I do not own Twilight or its characters. Stephenie Meyer does.

Ch.3:

(EPOV)

We were in the kid's section of Target feeling a little lost. I was also still in a bit of shock. I had a son. I was father. And I had missed the first three years of his life completely. What kind of father did that make me?

I didn't doubt Bella's word for a moment that she tried to contact me. I was more upset that I didn't receive the letters. I couldn't figure out how they returned to her without me knowing about them unless she had the wrong address.

"Edward," Jasper called sharply.

I looked over and then down in confusion to find him bent down in front of some shelves.

"What?" I asked him.

He let out a sigh and pointed to some shirts. When he told Bella to bring as little as possible he meant clothes too. With how controlling Alec was and his possible connection we couldn't be sure that he hadn't placed tracking devices in anything.

"I've been trying to get your attention. I was asking, what do you think? Animals, cars and trucks, construction vehicles, or dinosaurs for shirts for Masen?" he asked patiently.

"I have no idea. How fucked up is that? I don't even know what my own kid likes," I grumbled.

A mother shopping near-by with her kids glared at me for my foul language. I grimaced apologetically, she huffed and pushed her cart off to another area.

"It's not your fault, bro. You didn't even know there was a possibility until a few hours ago that you had a son," Jasper said calmly, he pulled out a few shirts of each.

"It's not Bella's either." I leaned my forearms on the handle bar of our cart.

Jasper sigh exasperatedly and stood up. "I didn't say that it was." He placed the shirts in the cart. "Look, Edward, it's a shitty situation. I get that and you have every right to be upset. We don't know what happened. It could be a stupid screw up with the mail if the address was wrong. Or maybe the asshole Alec had something to do with it," he spoke in a lower voice.

I hadn't thought about that. I grimaced at the thought.

"Want me to have Peter look into it?" he asked.

Before I could answer there was a crash into our cart. We both looked up to see Emmett with a second cart had crash into ours. He looked red face and had a sheepish expression.

"Sorry. It got away from me." He pulled back the cart slightly.

"Emmett, what is all that?" Jasper asked looking his cart.

"Well, I got a portable DVD player that will hook up to the car. I found some kid DVDs for him to watch." Emmett held out some videos.

"He's three, won't Scooby-Doo scare him. Won't Bambi or something be better?" Jasper pointed out.

"The mother gets killed in Bambi, how is that better. No one dies in Scooby-Doo." Emmett crossed his arms in front of his chest.

Jasper rolled at his eyes and then looked toward me.

"As long as we have a few options I think we will be alright. We will just ask Bella before watching any of them. She will know best." I decided.

Emmett gave Jasper a triumphant look.

"What's the rest of this, I don't think we are going need all of that." I shook my head at all the toys he piled in the cart. His smile faded slightly.

"He's going to need toys." Emmett insisted.

"Right now, we should focus on the basics until we get settled somewhere. Put most of that back," Jasper ordered.

"Yeah, I might have gotten carried away, toys are right across from electronics. I just want to make sure the little guy has some cool things. There is this book The Monster at the end of this book starring lovable, furry old Grover and it came with a small Grover plush. Is that okay?" Emmett asked sheepishly.

"Yeah, I think he will love that." I nodded with a small smile. If Bella had anything to do with it, he would probably enjoyed reading it. "Keep books, coloring books and crayons, and videos. The rest can wait until we know what he likes."

"What about this?" Emmett held up a flat object. "It's a MagnaDoodle. You use a magnet pen to draw pictures then just slide this and the pictures erases and you can start again. I thought it would be good for the car."

"That sounds okay." I agreed. "Meet us by the car seats and diapers."

He put the toy down and nodded, he started pull the cart backwards before he stopped again.

"I heard you guys when I came up. About the letters, why worry about it? It's in the past. You know about Masen now and that's all that should matter, right?" He shrugged before continuing on.

"What do you think, is it worth worrying about?" I looked at Jasper, his mouth was in a grim line as he seemed to think it over.

