I awoke when something very warm and soft was placed in my arms. I automatically cradled it, and was surprised when it squirmed. I opened my eyes a bit to see my son in my arms, looking up at me in confusion.

"Good morning EJ. How'd you get here?" I asked him. He looked at me for a moment before sticking his fist in his mouth again.

I got up and set EJ down for a moment so that I could stretch my sore limbs. Picking him up again, I made my way into the kitchen, where I heard a few noises.

"Damn!" I heard a soft voice exclaim, and then the sound of a fridge slam. Making my way into the kitchen, I found Bella furiously beating up some kind of batter.

"Morning." I greeted her. Startled, her head shot up as well as the spoon, which splattered all three of us.

"Would you stop doing that?" she asked crossly as she blushed. "I'm going to jump out of my skin next time."

"What time did you get up?" I asked her as I sat down at the island wiping the batter off of the surprised face of EJ.

"Well, I woke up when I reached out and didn't fall off of my bed, like usual. So I opened my eyes and almost thought that I had been kidnapped, because I had no idea where I was. I was about to start screaming, but then I heard little Eric crying and realized where I was. Five minutes later, here we are." She explained with a smile on her face.

"That means its breakfast time for you, little one." I told him as I got up and grabbed a bottle. Holding him in what Emmett called "the football" position, I tested the warm bottle and began feeding him.

"Edward?" Bella asked a moment later. I looked up from my baby's content face to see her standing in front of the sink, beaming. "Did you give him a bath?"

"All by myself." I told her proudly.

"Edward, that's great!" she congratulated me. After a moment's hesitation, she asked another question. "Can…can I…feed him?"

"Of course." I replied, handing her EJ and placing the bottle in the other. I watched as she fed him, gently stroking his cheek and murmuring to him. I felt so…happy, seeing her like that. And though I knew I shouldn't, I felt like this is what every morning should be like.

"You burped him too." She noted proudly as she went over to the laundry room and saw the stack of dirty clothes.

"Yep." I said as I walked past her to grab an old pair of my sweats and a clean t-shirt. "Here are some clothes, if you want to change."

She thanked me, taking the clothes in trade for the baby and made her way to the bathroom again. EJ surprised me when he gurgled at her, and I looked at him in surprise.

"You like her too, don't you my smart boy?" I asked. He gurgled again, and realizing that he probably just needed to be burped, I got down to business.

When Bella came out, EJ had been successfully burped and was now sitting on the counter in his carrier sucking his fist again. I drew in a breath when I realized how beautiful she looked, and told myself that it shouldn't feel this right to see her in my clothes.

"I'm surprised my father hasn't called yet, much less sent out the entire force to find me." She commented as she began pouring the batter into a skillet.

"Err…weeeelllll….hekindofcalledlastnight." I admitted, looking down at my bare feet.

"Charlie knows about this and I'm still here?" she gasped in surprise. I nodded, and she turned back around again. "Well, that's good. That's very good."

A few minutes later, Bella and I were eating hot pancakes while EJ was eating his hand.

"Is that really good for a baby?" I asked when I saw him replace his right fist with his left.

"Is what good for a baby?" She asked, confused.

"Cannibalism."

She laughed at that one, which startled EJ into dropping his fist. "It's fine, Superdad."

"Superdad. I like the sound of that." I said with a smile. She rolled her eyes at me and resumed eating.

"Bella?" I asked hesitantly. It had been bothering me all morning, and I needed an answer now. "What am I going to do without you?"

She looked up at me, startled. "I'm not going anywhere."

"No, I mean what am I going to do without you tomorrow morning?" I re-phrased impatiently.

She thought for a moment. "I don't know. I think you'll be fine."

"I hope so." I mumbled under my breath. What was I supposed to say? Move in with me after we've known each other for a grand total of two days? Help me raise my infant son? Screw weird, Edward, you're insane.

The ringing of my phone brought me out of my inner battle, and I grabbed it off the hook near the fridge.

"Hel-"

"Edward! You have to let me talk to her!" Alice shrieked from the other end of the phone. I held it away from my ear, making a face at it. Bella giggled at me from her spot at the table.

