Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight or the characters. Thanks a million to my beta, CrystalRaindrop!


A Child of the Night — Chapter Forty-Seven

Previously ...

"Sleep, my Bella."

"But I just woke up! And besides, Teddy isn't tired," she protested, and I laughed more loudly then. I was sure my eyes were sparkling with both amusement and love as I pecked Bella's nose lightly.

"But you are. You just had major surgery. Sleep, Bella."

She huffed, but her eyes remained closed, and eventually, her breathing began to even out. I smiled, andcurled closer to her before wrapping a thick, warm blanket aroundus both.

And as I watched her, and marveled over how happy she was to give up everything for our son, my own eyes began to grow heavy.

Theodore Addison Cullen.

I smiled then, as I wrapped my arms tightly around the one woman I would love for the rest of my life.

And then I followed her into dreamland, where the future was painted so brightly before me.

But even as I dreamed, I couldn't help but wonder ... would the future that was set before us be as easy as the one in my dreams? Whatkind of challenges would we face? Would Theodore face?

But, I supposed. As long as we were together ...

... we could do anything.

October 21st, Friday - 2:13 PM - Bella POV

I was now seven months, two weeks, and four days pregnant.

And I felt like I was going to explode.

Edward chuckled as I pouted.

He simply rubbed my very bloated tummy, and kissed me softly on the lips. He was sitting beside me on our large, four-poster bed, going over some papers. I felt my eyes pool with tears once more as I listened to the the the papers shuffle around as he edited his essay.

For me, he had transferred out of Dartmouth and into the local College that housed only a thousand or more students. For me. He had left behind the college of his dreams so that he could be with me. To stay with me while he finished his last year of studies. In the meantime, he had secured a job in construction, and had rented a small apartment right outside of Forks. I was never alone, though. During the day, while Edward was at work or in class, either Esme or Angela would make the thirty minute drive to be with me. I felt bad about having Angela come out, though, because if I thought I was big, then surely she was in immanent danger of exploding at any moment — her baby girl was due any day now.

I giggled randomly, and Edward chuckled quietly as well. He didn't speak, though, and he began to hum quietly as he absently rubbed my bare tummy. My tank-top had been pushed up hours ago so that my wonderful, amazing, perfect husband could rub away the aches that our little monster created each time he kicked me.

"I feel like I'm going to pop," I noted absently, and Edward howled with laughter. He still didn't speak, though. Instead, he went back to reading over his silly essay.

I rolled my eyes. He was so determined to go above and beyond his very best! He'd told me, again and again, that he didn't mind, though, because it was a small price to pay for everything I was giving him.

"I love you," I finally whispered absently, and I felt the bed move under me. I worried, for one brief second, that Edward was leaving me. But then I felt the warm pressure of his arms around me, and I sighed in contentment.

I win! Take that, you silly essay!

I giggled to myself again, and then shivered as I felt Edward's cold, rough fingers trace the scar that stretched across my tummy. But they didn't stop there. Instead, his fingers brushed my hip softly, and then, very briefly, my collarbone. I let my eyes flutter closed as I sighed in pleasure. Edward hadn't touched me in so long, considering the restrictions we were under.

"Mmm ... " I breathed happily, and his lips tugged gently on my ear as he smiled against my skin.

"Just one month more. You're doing beautifully, my Bella."

I groaned as his hands settled innocently on my stomach once more. My bottom lip jutted out, and Edward chuckled softly. He kissed my forehead, and rested his head on my shoulder. Neither of us spoke for a very long time. The only sounds were our soft breathing and the occasional sight of happiness that slipped past my lips as Edward continued to gently caress my stomach.

"I feel like we're cheating," I blurted out randomly. I felt Edward smile against the skin of my neck, and heard him chuckle softly.

"How so, my love?"

"We got to pick our baby's birthday! How cool is that?"

Edward laughed again, and shifted his body beside me.

"It's sort of sad, in a way, though," he whispered, and his warm breath cascaded over my comparatively cold skin. "The fact that we didn't even have the option for a natural birth, and the fact that we had to choose a date almost two weeks early to avoid complications during the C-section."

"But at the same time," I countered, "It's a beautiful feeling to know that our baby is healthy. Well, as healthy as is possible, that is. I'm content. Are you, Edward?"

He sighed deeply, but I felt his lips lift into a smile. "I'm not simply content. I'm happy. So blissfully happy. I can't even describe the feelings that course through me like fire. I love you, Bella, and I love Teddy."

I smiled tenderly, and let my blind eyes flutter closed as I placed my hand on top of Edward's where it rested so lightly over where I knew our baby boy was sleeping.

His next words, though, were spoken very quietly, and made me open my eyes once more.

