I don't own.. We all know who does
AN: There has been a huge wait for this chapter. I want to tell you that I have been busy but the truth is I got involved in Memoirs of a Mobwife and sadly knew Cullen home was wrapping up and I was not ready to let them go. This is my first complete story and its very bitter sweet for me.
EPOV
I could not be any prouder when I held Eden for the first time. The way her tiny hand wrapped around my finger, also held my heart. She was so beautiful, just like her mother. I leaned over and kissed Bella. She was so exhausted, she didn't get to hold her for long before she dozed off.
I got to show her off to the family, mom's tears triggered my own. I placed her in her hands and she hugged her so tight. "Gosh Edward she is so precious, I love her so much."
Rosalie played with the brown curls of her hair and rubbed her index finger along her soft chubby cheeks. "Hey Eden, I'm your Aunt Rose and this is your uncle Emmett," she explained to her and of course Eden just looked at her with a blank expression.
Charlie was off to a corner, his emotions were conflicted. He 's first priority was Bella
I took Eden from mom and brought her to him and placed her in his arms. "She looks so much like Bella did when she was born, so beautiful. How is she? Is Bella going to be okay?" he looked up at me with red rimmed eyes.
"She's going to be fine, she just exhausted." He kissed Eden on her head and handed her back to me.
Dr. Yorkie was ready to have her accessed better. I watched them put her on monitors and do an ultrasound of her chest . She was a trooper through it all.
~*~
The next day he confirmed what we already knew, her left valve needed repair. That meant Eden would not be leaving with us from the hospital. She would have to stay until her surgery and recovery was complete and depending on when she would be strong enough to handle surgery it may be weeks before we have her home. This news didn't sit well with Bella, she cried, I cried, we cried together. I just wanted to fix everything.
The hospital set the family up in a room where we could visit with Eden. We would all be able to hold her without taking the monitors off of her. There was a couch, a regular bed for Bella or myself to stay with her overnight when the time came. The day Bella was discharged we immediately went there. Bella was determined not to leave until Eden did.
After a few weeks of this Rosalie and Alice managed to get Bella to agree to take trips out of the hospital even if for only a few hours. Mom and I stayed with Eden while she was gone. We still didn't want to leave her alone.
I loved how her tiny body molded into mine, like was always meant to be here. I could feel the tension in the room grow. We never discussed what happened the night I left. My mother wants answers and more importantly so does Bella.
"You have to tell her Edward," Esme whispered to me while stroking the soft curls on Eden's tiny head. "Bella needs to be told everything about the night you left, you cant keep this from her"
"I know mom but what if she leaves me, what if she takes Eden from me?" I sobbed.
"I want to say that it will be alright and comfort you, that's the mother in me but the woman part of me wants to tell you that you made your own bed and now you have to lie in it and as for Eden I know Bella would never deny you this beautiful baby."
"I will tell Bella, its only fair," I say as I lean into my mother's embrace and watch as Eden wiggles her way closer into the crook of my arm. I can't lose them and I'll do what ever it takes.
Three hours later a sad looking Bella came back, her face was slightly red. It looked like she had been crying. I put the baby back in her plastic cradle and positioned her monitors so that they wont get tangled or come off accidentally.
"What's wrong Bella?"
"I missed Eden and I had a chat with a friend of yours."
"Who?" I asked suspiciously.
"Tanya"
My heart dropped in my chest, I should have mention that night weeks ago, but we were just so wrapped up in our daughter everything else landed on the back burner.
"Bella, we need to talk."
"Yeah. I think we do," she said as I saw another tear fall from her red swollen eyes.
We called Rosalie and Alice to be with Eden that night and we went home and sat beside our pond. Bill and Snookie missed her terribly, they don't get fed like royalty when Bella and I aren't here. We sat on the swing and rocked and rocked. The tension in the air was thick.
