It seems as though there was a misunderstanding with the A/N of the last chapter. When I said the pregnancy won't last very long, I meant I will be skipping most of it out and that start to finish will only be a few chapters long – BELLA WILL NOT LOSE THE BABY!

Things take a downer in this one, but not everything is sickly sweet 24/7.

I don't. Stephenie does.

Chapter three.
Edward

It's only when you arrive home after being away for a while, do you realise how much you've missed it. I've never been away from Cooper for two weeks before, so of course I missed him but when I turned into our street my hands began to tap on the wheel and when I saw them both standing at the front door waiting for me, and Coop sprinted down the yard to greet me, I thought my heart was going to burst. I was home.

"I missed you, Daddy!"

"I missed you more, Bud." I kissed his head as his arms squeezed around my neck.

"Did you have fun with the cool sharks?"

"It was amazing; I took some pictures for you. Some include their teeth…" I whispered the last part, and it had the reaction I hoped – Coop gasped and his eyes widened in eagerness.

"Can I see them now?!"

"Let's go see Bella first, bud, okay? But we'll sit down and talk about it soon."

Bella stood in all her glory as she waited on my arrival. She was dressed in comfy blue jeans and a baggy sweater with her hair falling down her front and her hands crossed around her mid-section. I knew we hadn't split on an argument, because whatever was bothering her before I left seemed to simmer down, but I still felt awful leaving them again after promising to only do so a couple times a year. Thankfully, I was glad to see her smiling blissfully and from what I could tell, she wasn't angry at me anymore.

I managed to hold them both to me, with Coop still cradled on my side and Bella lay the side of her head on my chest. "Hey, you." I kissed her crown.

"Hi, I missed you." She spoke so softly, but mix that with her doe eyes and I was suddenly in a whole lotta' trouble.

"Okay, okay; enough horrible kissing." Cooper clearly sensed what was more than likely about to happen and motioned for me to let him down. "Padre?"

"Yes, Coop?"

Whenever he was about to do anything he shouldn't, he always stood angelically like butter wouldn't melt. "I think Bella has something to tell you…" And that was how I knew he shouldn't have said that.

Oh, and the colour draining from Bella's face and Cooper's evil laugh was also a dead giveaway.

"Oh, are you talking about what we discussed in the truck?"

"No! What you and Auntie Alice talked about in the bathroom!"

They went to Forks? Or Alice came here? What the hell has been going on?

Bella, again, looked as white as a sheet but now her eyes were full of confusion. "How do you know that?"

Coop shrugged his tiny shoulders, "it's simple; I needed to go to the bathroom but Grandpa was in the downstairs one so I went to the spare one ('cause, y'know, it's the closest) and I heard you talking. So… are you gonna tell Padre?"

Tell me what? I was beyond confused.

"Babe, what is he on about?"

She swung her hand out of mine and ran both through her hair in frustration. "C'mon; you must be tired – let's go sit in here." When all three of us were seated in the living room Bella seemed hesitant to say anything. I began to worry – what was so hard that she couldn't tell me about it?

"Do you want me to say it, Bella?" I knew Coop was only trying to help the situation because he had seen how she struggled, but it didn't come across that way.

"Thanks, Sweetheart, but I think you've done enough already."

He dropped his head and cowered into my side.

Five minutes later and the awkward silence still loomed. As much as I wanted to, however, I didn't push her into talking.

Bella began to mumble exactly three minutes later – I was counting.

"When you were away I was quite ill suddenly and -."

"—I helped, Dad! I got lots-a-lots-a water and was the 'man' like you said I was to be."

I patted my son's back proudly, "thank you, Coop. But are you okay, Love? It's nothing serious is it?"

Oh God, I would have been contacted if it was bad, right? They would have asked me to come home.

Fuck, I can't stand the idea of her being seriously ill…

"No, it's not… well, um… it's serious but… not in a bad way… I don't think. Anyway, Coop helped me come to the conclusion and figured out why I was sick and why I was grumpy all the time."

It's serious but not in a bad way? Or, maybe it is a bad thing?

"And… what is that conclusion?" Help me along a bit, please.

"Well, that was why we went to Forks – to see family members, but also so I could discuss it with Alice and find out the truth and… well… it's just that… um… Edward… I'm pregnant."

What?

It's October, right? Not April? Or is someone about to leap out and shout 'APRIL FOOLS!'

Because that shit isn't funny.

A loud squeal broke me from my thoughts. Cooper bounced beside me and hugged my limp arm.

"I'm gonna be a big brother! It's so exciting, right?! I'm gonna be like you, Padre, and have a brother or sister!"

As much as I wanted to celebrate with my son and, at the same time, kiss Bella wildly on the lips, telling her how much I love her, I couldn't. If someone asked me, right then, if I was happy I don't know what I would say.

I knew my silence was worrying her, but I didn't console her. Instead I acted like a prick and went to find Flash's leash – perhaps a walk would help the matter.

"I'm going on a walk; I won't be long." I couldn't deal with the pain I knew would have been on Bella's face, so I didn't look at her.

