Hey everyone! So I'm in a really good mood. I'm almost done filling out my college application and I finished my essay. And so here is the chapter that you have all been waiting for. Enjoy! And review!
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Welcome to the World
Bella stood in front of the fireplace with Carlisle. They planned it so that they would arrive home at the same time with enough time to do what needed to get done before they had to pick up Nathan.
"Are you sure this is what you want to do with it?" He asked as he put his hand on the small of her back.
"It's needed to be done for far too long." She murmured as she felt the weight of the book in her hands.
It didn't feel as heavy as it use to and not just because she was a vampire and most things were weightless to her. The same emotions weren't attached to the book that were years ago. It seemed distant and not as painful. She brushed her fingers over the cover and smiled. She tossed the book into the fire and it felt as if the world had been lifted off her shoulders. She had peace for her pain singed in the flames. The golden colors licked the pages to death until the book was nothing but ashes.
"How do you feel?" He asked her.
"Light. Happy." She whispered as Carlisle pulled her into his arms.
"You never cease to amaze me." He breathed as he leaned his forehead against hers.
"Only because you believe in miracles." She teased.
"Don't you?" He asked as his eyebrow raised.
"Does our little Chrysanthemum exist?"
"Good answer." He chuckled and then pressed his lips to hers.
…
If Bella had been human she would actually have to study for her finals. Luckily she wasn't and she could spend her time taking care of last minute baby details and Christmas shopping. Bree and Hope had thankfully helped her get her shopping done. They were so excited about Bella having a baby. They knew it was due by Christmas but Bella looked like she was ready to go into the ready to have it any day now. She was on the phone with them as she walked into her final exam.
"Hey guys, I have to go. I have finals today."
"Right. Good luck!" Hope cheered.
"Kick some ass!" Bree squealed.
"Love you both!" Bella giggled. "Bye."
"Love you, too! Bye!" They both yelled and then hung up.
Bella tucked her phone into her purse and then walked into her classroom. She took her exam from her professor and got to work. Taylor was watching her but she wasn't going to risk turning around. She focused on her exam and ignored Taylor. Of course this had to be the moment that Chrysanthemum decided to start kicking. She rubbed her belly soothingly.
"Please, not right now, Chrysanthemum. Mommy is taking her exam." Bella whispered too low for any human to hear.
The baby stopped and Bella went back to work.
When she was done she got up from her seat and handed in her exam. Finally she was done with her first year of teaching school. Now all she had to do was get this baby born. As she was exiting the building she felt someone come up beside her.
"Bella." He murmured.
"Hi Taylor." She said with a smile.
"I just wanted to say good luck. You're sacrificing a lot by not going on to next semester to take care of your baby. I know raising kids is hard but I'm sure you'll do great. So good luck."
"Thanks, Taylor. That means a lot to me. Good luck to you, too. I'm sure you're going to be good at whatever you choose. You know you can do anything you but your mind to."
He smiled at her and held out his hand. She shook it.
"It was nice knowing you, Bella. Maybe we'll meet again someday."
"It was nice knowing you, too, Taylor. You never know. Anything can happen."
They said their goodbyes and Bella was on her way. She couldn't help but smile knowing that that book was closed.
…
Esme sat in her room in her apartment in Paris. She was hoping that she would get some sign of change in her life. She spent the past months in India giving back to the community. She wanted more out of her life and no longer wanted to be the selfish child that she once was. She couldn't help but admit that she missed spending Christmas with her family, or her former family. She wanted to be part of them again but she wasn't sure how she would be received. Something inside her told her to wait.
She looked out at the beautiful view that she had from her bed. She could see the Eifel Tower. She smiled. It seemed that moments and history itself were the only things that last as long as her kind did. She got up from her bed that she was sitting on and walked out into the sitting room where she grabbed her bag. She was going out for a walk. She had done nothing but think and try to do good for others ever since the wedding. She couldn't believe how happy Bella and Carlisle were. They deserve happiness. Now she had to make a new life for herself. Looking to the past was a waste of time for she could change nothing. And so with confidence she left her apartment and made her way out onto the streets of the city. She was surrounded by beauty. The snow capped everything and made a picture of perfection. It made her feel small and insignificant.
