Please note that this is fiction and therefore not each and every thing is always going to be the way it is.

Chapter 21

The week drags on and feels like forever, with Bella being in the hospital. She made me go to work the next day, and I had to pull some extra hours to make up for my absence. So for the past four days, when I leave work, I head straight for the hospital. Though I've only had a few hours a day here and there, we have spent the time talking. The time has not been lengthy, but we have managed to spend it wisely. We truly learned to know each other on a deeper level. Thankfully her stress level and blood pressure has gone down. Between the injections and lower stress, she's now only getting sick in the mornings. Bella now has that pregnancy glow about her, making her even more beautiful.

In the hospital she's been doing so well her OB-GYN is discharging her today, so I'm on my way to get her. Where I'm happy and relieved she's getting out, I feel tense because I'm going to ask her to live with me. Knocking on her door, I walk in and instantly see the smile on her face.

"Hey, Mina, how was your night?" I ask before placing a kiss on her head.

"It was better," she says with a sigh.

"How are things at work?"

Grunting a little, I run my hands through my hair. "Not too bad, I made some arrangements and took care of some things for the future. It has taken most of my holiday time, but I will be able to take six weeks off when the babies come."

Bella looks at me and tilts her head. "You're taking time off?" she asks shakily.

"Yes, of course. I want to bond with the babies too and it's stronger in those first few weeks. Plus these two will be keeping you on your toes and I want to help."

Bella laughs lightly, but nods. "You sound as if they'll be coming soon. You know I'm only just over two months along, right?"

Kissing her head, I let out a chuckle of my own. "Mina, these two will be here before you know it," I say with a grin. "But for us, it will feel like a lifetime." Placing my hand on her tummy, I rub it a little.

"Good afternoon, Bella," Dr. Scot says as he walks in. "These are your medications, and your papers. You are free to go, and I will see you in a month at my office. If you have any questions feel free to call the office and speak to one of the nurses."

Bella gulps and I take the stuff from the doctor.

"Remember, I'm here for you and the babies, if you need anything before your next appointment give my office a call and we'll get you in."

"Thank you, doctor," I say shaking his hand.

"Are you ready, love?" I say softly and Bella looks around her already clean room.

"Yeah," she says and I keep looking at her hoping she'll open up to me without me pushing her to do so.

"I am so looking forward to getting back to Tia's, but at the same time I'm going to miss the security this place gives me. You, the daily checks on me and these ones," Bella says placing her hand over her tummy.

Wanting to talk and ask her to move in with me, I know it's not the right moment to do so. There is no need for me to increase or give her a reason to stress out about anything.

"I can pick up one of those baby heart monitors so we can listen to them each day," I say not looking at her as I pick up the bag she has ready to go. "I would like that, you know, to spend some time touching your belly to feel them and listening to them."

Glancing at her, I see she's looking back at me.

"I would like that too," she says weakly.

"Good, come on I'll buy you lunch."

"Could we just go to your place or Tia's?" Bella asks as the nurse opens the door.

"Sounds good, Mina," I say after helping her to sit in the wheelchair.

We walk to the front of the hospital and I go pull up the car. Once she's settled, we pull out of the parking lot. Feeling a sense of relief, I'm glad she no longer has to be here. The drive home is quiet and Bella leans against my side which I'm more than happy with. When we arrive at my home, I open Bella's door and help her out before getting her bags.

"Edward, I need to take them to Tia's?" Bella says sound confused.

"I know," I say weakly giving her a wink.

"You're just wasting energy," she says.

"Hush, love," I say walking in. Setting her things on the bench inside the door, I walk with her to the kitchen.

"I did a big shop last night. There should be plenty of food to choose from. So, my dear, what am I making you?"

"A ham and egg salad sandwich sounds good?"

Nodding at her, I turn to grab the things to start making it.

"How are things with you and Emmett?" she asks and I sigh looking over my shoulder.

"Okay, I still need to talk to him, but between work and you being in the hospital I haven't had the chance."

"Edward, we agreed not to put things off anymore. If we had something to say, we need to make time and say it."

Turning around, I take the sandwich makings and move to the table where she's sitting.

"That was between us, and before you argue I know and I will tomorrow. Tonight, I want to make sure he's here for dinner, so all three of us can clear the air."

"I am sorry, I just—"

Leaning over, I quickly kiss her lips to cut her off. "I understand, Mina, don't worry." Winking at her afterwards, I smile as Bella licks her lips.

"Edward," she says softly and I look back at her.

"What are we? I mean, you kiss me, call me love, and Mina—which I know is you calling me yours—but what are we?"

