Chapter 10: A Mother's Pain

A strange, sudden static sound jolted the Cullens out of their own mindsets. Edythe's head shot up as the crackling monitor on the side table went off, glancing quickly at it before standing quickly, unconsciously. Murmuring a quick "excuse me," she left, climbing the stairs quickly to the second floor. The Cullens' eyes stayed on the little device, hearing the low, meek babbling both from the monitor and through the ceiling. They listened to Edythe upstairs, padding across a room and cooing softly underneath her breath. As they listened, they glanced around at each other, seeing the same amount of anticipation, nervousness, and excitement in their faces as was obvious on their own. The vampires froze as they heard footsteps leaving the room and moving toward the stairs once more. They held their breath, watching with their senses as Edythe returned, stepping into the room with an infant in her arms.

The little boy's eyes were bright and alert, and the same color as his mother's, though his hair held Beau's reddish tint. He wore a simple white onesie with short sleeves, his diaper easily seen underneath. Edythe supported him with one arm underneath him and the other across his chest, letting him play with her fingers absently. All the Cullens smiled at their nephew and grandson; Edythe returned it as she stepped to sit back on the couch, gently lowering Lucas to the ground by his toys. He immediately was occupied with the brightly colored blocks. As Edythe relaxed back on the sofa between her parents, she noticed all their eyes with hers on the little boy as he played. No one spoke for a moment, just absorbing the miracle in front of them.

"He's beautiful, Edythe," Royal finally said. She looked up at him, surprised, but smiled. Though she longer had the ability to read every thought in the room, she could see past Royal's eyes to the old sadness there, the yearning he had always had to have a child, a family. The only memory she had of Royal since becoming human was his animosity, how it had scared her in that moment. But now, she understood, and she couldn't help but feel guilty for having what each of her family wanted so badly. Her first years as a human were difficult to say the least, but at least she had gotten her wish, to be human again, to live with Beau as it should have been

The Cullens watched the baby with different degrees of caution and happiness. The child, unaware of the audience, played with his blocks for a few moments before becoming bored. He twisted his body sideways, flipping himself onto his stomach and crawling away. As he approached the loveseat where Archie, Jessamine, Eleanor, and Royal sat, the vampires tensed, unsure of what to do. Lucas carefully gripped the edge of the couch and pulled his little body up, huffing a little under his breath with the effort. Standing precariously on his wobbly legs, he looked up where Archie sat closest to him, and smiled a toothless smile. Archie smiled back automatically, though he was still anxious, stiff. Lucas shifted his weight sideways slightly, trying to figure his body out, which seemed to move of its own accord. Keeping his pudgy hands on the seat of the couch, he moved his legs. But his little body and muscles weren't strong enough to keep him upright and move at the same time, and he began to fall. Edythe predicted it and moved to catch him, but the vampires around her were faster, in addition to Archie foreseeing him landing flat on his bottom. Without seeming to think about it, Archie's hands caught underneath the child's arms, supporting him before he fell. Lucas giggled easily and stretched his arms toward Archie, making it clear what he wanted. Unsure of what to do, Archie looked up at Edythe, who had been settled back on couch once she realized Archie had saved Luca from his little spill. She couldn't help but laugh at her brother's expression.

"He wants up, Arch," she told him as Lucas continued his demand, trying in vain to climb up onto the couch. Hesitantly, Archie lifted Lucas into his lap; Jessamine, who sat besides him, grew even more tense. Though the burn in her throat was negligible and Lucas was so small that she didn't even feel any rage in her throat from his presence, she did not want to risk anything. Archie, on the other hand, grew more relaxed as he lifted Lucas to stand on his lap, holding his little fingers and bouncing him ever so slightly. The little boy giggled, enthralled by the fun game. Edythe couldn't help but smile at her son's laugh, and everyone in the room saw the light and joy in her eyes when she looked at him, which became amused when her eyes moved to her stiff sister.

