Chapter 30

EPOV

She isn't saying anything, why isn't she saying anything?

"Bella, love, are you ok?" I asked concerned.

"Twins" she just squeaked, I'm not sure if that was a question or a statement.

"Yes sweetheart, twins." I said brushing the hair from her face.

"How, I mean, yeah how?" She said.

Fortunately for me Carlisle and Alec were still in the room, "Bella is there a history of twins in your family?" Carlisle asked.

"Not that I know of, wait I think my gran was a twin." She said.

"Well twins are usually contributed to by the mother's genes." He told us."Why don't I give you some time alone, take as long as you need, Carlisle when you are finished come find me I have some instructions that I need to go over with Bella." Alec said before he and Becky walked out the door.

"Bella, tell me what you're thinking love." I prodded.

"I don't know what to think, it seems that I was just accepting the fact that we were having a baby and now I find out that we're having two."

"You're sure that you didn't miss anymore in there?" "I don't want another surprise when they're born." She said.

"No Bella, I promise there were only two." Carlisle said laughing.

Oh well, at least someone finds this funny. Don't get me wrong I'm happy with twins, I've always wanted a big family, but I'm concerned for Bella.

I don't have such a hard job, all that I have to do is take care of her.

She however has to carry two babies for the next eight months, she's such a tiny woman, how is there ever going to enough room. She's going to be miserable.

"Edward, how do feel about this?" She asked.

"I think that it's amazing, definitely a surprise, but amazing at the same time."

"You're not worried?" She asked.

"Worried about what love?" OK so I was confused.

"About how we're going to take care of them, we don't know anything about taking care of a baby, let alone how you manage to take care of two at the same time."

"Bella, you know that you two are not along, you have Esme and I, not to mention Alice and even Emmett." "You're going to have help sweetheart, we are not going to kick you out when the babies are born, we want to be there for you." Carlisle said.

"Thanks Carlisle" She whispered.

"Seriously dad thank you." I told him.

"Besides that, I highly recommend that you two take childbirth classes, they will help a lot."

"Where do we find those?" I ask.

"They teach them here at the hospital, as you get closer to your due date, we'll get you signed up."

"So now that you know that you're not just going to be given the babies and told that you're on your own, do you have anymore questions or worries?"

"Dad, look at her, how is she going to be able to carry two?" I asked him."Edward, women do it everyday, relax."

"But I bet there not all as tiny as she is." I argued.

"No son, some are smaller, trust me there will be room." "Now the closer that she gets to her due date, they may become too crowded and they will have to come a little early, but that's not unusual."

"I do need to get back to work, is there anything else that I can help you with before I send Alec back in?"

"No thanks dad, really thanks." I told him

"Thanks for letting me be here for that, Esme was so jealous." He chuckled.

"About mom, dad, could you not call her right now? I want us to be the ones to tell her if you don't mind."

"I wouldn't have it any other way, don't worry I won't say a word." He said before walking out the door.

A couple of minutes later Alec came back in the room, "Is everything ok now? He asked.

"Yeah, I guess it was just a little bit of a surprise." Bella said

"I'm sure it was, it usually is." He chuckled.

"How about you Edward, are you ok."

"I'll be fine thanks, as long as you take good care of her I'll be great." I told him.

"So do you have any questions?" He asked both of us together.

"I can't think of anything at the moment, how about you baby any questions?" I asked Bella.

"Not right now, but I'm sure that I'll think of something as soon as I walk out the door."

"Well feel free to call with any questions or concerns that you have before your next appointment, I want to see you back in four weeks." He said.

"Bella, I assume that Carlisle already has had you taking prenatal vitamins?"

"Yes."

"Well just keep on doing what you're doing, everything seems to be going great, don't over exert yourself, rest when you feel like it, if you have a hard core caffeine addiction now is the time to give it up, but otherwise you have no limitations or restrictions."

"Thank you" She told him. "Edward, take good care of her, you're job is going to be harder than you think." "I will, I promise." I said while extending my hand to shake his; suddenly I felt like a shit about the way that I acted earlier.

"Oh and kids, we thought that you may want these." He handed me a couple of pictures of the sonagram.

"Yes we do." I grinned, our babies' first pictures.

After making an appointment for the next visit, Bella and I headed out of the hospital; "So love anything in particular you want to do now?"

"If it's ok, I think that I just want to go home, let's tell the family, we really need to get going on the wedding before I'm unable to walk down the isle."

"You know Bella, I wasn't lying, I would fly you to Vegas tonight if that's what you want, we can always have a formal wedding after the babies are born."

