A/N: Since I've been MIA for so long, I thought I would go ahead and post this as soon as I could. Please review. Happy reading!
Disclaimer: I never have and never will own anything mentioned in SM's Twilight. I am but a poor student. She is a God. Enjoy.
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Chapter Nineteen: For the Sake of the World
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During the third week, my stomach became a mosaic of purple and black. At first, I tried to hide the bruises from Edward, but of course, when you share a bed with someone, eventually they see. But before that, all of us were so impossibly happy that I could scarcely breathe for smiling.
I had been correct in my assumption of what I needed in my diet. As I absolutely refused to drink precious blood used for transfusions, Esme and Carlisle took turns bringing back extra elk, bear, deer, and lion for me. The first time Edward offered me the metal hipflask I had become accustomed to draining every hour or so, I had thought he had finally succumb to the nervous madness he had experienced during my first pregnancy.
"Just drink it, Bella," he had said, laughing.
"Edward, you know perfectly well that I can't! I'm pregnant for God's sake! What do you-"
And then he had thrust the open flask under my nose and I had nearly melted in delight at the scent. I felt guilty, at first, but as I had been finding it increasingly difficult to eat anything other than eggs, I complained little. The rest of the animals, if of the hoofed variety, usually found its way into soup or stew or sausages so I stopped feeling guilty after a while as well. The pelts found their way to town for hunting and taxidermy enthusiasts.
Before I was so hugely swollen that I could not do more than waddle, Esme and I spent the rest of our time decorating the baby's nursery. Edward and I had moved into a larger bedroom to accommodate for an extra wardrobe and bassinet. Esme and I designated the parlor beside it as the future nursery. The day after our family dispute over my pregnancy, Esme had ordered a beautiful round, white, wrought iron crib. The whimsical bed included filigreed framing for a canopy, which was delivered only two days following the delivery of the cradle itself. This, Esme installed in the center of the nursery during my fourth week while I watched from a rocker.
The rest of the room, I was proud to say, I had as much influence in as she. Though I was sure that Esme could probably finish painting, remodeling, and arranging the room much faster on her own or with Edward's help, she happily worked with me to produce the fantastic wonderland my baby would soon enjoy.
During a trip to town, I had found myself engrossed by travel posters pinned up in the bakery. It had taken a lot of pleading and Edward's contribution of several dollars, but the store manager finally parted with a beautiful scenic portrayal of a mountainous portion of France. The poster was done in gorgeous pastel greens, blues, and soft sunny yellows. A lovely railroad raised on an arched support system wound through the landscape. Esme and I took the poster and modeled the walls of the nursery around it. We added in a castle for whimsical value and determined that whether he or she be either boy or girl, The baby would fit spectacularly among the soft rolling hills and gentle slopes.
As soon as the paint dried, somewhere during the end of my second week (which Carlisle calculated as being the equivalent of about five months), Esme took all of twenty minutes to hang beautiful lace curtains and pale blue and ivory drapes over the French windows and balcony doors. The day after, Edward helped her maneuver the furniture inside. Along with the crib came an oak rocking chair and several low white shelves. The shelves were open in the back to allow one to see the scenery behind them. With them came a long white toy chest, a little oak rocking horse, and several large plush throw cushions. I sat in the rocking chair and helped decide where to put things, since, at this point, I found that if I moved more than a little Edward succumbed to the same type of mania he had experienced during my first pregnancy. Staying still allowed for fewer quarrels about what I was capable.
Even Carlisle could not escape the nesting madness. When he and Edward weren't bent over either medical books or legends, Carlisle took to following the local midwife and visiting expecting mothers. It was during one of these visits that he was inspired to return home with a bag full of children's books, after which Esme decide her husband deserved such rewards that we saw little of either of them for several hours. Edward had been somewhat embarrassed by their behavior while I had giggled and teased him about his great sense of modesty. Which in turn led to our own self-imposed seclusion for the remainder of the evening.
Even with all our merriment, serious discussion often drew us together as much as joy. As I continued to grow, Edward and Carlisle took to examining diagrams of the circulatory system and skeleton. It wasn't until Carlisle returned home one evening with a syringe of gargantuan proportions that I began to worry and asked the subsequent question.
"What is that for?"
"Edward thought that if we get more venom into you, you will change faster thus avoid feeling pain for longer than necessary should the worst come to pass," Carlisle answered worriedly as he turned to the diagram. The current argument seemed to be whether to have several syringes for all pulse points or one for the heart and simply bite the other areas.
"I hope you know, Edward, that I want to be changed as soon as the baby's born. There's no point in waiting and I would rather like to look somewhat young for the rest of eternity," I had said lightly. It was days after the resulting argument that the bruising began to show.
Concerned for the baby's and my comfort, I was ordered to bed. Edward and Esme took to sitting with me, listening to radio shows and reading with me during these times. Esme knitted and Edward moved his piano into the vast room to play for all of us.
