DISCLAIMER: The characters do not belong to me…they are all the creation of the wonderful Stephenie Meyer. All are human.
Birth – Part 1 of 3
Today was the big day. Our baby was coming and from the pain I was experiencing, I knew it wouldn't be much longer. Edward was being so sweet, rubbing my back to try to calm me. I kept smiling for him, not wanting him to know just how much it was really hurting me; I tried to focus on anything other than the pain and to breathe like they'd taught me in our Lamaze class.
"Did you call Em?" I asked. I felt like I might have asked Edward that before, but I couldn't remember.
"Yes, Love. He and Rose are on their way over with little Lily. I've also called Alice and Jasper. They should be here shortly. Carlisle is on his way down from surgery and Esme is on her way from the Garden Club meeting."
"Alice won't be comfortable in the hospital," I pouted, wishing I could properly fold my arms across my chest.
"Bella, she'll be fine. She insisted on coming. Jasper is bringing pillows just like you instructed."
"She's having twins, Edward! She needs to be pampered." Men just couldn't understand what it was like to have all that weight pulling you forward all day long, making your back knot up. And poor Alice was carrying twice the weight. I didn't understand how she could do it. She was even smaller than me!
"I agree, Love. But Alice has a few months to go. She'll be fine. Is there anything I can do for you?"
"No, I'm okay right now."
"Did you want me to call Angela and Ben as well?"
"No, Honey. They're vacationing in Hawaii with Ben's parents. They won't be home until next week. She'll be so upset she missed it though."
"I brought the camera. We'll have lots of pictures."
"Just leave me out of them. I'm sure I look awful," I groaned. I wanted to hide my face in the pillow, but I was in too much pain to bother.
Edward kissed my temple. "You look beautiful. You're glowing. You're going to give birth to our son today."
"Do you think we're ready?" I asked, biting at my lower lip.
"I think it doesn't matter," he chuckled. "He's decided that's he's ready. We just have to go along."
"Know what my favorite part of not being pregnant anymore will be?" I whispered, trying to keep the grin off of my face.
Edward leaned down close. "What, Love?"
"Getting to make love to you again. And we won't have an insanely huge belly in our way like the last time!"
"Bella, you were nearly eight months pregnant. Besides, I have loved your belly. It's been perfectly round and beautiful."
"I know! You certainly kissed it enough!"
"But I've always saved my best kisses for your lips." And just to prove his point, Edward gave me a wonderfully passionate kiss.
"Jeez, Eddie!" Emmett chuckled, as he burst into the room. "She's giving birth today! Cut her some slack and stop trying to sleep with her!"
"Emmett!" I laughed, wiggling my hands at him. I was so glad my big brother had made it here in time.
He bent low, and gave me a hug and a kiss on my cheek. "How are you, little sis?" he asked, his eyes misting slightly.
"Really good. Edward is taking great care of me," I told him, fighting the moisture in my own eyes.
"He better be," Rosalie grinned, as she entered with our niece, Lily.
"My favorite flowers!" I chuckled, knowing how much Rose secretly liked my joke.
Rose leaned down and kissed my cheek then let Lily do the same.
"I'm here!" Alice squealed, bursting into the room with a large bag in her hands. "I've got you five outfits to choose from to take him home in. I also brought you some comfy pajamas for after you're all done. And I found the perfect outfit for you to go home in. The salesperson assured me it was perfect for new mothers to help with soreness."
"Breathe, Alice!" I laughed. I couldn't understand how she had so much energy; I'd felt so tired for most of my pregnancy.
Alice kissed my cheek and looked hard at me, making sure I wouldn't edit the answer to whatever question she was about to ask. "Are you doing okay so far?"
"Yes, I promise. Where's Jazz?" I asked.
"I'm here, Bella," Jasper said, as he walked in carrying four thick pillows. "With pillows as you ordered."
"Good!" I sighed. At least Alice would be comfortable while we waited for my son to make his appearance into the world. "Em, would you move that chair over here so Jasper can set Alice up?"
The words had barely left my mouth when another painful contraction started to hit me. I grabbed Edward's hand, trying to be careful not to hurt him, and gritted my teeth.
Edward whispered into to my ear. "Relax, Love. I know it hurts, but try to breathe. I'm right here with you. I'm not going anywhere."
The contraction started to ease up, so I quickly smiled for Edward. "So have you come up with any new ideas for names?" I asked Alice, turning to face her.
"I have gotten Jasper to agree Elizabeth is the perfect name for our daughter," Alice said with a wink. "I've decided to stop torturing him and let him know I was only teasing about Jazzy Jr. for our son."
"That's good to know!" Edward laughed.
I noticed Jasper pretending to wipe his brow. He'd really been worried Alice was serious.
"Actually, Bella suggested a name and I wanted to see what all of you thought about it," Alice announced.
"What is it?" Emmett asked. Lily was crawling all over him and I chuckled to myself. I think she thought her daddy was the best jungle gym ever.
"Bella suggested Brandon would be a good name for a boy," Alice informed everyone.
I was going to tell them where I got the name from, but another contraction hit me. Edward rubbed my back and hummed my lullaby, trying hard to help me. But I was very alone in this pain. I closed my eyes tightly and tried to take deep breaths to calm myself. I wanted Edward to only be happy today, not be worried about me.
The door opened and then a familiar voice greeted us. "Hello, family," Dr. Johnson chuckled.
I opened my eyes, knowing I had to, but that last contraction had really hurt. I forced myself to smile and talk. "Edward, please introduce everyone."