"He doesn't bite, Jess. Not yet anyway," she teased. The Cullens laughed slightly at the joke, Jessamine included, but she still looked unsure. Archie turned toward his wife, twisting so Lucas could see Jessamine. Lucas reached out toward her, curiosity in his eyes and Jessamine's panicked glance at Edythe was met with a slight nod. Edythe's eyes were calm, trusting as Jessamine gently took Lucas into her arms, the baby settling in her lap while playing with a lock of her hair. Archie's hands stayed over Jess', running over them to soothe her. Edythe watched the exchange quietly, not thinking twice about the fact her son was in the arms of a vampire. But she could feel her family give her sideways glances, seeming shocked that she would trust them so absolutely. In addition though, Carine noticed the way Edythe absently kneaded her right side, almost as if she were in discomfort, and her eyes furrowed as she remembered what Beau had said about nerve damage and bruises.

Lucas was seemingly perfectly content to play with Jessamine's hair and shirt and, as the minutes went by, Jessamine relaxed underneath him, watching her nephew with fondness. Edythe smiled gently, seeing the love her sister and family already had for Lucas. Jessamine looked up at her slightly, still keeping her hair forward enough as Lucas still had a hold of it.

"He's just like his father, completely content with supernatural beings," she commented. The Cullens laughed, Edythe included, shaking her head in response. As Jessamine relaxed, she leaned against the back of the couch, allowing Eleanor and Royal to get closer. Eleanor ran her fingers over Lucas' back and he turned toward her, confusion in his green eyes. When he saw it was another person who he could befriend, he reached toward her, moving from Jessamine's to Eleanor's arms.

"Time to play 'pass the baby'," Jessamine said, causing everyone to laugh again. Eleanor grinned, carefree and at ease as Luca bounced up and down on her knees, holding onto his hands for support.

"Kid's already rearing to go. We're going to be chasing after him once he starts walking," Eleanor said. Edythe laughed, while her heart also clenched when Eleanor had said 'we' instead of 'you'. She filed it away for later, swallowing the lump in her throat, as she answered.

"Oh, I already do that. He moves fast when he wants to," she replied, laughing good-naturedly. Royal sat besides his wife, who had taken to lifting a babbling Lucas up and down rather than simply balancing on his wobbly legs. Royal reached out and lightly tickled him and the child screamed in surprise and glee, pulling away from his uncle's fingers. The grin on Royal's face was something no one had ever seen in him before, even Eleanor. Lucas laughed freely, entertained and loving the game and the attention. Once they finally let up, he sat quietly for a few moments, occupying himself with the beading on Eleanor's shirt. Then, he looked up suddenly, searching. Once he found Edythe, he reached out to her, making a single sound, a clear, confident "Eh!" that made it obvious what he wanted. Edythe stood up immediately, a smile on her face.

"He wants Mommy, obviously," Royal said as he transferred Lucas to her, and Edythe smiled, as she always did, at the title. Edythe moved back to her spot between Earnest and Carine, settling down with her son in the circle of her arms. Lucas looked up at his grandparents curiously before continuing to fuss. He continued his wordless demands and Edythe worked to keep him still.

"What does he want?" Eleanor asked, her brow furrowing. She was concerned, as the rest of them were, put off by the sound of Lucas' distress.

"He's just hungry," Edythe assured them, brushing her hair out of reach as Lucas made to grab it, obviously intent on making his desire clear.

"Can we feed him?" Royal asked, his eyes lighting up and Edythe smiled, though upset she would have to deny him. She shook her head.

"No one can really feed him but me, I'm afraid," she replied, laughing a little uneasily as Lucas continued to whine. Normally, she would have already pulled her top down for him, but she was hesitant, not wanting to make her family uncomfortable. The Cullens understood her words immediately.

"Do you want us to leave?" Jessamine asked, feeling the hesitance in her sister.

"No, I don't mind, but I don't want to make you uncomfortable," she countered.

"It doesn't bother us. Just take care of him," Earnest assured her, with the rest of them nodding in agreement. Edythe sighed slightly in relief, wordlessly handing Lucas to Carine before leaving the room, going to the kitchen. Carine held Lucas easily, naturally, even as he continued to fuss in her arms. Though he wasn't objected to her holding him, he was hungry and Edythe had left, and as such, he wasn't having it. He began to whine louder, tears brimming in his eyes, and the Cullens felt a lurch in their hearts at the expression.

