EPOV
Bella lost consciousness and sent me the entire room into a panic. I handed baby Edward to Esme and immediately started shaking her trying to wake her up. Carlisle was on standby to start chest compressions if needed. Rosalie came in the room and got a wet washcloth and some smelling salts, trying to encourage Bella to wake up quickly.
None of the rest of the family could stand the blood to try to help, but it didn't matter. All that mattered was getting Bella conscious and keeping her heart pumping long enough to get my venom in her. I needed her to wake up so I could see her through the change. I needed to know that she was still there, for me as much as for her.
She stirred a little with the smelling salts and I put my hand on her face, raising her hand to mine. Please, Bella, wake up. You have to survive this. I need you. We need you. Our son needs his mother too. Don't go. I showed her images of little Edward and let her feel how much I loved her.
Edward? she thought, confused and far away, but she was alive!
"Carlisle, the injection!" I shouted and he injected my venom right into her heart, emptying the syringe in less than a second. She screamed in pain.
I love you so much my thoughts whispered at the same time as I sunk my teeth into her neck, getting a mouthful of her sweet blood that there was no time to savor, no matter how long I had craved it. There was no joy in this action, not even for the monster inside of me.
I made my way to her wrists and then her thighs and ankles, forcing as much of my venom into her system as possible, hoping that it would heal her quickly and give her the strength she would need to survive the transformation.
I was consumed by fear and sorrow but there was no regret. She had to survive. My world couldn't exist without Bella. The universe would collapse on itself if something happened to her, and so she couldn't die. She wouldn't die. I told myself that it wasn't possible and focused on my newborn son.
I could hear his little heartbeat and his happy thoughts as Esme gave him his first bath. She was already among his favorite people. He gave me the strength to go on, to keep trying to save my wife. They were my everything.
Once I had bit Bella in as many places as possible, I held on to her tightly, sobbing and silently praying.
"You did it, son. She's going to be alright." Carlisle said, putting a hand on my shoulder.
"She's so still." She was barely moving, and it was terrifying, but her heart was steadily beating. I was practically biting my nails from anxiety.
"I know. But that was a lot of venom, and she was in so much pain before. Maybe this hurts less than giving birth did, or perhaps her change is progressing more quickly."
"Will you examine Edward for me? I need to tend to her."
"I would be delighted to. Congratulations, father." he said, leaving the room to go help Esme finish the baby's bath. There was joy in my heart somewhere, and a great amount of love for my son, but what I needed more than anything right then was Bella.
I placed her hand on my cheek and mine on hers as well, but her mind was silent to me. I fell to my knees and wept, leaning against the table she was laying on. Everyone's thoughts were gentle and worried for us, but the thoughts I wanted to hear the most were completely absent. It was very much like missing a major part of myself.
Carlisle was theorizing that she was using her shield due to the pain and that she couldn't let it down for me as she usually did. I hoped that was the case. Seeing our sweet baby in his and Esme's minds encouraged me to stand up and tend to my mate, despite the overwhelming desire to curl up in a ball at her side and not move until she was alright again. My son once again gave me the strength to continue what had to be done.
I kissed her cheek and prepared some water to wash the blood off from her with.
Alice stepped into the room, not breathing, and sat some clean clothes and toiletries out for her. He's lovely, Edward. Congratulations!
"Have you seen-?"
No. Her future is uncertain. I'm sorry. She showed me a vision of me officially presenting my namesake to the family in a few hours, but that was all she could see of mine or Bella's futures for the moment. She left the room without a further word, partially due to the blood, and partially due to her sorrow at being unable to help me further.
I carefully washed Bella, making sure to get every trace of blood off of her. Then, I held her in my arms as I dressed her, mindful to not jostle her too much and cause her more pain. She was still silent except for her heart beating, and her breathing, even in her thoughts.
I'll clean up the office. Go get comfortable. Carlisle thought, walking into the room. Edward Jr. is 12 pounds, 4 ounces. His heartbeat is a little fast, just like Nahuel's. He's completely healthy. We are head over heels in love with him.
"Thank you." I carried Bella back to our bedroom and laying her on the bed so she would wake up in a familiar environment. I placed her hand on my face again, but there was no change. Still terrifyingly silent. After hearing minds for a few decades, silence was always a rare treat, but not today.
