Disclaimer: I do not own The Twilight Saga, that is Stephenie Meyer's, including the characters. What I do own is the plot.
14th February
Dearest Emma,
I am sorry I did not write to you on your birthday like I normally do, but I was in hospital. I have so much to tell you. I am now 8 months pregnant, and your Grandfather Charlie has stage 4 liver cancer. So life has been hard; let me fill in the gaps for you.
Okay, we arrived back to our little mountain hideaway home and your father began fussing over me. He was panicking as to what was wrong with me, and no reassurance could be given to him until I told him I was pregnant again. You should have seen his face. He went pale white and I was sure he was going to faint from shock. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, but was only a few short minutes, your father responded to my soft calling of his name. Eventually, Edward's facial features changed to one of excitement, joy, elation and panic.
Right away, he made me sit and started asking question after question. "Was I feeling alright? Did I need a hospital? Did I need something to drink, eat, or to sleep. He was making my head spin with the speed of his questioning.
Once I got Edward calmed down enough to listen to me; I reminded him that we needed to make an appointment with an obstetrician. Edward, being the panic maniac he is, grabbed his keys and ran to the door. I started laughing so hard I was crying. Here was your amazing father, my strength and rock during my dark days was rushing out the door to take me to my non-existent OB appointment. Yet he was also forgetting the most important thing, ME!
A few days later we saw my OBGYN, who confirmed, yes, I was 9 weeks pregnant. Since I had gestational diabetes with you, I was sent for testing. I was also advised to start regular monitoring of my sugar levels and change my diet. Seeing that I wasn't working, I was advised to be on bedrest as much as possible. This was because I needed a procedure, a cervical cerclage. This procedure would ensure the baby would stay in place, and reduce the chances of another miscarriage.
Your father, Edward, took this seriously and literally. He wanted to carry me everywhere. I wasn't allowed to lift more than a plate of food or drink. This was going to be a long pregnancy.
Everything was going so well with this pregnancy. There hadn't been any issues. We visited the OBGYN weekly because I was such a high-risk pregnancy. Your father would not accept anything less than the best for my care.
At our 20 week ultrasound we found out we were having a boy. After discussing it we chose the name Masen Charles Cullen. During this time, we were so stressed because it was at this point we lost you. The weeks leading up to this juncture were the hardest part of this new road we were travelling.
Just prior to my ultrasound we received the most devastating news; Charlie had stage 4 liver cancer. The oncologist said there was nothing that could be done to save his life. They could only prolong his life a short while, and Charlie being Charlie, refused this option. He said it was his time to leave me - now that I had your father and your brother on the way. He was leaving me in good hands.
I yelled at Charlie, telling him not to give up hope. I begged him to have the treatments, but nothing worked. He wanted to spend his remaining days living out his life the way he always had, simple!
I begged Charlie to sell his house in Forks and move in with us so he'd be closer. I wanted to be able to see him everyday, but he refused, pointing out that he was the parent, and wanted to spend what time he had left doing what he loved the most, FISHING. Go figure!
So, here I was about to enjoy motherhood in just a few short weeks, and at the same time faced with the fact I was going to lose Charlie soon. I'm not sure how I will survive without your grandfather. It will be like losing you all over again, but I must remain strong for your brother and for Charlie.
Since Charlie's condition started deteriorating when I was about 7 months along, I was able to convince him to move to a hospital closer to me. It was also the same hospital I was to give birth at. I have been visiting Charlie every day at the hospital; knowing our time together is limited, but every second is precious for us.
Every day I would put on my brave, happy face and waddle down the oncology ward to Charlie's private room, which I think was your father's doing. There was a massive flat screen with all the sport channels and a comfy recliner. I greet the nursing staff, all of whom I knew on a first name basis. They all say Charlie was a charmer, even with his illness he would flirt with them. This shocked me because Charlie was so much like me, shy and reserved. He wasn't like the man they were talking about. I guess Charlie just wanted to bring some joy into his life.
Today, like every other, I dropped in to visit with Charlie and was surprised to see Sue Clearwater visiting him. Sue is the widow of Charlie's best friend, Harry. I did not know that Charlie had been seeing anyone, much less Sue.
Sue explained Charlie had helped her in her time of need, when she lost Harry, and they'd grown extremely close. Charlie, being Charlie, did not realize until it was almost too late that he'd fallen in love with Sue. She felt the same toward him.
I was both over the moon and devastated for them at the same time. They had both found love again, and the universe was going to tear them apart. Sue saw my expression and took me out in the hallway to talk privately. She explained she and Charlie would like nothing more than to marry. They wanted to be husband and wife before his time was up.
Charlie wanted to give both, Sue and myself something positive to remember him by, not the fragile man he had become. Sue agreed to marry Charlie on the condition that I agreed. I could not refuse Charlie's last wish. I also told Sue I would expect nothing less than her staying with us while she was here for Charlie's last few moments, or for however long that may be.
I walked back into Charlie's room to find him watching his beloved baseball team playing. When he heard the door, he looked up and I smiled, that was all he needed.
Sue and Charlie married a few days later at his hospital bedside. Only Sue's two children, Edward and myself, as witnesses, were in attendance. Edward ordered Charlie's favorite meal be delivered to his room for all of us.
Edward was mostly worked from home, but on occasion he had to travel into the studios. He'd have to assist artists, or tweak some of his music, and today was one of those days. He had left early this morning, and I had not told him I'd been having pains the last few days because they appeared to be nothing too serious. I was trying to convince myself it was nothing, except today there was more of a pattern to it.
Edward was in California, Sue was visiting Charlie, and I was alone - resting. I was trying to take my mind off the pain I was having and not panic when I felt the contractions. At one point, I thought I had peed myself.
Dearest Emma,
I must go now. I am sure you can guess why. I am not sure when I will write again. There is so much going on, and you will be 3 soon. I promise to take your brother to visit you. I love you for eternity.
Love always,
Mom
AN: From this letter on there will be time jumps, I will try to make them clear by mentioning Emma or Mason's age and events around them. I hope there to only be maybe 8 more chapters.
Thank you to my 2 Betas Carole and Sherry without you there would be no letter