Chapter 14

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.

Sorry. Really. I like to get this posted before 8est, but what can I say? I'm behind on my Christmas shopping. I'm usually done by now. Well that's what I've been up to. Lame excuse, I know. Lol. Happy Reading anyway.

Before September 10, 2010

I hated being left alone. In all my years growing up I'd never been left completely alone. I didn't like it when Edward left to go hunting.

Our plane got in on time and Alice and Jasper picked us up from the airport. No sooner had we walked through the door when Edward was greeted with hugs and kisses and I was greeted with strange looks, all ranging from worried to hateful. They all wanted to go hunting and drug Edward along with them. Edward wasn't going to go at first, but I could tell by his dark eyes that he needed to. I told him I'd be fine and trhat I was just going to take a nap anyway.

Well I tried to take a nap. That however, didn't work out too well. I felt strangely out of place now that we weren't in Chicago, almost as if I was homeless. I couldn't go back to my people, they'd hurt me too much by forcing me to live with vampires. Here at the Cullen's, well they hated me. I couldn't blame them. I wasn't exactly nice to them. There was Edward. I spent most of my time with him. It was only every other week or so he left me to go hunt. I usually took the time to do girly things like shop or preen. I surely didn't want Edward to suffer watching the tortures that I have inflicted on me when I visit the beauty salon.

I watched the river behind the Cullen's house while perched on Edward's bedroom window seat. The river was the last place I saw Edward, right before he leaped across and took off with his family through the trees.

I knew it was pathetic just waiting here for his return. I felt like some lost little girl pining away for someone, anyone to come and play with me.

My heart leaped with excitement when my cell phone rang from the nightstand. Maybe it was Edward.

I flopped on the bed, scrambling for my phone. I didn't bother to look at the caller ID. "Hello?"

"Hey, baby girl!"

"Oh, hi, Mom."

"Don't you "Oh, hi, Mom", me."

"Sorry, Mom."

"Don't you miss me at all?"

"Of course I do. I just thought you were…" I didn't want to say it. I didn't want to admit that, as confusing as it all was, I was actually enjoying my time with Edward. What would she think of me if she knew of my growing affection for him. How would she react if I told her he was my best friend?

"Who did you think I was?"

"Oh, Mom. If you must know. I thought that maybe you were Edward."

"Oh. You mean he's not there with you?"

"No, Mom. He went on one final hunting trip with his family before the wedding. He'll be back tomorrow morning."

"Ah."

"Yeah, I guess I was just hoping he would call to wish me a good night."

"I see."

"You see what? What do you see? There's nothing to see!"

"Defensive."

"Mom," I whined.

"What aren't you telling me, Bella?"

"That's the problem. I don't know what to tell you."

"Is he treating you well?"

"You have no idea, Mom. Edward is so great. I've never met anyone so patient or caring. He doesn't act like a monster at all. He's so normal."

"Your father and I were very worried about you when you took off for Chicago."

"I know, Mom. I didn't want to leave, but I wasn't getting along with some of his family. It was my own fault. I didn't even give them a chance to get to know me. I was nasty to them when I got here and a few of them weren't treating me any better. Edward got frustrated that he and I weren't getting any one on one time, so we left."

"Your father was pretty upset that you left like that. He was ready to throttle Edward for taking advantage of his little girl."

"Oh, no. Is he still mad?"

"No. He's not thrilled, mind you, but he calmed down after Edward proposed. You know your father and his old fashioned values. He said, "At least that boy is making an honest woman of her."

I laughed at my mom's deep voiced effort to sound like my dad.

"Mom, you can tell Daddy that I'm still a virgin. Edward's been a complete gentleman. We haven't gone past the kissing and handholding stage."

"You kiss him?"

"Um…" Oh, no. Here's where it gets ugly.

"I know. I know. It's to be expected. You're being forc… Well you know, you'll be married to him soon."

Then my mom whispered, "You know, that if there was anything I could do, I would."

"I know, Mom. I know that you're worried, but you don't have to be. Edward is really good to me. He promised me that once we conceived that we could go back to just being friends. I mean we would still be married and live together. We would raise our child together. He just wouldn't expect me to sleep with him afterwards."

"That doesn't sound like much of a marriage sweetheart. Why not just skip the awkward part and just get inseminated if that's the only goal anyway?"

"I don't know, Mom. It made perfect sense to everyone else, but Aro's a sick fu… Um… perv that gets his jollies from forcing woman into lewd acts of a sexual nature. Edward told me he likes to watch his men rape the women they capture. In fact the Volturi have turned it into a spectators sport."

