Disclaimer- I don't own these characters. :)

Chapter 14

After Edward and I had collected ourselves, we walked back to the house to our son, and our family. I tried to pretend that everything was fine, but I knew that while we were gone Alice had seen it and informed the Cullens of my actions. Edward put on a brave face that would have seemed normal to anyone but the people that knew him best, and unfortunately those were the only people he was surrounded by.

The rest of the day was spent on the extremely large silver slide with Emmett, Ean and Edward, and Alice dragged me away for a miniature game of Bella Barbie, convincing me that the next day she was going to wake me up early to catch up on our shopping. Carlisle had an extra shift at the hospital, and did not return until shortly after Edward and I put Ean to bed. We had been standing together, just watching our baby boy sleep peacefully, when Edward whispered

"Carlisle is home and would like to speak with you." We walked out of the room and Edward showed me to Carlisle's office, then excused himself as soon as Carlisle ushered me in.

"Bella, I was hoping that you could try and remember the medical details of your pregnancy, and anything that has changed medically for you or seems off about Ean." I told him about my pregnancy, how I had worried about the venom, how my stomach had always seemed a little colder then the rest of me, and how until that day in Forks I had managed to not fall so much. I even told him something I had never shared with anyone else before, the doctors had told me at the hospital in Forks that they were relived I had made it through the birth okay, because I blacked out afterwards and I flat lined for a few minutes, they had almost given up when my heart started up slower then before, and it had stayed that pace ever since. I told him about how Ean had never gotten many cuts or scratches even though he managed to find ways to get himself into situations where he should have.

Anything else I could think of, I told Carlisle. He then asked about more pleasant things, when Ean had learned to talk, crawl, walk, eat solid food, little things like that. When he asked about Ean's first tooth, I mentioned that he had been born with teeth, even if they had been very tiny and dull, they had been teeth all the same. Carlisle said he would be doing some research with some old friends to see if there had ever been a case like mine, and I thanked him profusely, because I did still lose sleep worrying about whether or not I would wake up with amber eyes and a baby with a silent heart.

I walked back into Edward's room, and was looking for something to wear to bed when I found my cell phone, turned off in my bag. I realized the mistake of spending two days with my ex-boyfriend and his family while my husband couldn't reach me right as I turned the phone on. I had 12 voicemails, 26 texts and 30 missed calls. These were all from Renee, Luke and even a few from Angela and Charlie. I grabbed my phone and a jacket, and smiled apologetically Alice, Jasper, and Edward, who were sitting in the living room on my way out.

I walked to the very end of the backyard, where Edward had stopped me earlier that day. I hit the speed dial for Luke, and bit my lip nervously, deciding to just go with whatever popped into my head first.

"BELLA!" I knew I was in for it now. "Are you alright? Is Ean okay? What happened, where even are you?" He continued like that, only asking questions in a worried tone, and I felt awful for even thinking of leaving him.

"Luke, stop. I'm fine, Ean's great, and I'm sorry. I forgot that I turned my phone off when I left the hotel. I'm a few hours outside of Atlantic City, at the Cullens house. I had to see them Luke, they deserved to know about Ean." Luke knew the same story everyone else did, but I was still surprised by his next words,

"Well, are they okay with it? Does Edward like Ean? If any of them hurt you, I'll—"

"Luke! I'm fine, their guilty but ecstatic, Edward loves Ean. I'm sorry I took off like I did, but I needed to straighten this all out."

"And how is that going?" Luke said in a way that told me he was smiling, and not angry at all, just worried.

"Well, uh, good, I guess. Everyone is still getting used to it. See, Edward wasn't supposed to be able to have kids, so it's a bit of a shock. But I think Ean and I will be back in a day or two."

"And what's going to happen then?" He had me there.

"I honestly don't know Luke. I think we're just taking it a day at a time for the moment." I paused "So are you trashing the apartment out of boredom?" Luke chuckled, and a smile automatically lit up my face as my heart skipped a beat,

"Well, Bells there might be a new, shorter way to get to the neighbors apartment. I know you're probably busy, so just call me tomorrow, and come home soon. I love you."

"I love you too Luke, and I will, don't worry. Goodnight." I hung up the phone and walked back into the house. Alice and Jasper were by themselves, and Alice told me that Ean had started crying right after I walked out the door.

I walked upstairs and looked into Edward's room, where I saw Edward rocking Ean to sleep, humming my lullaby. He had a smile on his face, and he looked peaceful. I hesitated, before walking in and sitting down on the bed. Edward looked up at me, his smile widening, and I whispered

"I may not be able to read his mind, but I do know he loves you." Edward dropped his eyes back to our son, "I tell him stories about you, mainly about that summer, almost every day. He loved you before he knew how." Edward had gotten up, deciding Ean was out, and put him in his crib.

"I only wish I hadn't missed the beginning of his life, he reminds me of you in so many ways, and having the two of you in my existence, makes it infinitely sweeter." He smiled at me again, and as much as I didn't want it to, my heart skipped a beat. Walking out the door, he turned to me one more time,

"Sleep Bella, dream happy dreams, and I know you don't want to hear it, but you are the only one who has ever touched my heart, and it will always be yours." He wasn't trying to make me feel guilty, in his mind he deserved everything that I said, he was trying to make sure I knew that no matter what my choice was, he was behind me, he would always be there, as long as I wanted him.

"Goodnight Edward," I murmured as he closed the door. I couldn't help but hope desperately that someday, knowing that I did the right thing would be enough, and that I could be okay with it. But, lying in his room that night, I knew that breaking his heart would never feel right.

And if I truly believed I would be able to look back at it without regrets, I was sadly mistaken.

A/N Not as long as you all deserve, but with the holidays I find myself with some writer's block. I'm truly sorry about the wait, and tried to make this longer several times, but I'm sick of looking at it. So, here it is, please review, motivate me to try harder, and not make you wait a horribly long time between updates. Happy Holidays, also. And that quote at the end from Edward? A slightly longer and different version was in Eclipse, and I love it, so I changed it a little. I hope that Stephanie Meyer doesn't get angry. :)

Special thanks to the wonderful reviewers of last chapter, TwilightSagaObsessive1fan, katezzzz12, Last of the Trifecta, EdwardCullensREALWife, Zynthia, SilverAngel1234, skyangel82, Isabella4ever, EdwardsCandyCane, OnlyAtTwilight, Sobriquet Queen,Misti D, PeanutCullen, Musehere, kaceekittykat, RK13

You guys really are the greatest. Please don't be too upset with the wimpy update, I'm going to see if I can get anything done tomorrow morning, I'm usually very creative early.

-Caitlin