzzled his hand with my cheek. My eyes closed and I breathed softly. I felt Edward shiver when I breathed against his skin, and I smiled. A thought suddenly came to me, and I looked at him with wide eyes. "What do you want to have?"

"A complete thought from you. Bella, what are you talking about?" His eyes roved over my face as confusion settled on his features. I giggled and whispered,

"Sorry, I was just thinking, do you want to have a boy or a girl?"

Edward stared at me pensively for a moment and then he looked at the road. I watched him as he thought for a minute, and I had a distinct feeling that he was trying to remember his human memories, seeing as how he never thought he'd have to answer this question as a vampire. I waited patiently, interested in what he had to say.

"Would it be wrong for me to say that I've always wanted a little girl to protect?" His eyes darted to mine, gauging my reaction. He was obviously pleased with my grin because he relaxed slightly. "I don't know why, but I remember being around small infants, and they were always female. The memory is a little hazy." He touched his temple for a moment, and I think he was trying to pull the memory. It saddened me slightly that he couldn't remember a small detail such as this. After a moment he looked at me apologetically, as if he knew that I was sad that he couldn't remember. "I can't exactly see it, but I have a feeling I would enjoy having a daughter."

"That would be nice."

"What about you? I'm sure you've thought about this a lot more than I have."

I decided not to mention that I wasn't planning on having children until four months ago, instead, I rested my head in my hands, thinking. "Honestly?" I began, looking at him after thinking about it for another minute. "I wouldn't mind having a boy, but then again, if you want a girl, I wouldn't mind having one either. As long as it's not both—"

"I think Alice would have told us if we were having twins."

I was horrified for a second. "She did give me tissues."

"I don't think she'd do that."

I was relatively quiet the rest of the ride to the hospital, which was only a few minutes, due to Edward's speeding. I got out of the car, my thoughts milling around the fact that I could be having twins. Twins! I guess doubling the miracle would make Edward happy. I doubt the Cullen family will leave all the work to me. I'm sure Rosalie—Rosalie…where has she been? I have not seen in her quite a while.

"What are you thinking about that would make you frown like that, Bella?"

I looked up at Edward, trying to articulate an answer. He cupped my cheek in his hand and looked at me with determined eyes. "I was just wondering—"

"Isabella!"

Confused, I looked away from Edward, only to see Jessica Stanley running towards me. I sighed inwardly, throwing on the cheeriest smile I could offer on the outside. I took a few steps towards her and noticed that she might actually crash into me.

"Don't hug her too tightly," Edward warned, when Jessica was close enough, and she looked up at him with wide eyes before lowering her eyes to my abdomen, which was conveniently covered by my sweater, and then into my eyes.

"The rumors are true?" she asked in a breathy whisper.

"Depends on what the rumors are," I said a little sheepishly.

"Well Tyler Crowley said that Lauren saw Alice in Port Angeles buying maternity clothes about a month ago, and that the clothes were way too big for her, and then she said she saw you at the store and you were a little bigger and then Eric Yorkie said that you were staying in Forks for college, he saw you around campus at the beginning of the new term, but I didn't believe any of it, but I asked Angela if she knew anything about your circumstances anyway and she didn't say much, just that you were staying in Forks." Jessica took a huge breath after her little speech, and then she grinned at me. "I just can't believe it! You, Isabella Sw—Cullen, having a baby! I expected Angela and Ben to do it first!"

My head was spinning with the quick speech; she almost spoke as fast as Alice. Edward seemed to notice my lack of comprehension, because he tugged on my arm. "Jessica, it was nice to see you, but we actually have an appointment."

"O-okay," she stammered, eyeing Edward again, and I couldn't even imagine what she was thinking. I felt a swell of anger flare in me, and I knew I had one of the most uncomfortable expressions on my face, and then she had enough gall to wink at me! I could have bared my teeth. "I'll see you later," she said. "Call me!"

