Disclaimer: It is with a heavy heart that I admit that the exclusive rights to Twilight aren't mine, nor will they ever be.
A/N: Thanks to all that have read this story and that have put this story on alert/fav lists. One request, if you aren't old enough to buy cigarettes legally, please don't read this.
A huge thanks to amazing and sponge-worthy Sartiadreaming for beta'ing for me.
Outtake One ~ Baby
BPOV
"Calm down, Bella," Alice sweetly says, watching me pace the small room as she lounges on the couch.
I snort.
Then my stomach rolls again.
"Again, tell me why I thought this was a good idea?"
"Because you love Edward and you owe him one."
"Yeah, I do."
Edward got me good the last time I was on his show. I wasn't expecting anything. Hell, I was so tired from the press tour that I could barely stand up. So he took that opportunity to tell me about the Oscar nomination.
He went so far as to coordinate with Alice to keep me away from any news, so I wouldn't know either way.
You think I would have paid attention to the date that day or something. But no, my mind that day was swimming with floral arrangements and color swatches.
And now my belly is swimming with something.
"Hey, calm down or you are going to throw-up again."
"Don't remind me."
Edward and I have been married for a little over a year. In that time we have attended award shows together, only after I was on a press tour around the world. Not to mention that we settled on a few projects to work on for the production company to have completed within the year. We chose two films; both are giving new directors their big break, and one film that I took a supporting role in.
It was a small budget independent type film, a story about a boy dying of cancer and the relationship with his best friend who was a girl. The film was beyond emotional, pulling at our heartstrings from the very first page of the script. Based on a semi-true story, the writer focused on the kid's relationship, from the point of finding out the boy was sick, all the way through his death.
I was cast as the best friend's mother.
I have never cried so much in my life. There wasn't a scene I shot that required me to cry, and never was it difficult summoning those emotions.
Casting was a learning experience; after seeing about five hundred kids, we narrowed it down to four. We brought them in separate and then together, trying to find the right dynamic and chemistry that we were looking for.
Once we had paired Jessica and Eric, we knew we struck gold.
After that film was done shooting, I decompressed with a girls weekend in New Orleans, spending time with the 'newlywed' Alice and the 'I've got a luncheon' Rose. Both had been so busy that we seemed to miss having regular contact with each other.
I told them that we needed time together.
On our trip, we all caught up and laughed till our bellies were hurting. We talked about silly things, our men, and then somehow we fell upon some serious subjects.
Children being one of them.
Rose knew from years ago that she couldn't have them, so she resided that it was God's way of telling her that she wasn't meant to be a mother.
Alice confessed that Jasper wasn't ready to share her with anything else, using the option to wait.
The girls had their plans, but I didn't know what I wanted. My mind drifted to the film, the pain and tears from my character. The one thing that played on my mind was that I wanted to share my love.
So after a bottle of wine—or two—the girls had me opened up, crying, and admitting I wanted to start a family.
The trip ended, and we headed back home.
As soon as I walked in the door, I told Edward that I wanted to talk to him.
Boy, you should have seen the look on his face after I said those five words.
I explained to him my thought process and told him that I didn't want to wait in starting a family.
Yeah, he was shocked.
We talked about it.
And talked.
And talked some more.
It wasn't until a month later that he had come to terms with his own thoughts and agreed that he wanted to start a family, too.
A month later, when it came time to get my shot again, I went in for a checkup and asked a few questions.
You would think after that we would have been like rabbits trying to conceive. But we decided just to let it happen naturally. There wasn't a reason for us to rush.
A few months went by, and then one morning, I woke up later than usual, rushing to the toilet and hugging it for all it's worth. Edward had already left for work, so I was alone in the house.
After checking my calendar and some counting, I called Alice and asked her to bring me a test. The next day, I called and made an appointment with my doctor to confirm.
He confirmed that I was four weeks pregnant.
That was two weeks ago.
And now I am about to go on national TV and tell Edward that he is going to be a daddy.
"Five minutes, Bella." I catch the back of Jasper's head as he rushes back out of the room.
"Are you ready?" Alice asks.
I pace one more time, taking a few deep cleansing breaths and willing my mind and body to relax.
I stop in front of the dressing table and smooth out my clothes. Alice stands from the couch, coming behind me and gives me a soft hug.
"Remember, you can throw up later."
"Very funny. Remind me to be this supportive when you get knocked up."
She laughs.
