Chapter Twenty-Eight: My Heart Beating

Edward's POV

My mind was reeling as I made the drive back to Seattle. I had a gut feeling that I shouldn't have left her alone with three weeks to go before her due date. But, my parents had asked for my help and Bella encouraged me to go. She insisted that she had an entire army within a twenty-minute radius and if something happened she'd be taken care of.

I was reluctant to leave but now I was regretting not telling my parents hiring movers would be the best option for everyone.

When she called me telling me she was having contractions my heart skipped a beat. I was full of different emotions. I was mostly thrilled to meet our son and daughter for the first time. Part of me was terrified that I would lose Bella like I lost Rosalie.

I couldn't go through that again.

Bella knew my fears. I was completely transparent with her when she announced her pregnancy. I was so excited to have a child that was completely ours. A little angel we created together. She knew that. She also knew that I couldn't help but be a bit scared amidst all the excitement. She comforted me and validated my feelings.

She didn't make me feel bad for ruining the happiest moment of our marriage.

She continued to encourage me that things were different now. She reminded me that she and Rosalie were different people with different bodies. She also reminded me that medical advances had come a long way in the fourteen years since Caroline was born. Her doctor even made me feel at ease every time I went with her.

I called Bella almost every thirty minutes on my way to Seattle. Every time I called, she reported the same news that she was okay and so was the baby. By the time I pulled up to the hospital I felt ready to go in there and coach her through this.

I rushed through the front door and made my way upstairs to her room. I swung the door open, out of breath since I'd ran up three flights of stairs instead of taking the elevator.

"Daddy!" Caroline said as she came over to hug me. I looked over at Bella to see how she was doing. She looked beautiful. She gave me a thumbs up, telling me everything was going well. I looked over at Renee, silently asking her to take the kids home.

"I think it's time for you kids to get home," Renee said.

"I wanna see the baby," Caroline wined.

"You will see the baby. Tomorrow," Bella told her.

"Please can we stay?" She turned to me with those puppy dog eyes. I usually couldn't say no, but Bella and I talked about this already. We wanted them to wait at home until the baby came. There really wasn't a need for them to just sit around. I looked at my watch and shook my head.

"You two need to get home, get some dinner, and get to bed," I said

"Bed?" Brady snickered. "It's Saturday."

He had a point. It was only five-thirty and we let them have a little more freedom on the weekend when they went to bed. But Bella already looked exhausted and I didn't want her worrying about what they were up to while she was trying to give birth.

I pulled them both aside and spoke very quietly. "Guys, your mother is having a baby."

"We know that," Brady rolled his eyes. Boy, did I love these teenage years.

"It's exhausting and she needs to rest and be able to focus. This is not easy for her."

"But she's okay...right?" He asked nervously.

I smiled. "Yeah, bud. She's okay but she just needs to know you guys are safe and taken care of. Please go with Nana and we will call you in the morning to come meet your new sibling.

They both agreed and went to say goodbye to Bella. Caroline made me promise to get lots of pictures and Brady lingered a bit. He was nervous since Caroline told him what happened to Rosalie when she was born. I had talked to him a few times but his nerves didn't seem to have eased much.

Bella promised they would call when the baby came and if anything bad happened and he eventually left with Renee.

When they were gone, I looked at Bella and smiled. I hadn't even said a proper hello to her yet. I walked over to her bed, gave her a kiss, and grabbed her hand. She held my hand with a tight grip so I knew she was doing okay.

"You ready for this?" I asked as my leg bounced widely. I was nervous, but it was mostly from excitement and anticipation.

"I am. And I feel great. Very strong."

"Good. Don't you go anywhere on me," I winked.

"I promise," I whispered as I kissed her forehead.

Her labor progressed rather slowly. It surprised both of us since this was her second baby but everyone was different. The doctor said everything was just fine and at midnight, she was eight centimeters dilated.

"You still set on our names?" I asked as the contractions got more intense and closer together. She was holding onto my hand for dear life and even though it wasn't a pleasant feeling, I welcomed it.

"Yes," She nodded.

At one-thirty, the doctor smiled as she told us it was time to push. The delivery team came into the room and Bella put her feet in the stirrups. I stood next to her and squeezed her hand as she bore down.

My wife was such a warrior.

She pushed for forty-five minutes and at two-nineteen in the morning, I heard our child sweet cries.