"Edward, you know that we can't, that would hurt your family." "I appreciate it really I do, but let's do this once ok."

She continues to amaze me, I thought that she would jump at the chance to elope, but no she's so concerned about my family that she won't even consider it.

"Have I told you today just how much I love you?" I asked her while I linked her fingers with mine and brushed the top of her knuckles with a kiss.

"I think that I have an idea." She said with a smile.

We pulled up to the house and before I could even help her out of the car, Alice, mom and Emmett were in the yard waiting for us.

"What?" I asked.

"How did the appointment go?" Mom asked.

"Yeah, how's my nephew Nick doing?" Emmett asked.

"Puleeze, it's your niece, and how is she doing?"

"Come on can you at least let Bella into the house before the inquisition begins?"

We walked into the house and I led Bella to the couch where I promptly sat down and pulled her into my lap, wrapping my arms around her waist and began rubbing her stomach.

"Well?" Mom said.

"You know it was just the first appointment don't you?" I asked.

"Sure, but how are things going?" Alice asked.

"Well, Bella's doing really well, and we heard the heartbeat, dad was there for that." I began.

"I knew he was going to be, he was so excited." mom replied.

"They even did an ultrasound." Bella added.

"Really, so soon, isn't that a little unusual so early?" Mom asked.

"I think so but they thought that they heard something when we were listening to the heartbeat, so Alec decided to take a look."

"What was it?" They all looked very concerned now.

"You want to do this or should I?" I asked Bella.

"Come on, what is it?" Emmett seemed to be growing impatient.

Bella reached into her bag and handed mom the pictures, for a minute mom looked confused and then she understood.

"Oh my goodness, is this what I think it is?" "Are you having…..?"

She looked at both Bella and I for confirmation.

"Having what?" Emmett shouted.

"Twins" Bella, mom and I said at the same time.

"Twins, really? Yes that means twice the shopping." Alice squealed.

"Congrats man, like I said before, you don't do anything half assed do you?" Emmett said while pounding me on the back.

"Hey talk to Bella about that, dad said that twins come from the mother's side."

"Awesome dude, we are going to have a start on our own football team."

"Or cheerleading squad." Alice added.

"I'm going to have two grandchildren." Mom gushed.

"Oh I have to call so many people and tell them the good news." She started.

"Hey mom, Bella and I want to talk to you about something, if you don't mind." I stopped her before she could pick up the phone.

"Sure sweetheart, what is it?" She asked finally sitting down.

"Well we want to put the wedding on the fast track, I mean as quickly as we can." "So we probably need to tone it down, Bella really wants to wear a wedding gown and since we're having twins, she's really concerned about that."

"Of course dear, since we're going to Seattle tomorrow anyway to visit the planners, maybe we could go ahead and hit the bridal boutiques, while we're there."

"Uh, I don't think that I'm supposed to be there for that am I?" I asked.

"No, but there are other things that you can be doing, like seeing about tuxes and things like that." Alice said.

"Alice go get the books dear, maybe we can make some decisions before we get there tomorrow." Mom was in charge now and when she is Alice doesn't even compare.

"Ok kids, have you thought about theme?" Mom started once Alice came back with armloads of books, binders and magazines. How long have they been working on this?

Somehow Alice knew what I was thinking, she just said, "since the day you two met."

"Theme?" Bella asked before I could, seriously weddings are supposed to have themes?

"Of course, like all parties there must be a theme." Alice said like we should have known better.

"I thought that it was get a dress, some flowers and a cake, a couple of rings and a preacher." I said.

"That's getting married silly, not a wedding." Alice said.

"Dude, good luck but your on your own, I'm out of here." Emmett said.

"Ok so what are wedding themes?" Bella asked.

"Well there are millions, it can be just about anything, mom did Aro tell you how quickly he can throw this together?"

"He said three months minimum, but that was before we knew that we need it faster."

"So late February, early March, hmm themes that go with that time of year."

"There's always winter wonderland, but it's been overdone lately." Alice said.

"It's too early for a Spring wedding" Mom added.

"How about just a traditional formal wedding?" I suggested.

"Bella, is there anything in particular that you want dear?" Mom asked.

"Just to say I do" Bella said. She's beginning to get tired, I can always tell and I want to take her upstairs for a nap.

"Mom, whatever you want to do is fine, I'm taking Bella upstairs for a nap." I told her.

"Of course, we can finish talking about this after she wakes up, we just need a general idea before our appointment tomorrow."

"Have a good rest sweetheart."

"Thanks for everything both of you" She said as I began pulling her away to walk up the stairs.

"Are you ok baby?" I asked as she climbed into bed.