"Who, Alice?" I asked hesitantly. After all, she might have had another crazy premonition and then I'd have to explain this whole debacle.

"The girl from the grocery store! I had this feeling that you were going to get help with EJ in the grocery store and that she'd be the one!" she said loudly. I learned a while ago that with Alice, everything was in exclamation points.

"Yes Alice, I met someone at the grocery store. She's been helping me with EJ. What do you mean, the one?" I asked tiredly, not sure if I wanted to know the answer.

"THE one Edward." She said, stressing the word the. "The one who'll always be there for you, the one you're going to fall in love with, the one who's going to fall in love with you!"

"Alice, I just met her." I explained calmly. She sighed into the phone.

"Men. Always so stubborn." She muttered. "But seriously, I want to talk to her."

"Seriously, I want to talk to Jasper first. Where is he this morning?" I asked.

"He's right here. Jazzy, as soon as you're done, tell Edward to put Bella on the line, kay? Ok, you can talk to him." She said before I heard rustling and the deeper voice of my brother.

"Hey Edward. How's my little nephew?" he asked good naturedly.

"Was I an awful child?" I asked, ignoring his question. I could hear laughter from Jasper on his end and Bella on mine, and I scowled.

"No, not that I can remember." He laughed. "Why?"

"Because my son screamed for an hour last night. My perfect, beautiful little child of screamed at the top of his tiny and very loud lungs for a full sixty minutes last night." I said morosely. He laughed again, and I could hear Bella giggling as well.

"Well, now that you mention it, I think that you did have quite a set of lungs. I think Emmett wanted to make you sleep outside at one point." He chuckled into the phone.

"That's reassuring." I muttered grimly, which made him laugh more.

"Is that all, because OW! God damnit Alice, was that a shoe? I…fine! Just leave that other one over there. My wife wants to talk to you." He mumbled into the phone. It was my turn to laugh, and I heard him being shoved aside by little Alice.

"EDWARD ANTHONY MASEN CULLEN, IF YOU DON'T GIVE BELLA THIS PHONE RIGHT NOW I'LL"

I pulled the phone away from my ear quickly and sat down again, giving it to Bella.

"For me?" She mouthed. I nodded, and she took the phone, a surprised look on her face.

"Hello?" she said, and she got up to look out the window as she talked. "No, I …well, yes....I'm 23….journalist…no, sorry Alice, I hate shopping…no…..I don't ….well, what I meant was…fine."

She blushed and mumbled a final yes into the phone before clicking it off. "Alice says to send her and Jasper's love, and that they're coming up next month so that Alice can take me shopping."

"I'm sorry," I apologized with a smile on my face, remembering how awful Alice's shopping trips could be. She had declared a brother-in-law bonding day with me and Emmett and we shopped from nine am until nine pm. Poor Emmett made the mistake of insulting a pair of sunglasses, though, which made the trip last those extra three hours.

"Alice also said that if I didn't tell you this, she would make me wear heels." She said grimly. I laughed, but told her to relay the message.

"She says, and I quote, 'Edward, if you don't make her part of the family someday, I will smash your piano to bits." She mumbled, blushing furiously once more. I laughed a bit more.

"Well, that sounds like Alice." I chuckled. She blushed again, and our formerly easy conversation hit an awkward pause. I had no idea what she was thinking about, but I was wondering if I should ask her out. Come on Edward, you obviously like her. Just do it! One side of me was saying. The other side was arguing. Edward, your wife hasn't even been dead a week! Take some time to grieve. Besides, she'll think you're some kind of heartless freak.

"WWWWAAAAAAHHHHHHH!" EJ suddenly cried, breaking me out of my trance. I got up out of my chair and started unbuckling the straps, talking to him the whole way.

"Eric James, your Uncle Jasper said that you're just like me when I was a baby. That's not a very good thing." I told him. Bella giggled at me and reached over to undo the final strap. "You are going to scare away poor Miss Bella, and then where would we be, hmm?"

