Browns and Greens
My belly grew as did my joy. Sure, I was tired and had morning sickness again, but I had Edward this time and that seemed to make all the difference in the world. He took care of me day and night, dedicated to making me comfortable, healthy and happy.
I was sitting in our room reading a book when he came up behind me and started rubbing my shoulders, "Mmmmm, that feels good," I encouraged as he massaged down my back.
"How are you feeling, any better?" He asked me quietly.
"Just really tired," I admitted.
"The anemia is getting worse," Edward spoke sadly.
"I'll be okay," I encouraged, "Carlisle changed my meds today."
"I know," he replied.
He was quiet for a few moments as I continued to read. He situated himself behind me and I leaned up against him as he wrapped his arms around me.
"What in the…" Edward blurted out after about fifteen minutes of silence.
"What is it?" I closed my book and whipped my head around to him.
"Shhhh," he hushed me, "Quiet Bella."
I was quiet as he requested, the only sound my quickened breath and anxious heart as I wondered what was going on.
"You're making too much noise; I need to listen," Edward spoke into my ear as he kissed me on the cheek. His hand gently pressed against my mouth sealing it shut as his finger and thumb pinched my nose closed as well. I didn't struggle against him, though my body wanted to. Edward wouldn't hurt me.
He let me go only seconds later as he called out, "Carlisle!"
Carlisle appeared in the door way instantly, "What is it Edward?"
"Do you hear that?" he asked the doctor.
"Hear what?" Carlisle raised an eyebrow to Edward.
Edward mumbled off something too fast for me to hear. Carlisle furrowed his brows in response and seemed to listen closer. I grimaced at Edward and crossed my arms across my chest; I hated it when he left me out of conversations and he knew it.
Carlisle walked over closer to me and rested a hand on my abdomen with a slight smile and a hint of concern on his face. He met Edward's eyes and nodded.
"What?" I insisted they tell me.
"Heartbeats," Edward answered.
"You can hear its heart beating finally?" I asked enthusiastically; the vampires should have been able to hear a heart beat weeks ago, but my body had made another protective barrier much like last time that blocked not only the vampire's sensitive hearing but all the machines as well.
"Bella there are two heartbeats- it's twins."
"Twins?" I asked shocked.
"Twins," Carlisle confirmed. "It's not surprising considering the fertility drugs I had you on."
I was thrilled and scared all at the same time and something told me that's exactly how my husband and father-in-law felt as well.
"Can I do twins?" I asked afraid of what they might tell me I should do.
"You can do twins, we'll figure it out. I'd like to try an ultrasound in the morning. I'm hopeful we might be able to see something now if we can hear something," Carlisle theorized. Carlisle gave me a hug and a kiss on the forehead before he stood up. "You'll be alright, just rest," he assured me. I'd known him for too long though; I could see the worry he was trying to hide.
Once my father-in-law stepped out I turned to Edward to find a similar worried look. "Edward, this could be bad couldn't it?"
"Twins are always harder to carry, more risk. But Carlisle is right, you'll be fine. This pregnancy is progressing much slower than the last and you've been overall healthier and no voices. Don't worry yourself; be happy- we're having twins Bella."
"We're having twins." I confirmed.
The ultrasound finally confirmed two beating hearts, but not a whole lot else. It was still too fuzzy to see gender and Carlisle complained he couldn't get a good image. Yet he seemed relieved to be able to see something this time.
Edward, Alice and I gathered back in the dimly lit living area afterwards to talk.
"I'm jealous Carlisle can see them, but I can't," Alice complained.
"Has anything in your vision changed?" I asked my sister while Edward gave her a little scowl.
"Edward, she ought to know how this is going to play out."
"I agree," Edward replied, "But things are uncertain and cloudy in your visions, I don't like making decisions based upon incomplete information."
"Until you make a decision, my visions remain incomplete," Alice countered.
Edward seemed to concede and Alice spoke on, "I can vaguely see Bella getting very sick; Aro will push his suggestion and things getter better."
I processed that for a moment. "Are you saying I'm going to have to drink blood to get better?"
"No," Edward seemed disgusted, "We don't know if that is what fixes it or not, there could be something else."
"I'm not seeing anything else," Alice commented.
