A/N: Hi! *bounces around your inbox merrily* A wonderful person made me a youtube video teaser for Snapshots and I'm so happy, I'm like...glowing. It's obnoxious (I am, not the lovely Trina Smusic Patterson). Oh. Okay. Srs bsns. Let's get Edward home!

"Bella, come away from there."

Bella started. She hadn't realized anyone was in the room. She looked studiously back to the sewing in her lap as she answered Alice. "There's better light by the window."

It wasn't a lie. Since so much of their clothing had been lost or worn through on the journey, there was a lot of sewing to do to get ready for the long winter months.

Alice hummed and pulled another of the living room's sitting chairs over to sit facing Bella. "Yes, you're right. The light is very good. It's also a good place to daydream about handsome men riding over the crest of the hill there."

"Humph," Bella grunted in acknowledgment, ignoring the heat that rose to her cheeks.

"I'm not going to tell you for the thousandth time that your husband is going to be fine because you never believe me anyway. Instead, I'm going to distract you. This works for both of us because I need someone to gossip with."

That caught Bella's attention. "Gossip? About whom? We hardly know the neighbors."

"And yet, in the middle of a busy harvest season, so many of them have dropped by to introduce themselves." Alice giggled. "And have you noticed, it just happens to be the single men or their mothers at the very least?"

Bella considered this. Coming as she did from the city, it hadn't seemed strange that neighbors came to welcome them. Now that Bella thought of it, her father's closest neighbors were miles away. It would have taken some effort to come calling on a normal day and, as Alice had noted, it was the harvest. The men came in from the fields well past sun down. Emmett had fallen asleep on his dinner plate the evening before.

"Single men. But for whom? There are no-" Bella cocked her head, looking at Alice in surprise. "Vera?"

"Truth be told, the first of the lot came looking for you."

"Me?" Bella was so startled she nearly dropped her sewing.

"Of course you. After all, no one expected you to come home with a husband. They all knew Charlie had a daughter of marriageable age. You know those things about your neighbor. But don't worry. They won't bother you. You'd be a fine catch for any of them, Bella, but they're on to greener pastures now, so to speak."

"But it's unseemly. Vera's a new widow not even out of mourning. With two boys, no less."

"You must see what a fine prospect she is," Alice said, eyeing Bella with bemusement. "She's young enough yet at thirty-one to bear more children. She has some money of her own even with the loss of the wagon. The boys only sweeten the deal."

"What do you mean?"

The look on Alice's face suggested she thought Bella was being a bit dim. "They're already half grown. It will only be a few years before they'll be ready hands at the harvest. No need to start from scratch in that case."

Bella made a face. "That's so crass and cold."

"It's business," Alice said with a shrug. "It's a mutually advantageous arrangement. Vera will be provided for and protected. The lucky suitor will gain two strong boys and a pretty, biddable wife. Between Jasper and Pa, her interests are being well taken care of."

Not for the first time, Bella wondered what her life would have looked like had things happened differently with Edward. She liked to dream that he might have seen fit to settle down and court her properly as he often lamented he hadn't. Knowing her husband as she did, it was more likely he'd have convinced himself he was no good for her and trudged after James as he always had.

If she and Edward hadn't been caught in a compromising position, it might well have been her in Vera's place being evaluated like prize stock. Young enough to bear many children. Pretty enough as these things went. Likely more opinionated and stubborn than a good wife should have been, but as her father had said, there were many more men than there were women in this new land.

Then again she couldn't exactly call her marriage the pinnacle of romance. She'd been married off as supposed damaged goods, her value diminished by the bastard she potentially carried.

Bella shuddered and returned to her stitches. "I don't understand why there's such a rush. Even setting aside what Alistair left Jasper, she has enough to start a life here on her own. She could support herself and the boys for years before she'd run out of money even if she failed miserably, and it would give her time to find a match she truly wants."