One of the things that Esme enjoyed was people watching. As she walked along the streets of Paris she admired the loving couples who freely showed their affection for one another. She would give just about anything to be loved. Though she was well aware that she had a lot to make up for before she could feel worthy of love. She watched the children dance in the snow as their mothers' laughed. The city was alive unlike her.
Time passed without notice. She walked the path she always did when she needed to think. Her body moved when needed to without her thoughts to direct it. She felt like an outsider looking in everywhere she went. She wanted to be apart of something. She didn't hate Carlisle for making her what she is. She only appreciated it far too late for it to mean anything to him. For his heart belonged to another. She wouldn't chase after him for she understood her place in his world. Though she wasn't sure if she had a place at all.
If there was any redemption in this life she only prayed that there was a piece left for her. For what did eternity mean if life is empty? She wanted to fill her cup and drink in life. Of course life is full of miraculous surprises and you never know when it's going to send a little miracle your way.
Esme was so lost in her thoughts she didn't see the man that she slammed into. They didn't fall but he caught her by the arm. She looked up at the man only to get lost in his striking golden eyes. His face was strong an angular. His smile was sly but curious. His hair was slicked back into a ponytail. His shoulders were broad and he was a very handsome French man.
"Esme Platt. Of all the places." The man spoke with such elegance.
"I'm sorry, but do I know you?" She asked sweetly.
"No, but I wish to get to know you. You see I was an acquaintance of your son I believe, his name is Edward."
Esme smiled.
"He met you on his one of his escapes to Paris?" She asked.
"Yes. I've been curious about you ever since."
"You must realize that I've changed or tried to change since you last saw him." She spoke smoothly.
"I realize that, but the offer still stands. Would you like to take a walk with me?"
"I'd love to. I didn't catch your name."
"Emile Depaul." His had a rich voice that Esme could drown in.
They began to walk side by side down the street. If she could blush she would every time that the backs of their hands brushed. She smiled, allowing herself a bit of happiness when he took her small hand in his larger one. Maybe she wasn't damned after all.
…
The 24th of December…
Today the Denali family was arriving. Bella wanted to go with Emmett and Rosalie to pick them up but Carlisle wanted her to stay home and rest. The baby could be coming any minute now. He had said it wouldn't be until tomorrow but she looked like she could give birth any second.
"Just rest, Love. You need to save all your energy to push this baby out." Carlisle coaxed as he ran his hands over her bump. He leaned against the arm of the sofa and Bella laid in between his legs with her head on his stomach. He took one of the toy cars off the side table that belonged to Nathan and ran it over Bella's baby bump. He made car noises and Bella laughed.
"I swear if Emmett did it then it wouldn't be funny. But you making car noises is hysterical. It's so funny to see you play with a toy."
"You know I was a little boy once. I act like an adult most of the time but inside I'm still twenty-three."
"I know, Love. You have to set your inner child free." She giggled.
"And you need to set this child inside you free." He teased.
"I know, she wants to come out. I want her to come out too."
"She'll be here soon enough." Carlisle cooed as he kissed the top of her head.
When the Denali family arrived Tanya was thrilled to see her sisters. It had seemed like so long ago she decided to stay even though it was only a few moths. Carlisle got up off the couch and told Bella to stay. She happily obliged. She might be a vampire but her baby needed to rest too before it came time for her to come into the world.
"Carlisle, my old friend. It has only been months but it feels like years since we have seen one another." Eleazar boomed when he came through the door.
"Eleazar, my it feels like so long. But I am so glad that you and your family are here to celebrate the holiday."
