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Chapter 9 - Great Parents and Grandparents

The kids looked on curiously as my parents hugged me. My mom looked at me shaking her head, but there was definitely a smirk playing on her lips. "And you said she was just the housekeeper. I knew better," she tittered at me. She turned to Bella, cupping her cheeks like she was a delicate porcelain doll. "Oh, Edward, she's beautiful, and such a sweet smile."

"Mom," I whined.

"There's definitely some fire between you two," she said and my Bella's cheeks turned deep red. My mother kissed her forehead. "Now show me my babies." She took a seat on the couch and patted her lap. My father was highly amused at the exchange, especially when Arabella jumped right up on my mother's lap.

"I'm Arabella, I'm four. Dr. Edward is my new daddy. I got him for Christmas," she said proudly.

"That's wonderful," my mother said. "Did you know I'm Edward's mommy?"

"Really?" Ara asked looking at my mother and then me. She scrunched up her face. "Are you going to live here and do his laundry, too?"

My mother burst out laughing along with the rest of us. Ara looked at Timmy, who just shrugged his shoulders at her, not knowing what that meant.

"No, honey, Edward grew up big and strong from eating all his vegetables. Now he's growing a family of his own."

"I want a girl, but Timmy said Curly's vote doesn't count. Don't you think Mommy and Daddy should have a girl?" Ara asked seriously.

"You raised a boy. They're less trouble than girls, huh?" Timmy added.

"Are we expecting a new baby?" my mother asked raising an eyebrow at me.

I shook my head no. "We'd like to get married first, and then having babies is just between mommy and daddy, like we discussed this morning," I said firmly.

Timmy rolled his eyes and Ara let out a huff and murmured, "I still want a girl."

My mother whispered in her ear, "Maybe they can make one of both," she winked at Ara who seemed to perk right up.

Timmy decided to plop down next to my mom. "Okay, one of both," he seemed to agree causing us all to snicker. "So, if you're Dad's mom, does that make you our grandma?"

"That it most certainly does!" my mother cheered. She pulled Timmy into a group hug with Arabella and kissed the tops of their heads. "And as a grandma, that means I have to bring presents. Carlisle, dear, can you please grab the bags with the gifts?"

"I'll give you a hand," I offered my dad and followed him down to the car.

He stopped at the trunk and turned to me, "Is she the one?" he asked.

I felt my ears burning. "She's definitely something, that's for sure. She says loves me."

"Do you love her, Son?"

"I don't know. Everything is moving so fast."

"How about this; if she left today never to return, would you be okay?"

I thought about all she did for me, and not just making my house feel like a home by being there. She would make my favorite dishes at dinnertime, going the extra mile to find recipes that Timmy could eat. She took pictures of us as a family and when she kissed me, I could feel it through my whole body. But most of all, I trusted her. I loved how she could read me and soothe me. She was always kind to me and I kind of liked that she had a fiery temper. When I was wrong, she put me in my place and made me know it for sure so there was no question that I had messed up. I liked that she wasn't playing games with me. I wondered if she would mind being seen in public together. I grimaced, not wanting to risk it. I didn't think I could handle the rejection if she pushed me away.

"Edward?" my father said my name again, "Do you have feelings for her?"

"Yes, but I'm scared to get hurt again," I finally confessed.

He patted my shoulder, "Don't worry, Son, in time you'll trade that fear in for love." He opened the trunk and pulled out three large shopping bags, setting them on the ground next to his feet and then reached into the front pocket of one of the suitcases. "Your mother wanted you to have this. She didn't want to make a big show of it," he said placing a small black box in my hand. "It was hers when she was married to Edward Masen. She said it was a happy marriage and wanted you to have it. She didn't want you to feel pressured to use it if you propose, but she wanted it to be available to you."

I opened the box to see a ring with a simple square-cut diamond set on a beautiful gold band. It was nice of my mom to think of such a thing and after this morning, I think I was kind of engaged already so it was probably a good idea to have one on hand. I would have to talk to Bella again after my parents left to really figure out what the heck our plans were.

I didn't have long to contemplate the issue as my pager went off. My young cookie-eating patient was seizing again. "I need to go in," I said, the urgency clear in my voice.

"Go, make us proud," he said and patted my back as I hurried to the car.

