Disclaimer: I do not own these characters…though I may wish I did
I walked into my little home well after midnight.
I was beyond tired and wished I'd be able to sleep the entire next day. Dinner with Charlie was great, and he didn't suspect a thing about me, but I knew he felt something was off when I kept refusing another glass of wine, 1 was enough for me. He shouldn't have felt so surprised though because he knew I never really drank the stuff, plus I was only 20 and with him being a cop, I didn't even expect him to let me have 1. I was also surprised that the staff let me, and the others have some since no one, but Stephan was 21.
When I brought it up to Charlie and asked him why he wasn't causing a scene with underaged drinking he just laughed and said
"Sometimes you have to live a little kid."
Then Caroline bent close to my ear and told me how she compelled them all to think they already saw our ID's and saw how we were all 21. She said since it was my birthday then this was a day worth celebrating with a little wine.
We all laughed and had a great time, it was the perfect birthday and I was really surprised that I enjoyed it. Normally my birthdays are boring and ended with Jake and I just watching a movie as we hung on the couch. I really missed him today and wished he was here.
After dinner we went dancing for a while, but I got sick from the heat and had to go see Carlisle at the hospital where I spent a good couple of hours. He took blood, checked my vitals, made me drink lots of water and eat something. When he returned with the results he said I was anemic and would need to take iron pills and some vitamin pills because it looked as though I wasn't getting enough protein in me. I thought of telling him what Stephan suggested about blood, but I was too tired. Plus, I didn't want to have to stay there even longer and get a blood transfusion or worse must go to his house and drink the blood.
So, Edward brought me home and promised to check in on me in the morning since he really needed to hunt that night. He was trying to see how long he could go without hunting and without hurting someone. So far, he could make it 2 weeks without the need to hunt and his goal to make it a month. I thought he could do it and wished him well on his experiment. The determination saw in his eyes made me believe he wasn't just doing this for himself but for someone else and hoped he had found someone to share his life with. I prayed that this girl turned his head so much that he knew he couldn't live without her and wanted to turn her.
He helped me bring my gifts inside, locking Linc in my bedroom, and then he ran out so fast I thought the house was on fire. I didn't know why he was in such a rush to leave, I wanted him to come back, so I could invite him to hangout after his hunt. I didn't want to be alone on my birthday Besides, Edward and I, didn't hang out as much as I did with the other kids and I wanted to catch up with him.
Charlie got me a gift card for a spa which he told me Rosalie helped him with. I figured dad didn't get it himself since he didn't know too much about what I liked, before he would just give me money, so I could buy my own stuff. I also figured he didn't want to go shopping for me since that could have ended badly in so many ways. But I didn't think he would have asked Rosalie for help since I knew Alice was his favorite. The best gift he ever got me that no one helped him with was my old Chevy and even though I loved my new car, I missed my old one so much.
Rosalie and Emmett got me a puppy to keep me company and to protect me. They said since I was a young woman living on my own then I needed to be protected. I knew they did this in case they weren't around to save me or something, then at least I had the next best thing. He was so cute with beautiful blue eyes to match his furry black and white fur, Emmett said he was half wolf, half husky. His features told me he was wolf, but his think fur and cuddly personality told me he was husky. Rosalie told me they found it abandoned in the woods because it was different and have been caring for it. Emmett even admitted that they grew attached to him and didn't want to give him up, but Rosalie reminded him that, the little pup didn't even like them. I laughed at his pout and promised to bring him up to the house whenever he wanted, and I was rewarded with his giant boyish smile. I decided to name him Linc just because I liked the name.
Alice and Jasper got me a little cafe that would help bring in some income for me should I ever need it. I knew that they would always help me if I needed it and already told me that I had a trust in my name in case I decided to never work in my life. Plus, I knew that they did this so that my child would always be cared for and protected, and he/she would never want for anything in their life. They knew I loved to cook and bake and said it would be a great place to work with friends and do what I love. They said the café had been abandoned for years and would need to me tender love to get it back and running and they had nothing but confidence in me.
