Chapter 21: Love and Joy Come to You

Hellloooooo everyone! I am glad to see that some of you have come back to this story-as I have had a long absence from it up until yesterday. My Edward and Bella grow closer to my heart each time I write, and I will be sad when this journey is over. However, I plan to add a few out takes after the epilogue to pique your fancy, so if that's your kind of thing, you have something to look forward to.

DISCLAIMER: I don't own anything. I don't even have a head board for Edward to break. Alas… See you all at the bottom. :)

July 28th, 1942

It was hot, unbearably hot in the house and Edward got up from his seat in the den where he was just completing his application to Northwestern University Medical School. He had come a long way in two more months of good food, exercise in various forms, and with the help of his family and friends that surrounded him. Most of all, he was grateful to have had Bella by his side, but as of late he had been more help to her than she had to him. The twins were due in another few weeks, and everyone seemed to be on edge waiting for the new lives to be brought into the world. Walking now, with only a slight limp, Edward made his way to the kitchen and re-filled his glass of lemonade. As he stood at the counter he looked outside and smiled at the sight of Bella puttering away in the garden. He watched her place her spade on the ground and arch her back, a habit lately due to the weight of the children pressing down on her. She had woken up not feeling very well, her back had been hurting very badly this morning, but he was glad to see that she seemed to have gotten some of her energy back.

Bella was sticky with sweat. When she had gone out to prune the roses and weed the garden she had been able to get out before the noon sun, and it had still been rather mild. Now the sun was beating down on her full force and she was more than a little uncomfortable. She winced slightly as little nudger on the right gave her a swift kick in the ribs and she giggled wondering if she had a future athlete inside of her. Little nudger on the left was more content to roll and dip as if he or she was swimming in a great pool of water. Both children were pressing heavily on her bladder and suddenly Bella felt the urgent need to releive herself. With some difficulty she rose and wiped her hands on her gardening smock and waddled slowly inside. She was greeted by Edward who she saw had been at the window overlooking the garden.

"Have you been watching me all this time dear?" she giggled as she kissed him lightly on the cheek. "Mmmmm, you smell nice. Get any work done?" Edward smirked at his wife whom he noticed had a rather large smudge of dirt directly across her upper lip making it look like she had a mustache.

"Bella I know you admire Clark Gable, but I didn't know you wanted to look like him too!" He joked swiping at her upper lip. Bella started and wiped her lip furiously so as to get off the offending smudge. "And to answer your question, yes, I did get a lot of work done. My application is all filled out and with any luck I'll hear back in a week once I mail it out." Bella moved to the sink to wash her hands. "I'll be saying prayers for you my love! I know that being doctor is what you've always wanted to do. You will make a fine doctor."

"I hope so. I only hope that I can get done with my studies quickly enough to start earring my own living. My father is generous, but I don't want to live off of him my entire life, especially not with the babies coming, and hopefully," he winked, "more to come afer that."

"My goodness! Let's get these two born before we start talking about more children. Next time you can carry a baby around for nine months and see how you feel about having more!" Bella laughed and then glanced down at her watch. "Oh my I must look a fright! And Rose and Emmett will be here in a half an hour. I need to go get washed up and changed and who knows how long that will take me. Everything I do seems to take forever these days, and I think I over did it in the garden today. My back is absolutely killing me! Edward, will you let them in if they arrive before I come down?" Bella asked as she moved toward the stairs.

"Sure. I'll let them know you'll be down in a moment."

Bella smiled and moved to the stairway bracing her hands on her aching back when suddenly a warm trickle of wetness seeped down her leg and puddled on the floor. Almost immediately a gripping, roiling pain moved through her body from the base of her spine to the front of her huge belly. "Damnit…Edward…I think my water just broke!" She said, her voice shaky with emotion. It was earlier than expected for her to go into labor, but Carlisle had warned her this might happen.

