Acceptance

"You've been alone, you've been afraid
I've been a fool in so many ways
But I would change my life
If you thought you might try to love me
So please give me another chance
To write you another song
And take back those things I've done
'Cause I'll give you my heart."
All over again- Justin Timberlake

Mood Music: All over again by Justin Timberlake, You Found Me by Kelly Clarkson, A Beautiful Mess by Jason Mraz.

Bella sat on the table watching the interaction between Edward and her doctor. While normally it wouldn't have bothered her, she liked her doctor and didn't want Edward offending her. She watched the two volley words back and forth becoming more and more irritated by the minute.

"The swelling and lack of sleep are normal and Bella has been having panic attacks for quite awhile now, it really should be nothing to worry about. The baby looks fine!" Dr. Jacobsen replied curtly to Edward.

"The swelling is normal, but only later in the pregnancy. As for the lack of sleep she is in her second trimester so she should be sleeping better, not worse!" Edward sounded frustrated and Bella couldn't help but be frustrated in return. Why wouldn't he accept that there was nothing wrong with her?

"I'm sorry," the doctor stated looking at him offended "If you have a problem with my diagnosis you have the right to a second opinion."

Bella could tell Edward was getting irritated and the doctor offended, turning to her doctor and smiling softly she tried to calm the situation. "It's fine, Edward here is just over analyzing things. No second opinion is needed."

Bella watched Edward excuse himself from the room, brushing off her goodbye and simply telling her he would talk to her later. She could feel the tears filling her eyes and noticed the unapologetic look on the doctor's face. She didn't know what the deal was, but Dr. Jacobsen was crossing the line.

--

Leaving her appointment Bella called Rose asking her to watch Alice for the night. She had agreed readily, especially once Bella explained what she was thinking. Making her way to Edward's apartment she was surprised to find that he wasn't home. Picking up her phone she pressed his speed dial and listened to the steady ring.

He wasn't picking up.

Concerned, Bella dialed the number again. He still didn't answer.

Resting her back against his door, she sat for a moment and contemplated everything that had been going on lately. She knew that she was hurting him, pushing him away. The thought saddened her and she tried dialing him one more time before heading back to Rose's place.

The drive to Rose's went quickly and before she knew it she was sitting on the couch, head tilted back contemplating how to progress forward. It was around this time that Alice entered the room, head tilted to the side.

"Mommy sad."

She plopped down on the couch next to Bella and leaned over placing a gentle kiss on Bella's belly. "Hi baby," she whispered to Bella's stomach before looking up and frowning.

"Why mommy sad?"

"Mommy had a doctor's appointment." Alice scrunched up her nose in distaste. She really hated going to see the doctor and it was something that she had learned from Bella. She truly was her mother's daughter.

"Why you see doctor?"

"To check on the baby, sweetie," Bella replied.

"Baby okay?"

"The baby is great, honey. You are going to have a little sister."

Alice squealed for a moment, hands clapping before looking up at her mother and making the perfect puppy dog face. "Edward there?"

"Yes."

"Why he not here?"

"I'm not sure," Bella sighed softly. She couldn't lie to Alice but at the same point there was only so much her daughter would understand.

"When do I see brother again?" Alice questioned innocently.

"Brother?" Bella asked softly lifting her head to stare at her daughter.

"Emmy!" Alice giggled as if it was the most obvious thing, "I miss Emmy."

"I know sweetie, I promise that you will get to see him soon."

"I see him now, you call Edward."

"It's not that simple, sweetie, I wish it was," Bella whispered to her pouting daughter.

"I miss Edward," Alice stated tears forming in her eyes, "Edward fun."

Bella looked at the devastated look on her daughters face and realized how much of an impact Edward had really had on her life, on her family. Alice loved him; she loved him, what was holding her back from taking the leap?

It was at that moment that Bella had an epiphany of sorts. She was hurting Edward, she knew that much, but in trying to be safe and do the right thing she was also hurting herself and Alice. Bella could keep pushing things back, but then she wasn't really living.

Alice had snuggled into her belly, her forehead pressed against her bosom. She whispered softly to her future sister about all the fun things they could do and as she spoke Bella ran her fingers through her daughter's hair. It didn't take long for the action to lull Alice into a deep sleep and she picked up her head, laying her out on the couch.

Rose stood in the doorway watching with a soft smile on her face.

"You're going to move in with him."

"I'm going to move in with him," Bella replied her eyes meeting her friends.

"'Bout damn time you got your shit together," Rose stated smiling softly and pulling her into a hug.