"I know, munchkin. She's coming back, I promise," Carine cooed softly to the infant. Luca calmed slightly at her soothing voice, softening his cries. Edythe returned a few moments later, a small towel over her shoulder. She sat besides Carine and took a squirming Lucas from her. Without seeming to think about it, she held him up with her left arm and easily unsnapped her brassiere underneath the sleeveless shirt she wore.

Pulling the fabric away, she pressed the child to her chest and sighed softly as he immediately calmed down, latching onto her nipple and beginning to suckle. The Cullens didn't blink at the sight of their sister and daughter practically topless, not finding issue beyond contentedness that Lucas had quieted down. Edythe exhaled as she leaned into the back of the couch, relaxing. Carine moved with her, her body turned toward her daughter. Unconsciously, she reached out and stroked Lucas' scalp, running her fingers through the mahogany hair on his head. Lucas didn't react, too hungry to care.

"Is he eating normal food at all?" she asked Edythe. Edythe looked up, answering honestly.

"A little bit; he'll eat little bits of fruit and vegetables when I offer it to him, but it's not as often since….since we found out. He wouldn't eat at all for a time, so if my milk is what he wants right now, I'll give it to him." Carine nodded to herself, her eyes roaming over Lucas' body, her mind far away.

"Beau is having both of your medical files faxed to his office and he will bring them home. I will look over everything tonight, but will want to do my own tests, specifically an ultrasound. I will have to contact the hospital in town to allow me medical access." Carine told her, her eyes seeing Edythe's expression get taut and anxious at the thought of the hospital. Carine squeezed her hand comfortingly.

"You will come with me, and will be with him the whole time. No one will touch him other than me. No harm will come to either of you, I will make sure of that," she promised Edythe. Though her eyes still stayed unsure, stressed, she nodded; regardless of what had happened in the past, she knew she had to do everything to help her son, which meant potentially bringing him to the one place she wished she could avoid for the rest of her life. Carine wrapped her arm around Edythe's shoulder in a comfortingly embrace, tightening her grip for a moment. Then she looked down, her lips turning up into a smile once more as she watched Lucas.

"He looks so much like you," she commented softly.

"He has a lot of Beau in him too," Earnest added. Edythe smiled in response, looking down proudly at her son as he finished his meal. Edythe gently pulled Lucas away from her chest, sitting up. Carine caught the towel as it slipped behind Edythe and lay it back over her shoulder. Edythe thanked her quietly as she moved to burp Lucas, who was fussing once more. Once he burped and his belly was full, Lucas wanted to explore once more. She let him down and he immediately moved to Eleanor and Royal, wanting to play the bouncing game again. Royal picked him up, grabbing one of the toys from the floor at the same time. Quickly, he and Eleanor began to play with Lucas, pressing the little buttons on the toy to make it make sound. Lucas copied their movements, giggling in enjoyment when the toy sang. The Cullens were entranced by the child, even in his simple motions of pressing the buttons with his little fingers, and Edythe could tell they were already wrapped around Lucas' little finger. As he continued to play, Edythe relaxed further into the couch, her eyes on Lucas gradually slipping closed before she jerked herself awake.

"Tired?" Jessamine asked, her grin amused as Edythe worked to keep herself awake. Edythe couldn't help a small laugh.

"Always, so much so that it's become a part of my personality," she replied, to which they laughed. Earnest rubbed his hand gently down Edythe's right arm.

"Sleep if you want to, Edythe. We'll watch him," Archie said, his eyes moving from Lucas to his sister very briefly. She met his gaze, and it felt odd to do so without immediately being privy to his visions. The lack of telepathy was one which she gradually grew accustomed to, but she felt a streak of sadness that she could no longer share that bond with her brother. His smile was genuine, understanding where her mind was at; though he did miss it as well, it was a small price to pay for the light in Edythe's eyes when she watched Lucas. Edythe shook her head though, insisting she was fine. Carine countered her, though.

"If he needs anything, we will wake you. Please, rest. It looks like you could use some sleep," she said. Edythe tried to argue.

"I need to make dinner before Beau gets home," she said, as she made to get up.

