Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

Thanks once again to everyone who put this story on alert, in their favourites and took the time to review. It really means a lot to me when you do :)

So this chapter is the big one. I am sorry if there are any mistakes in my work but I have never given birth before and I am the youngest in my family, so I do not know anything about it really. I did the best I could. I REALLY REALLY hope you like it, because I like how it turned out.

ENJOY!


Forever Bound

Chapter Twenty Eight – A Moment Like This

The baby was coming? The baby was coming. The baby was coming!

Edward was stunned, his brain stopped functioning. He knew that his child was due any day now, but no matter how much he had considered the fact, now that his child was getting ready to enter the world, Edward had never felt less prepared in his life.

He was broken out of his thoughts as Bella moaned slightly, clutching her stomach as what Edward could only assume was a contraction came over her. He snapped back into reality.

"The baby is coming now?" Edward wanted the fact verified. Bella nodded. "Okay, okay. I will inform Emmett of our departure and explain the situation. You just...just wait here for me." Edward told his wife, trying to take control of the situation. Bella nodded once more.

Edward frantically searched the ballroom for a glimpse of Emmett. He finally located him in the middle of the dance floor, sharing a dance with Alice. Charging over, Edward split the couple up, not caring at that moment if it was rude or not. "What on earth –" Alice began.

"Bella is in labour," Edward interrupted quickly, "We are leaving right now. Please inform my parents of the event, I do not have time to find them myself. We shall inform you when the child has arrived and invite you over to the house to meet them. I must go now." And Edward darted off before either his cousin or brother-in-law had a chance to utter their response.

Edward found Bella quickly and wrapped his arm around her waist, helping her make her way towards the entrance of the ballroom and into the garden. "Does Emmett understand why I have to leave?" Bella asked, clearly concerned that her brother would not appreciate the fact that Bella was leaving his wedding party earlier than planned.

"Of course he does my love," Edward told her as he helped her into the waiting carriage, "But now is not the time to worry about anyone else but yourself. Please hurry" Edward turned his attention to the driver of the carriage.

They were travelling faster than anyone normally would in an open top carriage, but it was far too slow for Edward's liking. Did the driver not understand that Bella was about to birth their child? They finally arrived at the Cullen household and as soon as the carriage had drawn to a halt, Edward pulled Bella into his arms and ran into the house before charging up the stairs. The action reminded him of the night so long ago when he had had to rescue Bella from James' clutches. Although this time he was in a hurry for a much better reason; their baby was about to be born!

Making his way into their chamber, Edward placed Bella on the bed as carefully as possible. It was then he really began to panic. All his medical knowledge had flown out of the window; he could not remember a thing he was meant to do to check that the labour was progressing nicely. In the back of his mind Edward knew that if it was not his child that was about to be born he would be utterly calm and collected, but the fact that it was his child that was due to be born made it a completely different ball game!

Edward began to run his hands through his hair as he paced the room, at total loss of what to do next. Luckily Bella appeared to be thinking more rationally than he was.

"Edward?" Bella called to him. Edward was instantly at her side.

"Yes my love?"

"I need to remove this dress. Will you help me with the buttons at the back?" Bella asked gently, a little out of breath as another contraction had just passed.

"Of course," Edward replied, grateful at having something to do. He was extremely glad that Bella had her back to him as he undid the buttons as his hands were shaking something terrible.

As soon as Edward had pulled the dress over head, Bella fell back into the pillows, already looking slightly drained of energy.

It was nearing nine o'clock and night and Edward began to wonder where Aurora was. Had she even received the message yet?

Bella began to groan and Edward broke out his thoughts as he watched his wife's face contort in pain. Quickly Edward placed his hand in hers, trying to get her to release some of her pain and project it on to him.

When the pain had passed, Bella released his hand slowly. "I am sorry Edward; I did not mean to hurt you." Edward had winced as he opened his hand; his wife was strong!

"Do not worry about me Bella. Focus on yourself. I am deeply sorry that I have put you in a situation in which you must go through such agony." Edward apologised softy. It hurt his heart to see Bella in pain.