"He may have a point, it's in the past. Even if it was Alec, there's not much we can do about it now. We would have to prove it to press charges." Jasper finally glanced up.

I sighed and reached over to look at the pants. I picked a few with adjustable waists. Like Bella specifically explained about, since Masen had a small waist but was tall. Jasper grabbed some pajamas and placed them in the cart.

We headed over to the next section and stood in front of some car seats. My eyes were drawn to a couple, they were probably around our age. The young woman was pregnant and her hands rested lightly on her belly. She had dark hair and she reminded me a bit of Bella. I wondered how she had looked carrying Masen. The guy she was with was holding a scan device in one hand and a book of baby products in the other.

It was towards the end of junior year when they did a whole simulation program where the girls had to wear fake pregnancy bellies and were matched up to guys. They did this every year right before prom. Since we were paired by Biology partners I was married to Bella.

She was sitting on the stool looking uncomfortable and kept trying rub her back. I reached over and rubbed it for her and she sighed in contentment. I thought she looked beautiful with round bump. I noticed she unconsciously rub it as if there was a real baby in there.

"I can't wait until this is project is done." She closed her eyes.

"I don't think it's so bad. I think you look beautiful." I leaned over and kissed her cheek.

"You're biased. Either that, or you trying to get lucky later. But it's not happening." She didn't open her eyes. We had been dating a few months at this point, but we have only had sex a few times.

"Sure I can't change your mind?" I slipped my hand under the back of her shirt. Since we sat in the last row it wouldn't be noticeable.

"Nope, their project worked. I don't want to risk getting pregnant any time soon." She smirked teasingly.

"Would it really be that bad having my baby?" She opened her eyes and looked at me.

"While in high school, yes." She gave me an incredulous look. .

"But you will have my baby one day?" I wiggled my eyebrows.

"Aren't we a little young to be thinking like that?" She bit her lip as she blushed.

"I don't think so." I shrugged. Before she could respond the teacher called the class to order.

"Can we help you?" he asked standing slightly in front of his wife.

"Sorry, I was just trying to read the title of the book. I need to get a new car seat for my son and wanted to make sure I got a good one. Do they sell that book here?" I made an excuse for my staring.

"Oh, I got this at Barnes and Nobles. Would you like to look?" She took the book from her husband and waddled to me. She held out with a small smile.

"Thank you that would be great." I took the book and started to leaf through it.

"How old is he?" she asked.

"He's three," I answered with a nod.

"Is it true that is seems like time goes by quickly?" she asked innocently.

I paused because how do I say I don't know without sounding like a deadbeat dad.

"My friend just got back from overseas and only met his son for the first time the other day," Emmett answered for me.

Jasper shot him a warning look that he missed.

"Oh," She bit her lip and looked a bit teary. She glanced at her husband, who rubbed her lower back.

"Thank you for serving. I'm sorry you had to miss out on your son's birth." He held out his hand and I shook it.

"You're welcome. I'm here now though. I don't plan on missing anything else." I glanced down at the book. I handed it back to them with a smile. "Thank you for the book and congratulations."

"Thank you." She smiled taking the book and disappeared down an aisle.

"Em, we need to be careful who we speak to. We have no clue who Alec has connections with," Jasper warned under his breath.

"Shit, sorry." Emmett scowled and looked around.

I spotted the car seat that was rated one of the best and grabbed it. Jasper made room for it in the cart.

A half-hour later we were out of the store after getting Pull-ups, clothes for Bella, snacks and medical supplies.

LB

The hours that went by were long and tortuous. I didn't sleep or eat well as we waited for Bella to call. As the hours clicked closer to late morning I grew anxious and kept willing for the phone to ring. Jasper had heard from Peter almost an hour and half ago saying that Alec had check-in for his flight.

Tired of waiting or maybe just tired of me driving them crazy, we parked around the block like we had did the prior day. Finally at ten-thirty Jasper's phone rang.

"Finally," I let a breath.

"Hello?" Jasper answered cautiously. He listened for a moment before speaking. "I can understand your concern, but I really think we should move sooner than later. He can get plenty of sleep in the car. We will just keep a close eye on him."

