Seattle General - Chapter 23

Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight, but I'm grateful to Stephenie Meyer for her dream.

I heard his breath intake sharply and then his hand gained purchase in my hair…

EPOV

What the hell? As the lips landed on my neck, my hand instinctively reached into the mass of hair and pulled it backward.

"Tanya!" I exclaimed, her name almost a curse word coming out of my mouth. "What the hell are you doing here?" I shook her off and backed up in my chair quickly to get away from her.

"Honey, I thought you'd be happy to see me!" she said.

I sighed and stood up, shutting off my phone. "No, I'm not happy to see you. In fact, the only way I'd be happy about you is if I never saw you again. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go see to my wife and daughter."

Tanya eyed me and stated flatly, "Well, well, Eddie, you really do work fast. I've been gone such a short time and already you have a wife and daughter?"

I took her elbow as I escorted her almost forcibly from my office. I needed to get to Bella and Sweetpea as quickly as possible based on the voice mail I just listened to. I saw Mrs. Cope had returned. She said one word, "Bella." I told her briefly I had just listened to her voice mail and that's where I was headed now.

In the lobby area, I told Tanya in a low voice, "You need to get out of this hospital and never return. I don't ever want you back in my life again."

"Well, Edward, that's going to be a little difficult since I just got hired to work here again," she said.

I turned on my heel and left her standing there in the lobby. I didn't really care. I had bigger issues to deal with than some whore nurse at the moment. My wife and daughter needed me.

After what seemed like a very long time, I finally arrived in the emergency room and found Bella and Sweetpea. "Bella!" I said, taking her into my arms.

That's when she fell apart. She wept into my lab coat and I didn't care. I stroked her hair with one hand as I held her with my other arm as she calmed herself and told me what happened. I told her I was sorry I couldn't get to her sooner and gave her a condensed version of what was happening that morning. I didn't tell her about Tanya – I'd save that for a later time.

Sweetpea seemed to be out of it a bit as they gave her some medication so they could set her arm, then cast it for her. She said sleepily, "Hi Daddy."

I reached down and held her good hand and said, "Hi Sweetpea. Sorry Daddy wasn't able to be here sooner. I love you."

"Love you too, Daddy. But Mama was here to take care of me." She smiled dreamily up at Bella.

I looked at Bella. She said quietly that Sweetpea had been calling her that since she got to the school to pick her up.

The doctor who had been treating Sweetpea came in to give us a progress report and told us he was releasing her. I called Mrs. Cope quickly to see what was on my schedule and she told me I was free until 1 p.m. I told her I was taking my favorite girls out for lunch.

We went to a popular restaurant across the street from the hospital. We got there a little before the normal lunch crowd, so we didn't have to wait long for our food. Sweetpea didn't eat a lot as she was still tired and wasn't having much luck trying to navigate having only one good arm. She'd have to learn to work around her cast for the next six weeks. I noticed Bella didn't eat much of her lunch either.

I put my arm around the back of her chair and said, "Are you feeling ok, baby?"

"I'm feeling better than I was this morning," she replied.

"What happened?" my voice was full of concern. Apparently while my life was full of firing asshat doctors and returning whore nurses, Bella had her own set of troubles.

She responded, "I think it's just the medication change that we talked about a couple weeks ago. I'm sure it will pass."

"Baby, you shouldn't still be having side effects from medication you stopped a couple weeks ago. Are you sure you don't need to be checked out?"

"No," she assured me, "it could've just been something I ate, too. It's probably nothing." She gave me a sweet smile and the subject was dropped for now.

Bella returned me to the hospital before she continuing home with Sweetpea, who was already asleep in her car seat. She said she may go home and get a nap in with our daughter as well. This was so unlike Bella that I was concerned, although I didn't say anything to her. Normally she was full of energy and never thought about taking a nap in the daytime. And she certainly hadn't mentioned getting sick before unless she had the flu or something viral. Hmmm…

Before leaving for the day, I stopped at the pharmacy and picked up a home pregnancy test. It was just a theory. I could be wrong, but I was hoping I was right. I wanted us to have a baby. I know both of us loved Sweetpea with all our hearts, but I wanted a baby created by Bella and me – and Sweetpea wanted a baby brother! And you already knew she had me wrapped around her little finger – so how can I not act on her wishes? I didn't know if we could produce a boy, but we could certainly attempt over and over and over again. We may have to buy a bigger house eventually, but that was ok, too. I was certain Bella and I would have beautiful children.

When I arrived home, my lovely wife and daughter had dinner ready for me. They apologized for the lack of a craft project or fancy dessert. Their naps took longer than originally thought. I told them it really wasn't necessary – I was just glad to be at home with them and glad to see they were well-rested.

Later, after Sweetpea was tucked into bed for the night and Bella and I were watching television on the couch, we had freedom to talk.

I started, "Baby, there's something I need to tell you."

Concern clouded her eyes as she reached up to touch my jaw. She asked, "What is it?"

"Well," I gusted out a deep breath, "before I could get down to you in the ER, Tanya was in my office."

"What did she want?"

"I'm never going to keep secrets from you, baby. She kissed me on the neck and I immediately pushed her away. I told her I didn't ever want her touching me. I also told her I'd be happy never seeing her again. Then she told me she'd been hired to work at the hospital once again," I said.

"Oh," Bella said, her voice small.