Pulling at my hair, I let out a nervous laugh mixed with a sigh.

"You figured out what I meant by calling you mina, huh? Well the truth is, I would like us to be a couple. I know I still have a lot of shit to make up for, and I want to wow you, take you on dates ..." I stop talking and move around to her, placing my hand on her tummy. "These will make life and dating harder, we have to skip some stages, but I will try making sure the important ones for you are there. What do you say about us being a couple? I mean a full on couple, including marriage at some point?"

Bella pales as she looks at me.

"Calm down, I'm not asking you today, Mina. When I do propose, I plan to ask you better than what I just did. Right now, this is just me putting all my cards on the table. You don't have to show me yours or make any plans right now. It's okay if you still don't know what you want to do. Besides, that's where my wowing you comes into play, love. I only shared all of this with you, because you asked what we were. Now you know how I feel and I've told you what I want, so now tell me what you want."

Bella's lips are on mine as soon as I stop talking and she kisses me with such emotion I feel butterflies in my stomach.

"I want that too, all of it. I'm just sacred that this town won't let us."

Letting out a soft breath, I nod at her knowing she's right, and I've already thought about it.

"No there are other choices love and there is a solution, but now is not the time," I say moving away getting on with making her lunch.

Bella and I keep talking as we eat lunch. Just after I've washed and put the dishes away my cell rings with an incoming call.

"It's Tia," I say to Bella as I look at the screen.

"Hey Tia?" I say on answering the call on speaker phone.

"Edward, you and Bella need to come to school," Tia says sounding almost giddy.

"What?" I ask as I look at Bella who looks just as confused as me.

"Karma is here and you should be here to see it."

Bella smiles and claps her hands. "Come on, Edward," she grabs my hand and pulls me.

"We're on our way," I say moving with Bella as I hit end call.

"Do you know what's going on?" I ask as I start to drive.

"Well Tia has been talking to Marcus. You know who he is, right? He's the superintendent over the school district," she adds before letting me answer. "Anyway, he came to hospital to speak to me about what has been happening at school. He didn't just ask about what happened on the day I had to leave, but also asked about the bullying I had previously reported. Luckily, I kept all my records of it. Anyway, I think Newton may be getting fired!"

Turning and looking at her. "Why didn't you tell me he had visited you?" I ask feeling pained that she didn't tell me. "I would have been there for you, Mina."

"Edward, you had to work and he just dropped by. I didn't really think anything of it, until now."

Pulling up at the school, I see most of the students are standing outside with their phones out.

After I get out and help Bella out, I hear my son. "Dad," Emmett yells as he runs over to me. "We all were called into the gymnasium for special assembly today, like the whole school. We were all sitting there and Newton was looking happy and smug. Superintendent Volturi walked in with some parents and called Kate, Irina, Taylor, Britney, Bree, and Eric to the stage. You should have seen them, Dad, they all went up there looking smug. Volturi then turned to the rest of us and told us he had enough of bullying and wants kids to start behaving better. He said if this was the only way to get through to people, then so be it. He spent the next fifteen minutes telling the parents what their kids had been doing to others in school. Newton jumped up saying they should take this somewhere quiet. Volturi yelled at him telling him to sit down as he was in enough trouble.

"Once Volturi was done with his talk he got each of the kids they had been bullying to stand up and tell everyone what they did to them and how they made them feel. Then Kate was sobbing as were the other girls, and Volturi said at the end they were no longer welcome in the district and had to find another. He went on to mention that this was on their permanent educational record. Due to guidelines it will prevent any of them from ever being in sports or things like cheerleading. Even after they graduate from whatever school they end up going to, they cannot participate in college either. He walked out of the gym after that, yelling for Newton to follow him." The full time Emmett talks he's bouncing on his feet looking happy.

Before I can open my mouth there's a loud cheer and I turn to the main door to see a sobbing Newton being escorted out of the school by the authorities. As the students clap, I join in and even add in loud whistles and cheers.

Newton's eyes fly to mine and he glares. "Hope you and your slut die," he grits out.

Moving to step forward, Bella pulls me back. "Violence is not the answer," she calmly states.

Humming, I keep my eyes on Newton.

"Mr. Cullen," a hard voice says and I turn to look at them.

"I'm Marcus Volturi," he says as he offers his hand to me. "I need a word with you about your son Emmett."

Swallowing, I look at Emmett who's looking confused.

"He's not in any trouble, I just have to fill you in on some things."

Bobbing my head, I walk with him into the school and then into the office.

"I'll sit out here," Bella says walking to a chair outside the office.

