Edward was pacing our bedroom as we waited for Carlisle's final conclusion of what exactly our child was. Although I myself was nervous, I wouldn't risk pacing a hole right through the floor.
"Edward, calm down. There is nothing to worry about. You'll love this child no matter what it is." I doubted that sounded as soothing as I meant it to be. But it would have to do for now. He stopped pacing.
"Aren't you even the slightest bit concerned? What Carlisle tells us next is going to completely determine how we raise this baby." He gave up pacing and started to dash about the room moving things here, rearranging things there. When all that could be moved was moved, he began to rearrange his CD collection. But that ended much sooner than he anticipated, so he put them all back in their original order.
"Of course I'm concerned. But that doesn't mean that I have to turn OCD, bipolar, and rearrange everything." I lightly giggled that last sentence. "As you so wonderfully put it while I was in labor, we've faced too many things to let something like this get in our way now. We will get through this together. Not to mention the other members of our family."
"Speaking of family members, here comes Carlisle with Emma." Edward said, abruptly turning away from the CDs.
It was only a few seconds before I saw Carlisle poke his head in the door.
"May we come in?" He turned so I could fully see the sleeping baby Emma in his arms.
She was beautiful. She had a messy crop of bronze colored hair piled atop her tiny little head and perfect, marble like skin. She looked like a near perfect copy of her father.
"Of course!" I whispered, sitting up straight. Carlisle easily took the hint that I wanted to hold her, and carefully laid her in my arms. Edward was immediately at my side, staring in wonder at the tiny thing. I could tell he was trying to decipher something in his mind, but I couldn't figure out what.
"She's sleeping." He murmured. Thank you Captain Obvious.
"Yes, Edward, she is." Carlisle said, he seemed pleased with the fact that a baby was sleeping, Edward just continued to stare; amazed. Weren't babies supposed to sleep?
"I am so very sorry to interrupt this peaceful moment, but could someone please tell me what is the great significance of a sleeping baby?" I whispered harshly.
"Bella, when was the last time you slept?" Carlisle asked me, not the least bit phased by my sarcastic remark. This threw me. The last time I slept was when I was still human... human. My eyes widened and I let out a tiny gasp. Emma was human.
"But…how?" My question wasn't supposed to be voiced, I was more thinking out loud. But that didn't stop Carlisle from answering.
"I don't exactly know. I mean, it shouldn't even be possible for the little one to be here. From what little information I've gathered, I have found two things. First, Emma is nearly completely human."
What do you mean 'nearly completely human'?" Edward asked, having not taken his eyes off Emma since she came in with Carlisle.
"Well," Carlisle sighed, "Physiologically she is perfectly human. A beating heart, lungs that need air…the ability to sleep. But I suspect that as she grows older, she will start showing the signs of vampiric abilities as well. She already sparkles in sunlight." Was it just me, or did he sound a little bit proud? "Second thing I have discovered, she's hungry." He stated matter of factly.
Edward's head snapped up. The question in his eyes was unmistakable. It is what he struggled with the most. He undoubtedly didn't want that kind of life for his little girl. He looked pleadingly at Carlisle, waiting for his answer.
"No, Edward, she does not need blood to survive. At least, not yet."
Not exactly the answer we were hoping for, but at least we didn't have a bloodthirsty baby on our hands…yet. Edward and I exchanged nervous glances. I looked down at the beautiful baby in my arms and wondered how this angel could ever grow up and kill something.
"As I said before, she will most likely show signs of being a vampire as she ages and matures. That could also include the desire for blood," Carlisle continued, "But nothing is for certain. I also suspect that she will age no more that seventeen or eighteen, depending on which parent she takes after."
Edward just looked depressed now. He obviously didn't want Emma to grow up and be a "monster" like him. I wanted Edward to see that neither him, nor Emma could ever be seen as a monster, I would love them regardless of what they were. I suddenly had an idea. Without hesitation, I lifted the still sleeping Emma in front of Edward.
"Why don't you hold her for a little bit, sweetheart?" I asked. He just looked at me, slightly uncomfortable. He'd obviously never held a baby before. I let myself laugh a little at this. I politely showed him how to hold his arms, how to support the neck, and how to be comfortable while doing so. Carlisle decided to leave us alone for now.
I had never seen anything so cute as Edward holding his baby girl. After a few minutes, he eventually got comfortable enough to lean against the wall and just stare at Emma with nothing but love. He looked absolutely god-like, perfectly at ease, and astoundingly adorable. As I kept looking at this Kodak Moment, I heard the most beautiful sound in the world: the tiny little whimper of a new born waking.