Chapter 61 - Just one more thing…

.

"149 through 99."

"Mmhmm," Bella sort of hummed in response, without taking her eyes off Alice, who was flitting about the room like a child unable to keep still.

"Still mildly high, but not severely so," Carlisle noted, as he removed the blood pressure cuff from her arm. "It takes time. Keep resting and things will keep improving. I promise."

"I suck at resting."

"She really does," Alice agreed, plopping herself down onto the foot of the bed, where she began rifling through what appeared to be a giant makeup case. She had yet to explain what she and her bag were doing there and why this all couldn't wait until after Carlisle was done with the PB reading.

"The more I rest, the more tired I feel. I must be doing it wrong," Bella frowned and then ducked when Alice came at her with some gooey concoction. "I realize I'm probably paler than a piece of printer paper, but I don't want a ton of makeup caked on my face."

"Nonsense," Alice said in her best you-will-let-me-cover-the-dark-circles-under-your-eyes-or-you-will-die voice. "A little pampering has never hurt anyone. It might even help you unwind and I have this mask that will deep clean your pores and give you a fresh, rosy glow. Sorted."

"You do look a bit pale," Carlisle observed with piqued concern evident in his voice. "We should have your iron levels checked again. Have you felt lightheaded or dizzy at all these past few days?"

"Not that I've noticed," she started answering, but had to stop to give Alice a warning glare. "Don't you dare put that nasty smelling stuff on my face. I'm trying to have a serious conversation here."

She armed herself with a handful of paper napkins from the dispenser on the bedside just in case and then turned back to Carlisle. "I'm sorry. You were saying…?"

"Are you keeping yourself hydrated? It's especially important if you're still having bouts of morning sickness."

"I'm trying. If I take more than a sip or two at a time though, it runs straight through me in a matter of minutes." She paused to think for a moment. "Wouldn't the number of bathroom trips decrease rather than increase, if I was in fact, dehydrated?"

"Yes, and you'd probably notice your urine taking on a much darker yellow shade of color."

"Erm…Well, that not the issue then. Not that I spend much time contemplating what my pee look like or how often I have to go, but I would definitely notice if something was off," she laughed. "There is probably nothing wrong with me. I just feel generally worn out and sleepy, that's all…"

"Hate to break it too you, but that's usually what happens if you're up all night," Alice butted in, wiggling her eyebrows. "The walls are thin and it didn't sound like you were playing board games, that's for sure."

"Oh, shut up!" Bella swung an elbow out, catching her friend squarely in the ribs. "I'll have you know, some people take scrabble very seriously and also stop making things up! You heard nothing, because there was nothing to hear."

"Edward hates scrabble and I'm not making things up. You were all kinds of loud…"

"Alice, that's quite enough," Carlisle chastised and shot her a look that silenced her immediately, but not without a snicker in Bella's direction.

Bella, in turn was, chastising herself for walking right into that one. She should have known nothing would get past Alice. She was just about ready to accept death by mortification, when Carlisle spoke up again.

"What about your shoulder and neck, Isabella?" he asked, gesturing to touch the upper part of her arm. "Any numbness or tingling sensations?"

"No, but that whole side still aches a bit. Nothing like it did before, but it's still a bit stiff."

"No headaches at all?"

"Well sometimes, but I think that's mostly because my eyes are getting tired a whole lot faster these days," she admitted, scooting further back so she could lean against the headboard. "I've read that that's a normal pregnancy thing, though. Right?"

"Yes, mild vision changes are normal. However, blurry or double vision, sensitivity to light and/or seeing spots or floaters are signs of –"

"Preeclampsia. I know," she nodded grimly. "It's nothing like that… I think. I mean I've noticed in the last week or two that I've been squinting more. Like I need stronger contacts or rest my eyes more frequently."

"It's a relatively common phenomenon. You're holding onto so much fluid in your body that the fluid in your eyes is actually causing the eyeballs to change shape."

