A/N: Did ya like my surprise last chapter? ;) Yeah, I didn't intend to make it happen so soon, but after considering all the things I want to happen in this one story, I realized that this needed to happen soon so that things could go the way I wanted. Oh, and one more thing…
I HAVE OVER 200 REVIEWS!!!! w00t!!!!! ILY ALL (in a very non-creepy way)!!!!!!
Playlist for this chapter consists of a single song: Goodnight My Angel by Billy Joel. Yeah, I'm sure you've all heard it. XD
Oh yeah, and, this chapter is dedicated to my twin (all right, not really my twin, but she might as well be). Nana, this one's for you!
I laid face up on the hospital bed, my entire body drenched in sweat. My hair clung to my head and my breathing was ragged. It was exactly eleven o' clock in the morning on April eleventh. A few minutes before midnight on the night of April tenth, Nayeli Alicia Clearwater Cullen had been born.
My happiness was unmatched by anyone else in the world, I was sure. I hadn't even had more than a glimpse of my child yet, and I already loved her with all my heart. I was officially a mother, and Seth—who, for the record, I do not hate anymore—was a father. We couldn't have asked for anything more.
My body heat might have matched that of a werewolf at the moment. The heat from Seth's arm that rested around my shoulders didn't bother me in the least. The only sound in the room was our steady breathing as we waited for the nurse to return with our baby. I heard footsteps coming down the hall, but they were much too perky to be Melissa's—the monotone nurse. They could only belong to one person.
"I'm a grandma!" Alice squealed as she bounced into the room. Jasper, Bella, Nessie, Rosalie, and Esme followed behind her. Carlisle was the last one in, and he was holding and examining a clipboard.
"Well, Jasmine, Seth, I'm sure you'd like to know that Nayeli is in perfect condition," Carlisle said with a smile. I squeezed Seth's already sore, red hand as a smile crept over my lips.
"She's breathing steadily and her heart rate is ideal," he continued. "Her temperature is normal, considering the fact that she's a werewolf descendant, of course." He said the last part in a whisper, but it was loud enough for me to hear. I looked over and saw Seth beaming. I couldn't help my own grin, either.
"Oh, and she's so cute!" Alice said, clapping her hands.
For an empathic vampire, Jasper hardly ever showed much emotion. But, today, his smile had been broad and visible to all, and, if I hadn't known better, I might've sworn I saw tears glisten in his eyes.
Suddenly, Melissa's head peeked inside the room.
"I have your daughter," she said, smiling for the first time. "Would you like to see her?"
I nodded quickly, unable to form words. I pushed myself so that I was sitting upright as Seth moved closer to me. He gave my shoulders a squeeze as Melissa entered holding my baby. She put Nayeli—wrapped in a soft pink blanket—in my arms. Even through the blanket, I could feel the warmth radiating off her skin. I touched her cheek softly and noticed how her skin was definitely warmer than my own—not by any means as hot as that of Seth or any of the other werewolves, but still.
"Hey, there, Nana," I said, gently leaning my head down and brushing my nose against hers. She shook a bit before reaching up blindly and grasping the air with her small hands. Seth put one of his fingers in close proximity to her and she caught it in both her hands.
"Nayeli." Seth said her name with love and tenderness as he stroked her cheek. "Hi, little one. I'm your daddy."
"And I'm your mommy," I added, smiling.
"And I'm your grandma," I heard Alice say. I pulled my eyes unwillingly from my little daughter so I could see Alice's face and smile at her.
"Please, please, please, Jasmine, you have got to let me hold her!" Alice begged. I hated the thought of releasing my baby for even a second now, but seeing the desperation in Alice's eyes was enough to tear me down. I smiled and nodded. She came forward slowly, clutching part of her new, off the shoulders, black and white dress.
"Are you sure my skin's not too cold?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper. She turned to Carlisle.
"Nayeli has a blanket," he said, grinning at her. "I don't think a bit of cold will hurt her. She might even need it. Poor child must be sweating bullets, what with the blanket and her normal heat."