"What's wrong, is Masen sick," I asked worriedly.

He held up his hand for me to be quiet. I huffed in annoyance that I was out of the loop.

"Alright, we are around the corner so we will be right there." Jasper concluded before hanging up. I looked at him expectantly as he took care of his phone.

"Relax, Edward, it's just a cold with a small fever. She was just concerned about traveling with him when he's sick, because he gets extra cranky." Jasper informed. "Let's go get them." He looked in the review mirror at Emmett who was staring at something out his window. "Emmett, did you hear me." He spoke louder.

"Yeah, sorry. I thought I saw something, but it's nothing. Let's go get Bells and the little guy." He opened his door and stepped out.

We traveled through a couple of backyards to end up at the same house as yesterday. The backdoor slid open as we approached signaling that Bella was watching. We stepped through the door and Emmett closed the door behind us.

There was a small pile of things by the counter. Masen was up in Bella's arms, his head was buried in her neck and he was clutching a stuffed frog to him very closely.

"I know you want us to take as little as possible, but this stuffed frog is very important to Masen. Is it alright if he brings him?" Bella looked at Jasper desperately.

She looked stressed out and I noticed a new bruise on her other arm. Jasper hesitated for a moment.

"I'm sure, it will be alright. But can I see him first, Masen?" Jasper asked kindly.

Masen peeked out at him with one eye skeptically. "Why?" he asked shortly holding his frog closer to him.

"I just want to make sure that he's good to go," Jasper said.

Masen still didn't seem to trust him.

"You, see Mase, Jazz here just wants to give your frog his check-up. He is going to look him over to make sure he is fit for traveling. Some states require all animals to be checked out before crossing the state borders. Does your frog have a name?" Emmett asked him.

"Hoppy Froggy Longlegs," Masen whispered.
"May I please see Hoppy Froggy Longlegs? I promise it's only for a moment and you can watch the entire time." Jasper held out his hand.

Masen held out his frog slowly. He looked flushed and tired. He coughed a little and whimpered when Jasper took the frog.

"Did you want to say hi to your daddy." I heard Bella ask trying to distract him.

He glanced quickly at me and smiled.

"Daddy." He tried to lunge out of Bella's arms.

She winced when she stepped quickly forward on her bad leg to stop from dropping him. I hurried forward to help her. Masen wrapped his arms around my neck.

"Do you got him," Bella winced slightly from struggling not to let go too soon.

I grabbed around his waist to support him.

"Yeah, you can let go." I held my son to me. He was very warm compared to yesterday.

"How high is his fever," I asked.

"100.6, technically not really a fever, but higher than normal. I'm going to run to the restroom, be right back." Bella disappear for a moment.

"How are you feeling, little buddy," I asked him.

Slightly concerned since he just seemed to melt into me and was very quiet.

"I feel icky," he mumbled, his eyes were on Jasper. Jasper smiled at him and held out the frog to him. He also held out a sheet of paper.

"Hoppy Froggy Longlegs is good to go." Jasper winked at Masen.

Masen grabbed the frog and the paper.

"What's tis." He asked holding the paper to him. I chuckled as I read it.

"It's a certificate saying that Hoppy is good to travel." I explained as I looked at Jasper in surprise.

He rolled his eyes and nodded his head to Emmett who was smiling widely. He putting a pen in his pocket.

"Tank you," Masen smiled shyly at Jasper and held his small fist.

Jasper grinned and bumped his fist back.

"You're quite welcome, glad to be of service." Jasper chuckled.

Bella stepped out of the bathroom and Masen called to her.

"Mommy, Hoppy got his circuscut." He held up the paper proudly.

I held back a laugh at not only the messed up word but the baffled look on Bella's face.

"It's pronounced cer-tif-i-cate." I corrected him gently like Bella did yesterday.

"Oh, sorry," Masen cheeks pinked, he must get that from his mom.

"Let me see," Bella took the paper from him.

She smirked when she read it and looked at Jasper. He gestured to Emmett who just smiled.

