I don't own anything Twilight. Everything belongs to Stephenie Meyers. No copyright infringement intended. I'm just enjoying playing around with her creation.

Previously: With Aro appeased with my new found immortality, there was nothing more that he needed to discuss with us. Edward told me that Aro and Carlisle visited for the several hours I was resting in a private room. I couldn't sleep fast enough but Carlisle didn't want me to travel while exhausted. As soon as my eyes opened, we readied our things and we bid our farewells. Finally we were free to go home.

Alaska, here we come!

Chapter 14: Free At Last

We were finally home and I couldn't be happier. Those that hadn't gone to Italy were equally thrilled to see us as well. The one and only thing on my mind right now was getting my wife home so we could 'wear-in' our new bed.

Bella barely got her hellos and hugs finished before I grabbed her around the waist and threw her over my shoulder then disappeared into the forest. If we actually made it to the cottage, that would be a miracle. I know my family would be furious with me for running us both away but at the moment – I did not care!

Considering we just took a trip to Volterra to see those crazies we call leaders and I was in fear of losing my wife – I wanted to keep her as close as possible for as long as possible.

Montana, Maine, Mexico, England, Russia, Isle Esme… any where we traveled to, was going to be far enough away. After a week in one place, we received a phone call from one or two of the family wondering when we were going to be home. Then we would leave to visit another location. After about the ninth place and call I was bordering on tossing my phone into Niagara Falls. But I didn't. I kept the cell with us in case of emergencies or if we needed to escape.

After about five months of traveling, sexing, touring, loving, laughing and sexing again I noticed Bella was becoming distant. Her actions and behavior was worrisome and I knew I had to figure it out soon or I would go crazy with concern. Following an hour of a game of 'tickle mercy', she finally told me what was wrong.

My Bella was home sick.

Despite my urges to completely monopolize all of my wife's time, I made plans to return home to Alaska.

Bella couldn't be happier. Seeing the size of the smile on her beautiful face made me realize I had done the right thing. While our time together had been beyond awesome, I have to agree that I was missing my family as well. Although, calling my family to let them know we were coming home had been a mistake. Everyone was happy, especially the women, they squealed so loud that I might be the first vampire that needed a hearing aid.

It took us about two days straight of traveling, first by boat, then car, then plane and then finally car again. I prepared myself for the onslaught of questions I was positive would ensue upon arriving home.

Yes, I'm going to need a hearing aid. The squealing I heard on the phone was nothing compared to that of when we stepped inside the main house when we arrived home. I think I actually felt my ears bleeding.

Bought time! Rosalie glared at me, a deep frown on her face. "What took you so long?"

Oh my god, they are finally home. "So tell us how your trip was?" leave it to Esme to always be sweet with her thoughts.

Is it just my eyes or has Bella gained weight? Alice danced around Bella asking her a million questions about the trip all the while examining and thinking how she looked. I could have sworn Bella was smaller when she left. Did she eat a lot?

No more than normal. Alice's examination of my wife was starting to annoy me. There was nothing wrong with her. There was that one small bout of stomach flu about three months ago but that didn't last long.

Stomach flu? Alice glanced at me questioningly then froze completely. Suddenly, an image of a baby wrapped in a blue blanket held gently in my arms danced in Alice's mind.

"Alice, there is no way that's possible…" I whispered sadly.

The book said 'none have been reported', it's still a possibility. Admit it, you're curious? Her eyes became all knowing. I really hate it when Alice is right and she knows she's right.

I leaned against the dining room wall and watched my wife intently as she meandered around the room visiting with everyone. I definitely made the right choice in returning home. She was glowing now that she was back with our family.

Glowing?

Stop it Alice! Alice smirked while she listened to Bella's tale about the hot springs. Thanks to Alice's prattling on about Bella's appearance the more annoyed I became. I also started to notice Alice was right. My wife did seem to have a little tummy on her. How in the world had I missed that? Had I been so wrapped up in our journey and being with Bella that I had failed to notice the slight addition of an inch to her torso?

After several hours of the family interrogating Bella and I about our trip, I was finally allowed to take my wife to our little cabin in the woods. As soon as we were inside the cabin Bella made a bee line for the couch and flopped down with a heavy sigh.

"Happy to be home?" I asked as I sat down next to my wife and rubbed her knee comfortingly.

"You have no idea…" she sighed again but this time it was accompanied by a smile.

I watched as Bella closed her eyes and sank into the couch even further. "Earlier, Alice brought something to my attention." Bella cracked open one eye and stared at me questioningly. "Um, have you gained weight while we were away?"

Both eyes were now staring at me widely telling me to be careful of my next words. "Excuse me?"

