Same disclaimer applies-Twilight belongs to S.M., but the idea of this story is mine.

Many thanks to my awesome betas and friends - TeamAllTwilight and m0t0b33.


A month has passed since I found out that I am pregnant.

We're headed to the beach house to celebrate Fourth of July with our family. I have no idea where everyone will fit in.

My Dad declined the invitation because of his parade in Philly. But Mom's joining us with Phil. And there will be Vic with James, too.

Edward told me, he'll do anything he could to make them sleep apart like we had to that time. This is part of our revenge for James's dirty trick with the tie at work.

The next day, Jenny was gone from work and no one mentioned her after that. I still can't believe that even happened. It feels like it happened to someone else.

"Do you want to go sailing tomorrow?"

I turn to stare at Edward. I can feel my eyes widen. "Sailing?"

"Yes. Dad has a boat. If you think you can...I don't want to make you feel sick."

"Aw, now suddenly you don't want to make me feel sick!" I exclaim, annoyed, folding my arms over my chest. "What about that omelet you seem addicted to, lately? Just the thought of it makes me queasy," I mumble.

Edward takes a hand off the steering wheel and pats my thigh. He takes my hand, twining our fingers and squeezing.

"You'll have to grovel for that. And your awful smelling aftershave. Did I mention that I love your beard?"

He chuckles, bringing my hand to his lips before going back to driving with both hands.

"And when will you learn to leave the fucking lid down on the toilet? Seriously, Edward."

"That comes in handy when you get sick."

"I hate you," I mutter.

Have I told you lately that I love you

Have I told you there's no one else above you

Fill my heart with gladness

Take away all my sadness

Ease my troubles that's what you do

Oh. The song playing now seems to fit our moment just fine.

Edward turns to grin at me, raising an eyebrow.

There's a love that's divine

And it's yours and it's mine like the sun

And at the end of the day

We should give thanks and pray

To the one, to the one

I lean over the console and rest my head on his shoulder, wrapping my arms around him.

"I love you, with all your flaws."

"Love you, too, baby." He pecks my head.

When he stops the car, I realize we've arrived at our destination.

"We're telling them this weekend, right?" he checks.

"Yeah." I nod, my eyes trained on the truck parked behind Emmett's Jeep. That's Dad's truck. "Oh, my God! Look! The world is coming to an end! Someone made Dad part from his parade!" I point to the blue truck.

"Whoa! I guess someone is sleeping under the stars."

I laugh. "We're the last to arrive," I note. "Shit. Do you think they'll allow us to sleep inside? At least me. I'm pregnant."

"You're so cute sometimes." Edward chuckles as he steps out of the car.

He accompanied me to my second appointment at the doctor where we found out we were ten weeks pregnant—so either I already was on Dad's birthday, or Mom did really jinx me.

I didn't confirm it with Rose, but she knows, just like Alice. Thankfully, they didn't tell anyone.

My door opens, pulling me out of my thoughts. "Expecting your knight in shining armor to help you out of the car?"

I look Edward over, head to toe. "Yes, so step aside so he can see me when he arrives. You are not up to my expectations dressed in your band t-shirt and short pants. And those hairy legs." I pretend to scowl.

He gasps and converges on me inside the car, proceeding to tickle me, while licking and sucking at my neck.

"Don't!" I push him away, or try to. "Come on, honey. You heard the doctor. I have to take it easy."

I feel him smiling against my neck, and I slap the side of his head.

"Take your mind out of the gutter, hubby!"

"I have a mean wife." He pouts, helping me out of the car.

I playfully shove him to the side to open the backdoor and get a bag.

"No carrying anything."

I roll my eyes, but listen to him. He hands me the car keys, mumbling that's something suitable for me to hold.

"It's my car, so of course it's suitable!" I hiss. "Your car is too small for...anything!"

Edward looks at me over his shoulder. "You might reconsider that."

I feel my face catching fire, remembering the few times we've had fun in there.

"You made it!" Vic shrieks from behind us. Then she slams into me.

"Be careful, you shmuck!" Edward scolds her.

"Bella's tough. Right? I didn't hurt you?" She checks worried.

"He's crazy." I nod to her brother, who scowls at me.

We walk inside the small house.

"They're out, in the back," Vic explains when I look around confused of why it's so quiet.

Last time I've been here, I wasn't in the back.