Bella placed her hand on his cheek and Edward instantly covered it with his own. "Do not apologise Edward. We get to have our beautiful child after this. Yes, it is not the most pleasant experience but we both knew it was coming and if I had to go through this a hundred times to give life to our child I would." Edward lent forwards and kissed Bella. He felt terrible; here she was comforting him when it was supposed to be the other way around.

After a minute Edward pulled away. "Is there anything you need? Some food? A drink? A flannel?" He wanted to do whatever he could to help ease her discomfort.

"A glass of water would be nice please," Bella replied quietly, smiling up at Edward.

"A glass of water. Right. I will be right back."Edward kissed Bella on the head before he charged downstairs to retrieve a drink. He did not want to miss a moment of what was happening upstairs.

-o-

An hour later and Aurora had still not arrived. Edward was nervous; what on earth could be taking so long? Bella appeared to be calm and in control. She did not complain when a contraction hit her, she simply made herself get through them. Edward had never had such respect for his wife as he did in this moment.

Edward did not know what to do with himself. He did not know how long this process would take and he had no idea how he could aid Bella. This was simply a miracle only she could perform. That second, Bella let out a loud moan from the bed as she clutched the sheets.

"What shall I do love? Do you need your back rubbed? A hand to squeeze? A—" Edward was trying to think of anything that may help.

"Edward?" Bella called through clenched teeth.

"Yes love?" Edward answered instantly, eager to help.

"Be quiet." Bella snapped.

"Of course. Of course." Edward muttered, before he realised that he was still talking. He sank back into the desk chair once more.

Luckily for Edward, Aurora burst into the room at that moment with another woman at her heels. "I am terribly sorry it took so long to arrive Mr and Mrs Cullen. This is Grace and she will be assisting me with the delivery of your child." Edward stood up to greet the two women while Bella simply nodded.

"When did the labour begin?" Aurora asked Edward as Grace set up everything that may be needed. Edward tried not to pay attention to her and focus his thoughts on the question that had been directed at him. "It started almost three hours ago. Her water broke at eight hours past midday."

"No," a small voice came from the bed. Both Edward and Aurora snapped their heads around and looked at Bella, who had protested at Edward's statement.

"No what Bella?" Aurora asked kindly, moving towards her.

"It has been happening since midday." Bella informed them quietly.

Edward was shocked. Why had she not mentioned it? "Why did you not tell me Bella?" He was quite hurt that his wife did not feel the need to tell him she was in labour.

"Until my water broke I did not know. But I had been experiencing pain all day; I just thought it was nerves and the baby kicking. I am so sorry Edward," Bella had tears pooling at the bottom of her eyes.

Edward made his way to his wife and gathered her up into his arms, feeling guilty once more for doubting her. "There is nothing to be sorry for my love. You did not know what was happening; this is the first time for both of us to be experiencing this. If anything I should be apologising to you once more for angering you this morning. You are doing an amazing thing of giving life to our child, do not apologise for anything okay?" Bella nodded into his chest.

"I am sorry Bella, but I need you to open your legs a little so I can see how far you are progressing." Aurora informed his wife sounding apologetic.

Bella nodded and opened her legs, but Edward focused on her face instead; blushing slightly. He knew what Aurora had to do; it had finally come back into his mind. Bella let out a slight groan of pain as Aurora carried out her exam and Edward knew it must be uncomfortable for her.

"I am sorry to tell you, but I believe it will be quite a while yet. I think it will be the early hours of tomorrow before you are able to hold your child." Aurora informed the husband and wife after she had washed her hands.

Bella groan quietly as Edward stroked her hair in an attempt to soothe her. He hated the thought of Bella being in pain for a number of hours longer. "Is there anything we can do to make it progress faster?" Edward asked, desperately hoping there was something, anything they could do.

"I am afraid not Mr Cullen. We can only wait for nature to takes its course. However, I do recommend that the two of you sleep while you have the chance, especially you Bella, for you will need to save up all your strength." Aurora told them gently. Bella nodded and of course Edward agreed with whatever his wife wanted. "Grace and I shall wait outside to allow you to sleep in peace. Call us in once more when you have awoken."

"Thank you," Edward replied gratefully. He was so glad his father had chosen this woman to care for Bella and their child; she clearly knew the best things to do.

