Chapter Forty-six: Birthday Surprise

Bella's Point of View

Over the next week, Edward and I develop a solid, reliable routine that works well for us. He stays with me for most of the day, we go to the main house to eat dinner with his family, then Edward comes back to the apartment with me and helps to get Grace ready for bed, which almost always includes their nightly co-bathing ritual. Once the baby is asleep, we usually watch a movie or do some housework before it's time for him to head back over to sleep. I miss him when he's gone, but I know he's only a phone call away if I need him. And there has been a few times I required his assistance at ungodly hours of the night, and Edward never had a problem coming over to help. We'd take turns walking the floor with her, letting the other sleep, and eventually, when she settled down, Edward would either go back over to his room or crash on the couch.

I let him off the hook last night, despite Grace waking more than once throughout the night. She was uncomfortable due to teething – she cut her first tooth, finally – but all she needed was some snuggles and Infant Tylenol to lull her back to sleep.

Now, Grace is laying on my bed as I adjust the bow around her head for the fourth time. "Come on, Gracie, you have to look nice for Daddy's birthday," I tell my squirming little girl when I finally get the bow just right. She reaches up, trying to pull it off, but I grab her little hands and kiss her fingers, making her laugh until she forgets the bow is even there.

Today is Edward's eighteenth birthday, his official ascent into adulthood – although, if he feels anything like I do, adulthood started a long time ago. For me, it began the very moment that pregnancy test in the bathroom of that gas station in Port Angeles formed two solid pink lines. I knew that, from that moment on, my life was no longer going to be about just me. For Edward, it started when he first saw his daughter, his very own flesh and blood bundled in a bright pink blanket. He knew right then and there that he would give his life to protect hers.

But now, for him, it's official.

A few days ago, when I asked Edward what he wanted to do for his birthday, his reply was simple. "I just want to spend it with you and Grace," he said.

So that's exactly what we're going to do, even though we do that practically everyday already. But I'm going to try to make it as special as I can, and I think he'll love what I have planned.

After we finished eating dinner last night, and Edward, Emmett and Jasper went outside to throw around the football, taking advantage of the warm summer evening and late sunset, I told Esme to let Edward sleep in this morning. That would give me a chance to get myself and Grace ready for Edward's birthday - starting with breakfast at my apartment.

Taking Grace into the kitchen, I place her in the highchair and get to work on starting the food. I meticulously start scrambling eggs, frying bacon, cutting strawberries and pineapple into bite-sized bits, and making a huge stack of fluffy pancakes.

I'm just finishing loading the bacon and eggs into the warmer when the front door bursts open and Edward strolls in, wearing red plaid PJ bottoms and a white T-shirt. His hair looks dishevelled, like he hopped right out of bed without even glancing in the mirror.

"Smells good in here," Edward tells me as he walks to Grace and leans down to plant a kiss on top of her head. She coos, slamming the frozen plastic ring I'd given her onto the tray of her highchair. Edward chuckles at her and runs his fingers through her crazy tuffs of hair before walking over to me and wrapping his arms around my waist as I flip the last of the pancakes. "What's the occasion?"

I turn with a giggle, reaching up and wrapping my arounds around his shoulders, interlacing my fingers at the nape of his neck. "You know what the occasion is." I kiss him, and his minty fresh breath makes me laugh on his mouth. Leave it to Edward to ensure his breath is minty-fresh while neglecting his messy hair. "Happy birthday, Edward. I cooked us breakfast – all your favorites."

"Smells delicious," Edward murmurs, diving his face into my neck, causing me to throw my head back with laughter as he smothers me with kisses. "But you smell even better," he growls against my skin.

I managed to wake early enough this morning to get both myself and Grace ready for the day, even if that did mean getting a shower with Grace in her bouncy chair in the bathroom with me. Not only that, but I made sure to completely moisturize my body and spritz on a bit of my favorite perfume before putting on my favorite floral sundress.

"You mean I smell like something other than baby spit-up?" I ask with a giggle, ruffling the hair at the nape of his neck with my fingers.

Edward shakes his head as he comes up for air and pulls me tighter to his body. I put my hands on his chest and look up at him. His gaze dark and smouldering. I can feel him pressed against my stomach and bite down hard on my lip in response, feeling the heat in my body travel to my cheeks and between my legs. Edward makes no attempts at hiding his arousal from me, although we've yet to take the next step in our relationship. We're just not ready yet, our relationship too new. I know I almost jumped his bones that day in my bedroom, but I'm glad Edward stopped us before things went too far and we had regrets about our "first time do-over".