Edward dumps our bags in the hallway, takes my hand and we make our way to the backyard. Vic skips out the net door and jumps on poor James's back.

I like having these get-togethers. We're acting like a bunch of lunatics.

"Bella!" Rose exclaims, waving to me.

"Hi." I smile, hoping it's not odd that we're suddenly friends—best friends.

Edward walks to the men, shaking hands and accepting the beer from his dad.

I go to Rose on the empty sunlounger and lie down, groaning at my aching back. She throws me a look.

"Long drive," I mumble, lowering my shades on my nose.

"Bella, we haven't talked properly in weeks. What did Dr. Bromer tell you?"

"Shhh!" I turn to her, pulling my shades down a little to catch her eye. "Patience, Rose." I smirk.

"Oh God! Really?"

I just nod, relaxing back on my lounge.

"Here, my dears. We'll start celebrating early. So what it's not Independence Day yet?" Esme comes to sit at the end of my lounger, offering me one of her cocktails.

"Uh, no, thanks," I whisper, glad that the shades are masking my eyes.

Mom appears with Vic and they sit on the other lounger. "That one is just like you drink it—forty percent alcohol, sixty percent juice," Mom tells me.

"I'm okay for now. But thank you." I take the glass from Esme just to be polite and put it on the table next to me.

I can see Edward watching me like a hawk from the other side of the garden. I raise the glass to him as a toast. He responds by twisting his mouth and raising his bottle of beer.

I'm not going to drink. I'm not stupid.

It's enough I'm worried for having smoked until the doctor told me I was pregnant.

That day when I told Edward I was pregnant, we both commonly agreed to stop smoking. I know he still secretly has one odd cigarette, but I appreciate it that he doesn't do it in front of me.

Thankfully, my companions get distracted off why I am not drinking, by asking where I got my dress. Then the conversation moves to Rose and her impeding adoption. They've met with the social worker, and they have the green light—the only thing stopping them is what to get, and at what age.

Rose wants to experience everything from diapers, while Em wants a young child already potty trained

"Not all of us are so lucky to choose what we want," I find myself complaining.

"But in the end, we love our child no matter what it is," Esme tells me softly. "I wanted a boy so much, but when I held Rose for the first time, I couldn't remember a reason why I wanted a boy."

"Until Edward appeared," Carlisle joins the conversation, and I realize the men transited to our side of the garden.

Edward, like a true mama's boy, slinks down and plants a sound kiss on Esme's cheek, before seating between us, wrapping an arm around me.

"So you didn't decide on anything?" I ask Rose.

"I finally agreed with Emmett about the baby being a girl, but I really want the diaper stage."

"I don't!" Emmett whines. "Seriously, sweetie. If we can skip it, we should."

"You're an asshole," Edward complains. "I agree with Rosalie."

The world is really coming to an end. Edward never agrees with Rosalie. On anything.

She grins, catching my eye.

I clear my throat, grabbing Edward's hand. He seems to realize what I want to do, because his back stiffens.

"Yeah, if you want to adopt, you should get through what the others do." Vic nods, effectively cutting me off. "Anyway…" She looks up at James who is standing behind her, his hands on her shoulders.

Edward throws her a glaring look. "We need to tell you something."

"Mine's more important!" Vic snaps, and then locks eyes with their mother. "I'm pregnant."

I gasp, staring at her in disbelief.

She totally stole my moment.

I can't go and tell them after she just said that…

The floodgates open and I burrow my face in Edward's chest.

"Jeez!" I hear Victoria shouting over her parents' yelling. "I was joking. I wanted to get everyone's attention."

"You were joking?" I thunder, suddenly forgetting about my tears. "For what stupid reason did you think that was funny? It should have been me saying this! You ruined our moment!" I sob.

"Shh, Bella." Edward rubs a hand over my back.

And now everyone starts talking at the same time.

Both sets of parents are shocked at my news.

James says something about eloping…quietly…but apparently not too quietly. Edward hears him and tackles him down.

Okay, this is getting out of hand.

Carlisle and Emmett jump to separate Edward and James, while Mom and Dad are next to me, asking if they heard correct. Esme's scolding Victoria for joking about being pregnant when her poor sister can never experience this joy.

Joy? I want to bang my head on something. Hard.


Don't hate Vic. She's young and really has no filter.

PS: I'm considering updating more than twice a week since the story is long since finished writing. I'm thinking: Monday, Wednesday and Saturday...or something like that. Let me know.