"What? Her eyes are changing shape?!" Alice asked in genuine disbelief. "That doesn't sound normal to me? Is it treatable? Is it reversible? Does it hurt?"

"It's nothing to be overly concerned about," Carlisle stopped her before her rant could pick up steam. "These are slight changes and will only affect her vision marginally. Everything should be back to normal within six months to a year after the baby is born."

"I suppose I'll just have to adjust," Bella grumbled, not overly excited at the prospect, but not overly concerned either.

Beside her Alice was bouncing with sudden excitement. "I just had a great idea!" she exclaimed, clapping her hands. "Let's go online and find you some new glasses! I bet you'd look great in a pair of trendy, thick-rimmed, retro specs."

"Don't splurge on anything costly," Carlisle warned. "Her eyesight will, most probably, keep on changing for the reminder of the pregnancy."

"Oh shoot, I better cancel that Lasik eye surgery I had booked, then," Bella joked lamely and then tiredly stifled a yawn. "I think I'll stick to my contacts, but I appreciate your resourcefulness, Alice."

"You're no fun. I bet we could have gotten Eddie to foot the bill. I've yet to meet a guy that doesn't love the 'sexy-librarian-look'."

Bella hid her face in her hand and groaned, "It's your brother you're talking about."

"Alice…," Carlisle coughed, suppressing a laugh. "Not all couples are into role-plays or dressing-up games."

"Fine it was just a suggestion," she defended herself with ahint of mischief in her blue eyes.

Bella responded with an exaggerated sigh that was only partly in jest. "Again you're a woman of great resourcefulness, but I'm not sure I could pull of sexy anything at the moment, so can we please just drop this whole conversation."

"That's not what I heard," Alice tsked, with heavy emphasis on the word 'heard'.

"Oh, look, it's time for breakfast," Carlisle cut in, trying to change the subject again. "There's nothing like food to lift your spirits. I'm sorry you're feeling a bit blah at the moment, Isabella, but it's not uncommon to be experiencing some fatigue at this stage."

"Maybe the tiredness is just boredom disguised?" she nodded, grateful that at least someone was all business, steeringthe conversationaway from any potential awkwardness. "I'm not used to having this much free time on my hands."

"Actually, it could be that you are not getting enough quality sleep at night. Too many naps during the day, can easily affect your REM sleep and you wake up feeling more tired than you were when you went to bed."

"It's not like I nap all day long, though, doc," she objected, albeit halfheartedly. "Just once or twice and only because my eyes are bugging me or because I don't have anything better to do."

"You'll like what I'm about to suggest then," Carlisle said with a smile. "I was thinking we could change things up a bit today. The weather is supposed to be reasonable warm. I don't see why you shouldn't be able to handle a little walk. Some fresh air will only do you good."

"Really, I can go outside?" Bella caught herself squealing excitedly. Alice, of course, was squealing right with her.

"As long as you take someone with you I don't see why not. A short, slow-paced walk, 20 minutes tops. And watch out for ice patches!"

"My eyesight isn't THAT bad," she laughed. "I'll try and stay upright." Thanks Dr. C! For everything."

"You're welcome," Carlisle nodded, collecting his things and then making his way to the door. "And one more thing, Isabella," he paused with his hand on the handle. "Don't overdo it with the physical activity."

There was a definite hint of humor in his voice that made it clear EXACTLY what kinds of activities she'd been up to.

Ground, open, swallow, NOW!

.
…

.

"Alright missy... Spill. Now," Alice demanded the minute the door shut closed behind Carlisle.

Bella raised a brow, "I don't know what you're talking about," she denied, busying herself by straightening the bed.

"Not very convincing, considering the giant hickey you're sporting on your neck," Alice pointed out, a smirk evident in her voice. "Edward thought you might appreciate some help to cover it up. You know, before we all sit down for breakfast." She held up a tub of concealer and grinned evilly.

"Oh," Bella made an involuntarily move to feel around her neck for sore spots and cursed not-so-under her breath when found one, just below her left ear lobe. "Edward sent you?"