"Can I come, Dad?"

"No – you stay here."

I would rather have been in shark invested waters than face this bullshit.

0-0

The grassy field near our house is usually bursting with people and their dogs, but I only saw one other on the opposite side. I had Flash on the expandable leash so that he could run but I'd still be in control. As we walked I thought about everything. Bella's pregnant? Like… pregnant-pregnant? As in, there's currently a baby growing in her stomach? Shit, how is that possible?

Monday, Wednesday and Saturday is our usual sex night – it's hard to fit it in every day, twice a day y'know? So we stick with that and it usually works, and from what I recall we're always safe – either Bella's on the Pill, or we use a rubber; sometimes both to keep things like this from happening! Things aren't adding up. Either she cooked off some rancid chicken and had food poisoning which explains the vomiting, or… or the kid ain't mine.

No, Bella wouldn't do that to me…

But what other options are there? I'm certain we've always used a form of protection, so if she really is pregnant, how can the kid possibly be mine?

Right, what am I doing here? I can't get answers in the middle of a park.

0-0

Cooper

I think I've done something wrong.

'Cause Dad has gone to take Flash for a walk and wouldn't let me go too, and Bella is crying. I think she's crying because of me. And I don't like that.

"I'm sorry, Bella…"

I might be the second man of the house, but I still cry too, y'know.

She wipes the tears but doesn't smile at me like she normally does. It's 'cause I've done something wrong. "Why are you sorry, Coop?"

"'Cause… 'cause… you're crying and you're crying 'cause of me right?" My lips wobble and the tears fall down my cheeks. "'Cause I made you tell Padre about the baby."

I climb into her lap and she cuddles me. "It's not your fault, Sweetheart. Dad would have had to find out soon anyway, and I'm not crying because of you – the baby is making me cry."

"Why is the baby making you cry?"

"Because that's what happens when you're pregnant – you have lots of emotions running around your body."

"Oh."

We sit but we don't say anything. Then Dad came home – I know that 'cause I heard Flash's claws on the floor and the front door closing.

"Are you positive?" Dad stands at the other side of the room. He still has the leash in his hands and he twists it tight.

I hear Bella taking a deep breath. "Yes – I took a test and everything."

"Well it's either false or not mine."

What's not his? The baby? That's silly 'cause if it is Bella's baby then it has to be Dad's too, 'cause they're boyfriend and girlfriend like me and Lucy used to be.

"How dare you – of course it's yours!"

Bella is crying again, and I don't think it's the baby that made her cry this time.

One thing my Uncle Jasper told me was not to make a lady cry, so I don't like my Padre for making Bella cry.

"I've thought back and it doesn't work out."

Bella isn't sad anymore, now she's angry. We both stand up, but I stay by her side to protect her.

"What doesn't work out, Edward? The fact that we might have slipped up at one point?"

"But we haven't slipped up! I'm sure of it! And now, because of this, there's going to be another kid that isn't mine but I need to love." Dad looks at his shoes like I do when I've said something I shouldn't.

"I'm going to ignore the fact that you just implied that I sleep around, but need to love, Edward? Coop is not a chore and no-one made you love him."

I do chores sometimes and I hate doing them, so does that mean that Dad doesn't like me? 'Cause I thought we were best friends?

"Do you not like me, Padre?" I start to cry again.

Dad went down on his knees and held onto my arms. "I love you, bud – you know I do. I'm so sorry; I didn't mean to say that."

"Then why did you say I was a chore?"

"Because my head isn't screwed on properly, and sometimes we say things we don't mean."

I rub away my tears and scrunch my face up. "Well I don't like you very much at the moment." I walk away, but I turn around to say: "and I mean that."

I lie on my bed with Tony Bear and I cry when I hear Dad and Bella shout at each other. This isn't meant to happen – when you have a baby you're meant to be happy, but they aren't happy. And neither am I.

I wish it was night-time so that I could see the stars. 'Cause I know my Mom would make my happier.

I wish my Mom was here right now – I want to cuddle her like I cuddle Tony Bear. But you can't cuddle stars; you can only look at them.

0-0

I get hungry so I go and find the sugar cookies Nanny made me. No-one was in the kitchen, so I plan on stealing some and running back to my room again. But my plan got ruptured; Dad came in from the garden and through the back door, so he saw me standing in the kitchen. He looks tired.

"Are you okay, Bud?"

I don't say anything; I just nod and take a bite from the cookie.

"Can we sit down and talk? There's something I'd like to discuss with you."

"Sorry Padre, I can't; I'm busy with my LEGOs right now."

"Hey, LEGOs sounds like fun; which set are you playing with?"

If Dad thinks he's going to play with me then he has another thing coming. He made a lady cry and that is the one thing Uncle Jasper said we shouldn't do.

"Police Rescue."

"Is that a new one?"

"You got it for me for my birthday."

"Oh, yes, I remember now! We could play it together once I've answered some emails if you want?"

See, again his work comes first and he's only just come home! But I don't mind at the moment, 'cause I don't want to play with the butthead anyway.

