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Chapter 89 Spying?

"You really think Edward would come up here just to eavesdrop on them for me?"

EPOV

I continued to just sit and stare at my wife and son. I had a son. He was three days old and already making demands. I knew I had a smile plastered on my face . . . and I didn't care. I had never imagined that I could be so happy, so content . . . that this level of happiness actually existed. I had fallen in love with a human, after 109 years of existence I had fallen head over heels in love with a seventeen year old human girl, a girl that was now 19 . . . and my wife.

109 years.

. . . and though she was human, she loved me just as fiercely as I loved her. I could not even imagine the level of love and commitment and lust that would be there when she became immortal . . . when we could actually make love for several days without stopping for such things as food or drink or bathroom, or even needing sleep or being tired. Such things did not exist as a vampire. It was only now that I even began to understand the way Emmett and Rosalie had acted the first ten years or so that they were mated, breaking furniture, rolling through walls . . . and the noise level. I wondered if our house was going to be far enough away from the other house. Then, of course, we would have to be somewhat responsible because of Masen.

Our son.

We had a son . . . and my wife wanted another baby . . .

. . . how the hell was I supposed to go through that again?

Masen finished one side and Bella put him over her shoulder and burped him. I didn't know if it was really necessary, but he did burp.

"He needs a diaper, Edward, would you mind changing him for me?" Bella asked as she removed the breast shield and threw it away, pulling her blouse to partially cover her breast from sight as she held the baby out to me. I placed him on the end of the bed next to the bassinet, all the extra diapers and supplies being on the shelf below it, and proceeded to unsnap his sleeper and pull his legs out. He was just so perfect . . . and so small.

I pulled the tapes and reached to remove the diaper only to be met with the most horrid smell imaginable. Bella pulled out the container of wipes and set them in front of me on the bed as I held Masen by both feet to keep his sticky soiled rear off the covers.

"Bella, is it supposed to smell like this?" I asked, my face I was certain was all sorts of contorted.

"No, not usually, sweetheart. Normally baby poop is kind of like a yellow form of cottage cheese with very little smell, but your son has been drinking blood all day . . . and apparently it doesn't come out the other end very pleasantly," she laughed, smiling at the expression on my face.

I wiped the mess off of him, regardless, and opened the tapes on a fresh diaper and placed it under him. I was just pulling it between his legs as it occurred to me we had made no decision about the circumcision. We had time to decide, and there was no reason to complicate today with that thought. I put his sleeper back on him, and handed him to his Mom so that he could continue nursing from the other breast.

"Do you think he'll always need to use his diaper, I mean, I drink blood and never need to use the bathroom? I was just wondering if he might become more like me in that regard as he gets older," I laughed, "If that smell is any indication, I wish he took after me now!" Bella laughed at me.

"It doesn't matter, Edward. As long as he's healthy I don't care what he eats or if he goes to the bathroom or not, I really don't." She meant it, of that I was certain.

"I love you," I said as I leaned over and kissed her again, this time putting a hand over Masen's free hand and feet to keep him from pushing me away. It was a quick kiss and he was only mildly annoyed anyway, mentally rolling his eyes at me from what I could gather from his thoughts.

We hurried downstairs and Charlie and Sue were more than willing to watch Masen while we went into town. Emmett and Jasper were entirely too engaged in playing Call of Duty on the flat screen to watch him alone, but they would be there if Charlie or Sue needed help. I didn't want to say anything, but Masen was already stronger than Sue and possibly Charlie as well, so I needed a member of my family to be there just in case there was a problem. My Mom and sisters had gone to hunt, but knowing them, they would not be away for long.

Carlisle was just getting out of a consult with Emily's specialists as we arrived, greeting us at the door to the ICU. "Well, nice to see both of you up and around," he greeted us, "Bree has been asking for you, Bella."

"How is she?" Bella asked.

"Well enough to go home in a day or so, though I think Jacob would like me to keep her here an extra few days," he said as he smiled and explained the boyfriend Eric situation to me in his thoughts.

