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Bella tried to stay calm as Alice drove to the hospital, but two things stopped her.

First, the dull ache radiating from her back into her stomach. And two, the fact that Alice was driving like a maniac while trying to get ahold of Charlie and Jasper.

While she did that, Bella texted Edward, telling him what was happening. Barely ten seconds passed before he replied that he was on his way. Relief filled her, knowing he would be by her side.

"You okay, honey?" Alice asked, making a sharp right turn.

Bella threw her hand up to the window, bracing herself. "I would be better if you slowed down."

"Sorry," she whispered, but did as she was asked.

"Thanks. Did you get ahold of Dad or Jay?"

"No. Mrs. Cope said your dad was in Minneapolis for a meeting, but she would keep calling until he answered. Jay is on his way, though. He was finishing up with a client, so he shouldn't be too long."

Bella nodded, closing her eyes. "It's too early, Alice. It's way too early."

"Hey, we are not panicking," she said, though Bella noticed how she accelerated even more.

Billy Black was standing outside the emergency room with a wheelchair when Alice slammed on her brakes, causing her to once again throw her hand up to catch herself before hitting the windshield.

"Sorry, Iz," Alice said with a grimace.

"S'okay." Bella inhaled a deep breath before taking off her seatbelt. The door opened, and Billy helped her out. "I think I've had two more."

"You think? Or you know?"

"I mean, I don't know for sure. Not like I've ever been in pre-term labor before, much less regular labor."

He smiled, wrapping his arm around her shoulders as he walked her to the wheelchair and helped her sit. "Well, let's see what's going on before we overreact, shall we?"

Bella nodded, lifting her feet onto the footplates. "It's too early, Dr. Black. It's way too early."

"Little Bit is going to be fine, Izzy. We're going to take good care of both of you."

He wheeled her through the emergency room to the elevator. When the doors opened on the fifth floor, Edward stood at the nurse's desk, his hands flat on top, a look of full panic etched on his face. If Bella hadn't been terrified, she would have laughed, but there was nothing hilarious about the situation.

"Where the hell is she!" Edward exclaimed just before turning and looking at her. He sighed before hurrying over, kneeling. "Oh, sweetheart, I'm here."

"Edward," she cried, grabbing the front of his shirt. "It's too soon. It's too fucking soon."

"Shh, sweetheart, everything is going to be okay."

"You can't know that!" she exclaimed, tightening her grip on his shirt when she felt pain radiating from her back around to her stomach again. "Oh, fuck!"

"Can't you help her?" Edward snarled, glaring at Billy.

"I am, son. I am," he replied softly. "But you need to calm down. She needs us all to stay calm."

"Sorry," he muttered, his eyes shifting back to Bella.

"It's okay." Billy cleared his throat. "What room is Ms. Cullen's?"

"Five-O-six, Doctor."

Billy pushed her chair into her room, but Edward was the one who helped her onto the bed. He brought his hand up to the side of her face, pushing her hair behind her ear. "I'm sorry I wasn't with you."

"You're here now," she whispered. "Promise you won't leave."

Edward smiled. "I promise."

"Not to interrupt, but I'd like to see what's going on," Billy said, drawing their attention to the end of the bed where he stood.

Bella nodded, exhaling a sharp breath.

Billy moved to the opposite side, holding up a long, blue elastic band. "I'm going to wrap this around your stomach. It's going to measure any contractions that you may be having. Then, I am going to check to see if you're dilating. Hopefully, you are only having Braxton Hicks contractions or practice labor. If not, there is mediation, and we can try to stop labor. But let's find out what's going on before we get too ahead of ourselves."

"Okay."

Edward helped her sit so Billy could place the band around her stomach, placing the sensor, which he called a tocodynamometer, just above her belly button. He hooked it up to the monitor and then put a pink band around her.

"This one will monitor Little Bit's heartrate, just to be sure he isn't under any distress. Which I am confident he isn't," Billy added before she could panic. He looked at Edward as he grabbed a pair of latex gloves. "I am going to check her now."

"Oh, okay." Edward made to leave, but Bella grabbed his hand.

"Don't leave."

"Are you sure?"

She nodded, once again taking a deep breath. "I need you, Edward. I need you here with me."

"Okay, sweetheart, if you're sure."

Bella closed her eyes as Billy slipped her pants and panties off, covering her lower half with a blanket. She felt him place his fingers inside, causing her to wince.

"You're not dilated, so that's good." Billy removed his fingers and tossed the gloves into the trash. He then turned and looked at the monitor. "But I am getting some mild contractions on the monitor."

