Author's Note: The next few chapters will be eventful. My goal is to wrap up The Gift by the end of February 2021 at the latest, as well as The Center of His Universe. Then, I have a few one shots that I'm going to expand as well as some new concepts that I can't wait to share with you all.

I have officially decided that we are going to get 40 chapters, plus an Epilogue. I could draw it out a whole lot more if I want to, but The Gift was my first serious fan fic ever and I'd like to tie it up and focus on other projects. I won't leave you guys hanging without some things resolved and the events I had planned first.

We haven't heard from Edward in a bit, so let's have him give us an update! The next chapter will be longer and will be the events in this chapter from BPOV in much more detail.


EPOV

Knowing that Bella could now get pregnant by me was frightening, yet exciting. There were so many things that I never dreamed I could have suddenly made possible by my Bella. We were together and I was happy beyond my wildest dreams. I had a wife and soon we might have our child, at the same time she would also officially become my immortal mate.

It was near impossible to self-loathe anymore with her gentle voice usually in my mind at least a few times a day. We shared every thought without fear or judgement, and it was beautiful. While in the past, immortality had been considered my curse, it was now my blessing.

There were still some situations to be concerned about, such as the fact that the Volturi hadn't yet caught up to Victoria. I had no idea how she was avoiding Demetri and Felix, but with Bella always safely with the family, there was reason for vigilance, but not constant worry.

We made love nearly every night, not that our constant lovemaking was anything out of the ordinary. We were still newlyweds, and very much wrapped up in each other. I highly doubted that we would ever leave the newlywed stage, but we weren't bothered.

It was especially easy to spend large amounts of time enjoying each other when we didn't need to worry about normal human concerns, like money or jobs. I had always considered myself and my family extremely lucky in that respect.

Our relationship had never been perfect, although to me it was. Sure, we argued sometimes. We definitely had our share of drama, what with James, me leaving Bella, Bella always risking her life at a moment's notice, etc. but the struggles we had been through made us both happier to be together, grateful. We never took each other or our love for granted. We could fight and then immediately make love without hesitation, because it was never the other we were against, just some silly idea or worry.

Carlisle was still working as a doctor, not only to help others as he always had, but also to collect some necessary medical equipment to have at home for Bella without suspicion. We wouldn't exactly want to deliver a half immortal child in a human hospital. So far, we had an ultrasound, exam table, IV supplies, some basic blood testing equipment, a small portable X-Ray, first aid supplies and a variety of medicines that we might need.

Carlisle was also working on stocking up extra donated blood, assuming that she would need to supplement her diet with it at some point during the pregnancy. This was the part that I struggled with the most, other than knowing I would need to change her as soon as she gave birth. Bella was always willing to do anything for me, including risking her life and making herself uncomfortable. I couldn't hide my doubts from her now though, and as much as some people might prefer their privacy, it was honestly a blessing. There was never any doubt in our minds as to what the other was thinking, or what we might need from each other. She assured me several times that drinking blood was the least of her worries, especially since she knew it would be a part of becoming an immortal and being my equal, something that she looked forward to immensely.

We purchased a bunch of pregnancy tests along with the medical supplies, but there was apparently no need. Bella and I were sitting on my bed, lounging, and sharing our thoughts when Alice burst into the house and then our room approximately a week after we removed Bella's IUD.

"Focus on me and read my mind." she instructed, carefully blocking her thoughts until we indicated that we could both see them. She was practically hopping up and down with delight. We both knew instantly what this was about before we could even see the vision.

Alice's visions were normally not set in stone. They changed as people changed their minds or circumstances updated. Sometimes, she could see several alternate realities for a situation depending on other factors. She now only saw two possibilities for Bella. The first, I tried to not dwell on beyond doing all I could to prevent it. It was Bella's death, and even a glimpse at it nearly crushed me.