Alice nodded slightly, reached forward, and lifted Nayeli gently out of my arms and into her own. She stepped back and leaned into Jasper, softly rocking Nayeli back and forth.
"Hey, baby girl," she said. "I can't wait until you're older. I'm gonna take you shopping, and buy you new clothes, and shoes, and remodel your room, and everything!"
I couldn't help but roll my eyes. Of course Alice wouldn't be able to wait to take Nayeli shopping for the first time.
Nayeli was passed from person to person in the room. Even Carlisle held his great granddaughter.
"Where are Leah and Sue?" I asked once Nayeli was in Seth's arms. I stroked her arm with my finger absentmindedly as I waited for an answer.
"They're with Edward, Emmett, Jacob, and Jade in the waiting room," Esme answered. "Only five people were allowed in here at once, aside from the doctor and husband of course," she added with a smile.
"Where's Ali?" I asked, confused. I thought she'd come to the hospital with Jade.
The entire room was quiet. From the nervous glances everyone gave each other, I knew they'd been hoping I didn't ask.
"Her mother passed away," Rosalie said, patting my foot. "When her father saw her dead, he had a stroke. Her sister is studying in Milan, so she and her brother had to take the first flight to Georgia she could manage. She'll be staying there for a… long time. She wanted to be here, but it just couldn't be done."
I sighed and bit back some tears.
"Yeah, I get it," I said, nodding. "She needs to be with her dad now. The next time she calls, let her know I get it, and that her mom is in a better place now. And I'm sure her dad will make it through." I'd only met Ali's parents once when they came to visit her and her older brother a few years back. Her mother had seemed so young, vibrant, and full of life. I couldn't believe that a woman with an energy that rivaled Alice could be gone so suddenly. Her father, Richard, had been a stern, yet caring man. It had been obvious that he couldn't live without Alessandra.
"Poor Ali," I whispered. I wasn't sure what I'd do if I lost Alice or Jasper. Poor girl was probably taking it real hard. I rested my head on Seth's shoulder and caressed the top of Nayeli's small head.
"I love you, Nana," I whispered, kissing her forehead. "I promise I'll never leave you."
"You'll always have a family that loves and supports you," Seth added. "Forever."
"Forever," I repeated. "My favorite word."
"Well, Jasmine, I just need to go double check Nayeli's charts, and then you should be able to go home," Carlisle said. He smiled at me. "So, if you'll excuse me…" He gave his great grandchild one more smile, a wave, and then he left the room.
"Thank goodness I can finally get out of here," I said, breathing a sigh of relief. "I really want to get back home."
"You haven't even been here that long," Alice giggled.
"So? My back is killing me," I said, trying to sit up. I turned my torso to face Seth and Nayeli, reaching up with one hand to touch my baby's cheek.
"She's so beautiful," Seth commented, staring at her with kind eyes. "Just like her mother."
I smiled up at him before returning my eyes to the small, sleeping face in front of me.
"I can't wait to see her eyes," I said. "Eyes can tell a lot about a person, you know." I looked up at Alice.
"Alice, do you think you can see when she'll open her eyes?" I asked.
"Hm… I can definitely try," she said carefully. "I can't guarantee anything, though. She may not have phased yet, but the werewolf genes are still alive in her. I'll see what I can do."
Jasper wrapped his arms around Alice's waist and rested his head on her shoulder. Her eyes closed and her fingers went to her temples. She stayed perfectly still for one, two, three minutes. When her eyelids finally fluttered open, she turned to face me. Her face was troubled, and slightly sad. Alice's eyes, I could tell, were still showing her the future.
"She'll open her eyes in three days," Alice said. "But, the vision is confusing. You're holding her in your arms, outside, on the doorstep. It's barely the crack of dawn, so Nayeli is asleep. I'm pretty sure someone is next to you, since you look like you're talking to someone. I can't see them, though. It might be Nessie, it might be Seth, or anyone else from the pack—sorry, not sure. You're crying, but I'm not sure if you're sad or happy. I can't see your face very well in the vision. It's blurry.
