* All Twilight references and characters belong to Stephenie Meyer, all other characters, plot changes, etc are just fun things that I like to play with.
* This story is rated M for mature due to references and possibly descriptive scenes of abuse, rape, and smut.
"I love you Bella, I don't want to lose you." his was sitting on the floor beside me, one hand resting on my belly and the other stroking my head softly.
"I love you too Edward." I told him with a smile and he leaned over to kiss me softly.
The next two weeks rushed by in a blur, I would wake for brief periods to throw up the liquids that Carlisle continued to pump into me and then fall back asleep. I requested to stay in the living room so that I was near the family while they worked constantly on trying to find out more information about what was happening to my body, what our child was.
Carlisle and Edward were both becoming increasingly frustrated with my not being able to keep anything in my system and I could see the worry whenever I was awake. Carlisle had ordered a portable ultrasound machine and was disappointed when we learned that we couldn't see through the amniotic sac.
When I was measuring twenty-eight weeks into the pregnancy the baby broke two of my ribs when it kicked too hard. I vaguely remember my eyes darting open at the sudden intense pain and the concerned glances that Edward and Carlisle shot each other while fixing me up.
Now that I was measuring thirty-five weeks in I had suffered the breaking of two more ribs and my stomach, sides, and back were black and blue with bruising from it's sheer strength.
I was currently resting on the sofa facing the rest of the room, although my eyes were still closed and I still felt half asleep... but I could hear the sounds in the room around me.
"Edward, Carlisle. I think I've found something, listen to this." Jasper said excitedly that evening. I waited quietly for him to keep talking.
"I found this on a website called Strange Myths. It looks like it was published out of somewhere in Italy by a man named Vincent Masen." I heard the rest of the room gasp in shock and I tried to put the pieces together... Masen...
"It's pretty accurate information about us but the point of the website is to de-bunk myths. It talks about how we sparkle in the sunlight, how we can live on either human or animal blood, how the change takes place, and finally it talks about the ability of male vampires to father children... known as hybrids. "He told us the basics and then quoted the part we were most interested in.
"Male vampires may be able to father children with a female human if they possess enough control not to kill them with their strength. It is extremely rare and the mother will always die in the process as the only way for the child hybrid to be born is for him or her to bite his way out of the womb, unfortunately in most cases the mother does not survive the first few days of the pregnancy let alone until the time of delivery. Each hybrid child is completely unique and it's traits will depend on it's genetic make-up. The one thing all hybrids have in common is that they age extremely fast, pregnancies ranging from 1-6 weeks in length and the children maturing fulling within 5-10 years. The children are immortal and once they reach maturity stay that way forever."
As Jasper finished reading I opened my eyes and saw everyone looking over Jasper's shoulder at the computer screen. Carlisle and Edward were staring at each other and I recognized their silent conversation.
"Jasper, can you get your guy to see if he can find this Vincent Masen? I believe that first of all Edward and I know him and second of all he may be able to help with Bella. We also need to get rid of that page and everything on it right away." Carlisle spoke and I continued to sit quietly in shock as the family began pummeling Edward with questions, both out loud and I'm sure mentally.
"Carlisle, you've never mentioned anyone by the name of Vincent before... but with the last name Masen... and his knowledge of Vampires... is there something you two haven't mentioned?" Esme quizzed almost angrily and I echoed her feelings.
"Back when I changed Edward, he wasn't alone. I changed both Edward and his twin brother Vincent. Edward was happy to stay with me and feed off of animals but Vincent wasn't. He left after a few months and as his maker I tried to find him but was never able to track him down. We looked everywhere for him but we never heard his name or came across his scent again. We assumed that Vincent had somehow been killed." Carlisle spoke quickly and I saw Edward hang his head in shame.
"Edward was extremely upset about Vincent leaving that way and he asked that we not speak of it once we had given up looking. We both pushed it out of our minds and I truly didn't think about it, especially once Esme and Rosalie came along. I never would have imagined that he is still alive out there somewhere." he finished up and I saw the hurt on Esme's face.
"I'm sorry for not ever saying anything before darling. I just didn't think..." he continued and Esme wrapped her arms lovingly around his neck.
"Alright, so let's see if we can find him and we'll figure this out." Esme smiled and I tried to wrap my head around everything else that Jasper had read.
"There's another legend on this website... Vampire Myths... it confirms the other legends everything, exactly, written by a Wyatt Douglas. We have to figure out a way to get the baby out without killing Bella." Jasper spoke up again and I closed my eyes, trying to hold back my tears.
"What about a C-Section?" Rosalie suggested and I processed the possibility.