"I'm going to put this with my other important papers okay?" She ruffled Masen's hair. He nodded and cuddled into me again.

Bella bent down and placed it in a small bag that Jasper just finished checking over.

"All I have is these few things. I wanted to bring his nebulizer in case he needed it. Then last is just his medicine." She explained.

Jasper looked it over and he frowned slightly.

"Does he get Asthma attacks often?" he asked in concern looking at them.

"Not really, they tend to happen more when he gets sick though." Bella answered.

"Okay, we will keep him as resting as much as possible." Jasper stood up and grabbed the bag with her important papers and the nebulizer. Bella placed the medicine in a small cooler bag.

"I think we are good to go." Jasper looked at all of us.

"Hold on," Bella said. She struggled trying to take the gaudy ring off her finger. She twisted it back and forth until it slipped off, leaving a red ring around the finger. She left the ring in the middle of the counter. "I'm ready." She took a deep breath and actually smiled.

She reached for Masen but he pulled back away from her.

"I want Daddy to carry me," he announced.

Bella's smile faltered slightly, but she nodded and forced a smile.

"Okay, baby," she answered and kissed his cheek.

I gave her an apologetic look, but she just shook her head and gave me a soft sad smile.

We left out the back and started to make our way back. Bella paused at the edge of the yard.

"We are going through backyards?" She hesitated to follow.

"We are pretty sure no one is home in these houses. We did a drive by earlier." Jasper paused and looked over his shoulder at her.

"It will be okay," I reached for her hand and she narrowed her eyes at me.

She limped ahead ignoring my out stretched hand. I sighed and dropped my hand to my side and shifted Masen in my arms. He was looking around curiously and nervously.

"Everything okay, little buddy." I asked.

He shrugged looking tried and coughed slightly. Bella's head whipped around in concern. I rubbed his back and turned my head slightly away. When he stopped he rested his head back on my shoulder.

When we reached the sidewalk, Emmett turned to Masen.

"You're in luck. You should see the movies we got to watch in the car." Emmett grinned at him.

Masen perked up slightly. "You can watch movies in your car. Cool." He smiled excitedly.

"Yup, have you ever seen Scooby- Doo?" Emmett asked enthusiastically.

I shook my head in annoyance.

"Emmett, I told you to check with Bella first on that. It might be too old for him." I glanced at Bella apologetically.

She had a small frown as she thought it over. "I don't know if he is ready for Scooby just yet." She bit her lip.

"It's better than Bambi, no dead mothers." Emmett retorted, without thinking I reached forward and slapped him on the back of the head.

Masen stiffened in my arms then squirmed trying to push me away. I struggled to hold onto him afraid I was going to drop him.

"Down! Mommy!" he started to scream and cry. Bella rushed to us and started to take him from me.

"Edward, let him go. I have him," she said sternly. I let go and watched as Masen clung to her crying. She hopped up and down slightly and rubbed his back while trying calm him, wincing slightly. I glared at Emmett who looked incredibly guilty.

"Masen, sweetheart, it's okay, I'm right here." She kissed his cheek. She looked over at me and gave sympathetic smile. "I'm sorry he is extra cranky when he's sick," she explained.

Masen lifted his little head and pointed at me. "He hit him."

The expression on his face was heartbreaking and a punch to the gut when I realized my own son was scared of me. "He hit him. Hitting is mean. Alec hits." I sucked in a sharp breath. Both Jasper and Emmett froze on the sidewalk looking lost to help me fix this. Bella took a deep breath and closed her eyes briefly. She opened them and gently turned Masen's face until she was looking him in the eye.

"Your daddy isn't Alec. He didn't mean to hurt Emmett. He was just playing rough. Sometimes boys do that, but they aren't really trying hurt one another." Bella fudged the truth somewhat. Masen's lip trembled slightly and he clutched that frog to him.

"Hitting not nice." He frowned in defiance.

"You're right it's not very nice." Bella nodded and looked at me. 'Apologize', she mouthed.