"There's a bus in front of our house. I'm not sure where the bus is from, but it's there, and it's waiting. You turn away from the person and watch. I think they're walking to the bus, but I can't be sure. There's rain—lot's of rain. The bus drives away and Nayeli starts to cry. That's when her eyes open. I can't say more, though. My seeing won't tell me more."
I pursed my lips.
"I don't understand," I said.
"Don't worry," Alice said, shifting her position so she was standing with both her arms around Jasper. "I don't either."
At that moment, a small yawn came from Nayeli. My eyes flashed to her face just in time for a single wail to escape her lips.
"Shh, shh," I said, attempting to calm her. "It's alright, Nana, it's alright."
Nayeli continued to cry, turning her head in every direction—searching blindly for something, or someone. I stroked her cheek with my fingertips, trying to soothe her.
"Aw, Jasmine, do something," Alice said. "I hate seeing her little face so distressed."
"Um…," I searched my mind for an idea—any idea. I didn't like seeing my baby cry. Not one bit. My thoughts immediately went to a lullaby I had recently heard: Goodnight My Angel by Billy Joel. I wasn't sure if I could remember the lyrics exactly, but I would try my best. Seth ran a warm hand down my cheek in comfort.
"Goodnight my angel, now it's time to dream," I sang. "And dream how wonderful your life will be. Someday your child may cry, and if you sing this lullaby…" Oh, how I wished I could one day hear my child sing, if not this lullaby, then anything at all. "Then in your heart there will always be a part of me."
I continued to sing the rest of the song while the room remained hushed. Nayeli's cries quieted more and more as the lyrics were sang. Eventually, one of her arms fell to her side and the other fell with her thumb in her mouth. Her face turned peaceful once more and her breathing came evenly. Everyone in the room breathed a sigh of relief. I fell backward onto my back again.
"Goodness, even singing gets me tired," I said. I reached out and took Seth's hand in my own, enjoying the feel of it in my own. He gave my hand a light squeeze and the small contact sent shivers up and down my spine. Carlisle entered the room at that moment. His clipboard was—for once—was at his side instead of lingering in front of his eyes.
"Well, Jasmine, looks like you're free to go," he said. His smiling face turned to Nayeli. "And so is little Nayeli here."
I thanked him with a smile.
"I'll go bring you a wheel chair," he continued. "I assume you're not quite up to walking at the moment, correct?"
I nodded. "Yeah, you could say I'm sort of tired."
Carlisle chuckled. "I'll be right back." Then he turned on his heels and exited the room once more, only to return less than half a minute later with the wheel chair.
"Seth, can you please help her stand?" Carlisle asked as he positioned the chair next to my bed.
"Of course," Seth answered, standing. He handed Nayeli to Rosalie—who held her with all the tenderness and care she was capable of—and held my hand tightly with another arm supporting my back. I plopped down into the wheel chair and Rosalie reluctantly handed me a soundly sleeping Nayeli. I looked up and gave Rose a smile.
The smile she returned me was wrong—it didn't reach her eyes. I could tell she was fighting back the monster that had overcome her so long ago. She walked toward the door.
"I'm going to go find Emmett," she said, forcing another smile. She was gone before any of us could respond in any way.
"This has to be killing her," I sighed as Seth wheeled me out of the room.
"You worry too much," he chastised halfheartedly. "Rosalie will be fine."
I tried hard to believe his words, but I don't even think he believed them. I concentrated on the child in my arms—on the fact that I'd never let anything harm her, that she was my daughter. Born from love, from joy, from commitment, from devotion, she was. Let's hope that would be enough for, well, eternity.
"In you go," Seth said once we were in the parking lot. He hooked one arm under my legs and another around my shoulders before picking me up and carrying me into my car (which I was seriously going to have to drive one of these days). I clutched Nayeli to my chest the entire time.
Leah—who I had not seen until that moment—sat in the backseat with Nessie. Seth took the driver's seat.
"Easy on the speed, all right?" I pleaded as Seth reached over to buckle my seatbelt. "I know you love driving fast in this car, but…"
Seth chuckled. "I know, I know," he said. "I'll take it nice and slow."
