I woke up the next morning with my head laying on his chest and his hand wrapped protectively towards my belly.
I had a doctor's appointment at ten, and I had to go to the grocery store.
"I can feel your agitation all the way over here. What's wrong?" He mumbles with his eyes closed, as he lays on his back.
"I'm just debating whether I should get up or not." I told him as I turned slowly onto my back.
My stomach had finally begun to show, only slightly. I looked as if I had swallowed a small beach ball or was bloated.
I sighed as I felt the first kick, and slowly lifted myself into a sitting position.
"What's on the plans for today?" He asked me.
I turned to look at him, "Don't you have P.T today?" I asked.
He shook his head, "No, it's Friday. I had P.T on Wednesday." He told me.
I nodded, "Well, I have to go in for a prenatal appointment, and then head to the grocery store." I told him.
He nodded, "Do you want company?" He asked me, hesitantly.
I looked at my lap, unsure of how to feel. "I mean, you don't have to, but you're more than welcome to tag along." I told him.
He nodded, as he sat up too. "Great." He told me, with a tentative smile.
I nodded, before slowly moving off the bed, "I'll go start breakfast. I need to eat, at least, forty minutes before the sonogram is done." I told him.
"How is— How is everything going?" He asked me as he got out of bed, limping towards the drawers to pull out his clothes.
I shrugged, as he turned to look at me, "About as normal as any other in the same predicament." I replied honestly as I pulled on a pair of ripped maternity shorts, and a loose black shirt.
He nodded, "You're just about there right..." He commented.
I nodded, rubbing the small bump on my torso. "Thirty five weeks. Just a few more and they'll be here." I told him.
He frowned, lost in thought. "We don't have anything ready. When are you going to start buying the diapers and other shit that is needed for the kid?" He asked me.
I shrugged, "Soon, I guess." I whispered.
He nodded, before pulling his shirt over his head, and grabbing some pants. "Do you — Do you know what it's going to be?" He asked me.
I shrugged, wondering if he truly cared or if he was just making small talk. I decided to play if safe and answer evasively. "I decided to not find out until they're here." I told him amused as he frowned.
" So, you do already know." He stated as he stared at me with narrowed eyes.
I remained silent as he sighed and leaned against the drawers to get dressed.
When I pulled my hair in a half bun and went to the kitchen, he was sitting on the bed, putting on his shoes.
I felt a kick as I prepared myself a bowl of oatmeal with cinnamon and apples, along with a pan of scrambled eggs, wheat toast and strips of bacon.
"I'm going, dude. Calm down." I said as I moved to serve the food in plates before turning to get something from the fridge.
Edward limped in as I was setting the plates on the breakfast bar and raised a brow at my oatmeal.
"Sit and eat. We need to leave before nine thirty." I told him as I sat down and began preparing my sandwich.
We eat, enjoying the peaceful silence between us, rather than the tension filled one that had been going on between us.
I smiled and began eating my oatmeal and sandwich, groaning as I felt the baby begin moving erratically. "Calm down." I mumbled patting my stomach.
Edward raised a brow.
"Kicking me again." I mumbled.
I could feel him staring as I continued to eat.
I was just about to finish eating when Rose called.
"Hey, Rose. How's it going?" I asked as I finished chewing a bit.
"Hey. I know this is really a short notice but Carlisle wants you two to come over for a barbeque." She told me.
I frowned, "When?" I asked as I looked at Edward.
He jutted his chin, and raised a brow.
"Saturday." She told me.
"Saturday? That's tomorrow." I told her as Edward tilted his head.
"Yes, which is why I am apologizing. I tried to tell them that you two already had plans but he was adamant. He's going to call Edward during his lunch break to tell him." She informed me.
I sighed, "What time?" I asked.
"He's hoping around four tomorrow." She told me.
"Okay. I guess we'll just be careful." I mumbled.
"I'm sorry, I did try." She told me, remorsefully.
"It's alright, Rose. We all knew this day was coming." I told her.
"Fyi. Don't look too shocked when you arrive. This family is full of drama." She tells me.
"I'll try." I replied before we hung up.
As soon as we did, I turned to Edward.
"What's wrong?" He asked as he got up, and reached for my dishes, going to rinse them, before putting them in the dishwasher.
I sighed, "Your dad is going to call you later. He wants us to go to a barbeque tomorrow." I told him.
