Chapter 11 - An itchy, twitchy feeling
The next morning Edward woke up to a loud banging sound resonating through the hotel suite. It was the sound of a plastic toy truck being flung repeatedly against the top of the bedside table.
"Whoa!" he protested groggily as he sat up in his bed. "Anthony, stop that…"
"Uh Oh," the boy shrieked, dropping the toy mid swing. "I say wakie, wake, gain anagain."
"You made all that noise to wake me up? Gee thanks, buddy." Edward pulled his arm out from under the covers and squinted to read the time on his watch. "Seven fifteen. Dude, why aren't you sleeping? It's too early for this…. "
"No seeping," Anthony shook his head and tugged at Edward's blankets.
"No more sleeping, huh? Well that settles it kiddo, you'll be bunking with auntie Alice from now on. You bear a striking resemblance to the Duracell Bunny and you certainly didn't get that from me."
"A bunny? Like Boo Boo?," Anthony asked and tilted is head to look up at Edward.
"Boo Boo?"
"Yeah! Boo Boo, on a telly."
"Whatever you say man," Edward mumbled, still not quite awake.
"Is a toon."
"Oh, Boo Boo is a cartoon."
"Is a toon," Anthony nodded giving him the 'I told you so' look.
Edward yawned and rubbed his eyes then scratched at his stubble. "So Anthony…" he said, suddenly getting an idea,"…I bet you like all sorts of cartoons, right?"
A few minutes later the little boy was sprawled out on the floor with his head in his hands and his eyes glued to some strange animated Japanese fantasy figure moving across the TV screen. Getting the bear buds to stay in place had proven to be a challenge. Too large to fit, they had to be held in place, but Anthony got the hang of it quickly.
Once Edward was sure the arrangement was going to work, he crawled back into bed and buried his head back in the pillow, hoping for another 15 minutes of rest.
Fifteen minutes turned into thirty and then quickly forty-five. That's when the sound of a ringing phone woke him with a start. Picking up the receiver he grumbled an answer in reply to the cheery voice on the other end.
He vaguely remembered Alice saying something about having requested a wake up call because the lawyer would be coming over early with some papers to sign or something to that extent, but he was too tired to remember the details.
He hung up the phone and climbed out of bed to gather up some clothes from his suitcase. As he went about his morning business he couldn't help but feel like there was something amiss, like there was something he should be doing differently, but couldn't remember what it might be.
On his way to the bathroom he nearly stumbled over the cord connecting the ear buds with the TV but didn't stop to think twice about it. It wasn't until he opened the bathroom door that he realized what it was he had forgotten…
The child sat crossed-legged in the middle of the bathroom floor and there was toilet paper everywhere, ripped to shreds like snow-flakes in a winter storm.
Once the initial shock had worn off, Edward entered the room in three swift strides only to set his bare feet down into something decidedly slimy.
"What the f-…" Gripping the bathroom countertop for balance, he swallowed the curse word that was on his tongue.
"What is this, soap?," he asked, speaking mostly to himself, as he didn't expect the toddler to provide him any answers.
The sound of his voice startled Anthony who flinched quite visibly and dropped what he had been holding in his hands.
"Well that explains it," Edward grumbled as he watched the small plastic bottle of shampoo roll across the floor. "You've been having a blast in here, haven't you?"
"Ceaning," a tiny voice replied from the floor. As if to illustrate his words, Anthony picked up a toothbrush and began scrubbing the gap between the tiles on the floor in front of him.
"You're cleaning? Fabulous! So, is that toothpaste you have there?," Edward questioned, with a worried glance at the bright turquoise looking goo that seemed to be covering a better part the toddlers tiny arms, chest and face.
"Is yummy, like mint," the boy nodded as he struggled to rise to his feet.
"Yeah, it tastes like mint."
"I have yello."
"Yello?"
"In tha hair," Anthony explained with a proud grin, running his hands through his hair.
"Yello in your hair? Oh you mean hair gel."
"Duno," Anthony shrugged and pulled out a can from the toilet bag beside him. "Have this!"
"Oh man you found my toilet bag… and my shaving cream…."
"Is cream like a cake?"
"No, it's not like the cream you put on a cake. You didn't put that stuff in your mouth, did you?" Edward asked warily and then somewhat abruptly yanked the can out of Anthony's hands. The sudden movement caused the child to lose his balance and fall on the slippery floor.
A loud clanging sound resonated throughout the bathroom followed by a high-pitched wail so sharp it could have cut glass.
Edward leaped forward and caught the child before he hit the floor, but the damage was obviously already done.
"Shhhhh. I've got you, Tony," he tried to soothe the hysterically crying child "Oh man, did you bump your head on the tub? Just… hang on buddy and let me take a look."
His heart skipped a beat up as he held the boys face between his hands and used his thumbs to gently wipe away the blood that trickled from a gash across the left eyebrow. Luckily the cut didn't look too deep, but the crying went on for what felt like hours… as did the bleeding…
"Owie!" Anthony screeched as Edward awkwardly dabbed at the wound with a towel.
