You and I are like oil and water
And we've been trying, trying, trying
Ohhhhhhh... to mix it up.

-Incubus; Oil and Water

EPOV

This was going to be a very difficult conversation, but I owed it to her to at least prepare her for what my world was like. I knew there was no way I could get us out of brunch tomorrow, because if we just ditched it, they would come to her. I shuddered to think about what that would mean for Isabella, and I knew that with weighing the options, she stood a far better chance in my presence when we faced them.

I led us into her home and then made my way straight into the kitchen so that I could begin getting her some dinner on a plate. I felt horrible that she was still as hungry as she had been when we left here over an hour ago, if not more! I was so focused on getting her dinner ready that I hadn't noticed her standing quietly next to me. When I realized that she was there, I stopped what I was doing and took her into my arms.

"Go get comfortable, sweetheart. I'll have your dinner ready for you when you come out." I kissed her head and caressed her stomach before looking down to see her face. I was surprised to see her face with a blank and confused expression.

"What is it, Bella?" I couldn't understand what it was that I had said wrong. She snapped out of her daze and recovered instantly.

"O-okay... I'll be out in a moment." she whispered. I kissed her head once more and went back to shoveling the different entrees on her plate.

BPOV

As I made my way down the hall, I couldn't help but repeat it in my head... "Sweetheart" he called me sweetheart. I couldn't focus on much else as I shut the door and began the task of searching for pajamas. I was unsure of what to wear... I wanted to look nice, but I didn't want to look too eager. I usually took to wearing lingerie when Edward was over, but at this moment, I knew that we were no longer living in the past. Our lives were different... I was different.

I ended up grabbing my tights and a t-shirt, I hated that no matter what I wore, my stomach seemed to hug it, but I made myself get over it. This was just the beginning, and in just a few more weeks, I wouldn't be the small silhouette I was now. I sat down at the vanity and wiped the makeup from my face with the wet cloth and then with one final glance at myself, I got up and made my way back to the kitchen.

True to word, I found Edward sitting at the counter with two plates filled with Thai and a glass of green tea for me. I couldn't help but smile as I made my way toward the plate, and the hunger I had been trying to sate made its self-known once more. I felt the heat rise once more over my skin as I met Edwards's eyes, and instead of the sad ones I had grown used to seeing, I was greeted with a warm smile.

"Get over here and eat!" he teased. I relaxed then and smiled the entire way to my seat. I was eating as soon as I sat and embarrassingly enough, I didn't come up for air until it became hard to swallow. I made myself slow down and I took that opportunity to drink my tea. I chanced a glance at Edward and saw that he was grinning while he picked at his plate, and then he glanced my way and caught me staring.

"Is it good?" he asked. I dropped my gaze, embarrassed for having been caught watching him, and nodded my head yes. He didn't say anything else and we ate the rest of the meal in silence.

I finished everything on my plate, downed the rest of my tea, and just as I was about to get up and rinse my plate, his hand reached out and took it then went around and did it for me. I watched him with so much confusion; I had never seen him so attentive... I could get used to it.

He noticed me watching him and shrugged his shoulders casually. "I just want you to rest, Bella; you've been going a mile a minute all day." He finished with the dishes and loaded them in the dishwasher, and with the shut of the lock he met my eyes and I knew that he was about to begin.

"Where would you like to talk, Isabella?" I thought about that for a moment. I wanted to lie down, but I also didn't want to make him think he was getting lucky.

"We can talk in the living room." He nodded and wiped his hands on the towel near the stove, but then stopped short on his way out of the kitchen.

"Go and get comfortable, I'll be in there in just a moment." I nodded and went to get comfortable. I grabbed a blanket and set the pillows up so that I could sit up but lay back on one side of the couch. When I was all settled and as comfortable as I was going to get for this discussion, he came in with a bowl and made his way to my side.

"Here you go." he handed me the bowl and just as before he made to sit, he grazed my belly with his fingers and then kissed my cheek.

I looked into the bowl to see what it was, and smiled wide as I saw he had filled it with ice cream. I didn't even realize I was crying until he leaned forward and brushed them away with his fingertips. I had no idea what to say... this was a whole new ball game.

EPOV

If I had it my way, Bella would be wearing those tights all the time. I had never understood the appeal of a woman while pregnant. I couldn't see the draw that would make a man want to sleep with a woman in that condition. But looking at the perfection that was Bella, I couldn't comprehend how I had not taken her into my arms immediately. I made myself focus on the food. I tried to keep the thoughts about her pure, but I was failing miserably. There was something extremely sexy about the fact that she was pregnant with my child... something so damn caveman that I had to force myself to use full sentences and not grunts.

It was overwhelming... the feelings that were coursing through me. It was as if once I accepted them, they came flooding from the backlogging that I had them on. I was embracing them now... appreciating the fact that I was here now and taking care of her... I wanted to do it, I found that I enjoyed it.