"Fuck." He mumbled.
"It's alright let's just get this done and we can focus on that." I said as I stood up and headed to the room to get my bag.
I sighed and pulled on a jacket before heading out.
The weather had been warm, but tended to change since it was getting close to winter time.
I half expected Edward to change his mind about going to the doctor with me but he still came.
He didn't utter a single word as we drove in the direction of the doctor's office.
The nurse was already waiting for me as I arrived, and checked in.
He was a high risk pregnancy specialist. Today he'd be checking for any abnormalities and the correct gestation.
"You need to drink more water." The nurse told me as she led me to the back room.
I nodded and pulled out my large bottle of water and downed half the bottle contents as she opened the door to the room and prepped it.
She then gestured for me to sit on the mattress and walked out.
"So polite." Edward commented with an eye roll as he sat down next to the bed.
"She's cordial. And doing her job. So, shut up." I told him as I laid back.
"That wasn't cordial, Bella. That was despot and rude. Her job is to make you feel comfortable while you wait for the doctor. Do you, at least, feel comfortable?" He asked me.
I stayed silent, "I've never really had a problem with her attitude... I hardly pay attention... I mean, maybe she's having a bad day." I told him.
He shook his head, "Baby, look, whether she's having a bad day or good one. It shouldn't matter. A nurse is supposed to have patience, self control, and empathy. That nurse had the empathy of a fish." He told me.
I sighed, "Honestly, I don't see the problem." I told him.
"That's why I'm here." He told me.
I rolled my eyes at him, scoffing. "What? To embarrass me and act like an asshole to everyone else?" I asked, amused.
"I'm not trying to be an ass. I'm just telling you… it wasn't right." He replied.
I nodded, "So, you're finally here." I mumbled I'm with a head shake.
He sighed, "Look, I already apologized for being such an asshole to you. I don't know what else to do. Tell me what to do and I'll do it." He told me in a pleading tone.
I sighed, and turned to look at him in the eye. "Edward, I don't want you to do anything. You have no idea what your words have done. Or how badly they hurt me. So, I don't want you to do anything. Words mean nothing to me. Pleading does nothing for me. It's actions that prove things. Not words. If you truly want me to forgive you… show me. Prove to me that I can trust you." I told him as the doctor opened the door and stepped in.
Dr. Banner is probably what most women call drool worthy. He's in his early forties, is tall, muscular, with jet black hair. He has a chiseled jaw that can probably cut through glass, a pair of hazel eyes that make any woman swoon too, and a dimpled smile.
What many people don't know is that he is happily married. With two kids at home. I wasn't about to share this bit of information, especially after he rolled his eyes at me.
Edward frowns as he walks in and sits up straighter in his seat.
I almost laugh as Dr. Banner turned to greet us.
"Ms. Masen." He greeted me.
"That's Missus. Masen." Edward corrected.
I bit back a laugh as Dr. Banner raised a brow at me.
"That's my husband, Edward. How are you, doctor?" I asked as I rose off the bed.
Dr. Banner smiled gently at me, "I'm doing great. How is baby Masen doing?" He asked.
Edward sighed, "How is she doing?" He asked.
Dr. Banner frowned before raising a brow at me silently asking for permission.
I nodded, biting my lip as I pretended to be more interested in my nails.
"Bella and the baby are doing extraordinarily well, despite her having diabetes. We have been monitoring her progress, weekly. The baby weighs about four pounds right now, so we want her to be stress free for the next couple of weeks, so they can make it to full term." He told him.
Edward looked at me before sighing and nodding. "Does she need to be resting more?" He asked.
Dr. Banner raised a brow in my direction before turning to speak to Edward. "She didn't tell you." He told him.
Edward frowned, "No. What?" He asked.
"Bella has been showing signs of pre-preeclampsia. She's supposed to be on partial bed rest." He told him.
Edward's head snapped in my direction. "You are?" He asked me.
I bit my lip and nodded, "Yes. I'm okay though. Rose and I have taken precautions, and I've been extra careful with everything." I told him.
"Fuck." He mumbled as he rose from his seat. "And you didn't think this was something I needed to know?" He asked me, angrily.
"No. You haven't shown interest in being involved up until now. Why would I tell you?" I asked.