"I will," I forced out, smiling again. I'm sure it looked more like a grimace. She bounded away from me, and Edward wrapped his arm around my waist, leading me towards the nurse's station.

"My pregnancy is going to be around Fork's, and in the cruelest of ways," I said through clenched teeth.

"Breathe, Bella, breathe," Edward cooed. "Your hormones really do have a strong reign on you today."

"I am trying to breathe; I'm not blue in the face yet, am I?" I snapped, about ready to explode.

"No, you're actually turning purple like your father, take a deep breath Bella!"

I took one huge gulp of air and held it for ten seconds before exhaling slowly. We were still moving, but I closed my eyes, trusting Edward to lead me away from danger. Edward's hands soothingly slid up my back, over my shoulders, and down my arms until he held both of my hands. He kissed the side of my face and I could feel my anger begin to ebb.

I continued to breathe deeply, ignoring the feeling that I looked a little ridiculous. I chose to pay no heed to everything around me, instead, focusing on something that would inevitably make me smile: Edward Cullen. When he smiled in the car this morning—just thinking about him smiling made my mood shift.

"She's just trying to let her anger go."

My eyes snapped open, and I realized we were standing in a room with the door shut. Carlisle was standing at the sink, washing his hands, and Edward had his arms around me protectively. "Better?" he breathed, making me shiver. I nodded my head, feeling my cheeks turn red. Edward directed me to the examining table, and he easily lifted me up and laid me down.

"This is a new machine," Edward said casually, touching the blank screen on the ultrasound machine for a second before retracting his hand.

"I managed to convince the board to purchase a new one. The old one malfunctioned years back and it wouldn't allow the heartbeat to be heard. I argued that that could be a health hazard."

"How long have you had it?" Edward asked. I listened as I pulled my sweater off and set it on the floor. Then I rolled my shirt up until my stomach was exposed. In the background, I could hear Carlisle say that the machine had been in a week, but I was immediately distracted by a mark on my stomach. I wasn't too upset when I realized it was a stretch mark, in fact, it pleased me because I had been dead set on gaining weight, and what better reward than a stretch mark? How backwards am I? I thought with a grin. I traced the line with my finger and looked up to see Carlisle and Edward watching me curiously.

"What in the world are you doing?"

"I have a stretch mark." I think they were waiting for an onslaught of devastated emotions, but I, Isabella Marie Swan Cullen, am not a normal woman, and especially not a normal pregnant woman. "I think we should celebrate."

Edward laughed and sat down beside me on a chair, resting his head beside mine. "Silly Bella," he breathed, before pecking my lips. My heart stopped for a second and I could literally feel the second tick by before it started again.

A moment after I caught my breath, Carlisle brought the machine closer to me and turned it on. I was surprised at how quickly it worked; the old machine was extremely slow. While I was fascinated with the new machine, Carlisle began to hook me up to the machine, moving at vampire speed.

I shivered when Carlisle added the gel to my stomach, and then I watched in interest as the little being inside of me showed up on the screen.

"Wow," I breathed. I was shocked every time this happened. There is a human being growing inside of me! I could feel tears forming in my eyes. After my eyes adjusted to the pictures, I began to recognize body parts. Little arms and legs attached to a body. I could even see the head, a little curve of a nose and—

And then I heard it…The heartbeat.

I gasped for breath as the heartbeat became evident. This is the heartbeat. This baby is a living and breathing…baby. In me. Its heart is beating. My thoughts were jumbled and I could feel the tears over spilling my eyes. I looked at Edward. Of course this is not the first time he's heard the heartbeat, he's been hearing it since its heart started to beat! Edward leaned in and kissed me, making me cry even harder.

"Its heart!" I cried.

"I know Bella, I know," Edward said, and I knew right then and there, if Edward could produce tears, he would be a mess just like I was. "I've been able to hear it faintly, but this is the loudest it's ever been."

