Chapter 9

Obviously I'm not Stephenie Meyer. All things in the Twilight Universe still belong to her and I'm stuck here, smacking my head, wondering, "Why didn't I think of that?" Ha, ha, but in all seriousness no infringement is intended on my part.

I realize that this part of my story is somewhat stressful. I have to admit that I have a lot of emotional ups and downs in my own life, suffice to say a lot of that comes out in my writing. I do promise everyone that I only write HEA. I can't handle any other kind of story. So if you all can bare with me, I promise there's a method to my madness. Thank you for your reviews, good or bad I value them. They can only make me better at my craft. Happy Reading.

After cont…September 15, 2010, 7:01am

Edward's stepping around me, taking Aro's hand. It only takes a moment before Aro seems satisfied. A strange twinge of disappointment is flashing over his face causing Edward to smirk slightly.

"So you really believe she conceived already?"

Edward's sighing, looking at me warily.

"Yes, Aro. I believe so. I've been around her enough to detect those kinds of changes in her body chemistry.

Their hands are still joined. Aro knows he's speaking the truth.

"Well then, I suppose under the circumstances you can just send a birth announcement when the child gets here. Besides I can see the little vixen enjoyed herself. You should have no trouble getting her pregnant if you haven't already."

"Why you arroga…" Edwards stopping my words again.

"Bella, please," he pleads with me.

"Goodbye for now, beautiful Bella. Edward." Aro nods, giving us one more evil smirk. "It seems you have made the right choice in this one." Finally, as fast as they came, he and his cronies are gone.

"Edward, I could have taken them. We could be roasting weenies over their ashes, right now, as we speak."

"I know love, but there were other Volturi close by. Alec was with them and I couldn't stand it if you got hurt."

"Who's Alec?"

"Jane's twin brother," I'm raising a questioning brow at him.

"Jane's the one that attacked me."

"Stupid bitch. I'll kill her if she tries that again."

Edward's chuckling, kissing my cheek.

"Alec is much worse than Jane in as much that his powers are positively lethal."

"How so?"

"Alex sends out a paralyzing fog, cutting off his victims senses, effectively blinding them. They never see death coming. His fog could cover an entire army, indefinitely."

"Edward, what makes you think he'd have any effect on me?"

"I'm not willing to take that kind of risk with you."

He's chuckling now because I'm glaring at him incredulously . "But I do think you've successfully scared the Fruit of the Looms off Aro. I've never seen him so frightened of anything in his life."

"He didn't look frightened to me."

"He's too well versed to show it."

"I'm sorry if I've made you feel emasculated by my behavior."

"No, Bella. That was the sexiest thing I've ever seen."

I'm giggling.

"How long have you really known about this power of yours?"

"I didn't know, honestly. You believe me, don't you?"

"Yes. You would have killed Emmett many times over if you'd known."

"True." I'm trying to say this with a straight face, "Phh," I'm giggling now instead.

Edward's chuckling, wrapping me in his arms. "We need to talk, Bella."

"You think I'm pregnant too?"

"Too?"

"You're not the only one who can sense things."

"I knew what was happening while I was making love to you. I shouldn't have said those things to you. I'm sorry."

"Are you sorry that I'm pregnant with your child?"

"I'm sorry that you've been forced into this, but I'm not sorry that it's my baby you're carrying. I've grown rather attached to you. I want you to be the mother of all my children."

Mmm, mother of his children. Click. My brain is switching back to Aro's parting words. "It seems you have made the right choice in this one," I repeat the condemning words out loud.

Edward's frozen at my sudden change of tone.

Edward chose me, not Sam, Edward.

Betrayal. Rage. Anguish.

"How could you do this to me?" I'm whispering as this slow seething anger is washing over me, clouding any rational thought.

"Bella, I can expla…"

"Liar!"

"Bella." He's falling to his knees, pleading. "Please listen to me."

"I trusted you!" I'm shouting. "How could I have let myself trust you? How?"

"Bella it was the only way, I swear. None of the others would have worked."

"What? Your kind can't mate with a full-blooded Quileute werewolf, but a weremutt like me…."

"Bella, stop talking about yourself like that! I won't stand for it!"

"I'll talk however the hell I want to, you lying, twofaced, blood sucking, bastard!"

"Bella, stop this! You're overreacting."

"Go jump in a bonfire, Edward!"

"I'm not lying to you." He's trying to control is tone. He's standing, walking slowly towards me, palms out.

"Stay. Away."

He's stopping, palming his face.

"Can we please just talk rationally to each other?"

"No." My arms are planted childishly across my chest. "I don't think I can."

"So, you're upset that I chose you over the other three. What kind of a person does that make you, Bella? If I'm such a horrible "lying, twofaced, bloodsucking, bastard", as you put it, how could you wish this fate on one of your tribal sisters?"

"How dare you! You son of a b…"

Edward's flashing towards me before I can get the word out, anger boiling off him in waves.

"Don't you ever call either of my mothers that. Neither woman has ever said an unkind thing to anyone in there entire life. Esme, was kind to you, and you threw it back in her face! Carlisle and Esme both tried to make you feel welcome."

