AN: Thank you all for your reviews. You all are so wise and look deep into the story and I'm in awe of you! I'm so thrilled that you're all so invested in these characters.

Thank you, Brina, for being so quick and awesome with these chapters. You rock!

And to May who is very expressive about balls. Thank you for making me laugh.

* mistakes happen, if you catch some that I miss, PM me and I'll get er' fixed!

Chapter Five

-Everyone's Got an Opinion-

Edward doesn't blink for what seems like a long time. I'm afraid that he's gone catatonic on me. The shock is understandable. I responded similarly, but what if it's too much for him?

The server approached the table now, looking between Edward and me, saying, "Maybe I should come back."

I nod and smile, watching them leave and turning my attention back to the statue in front of me. Everything is moving so slowly in my head. Still, from the time Edward and I decided to "officially" move our relationship towards dating, to me telling him I'm pregnant, to the server showing up, to now has only been a minute, to a minute-thirty.

I touched his hand, and that restored Edward's life.

"So 'no' on the Dom Perignon?" he says.

I'm relieved that we're still joking, and my body relaxes.

"I'm sorry to spring this on you. I just found out today."

His green eyes search mine, looking for something. "Is this why you called me?"

"Yes. I thought you should know."

"Right." He rubs his mouth and glances away from me and towards the window.

It's another minute of silence from him, and I'm getting anxious, gulping down my water and obsessively smoothing my hair. I'm trying not to push his process and give him a fair amount of time like I had, but it's hard to sit here and wait.

"Please say something," I say, wanting to touch his hand, but he hides them in his lap.

Edward finally faces me again, but his eyes are closed off and protected. "You said you were on birth control."

"I am - or was, but apparently, my doctor approved an experimental contraceptive that's defective and on a nationwide recall."

"And you're sure it's mine?"

I expected this, and it's a fair question, but the implication of it hurts me. I'm trying my best not to go on the defensive, but there's something about how he doubted me in the first place that sends me off the handle.

"You don't believe me?"

"I don't think you're lying about being pregnant."

"But about you being the father? Right! Like I'm the type of person who gets pregnant by some loser but tells the famous athlete the baby is his?" My voice is getting louder, and if the restaurant didn't know I was pregnant by looking at me, they know now because of my big mouth.

Edward holds up his hands in surrender. "I'm sorry. Can you please lower your voice?"

"I can't believe you don't believe me," I whisper to him, crossing my arms over my chest furiously. "After everything we've been through, you really want to go there?"

"Why not?" Edward says in a harsh whisper as he leans toward me. "We had a great night together. You fall asleep in my arms, Bella." The anguish in his voice is like a knife to my chest. "You then ditch me in the morning and ghost me for two months."

I wince at the truth behind everything he's saying. I have not been the righteous one here and have screwed him over. From his perspective, I only contacted him because I was pregnant, and if I wasn't, then what? There would be no call, his messages would be left unread, and I would still be running from my feelings for him.

"You're right, I'm sorry."

Edward takes a deep breath to simmer down his anger. His eyes soften again. "And if I'm the father, I need to know."

"IF" - flipping - "IF?"

And my hormones are off and running again.

"There's no 'if,' Edward," I say, glaring. "This baby is yours. I'm not a slut."

"I didn't say you were, Bella. It's just...I had to ask."

"You're the only guy I've slept with since late last year."

His jaw slacks a little in surprise. He rethinks what I said, but it still doesn't add up for him. "I'm the only one you've been since last year? What about those guys you were telling me about?"

"Nobody since Mike. Besides, I've never done what I did with you with anyone else. That...was something different."

Edward's shoulders slump. He grips my hand and squeezes. "I'm sorry. This is just a shock, you know?"

"I know. I came here tonight to tell you, then you said all that amazing stuff, and I got sidetracked. The truth is, I do like you, Edward - a lot. And I want to be with you, and I wish that I would have stayed that morning."

"Or at least answer my texts," Edward says, and I can tell he's still sore about it.

There's no way to take it back, but if whatever is between Edward and me is to work long-term, I must come clean.

