A/N Thank you so much for all the reviews/faves and alerts on this story I really appreciate them all, you are AWESOME!
Chapter Twenty two. You're the one.
Tonight I'm letting go
of all the old excuses
the fears I built so close
cause inside I've always known
that no one else could ever do
or ever feel like home
there's so many things I'll never know
but this I know for sure
you're the one
I need you more than ever
it's taken too long
taken to long to say
my life began
the night we spent together
now I cannot live
I'd die any other way
I'm not afraid
you're the one
it hasn't always been
the best of times
but if you'd ask
I'd do it all again
(are you ready to begin)
I'm ready to begin
a brand new chapter of our lives
just tell me where and when
(a brand new chapter in our lives)
cause there's so many things I'll never know
but this I know for sure
you're the one
I need you more than ever
it's taken too long
taken too long to say
(Hoobastank)
Edwards POV
I awoke panicked and sweating, sitting bolt upright in bed, the painful previous months of being alone strangling me, the empty bed beside me halting my racing heart. Until reality set in and the memory of yesterday came back to me, Bella was back in my life, that was all that mattered. The restless night caused by her absence was just temporary whilst she was in hospital, my heart was free to beat again.
I was a father now... even after all this time of thinking about the baby I'd help to create, It was still difficult to believe. She was here now and I was her Daddy, just the thought of hearing her say the word for the first time brought tears to my eyes. I threw myself out of bed, I couldn't bear being away from them any longer. I was showered and dressed by five thirty and found Dad in the kitchen having breakfast.
"It's a little early for visiting the hospital son." Dad said as soon as he saw me.
"Like you didn't spend every second at the hospital when Mom and Izzie were there." I argued.
"That was completely different and I do happen to work there." He said.
"I can't sleep without Bella, so its better for my health if I'm with her." I pointed out.
"Nice try, but no... she needs her rest." He said, I was about to argue but my cell buzzed.
'Couldn't sleep, miss you too much, we are both ok. Love you. B'
'I couldn't sleep either, missing you both too much. Be with you as soon as I can. Love you more! E.
"You're right, but as Bella can't sleep without me either, I guess that's a moot point." I said.
He shook his head, "I guess you'll be coming with me then, no point in bringing your car if you won't be leaving again until Bella does." He said, I just grinned in response and quickly ate some breakfast.
'Do you need me to bring you anything? E' I text Bella.
'All we need is you. B.'
'I'll be with you ASAP. E.'
"Come on then." Dad said, "the sooner we get there, the sooner I can check on my Granddaughter." He said smiling despite himself.
~F~
The second Dad stopped the car I was opening the door, he placed his hand on my shoulder. "You're going to have to wait for me, otherwise security won't let you in at this time of day."
I sighed and got out to wait as he slowly parked the car and got out.
"You are a father yourself now Edward, you are going to have to learn to be patient." He said, sounding exasperated, as we walked to the side door entrance.
"What? And be more like you? Next you'll be telling me to bleach my hair and become a doctor." I said rolling my eyes at him.
He snorted, "I wouldn't dare." He said smirking.
Eventually we made it to the room Bella was in and Dad said he'd come and see us in a little while. His way of giving me some time alone with my family, I nodded and eagerly opened the door. There before me was my beautiful fiancée, looking blissfully happy as she stared down at our daughter in her arms. The sight of them gave my heart a jolt.
"If that isn't the most beautiful sight in the world then I don't know what is." I said walking into the room, carrying the flowers, teddy and balloons I'd bought in the hospital gift shop. I put them down and rushed to my girls, scooping them up in my arms and sitting them on my lap. "I never knew life could feel this good, I don't know if I have ever been so happy." I said leaning forward to kiss them both. "How are you feeling?" I asked her.
"Better now you're here... they came a few minutes ago and took out the drips, so I could finally pick her up and hold her myself." She said.
"What do you mean... finally?" I questioned, she'd held her before now, hadn't she?
"I held her when she was born, but since then she was put on me to feed, then taken away when she'd finished, I never got to just hold her like this." She said as she cradled Alex in her arms.
"Why didn't you say something last night?" I asked upset for her.
"I don't know, I felt weird, with the nurse's taking control and I didn't feel any connection to her... it frightened me, I thought it meant I was a bad mother." She admitted, tearfully.
"Hey, don't cry baby, its okay." I said holding her tightly. "Do you still feel that way now that you're holding her?" I asked, wondering if there was anything I could do to help.
"No." She said smiling, "The moment I was free of the drips and I held her, I felt it, like a warm glow flowing through me." She said.
I kissed her forehead and smiled, "Yeah, I felt that too when we were waiting for you. "That strong sense of belonging, like I have when I'm around you. It's there all the time we're together, only you don't notice it until we've been apart, when we're back together and feel it again, only then realising it was missing." I said wondering if she understood what I was saying.
"Exactly." She said lifting her face up to kiss me.
It was quiet for a long time as we both stared down at Alexandria, both in awe of her. "We did good, didn't we?" I said stroking my hand over the little tufts of bronze hair that stuck up in every direction on her tiny head.
