4
BODY PIERCING AND LABOR
My baby was getting bigger and of course my abdomen was bare wherever I went, all three of my men were into constantly touching my abdomen, feeling the baby's movements and talking to the baby.
I had E-mailed Renee and told her I was expecting another baby and she was happy to have another grandchild but I was afraid to tell her about Thomàs and I let her think the baby was Aro's; I hadn't actually lied to her but she just assumed and I left it at that.
"I think this baby is going to pop out of her abdomen one of these days, don't you agree, Edward?" Thomàs said.
Edward had been engrossed in his studies and I had been helping Emma wind some yarn into a ball; I had been standing at the ball end, of course Thomàs was watching me closely.
"I hope not Thomàs," I said, "There are still four months to go," I said.
"Thomàs is a physician just like my father and he knows a great deal about delivering babies, so between Carlisle and Thomàs, you're in good hands," Edward said without looking up.
I went over to Thomàs and he immediately started massaging my abdomen.
"You didn't tell me that Thomàs," I said.
"I prefer not to talk about me, only about you," he said.
"I think that's important for me to know," I said.
"It's only important for me to know, Isabella, you just need to know I love you and I'll take care of you," he told me.
I rolled my eyes just as Edward looked up and saw, he laughed.
"You know, I'm not a newborn anymore and I'm entitled to my opinion, it's time you started treating me like I'm your wife and not a child, doesn't my opinion count?" I said.
"You know Thomàs, we should treat her the way she deserves, she has been very compliant since I changed her and I think it's time to loosen up and let her make her own decisions if that's what she wants," Edward said.
I held Thomàs' face as he looked up to me, then I lowered my head to kiss him; he pulled me down on his lap and held me.
"So, little Miss Independent, I want to take care of you, don't you want that too?" Thomàs said.
"Of course I want that, Thomàs, but at least ask my opinion about things and consider my answers, I know I can offer good suggestions on how to take care of our children and even on how to take care of you my love; I'm not just a pretty face or a sex object, I went to school too and I'm smart."
"Does that mean you don't want me being with you constantly?" Thomàs asked.
"Not at all I like being with you and I'd miss you if you weren't with me but at least include me in your conversations and take me places where I want to go sometimes."
"I think Edward and I can handle that, little miss, but what about Papa?"
"Aro will continue the way he always does with me and I will continue to do what he insists on but at least you could agree with some of my ideas and I know he'll listen to you better than me," I said.
Thomàs squeezed me and I laughed.
"This girl is devious, she wants us to get Papa to do what she wants, I guess she's a lot smarter than we gave her credit for," he said.
"You realize of course that even Aro has no control on certain vampire rules as in your involvement with Thomàs which is called birthright," Edward said.
"Yes I realize that and I'm prepared to acknowledge the vampire way of life no matter how difficult for me to comply but you could familiarize me with all the rules so I won't be shocked," I said.
"We'll try to apprise you as they come up but there are so many and they aren't written down anywhere, you have to remember that vampires live many years longer than humans, they don't anticipate an 'after life' on a higher plane and so morality isn't an issue; neither is killing each other or lying, in other words there is no moral code and other than yourself, there are no health issues. Vampires don't have diseases which occur in humans including sexually related diseases from promiscuity, there's no such thing," Edward told me.
"You mean vampires won't get sick from sleeping around," I asked.
"Yes that's what I mean, and sleeping around isn't considered a bad thing, in fact it's encouraged in more ways than one," Edward informed me.
"Well I'm safe from that because I'm married," I said.
"Rape is considered a bad thing and is punishable by death as occurred with Vince and children are not supposed to be used or changed even though it has happened and we do need to keep a close eye on Jenny; there is however an agreement that can occur between the husband of a woman or the wife of a man which you have already experienced as the sharing rule; this can become much more complicated in the 'coming out' ball," Edward continued to inform me.
"What's a 'coming out' ball?" I wondered.
"It's a ball which shows off your beauty and availability, just like a debutant ball in the human world except as a vampire you're not necessarily single," he said.
"Oh," was all I could think of to say.
I started to think out this new information so I could form a question in my mind, I started to think that maybe it wasn't a good thing for me but I was dragged from my reverie as Thomàs spoke to me.
"I want to change the subject because I have a surprise for you," he said.
"I don't need any more surprises Thomàs," I said.
"You may not like this one at first but you will eventually; I want to be married to you."
I groaned.