Esme appeared a few minutes later and placed my son in my arms. He was wearing a white onesie with a matching hat and bundled up in white blankets. He looked like a tiny angel. A tiny angel that looked a lot like my beloved wife and had a little bit of resemblance to me and my human parents as well. There was joy again in my heart, even through my fears.
He is loved. Esme thought, going to help Carlisle clean his office. Everyone else was giving us some space at Jasper's recommendation due to my emotional chaos.
"Hey little guy." Hearing my voice made him happy and he immediately reached for my face. I bent down so that he could touch me and gasped as I saw thoughts that were not my own. At first, I thought it was Bella, but then quickly realized that it was my son as he showed me seeing my face for the first time, and his mother's, Esme's, Carlisle's.
He showed me his first bath and how he didn't like the feel of the washcloth against his skin. He asked me for his mommy, remembering how her voice sounded from inside the womb.
"You're gifted." I whispered, smiling at him despite the circumstances. He was amazing. A miracle. Cradling him in my arms, I laid down beside Bella so that he could see her and touch her, mindful to keep his head supported. At least that much of his wish could be fulfilled.
He showed me Bella and that he was confused. "She's resting, baby."
He wanted to hear her voice. "Soon, I promise." He touched her arm and relaxed a little, feeling that she was real. It seemed that we had something else in common beyond our appearance and our name. Our unconditional love for Bella.
"I love her too. Very much."
He fell asleep easily in my arms, dreaming in swirling colors and happy thoughts. He knew that he was warm and loved. It was my mission that he would never feel any different.
Now, if only I could hear the same from my wife.
The baby slept for a few hours while I admired him and then woke up with an adorable yawn. My smiling face was the first thing he saw, as I still held him. He was happy, but also a little hungry.
I stood up and walked to the top of the stairs. Everyone was gathered in the living room, already waiting for me thanks to Alice and her vision.
"Family, although I wish Bella were able to participate, please allow me to formally introduce Edward Anthony Masen the third." The room was all smiles as I walked down the stairs to their assorted compliments for the baby.
"Little Eddie." Rosalie smiled.
"Teddy." I corrected. "It's what I was called when I was little. I think Bella will appreciate it as well." I was overcome with emotion, not just because of my lovely son, but also because the sight of him had recalled a few human memories I thought I had long forgotten of my childhood nickname and my parents loving faces when they used it.
"Teddy." Rosalie said. "May I hold him?"
"Of course, godmother. He's hungry." Emmett was up in a flash preparing him a bottle of baby formula, although Carlisle suspected that it might be blood he wanted first.
Confident that my son was loved and cared for, I went back to tend to my mate. "Bring him to me if he asks." I added on my way upstairs.
"If he asks?" Carlisle questioned, puzzled.
"You'll see." I answered with a chuckle. They would be amazed by him for sure, just as I was. I was content to watch over him in their thoughts and let him get to know his extended family a bit while I tried to get through to Bella.
Approximately six hours had passed since I bit Bella. While her quiet mind was terrifying, her skin had already begun to harden and her face seemed a little fuller, perhaps replacing a little of the weight she had lost while pregnant. There was hope, if only her heart would hold out.
I lovingly caressed her face and her hair and kissed her cheek, her arm, her hands. It was unusual for a change to be this quiet and still, but I hoped that she could at least sense my presence, loving her.
Although I couldn't hear her, I thought that there might still be a chance that she could hear me. I rested a hand on her face and brought one of hers to mine and reflected back on our lives together. The memories comforted me, like how angelic she looked at our wedding and the love and absolute determination in her eyes as she ran to find me after opening her gift.
Eight hours after I bit Bella, Teddy was happily sleeping in Alice's arms. Carlisle came to check on us.
"Teddy is already growing a little, but he is doing great. He has a healthy appetite, although he much prefers blood to baby formula. In fact, when I tried to feed him a bottle of formula, he showed me a vision of throwing the bottle across the room." Carlisle laughed. "Quite a talent he has."
"Just like his mother." I smiled.
"Perhaps. Although his gift works on everyone, not just you."
"Yes, but that's while she was human. It could be much stronger when she wakes up."
"True. Eleazar very much wanted to meet her, but I convinced them to give you two some privacy and come back in a few weeks."