"Yeah, we did good." She agreed, nuzzling into my chest.
"You are supposed to be resting whilst she's sleeping." Dad said as he entered the room.
"I couldn't sleep without Edward and I couldn't hold my daughter with the drips in." Bella pointed out, with a shrug of her shoulders.
"Well, I'm positive he won't leave your side again and as the drips are gone, you can hold her whenever you want. But make the most of it, she'll be eighteen before you know it and making me a great grandparent." He said shaking his head, his eyes closed in pain.
"You okay Dad?" Bella and I asked together.
He looked up and smiled sadly. "It's nothing really, I just had high hopes for you both, bright academic filled hopes and now..." He trailed off.
"Nothing that we can't still do, I can go back to school part time when the time comes and Edward..."
"Will go back part time too." I said cutting Bella off before she could say anything different. She glared up at me. "I am not going to be separated for you so you can forget that, it will be hard enough during football, I am not going back full time without you." I said covering her lips with my own to stop her from objecting. "Besides Dad, you went on to become a great doctor after having Emmett and you were only a year older." I pointed out.
"Yes but we had to struggle and I hardly got to see any of you growing up." He said sadly.
"Playing football won't be like that, I will be around to see Alex grow up Dad." I pointed out.
"Perhaps you're right, I guess I'm feeling old and melancholy." He suggested.
"You can make up for it by being around your granddaughter." I pointed out, making him smile.
"Yes... yes I can." He agreed.
Once Dad had checked over Bella and Alexandria he left us alone, Bella immediately getting into it over our education. Although we would be starting back to do our senior year come the first semester, Bella insisted on us both doing online courses to keep our brains working. I was unsure how she'd cope with everything and still do her courses in English, sociology and possibly a course in psychology. I would do English and calculus, they were courses I'd do at school but as Bella put it, if I passed them first I'd have more time to concentrate on my football, my girls a genius. Either way passing would get us closer to graduating without being full time at the school. Obviously we'd have to discuss this with the school, but I couldn't see them complaining, not if it meant having me back on the football team.
Almost six hours on the dot from her last feed, Alexandria woke for her next feed and after she was fed, bathed and changed, Bella and I had some lunch then lay down for a nap. Having her back in my arms I must have gone straight to sleep because the next thing I knew was being woken up by an irate nurse complaining that Alexandria should be up in the nursery and I should go home as visiting was not for another few hours. She was about to take Alex in her crib away, but the second she touch it, Bella sprang out of my arms and off the bed like a mountain lion. She snarled something unintelligible at the nurse and picked Alex up.
"Miss Swan, please be reasonable, its hospital policy, she needs to be in the nursery." The nurse said taking a step closer to Bella with her arms reaching for Alex.
I shot off the bed as Bella backed away. "I'm guessing you're new or something." I said to the nurse standing between her and Bella.
"No, I'm in charge of this department if you must know." She said to me haughtily. "Now if you don't mind Sir I need to take the baby to the nursery."
"The baby?" I questioned, "You don't even know her name and yet you expect my fiancée to hand over our daughter to you?" I asked, she narrowed her eyes at me. "Let me enlighten you... Her name is Alexandria Cullen." I said.
"Cullen?" She asked, her eyes widening in alarm.
"Yes." I said, smiling as she stepped back and lowered her arms. "As in your chief of surgery's granddaughter."
"Oh... M-my apologies M-Mr Cullen, I had no idea... this is most irregular but under the circumstances I-I'll leave you and your fiancée alone." She said almost running from the room.
"Hey." I said turning to Bella as she stood defensively in the corner of the room. "I told you I won't let anyone take her away." I said and watched her physically relax, I wrapped my arms around her and kissed her hair. "I'll never let anyone take her." I promised.
Jazz, Rose and Emm came in to see us before heading back to Seattle, watching the expressions on their faces as the stared lovingly at my little girl was so heart warming. I felt such pride it was overwhelming, really I couldn't believe just how lucky I was. Who knew I could be so happy? I was engaged to the most beautiful girl in the world and we had the most amazing daughter. I would be forever grateful, despite being a father at the age of eighteen. I'd never have believed it, but the feelings I felt for both Alexandria and Bella were so strong that I found it hard not to get emotional whenever I looked at them.
~F~
Bella and I came home with Alexandria after a few days and I think I spent all day just watching them both sleeping. Bella's breasts soon swelled up to more than twice their normal size, and they got so engorged with milk that they were painfully hard. I think that was the first time that Bella hit me, she was leaning over the bath and she was leaking, hey I'm a guy what did she expect? I wrapped my tongue around her nipple, damn that milk is beyond sweet, tasted like watered down sugar, she wasn't pleased.