I sent her off to the living room to get comfortable. I smiled to myself as I remembered her saying she liked ice cream before bed these days, so I made my way to the freezer and mixed the three flavors in a bowl for her. I had a grin plastered on my face as I brought it to her, and when I saw the happiness she held for that simple gesture, I knew that this was right. We were right. I was still scared shitless, but I knew that if she would still let me, then I wanted to be apart of this.

"Well, first I'd like to address our current situation." current situation? God what was this, a legal draft? I sounded so formal and that was certainly not the way I wanted to come across. I noticed her face fall at the sound of my statement and I immediately corrected myself. "Sorry, that came out sounding far more staunchy than I had thought it would... what I mean is... do you... want..." I took a deep breath and just spit it out. "Would you mind if I told them that the baby is mine?"

I held my breath as I waited for her to answer the only question that mattered tonight. Bella stayed silent for a moment and then looked down to her ice cream bowl as she answered.

"I would love nothing more for you to want this... but that is up to you, Edward. It depends on what you want." I let her words sink in for a minute and then she added, "I would rather you didn't if you aren't planning on being around... it would just make things easier... to break off without any problems." Her voice was sad again, no doubt assuming that I would not be.

I leaned over her then and without her permission, or even thinking it through, I lifted up her shirt a small way and kissed her stomach softly. I felt my body begin to shake as I fought the urge to do more, but I knew I had no right. Instead I savored the moment a minute longer and before leaning back placed on last chaste kiss to our baby and righted her shirt once more.

"I'm here Isabella. I know I haven't done right by you, and I can't guarantee that I won't screw this up. But I'm going to be here. I want to be."

BPOV

I woke up in my bed... alone. I sat up slowly and wondered briefly if it had all been a dream. Disappointment flooded me as I realized it was not true. He had not kissed out child... he had not told me he would be here with me. It wasn't as if I hadn't already known that he was not going to be with me, but that dream had felt so real. I made myself stop the tears so that I could get up and make some breakfast. I padded barefoot down the hall and toward the kitchen, but stopped short when I saw Edward sleeping quietly on the couch. It had been real. It was real.

I stood watching him and taking in the room around me. I saw my empty ice cream bowl; I saw he was holding the pillow I used as his own right now. I let reality sink in for a moment and then made my way into the kitchen so I could make something to eat. I had just begun beating some eggs for myself and took a sip of my orange juice when I felt warm arms slide around my center.

I felt my skin react instantly with goose bumps as Edward placed his hands on either side of my small bump.

"Good morning, Isabella..." I opened my mouth to respond, but before I could get the words out, he kissed my head and went to the coffee pot. I stood in shock for a moment until I regained my thoughts and turned to find him reaching into the cupboard for the coffee. He had been here many times in the six months we were seeing each other, but holding me the way he did this morning, reminded me that this was different from any of those mornings. I watched him as he scooped the grinds and added them to the filter. He stopped doing what he was doing and turned to me with a curious expression.

"Are you able to drink coffee?" He looked adorably confused and I giggled at his inquisitive expression. His face was beaming as he met my eyes and it took everything I had not to make my way to him and throw my arms around his neck.

"No, my caffeinated days are long gone now... but I'll take a cup of decaf so that I don't feel left out." He chuckled and turned back toward the cupboard in search of something while he answered.

"I'll even use the French press, so that it tastes better" I turned back to the eggs and smiled to myself as I only had the mind set to nod.

This was going to be an interesting day.

After breakfast, Edward went home to shower and change and then came back to get me. We were just pulling into the Cullens drive and my stomach felt as if there were a butterfly farm going wild in there. He grabbed my hand as we parked and turned my face with his free hand gently so I was facing him.

"I wish I could tell you that we could leave right now if you wanted to... but I can't. If we're going to have any chance at making this work then we truly need to get this over with."

I appreciated the fact that he was being realistic with me, but that didn't change the fact that I wished we didn't have to be her right now. I closed my eyes, took a deep breath and gave him a nod so that we could get the show on the road.

We hadn't even made it to the door yet before it opened and we were greeted by a beaming Esme.

"Edward, Isabella... I'm so glad you came." and she seemed truly happy that we were there. I felt some of the butterflies drift away as she hugged me and led me through to the main part of the house.

I was trying to fully appreciate the beauty of their home; it was like nothing I had ever seen before. The foyer was beyond gorgeous and I could have parked my entire home in its place... twice! The paintings alone were enough to make me think there should have been a docent at the door. I caught sight of Edward as I was glancing wide eyed around the room and he was wearing such an angelic smile that it took my breath away. I let Esme lead me through and around the house and I wished I was in the mind set to take in the words she was saying, but I was too consumed with the overwhelming sense of not belonging that nothing she was saying made it past my ears.