The second, much more likely vision was a red-eyed stunning Bella holding a bundle of blankets in her arms and smiling down at it. I was standing behind her with my arms around her waist, also overjoyed as we admired the baby in her arms. The only changes from the original vision were the location, now to this house, and the pale pink blanket was now a nondescript yellow.

Bella immediately started crying and crawled into my lap. Alice beamed at us. "Thank you, Alice!" Bella said. "I'm so excited!"

"Me too." I smiled, holding Bella tightly. "Thanks for showing us." The family's thoughts were pretty well all focused on us, having put two and two together from what they overheard. "Come on love, I believe we have an announcement to make."

We walked downstairs hand in hand to where everyone else was already assembled on the couch. "We're pregnant." Bella said simply and the family erupted with cheering and congratulations.


Carlisle whisked Bella away at the first opportunity to confirm the result and draw some blood to analyze. It was true. Our path had been decided, and now, it was my mission to not only love and support my wife, but also to do everything possible to make sure that her and our baby stayed safe and healthy, at least from every threat except for Alice. She was already happily starting to shop for baby items online, along with Rosalie, and insisting that Bella join them. Bella went downstairs without argument, too excited.

"How are you feeling son?" Carlisle asked.

"Me? I'm not the one who's pregnant."

"Perhaps not physically. But emotionally and mentally, you're just as invested in this as Bella is. How are you doing?"

"I'm thrilled, but terrified."

"We're all here for you two. We will do all that we can to help." His thoughts reflected that without question.

"I know. We are grateful. I just worry about her."

"We all do but look how happy you two are. I know you haven't always been comfortable with this life, but you have so much to live for now." My father was incredibly proud, but also relieved that my years of suffering from crippling loneliness were over.

"Carlisle, I've never thanked you properly. In fact, I've not been a very good son at all. I was quite miserable there for a while, even when you did so much for me. I'm sorry."

"Nonsense. I wished there were more I could do, but I see now that you just needed Bella."

"It's like I always knew she was missing from me, even if I didn't know exactly who or what was missing."

"That's how I felt about Esme." he smiled, resting a hand on my shoulder. "Now, let's get downstairs before they spend the family fortune." he laughed, knowing Alice's enthusiasm, and we walked downstairs together.

All of the women of the family, plus an overly excited Emmett, were in various positions on the large couch, surrounding Bella and Alice as they looked at nursery themes. Alice had a vision of Bella choosing a woodland animals theme, which caused me to crack up laughing. "Seriously, Bella?" I asked, walking up behind her, and kissing her head.

"I thought it would be funny."

"Disturbing is more like it. Do you think the baby wants to grow up in a room decorated by food?"

"I guess you have a point." she laughed. "OK, no woodland creatures."

"Thank you."

"I have an idea, Bella." Rosalie said. "What about travel themed? We could use some of our maps and souvenirs from various places we lived. Maybe Esme could paint some little clouds or landscapes on the walls."

"I love it!" Bella looked at me questioningly and I simply kissed her head again.

"This choice is all yours, love."

"Let's do it. Esme, would you like to paint the designs?"

"It would be my pleasure." she answered. Alice squealed, her usual excited reaction, and had thirty or forty browser tabs open before anyone even blinked. Bella laughed and happily looked at what Alice had to show her.

I quietly stepped away into the kitchen and started working on some dinner for my wife. Only Jasper noticed, smiling up at me, clearly enjoying the emotional climate of the living room.

There were no words to properly explain the overwhelming emotions I felt. There was love, excitement, some fear, but mostly just a need, more powerful than I had ever felt, to take care of my wife and child, who at this point was probably not even as big as my little finger. We weren't sure how quickly the hybrid pregnancy might develop, but I wanted to get a head start on spoiling them.


I quietly called for Esme and she helped me find what was needed to prepare a surprise. Carlisle overheard and volunteered to go to the store, sneaking in through the back door with roses for me to give to Bella, and some for him to give to Esme an hour or so later.