Aurora smiled in return as she and Grace quietly left the room. Another contraction passed through Bella the moment the door shut. It lasted longer than any before and by the time it had finished Bella was panting for breath while Edward was trying to regain feeling in his hand.

"Sleep my Bella. It will make the time pass faster," Edward whispered in his wife's ear.

"Stay with me," Bella pleaded; her voice weak with lack of energy.

"Of course angel. I will be right here through it all." Edward reassured her, kissing the top of her head as her eyes fluttered closed.

Although Bella soon drifted off into the land of sleep, no matter how hard he tried, Edward could not join her.

He was too worried, his brain working at a hundred miles an hour. What if something happened to their child? What if something happened to Bella? Edward knew he could not live without her. Would he be a good father? He had never been around an infant before; he did not know the first thing about how to care for them.

Giving up on sleep, Edward simply watched his wife rest, knowing that she would all the energy she could produce in the following hours, and prayed that both she and the child were strong enough to get through it all.

-o-

"Gahh!" Bella cried out as she fell back into Edward's chest, utterly drained. It was four hours past midnight and the contractions were coming faster and faster, lasting longer and longer each time.

Edward had placed himself behind Bella trying to support her, on Aurora's advice. Bella's hands were placed firmly in his, squeezing whenever she needed to. Edward had long lost the sensation in his fingers but that did not matter.

As Bella tried to control her breathing once more, Edward placed a cool cloth on her forehead, mopping up the sweat that was beginning to form on her brows while at the same time trying to cool her down.

"You are doing wonderfully Bella. You are so strong, so strong," Edward whispered to his wife, placing numerous butterfly kisses in her hair.

"It hurts Edward." Bella moaned, the first complaint she had made the entire time.

"I know it does sweet heart, I know it does. But just think about what will happen at the end of this; we will be able to hold our son or daughter in our arms," Edward tried to motivate her.

"But it hurts so much Edward, I do not think I can take it for much longer," Bella began to sob.

Just as he was about to comfort her again, Bella began to crush his hands once more, removing her torso from his chest as the contraction took over her body. She cried out once it had come to an end.

"So well Bella, you are doing so well." Edward tried to comfort her, but he knew his words could do nothing at this point.

"Make it stop Edward, please make it stop!" Bella was crying now. Edward felt his heart break. He was the one who had put her into this position. If he could, Edward would willingly take her place and birth their child for her, but he could not; there was nothing he could do.

"I am so sorry my love, I am so sorry. There is nothing I can do. I would if I could Bella I swear to you." Edward felt the tears sting in the back of his own eyes. He could not watch his wife be in so much pain for much longer.

Aurora checked Bella's progress once more. A few minutes later, she faced the couple with a smile on her face. "I believe you have progressed enough Bella." Finally! "On the next contraction I want you to bear down as hard as you can, do you understand?" Bella nodded, determination filling her face.

Edward tried to prepare himself. His child was almost here! He could not wait to meet them after these long nine months. Bella's hand began to tense in his own yet another time. He braced himself.

"Push Bella." Aurora ordered, and Bella bore down, every muscle in her body tensing as she tried to give life to their child. Edward tried to provide all the support he could as he watched Bella work. Aurora had situated herself between Bella's legs, while Grace was holding one of Bella's feet, trying to make it easier for her.

"Good girl Bella, you can stop now. I want you to push again on the next one." Aurora smiled encouragingly at Bella, who had slumped against Edward's chest.

This continued for the next half an hour. Bella pushed on every contraction and Aurora assured them progress was being made each time. However Edward was becoming more and more worried. It was clear that Bella was running out of energy, her grip was weaker and she could not push for long. He wished the child would be born sooner rather than later.

After finishing her current push five seconds before Aurora's countdown ended, Bella fell into Edward's chest; tears were streaming down her red face and she was sobbing.

"I cannot do this anymore Edward, I cannot! It hurts too much. I have no strength left. I cannot do it!" Bella buried her head into his chest as she cried. Edward was sure his heart had broken a thousand times over.

"You must Bella, you must. I know you are beyond tired but you are doing so well, you are so close! Our baby is almost here." Edward encouraged her but she simply shook her head.