"Excuse me for not getting up to greet you properly." Bella spoke from her place on the couch. "Carlisle insists that I try not to move very much today in order to let the baby rest before it is time."
Carmen ran over to the couch and wrapped Bella in her arms. She believed her husband when he had told her of Carlisle and Bella's baby but now that she saw Bella round with child it made things even more real.
"You're due any minute now?" She asked Bella.
"Yes. I'm on 'bed rest' you could say."
"Oh, Bella. I'm so happy for you!"
Edward and Olivia came bounding down the stairs.
"The baby is coming soon!" Olivia sang.
"Yes, we know, Dear. Little Chrysanthemum will be here very soon." Edward murmured with a smirk as he kissed Olivia on the top of her head.
Irina, Laurent, and Kate walked in and went to greet the Cullens. Rosalie went straight to her mother's side.
"Mom, how are you? Is there anything you need? Is there anything I can do for you?"
"Rose, I'm fine. Geez, you make it sound like I'm dying. You're father has already taken care of everything. Thank you though."
"I'm sorry. I'm just really excited and I know that birth is painful and I just wanted to make sure you were comfortable."
"Thank you. Don't worry, Rose. She'll be here before you know it."
Rose smiled and then perched herself on the arm of the couch.
Emmett, Jasper, and Edward took the Denali's bags to the guest rooms. The girls gathered in the living room to talk with Bella. The Denali's were all curious about the baby. Eleazar took Carlisle to the side to talk to him.
"How is this baby going to be delivered?" He asked.
"Vaginal. It would be impossible to cut through her skin and then the hard metal of her womb. Her womb is soft and nurturing on the inside to project our daughter, but the outside shield is harsh and I don't think it would work efficiently. Over the last few days we done several sonograms. We've watched the baby drop and she's heading south. It seems this way will be the easiest. I hate that I won't be able to give Isabella an epidermal because the needle would never be able to penetrate her skin. But she's assured me that she'd rather do a nature birth. She wanted to do a water birth but I told her I didn't know what the circumstances of the birth would be and so it would be safer not to do it."
"All right then. Does she know who she wants to be with her when she delivers?"
"I really want to be the one holding her hand while she gave birth but I'm the only practicing doctor in the house and I've delivered several babies. Edward and Rosalie both have medical degrees but we decided that having Edward do it would be too awkward for her and Rosalie didn't want to deliver it. She wanted to be supporting Bella. And so she has chose Alice and Emmett. Back when we lived in Forks those were the two she was closest with and she still has the strongest bonds with the two of them. Rosalie is going to help me wipe Chrysanthemum down and do the necessary tests once she is born."
"Are you worried at all?"
"No. Our baby is so responsive and understands so much. I'm not worried about her having problems with blood. I feel she will be fine."
"You're going to do well, Carlisle." Eleazar said with a smile.
"Thank you." He replied with a smile. "Now let's get back to celebrating."
…
That night when Carlisle and Bella went up to their room Bella said she wanted a shower. He was hesitant about letting her be on her feet for that long but he decided to let her do it. He was anxious. The baby was due very soon. He sighed with relief when the water turned off. He heard Bella brushing her hair and putting on her nightgown. He relaxed into the bed and picked up the medical journal he was reading. Everything was fine until he heard the water hit the floor.
"Carlisle." Her voice was worried and excited at the same time.
"Yes, Honey." He replied as he hesitantly got off the bed.
"I think my water just broke." Her voice was shaky.
Then she groaned.
He threw the door open and caught her before she fell.
"Contractions." Was all she said.
"That was fucking quick." He gasped.
"Baby. Grows. Fast." She panted.
Carlisle helped her into the bed.
"Isabella just went into labor!" He yelled to his family members.
Within seconds Alice and Emmett were in the room. Jasper, Rosalie, Edward, Olivia, Tanya, Nathan, Eleazar, Carmen, Irina, Laurent, and Kate were in the hallway outside the room. Some of them stood and some perched on the rail.