"Edward?" Bella asked. I ran into the living room, making sure she wouldn't see what was going on in the kitchen. "You're up to something." she said with just one look at my face.

"Making you dinner." I answered innocently.

She smiled and wrapped her arms around me, relaxing as I held her to me. "I just missed you."

"I'll never be far."

"I know."

"How are you feeling?"

"Excited. Nervous. I'm alright." she said. "Oh, and hungry."

"I can help with one of those things." I smiled down at her.

Esme quietly let me know that she had finished dinner while I tended to Bella, again too softly for her to hear. I led my wife into the dining room beside the kitchen.

Carlisle had prepared a dozen red roses in a vase on the table. Esme had plated the mushroom ravioli that we cooked together, along with a salad, and lit some white candles around the room. I could hear in their thoughts that her and Carlisle were contentedly making her some kind of chocolate dish for dessert. They were so happy to see us happy firstly, and secondly, to be grandparents for the first time ever.

Bella blushed faintly as I held out her seat for her. I helped her get situated and then sat down at her side.

"You didn't have to go through all of this trouble for me."

"It was no trouble. I wanted to. Esme and Carlisle helped, are helping actually. They are working on dessert."

She smiled and shook her head but started eating. "This is very similar to our first date. Is this the part where you tell me you can read minds?"

"No, this is the part where you admire me, notice what I'm wearing, and how good I smell." I chuckled, remembering seeing our first date in her thoughts when we first started to share our memories. Her blush intensified. Of course, my thoughts at the time were focused on her beauty and how her scent affected me as well.

"This is delicious, by the way. So then, is this the part where you tell me I'm not normal?"

"Absolutely. And then the part where I admit to being a stalker." She laughed and smiled beautifully at me before I averted my gaze so she would continue eating. "I wanted to take you out to dinner to celebrate, but under the circumstances, I thought a nice candlelight dinner at home would do just as well."

"I prefer this. I don't have to worry about anyone bothering us. It's a lovely gesture."

We sat together while she finished eating and enjoyed the chocolate mousse my parents brought her. They both congratulated us again and expressed their love before 'going to bed' for the night. I tried to tune out their thoughts of exactly what that involved.

While Bella was eating, Alice and Rosalie snuck up to our bedroom and made an impromptu theater. They hung fairy lights around our bed and set up Emmett's projector. There was thick fabric hung over the windows, making the room completely dark except for the small decorative lights. There were extra throw pillows on our bed for lounging and a small variety of drinks and Bella's favorite candies sat on our nightstands.

Once I took a moment to focus on my family's thoughts, I could also hear Jasper and Emmett out in the garage, intending to make a crib out of a large tree as a surprise for Bella, and wondering the best shape for the baby's safety.

"Dinner and a movie?" Alice asked with a giggle as we swung open the door to our room, revealing their surprise to Bella.

"Guys!" she shouted, running to hug Alice. "Thank you, this is so sweet." Rosalie surprised me by giving Bella a hug as well and even smiling at her. Although Rosalie was jealous that she wasn't able to have a baby, she was grateful for the new addition to the family and the chance to watch one grow. She was trying her best.

"We know you can't go out easily right now, so we wanted to give you a date night at home." Alice said. I knew she would love it! Yay!

"Goodnight kids." Rosalie said with a grin as her and Alice left the room together to go laugh at their husband's puzzlement in the garage.

"Everyone is spoiling me too much." Bella said, but I could see how happy it made her.

"It makes us happy." I said, taking her in my arms. "Congratulations, mom."

"Congratulations, dad." she replied, and we happily held each other for a few minutes.

"Would you like to see what movies they brought us?" I asked, handing her a stack that included titles like Baby's Day Out, Baby Geniuses, Bringing up Baby..."I believe there's a theme."

"You don't say." she said with a laugh as she picked the classic Bringing Up Baby and handed it to me. I was glad that we both preferred older films. We knew it would mostly be background noise anyhow. We were too excited to focus on anything except for our news, and each other.