"Fine. You're mothers are not a b… well, not that." Though I was still angry and hurt I was beginning to calm down.

Edward noticed, exhaling part of his frustration. "I had to choose someone, Bella. If not you, then who, some fourteen or sixteen year old child? And Leah is your sister, Bella. Your own flesh and blood."

"She's only a half-sister. She takes great pleasure in reminding Seth and I at every opportunity that we're only half-breeds."

"All I know is that Leah was terrified for you in that clearing. If Sam would have given the order she was ready to die to protect you from this fate."

"Not that it really matters now," I'm glaring into his eyes, determined to extract the truth from him, "but why did you choose me over her. She's older and way better looking than me. I mean, I'm mildly pretty at best."

"First of all, I'm going to dispel that notion right now. You are so much more than beautiful. It drives me crazy that you can't see that about yourself. Even if I wasn't already head over hills for you, I could never have married your sister. She has a fiancé. She's in love with him, Bella. It would have destroyed her to marry me and you know it. And lastly, I would have never been able to consummate a marriage to her. I'm not attracted to her in the least. You see, you were, and still are, by far, the only choice. I love you, Sweet Girl. I've been in love with you sense the first day I've laid eyes on you. You were Christmas shopping with some of the other kids from your tribe at the mall in Seattle. It was just before last Christmas. Did you notice me at all?

I shook my head, no, but it was a lie. Of course I smelled him and sensed his presence. I was just getting use to being a werewolf and it was the first time I'd sensed our enemy was close. I was hanging with other members of my pack, Embry, Quil and our friend Emily. I was prepared to hunt down the vampires and take them out until Embry and Quil told me it was just the Cullens. They told me if their eyes ever turned red then we could deal with them, but until then we had to leave them alone. I caught a brief flash of bronze hair and amber eyes before they disappeared around the corner.

"I felt an instant connection to you. I followed you all over that mall. It broke my heart when you went back home. I thought I'd never see you again. I use to hang out just outside the treaty line by the road every chance I got, hoping to catch a glimpse of you. And then fate intervened. I couldn't not pick you."

Of course I'm bawling now. Leave it to Edward to say the sweetest things when all I want to do is be pissed at him. I so want to believe him. If only he was telling me the truth. Now I realize he's been lying to me about not being able to read my mind to, because he talking about a connection that he feels for me. He must know that I've felt that way all along. I've been fighting it with everything in me. This connection he's speaking of. This undeniable magnetic force pulling me to him. What is it that he has over me? Is it some kind of supernatural vampire coercion? Even if he is telling me the truth it still doesn't change what he's done. How can I reconcile these feelings he stirs in me with the fact that I just don't trust him?

I'm shaking my head. I'm looking up at him with tear-filled eyes. "You just don't get it."

"Tell me," he's begging.

"My family loves me. My tribe loves me. I've spent the last three months thinking that I was the mutt, so therefore, expendable. I thought they betrayed me. You let me think that way. You had it in your power this whole time to rid me of these thoughts. I've hated them, especially Sam and you let me. Sam's last words to me were that I was the best choice, that I was the only choice. He didn't choose me did he? He chose Leah."

Edward is nodding. Of course Sam chose Leah.

"What if we are meant to be together, Edward? It's so messed up now. How do we fix this?"

"We are meant to be together, Bella." I'm hearing the tears in his voice if not seeing them with own my eyes. "I'll do anything. Anything you ask of me. Please."

"How do I ever trust you again?" I'm whispering.

"Oh God, Bella! Please don't say that. I'm so sorry. Please, Bella, please. I love you more than my own existence. I can't loose you. I won't survive without you."

My eyes are widening. Three months together turned into one perfect night of bliss to end up here. Was it possible that both our hearts were being crushed to a pulp? Who knew love could be so painful?

I'm looking down, mournfully, to my still flat tummy. There's a baby growing in there. Every instinct in me tells me it's true. I can't even look at the babies father.

"Bella?" Edward's whispering my name.

I can't speak to him, I'm feel numb, I'm rubbing my tummy instead.

He's taking my hands in his. "Bella, please."

"I don't know what to do," I'm whispering back to him. "Please, just leave me alone. I can't be around you right now."

"Bella." I think I'm crushing him farther, but I can't be sure. It could be all part of an act. I still can't look at him. I don't want to see the lies.

"Please, Edward. If you love me like you say you do, just give me this. I just need some space."

"If that's what it takes."

"I honestly don't know what it will take, but right now this is what I need."

Edward's sighing, "I'll be around. You won't see me, but I'll hear you when you call, if you call," his voice is shaking, "when you're ready."

I can only nod. I'm turning my back to him.

Before May 30th, 2010

"I'm sorry for the short notice, Dad. I truly am, but it's just too crowded here. I've decided to move in with my boyfriend." I was only allowed to visit my parents briefly, to lie, to convince my father that I want to move in with the Cullens. My mom knows better, but like the rest of the tribe she really doesn't have much choice in the matter. But then again, I'd hoped she would have at least put up some kind of fight. This is plan A. If this doesn't work, plan B is for Edward and I to run away together."