Rosalie went into Carlisle's office to set up the area they were going to use to check up on the baby after she was born. Jasper sent waves of calm to everyone in hopes that it would help Bella deliver Chrysanthemum.
Alice and Emmett both held one of Bella's hands. The contractions hurt like fuck. They didn't have to be the ones in labor to know that. They could see it on their mother's face. Carlisle was checking down at her opening to see how many centimeters she was.
"You still have five more centimeters to go before you can start pushing, Love." Carlisle murmured as she walked over to the side that Alice was on and stroked his wife's cheek. "I know this hurts and I'm so sorry that you're in pain. But just remember that after this is over our little Chrysanthemum will be here in our arms." He pressed his lips to hers sweetly and then pulled back.
It hurt so badly but Bella wanted the baby to come. She couldn't believe that she wasn't anywhere near ten centimeters. She knew that meant she still had a whole lot worse pain to go through. If she could sweat and cry she would be doing both. She wanted her mom and she had gone through the change and hadn't once cried for her mother. Maybe it had to do with the fact that she was giving birth and so it was a maternal thing.
Another hour passed. Carlisle made her drink blood so that she would be strong. She drank it but she felt like it was forced even though he would never force her to do anything. She drank it because she knew it was for the baby.
"Everything is going to be ok, Love. You're doing great. I'm so proud of you for bearing through this. You're doing better than any of the other mother's whose babies I have delivered. You're doing so well."
Another hour passed. It was eleven o'clock. Nathan was tired.
"Are you sleepy?" Tanya asked as she ruffled his hair.
He nodded.
"I'll walk you to your bedroom. You can sleep for a little bit. I'll stay right outside your room and come and get you once your baby sister is here."
He sleepily smiled at her and then let her lead the way.
"Carlisle!" Bella screeched. "Why? This fucking hurts! I can't take it anymore!"
Bella was sobbing by now. Alice was doing all that she could to soothe her mother. Emmett was trying his hardest as well.
"I'm sorry, Mom. It's going to be over soon." Emmett murmured as he kissed his mother's forehead.
"Just one more centimeter, Sweetheart. You're almost there." Carlisle coaxed.
Bella sobbed again. Alice stroked Bella's hair and whispered words of encouragement.
"You can do this, Mom. She's going to be beautiful. She's going to be so amazing. She's going to look like an angel. And she's all yours. She's your and Carlisle's little girl. You can do this, Mom. You can bring her into the world."
Bella nodded and continued with her breathing exercises.
Jasper's calm didn't seem to help Bella. Everyone seemed to tense up when Carlisle said that she was at ten centimeters. Bella wailed in pain.
"I can't do this, Carlisle. I'm scared." She trembled.
He rubbed her leg and tried to soothe her in all the ways that he could.
"Sh. Sh. Love. You can do this. Just think of what you're bringing into this world. I know it's going to hurt but after this it's all over."
Emmett and Alice kneeled on the bed and supported their mother each with one arm and held one of her hands with their other.
"Isabella, on the count of three I need you to push. Give me everything you have."
Bella nodded and took a deep breath.
"1."
Bella prayed that God would help her.
"2."
She hoped that she and Carlisle would parent this child well and thanked God for allowing her this blessing no matter how painful this experience was.
"3."
She pushed with all her might.
She screamed as she pushed the baby. She had never tried so hard in her life and yet she still felt like it wasn't good enough.
"That's it, Love. Come on, give me another push."
She took a deep breath through her sobs and pushed again.
Another heartbreaking cry echoed throughout the house.
"That's it, Angel. I can see her head. Come on, one last push. Give it everything."
Bella pushed with everything she had as she let out a mighty scream. It was worth it. As she collapsed against the pillows she heard a baby cry. Her baby. She turned her head to look at Carlisle. At 12:01 on Christmas morning her daughter entered the world.