"What about colors?" he murmured, and my heart beat fast at his words. When he spoke again, his voice was louder, and so beautifully happy. "For our house, I mean. When we build, we're going to have to paint, you know. I know we already decided on yellow for the kitchen, but what about our room?"

"Hmm," I murmured, pleasantly surprised a the turn in conversation. He'd been randomly questioning me about colors, or rooms, and I had a silent suspicion that he was drawing up plans for the house that we would soon build. But then I frowned, and my heart plummeted as I remembered the realization that I'd come to days before when Edward had previously questioned me about bathrooms — something that he had so obviously overlooked. "But Edward ... we can't afford to build for a long ... long time. Not with the loan you took out for my surgery, and college, and ... and any surgeries or ... or medicines that Teddy will need! We can't break into fund we set up for him, but there's nothing else, and — "

"Shhh, my love," he murmured comfortingly. "I'll find a way. I want only the best for you and our baby. We can't keep living here. It's nice ... but it's a house, not a home."

I closed my eyes and took in a deep, shaking breath. I felt my whole body shudder, and that was when the tears began to flow so freely.

"Bella," Edward breathed softly. "Oh, Bella, my love. Please don't cry. Everything will work out in the end. I know it will. I just ... I just feel, sometimes, like I'm not doing enough. I feel like I'm not giving you everything I should be giving you. Sometimes I feel that you're the one who's made all of the sacrifices. I want to give you a home, and even doing that much causes these beautiful tears to escape your magnificent eyes. I love you. I want to give you the world. I would, if I could. I just feel ... I feel so damn useless sometimes!"

His words were calm, sweet ... and then he sighed in frustration and rolled away from me. My breath caught, and I reached out for him, wanting — no, needing — for him to hold me again.

"Edward," I choked, and my hands shook as I searched through the ever-present darkness that encased my world. "Edward, don't leave me. I'm s-sorry. I'll stop crying, I promise."

I heard another sigh, but this one was softer. And then warm arms encased me again, and my breathing slowed and my heartbeat returned to normal. I felt complete again, in his arms.

I tried very hard not to cry as I spoke, but the traitor tears still slipped slowly from my eyes.

"Never say that again, Edward Cullen," I scolded him tearfully. "You've given me everything! You've given me your love, and that's enough. You gave me Teddy, and ... and ... oh, Edward, you're not useless! Without you by my side, I would crumble to pieces. I can't live, I can't breathe, without you here. It hurts when you're gone. It hurts when you're not holding me. I could never live without you. And it doesn't matter to me that we don't have a fancy house, or extra money to spend. All I need is you, and this child that we've created together. Us, Edward. Our little family. I don't want to lose sight of that. Nothing else matters. Nothing. Not money, or cars, or luxuries, or ... or anything! You, Edward. I only need you."

Edward remained silent, though I could feel his warm weight beside me.

"I love you," I added softly, and as I wiped frantically at my tears, he pulled me closer. He gently pushed my hands away from my face, and lovingly, softly, kissed the salty tears from my pale skin.

"I love you, too, my Bella. Forever, all right? Until the end of time, I will love you. I will never love another. No matter what happens, you are my only love."

I smiled, and buried my face in Edward's chest.

"But I still want to build us a house."

I groaned, hiccuping as I laughed simultaneously. Edward chuckled, and began to hum softly the lullaby that he'd written for me so long ago. His song was interrupted, though, when Teddy kicked particularly hard against my stomach, and Edward's hand. We both laughed; my laugh was quiet and still laced with tears. Edward's was laced with happiness and wonder as he softly caressed my tummy.

"Hey, baby," Edward murmured, and he moved beside me until he was face-to-face with my bulging tummy. "Please stop kicking your mommy. You're getting to be quite the big boy, and it's hurting her now."

I smiled softly. "It doesn't hurt that bad, Edward. Just a little bit."

Edward chuckled, and leaned up to kiss my cheek. "I know, my love. But seeing you hurt in any way whatsoever is very hard for me."

I just smiled and closed my eyes, sighing happily as Edward wrapped me tightly in his warm embrace once more.

"I'm going to sleep now, so tell your son to go to sleep, too."

Edward smiled against the skin of my neck, and began to hum softly once more. And I noticed, as I began to slip away, that Theodore's movements calmed with each beautiful note that slipped past Edward's soft lips.

"Good night, Bella," Edward murmured when his song finished. And then he moved down to kiss my stomach lightly once more. "Good night, my son."

I smiled.

October 22nd, Saturday - 8:17 PM - Edward POV

"I feel like I'm doing everything wrong," I murmured quietly, sighing as I clasped my hands tightly together in my lap. "I can't seem to get my life on track. Sure, I love Bella — and I would do anything for her! But ... that's the problem. I want to do so much for her. I want to build her a house. Sometimes, I see her standing in the nursery we've set up for Theodore, and I ... I know that she's dreaming of a real nursery, and not the tiny ... room that we've given him. I know she dreams of painting and decorating, and buying him a beautiful crib. But I can't give her any of that. I can barely pay the bills right now, and ... and ... God, it's so hard right now."