I checked his diaper and wrinkled my nose. "Yep, you need to be changed."

Bella quietly followed behind me as we went up the stairs. Five minutes later, EJ was freshly changed and wearing a new sleeper.

"Edward, I told you so! You're doing great," she told me triumphantly. I grinned at her and tickled EJ's tummy. He smiled up at me again and I laughed.

"Does that tickle?" I asked him happily. He cooed up at me and I swore my grin only got wider. Bella walked over with a pair of socks and gently put them on his little feet, tickling each one with her finger first. He smiled at her, too.

"He's smiling at you, Bella." I whispered, and she looked over at him as she lightly ran her finger down his foot. He smiled again and she flushed, beaming happily.

"Does that tickle, Eric?" she asked happily. He blew a few bubbles, and she laughed. God, I couldn't tell which I loved more, her laugh or my son's smile. I decided it was a close tie when her laughter made him smile, and that I would give anything to see them like this all day.

"Oh. I'll go get that." She said after I heard a musical noise coming from near the guest room. She walked in a moment later with her old, out-dated phone attached to her ear.

"Erm, well, I don't think that's the best idea Mike." She stuttered softly, blushing a magnificent red color. I looked at her when she said Mike, and she apologetically mouthed the word editor.

"Mike, you're my editor, and I don't date co-workers." She said with a sigh, making a face as Mike continued talking. "Why can't I just come Friday? Well…yes, I know we haven't seen each other face to face in a year, but…"

I took that as my chance to interrupt, seeing as she looked more desperate to get out of the conversation every second.

"Bella, sweetheart? The baby just woke up." I called loudly. Bella looked up at me, shocked. It took her a moment, but when I winked, she saw the opportunity to escape and took it.

"That's my…husband! Yes, I got married. His name is Edward Cullen. Why weren't you invited? Umm…we went to Vegas. Yes, yes I know. Yes, that's my son. His name is Eric James. " She said proudly when EJ started crying again. "Well Mike, I'm sorry, but I've gotta go help my husband comfort my son. Uh huh. Goodbye."

"Thank you so much, Edward. He's been bothering me for months." She thanked me as she reached for EJ. I handed him to her and grabbed the clothes, making my way to the laundry room. She followed after, cradling EJ and occupying him with a toy.

"It's the least I could do, after you've been thrown headfirst into Hurricane Alice." I replied, getting a laugh out of her.

"She's not that bad," Bella amended, hopping into a chair at the counter when we entered the kitchen.

"You're never seen her go shopping." I told her darkly. I went into the laundry room, dropping the clothes in the basket and walked out, finding Bella cooing at Eric.

"You're such a beautiful baby Eric, just like your daddy." She gushed at him, twirling around gently. I felt my heart soar. She thought I was beautiful. She liked me too. I quickly hid in the shadows again, anxious to hear more.

"I think I love you, little Eric James. I know that I shouldn't, but I do." She confessed as she touched his tummy. "Such a good boy."

A moment later, I realized that she was done, and came out of the room. She smiled up at me, and I returned the favor, hiding how gloriously happy I was. She thought I was beautiful. She loved my son. God, she was perfect.

I'm…too sexy for my shirt, too sexy for my shirt, so sexy it hurts.

"Emmett." I sighed as I grabbed my cell phone off the counter, snapping it open to stop the annoying music. Bella's laughter echoed through the kitchen and I rolled my eyes.

"How's my second favorite little brother?" Emmett's voice boomed.

"Emmett, Jasper was born a minute before you." I reminded him as I sank into the chair. Bella handed me EJ when I reached for him, and I cradled my son in my hands as I held the phone to my ear.

"Words." He said. I could just see him shrugging over the phone.

"You wanna tell me why my phone thinks it's sexy?" I asked him as I shifted EJ's weight. Bella laughed loudly again, and I could hear Emmett gasp.

"I so told you Rose, Alice is always right! So who's that? No, you can't have the phone…oh god. I mean, of course you can have the phone dearest wife. Rosalie wants to talk to Bella." He muttered, and I could picture him rolling his eyes. After an almost uncanny repeat of this morning's conversation, Bella handed the phone back and told me she would put EJ down for a nap for me.

