Waxing Gibbous

TMI (A)

There was no sound for a minute. Lucia looked out the window watching the others. I settled on the second couch next to Rosalie, my head laying on her stomach. After a few moments Bella asked Lucia for a refill, and she quickly went to get more.

I slumped deeper into the couch, the idea of sleep becoming more and more pleasing as Rosalie began threading her fingers through my hair.

And then Edward said, "Did you say something?" in a puzzled tone. Strange. Because no one had said anything, and because Edward's hearing was as good as mine, and he should have known that.

He was staring at Bella, and she was staring back. They both looked confused.

"Me?" she asked after a second. "I didn't say anything."

He moved onto his knees, leaning forward over her, his expression suddenly intense in a whole different way. His black eyes focused on her face.

"What are you thinking about right now?"

She stared at him blankly. "Nothing. What's going on?"

"What were you thinking about a minute ago?" he asked.

"Just... Esme's island. And feathers."

I furrowed my brows a chuckle escaping my lips. "shhhh" Rosalie said trying not to laugh. Because we also had the same issue, no feathers but stuffing. And some shredded sheets.

"Say something else," he whispered.

"Like what? Edward, what's going on?"

His face changed again, and he did something that made my mouth fall open with a pop. I heard a gasp behind me, and I knew that Rosalie was just as flabbergasted as I was.

Edward, very lightly, put both of his hands against her huge, round stomach. "The f—" He swallowed. "It... the baby likes the sound of your voice."

There was one short beat of total silence. I could not move a muscle, even to blink. Then—

"Holy crow, you can hear him!" Bella shouted. In the next second, she winced. Edward's hand moved to the top peak of her belly and gently rubbed the spot where it must have kicked her.

"Shh," he murmured. "You startled it... him."

Her eyes got all wide and full of wonder. She patted the side of her stomach.

"Sorry, baby."

Edward was listening hard, his head tilted toward the bulge.

"What's he thinking now?" she demanded eagerly.

"It... he or she, is . . ." He paused and looked up into her eyes. His eyes were filled with a similar awe—only his were more careful and grudging. "He's happy," Edward said in an incredulous voice.

Her breath caught, and it was impossible not to see the fanatical gleam in her eyes. The adoration and the devotion. Big, fat tears overflowed her eyes and ran silently down her face and over her smiling lips.

As he stared at her, his face was not frightened or angry or burning or any of the other expressions he'd worn since their return. He was marveling with her.

"Of course, you're happy, pretty baby, of course you are," she crooned, rubbing her stomach while the tears washed her cheeks. "How could you not be, all safe and warm and loved? I love you so much, little EJ, of course you're happy."

I watched the happy family, a smile on my face. I had hope things would be okay.

"What did you call him?" Edward asked curiously.

She blushed again. "I sort of named him. I didn't think you would want... well, you know."

"EJ?"

"Your father's name was Edward, too."

"Yes, it was. What about the J?"

Bella smiled "Joseph... my dad's middle name"

"What—?" He looked down at her stomach, then paused and then said, "Hmm."

"What?"

"He likes my voice, too."

"Of course, he does." Her tone was almost gloating now. "You have the most beautiful voice in the universe. Who wouldn't love it?"

"Do you have a backup plan?" I asked then, looking up from my spot. "What if he's a she?"

Bella wiped the back of her hand under her wet eyes. "I kicked a few things around. Playing with Renée and Esme. I was thinking... Ruh-nez-may."

"Ruhnezmay?"

"R-e-n-e-s-m-e-e. Too weird?"

"it's different, but the good news about that, you wont find anyone else named it... Now Alexandra is a great name, but too common" I chuckled looking at Rosalie.

Edward was staring off into space, his face blank as he listened.

"What?" Bella asked, her face just glowing away. "What's he thinking now?"

At first he didn't answer, and then—shocking all the rest of us again, three distinct and separate gasps—he laid his ear tenderly against her belly.

"He loves you," Edward whispered, sounding dazed. "He absolutely adores you."

I relaxed more. "what about you? did you think of names?" my eyes closed and something close to a purr rumbled through my chest as her nails barely scratched my scalp.

"I have quite a few, but I don't know"

"I think they were good" Bella replied, obviously having discussed names with Rosalie.

"I'm all ears"

"well, I was thinking if it were a boy to name him after your dad. Demetrius" my eyes flew open.

"really?" I whispered. Rosalie nodded.

"he was such a big part of your life. It's traditional to name a son or daughter after their deceased ancestors. Its written in the journals"

"okay... what if it's a girl?"

"well, I think it's a boy... but for a girl I was thinking Genevieve"

"it's beautiful" I yawned. Rose's fingers continued running through my hair.

"sleep, we'll still be here when you wake up"

I fell asleep easily, my dreams filled with all the moments Rosalie, and I spent together. I dreamed of our future, with our child. Bella was there with her child, the two 'cousins' playing together while their mothers watched on.