"Thank you."
"The Volturi left without further issue once Victoria was on fire. They thanked us for our help and said they would report back to Aro that they heard you biting Bella."
"Who killed Victoria?"
"Esme and me." he smiled. They were proud of it and I was proud of them. Bella would be too.
"Has Alice seen anything else?"
"No, but keep the faith." he answered, patting me on the shoulder and giving a gentle smile before leaving the room.
Alice came in a few minutes later, handing me my son before I could become too lost in my worries. "Jasper felt like you could use your little guy more than us right now."
"Thank you." I said, admiring his adorable little face as he slept. He was absolutely perfect, yet another amazing reason to live for.
Twenty-four hours after I bit Bella, she surprised me by squeezing my hand back when I held hers. It was the only sound or movement she made, but it was enough to calm me down immensely and help focus my attention on our son. She was alright and she knew that I was with her. It was the best we could hope for.
Teddy and I couldn't wait for her to wake up. He asked for her often, and we spent a lot of our time lying in the bed with her, where he could see and touch her as I explained that she was resting or sleeping.
Mommy? he thought. His first word, although not spoken out loud, was incredible for someone just a few hours old.
"Yes, that's your mommy." I answered. He smiled and gripped her arm with his tiny hand, holding it as he rested in my arms.
Thirty-one and a half hours after I bit Bella, she smiled when Teddy touched her face, as if she could see what he was showing her. Her mind was still silent to me. She didn't respond beyond a smile, but Teddy happily showed her his day and how much he loved her already.
He was incredibly loved and happy, and that smile meant that Bella was really there. She would be coming back to me soon. I was at peace.
Forty hours into Bella's change, her heart started to falter despite the large amount of my venom flowing through her veins. It was terrifying, and even worse…there was nothing we could do about it. A thousand thoughts rushed through my mind and I had to fight hard to keep my promise to Bella that I would try to not panic or overreact and think in worst case scenarios.
I refused to leave her side for anything, and the family helped me care for Teddy, taking turns bringing me bottles for him or holding him as he slept. Though Emmett and Jasper had built him a nice crib, it wasn't necessary. None of us wanted to part with him once we set eyes on him.
"Carlisle, what did I do wrong?"
"Maybe nothing, son." he said. His thoughts mirroring my own worries. "I wish there were more I could do for her."
"She can't die." I said in a broken whisper, cradling my son in my arms. "We need her."
"I know. We all do. We love her."
There were no words that anyone could say to help, and while a part of me wanted to be alone, a part of me was grateful that Carlisle, Esme or even sometimes Rosalie sat with their arm around me for a few hours here and there, trying to let me know that I wasn't alone. The presence of my son was always a comfort as well.
Forty-eight hours into Bella's change, she didn't respond to me or Teddy touching her at all. Her heart was beating an unsteady rhythm, struggling with circulating my venom through her organs. Carlisle started to wonder if we had somehow given her too much venom. I was beside myself with worry. I couldn't stop pacing and panicking. Jasper couldn't help, and as much as I loved my son, even his sweet, loving presence couldn't erase my fears at this point.
I sat down beside my wife and desperately put my hand on her face and hers on mine. The silence was deafening. "Please my love, if you are shielding yourself, let it down. I need to know that you're alright. This is terrifying."
Nothing happened. "Please Bella, you have to fight this. Don't let go. We need you." I was sobbing and found myself unable to move. I sat, still holding her hand to my face and one of mine on hers for several long, torturous minutes expecting a miracle.
Still yet nothing happened, but I was frozen in place.
An eternity later, there was a quiet whisper of I love you and a flash of an incredible amount of pain in my mind before she went silent again. I dared not move. I hoped that wasn't her final message as her soul left her body. Unfalling tears filled my eyes and my chest was tight. Breathing was nearly impossible.
A few minutes later, there was a faint memory of me helping her hold Teddy in her arms for the first time. It was everything to me. She was still there!
"He's lovely. He's doing well." I whispered to her. "It's you we're worried about. I'm scared to death."
It hurts. she thought and I could feel her pain. It burned like the hellfire I remembered from my own change, but I would endure it if it meant that I could know she was alright.
She was struggling to maintain our connection, fighting the same fight we all had during our change, the decision between life and death. Memories of me and Teddy were giving her strength, but I feared it wasn't enough.
