So sorry for the long wait. I had priorities to straighten, and I just realized I haven't been updating this thing when I got PMs. Good on you for reminding me.

Read an outtake I wrote for this story, Heaven's Mentality. It's already posted.

Q&A at the end.

Disclaimer: :yells into the phone: What do you mean I can't afford to own Twilight? No!

Chapter 13: Lingering Time

2008

Edward's Point of View

The grandfather clock rang its midnight rounds from down the corridor, leaving me with a feeling of trepidation that only signaled the beginning of the next day. I was sitting on the wicker rocking chair we temporarily moved from the nursery, seeing as Bella doesn't want to part with it. She's always been that sentimental.

I chuckled out loud.

I sat there for some time, with an angle of sight between the window, who admitted the moonlight excessively, it gushing through like the smell of dew in the morning. My other eye oversaw the giant piece of majestic iron I am proud to call a bed, much to Bella's distaste, who happens to be currently sleeping snuggly on it.

Carefully standing and not making any sounds, I treaded softly across the room and rolled beside her. She was on her side, her belly jutting out and a thin shirt –which she cleverly nicked from my drawer- covering her beautiful body.

I threw my shoes of expertly, and lowered myself until my head was level with her protruding stomach, her smell encompassing my nostrils like no other. But it's different now; it's much more pronounced and it smelled like sweet flowers. The baby's smell is also distinct now, and it mixed with Bella's creating heaven.

I delicately rained kisses on her abdomen through the fabric of the shirt, then gently lifted her shirt and sprinkled more heartfelt connection to my only child.

I don't want to lose her. I might not make it.

Staying still for a few more moments, I reminisced all the hardships and battles we've fought all this time. It was the start of February, and the countdown began. Bella and I just finished up at the ultrasound this afternoon, and the results are all the same.

I sighed in resentment, but it didn't mean I'm surrendering. Never.

Flashback

We sat across the big study desk at the doctor's office, staring hopefully at the outcome of the latest ultrasound. I particularly listened for the growing rapid heartbeat of our physician, Dr. Thompson, as he fumbled through sheets of writing in front of him. It was very good to find however, that our doctor was a good-hearted man that didn't feel pity for us, but worked to make our situation more controlled.

He sighed. "I'm sorry, but there's not much we could do until it's time for delivery." He seemed to be looking straight at me, as if asking for my opinion. But I didn't need to. He was telling the truth. He looked like a perceptive man. Maybe he knows more thank he thinks.

Sometimes our subconscious mind should be in charge. They have very altered opinions about life.

Bella sighed. "How about the caesarian section idea? Isn't that safer for the baby?"

She was shaking, clutching my hand with a death grip. Good thing I don't break easily. If she used the chair she was sitting on the temporary shock absorber, it wouldn't have survived.

The doctor nodded. "Yes, of course it is, but…" a greater risk for you, his mind feared.

I gently cut him off. "No, c-section can't be an option." I smiled at Dr. Thompson, and he seemed relieved, for the first time, that he wasn't the bearer of bad news.

Bella frowned, and I knew she was going to ask me about it when we get home. Rather face her wrath than put her in danger.

"But the baby is healthy, yes? No complications about health issues?" I already knew the answers, but it would be better if Bella knew that from her own doctor's mouth.

"Yes, there's no problem with your baby whatsoever. It's only the amniotic band you really have to worry about." He gave us a sympathetic smile, and I smiled back, knowing it was genuine.

"Alright then, we better get going." I declared, standing up quickly to help Bella up from her seat. She didn't react at all, face blank, her mind somewhere else.

Somewhere I would never be able to find out.

--

I frowned at the memory from today's appointment, and became disappointed when Bella didn't tell me what was on her mind. Worse, even Alice avoided answering questions.

Shrugging it off, I put my whole attention to my family beside me. I rested my hand below her belly button, saw that Bella was still sleeping like a baby-how ironic- before fully encompassing the feeling.

Out of a sudden, I felt the spot move. I pulled my hand away quickly, before I realized what it was. No way. Amazed, I relaxed and slumped my fingers on the spot gently yet again, and the baby did what every parent would be proud of. She kicked!

"Hey there Violet…" rubbing the spot. "Are you feeling okay there?"

"I know we haven't been the best caretakers for you, what with your situation right now. But you have to know how much we love you." I whispered, knowing that Bella would wake up if I raised my voice.

As if listening intently, Violet kicked. It was heavenly.

"You have no idea, sweetie. See, your mom and I, we never thought we could be given this blessing." I smiled and nuzzled Bella's belly against my cheek.

"Do you know how much of a gift you are to me? Without Bella and you, I'm nothing."