Edward's eyes grew very wide as he took in his wife's frightened eyes, the puddle on the floor, and then the time. "Ok, Bella," he gulped, trying to get ahold of his nerves, "We're going to have to get you to the hospital. Do you think you can make it there?" Bella nodded.

"Yes, I think we have some time. Carlisle said that the first labor is usually quite long and that I have some time before we need to panic. But, I think you'd better go and get my bag…and I think I'd better sit down."

"Right. I'll grab your things and then we'll get a move on!" Edward said as he ran to the stairwell, then back to her giving her a quick kiss on the cheek, then up the stairs to their room. Bella smiled ruefully. "Why is it that men always panicked when it came to child birth? Edward seemed to be in better control of himself than Emmett though…oooohhhhhhh" she moaned as she felt the cramping, tightening sensation of her lower body. She was surprised. That was awfully fast. She had thought that her contractions would be farther apart if she had only just gone into labor. The pain was steady and strong, and she tried to keep her breathing slow and steady. Just then Edward came galloping down the stairs as fast as his slightly lame leg would let him.

"Ok, let me just dash off a quick note for the family. I think everyone is out! We'll head straight to the hospital and I'll have them page Dad and Doctor Gerandy. Oh, and I'll ask my mom to call Charlie."

"Edward…"

"Now when we get there," he said while scribbling on a piece of paper, "The nurses will take you up to the maternity ward, and hopefully they will let my father come in to see you. I'll have to be out in the waiting room while you deliver but…."

"Edwarrrd…"

"As soon as the children are born and cleaned I'll be able to come and see you…."

"EDWARD!" Bella shouted. Another contraction had come on strong and the pressure between her legs had become nearly unbearable. She was feeling nauseous with pain now and felt the strong urge to bear down. Edward stopped what he was doing immediately and looked at his pained wife who was nearly doubled over in agony, her face red with effort.

"Bella, love, what is it? Are you having another contraction?"

"Ughhhhhhhh, Edward I've had three in the last ten minutes….and I feel like the babies are between my knees! Oh god, oh god…it hurts…" she hissed as another strong contraction took hold and she groaned at the sensations her body was feeling. Edward moved to her side and gripped her hand and looked fearfully into her eyes. "Edward…" she whimpered when the contraction began to subside, "I don't think we're going to make it to the hospital. I think these babies are coming right now. Call the hospital and ask for Carlisle."

Edward ran to the phone "West Platners 3580!" He shouted to the operator. "Please hurry it's an emergency!" He waited, tapping his foot impatiently and hoped that with any luck, his father was near the phone. "Yes, this is Edward Cullen. I'm calling for Dr. Carlisle Cullen. I need to speak with him immediately. What? How long ago? No, no thank you." Edward hung up. "Shit!" He cursed.

"Edward what's wrong?"

"They said Dad left a while ago. He's hopefully on his way home, but right now…I think its just you and me."

"Edward, I've never done this before. Do you know how to deliver a baby?"

Edward huffed out a huge breath and ran his hands through his hair. "Well, I know the basics…but I've got no experience…" just then Bella experienced a pain stronger than any of the other contractions she had. She grunted and lowered herself down to the floor onto her hands and knees.

"Uhnnnnnnnnnnn Edwarddddd I need….I need to pushhhhiiiitttt…." she swore as the burning feeling in her groin reached an all time high. She felt like she was being ripped in half and her brain had literally shut off.

Edward's heart was beating a mile a minute and he grabbed several clean dish towels and a pair of scissors. "Ok, Bella…just do what you feel you need to. I'm here darling, I'm here sweetheart." he said soothingly, trying not to let his fear show through in his voice. "Dammit Dad, get home now!" he thought.

Bella was panting and grunting. She'd removed her underclothes and had left on only her blouse which was now soaked with sweat. Her hair was stuck to her face from sweat and her body was urging her to push. Just then Edward heard his father open the front door.

"DAD! GET IN THE KITCHEN NOW!" Edward shouted as Bella screamed again. He could see that she was in very active labor and knew that it was happening way faster than they had been prepared for. Carlisle burst in through the kitchen still in his lab coat with his bag.