"No, Bella, come in with us, please?" Emmett pleads and she nods at him.

We all enter the office together and take the offered seats.

"First I would like to say that during the assembly Emmett stood up without me asking him too. When he did, he asked anyone to step forward if he had hurt them through something he said. Where there were one or two—"

"Six," Emmett interrupts while looking at him.

"Six then, he turned to them saying he was truly sorry for any pain he caused them. Not only that, but he offered to make it up to them in any way he could. He also asked to be removed from the football team effective immediately."

Turning to face my son, I see he's looking to the ground.

"Dad, one of them has braces, so I'm going to help them for the rest of the school year. And I offered to do things for all of them in one way or another."

Smiling, I nod at him, knowing he is trying to make a change for the better. "So, is he welcome to stay in school here?"

"Yes, Emmett had already made a change this year, everyone in the school could see it. There's also the fact he stayed on the verbal side of things. Emmett has never been accused of actually touching someone. Words do hurt a person's feelings, spirit, mood, and frame of mind, but not quite as badly as actual physical contact. He was also fixing his wrongs before this all came to light. By starting to stick up for others and trying to change bullying being done by others."

Swallowing, I nod, knowing this could have been the end of his academic career.

"Mr. Cullen, I wanted to talk to you about how Emmett managed to fail out of school last year."

My head snaps back around to Volturi.

"I believe that Mr. Newton withheld information that Emmett could and would fail from you."

"What do you mean?"

"While there is the whole issue where Emmett was allowed to stay on the football team, when a child is failing they are classified as ineligible and removed from playing status. Mr. Newton somehow tampered with the grading system so that Emmett's grades did not stop him from being eligible. Then there's also the fact that we send out emails as well as hard copy notices to parents throughout the school year when there are situations such as failing taking place. The records show that there was no emails or hard copies mailed directly to you. There was also no documented phone call contacts made on record. Mr. Newton had implemented a new—unauthorized—procedure policy that teachers were to come to him for things of this nature. According to his new procedure policy, he and only he would contact parents if needed. Lastly, Emmett could have passed—not by much, but would have passed—if he took four online courses, that again Newton withheld until it was too late."

Feeling the anger boil over, I glare at Marcus Volturi though it is not his fault. "So you're telling me that he could have passed? Newton is nothing more than a low life piece of shit," I yell out.

"Dad," Emmett cuts in. "I'm glad that he did what he did."

Looking at my son, I feel confused as to why he would want to repeat a year of high school un-necessarily.

"It brought us Bella, Dad."

Turning, I look at Bella and smile. He's right, his 'failing' did bring her into our lives.

"I also thought you would like to know that Emmett may not graduate at the top of his class, but he's in the top ten percent." Volturi caries on making me proud of Emmett's complete turnaround.

"I just wanted you to know these things. Many more shocking developments are coming to light daily as we have the tech department going over things." Marcuse tells me before directing his attention to Bella. "Miss Swan, I know you have all of your needed credits and your diploma has already been mailed to you, but you are welcome to walk the stage with your graduating class, if you so desire."

Bella bobs her head and smiles. "I really do, thank you."

"No problem, and for the record, I'm the one who is sorry for trusting in someone who clearly could not do his job ethically. Now I have a few more parents to speak with, but Emmett is free to go for the day."

Shaking his hand once more, I turn to walk out with Bella and Emmett following.

"I think maybe it's time for our talk?" Emmett says sounding almost shy.

"Come on, we can talk and then have some fun like the good old days," I say trying to calm him.

"Only Bella is your girl," Emmett chortles out and I turn looking at him raising my brow.

"She always was, Em."

"Come on, the babies are hungry again," Bella says.

Emmett's head whips around to her and his mouth drops open.

"Babies? As in more than one, babies?" He asks looking between Bella and me.

"Yes, now get in and we'll talk at home," I say while opening Bella's door.

The drive home is quiet, but I can almost hear Emmett's brain working overtime.

When we arrive home, I pull out the bread bowls I bought and dish out some stew from the crock pot.

"We're having twins," I say as Bella and Emmett start to eat.

"Cool! Do you know if it's boys or girls?"

Shaking my head, I smile over the fact he seems keen and happy to be getting siblings.

"It'll be a few weeks before they will be able to tell," I say and he grins nodding at me.

"Rose and I are going to have a baby."

My mouth falls open and I wonder if I'll need a spatula to pry it off the floor. Emmett keeps talking without looking up, or my red face would most likely silence him.

"But not for two or so years. We want to be married first which we plan to do after I am done with school. I seriously can't wait, it'll be so awesome."

