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Chapter 24
Bella
Slowly but surely, I awoke from the land of dreams. I still kept my eyes closed and tried to remember.
Edward was a sweetheart.
I felt him snuggled up to me. But he was considerate and did not wake me.
Again and again I asked myself what this 'us' meant. It just wouldn't let me go.
After a few minutes Edward might not have been able to wait any longer until I opened my eyes on my own.
He breathed soft kisses on my neck up to my right ear.
"Good morning, my angel. I love you and I am so happy that you are with me again."
At his last words, a kind of panic ran through me.
What do you mean by 'are with me again'? So was all this not a dream after all? Was I really somewhere and had talked to our baby?
I quickly widened my eyes and looked at him questioningly.
"What happened? Where was I?"
"Nice greeting," Edward teased me.
"I'm sorry. Good morning to you, too. What happened?"
"You were kind of passed out. According to Carlisle and Victor, everything was fine, but you wouldn't wake up. I was very worried."
Edward sobbed tearlessly.
One could see the pain he felt in his eyes.
We held each other tightly, and I kept wondering what had happened.
'Mommy, don't worry. Everything is fine with us.'
Was that my Mousie again? It was still talking to me?
Edward suddenly looked at me with an undefinable look, scaring me a little.
"Bella? I think I'm starting to lose it."
"What's the matter? You're scaring me, Edward."
"I ... what is the best way to say this? I think our dwarf is talking to me. I can hear our baby."
After this sentence I detached myself from Edward and had to laugh out loud.
I couldn't help it; it wasn't a dream after all.
"Bella, why are you laughing?"
"I thought the same thing. Our Mousie also spoke to me when I was passed out. It told me 'we' were fine and that I needed to sleep."
"That's crazy. I was told by our dwarf that you'll wake up soon."
We both looked deep into each other's eyes, and I felt absolute love. As if by itself, our lips found each other, and we kissed gently and lovingly. Unfortunately, we could not deepen the kiss, because there was a knock at the door.
Before we said, 'Come in,' Edward asked me if I had heard our baby just then, too.
I smiled and nodded a yes.
"Come in," Edward said and quickly blew a kiss on my forehead.
"Sorry to interrupt. I heard Bella's voice and wanted to ask how she was doing and what she was in the mood for for dinner."
"Thank you, Esmé. I'm doing very well, and I'm starving."
As if on cue, my stomach growled and the three of us laughed heartily.
Esmé disappeared into the kitchen to cook something for me.
Edward lifted me up and carried me into the bathroom.
When I tried to protest, he just said, "Better safe than sorry."
Oh man, I hoped I was allowed to use my own feet for the rest of my pregnancy. But the way I assessed Edward, he would want to carry me at every opportunity from now on.
After the shower I went down to the others.
Esmé smiled and immediately prepared a plate of delicious food for me.
Emmett was sitting at the counter and stood up. Then he came toward me, and his gaze was fixed on the floor.
"Bella, I'm so sorry. Can you forgive me?"
"I'm glad to see you repent for once. It doesn't matter whether I forgive you or not. Next time you'll probably say something stupid like that again. You can't do otherwise."
All eyes in the room were on me. I did not care why.
One couldn't stay mad at Emmett for long, even if one wanted to. He is what he is, like a bull in a china store.
"That might be true about the saying," Emmett grinned cheekily. "Is there anything I can get for you. Do you have a wish, maybe?"
"Oh yeeaaahh. I've got an incredible craving for a jar of rolled herrings, vanilla creamsicles, and then strawberries with cream."
Emmett opened his mouth to say something.
I quickly interrupted him, "Save your stupid line and just get me the stuff."
He muttered an "okay" and dashed out of the kitchen.
Edward was still standing in the corner watching me. His smirk made my knees weak. I had to think about our kitchen, what we could do there now.
I felt the blush come to my face and became very embarrassed.
Edward, in the meantime, stood behind me and breathed into my ear, "I love it when your cheeks turn red. I'm going to miss it, my angel."
Esmé brought my arranged plate to the counter and wished me a good appetite.
She had chased Edward out of the kitchen so I wouldn't have a distraction while I ate. She said that my body desperately needed nourishment and no thoughts of sex.
Kind of embarrassing when your mom-in-law knew what you were thinking.
So I sat alone in the kitchen and enjoyed my saltimbocca with potatoes and salad.
Since my appetite was enormous, I took another plate.
Thank goodness Emmett didn't see it!
I'm sure he'd have another line in store.
After dinner, Edward and I cuddled on the couch in the living room. I lay with my head on his lap and enjoyed the way he stroked through my hair. I longed for our own four walls. I wanted to be alone with Edward, but I didn't know how to approach him about it. My thoughts tired me, and I dozed off a bit.
"Bella, my angel. Wake up. Emmett is here with your special requests. Shall I carry you to the kitchen?"
"Yes please," I muttered.
If I didn't have these food cravings, I would stay down.
Before Edward lowered me back down at the counter, he gave me a gentle kiss.
"Enjoy it. I'll be right back."
"Where are you going? Stay ... with me."