Alice hummed, intent on her task for a few moments. "I know you won't think me uncharitable for saying what's the simple truth," she said. "Vera just doesn't have your keen sense, Bella. I don't doubt you could run a farm and handle your finances well enough on your own if you ever lost your husband, but Vera isn't that kind of woman. She needs to be taken care of. She wants to be taken care of. I have no doubt you could survive on your own, but she can't."

Bella shuddered, a cold, sick feeling twisting in her belly. She set down her sewing with shaking hands. "I don't want to survive on my own."

"Oh, lovely." Alice stood and went to stand beside Bella. She pulled her friend's head to rest on her breast and patted her hair. "Just a few more days, and he'll be back safe and sound."

Though she had repeatedly tried to tell herself she was being ridiculous, Bella had a hard time drawing in a deep breath. Her chest ached and her eyes teared. She groaned, swiping at them. "I'm sorry. I've been so whiney the last few days."

"Bella." Alice chuckled and stroked her hair back. "There are ten of us in this house, eleven if we count your husband, because none of us could stand the idea of leaving. Don't apologize for being a bit weepy. You think I don't know how lucky I am that my husband doesn't stray further than the pastures? I don't blame you for being scared, not after what we've all seen and been through, but Edward will be fine."

At that, Bella breathed a little easier, letting herself believe her friend's words. A few more days. She could be brave for that long.

"I want to tell him, Alice," she whispered, closing her eyes and wishing with all her might that when she opened them, he would be coming over that hill.

Alice hugged her tightly. "You will."

~0~

It was Jasper Edward saw first. At least, he thought it was Jasper. It was a blond figure mounted on a horse rounding up the livestock.

Whoever the figure was, the sight of him meant one thing: Edward was almost home. His grip tightened around the reins, and he had to struggle to keep the horses at a steady pace. They pulled a wagon-mostly empty for the time being-and it would do him no good to rush and topple the thing. Another hour's ride wouldn't kill him.

It felt as though it would. Bella was so close.

Being away from her was more difficult than Edward had expected. The days were almost bearable for all its distractions. There were endless ledgers to go over, purchases and plans to be made, his land to reacquaint himself with. The nights, however, were long and desolate without her.

Often she was so much in his thoughts he felt the phantom of her touch. When he rolled over to find the bed beside him empty and cold, the ache he felt intensified to the point he thought he might die.

Before he could go insane, Edward would turn his thoughts to a great many things, not the least of which was the family he'd been adopted into.

It was likely Carlisle would end up doing as he had always done. Even in the short time he'd had before he had to leave for his own property, Carlisle had been called off to attend to this neighbor or that. No matter what else he was supposed to be doing, he always went. It was a call in him, Edward recognized. Perhaps he would hire someone else to work the land for him, but Edward figured Carlisle would find he could get paid for his doctoring skills just as well in the west as he had in the city.

Emmett too was likely to end up in his same trade regardless of whether he and Rosalie ever did travel on to one of the larger cities. Like Carlisle, he possessed a skill in high demand. A carpenter would be most lucrative out here where folks were struggling to carve civilization out of the wilderness.

Jasper, Edward had mused, would likely end up raising livestock. He was good with animals, and they made for just as good trade if not better, especially if he had the sense to turn his land into a dairy farm.

The man had been a friend to him when everyone else was intent on judging him. Edward had made a mental note to talk to him about the possibility.

Watching Jasper with the cattle as he got closer, Edward felt smug. He'd been right about his friend's preferences.

When Jasper caught sight of him, he turned his horse to a gallop. He pulled up alongside Edward's wagon and patted the side. "Brother, if I never see one of these again…"

Edward chuckled. It wasn't even the same kind of wagon. This one was closer to a carriage than anything else. "It'll be in storage for the winter, so try not to let it traumatize you."

Jasper grinned, but the smile quickly faded. "Why don't you pull over here and let me take the wagon the rest of the way?"

Edward's heart dropped down to his feet, his blood running cold. "Why?"

"A single person riding horseback will get there quicker, and-"

"Something's happened." Edward pulled the horses to a stop. "Tell me." He was trying to keep calm, but his panic was rising steadily.

