Chapter Twenty-One: Correct Yourself

Bella's POV

It had been a long weekend. By the time our house was finally empty, I'd had a headache since Thanksgiving. My father was grouchy about everything no matter what I told him and my mother wouldn't stop insisting we talk wedding details.

I'd never wanted to elope more in my life.

"Wow," I sighed as I crawled under Carlisle's arm as we lay in bed together that night. "That was...interesting."

"Yeah." He agreed. "I mean, my parents didn't love Esme's parents, but I'd never seen my father argue with anyone as much as he argued with Charlie."

"I want them to get along, Carlisle." I whispered. "I don't want to have to choose who we spend the holidays with." I told him. "I want to be able to invite all of them to Thanksgiving and Christmas."

"My parents are just stubborn, but they'll come around."

"And mine?" I asked.

"It's hard for them." He shrugged. "You're their only daughter. And, they didn't exactly find out in the easiest of ways."

"Yeah, but still."

"Somehow, someway, they'll get over it." He told me. "Someday they'll realize that the best thing they can do for you is let you go."

"I just want my dad to let it go and accept us." I told him, tears forming in my eyes. "I wanna be able to see him a lot and I don't want him resenting our child."

"Hey," He said as he hugged me tighter to him. "No one can resist their grandchild."

"Charlie's stubborn." I told him. "He doesn't like you...he won't like the baby we have together."

"Give him some time." He said. "You might have been able to move on from what happened to you last year and while you were in Forks, but he hasn't yet."

"What?"

"He thinks he should have been able to protect you and he feels guilty." He explained. "To him, I'm just another sleezy jerk who's using you for my own personal gain."

"Why hasn't he told me this?"

"He wants you to believe he's a strong guy who wants to be in control." He shrugged. "My dad was the same way when I was your age."

"What happened?"

"I grew up, got married, and had a child." He shrugged. "He had to realize that I needed to grow apart from him. And, he did. He loved Esme and Edward is his entire world."

"Which is why he doesn't like me?"

"He likes you a lot more than you think." He laughed. "He just has a hard time showing it."

"I believe you," I giggled. "I just want my dad to accept this and walk me down the aisle. I want him to be a happy person at our wedding."

"Give him some time to cool off and wrap his head around this." He told me. "This is big news and it didn't help that my mother of all people was the person to tell him."

"I guess." I mused. "But, why did God do this?"

"What?"

"Make...in-laws." I laughed.

"Because God so hated man that he created in-laws." He giggled as he kissed the top of my head.

The three of us got back into the swing of things after Thanksgiving. Carlisle and I went to work while Edward went to school. It was a good routine that we had, but Christmas came too soon. Carlisle insisted we invite both his parents and mine to stay with us for a few days and I grumbled for two entire days about it.

"What are you doing?" Edward asked as he came into the kitchen the day my parents flight was arriving.

"Making the dough for the Christmas cookies." I told him as I measured the flour and poured it into the bowel.

"Can I help?" He asked and I arched my eyebrow at him. He was always helping me with things, but he'd never offered to help in the kitchen. "I always used to help my mom." He shrugged.

"Of course you can help." I smiled, trying to hide my sadness from him. I couldn't imagine how hard Christmas time was for him and I tried my best not to think about it. He was a good helper. He measured everything correctly and even got the hang of kneading the dough before we could put it into the fridge to set.

"When can we cut them out?" He asked after I'd put the last of the dough in the fridge.

"Tomorrow," I told him. "The dough has to set over night."

"Okay." He nodded before the house phone rang. He raced over to answer it and I smiled, knowing who it was. Kayleigh called everyday at this house and they hadn't missed a call since she left a few months ago.

"Can I go over to Kayleigh's?" He asked as he pressed the phone to his chest.

"Edward, your Bella's parents are coming today." Carlisle reminded him as he walked into the kitchen after his shower. "Maybe another time."

"Dad, please?" He begged and when it came to Kayleigh, Carlisle had a hard time saying no to him. He eventually gave in and said he'd drive him over. I began planning for Christmas dinner while he was out and was confused when the doorbell rang. My parents flight wasn't supposed to land for another few hours.

But, when I opened the door and saw Alice and Jasper standing there, I screamed at the top of my lungs. I hadn't seen her since graduation and my eyes filled with tears as I hugged her.

"I know we should have called, but I wanted to surprise you." She said as she wiped her face.

"You never have to call!" I told her as I hugged Jasper. "I'm just glad you're here. But, what are you doing here?"

"Well, Jasper's officially getting transferred to Harrisburg and we're apartment shopping this week." She explained as I led them into the living room. "Wow, Carlisle did a good job decorating."

"I think he hired someone." I laughed as we sat down. "But, why before Christmas?"

"We wanted to have a Christmas together, just the two of us." She smiled as he wrapped his arms around her. "Without all the chaos. I mean, we did Thanksgiving with both inlaws and that was enough to last a lifetime."