"You scare me," I blurt out.

Edward levels his gaze on me with a cocked eyebrow. "You scare the fuck out of me, Bruiser."

"But you don't understand. I've had a crush on you since we were kids, Edward."

He smirks. "I know."

"Of course you do," I laugh a little as my face gets flushed. "You probably think I only called you because I'm pregnant."

"But that's why you did call." Edward glances over my shoulder, and I turn to see the server heading our way. He raises his hand to stop them, so they turn on their heel and back off. He centers his focus on me again. "Answer me this honestly."

I tense. "Okay."

"If you weren't pregnant, would you have called me?"

My eyes cut away from him as I look at our entwined fingers and whisper, "No."

I watch for him to pull away, but he just breathes, "Fuck, man," instead.

In my panic, I ramble. "It's not because I didn't want more with you. It's because I did want more, and I was so scared that you saw this as just a one-night thing, and I couldn't bear it if I were right, so I did what I do best. I ran and avoided you, and I just…"

Edward reaches up and pinches my lips shut mid-rant. "Shh, honey. It's okay."

I still try to speak, but it comes out as a mumble. "I'm sorry."

Edward smiles gently and removes his fingers. "So what now?"

"I'm keeping the baby," I answer, but he doesn't say anything, so I continue, "If it's too much, you can bow out or be as involved as you want. If you don't want to be, you can walk, and I won't seek child support."

"Those are my only options?"

"You will not demand that I terminate this pregnancy."

Edward narrowed his eyes. "I would never ask you to do something like that."

I know the next question out of my mouth is a moot point, but I need to know where his heart lies. "What would you say if I wanted an abortion?"

There's an instant pain that flashes through his eyes. "I don't know. Would I want to be that guy who supports you and your decisions? Of course. But would I like you to choose differently?" Edward does the unthinkable and puts a hand on my belly. "I'm still game if you are."

I bite my lip to fight the tears in my eyes, but a few slip. My hand goes over his, and I nod. "Okay."

After Edward dropped me off at my apartment, he said the Seahawks had a game this upcoming Sunday, and he was flying out on Saturday evening. That gave us three days to reconnect and figure out how we would tell everyone. Breaking it to my brother was going to come sooner rather than later. He invited Edward over for dinner the following night. I panicked slightly, but Edward saw it as the perfect opportunity to tell Emmett. We needed to stay a united front. We figured he couldn't kill us both - even if he wanted to. Edward doesn't seem too worried about it, but there's a tick he does I picked up a long time ago. It's the knuckle crack. Whenever he or Emmett got in trouble or if Edward was nervous about something, he would do it a lot.

So, I am keeping an eye open for that.

The plan - or ambush, if you will - was simple. Edward arrives at Emmett's around seven in the evening, hopefully priming him before I get there, and thirty minutes later, I crash their little dinner soirée but act surprised that Edward's there. Then, after an hour or so, we'll break the news gently. That was the plan. It's not the best strategy, but it's a plan.

The part that has me tripped up is how I will show up 'accidentally.' Emmett and Rose live in Forks, a three-and-a-half-hour trip from my apartment in Seattle. I can't use the whole "I was in the neighborhood" bit, and my showing up uninvited would throw up some red flags.

I asked Edward how to get around this, and he said, "Well, there was no choice in the matter. Emmett's a hurdle that we have to get over."

Then he kissed me, and honestly, that was all the convincing I needed.

So, around four o'clock, I started driving. The road was lined with trees on both sides, and there wasn't much traffic. Of course, Edward was sending me texts and trying to distract me, but looking at my phone while driving was dangerous.

When I pull up to Emmett and Rose's house, it's close to eight. I sit in my car for a minute or two, reading Edward's texts and replying to a few. This man has got me all flustered and smiley. I don't know if I'll survive a relationship with him.

Ping. My phone alerts me to a text just sent by Edward.

November 8, 2022 - 7:47 pm.

Have you arrived yet?

I quickly reply that I'm outside. Two seconds later, there's another ping.

November 8, 2022 - 7:47 pm.

