Author's Note:

Hello! I know I've been a little behind with posting. I got up extra early to post this chapter before I leave for the long weekend tomorrow. As always, I would love to know what you guys think. Also, words can not thank you all enough for the adds annd the comments/feedback you have left. I'm so glad everyone is enjoying the story!

Happy (early) Memorial Day1

-Lisa

Chapter Twenty

"You know that you are slowly killing Esme and me right?" Alice asked Bella as she took a bite of her salad.

Bella dug into a hamburger and dipped her French fry into mustard. "I told you before, there are so few good surprises in life that I want to be surprised. My doctor said the baby is healthy and growing reasonably. That's all that matters to me. I'm ready for one good surprise in my life"

"But still. Just think of how much we could help you by getting you prepared."

"That isn't a solid argument Alice," Bella chuckled.

Shaking her head, Alice continued. "How do you expect me to throw you a proper shower when we don't know if we are anticipating a prince or princess?"

"I think you need to lay off of the royal baby watch Allie."

"You are oh so funny," Alice rolled her eyes as Bella erupted in laughter. "What is so funny?"

"You are already acting like Edward!"

Shaking her head, Alice ignored her friend. "I'm serious. I need to know."

"You need to know?" Bella asked raising her eyebrow.

"Come on Bella, please?"

"I'm sorry Alice, I'm not budging on this," Bella promised as she took another bite of her sandwich."

"Fine," Alice pouted before changing the subject. "Have you heard from Carlisle?"

"Yes actually. He called me a few days after he returned to home-well, New York City. He told the kids about the baby."

"And?" Alice inquired.

Laughing, Bella continued. "Peter is over the moon. He is really excited. I talked to him too. I miss that boy so much."

"And about his daughter?"

"Charlotte, well, she's not so excited. I don't think she is happy about it at all. While I was talking to Peter I heard yelling between her and Carlisle. She didn't want to talk to me, which I wasn't overly surprised about. I couldn't hear what she was saying to Carlisle, but he had sent her to her room."

"Ouch. What did Carlisle have to say?"

Swallowing her drink, Bella looked at Alice. "He isn't doing the summer class. He wants to come back here for a little while, maybe the summer. He wants to be close and figure things out with the baby."

Alice looked at her friend and didn't know how to read her. "How do you feel about that?"

Shrugging her shoulders, Bella replied. "I'm okay, I guess."

"Where will he stay?"

"At his house. He never put the house on the market and put everything into storage. He is having movers move the furniture back into the house before he gets here. He has things arranged with Kate."

"Kate? Who's Kate?"

Bella bit her lip before continuing. "She was engaged to Carlisle when I started working for him. Let's just say she wasn't a nice person. She wanted to ship the kids away to boarding school. She wanted to send Charlotte off to a finishing school. She hated them. I actually went to her asking her for Carlisle's information after he left, told her I was pregnant and she still wouldn't give me his contact information. She's a snobby bitch, and that's the nicest thing I can say about her."

"She sounds pleasant," Alice sarcasticly told her friend.

"Alice, I'm nervous."

"Things will be fine Bella."

Nodding, Bella looked at her friend, "I hope your right."

Two weeks after the conversation with Alice, Bella found herself ringing the once familiar home she was going to share. She smiled when she saw Peter at the door.

"Bella," he said as he wrapped his arms around Bella. "I've really, really missed you. What did you bring with you?" He asked notcing the tray of food in her hands.

"Oh this? This was something I just whipped up. How is the cooking going?"

"It's going well but I'm not as good as you." Peter told her honestly. "How are you feeling?"

Bella laughed. "I'm great Peter. I'm so happy to see you and-"

Shouting from Charlotte had interrupted Bella and Peter's reunion. "I don't care who is here dad! We should be in London like you promised we could do this summer. We shouldn't be here but-"

"But nothing, Charlotte Anne. You are going to have a sibling. We are here to help Bella as much as we can." Carlisle told his daughter upstairs.

"You should have worn a condom! That's what we learned in health class," Charlotte shouted back.

