Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot..
AN: Welcome new readers. I do want al of you to know that I read each and every one of your reviews. They mean so much. I am glad that this story has touched so many hearts. Now..I should warn you of two things...One, there will be some massive drama in this chapter and Two another cliffie. I should probably give you a tissue warning...you might need them..
On with the show...
The ringing phone woke Bella from a deep sleep. She rolled over and reached for the phone and brought it to her ear. "Hello?" She mumbled sleepily.
"Bella?"
"Yes, who is this?"
"It's Jake. Did I wake you?" Jacob asked.
"Yes. What do you want Jake?" Bella questioned as she slowly sat up.
"I was just calling to see if you wanted to have dinner tonight? My treat. I know how your first day of school is and that you are too tired to cook."
Bella sighed. Would he never give up? "I don't think that would be a good idea Jacob."
"Why not? Come on Bells, I miss you." Jacob whined.
"I can't Jake. I don't think my husband would appreciate it."
"YOUR WHAT?" Jacob shouted through the phone.
Bella forgot that no one except close family and friends knew that she had married Edward. Her mother didn't even know. "You heard me. I got married over a month ago."
"So you were fucking cheating on me? Who the fuck did you marry?"
"No, I didn't cheat on you. I married Edward."
Jacob scoffed into the phone. "You married that soldier? I thought your mom told you that was a bad idea?"
"I am an adult Jacob. I don't have to do what my parents tell me anymore. It's really none of your business anyway."
"You are a bitch. I cannot fucking believe I wasted two years on you. You wouldn't commit to me because you weren't ready. You sure did get ready fast you slut."
Bella was shocked, "You know what Jacob, go to hell. Don't you ever fucking call me again, do you understand me? If I ever hear from you again, I will press charges for harassment." She disconnected the call before he could respond.
Bella got out of bed and went to the bathroom to start her day. First she ate one of the ginger snap cookies Alice had left for her. She hopped in the shower to get ready for her first day back at school. A new year, a new name, new students. She had a meeting scheduled with the principal during her free period so that she could explain about her spouse and her pregnancy. After she got out of the shower, she dried her hair and pulled it up into a ponytail. She put on a little makeup and brushed her teeth.
She went back to her room and pulled out her black slacks and blue short-sleeved blouse. Once she was dressed, she slipped on her shoes and went to the kitchen for some breakfast. Since eggs weren't a good idea, she settled for a bagel with cream cheese and a glass of juice. After she completed her morning routine, she grabbed her bag and lunch and headed to school.
She parked in the faculty lot and made her way to her classroom. Her bag was buzzing as she sat it down. She pulled out her phone and saw her mother's number on the caller ID. She did not want to deal with that right now so she pressed end and then turned her phone off. She stowed her bag in her desk and went about getting her classroom ready.
As the day wore on, her students got used to calling her Mrs. Cullen, instead of Miss Swan. It was quite the switch for her as well. Finally the lunch bell rang and Bella grabbed her bag and made her way to Principal Green's office. Mrs. Cope was sitting at her desk when Bella walked in.
"Good afternoon, Mrs. Cope. Is Mr. Green available?"
"Good afternoon Bella. Go right on in. He's expecting you." Bella walked to the door of the principals office, knocked and slowly pushed it open.
"Bella, come on in." She pushed the door open further and walked in, shutting it behind her. "What can I do for you?"
"Well, I needed to make you aware of a few things."
"What's on your mind?" Principal Green asked.
"As you are aware, I got married over the summer."
"I heard congratulations. Who is the lucky man?"
"Do you remember the project I started last year? The one when I had students write to a soldier overseas?"
"I do. I thought that it was a very well thought out assignment." Principal Green indicated that she continue.
"I married the soldier that I wrote to. He is First Sargent Edward Cullen and I have recently found out that we are going to have a baby."
"Congratulations, Bella. That's fantastic. When are you due?"
"Assuming that I have no complications, I am due on Valentines day. What I need from you is a little leeway when it comes to appointments and such. Of course, when the baby gets here, I am going to take the remainder of the school year off."
"Of course. We can accommodate you appointments and your leave, provided that you have all your lesson plans completed for the remainder of the school term."
"Absolutely. I believe that is all I need to tell you, unless you have any questions for me?" Principal Green shook his head and Bella left the office to finish out her day.
When the final bell rang, Bella dismissed her class, making sure they all had their assignments. Once the last student walked out the door, Bella pulled her phone out of her bag and turned it on. She saw that she had five new voice mails and several texts. She called in and listened to her voice mail.
Bella, this is your mother. I just got a call from Jacob. Care to explain what he just told me?
Bella deleted that message and moved onto the next.
Isabella Marie Swan, you had better call me back soon, young lady!
Again she deleted the messages and went to the next. She hoped all these weren't from her mother.
Mrs. Cullen, this is Dr. Gerandy's office calling to confirm you appt. Please call us if you need to cancel or reschedule.
She smiled and went on to the next message.
Isabella, I am tired of you ignoring me. You had better call me back immediately!
And finally,
Hi Bella, its Rose. Emmett and I just wanted to let you know that we got back okay. Call me when you get home this evening. We bought the baby a present.
Well at least that was a better message to listen to. She closed her voice mail and looked at the text she had missed.
I hope your first day is a success.
I love you..