"Oh my!" He exclaimed and quickly got busy. "Edward, I want you to grab a pot and boil water on the stove to sterilize these scissors. I don't have any sterile ones in my bag. We'll need them to cut the cords. And then I want you to get several pillows from the guest room as well as a sheet. Now, Bella I'm going to have to check you to see how far along you are. Can you try and turn over onto your back for me dear?"

Bella nodded silently and slowly maneuvered herself onto her back and onto the pillows that Edward had brought after putting a pot of water on to boil. Edward watched as his father donned some gloves and then reached between his wife's legs. "Ok Bella, I'm just going to check and see how far you are dilated, and then we'll know about how much longer you have to go." Bella moaned as she felt her father in laws probing fingers and then saw his look of shock. "Bella, you are fully dilated and effaced! You must have been in labor all day." Bella looked to Edward in shock.

"I didn't know! Oh God, I should have gone to the hospital this morning."

"There is no need to blame yourself. You are a first time mother. This is all new to you. But you are going to have to push on the next contraction. Can you do that for me?" Bella nodded, already feeling one coming on. "Edward I want you to get behind Bella and support her, hold her hand. Encourage her. That's your job. Bella, your job is to push when I tell you, got that?"

"Uhhhhhhnnnnnn dammmmitttt…."

"Ok, that's a contraction and PUSH One, two three four, keep going push, seven eight…"

Bella screamed as she felt her body and her bones shifting in ways she never thought possible.

"Good you can stop for a moment. Bella, the head is already out…now push once more at this next contraction…."

"OH God Edward…"

"Bella, I can see it I can see our baby Bella. Keep going honey you are doing an amazing job!"

One more push and the first baby was out, red and screaming loud and proud.

"What is it?" Bella gasped, feeling completely drained. "Congratulations, you have a little girl."

"Oh Edward!" Bella cried, tears of joy streaming down her face. "Look at her she is so beautiful!"

"She has my hair!" Edward laughed incredulously at witnessing this wonderful miracle. Carlisle was wrapping the baby up in a clean towel. Just then Bella felt another contraction take over her body.

"Carlile….another contraction…"

"Ok Edward, grab those scissors Once the second child is born we'll cut both cords and then deliver the after birth. Bella push wish me, one, two, three…."

Bella pushed and Edward grabbed her from behind, coaching her on, in awe of how strong she was being, excited and terrified at the same time.

In no time at all it seemed, the baby was out and in the world crying and pink and wrinkly and beautiful. Edward glanced between the baby's legs and smiled. A boy. They had a boy and a girl. Their two beautiful children. Carlisle cut the cords and cleaned up the little boy and handed him to his father. Bella had their little girl resting on her chest.

"Bella, you did wonderfully. I'm going to deliver the afterbirth and dispose of the mess in just a moment. Congratulations you two. You have two very beautiful children.

"Edward…I love you." Bella said dreamily as she looked at her two precious angels.

Just then the door to the kitchen burst open and in rushed Esme, Jasper, Alice, Rose and Emmett.

"We were coming down the street from the store when we heard your screams Bella" Alice cried! "Ohhhhh….oh Jasper look!"

"I see them honey. I see them."

Bella looked at Edward who smiled back at her with joy. She cleared her throat and said "Everyone, meet Peter and Elizabeth, the newest Cullens."

Edward looked down at his daughters curly bronze head of hair and his son's soft tufts of brown. He was overjoyed, overwhelmed, and he was complete.

Somewhere, Peter was smiling. His memory would live on.

TBC!

Well, there they are. The long awaited twins! I hope the birth scene was okay. I always hate it when the story skips over this part and suddenly there is Edward and Bella with a baby. The birthing process is such a momentous event in a couple's lives and I wanted to showcase that-with the usual twists and turns that my Bella and Edward experience in their lives. Epilogue to follow. Thanks for all your support. REVIEW PLEASE! They are appreciated.

SS