Bella Swan

2 months later – 7 months pregnant.

Resting one of my shaking hands on my aching back, I slowly made it up the remaining 3 stairs. When I finally reached the top, I leaned against the wall and took deep breaths. My belly was cramping and shooting pains were running through my back. I was in agony and just needed to lie down.

Carlisle came out of his office at the same I arched over from a sharp pain along my bump. I cradled my baby girl softly, trying to ease away the pain. "Bella?" Carlisle questioned, standing beside me now. He took hold of my arm and eased me up so I was standing straight and then took me into Edward's room.

Edward shot up from the mess of craft work he had spread across his bedroom floor and rushed to my side as Carlisle eased me down onto the bed. "Sweetie? What's wrong? Are you alright?"

"Pain." I murmured quietly, looking up at Carlisle with fear in my eyes.

"Is the pain in your stomach?" He questioned quietly, his soft eyes swirling with alert.

I nodded and clutched Edward's hand in mine. "My back also."

He nodded, and left the room for a few seconds to retrieve his medical bag. "Bella, I think you're having uterine contractions. Abdominal or back pain could be indicators that a preterm birth is about to occur."

"Preterm birth?" Edward asked, panic in his voice. "She's only 7 months!"

"I'm sorry, Bella." Carlisle said softly. "But we feared this from the start. She is underdeveloped and underweight. We need to go to the hospital."

Almost 10 minutes later, I was in the back of an ambulance with a concerned Esme and a freaked out Edward. It wasn't supposed to happen like this.

We wanted to meet our little nudger, but not so soon. She was so tiny! How would she survive in this big world?

The pain in my stomach was increasing by the second, and by the time we were in the hospital, I was trying hard to keep myself awake. The pain was excruciating and I just felt like passing out.

Edward's grip on my hand kept me hanging for a long time, but by the time I was getting examined, I was ready to give up.

"Protect her Edward…don't let her go. Please."

He leaned down with fear in his eyes. "What? Bella?" He stroked my hair softly and I distantly heard him scream when my eyes slid shut.

"Love you Edward." I whispered, just before I slipped into a peaceful oblivion.

Edward Cullen

I paced the bland hospital hallway shakily, my fists clenching tighter as each minute passed.

Emmett sighed from one of the uncomfortable hospital chairs along the wall and shook his head at me. "Edward, would you just sit down? You're making me dizzy."

"I should be in there! Bella's not well and our daughter's in danger!" How could I just sit down and be calm?

He nodded, his eyes softening slightly. "I know that, man, but the doctors will do what they can. She'll be fine. Just come sit down…" he trailed off.

I sighed deeply and moved sluggishly to one of the uncomfortable hospital seats.

Esme joined us a few minutes later and handed over my IPod so that I could distract myself until we heard from the doctors. The soft hum of the piano music eased my troubled thoughts slightly, but I still felt anxious. I just wanted to see my Bella.

A doctor came through the swinging double doors an hour and 20 minutes later, his face solemn. I shot out of the hospital chair before he could speak. "Edward Cullen?" He asked quietly.

I nodded, trying to stop myself from blurting a thousand questions.

"We delivered your daughter successfully. She has been moved to the NICU for further monitoring – she is very small, and very ill. Bella is resting and will be asleep for a few hours."

I nodded, taking in as much information as I possibly could. "Can I see her? My baby?"

The doctor nodded softly. "For now, only you can visit. But we can provide your family with pictures." He smiled sympathetically at the rest of my family.

I looked at her – trying to figure out what to do. It didn't seem fair that the others wouldn't be able to come and see my baby – our baby.

She nodded; a big smile on her face. "Go see your baby!"

Once at the NICU, I took much care in making sure my hands were clean and that I would not bring any infections into the unit. A nurse, who I was informed was caring for my little girl, led me to her quietly, a small smile on her face. "You've got a little beauty." She told me quietly as I approached the small incubator at the corner of the room.

I stood in front of it quietly, staring in at the little life held inside it. My little girl was lying there, on her back with monitors and tubes attached to every part of her body. She had a little, pink wool hat over her small head and a little teddy bear sticker stuck over her oxygen cannula. She was so tiny. The palm of her hand seemed smaller than the surface area of my thumb. Her little feet no longer than the length of my pinky finger. She was so beautiful.

A little pink card with the words, "Congratulations, it's a girl!" on it was being taped to the incubator by the nurse who had brought me to her. She looked at me quietly. "Do you have a name yet?"

I smiled softly as I stared in at my little angel. "Sorry, no. My girlfriend and I have decided, but I want to confirm with her first."

She nodded, as she added the weight of exactly 2lbs to the little slot on the card labeled 'weight'.

I stood in the NICU for a while, just staring at my beautiful little girl. I even got to reach in and touch her hand, her little feet. Even her soft, fair blond hair. She was gorgeous.

And she was mine…