"I cannot Edward, I cannot. I cannot push anymore."

Aurora spoke up. "I know it is tough Bella, I know it is but you are so close; I can see the top of your child's head. I just need one more big push. Do you think you can do that?" Bella shook her head.

"Bella, just one more push and we will be able to hold our child. I promise to not put you through anything like this again if that is what you wish, but all we need is one more push." Edward told his wife, hoping she would realise how close they were to completion.

Bella shook her head once more but Edward felt her muscles tense once more. She was going to do it. The next contraction came shortly and the pain took over Bella's body once more. She squeezed Edward's hands harder than she had before, the fingers turning blue from lack of blood flow. As she pushed, Edward could tell she was putting every piece of energy she had left into it. As Aurora told her to stop pushing, Bella let out a heart wrenching scream and fell back into Edward's chest, panting for oxygen desperately.

Edward began to stroke her hair as he wondered what was happening down between Bella's legs; Aurora appeared to be wriggling something. After a moment too long, Aurora finally spoke up. "You did it Bella!" Edward gasped for air, his child was here! It took him only seconds to notice that no wails of a new born infant had filled the room. His heart filled with dread. Bella appeared to be feeling the same, "What is happening Edward? Why are they not crying?" she asked weakly. Edward had no answer.

Aurora passed the child to Grace without Edward even being able to take a glimpse at his new born. Grace began to frantically rub the child's face and finally, a shrill cry burst through the room. Edward breathed a sigh of relief as he heard his new favourite sound in the world. His child was crying, alive and well! They appeared to have quite a set of lungs on them!

"There was simply some gunk stuck in the throat," Aurora explained as she wrapped their child in a blanket before making her way towards the new parents. "Congratulations Bella and Edward. You are parents to a beautiful, healthy baby girl."

A daughter. Edward had a daughter! He felt his heart swell with pride. He was a father!

Aurora gently placed their daughter into Bella's arms before she made her way to the bottom of the bed once more to clear up and give the new parents some privacy.

As soon as their baby had been placed in Bella's arms, her cries began to cease until she was only whimpering slightly. Edward could not take his eyes away from the two most important girls in his life.

"Hello little girl," Bella whispered, tears pouring down her face as she lifted the newborn to her lips to place a gentle kiss on her forehead. "We have been waiting so long for you. Mummy loves you so much already little girl." Edward felt his own tears fall down his face; Bella was already a wonderful mother.

He could not help but drink in the sight of his daughter. She had bright blue eyes as all newborns did but he hoped they would soon change to the chocolate brown of her mother's. She had the most perfect button nose and Cupid's bow lips. Her head was covered in a thin layer of brown hair, curling at the ends, exactly like her mother. Edward gently ran his finger down the top of her head. His daughter gazed up at him and Edward knew he would never forget that moment for as long as he lived.

"She is perfect Bella, utterly perfect," Edward whispered, not wanting his child to cry once more due to a loud voice. Bella simply nodded, appearing unable to take her eyes away from the child that rested in her arms. Edward could not blame her; their daughter was a beauty.

Edward placed his finger under her chin and gently turned her head towards him. "Thank you so much Bella," he said softly. Bella smiled the biggest smile he had even seen. Gently leaning forward, being extra careful not to crush the child between them, Edward kissed Bella softly; trying to express every single emotion he was feeling in that one kiss.

Once they had pulled away, Bella asked the question Edward was dying for. "Do you want to hold her Daddy?" He was a daddy! Nodding quickly, Edward extended his arms. All his fears of not knowing what to do fell out of his head the moment he held his daughter in his arms for the first time. She just fit, as if they were two pieces of a jigsaw. It felt as if Edward had been waiting for this moment his entire life; he just had not realised it before. His heart swelled with love, love for the small human being in his arms; the child he had helped create.

Although she protested slightly at the exchange, as soon as Edward held her to his chest, their daughter's eyes fluttered closed. Edward could not blame her; she must have had an exhausting day.

Lowering his head to place a kiss on the top of his daughter's head, Edward spoke the name he and Bella had chosen months before. "Welcome to the world Alicia Rose. Oh how we have been waiting for you."

---

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Until next time :)