Five minutes later, we are following Jasper to the side stage, stopping and watching the TV monitors.
It is December 22, and Edward is doing his annual holiday show. He sings silly songs and goes over amusing holiday headlines from all over the world, as well as have a slew of celebrities on the show to help him 'read the email' and answer questions.
All he knows is that I am coming on the show.
He looks very happy today, the holiday spirit shining from his eyes. In a few days we will be on Melody Key, celebrating Christmas and spending some much needed time alone, away from work and Hollywood.
"Welcome back, everybody. Welcome back."
I watch as Edward brings the show back from commercial break, the crowd cheering.
"It's time to get to this absolutely humongous stack of emails," he says as he turns to the side stage and smirks.
The crowd knows what to expect. Fans of his show love this time of year when there are parades of celebrities.
There is a ding-dong sound effect, and Edward looks back to the audience with a knowing smirk on his face. "I wonder who that could be."
I step out onto the stage and make my way over to the desk. The crowd is in high spirits tonight, giving a nice welcome as I wave and smile. Edward stands up as I approach the desk, leaning over and giving me a kiss on the cheek.
"Isabella, wonderful to have you on the show tonight."
"I'm very happy to be here, Edward."
"So will you help me answer a few emails?"
"Sure, I'll give it a shot."
Edward taps the stack of papers before picking up the first one.
"Dear Edward, I have to tell my husband that I'm pregnant. Any suggestions how?"
He brings his hand to his chin and does the whole rubbing, thinking evil thoughts act.
Of course, I giggle.
"I just don't know how to answer this one. I've never had to tell my husband that I'm pregnant."
The crowd breaks out into claps and laughing, my own smile and laughs unavoidable as well.
"Um," I start.
"Well, that's not a good way to tell someone."
I raise an eyebrow at him before continuing. "She should sit down with him, look him right in the eye," I say, as I mimic the actions with him, turning in my seat and facing him straight on, giving him a very serious face. "And say: my dearest husband, thanks for knocking me up."
Edward lets out a huge laugh, rolling into a series of both of us laughing, the crowd following right along.
After a few minutes, we calm down and Edward smirks.
"Would you really tell your husband that way?"
"Why not?" I smirk as I throw my answer back to him. "What better way than to come on national TV and drop something that important on him."
"You are a devious woman, aren't you?" He smirks and gives me a wink before turning to the audience, motioning to me and nodding his head like a real live bobble head doll.
At this point, I am not sure if Edward is understanding what I am saying, or if he is just going along with his normal routine. Just to make sure, a thought pops into my head.
"Ladies and gentlemen, Isabella Swan. We'll be back after this break."
The audience erupts once again in cheers and whistles as the show leaves for commercial break. I stand as Edward does.
Within a few seconds, he has come from behind the desk and has his arm around me, leading off stage.
My smile is so large that my cheeks are starting to hurt, the excitement of what I am about to do radiating through me.
Once we reach the edge of the stage and are out of view from most of the audience, Edward pulls me close, giving me a hug and a quick kiss.
"You were very funny tonight," he says, his own face split between smiling and laughing. "Thanks for coming on the show."
I grin before leaning up and giving him a kiss on the cheek, my mouth lingering towards his ear. "Congratulations, Daddy."
Pulling back, I let out a small giggle as I take in Edward's face. He is stunned, just mildly with his mouth hanging open, and he looks like he is in shock.
But before he has time to recover, I leave him, heading back to my dressing room as Jasper pulls him by the arm leading him back on stage.
Alice and I watch the rest of the show from the TV in my dressing room, as I change quickly and gush over how shocked he was. But from watching the show, Edward is nothing but professional. To the viewer, it looks as if nothing is wrong.
The show ends, and a minute after we see the credit start to roll, my door swings open. Edward stalks into the room and scoops me up into his arms, crashing his lips to mine.
One minute I'm in his arms, the next he is on his knees in front of me, placing his ear to my belly.
"You can't hear or feel him yet."
"I know," he whispers.
He moves his head and raises the shirt that I am wearing and gives my belly a soft kiss before looking up at me. He looks like I just told him I would marry him again, his eyes shinning with unshed tears.
"You're pregnant."
"Yeah, you knocked me up."
*~*TLLSwEC*~*
Eight or so months later
If I thought that after a press tour across Europe I would be the most tired I would ever feel…I was wrong.
Oh, so wrong.