"Masen, I'm sorry for upsetting you. I wasn't trying to hurt Emmett," I apologized, he eyed me warily.

Bella rolled her eyes, before mouthing again 'not to him to Emmett'. She gave me a pointed look.

"Emmett, I'm sorry for hitting you. It wasn't the right thing to do," I apologized to him.

"That's okay, Edward, I forgive you. I'm sorry for upsetting you and you too, Masen." Emmett smiled without giving me a hard time, like he normally would've. "Friends." He held out his fist to me and I bumped it back. "Friends, Masen?" he asked.

Masen nodded but didn't raise his fist, instead he clung to Bella still.

"Maybe you two should kiss and make-up," Jasper smiled evilly.

Emmett and I shot him a look, he wasn't helping.

"Mr. James kisses Mr. Laurent," Masen said quietly.

Jasper snickered and Emmett and I exchanged a worried look. For the first time in forever I heard Bella laugh.

"That's because Mr. James and Mr. Laurent are more than just friends, sweetie. Emmett and your daddy are just friends," she explained with an amused smirk.

"Oh," Masen answered.

"Shall we get in the car," Jasper spoke up to hurry us along.

We walked the short distance to the car. Jasper opened up the backdoor for Bella since she was still holding Masen. She thanked him and then tried to put Masen down, however, he still seemed hesitant to let her go.

"Can you get in the seat, please and then I will help you with the buckles," he nodded and crawled across the seat and climbed into the child seat we had in the center. Bella climbed in after him. She placed her bag at her feet and then buckled him in before the rest of us could get in the car.

Just as I was about to climb in the back Emmett handed me one of the Target bags. "Here give this to the little guy, it will cheer him up."

I peeked in and smiled hopefully.

I opened the door and slid in. Masen eyed me cautiously and it pained me that he still seemed afraid of me, compared to my original warm reception.

"I got something for you," I held out the bag to him.

"What's in it?" He looked at curiously.

"Go ahead and look." I shook the bag.

He glanced at Bella who nodded and gave him an encouraging smile. He took the bag and opened it, then nearly stuck his head in to see.

His eyes opened wide and he started to smile.

"Grover," he squealed and pulled it out. "Look, Mommy." He held it up for her.

"I see." She smiled at him.

"There's a book too." I prompted. I pulled it out of the bag and held it out to him. He pointed at the cover.

"Grover is on the book." He took it from me and held it out to Bella. "Read, please?"

"How about your Daddy reads it to you?" she suggested.

He turned in his seat excitedly.

"Read, please?" he asked with big eyes.

I started to read and he stopped me. "Read like Grover." He insisted.

The two in the front snickered and Bella covered her mouth with her hand to hide a smirk.

So I gave my best Grover impression. Masen seemed to love it, but the other three turn nearly red from trying to hide their laughter. Critics.

Once I finished I tried to hand him the book, but he pushed it back in my hands.

"Again!" he ordered. Then gave me a sheepish smile. "Please, Daddy."

I ended up reading two more times before Masen was content looking at the pictures himself.

About an hour and half into our drive Masen announced he was hungry.

"There's a McDonalds ahead?" Emmett pointed to a sign. "Do you want a Happy Meal?" He turned in his seat to ask Masen.

"What's a Happy Meal?" he asked.

"You've nev…" Emmett stopped when he saw Bella shake her head.

"Is that okay?" I asked nervous that maybe she was too health food conscious to stop at a fast food place.

"McDonalds is fine," she said dismissively. She turned to Masen. "A Happy Meal comes with either a burger, cheeseburger or chicken nuggets, fries, and milk," she explained.

"Can I get chicken nuggets," he asked. Bella nodded and reached for her wallet.

"My treat," I insisted as Jasper pulled into the restaurant.

Bella frowned and looked ready to argue.

"Please, just let me do this."

She huffed and put her wallet back.

"How are we doing this?" Jasper asked from the front.

"Why don't I go in and do the ordering then bringing it out to the car." Emmett suggested.

"We can eat in the car, cool." Masen lit up.