"I'll be right back. Carlisle just wants to talk about something for a minute."
"Okay."
Edward ran off, and I turned my attention to my jar of delicious, rolled herrings.
I opened the glass, not noticing Emmett's silly grin.
Carefully I took out a rolled herring and put it in my mouth with relish.
It was actually clear that Emmett once again could not keep his mouth shut.
But since I had expected it, I was able to react correctly for once, and he had not expected that.
"Oh man, Bella. That stinks terribly, and it looks like puke. How could anyone willingly eat something so gruesome?"
Before he had even finished the sentence, the glass was already in my hand, and I poured it in his direction.
Unfortunately, his reaction was very fast, but yet not quite so fast. On the right shoulder including upper arm I had caught him with the juice of the rolled herrings. His distorted facial expression was hilarious.
"Ugh. Now I have this shit on me. How could you."
A loud growl escaped him, and then he started to jump.
From that point on, everything happened pretty damn fast.
Carlisle and Edward were suddenly in the kitchen yelling at Emmett.
The latter heard nothing, because he was in a rage. Just before he could catch me, he bounced off me as if he had run into a wall. He fell back on the floor and looked at me with wide eyes.
I looked around because it was suddenly so quiet in the kitchen.
Then I noticed this gray veil around me. Cautiously, I reached for it, but couldn't get through.
Edward stood on the other side and reached for it, too. At first he couldn't get through, but when his hand touched the veil, it disappeared.
Everyone was still very quiet.
Victor interrupted this silence when he entered the room.
"Your baby is already very strong. Now we know for sure that this veil is a shield, and it can even protect Bella with it."
Edward held me in his arms and kissed me.
If we didn't have so many spectators around us, I would have almost lost myself in that kiss.
Fucking hormones.
Emmett angrily disappeared from the kitchen, as Rose had ordered him to take a shower.
Esmé cleaned up the mess from my attack on Emmett, and I felt guilty.
Whereby I had to say that it was only a small guilty conscience, because this action was worth it.
I smiled to myself and was proud of myself.
"Bella?", I then heard Victor, it sounded like he was far away.
"Yes."
"Where are you again with your thoughts?", Edward asked me.
"I was thinking about being proud of myself. Because I caught Emmett."
"Bella, that was very reckless. I don't even like to think what would have happened if Emmett had caught you. His thoughts ..."
Edward shook his head briefly.
"He was very angry."
"Calm down Edward, nothing happened. Victor, what did you want?"
I wanted to change the subject as quickly as possible, then I remembered that Victor wanted something. He was thus my salvation.
"Carlisle and I are on duty at the hospital this afternoon, and we'd like to check you over from top to bottom. We want to try to find out why you were unconscious for so long. We might also try to see if we can get some ultrasound pictures."
"Oh yeah, that would be fine. I'd love to show some to my parents. They also need to finally know they're going to be grandma and grandpa."
"Great, then I'd say you two get to the hospital around 4:00."
Victor turned and walked toward the stairs.
"See you later then, Victor."
Edward sat quietly next to me and just nodded.
Something was wrong with him from one minute to the next.
"Edward, what's wrong?"
Edward
After carrying Bella to the bathroom, I thought it would be better if I left her alone.
If she then stood naked in front of me, I would surely fall over her, and that would not be good. Her body looked weakened, and she didn't look particularly fit either.
In the kitchen, Esmé was already busy cooking.
Carlisle stood behind her and covered her neck with little kisses.
Jealousy ran through my body. I longed so much for Bella's body.
When Emmett entered the kitchen, the two quickly pulled apart.
Strange how the two of them reacted differently to Emmett and me. Dad probably didn't want to hear Emmett's stupid sayings.
I heard Bella's heartbeat slowly approaching and was overjoyed that she had arrived downstairs in one piece. I quickly tried to tell myself not to be too overly concerned. My angel didn't like that at all.
Esmé smiled and immediately prepared a plate with the food.
Emmett stood up and walked toward Bella with his eyes downcast. His mind was racing with different versions of apologies.
She must forgive me. She must not be angry with me.
"Bella, I'm so sorry. Can you forgive me?"
"I'm glad to see you repent for once. It doesn't matter whether I forgive you or not. probably say something stupid like that again. You can't do otherwise."
Everyone in the room looked at Bella and grinned.
My angel was absolutely right.
Emmett would never learn, and he certainly would never change.
"That might be true about the saying," Emmett said cheekily, grinning. "Is there anything I can get for you. Do you have a wish, maybe?"
Please, say yes. Please.
Emmett was really worried.
Why did he want Bella to forgive him so badly. That wouldn't last long anyway.
"Oh yeeaaahh. I've got an incredible craving for a jar of rolled herring, vanilla creamsicles, and then strawberries with cream."
This time, Emmett and I had the same thought.
Oh man, where does she eat it all.
I hope my angel doesn't blow up like a balloon. But even if it did, I would still love her more than anything.
I still stood rooted to the spot in the corner and smirked to myself.
When my eyes fell on Bella, I wished I could read her mind. Her cheeks were colored red, it looked incredibly sweet and also very seductive.