Carlisle cut the cord and then looked down at the little angel in his arms. She was the sweetest little girl that he had ever laid eyes on. Bella looked at her husband and smiled. He was holding the most beautiful child that Bella had ever seen. His smile was genuine and it made her want to cry with joy. He walked over to her and put their beautiful daughter in her arms.
"Oh, Carlisle. She's so beautiful." Bella swooned as she cradled her little angel in her arms.
She had tufts of chocolate brown hair that matched Bella's. Her face was heart shaped. She had large doe eyes as well. Bella gasped when she saw the color of her daughter's eyes. They were blue.
"My eyes were blue when I was human." Carlisle murmured as he stared lovingly at his daughter.
"She's perfect." Bella swooned as she looked down at the tiny little baby in her arms.
"She's ours." Carlisle agreed as she reached down to his daughter.
"Welcome to the world, Chrysanthemum Noel Cullen." Bella whispered.
She looked like a premature baby because she was so small. Bella could tell without a scale that she was four point four pounds. Chrysanthemum's tiny arms and legs kicked as she looked at her mom and dad. She smiled. Bella pressed a kiss to her daughter's forehead.
"Love, I'm going to take her into the other room to get her checked out and get the amniotic fluid off her. No blood like a human birth even though she has blood." Then he turned to Alice. "Could you go into the nursery and get her Christmas onesie?"
Alice nodded and took off to the other room.
Bella held onto her daughter for just a little bit longer. She was amazed with how tiny Chrysanthemum was. She fidgeted in her mother's arms but she smiled. Reluctantly she let him take her daughter.
"I promise, she'll be back in your arms soon." Carlisle murmured as he lifted his daughter out of her mother's arms.
Bella watched him walk out the door. He heard her give orders to the family as he rushed into the other room.
Olivia came in two seconds later with a gallon jug of mountain lion blood. She drank it down gratefully.
"How do you feel?" She asked her mother.
"Like a proud mother." Bella chimed as she got up out of bed.
She then realized that the extra flab of skin was gone. She put her hands on her stomach.
"My body is back to normal!" She squealed.
She ran into her closet and pulled on a lacey pair of panties and matching bra. She pulled on a pair of dark wash jeans and a green cashmere long sleeved shirt. Everything fit just the way it did before she got pregnant. Though she had to admit that she was a little sad that she didn't have her little kicker inside her. But now her little angel was here.
She ran into the bathroom and brushed her hair. Once she was done she climbed back onto the bed. Luckily Carlisle had put a towel down for the birth, which had now been removed. She sat up against the headboard and pillows as her family came in. Bella hugged her son, Emmett, and thanked him for his help. Then she hugged Olivia.
"Mom." Jasper said with a smile. She opened her arms up to him and he walked over to give her a hug.
"She's beautiful, Mom." Jasper sounded like his breath had been taken away.
Edward walked into the room.
"Dad and Rosalie are working as quickly as they can so that they can get little Chrysanthemum back in your arms."
Bella smiled and Edward hugged her. Tanya and Nathan then came into the room and Bella smiled widely. She patted the space on the bed beside her and Nathan climbed up. She kissed him on top of his head. The Denali family came into the room as well all offering their congratulations.
Just then Carlisle and Rosalie walked in the room. Rosalie was carrying the baby. Bella's attention was locked on her youngest daughter. Rose didn't hesitate to place her little sister in her mother's arms. Bella gasped when she saw the blanket that Chrysanthemum was wrapped in. It was pink with a black Cullen crest on it. She looked at her husband with a look of pure joy.
"Oh, Carlisle. The blanket." She swooned as she looked down at her tiny angel.
"I thought you'd like it. I had it made just for her. On the inside around the edges it has all of our names embroidered."
"Oh Carlisle." She swooned again.
Carlisle walked over to the other side of the bed and sat beside his wife. They both looked down at their squirming bundle of joy.
"Would you like to hold your baby sister?" Bella asked Nathan.
