AN: Okay, here's a quick disclaimer: I had a reviewer mention that there was no realism in this story when I'm writing about the NFL, so I want to put this out there: I will try to be as accurate to NFL as I can, but that's really not my goal. This story is purely fiction and not meant to be non-fiction documentary about the NFL. I'm twisting some facts/dates/outcomes of real games and whatnot to better support my vision of this story. I hope you can all look past that and try to enjoy this for the characters and their relationships.

Thank you, Brina! You've been putting up with my madness for 12 years! That's insane.

Thank you, May! You crack me up.

* All mistakes are mine.

Chapter Seven

-The Guest of Honor-

Twenty minutes later, I'm sitting in the kitchen with Alice and Edward. He made coffee for himself and her while I had juice. I know introducing him to her was a given, but I wanted it to be on my terms, and that didn't involve Alice showing up randomly and forcing an introduction. It's frustrating because, besides telling Edward about the baby, I haven't felt like I've had any control over what has happened so far.

First, Edward accidentally told my brother I was pregnant; my brother then ratted me out to our mom. My mom told my dad, who was furious at first, but he eventually calmed down enough to ask if we needed anything from him. Then, Alice knew about Edward and me being a couple by using her emergency key to bring me prenatal vitamins, Preggie Pop Drops, and Sparkling Mama Fizzelixir—supposed to help with my nausea. It was a sweet gesture, which is why Alice is so amazing, but her timing was the worst.

The past forty-eight hours have been a whirlwind, and I'm still playing catch-up.

As soon as the shock of seeing Edward wore off, Alice slipped into full best friend mode without hesitation. She didn't hold back in asking him questions; she wanted to know everything about him. She inquired about where he lived, what he drove, his family, and how often he worked. She even delved into his past relationships. Edward handled it all great. He was charming, funny, distractingly handsome, and answered her questions effortlessly.

I'm praying that the end is near, but of course, my best friend has one more ace up her sleeve.

"So, what are your intentions with Bella?"

"Are you serious?" I blurt out, narrowing my eyes at Alice briefly before turning to Edward and giving him a sympathetic grimace. "You don't have to answer that."

He pats my leg and smiles genuinely. "It's no problem," he says. Everything is so easy for him. "I won't hurt her if that's what you're asking."

Alice narrowed her eyes skeptically. She had been there through all the bad dates, worse relationships, and boys who were after one thing. I couldn't blame her for being wary; especially since she knew how deeply I loved Edward. If he hurt me, I was done.

"Are you planning on marrying her?"

Edward chokes on his coffee, and I turn bright red.

Alice stared at him unapologetically. "Well?"

"Okay, seriously, don't answer that!" I say, giving her that 'I will kill you' look.

Edward pulls himself together and gives me a sideways glance. I'm so embarrassed. We haven't had that talk yet. I would understand if marrying me was out of the question for him. The fact that I'm having his baby shouldn't force him to do something he wouldn't do otherwise.

Goodness! Why does Alice have to push him like that?

Edward says, "You know, Bella and I haven't really discussed the future of our relationship, so I'm going to pass on answering that - for now."

I expect Alice to tear into him and demand answers, but Edward has her wrapped around his finger, and she accepts it.

"Hmm, well, you two should get talking then." She hops up from her seat and washes her mug in the sink. "I've got to get to class."

I took the week off and didn't have classes until Monday. My professors allowed me to complete all my assignments via email, and they sent me video recordings of their lectures.

"You know what, I gotta go too." Edward washed out his mug, put it in the dishwasher, and then grabbed his jacket off the back of the couch. He kissed me on the lips and gave my ponytail two gentle tugs. "I'll talk to you later?"

"Okay," I whisper, pursing my lips and silently requesting another kiss. He chuckles but obliges me.

Edward turns to Alice. "It was nice meeting you."

Alice held out her hand, and he shook it. "Likewise," she says.

Edward waves goodbye and leaves. I stare at the door, already missing him. Alice waits a few more seconds before pouncing on me.

"Girl, he is so hot! And mazel tov. How are you walking right after riding that thing?"

I glare at her and pop a Preggie Drop into my mouth. "Don't you have a class to get to?"

Alice tilts her head to the side and wisely assesses my mood. "Wait, are you mad at me?"

"Kind of."

She asks, "Why?" genuinely confused.

"So many questions, Alice."

"How else can I get to know him?"

"You can get to know him over a period of time, not everything all at once in just five minutes. You need to chill."

"I need to chill?" She gestures towards herself. I nod. "Okay, fine," she says, "but in the future, when you have a gentleman caller staying over, text me or something. I don't know, leave a sock on the door. Just something to give me a heads-up. I was floundering, okay."

"Did you ask all those questions because you were nervous?"

"Well, duh. Edward Cullen is a football star, right?"

I shook my head. "He's not untouchable, Alice. Edward's a person just like anybody else."

She says, "You didn't tell me he was that gorgeous," fanning herself and winking at me.

I laugh. "It's impossible to stay mad." I shake my head. "Well, now you understand why I've been nothing but drooling goo," I add. "But did you have to bombard that poor man about marrying me?"