I know that when we do eventually have sex, it will be amazing. Even more amazing and less nerve-wrecking now I'm fully protected by the Depo-Provera shot. I'd made an appointment the day after we moved all my things into the apartment, for my own sake, of course, but also to obey my parent's wishes. I think it gives them peace of mind knowing I won't be giving them another grandchild any time soon.

When we pull away, I watch Edward not-so-discreetly adjust himself in his PJ bottoms. I hold back a groan.

"Want to set the table while I load our plates?" I ask Edward, turning towards the stove and retrieving our food from the warmer.

Edward sets the table while I pour up some orange juice and coffee, and then I delve up a generous portion of everyone onto our plates. We sit to eat, and Edward moans around bites of food, rolling his eyes back in ecstasy with each mouthful like this is the best breakfast he's ever had.

"Have you talked to Jacob lately?" Edward asks me suddenly, swallowing a bite of pancake and washing it down with some juice.

I nod my head. "Yeah, I was just texting him this morning," I tell him. "He's really busy, going to the treatment center in the day with Mel, and then taking care of Riley by himself in the evenings and nights."

"Any plans for him to come visit?"

I sigh and shake my head, my stomach dropping at the mention of my best friend. Not having Jake easily accessible is hard, especially with how close we've become. No amount of texts of FaceTime calls can make up having him face-to-face. And I miss Riley. Babies grow so fast, and I'm sure she's hit more milestones since they've been gone. I know this is what's best for them right now, so I'm trying my hardest to shove my selfish reasons for needing Jake to the side.

"Not yet. He's only been gone a few weeks now, and he didn't take his car to the city. His parents are already shelling out so much money to pay his rent for three months, and he didn't feel right having to ask for gas money and money for insurance on top of everything else." I take a deep breath, then let it out. "He's hoping to visit at least once before the summer's done. Billy, Sarah, or Julie will have to make the trip to Seattle to pick him up, and he's hesitant to ask since they've already done so much for him."

"I'm sure they wouldn't mind," Edward says. "I bet they miss Riley like crazy."

I lift the corners of my mouth. "I'm sure of that, too, but Jake's as stubborn as they come sometimes. Who knows, maybe me and Grace will take a day-trip to Seattle in a couple weeks."

Edward just nods, and I can tell he's not super thrilled with that idea. Our conversation continues to flow as we eat our breakfast. I let Edward know that once he's showered, he's going to have to wear pants and a nice shirt. He's confused, of course, considering it's June and finally warm enough outside for summer clothing. But he's going to have to listen to me if I want my plan to go… well, as planned. I tell him to trust me, and he does.

"So," I begin once we're done eating, now just sipping on what's left of our coffee, "I was thinking… maybe we could start Grace on the baby cereal today. I know the doctor gave us the green light at her appointment, and I think she's ready."

Last week at the pediatrician, during Grace's four-month immunizations, the doctor said we could start feeding Grace some baby cereal if she expressed any interest in food. We stopped to the grocery store on our way back home and picked some up to have on hand for when we feel she's ready. And, judging by the way she's watched us with wide, curious eyes as we ate our own breakfast, I think that time is now.

"That sounds like a great idea. You hear that, Gracie? Real food!" Edward reaches over and tickles Grace's stomach, causing her to giggle. I swear, it's the best sound ever. I'd listen to it on a loop all day if I could.

I clear the table while Edward keeps our daughter busy, and then I prepare her cereal. I'm starting out small, just about a tablespoon of the cereal mixed with a little formula. It smells horrible.

"Okay," I announce, reclaiming my seat with Grace's breakfast in my hands. "Edward, do you want to feed her?"

You would think I just told him he's won a million dollars by the way his face lights up. "Yeah, I do," he tells me, so I hand him the pink bowl and baby spoon. "Ready for some… Oh, God, Bella what the hell is in this?" He brings the bowl to his nose and sniffs it, his face scrunching in distaste. "Smells like poison."

I quirk a brow in his direction. "It's strawberry flavored."

"Strawberry-flavored poison."

I laugh, shaking my head, and reach over to playfully slap his chest with the back of my hand. "Come on, see if she likes it."

She loves it.