"It's not an its anymore," Carlisle began, and then Edward was smothering me with kisses. Did Carlisle even say its gender out loud? If he did, I missed it. I grabbed Edward's face to hold it in place, and Carlisle finished, I think for my benefit, because Edward was incapable of saying it himself, "It's a boy."

I squealed.

Oh, and I did not care who knew it!

I hugged Edward fiercely, and I could hear Carlisle laughing as he looked back at the machine. After I got over my initial glee, I followed Carlisle's gaze. He began pointing out his little arms and little legs. I don't know why, but every time Carlisle measured him and he was just that much bigger, I could feel a tumult of emotions, most happy, consume me. There was always that one fearful one; will I be able to raise this teeny-tiny baby? Those were almost immediately quenched, since Edward had his arms wrapped around me. As soon as I thought that, Edward put his hand on my shoulder. I looked up and was sure something was wrong.

All oxygen left my lungs when I saw the melancholy look in Edward's eyes. I couldn't get a word to come out of my mouth.

"There seems to be a problem."

Those words were my downfall. This is really why Alice gave me tissues. "W-what?"

Carlisle studied the machine, and Edward stood up to look at it as well. Neither one of them answered for a few seconds, nor did they look at me. Finally, when I felt like my heart couldn't beat any faster, Carlisle looked at me. "Don't panic Bella; this might not be as much of a problem as I thought."

"But what is it?"

"Placenta previa," Carlisle said. He saw the confusion on my face, and Edward sat back down, grabbing my hand. It soothed my when he kissed my fingers. "It's when the placenta is lying unusually low in your uterus." Carlisle looked at the ultrasound machine and then back to me. "In your case, this looks like a low-lying placenta, which means it's about two centimeters from your cervix." I began to cry harder as bad scenario after bad scenario popped into my mind. The baby isn't going to be born, he might not survive, the placenta might becomeunattached…I felt ill to my stomach. I jumped when Edward wrapped his arm around me and kissed my eyes.

"Bella let him explain."

I sniffled and waited for Carlisle to continue. "The placenta more than likely will migrate to the upper part of your uterus, where it can get more blood and nutrients." I felt relieved and took a big breath. "Typically, only about ten percent of women who are diagnosed with placenta previa still have it by the time they give birth Bella, so take a deep calming breath. We'll keep an eye on it, but I can almost guarantee you that everything is okay."

"Thank you Carlisle," I choked out in a whisper. "Are there any precautions I should take?"

Carlisle shook his head. "Not necessarily, you keep your activities at a minimum anyway, just don't overexert yourself, and you'll be fine Bella."

After I got cleaned up and put my sweater back on, I hugged Carlisle tightly and whispered my thanks against his chest, just to emphasize that I was serious. He patted my back, and then let Edward and I go, reminding me that I had a doctors appointment that afternoon and that I had another prenatal visit with him this evening to get weighed and measured.

Edward pulled the tissues out of his pocket, he must've taken them from the car, and handed me one. I dabbed at me eyes as he grabbed my hand and walked beside me out of the hospital.

The car ride home was quick, to say the least. I was bursting with excitement, both because I knew what I was having, and because the baby wasn't at much of a risk. I believed Edward especially when he reassured me. Two doctor's reassurances were enough for me. Every few minutes—although it felt like seconds—I would burst into joyous laughter and drag Edward along with me. For the first time in a long time, I didn't mind that he was speeding. The faster I got home, the faster I got to spread the news.

When we were about to turn onto the long driveway, Edward pulled over to the side of the road and looked at me. "I know this probably isn't the best time to ask, but what exactly were you wondering earlier?"

I pulled a blank. I looked at Edward, confused. "When?"

"Before Jessica interrupted us."

"Oh," I said, tilting my head. "I was just wondering where Rosalie has been? I haven't seen her or Emmett much in the past couple of weeks…well, months, really." I watched as two different emotions flickered across his face, and the third one was blank. "What aren't you telling me, Edward? I don't want to—"

"It's about Rosalie." My face fell and I automatically thought of the worst.