Please, no. They were off the trail. They were supposed to be safe. Bella was supposed to be safe.

Jasper grimaced. "You're almost a week later than you said you would be. Between worrying for you, helping us prepare for winter, and helping take care of the menfolk, Bella ran herself a bit ragged."

Edward got down from the wagon just as Jasper dismounted. He grabbed his friend by the shoulders and gave him a shake. "What do you mean? What does that mean?"

"She had a bit of a faint and tumbled part way down the stairs."

Edward gave a small cry, already turning toward the horse. Jasper tried to say more, but Edward had mounted and was off without hearing another word.

On horseback as a lone rider, it took no more than twenty minutes to reach the house, but each of those minutes stretched on like an eternity. There was no reason to be so panicked. Nearer to the house he'd spotted Rosalie and Esme in the gardens. If everyone was going about their business as usual, Bella couldn't be so badly off. His rational mind had cottoned on to all of it, but it hardly mattered. His worst fear was his beautiful wife's untimely death, and now he couldn't calm until he saw her whole in front of him.

"Edward-" Sue, sitting on the porch sewing, pushed ponderously to her feet when she saw him coming, but Edward cut her off before she could speak.

"So sorry, Mrs. Swan," he said, dismounting with a leap. He ran into the house and up the stairs without a backward glance at his mother-in-law.

Bella was asleep when he got to their room, but seeing her again, her chest rising and falling at steady intervals, did much to soothe Edward's nerves. More than that, the sight of her was salve to the ache being gone so long from her side had caused.

He crossed the room and went to sit on the bed. His relief faded quickly when he saw her up close.

She looked as though she'd gone a round or two in the boxing ring. Bruises littered the fair skin of her arms. It was her face, though, that twisted his stomach with dread and alarm. There was a dark bruise on her cheek, but that was the least of his worries. The skin that wasn't bruised had a sickly pallor to it. She was covered in a sheen of sweat, and when he touched his palm to her cheek, her skin was clammy and cool to the touch. The air in the room was hot, owing mostly to the raging fire in the hearth, and though the window had been open, he could still smell the faint odor of sick.

"Bella," he whispered, his voice hoarse.

Her eyelashes fluttered as she woke, and it took a few second for her to focus on him. "Edward?" she murmured, her voice weak and breathy, with sleep or illness, he wondered.

But after she blinked a few times she sat bolt upright. "Edward!" In the next instant, Edward found himself in a hold so tight he nearly choked. "Oh, Edward. Are you here? Are you really here?"

He momentarily forgot his worry so he could hug her back just as tightly, but he regretted it when she cried out and cringed away from his touch. "Sorry," she said, taking his face in her hands and running her thumbs over the beard that had grown in again. "I'm a little banged up, that's all. I'm sorry."

"What happened? What's wrong?" he asked. His anxiety was a hard, painful lump in his throat, and he dreaded the answer.

"Oh, it was nothing, really. I haven't been sleeping, and I haven't been able to eat much, and-"

"Why?" He moved his hand to cup her good cheek, too anxious to let her ramble. He took a deep breath and put on a stoic face. He could be brave for her. "Please tell me what's wrong."

She ducked her head. "There's nothing wrong," she said. Her tone was oddly bashful.

Bella pushed the blankets off and tugged him. Getting the idea, Edward readjusted so he could sit with his back against the headboard. She surprised him by climbing into his lap. Despite her reassurance, it didn't escape him that she was trembling. Something wasn't adding up here, and Edward felt he would go insane if he had to wait longer to know.

But rather than speak right away, she seemed to get distracted when she looked up. She began to trace the lines of his face, running her finger along the outline of his beard. "I was so afraid. You didn't come home when you said you would, and I was so afraid you would have up and died without knowing."

"What, Bella? Sweetheart, what is it?"

Again she looked down, but at least whatever she had to say brought some color to her cheeks. She hid her face against his neck but finally whispered, "I'm going to have a baby."

His heart skipped a beat. He'd been so sure whatever news she had would be bad, he couldn't quite process this bit of information. His hand paused in the act of rubbing her back.