"Bells, I know what these two jokers usually eat, what do you want?" Emmett asked as he took the money I handed him.

"I'm fine thanks." She refused.

I fought a sigh. She was too skinny to skip a meal.

"If you don't chose, I will just chose for you." Emmett insisted, thankfully.

She looked like she was debating arguing with him.

"Fine. A grilled chicken wrap and water." She sighed. Emmett nodded and placed a ball cap on before slipping out of the car.

"Masen, do you need to use the restroom?" she asked. He shook his head as he looked at the book again. She sighed and checked his pull-up. Then felt his forehead with her hand. "So where are we going anyways?"

"Forks," Jasper and I answered at the same time.

Bella didn't look happy with the idea. In fact she paled and looked nervous.

"Are you sure. He has found us there before?" she asked playing with her seatbelt.

"We're going to go to my parents' place. You remember how it's out of the way and secluded. We will send Emmett on errands for what we need. We will stay there until we can think of somewhere else. My parents' was the best idea we could think of, especially since they built that fallout shelter when people were worried about Y2K." I explained.

She reached down and pulled out a small stack of letters from her bag and held them out to me.

"Here, these are the letters I sent. Proof that I tried to reach you," she held them out.

"I didn't doubt that you did try." I took them from her as she shrugged. She busied herself showing the movies we got to Masen.

I sighed and looked at the letters that I now held in my hand. Part of me wanted to open them and part of me was afraid too. She had the address right, plus they were postmarked and plain as day, written neatly on the front, was 'return to sender'.

Emmett opened my door to hand some food in. He stopped suddenly and looked at the letters with a strange look.
"These are the letters Bella tried to send me," I explained, finding his reaction a little odd.

"Oh," he nodded. "Bells, I got you a chocolate shake. No arguing. You need some meat on your bones. Don't tell me you don't like it, I remember you loved chocolate in high school.

"Milk shake is milk not meat." Masen looked confused.

"You're right, he was just using an expression saying your mommy looked too thin." I felt her heated glare and I shrugged helplessly. I was only trying to help.

Bella rolled her eyes before she helped Masen get out his food.

"Look a Cah." He held up his toy.

"Car. R…rrrr" Bella corrected with a smile.

"Carrrrrr" Masen repeated with a giggle and then a slight cough. "Look, Daddy." He held it up.

"I see. That's a cool looking carrrr." I smiled at him. Masen laughed again.

"Open, please." He shook the bag. I put down the letters and took the toy bag from him.

"Eat first, Masen." Bella insisted.

He pouted but she ignored it, while she opened up her food. He turned to pout at me and she gave me a pointed look from behind his head not to undermine her. I knew she was right. Even though I hated to I had to do what was best than just make him happy.

"Listen to your mom, I'll open it when you're all done." I placed the bag down and opened my own food. Masen huffed but started to eat as told.

A/N:

So they are on their way. Just in case of any confusion, Bella doesn't know that Emmett suggested that Edward should break up with her.

Many of you are wondering about the letters. You get to see them next chapter, but we won't find out what happened for another couple of chapters. I will say it wasn't Esme. Edward would either been on base or shipped overseas. Esme and Carlisle left a few months him.

I don't know if Target sells Grover and the book separately or together. I do know both exist just sold separately in stores.

Another answer to a popular question, Bella met Alec when she pregnant around 4 months. You'll find out more next chapter.

If you think Bella is being too nice, keep in mind she is doing it for Masen's sake.

Thank You For All Reviews!

LB
LB
LB
Preview Alert

LB
LB
LB

Preview:

With the letter there was a couple of photos. One of Masen in a bath screaming his head off. He was so tiny and red. The second he was wrapped up like a burrito in a blue blanket lying in a hospital crib for babies. The third Bella was holding him with a tired, but happy smile. There was a forth with a sticky note. 'Bella doesn't know I sent this, she would kill me if she did. –Alice'. I pulled the sticky note off. It was a profile of Bella and she was very pregnant. She had one hand on her belly and she was smiling softly. But it didn't quite reach her sad eyes.