The next morning, Carlisle assembled us all in the living room for our first lesson. Bella decided she wanted to attend too, not having any practical experience caring for children. Plus, she was hoping to poke some fun at Emmett if anything grossed him out.

"Alright family, let's start with some basics about our particular situation. We aren't sure how long Bella will be pregnant for or how quickly the pregnancy will progress. For right now, she needs plenty of rest, nutrition, and as little stress as possible. As she progresses, she may need to drink blood to supplement her normal diet. Let's go over some basics about pregnancy and first aid." Carlisle started to lecture, and I mostly tuned it out, having already heard it in his thoughts as he prepared, but also at least confident in this part from my medical degrees.

Instead, my thoughts drifted to just how far Bella and I had come from when we met, to our first 'date', my decision to leave, my return, our marriage, all the way up to the present moment. I had always been terrified of what I was taking from her, yet she was giving everything to me, and there was something I could finally give her as well.

I never my hundred years dreamed that I could have a child as an immortal, yet here we were. I was still amazed that I had a loving wife and someone that I could love and care about more than myself, and now, we were about to add to our little family with a child. I was overjoyed.

Children had never been super high on my priority list, especially knowing that I couldn't have them for decades, but I found that once the idea was presented, it was all I could think about, that we could have a little one that combined both Bella and me. Someone we could love and share ourselves with.

It wouldn't be me if there wasn't a little bit of worry. I worried for Bella's safety, the child's safety. I wondered if the child would resent us eventually for its likely immortal life. We weren't sure if it would be able to have children itself were it female, or if it were to be venomous, or many other things that we would just have to wait and see. It was a little scary.

Jasper smiled at me, feeling the emotions coming off of me. He was very much enjoying everyone's excitement and pushed a little on to me, temporarily eliminating my nervousness.

"What's the name of the procedure I just went over, Edward?" Carlisle asked with a smirk. Everyone was carefully blocking their thoughts.

I laughed. "I have no idea."

"Daydreaming in class, huh?" Emmett asked, but everyone else just laughed too. It was clear that I wasn't paying attention, so I stepped out in the back yard to enjoy the sunlight peeking through the clouds. That's where Bella found me an hour later, stretched out in the warm grass with my eyes closed.

She laid down beside me without a word, using my chest as a pillow as I gladly wrapped my arms around her. Her warmth and her scent still delighted me. I would never get used to her and that was alright with me. I ran my fingers through her hair and as relaxed as she was, her thoughts started filtering in. They weren't at all unlike my own. Happy.


It was only a matter of days before Bella excitedly stood in front of the mirror, rubbing her stomach, and examining herself from different angles. "I'm showing."

"You are." I smiled. I had noticed a couple of days before, but I certainly wasn't going to bring that up for fear of making her self-conscious. Instead, I wrapped my arms around her from behind and brought the hand she was using to rub her stomach up to my face, kissing it before resting both of our hands on her tiny baby bump.


A week of us knowing that Bella was carrying our child passed without incident. Carlisle couldn't see the baby on an ultrasound, but we knew that this would be likely due to its immortal characteristics. Bella's bloodwork was still normal, and she was eating a healthy amount of thankfully, still human food. She loved breakfast and Esme was happy to make it for her four and five times a day if needed.

The family continued to have lessons from Carlisle on pregnancy and potential medical outcomes for Bella. I had also been reading and refreshing my medical school knowledge while she slept. I decided that when she was closer to giving birth, I would prepare a syringe of my venom to try injecting right into her heart, knowing at that point that it wouldn't hurt her.

I started paying attention to Carlisle's lessons when he went over caring for the actual child. This was something that I, and most of the family, had absolutely no experience in. We went over the various growth stages for a normal pregnancy, although we assumed that they would be accelerated for Bella. We also went over nutrition, again, different in our circumstance, first aid, personal care, how to handle it without hurting it, swaddle it, change it, feed it. The amount of information would have been absolutely overwhelming if we weren't vampires. Bella took it all in stride, at least knowing the very basics already by simply being human and being around her family and her friend's families.