"You're having his baby. I think he needs to step up."

"Alice, do you not realize the circumstances surrounding our relationship? First of all, Edward was a one-night stand. If I had never gotten pregnant, Edward and I would have nothing. I would've never called him. He would've met some model or actress and gotten married. Anyway, my point is, take it easy on him, okay?"

Alice nods as if she understands, but I know her better than anyone. She has no intention of letting this go. Once she takes a breath and collects her thoughts, it's over.

"Okay, I'll give him time to adjust and court you, but he will have to marry you," she says.

I groan in frustration and throw up my hands. "Why? Why does he have to marry me?"

She scoffs and rolls her eyes. "You're just going to pretend you're not in love with this man?"

I shrug, as if my feelings don't matter. I'll be darn if Alice is right.

So, I have to downplay everything.

"What I felt for Edward was just a childhood crush. That's all. How could I truly love him? I knew nothing about him."

"If that were true, you wouldn't be keeping this baby, and you know it," Alice says, her voice growing more frantic as she tries to keep her composure. She puts on a forced smile. "So what are you doing then? Are you planning on raising this baby yourself?"

"No, Edward can be as involved as he wants; however, I won't force marriage on him."

"And where will you be if he meets some girl and marries her?"

A sharp pain rips through my heart. Why is it that when Alice speaks the truth aloud, it kills me a thousand times over? I'm trying not to sound as defeated and broken as I feel.

"Then, it would have been a good thing that I hadn't locked him into a marriage with me."

Alice sees right through my lie, but decides to let me have this delusion for a bit longer, and changes the subject.

She asks, "Did you tell your brother?"

It just now occurred to me that Alice knew about my dinner with Emmett, but she didn't know about his freaking out and telling my mom.

"Oh, we told him about seeing each other, but Edward spilled the beans on us having a baby."

Alice cringed. "Yeah? And how well did that go? Did he act like an asshole?"

It's unbelievable that I'm the only person who expected more from Emmett.

"He flipped out on me. He said I wouldn't be responsible, that I would drop out of school and become a single mom."

"First of all, you're a 4.0 student, graduating soon, and are too responsible - it's boring."

"I know!"

"Secondly, a single mom? So, he assumes that Edward will dip?"

"Oh, Emmett is counting on it. The worst part is that the narc called my mom and forced me into this awkward conversation."

"What a jerk! How did your mother take it?"

"She was much more understanding than butt-face, but I'm having dinner with her and Dad on Saturday. We'll be able to discuss things rationally."

Alice didn't look convinced. "I don't know," she says. "If you have a problem with me forcing marriage on you and Edward, how will you handle it when Charlie and Renee demand the same?"

That migraine from last night resurfaced, and I shoved my palms into my eyes. "If I don't deal with this head-on, it'll only get worse."

"What about Edward? Is he going with you?"

"I don't think he can make it. He flies out Saturday night."

"Did you ever consider rescheduling with your parents for Friday and then asking him?"

When the plans were made, I was distraught, not thinking clearly, and trying to get my mom off the phone. Later, Edward had a way of distracting me.

"Should I change it to Friday and ask him if he wants to go?"

"I would, only because if he's going to be in the baby's life, he's going to need to meet the grandparents."

"He's already familiar with Renee and Charlie."

"That's right. I keep forgetting that you've known Edward for a long time. How long have you known him?"

"Since I was seven."

"Do you actually remember meeting him?"

"It feels like it happened just yesterday."

She excitedly pours another cup of coffee and sits back down beside me. "Oooh, dish."

"Didn't you have a class to get to?"

"Yes, but it's one of my bullshit electives. I can always make it up. I need to hear this story."

"It was my first day of second grade. I was playing outside on the playground before the bell rang when some boys I knew from last year started teasing me. These two twerps, Tommy and Jackson. They stole my backpack and wouldn't give it back. They called me "Stinkey Bella" and told me my breath smelled like cat poo and that I probably ate cat poo for breakfast," I say, the memory so etched in my brain that I could recall features to get a witness sketch of those two boys.

"They probably had a crush on you."

I scoff, and Alice waves me on to continue. "Anyway," I say. "So, I'm trying to get my backpack, and they're making fun of me, and I keep saying that I didn't eat cat poop for breakfast. They made fun of me some more, tossing my bag back and forth between them. I was little for my age, so I got bullied a lot—and this was the first year without Emmett. He was in the school next door, and I was alone. Anyway, these two boys keep calling me names and saying, 'What's the matter, Stinkey Bella? Are you going to cry?'"

"Aww, Belly," Alice says with a frown and reaches over to hug me. "If I were there, I would have beaten their asses for you."

I laugh and patted her back. "I know you would have."

Alice asks, pulling away from the table and picking up her mug. "So, they were teasing you and keeping your backpack away. What happened next?"