"Now I just have to tell him."

"What are you doing standing here? Makeup sex is the best part."

Bella's face blushed crimson at this comment causing Rose to burst into a fit of giggles. "Look at you all shy and modest; I think your belly tells everyone what you have been up to."

"Right," Bella grumbled rolling her eyes. "I can't get a hold of him. He won't answer his phone."

"And why is that?" Rose questioned concerned.

"Because," Bella looked down sheepishly "I may have sided with my OBGYN over him."

"Wow," Rose stated huffing, "You really have a way of messing things up."

"I know," Bella sighed, "Can I get Jasper's number from you?"

"Why do you want Jasper's number?" Rose questioned.

"Because I have a feeling he will know where Edward is."

"Good thinking!" Rose stated pulling her phone out of her pocket and handing Bella the phone.

--

Bella stood outside the office door, her forehead pressed against the wall. She needed to take a deep breath and make sure that she wasn't going to panic before going in. She had made up her mind about what she was going to do and she was sticking to it, no matter what.

Knocking softly on the door, she pulled it open poking her head in. Edward sat at his desk with a huge book in front of him. It looked like he was about half way through it and exhaustion was beginning to show on his features.

His hair looked like he had been tugging incessantly hard on it, and it stood wildly in every direction. His eyes had bags under them, most likely from the long hours of reading. A steady frown was present on his face.

"You look like crap," Bella blurted out as she entered the room. Shaking her head softly at herself her eyes scanned over his face.

"Well having the person you love basically dismiss your concerns will do that to you." Edward slammed the book on his desk shut and leaned his head back against his chair. Bella physically cringed from the response. So he was pissed. Really pissed.

She felt like she needed to explain, to justify her response even though there really was no justification.

"I just really like my OBGYN and I didn't want to offend her and switch to another doctor."

"Well then you must like her more than me. Don't my concerns mean anything to you Bella? I fucking love you and I tell you I am worried and you dismiss me. How do you think that makes me feel?"

Bella could feel the tears threatening to spill over but she forced them back. She wouldn't cry. She had hurt him, pretty deeply, and she would have to deal with the consequences of it.

"Probably terrible," her voice broke and she squinted her eyes shut blocking out her thoughts. "What are you reading?"

Edward held up the manual for her to look at and her mouth dropped open in shock. He was flipping through a medical diagnostic and treatment manual for pregnancy.

"Oh," she muttered feeling completely stumped on what to say. He had spent all this time trying to diagnose her?

"I've been trying to call you."

"I have been here for a few hours, flipping through this." His comment confirmed her thoughts and she felt the guilt begin to eat her inside. Coming around behind him she began to rub his shoulders, hoping to ease some of the tension and stress out of his posture.

She wanted to be there for him and that started with an apology.

"I'm sorry," Bella stated softly, "I haven't exactly been the easiest to live with lately."

"I just wish you would trust me, trust my love for you. I will never hurt you again, Bella. I can promise you that."

She knew that now and she understood. Twisting his chair around she plopped in his lap, simply wanting to feel him, to feel something. She laid her head against his shoulder breathing in his scent and she found it calming her.

"I will go see another doctor, it obviously means a lot to you." It was a concession of sorts, a way to start to make things right again. Would he see it as that though? Would he understand?

"It would mean a lot to me."

"Then it's done," Bella replied leaning in and placing a kiss on his chin, although she would have preferred his lips she felt it was too soon. "We're having a little girl." Her voice trembled with emotion.

"I know." Edward was smiling, the tips reaching his ears. He was truly ecstatic.

"So you've always wanted a girl?"

"I couldn't have cared less if it was a girl or a boy," Edward whispered, "But I do love the fact that I am going to be having a mini you." This comment touched Bella more than she could probably explain and her eyes burned with unshed tears once again with his words.

"You're not disappointed are you? I mean you already have Alice, you probably wanted a boy."

"I actually wanted a mini you," Bella whispered her face flushed with her admission. Edward laughed softly before leaning in and placing a kiss on her forehead.

"We are too alike sometimes."

"Hmm." Bella hummed softly against his neck as he rubbed his hands along her back and then her belly. His touch was warm and it felt wonderful against her stomach. It felt like things were finally getting on track for the first time in awhile and Bella knew what she had to do.

"Rose is watching Alice for the night and since Emmett isn't here I'm assuming Jasper is doing the same."

"Correct," Edward sighed, "I feel kind of bad that I haven't been around for him as much as I want to be. I think once the baby comes I am going to take some time off work."