"Uh–uh, that's exactly what he did. I didn't count on my nosy father beating me here though," she half whined, half groaned. "So much time wasted. You better hurry up and give me the deets."

"What details, Alice?" Bella attempted a deadpan, but when she moved to sit on the edge of the mattress, she felt her lips curve upwards on their own accord. "Okay, yes, there might have been some kissing going on," she admitted, tiling her head to the side to give Alice the access she needed to work her magic with the makeup.

"You don't say," Alice shot back, sniggering. "I know I'm being nosy-"

"You're always nosy," Bella interrupted bluntly.

"Hush… I know I'm being nosy, but I'm not a mean and spiteful person, you know. You're my friend and I only have your best interest at heart."

"I know and for the record, the prize for being the nosiest actually goes to your mother. Did you know Esme was here, knocking on this very door, at the crack of dawn?"

"What can I say, we're a nosy AND competitive bunch," Alice laughed, squeezing a blob of tinted, creamy liquid onto the makeup sponge in her hand.

"That you are, that you are." Bella chuckled dryly, then flinched when the sponge came in direct contact with the bruise on her neck. "I'm surprised I haven't heard from Emmett yet," she added after a moment ofsilent reflection . "But I'm sure there will be tons of crude jokes once he's fully awake and properly fed."

"Yeah, about that…" Alice was smirking again. "How do you think we all know Eddie spent the night with you in your room? "

Bella groaned, "I have no idea, but something tells me this will be all kinds of embarrassing… You mean to tell me it wasn't Esme who figured us out?"

Alice laughed, "Nope! It was Em. You see, he was heading downstairs to raid the refrigerator for one of his late-night/early-morning snack when he heard some rather suspicious moaning and groaning going on."

"I get it, say no more," Bella interrupted quickly, waving her hand for Alice to stop talking. "I blame it on pregnancy hormones… Oh and your brother. He's a noisy kisser… extremely noisy, considering that most of the kisses were just pecks… on the cheek in between Scrabble games and Uno rounds. Because that's all I'll ever admit to."

"Em said he felt like he was listening to gorillas mating on Animal Planet. I hate to hear what it sounds like when you're really going for it. "

"Trust me you don't want to hear that, Alice. He is your brother after all."

"You're right, I don't," she agreed, pretending to shudder. "It's enough that I had to deal with the hickeys and the beard burns, all of which are now almost completely impossible to detect by the way." Standing back, Alice cocked her head, examining her work. "You can thank me by naming your firstborn after me."

"I'll keep that in mind. So, are we done now?"

"I don't know, are we? You're not giving me anything about anything here. You're my friend and my brother is my brother…. Is everything alright between you guys now?"

"It's... we're getting there."

"Come on, please tell me you busy bunnies took at least a few minutes to actually to talk to each other last night."

"We did. It's still complicated. I don't want to get ahead of things, but I think we kinda sorta might be trying again, maybe."

"I knew it!" Alice looked at her with triumph in her eyes. "I called this months ago!"

"Only you didn't."

"Oh, I totally did and I want to hear you say it. One sentence, four words. It starts with 'you' and ends with 'were right Alice'. Come on, say it!"

"But that would be a lie."

"A lie? A lie? How do you reckon that?"

"You've been going on and on about how there will be a proposal, engagement rings and multiple babies and I hate to break it to you, " Bella said, pointing to her left hand. "There is still no ring on this finger."

"I was right about the babies though, wasn't I? It's two for one…. Carry one for nine months and get one for free. It's a pretty sweet deal. Give it a year or two and no one will remember or care that Tony isn't yours by blood. "

"I really do love the little darling to bits, but again….I don't want to get ahead of myself and be too optimistic."

"I predicted a proposal before the year is over and it isn't over yet. My brother is a bit slow on the uptake, but he'll get there. I'm sure of it. He still has until midnight."