Before looking at the baby, I looked down at Bella. She looked exhausted but I could tell immediately she was okay. I kissed her forehead and looked at the baby.

"Congratulations," Dr. Howard smiled. "You have a beautiful baby girl."

I was given the chance to cut the cord and get a better look at her. She was beautiful.

"A girl," Bella smiled as the baby was placed on her chest. Bella started crying as she snuggled our daughter close to her and I wiped my cheeks as I watched them bond. "Hi, baby girl."

"Wow," I smiled as I kissed the babies little head. Bella looked up at me and I gave her a kiss to. "Thank you, Bella. She's perfect."

This is that picture-perfect moment I didn't get with Caroline and desperately missed. It was a wonderful and beautiful thing to watch Bella bond with our daughter. I gave Bella another kiss and then kissed the baby again.

I already couldn't get enough of her.

"She is," She cried. The baby continued to cry and after a few minutes of skin-to-skin contact, the nurse took her to be cleaned and weighed. Bella finished up and was given a few stitches and then the baby was placed back in her arms.

The baby had quieted down and her eyes fluttered open. She looked all around before focusing on Bella.

"Hi, beautiful," She whispered as she gently bounced her up and down.

After holding her for a few times, Bella gave the baby to me. I gently lifted her from her arms and looked down at her gorgeous face. This was so different from when I met Caroline and there was a sense of calm washing over me as I swayed back and forth with her. She looked up at me and I shed another tear.

Bella wanted to breastfeed again so after things calmed down a bit, one of the nurses came in to help her with that. The baby latched on pretty quick and seemed like a natural already. It was amazing to watch Bella feed her. It was one of the most beautiful things I'd ever seen.

After the baby was fed and content, we put her in the bassinet, and Bella fell asleep. I watched her sleep and then I turned to the baby who was sleeping soundly.

I was the happiest guy on earth.

At eight the next morning, we called Renee and asked her to bring the kids to the hospital. I could tell how much she wanted to meet the baby but was giving Brady and Caroline their time to meet her.

When we got to the room, the baby was in Bella's arms since she'd just finished another feeding. Bella looked up and smiled at them. I could tell Caroline was having a hard time staying calm while Brady just stared at them.

"It's a girl?" Caroline asked when she saw the pink hat.

"Yeah, you have a little sister," Bella said as she looked at Brady. "Brady? You okay?"

He nodded. "Can I hold her?" He whispered quietly. Brady had such a hard time with the anticipation of a new baby since Jake was also having a baby that I didn't think he'd be the first one to ask to hold her.

"Of course. That okay, Care?" Bella asked.

She nodded. "We talked about it already."

I kissed the top of Caroline's head and walked over to Bella.

I got Brady set up to hold and picked her up. I kissed her forehead before putting her in Brady's arms and I could tell Bella was very emotional. When I stepped back, she started to cry.

"Mom," Caroline whispered. "Why are you crying?"

"I'm just...extra emotional right now," She explained. "And I've never seen anything so sweet."

"What's her name?" Brady asked without looking up from her.

He was completely in love with her already.

"Caroline and Brady, we would like you to meet Gracie Elizabeth Cullen."

I grabbed my phone off the bedside table and snapped some pictures of Brady holding his baby sister. After a few more minutes, he gave the baby back so that Caroline could have a turn. I snapped some pictures of her and started getting teary again.

After the five of us had some time as a family, we brought the grandparents back to meet her. Since my mom had become a grandmother three times since Caroline was born, she let Renee hold Gracie first. When Renee picked up her newest granddaughter, she burst into tears. She kept telling Bella how much she deserved this after everything and Bella just smiled at her.

Since there were so many little cousins, Bella and I decided they would meet the baby when we got home from the hospital. However, our brothers and sisters-in-law all came to meet her. Alice had the same reaction that Renee did and cried when she was holding her. Jasper also got a bit teary when he held the baby which made me start to tear up again.

Later that night after everyone had gone home, Bella and I enjoyed the silence while she fed Gracie. She smiled down at our daughter and looked back up at me.

"What do you think, dad?" She asked. "Think we have it in us again?"

I laughed. "I sure hope so. Everything is so different this time."

"For me too," She nodded as Gracie unlatched and looked up at Bella. "I was so scared when I had Brady."

"And now?"

"Now...I'm not nineteen years old and in college. It changes everything."