Edward
Tears sprang to her eyes. She hadn't spoken to her husband in weeks since he was busy. The news had said that the area he was in was finding a lot of action. She had to stop watching because she would call Jasper in a panic. He and Alice had spent countless hours calming her down and making her think about the stress on the baby.
After finishing her work for the day, she wearily walked to her car and got behind the wheel. She left the school and started for home when a craving hit. She suddenly wanted some Chinese food. Especially some cream cheese wonton's. Since she has been pregnant, she has gone through six tubs of the stuff. Sometimes it was all she wanted.
Just as she walked in the door with her dinner, her phone began ringing. She pulled it from her bag and flopped on the couch. "Hello, mother."
"Isabella, why have you been ignoring my calls all day?"
"I've been at work. School started today." Bella sighed, as she slipped off her shoes.
"Well I want to know what you have to say for yourself. How could you lie to Jake that way? He wants to be with you and you are just being rude."
"Listen to me mom! I did not lie. Edward and I got married while he was home on leave. I want nothing to do with Jacob Black. Get that through your head."
"How could you marry that man? He is just going to leave you lonely." Renee chastised her.
"Enough! This is the last time I am going to say this. I don't love Jacob. I am in love with Edward. We are married and I am going to have a baby in February." Bella paused to take a breath. "Now, you can either accept it or you can stay out of my life. However, if you choose to continue with your bullshit regarding Jacob Black, then I am done. Did you hear me?"
"Well, I see Jacob was right. You are a little slut. You got yourself knocked up and then trapped.."
"Stop it! We are done here. I don't think you should call me any more Renee. I have nothing left to say to you." Bella hung up the phone and called the only person who could help her. "Jazzy, I really need my big brother right now."
"I'm on my way."
The weeks flew by. Between doctors appointment s and school, Bella had no time to dwell on her mother. Esme accompanied her to all her appointments, much to her delight. Her pregnancy was progressing well and the baby was growing as it should be. As she swung easily into the second trimester, Rose and Emmett had their own announcement.
Everyone was gathered at Esme and Carlisle's for Bella's birthday dinner when Rose spoke up. "Emmett and I would like to say something."
Emmett smiled at his wife and looked around at his family. "Rose and I are having a baby."
The room was bursting with celebration, with everyone talking at once. It was so loud that no one heard the doorbell ring. Finally a pounding on the door got Carlisle's attention and he went to admit whoever was there.
"I have a delivery for, Isabella Cullen." The delivery man stated, looking at his list.
"I'm Isabella Cullen." Bella got up and accepted the package from the man and shut the door.
"Who's it from babybell?" Jasper questioned.
"I don't know." She tore open the package and pulled out a black velvet jewelry box. Nestled inside was a mother and child pendant hanging on a white gold chain. There was a card in the bottom of the box. Happy Birthday, baby. I wish I was there to celebrate with you. Remember how much I love you. I can't wait to see you and our baby. All my love, Edward. The tears fell down her cheeks unnoticed as she showed her family the gift and card.
As October approached, Bella was busy at school and helping Alice put the finishing touches on her wedding. A month after her birthday, Bella and Esme were in her doctors office waiting to be called back. Edward had been able to communicate with them on several occasions and she knew that he was available today. Esme had brought her laptop and they were going to call Edward so that he could be a part of this appointment. Today Bella and Edward would find out the sex of their baby.
"Isabella Cullen." The nurse called from the doorway.
Bella and Esme rose and walked back to the exam rooms. First Bella stood on a scale and they checked her weight. Once that was recorded, they followed the nurse to the ultrasound room and Bella lay on the table, while Esme got Edward on the line.
"Okay Mrs. Cullen. I am just going to put some of this gel on you. It might be a little cool. Do you have any questions before we get started?"
Bella licked her lips. "My husband is currently in Afghanistan, but we are able to talk on the computer. Will it mess you up if he joins us via laptop, so that he can be part of everything?"
"Not at all. Are we ready?"
"Ready." Edward's voice came over the lines. Esme turned the computer so that Bella could see Edwards face and he could see what was happening on the screen.
Once the nurse put the wand to Bella's abdomen you could immediately hear the whooshing of the baby's heartbeat. "Okay, there is the head and the spine. Everything looks good. Look at those feet." Bella giggled and looked at Edward.
"I wonder where it gets those?" Edward just smiled.
"Are we going to find out the gender today?"
"Babe? Do you want to know?" Edward asked Bella.
"Do you?"
"Yes. I really want to know." Bella smiled and nodded at the nurse.
"Okay, lets see if the baby cooperates." The nurse moved the wand around trying to see if the baby would turn right and let them see what it was. Finally after a few minutes that nurse smiled. "Ah ha. There you are." She pointed to the screen. "Do you see that?"
Bella giggled, "Is that what I think it is?"
The nurse smiled, "Yep."
Edward chimed in with a huge smile. "We're having a boy!" Just as he said that sirens went off behind him. "I gotta go, babe. I love you!"
"I love you too. Please be safe!" Bella said but he was already gone.
"He'll be okay, Bella. I know it." Esme said with conviction.
While Bella prayed, across the ocean a fight began.
AN: *hiding*I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I know it jumped in time quite a bit, but trust me, its gonna slow again. I won't have another chapter up until Friday. Thursday at the earliest, but my vacation is over..Back to work...Til next time.