He took so long to speak she raised her head, a cross between fear and disbelief evident on her features. "Are you displeased?"

"No!" The word came out as a startled croak, and he readjusted his grip on her. "God, no. Bella." He said her name in a breathless whisper, awed. A thrill was rising in him, a joy so deep he was almost afraid to acknowledge it.

It was frightening to love someone as much as he loved this woman in his arms. It made him vulnerable. The part of him who had seen too much loss knew that even here, safe in their borrowed bed, there were so many ways he could lose her. Endless possibilities. Childbirth was not without its risk in the best situation.

Still, if he dared to hope, the love that blossomed in him now at the idea he'd created a child with her was something profound. It was so different than it had been with Maggie.

When Maggie had told him the same thing, he'd merely been proud of his own prowess. That was what a man did, after all. He took a wife and had children. It was the natural order of things, and he took the blessing for granted.

Now he knew what it was to love a woman to the depth of his soul. He knew how special it was that this child had been created in love. He knew how precious and terrifyingly fragile life was.

"That's the best welcome home I've ever heard of," he said, finally finding his voice. He let his grin have free reign of his face, and it threatened to break his cheeks. "How far? It couldn't have been that first day home."

The pink tinge of her cheeks deepened. "No. Not then. I'm eight weeks gone."

Though he wouldn't have thought it was possible, Edward's grin widened. "Your birthday?"

She huffed at him. "Yes, it seems you needn't have traded for my necklace." She touched her hand to the thing that still hung about her neck. "You left another gift behind."

Ridiculous though he was, the idea had him puffing up like a peacock. He spread his hand over her belly, imagining it swelling beneath his fingers. "So I did."

Her expression was adoring but exasperated. "So smug."

"Proud," he corrected and captured her lips before she could argue.

She kissed him back until he brought his hand to her cheek. When she gave a start of pain, he let her go, remembering belatedly that she was injured.

Pregnant and injured. "Bella. Your fall. How? The baby," he stumbled over his words, not knowing what to ask.

"I'm fine," she said, though she looked worried herself. "It happened yesterday evening. I was halfway down the stairs and I got dizzy." She made a face and patted the bedding. "That's why I'm here in the middle of the day. Carlisle has been watching me like a hawk, but there has been no pain-well, besides the bruising, but no pain here." She pressed a hand low on her belly. She cleared her throat. "And no bleeding. He told me to keep still a few days just as a precaution, but if you want to know the truth, I think it's because he could finally get me to sleep if I stayed put. He's been after me on that account since you've been gone."

"You haven't been sleeping?"

She touched a hand to his chest, drawing her fingers down. "Without you? No. I couldn't. At first, I waited because I knew it would take days for word to reach us if you hadn't made it where you were going. Then…" She shook her head, and Edward thought he understood. Even when enough time had elapsed that she could be sure he arrived safely, he was still gone. She took a deep breath. "Then the end of the second week came and went. Then another day and another and another.

"And another and another," he finished for her. He kissed her forehead. "I'm sorry. I should have thought to send word. I did think to, but I didn't expect it would take me as long as it did. I kept thinking I would set out myself the next day-no sense in sending someone with word-but then something else would come up and the day would be lost."

"You're here," she said, snuggling close against him. "And I'm here, and we'll have a summer baby just as Alice predicted."

He chuckled, holding her close. "Such a talent. What else did she predict?"

"Nothing that I know of."

"Well, that's enough." He put his fingers beneath her chin and tilted her head up to look on her. "That's more than enough," he said, and he kissed her soundly.

A/N: Look, I have no idea what these kids are doing. Part of me wants to say one more chapter left, but they keep on changing the game on me. HUMPH. So we'll play it by ear. Can't be long. If not one chapter then two at the most, I reckon.

Many thanks to jfka06 and barburella and to all of you out there who make it a pleasure to keep writing.

There's going to be a write up about how this story came about on Fic Sisters. Watch on FB or Twitter. I'll repost it when it's up. :) I'm excited.