"Well, I don't remember which one it was, but one of them held my bag over my head. I tried to jump to catch it, but I was too small and fell on my butt. It hurt so bad, and I was so frustrated that I started bawling my little eyes out. Both the boys laughed and pointed at me and taunted me in a sing-song voice, "Cry baby. Cry Baby." I couldn't see anymore because tears were pouring out of me. I was crying so hard I got the hiccups. But I started hearing Tommy and Jackson fighting with someone. They said things like, "Give us that bag back!" and "Who do you think you are?"

As I continued my story, Alice leaned closer and closer, drawn in by the suspense. "Who were they fighting with?"

"Edward," I say, smiling. "He saw them across the playground as he walked to junior high and ran to help me. That's the first time I saw him. He had my backpack and was towering over Tommy and Jackson. I had no idea who this boy was. They threatened to tell the teacher, and Edward said, 'Do it now before I pound your faces.' That's all it took for Tommy and Jackson to go running inside. This boy I had never seen before was my savior."

Alice gushed, "That's cute."

"Edward had been eleven then," I say.

His hair was much more bronze than now and had sadly darkened over the years. His eyes were still that beautiful shade of sage green. I remembered looking at him as he crouched to hand me a backpack and thinking he was a pretty boy. I always say it was when I was twelve that I first started seeing Edward in a not so brotherly way.

I fell in love with him at seven.

As I briefly explained what had happened next out loud to Alice, I relived the memory in vivid detail in my head.

Edward asked, "Are you okay?"

I wiped the tears from my eyes and sniffed. "I think so."

He helped me to my feet. "I'm Edward."

"I'm Isabella Marie Swan, but you can call me Bella. I'm seven years old, and I have an older brother, Emmett, and a kitten named Flurries."

Edward smiled. "Well, nice to meet you, Isabella Marie Swan, who goes by Bella, who's seven, has an older brother, Emmett, and a kitten named Flurries."

"Do you have any pets? I like cats. My brother has a snake. I hate that snake." I frowned. "It's mean."

Edward said, "No. My mom said I couldn't take my pets with me."

My seven-year-old heart went out to the boy. "That's sad," I said. "I'm sorry." I couldn't give him up Flurries.

Edward shrugged and glanced around. "It's okay," he said. "I can walk you to class if you'd like."

I nodded and pointed across the playground. "That's my brother over there."

Emmett jogged up and looked between Edward and me. "Bella, are you okay?"

"I'm okay. Edward got my backpack back from those mean boys."

"Oh, cool." Emmett gave a small head nod. "Hey, man. I haven't seen you before. Are you new here?"

"Yeah, I moved out here a couple of weeks ago. My name is Edward."

They don't shake hands; they stand there awkwardly.

"I'm Emmett. What grade are you in?"

"Seventh."

"Sweet, me too. Do you play basketball?"

"Sometimes. I was the quarterback on my team back home."

"That's perfect. We need a quarterback. Our last guy moved away. You should talk to Coach McGraw about putting you on the team."

Emmett slowly pulled him away, but at the last second, Edward turned back and smiled.

That was it. I was hooked.

"And they became best friends, and fifteen years later, here we are," I say to Alice, wrapping up the story in a perfect little bow.

"Wow! That's like some star-crossed lovers type of meet-cute," she says.

Rolling my eyes, I say, "Knowing who Edward is, he would've done that for anyone."

"I don't know, babe. This might be the story you tell your grandkids someday."

"Anyway, that was a long time ago, and I'm having a problem right now."

"Right," Alice said, getting into her best friend mode. "If you ask me, I think you should reschedule your meeting with your parents for tonight so you can get it over with and then call Edward and see if he wants to join you."

"That's such short notice," I complain, unsure.

"Maybe," she says, "but don't you want all of Thursday and Friday to be just you and Edward? You won't be able to relax until you get this over with."

I'm not sure whether it's the image of spending the next two days naked in bed with Edward that convinces me or if my best friend is really that good at talking me into things.

It's a naked Edward in bed. Most definitely.

I had my phone out, so I typed a quick message to my mom asking if we could change the dinner to tonight, and she replied quickly, saying that would be fine. As I brought up Edward's number, I hesitated momentarily before realizing there was a better option. I decided to text him instead.

Alice snatched my phone from me. "What the hell are you doing?" she asked.

"I was going to text him."

"No, you're absolutely not. The proper thing to do is to call," she says.

"But texting is easier," I complain.

Alice gave me that look. "You're being absurd."

"Fine! I'll call him later," I say, but she crossed her arms over her chest, giving me another look. She didn't trust that I would do it later. "Ugh, okay, okay. I'll do it now."

Alice smiled triumphantly; she had won this round.

When the phone rings, I feel anxious and uneasy. Edward has been gone for less than an hour; it's only been twenty-five minutes. How embarrassing! I bet he'll think I'm some needy chick.

The phone rang three times, and then he picked it up before the fourth ring. "Hey, Bruiser. What's up?"

I smiled in relief. Thank God he sounded happy to hear from me and not annoyed.

"Hey! I know we just saw each other, but I forgot to ask if you wanted to come to dinner with me tonight at my parents' house."

Edward answers after seven seconds. "You know what? That works out. I would love to." He pauses. "What time?"