Can you hear me like this? I asked.
Yes.
And when Teddy shows you things?
Yes. He's wonderful.
He is. I love you both so much. I replied. "Someone bring me Teddy! Please!" I added out loud, still panicked.
Carlisle appeared instantly with my son in his arms. "What's wrong?" He helped me settle Teddy in the arm that wasn't touching Bella's face and I lifted him up to where he could reach her too. The little man looked at me curiously.
"Mommy can't talk yet, but she can see when you show her things. Will you show her how much you love her and what you've done today?" he reached for Bella's face and I watched as he showed her as requested. Carlisle's thoughts were incredibly curious and hopeful.
She smiled and he smiled in return, shocking for someone so young, but I was relieved. A smile crept up on my face too as the panic lifted and I could breathe again.
"Her heart is steadying. Listen." Carlisle said, and it was. There was again hope.
Bella's mind went silent to us again a few minutes later, but Teddy and I snuggled with her in the bed until he fell asleep in my arms. We had everything we needed right there with us.
I focused on their steady breathing and their heartbeats and practically fell asleep myself, at least, as close to sleep as a vampire could get, a relaxed and quiet state, so drained from the constant fear.
Fifty-five hours into Bella's change, Teddy was resting in Esme's arms downstairs, having just finished a bottle. Carlisle was checking Bella's pulse and the healing of her ribs and narrating what he was doing to her so she wouldn't be afraid when I had a weird thought.
He feels warm. That's odd.
"What's odd, Carlisle?"
"I didn't say anything was odd."
"You thought it."
"No. She's doing great."
Bella? I thought, curious. We weren't touching at all, although I was only a few inches away. I hadn't paid enough attention to the voice, only the words at first.
Edward?
Bella?
"Edward?" Carlisle asked.
What is this, the Rocky Horror Picture show? It feels like that scene where it's all 'Janet?' 'Dr. Scott?' 'Rocky!' 'Janet?' 'Dr. Scott?' 'Rocky!' she paused and I shook my head, a smile too big to fight forming on my face. It's me, Edward. She laughed with her thoughts and it was one of the most beautiful sounds I ever heard. I cracked up laughing loudly, and she was incredibly amused. She was alive! Completely, fully, alive.
A smile spread across her face and in return stayed put on mine. I heard the assorted thoughts of the family wondering if I had finally snapped and lost my mind.
"She's fine!" I shouted. "And she's being a smartass. She's alright!" Everyone in the house laughed, except Teddy, who I was surprised they didn't wake up, cracking up that I was cursing and having trouble forming a full sentence.
"You hear her?" Carlisle asked, surprised.
"And she hears me." I grinned and pulled Bella into my arms. She was marveling on how different things sounded and how much she loved my voice.
"I can see her again!" Alice exclaimed, running up the stairs as fast as possible.
"When?!" I asked, impatient.
"Four more hours. She's almost ready. And she's going to be so gorgeous!" Alice showed me her visions, which Bella saw too. The first was of Bella opening her eyes. The second was of Bella and I happily holding Teddy, similar to her first vision of this day, except for the changed outfit and the now blue baby blanket.
It's almost time, love. I can't wait. It's been Hell without you.
I want to hold the baby so bad.
I want to hold you.
I can't move anything but my mouth or my hand sometimes.
I bet it's the morphine. I thought. Damn, so much for saving her pain.
She marveled at all of the things she could hear that she couldn't before. Each note of my voice and Alice's. The baby's soft heartbeat downstairs. The furnace running. Emmett and Jasper quietly bickering over their chess match, trying not to disturb the baby, and the quiet babble of the stream near the house.
Is this what it's always like for you? Hearing so much?
Yes, but add in everyone's thoughts, except for yours sometimes.
Why can I hear you now even though you aren't touching my face?
Because you're gifted. This must be your gift.
I thought I was a shield.
I don't know what you are exactly, other than my beloved wife, my mate, the mother of my child.
She smiled and her thoughts were on the bundle of joy downstairs. I showed her all of my memories of him from while she had been changing. We both fell more in love with him by the second. Jasper carried him upstairs to us, happily feeling the emotional climate of the room.