Having a baby had changed Bella, she was so much stronger now, I'd seen a glimmer of this strength in the past but it had been short lived. Now she didn't let people walk over her anymore, she was a mother now and god help anyone who threatened that. I had become fiercely protective of Bella and Alex, but Bella was equally protective of myself and Alex. I never thought it was possible to love her more, but my love for them both seemed to get stronger and stronger as the days passed. I was enjoying my time, spending everyday with my girls but Bella had other idea's.
If Bella was resting she made sure I was studying, but being as we were home most of the time, Mom was able to go back to work part time. Bella and I looking after Izzie, Mom insisting that she'd be taking care of Alex once Bella and I got back to school.
Alex was the image of Bella, pretty much identical to her baby pictures, she was so beautiful and just like Izzie she had my hair and eyes. It wasn't long before Alex was almost as big as Izzie, yet they looked like sisters, it was funny when we went out anywhere, everyone thought they were both my daughters.
Bella and I went to see the school and found they were more than happy to accommodate us both. By this time it was common knowledge in Forks that Bella and I were parents and apart from the odd disapproving looks no one ever said anything to us. As most of the people we'd had trouble with in the past were away at college, we had no problems. One afternoon at the beginning of summer break we had to pull into a garage to get our flat tyre replaced. I got Alex out of her car seat as the mechanic came out to greet us, I wasn't best please when I saw that it was Black. Bella came up behind me and stopped dead, as did he when he recognised us.
He glared at Alex cradled in my arms, he scowled as he took in the sight of us. "What the fuck do you want?" He asked, talking to me, but his eyes now on Bella.
"I need to get a flat replaced, but I'd appreciate it if you didn't use that sort of language around my daughter."
"You had a kid..? with him?" He asked Bella ignoring me.
Bella took Alex from me so that I could get the flat out of the trunk. "Why wouldn't I?" She countered, which obviously made me grin. I knew it would probably rile him but he needed to see it for himself, that this was my family now.
"That's all I wanted for us, Bella and you didn't want to know, yet five minutes with this leach and you have a kid now... I don't get it. What's he got that I haven't?"
"You were my friend Jake, my best friend, I never saw you any other way."
"You never tried." He said snatching the flat from me.
I didn't like him being this close to them, but I think he needed to hear this and I think Bella needed the closure, he had hurt her. I wasn't about to let him do that again, but I felt that Bella had to end this the right way. To make him see once and for all that she was mine and I was hers.
"I never wanted to Jake, you were like a brother to me, I never could have seen you any other way." She said.
"Yet two minutes with this guy and you have a kid now? You could have had a better life with me." He said, I couldn't hold back the snort, but he was hardly aware of my presence he was so focused on Bella, so I moved back to her side.
"I love him... we're getting married next month." She told him.
"No, Bella, you can't do that, you have to give us a chance." He said, I stepped between them, the guy was deranged.
"Just sort us a new tyre, thanks, so we can leave." I requested, he scowled at me.
"You really think I'd give up my daughter and the man I love to be with the guy who assaulted me? That will never happen, not even if I live forever, thanks for the offer but I'll take my chances with my vampire." She said wrapping her arm around me.
"You told her?" He said grimacing at me. "And you still want to be with him?" He asked her incredulous.
"Look Black, you've heard it directly from her, she's not interested in you and never will be... so if you don't mind getting what I asked for, then my fiancée and I can be on our way." I said and finally he got want I wanted.
"You'll be back when you realise what a mistake you're making." Black told her.
"If being happy and in love is a mistake, well I can live with that, so I wouldn't hold my breath if I were you... no wait go ahead and hold your breath if you like, but its never going to happen Jake. Edward is it for me whether you like it or not, he is my forever and because of your actions you've lost me, forever." She said getting into the car and we left him scowling on the forecourt.
"Does it feel better, straightening things out with him?" I asked her.
"Actually it does, but most of all, I realize I'm not afraid of him anymore, well not with you around anyway." She said.
"Good, I'm proud of you." I said kissing her hand that I was holding. "Well the guys will be home by now, so I guess its going to be hell for the next few weeks with wedding and party preparations."
"Urgh! Do you think I'd get away with minimal input and a little black dress?" Bella asked.
I laughed, I'm sold on that idea, but I doubt it would make it into Alice's grand scheme." I said.
"If I didn't love you quite so much I'd never go along with any of this." She said scowling.
"Hey, you don't have to let Alice rail-road you into something you don't want, baby." I told her.
"I don't mean to sound ungrateful, but I just want it to be over, we haven't made love since Alex was born and I'm not sure that I can wait for our wedding night." She said, making me hard and uncomfortable in my jeans.
"You weren't ready before now baby and now I know that you are, I'm certainly not going to make you wait any longer. If you need me to make love to you, then its my job to give you exactly what you need." I said, lust filling the car as I pulled to a stop in the garage.
The look she gave me propelled me out of the car, I removed the car seat with Alex sleeping in. I took hold of Bella's hand and walked quickly into the house.
"Excellent you're here, we can get..." Alice said the moment we walked in.
"Take care of her for a while... we'll be back soon... ish." I said cutting her off and handing over Alexandria.
I scooped Bella up in my arms and ran up to our room.