"And Emily?"

"We've taken her off the sedation, she should wake up sometime tomorrow morning. I think she's out of danger and we need to attend to setting the broken bones in a more permanent manner," he explained.

Bella kept asking questions since Carlisle seemed to be forthcoming with information, inquiring about Emily's pregnancy. The baby was fine as far as anyone knew, and Sam still seemed to be contrite and genuinely sorry for his actions. Sam was in with Emily and she was still unconscious; so neither Bella nor I felt the need to try and see her, having spoken to Carlisle and checked on her condition.

We ran into Jacob in the hallway as we approached Bree's room, he was pacing up and down at the edge of the waiting room for that floor, wearing a path in the carpet.

"Edward, I'm so glad you're here, man. I'm going out of my mind. I called the house but not one of your family or even Charlie would go upstairs and tell you that I was on the phone. What the hell? Even Emmett said there was no fucking way he would go near your room till you came out on your own," he stared at me for a long minute, then turned his attention to Bella.

"Are you alright, Chica?"

"Jake, I couldn't be better. We just needed some alone time, that's all," she told him, her face and neck turning an unhealthy shade of red, and a smile that I'm sure she was trying to suppress spread across her face.

"I read Sue's mind when she came home. Bella and I had just come downstairs so after she fed Masen, we came to your rescue," I laughed. "So, you want to use me as a spy?"

"Yea. Spy. Good one, bloodsucker. I need to know what this douche bag intends towards her and how she feels about him . . . and me for that matter," Jake complained. "She might get mad if he just happened to disappear."

"Jake, calm down. She just met you yesterday. I'll go in and talk to her, the two of you just sit down here and you," she said pointing at Jacob, "You stay put." She pointed and poked her finger into his chest, walking him backwards as he protested till his calves hit the edge of the chair and he sat down. She gestured for me to do the same. "I'll be back. You sit and listen," she told me as she walked away. I cocked my head and glared at her, but I did as requested, settling into a chair near Jacob.

Jacob shook his head and looked at me, "Man, she's pushy when she wants her way."

I could only raise my eyebrows and nod, "You have no idea."

"Can you hear them from here?" Jacob asked.

"Yes, but more importantly, I can read their minds from here," I told him, chuckling to myself at how tense and anxious he was. This meant everything to him. It was as though his entire world centered around this girl that he had only just met. Even though I had read Sam's mind, and the pack mind as well, the imprinting thing still amazed me.

"So . . . come on, bloodsuck . . . Edward. What the hell? What's going on with my girl?"

I decided to give him a running commentary, it seemed the best way to keep him calm and allow me time to understand what exactly was going on in the minds in that room, other than Bella's of course. I still had to just rely on what she said, her mind remained closed to me.

Bree is thrilled to see Bella . . . she really likes her, credits her with saving her life.

Wants Bella to meet Eric, he's thanking Bella for saving Bree as well.

Eric has known her since early high school, kind of thinks of her as a friend first.

He's leaving, has to drive back to school for class tomorrow.

"Yes, Jacob, he kissed her goodbye," I told him, answering the question in his mind.

"He kissed my girl?" Jacob growled as he stood and took a step toward the room before my hand grabbed his arm and pulled him back down into his chair beside me.

"Jacob, she doesn't know she's your girl yet," I told him, shushing him so I could listen.

Bella is asking how the ribs are feeling and what the doctors have told her.

She says she's going home on Wednesday, back to school that is.

I was quiet for a few minutes and that was driving Jacob insane. I finally just told him, "They're talking about me, Jacob, and the baby. Apparently I'm attractive to your girl. Figures. Human female college student, they all act the same when they look at me, like flies to the spider the appearance draws them in like it's designed to. That's all it is."

Jacob looked at me for a long minute, studying my features. "I don't see it, bloodsucker," Jacob said as his eyes traveled over me from head to toe and back, "You're not that good looking you know. Too damned pale."

