.


Chapter 18


Edward


I jumped out of bed and listened to where the sudden noise was coming from.

What was it, and most importantly, where did it come from? Could it be possible that someone was on the island?

Brief panic ran through my body.

Especially now that Alice couldn't see Bella, that would be quite bad.

I ran around the house once, listening for any crackle.

Tracked all the smells.

But there was nothing to indicate that a stranger was on the island.

With all my might I concentrated again on the sounds coming from the house and then I heard not only Bella's quiet heartbeat, but very faintly a second one.

Oh my God, who was there with my angel?

As if struck by lightning, I ran to the bedroom. But there lay only Bella, and she slept very quietly. Faintly, I could hear another heartbeat. I went to the bed and lay down with my angel. I listened more closely, but when I got to her, it was gone. Now only Bella's steady heartbeat could be heard.

What did that mean?

Completely confused, I went into the living room and decided to quickly call Carlisle.

"Edward, what's wrong?" he asked me directly.

"From where? ..."

"Alice saw you running around the house, and you're pretty beat up. What's going on with you?"

"I don't. I think I'm losing my mind."

"What makes you think that?"

"Earlier in the bedroom, I was watching Bella sleep, and suddenly I faintly heard a second heartbeat. That's why I ran around the house right away."

"So, did you find anything?"

"No, nothing. And then I heard a second heartbeat from the bedroom. Only, when I was with Bella, it was suddenly gone."

"How can that be?"

"I can't tell you that."

"Edward, are you in the room with Bella now?"

"No, I'm in the living room. Why?"

"Concentrate and tell me what you hear now. "

Why would I do that? What was Carlisle up to? I'm sure he had a hunch and didn't want to tell me anything yet.

I focused on Bella and if I had a breath, it would have surely stopped me now.

"Edward! What do you hear?" he asked me almost in panic.

"Three heartbeats. Carlisle, what does that mean?"

"I can't answer that for you yet. I have a suspicion and I'm going to look into it right away. But one thing is for sure: the whole thing is very mysterious, and if my suspicions are confirmed, unique!"

"Keep me posted, I have to get back to Bella."

Then I hung up and quickly ran back to my angel.

When I got to the room, I heard only two heartbeats again, and when I got to the bed, only Bella's again.

Carlisle was right: the whole thing was very mysterious.

Completely exhausted, I lay down with Bella and snuggled up to her. She noticed my presence and pulled me tightly to her. She put her lips briefly on mine and gently breathed a "Good morning" into my ear.

"Good morning, my angel. Did you sleep well?"

"I have. Where have you been?"

"I was in the living room for a minute, talking to Carlisle on the phone."

"Any particular reason?" she asked me, curious as ever.

"No, we were just talking on the phone," I lied to her.

I couldn't possibly tell her about my imagination concerning the heartbeats.

"I'm going to ..."

Bella put her hand over her mouth and quickly ran to the bathroom.

It was a miracle that she hadn't tripped, as quickly as she had jumped up. A little later, I heard her throw up.

"Bella, are you okay?", I asked, stopping by the door.

After all, I didn't know if she would be okay with me standing next to her without asking. Bella was quite uncomfortable with such things, and I tried as best I could to respect her privacy.

"I'll be fine. Don't worry about it, I just felt a little sick."

Even if it was just a little in her opinion, she looked very bad. She was paler than me, and that was saying something. She did not make a healthy impression at all.

After brushing her teeth, she wanted to take a shower. But since she was still dizzy, she decided to do it later.

I carried her into the living room.

We agreed once again to have a DVD-day, which I was very happy about.

Unfortunately, Bella was not really better the rest of the day. She threw up a few more times. Unfortunately, she didn't keep the food down either. I forced her to drink something regularly - after all, her body needed a lot of liquid. In between, she would fall asleep briefly, but as soon as she got into a deep sleep, she had threw up again.

Bella felt terribly sorry for the whole thing.

She had apologized every time she came out of the bathroom.

That was so typical of my angel.

Not only Bella's condition made me despair, no, also the thing with the heartbeats. Whenever Bella was alone in a room, I could faintly hear a second and now and then a third. But when I got closer to Bella, they disappeared.

Could it be that Bella was pregnant?

No, it couldn't be.

Vampires could not beget children.

Or is it?


Bella


Today was really not my day. I had to throw up all the time.

Something was wrong with me. This persistent nausea was not normal. If you had eaten something bad, you would eventually feel better.

But unfortunately not for me.

If it was up to Edward, I should go to bed without showering for once today. He was afraid that I would get dizzy and then slip or something.

