A/n: I feel like the song "Be Kind" by Halsey fits into this story's playlist perfectly.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Rosetta hugged herself tightly, scared out of her mind, "Shouldn't this be a bit more... Sanitary?"

She, Caius, and Aro were in Doctor Cullen's temporary room. The bed had been stripped of its linens, and instead was covered with a plastic sheet and some kind of absorbent pad. Carlisle was laying all his necessary equipment out on the small table he had pulled closer. As far as Aro could tell, everything was still in its packaging. He wasn't sure what the fuss was about and tried to stifle his annoyance, "My dear-"

Caius didn't bother, "Either you'll die from the birth or you'll be turned into a vampire. Cleanliness is not a concern."

The red head flinched and said nothing more. She had tried to be strong, for Ashleigh, Aro knew, but deep inside the woman had never ceased being terrified of her potential fate. Regardless how confident she was in Carlisle. The doctor looked up, "Aro, you'll need to stand here, so that you're ready to change her."

Aro moved to the head of the bed where his friend had indicated. Caius turned to leave but Carlisle snagged his arm. The elder Cullen looked to Rosetta, "I believe we're ready."

He released Caius, giving him a warning look, as he turned to prepare a syringe. Aro watched the man attach a needle, insert it into a vial of clear fluid. He held it up to examine it, flicking it with his fingers to ensure their were no air pockets. Rosetta had taken her place on the bed, shaking beyond control and weeping quietly. Carlisle smiled, "Just try to relax. A quick sting and then you'll be asleep."

She let out a sob, looking to Caius, "What if I don't wake up?"

Caius turned his stare to the floor, but not before Aro caught a flash of pain. He looked down at the woman, "You will. As much as I despise you, I made a promise to my dearest Ashleigh that I intend to keep."

She did not appear to be reassured. Wretched woman spent so much time convincing his mate that he could do nothing but lie and she now believed it herself. Allowing the meddlesome girl to perish was oh so tempting. But he had already done enough to harm his mate. It seemed it could potentially devastate his brother as well, should he choose that. His hands were tied.

Carlisle slipped the needle into a vein and injected the fluid. Within moments, Rosetta was unconscious. Aro couldn't help but smile. These human creations were pure marvels. Doctor Cullen laid a towel across her lap before pushing up her shirt, gaining access to her abdomen. He turned, "Caius."

His attention snapped to the man, who gestured for him to hold out his arms. When he did so, Carlisle draped a towel over them and pulled him closer, "You'll need to stand here. When I take baby out, you wrap it up and hold it until I can examine it."

Caius gave a short nod. The light glinted from the scalpel as Carlisle placed it to her skin. The smell of blood crashed into Aro and his hand twitched. How was Carlisle possibly able to resist when the thirst was so overwhelming? Not just once, but repeatedly? Aro had to actively remind himself that Ashleigh would never forgive him if he acted. He'd need to remain in control. He couldn't fail her again.

The odor grew stronger as the doctor opened her further. Aro stole a look at Caius, expecting him to struggle as much as he. But the man's face was completely smooth. Though he was certain her blood called him, he had no desire to take it. How interesting, Aro mused.

Carlisle reached into Rosetta's belly and, though it was impossible, Caius seemed to grow more pale. Aro watched his friend maneuvering, pushing, pulling. A moment later, an infant was placed in Caius' waiting arms. Without looking at him, Carlisle order, "Rub her with the towel so that she cries."

He automatically did as he was told and the child began to shriek. The doctor's urgent voice snapped Aro from his daze, "Get ready."

Aro drew closer to the unconscious red head. The scent of her blood was overwhelming now. He glanced over to see blood erupting from the incision.

"Now," Carlisle commanded, pulling something quite disgusting from her. Aro forced his attention back to the woman, dropping to a knee and burying his teeth in her neck.

I scratched around the tape on my face. This feeding tube was so annoying. But Aro had tried to get me to just drink the blood and I still couldn't do it. Looked like I would probably be stuck with the thing for another six weeks. What fun. I pulled the covers around me better. Aro had also insisted on bed rest from this point on, though Carlisle had said there was no reason for it. Just my mate being overbearing. I wasn't going to argue with him.

He entered the room then, smiling widely and cradling something in the crook of his arm, "Look, my dear."

I hoisted myself up so I was sitting and he sat next to me, revealing the bundle to be a newborn baby. That looked just like Caius. I hoped he knew where his infant had ended up. Aro handed the sleeping child to me, "Her name is Ioanna."

She was adorable. The squished face with a cute little nose and pouty lips. Ioanna looked no different than any other newborn. I wasn't sure what I had been expecting. I turned to Aro, "How's Rosetta? Did she make it?"

He stared at the baby as he spoke, "She's writhing in pain as we speak."

Relief washed over me. I had been afraid things would end the worst possible way. For her, for me. But I felt as though I could relax just a bit, knowing that Carlisle's plan had been a success. Rosetta was okay. I would be okay.

Aro kissed the back of my neck.

I laid on my side, and he laid so that he fit against my backside, his arms under mine and hands on my belly. The way he nuzzled my shoulder gave me the feeling he wanted something I wouldn't be willing to give him tonight. I was exhausted, felt sick to my stomach. So far he hadn't tried anything, and hopefully he kept it that way.

The door opened and closed, and the room was filled with the wails of an infant. Caius stood just at the end of the bed, staring at me, "You're a woman."

Before I could say anything, Aro muttered, "How observant of you, brother."

Caius rolled his eyes, "I cannot get this thing to stop crying. I require assistance."

I assumed that would be as close to a "please help" as I would get from him. Aro freed me from his arms so that I could sit. I held my hands out and Caius promptly deposited the baby into my care. I rocked her while bouncing her slightly, "She's been fed and changed?"

He scoffed, "Of course. I'm not that incompetent."

"Hand me that blanket, please."

Caius glanced at his shoulder, removed the blanket from it and handed it to me. I laid it flat on the bed before placing the baby down. I pulled one side over her tightly and tucked it under her, repeating with the other side of the blanket. Picking her back up, I cradled her, rocking and shushing her. She immediately began to calm.

Aro smiled, "You're a natural, my dear."

"Hardly," I offered the infant back to Caius, "You know that I'd been babysitting since I was thirteen."

Caius examined the child as if I had flipped a concealed switch, "What was it you did?"

"I swaddled her."

"Interesting," he sounded genuinely impressed. He turned to leave again, "You have my thanks."

And they were gone. Aro hummed, "He has absolutely no idea what to do. Admittedly, I don't either."

I laid my head on his shoulder, not saying anything. He kissed the top of my head, "I love you, my dear. You will be an excellent mother."

Considering my current feelings toward our own child, or lack there of, I could only hope so. Plenty of women lack the bond during pregnancy. Maybe not for the same reason as me, but still. And their feelings change as soon as they see baby for the first time. Which wouldn't be until three days after he was born, at least. It wasn't fair and I would probably be upset about it for a long time. I sighed and Aro pulled me closer.