Forty-nine

In a heart beat, Edward had me in his arms and was carrying me out to the car, after I reminded him that I was naked, of course. He threw one of my shirts on me and a pair of sweats but had my ass in the passenger seat of his car, with his cell phone up to his ear two minutes later.

"Charlie," he said, urgently. "Bella's water broke...I know she's only twenty-six weeks...yes...ok."

Edward hung up the phone, but had it open before I could question him. Honestly, I was too freaked out to ask him anything. It was too soon for the babies to come, and we both knew it. The odds that both babies would survive right now weren't high. Pain soared through me. I couldn't lose my babies, not now that everything in my life was good.

"I don't care, get me her goddamn home number but I need to talk to Dr. Davis now!" snarled Edward.

I reached over and touched his arm, partly because I needed him to calm down and partly because, I needed to touch him. He had always been my comfort when I was scared or angry. He still was and right now, he needed me to be that for him. As we pulled up to the city limits of Clarendon, my father's sheriff's truck pulled in front of us, blue and red lights flashing. Bringing my hand up to my lips, I blinked back my tears. My father was leading the way to the hospital.

"Charlotte, oh thank god," sighed Edward and I looked over at him. "Bella's water broke...yes, I'm sure...I didn't smell it. I'm not a sicko...Oh, well, there was a lot. I mean, a lot...we are on our way right now. We're almost to Ashtola so we should be there in like forty minutes...I know... I'm trying," he said, voice cracking. I took a ragged breath, trying to keep my composure. "Ok, hang on." Holding the phone out to me, he said, "She wants to talk to you."

My hand shook as I reached up and took the phone from him, bringing it up to my ear. "Charlotte," I whimpered.

"Bella, sweetie, I know you are scared," she said, calmly. "But I need you to be strong. We're going to be okay."

"It's too early," I wept.

"It is, you're right, but your babies are strong, and they are fighters," she said, encouragingly.

"You can't know that," I murmured.

"They have you for their mother," she said, quickly. "I'll be waiting for you and Edward in the ER."

Charlotte hung up before I could say anything else. I closed Edward's phone, dropping it into the middle console and placed my hands on my belly. I sure as hell hoped that my babies were fighters, because, right now, I needed them to be. Edward reached over and took my hand, bringing it to his lips and placed a gentle kiss on my knuckle, silently praying with me that everything was going to be okay and letting his tears fall.

Thirty-eight minutes later, and five phone calls from Charlie asking if I was ok, Edward pulled his car up outside the emergency room doors at Baptist St. Anthony's hospital in Amarillo. He was out of the car and over to me before I could undo my seat belt. Slipping his arms under my legs, and around my back, he gently lifted me out of the car. I slipped my arms around his neck, holding onto him as he carried me inside.

Just as she said she would be, Charlotte stood waiting for us just inside the doors with a wheelchair. Edward placed me in the seat as my father came rushing in with Carlisle and Esme after him. Behind Charlotte, stood a tall, very handsome man with kind blue eyes and a soft blond hair. He watched us, concern etched into every feature.

"Edward, follow me," ordered Charlotte.

Edward didn't say anything as he pushed me into the back of the ER, bypassing triage and the waiting room. Carlisle walked next to Charlotte, grilling her about how she was going to handle this. Charlotte smiled as she placed her hand on his shoulder, reassuring him that she was going do everything and anything she could to keep all three of us safe, which seemed to satisfy him. At least for now.

Charlotte ordered Edward to help me put on a gown while she waited outside the room. His hands shook as he helped me strip off my clothes, pulling on the cotton hospital gown. Leaning down and kissing my forehead, he helped me lay back on the bed and went to the door to let her know I was ready. I wasn't ready for this. I should have had at least eight to ten more weeks before meeting my son and daughter. Tears welled up once again.

"Ok, let's see what's going on," said Charlotte, pulling in an ultrasound machine.

I laid there, silently while she got everything ready, washing her hands and pulling on some gloves. Edward was sitting in a chair next to me, holding my hand up to his lips, trying to be the strong one. But these were his babies, too. He needed them just as much as I did. Maybe even more than I did.

"Ok," sighed Charlotte, setting at the edge of my bed. Gently pushing my legs back and raising my gown, she slipped two fingers into me, causing me to wince. "I'm sorry," she murmured.

I didn't respond, knowing that if I did, I would break down. She sighed, pulling her fingers out. "Your water did break." I inhaled raggedly. "Stay strong for me, Bella."

"It's too early," I choked out, shaking my head.

"I know, but that doesn't mean the babies have to come today. Just calm down," she said, soothing me.

I tried but the thought of losing either one of my babies, tore at my heart. Edward moved his arm up and around me, as much as he could, and held me. Charlotte flicked off the lights, turning on the ultrasound machine and started looking at our son and daughter. She had her eyes glued to the monitor, taking measurements of fluids, the size of the babies, even though I had just seen her last week and she had done an ultrasound then. My eyes were focused on their tiny hearts, beating away, their arms and legs moving and the way they curled up next to each other. They were beautiful.

"Ok, so Baby A's water broke, but it's just a small break," explained Charlotte, showing us on the monitor. "Baby B's is still intact."

"So what do we do?" I asked, taking a deep, cleansing breath.

"Well, you will be staying here until the babies come, and hopefully that won't be for another few weeks at least," Charlotte told us.

"But the babies will be ok, right?" I asked, needing more from her.

"They are still going to be early, Bella," she said, softly. "I am going to give you some medicine that will help strengthen their lungs, and I want you on an IV to get fluids in you."