When we walked toward the back patio, my dread was in full-fledged effect. I saw Carlisle sitting at the head of the table, and then next to him was an old man, wearing a suite and a bow tie. I imagined that was Edwards grandpa, and I thought to myself how he didn't seem nearly as intimidating as Edward had described him. He was sitting there, smiling and it sounded as if he and Carlisle had just been sharing some fond stories. When they realized they were no longer alone, they stopped their discussion and turned to face us. I thought maybe their smiles would fade, but they didn't. Carlisle was the first to greet us.

"Edward! I'm glad you made it." He stood then and addressed me with a warm embrace. "Isabella correct?" I found myself relaxing and feeling quite silly for having been afraid to come. I smiled and gave him a warm greeting and my best acknowledgment.

"Yes sir... thank you for inviting me."

"Please, Isabella, call me Carlisle. This old curmudgeon is the only one we address as sir around here." He nodded toward the man in a bow tie. I smiled wider when the man stood and chuckled heartily. He walked around to greet me and there in went the rest of my nerves.

"Hello, Isabella. I'm Charles Cullen... Edwards grandfather. It's so very good to meet you."

When introductions were over, I found it rather easy to relax. Edward took a seat alongside me and was amazingly attentive. I wasn't sure what I expected in the way of his family, but after the way he talked about his father and grandfather last night, I was pleasantly surprised to find myself feeling very welcome by them all.

No one brought up my pregnancy and I wasn't sure if I was happy or sad about that. I knew that Edward had no plans of denying anything, and we had decided that when it was brought up, he would be the one to speak. I was nervous about that, but he assured me that he knew how to deal with his family, so I agreed.

We talked about everything under the sun, politics, sports, travel... I found that I had more in common with Carlisle than I had thought I would. Granted I hadn't gone to an Ivy League School or anything like that, but I did manage to graduate with honors from the University of Chicago. It wasn't as if it were a party school... it had some stature... I mean, the president went there for god sake.

At one point in the brunch I felt Edward take my hand under the table and I found myself embracing that move from him. I didn't know what this meant for us... I didn't know what I wanted it to mean, but I knew that I was at least going to have a father for this baby and that was enough for now.

True to form, my bladder became full and I excused myself to the bathroom. On my way back from the restroom, I ran into Charles. He greeted me with a smile and stood staring at an oil painting of himself, Carlisle and Edward. I found myself standing alongside him and admiring the work myself. He turned to me then and broke the silence.

"Five generations..." he began. I smiled and continued to admire the painting and he continued. "You know, when I first heard of your and Edward's situation I wasn't sure what we would be facing. I have to say Isabella... I am so grateful that I could meet you. You really are a sweet girl... one of the finest I have ever known Edward to be with."

I wasn't sure what to think about how that sounded, but I made myself move past it. He had been so wonderful to me.

"Being in this family comes with great responsibility, Isabella... surely you can understand that. We have very great expectations for Edward. He will take over this company one day."

I was no longer admiring the painting now, and had turned to face Charles head on.

"He should have known better than this... and I'm so sorry that you were dragged into the middle of it."

I felt the nerves that had been taken away upon arriving, making their way back into my stomach.

"Clearly you know that we could never allow this relationship... no one could ever know about this child. And please... you must know that you will be taken care of, we would never let you be without... but a girl like you has no idea what it takes to stand beside a man of Edward's stature. To be in this family..."

I felt my food trying to make its way back up my throat as I heard the horrible words coming from his still angelic face. It made the sting of their venom all the more worse.

"...You weren't raised this way... and you weren't bred for it."

I felt the tears before I heard my sobs coming from my lips, but he just continued on.

"You come from different worlds Isabella... it would never work... not for you and certainly not for us."

I couldn't hear anything else, nothing filtered past the tears and the pain that was coursing through me at that moment. I was trying to wipe the tears so that I could find my way toward an exit, but my hands were replaced by someone else's, and soon Charles's voice was being drowned out by three others.

I was in Edwards's arms before I realized what was happening. I could hear the angry words as he yelled them behind us and before long I was being placed in the car and buckled in.

The slam of his car door pulled me out of the tunnel vision I had been in. He punched the steering wheel and huffed his breath in agitation and rested his head before attempting to start the car. I found my voice then and asked the only thing I could think of in that moment.

"Why don't they think I'm good enough?" I wasn't sure if he could understand me, my voice was cracking and dry, but he answered me.

"Their psychotic, what's there to understand? Don't try to even analyze it, Bella."

I felt the tears coming on again and he pulled me into his arms to hold me.

"You are an amazing woman, Isabella Swan. You're perfect and I have never been worthy of you... not even at my best. I will work to deserve you! I love you."

Just then, Carlisle knocked on the window, and instead of driving off like I wanted to, Edward got out of the car and for the first time since I had known him, he looked truly hateful.