"That might be an option... I'll have to see if I can create something strong enough to cut through the amniotic sac... perhaps the werewolf tooth I was given by Caius years ago? If it really is as tough as vampire skin it might be the only way. Edward, she's getting close I don't think that we should wait any longer than morning to perform it. We'll go hunting tonight to make sure we're at our best and then first thing in the morning we'll take the baby out." Carlisle mused as he put his thoughts together.
"Everyone should go hunting, if Bella's blood is going to be in the house we should all make sure we're okay to handle it." Rosalie said and I silently agreed.
Edward. I said trying to catch his attention. I'm awake Edward, I've heard it all. I love you and I trust you and Carlisle to get the baby out okay. Do whatever you need to do. I continued and felt him sit next to me on the sofa.
"We'll take care of you both Bella, I promise." he said kissing my cheek gently.
I trust you Edward and I love you. I know that I'm weak already and that it will be risky to take the baby. I want you to know that if you have to change me to save me, that is what I want. And if something happens and you can't save me... make sure you look after the baby. He or she will need you.
"I love you Bella," he said simply and he gave me another kiss before I felt him stand up.
"I just hunted a couple of hours ago, so I'll stay here with Bella." Esme spoke up and I was glad that I wouldn't be left completely alone while they hunted.
"Okay, let's head out now so that we can be back as fast as possible to do this." Carlisle said and I sensed them all stand up and felt the rush of air as the room emptied.
ESME'S POV
After the rest of the family left to go hunting I sat down on the floor beside Bella and gently placed my hand on her belly, listening to the gentle fluttering of it's heart beat. I closed my eyes and imagined the baby in the house, a baby that nobody in the family ever believed was possible.
At first I had been slightly jealous when they told us the news, the impossible news, but that feeling passed quickly and now all I wanted was for both my daughter and my grand-child to survive this.
My thoughts drifted to the conversation with the family and learning about Edward's brother. My heart ached slightly at knowing that my husband and my son hadn't shared the full truth with us before now but in a way I could understand how much it would have hurt both Edward and Carlisle at the time.
The baby nudged my hand again and I was brought back to the current situation, to Bella laying so sick in front of me, her body battered and weak. She was so strong... stronger than any of us. And what about the child, who would he or she resemble, what will it be like to have a child in the house?
I don't know how long I had been lost in my fantasies when she first began to moan in pain and I snapped quickly out of it to see what was wrong.
"What's wrong Bella?" I asked shifting so that I could see her face more clearly.
"It hurts Esme..." She gasped and I realized that her belly had gone impossibly harder beneath my hand.
"Where does it hurt Bella?" I asked urgently, feeling around the floor beside me for where I had set my phone down.
"My belly, like bad cramps... like when I had Shiloh... I think the baby's coming now..." she gasped again and I threw the phone to my ear dialing Carlisle's number.
A second later I heard the ringing from the table beside the computer. "Damn." I muttered realizing that he had left his phone here. I tried Edward next, leaving him a voice mail. I called every member of the family, discovering both Jasper and Emmett had also left their phones here and Alice's had gone to voice mail. Finally Rosalie picked up.
"Rosalie, I think Bella's in labor." I breathed into the phone as Bella squeezed my hand and breathed through another contraction.
"Real labor? It's not trying to bite it's way out?" she asked confused as I heard her begin to run through the trees.
"Yes real labor, it's happening fast too, can you find Carlisle and Edward... bring them home." I spoke quickly and snapped my phone closed as Bella screamed in pain and again squeezed my fingers.
"Let's get you into bed upstairs. They're coming back soon Bella, just keep breathing." I tried to sooth her as we raced up to her and Edward's room. I quickly helped her change from her pajamas into a nightgown and laid her into the bed. It was only seven contractions later when she again gasped in pain.
"Esme, I think I need to push... I think it's time." she panted and seemed to involuntarily begin to bare down and push.
"Alright Bella, follow your body, listen to what it's telling you to do." I tried to remain calm as I moved down her body to see how far along the labor was progressing.
"Bella I can already see it's head, keep pushing sweetie." I smiled at her and watched as she lifted herself onto her elbows and pushed hard, resting only momentarily before offering one more long push while I guided the baby's head and shoulders out. Another small push and the rest of the body slid out into my waiting arms.
"It's a girl Bella." She was radiating pride as she fell back against the pillow. I quickly wrapped the baby up in a blanket I had grabbed, leaving the umbilical cord attached and placing the baby in Bella's waiting arms.
"She's so beautiful." Bella whispered just before she closed her eyes in exhaustion. A second later I heard a loud snap and looked down to see the baby bite into Bella, just above her chest. "No baby," I gently cooed as I lifted the baby off her chest and was surprised when she seemed to understand my words. I was relieved when Bella didn't scream in pain and I couldn't smell any venom, the baby being venomous had been one of our concerns.