"He's not proposing Alice. I know this for a fact, because this is actually one of the few things that we have touched on, at least briefly."

"I wouldn't be so sure if I were you. He's asked Rose to accompany him into town later today. Did you know that?"

"No, but that doesn't really mean anything."

"I bet you they're going ring-shopping."

"In Forks? Admittedly, it's been years since I last lived here, but I'm pretty sure there are not that many jewelers around this area."

"There is one in Port Angeles though, a friend of the family actually."

"You're deluded, Alice. Why would he bring Rose ring-shopping? They barely tolerate each other. That makes no sense."

"I know, but I think my dear brother is under the impression that you and Rose have similar taste in jewelry." She shook her head that was the most ridiculous thing she'd ever heard.

"Well, I suppose he might have heard me admire that rose pendant Em gave Rosie for Christmas." Bella could not help but tease her friend a little. "It was an unusual thoughtful and romantic gift in all its simplicity."

Alice responded by pretending to gag. "You'll have to act like you love the ring no matter what it looks like. Promise me that!"

"You're setting yourself up for disappointment. There will be no proposal tonight."

"Guess we'll know who is right soon enough," Alice smiled and tapped her nose lightly with her forefinger.

"I still say deluded, D-E-L-U-D-E-D."

.

….

.

Makeup in place and hair sorted, Bella woke her phone from sleep mode only to find that she had one missed call and a handful of new emails waiting for her. She knew without checking who they were from, so she unceremoniously sneaked off into the bathroom while Alice had her back turned.

She wasn't sure how long she had been in there when there was a knock and Edward's impatient voice came through the door. "Did you fall in or something, Swan? Breakfast is on the table."

"I'm on the phone, okay. I'll be out in a sec," she called back.

It was a lie. Technically was no longer on the phone, but it was still in her hand. The last couple of minutes had been spent googling the shit out of this quite unsettling piece of information that Clearwater had dropped in her lap.

No, scratch that. Dropped was the wrong word too use. Dropped made it sound like it was unintended and unplanned, when in fact Seth, the sob, had purposefully withheld one very crucial tidbit of information for several hours, days even, just to reveal it at the 'right time'. She knew without being told that the order had come from higher ups, but she still felt played, and didn't like it one single bit.

The only comfort was the knowledge that they had stumbled upon the catalyst that was likely to propel the once-stale investigation forward again.

A full two minutes passed before Edward shouted, "Your second is up. Don't make me take this door off at the hinges."

"I'd love to see you try that," she shouted back, but then unlocked and opened the door with resignation.

"I could totally do it!" he insisted, puffing his chest and flexing his 'muscles'. "My back would never be the same, but a door is no challenge if the motivation is there." He said chuckling lightly. When she didn't respond immediately though, his smile disappeared.

"Hey, is everything alright? You look… troubled..."

"Everything is fine. Just spoke with Clearwater." She waved her phone vaguely, and then threw it on the bed. "There are a few things that need to be sorted, but he'll be here shortly so..."

"Anything I should know about?" His voice held a clear warning, one she would be stupid not to acknowledge.

"Yes, but we'll deal with it later," she answered, pasting on what she hoped was a cheerful expression. "Now tell me, where's the fire? Why this sudden need to go knocking down doors?"

"No fire," Edward said pushing himself off the wall, moving to stand in front of her. "But breakfast is on the table. You have met my brother, haven't you? The food will be gone if we don't hurry up."

He held his hand out and Bella took it.

"Oh, you mean that big, muscular guy, that look nothing like you? Dimples, short curly hair, booming voice? As a matter of fact, I believe I HAVE met your brother." She laughed, and it was a genuine laugh that took no effort. "Now there's a guy that can knock down doors and break through barricades. He makes you look small and brittle in comparison."

"Geez thanks, Swan!" he dropped her hand with a huff. "And here I was going to compliment you on how radiant you look this morning."

"You said I looked 'troubled'," she reminded him.

"In a reflective, deep-in-thought, but sexy kind of way."