Edward gave me a light kiss on my forehead before speaking. "Everyone, this is Dr. Johnson. Doctor, you know my sister, Alice. Next to her is her husband, Jasper, Bella's brother, Emmett, his wife, Rosalie, and their daughter, Lily."
"Where are Carlisle and Esme?" the doctor asked.
"On their way," Edward answered.
"Let's just see if they'll make it on time," Dr. Johnson said. "Could I get everyone to step outside?"
"Except Edward!" I announced loudly, gripping his hand even tighter.
"Of course, Bella," the doctor assured me. "Edward will be with you the entire time. We talked about that, remember?"
"I'm just nervous," I admitted.
"It's fine, Bella," the doctor said softly. "All my first time mothers are nervous."
"We'll be right outside," Alice said, kissing my cheek.
Edward and I watched them all leave, poor Jasper struggling with the pillows once again, as a nurse came into my room.
"Okay, Bella. I need you to turn on your back and open your legs wide. I need to see how dilated you are," the doctor instructed.
Edward helped me to turn on my back and I gave him the best smile I could. I could tell my smiles were helping him; he seemed relaxed and excited without a trace of worry on his gorgeous face.
"Excellent!" the doctor said, removing his gloves. "Bella it's almost time to start pushing. I'm going to step out and get the rest of my staff ready. We'll be right back and then we'll begin."
I nodded my head, then the doctor and nurse stepped out.
Edward took my hand and kissed the back of it. "Just think Bella. Very soon, we'll be holding him for the first time."
"I can't wait to see his face. And then we'll know just what to name him."
The doctor came back in with three nurses this time. They also pushed in a large cart. I stared at the cart and then looked up at Edward, wondering if he knew something I didn't. He was looking at me in the same way.
Dr. Johnson must have noticed our staring. "It's just for cleaning him up and weighing him after he's born. I don't expect there to be any problems. He's a little early, but it shouldn't be a problem at all." He sat at the end of my bed and lifted up the stirrups. "Alright, Bella. I need you to scoot down some."
A nurse came to my other side and she and Edward helped me scoot down to the end. The other nurses put my feet in the stirrups. I grabbed Edward's hand and pressed it to my chest. Now that the time was really here, I was scared. But I was also excited to know I would see our baby soon.
Edward must have seen my fear in my eyes because he leaned close and spoke soothingly to me. "Everything will be fine, Love. You can do this."
"Bella, when the next contraction comes, I want you to push while the nurse counts to ten. When she stops counting, you can rest until the next contraction. Do you understand?" the doctor asked.
I nodded my head.
"Okay, Bella. Here comes the first one. Lean forward a little and push hard."
The nurse counted. "One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten."
I let myself fall back onto my pillow. I wondered how people had done this ages ago when there was no medication to help with the pain. Edward was being so great. He was wiping my forehead with a cold towel and it felt heavenly. I tried to smile for him, but I don't think it worked very well because he was frowning slightly.
"Again, Bella," the doctor instructed.
Again? I wondered just how many times I would hear that.
It turned out to be a lot. I don't know how much time had passed, but I couldn't believe the baby wasn't out yet. This was too painful and I was really tired. I had to get them to understand how tired I was.
"I can't, Edward," I whispered. "I'm tired."
"I know, Love. But you're getting so close," Edward said. He tried to smile, but it didn't reach his eyes. He wasn't sure of his words at all.
"Edward, can you sit behind her? It'll give her some more leverage," the doctor said.
Edward got onto the bed and sat sideways behind me, letting me rest against his chest as he took both of my hands into his.
"Bella, he's crowning. If you can give us one more really great push, we can get him out," the doctor told me.
I nodded my head and tried to take a deep breath. I really hoped the doctor was right because I couldn't do this much longer. I leaned forward, with Edward slightly pressing against my back. I gritted my teeth, squeezing Edward's hands, and pushing as hard as I could. All of my muscles were trembling from my efforts, but I was determined to get the baby out with this push. I felt something change and I stopped pushing, falling back against Edward.
"It's a boy!" the doctor announced. "Not that we're surprised by that."
I could feel Edward moving around, probably trying to see the baby. The room was quiet for a moment and then it was filled with a loud cry.
Edward laughed and kissed the top of my head. "Hear that, Bella? That's our baby. You did it!"
"Edward, would you like to cut the cord?" the doctor asked.
Edward moved from behind me, making sure I was resting on the pillows. He was smiling so happily and I tried to smile right back at him. I tried to watch Edward cut the cord, but I was too tired. I closed my eyes and rested further into the pillow. Every part of me was either hurting or trembling and I was tired and cold. I just wanted to go to sleep; I would just have to see the baby later.
"Edward, please step outside," Dr. Johnson said suddenly. I vaguely wondered why he sounded upset.
"What's going on?" Edward asked, panic filling his normally tender voice.
"I'm having a little trouble with Bella's bleeding. I need you to step outside so the nurses and I can get it under control," the doctor explained.
Trouble? What was he talking about? I was just tired. Silly doctor! Scaring Edward for nothing.
"I'll stay right here, please don't make me leave her side," Edward pleaded.
I tried to open my eyes to talk to him and let him know I was tired, but I was having trouble making my body do what I wanted it to. I could only lay there, listening to everyone talk around me.
"I understand how you feel, Edward, but it really would be best if you left the room right now," the doctor replied.
I felt Edward kissing my sweaty forehead. "Don't you dare leave me, Isabella Cullen! Don't you dare!" he demanded.
"Edward," I murmured, forcing my opens to open and look into his panicked, green eyes. My eyes followed him across the room as the nurse pushed him out of the door.
Two more small chapters and then we have baby Cullen with us!! Thanks to George for her beta skills!!