so i don't really have an excuse for how supremely long this took to write and post… the next chapter is written though so you won't have to wait long for that.

*I don't own Twilight.*

Chapter Thirty-Five

Bella Cullen

Hours later, it was finally time to leave Alice and Jasper with Bennett. It was eight in the morning and they were all snoozing. Alice with Charlotte in the bed, Jasper in the chair, and Bennett in his basinet… they made such a cute family. Edward and I quietly gathered our things and snuck out of the room.

I was so excited for Alice and excited for Edward and me – I prayed that this baby was a boy because I knew how much Edward wanted it and Charlotte was so sweet with her little brother and Jasper was over the moon. That could be us in a few months.

It made me anxious to see Audrey, too. All the time spent with Charlotte on my lap could've been with my baby. The time spent soothing Bennett could have been spent soothing Audrey. I could have fed her and played with her… but it was the middle of the night and that was the only thing that kept me from running to the Cullen's house and ringing the bell and pounding on the door until I got to see my little girl.

I called Esme from the car on the way home from the hospital. When she picked up the phone, I could hear Audrey crying in the background, making me even more anxious.

"Hello?"

I frowned. Esme sounded stressed. I could tell from just that one word that things probably weren't going great.

"Hi, it's Bella. Is everything alright?"

"Oh, everything is going great! Audrey is being a little fussy about eating but she's just fine."

Esme's voice was tenser than normal and maybe something only someone who spoke with her daily with notice. Edward's parents were young and they could handle this, I assured myself. Just as long as Renee doesn't get anywhere near… she'd probably sneak a little whiskey into the baby's bottle to make her sleep.

Renee had told me that when I'd cry for 'longer than necessary' that she'd shoot me up with Benadryl so I would go to sleep and give Renee some time to relax. I obviously wasn't taking much parenting advice from my mother.

Audrey's cries became louder and I could tell that Esme had picked her up. My heart broke, hearing my baby cry and knowing I was so close. I glanced at Edward before putting my phone on speaker so he could hear her crying.

"What's wrong with the baby, Mom?" Edward questioned and I bit my lip, feeling that familiar lump in my throat and sting in my eyes that usually preceded tears.

"She's fine, sweetie. How's Malibu?"

"We had to leave… Alice had the baby. Bennett," I told her, wiping my eyes. Edward glanced at me and sighed, shook his head before sighing heavily again.

"Mom, we're gonna stop by and see Audrey since someone can't take hearing her cry and doesn't remember that you raised me so you know what you're doing," Edward said and even though he had a teasing tone, his face was anything but.

"Oh. Well, alright. If you want to but really, it's under control, Bella! Audrey's just tired. We had a busy day yesterday."

My cheeks flushed with embarrassment. Of course, now I looked like an overbearing mother.

But what could they have been doing that exhausted a three month old?

"It'll be quick, I'll just feed her and then we'll go to our house," I insisted. I felt my own irritation towards Edward and tried to shake it off, not wanting to turn this into an argument. Couldn't he hear the despair in our daughter's wails? The sound was breaking my heart.

"If it'll make you feel better, honey."

"We'll be there in ten, Mom."

Esme hung up without saying goodbye and I tossed my phone into my purse on my lap then shot an annoyed look at my husband. I ignored the small thrill I got from thinking of Edward as my husband - I'd bask it in later - and continued staring him down.

"Did you have to make me look so… so…" I was at a loss for words.

"You promised that we'd spend a few days alone! So you're mad because I want to be alone with you?" Edward questioned, running a hand through his thick hair. "You'd probably be upset if I didn't suggest stopping, too."

"No! I didn't ask to stop!" I said defensively, crossing my arms. Thinking about it though, he was probably right. I'd be pretty angry if he didn't even offer to make sure our baby was alright.

"Bella, come on. You put it on speaker so I could hear her crying and feel guilty. Now we'll get stuck at my mother's forever because your mother is there."

I huffed. He was right. I put him on speaker so he'd feel bad and we would get stuck at his parents' house and I had promised him alone time. At the next red light, I leaned over and kissed his cheek.

"I'm sorry," I said softly, still leaning toward him. He turned and kissed me softly.

"No its fine, B."

"No, let's just go straight home," I smiled as he kissed me again and again, obviously pleased, until the car behind us beeped because the light had turned green. But I didn't care because we were on our honeymoon.