"Alright then… I take it all back, well… most of it," she teased, jumping back as two little figures came running towards them.

"No running guys!" Edward called after the boys.

"KAY!" They shouted back, but kept running none the less.

"Uhm, Edward… " She couldn't contain a chuckle at the slightly comical sight. "I could be wrong, but I think that is your mother's purse they got there… You should probably…."

"I'm on it. I'm so on it, " he leaped forward and took up the chase.

…

.

"You'd still want me even if I lost a limb or two, right Swan?"

The sound of Edward's voice startled her. She turned around to look at him as he slid into the chair next to her,balancing a bowl of cereal in one hand anda plate of crisply grilled bacon and scrambled eggs in the other.

"Depends on which limb we're talking about," Emmett teased, making no secret of listening in on the conversation from across the table.

"This is no laughing matter. He nearly took my finger off!" Edward clarified unnecessarily, because the bright red set of tiny teeth marks were still very much visible on his hand.

"You act like I've never been bitten before," Emmett laughed, elbowing Jasper conspiratorially in the side.

"By a toddler… Never been bitten by a toddler before."

"You'll live. He barely even broke the skin."

"Besides aren't you right handed, anyway?"

Bella tuned out the banter, choosing instead to let her eyes wander toAnthony, who was sitting in his high chair, squeezed in between his grandfather and his untie Alice.

He had mashed banana all over his face, but was in a much more subdued mood now that he had blown off some steam. The little guy had cried and thrown a fit for a good ten minutes. All because Edward had caught him and his little cousin, stealing chocolate out of their grandma's purse.

Utter chaos followed; chaos that had served as a diversion of sorts. Bella was secretly relived to have made it halfway through breakfast without having to face too many 'awkward' inquiriesor remarks. There was something different about the way Edward was looking at her this morning, she decided. His green eyes showing an intensity that hadn't been there before. And if she noticed, everyone else probably noticed too.

Just then, someone kicked her ankle under the table, and Bella scowled, but there was no guessing the culprit as all the Cullens around her were busy either talking to one another or leaning over plates of food to eat. She was still looking around the room, when she realized someone had said something to her.

"Sorry, what?"

"I was just asking if I could get you a refill," Esme walked up behind her and gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze.

She looked down at her plate, and realized with a slight blush, that she had been holding her fork in mid-air.

"I'm good, thank you. I was just…"

"Spacing out again," Alice chimed in, from across the table.

"I'm was not!" she argued back automatically, even though she had been caught doing exactly that. "I was just sitting here wondering where my phone disappeared to."

"Bedroom," Edward supplied around a gulp of steaming coffee.

"Oh, that's right!" she said, slapping her forehead. "Would you mind….?" She trailed off, looking at him hopefully.

"Mind what?"

"Fetching it for me?"

He stared back at her for a long moment, then sighed. "Sure, it's not like I'm busy with anything except… eating breakfast," he huffed and stood up. "So what if my coffee gets cold? Real men cannot only hug, but they can also take their coffee with ice and chocolate sprinkles."

"That's the spirit," Bella responded at the same time as Emmett coughed "Whipped," not to subtly, from across the table and then grinned at the glare Edward threw back at him.

"Not whipped... just well trained," Rosalie pointed out, slapping her husband on the arm.

"Well trained and handsome. Just my type," Bella said with a smile, making Edward smile back and shake his head a little bit.

"I wouldn't ask if it wasn't important, but I'll get it myself, if it's too much trouble."

"No, I'll do it." He squared his shoulders like he was going into war. "I'm guestimating my appetite will be ruined in approximately four seconds anyway."

"Why would you say that?"

"Because I think I'm hearing a car pulling up on the drive way."

"Shoot, he's early." Bella felt a sudden pang of dread. She had a feeling it wasn't just the appetite that would be ruined. Although she only knew a fraction of what was actually going on, she knew her colleague's visit would put a damper on the rest of the day.

.

…..

.