Bella and Peter heard the footsteps from upstairs and silence before Carlisle's voice was heard again. "You will stay in your room until after dinner is here. You will come down stairs and have dinner with usand you will be respectful of everyone in this house. You are more than welcomed to stay downstairs if you are poliete, otherwise you may stay up in your room for the evening. I'm really disappointed in you Charlotte. You were beyond disrespectful. We will talk about your punishment later but you are grounded."

"But dad, Jane wanted me to go the beach with her," Charlotte whined.

"We'll talk later," Carlisle replied in a barely audible tone.

"It's my summer vacation!" Charlotte added.

Raising her voice again, Carlisle began. "Bella will be here any minute and I would like you to respect her."

"But dad-"

"Enough," Carlisle yelled. Peter and Bella looked at each other surprised. "We are not talking about this anymore. I will get you for dinner but until then you are staying up here." With a slamming of a door, the talk stopped.

Peter looked at Bella. "All they have done is fight since we came back, instead of going to London."

Bella didn't say anything. She felt bad for the father/daughter relationship that was once strong. She was lost on her own thoughts when she heard a voice behind her.

"Bella? I didn't hear you come in. I-I ordered Italian food from that little place we used to order from."

"Sounds great. I brought these," she said holding the tray.

"What did you make?" Peter asked.

Smiling, Bella sat the tray down and took off the foil. "Well, I made peanut butter chocolate chip cookies."

"Those are Charlotte's favorite."

"I remember. I also have whoopee pies made with vanilla cake and chocolate frosting and sugar cookies dipped in chocolate," Bella explained. As she mentioned the sugar cookies, she felt eyes on her.

"Bella," Peter screamed. "The whoopee pies are my favorite and the chocolate dipped sugar cookies are dad's favorite. You used to make them for him because he doesn't like short bread. Why did you make our favorites?"

"I missed you guys."

Peter raised his eyebrow. "All of us?"

Nodding, Bella answered. "All of you."

"Even Charlotte?" Peter inquired.

"Yes, even Charlotte." Bella paused and smiled at Peter. She knew that Carlisle was still looking at her. She changed the subject. "How is school?"

When the food arrived, Carlisle excused himself to get. He walked into the kitchen, sat the food down and went to get Charlotte. Peter and Bella decided to set the table. A few moments later, Charlotte entered the kitchen. She looked at Bella, looked away and went to sit down. Bella and Peter sat at the table too. Carlisle soon placed the take out boxes on the table with serving spoons and sat too. Peter was the first to nreak the silence.

"So are we getting a brother or sister?"

"Well, I don't know. I don't want to find out."

"Can I find out please?"

Laughing, Bella shook her head. "No you can't!"

"You really want to be surprised?" Peter asked shocked.

"Yes I do."

"You have to find out so we can throw a shower," Peter tried to reason. Charlotte rolled her eyes while Carlisle chuckled.

"I don't think so Peter."

"Come on! Everyone has those revile cake parties, I saw it on the Food Network. Oh, I could make the cake and-"

Inturupting, Carlisle spoke to his son. "Peter, Bella doesn't want to know so stop preasurin gher. We'll eventually find out."

"I'll tell you what, I am going to the doctor's in a few days and will have an ultra sound. You can come with me and at least see the baby. If you want to know you can ask the doctor but you can not tell a single person and no reviel party."

Carlisle popped into the conversation. "He can go but if you really don't want anyone to know, he can wait. It's only a few more months anyway."

"I want you to have a baby shower though."

"You should call my friend Alice. She wants to know what the baby is too so she can throw me a proper baby shower."

"Can I have her number please?" Peter asked as both Bella and Carlisle laughed.

"Peter, finish your dinner," Carlisle told him still smling.

At the end of dinner, Peter and Charlotte cleared the table and put the left overs away. Charlotte went upstairs without saying a word to Bella. Peter said goodnight to Bella and also went upstairs.

Carlisle walked Bella outside to her car. Bella looked at him and offered a grin. "Um, thank you for dinner."

"It's the least I could do," Carlisle told her as he kicked a pebble. "So, your appointment is-"

"The day after tomorrow."

Shaking his head slowly, he looked at Bella. "And you don't mind if I go?"

"Yes, I want you to go, if you want to. Oh and Peter too. I think he'll be amazed by the whole thing."

"I'm sure he'll want to go." Carlisle paused before looking at Bella. "I'm sorry about Charlotte."

