The night had passed quickly. We made love several times, occasionally having to stop to take care of Damien.

By the time our tiny son had finally decided he would stay up, we left the comfort of my room.

“Hello, baby,” I cooed.

I picked up my little boy and rocked him gently. He felt so tiny and breakable in my arms. I was afraid that any movement I might have made would hurt him.

Edward wrapped his arms around my waist and kissed the top of Damien’s head. I closed my eyes and rolled my head to the crook of his neck.

“I love you,” he murmured.

“I love you, too,”

Damien made a little whimper and gurgle noise. The bottles from my over night bag had long since run cold.

I handed Edward Damien and tugged on his hand to follow me downstairs. I opened the fridge to the massive collection of baby milk I had stored. It’s not like I would use a refrigerator for anything else.

I heated up the milk and used a thermometer to test the temperature. Dabbing it on my wrist wouldn’t work, considering I wouldn’t be able to tell the difference.

“I have to go to the doctors today,” I announced.

“Would you like me to go with you?” Edward asked.

“If you want to. It’s pretty boring, but they just have to check to see how Damien is adjusting to being at home. It’s almost pointless for me to go the doctors, considering the change and all.”

Edward nodded in agreement. “I’ll go with you,”
~
A few hours later, as we waited in the maternity ward, we watched as husbands brought their pregnant wives along to their appointments.

I could tell Edward was writhing in agony at the sight. He was moving uncomfortably and his eyes were flickering to every woman with a baby bump in sight.

“Would you stop fidgeting?” I asked.

“I can’t help it. I wish I hadn’t been such an idiot and was able to be here to take you to your appointment. Who took you in my place?”

“Stop blaming yourself, you didn’t know. Sometimes Angela would take me, that was only in the last few months.”

“Remind me to thank Angela.” he murmured.

Before I had a chance to answer, the nurse called my name. She eyed Edward for a moment before resuming her work.

“Dr. Rube will be right in,” she said.

I followed the familiar path to the room at the back of the hospital. Edward had the car-seat-carrier in one hand and mine in the other.

“Will they be examining you?” Edward asked.

“No, just the baby.”

Edward nodded. I figured he would be worried about our secret being revealed. There were ways to cover it up, but none that would be easy.

We sat in the blue plastic chairs that adorned the side of the room, mindlessly playing with our son.

“Good afternoon,” Dr. Rube greeted as he entered.

“Good afternoon,” both Edward and I greeted.

Dr. Rube looked between the two of us and did a double take. There was no doubt that Edward was the father. The two of them look almost like clones.

“How is he fairing with the conditions at home?” Dr. Rube asked.

“He’s fine, he slept through the night.”

“That’s good, very good. Many newborns don’t sleep very well the first month or so.”

“He seems situated and comfortable.” I answered.

Dr. Rube nodded and gave a sideways glance towards Edward, who looked at the floor. His eyes were half-lidded and I wondered what was wrong.

“Are you alright?” I asked low enough for only any vampires in the room to hear.

He shook his head infinitesimally, not removing his gaze from the ground.

“Just let me weigh him and record some things and you’ll be all set.”

I nodded and pulled my son from his carrier. Once Dr. Rube weighed and took some observation, we were on our way back through the waiting room.

“What happened back there?” I asked.

“His thoughts,” he answered cryptically.

“What about them?”

“You should have heard them. He kept calling me the deadbeat who got you knocked up and left. There were worse things, too.” he whispered.

I stopped on our way to the car. I pulled his face to meet mine, forcing his eyes to mine. His eyes were undulate with tears he could not release.

“It doesn’t matter what people say, or think for that matter. Since you’re back, people will talk. They’ve been talking since you left; it’s just something you have to get used to. I know I did.”

He still looked hurt and uncertain. I kissed him chastely and smiled at him. I was starting to be able to do that more freely, having him around me made me feel happy again in a way.

He smiled back, though it didn’t reach his eyes. It took me a while to get used to the rumors and mean things out of people’s mouths; I could only imagine what it must be like to have hear their thoughts, too.

“Since we’re already out, should we just go see everyone?” I asked on our way back to the car.

“If you think it’s okay,” Edward answered.