The tone of her voice sent a shiver up my spine. Rule number one of women – never ever ask about their weight. I really had to be careful about my next choice of words to avoid my death. "Uh, um…for some reason, Alice thinks you're pregnant." I closed my eyes and winced while I waited for her to explode. Much to my surprise there was no outburst but a rambunctious and hysterical laugh.

I opened my eyes to see Bella holding her stomach while she laughed and nearly fell off the couch. "My goodness, Alice is delusional now. Does she not realize how long it took me to get over the idea that I would never have children since my eggs are frozen solid?" She slowly stopped laughing and looked somberly into the lit fireplace. "It's kind of cruel that she would even mention it."

"I agree but she's positive she "saw" something," I even did the figure quotes.

Bella glared at me, "saw what exactly?"

"She saw me holding a baby."

"That's it?" Bella arched an eyebrow disbelievingly. She let out a very heavy sigh then jumped to her feet. "Well let's go see Carlisle and burst Alice's bubble."

We headed for the main house. A few short minutes later we stood outside the front door to the house. I looked at Bella, wondering if she was sure about what she was about to do. She glanced up at me and gave me a very firm nod.

I already told Carlisle to get the stuff ready. Leave it to Alice.

It only took a few seconds for Carlisle to ready his small office sized ultrasound machine. I had assisted Carlisle with his past patients when they were pregnant. I even helped deliver a couple newborns once my blood lust was under control.

Carlisle ran the small Doppler hand monitor over Bella's slightly swollen abdomen. The more and more I looked at her stomach the more it looked as if she was indeed carrying a child. I stared at Bella with a half smile and she returned her own to me. Both of us already knowing the outcome based on Carlisle's many tests from before. There was complete silence in the room except the hushed slippery sound of the monitor sliding over Bella's tummy.

Then out of nowhere there was a fast heartbeat.

My head snapped around to stare at the small black and orange screen. Bella inclined her head just as quickly to watch the screen. On the little screen was a pudgy little alien. "Carlisle?"

"My word…" Carlisle whispered as he studied the tiny alien.

"Carlisle…speak!" shouted Bella anxiously.

"Um…Bella, you're pregnant….by about five months I'm guessing…but he looks fine and healthy…" Carlisle's voice was shaky. By the look on his face and the size of his eyes he was definitely in shock.

"Five months!" It was my turn to shout. "That means she was pregnant when we went to Volterra. I'm glad the stress didn't harm the baby. Wait…he?"

Carlisle continued to exam the baby that was indeed growing in my wife's belly. "It looks as if it's a normal human pregnancy. So in another four months you'll be parents of a baby boy."

For the first time in my long life I was glad Carlisle had been wrong. Bella was pregnant with my child. Bella glanced up at me equally in shock and gave me a small smile. Neither of us could believe what Carlisle had just told us. We were going to be parents.

I had always dreamed about having a loving wife and maybe one or two children. When I became a blood-drinking monster the idea of having children stayed just a dream. Then I met Bella and I finally had a loving wife however the children were never to be. And now, my dream of ever having a child was actually a reality.

"But how…?" I was still too much in shock to form much more of a question longer than two words.

Carlisle shrugged. He actually shrugged. I don't think I've ever seen him speechless to the point of shrugging. "I'm not sure exactly. Maybe your vampirism has made your semen powerful as well as your physical body.

All I could do was to stare back at him. Even I didn't have a logical explanation as to how Bella became pregnant, other than the obvious way I mean. Bella is the first known Everling in a long time and who knows if any of the other Everlings were intimate with a vampire. I eventually nodded in agreement with Carlisle, happy with his reasoning and not knowing what else it could be.

A few minutes later it finally dawned on me that during the entire time Carlisle and I were discussing thing, Bella hadn't said a single word. I glanced from Carlisle to my wife. Her eyes were wide and glued on the ultrasound monitor. I could easily make good money on betting that Bella was in shock.

Alice bursts into the room, causing Bella to nearly jump off the seat in surprise. She then proceeded to dance around the random stacks of books and furniture while she sang. It was a little difficult to interpret her words but I finally made out what she was singing. "So much to do…so little time…so much to do…so little time…"

What, was she channeling the White Rabbit now?

Chapter End Notes:

I'm so very sorry it took me so long to get the new chapter out. A lot has happened over the last year or so. Finally got pregnant after the miscarriage, a crazy pregnancy, finally divorced, labor and now I'm on a limited typing schedule (only when my 4 month old boss allows me). I hope I still have a reader or two still following. Chapter 15 and the Epilogue is all that's left of Everlasting and then I'll finish dark sun and hopefully start nightfall.

Preview for chapter 15: Expectations

I couldn't believe this was actually happening.

After learning about my plight it had taken me some time to come to grips with it but I had. Once I had been reborn an Everling I thought my future was now set in stone. I was now an immortal just like my vampire husband. I would now be able to spend eternity with him. What more could a woman ask for?