"I'm thinking around seven or so. We can meet there if you want."

Living in Seattle has its advantages; it's three hours away from my family, which allows me to distance myself from the drama.

The bad thing about living in Seattle is that it's three hours away from my family, making traveling up there twice a week exhausting.

"No. That's silly. Let me pick you up. How about 3:45 this afternoon?"

"Okay, that sounds like a plan. Thank you, Edward, for being so great and everything."

"I care a lot about you, Bella. I hope you understand that."

"I'm starting to."

"All right, honey. I'll see you later."

I hung up the phone, and my smile span from ear to ear. The way Edward made me feel was both wonderful and dangerous.

Alice sees how deeply I'm involved. The playful tone she usually uses turns serious. "You guys need to have that talk. No more excuses."

"After dinner with my parents, I will talk to him."

I hoped that when the time came, I wouldn't chicken out.

My day goes by quickly. I listen to my professor's lectures, finish an essay, and clean my house a little. Of course, my energy isn't what it used to be, and by noon, I'm exhausted. So, I nap until one thirty, then shower and get ready for Edward and dinner with the folks. Now, if this were just me and my parents, I wouldn't do much with myself and wear my most comfortable sweatpants, but since Mr. Gorgeous is picking me up, I refuse to look like a slob. I curl my hair, moisturize my face, give it that dewy look, and apply a tinted berry lip gloss. I wear my best jeans and a royal blue date-night blouse that's form-fitting and has an open back. It's put-together, but I don't look like I'm trying too hard.

Edward arrived promptly at 3:45 p.m., looking impeccable as always. His hair was neatly combed back, revealing his striking green eyes. He wore a black Oxford cloth button-down shirt and dark gray chinos. As usual, he had rolled up his sleeves, exposing his muscular forearms and Hermès watch. My heart raced as I looked him up and down, wanting him desperately.

His eyes widen as he looks at me. He puts a hand over his heart. "Wow, you look amazing, honey."

"Thank you. You don't look too bad yourself. What are you trying to do, impress my parents?" I tease.

Edward steps back as I exit my apartment. "I need all the help I can get," he says.

I snorted as I locked my door. "Hardly," I say.

Edward places a hand on my lower back as we walk downstairs and out of the building. When we get to the front driveway, I stop suddenly as my eyes fall on Edward's car. My jaw drops. It's a red sports car that he bought two years ago. Sports Illustrated had interviewed him about his first major purchase for himself, and Edward said, and I quote: "I got myself a Ferrari. It's a 2016 488 GTB. The horsepower on that thing is insane. I like to go fast."

"Now, you're really trying to impress my parents," I say as he opens the passenger's side door for me.

The seats are tan pleated leather; the interior is rich and luxurious, and it still smells freshly new.

Edward leaned in, his face just inches from mine, and buckled my seat belt. "It's a three-hour drive. It'll be fun in this."

"Uh-huh," I say, and he laughs, closing my door and getting into his side.

Edward's eyes were on me as he started the engine, and the car roared to life. "The question I want to know is," he says, "am I impressing you?"

I glance around, a cheesy smile creeping up on my face. The way he shifted and accelerated made my heart race; it was the sexiest thing I had ever seen.

"Oh, yeah."

Edward grins. "Mission accomplished."

The drive with Edward was fun. He liked to go fast. That part was actually true. He was sometimes reckless with his speed, going up to 120 miles per hour. I held on tight to the door and car's dash. I would only relax when Edward placed a hand on my thigh. We whipped by cars and trees so fast that they looked like a multicolored blur. Edward hooked up his iPhone to the Bluetooth and we listened to his playlist. The nostalgic songs brought back memories, "Mirrors" being the obvious one, but when "Harlem Shake" came on, I burst out laughing.

Edward smiles. "You remember."

I bury my embarrassment in my hands. "How could I have forgotten?"

It was 2013, and Vine and YouTube were a huge deal, way before Instagram and TikTok. People were making videos of this song. Edward, Emmett, Rose, and I were a part of this trend and posted it online. The gist of it was this: Emmett was dressed as a red Power Ranger, he danced at the beginning of the song, but it was him slowly humping the air. When it got to the chorus, the rest of us jumped in, briefly pausing the camera so it looked like one effortless shot. It was complete chaos. Edward was wearing an alien suit, I was dressed like a pink Tella Tubby, and Rose was a sexy secretary, and we all danced like idiots while hitting each other with inflated balloon fruits.

Edward says proudly, "It's got over a million views."

I peeked over at him from between my fingers. "Probably because that Alien suit was so tight, it didn't leave much to the imagination, Edward."

He raised an eyebrow. "What did you say, Bruiser?"

My face heats up as I realize my slip. He will either think one or both of these things: 1) As a horny thirteen-year-old girl, I stared at his junk; or 2) I am responsible for those million views because I can't stop staring at his junk.

So, I decided to own it. "Well, it is an impressive piece of equipment you have there, Mr. Cullen. That's all I'm saying."

This time, Edward burst out laughing. "That's the best shit I've heard all day."