“It’s fine, can we stop at the pharmacy first? I need to pick up a prescription and some more diapers.”

“Of course,”

The car seemed to be slower than it used to be, I figured it would be because of the tiny baby in the back seat.

I sat beside Damien in the back seat and played with his tiny fist. I couldn’t help but stare at him, he was absolutely perfect.

Even if he had caused discord within my life, I was more than grateful for my son. As horrible as it sounds, I wouldn’t give him up if I had the choice to back then. Even foreknowing about Charlie’s death and Renée’s disownment.

I had yet to contact my distraught mother since she screamed at me after Charlie kicked me out. I knew she had qualms on the subject of marriage, but I didn’t think she would hate me so much for being pregnant.

“What are you thinking about?” Edward asked.

“My parents,”

He nodded, seemingly understanding my issues among them. I could tell by the look on his face that he felt it was his fault.

I hated that, it made me feel wretch.

“Don’t,” I started. “Please, don’t blame yourself.”

“Bella, how can I not? I’ve screwed everything up for you. You lost your family because of me; everyone in Forks harassed you because of me. How am I not supposed to feel guilty about what I’ve done? Guilt doesn’t make anything better, but I more than deserve it.”

“No, you don’t. You left for a reason you thought was plausible. You could have never known what would have happened to me. And I do have my family.”

As I finished, I look to Damien, then to Edward’s eyes in the rearview mirror. I had fully accepted them both as my family, even if Edward chose to leave again, he would be my family no matter what.

My train of thought was cut short as we pulled into the pharmacy parking lot. It looked to be dead inside, and all around for that matter.

I cringed as I noticed where we were.

“Port Angeles?” I whispered.

Edward looked perplexed. “Yeah, it’s along the way so I figured this would be alright. Is it?”

“Yes, it’s just; I guess coming here doesn’t serve fond memories for me.”

“Why?” he asked.

“It’s not important,” I said as I got out. “I’ll go in and get it; can you stay and watch him?”

Edward nodded to the question and watched as I went in. I saw him scowl before I entered the little store.

I saw the reason behind it immediately. I tried to avoid eye contact as I handed the slip forward and pretended to be digging through my purse for something.

I was fully aware of Lauren’s consternate glare on me. I didn’t want a confrontation, that was what I wanted to avoid more than anything.

“So, Bella,” Lauren spat. “What’s new with you?”

I knew what she was trying to do, play a game with me. I looked up at her, square in the eye. She looked taken aback for a moment, probably processing my new eye color.

She scowled and harrumphed her way back to pharmaceutical entrance. I sighed and pulled out my ID and insurance card.

Lauren rounded the corner and told me it wasn’t ready. I mentally rolled my eyes. Fait wasn’t done playing with me yet.

“So, what’s new?” se urged.

“Nothing really, how about you?” I answered politely.

“I’m sure there’s plenty going on, you had that baby right?”

“Yes,”

“Tell me about it.”

“A little boy, perfectly healthy, bronze hair and green eyes.” I stated.

“Green eyes?”

“Yes, green eyes.”

I was becoming wary of her game, I wanted to leave and see my son. I was reluctant to continue conversing with her.

“So have you, like, um, heard from the Cullen’s?” she asked.

I looked over the shelves of the store and spotted the almost forgotten diapers. I grabbed the first package I saw and returned to the counter.

“Yes, I have.”

“What’s going on there?” she asked as she rang up the diapers.

“It’s nothing much, some personal things.”

“Come on, Bella, you can dish with me.”

“Is it ready yet?”

Lauren, once again, harrumphed into the back room. This time returning with my prescription in hand.

After punching a few keys and scanning my lone item, she bagged my things without a word.

“See you, Bella, don’t be a stranger.” she said with a shecher cat grin.

I didn’t acknowledge her as I left the store in an angered demeanor. I could see Edward gripping the steering wheel as I came out.

I opened the door and threw the bag in before slipping into the back. Edward flew the car in reverse and peeled out of the parking lot.

Damien was woken and started to cry at the sudden movement and noise.

“Careful, there’s a baby in the car.” I nearly screeched.

“Sorry,” Edward muttered tight lipped.