"I ran into Tanya at the mall. Her mother and her were buying a gift for Eden. I showed them pictures of her and then Tanya apologized for what happened the night you walked out. She must have noticed my confusion cause I know we had yet to discuss what happened. She told me you were drinking and at first she was going to try and seduce you. But she saw you were upset, and you talked about how you loved me, and our daughter. She said that there was no way she could interfere with a love like that. She admits to trying to kiss you. Tanya said that you pushed her away and told her that friends would be the only type of relationship you two would have. She told me how she got really drunk and that you drove her home. "
"I would never cheat on you. Bella, you mean too much to me"
"I know Edward. I trust you."
~*~
A month later I was torn between my duties at Cullen Home and being with my girls. Rose and Emmett had gotten married. They had a small simple wedding. It got me thinking about the way my life has changed. We knew from dealing with Eden's medical situation that life is precious and to never take it for granted. We never had to go through with the adoption. Bella instead added me as her father on the birth certificate. We shared a name and I was thinking it was about time Bella shared it with us.
Charlie found a beautiful home not far from Cullen home. It was a two bedroom cottage style. As time progressed I noticed my mom and Charlie spending a lot of time together. On the surface it was weird since their children were together and they also shared a grandchild. We had all become closer, Jasper and Emmett felt like brothers to Bella and I. Alice and Rosalie were the best sisters we could have ever asked for.
We got word not long after Eden was born that Mr. Newton was arrested and was charged in James's murder. Bella talks to him once a week and keeps him caught up on Eden's progress and sends him pictures. She is determined to help him with his case, even if he has to testify about her attack. Mr. Newton was the reason My Bella is staying and If I could help him I would.
~*~
We were told a week later that Eden was good to go for her surgery. Bella and I knew this day was coming. We stayed with Eden as much as we could, neither one of us talking about the chance that our daughter would not make it. We stayed positive. I watched as Bella played with Eden's tiny toes, rubbed her back, loving on her. She was an unbelievable mother. It just came natural to her. It was just us three sharing a moment together.
I knew the timing was right. "Bella?"
"Yeah?" she asked, as she looked up at me breaking her attention from our daughter.
"I love you, baby," I told her.
She giggled and replied that she loved me too.
I took Eden out her lap and held her in my arms.
"Hey. How did you know she wanted to go to you, she may have wanted to stay with me," Bella said with amusement.
"She told me to hold her," I replied.
"Yeah. Uh huh. Sure. What are you the baby whisperer? You deliver a couple of babies, and you automatically know what they want?"
"No, I just know what this baby wants."
"And pray tell, what does our daughter want Edward?" Bella inquired rolling her eyes.
"Eden told me that she wants you to marry her daddy." I stated with a grin on my face.
I watched as tears rolled down her face as I pulled out the ring and placed it in her hand. "Tell Eden I would love to marry her daddy."
~*~
The next day at six in the morning, Eden was rolled into the operating room. The doctors estimated the operation would take about four hours to complete. The mood was tense and thick. The waiting room was filled with our family, Alice brought in breakfast but no one touched it. Our stomach were in knots. Minutes felt like hours. I caught Charlie holding my mom's hand, Emmett's arm wrapped around her shoulders silently keeping her together. Alice and Jasper pretended to watch the television in the room. Bella and I went over the last few minutes we had with her in our heads. We cried. We kissed her and told her to be strong that we loved her very much.
It didn't seem enough for me, I wanted more hugs and kisses. I wanted to revel in the warmness and sweet baby smell that was all Eden. We prayed and held each other quietly. My thumb grazing over Bella's engagement ring. We were so distracted by Eden's surgery that no one even mentioned it. I saw my mom give me a all knowing smile, but she remained somber.
Hour three almost killed us. The nurse came in to give us an update. Eden was stable and thriving. She was a fighter like her mom.
Four and a half hours after Eden went in the operating room. Dr. Yorkie come in with his bright blue scrubs on. He looked around and smiled
" Eden done good, real good. She should be ready to take home in about a week" Dr. Yorkie said smiling
A collective sigh was heard all around the room and Bella collapsed in my arms sobbing uncontrollably in relief.
We were going to be alright
The epilogue is left.. See you in two weeks.
Thanks to one of eddies girls for helping me throughout this story:)