The first day of the fourth week, I woke with a scream, my eyes flying open. In moments Esme was at my side and Carlisle and Edward were running through the door too quickly for me to see.
"The baby-" I groaned, disoriented by lingering sleep and sharp pain in my torso. Edward looked at me with an expression of desperation and agony as he lifted up my nightgown for Carlisle, whose fingers flit over my torso carefully.
"The baby's fine! One of your ribs may be broken," said Edward shakily as Carlisle examined me.
"It appears to be just a fracture. Let's get you wrapped up, Bella," he said while throwing a worried glance at Edward.
An hour later and I found myself nestled in Edward's arms while Carlisle and Esme carefully worked a tape measure around my belly. He nodded as if in satisfaction and Esme patted my hand.
"What?" Edward said almost bitingly. I looked up at him reprovingly before taking another sip from my flask.
"I think we should go ahead and deliver the baby tomorrow, Bella," Carlisle said slowly. "The baby's nearly fully grown and we don't want to risk any more ribs since he or she seems to be out of room," he continued.
"Is that safe?" I wondered allowed, looking up at Edward worriedly. I knew nothing about early babies except that they were usually sickly. But considering my baby was half fairytale creature, perhaps that did not apply.
"From what we've read, yes, Bella. This isn't safe for either of you to wait any longer," Edward murmured soothingly while brushing my hair back. I nodded then and allowed sleep to overcome me once more.
I did not wake until the following afternoon. It was amazing how soundly I slept! Usually, little The baby woke me at least twice between bedtime and morning. I sighed in happiness, luxuriating in the comfort of Edward's chest and the mountains of pillows around us. I stroked my belly slowly with a lazy smile on my face.
"What are you smiling at, love?" Edward whispered into my hair, his hand joining mine.
"The baby slept well after the nightmare."
"I did notice you were somewhat unresponsive for the last fifteen hours," Edward chuckled while placing a little kiss on the shell of my ear. I giggled and smiled as I felt our baby shift inside me. For the first time in a long while, the movement wasn't accompanied by kicking.
"It's a little unusual though… The baby seems a lot more placid to mommy this morning," I whispered. Edward laughed and we sat in silence for a few moments.
"Did you say something?" Edward asked suddenly, confused. That was odd. His hearing was better than anyone's.
"No?" I answered, as two more 'no's came from downstairs. There was quiet again for a moment, before Edward gasped and moved so quickly that I didn't register pillows against my back until I felt Edward's head pressed against my abdomen.
"I can hear the baby!" he gasped in wonderment as he stared up at me. A radiant smile burst over his features and I nearly cried at its beauty. He kissed my stomach and rubbed a gentle pattern on either side of the swell as he smiled at me.
"It's… happy," he said so tenderly that I did start crying. "The baby didn't move so much because she, I think, didn't want to hurt you."
"Well of course she's happy," I laughed through the joyous tears, my hands joining Edward. I noticed Esme and Carlisle in the doorway. "She has a wonderful family to love her to death!"
"Happy baby," Edward crooned against my stomach. "She's so intelligent. She's been trying to stay still since she woke up. Carlisle's right. We should deliver today," Edward said finally, looking up at me with such a relaxed expression that I was in full agreement.
"Then you'll be out of there soon, little one," I whispered to her.
"What are we going to name her?" Edward asked with a frown as he slipped from the bed and began helping Carlisle arrange surgical materials on the bedside counter. I tried not to look at the sharp instruments. I looked away as Carlisle injected me with morphine.
"We're doing this now?" I whimpered, somewhat frightened.
"It's the best option, Bella, if you're ready."
"I am," I said resolutely. "Remember what I said, though," I grumbled.
"Of course, Bella," Edward sighed. "So? What are we going to name her?"
"I was thinking… Renesmee. Like Reneé and Esme together. Renesmee Elizabeth Carlie Masen," I said slowly, testing the name. Edward's answering smile answered my question of his approval.
"All right, Bella," Carlisle said after our moment of shared bliss. I'm going to have you lie back and we'll get started. Esme's gone hunting for when the baby's here. I don't think Renesmee's dietary needs are going to change once she's born."
I felt the morphine hit my bloodstream and sunk more soundly into the pillows. Edward started tossing the superfluous ones into a corner while I slowly rubbed my stomach. I murmured soft things as Edward smoothed my hair back. I looked up at him placidly only to whimper as something pinched my belly. I looked down to see fountains of blood flowing from my cut open abdomen. Carlisle's face disappeared among the scarlet and a horrible screeching filled my ears. I clamped my eyes shut as Edward stroked my face. I tried desperately to not pay attention to the feeling of the hot wetness in my midsection. I focused instead on the movement I felt, and listened for my baby's first cry.
A moment later and a muffled gasp forced me to look away from my Husband's face to Carlisle. He smiled brilliantly, cradling a bloodied bundle to his chest.
"It's a girl," he said softly, not looking away from her. I smiled, trembling a little from blood loss, muted pain making me feel strange all over.