It's five past seven when we arrive at the Swan residence. It's a white two-story farmhouse with a bay window. My father bought this house after he and Renee got married. It's where I grew up, and all my childhood memories are deeply embedded in those four walls. After I moved away, I didn't particularly appreciate coming here because the past could be too painful, and I wanted to focus on my future. The house loomed over me now, looking menacing. My hands trembled, and my stomach rolled, bringing in a wave of unease. This whole dinner was starting to look like a bad idea, but it was too late. We were here. Oh, god. I wasn't ready.

Edward notices the change in my mood and shifts to cradle my face. "We don't have to do this tonight, honey. We can get back in the car and go anywhere you want."

The thought of spending the night alone with him is very tempting.

"But we drove all this way. What about my parents? They're expecting us."

"I know, but we can make up an excuse. I could say I had a flat tire or something. You decide what you want to tell them."

"We can't avoid them forever. How are you so calm about this? Aren't you terrified?"

Edward makes circular motions with his thumbs on my cheeks. "I just don't sweat the small stuff."

"You knocked up their only daughter, Edward. How is that small?"

"We're not teenagers and they'll see pretty quickly that I'm serious about taking care of you and the baby."

The sincerity in his voice knocks the wind out of me. It takes a second for me to recover, but I'm in awe of him and lean into his touch. "You have no fear, do you?"

"You worry more than I do. Come on, it's just one dinner. In and out. Are you ready?"

I took a deep breath and nodded. It had to be done. It was better to rip off the Band-Aid and deal with whatever came. "Let's go."

Edward drops his arms and firmly grips my hand; together, we step in sync toward the door. I'm the one chosen to ring the doorbell.

A few seconds later, good ol' Sheriff Charlie appeared. He was still wearing his Forks uniform and sporting the same mustache he's had since the 1990s.

"Bella!" My dad exclaims, looking confused. "And...Edward?" He glances at me, then back to Edward. I assume my dad was expecting someone else when Emmett told our mom, so he didn't mention Edward as the baby daddy.

"Hello, Mr. Swan. It's good to see you again, sir."

They shook firm hands.

"It's good to see you, Edward. It's been a while. How's the Seahawks treating you?"

"Really good. I had a few days off, but we're heading back out tomorrow night."

Wait, what? My head jerks up to look at Edward, but his gaze is fixed firmly on my father. I frown slightly because this is news to me. Edward had told me he was flying out on Saturday night, not Thursday. Why hadn't he mentioned that it changed during the three-hour drive here?

"How long are you expected to be gone?" my dad asks.

Edward stiffens and squeezes my hand. "We're getting close to the playoffs," he says. The next words he speaks crush me. "So, I won't have any real time off until mid-January."

There it is, mid-January. Edward is leaving, and he'll most likely miss Thanksgiving and Christmas, but besides all that, he's not going to be here for our baby's first doctor's appointment or ultrasound.

"Well, the Seahawks look good this year," Dad says. "Do you think they'll make it to the Super Bowl?"

As Edward opened his mouth to answer, I got frustrated and cut him off. "It's cold out here, guys," I say. "Can we discuss this inside?"

My dad barely has time to move out of the doorframe before I'm blowing past him. I don't wait for Edward to catch up; I storm to the kitchen. I'm upset that he didn't tell me. I looked forward to being naked in bed with him on Thursday and Friday. If I had known this was our last night together, I wouldn't have wasted a three-hour drive to have dinner with my parents - and the fact that he didn't tell me makes me question everything. I'm starting to doubt that this thing was ever going to work.

Edward "EC" Cullen is a famous football player. He's got obligations, millions of fans, and zero time to play house with me.

I'm sitting at the breakfast table, chugging down water but wishing it were vodka, when my mom finds me.

She sees the anguish and sadness on my face and comes over to rub my back. "Sweetie, you need to slow down. You'll make yourself sick."

I laughed humorlessly. "Trust me, Ma. I've been sick."

My mom watched as Charlie and Edward passed the kitchen and entered the dining room; her expression was the same one of confusion. Now I knew Emmett hadn't spilled the beans about Edward.

However, my mom catches on quickly. "Bella Marie, you and Edward?"

I nod in agreement.

"For how long?"

I stared at her like a deer in the headlights. The fear of what she might think paralyzed me. Where did I begin? As I said, Mom and Dad are conservative people. A one-night stand isn't fitting for their daughter. I had to lie – well, not lie, but expand the timeline to keep up with the charade. I pushed it back to the summer.

"He was jogging in the park, and I recognized him. We got to talking, and the next thing you know, ta-da! We're together and expecting a baby. My due date is in June."

"So, you two were together for how long before you got pregnant?" My mom tries to backtrack in her mind to about eight weeks ago.

The answer: Six hours. That doesn't sound great.

My face gets red because I have to lie to make the other lie make sense, and I hate lying to my parents. I'm terrible at it, and when someone catches me in a lie, I get defensive.

"You see, this is why I didn't want to tell you. I knew you would judge me. I'm a grown woman, not a kid."

"Young lady," my mom says, pulling back, offended, and giving me that look. "That's very rude to say. What have I judged you on?"

