I don't own Twilight or its characters. Stephenie Meyer does.
Cheryl and Gabby, thank you for pre-reading, and April, thank you for editing. Any mistakes left are my own.
Ch. 24
Charlie remained stunned, looking at the scene before him, and I didn't know what to say to him. The cat…or in this case, the wolf was out of the bag. Edward appeared at my side and Charlie didn't even seem to notice him there.
"You need to get inside," he told me, looking frantic.
"I need to get to the hospital. My water—" I clamped my mouth shut as I was hit with a contraction.
Edward immediately grabbed me before my knees buckled.
"It's a bad time for the babies to come!" Emmett yelled from across the yard.
"It's not like I can control it," I snapped.
"How far apart are your contractions," Edward asked, keeping his eyes on the fight but not letting go of me.
"I don't have a watch, but under five minutes," I told him.
"Edward, get her out of here. Seth and I have this. The others will be here within minutes," Emmett hollered.
"Chief, can you give us a ride?" Edward drew Charlie's attention from the fight.
Dad had a look of confusion, but when his eyes landed on me being supported by Edward, he snapped out of it. "Get her to the cruiser. When this is over, I expect answers." He took off for the car.
"You'll get them," Edward promised as he scooped me into his arms.
"But…" I grew nervous about Charlie finding out about everything.
"We will worry about it later," Edward whispered, heading for the car.
I looked over my shoulder at the fight, it seemed to have calmed, and Seth and Jacob were in a heated stare off. I had hoped that meant Seth was getting through to him. Emmett was standing between us and the wolves now.
Charlie reached the cruiser first and started it up as we reached the door. Jacob's head whipped around at hearing the sound, and he started to charge us. Emmett lunged to intercept him as Seth tried to hold Jacob back by biting his tail. Two loud shots broke through the air, and Jacob slumped to the ground.
"What…" I turned my head back to Charlie, who still had his gun aimed at the unmoving wolf.
Everything seemed to come to a standstill until I cried out from the gut-wrenching pain, and Edward's worried eyes darkened as they shot to mine.
"That one was under three minutes," Edward stated anxiously.
"Get her in the car," Charlie ordered.
We were barely settled in the back before Charlie took off with the siren blaring. He called some type of code into the local dispatcher. I took a couple of deep breaths and closed my eyes. Edward held my hand and rubbed circles on the back of it. I suddenly remembered what I needed to do.
"I haven't called anyone," I told Edward.
"I just got off the phone with Carlisle. He will be expecting you when we pull up. I'm calling Angela and Ben now," Edward answered.
"Wait, I need to go to Olympia not Tacoma," I said in alarm.
"Love, you'll never make it to Olympia. We will end up delivering these babies on the side of the highway," Edward said.
"But Angela and Ben might miss the birth." I frowned.
Edward shifted as close as he could until his forehead was touching mine. "Bella, you've got to relax and breathe. Everything will be okay. I'll be right beside you the entire time," he promised.
"How can you be?" I whispered. "This is my first time and all, but isn't there supposed to be you know…blood?" My last words were barely even a whisper.
Edward moved his head closer to mine and kissed my cheek. "I'm in control, don't worry about me," he said, low enough for only me to hear.
"I don't understand…I thought." I glanced at Charlie, not sure if I should continue this discussion.
"I will explain later. Please try and keep yourself calm." Edward stroked my hair.
I leaned back in the seat as Edward called Angela and Ben. I watched Charlie, whose attention was fixed on the road ahead. His knuckles were white on the steering wheel as he seemed oblivious to our conversation. I could only wonder what he was thinking after shooting Jacob.
"Dad?" I called, but he didn't answer me.
"He's in a bit of shock right now. He did just shoot his close friend's son," Edward told me.
"Did you reach Angela or Ben?" I asked, not taking my eyes off my father.
"I did. One thing is going right for us today. They were on their way home from Seattle. They're actually about fifteen minutes out from the hospital. They'll at least probably make the birth of the second baby."
