Edward

I could tell Bella was very upset as she walked away with her father, even though she held her head high and stood her ground with the asshole in front of me, but he had stepped so far over the line he would never be welcome in her presence again, or mine. I narrowed my eyes at Tyler. "I think you should leave, and why don't you do us all a favor and take those two with you," I pointed at Jessica and Tanya. "I'm sure they haven't heard that Daddy took your money away and as long as you keep your mouth shut you might get lucky. Without your family's money you really are nothing, unlike my Bella who is amazing without a dime but surprisingly wealthy as a self made millionaire, she just doesn't flaunt it. She's so far out of your league, Tyler, that even with your family's money you wouldn't be up to her standards. Hell, she's out of my league, too, but I'm lucky she doesn't mind slumming it, with me."

My mother stepped in with two large men next to her and smiled widely. "Tyler dear, I do believe it's time for you to go, and I'll be speaking with your mother about tonight. These gentlemen will show you out."

"I knew I liked you, Mrs. Cullen," Jasper said with a smile. "Care to dance?"

"I'd love to," my mother smiled and joined him on the dance floor. With all that unpleasantness over with, I went in search of my Bella.

I made my way to Elizabeth's room, but Bella had already gotten her to bed and left. I kissed my sleeping daughter and headed towards our bedroom.

I stopped outside the door when I heard Bella talking with her father.

"Look, Dad, it wouldn't have made any difference to that guy if I was married to Edward or not so just drop it. I just don't fit in here."

"I thought you were happy here, Bells?"

"I am, sort of, I'm happy with Edward, but once the baby is born and old enough to travel, I'll be moving back home."

"To Forks or New York?"

"Forks, of course, I did say home. Edward is feeling better now; he doesn't need me here anymore."

I couldn't stand it anymore and interrupted her. "I beg to differ, Bella, I'll always need you."

She pinched the bridge of her nose and then gave me a weak smile.

"When were you going to tell me that you were leaving? Or were you just going to slip off in the middle of the night like you did last time and take my kids with you?" My words were sharper than I meant them to be but it was hard to hide the hurt. "When are you going to stop running from me, Bella?"

"Edward, I just don't fit in your world."

"Fine, forget my world then. I don't need it. It's nothing without you in it anyway."

"You don't mean that. You have your family; your father owns a huge successful business I'm sure he plans on passing on to you. You can't disappoint him, you belong here, and I belong in Forks."

"NO! I belong with you, Bella, and with our kids. I don't give a damn about the business or the money. I swear I would give up every last dime to be with you! Is that what it's going to take?" I pulled out my phone.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm calling Ben Cheney; he can find some good charities to donate all my money to for me."

"Edward!" She grabbed my phone from me hanging it up.

"Please, Love, I need you more than anything in the world. We don't have to stay here, just let me come to Forks with you. Please don't leave me again. Please let us be a family."

Bella looked nervously down at her belly and then to her dad who was standing silent.

Then I saw the glistening of tears in her eyes. It was then I realized the crap Tyler had said had gotten to my sweet Bella. I quickly pulled her into my arms. "You're way out of my league, my Bella. Please don't wise up and leave me now and please don't ever listen to assholes that try and tell you different."

At that she burst into tears and I knew that was exactly what had happened and sighed with relief as she clung to me. Chief Swan smiled at me and patted me on the back then went into his room.

I lifted my pregnant Bella and kissed her softly. "Come, Love, let me take care of you."

"You shouldn't be lifting me."

I smiled down at her. "I'm fine, my Bella, even with your adorable baby belly, you're light as a feather."

"The doctor said no heavy lifting."

"You and I know I'm fine. It was merely a flesh wound."

She buried her face in my neck and my heart broke a little when I felt her tears on my skin.

I gently set her on the bed and unzipped her dress. I helped her slip out of it and then took off her shoes. I kissed up to her knee and then moved to her lips, kissing her softly.

"Never doubt that I need you, Bella. I need you more than life itself. Do you understand?" I looked her in the eyes but she didn't answer. "I mean it, Love; I want to hear you say you understand. Say it," I said more sternly holding her chin.

"I understand," she whispered.

"Understand what?"

She was silent.

"Say it, Bella; tell me you understand I need you more than life itself." I watched silent tears escape and kissed them away. "Tell me, Love, please," I begged.

"You need me," she said so softly I almost didn't hear it.

I kissed her cheek and whispered in her ear, "I do, and don't you ever forget it, my Bella. Without you, I'm nothing." I carefully moved her up into the bed, tucking her in and then I undressed and snuggled in behind her. "I'll always need you, you have my heart, Bella, and a man cannot live without his heart."

She turned her face to me and kissed me deeply. "I need you, too."

I kissed softly to her ear. "I promise never to forget you need me, if you promise never to forget I need you, too."

"I promise," she said softly.

I kissed her and then said, "I promise, too."

Her hand reached back, running from my hip to my tummy and then she softly traced down to the edge of my boxers. "That wasn't the need I was talking about, my Bella."

She smiled up at me. "I know, it's just one of the perks I get from you needing me," she said suddenly lighthearted.

I chuckled at her. "Perks?"

She nodded and her hand slid further down gripping me. "Yes, definitely a perk," she smiled at me as I groaned.

"You, my little vixen, are the perk," I whispered in her ear.

I felt chill bumps cover her body as she felt me move, she knew what I was doing. She gripped her belly and rolled onto her back. I remove her last article of clothing and kissed up and over her round belly, smiling widely at the crest of it. "This is the most wonderful thing a man can ever see; his woman swollen with his child in her womb, just perfect, absolutely perfect. I don't think I've ever seen you look more beautiful, my Love."

She grinned at me. "I hate to break it to you but I don't plan on staying like this."

I gave her a crooked grin. "Well then, I should take advantage of it while I can." I lay next to her, kissing her softly and then pulled her back against my chest, kissing everywhere my lips would reach. My hands gently caressed her breasts and then slid down to her beautiful round belly. "I did this to you," I whispered in her ear as my hand found her core, "Don't you forget it."

She was more than ready for me and so I entered gently but swiftly, taking her while holding her to myself, reveling in the fact that Bella was carrying my child. I had claimed her as my own and there was proof.

She was mine.