"Beau told us to tell you he would be bringing something home, figuring you wouldn't want to cook after seeing us." Archie responded, his grin more prominent. Edythe sat back down, huffing almost in aggravation. She crossed her arms in defiance, keeping her eyes on Lucas; it didn't take long, however, for her battle with her dropping eyelids to be over. She leaned sideways, and Carine draped the blanket from earlier around her before pulling her into her side, Edythe's cheek on her shoulder. Not long after, Lucas began to rub his eyes; soon he was fast asleep on Royal's chest, his finger in his mouth, breathing evenly. The Cullens sat back, intending on waiting out both Edythe's and Lucas' naps, hoping to keep both of them asleep as long as possible.

The next morning, Edythe found herself in a building she never thought she would ever willingly set foot in. Rochester General Hospital looked nothing like the one in Jacksonville, but that didn't calm Edythe any. Her arms were tight around Lucas, who was unaware of the tension in his mother's body, and continued playing with the little toy car she had given him once they had left the house. Carine met them at the entrance, already clad in a white doctor's coat with the hospital's logo freshly emblazoned on the left chest pocket. The hospital had heard of Carine and, upon hearing Beau, who was a senior agent of Deracity, a very affluent and influential company in Rochester, wished to have her added to his family's medical records, they were only too happy to grant her complete access, as well as offer her a job. Carine immediately accepted, calling the hospital and university in Ithaca, claiming a family emergency for her abrupt removal from the programs. They were sad to see her go, but wished her well, hoping she may return in the future.

Carine could see the anxiety in Edythe's eyes and, upon reaching her and Lucas, laid her hand gently against her cheek while her other taking Edythe's free hand. Carine only smiled in greeting, hopefully to ease Edythe's fear. It did minimal help, but Edythe followed her past the front desk, the two female receptionist smiling warmly at her and Carine as they passed. Carine maneuvered through the hospital's hallways easily, leading them to an empty private room in a quiet hallway. Carine took Lucas from Edythe so she could relieve herself of the diaper bag; Lucas, thrilled to be reunited with Carine, began to play with the stethoscope around her neck. Carine laughed softly before gently prying his fingers off it and handing him back to Edythe. Edythe cautiously placed Lucas on exam table, her hands still on him even though he could easily sit up on his own.

Carine set up the ultrasound machine quickly, then instructed Edythe to place Lucas on his back. Lucas squirmed, wanting to sit up and move around. Edythe tried to distract him with his toy, but he continued to wiggle. Carine reached into her pocket and pulled out a set of plastic toy keys, equipped with a car fob and buttons that could be pressed. She pressed one of the many buttons, and the little ring made a honking sound. Lucas' eyes were wide and grabbed for the keys, enthralled by the novelty. Edythe looked up at Carine in question.

"Archie," she said simply with a smile, which Edythe returned with a small shake of her head. Confident Lucas was sufficiently distracted, Carine squirted the cold gel onto his abdomen and ran the doppler over it. Edythe leaned forward, her eyes on the machine; her body seemed to cover Lucas, who was unaware of what was going on. As Carine began to move the wand around slightly, checking everything over, Lucas began to squirm at the feeling. Carine turned her head slightly with a smile, reaching over with her free hand to press another of the buttons on the fob, enticing Lucas once more.

"I didn't know you were so good with children," Edythe commented. Carine smiled, with a hint of sadness this time though.

"You just never saw me with them as often. The pediatric circuit is difficult to be in. Even in smaller hospitals over the years, I hoped to not have to work with children. It's worse to watch a child suffer," she replied. Edythe's smile fell slightly and her intake of breath was choked.

"He's a trooper though, as strong as both his parents," Carine added. Edythe didn't respond, her eyes on Lucas' face. He smiled up at her, and she tried to return it, but it felt more like a grimace. Carine turned back toward the machine, moving back toward Lucas' lower left abdomen. She reached up and pointed toward the screen.

"There it is," she said simply, drawing an outline around the large mass inside Lucas' left kidney. Edythe, though having seen it before in another ultrasound, had to look away, back down to the object of her love and affection. Lucas reached up toward his mother, and she held on the pudgy head that reached for her face, pressing it to her cheek and kissing it gently. Carine watched the exchange silently, but her mind was going a mile a minute.

"Can you do anything?" Edythe asked finally, looking up at her.

"Well, it's stage three with an anaplastic histology. You've tried chemotherapy but it hasn't helped. It's developing too fast," Carine said, listing off what she had read and seen from Lucas' file the previous night.

