Bella's Point of View

Another week has passed, it was pretty eventful to say the least. I didn't want to admit it, but this pregnancy was really taking its toll. Everything made me sick. So I lost a bit of weight. And according to Carlisle I was pretty anemic. My stomach has grown tremendously. I was measuring closer to thirty weeks. At this point it was impossible to disguise it with clothing. Emmett hasn't left my side throughout this entire week. It was only three days ago that we finally told Charlie what was going on.

He didn't react the way that I thought he would. We sat at the kitchen table that night. I had made a pizza for dinner. Charlie was in a good mood, he even seemed to be warming up to Emmett. Even though the night before I admitted that Emmett and I were dating. And when I mentioned meeting him in Arizona, while he had been on vacation, he believed me. He caught on to the fact that our relationship was intimate without the embarrassment of having that conversation, I subtly left an empty condom wrapper in the bathroom garbage. Charlie saw it, he didn't comment on it. But he knew.

So, when I tried to casually bring up the pregnancy, he wasn't completely taken off guard. Apparently, he had suspected this was a possibility. He didn't yell. He didn't attempt to pull his gun out on Emmett. He didn't even express disappointment in me. Instead, he went in depth of the responsibility of this baby. What it would take. His expectations of Emmett's role. His concerns for me finishing high school. It wasn't a nightmare, like I thought it would be. At the end of dinner, he took Emmett aside and talked with him in privacy. They talked in detail about things I didn't even want to think about right now. Marriage, where the baby would live, jobs to support the baby, all those things that I wasn't ready to get into.

It was a relief having everything out in the open. But surprisingly, Rene took the news a little harder. I think it was more so because she was so far away. She felt helpless. She asked me to come home, so she could help me raise the baby. She wasn't confident that Charlie would know the first thing about it. She didn't expect this to happen with me and I didn't either. She didn't say she was disappointed, she just kept saying she was worried. Understandable. She never met Emmett. I promised her that I would come and visit, so she could meet him. That seemed to make her feel a little better.

I told her that I wasn't sure when I would be able to come visit her. Because I really didn't know when the baby would decide to make an arrival. Of course, I didn't tell her that. But this meant that Rene took it upon herself to make the trip to Forks herself. Which I hadn't seen coming. Phil came with her. They arrived early this morning, while I was in school. They planned on coming over for dinner this evening.

Charlie was a bundle of nerves. He paced the living room, changed in and out of different outfits. Took down a few old pictures from the walls of him and Rene while they had still been together. Rene wanted to meet with Emmett and his family, to discuss the finer details of my pregnancy. So, Charlie wasn't the only one nervous.

I stood at my bedroom window, chewing at my fingernails anxiously. Alice was rooting through my closet, shaking her head in distaste. "Bella, you are in serious need of a new wardrobe. We need to go shopping soon."

Emmett wanted to be prepared for this dinner party, so he decided to go out hunting for a bit. This was the longest he's been away from me. It left me feeling a little lost.

"If I survive this dinner, we can go whenever you want." I muttered, searching the tree line. Hoping for any hint of Emmett returning. The emptiness left a hollow feeling in my chest. I wanted to see him.

"Don't worry so much Bella, it's going to be a wonderful evening." Alice responded, now bouncing over to me. "I brought you something nice to wear."

I looked down at my clothing. Just a sweatshirt and a pair of sweatpants. It was comfortable and really the only thing that could fit down over my stomach completely. "What's wrong with what I have on?"

She made a face. "Come on, this is a special occasion. Even Charlie is dressing up. Besides, Rene is here about the baby, let's not hide the bump." Alice smiled gently, her eyes moving down to my stomach. "It's a miracle."

It was hard to believe that only a week ago, she was referring to the baby as a fetus. She had been convinced, along with the others, that this pregnancy needed to be terminated. But it appears that she was warming up to the situation.

Nothing was easy about the pregnancy. The movements inside of me were pretty painful at times. I suffered a couple bruises and a few cracked ribs. I could only imagine how much worse it's going to get in the next few days, as it gets closer to delivery.

Alice gave me her best puppy-dog eyes as she held up a pretty navy-blue maxi dress. It was mid-length, with a lace bodice. Something simple and elegant. Not at all something you would find in my closet.