What are you wearing?

I roll my eyes and laugh. "Such a guy thing to say."

Getting out of my car, I walk up to the porch and pause at the door. Inside, I can hear the commotion of their two kids, and I smile to myself. I daydream about marrying Edward and having ten kids. That part of me hasn't changed. I like knowing that my niece and nephew, Sophia and Jackson, will have a baby cousin in seven months.

Wow, seven months.

I did the pregnancy calculator online, and it said I would be due June 15th of next year. That would make our baby a Gemini, just like Edward. It's wild how being a mama doesn't scare me. My family's reactions, especially my brother's, are what scare me and make me nauseous.

My phone pings again.

November 8, 2022 - 7:52 pm.

Will you hurry up?

"All right, all right," I say and ring the doorbell.

A moment later, Rose opens the door. "Bella!"

I wave. "Hey, Rose."

She's still as beautiful as ever. In high school, she was the hot cheerleader all the boys wanted, but my brother was her only choice. Now, as a woman in her late twenties, Rose looks like the typical Stepford wife: tall, blonde, with perfect nails, and dressed to the nines. The only thing different is attitude. She's the one who wears the pants in their relationship.

"Emmett didn't say you were coming over," Rose says, smiling at me warmly.

"Oh, he didn't invite me. I was at home but had nothing to eat, and figured I would come over," I say, briefly stepping up to the door threshold and hugging her.

"You drove four hours for our crappy food?" she asks, skeptical and with good reason.

"It only took me three and a half hours," I shrug. "I'm not interrupting anything, am I?"

"You're here because Edward's here, aren't you?"

Rose has known me since I was thirteen. Instead of obsessing over Taylor Lautner like all my friends were, I was in love with Edward. I wasn't so subtle about it, either. Rose witnessed my obsession firsthand. I doodled his name on my notebook: Edward Cullen Bella Swan, Mrs. Cullen, EC and BS forever, Edward Anthony Cullen, and several other versions. She even comforted me when he left for college. That was a bad time, and I thought it was the end of the world, but she never dismissed my feelings or told me to get over it.

One night, after my usual stalking of Edward's Facebook, I saw him with some blonde co-ed and burst into tears.

Rose found me in my room, rubbed my back, and said, "You're only fifteen, baby girl. Give yourselves both time to grow up. You'll find each other when the time is right."

I might have tried to bury my feelings for him, but those embers for Edward still burned as brightly.

But I had to keep up with the charade. "What? No way! Like I said, I was hungry, had nothing to eat, and knew you guys like to cook dinner. I had no idea Edward was here."

She rolls her eyes but opens the door wider for me to enter. "You're a terrible liar."

I laugh because she wasn't wrong. "I'll think of something better to tell Emmett."

"You do that."

"Moooooooooom!" Jackson calls from the second floor.

Rose places a hand on my shoulder. "They're in the living room."

"Thanks," I say.

Rose runs upstairs, and I walk toward the living room but stop when I hear Emmett and Edward talking. They don't know I'm here, and it wouldn't take much for me to spy - not spy, per se, but listen in and get a feel of the atmosphere so I know what I'm walking into. On the other hand, I almost feel guilty for disrespecting Edward by invading his private chats with my brother. Still, curiosity overpowers any moral superiority, and I stay hidden behind the wall in the hallway.

"Come on, Eddie. Don't hold out on me. I see you with these hot girls all the time. Who's the latest flavor? Is it Naomi?"

"Who?"

"Naomi Sinclair. That lingerie model. Rose showed me an article where she said you two went out a few weeks ago."

My heart sank because I remember reading that same article. Naomi - this tall, beautiful, and rich, perfect woman for Edward -described their first date at some fancy sushi restaurant, and he was such a gentleman. She even said they kissed but never described it in detail, but what she divulged was enough. When I read that, I binged on ice cream for two days. How could I even compare to a supermodel? Naomi is the type of partner Edward needs. Not me, some broke college student that he accidentally knocked up.

"Nah, man," Edward says. "She's using my name for publicity. We never dated."