So I just pulled him into the shower with me.

At first he was really angry, because he thought I was sick and that would not do. But when I then had his best piece in his hand, he suddenly had a completely different opinion.

Even though I was a little dizzy, I still wanted to feel him deep inside me.

Fortunately, Edward had fulfilled this wish for me, only unfortunately my feeling of happiness after sex did not last long. I had to quickly detach myself from him, because I had to throw up again.

And how could it be otherwise, Edward had blamed himself.

As if it could be his fault that I was in such a bad way.

I decided to sit by the toilet for a while while Edward ran into the kitchen and made me some tea.

Then my eyes lingered on my little bag, which was lying by the sink.

Immediately I realized that I had not received something.

Oh my God, the 'Red Sea' was supposed to come today. Could it be that something else was coming?

Before I could think further, I felt so sick that I especially loved the toilet and was glad I was still sitting in front of it.

I somehow felt joy, but rather more panic.

How could this happen? Vampires could not produce children. Carlisle, I thought! I really needed to talk to him quickly, but I couldn't do that without Edward hearing. Should I tell Edward my suspicions? How would he react? Would he be happy? How could he be happy when I didn't know yet if I should be happy.

My hand stroked my belly as if by itself, and I had to smile.


Edward


Bella could not be convinced to go to bed without showering for once today. She took advantage of the fact that I did not want to let her go alone and had simply pulled me along. Then she also wanted sex, but that did not work in my opinion.

She had been vomiting all day, had not eaten anything, her body was weak.

When she then took my best piece in her hand and gently moved it up and down, everything was forgotten. She had once again managed to impose her will. After sex, Bella very quickly detached from me and threw up again.

It was all my fault. I should have stayed strong. After all, she was still human, and her body needed rest and recuperation.

She decided to stay with the toilet for now.

I went to the kitchen and made her some tea. While I was waiting for the kettle to finish, I heard a second heartbeat again from my angel. I quickly put the water and the tea bag in the teapot and went towards the bathroom.

What I saw then triggered strange feelings in me.

Bella sat there, still in front of the toilet, stroking her belly. Her eyes were shining again, and she looked happy, even if her face was still very pale.

For the first time, I also heard the second heartbeat when I sat down next to her.

"Edward. I don't know how, but I think we're having a baby."


Bella


I couldn't quite believe what I had just said to Edward. Something triggered feelings of happiness in me. Suddenly I felt different. My hand was still on my stomach, and I wondered if Edward could possibly hear anything yet.

"Can you hear anything?", I asked cautiously.

"Sometimes. Right now the heartbeat is gone again. When I came into the bathroom, it was clearly audible."

"Does that mean it's really our kid in there?"

At the same time I stroked my belly again and was very happy.

"I don't know, Bella."

Edward seemed so changed, something was different. Oh my god, what if he didn't want the baby?

"Are you happy?"

"Bella, vampires are dead and can't actually produce children. We don't know what's inside you. What's going to come out? I ..."

What was meant by what will come out of it? It would come out our child!

Anger rose in me, and I interrupted him very very angrily.

"How can you talk about our child like that, Edward? Get out, I want to be alone," I yelled at him.

Then I grabbed my robe, ran into the living room to our cell phone and dialed Carlisle's number.

Tears formed in my eyes and ran down my cheeks.

How could he not love this little thing inside me? No matter what it became, it was a part of both of us.

"Cullen."

"Carlisle, it's me, Bella. I really need your help."

"Are you feeling better yet? Are you still throwing up?"

"Yes, but it's already less. I now know the reason for my nausea."

"What is it? Did you eat something bad?"

"No, I didn't. Carlisle, I'm pregnant."

"Are you sure about that?" he asked, not at all surprised.

"This is me. I didn't get my period and I feel so different. Edward just told me that sometimes he can hear a heartbeat."

"He's already told me that, too."

"He knew before I did," I noted with disappointment.

"Edward was very worried this morning because he heard a second heartbeat near you. He then called me right away and told me about it. I figured it would indicate pregnancy, but I couldn't believe it. This is so ... unique, Bella. You should come home as soon as possible. We should get you checked out. I know a very good gynecologist, who is an old friend of mine to boot."

"That's good, then he won't tell the secret."

"Exactly. We have to be careful because we don't know what the child will be."

After these words from Carlisle, the tears flowed even more.

In the same way, Edward had spoken of his child.

"Bella, what's wrong?"

"Edward ...", I sobbed into the phone. "I … don't … think … he … wants … the … baby."

