Edward

I awoke abruptly when Bella groaned and began pacing the room.

She was already dressed and I quickly got up to join her before sending her downstairs to Carlisle while I dressed, as usual she refused but thankfully she actually had a real reason: she didn't want to trip down the stairs!

I kept a tight hold of her arm as we headed down the stairs. I was glad that we had decided to remain at my parents' house as Bella's due date drew nearer as I am sure that I would have been a quivering wreck at this point. The reassurance from having my father around was incredible.

Carlisle was alone at the kitchen table. He was always and early riser and looked to have been for a run already. He understood at once which was further illustrated by Bella's face tightening again. She answered all of Carlisle's questions quickly:

'How far apart are the contractions?'

'At the moment about twenty minutes.'

'How long have you been having them?'

'About an hour.' At this point I couldn't help myself and broke in with:

'You've been awake with contractions all this time and you didn't wake me!'

Bella as always was being the martyr and just shrugged and murmured something about 'no need' and 'not close anyway.' My father being a traitor agreed with her, we didn't need to make a move until the contractions were about five minutes apart.

Esme appeared at the top of the stairs. I swear my mother has an inbuilt sensor to when she is needed and at once she made Bella more comfortable and had persuaded her to eat and drink.

There was one person whom I was dreading coming downstairs: Alice. She was sure to throw herself at Bella and at the moment that would be the last thing she wanted as Alice's hugs had a certain bone crunching quality despite being about five centimetres tall.

As I thought about her Alice appeared and flew down the stairs into...Carlisle's arms. He spun her around planted a kiss on her head and simply said:

'Hello Alice! Good Morning!'

Everyone giggled including Bella and Alice's face arranged itself into a pout as she asked:

'Why can't I hug her?'

We all looked at her incredulously and Carlisle began to explain to her in a patronising tone as though she was a five year old.

'Bella's baby is coming. It makes her tummy hurt. You must be very gentle with her at the moment. Now do you understand Alice?'

We all sniggered as Alice smacked Carlisle on the chest and replied in a baby voice:

'I understand Daddy. Can I go play now?'

Jasper called from the top of the stairs: 'Come play with me Alice!' Instantly Alice was gone without even acknowledging the rest of us.

Quickly I headed over to shut the door but was stopped by the appearance of Emmett and Rosalie. The minute they entered I shut the door with:

'I'm sure we don't want to hear that!'

Bella grimaced again and I flew to her side in an instant, and looked questioningly up at Carlisle:

'Seventeen minutes.'

I smiled, pleased that the breaks between contractions were getting closer pretty quickly.

Two hour later we had moved to the living room where I lay on the sofa with Bella sitting between my legs and occasionally leaning back onto my chest. My heart began to beat much faster when Carlisle finally said:

'Times up. They're getting near to ten minutes and we need to leave a bit of time to get to the hospital.'

I asked my mom to look after Bella as I headed upstairs to grab the bag that was packed for the hospital with some baby stuff and spare clothes for Bella. When I headed downstairs I saw that Carlisle had put Bella in the back of his Mercedes. He explained why as we went out to join the women:

'I know you're a doctor now but I'd feel safer if Bella was with the both of us in case anything happens because you haven't had much experience.'

His logic was as always unquestionable and I simply wanted Bella to be safe.

The journey to the hospital was not long however Bella's contractions grew much closer during that time. She never moaned but just grimaced and bore them silently whilst I held her hand.

Using our connections at the hospital we soon had Bells in a room and I kicked everyone out so that she could change into the papery hospital gown that she hated so much.

We were still waiting an hour later with all of our family who had returned to the room. Emmett surprisingly had shown himself to be particularly sensitive to Bella's pain and tended to grimace along with her. This had caused much amusement and none of us could stop giggling, including the nurse who had entered to check up on Bella.

Finally, we were set to go and soon I would have a child. I began to get nervous despite having seen it numerous times during my medical training it is different when you're family is involved.

Everyone left and Bella and I were left alone with the midwife and nurses who began to explain things to Bella and at last she pushed.