I just shook my head and scoffed at him, "I know that, tell her. Now shush if you want me to continue!" He rolled his eyes at me, mentally telling me that of course he wanted me to continue; as he put his face in his hands, and his elbows on his knees in the chair where he sat, trying to remain calm.

She's asking Bella about you . . . Bella's telling her you're her best friend and the greatest guy ever, second only to me . . . Bella's telling her that you like her . . .

"What! Is that even a good idea?" Jacob fretted.

She thinks you're cute . . . wonders if you're going to come back by to see her.

Bella is good.

She's telling her that you and I are coming to pick her up, so you'll be there in just a few minutes. Good.

She's interested.

Really likes that Eric guy, but doesn't really feel connected to him.

No electricity . . . no spark between them, just comfortable and she wants more than comfortable.

She trusts Bella's judgement.

"Let's go, you're on, dog," I said standing and gesturing toward Bree's room. "Just dazzle her, she wants to feel a spark of something there that she's missing with Eric." As determined and anxious as he had been to get to her when we first arrived, I had to nearly drag him out of the chair to head to her room.

"Come on. Trust me, timing is everything," I told him as I punched him in the shoulder when he stood to come with me.

"You sure?"

"I'm sure, Jacob. Relax, Bella likes you . . . though I have no understanding of why," I teased him, "And she chose me, so we know her taste is excellent." He just stared at me and shook his head.

"You don't want to go there, leech," he said with a laugh as we walked down the hall.

"If you had told me a year ago that a vampire would be one of my best friends, after taking away the girl I thought I loved more than any other girl on the planet; I would have told you to lay off the hard drugs . . . switch to diet crack or something. But now, well . . . ," he stammered and faltered trying to get it out, "Well, thanks, Edward. I mean it, really man. Thanks for all you and Bella have done for me, you really are my best friend next to Bella." I stopped in my tracks and faced him.

"You're my best friend as well, Jacob. I count you as the closest person to me, other than my family," I told him, and honestly, that was how I felt. "Now come on, let's get you that girl."

"Yea, you owe me you know, since you took my girl," he teased.

"My girl," I told him, "Bella was always my girl." Well, she was. Always.

I knocked on the door to her room, then stuck my head in. "Bella?" I queried.

"Edward, come on in sweetheart. Bree and I were just talking about you."

"Nothing too bad, I hope," I said as I walked over and kissed my wife's cheek, putting my arm around her.

"No. Not too bad," Bree giggled, "Bella was just telling me how absolutely perfect in every way you were, that's all." If I could have blushed, I would have. More for where her thoughts had gone than for what she had said verbally.

"You remember Jake, from yesterday?" Bella asked, gesturing to him.

"Yes, I remember. Nice to meet you again, Jake," Bree told him, her eyes never leaving his.

"You, too. How are you feeling today?" he asked nervously, walking around to stand on the side of her bed opposite of where Bella and I were.

"Better, thanks," Bree told him, her eyes never leaving his, "It's nice of you to come and visit me. Bella says you may be moving your business here, to Highlands. You drag race Harley Davidson motorcycles?"

"Um, Yea. I'm the wrench anyway . . . I have someone else that rides them in the races. Bella, actually, rode and won several races last year."

"You what?" Bree almost shouted, her surprise left even her mind blank for a moment.

"That's how I felt," I told her as Bella swatted at me so that I would hush.

"Isn't that dangerous?" Bree asked.

"Well, it is if you wreck," Bella laughed, "and I wrecked big time last summer. Luckily Edward happened to be watching the race and ran out on the track and saved me."

Jake was still staring at Bree, and her attention was turning to Bella and me, rather than to him. "Well, we just wanted to check on you, Bree. Baby Masen is at home with his grandfather and to tell you the truth, we have to get back to him. Maybe Jacob here could tell you all about Bella's racing and the wreck, and we can fill you in on the rest tomorrow. Okay?" I suggested, nodding to Bella and Jacob as well.