"Are they Braxton Hicks?" Edward asked.

"No, Braxton Hicks don't usually show up on the monitor. I would like to see if they stop on their own. Give it a couple of hours, and if they do, then that's good. If not, we can try medication."

"Can't we just go with medication now?" Bella asked, sliding her hand over her belly.

"I would prefer not to, but I will have it ready just in case." He placed his hand on her shoulder. "Relax, Izzy, and trust that we're going to take care of you."

"I'm trying," she whispered, looking past Edward to where Alice was waiting. "Thank you, Al."

"Why are you thanking me?"

"Because you didn't kill me on the drive here."

Alice laughed. "Sorry. My first time being the driver on the way to the hospital. I kind of know what Jay felt when he drove me here. Not gonna lie, Izzy. I didn't like it."

"Me either," she quipped.

"I'll come check on you in a bit. Stay relaxed," Billy ordered before he walked out of the room.

"I'm just going to call and see where Jay and Charlie are." Alice's eyes flickered from her to Edward before she grinned and left them alone.

Bella took another deep breath as she closed her eyes, smiling when she felt Edward place his hand on top of hers. She tilted her head toward him and opened her eyes.

"Hey."

He grinned. "Hey."

"I'm so glad you're here."

"Me too, Izzy. No place else I would rather be."

"I'm scared, Edward. It's too early."

He sat on the side of her bed. "It is, but you heard Dr. Black. Hopefully, the contractions will stop on their own."

"But what if they don't? I still have eight weeks before I'm due."

"Then we'll face it together."

"Yeah?" she cried, grabbing the front of his shirt.

"Of course, sweetheart." He leaned down and kissed her forehead. "You and I are in this together."

"We are?"

He nodded. "For as long as you want me."

"I'm kind of thinking forever sounds nice."

Edward's eyes widened. "For . . . forever?"

She bit the inside of her lip. "Too soon?"

"No," he replied quickly. "No, just . . . don't want you to feel pressure. From me, or because you're scared."

"I'm not, Edward. Even if we don't work out as a couple, I don't want to lose you again."

"You won't." He kissed her forehead again. "That's a promise I can guarantee."

"I hope so."

—RtW—

Bella shifted onto the bed, making room for Edward to lay next to her. Over the next couple of hours, she tried to stay relaxed and calm. She'd been forced to put on a pink and white flowery hospital gown, which she hated, but the nurse said they needed to monitor her vitals while they watched Little Bit's, too.

Jasper arrived not long after, but other than just poking his head into the room and letting her know he was there, he settled in the waiting room with Alice. It meant a lot to Bella that he showed up when she needed him the most.

Her contractions had mostly stopped, only the occasional twinge in her back, when her father hurried into her room. Charlie looked frazzled and tired. His button-up was wrinkled, his tie crooked, and his hair a mess, probably from running his fingers through it while hurrying back from the city.

"Kid, what am I going to do with you?" he grumbled, walking to the other side of her bed and placing his hand on the sides of her face. "Are you okay?"

"I've been better," she admitted, frowning when Edward climbed off the bed. "Where are you going?"

"Just want to give you a few minutes with your dad. I won't be far."

Bella nodded and waited until Edward left before turning her attention back to her father, noticing the way he watched her. "What?"

"Nothing," he replied. "What does Billy say?"

"Said it looks like the labor is stopping on its own. Thank God," she added in a whisper.

Charlie wrapped his fingers around hers. "Thank God is right, honey."

"I'm not going to lie, Dad. I was scared. Like really scared."

"Me too," he confessed. "Mrs. Cope chewed my ass out for keeping my phone on silence during my meeting. Said I needed to get my priorities straight."

"Did she really?"

"Yes," he scoffed. "I swear she acts like my mother instead of my secretary."

Bella laughed. "Sounds about right."

Charlie sighed. "If I tell you that you need to move back, are you going to fight me?"

"Yes."

"Izzy," he groaned. "You were lucky Alice was with you. What if you go into labor again, and you're alone?"

"I won't be alone," she said cryptically.

Charlie raised an eyebrow. "What does that mean?"

"Dad," she groaned.

"I'm just asking!" he laughed. "You're going to ask him to move in, aren't you?"

"Thinking about it," she mumbled. "You think I'm being stupid, don't you?"

"No." He tilted his head to the side. "You love him."

"I . . . feel strongly about him."

Charlie grinned. "Strongly as in love?"