"Hey, Seth, did you use that same line on her when you guys were in Paris?" Leah snickered in the backseat.
"Oh, God," I muttered. "Leah, you're just like a female version of Emmett."
"As much as I hate the bloodsuckers," she said, "being compared to that big, perverted teddy bear almost makes it seem okay."
I rolled my eyes. "So odd," I uttered.
I fought back the urge to close my eyes and let myself drift into the land of sleep. I was so exhausted, words couldn't match it. I would've loved to just sleep and let my body relax, but I couldn't miss a second of these moments. They were the most precious, perhaps. I would never get them back, that was for…
My eyes closed against my will, and though my arms remained tight around my daughter, I drifted to sleep.
…
"Jasmine," Seth's voice whispered in my ear. "Wake up, Jazzy. We're home."
I tried to open my eyes, but they felt like they'd been super glued closed. When I finally managed to wake, I noticed we were in the house.
"Ah, home," I whispered. "Nice to be back again."
"Jasmine, you weren't even gone for a full forty-eight hours," Seth chuckled.
"I know," I said. "But it felt like so much longer."
It was then that I noticed the empty feeling in my arms. I realized who I was missing.
"Where's Nayeli?" I asked, immediately standing. I was prepared to fall from my abruptness, or at least become so dizzy I'd need to throw up. But I didn't. I felt the way I hadn't felt in nine months. I felt strong.
"She's upstairs in her new room with Alice, Rose, Bella, Leah, and Nessie," Seth said, smiling. "They were all very eager to spend some time with her. I can take you, if you want."
I took his hand—and it was nice being able to hold it without needing it for support—and basically dragged him up the steps. We stopped at the first door at the beginning of the hall, where we could hear cooing from various voices. I turned the knob and entered the room.
Alice, Bella, and Esme had really done a great job. The walls were a pretty, pale purple and everything they bought seemed to match perfectly with each other in some way. I particularly loved the fairy calendar that hung in the corner of the room. April tenth had been circled in a red Sharpie. It in, I could clearly see the words "Happy Birthday, Nayeli!" written. The pale purple curtains filtered the sunlight and a white rocking chair sat in a corner.
Alice had filled the room with everything Nayeli could possible use. And, lying in a darling crib against the left wall and wrapped in a fluffy blanket, was little baby Nayeli herself.
"You're suffocating my daughter," I joked to let them know I was there. The five of them stood crowded around Nayeli, oohh-ing and aww-ing. Bella had her hands behind her back.
"Oh, Jasmine, she's so cute!" Leah squealed.
"Adorable," Rose said sincerely.
"Oh, I'm an aunty!" Nessie exclaimed.
"I love what you did with the place, by the way," I complimented.
"Yeah, it's nice," Seth added.
"Thanks!" Alice said, her face brightening. "We were hoping you'd like it."
"I love it," I said.
"Esme would've loved to see your face, but she went to go get the mail," Bella said. "So…" She pulled a camera out from behind her back and snapped a picture of both mine and Seth's faces.
I was much too happy to be bitter about the picture. She could've taken dozens of snapshots of me at the moment and I wouldn't have cared. Everything was perfect.
"Glad to know you liked it," Esme said, walking into the room. She was searching through the mail.
"Oh, Seth, here's one for you," she said and handed him an envelope. I didn't get a close look at what it was. Seth stayed in the doorway to open the letter and I went to pick up Nayeli. Her head rested on my shoulder and I could feel her warm breath on my neck. I turned around and saw Seth staring at his letter in shock.
"What is it?" I asked, curious. I'd never seen that exact look on his face before. He flipped the letter over so I could see it. All I could really make out was a fancy looking seal at the top. He opened his mouth a few times, but no words seemed to come out. When he finally managed to form a coherent sentence, I couldn't believe his words.
"I'm getting drafted."
A/N: And so Baby Nayeli is born.
Hope you liked the chapter! ^^ And about that last part, ahem, yeah, dun kill me. And, FYI, Nayeli (the RL one, not the story one) I changed the garage number so YOU CAN'T COME KILL ME! HAHA!
Reviews are love!