"I would like that," Bella answered. "But the reason I was asking is because this is the first time we have had a whole night free in forever."

Edward raised his eyebrow and Bella immediately understood his intention. Trying not to laugh, she leaned in and gently whispered, "Would you show me our new home?"

--

Edward pulled into the driveway and Bella was surprised by the size of the house. He looked over at her, his face beaming as he hopped out and ran around the car. He opened her door and helped her out of the car with a flourish.

"Welcome home," he whispered softly in her ear as he placed his arm around her back, "Let me show you around."

Edward opened up the door stopping for a moment and turning to look at her.

"I feel like I should lift you over the threshold."

"Don't you only do that after you have gotten married?" Bella questioned. "Plus I am huge; I don't want you to hurt yourself." His eyes narrowed at her and Bella wasn't sure if it was out of spite or not but he picked her up effortlessly and carried her into their new home.

Setting her down, he led her into the foyer stopping for a moment to flip on the lights.

"Edward this house is huge," Bella stated looking up at the vaulted ceiling in the entry way her mouth open in a gape. "This is too much."

"Nonsense," Edward muttered, "now you sound like Jasper. I planned for what we would need. It's the perfect size, trust me."

"I do." was Bella's only response as she looked around.

"It's partially furnished. I bought a few things and moved a few things over from the apartment but I have kind of been holding out, I hoped that you would help me decorate."

"I would be honored to," Bella responded as she walked through what she assumed was the living room. She ran her hand along the mantle over the fireplace finding that she was having trouble picking words to describe how she felt.

"It's beautiful Edward."

"It's ours," Edward replied softly. She looked around for another minute before moving on to another room, each more ideal than the next.

After pointing out each of the rooms on the first floor he took her hand and led her slowly up the stairs. Bella could picture the house as the ideal place to raise a family.

"This is perfect."

"I know," Edward stated stopping at the top and looking at her, "I only want the best for my family."

The words seemed to hit Bella deeply in the heart and she found herself tearing up. Before she could even attempt to force the tears back his arms were around her and he was softly soothing her; his hand running up and down her back.

"I'm sorry it's too much too fast isn't it?" Edward's voice sounded almost panicked and Bella found herself chuckling through her sobs.

"It's not that," Bella replied. "It's just," her voice broke as she looked up at him, "we are a family now."

His smile seemed to shine and Bella found herself burying her face in his neck. "You, Alice, Emmett, and the baby are my family now, always." He placed a kiss on her forehead before showing her Alice, Emmett and the baby's rooms.

"Where is our room?" Bella questioned causing him to smile.

"It's down the hall, this way." He took her hand and led her to a large room at the end of the hall. He opened the door and stood back letting her explore.

There was a large bed in the middle of the room. Along one of the walls was a fireplace that seemed to open the room up and make it feel warmer.

"What do you think?" he had moved closer and his breath brushed across her neck causing her to jump.

"I love it," Bella replied turning to look at him. His smile grew and he drew her into a hug, carefully molding her to him for a moment before leaning down and kissing her softly.

That night Edward made love to her. It wasn't the same as before. There was a new intensity between them and they veered from their normal pace. Taking things slowly and gently he had peeled the clothes off of her, lavishing attention on her now growing belly that caused Bella to giggle.

It only took her a moment to remove his clothes and her rush had him laughing.

"I'm pregnant, that gives me the right to be horny," Bella joked trying to ease the escalating tension.

He entered her slowly, his body molding around her belly. Almost as if he was worshiping her, he was slow and soft her name tumbling from his lips over and over again.

Pressing his forehead against hers he caressed her lips with his own. Bella couldn't contain the moans, his name tumbling from her lips as she tangled her hands in his hair.

Bella began moving her hips to meet each of his thrusts, urging him to go faster, go harder, but he maintained his pace. "I haven't felt this alive in forever," he whispered into her hair, "I'm going to make it last."

Breathing deeply, bodies molded together with sweat, Bella came calling his name.

He looked up into her eyes, orgasming and his eyes rolling back in pleasure.

"I love you," Bella moaned as he leaned down and kissed her softly.

"I love you two," Edward stated pulling away and placing his head on her stomach, his hands pressing softly into the flesh as he kissed it tenderly. "God do I love you two."

Special thanks to my beta extraordinaire pixielovestoshop for looking over this so quickly for me! You are amazing! Thanks for all your help!

Thanks to all of you who reviewed or added this story to your alerts or favorites! Your reviews are seriously making my days so much better and my writing so much easier! You guys rock!

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