"Well, let's see," I say, listing all her reasons on my fingers, "Edward is Emmett's best friend. He's older than me. And all those women he's been linked to never last long - you can't trust a guy like that." Somehow, my insecurities about Edward come out. Even though he said he never dated them, I can't let it go. "I just didn't want to be lectured about how I rush into things and how I'm always dating the guy who is wrong for me."

"Hold on." Renee walked to the kitchen door and closed it for privacy.

My mind started reeling. Had I been too loud? What if Edward had heard me? Would he assume I didn't trust him? Oh, God. How awful would that be?

She then grabbed a piece of cake from the fridge and set it down with a fork in front of me.

It's a chocolate cake.

I raised a brow in question. This was so unlike her. "Really?" I ask. "Before dinner?" I add. "Whatever happened to that rule..."

"You're eating for two now. Besides, you looked like you could use something sweet. You seemed stressed."

Without hesitation, I grab the fork, scoop up a large portion, and stuff it into my mouth. "It's that obvious, huh?"

My mom sat down across from me. "We love you, Bella. We trust you, and we will support any decision you make, but be honest with us."

"I didn't think you would approve," I say with my mouth full.

"Why wouldn't we approve? We love Edward. If you had told us, your father and I would have been happy for you, but now...We feel blindsided."

"I didn't mean to spring this on you. I've only known that I'm pregnant since Monday. I wanted to tell you. But Emmett had to be a jerk and tell you first."

My mom sighs with what sounded like disappointment. "Your brother did call and apologize to me for that."

I drop the fork to the plate and gawk at her in disbelief. "He called you to apologize, but not me?"

"He wants to apologize to you in person, and that's why I invited him and Rosalie to dinner tonight."

"What?! Mom, how could you have done something like that?"

"He's your brother, and he feels awful about how he's acted. I figured we could all have a nice meal together."

The nausea rises again, and I don't want to have a repeat of last night. "I wish you had told me," I say, my voice rising. "I wouldn't have come! You ambushed me."

Renee folds her arms over her chest and wags her crossed leg. "Oh, so showing up with Edward isn't ambushing my father and me? All you had to do was make one phone call, Bella."

My dad chooses this moment to enter the kitchen. He seems confused as to why the door is closed, but he doesn't ask. "Emmet and Rosalie are here," he says. He doesn't read the room well and only focuses on the half-eaten chocolate cake in front of me. "Bella, you're going to spoil your dinner."

I push myself away from the table and stand. "I'm done anyway."

Leaving the kitchen, I followed the voices out into the next room. I saw Edward, Emmett, and Rosalie talking and sitting at the dining room table. I tried to listen for their two kids, but the upstairs was silent. They must have left Tyler and Jessica at home with a babysitter. As soon as I entered and became visible to them, they stopped mid-sentence, and all eyes looked at me. The atmosphere was uncomfortable, and there was still anger and resentment between Emmett and me. I had to be a grown-up and get through this evening without lashing out.

"Hey, Bruiser." Edward smiles at me in a way that makes my heart contract.

I smile back, but out of the corner of my eye, I see Emmett. He tries to play it cool, but I can see how much Edward's pet name gets to him. It wasn't something he liked when we were kids, either. So, I want to make him even more uncomfortable. If he doesn't want to see Edward and me together, I will show him what Edward and I look like as a couple...period.

"Hey, babe." I walk over to where Edward is sitting and lean in to kiss him.

I planned to give him a little peck, but the slightest taste ignited a need, and before I could stop myself, I deepened the kiss. It's not X-rated, a tad over PG-13, but it does the trick and makes Emmett uncomfortable. I hear Rosalie giggling in the background. When I pull away, Edward's green eyes gaze into mine, and a slight twinkle makes me gasp. He has a hand on my waist and squeezes, sending arousal to my core.

Edward asks, "What are you doing?"

"Just kissing my boyfriend."

He smirks and raises an eyebrow. "Boyfriend, huh?"

"Is that a problem?"

"I like it. You should introduce me to all of your friends that way."

I kiss him again, and our lips stayed pressed together as we grinned. "Okay," I say.

He whispers, "Your parents are coming. I think you should sit down."

Looking over my shoulder, I see my mom and dad coming in with the food. The smell hits first, then my mouth waters. I realize they cooked my favorite: spaghetti and homemade rolls. I take a seat next to Edward and scoot up to the table. He grabs the leg of the chair and yanks me to him until we're shoulder to shoulder. We are as close as we can be without him being inside me. The image of Edward's eyes looking up at me as he licks his girl into submission has me crossing my legs tightly together to ward off the throb.

"Ahem," Emmett forcefully clears his throat as he throws a daggering glance at Edward and me.

He's so consumed with his thoughts that he barely even notices when Rosalie hands him a roll.

Why does he act like Edward belongs to him? I doubt he's just being a protective brother.

I have to call him out on it.

"Take a picture, it'll last longer, Emmett."

Emmett replies, "That's very mature of you."

"If you have a problem, feel free to express it."