Bella was still in pain, and I could feel it burning both of us, but we were simply happy that we could talk once again and that she was alive and well, or at least soon to be. She focused her attention on Teddy as I laid him down between us again, and we could both read his mind, though he couldn't hear our voices in his head. I spoke aloud for him.
"We love you, our son." I kissed his head and then Bella's, contentedly snuggling with them and listening to their happy thoughts. Teddy touched Bella and showed her his day and how excited he was for her to finally wake up. He understood so much that it was a little frightening, but I loved him so much. Nothing he did would ever change that. We knew that his accelerated growth was likely going into this, we just hadn't understood how much.
He's perfect, Edward.
He is. My heart is full.
I hope the family won't be upset when I wake up.
Why is that?
Two mind readers in one house? There won't be any privacy.
There already isn't any privacy. They won't mind.
I hope you didn't want any privacy.
Why would I? We tell each other everything.
The baby isn't going to be able to get away with anything. She laughed in her thoughts.
He will learn to block us just like the rest of them if needed. I wonder what annoying children's songs will be topping the charts this year. I'm sure we'll hear them on repeat once he figures us out.
Maybe he'll just recite poetry like his father.
Or dirty songs like his mother. I laughed, reminding her of a memory that felt like a lifetime ago.
Oh yeah, Emmett once said I have nice balls.
He did.
I'm going to kick his ass for that.
I sincerely hope so.
It will be nice to be the one doing the ass kicking for once! She showed me how she visualized wrestling with Emmett and all I could do was laugh uncontrollably. The family thought I was crazy. I didn't care.
The baby smiled, contently, happy that we were happy. I rubbed his little stomach and snuggled him close to both of us. You're adorable with him. What happened to Mr. Big Scary vampire? I kissed her cheek and then his head, quiet and content just as he was.
Were you really called Teddy at that age? That's so cute. Although I'm sure he'll make us change it when he's older.
I was, and he will, but that's alright with me. He'll grow into his own name in time, or Eddie, or Jr., or whatever he likes. Maybe we'll just both be Edward. He might make me change my name.
Big Ed and Little Ed. she laughed in her thoughts and I laughed with her. I had never considered myself a big anything. I showed her the fuzzy human memories that the thought of the name Teddy had forced me to recall and she was just as overjoyed as I had been.
I was afraid of forgetting my human memories, but you can show me from both of our perspectives now if I wanted, can't you?
The ones you've shared with me. I showed her for instance how we both felt at our wedding or when we first met.
Esme stepped upstairs with a bottle for the baby. "I've been feeding him every couple of hours. He has quite the appetite. How are you, son?"
"Never better." I answered, happily laying against both my wife and our son.
"She's lovely. I can't wait for her to wake up."
"She can hear you. She's still burning, but I can hear her thoughts again, and she can hear mine."
"That's wonderful!" Esme said, acting as if she hadn't already heard it from my excited statements earlier. She was so happy for us. "Do you want me to take him downstairs to feed him?"
"No, I will."
"Are you sure?" she asked, her thoughts showing that it was a bottle of the donated human blood, but Bella didn't even seem tempted with it in the room with us.
I'm not. It doesn't smell good. she thought.
I have never met a vampire that doesn't like the smell of human blood. You would be the one.
"It's fine." I took the bottle from Esme and offered it to the baby, who happily started to drink.
"We're so excited for you, Bella. The pain is almost over, and it will all be worth it." Esme said, kissing her forehead before leaving the room. Bella wasn't the slightest bit tempted by either the blood, or the sound of the baby's beating heart. I was amazed.
I wouldn't attack my own son.
I know, love. The desire for blood is usually so strong in newborns though that it's all they think about. They lose all sense of self for a while. I didn't really believe that you would harm him. I'm just surprised.
I'm glad.
Me too. I'm excited to show you all of the things I never really could before, although some of it is still a little scary.
Like what?
I never have to go hunting without you again.
I won't have to interrupt our days out for things like eating and bathroom breaks.
I won't have to be afraid of hurting you when we're…the mental images took over faster than I could stop them even if I tried to…. intimate.
You won't have to hold back at all with me anymore. Not anything.
No. Not a bit.
I saw how excited this made her. How she had longed for me to be truly, completely comfortable around her in every sense of the word. She hated how I always had to be mindful of my strength or my murderous impulses.