"Baby," I said as I held her in my arms, "I don't want her. I only want you. You are my life now and forever." I kissed the tip of her nose.

She looked uncertain and then said, "Can I still go kick her ass?"

I laughed heartily as I hugged her to my chest and said, "Of course! Anytime you want. I'll find out her schedule so you can do just that!" I was sincerely hoping I never had to see the whore again, but that's a whole different story.

We went to bed soon after and snuggled into each other's arms.

BPOV

When Edward handed me the home pregnancy test the next morning, I looked at him incredulously. Was he kidding? I agreed to go take it, just to make him happy.

And how undignified was this, I thought to myself…peeing on a stick? Augh! Can it get any worse? Well, yes, probably if I actually was pregnant, it could probably get a lot worse by the time I was finished. I told Edward I'd take the test and he could check the results. He was the doctor – all that medical training should be good for something. I knew those home pregnancy tests could be read by amateurs, but it made him happy – and I wanted him to be the first to know. I'd be glad to know actually being pregnant was causing my stomach to churn later in the mornings and not just a bad medication reaction. I loved being Edward's wife – and to be a mother to his children would only increase my love! I loved Sweetpea completely – but adding more children to the mix would make our lives even better.

I went into the kitchen to start making breakfast. Edward was going to get ready and then wake up Sweetpea. This was his last day of work before we'd leave for the long weekend to go see Charlie and Sue for the Memorial Day weekend. I'd need to get some things packed before Sweetpea and I went to lunch with Alice. We were going to keep her home for the remainder of the school year due to her arm being in a cast. She'd be free to start first grade with a clean slate.

Soon, I heard Edward and Sweetpea at the table. They were laughing about something. I brought in our breakfast. At my place, I saw the home pregnancy test, adorned with a blue bow, sloppily tied around it. Holy crap! I knew right away what that meant – it was positive – and Sweetpea was getting a baby brother or sister. Sweetpea no doubt showed Edward where the blue ribbon was in the craft room. My eyes overflowed with happy tears immediately as I sat the dishes down on the table.

"Momma," Sweetpea said, "don't cry! We're going to have a baby brother for me!"

I couldn't help but laugh and cry at the same time as Edward came around the table and held me in his arms. "Congratulations, baby! You're having my baby!" Damn man – has to make a stupid joke at a time like this! I just had to laugh and cry some more. Fucking raging hormones.

After breakfast, we got Edward off to work. Then Sweetpea and I packed our bags to go to Forks. She was excited about seeing Grandpa and Grandma again! I was excited to see them as well – and now we had some news to share with them about our family expanding.

It was great to see Alice at lunch. She was looking adorably pregnant, just as I predicted. She was sorry to see Sweetpea's arm in a cast, but was thrilled to see her in general. I was hoping Alice was having a girl – she would spoil her silly!

Sweetpea opened the conversation, "Auntie Alice, guess what?"

Alice grinned over and her and said, "What, Sweetpea?"

She crowed, "Momma's having a baby!"

Alice looked from Sweetpea to me quickly. I nodded in the affirmative. I continued, "I stopped taking the pill a couple of weeks ago. I've been getting sick a few days and then tired. Edward brought home a pregnancy test. It came up positive."

Alice squealed like only she can and hugged both Sweetpea and me. "Oh, Bella, this will be so great! You'll love being pregnant! Then our kids can grow up together, along with Sweetpea!"

I did have to agree with her on that. Thank goodness for best friends who were near you in child-bearing age. We had a great time at lunch! I told Alice we were going to Forks for the long weekend as soon as Edward was off work for the day.

After lunch, we stopped by the hospital so I could get a blood test to confirm the pregnancy. Anything involving needles was definitely not my thing. I kept my eyes trained on Sweetpea while they were withdrawing the blood sample. We sat in a waiting room while the results were determined.

Soon, Carlisle came striding into the room with Edward. I was surprised to see both of them.

Edward said with a smile as he hugged me, "Hi baby! Yes, you truly are pregnant! I kind of already asked Carlisle if he'd be your obstetrics doctor since he's the only one I'd trust around here with that."

I just laughed and had to agree. Who else would be more perfect? Certainly no one that Edward would need to get jealous about every time I had to have an examination. Carlisle handed me the prenatal vitamins he'd been holding in his hand.

We kissed Edward goodbye then and made our way back home. He was following us home soon afterward so we could get an early start on our weekend away.

Our weekend with Charlie and Sue was a relaxing time. Edward and I let Sweetpea stay in my old room and we rented a room at a nearby motel. We were at their house for all waking hours and they loved having her there. It was sweet to let Sweetpea have some special time with Grandpa and Grandma. And we got to have some sexy time of our own without little ears hearing.

After a particularly arduous lovemaking session on Saturday night, as my hands roamed over Edward's chest and his fingers skimmed over the skin on my back, he asked me, "Baby, are you nervous about the changes coming into our lives?"

"Well, I have to admit, I am a little nervous. I've never had a baby before – so that scares me. But I think it will only increase the love we already have," I replied.

"Of course it will, baby. Because we are Edward and Bella – an epic love story if there ever was one."

I just giggled as I snuggled closer to him. My husband was a total sap and romantic and I loved him for it. I couldn't believe how full my life was with him in it. He brought out the very best in me. I was grateful for Sweetpea and how well she adjusted into our lives. I was looking forward to this new little one to continue on our love story.