He scoffed a laugh, "Maybe because I'm your husband?" He retorted.
I laughed, "Right. Like that has meant anything to you up until now." I scoffed.
Dr. Banner looked in between us, "Why don't you discuss this later?" He suggested.
"If you don't mind, I would like to speak to my wife alone." Edward said, shortly.
"We need to check on the baby. You can discuss whatever problems at another time. Their health is more important right now." Dr. Banner replied, coolly.
Edward sighed, before sitting back down.
Then we proceeded with the usual test, and sonogram.
The baby now weighed four pounds and ten ounces. Almost five pounds!
I was so happy to see him moving around in there, that I didn't care about the disapproving glares Edward was throwing my way.
As soon as the doctor handed me the sonogram pictures, I pulled my shirt down, and sat up.
"Everything looks great, Bella. I'll see you next week. Same time, same place." Dr. Banner told me as he left the room to put in information.
Nothing was said as we made our way back to the car.
Even when we stopped to get Mexican food for lunch, or when we made our way through the grocery store.
I had just about had it as we arrived at the house.
He didn't say a word as I pulled into the garage, and turned off the car.
He silently helped me get most of the bags into the car before disappearing into the room.
I rolled my eyes at him, before busting myself with the groceries.
The next morning, we both got up early. I showered, and helped him bath, before getting ready to go.
I pulled on a loose fitted black jumpsuit, and a white t-shirt, pulling my hair up into a ponytail. Slipping in my glucometer into my pocket, before slipping on a pair of hightops and heading out.
He decided he wanted to drive, so I slowly got into the passenger's side.
"You ready?" He asked after he closed the door to the house and helped Peaches into the back of the car.
"Mm-hmm." I whispered as I pressed the radio and scanned for my favorite station.
He silently adjusted the seat, and mirrors, before he pressed the fob to open the garage door, and slowly backed out.
I hummed to myself the entire way to the Cullen's house.
He stopped to grab us breakfast along the way, before continuing our trip.
It was around three, when he stopped at a small grocery store so we could buy already made salsa and get a bag of chips to bring.
A few minutes later, he pulled up to the familiar yellow house with a white picket fence, parking the car in right in front of the house.
We sat there for a few minutes, before slowly getting out.
I made my way to the back as I juggled the salsa and chips.
"Hi, Peaches." I said as she wagged her tail as I lifted the door. "Hi, good girl." I cooed.
Edward limped to us, "Hi, baby. Okay." He said as he grabbed her leash and she hopped out, and let out a bark. "Yeah, you wanna go that way, all right." He mumbled with a groan.
I closed the door and followed them, watching in amusement as Peaches looked around curiously.
"God, I haven't been back here in so long." He mumbled, his expression nostalgic for a second before he blinked. "Remember, my dad doesn't trust me. He's going to be watching everything." He looks over at me.
I sighed, "Dude, don't worry. I mean, look at us. We're so cute and suburban, it's disgusting." I told him as he took my hand, and began leading me towards the house. "Come on, Peaches!" I coo as she trots forward.
He leads us to the back where all the family is gathered.
The smell of cooking meat is enough to make my stomach rumble as Edward leads us to a small, slender woman with the same hair color as his.
"Aunt Esme." He greets, pulling her into a hug.
I hold back a shocked look as Rose quickly appears next to me, and pulls me in the direction of the table.
"I told you not to be shocked…" She mumbled as she handed me a plateful of chips, salad, and a burger.
"How the hell am I not supposed to be shocked at that?!" I whisper-yelled as I lowered myself onto the bench.
"I'll explain everything later. Just relax." She told me.
I gave her a disbelieving look before taking a bite of my burger.
"It'll be okay." She told me as I shook my head as I chewed.
Carlisle stood by the grill, holding an aluminum container, as he flipped burgers with his other hand.
As we finished eating, Edward smiled as he pulled out his phone and touched the Bluetooth speaker in the middle of the table.
"Okay, guys, I want you to listen to a song. All right, ready for this?" He asked as he fiddled with the speaker.
I gawked at him for a second, before narrowing my eyes playfully at him as Blue Side Of The Sky on Spotify began to play.
"She's my new favorite artist." Edward says in a playful tone.
I roll my eyes at him, and stare at the speaker, " l hate you." I whisper with a smile.
He chuckles, "What? I like this song." He told me with a smile.
