Thanks to Mariahajile, she said she loved it so you should too :-D

Thank you all for being patient and still having interest to read!

Chapter 12

Edward smiles sadly as he watches her. They eat together, and the conversation's active and flowing. But there's an underlying sadness. She's moving with a slowness that serves as a reminder of her D&C yesterday morning.

"I guess." She sighs. "Do you want this room back?" Bella questions, lifting a onesie and inhaling the new scent. She wishes she were inhaling her baby's scent; that baby smell that is not quiet sour but very close to it. In the end, it's the most delicious smell.

"Bella, I was hoping we would be together, sharing one space."

"Okay." She nods, a tiny smile creeping to her lips before she looks at her task. "Should I pack these away, or…?"

"Keep them as is, Bella," he informs her, referring to the baby things. "We're going to try very soon." Leaning in, he cups her cheek. "Then we're going to have a baby together." He never, ever thought those words would be in his vocabulary. He never thought he would want that, but he wants it with Bella. God, she's beautiful. "Come here," he whispers, tugging her closer. He kisses the top of her head and holds her. "I love you."

"I love you, Edward."

He hugs her close. "Are you in any pain?"

"No," she whispers into his chest. His hands rub up and down her back, making her feel safe and warm.

"Hey, how do you feel?" Angela questions Bella when she walks in Monday morning.

"Okay." Bella smiles sadly.

"You look brighter."

"I feel good, better."

"He's back?!" Alice exclaims.

"Yeah." Bella nods, sipping her fruit smoothie. They spent the weekend, just the two of them. She didn't inform anyone when they called of his return. She just wanted it to be Edward and Bella for a few days.

"What did he say? Did you tell him about the baby?"

"I had to. He showed up after you dropped me off. I was a mess," Bella responds.

"How is he with everything?" Rose questions, gently touching her stomach.

"He loves me."

Rose smiles. "Congratulations!"

Bella laughs and nods. "I love him. He's just so unexpected," she explains. "And wrong. But it's good."

Alice smiles. She never expected Bella's first love to come in the form of a tattoo-covered, Harley-riding drifter with a story she doesn't know. But she's happy for her friend. "I'm glad, and love is never wrong. It's only good."

Rose nods. "That is the wisest thing you've ever said." Rose touches her chest and flutters her eyes like crazy at Alice. Alice throws a french fry at her friend.

Bella walks into the house. She kicks her shoes off and smiles when she smells dinner. "Hi." She greets him in the kitchen with her light pink apron around his middle. "You're ridiculous."

"Hi." He grins, leaning down to kiss her. "Your father called."

"What?" Bella widens her eyes. She pulls out her cell, checking to see if he called and she missed it.

"Relax, baby," he whispers, kissing her mouth a few times lightly.

She instantly relaxes. He has such a soothing effect. He's easy and calm. She's uptight and needs to breathe deeply pretty often, more often than she normally allows. She's learning with him.

"He called to check in on you. He's not happy you didn't take Monday off."

"I'm sure he is. I'm fine," Bella insists rather convincingly.

Edward holds her cheeks and stares at her for a few moments. "You sure?"

"I'm sure."

"No pain?"

"None."

"Blood?"

"Edward…" She tries to pull away.

"I'm just checking."

"I appreciate it. I would tell you if I did."

"Okay." He kisses her nose, then lips, unable to get enough of her. "I missed you," he whispers.

Bella smiles and leans into him, wrapping her arms around his body. "My apron looks great on you."

He laughs and rests his chin on top of her head. "I don't know why you have it. You don't cook."

"I don't know." She sighs, resting against him.

"Forgive me, Bells, if I'm slightly confused as to what he's doing back." Charlie's just confused as to what's been going on. Bella's been less than open about things, and he feels like there is a bit of a story behind all of this, behind Edward.

"Dad."

"Bells," he whines back.

"Be happy for me."

"I am happy. I just don't want your heart broken."

"He won't break it. I promise," Bella says, looking at Edward.

Her feet are in his lap, and he's rubbing them. Edward lifts her foot and kisses her big toe.

"Okay, kid. How are you feeling? Edward said you went to work today."

"Yeah. I'm okay. I'm good." Bella nods a bit.

"Sue sends her love."

"Right back at her." Bella smiles.

"Listen, take care of yourself. I'm coming up Friday night."

"Nice notice, Dad."

"I'm your father; I don't need to give notice."

"I am 35; you need to give me notice."

Charlie laughs. "I'm glad you're feeling better. I'm glad Edward's back. He seems like a nice man."

Bella smiles. She could tell Charlie liked him the first time they met. That's a huge thing. Someone that looks like Edward is not someone Charles Swan would normally approve of dating his daughter. Somehow, though, Edward won her father over in a night. He won her over, too.

"Night, kid."

"Night, Dad." Bella hangs up and drops her phone. "He and Sue are coming out Friday night."

His hand firmly strokes up and down her naked calf. "Oh, yeah?"

"Hmm…"

"Are they sleeping in the baby's room?" There is still a full size bed in the room.

"Yeah." She nods sadly.

"We'll have a child." He takes her hand and squeezes it tightly. Pulling her up, he settles her on his lap. "I know you can't… I just want you close," he whispers onto her lips as their noses brush and breaths mix.

"I want to be close to you, as well," she mutters, kissing him before moving to lift her shirt over her head. Laughing, she throws it down.

"Just Bella, is that you throwing your clothing around?"

Bella laughs harder. She unhooks her bra and throws it well across her living room.

"You must be sick," he jokes, feeling her forehead.

"Take your shirt off. I haven't seen this body in months," she mutters. Shifting slightly again, she allows him the room he needs to pull his shirt off. "Throw it."

"Promise you won't scold me later?"

"Throw the damn shirt, Edward."

"Anything you say, Just Bella" He rolls it up before hurling it. It lands on a lamp.

"Fire. It's going to catch fire." She quickly moves to scoop it off, so her home won't burn down.

"Relax. We're both in the room. It won't."

"Edward, that's a fire hazard waiting to happen."

"Good thing you have a first aid box. It's killer."

Smiling, she rolls her eyes. He's always making fun of her. "First aid boxes are no joke."

"No, certainly not. They can save lives."

"They can help, yes, but they don't prevent fires. Let me just move the shirt." She tries to peel his fingers from her hips.

"Relax."

"How can I relax when I know our house is going to burn down?"

He smiles. "Our house," he repeats before sucking a nipple into his mouth. He smiles around the hard bud when she lets out a fluttered gasp and pleasurable sigh.

She's relaxed.

Bella lies next to him, the shirt still over the lamp, but she isn't worried they're going to die in a fire. Edward's good at taking care of her. He has been since they met. She was safe on his Harley, the house is sturdy, and she eats better. He's a giver, a caretaker, and he doesn't even know how wonderful he is at doing it. She trusts him, and she has given him a huge reason not to trust her, but he still does. He still cares. He still makes sure she is all right, and he loves her.

He laughs lightly when her fingertips, her tiny smooth fingertips, trace over his skin. His heart beats for her. He has never known this, love like this. He would do anything for this crazy-planning woman next to him.

"Your skin is so soft," she whispers, kissing his shoulder. "It's covered in these pictures, words, but it's not marred."

He listens to her and feels her touch. They lie side by side, gently touching and kissing each other over and over.

Bella yawns and wakes up. She jerks up, quickly looking to the lamp. Smiling, she drops back down to the floor against the still warm pillows. Edward's in the kitchen making breakfast. "Best sleep ever," she says and sighs.

*sorry about that, it isn't in the word document...nor when I 1st posted it*

Thanks for the PM & note as I didn't see it!

Cheers