He snorts and waves me off. "I don't have a problem." The way he always dismisses me boils my blood. It's like I'm that bratty little sister who won't leave him alone.

"That's a lie, and you know it."

There were various reactions. Rosalie was trying to be discreet and not openly give me a thumbs up; Edward was trying to calm me down, and our parents acted appalled. Emmett was their golden child, and they always sided with him.

"Trust me, Bella," he growled. "I have no problem."

"Can you please stop glaring at me and my boyfriend then!"

That did it; I sat back and watched him come unglued.

"Boyfriend."

Edward shifts uncomfortably as the tension increases, but I can't back down. Emmett's stupid, smug face infuriates me.

"Did I stutter?"

He says, "That seems a little inappropriate, don't you think?"

"What do you mean?" I asks.

However, I had underestimated Emmett.

"What about your fiancé, huh? Since you two are going to be parents, shouldn't you be tying the knot? Or do you insist on embarrassing Mom and Dad?"

"Oh, my God! Are you serious? It'?t 2022, Emmett - not every person needs to get married just because they had a baby. Mom? Dad?"

I'm begging them to have my back for once.

"Okay, let's take the emotion down a notch. I don't care about sibling rivalry or disputes, but Emmett is right, Bella."

Well, that's disappointing and not surprising.

I smile and nod, though inwardly, I'm shaking with disbelief. "Dad."

Sitting up in his chair, my father shifts uncomfortably. "I would have to agree, too," he says. "You kids need to be more responsible now. There's a baby on the way, and getting married makes sense."

Edward still hasn't said anything, and when I look at him, he smiles weakly. Right then, I want to know what he's thinking. Is he going to quit before we even begin because of the pressure? That would kill me.

"So, what is this then, an intervention? You two plotted with Emmett to attack me and force marriage on us?" I fire back.

Edward whispers, "Honey..." as he takes my hand beneath the table and gently squeezes it.

My anger subsided, but only slightly.

"No, of course not, sweetheart. We understand that this relationship is still new."

Emmet interrupts our mother as he bursts into laughter. Rosalide tries to stop him, but he can't help but be immature. "New is an understatement."

Oh, no! My heart pounds with anxiety as Emmett prepares to tell our parents the truth; but Edward sits up straight and smiles.

"This is fantastic sauce, Mrs. Swan! What's your secret?"

My mom blushed and began listing off the ingredients she used, drawing attention away from Emmett.

Edward nudged my shoulder and winked.

I smile and duck my head, squeezing my thighs together even tighter.

Dinner continued in a quiet moment, allowing me to enjoy the food. But I knew Emmett was chomping at the bit.

I feel terrible for Edward. Even though he's used to my family, being harassed like this isn't fair. I should have left when Edward offered. We probably could have gone out for takeout, watched movies, and made love again.

The silence persisted for too long, and my mom decided it was up to her to break it.

"I want everyone seated at this table to know that you are all family—whether you're related by blood, have been friends for fifteen years, or have recently entered our lives. No one should be judged or demeaned for their choices. Is that understood?"

Edward, Emmett, Rosalie, and I all nod. For a moment, peace seems possible.

"So, Edward, dear," my mom says.

"Yes, ma'am."

I'm tense, anticipating the following words from her mouth might embarrass me.

"Usually, we would try to get to know Bella's boyfriends, but that doesn't apply to you."

He says with a low chuckle, "That's understandable."

"Please, don't misunderstand me. I have no issue with you and Bella being a couple and having children together."

Edward nods slowly. "Okay."

I'm having difficulty figuring out where my mother is going with this.

"My only concern is your level of commitment."

The bomb drops, and I'm horrified by her insult.

"Mom, you don't know anything about him," I say.

"It's okay, honey," Edward tries to calm me down, but the train has already left the station.

"No, babe. She says, "We don't judge," and then in her next breath judges you."

"I'm not judging anyone, sweetheart. I'm just telling you what I see from his lifestyle and the direction it's going."

"Oh, so you haven't seen Edward in years, but what you see in magazines, that must be him, right?"

Emmett wipes his mouth with his napkin and tosses it on his empty plate. "Well, I know him pretty well and agree with Mom. No offense, man, but you're not ready to be a husband or a father."

Rosalie slapped him on the head. "Emmett, you don't know that. Just because you knew someone at eighteen, that doesn't mean you know how they are now."

I'm glad Rosalie is here. At least she isn't ganging up on Edward and me like the rest of the family.

"Why do everyone assume that Edward will jump ship at the first opportunity?" I ask, my eyes narrowing in on my three family members.

"Not me," said Rose. "I saw this coming years ago."

That stops me short. "Really?" I ask, surprised. She nods. "We'll talk about that later."

Edward clears his throat, gaining everyone's attention. He sits up straight in his chair. "Trust me, I get where you're all coming from," he says. "My track record with women hasn't been the best - and if this were two to three years ago, I would agree. I wasn't faithful or committed to anything. But Bella is different."

His conviction and sincerity silenced the table. It was so quiet you could have heard a pin drop. Even Emmett remained silent. Edward tenderly rubbed his thumb across my hand and smiled. The warmth across my chest and face told me he felt it, too.