I sat down on the bed and kissed Bella. "Holding her right after she was born...watching you hold her..." I was holding back tears. "You've made me happier than I ever imagined, Bella," She touched my cheek. "Not just today but...ever since you walked into the store."

"I love you," She smiled as her eyes filled with tears.

"So much," I kissed her again and then kissed the top of the baby's head.

Two days after Gracie was born we were discharged. We strapped her in the car seat and smiled when we heard that perfect click when we put her in the car. Bella sat in the backseat with her and I drove a bit slower than the speed limit. People were honking and zooming past us but I didn't care. I just wanted my girls to be safe and if that meant pissing people off then I really didn't care.

When we got home, everyone was already there. Bella and I let the kids stay home from school so they could be there when we got home and Jake agreed to let Brady stay the night so he could spend time with us.

Kate and Alice had decorated the living room with pink balloons and a few signs welcoming Gracie home. Mom and Renee had made a bunch of food, for this afternoon and for a few dinners this week. Our garage fridge was also full of food from co-workers and neighbors so we were set for at least two weeks.

We let Lucy meet the baby first since she was the oldest. She sat next to the arm of the couch with pillows to help prop her arm up. Emmett sat down next to her when I put the baby in her arms. She looked so big with Gracie in her arms and it was hard to believe she was going to be seven in July and starting first grade in August.

Nathan was next and he wasn't super interested in the baby. He held her for about five minutes before he told Jasper he was bored and wanted to go play with Lucy in the other room. He'd acted the same way when Meredith was born so we weren't very surprised when he did that.

Elena, however, was very interested in the baby. Kate held her in her lap while Emmett sat next to them with Gracie in his arms. Elena kissed her cheeks and stroked her nearly bald head a bunch of times. She even wanted to put her in her babydoll stroller but we distracted her for long enough that she eventually forgot.

She was an incredibly sweet three-year-old and was already such a great big sister and big cousin.

After everyone had officially met the baby, Bella went upstairs to feed her and put her down for a nap. I stayed downstairs with Brady to clean things up a bit so Bella wouldn't have to worry about it. When I went upstairs, I heard Caroline laughing from Gracie's nursery.

"Like that?" She asked as I stood in the doorway. The two girls were standing at the changing table and Bella was teaching Caroline how to change a diaper. "What if she starts peeing?"

Bella laughed. "Well, she's a girl so that'll make a difference."

"Oh," Caroline smiled as she finished fastening the second tab on the diaper. "I did it!"

"You'll be a good babysitter one day," I smiled as I pulled her into my side. "Your mom and I are very lucky."

There was a knock on the door and Brady stood there with flushed cheeks. "Can you bring Gracie to my room?"

"Sure," Bella smiled. She picked the baby up and the four of us followed him down the hallway. Brady was standing next to his keyboard, looking very nervous. Caroline seemed to know what was going on and encouraged him to do whatever he had planned.

"I learned a song and I want to play it for the baby," He said as he sat down.

Bella smiled at him. "You learned a song all by yourself?" He nodded. "Sweetie, she'll love it."

I had been teaching Brady how to play the piano for almost six years and I had never seen him so nervous before. Maybe it was because he taught himself the song but there was something in him that I'd never seen before.

He started playing and I instantly recognized the soft tune.

"Come stop your crying, it will be alright. Just take my hand and hold it tight. I will protect you from all around you. I will be here don't you cry," He sang so softly and so beautifully.

Bella was in tears as she gently swayed with Gracie.

"For one so small, you seem so strong. My arms will hold you, keep you safe and warm... 'Cause you'll be in my heart. Yes, you'll be in my heart from this day on now and forevermore."

When the music stopped he turned around and looked up at us. Bella gave Gracie to me and went to hug Brady tightly. I could hear her telling him thank you but other than that I didn't hear what she said. I looked at Caroline who had a huge smile on her face.

"Did you know about this?" I asked.

She nodded. "I had Felix get him the music. It's a pretty easy song, dad. Not much to it."

"Mom," Brady laughed when Bella refused to get a grip. "It was just a song."

"A very special, song," She cried.

"I have homework to finish," Brady rolled his eyes. Apparently, Bella was too emotional for him. I pulled Bella out of the room and walked her back to our bedroom. I took the baby from Bella and sat down in the chair next to our window. Bella gingerly sat down on the bed and was trying not to wince in pain.