I know you're going to miss my scent.
You still smell just as amazing, just without the burn. It's wonderful.
Really?
Really. You could tell if I were lying to you. I'm not.
I don't have to go to sleep anymore. We really could stay up all night talking and making love.
We could, although something tells me we are going to spend most of our time with this little guy for a while. She saw in my thoughts as I admired him while I fed him, and her heart swelled with love and happiness.
I'm absolutely alright with that.
Me too.
Edward, I love you both so much.
As we love you. I never imagined that I could ever be this happy, even for a short time. I can't wait for you to wake up.
Me neither. It hurts.
I know. I hated hurting you.
But look what we're getting in return. He's amazing.
He is. Teddy finished his bottle from where he was propped up in my arm and I sat up, gently patting his back. He let loose a tiny burp and Bella laughed in her thoughts as Emmett laughed downstairs, hearing it as well. I surprised myself with a chuckle too, it was rather cute.
No more ass stick still? she asked.
Ass stick long gone. I answered. And I'm thrilled by whatever I finally did right that allows me to keep you forever.
I used to dream of you, sometimes I would wake up wondering if you were real. Now, you're mine forever. And we have our little guy too.
I'm so lucky.
I'm the lucky one. she answered.
Teddy's thoughts were happy and peaceful and we both watched with wonder through my eyes as he drifted off for another nap in my arms. He slept a lot, still being a newborn, and that was alright with me. I loved watching his dreams, usually just colors or happy memories of his day.
The only unpleasant thoughts ever to exist in his little head were the nasty taste of baby formula, the scratchiness of a washcloth and his desire to talk to his mommy, who would wake up in just a few hours. It was my dream to see that he never had any more unpleasant thought than those.
Will you keep him with us? Please. I can't wait to see him and hold him.
I will. He's been asking for you.
We watched him as he slept and shared our love with each other until her heart beats started to slow. They got slower, slower, slower…and then with one final thud, the pain was gone, and her heart was silent. The whole family was standing just outside my bedroom door, ready to step in and grab the baby at a second's notice, but it was unnecessary. She wasn't going to hurt him.
Bella opened her eyes and marveled for a split second at how much more she could see, the richness of colors and every speck of dust floating through the air. Then, she sat up and laid eyes on me, admiring all of the details of my face she had never truly noticed before, like the barely there green flecks in my eyes undetectable to humans. The love she felt for me was incredible and overpowering.
As she admired me, I admired her. She was still my Bella, her beauty magnified and refined, like she had aged just slightly and matured into her body. Her eyes were red, but they were so full of life that I wasn't disturbed. Her hair was slightly fuller. Her skin was a lovely, creamy pale much like my own. I was in love.
She looked in my arms and saw our son. She was mesmerized. She admired every feature of his tiny face and then noticed how he held my finger in one of his little hands. Her heart swelled with love and she reached for him.
"Carefully, you're a lot stronger than you think you are. He's half immortal, but still fragile."
She nodded and I laid the baby in her arms, not even disturbing his sleep. He smiled, as if he could feel who was holding him even in his slumber. She happily admired him as I admired her. The family, determining that everyone was safe, retreated downstairs to allow us some privacy.
We happily snuggled as a family and a huge weight lifted from my shoulders now that they were both safe. She loved the baby, and I loved on her, kissing her head, her cheeks, her lips, careful to not get her too distracted from being gentle with our son. "I missed you so much." I whispered in her ear. True to her newborn nature, a dozen thoughts and emotions were running through her mind, yet she never lost focus of being gentle with the baby.
She was in love, happy, amazed at all of the new sounds and sights and smells. She was also aroused a little bit with each kiss I gave her or each time she heard my voice. I couldn't wait to explore that particular emotion later.
Her thirst was present, but barely more than mine. Her attention was almost all on me and the baby, and I knew that she would never dare harm him, even by accident.
After years and down to painful mere hours of waiting, I had everything I had ever wanted, and all of my dreams fulfilled. There would never be a challenge that I couldn't face with my family by my side and I would never again be alone.
Author's Note: We're almost done, and I want to cry! I'm not ready to part with these two yet, but we have one chapter and an Epilogue to go. I could have drug this out more, but The Gift is a pretty low angst story and I wanted to keep it that way. I hope you enjoyed this update!