"Yeah, I'm just tired, today has been kind of …." she started.

"Yes it has." I finished.

"Edward what were you saying about Vegas?" She smiled up at me from underneath her eyelashes; "I know sweet girl, it sounds good doesn't it."

"I just hate being the center of attention, and since I'm pregnant with twins, keeping the focus away from me is going to be difficult.""We'll figure it out, now get some rest, love." I said before kissing her softly.

She fell asleep in my arms with my hand rubbing her stomach; wow those are my babies in there, not just one but two. I'm so ready for them to be here, I can't wait to meet them.

I had thought about getting up and going to play, I had a new tune running through my head and I want to work on it, but I also knew that the we weren't going to have a lot of time for moments like this from now on.

With wedding plans and babies to get ready for, things were about to become hectic and I love this quiet time with her, it soothes me just as much as it does her.

I must have fallen asleep too, because the next thing that I knew Bella was trying to climb out of the bed, but she had become tangled in the sheets.

"Bella are you ok?" She just shook her head and continued fighting with the sheets.

I yanked them off of her and helped her get up and followed her into the bathroom, why do they call it morning sickness anyway? It seems to be anytime sickness, if you ask me."

After she finished vomiting and rinsed her mouth out, she just crumbled onto the floor.

"What's wrong baby?" I asked, usually after she gets sick she's fine.

"Edward, I just can't do it, I'm sorry, I know that your family expects it, but I can't start planning a huge, overblown wedding, when I can't go a whole day without a nap or vomiting."

"It ok sweetheart, but I need to know, are you saying that you don't want to get married or that you don't want a wedding?"

"Oh Edward, I'm sorry, you thought that I wanted to call off the wedding, I want to get married, I want it more than anything, but I can't do a big wedding right now."

"You're family is going to hate me." She cried.

"No they're not, sweetheart they will understand, I may have an idea that will appease them, but give us more of what we want."

"What?" She asked sniffling.

"How about a destination wedding, just family and a few close friends, we all go out of town together and get married, you can wear a gown, I can wear a tux, we can even have a couple of attendants, but it won't be this monstrosity they are wanting to throw." I said pleased with myself for thinking of this, and I knew just where I wanted to take her.

"Maybe after the babies are born, we can do it again their way, but let's do this now and let it just be about us."

"I think that's perfect, but won't you be disappointed?"

"Are you kidding me?" "As long as I get to marry the woman of my dreams, I'm perfectly happy."

I sat with her for a while until she had managed to get control of her emotions; I can understand how overwhelmed she must be, at times I feel that way too and I'm not the one that is pregnant.

We walked downstairs and mom was setting the table for dinner.

"Is there anything that I can do to help?" Bella offered.

I could tell that she was nervous about telling them that we didn't want the wedding, but I knew my family, they would understand and support any decision that we made as long as it is what we want.

"No thanks sweetie, Edward dear, could you go get Alice and Emmett and tell them that dinner is ready please."

"Sure mom."

By the time that we made it back to the dining room, mom, dad and Bella we already seated.

Once everyone was served, mom started talking about wedding plans and I knew that this was my cue to tell them of our new plans.

"Uh mom, dad about the wedding Bella and I made a decision, that I hope that you will both understand and respect."

"What is it Edward?" Carlisle asked and poor mom looked like she was ready to cry.

"We have decided that right now, too much is going on to worry about a big, formal wedding." "What we would like to do is, for us, the rest of the family and a few close friends to go away to get married."

"Esme, I want you to know that I really appreciate what you are trying to do by throwing us a wedding, but honestly right now all that I want is to be married." Bella said, I nodded in agreement.

"Look, after the babies are born, and we get into some sort of routine, you guys can throw us the wedding of the century if you still want, but truthfully Bella is under so much stress as it is, the wedding would just add more."

"Son did you really think that we wouldn't understand?" dad asked.

"No, but I know how much the wedding was going to mean to mom." I answered.

"Edward, I admit I was excited about the wedding, but honestly I think what you're suggesting is a better idea for now." " Let's just get you married, and later we will throw a wedding."

"So any ideas of where you want to go?" "How about the island?"

Bella just looked at me in shock, oops I had forgotten to mention that my parents owned a very small island.

"No, I want to keep her out of town for a week or so as sort of a honeymoon, and there is no medical care close enough for me to be comfortable there."

"Well, Carlisle and I could stay with you."

"Esme, dear, I don't think that they would enjoy having us along for their honeymoon."

"Actually I was thinking about the chapel at Julliard." "I know that she is curious about my life at college, I want to share that with her, I'm sure that I have enough connections at the school that I could make it happen."

"Really?" She asked.