I smiled. "How are you feeling?"

"Emotionally I feel amazing."

"And physically?"

"Pretty sore," She admitted and I knew she wasn't telling me the entire truth. I rocked the baby until I noticed her breathing was slow and steady. I kissed her forehead, put her in the bassinet, and went downstairs.

I grabbed an ice pack, put fresh water into a cup, and grabbed some snacks. When I went back upstairs, Bella was dozing off.

"Here," I smiled as I handed her the ice and put the goodies on the nightstand. She looked up and mouthed a thank you before setting some pillows against the headboard and lying back. She positioned the ice in the right spot and opened up one of her favorite books.

I took this time to check on our oldest children.

Caroline was first. Her door was cracked open and she was sitting in her window seat with a book in her hands. I got a closer look and saw she was reading a play and wondered if this was something she wanted to audition for.

"Hi, sweetie," I whispered as I opened her door further. She turned to me and smiled.

"Hey, dad."

"What are you reading?" I asked and she showed me the cover. Better Nate Than Never. "Is this a play for school or enjoyment"

She smiled. "Enjoyment."

"Is it any good?" She nodded. "How are you doing, Caroline?"

"What do you mean?"

"With the new baby."

She closed her book and turned her body so she was completely facing me. "It's so cool. Being a big sister."

"I sense a but."

"But it is a little weird...I don't know why."

I sighed. "It's a big change. Even if it's a really great change, it can still be hard."

"Do you..." She trailed off and looked at a frame that held a picture of Rosalie. Bella had adopted Caroline and they loved each other so much. But Rosalie still held a special place in Caroline's heart and Bella would never do anything to take that from her. "That mom would be happy?"

I leaned in and kissed the side of her head. "You were always meant to be a big sister, honey. We always wanted you to have at least one sibling."

"Were you scared?"

I nodded. "Your birth was the most wonderful and scariest day of my life, Caroline."

As she grew up, I always wanted to be honest with Caroline. Especially when she asked about the day she was born.

"It was normal for me to be a little bit scared. But everyone is healthy and doing well," I assured her. "Including me."

She sighed as she stood up and wrapped her arms around me. I held her tight and kissed the top of her head. She would always be my baby girl and I hoped she knew that.

"I love my new sister," She told me as we pulled apart. "Brady does too."

"You two are going to be wonderful big siblings."

After reminding Caroline that lights out was in thirty minutes, I made my way to Brady's room. His door was open and he was sitting on his bed playing his Nintendo Switch. I knocked to make my presence known and he turned to face me.

"Hi, Edward," he sighed as he paused his game. I sat down at his keyboard bench and smiled at him. "What's up?"

"Just checking in. How are you doing?"

He bit his lip. "Okay. Being a big brother is kind of fun."

"Your mom loved the song."

"She was crying."

I smiled. "She's just a little emotional right now. Her body went through a lot."

"Oh. Okay."

"I could tell Gracie liked it too," I told him. "She was a little bit fussy and the piano calmed her down."

That boosted his spirits. "Maybe I'll play for her again."

"We can pick some new songs to learn."

After moving in, I gave Brady piano lessons at the house every Sunday.

"Sounds good," He sighed. "How's my mom? Is she okay?"

"She's great."

"Phew," he sighed. "Do you think Gracie will like me when she gets older?"

I nodded. "She's going to love you. You're her big brother...you'll be the second most loved man in her life."

"Second? Who's first?" He laughed.

"Me of course," I stood up and ruffled his hair. "We love you, bud. I hope you know that will never change."

He licked his lips and nodded. "I know."

We came up with a list of songs he wanted to learn so he could play for the baby before I left his room. When I got back to my room, Bella was asleep against the headboard. I checked on Gracie, who was still sound asleep and went to make Bella more comfortable.

I took the icepack away and moved the M&M bag and threw it away. I gently scooted her down so she was actually lying down and kissed her forehead. I got myself ready for bed, told the kids it was time for lights out and laid down with my beautiful life.

Just as I got comfortable, Gracie started to fuss. Bella wasn't up yet so I went and picked her up. I looked down at this precious baby and teared up again.

Life was so different than I ever imagined when I nervously asked Rosalie to marry me. But when I looked down at my new daughter and then over at Bella, who was awake now, I knew that this is where I was meant to be. This was always supposed to happen.

I don't think I would completely understand, but I was happy it did.