The following weeks I began to feel bored, and grow frustrated of being stuck in bed all day. But I stayed in bed nonetheless. Just as the doctor had ordered.
As it turned out, the crash had affected me and the baby more than we originally thought. So much so, that if I began to get stressed out, I could end up going into early labor.
I would've lost count of how many days I had already been in bed, if it wasn't for the fact that my stomach was now a lot larger than before. I wouldn't know how long had truly passed if it wasn't for that fact.
I was now at thirty seven weeks. And I was slowly being allowed to do menial things around the house.
Yet with every day that passed I grew more and more restless. I was actually plotting a way to sneak out of the house, just for a little while.
Dax and Janie opted to move in temporarily to help me through the pregnancy. While Mary and Micah had moved out three months ago after their house finally got through escrow.
Rose and Em had gotten an apartment that wasn't too far away from here, and were currently living happily by themselves.
It was mid morning, and my usual 'babysitters' had gone to 'run errands ' but I knew they just wanted to get away from my constant bitching.
Before everyone left, I had gotten Dax to bring me down to the den before he had left for work in the morning and now I was waiting for the right time to go.
"I'll be back in an hour, I'm just going to go to the station for some paperwork." I heard Dax say before leaving.
I had finally managed to replace my totaled car a week ago, with a silver jeep Patriot.
Which now held the car seat for the baby.
Now, I know that I sound ungrateful, and annoying but I was tired of being treated like a porcelain doll. I needed a little air without someone asking me if I was okay, or if I was hungry.
So, as soon as I heard that door close, I slipped on my slip-on sneakers, pulled my hair up in a ponytail, grabbed my bag, and made my way out.
A small sigh of relief escaped my lips as I saw my car.
I slowly made my way down the porch steps, and towards the Jeep, clicking the fob before I slowly slid inside.
I adjusted the seat a bit higher, and close enough that I'd reach the pedals, but not enough to hurt my protruding stomach. I also adjusted the wheel, and smiled as I turned the car on.
The moment I did, I heard some squeaking from the seat in back of mine, and jumped when I heard someone say, "Busted."
I turned to see Dax in the seat, his arms crossed over his chest as he raised a brow at me, expectantly. "Care to share where you're headed, squirt?" He asked me.
I sighed, "I just need some time outside of the house. I can't handle another day
holed up in there." I told him.
Dax sighed, "Alright. But I'm coming with you, okay?"
I sighed, "Fine." I mumbled.
"Now, go to the passenger's seat, there's no way I'm allowing you to drive." He told me, as he got out of the back seat.
He drove me to get breakfast first.
"I thought you said you had to go get some paperwork from the station?" I questioned as I slid into the booth.
He smiled, "Edward is bringing it home later, he told me to stay with you in case you need something." He informed me.
I sighed, "I don't. I'm not a fucking child. I was just going to go to the grocery store and buy some more snacks." I reassured him.
He gave me a look, "Still, he's been worried." He told me.
I grimaced, trying not to frown as I thought of a reason as to why he may be acting like this. "He's actually sort of annoyed with me too… so, this is probably so I don't do anything stupid like hide or something." I mumbled as I licked my lips and looked at the menu.
He rolled his eyes at me, "Why would he think that? What'd you do?" He asked, amused.
I sighed, "He asked me to marry him and I told him… I said I wasn't having a shotgun wedding. Then went to hide in the den." I mumbled.
He snorted, "You think he wants to marry you because you're having his kid? Bella, be real, that man moved cross country without hesitation for you. Along with all the other shit he's done for you. He's in love with you. " He replied as the waitress arrived.
"What can I get ya?" She asked.
"Yes, I'll have the blueberry and banana pancakes, with extra whipped cream, a side of scrambled eggs and extra bacon, and hash browns. And an orange juice please." I said.
She nodded before turning to look at Dax.
"The cinnamon roll pancakes, with bacon. A coffee, black, please." He told her.
"I'll go put the order in." She said as she eyed him with interest.
"He's engaged." I told her amused.
"Really? What a shame. All the good looking fellas are either taken or gay." She sighed.
I snickered as Dax rolled his eyes at me.
"Honey, I'm both." He snipped saucily.
She smiled at him and turned before rushing in the direction of the kitchen.
We watched her disappear before I turned and snickered as I saw the expression on Dax's face.
"Why would you say that?" I asked.
"Because she obviously missed that I'm engaged to Janie, so I went for the easy way out. If it's not believable I'll call Joe, he is always frisky." He replied with a shrug.
"Okay, you seem all too comfortable with this fact so that makes me wonder…" I snipped as I grabbed a little jelly container, pulled the lid off, and began eating it with my pinky finger.