"No, Renesmee that's not your daddy," Edward said in amusement as his reverent gaze beheld our little girl. Carlisle passed her to Edward, who passed her into my arms. I held her against my breast, smiling happily down at her. And, deliberately, she looked up at me with sparkling brown eyes and smiled radiantly, with a perfect set of tiny, pearly white teeth. Before I could register the sting in my chest, Edward had taken her away and murmured in admonishment to Renesmee. I frowned, becoming quickly aware that my eyesight had begun to blur.
"Edward?" I slurred.
"Edward, we need to get moving. She's loosing too much blood."
"We'll be with you soon, Renesmee," Edward promised our little girl before setting her in the bassinet. My head spun uncomfortably as Edward and Carlisle began rushing around me. Then, abruptly, the dullness melted away and I felt everything. It had begun to burn ferociously from somewhere in my middle. The syringe, which had looked so frightening before, burned me more than I could have imagined as Edward pushed it into my chest. As the flames began to engulf me, I could not help but scream.
"Carlisle, morphine!" Edward snapped, pain flashing in his eyes as I screamed again.
But the second needle went in and did nothing. The fire burned hotter, faster, and I was in so much pain. I watched in horror as my body went still, my eyes were open, and very aware that I was not actually on fire, but it hurt.
At some point, I became aware that I could no longer see for the amount of pain I felt. I could no longer think past acknowledging the experience and wishing an end. I could remember nothing of why I had chosen to put myself through the inferno! And all the while, my heart beat deafeningly faster and infinitely hotter. I thought that I would lose my mind to madness, that I would die a million deaths by flame, but no relief would come to me. Just as I wished for the hundredth time for death, I was engulfed with a new sensation.
I could think beyond the pain. I was impatient. But why? What had I to wait for through the impossible inferno? I recalled a face, beautiful, but blurry in detail. I could hear soft breathing and beautiful humming and knew that the owner of the honeyed voice would feel pain if I recognized it myself. Nearly as soon as I came to this conclusion, the last of my bondage – the morphine, I belatedly realized – dissipated, and my body arched as the waves of pain grew higher and stronger and hotter as they raced inwards.
"Carlisle," Edward called excitedly from beyond my blind solitude. He stroked my hand and pressed something incredibly hot against my chest. My eyes flew open and I restrained my mouth as a scream threatened to break through. The lovely little girl on my chest stopped me, kept me still. She looked up at me with beautiful dark eyes – so vivid! Eyes just like my own had been. As I thought around the pain and searched for memories – I quickly went through them as if sifting through mud, preserving each relic in my now infallible mind – I tried to recall when that exact multishade of brown had been so beautiful? It was so impossibly deep! My Renesmee smiled at me with her brilliant pearly teeth. She could push herself up onto her hands to see me better, but it did not seem that she could sit up on her own quite yet. She let herself fall with a soft flop onto my chest and nuzzled my breast. Her little eyes closed contentedly and I watched in fascination as her rosy lips trembled slightly with each tiny breath.
Suddenly, the pain burned hotter and I jerked uncontrollably. Edward attempted to lift Renesmee away from me but she held tight, letting loose a wail so heartbreaking that both Carlisle and Esme rushed forward from the fringes to my bedside. Renesmee clung tighter – without much assistance – to my chest and out of worry for her, I finally forced myself to cling to the mattress as the flames burned hotter, faster, more furiously than ever in my stuttering heart. I ground my teeth together, desperately trying to keep from screaming or moving – then, without warning, the desperate muscle pumped once, twice, and fell silent. I opened my eyes again in wonderment as my little Renesmee smiled at me radiantly. Before I could register the possibility of holding her in my own arms, I found them around her. She smiled in content as I cradled her to my chest. Hesitantly, I took a breath.
She smelled so delightful! Like some sort of perfume and the most delicious dessert! I kissed her downy ringlets – when did they grow so long? – and held her just a tiny bit tighter. She smiled and began tugging harmlessly on one of my locks. Belatedly, I noticed that someone had dressed me during my time burning.
"Bella?" Edward asked from my side, holding out his arms for Renesmee. I smiled at him, too happy to give any thought to his cautious tone. My doublescan of the room had already revealed no danger.
"She's so beautiful," I said with a smile, kissing her little face again. She smiled back at me, and Edward joined us. Carlisle put an affectionate hand on her little head and Renesmee responded by pulling his fingers. Esme smiled.
"Bella?" Edward asked again, softer this time, contented. I stared at the glory of his face with new appreciation. Basking in his glow and that of my daughter's I could feel nothing more than glee. "Thank you."
"Whatever for, Edward?" I laughed, marveling at the new sound of my voice. So high and clear and pretty. Renesmee seemed to agree. She clapped her little dimpled hands in delight.
"For the world, Bella. For my entire world," Edward whispered as he encompassed both Renesmee and me in his arms.
But Edward had it wrong.
"Our world, Edward. And it wouldn't be complete without you."
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A/N: This is the final true chapter – all that remains is an epilogue. I hope this satisfies. Love,
-Forensica X