I called Esme back and told her we wouldn't be stopping by after all. I was happy that Audrey was no longer crying and could hear her coos and squeaks as she ate her bottle.

Once it was settled that we wouldn't be stopping by and that we'd call after getting some sleep. Esme finally got me off the phone by promising if Audrey seemed deeply distressed or cried more than usual, that she'd call me immediately.

We'd only been away from her two nights and it was so hard. I never imagined loving someone so much that being away from her for any period of time made me so incredibly sad.

It wasn't until we parked in the garage that Edward looked over at me.

"Baby, don't cry… we'll go see her."

"No," I wiped my eyes, feeling stupid. "I'm just tired and… tired."

"C'mon, B, let's go take a nice, long nap," Edward got out of the car and came around to my side. He opened the door and stood in front of me. I turned in the seat and smiled at him. Edward really was handsome. I was the luckiest girl in the world. With his beautiful candy apple green eyes and his full pouty lips and crazy hair. I lifted my hand and ran my hand through his hair. Edward grinned and leaned in to kiss me, soft and slow.

I hummed in contentment against his lips, sucking his bottom lip between mine. Edward stepped closer, between my legs. I raised them and wrapped them around his waist and pulled him all the way against me. My skirt rode up but I didn't care, the garage door was shut and no one could see this far up our drive way. My husband – my husband! – groaned softly while pushing himself against me.

"God, Bella… you kill me," Edward groaned softly. I tugged the back of his hair gently with a giggle. He retaliated by sliding his hands up my thighs. I shook my head and Edward pulled away, frowning. "No? Why not?"

"I'm sleepy," I murmured, nuzzling my face against his neck. It was true, I was exhausted and felt nauseous and hot all the sudden.

"Come on… we're honeymooning," Edward coaxed. I shook my head again. I felt bad saying no – it wasn't something I did often but honestly, we'd been up for over twenty-four hours and I was pregnant and felt bloated and icky.

"Seriously, no?"

"Seriously, no." I confirmed, nodding. Edward pulled away, a scowl on his face as he went around to the trunk of the car, muttering to himself. I hopped out of the car and shut the door, going to help him.

"I got it," he muttered.

"Edward," I sighed with a shake of my head. "Don't be grumpy." Edward ignored me as he unloaded our luggage, slamming the trunk shut when he was finished. The sound was magnified in the garage and in that moment, I remembered how much I hated them. The concrete floors were always cold and all garages seemed to have a distinct smell – one that I wasn't a fan of. So I turned and walked into the house, leaving the door open behind me.

Fifteen minutes later, I had changed into a pair of yellow and white flowered shorts and a white tank top to sleep in and got in bed, waiting for my husband to come up. I could tell he wasn't happy. I could hear him slamming stuff around in the kitchen. I waited for a few more minutes before calling his name.

"What, Bella?" Edward called from the stairs. I could hear his footsteps, which meant he was coming up and we could hopefully go to sleep. I waited until he was in the doorway to answer.

"Come to bed, please?"

"Fine."

Edward stripped down to his boxers, leaving his clothes on the heap in the floor. I almost opened my mouth to protest but the annoyed look on his face made me think otherwise. When he got into bed, I scooted over to him and lay on my side, facing him. I pushed his hair away from his face and smiled at him and it took a few seconds but he smiled back.

"Hi," I murmured, leaning in to kiss him softly.

"Mmm, hi."

"You smell good," I told him as I wrapped myself around him, nuzzling my face into his neck and inhaling deeply. He chuckled softly, sliding his hand down my side and to my ass which he squeezed gently.

"You smell good."

"No, you smell very good…"

Edward laughed again, shaking his head, "Go to bed, baby. I think you're delirious."

Edward Cullen

My first thought when I woke up was: I feel like shit.

I groaned softly and reached out next to me with my left hand, feeling for Bella. The spot next to me was empty and cold. She'd been up for a while.

It had been a week since the wedding and my parents were bringing Audrey home at noon.

I glanced at the clock on my nightstand. Four PM? What the fuck. Then I heard Audrey crying and grimaced. It wasn't that I wasn't happy she was home but this past week had been fantastic. With the exception of cutting the honeymoon short and the hundred phone calls about the office and setting it up.

But it was nice to kind of forget about all the responsibility that came with a kid.

Then there was the bigger responsibility of having another one in a few months.

