A/N: RL has been insanely busy recently, and what with posting Library Love and stuff, I've had hardly any time to write chapters for this. I'm really sorry I've made you guys wait nearly two months, but I'm hoping to resume weekly updates (every Sunday). I know I've said this before, but this time I really mean it as I've got the next few chapters planned out in my head, and RL should be a bit quieter :)
Also, I was listing to the song the lyrics are from, and they were basically what pushed me into writing this chapter. So, yeah, definitely give it a listen!
Bella:
And I will listen, open up my heart and
I must say that I love you, so
Ooh la la, I've fallen in love
And it's better this time than ever before
Ooh la la, I've fallen in love
And it's better this time than I've ever known
"Ugh, it's so hot. Why must it be so hot?" I groan at lunch time. Emmett, Rose, Edward and I are sat outside on one of the few picnic benches Forks High actually has.
"It's not that hot. Granted, it's hotter than a usual Forks summer," Emmett comments, shrugging.
I just glare over at him.
"Are you sure you're ok to be in school? So close to your due date?" Edward worries.
"I'm fine, Edward. What else would I be doing back at the house? I don't want to miss any more school than I have to," I snap at him, then instantly feel guilty. "I'm sorry," I tell him, my eyes watering as I wrap my arms around him.
Edward doesn't say anything – knowing all about my mood swings – and instead wraps his arms around me, placing a gentle kiss to my forehead.
When I glance over at Rose and Emmett, I see he's got an arm around her waist. About a month ago, Emmett finally asked Rose out. They've been pretty much inseparable ever since.
"Come on, we should head off to biology," Edward says. He stands up quickly and then helps me up.
After taking just a step away from the picnic table, I cry out from a pain in my stomach just as water begins to trickle down my legs.
"Shit!" I cry out, looking quickly over to Edward for help. He wraps his arms around me while issuing orders to Rose and Emmett, but I can't pay attention to any of it. Edward ushers me over to his car, helping me in before rushing over to the driver's side.
"You'll be fine, Bella, we'll be at the hospital soon," Edward assures me.
"Argh! Fuck, it hurts," I grimace, wrapping my hands my stomach.
"It's ok, it's ok. Just take deep breaths in and out," Edward tells me calmly.
As soon as we reach the hospital, Carlisle and Esme are waiting for us. I'm put into a wheelchair and wheeled off through the hospital.
"Ow, ow, ow, fuck," I curse, not caring of who can hear me.
Finally, we reach a room, where Esme helps me up onto the bed. Doctors rush in and out, hooking me up to various machines and giving me a gas and air tube. I gratefully take in a deep breath, feeling slightly better and a bit light-headed.
Soon, the doctors make Edward leave the room, but Carlisle and Esme say with me. I have a death grip on Esme's hand, which only increases during contractions.
"Bella, you'll meet your baby today!" Esme says excitedly.
I just smile meekly.
*******SML*******
Six hours and a lot of pain later, my beautiful baby girl is welcomed into the world. I carefully count her ten fingers and ten toes. Although she initially screamed louder than I could've imagined, she's fallen asleep now.
"Can I come in?" Edward asks, poking his head around the door.
"Sure," I smile over at him. Edward quietly walks over to me, and glances down at the bundle in my arms.
"She's beautiful, Bella," Edward says. "She's got your nose," he adds. I chuckle quietly, conscious of waking her up.
"Don't you want to know her name?" I ask him.
"Of course," Edward says, grinning.
"Hazel Swan," I tell Edward.
"That's perfect," he says. "How about a middle name?" Edward asks.
"Oh. Um, well, I didn't really know what to have for a middle name. I don't really have any relatives that deserve that position," I explain to him, biting my lip. Hazel snuggles against me, easing my worries.
"How about Elizabeth? That was my grandmother's name," Edward suggests. "It's, uh, just a thought. It's an alright name, I guess, but you probably have better ideas…" Edward rambles nervously.
"Hazel Elizabeth Swan; it's perfect," I tell him, smiling.
"Can I hold her?" Edward asks.
"Yes, just…be careful," I tell him.
Edward rolls his eyes at me, but he is pretty cautious as he holds her in his arms. The sight of them together makes my eyes water. I quickly brush away my tears, hoping Edward doesn't notice.
"Of course I'll be careful with her, Bella. I'll never let anyone hurt either of you," Edward promises, kissing the top of Hazel's head, handing her back to me and then kissing my forehead.
"Oh, Edward, I love you," I confess, not able to hold in the tears anymore. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner. Having Hazel…well, I guess I just learnt what it felt like to love someone," I explain to him.
"I love you, too, Bella, so much. I didn't want to scare you away by saying anything too soon," Edward admits.
"You could never scare me away," I tell him. Edward carefully leans down and presses his lips to mine ever so sweetly.
Edward stays with Hazel and me for the rest of the evening, even trying to stay the night with us. Carlisle, however, tells Edward that he needs to go home and sleep, since he still has to go back to school tomorrow.
"I'll be back tomorrow," Edward promises me, kissing me chastely since his father is still in the room.
"Bella will be discharged tomorrow, so you won't need to come back tomorrow," Carlisle tells Edward, grinning a little.
"See you tomorrow," I tell Edward. Edward kisses me once more to say goodbye, and then he kisses Hazel before Carlisle finally drags him away.
That night, one of the nurses comes by to help me try and feed Hazel. I've decided to try breast feeding, as it's supposed to help my baby the most. After a few unsuccessful attempts, Hazel finally latches on. It's a weird sensation, but the action has me crying once more.
"Is it normal to cry so much?" I ask the nurse.
"Believe me, you've cried a lot less than some of my other patients," she assures me, smiling.
*******SML*******
After being discharged around lunch time, Esme and Carlisle help me get everything set up for Hazel. Esme gives me a master class on how to change a diaper in the quickest way, and she also helps me change Hazel's baby grow.
Once I've given Hazel her lunch, I have time to eat my own.
"Hazel is such a beautiful name, Bella," Esme smiles.
"My daughter is beautiful. She needed a name to match that," I tell her.
"Have you thought about what your mother said when you last saw her?" Esme asks me gently.
I bite my lip and focus on burping Hazel, rather than looking at Esme. Truthfully, it's been on my mind a lot, more so since Hazel's birth. "A bit," I tell Esme. "I'm just unsure. I don't know if it's a good idea," I explain to Esme.
"Perhaps if you just visit her once? This time, it will be on your terms. The other two times she turned up unannounced, but if you know when you're going, you can think about what to say to her," Esme reasons. "If you don't go, you might regret it later," she adds.
"Ok. I'll call up the prison some time. But, for now, I've got Hazel to focus on."
A couple of hours later, everyone returns from school.
"So, Bella, boy or girl?" Jacob asks eagerly. Everyone is sat in the living room, though Edward quickly shushes them when Hazel begins to stir.
"Everyone, I'd like you to meet Hazel Elizabeth Swan, born on the 21st of May, three days before my due date," I announce to them all. Some of them – ones who lost either bet – groan, while other – for example, Alice – grin victoriously.
After everyone looks at my daughter and comments on how beautiful she is, I take us upstairs to my room. Edward follows, and we both sit down on my bed once Hazel is fast asleep in her cot.
"How was school?" I ask Edward.
"I missed you," he pouts, leaning forward to kiss me. "Also, I got you all the work you missed," he adds, grinning.
I laugh along with him, shaking my head and kissing him again.
"Some things never change!"
A/N: Thoughts on the name Hazel?
Review = Edward & Carlisle outtake
Lyrics: I Would Do Anything For You by Foster the People