An unexpected tear left my eye, and I was surprised by the fall. It traveled down Bella's belly and rained down, before I wiped it carefully.

"Yeah, that's how much I love you." I chuckled. Propping my ear next to the kicked spot, I listened in. The rhythm of Violet's heart accompanied with Bella's is the most heartfelt music I've ever heard.

"There's this man, Shakespeare, he wrote sonnets about love. And to me, honey, he described you." I recited. "My favourite one; it went like this:

'When in the chronicle of wasted time

I see descriptions of the fairest wights

And beauty making beautiful old rhyme

In praise of ladies dead and lovely knights,

Then in the blazon of sweet beauty's best,

Of hand, of foot, of lip, of eye, of brow,

I see their antique pen would have expressed

Ev'n such a beauty as you master now.

So all their praises are but prophecies

Of this our time, all you prefiguring,

And for they looked but with divining eyes,

They had not skill enough your worth to sing.

For we which now behold these present days,

Have eyes to wonder, but lack tongues to praise.'

I spoke it as clearly as I can, neglecting how loud I was getting.

When I stopped, I took a deep breath, before continuing. "He said that he came upon many beautiful people and read many people that were inspired by them: how they praised ladies and knights."

Pausing to get my bearings and to wipe more stray tears that now stained my eyelashes, before carrying on. "And he read poems that talked about their beauty-their hands and feet and lips, he realized that they were all talking about you. You Violet, your beauty inspires many. All these writers, they write prophecies about you. If these writers didn't have this gift, they wouldn't have described your beauty, described your worth. So you see sweetie? Those of us in our lifetime, we will be able to see the beauty with our eyes, but we won't have the art to portray you."

I kissed the spot, feeling another immediate kick. Bella should be feeling this. "And your mom, she's you Violet. She's the only one for me. She completes me."

With the great effort I had of proposing my love for my child, I didn't realize Bella moving. I looked up and saw her eye shifted open, with a pure smile on her face.

Quietly, she giggled. "Don't worry Edward. You had me at hello."

I chortled at our lame humor. I moved up to kiss her lightly on the lips, feeling the warmth and the love.

"I was awake since I felt the first kick." She smiled, "I just wanted to see what you were going to say to her."

I raised my brows before laughing myself. "Figures."

She patted my arm. "Don't worry. What you said was beautiful." She gave me a peck.

Bella rubbed her tummy and my arm at the same time. We are a sight to behold. Us, side by side, with Violet in the middle.

I rested my free hand on top of the fingers that caressed her stomach and quietly feared. "Please don't leave us."

--

"Edward…" Bella waddled out of our bathroom. I was sitting on my desk, rearranging the carry on bag that we would bring to the hospital next week. It never hurt to be ready.

I walked to Bella, concerned with the apprehension in her voice when the door opened with a bang. Alice.

"Okay, I bought everything I know about babies around the kitchen. I hope 3 boxes of baby formula is enough. Is it? Bella?"

We both looked at Bella, who struggled to answer.

"Uh..I think my water just broke."

END CHAPTER 13.

There's my Jerry McGuire reference. Gotta have it there. Oh, and Shakespeare sonnet is number 106, my favorite.

REVIEW!

Q&A for Chapter 12

Caitlin Elizabeth Aiona: is violet turning 12? Because if she's not, then Bella's baby that might die is not violet right?

Sorry, but Violet is turning 12.

-Jessica-Bella: HOW can you write all this HAPPY STUFF, when you know that Bella and Edward are going to die?

I write all the happy stuff so that people realize that they did have a moment of happiness. Isn't it better to know that they were content in their lives rather than sad throughout the whole ordeal?

I hope this answered your question. :)

Mrs. Edward Cullen 4ver: My question is that will this story have a happy ending?

Haha…uh..ummm. I really don't know how to answer that question. It seems kind of loaded, you know? To be honest, I write this story as I go along, but I'm pretty sure the ending would be…sufficient.

Montana Wilson: But a quick thing about the Q&A sorry to be rude, but I don't really like studygirl17's idea, I mean this is an amazing story, and for me that would kinda ruin it, I mean, come back as angels? Doesn't that sound just a little kiddy or something?

I apologize for getting you all worried about that. When I read studygirl17's suggestion, I didn't fully decide through it. And I have to apologize for my answer to studygirl17's proposition.

I'm not writing any scenes that involve Violet meeting her real parents. It's not my style, really. And I hope I don't get anybody mad. I was thinking more of an outtake. Between Bella and Edward with Alice.

Hence, I made Heaven's Mentality. It's posted and ready to be read. So, those who want to know what Edward and Bella think about their decisions, this one's it.