I quickly scurried behind her and gently breathed into her ear, "I love it when your cheeks turn red. I'm going to miss it, my angel."
Esmé put Bella's plate on the counter and ordered me out of the kitchen.
Their thoughts were first the hammer.
She felt that Bella desperately needed nourishment, not distractions that would lead to sex.
In the meantime, I made myself comfortable on the couch in the living room and surfed through the various TV programs.
It was about time that Bella and I disappeared back into our realm. There we would have a huge selection of DVDs.
When Bella finished eating, she snuggled up to me. She laid her head on my lap and I stroked her hair again and again.
Once again she had fallen asleep, a sign that her body was not yet fully fit.
Carlisle stopped by briefly to keep me company for a bit.
When Emmett returned with the errands, he got up. Before he left, he asked me to please stop by his office as soon as Bella woke up.
Emmett went straight to the kitchen with the items and put everything on the counter.
'Can you please wake Bella. I think she'd rather be woken up by you.'
Carefully I woke up my angel.
She was totally sleepy.
I felt bad that I had woken her up about the food. But who knows what was right with a pregnant woman and when. Before I dropped Bella off at the counter, I gave her a gentle kiss and hoped she wasn't mad at me. I used this opportunity immediately and wanted to quickly to Carlisle.
"Enjoy it. I'll be right back."
"Where are you going? Stay ... with me."
"I'll be right back. Carlisle just wants to talk about something for a minute."
"Okay."
'Don't worry, little brother. I'll be there to take care of her.'
Arriving at Carlisle's office, I knocked on the door.
"Come on in, Edward."
"What's going on? Why did you want to talk to me?"
"It's about Bella. Victor and I, or rather Victor as Bella's gynecologist, think that it would be better not to have sexual intercourse for the next fortnight."
"What? Are you trying to kill us?" I said a little too loudly.
My desire for Bella's body just ran away with me.
"Edward, calm down. That long fainting spell was not normal."
I heard Emmett swearing from the kitchen. I focused on his thoughts, and I didn't like them at all. I jumped up with great force and ran as fast as I could to the kitchen.
Emmett's growl echoed in my ears, and it scared me not to be able to intervene in time. In his mind, I saw him leaping toward Bella.
When I turned the corner, I stopped with my mouth open and couldn't believe what I was seeing.
Carlisle must have followed me, since he was close behind.
Both of us were yelling at Emmett, trying to stop him.
Bella stood very still, and Emmett bounced just in front of her.
It looked like there was something there that he had jumped against. But I saw nothing.
Holy crap, what was that. I feel like I've jumped into a wall, Emmett thought.
Slowly I went to my angel. Carefully, I reached for her. I wanted to know what it was that stopped Emmett. Briefly I felt a kind of wall, but then it was gone, and I could get to my angel.
"Your baby is already very strong. Now we know for sure that this veil is a shield, and it can even protect Bella with it."
I held Bella tightly in my arms and kissed her. Unfortunately, we could not deepen this kiss, because we were still being watched by everyone.
What's that horrible smell? Man, it's disgusting. Oh my god, my darling smells so bad. He really needs a shower. Rosalie's thoughts.
"Victor, what did you mean about the veil? I didn't see anything."
"Neither do I," Carlisle then replied.
"Maybe I can only see it because I can see the gift of the unborn. But Bella saw it, too. Didn't you, Bella?"
"Bella?"
"Where are you again with your thoughts?"
"I was thinking about being proud of myself. Because I caught Emmett."
'We'll talk about the veil another time. Bella seems so happy right now.'
With a nod, I acknowledged Victor's thoughts.
I couldn't understand why Bella was happy right now. How could she be so careless? Emmett was so angry.
"Bella, that was very reckless. I don't even like to think what would have happened if Emmett had caught you. His thoughts ..."
I shook my head at the thought.
I couldn't possibly tell her that.
"He was very angry."
Emmett could have seriously injured, if not killed, her and our baby. That anger in him. He had totally forgotten that Bella was still human, and he hadn't even thought about the baby. How could he have forgotten all that?
"Calm down Edward, nothing happened. Victor, what did you want?"
Typical my angel. If she didn't want to discuss something further, she quickly changed the subject. But maybe it was better that way.
"Carlisle and I are on duty at the hospital this afternoon, and we'd like to check you over from top to bottom. We want to try to find out why you were unconscious for so long. We might also try to see if we can get some ultrasound pictures."
"Oh yeah, that would be fine. I'd love to show some to my parents. They also need to finally know they're going to be grandma and grandpa."
"Great, then I'd say you two get to the hospital around 4:00."
"See you later then, Victor."
I didn't hear anything about the rest of the conversation. I was completely absorbed in my thoughts.
The whole thing with Emmett was getting to me more than I really wanted to. Again and again I had images in my mind's eye of him pouncing on Bella.
"Edward, what's wrong?", Bella asked me.
She knew me too well to fool her. She could never know Emmett's thoughts, and I desperately needed to have a conversation with that ass of a brother.
This time I tried to quickly change the subject, and I told Bella about Carlisle's request.
She, too, was not thrilled with the fourteen-day sex ban.