From the corner of my eye I noticed Carlisle staring at us from the grill, as Henry made his way over at us.
"Uncle Edward, play football with me." Henry told him
"You bossing me around, kid?" Edward asked playfully.
"Yeah." Henry replied as he held the football to his chest.
"Okay." Edward said smiling at him as he stayed in his place.
"Come on, Uncle Edward." Henry begged.
"No, he's got an injury, little man. Let your uncle take it easy." Emmett told him as he moved him away.
"Take it easy?" Edward scoffed as he looked at me.
I smiled and raised a brow as I clasped my hands under my chin.
"Uncle Edward's hurt." Rose told him.
Henry pouted as he looked pleadingly at Edward.
"Take it easy? Oh, heck, no. All right." Edward said as he stood up, taking the football from Henry and grabbing his head, playfully. "You're my walking stick." He told him as they walked further into the yard.
"Be careful." I called after them.
"She's right." Edward grunted as Henry took the ball again.
"Yeah." Emmett said as he moved to stand next to Edward.
"Hey, let me see that ball." Edward told him.
Henry walked a few steps before throwing back the ball perfectly.
"Oh! Nice throw!" Edward told him encouragingly.
"Ooooh!" Henry cheered.
"Well I guess we're doing this. Yeah." Edward told him with a smile.
Henry giggled in response, as Esme sat next to us, watching them with a smile before she turned to me. "Are y'all thinking about having kids?"
The smile dropped from my face as I turned to look at her. "Uh…"
Edward turned to look at us, "Hey, Aunt Es, let her be a rock star first, okay? Kids later." He told her, as he handed the ball to Henry, and winked at me before turning back to the game.
Esme chuckled, "Well … He… he's really great with kids. Look at him." She told me, as I smiled back forcefully in return, before turning to watch them play.
"No, me!" Henry argued, jumping in front of Edward, trying to block him as Emmett held the ball.
"No me! No me! No me!" Edward argued, moving his arms exaggeratedly through the air.
"Who first?" Emmett asked.
"Me!" Henry called out, jumping again, and pushing Edward back.
"Here you go, Ed. Oh!" Emmett said as he threw the ball as he smiled at him.
"All right. Oh!" Edward said as he caught the ball and handed it to Henry. "You throw it back." He told him.
"Twenty- two! Hut!" Edward called as Henry threw the ball.
Peaches barked trying to play too.
I smiled, watching as Henry's brow furrowed in concentration.
"I love the way you look at him. It's just so real." Esme whispered as I looked down, trying not to frown.
"I promise to come down next weekend." Esme said as she and everyone stood by the front door and watched us walk to the car.
On the way home, Kate called me and told me we had a gig for the upcoming weekend.
I smiled on the way home, laughing as Peaches climbed over the seat and put her paws on the seat before laying down.
The upcoming week passed by too quickly.
Suddenly Friday night was staring me in the face.
Edward silently watched as I got ready, and made my way to the car before heading back inside.
We had only just finished with the gig when I noticed I had a dozen calls from my mom.
I only managed to listen to part of the voicemail, before grabbing my bag and running out.
I drove straight to my mother's house, to find Edward standing there with her.
He turned to me, breathing hard. "I… I thought you had a show." He told me.
"Thank you for coming." I told him as I rushed to my mother and pulled her into a hug. My bag stuffed between our bodies. "Estas bien?" I asked her, breathlessly. (Are you okay?)
She nodded frantically as she held me close.
"It's been 30 minutes since I called the police." He told me.
I let go of my mother to turn to look at him, and give him a cynical laugh, "Yeah well, they don't really rush for this neighborhood." I told him.
"Oh, come on." Edward told me as he looked at my mother.
"Welcome to the ugly truth." I told him dryly.
"Ma'am. Give me your keys. I'm going to go inside and check it out." He told her.
"No. There could be someone in there." My mother told him, concerned.
"It's gonna be fine." I told her as I took the keys and gave them to him.
"Bella, you stay with your mom, all right?" He told me.
I sighed and turned to watch him go inside, holding onto my mother tightly.
A few seconds later we heard the sound of a phone ringing and we watched for any other movement.
A moment later the police finally showed up, as Edward was walking out looking extremely pale.
"Are you okay?" I asked him as we made our way towards the officer.