I groaned at the thought, dragging a hand through the mess that was my hair.

I climbed out of bed and followed the sound of Audrey's cries to the living room. Her face was red and scrunched and Bella's face just about matched.

"Fuck, why'd you let me sleep?" I asked as I sat on the opposite side of the couch as Bella. My head was pounding. I had the world's worst hangover.

"Your parents and I tried to wake you up but you kept saying that you just needed a few more minutes. They left like an hour ago," Bella told me, her voice shaking as she bounced Audrey.

"What's wrong with her?"

"She's hungry," she snapped.

Wow, Bella was in a bitchy mood today. She looked tired. Her hair was thrown up in a messy ponytail and she was wearing a baggy t-shirt and yoga pants.

I ran a hand through my hair, briefly contemplating asking if that's what she wore when my parents were here but thought better of it. I didn't think she'd appreciate me insinuating that she looked like crap. Instead, I asked why she wasn't feeding her if she was hungry.

"Because, Edward! She hates me."

"Hates you?" I laughed because Audrey was so small and I doubted she even knew what hate was.

"Yes! She won't eat. She got used to bottles and now she doesn't want me," Bella snapped again and I sighed. My head hurt too much for this.

"Just feed her a bottle, B."

Her head turned toward me so fast that I was surprised it didn't snap off. Holy shit, wrong thing to say.

"I don't mean formula."

Still not the right thing.

"Just… pump your milk and give it to her in a bottle."

Bella ignored me and pulled up her shirt, trying once again to get Audrey to eat. I caught a glimpse of her stomach. "Did you start showing so early last time?"

Fuck, that didn't come out the way I'd meant it to. But I honestly couldn't remember how big she was when.

"What?" Bella asked. She sounded distracted, like maybe she didn't hear what I'd asked. Good. Maybe I could make it out of this conversation with my dick still attached after all. Audrey's cries quieted as she finally latched on.

"Did you start showing so early last time?"

What the fuck, Edward? Why did you say it again?

Bella's face turned an even deeper shade of red as she shook her head, "No. Well, yes, but not like this."

I nodded, turning to the television. I stared at it blankly for a few minutes before I turned to Bella again. She had her head leaned back on the couch and her eyes closed as Audrey ate.

"You alright, B?"

"I'm tired… I've been up since like six this morning."

"Why so early? We were up late last night," I grinned at her even though her eyes were still closed. The previous night had been great. She'd cooked a huge dinner and I drank… well, a lot. We'd had sex on the dining room table, the stairs and twice in bed. We hadn't gotten to sleep until almost three this morning.

"I was excited about Audrey coming home and wanted to get laundry done and clean the house."

"Huh."

We were silent for the next few minutes and I turned my attention back to the television. When Audrey finished eating, Bella burped her then laid her on the couch between us. I looked down at my daughter and felt that familiar rush of affection that I typically felt when I'd gone too long without seeing her. She was a very pretty baby with her perfect round head and little ears that pointed at the tips like Bella's.

But I was hung over and in a shitty mood so I didn't act on the instinct I had to pick her up or to hold her hand or respond to the fact that she was looking up at me and cooing loudly. Instead, I watched the television.

"Edward."

"What?"

Audrey was 'talking' to herself but Bella didn't answer until I looked at her.

"Why are you ignoring her? She's happy to see you…"

"I feel like shit."

"But… you haven't seen her in a week?"

I was about to protest that Audrey probably didn't care much but when I looked down at the baby and our eyes met, Audrey's face broke out into a gummy grin and she kicked her feet happily in the air, I couldn't help the smile that took over my face too.

"See?" Bella said smugly then leaned over Audrey and kissed her chubby cheeks.

Once B moved I picked Audrey up and sat her on my lap, supporting her with my arm. Bella took the opportunity to curl up on the couch, facing the television. When I looked back at her a few minutes later, she had her eyes closed.

"You're going to sleep?" I asked, kind of surprised. I wanted to go for a run and maybe get some food but if Bella was gonna nap that threw a wrench in my plans. Audrey was squirmy and fussy, obviously not impressed with relaxing in front of the television.

"No."

"Good."

"Good?" Bella opened her eyes and sat up, reaching for Audrey. I handed the baby to her and nodded. "Edward, I'm pregnant. I'm tired, if I want to sleep… I should sleep, right?"

"You always want to sleep."