"Listen," I said with a heavy sigh, "I know this is a shock to everyone, but you have no idea how Edward and I feel or even how scared we are. You guys have the luxury of sitting back and judging whether we'll get married or how we'll raise this baby. But that's where it ends for you."

Edward puts an arm around my shoulder and pulls me close. "I care about you and this baby," he says. "I'm not going anywhere."

Charlie says, glancing between my mom and Emmett and smiling, "That's that."

"Oh, sweetie!" Renee jumps up from her seat, circles around to Edward, and pulls him into a hug. "I'm so happy for you two, I could burst."

The mood had changed from accusations and animosity to acceptance and happiness. It was overwhelming, and I should have felt amazing, but my stomach gurgled. Lately, my morning sickness had become an evening sickness, and it had sprung up on me out of nowhere – fast!

"Oh, no!" I grab a napkin and place it over my mouth as I stand up. "Excuse me."

Rushing out of the dining room, I ran upstairs to the guest bathroom. I barely made it in time as my dinner came back up. The worst part of the evening wasn't this, though; it was the judgment and uncouth behavior of my family. If I'd only known how they would behave, I wouldn't have come tonight. The only thing that saved me from never talking to them again was Edward. He was so patient and understanding with them – even when they flat-out called him a deadbeat father who was going to skirt responsibility. Edward never raised his voice or got offended, but just sat there and took it. How was this man even real? Did I even deserve him?

"Oh, God!" I groan as another round of convulsions ripped through my body.

I heave into the toilet and puke up what was left. By the time I lay back on the cold tile, I was exhausted. The night had been emotionally and physically draining. My gaze zeroed in on the ceiling. The flat white of the paint was hypnotic, and I zoned out.

It's pretty peaceful here.

However, it doesn't last long, as there's a knock on the bathroom door.

I sigh, "Go away."

Edward called out from behind the door. "Honey? Are you okay?" His concerned voice came through the muffled wood.

I shake my head as an answer, but don't say anything.

"Okay."

I laid there for another twenty minutes in silence. The nausea persisted, but I had nothing left to give, and it eventually faded. Honestly, I didn't know how much more I could take of this wasting away. There were only so many hours left with Edward before he left, and I'd be damned if I spent them in my parents' bathroom.

Rolling over, I got to my feet. The room spun momentarily, and I held onto the sink to get my bearings. Once steady, I washed my hands and face. Searching through the medicine cabinet, I found an unopened toothbrush and toothpaste to get the vomit taste and smell out of my mouth.

Staring back at my reflection, I frowned. Man, I looked awful. My eyes were bloodshot, my hair was wavy and dripping with sweat, and I had mascara smudged under my eyes. The only thing I could fix was the makeup, but there wasn't much else I could do.

I don't care.

My need to see Edward is stronger than my vanity.

When I opened the bathroom door, I nearly tripped over a lump and fell, but two strong hands grabbed my legs, keeping me upright. It startled me, and I yelped in surprise. I looked down and saw Edward sitting on the floor. He had been leaning against the bathroom door, but I hadn't realized it until now.

I say, "I thought you went back downstairs."

Edward smiles as he soothingly rubs his hands up and down my calves. "The only person I wanted to hang out with was right here."

"Aw, babe," I say as I sit on his lap and wrap my arms around his shoulders. I kiss him sweetly; to which he responds in kind. When I pull away, he's chuckling. "What?"

"I gotta say I'm relieved you brushed your teeth."

"Why did you kiss me when you believed there was a chance?"

"Because there's a hot chick on my lap kissing me. I'm a man, Bruiser. You take the chance."

"You're dumb," I tease, but kiss him again. This time, he's more eager. As I stop to catch my breath, a sudden sadness fills my heart, and my smile slips.

Edward frowns as he gently pushes the hair from my face and tucks it behind my ear. "What's wrong, honey?"

"Why didn't you tell me you were leaving tomorrow?"

Edward curses under his breath and looks away. I grab his chin and force him to look at me. He sighs heavily. "We were supposed to do all our stuff in Seattle, but the coach called me when I left your house this morning and said he wanted the team in Florida by Friday. I should have told you, but I was being a chicken shit."

"I know the feeling," I say. "When will you be back?"

"We have a home game on the 27th of this month, but unless we win that game, I will have only one day off. The rest of the week, we're doing position meetings and positional drills and going through our game prep. Then we'll go over situational stuff like Red Zone Offense and Defense."

I put my finger to his mouth, and he stopped talking. "So, you'll be pretty busy?"

He says, "I'm sorry." His head falls to my chest.

My fingers went into his hair, and I spoke softly, trying to keep the disappointment out of my voice. "You're going to miss everything. The first appointment, the ultrasound, and finding out whether it's a boy or a girl."

"I know, honey. If there was anything I could do..." The idea hits him, and his eyes light up; he smiles from ear to ear. "Unless..."

"Unless, what?"

"You come with me."

AN: Lions, tigers, and cliffhangers, oh my.