Chapter 13

Edward drove us to the hospital in record time. Everyone but Rose and Emmett were in the waiting room. Alice saw us first as Jasper continued to pace. She rushed over and pulled me into a hug before she did the same to Edward. He looked flustered for a moment before he got a hold of himself and hugged her back. Alice grabbed each of our hands and pulled us over to where Jasper just noticed his little pixie to not be.

" Alice , don't run off like that." He said in relief. "I thought you heard something." He saw us and smiled. He pulled me into a hug as he kissed the top of my head. Edward and him ended up shaking hands and talking while Alice pulled me over to a couch and sat me down. She made sure the guys were well occupied before turning on me.

"Rose told me what you and Mr. Edward over there were up to." She wiggled her eyebrows, but thank the lord she at least kept her voice down.

"I was going to tell you Ali, I just hadn't gotten a chance yet." She waved me off.

"No, I know why you didn't yet, so don't make up any excuses. Rose spilled her guts when we were bringing her here. She told us not to bother you,"

"Yeah, she mentioned it. But I would rather be here for her."

"I know, that's why we had to call you. We had to at least give you the option." She smiled and zipped her lips when the guys started walking towards us. She pulled me into a hug before talking about what she thought the baby was going to be. "I just know it's going to be a baby girl!" she squealed from atop of Jasper's lap. Edward was sitting behind me and I was laying back against him. "She's always wanted a girl, even if Em wants a boy. Oh, this is so exciting!"

"Yea," I agreed, keeping my own pain to a minimum. This was all Rose had ever wanted, and I was happy. But know matter how long it was until, or even if, I had a child I was always going to be jealous.

Emmett came to collect us about a half hour after we arrived. "The doctors said it'll probably be a few more hours, so you guys can come on in and see her." His smile lit up the whole room. He was so proud, anyone could tell. He led the way to her room, letting us all walk in before himself. He went around to Rose's right, handing her a bottle of water he picked up on the way over. She drank it sparingly before giving us all a bright smile.

"Hey guys." Her voice, usually so calm and perfect was laced with weariness and a little bit of pain. Her hair was sweaty, but up in a ponytail. She had no makeup on and right then and there I decided she had to be the prettiest person I've ever seen.

"Hey," we chorused. Alice was the first to walk over to her, kissing her cheek before hugging her as best as she could. "I'm going to go shopping as soon as baby here is born, and get you three a nice present, but I want to make sure of what it is before hand." she said, teeth gleaming in the fluorescent lighting. I laughed, telling them the same thing. Alice had forced me to not go shopping without her, and she wanted to wait until she knew what it was. Rose and Em had wanted it to be a surprise, so never asked the doctor. Rosalie groaned and we took that as our cue to leave.

"We'll come back in when it's all over." I told her sweetly, kissing her cheek before Edward grabbed my hand and steered us away. Emmett was whispering to her and Alice and Jasper were on the way to the waiting room. This was going to be a long day…

Alice and I talked for a little bit but pretty soon I feel asleep in Edward's arms, awaiting the news. I was woken up by voices, talking about me presumably. "Is she out cold? Rose needs to see her…"

"Hhmm," I mumbled, coming to. "Rose needs me?" I lurched forward, thinking something was wrong.

"Calm down love." Edward held me to him until I was more awake.

"Yea Squirts, everything's fine. We just wanted to talk to you."

"Of course." I shook my head to try and get myself awake. Everyone around me just laughed quietly until Emmett took my hand and led me to Rosalie. She was sweatier than before, and looked ready to deliver at any moment. Doctors and Nurses were swarming around, getting everything prepared. I looked over to her grimacing face. "Not long now!" I told her excitedly, clapping my hands. They both laughed.

"Bella, Emmett and I were wondering," she had to pause for a minor contraction. "Whew, talk about pain."

"You haven't felt anything yet," A nurse chuckled from where they were getting her pain killers ready. "Hopefully, you won't have to." Rose groaned and turned back to me.

"Bella, we were wondering if you wanted to be the Godmother to our child." Rose asked, tears swimming in her eyes. Emmett couldn't get that goofy grin off his face.

"Me?" I asked excitedly.

"Yes Bella, you." Emmett said, squeezing Rose's hand.

"But, I thought you'd want Alice …" I trialed off, too happy for words.

"We'll have her on the certificate too, and if everything works out with you and Edward, we'll add his name after Jasper's for the Godfather's, but right now, we want you to be number one of the certificate, for the Godmother. Will you?" Rose explained, eyes shining with tears. They would never know how much this meant to me.