"Dad," she muttered, feeling her cheeks warm.

"Not judging, honey. Just asking?"

"I don't know, okay? I . . . When I'm not with him, I miss him. God, I miss him so much, but I don't want to rush things. Does that make sense?"

"It does," he said with a nod. "You've been burned, so you're scared to open yourself to him."

"I'm terrified, Dad. After losing Carlisle . . ." She blew out a thick breath, feeling a tear slide down her face. She quickly wiped it away. "I don't want to lose him, too."

"Then don't," Charlie brought their hands to his lips. "Honey, if you love him the way I think you do, tell him. That boy. . . Sorry, man has proven over and over that he loves you. Maybe I don't understand, but it's not my life. Or Jay's life, or anyone else's."

"Why did you never date after Mom left?"

Charlie groaned. "I just never met anyone I wanted to spend my time with, I guess. Kind of too busy raising you and Jay."

"And after we grew up?"

"I don't know, Izzy. Your mom . . . I loved her. I loved her so much and tried to give her the life she wanted, but it wasn't enough for her. I wasn't enough for her, I guess."

"You deserve better than her, anyway."

"Well, thanks, but I'm happy with my life. I have you, Jay, Alice, and the girls, and a new grandson soon, but not too soon. Little Bit needs to cook for a while longer, Izzy."

She nodded, but before she could reply, Edward, Billy, and Jasper walked into her room. She felt her shoulders tense. "Is everything okay?"

"Labor seems to have stopped. For now," Billy added. "I'd like to keep you overnight, though. Just to be safe."

"Okay."

"You're not going to argue with me?" Billy asked.

Bella shook her head. "I'll do whatever I have to do to keep my son safe, Dr. Black."

"Hmm, and they say miracles don't happen," he teased. "Depending on how tonight goes, we'll talk about what happens next. Probably going to be bed rest."

"Kind of figured as much."

"I'll come up later and check on you, Izzy. If you feel as much as a twinge, you let the nurses know. You hear me?"

"Yes, sir."

Billy gave her a look before he left. Bella laid her hands on her stomach before she looked at Jasper. "Is Alice still here?"

"No, she had to get the girls from school." Jasper shoved his hands into his pockets. "I can stay with you if . . . if you want."

"Oh, I don't think she needs her big brother to pester her all night, Jay," Charlie said, standing. "Edward will be here. Won't you, son?"

"Yes, sir," Edward stammered, his eyes shifting from her father to her. "I won't leave her side."

"Good, good." Charlie looked down at her. "Jay and I are going to head out. Call if you need anything." He glanced at Edward. "That goes for both of you."

"Thanks, Dad." Bella shifted her attention to Jasper. "And thanks, Jay."

"You're welcome." He leaned down and kissed the top of her head. "Love you, sis."

"Love you, too, Jay."

Edward waited until Charlie and Jasper left before sitting on the side of her bed again. He intertwined his fingers with hers. "Looks like it's just you and me tonight."

"Is The Oasis going to be okay without you for the night?"

"I called Emmett on the way over and asked if he could help Ben tonight. He laughed and told me he had everything under control."

Bella smiled. "That was nice of him. Has anyone called Ro? She's going to be pissed I didn't at least text her."

"I let her know. She would have come up, but Jazzy has a little bit of a cold."

"She's been teething," Bella murmured.

Edward scooted closer. "Izzy, I know —"

"Move in with me." The words left her mouth before she even realized what she was saying. "Sorry, I . . . Just move in with me."

"Are you sure you're ready for that?"

"No," she confessed. "But yes."

"No, but yes? I don't know, Izzy."

"Just a few weeks ago, you were begging me to let you move in!"

"And you told me you weren't ready."

"Well, I am now."

Edward narrowed his eyes. "You're just scared."

"I am," she admitted. "But that doesn't mean that I'm not ready."

He sighed.

"I love you."

Edward's eyes widened.

"I know, okay? I know it seems . . . out of the blue, but I do. I love you, Edward, and I want you with me. With us," she added, sliding her other hand over her belly. "If you don't want to, I'll understand. I can stay with Dad, I guess."

"Of course I want to." Edward brought his hand up to her face. "If you're sure this is what you want, then I will move in."

Bella smiled. "Yeah?"

"Yeah, Izzy. I don't want to be away from you any more than I have to be."

"Good. Now, kiss me."

Edward laughed before leaning in and pressing his lips against hers.

Thank you for all the AMAZING reviews! Big thank you to Sunflower Fran for being an amazing beta!