"I get it." I laughed. "Both of our parents were here for Thanksgiving, and Carlisle insisted on having them here again for Christmas."

"Did you tell them about the engagement?"

"Carlisle's mother did." I sighed. "She asked why I wasn't wearing my ring and then there was no hiding it anymore."

"Maybe it was best to rip the bandaid off." Alice shrugged. "Maybe that was the best thing that could have happened."

"Maybe," I laughed. "So, what's been going on? How's the wedding planning?"

"Well, we've decided to move the wedding up a few months." She said.

"Well, how many months?" I asked.

"We're getting married in February."

"February?" I asked. "Alice, that's more than a few months...thats more than a year."

"Well, we have some big news." She smiled as she looked over at him. "I'm pregnant."

"Pregnant?" I asked, completely stunned. They were so careful and I knew this wasn't something they'd been planning. She always told me she wanted to be married, but by the big smile on her face, I could tell she didn't care. "When are you due?"

"May 18." She smiled. "A spring baby."

"Ali," I squealed as I stood up and hugged her. "I'm so happy for you two!"

"There's more." Jasper smiled. He took her hand in his and gave her a big smile. "We wanted to ask if...you and Carlisle would be his or her God Parents?"

"You're like a sister to me, and I love Carlisle." She cried. "Please?

"Ali, of..."

"Alice?" I heard Carlisle ask. I turned to see him smiling as he walked over to her, giving her a small hug. "What are you two doing here?"

"Surprising us." I laughed as he sat down on the arm of the chair I was sitting in. "Can I tell him?" I asked and she nodded. "Alice is pregnant."

"Congratulations!" Carlisle said as he shook Jasper's hand and hugged Alice again. "When are you due?"

"May 18." She smiled.

"Babe, they asked us to be the baby's God Parents." I told him. "What do you say?"

"Did you guys really even have to ask?"

It felt so good to have Alice and Jasper around. It was hard finding couple friends we could be with since most of them disapproved of our relationship. Plus, we were still kind of new to the city, Carlisle didn't have many friends here when I got here and that didn't change much when I moved. He wasn't antisocial, it was just hard when you had already established a life in New York.

I was amazed at how well the two of them got along with Carlisle. I mean, Alice had always been on my side and she loved him for being so good to me. But the fact that they wanted him to be the baby's God Father astonished me. I knew I was lucky for having good friends like them, but the fact that my friends were his friends made me the luckiest girl in the world.

"I'm home!" Edward called as the door opened. He walked into the living room and raised his eye brows at the two of them standing there. "Hi,"

"Hey, Edward." Alice smiled. They had met a few times, but Edward always gushed about how nice Alice was and now that they were going to live closer, I hoped they'd become good friends.

"Alice and Jasper are going to have a baby, Edward." Carlisle told him as he sat down in between us.

"That's cool." Edward nodded, taking a sip of his Sprite. "Can I go now?"

"No one's stopping you." I laughed. After we'd eaten and we were just hanging around in the living room, the door bell rang and I'd completely forgotten about my parents coming. I answered the door and jumped into my fathers arms. Despite everything that he was going on with the wedding, I couldn't help but hug him tightly.

"How're you doing, sweetie?" He asked as he hung his coat and scarf up.

"Fine," I smiled. "But, you'd know that if you would bother calling me." I snapped. The only time we talked was when I called him about something and when we settled what I needed, he hung up.

"Bella," Mom warned as Carlisle came into the hallway. "Hello, Carlisle."

"Renne," He smiled and stood there awkwardly as Charlie starred at him. "Hi, Charlie."

"Hmmm." Charlie sighed.

"Jasper and Alice are in the living room." I told them, trying to break the silence. They absolutely adored Alice and they loved Jasper. I couldn't help but think they'd rather have her as a daughter than me since she was marrying someone her own age.

"Oh, wonderful." Mom gushed as she walked into the living room. Dad followed her while I stayed out here with Carlisle.

"Just remember, this is what you wanted." I sneered as I followed them.

"Jasper and I are pregnant," Alice announced to my parents and I could have screamed when I saw the smiles on their faces. They got up to hug and congratulate them. I knew if I told them I was pregnant before Carlisle and I were married, I'd be getting screamed at.

"You're unbelievable." I sighed as I stood up and walked to the kitchen. I tried getting a snack together, but my hands were shaking with anger. They were two faced and I never realized it until now. They could barely look at me when I told them I was engaged.

"Bella?" Carlisle asked. I turned to see him leaning up against the door frame and I tried to wipe away my tears. Carlisle wasn't stupid though and he rushed right over to me. "What's wrong?"

"If I was the pregnant one, they'd be screaming at me." I sobbed. "Mom would be telling me how irresponsible I was and Dad would be saying 'I knew that sleaze ball would get my baby girl pregnant.'"

"You don't know that," He whispered, rubbing my back.

"But, I do, Carlisle." I argued. "I know that because I know them. They're two faced and I never realized how much.