"I know it's not everyone's idea of a romantic wedding and honeymoon destination, but I think that you would enjoy it there."

"Please" She was begging me with her eyes; Well that settles it no matter what everyone else thinks, I am marrying Bella there.

"Yay, I love New York" Alice shouted with glee. I should have known that at least she would be happy with my decision.

"So mom, I'm sorry but I guess you'll need to cancel the appointment tomorrow."

"No, we can still go, they can use their connections to make the arrangements in New York, and we'll tell them that they can still do the wedding in a couple of years, trust me they plan them much further out than that."

"Plus Bella needs to get to a bridal shop ASAP." Alice added.

"So when do you think that you want to do this, I'll need to arrange the time off from work." Carlisle asked.

"Alice how long will it take to get a dress?" Bella asked.

"It depends on the dress, but a lot of them you can have in about a month."

"So how does January 21st sound, it's a Saturday, we could all fly in on the 20th?" I asked.

"Is that too soon baby?" I hope that I wasn't pushing her too fast.

"It sounds perfect."

Mom and Alice started talking about things that "just had" to be done tomorrow, they began asking about attendants, flowers, food, music and all kinds of other things.

"Hey guys the point of this is to keep it low-key." I reminded them.

"So Edward what do the two of you have in mind?" Mom asked.

I told her of our vision, a small intimate wedding in the chapel, instead of a catered reception, I thought that we could all just go out to a nice restaurant. I told them that I was pretty sure that I could find a pianist to play for the ceremony, we don't even really need decorations, and a few flowers would be ok, including Bella's bouquet.

"What about a cake?" Alice asked.

"Why can't we just order dessert at the restaurant?" Bella asked.

"Attendants?" Mom chimed in.

"Two each" I said.

"Dad and Emmett for me, and who do you want love?"

"Rose and Alice" She said without thinking about it.

"Uh, Rose and Jasper will be going won't they?" She asked.

"Of course love, I'm sure that they won't miss it."

"Uh, I'm sorry but I have to ask this Bella, but who do you want to walk down the aisle?" Alice asked while looking somewhat ashamed.

"Oh, I hadn't really thought about it, I know who I would love to do it, but he can't afford the trip, so maybe Jasper."

"Bella, if you want Jake there he will be there." I told her.

"Edward, I can't let…"

"Bella hush, he's family too and if you want him there to walk you down the aisle, then it's going to happen as long as Billy will let him go."

"He can even bring Nessie."

"Edward.."

"No arguments, call him and ask him to make the arrangements with Billy and Nessie's parents."

"Thank you, that means a lot to me."

"You're very welcome love."

There were a few more details that needed to be worked out, but all in all this looked like it was going to be pretty easy.

My parents decided to invite Ben and Angela and each of their parents also. We didn't want them to feel excluded because they have been such good friends to Bella and would also ask Reverend Webber to officiate the ceremony.

My parents would be very happy to cover all expenses of course.

After another hour or so of wedding planning, Bella and I decided to call it a night, I saw her eyes trying to close as we all sat around the dining room table.

Mom told me what time we had to leave in the morning, and I promised that we would be ready. I grabbed a 7-up for Bella, I really need to see about getting some kind of fridge up there for her and for the babies when they come. Maybe I can find time to get one tomorrow.

"Bella, I didn't want to ask you about this downstairs, but do you want to invite Charlie?"

I saw the tears before they began falling, "No Edward, I can't I'm not ready."

"I understand sweetheart, I just had to ask." I held her to try to comfort her.

"How about Renee and Phil?" She smiled slightly.

"I don't know about Phil, but I doubt that Renee would want to miss New York." She laughed.

"I'll go ahead and book her a room also."

"Edward, thank you." She said.

"Thank you for what love?" I was confused.

"For everything, for getting them to lighten up on the wedding thing, for making it about us, instead of everyone in the town, for wanting to share Julliard with me, for loving me, for taking care of me, for including Jake, just thank you."

I didn't really know what to say to all of that, I don't feel like I'm doing anything special, just loving her, but her declaration touched me deeply.

"Bella, it's me that should be thanking you." I said into her hair.

"Thank you for changing my life, thank you for loving me, thank you for making me the happiest man on earth, for giving me not one but two children.

We both fell asleep in each other's arms.

A/N:

First of all thanks so much for the response that I'm still getting, you guys are amazing.

Also sorry about the delay, I've been working on this chapter for a while now, and I never seemed to be pleased with it, the more that I worked on it, the unhappier I became, so here it is for what it's worth.

Please leave me some feedback, I love it and do take it to heart, it also motivates me to write faster.