"So there's no hope?" Edythe's voice had no volume, on the edge of cracking.

"No," Carine countered, meeting her daughter's gaze, "It means that we have less time to get in there and get it out." Edythe's eyes went wide, both at the concept of surgery on her eight-month old, but also from the steely determination in Carine's eyes.

"Will that work?" she asked.

"I believe so. Thankfully, it hasn't grown into the nearby blood vessels or other structures. I can do a partial nephrectomy, and save as much of left kidney as I can. Granted, he can live with just one, most humans can, but if I can save both, I will," Carine informed her, her finger tracing the line of the mass on the screen. Edythe exhaled, not knowing whether to feel relieved or more worried.

"He's just a baby," she murmured, almost a plea. Carine was wiping the gel from Lucas' stomach; she finished quickly and gently lifted Lucas and transferred him to Edythe's arms before gently guiding Edythe to the chair in the corner of the room. She knelt in front of her as Edythe tightly held her son to her chest, holding her free hand in both of hers.

"There will be a pediatric anesthesiologist, as well as myself and other skilled professionals there. There is a risk with him being so young, and with it being so advanced, but if there's any hope of stopping it, this is the only option. I believe I can remove everything." Edythe looked up at her, the expression on her face unfathomable.

"Everything?" she asked, almost unsure. "All the doctors said there was no chance of getting all out of it, especially as it progressed." Carine smiled in spite of herself.

"All those doctors haven't been doing this nearly as long as I have, nor do they possess a heightened level of smell and tactile control. I think I can do it; I'm not guaranteeing anything, as I won't know for sure until I'm looking at it, but I think I can." Carine told her, squeezing her hand lightly. A moment of wordless communication passed between mother and daughter; it was by no way a guarantee of a perfect surgery—nothing could guarantee that—but it was a step in a direction Edythe never believed was feasible.

The trust she had in Carine, in watching her practice for her entire existence as a vampire, she knew if anyone could do it, it would be her. Her mother's extra senses allowed her to hear and smell what humans couldn't; combined with her ability to control her hands in surgery to the exact fraction of millimeters and her near four hundred years of experience, she was the best doctor and surgeon in the world.

Carine herself was feeling more confident than she had early that day; when she seen the reports, combined with what Beau and Edythe had told her, she anticipated a more difficult situation. Though, as she said, she would not know for sure until she was face to face with the tumor what she was really dealing with, she was more than half confident she could eradicate the blastoma from Lucas' body, and give her grandson—and by extension, Edythe and Beau—back his life. She wanted to do this, not only to make up for her mistake in the past, but as a mother who couldn't risk her family any longer.

The understanding flowed between them, built from a century of mind reading and companionship. Edythe nodded once and leaned forward to press her forehead to her mother's shoulder. Carine encircled them both in her embrace, hugging them tightly for a moment until Edythe made to pull back.

"Now," Carine said began, opening her arms for Lucas. Edythe gave him up easily, but curious about where she was going with this. Carine stood, pulling Edythe up with her. She pointed behind her to the exam table.

"It's your turn."

Hello everyone! So I actually wrote this yesterday after I posted the last chapter, but I wanted to give everyone a chance to read Chapter 9 before I posted this! In addition, by the time I post this, the rough draft of the next chapter will have already been written.

I want to try to get into a bit of habit of posting more regularly; I don't know how long that will last, especially as the semester reaches its peak and I may end up crumbling under the weight of life. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Anyway, another disclaimer for you: I have never dealt with Wilm's tumor specifically, so I am using the information from my internet researching that I have done on the disease. Also, I have never had or had to care for an infant for any length of time (for the latter). So, in summary, if some of this isn't accurate, I apologize! I'm doing the best I can, do some in-depth researching before writing everything out, but I am not perfect!

Also, for those of you asking about the whole 'turning into vampires' thing, those questions will be answered in the next chapter! They were supposed to be in this chapter, but this chapter ended up being too long haha

Anyway, hope you all enjoyed! Let me know what you think in the reviews!

Also, how much farther would you like me to go? I have an idea that extends pretty far, but I would like to hear your opinions!

Love you all!

~Melinda