"Then how did you get off so easy?"

"Edward can read minds. You know that, right?"

"Yes, I've heard that."

"Well anyway he told me some of the stuff that was going on in Aro's mind the day Sam was forced to choice one of us girls. Edward told me Aro was afraid that he'd have to kill all the wolves if he tried to force those kinds of things on one of their women. Aro knew that Edward was single and he suggested to Edward telepathically that he step up. Aro was right. Sam was ready to attack. It was only because Edward proposed marriage that Sam agreed to it at all."

"I detect the sound of admiration in your voice. Is my little girl developing feelings for her fiancé?"

"Would it be so horrible if I did?"

"I don't know. I can't imagine what you must be going through."

"It's not the death sentence you make it out to be. I think I'm going to be happy with Edward."

"How happy?"

"Mom, he's going to be my husband. Is it so wrong to be happily married."

"Of course not. I guess I just assumed you'd file for a divorce after a while."

"Edward got really upset when I asked him about that. He really wants us to try. He doesn't want the conception of our child to be meaningless. He told me he's completely committed to me and our future family. Edward thinks sex outside of marriage is wrong and that getting married only to conceive a child and get a divorce afterwards is worse."

"Yes, but how do you feel about it?"

"I've never had to feel or thing about any of this stuff until all this happened. You should have seen the broken look on Edward's face when I suggested we just get a divorce afterwards. I knew right then and there that I never wanted to hurt him again. On one hand Edward's this strong, fierce vampire guy. I've seen his brothers try to wrestle with him. Neither one of them can best him; his father won't even try. Then on the other hand Edward has the gentlest soul."

"That's all wonderful, sweetheart, but how can you spend the rest of your life with someone you don't love?"

"Love? I…"

"Do you love him, Bella?"

"I don't know if it's love, but it's something."

"What do you think it is?"

"I don't know, I'm so confused, Mom. I mean what could be more awful than falling in love with the enemy? He's a vampire, I'm a werewolf. How is that ever going to work? Could you ever forgive me for wanting my marriage to Edward work?"

"Bella, if Edward makes you happy, how could I get upset with you over that. If everything you say about him is true he sounds like a decent enough guy."

"He is decent."

"And you have feelings for him?"

"Like I said there's definitely something."

"Do you want your marriage to work?"

"I think I do. Is that okay?"

"Yes, it's okay. It's more than okay."

"Really, Mom." I start to cry.

"Really, Bella. Honey, don't cry."

"I'm sorry, Momma. It's been so hard to figure all this out. I didn't think I had anyone to talk to about this stuff."

"Bella, sweetheart. You can tell me anything. I know you're probably upset with me for not being able to protect you from all this, but you have to know I'll always be here for you."

"I am a little upset. It's more at Sam than you though."

"Talk to me, sweetheart. Tell me everything that's going on."

"Oh, Momma. I feel so many things and I'm so confused. I know I'm not ready for any of this. I'm too young to be a mom and I'm definitely not ready to have an intimate relationship with someone."

"I want to come home, Momma, but at the same time I want to stay with Edward. I can't imagine my life without him now. And I'm afraid of so many things. I'm afraid I'll make a lousy mother and wife. I'm afraid that my first time will hurt and that I'll feel dirty afterwards. Edward and I are becoming such good friends, Mom. I'm afraid that sex will ruin our friendship. I'm afraid of how he makes me feel when we kiss. I'm afraid that I like it too much. I'm afraid I'm going to freeze up when he finally does more."

"All those things are normal fears to have when starting a relationship with someone. Tell me something, Bella. What is your biggest fear?"

"I'm afraid I'm going to hurt him."

"How would that make you feel if you ever hurt him?"

"I wouldn't want to survive it, Mom. He truly is a beautiful person, inside and out. Hurting him would be a crime. He's really just too perfect. If he wasn't a vampire he would be perfect. Everything would be perfect."

"Oh, my," my mom laughed. "It's happened."

"What's happened?"

"It sounds to me like the only thing that's holding you back from letting yourself love him is the fact that he's vampire."

"That's not true. If I loved him, I sure as hell wouldn't care about that."

"Okay, maybe you're right. But if you don't love him, you really should divorce him. Besides a friend of mine at work has this really cute son. I would really love to set you up with him. You two would make some very cute grandbabies," she whispered. All this whispering could only mean that dad was home.

I felt ill, truly sick at what she was suggesting.