Oh, thank goodness, I think, slacking a little against the wall.

"Then, if not her, who?" Emmett asks. "Because there's a girl. I can fucking see it, man."

"What are you talking about?"

"You forget that I've known you for fifteen years. Remember the last one that got you smiling like a goober?" Edward doesn't say anything, so Emmett continues, but I'm holding my breath, both eager and dreading hearing about some girl my Edward loved. "Well, I do. It was some ninth grader you hooked up with at my sister's dance."

There's an ache in my chest and a tightness in my lungs as the thought of my perfect memory of Edward and the song 'Mirrors' comes crashing down.

"I didn't say I hooked up with the girl, man," Edward says, flustered.

"What? Yes, you did! You said you danced with this awesome girl to that lame Timberlake song and then hooked up."

Wait, what did he say?

I'm racking my brain trying to remember if there was more than one Justin Timberlake song, but my mind draws a blank. Did Edward talk to any other girls there? None I can remember seeing, and I watched that boy like a hawk that night. All he did was stand by the punch bowl, looking bored and annoyed. When 'Mirrors' came on, all my friends were asked to dance but not me, and I sat there on the verge of tears until I saw a hand in front of me. It was Edward, and he smiled. "Come on, Bruiser, stop being so glum and dance with me."

My pulse races.

"I didn't say we hooked up. I said I danced with this cute girl and wanted to kiss her but chickened out."

"Pfft, whatever, man. That was a long time ago, but my point is, you haven't smiled like that since that girl. So, come on, tell me. Who is she?"

Edward laughs. "Get the fuck out of here."

"Go on, deny it, or be real with me and fess up."

Edward groans. I wish you could see him. He's probably running his hands through his hair, looking all sexy, and - nope, I can't think like that right now.

Focus, Belly.

"Fine! Okay? I'm seeing this girl. It's still new. We just reconnected after she ghosted me for two months."

"Wait, is this the girl you talked to me about?"

"Yes, and things between us are complicated. There are family issues. It may turn out to be a big mess."

"But you're really into this girl? Marriage material?"

Edward doesn't say anything, but Emmett responds with a gasp. "Jesus, man," he says. "This is serious."

Rose is coming down the stairs, and I can't be caught listening, but I can't let the guys know I'm here. It's too soon, and besides, I feel all hot and sweaty.

There's a guest bathroom to my right, and I rush inside to clean my face. It feels refreshing and cools me down. When I look in the mirror, I'm glowing. There's something else there, too, but I can't put my finger on it.

Is it happiness, being content?

Placing my hand on our baby, I smile lovingly. "We're going to be okay, little one. Mommy and Daddy have to make it through the night with your Uncle Emmett."

I don't even want to imagine what telling my parents will be like, but that's for another day, and definitely not tonight.

Throwing my shoulders back, I exit the bathroom and yell, "Hello, hello! Butthead, guess who's here? Your favorite sister!"

As I enter the living room, Edward and Emmett jump from their seats. One is stupid, seemingly surprised to see me, and the other is gorgeous with a knowing smirk on his perfect face.

"Who invited you?" Emmett asks.

"What? Since when do I need an invite to raid your refrigerator?" I say, throwing my arms around his massive shoulders and hugging him.

Emmett pats my back unenthusiastically. "That was a one-time invite, Bella. It's not outstanding. Especially when I have company."

I turn and take in Edward, acting all surprised, as if I'm not carrying his baby or anything.

"Edward Cullen?! Holy cannoli. I haven't seen you in ages. How the heck are you?"

Roughly pushing Emmett in his chest, I step past him to get to Edward. We hug warmly, but that fire of his touch burns me right to the bone. It's hard to hide my blush.

Edward whispers, "You're laying it on pretty thick, honey."

I pull away and turn to smile at my brother. It's big, cheesy, and way too fake. It's a huge giveaway, and he's more suspicious of me now.

"What the hell is going on?"

Crap! I think, and my face feels like it's on fire, probably looking beet red, as guilt overcomes me. Edward was right. I came in way too hot. My relationship with Emmett is a good one, but it's impossible to lie to him - or maybe I am just terrible at it, but regardless, the jig is up.