"Of course." I leaned down and hugged Rose as hard as I could without hurting her. "Of course I will." I hugged Emmett next and he ended up swinging me into his arms before Rose started groaning in pain.

"It's almost time," A doctor said, checking out the machinery. "I suggest you leave," he told me with a smile, "It won't be too pretty a sight to watch." I kissed Rose and Em once more before leaving, wishing them both the best of luck.

Alice was anxious to hear the news when I got back to the waiting room. I rushed up and hugged her. "They want me to be the Godmother! Alice, the Godmother!"

She squealed, hugging me tight. "Bella this is wonderful! Next to Em and Rose you're going to be the most important person to it!" We laughed and danced around while Edward and Jasper just looked on in amusement. They shared a look which from where I was jumping seemed to silently convey that we were girls and this was what we did.

"Ahem, friends of Rosalie and Emmett, we are proud to tell you the delivery was a success!" Emmett's clear, proud voice filled the waiting room. We all jumped up, eager to see the baby.

"What was it Em? Tell me what it was? I have to go shopping!" Alice whined, rushing into the delivery room. I heard a coo and then Alice was squealing again.

"You better get that kid earmuffs pal." Edward grinned as he walked behind me, arms around my waist. I pushed the door opened and saw Rose in bed, with that new mother glow, watching Alice hold her blue blanket baby.

"A boy?" I asked with tears in my eyes. Rose nodded, waiting for Emmett to come back around to her. He kissed her sweetly and just held her hand, watching his new born son. Alice kissed his tiny little head a few times before coming over to me. She handed me the baby, making sure I had him safely in my arms before letting go. "He's so tiny." I said, tracing his little nose and his one little hand that was peeking out above the blanket. "So soft…"

"What's his name?" Alice had calmed down, mostly because Jasper had her in his arms.

Emmett looked proud as Rose nodded towards him, closing her eyes with a smile on her lips. "His name is Ethan Nathanial."

"Aww!" Alice and I cooed. It was so cute. The guys ended up congratulating them both as I continued to hold little Ethan Nathanial. A few hours, some sad goodbyes, and promises to go shopping, Edward and I left. Alice said she was going to stay for an hour or two then she was going to call me to go shopping. I couldn't wait. I wanted to get my godson something extravagant. Jasper and Edward were going to come along to carry the bags.

We were driving along back to my flat when I remembered what I needed from Edward. I peered into the back seat as inconspicuously as I could. I stretched, trying to see farther back that was I was seeing already. I turned slightly in my seat.

"What are you looking for?" Edward asked, humor in his voice.

"Who, me?" I smiled sheepishly.

"Yes you. Why are you trying to look in the back for?"

"Well, I called your mom earlier." I started. He seemed confused. "And I asked about her painting, since I'm almost finished with it," still he looked confused as he pulled into the lot of my building. He shut off the car but remained seated, giving me a look that said, And? "And, well, I asked her about Killer." I hurried.

His eyes narrowed slightly. "What about him?" He didn't look to mad.

I sighed. Might as well get it over with. "I need to see him to finish the painting. It needs to be just right, and I need to see what color he is."

"He's brown." I scoffed when he smiled.

"You know I need to see it to mix the colors right. I'm very detail oriented."

"Mmhh, and that's what I love about you." My heart thumped in my chest. "But how much do you want to see Killer?"

"Without him I can't finish your mother's painting at least not to the best of my abilities, and I always try to do my best."

"So I'd say seeing Killer is pretty damn important, huh?" he leaned in closer to me and I was aware that it was just us two in the small compact car.

"Well, y-yes. He is," I stuttered, blushing violently.

"And you'd do anything to get your hands on him?" his voice froze my insides while at the same time made my whole body tingle in a flash of warmth.

"Of course," I whispered without thinking.

"Do you promise?" he continued to look deep in my eyes, entrancing me.

"Yes."

"Then, by all means, I will meet you upstairs with Killer in hand." he leaned back and stared at me. It took me a moment to realize that I needed to leave. I unbuckled hurriedly and stepped out, hearing Edward chuckled quietly behind me. I rushed into my flat, leaving the door open for Edward to come in. I quickly went into my room, finding it the way it was left, and zeroed in on Edward's painting. It was still up. Oh shit! I rushed over to it and barely had enough time to stash it under the little cot before I heard the door close. I changed my shirt into something old so I wouldn't be bothered having to change once I got started looking at Killer, mixing the colors and painting with the pastels. Edward walked into my room just as I was buttoning the over shirt, catching a glimpse of my bra in the process. I heard him groan and smiled to myself.

"I just want to take that off of you." He said through tightly sealed lips.

"Maybe later, I'm in a painting mood." I rushed past him, hearing him mutter to himself.

