1I couldn't go upstairs, I was to close to her, to close to my Bella. Carlisle was up their, working to help ease the pain of the change. I didn't want to be near anyone, I wanted to be near Bella and Bella only. I was up their with her before, but I couldn't sit still long enough while her body writhed in pain. I would take her pain away, bring it on myself if I could just erase the image of her in pain from my mind.
Edward, Nessie really would like to be with you.
Rosalie, she had taken to Nessie in a matter of seconds, she loved her. I couldn't be near the child, not yet at least. I was a father, she wasn't just any child, she was my child. Why couldn't I grasp that yet. How was I supposed to feel about her? I felt a strange love for her, a love that I never felt for anyone before, even Bella. My fists clenched slightly, I wanted my child, she was mine, not Rosalie's, not Alice's or Esme's, mine.
I was up before I noticed what I was doing. Everyone looked up at me when I stopped at the doorway. Nessie instantly reached for me, her thoughts were on me, she wanted me to hold her, she wanted to be with me. I couldn't look any of them in the eye, all I could do was reach for her, and to my surprise, she reached for me too. I'm sure if my heart was still beating, it would have stopped.
With her in my arms, everything seemed better, like the love of my existence, my wife, was not suffering. I headed for the stairs as she pressed her hands to my face.
Why are you sad daddy, I love you.
I closed my bedroom door behind us and sat on the couch, holding my daughter close to my chest.
"You don't have to touch me for me to hear you, princess."
Her face flashed slightly with confusion and she reached for my face again, but stopped and dropped her hands back to her side.
You can hear me?
I nodded, smiling at her slightly. Her grin lit up the whole room and she hugged herself to me. I moved my arms slightly, wrapping my arms around her waist and she snuggled closer to me.
Your smart daddy, I love you.
I buried my face in her hair, gently kissing the top of her head.
"I love you too princess."
It was than that the moment was ruined. Bella screeched from the next room, a pain filled howl that made me flinch back slightly and Nessie twisted her head to look towards the sound.
Daddy, I hurt mommy, its my fault she is in pain, its my fault your sad daddy.
Her quiet sobs made the ache in my chest intensify. I bit my tongue to contain my own sobs, I not only caused my family and Bella pain, but my own daughter as well.
"No princess, it's not your fault at all, I'm sad because your sad, you didn't hurt your mother, it was my fault, everything is my fault, just please don't cry."
She sniffled slightly, her warm tears trickling onto my neck as she snuggled closer.
You love mommy a lot don't you?
"Yes, Nessie, your mother is the most amazing woman in the world."
Daddy, I heard you sing to mommy, sing to me.
I hummed slightly to her, rocking her gently back and forth until her sobs eased and her breathing slowed. Bella's lullaby had the same effect on my daughter as it did on Bella. It was no longer just hers, I was no longer just hers, I belonged to both of them now, just like the lullaby. Nessie filled another hole in my heart that I had never known was there.