"Don't you think the dress is a little much, for just a casual dinner at home?" I asked, reluctantly I took it from her eager hands.

"At home or not, it's not wrong to look good. Plus, Emmett won't be able to keep his eyes off you."

"With this huge belly, I don't think so." I sighed, letting my hand roll down my stomach. I could faintly feel some movement from under my fingertips, making me smile.

"Don't be silly, we all know perfectly well what the two of you do with all that alone time." Alice winks.

My cheeks boiled. "And how would you know that exactly?" But I had my suspicions already.

"Emmett doesn't have much of a filter I'm afraid."

"Sorry about that. I'm sure it's the last thing you want to hear."

"Just imagine how Edward feels. He has to listen to his thoughts all the time. I wouldn't be surprised if he decides to leave dinner early tonight." Alice shrugged her shoulders.

Carlisle and Esme would be coming, along with Alice and Edward tonight. They are keeping up the facade of being a normal human family. Since Jasper was lacking a bit of confidence, being around people, he would be staying home. I knew Alice wasn't a huge fan of not being by his side. So, I really appreciated that she would still come as well. Even if it wasn't really for my sake.

"I wish Jasper could come too; it feels wrong to exclude him." I said as I took the dress and went to change. I didn't bother being shy about it. Alice has unfortunately seen me naked, when I would come for a checkup with Carlisle, she was always there to assist.

Still, out of respect for my privacy, she turned her back. "It's alright, someone had to stay behind anyway, to keep eyes on those nomad vampires. One of them was spotted in Port Angeles last night."

I swallowed a bit, but my mouth had gotten dry. I've been getting worried about that as well. I know the Cullens would do anything to protect me and the baby, but that means, because of me, I would be putting them at risk as well. It wasn't fair. I felt awful about it. They were always doing so much for me, but I offered nothing but more things to worry about in return.

The dress fit perfectly. And Alice was right, it showed off my belly a lot. More than I wanted. I really looked even farther along now. Would Charlie and Rene notice?

"Do you think they are going to be a problem?"

Alice turned back around, a wide smile on her face as she took in the dress. "I've been watching their futures for a while now. There's nothing to worry about for the time being." She danced to my side, touching up a couple of the loose curls around my face. She had insisted that I would need to curl my hair and put a little bit of makeup on for this event. I didn't think it was necessary, but I wasn't about to argue with her. I knew I wouldn't win.

A wave of dizziness hit me for a moment, I felt myself sway backwards a bit. Alice quickly took me by my shoulders, steadying me. Concern took over her expression. "You're getting dizzy again, aren't you?"

I brushed it off, giving her a reassuring grin. "No, it's just me being clumsy."

"Don't lie to me Bella Swan," She shook her head in disappointment. "We are best friends; you can't keep secrets from me."

I laughed weakly. "You're right, I'm sorry. I just don't want anyone to worry. I get dizzy sometimes. It's alright."

"If you aren't feeling well you have to tell me. You're carrying a baby. We don't want anything happening to either of you. Do you want me to call Carlisle? Or maybe Emmett?"

I shook my head quickly. "No, I'm fine, I promise. Carlisle said I was getting really anemic. The blood transfusions can't keep up anymore."

It usually would take two blood transfusions a day, just bring my numbers back into a normal range. I would sit in Carlisle's office from anywhere between one to four hours getting each transfusion. It was time consuming, but important. But now, as the baby is growing rapidly, I'm losing more and more blood. It's taking more transfusions, my arms look like pincushions, with how many times I've had an IV placed. I knew that I was due for another transfusion today, this would be my third. Carlisle is going to do it after the dinner party.

I still felt strong. I just had to be careful with fast movements, or when going from sitting to standing. It was nothing I couldn't handle. I tried to downplay it as much as possible. The others were always too worried and fretting over every little thing. Emmett especially. If it were possible, I'd think he would have started growing gray hairs by now.

"Alright, but if you get another dizzy-spell like that again, I'm at least calling Emmett, whether you like it or not." Alice said with a firm nod.