"Look, bro, I'm just going to come out with it since it concerns you," I say.

"Okay." Emmett keeps looking over at Edward, standing behind me, and trying to gauge his facial expressions. I can tell by the way Emmett isn't freaking out that Edward's poker face is ironclad. "What is it?"

"Maybe you should sit down," I say.

"Why in the fuck are you always so dramatic? Just tell me. What is it?" Emmett says, frustrated.

"Well, I...um, you see me and..." I stutter, my hands fidgeting as my eyes look everywhere but at my imposing brother.

"Wait!" He puts his hand up to stop my incoherent blathering. "Don't tell me. Let me guess. You're banging Edward?"

In his attempt to embarrass me, he's gone and hit the nail on the head. I stare at him with wide eyes. He looks at me and then at Edward, back to me again, and finally at Edward. Yet, no one moves, no one smiles, no one does anything, and the tension thickens.

Emmett chuckles. "I was kidding."

I grimace as it becomes highly uncomfortable, but then Edward grabs my hand, gently pulling me back into his space. Emmett sees this movement, and his eyes bulge out.

He points at your entwined fingers. "No, I said I was kidding. You can't be..."

Edward clears his throat and squeezes my hand. "Look, man, it just happened."

"It just happened? When?!" Emmett demands.

"Do you remember when I gave you those Seahawk tickets, but you gave them to Bella instead?"

Emmett nods slowly, but then everything clicks, and he becomes even more infuriated. "Are you telling me my sister is the girl you've had the best night of your life with?"

I spin around and smack Edward's chest - hard. "Eww. You told him?"

"I didn't give him details, but yeah, I told him. He's my best friend, honey."

"An ex-best friend, Edward. You can't just have sex with a guy's sister and expect things to be business as usual," Emmett fires off, taking a step toward us.

Edward's face drops as the possibility of not being friends with Emmett is the worst thing imaginable.

I spin around and punch Emmett in his arm. "Don't be a schmuck!"

"It's called being an asshole, you weird non-swearing little person!" Emmett says.

I glare. "Well, don't be that then!"

"How am I being an asshole? Edward is the one who went behind my back and fucked my sister."

Edward steps up and puts his hand out. "Come on, man. Don't be crude. That's your sister you're talking about."

"You're right, it is my sister. The same girl you called me months ago about. Do you remember that? I do." Emmett does a high-pitched voice to imitate Edward. "Man. This girl is so sexy, gorgeous, and amazing."

"Exactly, but did I once talk about her like..." Edward stops mid-sentence, and Emmett laughs.

"Like what? Come on, say it, dude. You see, Bella. Edward has been with many girls and would tell me everything. How good of a fuck..."

Edward pulls me behind him and stands chest-to-chest with Emmett, his fists now clenched at his sides. "I understand you're upset, but watch your mouth."

I was glad Edward stopped my brother when he did because hearing about all the women Edward slept with would destroy me.

"Are you serious right now, bro?" Emmett asks in disbelief.

"Don't ruin this for me," Edward says through clenched teeth.

I come charging from behind Edward and go toe to toe with my stupid loaf of a brother. "You know what, 'Em? You have no say in who I date, okay?"

"I do when he's my friend. Not to mention, he's too old for you."

"I'm twenty-two, and he's only four years older. Who's being dramatic now?"

"It doesn't matter what age you are! Edward is more mature Bella. He's experienced. You barely wash your clothes."

"What?" I scoff. "I wash my clothes."

Emmett waves me off. "Yeah, right. You get Mom or Alice to do it for you."

"No, I don't - and besides, what does that even matter? I'm with Edward, and that's that!"

Emmett and I are yelling into each other's faces and two seconds away from 'wet willies' and 'butt wedges.'

Only Edward steps in and places a hand between our chests to separate us.

"Look, we all need to calm down," Edward says.

I'm glaring at my brother, and he glares at me.

Emmett seethes. "If that's that, why did you even bother telling me?"