"Don't worry; I'm not in to wedding ceremonies either but I intend to give you a ring and you will wear it in an unusual place, I am into body piercing within reason, this will be permanent because once in place there will be no seams, Carlisle will assist me to place it," he told me.
I didn't have a good feeling about this but soon I had the ring in place as a permanent fixture with no seams as he had promised, he was into body piercing of sexual organs and so there it was smooth and round with a diamond engagement ring hanging from it and I had to get used to the constant stimulation it caused; along with the initial pain.
"You had no more ring fingers and I wanted to do this because you belong to me too, you already have my name and now you have my rings so I am your husband and you are my wife," Thomàs informed me.
I nodded and he kissed me and wiped away my tears.
"Are you happy to be my wife Isabella?" he asked.
"Yes Thomàs, I'm very happy, I just don't like where you put my rings," I said glumly.
"When our baby comes out, I'll show you how beautiful they are on you and I know you'll think so," he said.
Edward and Aro were pleased and said how good the rings looked and Carlisle thought so too; the wedding ring needed to be turned constantly at first and it made me crazy but once it healed, it slipped around easily and I could stand it to a certain extent.
When I went to the castle, Thomàs showed off my rings but said to look and not touch, he knew it would bother me if people started fingering them, the two rings jingled together when I walked and I was sure people could tell who was coming, I was embarrassed at first but as my due date came close, the rings didn't bother me anymore so long as no one touched them.
I was with Thomàs in his apartment when my labor started, he knew exactly what to do so he didn't panic; he called Carlisle to let him know what was going on and that I was fine.
"I'll call you if I have a problem, Carlisle," he said.
As my labor progressed it became more and more painful but Thomas worked with me helping me relax, I found myself able to control the pain.
"Did I tell you how much I loved you?" I said in between contractions.
"I think you should keep telling me, so you don't forget when the pain becomes unbearable," he said smiling.
"Is it going to get worse?" I asked.
"Much, much worse, mia amore," he said and kissed me through the next contraction.
He made love to me then and that definitely helped me forget the pain.
The contractions became stronger and closer together until finally there was a gush of water; Thomàs put his fingers inside me to check my progress, then he called Carlisle.
"Isabella is doing very well, her water just broke and the baby is ready to push down," he told him.
He listened to Carlisle's response.
"No, I'm not going to have her push yet, I'm going to let the baby labor down," Thomàs told Carlisle.
He paused while he listened to Carlisle again.
"No, she doesn't need any pain medication," Thomàs answered.
He continued to listen to what Carlisle was saying.
"I think you should send Alice over to help with the baby," he said and paused, "Yes, I think it will be within the hour."
He hung up the phone and continued to coach me.
"You're doing exceptionally well mia amore," he told me.
He kissed me through the pain again.
"I think I should try this with my patients," he said smiling.
"I don't think so," I said, "Let their husbands kiss them."
"That's what I meant, you silly girl," we laughed.
"How do you feel Isabella?" he asked.
"I feel very relaxed and I'm not afraid of the pain, thanks to you my husband," I said.
"You continue to amaze me," he said, "For being so young, you're very stoic," he said and stroked my hair.
He helped me through the next several contractions, wiping the perspiration from my forehead and kissing me often; I felt the baby pushing down, wanting to come out but he talked me out of pushing.
"Just let the baby do the work, relax and breathe," he said.
Then he stood me up.
"Let's walk," he said.
He took me outside the apartment and we walked around the walkway of the castle, we stopped often when I contracted and he kissed me, but then we continued until the pressure was too great and I was sure the baby was coming out; he put his fingers inside me while I stood.
"I think you're right my love, the baby is right here," he said.
He insisted on me walking back to the apartment which wasn't far, and he called Carlisle as we walked to say it was time; then he hung up.
"Alice is here in the apartment and she has blankets for our baby," he told me, "The baby is going to slip out so you don't have to do much more my love."
When we arrived back at the apartment, Alice greeted us.
"How is she doing?" she asked Thomàs.
"Very well, the baby will come out with the next contraction or two," he said.
He still made me walk and the baby's head started to show.
"Stand still and I'll help the baby out, open up your legs and hold on to Alice," he instructed.
The baby slid out and the placenta followed quickly, there was no blood; the baby started crying immediately, he cut the baby from the placenta and handed him to Alice, then he looked at me.
"How do you feel my love?" he asked gently.
"I feel fine now the pains gone," I said.