I sighed. "Alright fine,"

Downstairs I could hear Charlie scurrying around, running the vacuum cleaner. This is the first I've seen him clean since I've been here. The house wasn't messy, I've been keeping up with the cleaning. Although I've taken a brief break from it this week. With my stomach this big, it's hard to move around and I'm already not so graceful on my feet. So Emmett's been helping.

It was almost a little funny to see Charlie so worked up. But I knew it was just because Rene would be coming. I wasn't sure what his feelings were towards her. He never had anything negative to say when it came to her. But he didn't seem the fondest of the idea of Phil tagging along as well.

Alice and I made our way down the stairs, Alice keeping a grip on me, so I wouldn't lose my balance. Once we reached the bottom, she glided over to Charlie with a vibrant smile. He flinched, unaware of her being there, before turning off the vacuum.

"You scared the heck out of me," His cheeks turned a little rosy as he chuckled.

"Sorry about that Mr. Swan, I was just wondering if you needed any more help cleaning?"

"I told you Alice, just call me Charlie," He smiled in delight. "And don't worry, I'm just finishing up now. But thanks for the offer kid-o."

Charlie really liked Alice; he was also a sucker to her charms. At this point, I think he preferred Alice over all the other Cullens, including Emmett. I don't know what it was about her, but she had an infectious energy that we all gravitated towards. Like a beacon of light, signaling the ships to port. She has helped me a lot with the pregnancy. I knew at first, she was incredibly uncomfortable. She didn't know what to say, or how to help me. But she has come a long way.

"Oh good, I wanted to show you some baby clothes I picked out." She said cheerfully.

"Alice, we don't even know the gender of the baby yet." I chuckled, waddling over to take a seat on the couch. I let myself relax, once I found a good angle to sit in. With all the weight in front of me, my back tended to ache often.

"Nothing wrong with that, I'm sure there are a lot of gender-neutral baby clothes." Charlie commented as he wound the cord to the vacuum up. "Your mother couldn't wait to know the gender, when she was pregnant with you." He eyed me. "I'd think you would be the same way."

"I'd rather it be a surprise," I lied, letting my eyes slide down to the floor for a moment. In truth, there was no way for me to find out. Not until the baby was born. Because of the nature of the baby being partially vampire, the womb was impossible to see through an ultrasound. If that wouldn't have been the case, I most likely would have found out the gender as soon as possible. I was dying to know.

Alice now made her way over to sit down next to me. "I have a feeling; it's going to be a girl." She beamed. "If so, I have about a dozen of these cute clothes." She pulled a huge box out from behind the couch to sit right in front of me.

"Wow Alice, that's really thoughtful of you." Charlie grinned, coming over to scan over the items in the box. "What if it's a boy?"

"I got that covered as well." She pulled another box and neatly stacked it next to the first box. "These are just a few things I found on the way over. I have a bunch more at home."

Gingerly, I reached down into both boxes, running my finger over the onesies. A pink one, with a little yellow duck on it. And a blue one, with a little green frog. My heart warmed. I felt tears sting in my eyes. I couldn't wait to meet my child. It's been an emotional roller coaster this far. But I knew it would all be worth it.

Charlie gravitated towards the box filled with boy clothes. His eyes widened a little as he pulled out one. It read, 'Grandpa's Favorite'. He bit down on his knuckle as he brought his hand up to his face. I could see him trying to get a hold over his emotions. His shoulders trembled a little. He turned away from us, clearing his throat.

"That's really cute, thank you for going out of your way like that Alice." He said after a while. He lightly laid the onesie back down in the box. "I think I'm going to call in that food. Rene should be on her way soon."

"Did she call?" I asked, feeling a spike of anxiety.

"She's been calling all day Bells. It is your mother after all. She really knows how to worry." He said, his voice a little strained.

He wasn't wrong about that. I hoped that this dinner would at least put her mind to rest about everything. I didn't want her upset with me, or not accepting Emmett. I really hadn't expected her to take the news as hard as she did. I thought it was going to be Charlie that had an issue. But he has been nothing but helpful and supportive. He didn't act like he hated Emmett. Actually, he seemed to have found a new form of respect for him.

"Yeah, you have a point," I muttered, getting lost in my thoughts as I lightly stroked my stomach. There was some light tumbling. It was a reassuring sign that the baby was alright. It didn't matter if at times the kicks left me with bruises. It wasn't the baby's fault. It was nothing to get overly concerned about.

