Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight.

Life in Chicago wasn't what I expected. The weather was different. People were different. Everything was different and adjusting to life with Bella was different as well. She was neat, too neat and too organized. She liked music going at all times while I needed silence. She was loud and boisterous. Her friends were nice with the exception of those that she had fucked. She was Bella and while at times she drove me nights I was more in love with her than what I had ever thought possible.

As time passed it was easy to ask her to marry me. I would have asked her the night I first arrived, but I knew Bella would have said no. She always told me no so when I finally asked her one night in her bakery while she decorated someone else's wedding cake I half expected her to say no. Instead, she said yes and then jumped in my arms while laughing.

Our wedding was simple and planned quickly. I was tired of her not being my wife. I wanted a claimed to her other than just as her boyfriend. I wanted her, no, needed her to be my wife so when Bella announced she wanted something fast I was all in agreement. It was on a rainy day on Forks that we married, forever changing both of our lives.

Marriage was perfect and perfectly trying at times. We were so different from each other, yet so similar at times. Communication was an issue for us, but that was nothing new. The only new thing was how hard we worked at trying to communicate with each other.

We were married two years when Bella ran into our apartment in tears, effectively scaring the shit out me as she clung to me crying. It was through hiccups and tears that she admitted that she was late. It took me more than a moment to figure out she was talking about her period as I held her sobbing.

"DO you think you're pregnant?" I asked her as she cried softly. Bella looked up at me with her tear filled eyes and shrugged nervously.

"I don't know," she whispered as she motioned towards the white bag she had tossed on the couch as she entered our home. It rested upon the beat up cushions like a time bomb waiting to explode.

It was ten minutes later we sat in the bathroom watching a plastic stick that Bella had peed like a magic eight ball for the answer over what our future held. When a second line appeared in the test window we knew everything was about to change for us.

There was fear when it came to Bella being pregnant. Would she be ok? Would we be ok? I wasn't sure about anything until my daughter was placed in my arms. I will never forget looking into her dark eyes as she looked at me so wide eyed and awake after being born. She was just so perfect and just us that it was breath taking. Bella was amazed over how much she looked like me, but when I looked at Lillie all I could see was her.

Once Lillie was born and we were officially settled back in Washington life took on an ease that I was surprised to find. It was easy being Lillie's father. It was easy being Bella's husband. It was easy living within my own skin for the most part even though there were days when I would think about the past and all that happened. It was always on those days that Bella remind me that I had to forgive myself, but there was more to it. I needed to say I was sorry to Siobhan and I was sorry. I was sorry over how I treated her. I was sorry that she believed me to be a better than what I was. I was sorry for a lot of things when it came to her.

It was with Bella's urging that I wrote her a letter. It was a simple letter. It was just me telling her that I was sorry for any mistreatment that she suffered from while with me. I told her that she was worth more than just a random sex and cruel words. I told her that I was happy beyond words and belief. I told her I hoped that she was that happy as well. I signed it simply Edward and then mailed it to her parents address knowing that eventually she would get it. The letter left me feeling better even though it did not absolve me of my sins.

"Baby, are you ready?" she called out to me as Bella waddled through the room announcing that she was getting dressed for tonight. She was large with her second pregnancy; much larger than what she had been with Lillie, not that I would ever tell her that. What I did tell her all time was that she was beautiful, more beautiful than when we first met, not that she ever believed me.

"I love you," I called out to her as I stopped her from moving past me by blocking her path. Her brown eyes met mine with a playful look that I knew too well. It was the same look that I fell in love with in the back of my mom's book store.

"I love you, too," she said with a soft blush that didn't seem even possible for her to blush since I had seen her in every position known to man as well as during the throes of childbirth. Truly, there was nothing left for her to be embarrassed about since I knew her body better than I knew my own.

Her eyes held a smoldering look that hinted at whatever naughty thought was passing through her mind as she took hold of my hand in hers.

"Lillie is napping," she said with a grin that made me smile as well since knew how horny she would get when she was pregnant. It was by far my most favorite side effect of her being pregnant.

"Follow me?" she asked with a teasing grin as she motioned towards our bedroom for a few moments of loving each other while our daughter slept.

"I'd follow you anywhere," I answered her honestly since it was only the truth. I would follow her anywhere and she knew it. I belonged wherever she was even though it took me time to realize that.

Bella's answering smile was both teasing and heart stopping as she pulled me close to her with a gentle tug so that she could kiss me, claiming me as hers as if it she ever needed to lay claim to me. I had always been hers and would always be hers.

"Come with me, my dear husband," she cooed teasingly as while brushing her lips against mine softly while causing me to groan happily.

"Well, since you asked so nicely," I teased as I gingerly helped maneuvered her down the hallway to our room to show her how much I loved her in the most sweetest way I knew how.

AN:

Thanks for reading! I'm not sure if there will be any further future outtake son this fic or not.

Until later…

Take care,

Mamasutra

xoxo