Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight or its characters...


WHAT WILL EDWARD THINK?

Bella

The dress was black silk with thin spaghetti straps and a flowy skirt that reached just above my knees. I'd been looking forward to wearing this dress at Alice's rehearsal dinner. Little did I know, this would be the only time I'd wear the dress in a very, very long time. I huff out a breath, fanning myself as I've been feeling hot lately and make some last check ups on my hair and makeup. Emmett is sitting on the couch watching the football game, wearing his black suit with a beer in hand and an open bag of chips on the table.

His eyes drift to me when I walk in and back to the TV, not saying a thing. I roll my eyes and cross my arms over my chest.

"Are you really gonna act like a child for the rest of my pregnancy?"

He shrugs.

"You're a child."

"You're having a child!" He snapped.

"I know! And I can't deal with your childish behavior right now!" He sits back and folds his arms over his chest. Yeah, he's acting real childish. I walk over and sit down on the couch, facing him. "Em, can you please stop being mad at me. It's done, I'm pregnant."

He sighs, throwing his head back against the cushion of his couch.

"I'm not mad because you're pregnant, little sis. I'm worried because what will happen if things don't work out?"

"Why wouldn't they work out?"

"Bella, having a baby is no piece of cake and you know how men are, we bolt at our very first opportunity."

"Yes, I know that. But you know how Edward is. He doesn't bolt. He's on board with this whole thing, which I would expect him to do because he is the one responsible for this little thing."

Well, I was responsible as well, but I was going to blame it on him all I wanted.

Emmett groans loudly, lifting his head from the couch and looks at me. He's chewing at the inside of his bottom lip. He ponders over it and finally he sighs and says, "You're right. I'm sorry I've been such an ass."

"And please be nice to Edward."

The scowl was back.

"Emmett."

"Fine! I'll be nice."

I let out a sigh of relief.

"Thank you."

I leaned over, pressing a kiss to his cheek. I sit back down and glance at his beer. Shit, if I'd known the last time I drank would be the last time, I would've savored it more. I'm dying for one right now. Emmett must've seen where my thoughts were heading as he moved the bottle to the other side, far from my reach.

"One sip won't be bad!"

"Edward will kill me if I let you even sniff this beer, hell no. Go drink water."

I groan, falling back against the cushions of the couch.

"I've only been pregnant a month and a half and I'm all fed up with it."

Rosalie walks out wearing a killer red dress. She looks beautiful, of course. Rosalie Hale was blessed with a body a model would kill for and silky blonde hair. Why this woman became a RN instead of a model I will never know.

"Welcome to motherhood. Are you two ready? Alice will have a fit if we're thirty seconds late."

Emmett stands up, taking the beer and chips with him, and walks to Rosalie.

"Damn babe, you're so fucking hot."

Rosalie blushes and looks at my brother through her eyelashes.

"Thanks, babe." She gives him a chaste kiss before looking at me, and that blush immediately goes away and is replaced with a look one would have when looking at a puppy. "Aw, Bella, you look so cute! You have that motherly glow already!" She squeals and walks toward me with her arms out in front of her. She pinches my cheeks. "I can't wait to be an auntie. A baby! Finally, a baby will be walking around the apartment and making a mess."

Oh, about that…

"Actually, I've been thinking and I think it's best if I start looking for a new place before the baby is here."

Emmett suddenly steps in. "A new what before what?"

"An apartment before the baby comes," I say. They both look at me like I've grown a second head. "Come on, you guys don't honestly want a crying baby to take over your space. It won't be just me you horn dogs will have to keep a low profile for. You don't want that."

"No, I want that!" Rosalie says, gripping my shoulders. "Someone needs to set some boundaries and if your baby will set those boundaries, then I want it!"

I laugh and Emmett steps in again. "I want you here, Bella. And I want my baby nephew or niece here, just think of how fun it's gonna be! Forts and Disney and being all day in our onesies and eating junk food, playing with toys-"

"Alright, you seem more excited about having a new playmate," I joke. I pat his stone chest and shake my head. "I'll think about it, Em. It's not just me anymore and, if I'm completely honest, I think it's getting to the time where I should probably move out of my brother's apartment."

He did a little pout and said, "Fine, if you must think it through, go ahead. I'll support you 100%. But I want you to leave because you want to, not because you think we don't want you here because that couldn't be furthest from the truth." He kissed my forehead and pulled away. He offers each of us an arm of his and gives us a charming smile. "Alright, ladies, we have a party to get to and I'm more than honored to escort you two beautiful ladies. Let's get going and remember: no alcohol for the knocked up one."

I slap his arm. "Right term is pregnant, I hate it when you refer to it as knocked up."


Alice is certainly having the wedding of her dreams. This is the wedding she has been planning ever since we were freshmen in high school, long before she even had a boyfriend. The rehearsal dinner looked like it came out of the Royal ball scenes in a fairy tale movie, where the prince and princess will then dance till the sun rose from the horizon and lived off happily ever after. Are they really getting married tomorrow?

I watch Alice greet her guests and I can't help but feel joy for her. She's so beautiful. Short, but all perky and girly and just so educated. She's wearing a white cocktail dress and her hair is pulled in a high ponytail. Good thing her hair grew back just in time for the wedding, she almost lost it when that stylist cut it to her jawline and almost killed her. Jasper is next to her, holding her hand and looking at her the same way a woman would kill to be looked at. That look that just melts your insides.

Edward and I decided to wait to tell our parents until after Alice' wedding. Although I knew Alice didn't care, she spent a lot of time planning this wedding and I didn't want to risk taking attention from it by telling her parents they were about to be grandparents.

They are getting married tomorrow. My brother will also be getting married in a couple of months... And here I am, knocked up.