"Mother, I'm not divorcing Edward to hook up with one of your friends sons!" I nearly shouted.

"Yes, but wouldn't you rather be with someone human?" she whispered again.

I was about to hang up on her she was making me so angry.

"I don't want to be with anyone but Ed…." Wow, what am I saying?

"With anyone but Edward? Is that what you were about to say."

"The way you talk about Edward you'd think he was the best thing ever. You describe him as the perfect man. I know, honey. There's not a man alive that's more perfect than your dad and let me tell you he isn't perfect. Face it, sweetie. You're looking at Edward through rose colored glasses. You love everything about him except that he's a vampire. Oops, Charlie. Hold on." Mom's gone for a second. "No worries he's watching a game."

"Mom, I know Edward's not perfect."

"Do you? Name one flaw besides the obvious."

I thought about it for a second and I couldn't, not unless you called patient, affectionate, and sometimes overly protective flaws.

"Tell me, Bella. If everything changed and you no longer had to marry Edward and you were forced to move back here and never see him again?"

"That would never happen," I growled.

"Suppose it did?"

"Mom…"

"It would break your heart, wouldn't it?"

"I don't…"
"Admit it, sweetie. You love him."

"No."

"Bella, you've imprinted on Edward. The sooner you admit it to yourself and him, the happier you both will be."
"That's impossible." My head is spinning. Is it possible? I didn't think so. "No! It's not true."

After, October 10, 2010

It felt surreal pulling up to the tiny house that was once my home. I called my brother Seth earlier that day and he assured me he was home alone.

Seth is bounding out of the house before we were even half way down the driveway.

His eyes are going wide with shock at the sight of Edward accompanying me but even more shocked to see how huge I am with child.

"Sis," Seth is staring down at me with worried eyes. "You

look so uncomfortable. Is there anything I can do?"

I think he's grown another foot sense I've seen him last. Tears are welling up in my eyes. I've missed my baby brother so much.

"You can rub my feet."

Edward's Chuckling beside me. He knows, being host to more foot rubs than he'd probably care to count, that I'm being serious.

Seth is glaring at him. "What is he doing here?"

"Seth, come here."

I'm wrapping him in my arms, as much of him as I can with my huge protruding belly. I'm cupping his cheek with my hand.

"I know it didn't seem like it at first, but I really am happy now. Edward makes me very happy." I want to convey to him that I think I've imprinted on Edward, but I still haven't talked to Edward about it.

My sweet, beautiful husband, I feel like I've neglected him. I haven't even told him how much I love him. I want to, but I want to wait till I'm not a whale. I don't want him to think I'm only saying it because of the pregnancy hormones, or whatever… I don't know. It just doesn't feel right yet. I want him to know my feelings for him are for real.

"Oh, well, so you've…"

I smile and nod.

"Well, Sam will have to except him now. The whole tribe will. Edward's really part of our family?"

I only grin. Of course Edward's probably reading Seth's mind and now the jig is up. I'm smiling up at Edward's confused face.

"What's an imprint, Sweet Girl?"

"I have a lot of explaining to do, but now's not the time, husband."

Seth's shaking his head in wonderment. "Sam's going to blow a fuse." He laughs, sticking out his hand in greeting to Edward.

"Welcome to the family, man."

"Um… Thank you.

I'm still tucked in at my brothers side, but I'm pulling away slightly so that I can see his face.

"Seth, I need you to do me a favor."

"Sure, sis. Anything."

"I need you to phase in front of Dad when he gets home."

"Um, sis. That would be the one exception."
"Of course we'll clear it with Sam when he gets here. Dad deserves to know his grandchildren. And my children deserve to Know about their Native American heritage. Especially when none of us know how much time we have left. The only way he'll be able to except this is if he knows everything."

"Are you sure that's a good idea. I'd hate for our dad to kill over with a heart attack."

"If he doesn't die after seeing how huge I am then he's probably fairly safe. Besides, Edward's a doctor."

Edward is rolling his eyes. "She loves reminding me of that."

"It's true," I'm arguing.

"Are you, really?" Seth's looking at him with wide eyes.

"I hold two medical degrees."

"He's never practiced. Too young looking."

Seth is nodding in understanding.

"So, Sam's on his way over?"

"Yeah. I called him to give him the heads up that I was bringing Edward."

"What did he say to that?"

"He tried to argue with me, but I reminded him that if he would have kept Jacob in check then I would have never had to marry Edward in the first place, but now that we are happily married he has no choice but to except Edward as part of the tribe."

"Wow, this is going to be an interesting day?"