I had been hoping that the pressure in the little girl's brain would ease up, but it just wouldn't and now it seemed to be getting worse. I had called in as I drove, speaking quickly the instructions to the nurse to get the girl stabilized and ready for surgery. I would have to drill a hole in her head to help ease the pressure.

The operation went smoothly, but I was hesitant to leave, not because I questioned my work, but because of what awaited me at home.

I grabbed my street clothes from my locker and saw I had a message waiting on my phone. It was just left ten minutes earlier. My father had called to let me know he was taking everyone out to dinner and to join them. Bella sent a text with the address a few minutes later which made it easy for me to map it on my phone. Now I just had to get up the nerve to go.

It would be the first time Bella and I would be out in public as a couple. Jane hated for me to come within five feet of her when we were in public. I was to stay back so people wouldn't know we were together. I hated watching others flirt with her in front of me as she ignored me. I kept telling myself it wasn't a big deal because I would be the one escorting her home. I would take her back to her sorority house and if there was no one around, I could usually get her to let me kiss her cheek.

My mind flashed back to the horrible night when I found out the truth of it all. I had been so stupid the whole time. It all was blatantly clear as I looked back on my relationship with her, if you could even call it that. I felt my body tense and curl in on itself remembering the humiliation of that night.

I couldn't do it, I couldn't risk going to a public place with Bella. What if she pushed me away right in front of my parents, in front of the kids?

I dropped my head to the steering wheel fighting back tears, hating my life. I didn't understand how someone as beautiful as Bella could actually want me. I didn't know what she really wanted from me. I wished she would just tell me. I didn't want to get hurt again.

I heard a knock on my window causing me to jump. I was shocked to see Bella standing there with a concerned expression. I opened the door to step out of the car. She stepped back, making me glance around to see if anyone was watching. Was she stepping away because she wanted to keep her distant? Did she not want to be seen in public with me, either?

"Edward, are you alright? Did you lose your patient?" she asked and then I felt her hand on my cheek. She wiped the tears away and wrapped her arms around me. "Oh, honey, I'm so sorry. If you aren't up to going out, we can call your parents. I'm sure they wouldn't mind keeping the kids for a little while so you can feel better."

I watched as a few people walked past and she didn't move. She didn't budge from my side but actually snuggled in deeper and I couldn't help but squeeze her in return, holding on for dear life, hoping it was okay that people were seeing us together.

"Do you want me to call your parents?" she asked again.

I cleared my throat, pulling myself together, "Are you alright with being seen in public with me, together?"

She looked at me confused, "Do you mean, am I okay with the kids and your parents knowing we're together?" she asked.

I dropped my face, hiding it in her hair, not saying anything.

"We're together and exclusive, with plans to eventually marry and have more babies. I don't see a problem with the whole world knowing, Edward. In fact, I want everyone to know so they can know you're mine," she said running her fingers through my hair. "Are you okay with everyone knowing? I know you said it was kind of fast…" she trailed off.

I couldn't believe what I just heard. She wanted the whole world to know I was hers. She wanted people to know I belonged to her. She wanted them to know we were together. I felt the lump in my pocket when she pushed against me again, getting me to look at her. She was starting to look a little worried.

I grabbed at the lump in my pocket, remembering what it was. "I want everyone to know that you're mine, too," I finally said and she broke into a huge smile and kissed me hard.

I kept one arm wrapped around her and reached into my pocket with my other hand. I popped open the box, and when she came up for air, I dropped to one knee and held it out, terrified to say the words. Her hand went to her mouth and she quickly grabbed the box and sat on the knee that was up. She was kissing me wildly and my heart was beating so hard I thought it would burst from my chest. Was this a yes or no? Was she trying to soften the blow?

When she pulled back gasping and wiping tears from her smiling face, she let out a giggle, "I can't believe it," she said slipping the ring on her finger. "I can't wait to be your wife."

My returning smile must have been huge because it hurt my face, but I couldn't stop it. I stood up and kissed her again. This time, there were a few wolf whistles and cat calls. Bella pulled back smiling. "Sorry, boys, I'm taken!" she said waving her ring in the air. It was then that I noticed it was doctor Kate and her two RN's that were howling at us. The three of them came over and congratulated us. Bella was beaming with excitement the whole time and stayed tucked under my arm. She wanted people to know we were together. She wanted people to know that she was mine and I was hers.

I suddenly couldn't wait to get her home and make her mine again.

A/N: Thanks for reading and please review!