Chapter Fifty-Two: Edward
May 28, 2023
Cambridge, England
"God I fucking hate you right now!" Bella screams, her grip practically breaking my hand.
"I know, Baby."
Labor has been intense. We've been at the hospital for fourteen hours now, and Bella is finally ready to push.
"I'm going to cut your dick off!" She cries as she bears down to push again.
"I think you might regret it," I say dryly.
She screams as the nurse next to me snickers. "Fuck off!" Bella shouts. "I would regret it! Goddammit, why does your dick have to have such painful consequences!"
I don't dare respond to her.
"Okay, Bella. We're almost there. Another push," the doctor coaches her. Bella grunts, and her hand squeezes mine harder.
"Fucking hell! I should have let you fist me!"
Jesus fucking Christ.
The nurse next to me drops whatever the fuck she's working on, and all eyes turn to me except for my wife, who is currently squeezing her eyes shut tight as she pushes through another contraction.
What the fuck am I even supposed to say right now?
"It was a joke," I tell the nurse nearest me. She arches an eyebrow, looking away from me. I'm fucking mortified right now.
Thankfully, my crass as hell wife starts swearing again. "Someone do something to make this less sucky!" She screeches.
"You're almost there," the doctor assures her. "The head is crowning."
"Fuck all of you!" Bella screams as she pushes once more.
I hear a gushing sound, and honestly, it's a little nauseating, but that's a secret I'm taking to my grave.
"She's here," the doctor announces.
I feel Bella's whole body sag as she starts crying.
I lean over, kissing her forehead. "You did it, Babe."
"I know," she sobs. "I'm fucking awesome."
I laugh quietly as the doctor calls me over to cut the cord. I take a look at my tiny, wriggling daughter, and my heart cracks wide open.
She's so fucking perfect.
I cut the cord where I'm instructed, and a nurse scoops up my daughter while the doctor asks Bella to push one more time to deliver the afterbirth.
"Fuck off," she moans. I move back to her side.
"Once more, Baby."
She groans but does as she's asked until the doctor nods.
"Good, Bella. Congratulations."
She's still crying, her body shaking from exertion. I lean over, pressing another kiss to her head.
"I love you so much," I whisper against her sweaty skin.
"Yeah," she sobs. "I guess I love you too."
I laugh and Bella smiles a little.
"Daddy?" I turn to the nurse who is motioning me over. I leave Bella's side and move to the tiny bassinet where my daughter is cleaned up and swaddled in a light pink cloth.
She knocks the absolute wind out of me as I gaze down at her, and tears well in my eyes.
"Welcome to the world, Little Duckling."