Grace's eyes widen the moment the spoon comes to her lips, and she flails her little arms up and down, hitting the tray in excitement. Most of that first bite ends up all over her face. Edward tries to use the spoon to remove it, but she turns her face and it ends up smearing all over her cheek.

Edward chuckles. "She's gonna be a messy eater like her dad," he comments, giving her another spoonful before I reach over with a baby wipe and swipe the mess from her face. She's halfway through the bowl now, and Edward's managed to find a way to get most of the cereal into her mouth without making too much of mess, although she will definitely need another bath and outfit once she's done.

While Edward continues to feed our daughter, I gather our dirty dishes from the table and bring them to the sink to be washed. I fill the sink with soapy water and then put our dishes inside. When I turn back towards the table, I'm momentarily mesmerized by the view. A smile tugs on the corner of my lips and my heart grows three times it's normal size.

I lean against the island on my elbows, fingering the locket Edward gave me as a present as I watch my daughter and her father interact in the purest of ways. Months ago, I never would have imagined Edward in the role of a doting father and loving boyfriend, but here he is, being both without question and doing a damn good job.

Grace is half way through the bowl now, and Edward's managed to find a way to get most of the cereal into her mouth without too much of a mess, although she will most definitely still need another bath and outfit once she's done. He opens his mouth to an O before he airplanes the spoon to her mouth, and she finds his facial expressions and sound effects to be hilarious, laughing and gurgling between spoonfulls.

"I really do love you, you know," I say softly, causing Edward to turn his head and shoot me a dazzling crooked smile. "The way you are with her… I couldn't ask for a better dad for her."

His eyes soften, causing the butterflies in my stomach to dance some more. "I love you both more than words could ever describe, Bella." He turns back to Grace. "And Grace here loves her belly, clearly. You ate the whole bowl!" He reaches forward and taps her nose with his pointer finger, causing a giggle to erupt.

Suddenly, the shrill sound of Edward's phone ringing blasts through the apartment. He stands to go get it, depositing the empty bowl into the sink as I walk over and start to wipe Grace's face and hands.

"Hi, Bree-bear!"

When I turn, Edward's phone is in his outstretched hand and he's waving with another one. I know right away that's he FaceTiming with Bree, something he's been doing regularly since we came back from Oregon. We know Elizabeth is there, somewhere in the background, but rarely does she say anything. She just lets Bree and Edward interact, occasionally laughing at Bree's antics or helping her when she gets stuck trying to find the right words to use. Watching him interacting with his little sister is heartwarming, and they've developed a special bond in the short period of time that they've known one another.

"Hi!" Bree squeals, giggling. "It's your birfday! Happy birfday!"

Edward chuckles as he takes a seat on the couch. I go get Grace from her chair and take a seat next to him. "Thank you. Bella and Grace are here, too. Can you say hi?"

"Hi, Bella! Hi, Grace!"

I wave to Bree when Edward pans the camera my direction, and I lift Grace's hand to wave at her aunt. "Hi, Bree. It's so nice to see you!"

"Did you know it's Edward's birfday today?" Grace asks me.

I nod. "I did know."

"Do you have a gift for him?"

Edward looks at me with a quirked brow, and I playfully slap his arm out of the view of the camera. "Of course I do. What kind of birthday would it be without presents?"

Bree frowns, her little eyebrows scrunched together. She looks so much like Edward when she makes that face. "I don't have a present for him…" she says, her voice sounding sad. Her little lower lip is juts out above her top.

"Hey, hey, it's okay," Edward reassures her. "I get to talk to you, Bree-bear. That's the best birthday present ever."

"Really?" She sounds hopeful, her frown disappearing.

Edward nods. "Really."

I say goodbye to Bree and take Grace for a quick bath and outfit change - successfully securing her bow on the first try. When I come back into the living room to lay Grace on her activity mat, Edward is finished talking to his sister and shoving his phone in his pocket.

A quick glance at the clock tells me we have exactly twenty minutes before we need to leave for Port Angeles if we want to get there on time.

"Go shower and get ready," I tell Edward, standing on my tiptoes to give him a kiss. "We have to leave in exactly twenty minutes. Oh, and don't forget to wear pants."

He chuckles, shaking his head. "What do you have planned, woman? It's seventy-five degrees and sunny, and I can't wear shorts? Are you trying to make me sweat to death?"