"Edward? You there man?" Emmett's voice called from the other end.

"Yep, I'm here."

"So you like her. A lot." Emmett guessed boldly. I sighed, knowing that the whole family would know by tonight if I told him, but wanting someone to talk to more than anything.

"Yes, I do. More than I should," I confessed wearily. "God Emmett, I'm an awful person! My wife hasn't been dead for more than a week and I'm already picturing myself marrying this woman!"

"Edward, you're not an awful person," he scolded me. "Ed, you and I both know that Tanya has been gone for a couple months now. She was never home, and she was only happy when she was talking about the baby. Technically, you've been moving on for the last 5 months."

"I…I guess…I suppose you're right." I sighed, not entirely convinced. "I'll talk to you later."

"Good luck man." He wished me as I could hear the phone click. Sighing, I set the phone down just as Bella made her way down the stairs.

"Edward?"She asked hesitantly as she rounded the corner and entered the kitchen.

"Yes, Bella?" I answered, raising my head.

"I actually need to go soon." She said sadly, her eyes wide and apologetic. My heart instantly sank, though I knew it shouldn't. Those six words felt like they were going to single-handedly tear my heart into a million tiny pieces. I tried to wipe the desolate look off my face as soon as I realized it appeared, but she must have seen it, for she quickly amended.

"Not that I want to," she explained quickly, her eyes wide with urgency this time. "It's just that Angela needs me to watch Ben Jr. tonight so that she and her husband Ben can go out. They've been planning this for forever."

"Wait a moment," I said, the names sounding familiar. "Angela and Ben…Cheney?"

"Yep, that's them. Do you know them?" she asked curiously.

"I think so. The name sounds so familiar. What does he do?" I asked, mostly to myself. But Bella decide to answer for me anyway.

"Well, he used to work for some big corporation, but he was never home. Angela never complained, but he quit anyway in order to spend more time with her. Now he runs his own business. Something like music distribution, I think. Angela's a teacher at Forks Elementary." She explained.

"That's it!" I exclaimed as I snapped my fingers. "Ben's my distributer! I haven't finished anything in a while, so I haven't spoken to him recently."

"You're a professional musician?" Bella asked incredulously.

"Piano." I said as I shrugged. I had always loved piano, and while medical school had interested me, meeting Tanya had changed me. She encouraged me to stick with the piano, saying that someone as talented as me didn't need to waste my talent. I had spoken with Carlisle about it, for he would know better than anyone else what I might need. He had told me to go with my gut, assuring me that no matter what path I chose he would always be just as proud of me. My decision had been made for me when I impulsively began playing in the middle of a music store. I had left with a stack of business cards and no way out of the music business. I hadn't even looked at the piano since an argument Tanya and I had had when she was halfway through her pregnancy, last night being the only exception.

"Wait. So those pieces you were playing last night…were those…original compositions?" she asked.

"Yes."

"Edward!" she exclaimed with a smile on her face. "Those were absolutely amazing!"

"Really? Because if I remember correctly, a certain someone fell asleep listening to it." I teased. She rolled her eyes at me, but her smile didn't fade. I grinned back at her and jumped to sit on the counter.

"Funny, Edward, really funny." She said sarcastically as she opted to sink into a seat instead.

Sorry people, but this chapter was going to be too long by the time I finished. So…I will post the second part sometime in the next week (hopefully). And one fantabulous reviewer had mentioned that I had gotten most of the newborn characteristics right except for the smiling thing (which I kind of figured was wrong, but needed some more baby fluff). Sooo (geez I say that a lot!)…for all intensive purposes, EJ is some kind of freakishly intelligent baby who likes to smile all the time. Maybe we'll say that he got that from Tanya's side of the family. I dunno, whatever you want to believe. Rather than change the past couple of chapters, I'm just gonna say that I guess in that standpoint, this story is a bit AU (that is, an alternate universe where tiny infants have gorgeous single fathers named Edward Cullen and smile too early for their developmental status.) See you soon!