I nodded my head, frowning. "Sweetheart, you have to stay strong," she said, grabbing my free hand. "I know it's scary, but we will get through this together."

I opened my mouth to speak, but the tears stopped me. However, Edward spoke for both of us. "Charlotte, these babies...they're," he paused, "they are everything to us."

"I know," she said, sincerely. "I can't promise you that everything is going to be a barrel of roses, but I can promise you that I will be here, doing everything I can to make sure that your son and your daughter get the best start in life. You have my word."

"Thank you," I wept. "Let's just hope they are ok."

Charlotte left us alone while she went to get my hospital stay all worked out and to let my father and Edward's parents know that, for now at least, everything was ok. Edward leaned his head on the side of my bed, moving his hand over to my belly, rubbing gently. The babies pushed against his hand, reminding us both that they were still there.

As a nurse came in and started my IV, giving me my first dose of steroids and starting my first of many bags of fluids, Edward kept his hand on my tummy, his head on my bed, and his hold on my heart. My hand rested on top of his, letting my fingers blend with his. The nurse walked over to the door, pulling it open.

"Oh, can I help you?" she asked. Edward and I both looked over, finding Charlie standing there, pain and fear waring over him.

"He's with us," I said, quietly. The nurse nodded her head and walked past him. Charlie held the door open, unsure if he should come in or not. "Come in, Dad."

"Everything ok?" he asked, letting the door shut behind him. I shook my head, knowing that nothing was ok right now. "Stupid question, I guess."

"It wasn't," I murmured, shifting slightly in the bed. Charlie, of course, noticed.

"What is it?" he asked, frantically coming over and waving his hands over me.

"Nothing," I chuckled. "I'm just a little uncomfortable."

"You sure?" he asked.

"Yeah, pretty sure," I muttered, feeling irritated.

"Sorry," grumbled Charlie.

"No, I'm sorry, Dad," I whispered. "I'm just...tired and scared."

"Me too, Honey," he sighed, sitting down on the side of my bed, but stood up quickly.

"You can sit there," I said, smiling.

"I don't want to hurt you." He fidgeted, shifting from one foot to the other.

"You won't, Charlie," snorted Edward, shaking his head.

My father sat down cautiously, but sprang up a second later when the door to my room opened. Charlotte came in, followed by the blond man from the waiting room. Charlie scooted out of the way, pressing himself against the wall like he was afraid that she was going to scold him for being too close to me. She smiled and looked over at me.

"You about ready to head up to your room?" she asked.

"No," I replied, honestly. The man with her laughed, trying to sober up as we all looked at him.

"Sorry, but she told me you were sassy," he smiled. I cocked an eyebrow over at Charlotte.

"Bella, Edward, Charlie-this is my husband, Peter," she said, placing her hand on his arm. "Peter and I were on our way to dinner when Edward called. He insisted on staying, I hope that's ok."

"It's just as much as she talks about you two, I wanted to be here any way I could," added Peter. I looked from him to her, shocked that she would talk about us to anyone.

"Oh, Bella, just about how much I like you both," she clarified, sensing my anguish.

"Oh," I murmured, shifting my gaze back over to him.

"I can leave, if you'd like," he offered, gesturing to the door.

"It's fine," I said. "She's told us about you, too."

"Oh, great," he groaned, shaking his head while Charlotte laughed. "Everything she told you was a lie, all of it."

"Really?" asked Edward, smirking. "Because she told us you were funny."

"And smart," I included. "Oh, and there was something about you being handsome but since she lies..."

Peter smiled as I let my words go. "Well, maybe she does tell the truth sometimes."

"Only sometimes?" she asked, watching him closely.

"All the time," he amended. "I should just stop talking before I get myself into trouble."

"Probably smart," chuckled Edward.

"There is nothing funny right now!" exclaimed Charlie, throwing his hands up. Everyone looked over at him, surprised by the outburst. "My daughter is laying here, twenty-six weeks pregnant with twins, and you all are acting like you're standing in Walmart or something."

Before I could say anything, Charlotte started apologizing. Peter added that he was just trying to make us all feet at ease but Charlie kept arguing with them about how they weren't taking this serious and that he expected more; how if Charlotte couldn't do her job, he would find me a new doctor. Meanwhile, Edward rolled his eyes at my father and picked my hand back up, going back to feeling our babies move. All their talking made my head hurt.

"Everyone just stop." Charlie, Charlotte, and Peter looked over at me. "I'm tired, and I'm scared, and, goddamn it, if I want to laugh at something I will. It might be the only fucking thing I can do right now and I won't let you all start acting like I'm all fragile and shit."

As I spoke, my eyes filled with tears that spilled over, running down my cheeks. Edward was on his feet, wiping them off as fast as he could, but they just poured down my face, falling heavily. He looked over at the three of them. "Stop arguing," he muttered. "She's doing the best she can and if she wants to laugh at some stupid crap, then she can." Turning back to me, he said, "Man, they just make my head hurt."

I laughed, even though there were tears in my eyes still. "Mine, too," I giggled, sniffing.

"Ok, well, we should get you up to your room," murmured Charlotte.

Charlotte had a couple of orderlies come in and push my bed out of the trauma room, while she, Peter, and Edward followed. Charlie muttered something about letting Carlisle and Esme know what room we were going to be in. I think he was just embarrassed with how he behaved and needed a few minutes to let it pass. Charlie and I were a lot alike.

Charlotte led us up to the labor and delivery floor, and into a large, private birthing suite. In that moment, reality came crushing down on me. One day, in the near future, I would leave this room with or without my babies. I was praying for leaving with them.