Whispering, Bella looked into Carlisle's eyes. "It is what it is Carlisle. It isn't your fault. Dinner was actually better than I thought it was going to be." Bella paused not knowing what else to say. "So I'll see you the day after tomorrow."

"Yes, of course and thank you for coming over. I-Peter really liked having you here. Good night Bella," Carlisle said as he opened the door.

"Good night Carlisle."

Bella was getting out of her car when she spotted Peter. She walked over and hugged him. "Good morning Peter."

"Bella! Are you sure you won't find out what you are having?" Peter asked.

"Peter, enough," Carlisle said looking at Bella. "He's just excited.

"I know and sorry Peter, my answer is the same. Let's go up," Bella smiled as Peter chatted with her until she checked in. Carlisle trailed behind her.

"Miss Swan?" the male nurse called. Bella stood up and waited for Peter and Carlisle to follow. As Bella got closer to the nurse, he smiled. "Bella, you are looking fabulous! How are you this morning?"

Blushing a little, Bella replied. "Thank you James. I'm excellent James, thank you. How are you?"

"That's good. I'm doing all right. Who's your entourage today?"

"This is Carlisle, the baby's father. And this is the baby's big brother Peter," Bella explained beaming. She loved Peter wanted to be with her.

James shook both Carlisle and Peter's hands. "It's nice to meet you both. All right Miss Swan, let's get your appointment started." James said before he began to take Bella's vitals.

Carlisle sat and watched. He didn't like James. He was too flirty and worse of all, Bella ate it up. She was enjoying his attention. He was actually jealous of his ex-girlfriend's nurse!

"That is all. Bella, Dr. Weber will be in is a moment so you can see your baby. It was nice to meet you Carlisle and Peter. Have a good day. Ms. Bella, I'll see you at your next appointment."

Bella thanked him as he left the room. Before Carlisle spoke up about her interactions with James, Bella's doctor entered the room.

"Isabella, how are you feeling?" Dr. Weber asked.

Bella answered that she was feeling great and introduced Carlisle and Peter to Dr. Weber. After all of Bella's information was covered, the doctor looked at Bella. "Would you like to see your baby so we can take some measurements?"

"Absolutely. Peter, come closer if you'd like," Bella smiled as she lifted her shirt just enough for the doctor to place the cold want on it.

"Bella, have you felt little bubbles?" The doctor asked.

"Yes, it's such a weird feeling."

"Well, it's your baby hiccuping," the doctor smiled.

"I can feel that? I thought it was something I ate. That's amazing!"

Dr. Weber nodded. "Well, the baby is about ten inches long, which is a little small but you are petite so that's not too bad. The baby weighs a pound and a half. Here is your baby," she pointed out on the screen. Peter was asking a bunch of questions and was in awe with the image on the screen. Bella looked at the screen with a smile on her face. Carlisle stood behind her with tears in his eyes. Bella glance up at him and had an inkling that Carlisle knew the sex of the baby. Bella started to wonder whether or not she was making the right decision in regards to Carlisle and the baby. Would it hurt if they tried their relationship again? Would they survive? Bella shook the thought out of her mind. While she would stay behind her theory that Carlisle would be a great father for their child, she wouldn't put herself through the pain again.

After Bella spoke with her doctor a little bit, the three were ready to leave when Peter went to the bathroom. While waiting outside, Bella looked at Carlisle and smiled. "You know what the baby is, don't you?"

Nodding his head, Carlisle looked at Bella with the ultra sound picture in his hand. "I do. I can explain it if you'd like."

"Nope. I told you, I want it to be a surprise. Hey," she said reaching for his hand so he could feel the baby move. "Can you feel that?"

"I never get sick of that feeling. It's amazing, isn't it? The baby maybe a little small, but it is very active."

Laughing, Bella shook her head in agreement. "Isn't that the truth? I love it thought, it's a great feeling."

Carlisle removed his hand once the baby stopped. He grew a little serious. "Thank you for letting Peter and I be here. I can tell you it means al ot to both of us."

"Carlisle, I told you. We might not be together anymore, but I will not deny you your child. I don't know how, but it will all work out."