It wasn't exactly true but I found myself wanting to push Bella's buttons. And it worked. Her face flushed and her eyes flashed with anger. "You're being a real jerk today, Cullen."

"I try to mix it up. Keeps things exciting."

Bella made a frustrated noised before she grabbed the controller and flung it at me. Thankfully, her right hand was holding Audrey so she used her left hand and it ended up on the floor by my feet. Alright, even her aim with her right hand wasn't great. I still remembered the near miss with my metronome.

I raised my eyebrows at her, "Violence in front of the baby? Does this give me the right to disappear with her for a week?"

Was it wrong of me to throw that in her face?

Probably.

Did I really care that much?

Not really.

Bella got up and put Audrey in the baby swing. She strapped her in and started it, also turning on the music and mobile of birds and butterflies. Audrey loved the swing and watching the animals move around in circles, she was even starting to reach for them, not realizing that they were too far away.

"What's wrong with you?" Bella asked, coming to sit next to me on the couch. She pulled the ponytail holder thing out of her hair and let it tumble down her back. I shrugged and didn't meet her eyes, keeping them on Audrey swinging. The baby's little face scrunched up as she yawned then closed her eyes. Crying, eating then swinging will make a kid tired.

My wife, stubborn girl that she was, wouldn't give up though. She scooted herself into my lap, forcing me to look at her face. I grasped her hips, about to move her, when she leaned in and kissed me. Well, this certainly wasn't what I expected. I kissed her back and slid my hands under her shirt and settled them on her waist. When she pulled away, I grinned at her. "You sure know how to make a guy feel better."

"I'm not done yet."

I was about to ask what she meant by that when she adjusted herself so she had a leg on either side of mine, straddling my lap. I groaned softly when Bella rubbed herself against my crotch, feeling myself harden immediately. She leaned in, capturing my lips with hers again. She felt amazing against me. When she broke the kiss, she trailed hot, wet kisses down my neck.

I moved my hands up, over her belly to her braless tits. I rolled her nipples between my fingers, trying to be mindful that she was still sensitive but it was easy to get caught up in the moment.

"Take your shirt off."

With no hesitation she reached for the hem of her shirt and pulled it off quickly, tossing it onto the coffee table. Her hands were immediately gripping my hair again. I pulled her closer to me, kissing her again.

How the fuck did I get her pants off without moving her away from my dick?

"I'm sorry I threw the controller at you," Bella panted against my lips, grinding herself harder against me.

"Fuck, B…"

"Mmm, you're gonna have to let me take my pants off for that."

She stood with a wide smile on her face and discarded her yoga pants, leaving them on a pile on the floor. I lifted my hips and pushed my boxers off and she was in my lap again. I grunted softly when she wrapped her hand around my cock and I could feel her, hot and wet, against my leg. My dick twitched, anxious to be inside her.

Bella adjusted herself so she was hovering over my cock then sank down, very slowly. Fuck, she felt good. She moaned loudly, her head thrown back. Her long hair tickled my knees.

"You feel so good," she whispered, a bit breathless. She rose up then sank back down again… slow at first then faster and harder. I gripped her hips and guided her movements, practically slamming her down onto me.

After we both came, she stayed on my lap, her head against my chest. We were both breathing heavily and I felt like an asshole for how I'd treated her.

"Sorry about before," I murmured against her hair.

"What was wrong?" Bella whispered, playing with my hair. Her nails felt good against my scalp.

"I'm just kind of freaking out about having another kid and all the responsibility about opening a business," I said honestly.

"Me too."

She was? Bella always seemed so confident in the decisions she made. It was one of the things I loved about her, how she knew what she wanted and she was driven to get it.

"You are?"

"Well… yeah. I mean, you'll be working and Audrey won't even be one when the baby's born and I don't know how I'll handle both of them."

"But it's what you wanted," I reminded her.

"It's what I want but it'll be a lot of work. I guess I didn't really think about it that way until after we found out."

"It'll work out."

I kind of felt better after the discussion. We spent the rest of the day with Audrey, Bella made dinner, I went for a run.

But I still couldn't shake the feeling that maybe we'd rushed into things, maybe we should have seen how the marriage was going to work before having another kid, maybe we should have waited to get married to see how another kid would affect us.

And thinking about all those maybes definitely wasn't a good thing.

the next chapter will be posted in a few days!

And if anyone wants to add me on facebook, i'm under Apple Trees Fall.