"Because you're important to us, man," Edward answers. "We're family."

"Really?" Emmett snorts. "You know, the next day when I called Bella and asked her how her night was, do you know what she said?"

Oh, no.

I'm trying to cover Emmett's mouth, but he dodges my efforts. I stomp my foot. "Shut up!"

But when he sees how badly I don't want this out, it only encourages him.

"What? You don't want Prince Charming to know you called him a "Boring Loser?"

Edward huffs out air and it's like Emmett punched him in the gut.

I face Edward and plead with my eyes for him to believe me. "That is not what I said. Emmett is embellishing. All I said is that I got bored of the game and left early."

The only loser was me.

Edward wants to take me at my word, but my reactions to Emmett's claim and my actions after we had sex make him second-guess - everything.

"That's not what she said, bro," Emmett says.

Just like that, my brother managed to belittle me. I'd hoped that in our twenties, he and I had moved on from sibling rivalry, but I guess not.

He's still a big bullie.

My emotions can't take it anymore, and I burst into tears. "I hate you!"

I push him hard on his chest and run outside to his front porch, but I don't get very far and collapse on the stoop.

Why did he tell Edward that? I know he doesn't want us together, but so much he's willing to hurt us both?

Besides, it was a huge lie.

I told him I left the game early because it was boring, but then I told him about meeting some guy at a bar. He asked, "Is it serious?" And all I said was, "Meh." How he put all those words together and came out with "Edward was a boring loser" was beyond me.

Emmett overreacted, and for what? Now, we couldn't even tell him we were having a baby together. It saddened me that my brother turned on Edward so quickly.

Fifteen years of friendship ruined because of me.

The door opens, and I turn to see Rose walking out.

I smile weakly at her as she sits beside me. "Hey."

"Sorry, I'm late," she says. "By the time I finished putting the kids to bed, you had left. I wish you would have told me first. I would've wrangled your brother in." She sighs heavily and hugs me close. "Bella, you know him. You can't just drop bombs and expect him to act rational."

I want to laugh, but I'm too upset.

"I love him," I admit.

Rose knows who I mean.

"Does he love you?"

"I don't think so. We're barely even a thing. We slept together once and went out on two dates."

Now, hearing it out loud, it sounds hopeless.

"Can I tell you a secret?" Rose whispers. I nod, sniffing up my snot and wiping the tears from my cheeks. "About a month ago, I overheard Edward and Emmett talking on the phone about you. I didn't realize it was about you then, but now, I know it was."

"What did they say?"

"Edward was upset. He met this girl that he really liked and she vanished on him. He didn't know what to do. He never felt that way about anyone, which scared him, but the thought of not being with her scared him more."

"Edward and I aren't just hooking up. There's something else."

Right then, Emmett comes flying out the door, and he has a phone pressed to his ear. Edward is following behind him with his hands shoved into his pockets, and he's shaking his head in disappointment.

"Yeah, he just told me, ma," Emmett says into the phone.

I jump up from the steps, furious with his audacity to call our mom. "What are you, four? You tattle on me because I'm dating your best friend? Really, butthead?"

Edward clears his throat, and I lock eyes with him. He looks guilty and apologetic. The call to my mom wasn't about us dating.

"Noooo," I say to him. "Please tell me you didn't."

Edward mouths, "I'm sorry."

My head falls into my hands as the poop storm called my life has blown into shore.

"Yeah, ma. She's right here." Emmett holds his phone out to me.

I snag it aggressively and glare at him, saying, "Weasel," under my breath.

The jerk looks smug as he folds his arms over his chest.

Closing my eyes briefly, I try to prepare myself for Renee. It takes a few prayers, but finally, I force a smile and aim to sound upbeat. "Hey, mom. What's up?"

"Well, your brother tells me you're pregnant. Is that true, Isabella Marie? Did you make me a grandma?"

AN: Emmett's being a schmuck right now, but he'll come around. I promise. Like Rose said, you can't drop bombs on him and expect him to be an adult about it.

Thanks for reading!

See you sooner than later!