"What?" I stutter just looking at him. "Emmett, you only just started dating her?"

"Dad, I know that, but ..." He stops talking, looks at Bella and I watch as her hand covers his giving it a little squeeze. "I've always felt something for Rose, even when I was younger. When I turned fourteen, you know I had a crush on her. Well she was a main star in my dreams, and was often my spank bank image."

Groaning, I shake my head. "Didn't need that information," I say with a smile and he shrugs.

"Anyway, as you know the girls that I dated were like her, but more slutty. Somewhere down the line I lost myself. It felt like I was one person here with you and another at school. I wanted to be, well you know the king of the school. I wanted you to be proud of me. I never meant to hurt the people I wound up, and I didn't think I was, until Bella came into my life." Emmett stops and swallows.

"I was talking about Kate when there was a girl I liked, who was a cheerleader. But then shit hit the fan, and I couldn't handle it anymore, mainly because Bella came into my life. I didn't think about how it sounded to you when I called her my girl. It wasn't until you gave me the condoms that it clicked for me that you thought she was my girlfriend. I was going to correct you, but it became clear to me instantly this was different. You never liked any of my other girlfriends, but you liked Bella. Heck, Dad, a blind man could see you liked her. So, I just thought maybe with you thinking Bella was my girl, you would see I was making some good choices and changes. I mean I knew there was no way you could not like her she was smart, caring and beautiful. The next thing that happened was my great idea to change her clothes. I was ashamed and embarrassed by how she dressed."

Frowning at him, I go to say something but he holds up his hand.

"I was changing Dad, but a little at a time. I was still shallow, and that's why I did it. I went with it and begged her to comply on the being my girl, you seemed okay with her. If I would have known the hastiness that started toward her was because you had the hots for her, I would've backed off. I wanted to protect her, not harm her.

"As you know she told me her feelings for you, and I could see it in her eyes she loved you. I knew what unrequited love felt like, so again I tried to protect her. Somehow I didn't see that you felt love like that for her too. I wish I had, it would've made these last few months more enjoyable."

Letting out a long sigh, I nod at him. "But at Christmas and New Year's, you knew. You knew there was something more between us by then."

Emmett nods in agreement. "Yes, but I was selfish. I wanted to have the love of my life too. I knew that once I told you nothing would stop you from being with Bella. But I was afraid it wouldn't be that easy for Rose and I. Besides I did try and tell you but stuff kept getting in the way. And for the record, I may be tough, but there was no way I was telling you when you were pissed off."

"Okay, I do understand, Em, but still it hurts that you lied and deceived me."

"You lied too," he says weakly and I snort but nod.

"You're right, I did, but I was trying to protect you, and Bella."

Emmett and I just look at each other not saying anything.

"Draw a line and move on," Bella says and we both turn to her. "My gran used to say that once you done talked and apologized about an argument you had to move on. Leave it in the past where it is at and don't bring it up again. We all need to do this. We're all at fault and we all were trying to protect someone we loved. We all should have done something different, and if something comes up again we know it's best to talk it out."

"I agree, love," I say kissing her head. "Em," I say holding out my hand, he grins and shakes it.

"I have something for you," he says as he reaches into his bag.

He pulls out a paper bag and hands it to me. Taking the bag from him, I look inside to see a box of condoms and information on how to use them.

"Emmett," I grit out feeling like kicking his smart mouthed ass again.

"What, come on, you gave them to me?" He yells looking between Bella and I. "Which ironically I at least use." He stops and turns to Bella. "That's ironic, right?"

She bites her lip and nods. "Yeah it's ironic, Edward, since you're the one that keeps knocking up your girlfriends." Bella snorts and covers her mouth after saying it and looks away from me.

Looking back at Emmett, I just shake my head. "Ha, ha, ha, you're both so funny. Em, go call Rose and ask if she wants to host dinner with us here, so we can tell Alice and Jasper all the news at once."

Emmett gets a wide, sloppy grin on his face and I know right then he's in love. By the look on Rose's face earlier when I talked about him to her she was the same. Somehow I just know I will end up with a daughter-in-law, who is the same age as me. Fucking hell, how can the four of us go out together, it's going to look like some sort of sitcom.

A/N: Anyone else still think Newton needs to be taken down another notch or two? What do you think of the talk Edward, Bella and Emmett had? How do you think Alice will handle all the news? The next chapter is set to post on Saturday and I still have to get it wrapped up on this side and off to the betas but we hope to not be delayed. Only a few more chapters to go, but not an exact number yet.