I bat my lashes a few times and shrug my shoulders. "Just go. We can't be late."

Edward salutes me. "Twenty minutes. Got it, boss."

I swat at his butt as he walks out the door.

Exactly nineteen minutes later, Edward emerges from his parent's house as I'm loading Grace and her diaper bag into my truck. He's wearing a pair of khaki pants and a white polo. Perfect attire.

"Damn, you weren't kidding about leaving in twenty minutes."

"Nope." I close the door once Grace's seat in secured in the base. "Let's go."

"Are you gonna tell me where we're going?" Edward asks as he climbs into the passenger seat.

I grin as I close the door and buckle my seatbelt. "You'll see when we get there."

AS YOU WISH

When I pull my truck into the parking lot of the Port Angeles courthouse, Edward turns to me with his brows knitted together. "Okay, I'm officially stumped. What the hell are we doing here?"

I can barely contain the grin that's spread wide across my face. "Today's the day."

He doesn't seem to catch on. "For what? I'm confused ..."

"Today's the day," I begin, reaching across the console to intertwine our fingers together, "that Grace officially becomes a Cullen."

When his confusion morphs into pure excitement, I feel butterflies dancing in my stomach.

"Today?!" he exclaims. "But wait… how? They said it could be weeks before our court date came in the mail!"

This was true. Last week, when we filed the petition and paid all the required fees, the lady at the reception desk told us a letter would be mailed to us within two weeks, with a date and time for us to come to court. It could have been weeks after that before we were scheduled in. When I took Grace to my parents place for a visit, I asked Charlie if there was anything he could do for me. I really wanted to do this on Edward's birthday. Being the Chief of Police, Charlie knows everyone at the PA courthouse. He called right away, and managed to snag us a slot just before the lunch hour. Edward and I are Grace's parents, both listed on her birth certificate and both willing for her name to be changed. They agreed because the process won't take long.

"Charlie has connections, so I got him to pull a few strings for me."

Edward reaches up and cups my cheek, running the pad of his thumb along my cheekbone. "You're amazing, you know that? This is the best birthday gift you could have given me." He drops his hand and trails the back of his hand down my neck and across my collarbone. "And it's kind of hot, you manipulating the system to get your way like a badass…"

I playfully glare at him. "I did not manipulate the system. Charlie called in a favor."

Edward groans. "Just let me have my fantasy, okay?" He kisses me, capturing my bottom lip between his teeth for a moment. I get lost in the kiss, tanging my fingers in his arm. I'm practically over the console on his lap when a tap sounds on my window. We jump with a fright, and when we look, an old lady is shaking her finger at us. We pull apart, and she walks away shaking her head.

"Oops," I giggle, covering my mouth with my hand.

"Nosy old lady," Edward grumbles.

I let Edward get Grace out of her seat as I grab the diaper bag, throwing it over my shoulder. We climb the stairs to the courthouse hand in hand.

The same lady who helped file our petition is at the front desk. She smiles instantly when she sees us. "Edward, Bella," she greets. "You're just on time."

"Thanks again for squeezing us in," I tell her. "We really appreciate it."

"Oh, no worries there. Charlie explained today had great significance to you, and Judge Camden had no problem fitting you in before his break. He and your father have known each other for years."

I point to Grace in Edward's arms. "This is the star of the show, Grace."

She clasps her hands together in front of her chest dramatically. "Oh, my! Isn't she just a little peach. Looks just her daddy, if you ask me." Edward smiles at her and kisses Grace's head. "You can both just take a seat right there, and I'll go see if Judge Camden is ready for you."

She disappears through a door as Edward and I take a seat. A few moments later, she returns and asks us to follow her to the courtroom.

Ten minutes and three signatures later, Grace's name to officially changed from Grace Elizabeth Swan to Grace Esme Renee Cullen.

AS YOU WISH

Later that evening, Esme calls us over to the main house for dinner and birthday cake. We order pizza from the Cavern and all sit around the living room to eat and chat. Esme made the cake – vanilla with chocolate frosting, and "Happy 18th Birthday Edward" written with blue icing on the top. It looks and smells divine.

We all sit around the table as Esme lights the candles. Carlisle turns off the lights, and we all sing 'Happy Birthday' to Edward – Jasper and Emmett the most enthusiastic of us all. Edward hides his face behind his hands, and I can see the tips of his ears turning pink in the glow from the flames. Once we're done serenading him, he lowers his hands and wraps his arm around my shoulder, tucking me into his side.

