DISCLAIMER: The story doesn't belong to me; the characters are property of S. Meyer, and the plot belongs to Annalau Thank you so much for letting me share your story in English!
Gracias Laura, por darme esta oportunidad!
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Chapter 28
Time
Time did not stand still no matter how much I wished it would. I wanted to live more moments with my chick before the arrival of his new brother, to continue discovering together that new stage of preschool that kept him so excited.
It was not possible. Although we were able to make the most of every walk in the park and together we discovered interesting insects for his knowledge. Adding that our baking afternoons or our coloring days became interesting.
The days continued their march like a brief blink of an eye. It was the weather sobering our lives and moving us at its whim.
Leo arrived the second week of September and weighed 3.5 kilograms. It was a natural birth that lasted five hours of intense pain.
Dad said he looked exactly like me, maybe because of his brown hair, but deep down he was very similar to Edward. He had the same smile.
Esme and Carlisle were also there every step of the way, it was a great help that they took care of Eric while I was in the hospital.
Coming home was different. Edward did not agree to let Angela stay with me and help me. He decided to do it himself.
"Are you comfortable?" he asked as he piled the pillows behind my back.
"I am," I whispered. Chickie was asleep next to me wrapping his short arm around my swollen waist, since we had arrived home he didn't want to leave me for any reason. "You can sleep in Eric's room or the guest room, it's your choice."
Edward smiled at me as he took Leo out of the little crib and cooed to him. The baby was so still and so quiet, he just wanted to sleep for the moment.
"I can sleep on the couch too, don't worry."
"It will be the first time in a long time that you will sleep at home."
"I'm nervous," he admitted, "staying here brings back so many memories."
I bit my lip.
"Good or bad?" I asked and he didn't hesitate to smile.
"I got rid of the bad memories a long time ago," he revealed. "When I told you I'd keep all the good things about us, I meant it, Bells."
"I did too," I began to fiddle with the sheet.
I swore I heard my heart beating in the silence of the room. It was the two of us and our two sons in one place.
Edward kept holding my gaze. How was it possible that my cheeks were warmed by the way he looked at me? We knew each other. He was even with me holding my hand in the delivery room and cutting the umbilical cord of both our children. Yet, he had the power to make me feel shy.
"Keep in mind I'll slam the door in Peter's face if he comes again."
I laughed.
"Oh, it's all right."
"He tires me out with his lousy excuses he makes up just to see you," he said, imitating Peter's bearing: erect and elegant. "Bella, could you help me with this recipe?" he faked his voice, "Bella, this cooking tutorial is excellent," he rolled his eyes.
I laughed louder and started coughing. Chickie stirred on the bed, and I covered my mouth with one hand, silencing my cough.
Leo let out an angry cry. Edward settled him on my lap after giving me some water.
"Even our son hates him," he murmured.
Edward moved his head slightly giving me room to uncover my chest. It was so surreal that he gave me privacy by having my breast bare.
I watched him sit on the rocking couch in front of the bed. He pulled out his cell phone and started answering maybe some pending messages while I continued to nurse.
"Are you embarrassed to see me?
He blinked.
"No. I just don't want to make you uncomfortable."
"It's weird. You've seen me naked, and you just saw our Leo being born. Do you think that's normal?"
"I'm respecting your time just like I'm respecting you."
I nodded.
"Why didn't you go to your sister's wedding?"
"Mom told you, didn't she?" he sighed as he stretched out his legs and began to rock. "After what I told you she did to me, I had no case. I put my distance from her a long time ago, I wasn't going to let her go on ranting against you."
"Your parents know what she did to you," I commented.
"They know and they completely disapproved."
"Edward..." I spoke as softly as I could, "What happened to your friend Claire?"
My baby's head was tilted back a little, leaving my nipple free. Edward kept meeting my eyes and it was extremely funny.
"She went back to Forks with Jared. They are giving each other a new chance."
"A new chance," I repeated more to myself than to him.
Edward walked over to us, bent down to take Leo in his arms and sat on the edge of the bed while I helped him pass gas.
Our conversation went on until maybe midnight, I didn't really notice until I woke up to my baby crying and looked at Edward lying at the foot of the mattress with Leo in his arms.
That was the first time we slept together and oddly enough; it wasn't the only time. Nothing was forced and there was no rush, our days became more demanding with two children, but our nights more chaotic with a newborn.
Three months after the birth of our baby, Edward and I continued to settle into a different format where Eric and Leo became our centers of life.
And us? Well, that was the best part...
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