At thirty-eight weeks, I feel like a walking balloon that is part sponge. Anything I put in my mouth makes me swell. And all I seem to eat is fruit.
Even though my doctor says everything is all right and normal, I feel like I swish when I walk.
Swishing makes me tired.
Two weeks ago, I was tired enough to sit down in an uncomfortable chair on a busy set, with loud noises going on all around me, and fall asleep for twenty minutes.
Late in this pregnancy, I decided to take a role in one of our films that had a supporting character of a pregnant woman. Instead of having an actress with a belly bump, why not take advantage of someone with the real deal?
What were we thinking?
I have to admit, though, I have been pleased with the results of the film, which is not in post-production as of last week. We wrapped and not a moment too soon.
I pushed myself, my body, and mind like never before. In all the books I read about being pregnant, there were mentions of 'pregnancy brain.' I didn't really believe it, until I started forgetting my lines on set.
I never have been so embarrassed in my whole career. After spending two hours crying in my trailer about what I had done on set, Angela and Tia calmed me down enough so that I could call Edward.
Funny thing about that phone call, I expected Edward to rush off since I was just down the street at a neighboring studio. I expected my husband to come and comfort me.
He is what I wanted.
But he isn't what came.
Thirty minutes after getting off the phone with him, there was a soft knock at my trailer door.
Angela opened it only to find Esme, Edward's mother, standing there.
"It's Esme," Angela announced her.
Esme was the last person on earth that I wanted to see me like this.
Before my nerves crawled over my skin, Esme crossed the room and sat down pulling me into a mother embrace. I instantly melted.
Esme was exactly what I needed that day, and I didn't even know it.
She told me about her time on set when she was pregnant with Edward. Due to the studio contracts, she was hiding the fact that she was pregnant until the end of shooting.
The only people that knew of her condition were the studio executives, the director, and producer, along with her own personal assistant. On one particular day she was more emotional than usual, and after a difficult scene she just broke down on the set, crying and collapsing onto the floor in a heap.
She told me it was one of the most embarrassing moments in her career.
But that no one spoke a word of it.
That others told her it would be okay; everyone was supportive.
And everyone knew of her condition.
She said she survived. And reminded me that I would, too.
We talked some more, and I finally pulled myself together enough to return to set. After that, Esme and I turned a corner in our relationship.
And now I was closer than ever to giving her their first grandchild.
But before I can do that, I promised Edward that I would come on his show again. Seeing as it will be a while till I can step on his stage, he thought it would be fun to have me on.
On TV, where the camera adds ten pounds on top of the thirty I gained.
Again, what was I thinking?
To top off my tiredness, my body is showing signs of hating me right now. Since yesterday, my lower back started hurting, a low aching that nothing is helping to relieve, and my feet have swelled to the point that the only things I can fit on them as shoe-wear is a pair of flip-flops.
Wearing the most comfortable dress Alice could find me, I stand in the green room instead of sitting, knowing if I sit I won't be able to get up again.
"Ready?" Jasper asks, opening the door and coming to my side. A few minutes later, I find myself standing on the side stage watching Edward coming back from commercial break, introducing me.
As I laugh, a pain forms in my lower stomach, punching the laugh out of me, causing my hands to move closest to the sight of pain and cringe.
This is the first time I have had any pain like this through this pregnancy. The baby has moved before, so I know it isn't her playing punching bag on my kidneys. In fact, she has been very active during the past two months, giving us plenty of entertainment at night in bed. My mind starts to race, thinking of all the things this could mean.
Braxton Hicks?
Knowing that I have to step out onto the stage in front of me in less than a minute, I suck up the feeling surging in my body and stand straight, smile pretty, and prepare myself to move.
Even if I might be going into labor, it would just have to wait. I look down quickly and say a prayer for our girl to hang in there for thirty minutes.
"Our next guess has graciously agreed to come on the show today," Edward says, smirking. "Even in the condition that I put her in." He grins and swivels back and forth like a kid that knows what bad thing he has done.
"Warm welcome for Isabella Swan."
I take a step and another wave of pain crashes over me as my teeth lock together tight into the smile plastered on my face.
Within a few steps, I reach Edward, who pulls me in for a gentle hug, running one hand along my back before pulling back and giving me a quick kiss on the cheek.
"Everything all right?" he whispers.
"Yeah," I answer, nodding.
With his hand on my back, we make our way to his desk, a set of pains blowing through me along the way.