He smiled widely. Rose walked over to Nathan and made him sit up properly and positioned his arms correctly. Bella had a hard time lettering her go because she fit in her arms so perfectly. But she wanted her son to have the chance to hold his little baby sister. Bella put her daughter in his son's arms.
"Now no biting, Nathan, Chrysanthemum. Just because you're not venomous doesn't mean you can go around biting humans." Carlisle instructed.
Chrysanthemum smiled up at her big brother.
"She's so tiny." He murmured as she stared down at his little sister.
Just then a camera went off. Alice had a camera to take pictures and Jasper had the video camera rolling.
"I love you, Chrysanthemum. I promise that I'm gonna try really hard to be the best big brother ever." Nathan murmured as he bent down to kiss his little sister's nose.
She made a gurgling noise, which he took as a good sign. The she reached up and put her hand on his face. He saw images of his mom right after she gave birth to Chrysanthemum.
"Her gifts are she can show images and talk through touch and she has telekinesis." Eleazar explained as she pulled her hand away.
"Awesome!" Nathan exclaimed.
Chrysanthemum nuzzled close to Nathan. None of them could believe how small she was.
"Can I hold her?" Emmett asked.
"Of course." Bella chimed.
Soon there was a line to hold the new baby. Emmett was so sweet with her. It was easy to see that he was the lead protector of the brothers when it came to their new baby sister. Jasper was in complete awe of her. Edward was dazzled by her and wanted to hold her for a bit longer. Then when it came to the sisters Bella giggled. Alice told Chrysanthemum how much fun they would have together shopping and that she was the most beautiful little girl in the entire world. Rose promised to always love her and look after her. Olivia promised to be her playmate whenever Mommy needed a break. Tanya told her she was the luckiest baby in the entire world. Each of the Denalis held her and when they were done Chrysanthemum ended up in Carlisle's arms. The family made their way back to their separate rooms, leaving Carlisle and Isabella alone with their newborn daughter.
Carlisle wrapped his arms around his wife and kissed her tenderly on the lips.
"I bet you're happy." Bella teased. "You have a new little girl and your wife's body is back to normal."
He gawked at her and looked at her stomach.
"Oh my God, it is!" He was amazed.
"The body is a wonderful thing." He chuckled.
Just then Chrysanthemum started squirming. She wanted her parents' attention.
"Hello, Sweet girl." Carlisle murmured as he bent down and kissed her forehead.
He smiled as the tuffs of her hair brushed over his lips. Her fingers were so small.
"We did good, Carlisle." She murmured as she bent down to kiss her baby on the cheek.
"That we did, Isabella. I love you."
"As I love you." She murmured and then pressed her lips to his.
When they pulled away from the kiss Carlisle extended his finger to his tiny child and she took it. She wrapped her tiny hands around it and smiled. They gazed down at their daughter who was now the center of their world. Bella was in awe of Chrysanthemum's cherub-like face. She had been here for such a short time and somehow she had captured everyone's hearts.
"I love that she has your blue eyes." Bella murmured as Chrysanthemum let go of Carlisle's finger.
She snuggled closer to her mother and cooed. Her lips made a tiny O.
"I didn't think that something like that would carry over. I thought she would have golden eyes."
"I don't care how she got them. I'm just happy that she did. It's showing that even though we're vampires we still have our humanity or some part of it because of the lifestyle that we have chosen."
Carlisle's heart swelled at her words.
"You're right. Our daughter is a symbol that we hold onto something human. And now here she is."
Just then they heard a small yawn and they smiled. Chrysanthemum stretched her tiny arms and legs and then her tiny eyelids became heavy. Her lavender lids fell shut and her heartbeat evened out. Soon she was dreaming away.
"Goodnight my little Chrysanthemum." Bella murmured.
"Sweet dreams, Princess." Carlisle whispered.
They spent the rest of the night watching their little angel sleep. For once it was a silent night.