"Definitely later." I saw Killer as soon as I walked into the small kitchen. He was perched a safe distance away from the art still out on the counter and sitting exactly as he was in the picture with Edward. It was adorable! I cooed lightly, knowing I was going to have to give Ethan Nathanial a stuffed animal along with some clothes and toys. When was Alice going to get here?

I sat down at the table and Edward took a seat beside me. I grabbed the art supplies I needed, studied the bear in silence as Edward looked on, and started mixing colors. Mixing wasn't a job you needed to concentrate on, so I began talking to Edward as my hands worked, using my mind to subconsciously add whatever colors needed to be for the bear. "Thank you for bringing him in here Edward. I appreciate it." I smiled before turning back to my own work.

"No problem love." He kissed the back of my head while I worked. "But I will collect on my debt." I felt him settle back against the chair to watch me work.

"Wouldn't dream otherwise." I smirked over at him, thinking I had a pretty good idea of what it was he wanted. He sat in silence next to me as I completed the bear, being careful not to smudge anything else already done. I finished up the left back paw, and voila! "Finished!" I told him in a breathy voice, staring at my work intently to see if I had missed anything. It looked perfect.

"It's absolutely stunning." He told me, kissing the side of my neck. I glanced at the clock, seeing that I probably had an hour or so before Alice came to go shopping. I would need to take another shower, since I was covered in pastels. I got up to wash my hands, sensing Edward get up. He paused for a second while I added soap, probably looking at the portrait, before he wound his arms around my waist. "I'm ready to collect." He whispered, kissing the shell of my ear.

"We only have an hour…" I told him, thinking about the cuddling afterwards, the showers we would both have to take.

"It won't take that long." He told me, turning me around while I dried my hands.

"Sure of yourself?" I asked saucily.

His brows wrinkled in confusion, mine bent to mirror his own. "What are you talking about?" he asked.

"What are you talking about?" weren't we on the same page here?

"You first…" he told me.

"Aren't we going to make love?" I asked, my voice a tiny squeak. "I mean," I cleared my throat. "Isn't that what you want?"

"Of course! But I was thinking we could do that tonight, when we had more time. I don't want this to be a quick thing. I want to explore you, pleasure you, before I take you." He kissed down my jawline to my neck. I had to find to stay coherent.

"T-then what is it you w-wanted?" I stuttered as he kissed below my ear. A very sensitive spot.

"My portrait." He answered simply.

"No way!" I protested, breaking his hold.

He gave me a playful grin. "Now Isabella, you promised."

"I didn't know you wanted to see that!" I hissed, backing away from him.

"You didn't specify specifics." He followed after me, keeping his eyes on my movements, blocking when I tried to run out past him. He was leading me to my bedroom.

"It's not in my room." I blurted out before I could think better of it.

"I never thought it was," he smirked, practically on top of me. "Until now, that is." I closed my eyes, thinking of how much of a fool I was for giving it away. "Please, show me?" his breath fanned across my lips. How could I deny him anything? I sighed.

"Promise not to laugh?"

"Wouldn't dream of it." I sighed again before he grabbed my hand. I led him into the messy room and retrieved the picture from its hiding place. I had it facing me, so all he saw was the back. I sat on the bed and he did as well, facing me. I handed it to him wordlessly before closing my eyes and falling backwards onto the bed. I heard him gasp and moved my hands to hide my face. A few moments later he pulled them away.

"You did all this, just from looking at me once?" I meet his eyes, proud to find astonishment there.

"Everything was from that one time, except your eyes. They were a lot harder to detail out." I admitted, not wanting him to give me all the credit.

"Why, is something wrong with my eyes?" he crossed them, as if he could see them. I laughed.

"Edward, you're eyes are gorgeous! I could just get lost in them forever!" I told him, still lying back on the bed. He gently placed the portrait over on the bedside table before hovering over me.

"And I could lose myself in yours. So deep," he kissed my forehead. "So expressive," he kissed my eyelids, "so full of emotion," he kissed my nose. "Absolutely astonishing." Finally, he kissed my waiting and slightly parted lips. I wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him closer. He moved his hands, starting to undo the buttons before I stopped him.

"We can't, not enough time." I tried to tell him. He sighed heavily before rolling off of me.

"You're right, and I did say that we were going to do this tonight when we had more time. I'll run home and change before Alice gets here." He kissed me quickly before standing up, looking at his picture once more. "You have a natural talent Bella." I walked him to the door, receiving one more kiss before he left.

"I love you." I whispered to the empty hall, watching him pull away after tucking Killer somewhere safe. And tonight, I would get to show it.