We sit.
He interviews me.
The whole time, I am literally grinning, trying to hide the look of pain on my face.
We get to the commercial break and Edward leans forward.
"What is wrong? Don't lie to me."
"I think I'm having some contractions."
"Shit." Edward turns to Jasper, but I stop him before he calls him over.
"Don't. Finish the show. I'm sure it's nothing, just some Braxton Hicks. I'll just go home and rest."
As the words leave my mouth, another pain starts. This time it is stronger and just a bit longer.
"Are you sure?"
I smile sweetly at Edward. "Yes."
The commercial break ends and we continue the interview. Edward does most of the talking, allowing me time to smile and breath through the pain.
In what feels like forever, the segment ends, and Edward has his arm around me, walking me off the stage.
Once we are at the edge of the curtain, the sharpest pain hits my body. My hands move, cradling my swollen belly as a moan escapes my mouth.
"Aggh!"
Edward is right beside me, his hands rubbing soothing circles on my back. A moment passes, and I move to stand up straight.
"Go finish the show."
"I don't want to leave you. Not when you are in this kind of pain."
"You only have ten minutes left of filming," Jasper offers.
Edward looks to me and then to Jasper, his mind going through his options.
"Go," I say, pleading with him.
"Fine, but get her a chair. I want her right here. And if she gets worse, I'm done."
"You got it, boss," Jasper replies.
A few minutes later, I am sitting in a director's chair backstage, watching the remaining minutes of Edward's show. He normally is very calm and cheeky, but you can tell that my condition is affecting him.
He seems very cut and dry with his lines, but manages enough. I only hope he regroups and holds himself together for the remainder of the show.
Time ticks by. A few more pains flow through me, each one deeper and stronger than the last.
Finally, Edward closes the show and rushes off stage.
I stand from the chair and open my arms to greet him.
At the same time he reaches me, warm liquid pours down my legs causing me to look down.
There is a puddle.
Fuck! My water just broke!
I look up only to find Edward with a panic look on his face.
Commotion is flying all around us as we stare at each other. The next thing I know, a searing pain rips through me, I double over, and Edward snaps out of his shock and is telling Jasper to call Zafrina and get the car.
Thirty minutes later, I am focusing on my breathing as I sit in the back of the Mercedes, Zafrina calm behind the wheel as the approach the hospital.
I close my eyes, trying to drown out Edward and Angela, who are both on the phone, giving information and talking non-stop.
Breathe in.
Hold.
Contraction.
Breathe out.
Eight and half hours later, we have our baby girl, Vanessa Carlie Cullen.
At the moment, we are alone in the room. All the nurses and doctors are off to the next delivery, giving us the quiet that we so need.
Edward is cradling her in his arms, cooing with his eyes focused on every movement she makes. As I watch from the bed, I can't help but feel satisfied and content. Edward proved to be a wonderful partner in life, an incredible husband, and now, he is instantly taking to being a new father.
"You did so good, Beautiful." He holds her up, their cheeks pressed together as he smiles at me.
My smile is instant at the sight of my family.
"Are you ready for the rest of the family?"
"Sure," I croak, fighting back tears of joy.
Edward places her in my arms, gives me a sweet kiss, and steps out into the hall to collect our joined families and close friendswho are patiently in the waiting room.
Vanessa wiggles and lets out a yawn that moves her whole face. My fingers automatically move to caress her cheeks, the warm and smooth skin already familiar to me.
The TV is on low in the room, both of us wanting to see if anything has been reported about our trip to the hospital, but nothing as of yet.
Then I hear our names. I reach for the remote and turn up the volume.
"On the taping of The Late Late Show with Edward Cullen today, his guest, actress Isabella Swan, exhibited some interesting faces."
The screen is filled with two clips from the show. The first one, I am sitting in the chair, grimacing, my hands held tightly together, my fingers laced and locked, the whites of my knuckles evident. In the second clip, my breathing looks labored as I carry almost the exact same grimace.
"What was happening that caused Isabella to make faces like that? Well, we checked with The Late Show and found out that Isabella Swan, wife of Late Show host, Edward Cullen, went into labor with their first child moments after taping ended."
I take a deep breath, my body starting to tense over what else they might report.
"Sources for the couple confirmed that their first daughter was born later that day. Congratulations, Edward and Isabella."
A/N: I have outtake two finished and it is with my wonderful beta right now. Hope you enjoyed.