Scoffing, Carlisle looked at Bella. He stared at her stomach as he watched it move. Bella took his waiting hand and placed it where the baby kicked. "We live three thousand miles apart. I have to sign my contract again and I'm considering not signing it."

Before Bella could reply, an elderly woman walked out of the woman's bathroom and smiled at the former lovers. "You two look so happy. Your baby is already so loved. You can see the love that you two share. This baby is special, you'll see."

"Uncle Edward, it was so cool," Peter said as he grabbed another piece of pizza from the box. Hours later, he was still talking about the amazement of Bella's ultrasound. "Dad knows that it is but he isn't telling."

Alice looked over at Carlisle with wide eyes. "Really? Do tell!"

Laughing, Carlisle looked at Bella's friend. "Sorry, I can't. Bella wants it to be a surprise."

"Fine," Alice huffed.

"Don't feel bad," Peter began as he put the pizza slice on his place. He chewed, swallowed and lookedat Alice. "He won't even tell me. I want to plan a party for her."

"Thank you kid!" Alice smiled. "I like him!"

Edward shook his head and looked at Carlisle. "Where is Charlotte?"

"She's with Jane. She still isn't so excited about the baby," Carlisle offered an explanation.

"How is that going to work with her? I mean the baby?" Alice asked.

"We're moving back," Peter announced.

"What?" Edward asked.

Bella stared at Carlisle like he was the only person in the room. "What? But you have a contract and Charlotte loves New York and-"

"And I made a stupid move that cost me you. I don't want to chance my relationship with the baby. I decided not to renew my contract. Charlotte liked it here too, she has Jane who she missed." He paused before looking at Bella. He spoke softly. "How could I be three thousand miles away from you and the baby? That isn't fair to you or the baby, me or Peter. I think this will be what works best."

"You really want to come back to Forks? I mean, you sounded like you loved New York."

Nodding, Carlisle began. "I did but my baby won't be there. I can't expect you to pick up your life and move to me. I don't think it is fair for you to have to raise the baby on your own. I'm the one who created this mess so I need to fix it and this is how I think it will work."

In disbelief, Bella looked at Carlisle again. "You have two other children to think about."

"And I will have one here."

"I have to do this. O have talked to the kids and they understand, even Charlotte. Charlotte and Peter are coming with me to pack up the apartment."

"I don't want to go," Peter chimed in.

"I have told you we will talk about this later."

"But dad," he began before being interrupted by his father.

"Later Peter," Carlisle repeated growing a little annoyed with his son.

"What is there to talk about?" Bella asked.

Before Carlisle had the chance to speak, Peter jumped to it. "I don't want to go because I don't want to leave you again. I'm afraid I won't see you again, like last time."

"Hey," Bella said squeezing Peter's hand. "I'm right here and I am not going anywhere. No matter what happens I will always be here for you, got it?" Bella honestly told Peter with a smile on her face.

"It still doesn't change that I don't want to leave you again, even for a few weeks."

Listen to me Peter," Bella began. "I am not going anywhere, I am staying put right here." She paused and then looked at Carlisle and Edward. "Maybe if it is okay with your dad and Edward you can stay here while father and Charlotte go pack up New York."

"Really?" Peter asked excitedly.

"Really," Bella smiled as she looked at Carlisle and Edward. Edward nodded. Carlisle just looked at him.

"I couldn't ask you to do that," Carlisle politely told Bella. "That's too much Bella."

"Well it's a good think I'm offering and you aren't asking. I don't want Peter to get all stressed out. He's fine here for a couple of weeks, right Edward?"

Edward began to speak. "Of course. We can go to the batting cage and mini golf and-"

"He can hang out t the office with us during the day when Edward has to work. Oh! He can help Esme and I plan Bella's baby shower," Alice added.

"Dad, you have got to let me stay now!" Peter pleaded.

"Peter could help teach Alice to cook since she is terrible at it," Bella continued.

Alice looked at her and stuck out her tongue. "I'm not that bad!"

Edward kissed her cheek. "It's okay honey. Everyone burns grilled cheese."

Carlisle looked at Bella again. "Are you sure?"

Bella smiled as she put her arm around Peter's chair. "Positive."

"Okay then. I guess Peter gets to stay here," Carlisle agreed.