Disclaimer: Twilight and it's characters aren't mine. Even though I wish Edward was…

Building a Family

Chapter 1: Realization

BPOV

I was trying to buckle my jeans and found it impossible. I just couldn't get them to close. I looked in the mirror, and I felt like crying. I could no longer wear my clothes, which meant I would have to succumb to Alice's shopping torture. It just wasn't fair.

I screamed in frustration making Edward lookup from the book he was reading on the bed. "What's wrong, my love?" He asked putting his textbook down and coming to me his arms wrapping around me so that his hands were on my stomach.

"I'm fat." I admitted leaning my head back against his chest.

"Far from it, Bella." He said caressing my ever-expanding belly. It wasn't huge after all I was only eighteen weeks along. But I had gotten away with wearing my clothes, and now I had no choice.

"But look at me, Edward. I look like a cow, and I'm not even halfway yet." I cried as he turned me around.

"Listen to me, Bella." He ordered. "You are extremely beautiful and sexy. This bump simply signifies that our baby is growing strong and healthy. You will be back to normal in no time."

I felt a wave of guilt wash over me as I heard Edward speak. He was right, as usual. How could I complain? How could I be so vain? Our baby needed to grow, he or she needed to grow and be healthy. I would definitely sacrifice anything to have a strong healthy baby.

"I'm sorry." I said just as a tear was beginning to form.

"Please don't cry. There's nothing to apologize for, why don't you wear a loose dress and we can go buy clothes." He offered.

"Alice would kill me if I went without her. She's been dying for me to go shopping since she found out. I can't deny her that." I sighed as he gave me a hug and a kiss

"Just call me if you need rescuing then." He laughed causing me to laugh as well.

"I just may." I added going back into our closet to find a loose fitting dress.

I slipped on a pale pink dress and white sandals while picking up my hair in a white ribbon. I had taken to picking up my hair, because it was summer and it was getting hot. And I found that I found the heat more unbearable than usual.

I found Alice flipping through a magazine in her bedroom, her door slightly ajar. "Alice, can I come in?" I asked.

Edward and I had stayed living with his parents on their insistence. They wanted to us to save money for when we left for medical school. Plus Esme insisted that she would care for her grandchild when I began school again. There was no reason for us to go off to an apartment when there was more than enough room there.

"Ofcourse, Bella. What's up?" She asked sitting up with a smile on her face.

"My clothes don't fit." I mumbled as her smile grew wider.

"Are you asking me to go shopping?" She questioned as I sighed before nodding. What the hell was I doing? I hated to shop.

"We have so many places to go." Alice said at once running to her closet where she came out with her shoes and a purse.

I got up following Alice out dejectedly. I was in for a torturous afternoon. We made it to the mall in record time, and I soon found myself in a dress room trying on a million different outfits.

"I like the blue better." Alice pointed as I took off the red top putting on the blue.

"Me too." I added looking in the mirror. "It's Edward's favorite color on me."

"When your ultrasound appointment?" She inquired hanging a pair of jeans as I tried on a pair of shorts.

"In three days." I replied. I was really looking forward to seeing my baby. I had one during my first visit at about eight weeks and we had only seen a small bean shaped blurb. I was really happy about having a clearer picture.

"Do you want to know the sex?" She questioned making me freeze. I can't believe I hadn't thought about it. Did I?

"I don't know." I replied with a shrug. "I guess I do and I don't. Edward and I haven't discussed it."

"You have to know. How would you know what to buy? And how to decorate?" She asked in outrage. "It's vital to know."

"You can't always know, Alice. Plus we could always decorate in gender neutral colors." I reasoned as she rolled her eyes.

"But if you can, why wouldn't you?" She continued.

"It'll be fun to be surprised and try to guess." I said with a smile on my face my hand trailing to my stomach.

"I don't get you." Alice replied.

"You don't have to." I answered knowing I would have to talk to Edward about it.

Shopping was not as bad as I thought and I ended up getting some pretty clothes. Not all maternity clothes was hideous, and it was a lot more comfortable than squeezing into my clothes.

EPOV

I loved being a married man, and I had no idea why men dreaded the idea. Having Bella as my wife was the best thing that had ever happened to me, and I enjoyed every second of it. She had gone shopping with Alice, and I was using the time to start my Medical School applications.

Bella had agreed to follow me anywhere in the country, and I was extremely thankful that she would. I would be happy to stay in Seattle, but she urged me to apply to as many schools as I could. She wanted me to have my choice of schools, and was hoping that I got into an Ivy League.

Was I Ivy League material? Would I be able to follow the strenuous curriculum while still making time for Bella and my baby? My real concern was not getting caught up in my work. I had told Bella time and time again that my first two priorities will always be her and our child, everything else came later. I was worried about the pressure.

I heard the car door and I immediately rushed downstairs to greet my Bella. She walked in with a few bags followed by Alice who carried the majority of their purchases. "Hi, love," I greeted taking her bags and giving her a hug. "I missed you."

"I missed you too." She replied giving me a kiss.

"How was shopping? Did Alice behave?" I questioned winking at my sister who rolled her eyes.

"I behaved!" She complained as Bella giggled.

"She did, surprising, but she did." She said giving my cheek a kiss.

"You see." Alice added sticking out her tongue. "Now make yourself useful, and take her bags upstairs."

"As the pixie commands!" I teased following Emmett's favorite line to use on my sister.

I went upstairs putting the bags in the closet as Bella returned with a fruit plate in tow. "I was talking to Alice and she made me realize something." She mentioned sitting on the bed as I joined her.

"What did my sister do?" I joked stealing a grape from her plate.

"Don't you know not to steal a pregnant woman's food!" She complained as I leaned forward to kiss her.

"Sorry!" I apologized as she laughed. "What did my sister say?"

"The doctor might be able to tell our baby's gender when we go for the ultrasound." She said as a smile crossed my face. Did I want to know? Of course, I did.

"Do you want to know?" I inquired as she shrugged.

"Does it makes sense that I do and don't?" She questioned as I laughed. "Do you?"

"I do, I just want to know what to call him or her. I'm tired of saying him or her." I explained. "But if you don't want to know I don't either. A surprise might be good too."

"It would be nice to know whether to he or she, and it would be easier to pick a name." She reasoned.

"You don't have to talk yourself into it, love." I reminded her. I didn't want her to do it just because I wanted to. I was willing to wait.

"I'm just saying the reasons." She answered finishing the last apple slice and putting the plate on the night table.

"Think about it." I urged giving her a kiss and touching her stomach. My hands always seemed to end up there. Almost as if the baby called to me. "I love you both."

"We love you too." She replied returning my kiss.

A/N: We're going to have a very fluffy beginning with not much drama and mostly Bella and Edward getting ready for the baby. I plan on covering a lot in this story so it will jump time periods on various spaces (not in the coming chapters, though).

I'm happy to start this story, and I hope to have you all follow through. We are in for quite the ride. I hope to have the romance and drama mix, as well as a few lemons throughout the way. (Though not as many as my Vegas story)

Remember my updating schedule will be every other day. One day I update this one, one day I update the Vegas story.

Next Chapter: The Ultrasound (Out Tuesday)

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