"I need you to lie down on the bed while I examine you," he told me.
I lay down and looked at my flat abdomen as I felt his fingers inside me.
"It doesn't look like I was pregnant," I said amazed.
"It doesn't look like it down here either," he said.
Alice handed me the baby and Baby Thomàs latched on to my breast right away.
Thomàs lay down beside me, he'd been naked with me during my labor and I could tell he was going to make love to me; Alice could see that too.
"I think I'll leave before things get hot and heavy," she said, "Emma's here if you need anything," she added.
"Thank you for coming Alice," I said as she left.
"You know I'm going to make you pregnant again," he told me, "Are you ready to have another baby so soon?" he asked.
"I want you to make love to me, so if that means I get pregnant then so be it," I said.
"I promise you, you will be pregnant because things are going to get hot and heavy, using Alice's words," he said.
He kissed me and from there things did get very hot and very heavy, in between we talked to Baby Thomàs, he seemed content to glug on my breast while his papa glugged on the other one.
The next day everyone came to see the baby including the twins and Jenny. Little Aro was fascinated with the baby and wanted to know how he came out of me, his papa was there to show and tell, Carlotta wasn't so interested.
"Why you not have a baby girl?" she asked.
"We didn't get to choose," I said to her, "Maybe the next baby will be a girl," I said.
"Are you pregnant?" Alice wondered.
"Thomàs said I would be if we made love and we did, so I'm sure I am; things got pretty wild after you left," I said and smiled as I remembered.
"You and Thomàs did a great job of delivering that baby, I would never have believed anyone could have so much control and he came out of you while you stood, that's amazing," she said.
"Thomàs was the amazing one," I said, "He made me calm and helped me handle the pain, it was so much easier with him being with me."
Carlisle came over.
"Congratulations Bella, I hear you did a great job," he said.
"I couldn't have done it without Thomàs, he was so good to me," I said.
"Thomàs tells me you're pregnant again?" Carlisle asked.
"More than likely," I said smiling, "I'm not looking forward to the morning sickness but I'll know for sure when I start throwing up."
Jenny came over to me and lay down beside me; she stroked the baby's head.
"He's so cute," she said, "Was it hard to get Baby Thomàs to come out?"
"It wasn't easy but his Papa helped me so much," I said.
"Do you love Thomàs as much as Papas Edward and Aro?" she asked.
"I love Thomàs very much Jenny and yes I suppose I do love him just as much."
"Did you marry him too?" she asked.
"Yes I did but the ceremony was just the placing of the rings," I said.
"Where are the rings?" she asked.
I showed her.
"This one is so beautiful," she said as she touched the diamond ring.
"You're right it is beautiful, I wasn't able to see it before because of my large abdomen," I said.
Thomàs came over to us and lay on the other side of me.
"So do you like your rings," he asked.
"I love them," I said smiling.
"Do you mind where they are now?" he asked.
"I think I like where they are," I said shyly.
"I think you do too," he said knowing the pleasure I felt last night.
"Do you want more pleasure?" he asked.
"I'd like that," I said still shyly.
He kissed me, "Don't be shy young lady, I'll make you happy again as soon as everyone leaves."
I was shy to admit that he was right about the rings and I buried my head in his chest.
"I'm glad you put the rings there," I said with a muffled voice.
"I'm glad I did too," he said, "I decided that I wanted some pleasure too so now I have a ring just like your wedding band," he showed me.
I touched it gently.
"It's beautiful," I said.
"The ring or me?" he was joking.
"Why you of course," I said laughing but I was serious.
"I'll soon see how well you like the ring when it's inside you," he said.
Later on I found out and I found I liked it very much, our love making was wonderful.
"You realize little girl, you've made me the happiest man ever," he said.
"Am I a little girl?" I asked.
"You're a very little girl with three old men who love you very much," he said.
"I suppose you are old but I don't think of you that way, Edward doesn't look older than me, even though he's much older. The important thing is that none of us will age anymore but I suppose I'll continue to be your little girl no matter how many children I have."
"I'm afraid if you continue to make love to me, you're destined to have many children because the chances of you getting pregnant immediately after you deliver a baby are pretty high," he said.
"I suppose I'll have many children then because I'll always want to make love to you," I said.
"You are la mia piccolisimo bambina," he said.
I laughed, "I think I like being your little child but what about this little one?"
"This is my son, Isabella and he will soon be a man, you'll see."