"Oh, looks like the father-to-be is here." Alice said, giving me a gentle nudge.

My head shot up just as Emmett was walking through the door. Our eyes met and the biggest smile came to his face. My heart fluttered in my chest. I almost got up from my seat, just to get to him quicker. But I kept myself still, by the time I could roll myself onto my feet, Emmett would already be next to me.

"Welcome back, you weren't gone for very long." Charlie greeted him with a slight bob of his head. He went back to his vacuum, picking it up to carry it out of the room.

"Hey Charlie," Emmett greeted politely, he kicked his boots off at the door, before making his way across to the room to hover over me. His eyes, a light butterscotch now, scanned over me closely. "How are you feeling?"

"Perfect, now that you're here." I admitted, my cheeks warming.

A smirk flashed across his face, before leaning down and pecking the top of my head. "What about little ass-kicker?"

I rolled my eyes at the nickname. "Baby is doing okay too, it's moving all around today."

"Bella had some dizziness a little bit ago." Alice chimed in with a serious look. "Best to let Carlisle know, so he can have a blood transfusion ready for when Bella comes over."

I huffed, giving Alice a look.

Emmett looked at me worried, his body turned tense. "Maybe we should have him run some labs now. Just to make sure your numbers aren't too low."

"No, it's fine. Really. It was just once." I said quickly. "Besides, Rene and Phil will be showing up any minute. It's too late to bother Carlisle now."

Alice stared off into the distance for a moment, which got both of our attention. We knew this meant she was in the middle of a vision. After a while, a shocked expression came to her face. Then one of complete joy. "This is going to be a very interesting dinner party."

I didn't like how that sounded.

"Really, do tell." Emmett said with a wide smile.

Alice shook her head. "I don't think so. You're just going to have to wait and see."

Emmett pouted for a minute, moving now to sit down next to me. I curled into his side, getting comfortable. I feel totally at ease now. It was like all the anxiety evaporated as soon as Emmett came into the room. I could breathe easily, knowing he was here. His muscular wrap draped around my shoulders, while his other hand lingered on my stomach. Each time he felt movement, his eyes would zoom in on my stomach.

He was just as excited about this baby as I was. It took some time for him to completely come around. But I think he truly loved our child. He hasn't said the words out loud. But he has proved it in his actions. He was already a doting father. Which was a huge relief for me. Now I just have to keep hanging on. Things got a little harder every day. But the only really concerning thing was my anemia.

But we were optimistic. I'm sure it was going to be okay. But in case something did end up happening… I wanted to discuss with Emmett the plans. I hoped that he would be alright with it. If for some reason, I would be in a situation that I would lose my life, I wanted him to turn me. I put a lot of thought into this decision. I wanted to see my child grow up. I wanted to be with Emmett forever.

Alice suddenly turned her sights to the door, an eager smile on her face. "They are here. I better call Carlisle and let him know to start making his way over as well." She bounced up from her seat and practically danced out of the room.

Just like that, it was just Emmett and me.

Anxiety tumbled around in my chest as I heard the first couple knocks. Emmett leaned in, planting a few kisses on my neck. "It's going to be alright, I promise," He murmured. "I'm pretty charming. I'm sure she'll grow to love me."

I laughed, giving him a light swat. "I'm sure she will." With a little help from Emmett, I got up from the couch and walked carefully over to the door. I took a few deep breaths and opened it.

Rene's eyes grew instantly as she saw me. Excitement colored her face as she threw her arms around me. "My sweet girl," Tears instantly started down her cheeks. "I just can't believe this."

I hugged her tightly, feeling a bit emotionally myself.

Phil remained silent, just grinning from ear to ear. There were no signs of disgust or disappointment. But what I wasn't expecting was the young girl, timidly standing behind him. She looked to be around my age. Her chestnut hair was cropped short, just reaching the bottom of her chin. Beautifully curled ringlets. A sharp contrast to her pale skin. Freckles dotted her cheeks and nose. A thin pair of glasses sat at the very edge of her nose. She looked at me, with vibrant hazel eyes. But she didn't speak. She lingered at Phil's side.