"At least you're gonna love me, right?" I whisper to my little bean.

Or at least I think I do.

"I mean, I'd like to buy you a drink first but if you want to skip to that, I'm all on board."

I whirl around, finding a handsome blonde man leaning on the bar beside me.

"Uh, no I was um-I was just thinking out loud," I stutter and laugh nervously, heat rising in my cheeks. Great, I was already feeling warm and this isn't helping. "I tend to freak people out like that."

He shrugs, a smirk playing at the corner of his lips. "It's pretty cute. I'm Mike Newton, a friend of the groom's. You are?"

I take his hand and shake it.

"Isabella Swan, bride's best friend and maid of honor."

He leans closer and my god, he smells so good. "So, Isabella, can I buy you a drink?"

"Oh, I would love to-" I stop myself, remembering the little bean inside me. "But I-I don't drink."

"Really? Not even a glass of wine?"

I'm dying for a glass of wine, trust me.

"Not a fan. I'm all about water," I mutter before taking a sip of my water. The ice cubes I had in it already melted.

Mike doesn't give up.

"Well, since I can't buy you a drink, how about I ask you for a dance?" He straightens himself up and offers me his hand. "You do dance, right?"

"Of course I do."

The least I could get out of this is a dance. I doubt he will stick around after he finds out I'm pregnant. He steps aside and right there, over his shoulder, I see Edward. He's talking to his parents at the main table, his hands in the pockets of his dress pants and his usually untamed hair is now styled perfectly, a single bronze curl falling over his forehead. Something his father says makes him laugh, throwing his head back before clapping his father on the shoulder.

Suddenly, for some goddamn reason, I can't get off my stool at the damn bar and walk to the dance floor with this handsome guy that I would already be flirting with if it wasn't for... Jesus, I can't do it. I want to, I want to enjoy the little time I have left before I become a mother, but I can't. I look back at Mike and take my hand back.

"I'm sorry, but I can't."

He takes his hand back, looking rather disappointed. "Can I ask why?"

"I got Maid of Honor duties and if they're not done, the bride will behead me. Sorry." I shrug and hop off the stool. "It was great meeting you."

"I would say the same." He reaches in his pocket and pulls out his card. "My cellphone number is right there, give me a call sometime. I would love to take you out on a date."

I do my best to smile. "I will keep that in mind."

I take refuge in one of the bathroom stalls in the fancy venue and just sit there staring at the opposite wall. Jesus, why is it so hard? I normally wouldn't care about flirting with another guy or taking his number because Edward doesn't care, but now? It felt like I was betraying Edward by simply being around this man. I felt like I couldn't do that to Edward. I even flushed the card down the toilet. I never do that! What the hell is wrong with me?

I groan and bang my head against the wall.

The girl using the next stall flushes and walks out at the same time someone walks in. The door to my stall opens and I look up at Alice, who's looking down at me confused. Unfortunately since the stall door is wide open, the other girl has a clear view of me sitting on the floor next to the toilet and looks at me as if I'm crazy. Perhaps I am, but can fuck off for all I care.

Alice looks at the girl and says, "Excuse me."

The other girls chuckles and walks out of the bathroom. Alice takes a seat next to me in the bathroom stall and closes the door, making sure it is locked before looking at me.

"What's wrong? You've been acting weird all night. You've been sitting by the bar even when you can't have a real drink."

"I know, I'm sorry. It's just been a really weird day for me. I've been having all kinds of mixed feelings about being pregnant, like how I'm not going to be able to wear this dress for at least another year or how I can't have a glass of wine or take a guy's phone number because I'm so concerned about what your brother might think." I press my forehead against my knees and groan again. "I'm a mess."

"Okay, let's break this down. What guy are you talking about?"

"Mike Newton, he said he's a friend of Jasper's. Cute blonde, tall, dashing blue eyes..."

"Oh! He's hot."

I nod against my knees. "Yes, he was."

"He gave you his number?"

"He asked me if he could get me a drink first, but I can't drink. Then he asked me to dance, but I couldn't do it. I looked at Edward and for some reason, I couldn't dance with him. Then he gave me his card but I flushed it down the toilet ten minutes ago." I look at Alice and drop my hands. "What's going on with me? I'm so good at this whole flirting and dating thing, why now?"

Alice shrugs, the corner of her mouth twitching. "Maybe it's your body's way of telling you to lay low for a while? Concentrate on you?"

I roll my eyes. Bullshit.

"I don't want to lay low for a while. I'm going to be twenty seven next year and it's all so complicated. When will be the next time I'll be able to go out on a real date with a guy? When will I meet Mr. Right? How will I have time with a baby?"

"But you're worried about what Edward might think?"

I look away. "No. I'm terrified."

Alice chuckles and pulls me into a hug. "Oh, sweetie, you know Edward just wants what's best for you. Sure, things will feel different now because you guys are tied together by more than just friendship. But my brother wants you to be happy, no matter who it is with."

I wanted to believe her, but a part of me still worried. What will happen when Edward meets someone? The thought alone makes my stomach swirl and I don't like the feeling. I was never once jealous over anyone Edward dated or thought about dating. If this is what's happening with just the thought of him dating someone, what could he be feeling?

I'm still a ball of confused thoughts and whirling emotions when Alice manages to bring me out of the bathroom. That unease stays with me until I see Edward across the venue. He smiles, saying something to the woman he was talking to before walking away. I could feel my heart palpitate as he approached me and offered me his hand.

"Want to dance?" He asked.

Then, all that unease and confusion I'd been feeling fades away as I place my hands in his.

And without a second thought, I say, "Yes."


Chapter Six Preview -

"Obviously because you and Edward are being responsible, you're going to get married before the baby is born, right?"