"Enough about me… how's my niece or nephew doing?" He asked eyeing my belly.
I smiled and rubbed a loving hand over the bump. "Good. Nice and snug as a bug in a rug in there." I told him.
He stared at me, and sighed, "I cannot believe you and Edward have kept the gender a secret." He told me, smiling as he stared at my belly, curiously.
I shrugged, "It's our choice. We're the parents. You can all keep crying hoot, but we want this pregnancy to be a good and happy experience, despite everything that's happened so, if we can control this and only this, we will." I told him.
He smiled, before sighing, "I know. I'm just hoping that you'll give me my first nephew, so he can be my favorite." He told me.
I snorted, "Don't worry you'll be the favorite uncle regardless." I told him amused.
"What about Emmett, Micah… and everyone else?" He asked me.
I smiled, and extended my hand to squeeze his. "You're my favorite. So, that guarantees a bit of leeway for you." I told him.
"You're my favorite too." He replied, "Don't tell Rose." He adds, amused.
"Daxton, she already knows." I told him with a wide smile.
The food arrived a short time later, and paid before heading to the grocery store.
As soon as I arrived, I began to feel a twinge in my lower back, but ignored it until we began to head to pay.
"You okay, Bells?" He asked me.
I shook my head, and winced, "Braxton Hicks contractions." I told him.
He sighed, "Okay, I-- Okay let's leave this here." He said as he pointed to the cart and a worker immediately came.
"Yes, sir?" He asked.
"We need to go, it's an emergency." Dax told him.
"Okay, we can put the things back." The worker said.
Dax nodded before guiding me out of the store and driving me to the hospital.
I was immediately taken up into the third floor, into the Labor and Delivery, where I was told I had dilated to three centimeters, before I was administered a terbutaline injection.
As I felt the effects of the medication begin to work, and calmed down.
"I'm going to go call Mom and Dad and tell them not to come." Dax said before standing up and walking out of the room.
Edward arrived as I was administered the second dose.
He immediately walked in, and rushed to my side, pecking me on the lips.
"What happened? Is everything alright?" He asked.
I nodded, "I was at the store getting snacks, and I started feeling my back spasm…" I told him, drowsily.
He sighed, "Bell, you know you could have just called me and I'd stop on the way home." He pointed out.
I nodded, "I know. I was just -- I just wanted to stretch my legs a little, and get some fresh air." I mumbled.
He gave me a sad smile, and nodded, "I understand that, but please don't do this again unless I am with you." He said.
"I was fine. Dax was with me." I told him.
"My point exactly. He panicked when he called me." He informed me, amused.
I scoffed, "Oh fine." I replied, exasperated.
"It's not that I don't trust you. I just-- I would prefer to be there, just in case." He told me.
I nodded as I pulled the small pitcher of water that I was brought and sipped deeply.
Once it was apparent that the contractions stopped, I was discharged and told to go back home.
The doctor did say that I had permission to take small walks at home now. But to not overdo it.
Edward gave me his 'I told you so' look before helping get dressed and leading me to my car.
I frowned as he helped me get in.
"Where's Daxton?" I asked.
"I gave him the keys to my truck. He went home an hour ago." He informed me, before closing the door and getting in.
I nodded, before sighing and rubbed my stomach.
"You hungry?" He asked me.
I shook my head. "Not a lot." I replied as I felt a kick.
He raised a brow at me before tilting his head, "Do you want Italian, In-N-Out, or something else?" He asked.
I thought for a second, "In-N-Out, and cheesecake from Richie's." I told him.
He nodded before throwing the car back in reverse.
He drove to both places before stopping at the groceries store.
"Send me a text with everything you want and I'll get it right now, while you eat." He told me.
I sighed, before typing away and smiling when he nodded.
By the time he came I realized that Daxton was right earlier.
"Is the offer still on the table?" I asked him.
He frowned, "What offer?" He asks, confused.
I sigh, "To get married." I finally say.
He blinked before a smile spread on his face, "You-- you want to marry me? What changed?" He asked, curiously.
I bit my lower lip before smiling and looking back at him, "I spoke to Dax earlier, and he helped me realize that I was being a fucking idiot." I told him, honestly.
He gave me an amused smile before pulling out of the parking lot of the store and driving home.
"I'll make an appointment at City Hall." He finally told me as we arrived home.
I looked at him surprised, "You-- Don't you want the big church, white dress, and all that jazz?" I asked him.
He shook his head, "No. I mean, we can have a reception for the family at a later date. For now, I just want to make you my wife." He told me as he leaned over and kissed me.
I smiled against his lips, before kissing him back. "Alright. Let's do it." I told him before getting out.