As Rene pulled away, she squeezed my shoulders. "I'm sorry I was so pushy on the phone. I couldn't help it. I mean, you have been gone a full two weeks and I'm only hearing about this now. I thought we were closer than that." She pouted.

I ducked my head for a second. "Sorry, I didn't know how to tell you…"

"Is that why you wanted to move in with your father? I guess it makes sense now. You should have known better, sweetheart. I wouldn't have gotten angry with you." She lightly stroked my cheek.

I nodded, dabbing at my tears. "I didn't want to worry you…"

Rene pulled me in for another enthusiastic squeeze, before turning to Phil and the girl. "I hope Charlie doesn't mind too much; we are having an extra guest join us tonight."

"Oh, umm." I stuttered awkwardly, giving the girl a nod.

She shyly nodded to me as well, offering just the hint of a smile.

"This is Phil's daughter, Anabel." Rene grinned.

"Just call me Ana," She said politely.

"It's really nice to meet you." I said, shifting so everyone could walk through the door.

I remembered Phil bringing up his daughter, from his first marriage. But this was the first time I've ever met her. She had been staying with her mother in Tallahassee, that's all Phil ever said. He didn't speak of her often. So, it was really surprising to see her here. I didn't think they were close.

Rene scanned the house with a shiver rolling down her shoulders. She shook her head. "The place hasn't changed. Even a little bit." She muttered, mostly to herself. With a distracted look she swept across the room, taking in the surroundings. That's when she noticed Emmett. He stood from his seat, towering over her. A goofy smile on his face.

I quickly went over to them. "Mom, this is Emmett."

Rene looked at me, then to Emmett, expressionless. Then suddenly she busted into laughter, pulling Emmett in for a hug. He was taken completely off guard. I noticed his shoulders tense but hugged her back gently.

"Nice to meet you." She exclaimed. "My, you are a big boy. It's a wonder you didn't break my daughter in half."

Emmett smirked as they pulled apart. "She managed, but I can't say the same for the bed."

My jaw dropped, along with Phil and his daughter. But of course, Rene only found this hilarious. She tilted her head back, giving him a swat across the shoulder. "He's bold and unapologetically blunt. I respect that in a man. You aren't afraid to tell someone what's on your mind. That's just what my Bella needs in her life." Rene nodded, taking a few steps back.

I felt my cheeks ignite. This was turning out to be more embarrassing than I thought. Rene had Phil and Ana sit down on the couch. They appeared a bit uncomfortable. Even more so, when Charlie and Alice entered the room.

Charlie and Phil locked eyes for a moment, before completely ignoring each other. It was awkward. But Rene didn't seem to notice. She approached Charlie in a much quieter tone. Calmly, not as frantic and loud as she had with Emmett. She squeezed his shoulder, a grin on her face. Charlie was chuckling. They both looked towards me a few times. I couldn't make out what they were saying.

I was too distracted by Alice. She walked over to Ana, a bright smile on her face. "I'm Alice, I'm Emmett's sister." She gestured to Emmett.

Emmett and I glanced at each other. His arms wrapped carefully around me, leading me off to the side. We went into the kitchen for a few seconds of privacy. His lips found my neck for a minute. I closed my eyes and enjoyed it. But I had a nagging feeling. Alice was up to something. She had a vision, just before everyone arrived. I wondered if it involved Ana.

"Emmett," I whispered quietly.

He breathed in, his breath trickled down my neck, over my shoulders. "Yes?"

"Do you think there is something… wrong with that girl?"

He paused, letting his arms slide down to rest on my hips. "What makes you think that?"

"I don't know, it's just a feeling," I sighed, resting my head on his chest. "Alice went right over to her. Like she knew her."

"Well, I've never seen her before. That might be something you'll have to ask Alice about." He said planting a kiss on the top of my head. "But try not to worry about it. Let's have a good time. Your mom is a blast." He grinned widely.

I laughed quietly. "I know, she was always the crazy one. I see nothing has changed there. But she seems really happy. With Phil, I mean."

"I don't know," He muttered with a sly gaze out towards the living room. "I don't see it. She gravitates towards Charlie. She has barely said a word to Phil since they arrived."