"No offence Alice but you're not seeing lots of things. You still can't see the babies."
"Well the fact that you are going to choose browns and greens is not at all helpful Bella! No, I can't see the babies, and it blurs Bella some because of them. I'm just telling you what I see; Bella gets sick- soon, Aro forces the blood and she gets better. Aro has already decided it will happen and so it shall."
Browns and greens? Well that sounds like me, I wasn't one for the tradition baby pinks and blues, but I wish that I was because then maybe Alice could tell me what gender they are.
"I think a lot hinges on what you do over the next week. We're almost halfway there, and still furthest I can see in the future is Bella as a vampire, back home with brown and green baby stuff."
"Well that's good news," I pointed out. "I had been worrying lately that somehow Aro was going to force us to stay even after I give birth. If these children are of such interest to him why do you think he would be willing to just let us go? It's nice to know that he sticks to his word."
Edward seemed to contemplate, "I hadn't thought of it like that. Knowing his mind it's not like him at all. Yet, I can see it just as clearly as Alice, I wonder how we manage that?"
"For now just be happy that we do," Alice suggested.
I nodded with relief; it was nice to know we were going to get a happy ending though the circumstances that would lead us there were uncertain.
"Maybe Alice was wrong," I tried to pacify Edward who had grown increasingly worrisome as the week grew old.
"What if she's not- I hate to admit it but she's not wrong as much as I have lead you to believe. Are you sure you feel okay? Maybe we should have Carlisle check again just to be safe."
"Edward let the man rest with his wife, he checked me five hours ago. I'm fine." I was just about ready for bed myself as I made my way into the bathroom. I changed into my pajamas, brushed my teeth and suddenly had cramps. I hadn't had cramps like this since my last cycle. I took a deep breath in through my nose and out through my mouth trying to relax them away as I leaned up against the sink.
"Bella, what's wrong?" Edward asked from the other side of the door.
"I'm fine, just give me a moment," I replied, it was just a little pain, I knew it happened sometimes. Maybe they were just moving or something?
"You're heart is racing; Bella open this door before I break it and we have to have Felix come in and replace it."
I opened the door, but didn't move from my slightly hunched position. My hand rubbed over my stomach as I continued to take slow breaths.
"You're bleeding," Edward glanced to the source of the blood that I suddenly felt between my legs.
I let out a sob as I realized I was miscarrying, "Edward?"
"Hold on love," he picked me up quickly and ran me out of our suite and into the lab Carlisle had been using in seconds. Edward laid me down on the bed and left for an instant before he reappeared with his father.
The tears were flowing down my face and I couldn't help the gasps and sobs. The pain hadn't receded either and the bleeding continued as well. I was getting light headed as my heart continued to pound. I could feel them touching me, moving me and hear them speaking, but it all seemed so distant.
My heart was breaking; I couldn't lose them now, not after all this.
"Bella, you're not miscarrying," Carlisle's voice spoke to me softly as I tried to focus on him through my blurry eyes. "Their hearts are still beating strong," he assured.
"Are you sure? Why am I bleeding?" I asked.
"It happens sometimes, doesn't always mean miscarriage. We'll give it a few moments and it should stop on its own. I'm going to start you on some fluids though; I don't like you loosing blood while you're already anemic."
Edward leaned over me and met my lips with a passionate kiss that I returned with what little energy I had.
"I'm so sorry," I apologized weakly.
"Whatever for? This isn't your fault. Just rest Bella, the bleeding is slowing now."
I was exhausted, so I closed my eyes and drifted off.
Author's Note: Awwwe, twins! Yes I planned that all along, and I only had one person suspect so I hope you're pleasantly surprised. I like where this story has gone even though it's not what I had originally planned. What do you think? A big THANK YOU to my beta: HopingForLove. Thanks for all your reviews, I didn't get to respond to any this week because (drum roll please) I have been finishing up a one shot and it's now ready to post! Now before you hop over and read it, I am going to warn you it's what I would call a "lime." It's rated "M" because things get a little steamy, it's not NC-17 or anything but I would say NC-16 maybe? So if you're a tween you're too young for it. I hope you enjoy "Accidently." Before you go, leave me a review!