The few times I needed to leave Bella to hunt were excruciating. She did her best to calm my fears, but it was hard not to worry with everything at stake. Either Carlisle or Rosalie stayed with her at all times when I was gone, since they each had medical degrees.

Our family did the best that they could to keep her distracted from my absence, even though it was only a few hours. I was sure she would protest when Alice subjected her to an hours long spa day at home, but she enjoyed herself and was relaxed and happy when I returned, which made me happy as well.

Overprotective wasn't an appropriate word. We did everything possible to not have to make her lift a finger. We gladly spoiled her with plenty of gifts including books, movies and a selection of different foods and things to try, making the best of each possible moment of her time as a human.

Bella and I spent a lot of time watching sunsets in the back yard as I counted each precious heartbeat, and sometimes, I could even hear two precious heartbeats, hers, and the baby inside of her, depending on how we were laying.


Two weeks into her pregnancy that we were aware of, she was definitely showing. Alice happily bought her some maternity clothes, insisting that Bella not worry about wasting money because they would be donated to charity afterwards. She would have been just as happy in some of my sweatpants and t-shirts but didn't want to spoil Alice's fun.

She was starting to lose weight, except for her growing belly, as Carlisle predicted, and was having trouble keeping down solid food. We expected it but it didn't make it any less painful to experience, watching my wife start to waste away in front of my eyes and there not being much we could do about it. Rosalie or I always helped her in the bath, but Bella started to prefer Rosalie because it saddened me to see how the pregnancy was taking a toll on her body, the bruising and her bones showing in places they hadn't before. I made sure that she knew I still found her incredibly beautiful, no matter what, but she could hear the fear in my thoughts when we shared them.

We started using IVs for nutrition and supplementing extra blood that way at first. She improved quickly, but when she felt weak, she had to start drinking the blood as well. She had once nearly fainted from the smell of blood but being pregnant seemed to change that.

The baby had an incredible appetite, and we became worried about running out of supplies, but Carlisle was able to secure some extra blood for a 'research paper', which he studied easily before setting it aside for Bella.


Three weeks in, it became clear that Bella wasn't going to be pregnant for too much longer. Carlisle assumed that she might be ready to give birth at a moment's notice. I prepared a syringe filled with my venom and made sure the entire family knew where to find it and how to use it as I much preferred this option to one of them trying to bite her, with Carlisle being the only exception.

Carlisle and I made a pact that one of us would be at her side at all times, or at least within the house, until she gave birth. She spent most of her days sleeping and resting, unhappy with being forced to lay still for so long, but a quick glance at my fear and the medical knowledge in my thoughts usually settled her back down, for no other reason than to not scare me worse than I already was. We all saw that she wanted for nothing, short of getting out of bed more.

Three weeks and two days in, Bella and I were lying in bed together sharing thoughts when we felt something else along with our thoughts. It was like a strong feeling of love and happiness, and while we usually felt that way in each other's presence, it didn't feel like us.

I stopped touching Bella for a minute to see if I still felt it. The feelings intensified when I rubbed her belly and softly spoke to the baby, and I was able to place my other hand back on Bella's face to share them.

Is that the baby?

It is. I was so happy. It was alright in there! And it was happy! It was so pure and innocent; unlike anything I had ever felt before. It reacted positively to both mine and Bella's voices. If I hummed to it, it gently kicked her.

"I feel it too." Jasper said, walking into the room with a big smile and sitting down on the end of the bed, basking in the near euphoric happiness radiating throughout our room.

One or two at a time, the rest of our curious family filtered in and Jasper shared our emotional state with them until it was like we were at some kind of hippie gathering, talking about love and peace.