"Sure sure. I can stay for a bit and give her the details," Jacob agreed. Bree's mind shifted into overdrive, she liked the idea of spending some time alone with Jacob; and needless to say, Jacob thought it was a great idea.

"Alright then, I'll go home and tend to my baby, but I'll see you tomorrow, alright?" Bella said, stroking her hand down Bree's arm and patting her hand.

"Yes, please. See you tomorrow. Nice meeting you, Edward. Take care of her," Bree said as we started for the door.

"I wouldn't dream of doing anything else," I answered, closing the door behind me. Bella and I paused outside the door, my mind listening intently to the thoughts coming from within that room.

"I think that is going to work out just fine, love. They are both interested, her almost as much as him," I said as I hugged her to me, her arms encircling my waist and my chin resting on the top of her head.

"I love you, you know," she said quietly, her cheek pressed into my chest.

"I know, love. I know," I said, kissing the top of her head.

"Oh, Carlisle is ready to leave. We should leave Jacob's truck here for him to come home in . . . if he decides to leave," I laughed. Bella took the keys from me and walked back to the room, opening the door without warning; only to see Jacob sitting on the side of Bree's bed talking animatedly to her and both of them laughing.

"Edward and I are riding home with Carlisle, Jake, so here are your keys. See you later. Be good you two, and don't either of you tell too tall a tales about me . . . I'll be listening tomorrow to see," Bella told them as she walked back out the door, shaking her finger at them in warning. I watched her through Jacob's eyes as she left, then saw Bree's face as she looked at him. She seemed like a nice enough girl, she had a gentle mind and a kind heart. Could be this was going to work out well for him.

"Thank you, sweetheart," Bella told me, a hand on my belly and the other around my waist as we walked towards Carlisle's office, "That was nice of you to do that for him, even if it was kind of eavesdropping."

"Mind reading."

"What?"

"It was mind reading, Bella. Anyone can eavesdrop, I do it with style," I told her, laughing with her as we went to find Carlisle.

Our ride home was uneventful, the baby was fine and happy, playing with his Aunt Alice who had apparently stolen him from his Grandfather. Sue had prepared dinner and asked Bella if she was hungry, as she and Charlie had already eaten.

"She's starving, Sue," I answered for her. The look she gave me as she took Masen from Alice and cooed at him told me that she could answer for herself, thank you, and I felt properly chastised.

"I know you can, love. I just like taking care of you," I said as I allowed Masen to grab my finger and tell me all about his time with the other members of his family while we were gone. He was definitely wanting some Mom and Dad time, and I was glad he felt that way. We had been apart almost the entire day and it was time to reconnect . . . and, though I loved my time alone with my wife, I had missed him as well.

"Let me hold him while you have dinner, love," I said, taking him in my arms and routinely checking his blood pressure and temperature. He definitely ran a lot colder than the normal human, and his pressure was significantly lower. I had to wonder if he would always have a heartbeat, or if it was something that, once grown, he would no longer need. I settled into a chair beside Bella in the kitchen with him in my arms, letting him play with my finger and exchanging thoughts with him. He didn't have the vocabulary to express himself adequately in some instances, and I could sense the feeling and give him the words to use for it. His ability to learn was absolutely incredible, and he seemed to have inherited perfect recall from his vampire side, playing entire scenes back for me in his mind as he showed me his day. Absolutely amazing, and Bella and I had created this little guy, this young man that was so intimate a mixture of us both. I looked over at my wife as she ate and thought about her words from earlier,

I thought that maybe we could have just one more baby . . .

. . . and I had to wonder, sitting here holding my son in my arms . . . if it wasn't all worth it. All the worry . . . the risk . . . but the benefit, well, I couldn't possibly regret any of it with my son looking up at me and laughing about something that Grandpa Charlie had done. I would need to check with Alice. I remembered the vision she had shown me while we were at Universal Studios in Florida . . . me lying on a blanket out in the yard with two infants sitting with me playing while I watched an older child running around the yard . . .

I suppose I always knew that I would give in to her if she wanted another baby. I just hadn't realized that I wanted one as well.