"Trust me, give it a few minutes, you'll understand why my parents are divorced."

He gave me a pensive look, before nodding. "Alright, let's make a bet."

I raised a brow. "A bet?"

"That's right, I bet you, by the end of the night, Charlie and your mom are going to kiss. And I'm not saying a goodbye peck on the cheek. I mean a steamy 'I want you back' kind of kiss." Emmett replied with enthusiasm.

I rolled my eyes as a smile came to my face. "You're on, what are we betting with?"

"If I win, you will let me buy you a real car and you get rid of that old clunker of yours." He said smugly. Emmett absolutely hates my truck. This has been probably the only thing we ever argue about. And it's not so much as we argue, but we have strong opposing opinions. I loved my truck.

But in this situation, I knew I had nothing to lose. There is no way my parents were going to kiss. It just wasn't going to happen. Hell would freeze over first.

"Fine, but if they don't kiss, you gotta paint your Jeep pink."

Emmett pouted. "That's a tough one. Probably the worst color to ever have on a vehicle. But I'm going with my gut. It's a bet."

This was going to be hilarious. Emmett painting his Jeep pink. I was already imagining it in my head. Honestly, it was hardly a bet. I knew my parents well. I knew their divorce wasn't exactly fueled by something overly toxic. And they remained relatively friendly with each other over the years. But nothing that could spark romance. After all, Rene has remarried. She has moved on with her life. I'm sure Charlie is about ready to himself. Although, he had just put down their pictures from the walls this morning. That didn't mean anything. Right?

As Emmett and I went back into the living room, there was another knock on the door. Again, my heart sped up. Carlisle, Esme and Edward made it. Now everyone was here. I looked around the room for a moment. Rene and Charlie were huddled together off towards the stairs. Alice and Ana are seated on the couch, talking casually. Phil sat in silence, looking down at his feet. I felt bad for him. Maybe I'd find some time to speak with him.

Emmett gave me a soft squeeze. "Go ahead and sit down, I'll let them in."

I nodded, reluctantly letting him go as I went over to take a seat on the recliner, right across from Alice and Ana. Emmett marched to the door and opened it. "Fashionably late is usual." He chuckled.

Carlisle and Esme entered first, they seemed to melt comfortable into the room. No signs of discomfort. Rene was the first to approach, Charlie at her heels. Carlisle and Charlie shook hands at the door. Rene took Esme's hands with a bright smile.

"It's so nice to meet you. Your boy is delightful." Rene said with a chipper grin.

Esme flinched just slightly, but the joy dancing in her eyes was enough to warm my heart. "Thank you, Bella has been such a lovely addition to our family. We couldn't be happier for them both."

Edward walked in now, expressionless. He and Emmett shared a look. Then Edward glanced over to the living room, straight to Ana. His eyes widened a bit. He stared at her for a while. Completely distracted. Emmett elbowed him. He didn't react.

I looked over to Ana now. She noticed the new guests, her gaze moving to each of them with growing discomfort, before her hazel eyes landed on Edward. Her entire body froze. Her face went cherry red.

Edward didn't look away.

Oh.

Alice's vision. She mentioned this dinner was going to be interesting. Was this what she was referring to? The way the two of them looked at each other, as if they weren't in a crowded room. As if they could only see each other. It was the kind of look I gave Emmett. There was an invisible connection. Did anyone else notice that? Did Edward realize?

I looked over to where Alice was sitting, she was watching me. A smirk on her face. She quietly nodded. As if answering my suspicions. A mixture of emotions bounced around my stomach. Happiness for Edward. Concern, for how they would possibly be together - with him living here in Forks and her living in Florida.

Florida was the sunshine state, not exactly a place Edward could follow her to.

Everyone seemed to be up on their feet and talking now. It was amazing. Seeing both of our families under one roof. Getting along. It was nice. It gave me a boost of hope. If I could just make it through this pregnancy unscathed, I could still have all of this. My family and his. Of course, there will be other things we have to work through. But I was so happy at that moment. Nothing could possibly ruin it.

A/N: Thanks for reading! What do you all think of this story so far? It's been a lot of fun to write. Review, Favorite, Alert. Anything is appreciated.