"No. Where's Bella?" I saw the car had gone but I don't know where she went.

"She went to the store to get some food for dinner."

But we went this morning and got macaroni cheese and hot dogs…

"Is she coming back?" Gasp. What if she doesn't come back? I haven't said goodbye.

Dad looks confused and moves to stand in front of me. "Of course; why do you say that?"

I don't mind being angry and shouting at him now – he deserves it. "'Cause you were a stinky butthead and made her cry! It's all your fault! I'mma tell Uncle Jasper and Uncle Emmett that you made a lady cry and they are gonna beat your ass!"

He pointed his finger at me. "Watch your tone, young man."

"No! We were really excited about you coming home and finding out about the baby but you're being horrible to Bella! I wish you were back with the sharks now and that one would bite your arm off!"

"Thank you, Cooper – that's a lovely thing for you to say."

I shrug. "My pleasure."

I go back to my room and continue my game of LEGOs.

0-0

They are still shouting this morning. I was having Fruit Loops for breakfast and we didn't have any more milk for Dad's coffee, so they started arguing over milk. It's so silly! I don't want to go to school, but I know that Bella would be at work all day, so they won't able to shout, which is good.

School was fun – my friends Will, Mitchel, Jace and Mollie played Pirates with me at recess and in my lunch Dad had put a candy bar and potato chips (normally I only have 1) and in Art class we had to draw a picture of our favourite thing, so I drew Flash, 'cause I love my puppy. My teacher asked me about my drawing and I was able to talk and talk and talk about Flash. I put the picture in my bag and I told my teacher I was going to give it to Bella to make her happy again.

When I get home I go and play with Georgia my leopard gecko. I hold the insects she likes to eat at the bottom of a slide I made for her and she slides down on her tummy – it was really funny. But then Georgia pooped on my carpet so I clean that up, put her back in her tank and go head off to the garden to play with Gary and Paul.

I hear Bella and my Padre talking when I go down the stairs – I act like a ninja; staying quiet and hiding from sight.

"I'm so sorry, love. I didn't mean to cause all this heartache. You mean everything to me, Bella – I hate that your crying was because of me."

"I appreciate your apology, but I can't forgive you just yet. You know that I would never, ever cheat on you, yet you're under the assumption that this baby isn't yours? That killed me, Edward, to hear that you have such little faith in me."

"No, no – I have all the faith in the world in you, and I know this isn't an excuse, but I was tired, shocked, confused and I took it out on you which I promise never to do so again."

"That's all very well and possibly true, but I wasn't the only one you took it out on, was I?"

"…No."

"Have you apologised to Coop?"

"Yes, of course I have! But… he won't listen to a word I say."

"Because you've hurt him. I'm old enough and ugly enough, but Cooper isn't at that stage yet and of course he's going to take offence. Trust me, if you take some time off work and spend it with the lil' man, he'll soon be back to his normal self."

That's why I love Bella, 'cause she always takes my side.

"Really?"

"Yes. I know your work is important, but I don't have to remind you that he comes first and when you were away he admitted to me that he's lonely – he misses the fun times he has with you, Edward; all he wants is to spend quality time with his Dad without fear that you'll turn around and go to work."

0-0

When I went to bed I said 'goodnight' to Mommy like I always do and took my new nature magazine to read before I fell asleep. Bella loved the picture I drew her – she said it was very thoughtful of me and that I was a very kind, sweet boy.

Shrug. I know.

I was reading a fun article about leopards when Dad came to my door. I didn't want to talk to him, but he came in and sat by my feet anyway.

"Hi." I said.

"I'm sorry, bud. I've been a butthead, haven't I?"

I look at my knees when I nod.

"And I don't want to be a butthead anymore, so can you tell me what I should do to change that?"

"Um, you could spend more time at home with me and not get angry as much." I mumble.

"I don't mean to get angry, and I'm sorry I have to work all the time. But I've had an idea…"

I do like ideas. "What is it?"

Dad moved forward and smiled. "I've taken the day off work tomorrow and you're not going to school." I already like this idea… "And we are going to do whatever you want." I really like this idea…

I smile as well, which makes Dad smile bigger. "Can we go out for breakfast?"

"Absolutely!"

"Have pancakes?"

"Yes! Whatever you want, Coop."

"And you won't touch your phone? Or your emails?"

"I won't even bring them with me. It'll just be me and you. A father and son day."

"Okay… and we'll be best friends again?"

Dad stood up and came to sit closer. "We'll always be best friends, bud. Even if I shout and act like a butthead, I'll never stop loving you, 'cause you're my little Iron Man."

"And you're my little Howard Stark (that's Tony's father)." I whisper the last bit and giggle into my hand. "It'll be a Howard and Tony day!"

I say goodnight to Mom again and go to sleep happy with my Tony Bear.

'Cause, y'know, my Padre and I are best friends again.

0-0

Oh, my poor heart…

FYI, Coop's POV will always be in the present tense, I know that can be quite confusing but hey-ho, that's how this story will roll.

Yes, the next chapter will be the Howard and Tony day plus a time skip…

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Thoughts?