"Come on," He whispered after we'd been in the kitchen too long. "Let's just go and get this night over with."

Having my parents around was worse this time around. They just couldn't accept that Carlisle and I were engaged. They couldn't get over the fact that he was my professor and it was breaking my heart. I pictured them loving the guy I was marrying more than they loved me. I pictured my mother gushing how cute he was and how much he loved me. I thought my father would be drinking beers with him and talking about football.

This was not the reality I wanted at all.

I loved Carlisle and I wouldn't trade him for the world, but sometimes I wished he was my age. The only reason Dad liked Jake was because he was my age. He knows Carlisle treats me better than Jake ever could, but he can't get over himself.

"Why don't your parents like my dad?" Edward asked me one time as he sat at the island doing his homework while I was cooking dinner.

"They don't like how much older he is." I told him honestly. Edward wasn't a little kid and I figured he deserved to know the truth.

"But, it's not like he's sixty." Edward argued.

"To my parents, he might as well be," I sighed. "But, this doesn't change how I feel about your dad. I love him and I can't wait until the wedding."

"Me either." He smiled. "It'll be the first wedding I've ever been to."

"I thought you went to Emmett's wedding?"

"Okay, the first wedding I'll actually remember." He laughed. "I was little when he got married."

"True," I sighed.

"Hey, Bella?" He asked sounding very serious.

"Yeah?"

"Are you going to adopt me?" He asked and I nearly dropped the knife I was holding. I never even thought of legally adopting him before. I just always thought he'd be mine, with or without a document. "Like after the wedding?"

"I...I don't know, kid." I told him. "Your father and I never talked about it."

"I think you should."

"You...do?"

"Yeah," He shrugged. "I mean, you're like a mother to me anyway. Why not make it official?"

"We'll see, buddy. We'll see."

"You aren't even much older than him, Bella." Dad said gruffly. I turned to see him and mom standing in the doorway and I couldn't help but groan. I did not want their input on this. "He's what, thirteen?"

"Twelve," Edward said proudly. "I won't be thirteen until the summer."

"Bella, isn't this a sign?" Dad asked as he walked into the kitchen. His kid is only ten years younger than you. Carlisle is too old for you!"

"Dad, knock it off!" I yelled. "I'm marrying Carlisle now either get over it or accept it. Carlisle is in my life and there isn't anything you can do to stop that."

"Why can't you see it?" He asked. "He was using you to get what he wanted. You need to grow up and put your life back together."

"My life is perfect!" I yelled. "Why can't you see that?"

"Because I don't see how becoming a whore is a perfect life!" He snarled and I could feel my eyes stinging with tears.

"Get the hell out of my house." I heard Carlisle bark. I didn't even hear the garage door going up.

"Carlisle," I warned.

"Apologize or get the hell out of my house." He demanded.

"Don't tell me what to do," Charlie growled. "I'll do whatever the fuck I want to do."

"Hey!" I yelled as I looked over at Edward. He was twelve, but he didn't need to be hearing that kind of language yet. At least not in the house.

"Get out of my house." Carlisle seethed. "Don't make me tell you again."

"Fine," Dad huffed. "Come on, Renee."

"Dad, please." I begged.

"Let me know when you wake up and want to come home to start a real life." He said as he walked upstairs to get his things. Mom lingered in the kitchen for a while until he came downstairs with their things. I shuddered at the sound of the door slamming.

"Edward, go upstairs please." Carlisle whispered as he came up from behind me and wrapped his hands around my waist. I started to cry in his arms and the only thing that was keeping me up was the fact that he was holding me. My dad...my own father called me a whore. I didn't know how I was supposed to move on from this.

"You aren't a whore, baby." He whispered as he kissed my shoulder.

"But, what if he's right?" I asked. "What if I am?"

"You're not."

"Really?" I asked. "Because only whores sleep with their professors." I cried. "Professor Michaelson made that very clear."

"Hey," He said as he whipped me around to face him. "Don't you dare think that you're a whore because you slept with me. Sure that's how our relationship started, but before Esme...I had a relationship that was all about the sex. I would never in a million years even think of marrying her."

"But, she wasn't one of your students."

"Bella, if you're starting to have doubts about us now, please tell me." He whispered. "I don't wanna get to September and be standing up there, waiting for you to walk down that aisle."

"I'm not having doubts about marrying you." I told him honestly. "Really, I'm not."

"Then why are you listening to your father?"

"Because it was easy to ignore the whispers and names before when it was kids at school." I sobbed. "But...my own father."

"Look," He sighed. "I love you. With every fiber of my being. I want to have you and only you in my life. And, you are the sweetest, smartest...prettiest...girl I know. You are the farthest thing from a whore."

"Carlisle," I whispered as he wiped the tears from my face.

"I'm serious, Bella." He smiled. "Now, I know I'm not your dad, but I hope that counts for something."

"It counts." I laughed.