"She's not hurt or—or worse, is she?" I couldn't keep the tremble out of my voice. Edward was quiet for a second, a second too long, and I felt new tears forming in my eyes. I unbuckled my seatbelt and did my best to turn to Edward without hurting myself. "Oh Edward, just tell me!"

I think Edward was surprised by the hurt in my voice, and he looked at me with sad eyes. He reached over and swept the tears from my eyes, tilting my chin up and kissing me softly. When he pulled away he rested his forehead against mine. "I didn't make her leave, did I?" I croaked, hastily wiping at my eyes. Edward didn't answer, didn't move, so I continued on. "She wants to have children, and since I could—I drove her away! How awful of a person am I?"

"You're not awful, Bella," Edward said automatically. He ran his fingers through my hair, all the while wiping my tears. "She just needs time to think, to adjust. And she hasn't left permanently. She visits often."

"And Emmett?"

"He can't leave her alone," Edward said soothingly. He kissed my eyes and I shook my head away. "Please stop crying," he begged, holding my head with his hands. I took a shuddering breath and looked at him with tired eyes. "Everything is going to be okay. Trust me Bella."

I tried my hardest to believe him when he started the car again. I wiped at my eyes and buckled my seatbelt. Edward didn't say a word as we finished the now short ride home. I continued wiping at my eyes and sniffling.

Edward got out of the car first and opened the door for me in the same second. I allowed him to gently pull me from the car and into his embrace, where he held me and apologized over and over again. I kissed his chin, the only part of his body I could reach at the moment, and told him everything was going to be okay.

Finally it all clicked into place, and I stopped walking. Esme's worrying, Carlisle's somberness, even Alice wasn't up to par with her enjoyment, and it was because Rosalie was gone. She's gone because of me. I tried not to cry, but I couldn't help it. I drive everyone away. Edward tugged on my hand and I followed mutely, trying to stop the tears from cascading down. I constantly swept my hand over my eyes, trying to make the salty liquid disappear.

Just as we reached the door, Edward paused for a second, and then he opened the door slowly. We made our way inside the house, Edward holding onto me tightly, and I felt a little tired, a little weak from my emotional rollercoaster of a morning. I immediately pulled my sweater over my head. It was a lot warmer in the house than it was outside.

"Isabella, you have gotten big!"

Speak of the devil I swallowed hard and looked up, seeing Emmet racing towards me. I braced myself for his body to crash into mine. He didn't crush me with his body, but he did hug me so fiercely that he lifted me off the ground, restricting my breathing.

"Be careful! Be careful!" Edward shouted. "She can't overexert herself!"

Emmett spun me around, and I gasped, "Air! Air!"

He carefully put me on the ground and looked me up and down. "Porky."

I slapped his arm, narrowing my eyes at him. "That is not funny Emmett." He grinned at me and ruffled my hair. I sighed, shaking his hand off and I felt Edward put his hands on my shoulders. I walked past Emmett and into the living room, about ready to throw myself onto the couch.

"Hello Bella."

I stopped short and looked up, surprised to see Rosalie smiling a little nervously at me. I was in awe; she was still as beautiful as she was the last time I saw her, even with the frown gracing her features. I felt Edward drop his arms, and I looked to see him taking a few steps back. Then I noticed Rosalie walking towards me. "Can I…?" she asked. I nodded by head dumbly.

I had no idea what she was asking for.

Rosalie stopped a few inches away from me, and dropped to her knees. She rested her ear against my abdomen, and stopped breathing. For a few seconds she just rested there, and then she stood up fluidly, hugging me for a brief moment.

"Oh Bella, I've been making everyone here miserable for my own selfish reasons, can you forgive me?"

"You haven't done anything wrong, Rosalie," I said quietly.

"Thank you, Bella." She smiled at me again, and then she looked up from me. I turned and everyone was standing behind me, Esme with her hand covering her mouth. She ran to both of us and kissed our cheeks, hugging us until I couldn't breathe.