My father smiled softly at me, and grasped my shoulder tightly in encouragement.

"You're wrong, Edward. You're not doing everything wrong — you're doing everything right. You love Bella, and your son. You're going to college full time, and working, and doing your very best to provide everything that you possibly can for your family. Everything will turn out in the end. You just have to trust in that, and live each day as it comes."

I sighed, and ran a hand through my messy hair. I blew out a deep breath, and let my eyes wander all around the room.

"You can go now, Edward. You're all patched up."

I smiled at my father in thanks, and stood tenderly to my feet, being careful not to move my shoulder.

"How long will I be in the sling?" I grumbled. My father chuckled, and smiled.

"A week, maybe more."

I rolled my eyes and groaned, mentally calculating the lost income that this week out of work would cause. I also sighed in defeat as I realized that I wouldn't be able to so anything more on ... on my project.

"Thanks, Dad."

"Get well soon, son. And try not to fall through any more roofs, all right?"

I chuckled, and nodded, wincing as my previously dislocated shoulder protested loudly.

"Here's a prescription for some pain meds," my father added, passing me the small, white prescription slip. "Take it easy for a few days, give your arm some time to heal."

I nodded, but I still didn't move. I sighed, and turned to my father once more.

"Can you keep a secret?"

"I still haven't told your mother that it was you who broke her favorite vase when you were five, and not the cat."

I chuckled, remembering that day. I had been so terrified. But that wasn't the point. "I'm ... I haven't been working overtime — technically — like I told Bella. I've been ... doing something else."

My father's face grew emotionless, hard. "You're not having an affair, are you?"

My eyes widened, and my words were more forceful, more loud, than I'd intended. "NO! God, no! Never. How could you even think that, Dad?"

He shrugged, and met my gaze with a sheepish expression. "I had to ask."

I glared at him, not at all sure I wanted to share my news with him anymore. But then he grinned, and I sighed, shoving my uninjured hand into my pocket. "I ... I didn't fall on the job," I admitted, glancing up at my father, so I could watch his reaction to my next words. "I'm ... me and some of the guys ... well, we're building in the meadow, and I fell there. I'm building Bella's house, Dad. I started months ago. It's almost done. The guys at work have been helping me, for a good price, too. I want to be done before the baby comes. I want for us to take Teddy to a place that he can always call home."

My father smiled a tiny smile, and my heart hammered hard and fast in my chest. Even though my father and I had disagreed throughout my lifetime on what seemed every major turning point, his opinion still mattered. His smile, and his soft words of approval still mattered so much to me. I felt like such a little boy — waiting anxiously for the words my father would speak.

But when he did speak, his words were confused.

"Edward ... how can you afford this? I'm not judging you, not by any means. I understand where you're coming from, wanting to give Bella a home. But ... how?"

I blew out a deep breath, my eyes dropping to the floor. "Like I said, the guys are helping me for a really good price. I took out another loan for the materials, and to get the foundation laid. I'm trying to do everything that I can by myself, but I can't do it all. Um ... there was actually a reason I brought this up. It's kind of selfish, actually."

I grinned sheepishly, and my father nodded for me to continue, his expression calm.

"I can't afford to hire anyone else to help me, but I know that I can't finish in the next month. I ... was wondering ... if you and some of the guys at the hospital would be willing to help me. Just one day, to help me get the roof finished. I already asked Jake, and he said that he can gather some guys from the reservation. All the guys at work are willing to help, too, and I think, with enough help, that one day ... would be enough to finish. Please, dad, could you at least ask around? This is really important to me."

Finally ... finally, my father smiled. I felt warmth flow throughout my whole body, and I smiled, too. The warmth of approval, acceptance. I felt like a little boy again, beaming in pride as his father smile at a poorly made sand castle.

"Of course, Edward," my father whispered, and he clasped my uninjured shoulder tightly. "I'll see what I can do. At the very least, I'll come out and help."

I smiled, and breathed out deeply.

"Thanks, Dad."

My father nodded, and then cocked his head to the side. "So ... when are you planning on letting Bella in on the secret?"

My smile turned to a full-blown grin and I shifted around in my seat like an excited child. "When she gets out of the hospital. When we being Theodore home. I'm going to bring them to the meadow, instead of the apartment. I just hope she won't be pissed at me for spending so much money ... "

Both my father and I laughed — we both knew that Bella would complain about the expenses. But I knew, at the same time, that it was worth it. It would always be worth it. Because she was worth everything.