Esme and Carlisle got me a plane ticket for two to go see my mom and a ticket for two to go to La Push, I cried. I knew I would be using these tickets for Christmas and would go surprise my mom. She wanted to be here today, but she was sick with the flue and Phil was taking a break from his career to take care of her. She also told me she was pregnant and that my little brother would be born sometime in the spring. I was so excited to hear it and couldn't wait to meet him. She said flying for her was a no go because she was a lot older than the recommended baby bearing years, then she was high risk and the doctor wanted her near him always, and I could understand that completely. I didn't tell my dad about her pregnancy just yet and was waiting for the perfect time to tell him.
The second set of tickets I would save and use with Charlie to go visit Billy and Jake. We would go when we were really needed and knew that wouldn't be anytime soon, thank Esme for making sure the tickets never expired. I know it must have cost them a pretty penny, but I had to remember that they had more money than they knew what to do with it. They always said money was no object and since I was like a daughter to them then they would spend as much money as me as they saw fit. It was also the same words Carlisle told me about the baby and I knew my child would be so spoiled by them. I was so happy to know that if anything should happen to me, my child would still have many loving people around.
Stephan and Elena said my present was at the boarding house and I could get it tomorrow, that made me curious. I knew they liked doing surprises, but I hated surprises. I frowned at them but decided to let them have their fun just this once. Bonnie, Jeremy, and Matt pitched in and fixed up my car so that it was higher def. Which I don't know how that was possible since my car already had so much going for it. But apparently my car was lacking even the basic of needs and I would have to wait in the morning to find out what they were. Caroline and Tyler gave me a gift card for the local dinner. They said I already had so much that they felt I needed something simple to keep me balanced.
Aunt Jenna and Uncle Alaric gave me a vacation. They gave me spare keys to their time share in Hawaii and said I could go anytime I wanted with as many people as I pleased. We were all so excited to be able to do something fun. They just said I had to coordinate my dates with them in case it was during a time when they wanted to go. I couldn't have asked for a better gift since I knew I would need a vacation after the baby was born and after school was finished for the year. I just didn't know how I was going to get through the spring semester with a baby.
It was all perfect and I couldn't have picked better friends to share my birthday with. I did miss Damon though and wished he was with me. I think my birthday would have made my life if he had just showed up. Plus, that would have been the best surprise ever and maybe even start to love surprises.
I walked into my house that should have been completely dark to find a small glow coming from the kitchen. My first thought was to call someone, I was sure Stephan or Emmett would be here in seconds, but something told me to go check it out. So, I put my purse and my shoes on the couch, next to my stuff, and made my way into the kitchen, hoping I just left a candle burning by accident.
The sight before me instantly brought tears to my eyes.
The kitchen was decorated in purple, blue, and black roses and candles of all sizes, colors, and shapes. The table had a white table cloth with a simple cupcake in the center surrounded with gifts. Balloons littered the ceiling with 'Happy Birthday', 'Congratulations', and 'love You' sayings. Damon stood next to the table holding a little black box while wearing a tux and my favorite smile.
"This was supposed to happen earlier, but I heard you needed to go to the hospital. So, I had Alice text me when you were on your way here and Edward threatened bodily harm if I did anything to hurt you…" I cut him off.
"Your rambling" I whispered, whipping the tears from my eyes. They just continued to flow as he got on one knee and opened the box to reveal the most stunning ring I ever saw.
"This was my mother's and her mother's and so forth. Bella, from the moment I saw you I knew you had to be mine. I think I loved you before I even knew about you. Your everything to me and you have given me something so precious that I will spend the rest of my life showing you how much you mean to me. Marry me and become my family in name as well as say so? Let me show you..."
I rushed to him and kissed him, pouring all I felt for him into this kiss. I shook my head yes and slid the ring on my finger, I was beyond happy.
"You have so much to apologize for, but this, this is a good start." I said through my tears. He promised to make it up to me then blew out all the candles and took me to bed. Starting there he began showing me how much he loved me and our child.