He nodded as my mother spoke to the officer and the officer took the report.
Edward left back home after he was reassured that we were going to be okay.
It felt like hours when I finally made it back home. I began to feel extremely exhausted, and dizzy.
He was sitting on the couch stroking Peaches as I walked in.
"Hi. Why did you wait up?" I asked, leaning heavily on the counter.
"I couldn't go to sleep." He told me as he stood up.
I sighed and pulled the ponytail holder out of my hair, shrugging off my coat unsteadily.
"What did the cops say?" He asked me.
I blinked, and sighed, "Um… We'll get back to you … blah, bleach, blah." I replied dropping the jacket on the floor.
"Oh." He whispered.
I sighed, leaning heavily into the counter. "I can't believe I have a show tomorrow." I whispered. "Tonight." I corrected as I noticed the time.
"You don't look great, Bell. You okay?" He asked, moving closer to me as he frowned.
I sighed, "No, I'm fine." I told him as I stood upright and ran my hands through my hair.
"When was the last time you ate?" He asked me.
"Um… I don't — I don't know." I told him with exhaling as I felt my legs go unsteady.
He moved towards me. "Whao, whoa. Hey." He said as he moved towards me.
I could faintly hear the glucometer begin beeping frantically.
"Yeah." I mumbled, frowning as Peaches began to bark.
"We're going to the couch. Put your weight on me. Yup.." He said, a frantic tone in his voice, as his hand wrapped around my upper arm, and he pulled it around his shoulders, grunting.
"Okay." I mumbled, weakly.
"All right, let me just--Okay. All right, hang onto me." He grunted as he dragged me to the couch. "Hang onto me." He repeats as he lowers me onto the couch, falling into his knees.
"All right. Glucose." He told me, as he pulled out the glucometer, and checked it.
"My purse. It's in my purse." I told him weakly.
"Purse." He repeated as he stood up quickly and rushed to the kitchen.
I quickly grabbed the glucometer, and pressed the button to stop the frantic beeping, dropping back heavily onto the couch, as I heard him repeat "Purse, purse." To himself.
He grabbed the purse, and turned it upside down, spilling everything out of it onto the counter as he searched frantically for the black and red package
I can still hear Peaches braking frantically as he searched. "Easy, Peaches." He pants.
"Okay, okay. I want you to grab hold of me. Grab a hold of me. Yup, yup, yup, yup. Okay." He ground out, leaning over me and forcing my arms around his neck as he slowly pulls me up. "Okay. Come up. Alright." He grunts, before exhaling.
A moment later I feel him pull me up into a sitting position before sliding in behind me and ripping the package up. "Okay. Okay. Open. Open." He tells me as he holds the package to my lips. "There you go. All right." He breathes.
I swallow two mouthfuls of it, before I hear him, as he holds my head up with his other hand, "Okay? Enough? All right." He breathes, in question, putting the packet on the coffee table
"Mmm. Mmm." I mumbled.
"How long does it take to work?" He asked me, still breathing hard.
I exhale, blinking at the exhaustion I felt, "Twenty minutes." I whispered.
"Twenty minutes? Okay. Alright. Relax. It's going to be fine." He reassured me, still holding onto me, taking my hand with his other hand as he fixed his position under me.
Peaches whine from the floor next to us, "Yeah." I breathed as I slowly began to feel better.
I readjusted my position as he wrapped his arm around me, to lay in his chest.
I could hear his heartbeat still breathing frantically as he held me, as I exhaled in relief.
He shushed me, holding me slightly tighter as we laid there.
"Your heart is going crazy." I whispered with a small smile, as I reached up to touch his face gently.
"That's because it's scary, dammit." He replied, frowning.
"See?" I breathed with a tired smile, "I'm letting you help me." I told him with a teary smile, and sat up slowly.
He nodded, swallowing hard as he blinked back tears.
I touched my forehead to his, holding his face in my hands as I felt tears fall down the side of my face.
His hands slowly moved to my face as we stared at each other, before leaning in and pressing our lips to each other.
We held each other for a while longer until I felt my eyes begin to grow heavy.
When I woke up the next morning he was gone, and I had a voicemail from an unknown number.
Author's Note:
Hang on to your seats, kiddies, things are about to get wild.
Also, thank you for the reviews and giving this story a chance. I'm glad most of you are enjoying it.