"My family is back together!" she cried.

"And the suspense is kill me," Jasper said, leaning against the couch. Alice plopped down beside him, and Edward on the other side of her. I watched as Jasper looked at Edward, then me. "What are you having? Alice won't tell any of us."

I moved to sit down in Edward's lap, and he wrapped his arms around my waist. "Would you like to say it?" I asked Edward, leaning against his chest and closing my eyes. I was in need of a nap. This morning took a lot out of me.

Edward kissed my forehead before looking up at his family. I looked up in time to see his beaming smile before he said, "We are having a boy!"

After Esme decided that a celebratory dinner was in store for that evening, Edward tucked me against his chest, allowing me to rest. Well, at least for a few minutes, before Alice came bounding to us with her phone. "You've got to tell Charlie before you nap Bella!" I just nodded my head sleepily, and took her phone. When I saw that his work number was already dialed into the phone, I smiled at her, appreciating the fact that she took time out of her day to dial the ten digits.

I held the phone up to my ear, waiting for someone to answer. I was still trying to wake myself up when someone picked up on the other line. "Sheriff's office."

"Is officer Swan available?" I asked, covering my mouth as an involuntarily yawn escaped. Through the corner of my eye I could see Alice shifting in her seat, watching me excitedly. Edward, on the other hand, was glaring at her.

"One moment please."

I waited patiently, using Edward as my crutch to sit up fully. What was I going to say? I should have rehearsed this first. Should I just say—

"Chief Swan."

"It's a boy!" I blurted out, unable to stop my thought process.

There was silence for a good two and a half seconds, and then I heard, "Bella?"

"Yeah?"

And then a guffaw.

I could imagine Charlie jumping into the air, like during some of his baseball games, punching and shouting. I heard just that though, when someone in the background asked Charlie what was up. Then I heard him say, "Isabella, she's having a boy!"

"Little Isabella Swan?"

"Bells, I'm so excited for you!"

"I can tell," I said, with a slight chuckle. "Well, I've had an extremely exhausting morning, and I have a lot to do this afternoon, so I will let you go…"

"Congratulations! I'm just so happy."

"I know Dad." I laughed and said goodbye. I didn't even have the phone fully out of my hand before I was in the air, wrapped firmly in Edward's arms, flying. He ran us to his bedroom, all the while whispering to me,

"Sleep Bella, you're in for a long afternoon."

Just for emphasis, he covered my eyes, as if that would make me sleep faster, and he didn't remove his hands until I was in his bed, pressed against his chest, with no way of seeing anything in the room. I didn't mind though. I was tired. I kissed his chest through his clothes, and then immediately began to drift off to sleep, overjoyed and pleased that Rosalie came back to the family. I was half awake when I mumbled, "When are you telling the family about my condition?"

"I already did Bella, just sleep and don't worry about a thing."

I decided to take his word for it and found myself drifting away into my own little dreamland, where nothing could ever go wrong.

xoXoXoXox

BB/N¡Hola! Thanks for the reviews! They were lovely.

Things have been hectic recently, and it'll get even worse, at least for the next upcoming week. I have Solo and Ensemble, which is like a competition kind of thing in the music program, and this year my high school is hosting it, so I'll be at school a lot more, practicing for a clarinet trio and quartet.

…My band life is never ending:)

Love,
Bob Bennit

P.S. Oh my goodness! I'm sorry for the double post of the last chapter. I posted it and thought it was all cool, and then I got a review saying something, so I reread the chapter and realized I accidentally added information that wasn't supposed to be added for a long time! It's a long story about how this happened, so if you really want to know, just ask!

So anyway, I had to repost the chapter with that information edited away, and just now, I realized that I added a little thing that wasn't supposed to happen until later. But now it's too late to fix it. …Grr…I'm angry that I did that.

Anyway, thanks again for the reviews!

Have an Amazing Evening/Day!