"I can't imagine that. He'll just be in shock. You've got to give him time. Everything will be fine."

"I hope you're right. I love him more than anything and I need him."

I could no longer hold back my tears, I simply could not.

I had sent him away. I'm sure he would be mad at me. He hated me for sure.

"Alice is taking care of everything concerning your return trip. We will give you all the data later. You have to take extra care of yourself now, Bella. Promise us that!"

I felt Edward's cold arms on my stomach.

He pulled me to him and led us to the couch. Then he lifted me up and sat us both down.

He whispered in my ear, "You are my life, Bella, and I am always here for you."

At these words I could not help it: I put my head against his chest and cried even more.

It's a wonder I still had fluid for it in my body.

Edward took the phone from my hand and said, "We promise, Carlisle. Get back to me when you have everything."

Not knowing what to say as an apology for my behavior, I stretched a bit and put my lips on his. I drove my tongue along his lips. Carefully I asked for admission, which he granted me without hesitation. During the kiss, which became more and more passionate, I turned around. I was now sitting on him with my legs spread. My desire to feel him inside me grew immeasurably. I moved in circular motions on Edward's lap, clearly feeling his arousal beneath me. Our lips parted only ever so briefly so that I could catch my breath. We moaned into each other's mouths, Edward's moan being more of a growl.

Edward stood up with me.

Automatically, I clutched him tighter with my legs. My hands rummaged in his hair. To my delight, we were quickly in the bedroom.

Edward gently laid me on the bed. In the meantime, I no longer had my bathrobe on. His boxers were gone with a jerk, and he was already lying on top of me. In his eyes I saw besides the desire also some sadness.

After sex, we lay next to each other in bed. I was rolled up in a blanket as usual, so I wasn't cold, and Edward was still naked next to me.

Something was different. He was different, and this sex was different.

"Bella, I'm so sorry," he interrupted the silence.

These words confused me a little.

"Sorry for what?"

"My behavior. How I reacted to the child, and the sex just now."

So I didn't imagine that it was different than usual.

"It's okay."

"Nothing is okay at all, my angel. I should have stayed strong right now. With the anger I feel right now, I could have hurt you."

"Not again," I said angrily and quickly stood up.

Unfortunately, a little too fast.

I got dizzy, nauseous, and then everything went black.

I could only feel his cold hands catching me.


At some point I woke up in our bed and felt somehow exhausted. My stomach growled, which was no wonder, since I had not eaten for an eternity. Slowly I crawled out of bed, because I finally did not want to fall over again.

Unfortunately, I was alone in the bedroom, which made me very sad.

Why wasn't he next to me like he usually was? Where was he?

As I walked toward the kitchen, I knew why he wasn't with me. He was making me something to eat, and it smelled heavenly.

"Good morning, my angel. How are you feeling?"

"Good morning. Thank you, good," I said cautiously, not knowing yet what his mood was.

"Our flight leaves in six hours. While you were sleeping, I packed everything. I'd suggest you eat something now, and then we'll head to the airport. Just to be safe, I packed you some food and a couple of plastic bags in case it comes back up."

With his last words, he had his crooked irresistible smile again, with which I had fallen in love at that time.

Edward came up to me, put his lips on mine and gave me a gentle kiss.

"I love you."

"I love you too, and thanks for breakfast."

He disappeared with our luggage and took it to the yacht. Then he scurried through the house and checked whether he had really packed everything. After his check in the bedroom, he came to me in the kitchen with a very cheeky grin.

"Did you hide this thing at the top of the closet on purpose?"

Looking at the part, which he held swinging in his hand, I felt how the blush rose once again in my face.

He had actually found this blue rag.

"Cute when you blush. Before your belly gets all huge, I want you to wear this thing one more time for me. You look so damn hot in that one."

A growl escaped him.

"Okay," was all I could bring myself to say.

If one could get any redder, I probably would now.

I could tell how hot Edward thought I was in this piece by the bulge in his pants, which made me laugh.

The most beautiful thing about the conversation just now was the fact that Edward wanted to continue making love to me. I was afraid after yesterday's sex that he would not touch me again until the birth.


It took us about three hours to get to the airport by yacht.

This time Edward couldn't stuff me with sleeping pills, because we didn't know what effects that would have on the baby. But even without pills, all I noticed of the trip home were Edward's cold arms carrying me. I had slept a lot all by myself.

At some point I noticed the voices of Carlisle and Alice. So we had to be back in Forks already.

Unfortunately, my eyes just wouldn't stay open.