"I know it hurts. We should put some ice on it. I bet the girls across the hall can get us some ice."
"Ice keem?" the boy sobbed, clutching Edwards blood sodden T-shirt.
Edward stared down at Anthony's tear stained face for a moment before relenting. "Sure, if you stop crying, I'll get you some ice cream."
"Wit cookies?" the little boy bargained.
"With cookies," Edward agreed with a sigh.
And so, another day of toddler-wrangling was under way…
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"Oooh, I needed this, Edward sighed contentedly and took another sip of the hot black liquid. I can't function without my morning coffee."
"Rough morning?" Garrett Berger asked with a raised eyebrow.
"You have no idea and it's not even nine thirty yet."
"Actually, my wife and I have raised five children, two sons and three daughters, so I think I have a pretty good idea what you're going through. The toddler years can be a challenging experience, but that is nothing compared to the teenage years. You just wait and see…"
"Oookay, we better get on with the paperwork before I change my mind," Edward warned, only half-kidding.
"It's all worth it though. Watching him grow will be the best experience of your life," the lawyer smiled reassuringly. "I need you to sign this," he continued, pushing a paper across the desk for his client to read. "It's a document stating that you are the biological father and that you want custody of the child."
"Okay," Edward nodded, scanning the form quickly before he signed his name on the dotted line. "Is that it? Is that all it takes to petition for custody?"
"That's all for today," Berger smiled, placing the form back in a folder. "This form needs to be lodged with the clerk of the Family Court in the district where the minor is currently residing, along with a copy of the paternity test results and a written evaluation from an accredited social worker…"
"…and once that's done it's bye, bye Seattle?"
"Yes, within a month or so you'll be free to take the child and go home."
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Alice dropped her bomb around lunchtime.
"Chickenpox? As in itchy blisters and brownish-looking scabs?" Bella asked with a frown, suddenly losing all appetite for the Cesar salad on the plate before her.
"I'm afraid so," Alice replied, holding a spoonful of cereal in front of Anthony.
"Open the tunnel, here comes the train," she cooed, mimicking the rhythmic sound of a train in motion. The child seemed impressed and she actually managed to get most of the cereal into his mouth before his lips were smacked together and the spitting began.
At least they had remembered the bib this time….
"Does he have like spots and everything?" Bella asked with furrowed brows.
"Yes, at first they thought it was just a rash, but he's running a fever and Carlisle says it sounds like the Chickenpox."
"And this is bad…. how?" Edward asked around a mouthful of half-chewed pancakes. "I mean it sucks that he's sick, but don't kids get the chickenpox all the time?"
"Please keep your food in your mouth, would ya? Alice grimaced at him. "And that goes for you too, Mister," she said with mocking sternness to Anthony. "It's bad because neither Emmett nor Jasper has had it and it's considered highly contagious so…"
"They'll most likely get it too." Bella finished her sentence.
"Yes and having chickenpox as an adult is no fun at all. So….eh… I don't know how to say this Edward, but I think I need to head home and take care of them."
Edward sighed and poured more syrup onto his plate. "Why can't Rosie handle it?"
"Well, Rosie isn't exactly known for her patience or her nurturing personality.…"
"Wait, what about you two?" Bella interrupted pointing between the two siblings. "You've both had it, right? Or are you potentially carrying the virus as well? It is a virus, isn't it?"
"Eh, I believe it's airborne, so I don't think it works that way, " Alice shrugged, loading up another spoonful of cereal. "But even if it does work that way, we both had it as kids so no one should be able to catch it from us."
"Are you sure about that? " Edward asked. "Because it would totally suck if this kiddo right here got sick on top of everything else!"
As if he knew he was being talked about, Anthony chose that precise moment to throw his zippy cup across the table sending various items of food flying in all directions.
And with that the topic of conversation was forgotten for the time being…
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Alice's departure was quick and well-timed… a little too well-timed in Bella's liking.
Before she made her grand exit, Alice had managed to secure a small secluded cottage at the Lakeside Garden Resort, a family oriented resort about 45 minutes outside the city. There would be fabulous outdoor play areas for the child to enjoy, no doubt, but Bella feared the living quarters would be cramped.
Unlike Edward, Bella knew a set up when she saw one, which she told her traitor friend as she drove her to the airport. Alice merely laughed, insisting that a cranky Edward was much more manageable than a sick Emmett and that Bella was getting the better end of the deal.
Upon returning to the hotel suite she found Edward climbing the walls with terminal restlessness. Did chickenpox really trump cabin fever? She wasn't entirely convinced...
"Listen to this," Edward said, cornering her the minute she set her foot inside the door, "According to Wikipedia, Chickenpox is caused by a virus called VZV." He paused to scroll downwards on the display of his phone. "It appears as though no one is actually immune, but you're less likely to catch it if you have the antibodies."
"So Alice was right, then. There is no need to worry!" Bella sidestepped him and went to fetch herself a bottle of water from the mini fridge.