"You're not old enough to make that decision."

"Dad, I've graduated High School. I'll be eighteen in almost three months. I just want to be with Edward. His family is even giving me my own room. I won't even be sleeping with him."

"Well, I should hope not!"

"Oh, come on, Dad, you know the silly elders won't let the Cullens on the res. Edward hasn't done anything wrong and I know you like his father, Carlisle. I just want to spend time with my boyfriend. Between my job and Sam's Quileute youth club I hardly get to see him."

"She's a good girl, Charlie. Just let her go. You'll visit us, won't you, Dear?"

"Of course, Mom. You know I will." If they let me. I thought to myself

"This is all wrong, Bella. I haven't even met this young man."

"Edward wants to meet you. He wanted to come with me today. I wouldn't let him. I knew Sam's boys would start trouble."

"Fine, then lets just head on over to his house," Charlie huffed.

"I don't think that's such a good idea, Charlie," Sue, my mom disagreed. I knew she was just afraid to be surrounded by vampires. Like the rest of the tribe my mom never trusted the Cullens. "It's not polite to just show up uninvited."

"Well, it sure as hell isn't polite for them to ask my teenage daughter to shack up with their son without discussing it with me first."

"It's not like that, Dad. Edward's a gentleman."

"Well you tell that boy to meet me at the diner in Forks in a half hour."

"Dad!"

"We'll all go, Bella," my mom intervened.

"Sue, I want to speak to that boy alone."

"You'll do no such thing, Charles Swan. Bella's old enough to make her own choices and the Cullens are good people. She'll be perfectly safe."

"She's only seventeen."

"She's almost eighteen and she's a grown woman."

"Fine, but I'm still going to meet the man who's stealing my daughter away."

"Dad!"

"You go call him, Bella. I won't take no for an answer."

"Okay,"

I walked out of my parent's tiny home. It really was crowded to live here. I had to share a bedroom with my little brother for Pete's sake. Leah and I would have killed each other if we had to share a room. Besides us half-breeds had to stick together.

I hoped it wouldn't come to this, but Edward did tell me to call him if I needed him to explain to my parents. Edward is now number one on my speed dial, his idea. I punch the number. Edward picks up on the first ring.

"Hello?"

"Edward."

"Bella, is everything alright?"

"My mom's on board like you said she would be, but my dad is really flipping out."

"I guessed as much. What can I do?"

"He wants you to meet us, well him, but my mom insists on being there, at the diner in thirty minutes." My sentience's always meshed together in convoluted ramblings when I'm nervous. I could just see Edward now, smirking like he always did when I got flustered like this.

Sure enough, Edward chuckled.

"Shut it, boyfriend."

"Sorry, Sweet Girl," Why on earth he called me that I would never figure out. I was always a bitch to him.

"I'm leaving now," he reassured me.

A half hour later we were pulling up outside the diner.

Edward jumped out of his Volvo when he saw us pull up. He walked up to us, smiling at me as if I'd hung the Sun, Moon and Stars. I wanted to stomp my foot and stick my tongue out at him, but instead tried my best to act as if I was happy to see him by returning his smile.

"Hello, ladies, Chief Swan. He stuck out his hand to Charlie which my dad reluctantly shook. "My name's Edward Cullen. I'm pleased to meet you both."

"Yes, Edward," my dad began. My wife and I would like to discuss the plans you and my daughter have made.

"Of course. I would be happy to answer any questions or concerns you may have. Only, if I may be so bold," Edward address my dad, "do you mind if I speak to you in private, man to man?"

Charlie's eyes widened in surprise. I could tell he was impressed that Edward would man up like that. Secretly, I still hoped my dad reamed him good, figuratively speaking, of course. My poor father had no hope of actually hurting Edward.

"You ladies should go ahead inside and order whatever you like. It's on me," Edward said with a wide grin. Seriously, the guy looked way too happy."

"Good Luck," I mouthed to Edward to which he only smirked.

I walked inside the diner with my mom, glad for once that Edward was in control of this one part of my life. Charlie truly was one hard nut to crack.

My dad and Edward were outside for no more than twenty minutes before they walked in smiling and joined us for lunch. I was in utter shock. Charlie was never this nice to my guy friends I hung out with from school. Somehow he and Edward appeared to be the best of friends.

My mouth was gapping open when Edward sat down beside me. I only knew this because, with one of his signature crooked grins, he closed my mouth with one finger.

The nerve of him.

Okay, I get that some of you may be a little frustrated with me at this point. Keep in mind that Bella is an irrational teenage girl and pregnant on top of that. Either one of those circumstances are a nightmare for a guy to live with let alone both. Besides, I can't have my characters slobbering all over each other constantly. My story would go no where and would get really boring in the process. However just in case, I'm going to go ahead and post Chapter 10 later today. I just can't leave you hanging like this. Be watching for it. I just have to get it prettied up for you. Talk to you later. Mwah!