"Does mom know you're home?"

"No, but how are Mom and Dad holding up sense Leah disappeared."

"Sam hasn't told them yet. As far as they know Leah and Riley are still on their honeymoon."

"That's right, Leah was suppose to get married two weeks after we did. How did the wedding go? Never mind. What does it matter now?"

"So her husband's missing too?" Edward is asking. This is the first we've heard that anyone beside's Leah may be missing.

"Yeah. I'm afraid so. When Carlisle called to tell us the Volturi contacted him about Leah, Sam called her cell phone. One of the Leeches answered and confirmed that they had Leah and she was safe for now, but they regretted to inform us the male had to die."

"Poor, Leah. Riley was her one."

"I know," Seth's agreeing. "She'll be out for blood. I hope she doesn't do anything stupid to get herself killed."

"Well anyway, lets get you inside and off your feet."

Edward is sweeping me off my feet.

"Hey! I can walk, you know."

"Sorry love, I can't let you do that. It's too painful for me to watch."

Seth's chuckling. "I know what you mean, man."

I'm pouting. "I hate being fat."

"Would you stop. You are not fat. You're pregnant, Sweet Girl and it's not the same thing."

I'm smiling at him. He's always insisting that I'm beautiful.

He's following Seth in the house. He's setting us on the loveseat with me on his lap. Seth is setting beside us.

Just as we get comfortable the doorbell is ringing.

"Come in," Seth calls out.

Sam, Paul, Embry and Quil walk through the door.

Edward's wrapping his arms around me, protectively placing his hands on our babies. I can feel his cold lips on my shoulder, a silent reminder that we're in this together.

"You brought a leech to our home, Bella," Paul snarls.

"Edward's not a leech! He's a good husband to me and I won't let you speak to him so disrespectfully."

"Leech lover," Paul seethed.

I'm raising my hand, pushing out of myself all the hurt and humiliation I've been made to suffer over the years. Paul is landing on his ass. He's beginning to shake.

"Embry. Quil. Please take Paul outside," Sam is commanding them.

"I'm sorry about that Edward. I am aware that your kind has special abilities. I'm asking you to refrain from using them on our people. Bella tells me you're her imprint. That makes you a part of our family, our tribe, our community. You, Bella, your children will always have a home here. You need not fear us."

"First of all I just have to say as Bella's husband I'm honored to be apart of your tribe… her family, this community. I understand it must be difficult for you to except me even if I am Bella's imprint. Not that I know what that is. Bella is yet to explain that one to me. With that being said, I'm not the one who knocked Paul on his ass. That was Bella's doing."

"I didn't exactly say to him that you're my imprint, Edward. I did imply it though."

"Is he or isn't he?" Sam's asking as if he's ready to throw Edward out on his ear if I tell him the wrong thing.

"Yes, he is. I was waiting to tell him. I wanted to make it special."

"I see."

Edward's got this confused kind of smile playing on his lips while he's letting his eyes skip back in forth between Sam and myself. I can only guess what Sam's thinking.

Edward's gasping. "Oh, wow. I'm that to you? His eyes are filling with wonder."

I'm pouting, leaning my head on his shoulder. "I didn't want you to find out like this."

"When did you know?"

"I've suspected for a long time now, but I was too stubborn to admit it to myself."

"Before or after the wedding?"

I'm rolling my eyes. I'm looking down at my lap.

Edward tilts my chin back up to force me to look him in the eye.

"Before, but that's not why we're here," I'm reminding him.

Edward's leaning forward. A shiver of pleasure is running through me as he kisses my nose. Of course, I'm blushing

Edward's chuckling at my reaction. "Later, Sweet Girl.
I'm only able to nod my agreement.

"Bella, would you like to tell me what exactly happened with Paul?"

I'm proceeding to tell him about the morning after our wedding night when the Volturi's witch attacked Edward. Sam is looking at me with concerned outrage.

"So you basically tossed them out on their ears?"

I'm nodding.

"No wonder they went after Leah."

A surge of guilt is suddenly welling up inside of me.

"Leah will never forgive me. Poor Riley."

"It's not your fault, Sweet Girl."

"Do you realize what this means?" Sam is asking me as if I hadn't said anything.

Edward's searching Sam's thoughts. His mouth is falling open.

"What?" My eyes are traveling between the two of them.

"You're the one," They're both saying at the same moment.

Wow. She's the one! Okay, that'll be interesting to contemplate. Do you have any ideas? I'd love to hear your theories. Bye for now. Thanks for reading.