"Technically she was only half right, " Edward pointed out. "The virus can lie dormant within your body and cause shingles later on in life. People who haven't had chickenpox or the vaccine can catch it from someone with shingles."
"Oookay, but with no shingles in sight there really is no need to worry." She unscrewed the cap and took a long swig.
"Yet she rushed home like she was being chased by the Swine flu or something."
Shaking her head, Bella couldn't help but smile . "To her defense she isn't running from the germs, she is running to them and only because Jasper needs her."
Edward snorted loudly. "She is just looking for an excuse to dust off the naughty nurse outfit she keeps in the back of her closet."
Bella nearly choked on her water. "Ew, what is it with your family and hospital settings? I'll never forget that time we walked in on Esme and Carli-… "
"You're right. We don't need those kind of images," Edward interrupted, with a disgusted scoff.
It was already too late, though, because both their minds were already wander in the same direction.
Suddenly there was tension in the room. Tension that had very little to do with the memory of having caught a certain Doctor and his wife sneaking out of an ER supply closet flush-faced and giggling like teenagers. Instead the tension stemmed from another memory of another set of lovers stealing a moment of passion in a hospital setting.
Bella remembered it like yesterday; the stitches, the concussion, the headache. She remembered curling up together in that impossible narrow hospital bed. She remembered being disrobed of her hospital gown and then the pleading and begging that followed. She had been insatiable, shamelessly pushing for more; more contact, more heat, more pleasure…. She had gotten what she had asked for… and then some….
An unintentional groan (or was it a moan?) escaped her lips before she came back to her senses and began scrambling for something -anything- to steer the conversation onto safer grounds. "Never mind, this topic is hardly kid friendly. Speaking of which, where is the little tyke? It's alarmingly quiet in here."
Edward blinked as if he was coming out of a trance, then glanced over at the coach where Anthony was fast asleep. "He crashed like two seconds after you left."
"Oookay, good…. " she replied, taking a step back to put some distance between them. "…or maybe not so good, she frowned. "I think you're suppose to wake him every half an hour or so seeing as he most likely have a concussion."
Edward looked perplexed. "You're right. I didn't think of that."
"Maybe that's what you should been googling instead of chickenpox on that fancy phone of yours!" she snapped with a little more bite than she had intended.
"Eh…" Edward looked down at the phone in his hand like he didn't recognize it. "Oh, that reminds me…. You should hear what this wikipage says about adult cases of the chickenpox. Alice needs to take lots of pictures, because this is going to be hilarious! Adults tend to get more of both the itching and the red spots," he mused as he crossed the room and sat down on the couch next to the sleeping child.
"Oh, very mature Edward!" Bella scolded him as she watched him stroke the hair out of the boy's forehead for a quick inspection of the band aids. "That's your brother you're talking about. Correct me if I'm wrong but aren't adults more at risk of severe complications?"
"Yeah well, that only applies to people with weakened immune systems and pregnant women. Common complication are infections, pneumonia, temporary liver problems and toxic shock syndrome."
"W-what?" Bella choked feeling the bile rising in her throat. Her ears were ringing, her vision going gray…
"Toxic shock syndrome. I think it's like a bacterial infection, but don't quote -…"
He was cut short when Bella suddenly and very unceremoniously fainted and slumped to the floor with a dull thud.
…..
AN 1: So, I felt compiled to add a little chickenpox scare to this chapter after having read up on the potential health risks that you guys mentioned in your reviews. I had no idea chickenpox could potentially cause stillbirths and birth defects! I also had no idea that vaccination against chickenpox is more or less standard in the US (is this really correct?).
AN 2: If any of you are wondering why my updates have become less frequent or why I haven't responded to reviews in the last month or so, it's because I've been struggling with getting anything creative (not just writing) done at all at the moment. It's not a writer's block or anything. It's more about finding the energy to do anything other than collapse in front of the TV after work. And it doesn't help that I'm a painfully slow writer to begin with. Sundays are my dedicated writing days. I start at noone and usually don't stop until midnight, but that still doesn't give me enough time to keep up with a weekly update schedule. So… I think I'll be going back to posting shorter chapters again. I used to do this when I first started writing fics, but as my skills improved the chapters grew longer… Please bear with me while I figure stuff out, okay? It's my intention to get back to a weekly updating schedule as soon as possible.
AN 2: And now some Q&A's…
Q: How did Angela accomplish it (getting pregnant by Edward) if he did not know her before she became the stalker.
A: Angelas journal reveals that they actually met several times before she began stalking him. None of those meetings made any lasting impression on Edward though. He never really saw her, never really acknowledged her existence. I'm not ready to reveal how the babymaking incident came about just yet, but there is a reason why he can't remember anything about that night….
Q: So Angela somehow raped Edward while he was out of it?
A: Rape is such a loaded word. His mind might have been altered at the time, but he was a willing participant.
Q: when is he (Edward) going to find out Bella is pregnant?
A: Edward is dense (and preoccupied) it will take him a while to figure it all out. There will be plenty of clues for him to pick up on, though, now that the two of them sharing living quarters …