"You don't think—" I gasped in sharply.
"It will be a close call. Your contractions are pretty close," Edward explained.
Charlie pressed down on the gas and sped up faster. The cars ahead moved quickly out of his way. I turned my head so the blurring didn't make me nauseous.
"Maybe we should tell him the wolves heal quickly so Charlie doesn't think he killed him?" I suggested.
Edward's eyes told me the unspoken truth. Something that I had known deep down but had refused to accept. I bit my lip as I was confused on how to feel about it. We came to a sudden stop, and Edward's arm protectively shot out to keep me from being jerked forward.
"We're here," Charlie said robotically.
My door was opened, and Carlisle was standing outside of it to greet me. A wheelchair was waiting by the curb.
"Welcome, Bella, I have your favorite mode of transportation ready for you," he joked.
I forced a smile and let him help me out. "Is this really necessary?" I winced.
How far apart are they now?" Carlisle asked.
"She's under three minutes apart. They've been lasting about thirty to forty seconds," Edward answered for me as he held the chair so I could sit.
"Was your water clear?" Carlisle asked.
"I think so. I didn't really look," I admitted.
"I'm going to check you in the emergency room first before we move you upstairs. We don't want any babies born in the elevator if we can help it," Carlisle told me, then turned his head. "Chief and Edward, you'll need to stay in the waiting room."
"I'm going in," Edward stated bluntly.
"Edward…" Carlisle looked uncertain.
"I want him there. Dad, I…" I felt guilty leaving him out.
"Whatever you need, Bells. I don't think I would be a very good support at the moment. I have to wrap my mind around a few things." When Charlie spoke, his voice sounded disconnected.
Edward and Carlisle exchanged a cryptic look. Carlisle grabbed a hold of the chair and pushed me in through the open doors. He bypassed the desk and brought me straight into a room. Shelly was in there getting things ready.
When she saw it was me, she immediately frowned in concern. I realized the last time I saw her was the day I was kidnapped.
"Would you like me to help the patient into a gown, Dr. Cullen?" she asked.
"Please. Her contractions are pretty close together. I wanted to examine how far along she is before we move her upstairs. Edward, we need to step out for a minute." Carlisle touched his shoulder.
"I'll be right outside," Edward promised.
As soon as he was gone, Shelly closed the door and pulled the curtain with a tight smile. She came to my side and started to help me change.
"Bella, if you're in trouble just tell me. We can help you here," she whispered.
"I'm not in trouble." I shook my head then gripped the side of the bed.
Shelly waited until it was over before holding out the gown. "Timmy told me what happened, and then we didn't see you for months. I tried to report your case to the police but all they told me is they located you and you were fine," she said urgently.
"God, Shelly, I'm sorry. If I had known you were so concerned, I would've contacted you. I've been on bed rest and it was better for me to move in with Edward and his family. I know you're not Edward's biggest fan, but he has taken good care of me," I explained. "Edward wasn't the one who kidnapped me. It was my ex-best friend who was pissed I never wanted more than friendship with him—he's no longer a threat. Edward was my high school boyfriend. We broke up senior year when his family had to move. We thought we were too young to do the long-distance relationship. He searched me out last fall because he still loved me and was hoping for a second chance. He proposed Christmas Eve."
Shelly's shoulders sagged in relief. "I'm happy for you, and it sounds like you got one of the few good ones." She gave me a genuine smile. "Have you been able to terminate the ex's rights to the babies? We can get you help for that too," she asked.
"He's not the father. I'm a surrogate for a friend of mine and her husband. They are on their way," I told her.
"I didn't realize. What a wonderful thing to do." Shelly helped me to the bed.
Before I could climb on, I had another contraction. Shelly rubbed my back soothingly and waited until it was over.
"These are really close. It shouldn't be too long," she said cheerfully. "I'll go get Dr. Cullen. It is a bit odd he's your doctor since he usually in the neurology department."