"How beautiful!" Esme said as her and Carlisle walked in and Jasper shared our emotions with them. She took a seat beside Bella and Bella placed Esme's hand on her stomach, letting her feel the kicking baby. Alice was right beside her. Then Rosalie.

"I feel like Buddha." Bella laughed, but she was smiling. If I had any remaining doubts about the purity and the soul of the creature growing inside of my wife, they were gone now. It loved us, just as we loved it. I could never have any negative emotions towards anything that loved Bella so much. I knew that it wouldn't hurt her on purpose.

Everyone left after a few minutes to give us our privacy and I closed our bedroom door as a sign that Bella was going to rest for the night. I took my spot back in bed beside her, kissing her belly and getting kicked in the face. It was strong.

Bella was wincing a little though with each kick and without a thought, I whispered "Stop, you're hurting mommy." and it did. It understood. Although it had no verbal thoughts, it seemed to understand simple commands already, still in the womb. This child would never cease to amaze me. It wasn't even born yet!

I kissed her stomach again and my thoughts swelled with love and happiness. There was warmth and peace unlike anything I had ever imagined.

It loves you, mommy.

It loves you too, daddy.

How are you feeling?

Exhausted. Sore. Happy. Excited.

I have never felt so at peace.

Me neither. She thought, but I could feel through our connection that she was in pain. The baby was growing too quickly for her body and getting more active every day. I did what I could to help her adjust her position and then gently, lovingly massaged her aching legs and feet, the least I could do really.

I kissed her and showed her how much I love her, so much it nearly hurt sometimes from the intensity of it. She fell asleep with my arms around her, one hand resting over the baby hoping to keep it calm as they slept.

I waited until she was deeply asleep to quietly call to Carlisle for help inserting an IV. Bella hated needles and preferred that we deal with those types of things while she was asleep or distracted. I hated that she was so used to it that she didn't even wake up anymore, but I was also grateful because it meant we didn't have to hurt her to see that she got some much-needed nutrition.

How are you feeling? Carlisle thought after he did a quick examination consisting of checking her pulse, blood sugar and the size of her stomach. All was well, but she was progressing rapidly.

"It's her I'm concerned with."

She's doing just fine. Much better than I expected even. I think knowing how to prepare ahead of time has been a huge help, as well as keeping her on bed rest. Plus, you have your own unique way of checking on the little one now. He smiled at me gently.

"True." I whispered, careful not to wake Bella. "But it's terrifying."

I know. Remember how scared I was when we changed Esme? And I barely even knew her then. I get it. You have a lot more at stake here. But we will pull through this. You'll see.

He patted me on the shoulder and returned to his office, closing the door so that Bella wouldn't be bothered. She started to stir, and I rubbed her stomach, calming both her and the baby at once.

It was difficult to be negative about anything feeling how much they loved me. Even in its sleep, the baby was loved and happy. My touch made it happy. It was telling me with its thoughts, which were loud and clear, unlike Bella's who I couldn't hear for so long, and still sometimes couldn't if we weren't touching.

I experimented by softly humming Bella's Lullaby and the baby seemed to fall into a deeper sleep, it's thoughts, mostly just emotions at this stage of development, went peacefully quiet. I could hear its little heart beating, so I knew that it was alright, as was my sleeping wife. Everything was as it should be.

I had felt the love of my family before, especially Esme and Carlisle, and later Alice, but never the intense love of my own little family. I wasn't just Edward, the lone man in the family anymore. I was a husband and a father, and it was beyond any dream I had ever had for myself, especially as a vampire.

Being an immortal had left me feeling like a monster for decades, but now, I was grateful for my superhuman strength that I could use to protect my wife and child. I was glad that I didn't need sleep, so that I could care for them. For my superhuman hearing, so that I could hear their hearts beating.

To hear the baby's thoughts was a new experience entirely, one that changed my entire outlook on life. Bella was still my everything, but so now was our baby, created by our love, and soon to join us outside the womb.