"Esme!" I heard Edward call from outside the house.
"In your room with Bella and the baby. They're both fine, but Carlisle needs to get in here and take care of Bella." I said just loud enough for him to hear me.
EDWARD'S POV
"In your room with Bella and the baby. They're both fine, but Carlisle needs to get in here and take care of Bella." Esme said just loud enough for me to hear and in her thoughts I could see Bella and the baby... my baby... with her.
I had been able to smell Bella's blood well before I could speak so Esme could hear and the scent was stronger as I approached the house. Without slowing at all I ran through the door and up the stairs to where my beautiful mate was laying exhausted but okay in the bed. In Esme's arms was my child.
"Bella, Bella, Bella!" I cooed gently as I ran to her side and kissed her forehead. Her eyes fluttered open as they saw me.
"I did it... she's so beautiful." she whispered softly before closing her eyes again. I gave her another kiss on the cheek and looked down at the large stain between her legs.
"She still needs to deliver the placenta Edward, why don't you cut the cord and I'll take the baby and clean her up while you and Carlisle help Bella." Esme spoke softly and I grabbed the small scissors that she handed me, I clamped the cord in two spots cutting off the circulation before clipping through the rubbery cord easily.
By the time I had dealt with the cord Bella's body was delivering the afterbirth naturally and I used my hand to provide some extra pressure to remove it completely.
"Good job son," Carlisle said as I grabbed the garbage bin and disposed of the bloody package.
"Everything seems normal, the bleeding has slowed, there's no tearing... it looks like Bella's going to be just fine." he said as he took my place and examined her further.
"Why don't you clean her up and change the bedding, I'll take a look at the baby while you do that." he patted me on the back as he stood up and left the room.
"Here, let me help Edward." Alice said a moment later entering the room with fresh clothes and bedding.
"Edward." Bella murmured as her eyes opened again.
"Bella Love, you did so good baby," I said gently as she struggled to sit up.
"Where is she?" she asked looking around worriedly.
"She's with Esme and Carlisle, they're just cleaning her up and checking her over. Alice and I are going to clean you up and then they'll bring the baby back in." I whispered softly.
"Can I shower?" she asked and I looked at her worriedly.
"I feel okay Edward, I'm exhausted, but okay." she said smiling up at me and I helped her out of bed and stood in the shower with her while she cleaned up. Once she was done in the shower I helped her dry off and change into some clean clothes.
"Thank you Alice." I said as we made our way back towards the bed that had been made up with fresh bedding. There was also a beautiful iron cradle made up with pink sheets waiting beside the bed.
"Here, lie down in bed and relax." I smiled at my beautiful wife and heard Esme walk towards our room.
"Here's your daughter." she smiled at me as she came over and I met her halfway to take the tiny bundle from her arms.
"Thank you Esme... Grandma." I said giving her a quick hug before making my way back to Bella.
"Bella... meet our daughter." I whispered, sitting next to my beautiful Bella, the baby between us sleeping peacefully.
"Elizabeth." she whispered quietly and I smiled at the name we had chosen together, it suited her.
"She looks like you." she said to me with a smile and the baby stirred slightly opening her eyes to reveal Bella's own chocolate brown eye color. "She has your eyes though Love, and your curls too." I smiled back at her and heard the footsteps of the entire family as they approached the room.
"Can the family come in? They want to meet the baby." I asked my wife and saw her nod her head, biting her lip nervously.
"You can all come in," I said quietly and the family made their way into the room and formed a semi-circle around the bed.
"She's beautiful Bella!" Rosalie exclaimed as she looked between the three of us with wonder. I saw Emmett rub her shoulder gently and was surprised when I didn't detect any jealousy within her thoughts, just happiness for us.
"You did amazing Bella... and Edward." Jasper and Alice said together and I smiled widely.
Esme and Carlisle stood to the side smiling at us quietly.
"Thank you so much Esme for being with me while she was born and helping me through it." Bella spoke up and Esme beamed with pride.
"What did you two decide to name her?" Carlisle asked curiously.
"We decided the name just after we discovered I was pregnant. Elizabeth Shiloh Cullen." Bella said quietly and I noticed that her voice already seemed to be stronger again.
"Beautiful, Perfect, Lovely," were murmured throughout the family at the revelation of her name.
"Rose, do you want to hold her?" Bella asked a minute later and I saw Rosalie nod her head enthusiastically. I gently passed the baby over and saw the look of pure ecstasy on her face as she held the tiny pink bundle.