"Could you get Edward too, please." I avoided commenting since I didn't know what excuse Carlisle had used.
A few minutes later, Carlisle rolled back from me and snapped off his gloves after one of the most mortifying moments of my life.
"Well, I have good news and some not-so -good but yet still positive news," he announced. "You're only about seven and half centimeters, so it will be still a little longer, but you're more than halfway. It should go quickly. However, Angela and Ben should be able to get here in time. We will get you upstairs, and if you'd like an epidural, now would be the time to get one."
"I definitely recommend one," Shelly said.
"It won't affect the cord blood, right?" I asked.
"Not at all, nor the babies," Carlisle promised. "You could be looking at anywhere between thirty minutes to a couple of hours left."
"I'll take it." I nodded.
"I'll order it and we will get you upstairs and settled." He brought the wheelchair over close to the bed, then turned to Shelly. "Could you please inform the front desk to send the Cheneys up to the maternity ward when they arrive?"
"Yes, Doctor." She squeezed my hand. "Good luck, Bella."
SS
A few hours later, I rested in bed, attempting to eat the hospital food on the tray. I felt completely drained of energy but couldn't help but smile while watching Angela and Ben hold their babies. They were talking quietly among themselves, trying to see if there were any way to tell their identical twins apart.
They arrived soon after I'd had my epidural. Forty minutes later it was time for me to start pushing. I had Angela and Edward on either side of me while Ben filmed the delivery. Edward had been encouraging me by humming and wiping my forehead.
The Cheney twins arrived within thirteen minutes of each other. They both had heads full of dark hair and a good set of lungs. Despite being born early, they were healthy and breathing on their own. The hospital would release them and me the next morning.
"Eat up, love, you need to replenish your energy," Edward persuaded.
"I'm too tired to chew," I said as I yawned.
"We will let you get some rest. They should have a room ready for us by now. Would you like to hold one of the babies before we leave," Angela offered.
"Please." I held out my arms.
Ben came over and placed one of the small wrapped bundles in my arms. He then helped push Angela closer to the bed.
"I'll go see if they have the room for us ready. I'll be right back." Ben left the room
"Edward, would you like to hold him?" Angela asked.
Edward's eyes widened. "Thank you, but I just got over a cold so maybe I shouldn't," he lied.
"Which one am I holding," I asked, gazing down at the sleeping infant. I was still amazed he and his brother grew inside me. Everything was so teeny tiny, especially the fingers.
"You're holding Lucas Anthony. And I'm holding Johnathan Benjamin. And they are perfect. Especially, after the rough few months with bed rest I don't know how I am going to repay you," Angela gushed.
"You don't. I was happy to do it," I insisted.
"No, I have to do something. Hopefully, by the time Edward and you have one, I'll should hopefully be on my feet and be able to help you," Angela continued.
"When are you going to have the procedure?" I asked.
"Well, first I need to hear if I'm a match. We were thinking while the babies are still young. My mother will move in for a while to help, and so will Ben's mom. That way, by the time they are moving around, hopefully, I will be too," she said with a smile. "So, when is the wedding?"
"We want to get married in March," I told her.
"Wow, so fast. Jessica will be pissed she'll miss it." Angela seemed surprised.
I shrugged. "I really don't want to wait." I looked up at Edward.
"Neither, do I." Edward kissed my forehead.
"The room is ready. Shall we?" Ben came back in.
"We shall," Angela agreed as I handed over Lucas to her. She easily held one baby in each arm. "I think these two are getting hungry."
A/N: A lot action in this chapter. What do you think about Charlie ending up killing Jacob to protect Bella? And do you blame Shelly for being concerned about Bella?
Side note: I have all three kids home with me for at least three weeks. For now, I don't see this affecting my posting since I am almost two chapters ahead in writing. I hope every stays health in your home.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts with me