I finally stood to my feet.

"Thanks, dad," I whispered, walking slowly to the door. "Thanks for ... everything, really."

My father smiled, but didn't turn to face me. Our eyes met in the reflection in the mirror, though, and the tenderness and love shining in his eyes was enough to make my heart beat faster.

"You're welcome, son," he murmured, casting his gaze away from mine. "You're welcome."

I smiled, and walked away.

October 27th, Friday - 5:11 PM - Bella POV

I smiled as I let my fingers run so very lightly over the raised print on the page. The words flew away beneath my fingertips, like leaves on a windy day. But though the words flew past at such an astonishing speed, they stayed so clear in my mind as a story formed in my head. The words were already painted on the page, but as I read each one, they painted in my mind a picture more beautiful, more vivid, then any other book every had.

Edward was gone again today. Working overtime to pull in some extra income since, for the past week, he'd been unable to work, thanks to his injured arm. I smiled, and flipped the page again. He was so dedicated, so determined to do anything — and everything — that he could.

I was alone today, though, which he hadn't liked one bit. But Esme was in Seattle, and Angela had been admitted to the hospital so that they could induce labor — she was a week overdue, and the doc said that the little one needed to come out sooner rather than later. They were inducing her tomorrow, and Edward had promised to bring me.

I smiled, but then winced as Theodore kicked me once more.

I put my book down, and rubbed my tummy softly. "Please go to sleep, little one. You've been up all day."

Theodore, of course, didn't listen — instead, he kicked me again. Man, that kid had power! He was kicking harder than ever, and it was honestly hurting very much. I winced, and opened my mouth to plead with my baby boy once more.

"Theodore, Mommy is — "

But before I would force the words past my lips, a very different kind of pain ripped through my body.

I cried out, and curled my knees loosely to my chest, breathing deeply and clenching my eyes shut as I waited for the pain to pass. It did pass, but though it was no longer burning me, a ghost of pain still lingered. It wasn't enough to keep the tears falling, but it was enough to make me whimper quietly as I stumbled from the bed.

My trembling fingers wrapped around the phone. But before I could lift it to my ear and dial the number I knew my heart, the pain ripped through me again. I felt warm water slide slowly down my legs, and I collapsed in front of the bed, crying out.

I understood now, the pain that I had been feeling for so many hours. The pain that was an echo of what it felt like when Theodore kicked. The pain that had grown harder as each hour passed.

My water had broken, and I had gone into labor.

I whimpered, and wrapped my arms loosely around my stomach as I reached for the phone again. But in my pained haste, I had dropped it, and I didn't know where it had gone.

Edward.

I cried out as another wave of pain hit me. My hands clenched and unclenched quickly, my fingernails digging into my skin.

"Edward!" I whimpered, and as if I had somehow managed to call him back to me, I heard his voice in my ear, and I felt his warm arms encase me.

"Shh, my love. Calm down. Shh ... "

"Edward," I cried, and I felt his warm lips on my cheek, brushing away the tears. "Too soon," I whimpered. "It's too soon. Teddy is — !"

"Teddy will be fine, love," he murmured, and I felt his warm hands running quickly over my skin, quickly dressing me in the soft cloth that would protect me from the sun. "You held on long enough. Teddy is big enough, strong enough, to live now. Shh, love. Calm down. Let me bring you to the hospital. Your water already broke. How long has it been hurting?"

I tried to answer him, but all that slipped past my lips was a cry of pain. I felt Edward's arms tighten around me as he lifted me gently from the bed and began walking. The movement of his body calmed me a little, and I blew out a deep, shaking breath.

"A f-few h-hours," I stuttered, gripping Edward's shirt tightly and burying my head in his chest. "I thought T-Teddy was j-j-just kicking. I didn't ... "

But Edward cut me off by pressing his lips gently to mine.

"Shh, love. Not your fault. Calm down. Close your eyes. We'll be at the hospital soon."

I nodded, and let my blind eyes flutter closed.

My baby Teddy ...


Yaaaaay! Teddy is making his entrance soon. ^_^ I'm so excited. I'd estimate that this story has anywhere from 5-7 chapters left. Some loose ends to tie up, some babies to see ...

NOTE: I've already decided what I'm writing next. It's not going to be Edward/Bella, though ... instead, it's going to be Alice and Jasper's story. From this story. Basically, it's going to be a side story, as Alice and Jasper grow up and really fall in love. ^_^ A lot of people asked me to do it, and I have a lot of ideas now. So .. yeah! I'll post a notice when it's up, don't worry. ^_^

See you SOON!

Please Review! ( I also accept Anon. reviews. So you don't need an account to review. )


NEXT CHAPTER:

"Keep your son away from my daughter," Jacob growled, and I laughed loudly.

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