"Make a wish, son," Carlisle says. "Make it a good one."

Edward turns to look at me with a sly smile on his face before blowing out all eighteen candles.

"What did you wish for?" I asked him, using my elbow to poke his ribs as I bounce Grace on my knee.

He shakes his head. "If I tell you, it won't come true."

"Superstitious, are we?" I raise my brow.

Edward squeezes my shoulder. "I'm not taking any chances."

Esme takes the cake to cut it, and Rose and Alice help hand everyone a piece.

"We have an announcement," Edward declares suddenly, standing up from his seat. Everyone's wide eyes shoot directly to me, and I know exactly what they're thinking.

"I'm not pregnant!" I blurt, blushing. I see everyone's shoulders visibly relax, and Emmett guffaws loudly. I see Jasper snickering, and Alice pinches his arm.

"Oh, shit. Yeah, no, that's definitely notthe announcement," Edward says, chuckling nervously as he runs his fingers through his hair. He clears his throat and reaches down to take the baby from my arms. "Today, we changed Grace's name. Everyone, this is Grace Esme Renee Cullen."

Esme's hand goes up to her mouth, and I can see her eyes well with tears. "Oh, my goodness …" She stands up from her seat and comes behind Edward and me, putting an arm around our necks. "You have no idea how much that means to me. Thank you so much."

She kisses Edward's cheek, then mine and Grace's, before reclaiming her seat next to Carlisle.

After cake, we all head back into the living room to give Edward his gifts. Esme and Carlisle go first, handing him a large bag with a bow on it. "This is from your father and I," Esme tells him with a kind smile on her face.

Edward opens the gift bag and pulls out a new helmet and protective gear. "This is perfect. Thank you!"

"With practise starting again in a couple weeks, we thought it would be good to break in some new gear before the new season starts in August," Carlisle says. He gestures to the bag again. "But keep going. There's more."

Edward pulls out an envelope, and inside are three plane tickets to Oregon for July.

"We know you wanted to go back to see Bree for her birthday," Esme explains. "We figured flying there would be easier with the baby, and it would give you more time to be able to spend with your sister."

"I don't know what to say… Thanks, Mom and Dad."

Rose sticks her hand out and hands Edward a small square present. "From me and Emmett," she says, tucking a piece of long, blonde hair behind her ear and giving him a sheepish smile. "It's a new CD, so you can stop listening to that godawful music you love so much. These walls are rather thin, you know."

"Oh, I know how thin the walls are. Trust me," Edward quips, causing Rose to blush. Jasper, Emmett and Edward all high-five while Esme and Carlisle look towards the ceiling, pretending they didn't hear Edward's comeback, but I can see the smirk on both their faces.

"Mine and Jazz's next!" Alice says excitedly as she stands up from her spot on the chair and bounds towards Edward with a gift bag in her extended hand.

Jasper puts both his hands up in surrender. "It was all Alice. I had nothing to do with it."

Alice rolls her eyes. "Oh, shush it, you," she says, swatting at his arm.

Edward opens the bag, revealing a few new shirts and a couple pairs of pants. He neatly folds them and puts them back in the bag before standing up and enveloping Alice into a hug. "Thanks, sis."

Now it's my turn. I put Grace in Rose's waiting arms and reach behind the couch for the small box containing the last of Edward's birthday presents.

"I thought you already gave me my present," Edward says with a chuckle when I hand him the gift.

I take a seat next to him on the couch, tucking my feet under myself and resting my head on his shoulder. "That was your main present. This is just a little something extra."

Edward tears open the paper and opens the box, revealing the school-year calendar that Esme and I put together using important pictures; there's one of the first time Edward held Grace, one of her changing her diaper, a picture of the three of us, and a picture of me and Edward as babies.

"To help you stay organized when we go back to school," I explain. "You can pencil in all your practises, games and tests."

"I love it," he tells me, kissing the top of my head and squeezing me tighter into his side. "Thank you, Bella. This has been the best birthday I've ever had."

A/N: I'm so, so, so sorry for the incredibly long wait for this chapter, but writer's block hit me hard. I really hope that you enjoyed this chapter, and don't forget to let me know what you think in the reviews! Also, thanks to my friend Jan for giving me the idea for the calender!

Grace is officially a Cullen!