Chapter 12

Shine

When Renesmee woke up, she felt dizzy, and disoriented. She looked around the fuzzy room, and wondered where she was. Quickly, her thoughts turned to her child, and she brushed her hand over her abdomen, which burned and hurt when she touched it. Getting everything into focus, she realized that she was in a hospital room, and not one at Children's. She also remembered the excruciating pain that she was in earlier, the fact that she was in preterm labor.

She wondered where the baby was, as her eyes became used to the lighting, and focused more on the room. She moved her head slightly, and saw that her father was standing in the corner across from her bed, by the window.

"Daddy…?" Renesmee questioned, as her father began to walk closer to his daughter's side.

When Edward reached the bed, Renesmee burst into tears.

"I'm so sorry, Daddy." She cried. Edward sat on the edge of the bed as best he could, and wrapped his arms around his daughter, comforting her.

"It's okay," He said. "Everything's going to be okay." He lifted his daughter up slightly, so she was in a better, more comfortable position. She buried her head in his shoulder, and continued crying.

"I'm so sorry." She whispered, after a few minutes of crying. "Daddy, I'm so sorry. I…I should have told you."

"Why didn't you?" Edward looked down at his daughter's head.

"I don't know…" She admitted. "I was afraid. Daddy, this whole thing was a mistake."

"You better not let your son hear that," Edward said. "He'd never let it go, and it'd hurt him."

"He's not a mistake." Renesmee said. "Just…"

"The sex?" Edward replied.

"That night should never have happened…" Renesmee said. "I wouldn't have gone to that stupid bar if Alex hadn't dragged me…if that little girl hadn't died."

"So, it was an accident."

Renesmee sniffled. "Yes."

"You know, Renesmee, sometimes, great things can happen because of an accident."

"Like…"

"I would have never met your mother," Edward explained. "Then where would you be?"

"If Mom had had her way, I wouldn't be here anyway."

"Another accident." Edward smiled. "She listened to me."

Renesmee laughed. "Daddy, don't make me laugh. It hurts."

"Sorry, baby." Edward kissed the crown of her head.

"Where's Jake?" Renesmee looked up at her father.

"Trying to find the nursery." Edward answered. "So we can see that beautiful little boy of yours."

"And Alex…" Renesmee's eyes searched the room.

"Said something about a nursery, and getting paid…I don't know." Edward laughed.

Suddenly, a thought struck Renesmee. She looked up to her father, slightly worried.

"Does Mom know?" She asked quietly.

"She thinks I'm still at work." Edward said. "I was supposed to be working the overnight, but I got a call, saying that you were having the baby. I didn't call her, or anyone else. I just got here as fast as I could."

"Are you going to tell her?"

"Well, that's up to you," Edward lifted his daughter's chin. "I think you should tell her."

"I can't…" Renesmee shook her head.

"Tell you what," Edward said. "We both can. I'll bring her over tomorrow, saying something about your being here, and then you can introduce her to her grandson."

Renesmee nodded slowly. "Okay. I think I can do that."

There was a knock at the door, and Jacob walked in the room, holding a swaddled newborn.

"I think someone wants to meet you…" Jacob smiled at Renesmee, as he walked over to her bed.

Gently, he transferred the baby from his arms to Renesmee's.

"Oh, my God…" Renesmee gasped, looking at the small newborn.

He looked like his father. He didn't have much hair, but the little he did was black. His eyes were dark, but they might lighten in the next few weeks. His skin was tan. His eyes were almond-shaped, like his father's, and his facial structure was exactly like Jacob's. The only thing he shared with Renesmee was his nose, and his ears. His small hand was wrapped around Renesmee's finger, and she smiled even more.

"Daddy," Renesmee said quietly, holding up her son to her father, "meet Robert Avery Black."

"Black?" Jacob asked, furrowing his brows. "I thought we were hyphenating the name."

Renesmee shook her head. "It sounds better with your name than with both."

Jacob smiled, and kissed Renesmee on her head.

"He's handsome," Edward smiled, taking his grandson in his arms.

"Hi, Robbie," Renesmee smiled, playing with her son's small hand. "I'm your mommy."

"We're a family," Jacob smiled, reaching his hand out to stroke his son's arm.

"I guess we are," Renesmee smiled, looking up at Jacob.

There was another knock at the door, and Alex burst into the room with a camera.

"Here you are," She announced, moving the camera between the three, but keeping it centered on Robbie.

"With Grandpa, Mommy, and Daddy." She smiled, turning the camera to show her face.

"And, of course, your Auntie Alex." She beamed, turning the camera back to the little family.

"Now, what did Mommy and Daddy name you?"

"Alex," Renesmee smiled, taking her son back in her arms, "this is Robbie. His full name is Robert Avery Black."

Alex raised her brow with a small laugh. "Why not just name him Regulus Arcturus?"

"Well, then it would be obvious, wouldn't it?" Renesmee tried not to laugh—it hurt badly when she did.

"So, when are you coming back to work?" Alex asked.

"I guess I need to call Hunt about that…" Renesmee said, looking down at Robbie.

"I don't think that I'll be coming back."

Everyone was shocked to hear that she was quitting her job. They all knew how much she worked to become a surgeon, and how passionate she was about medicine, and surgery.

"Nessie, you love your job." Jacob protested.

"I know," Renesmee said. "But I love my son more." She smiled at the newborn in her arms, and brushed his cheek.

"I don't want to end up like my mother. She didn't even want me. The only reason I'm here is because of Dad. She didn't bother to get to know me. She would buy me things I clearly hated. I spent my whole life, trying to gain her attention. Out of all honesty, I think it's the only reason why I'm passionate about this…so I could impress her. Dad figured his schedule around me, and ended up knowing me much better."

"You could do the same," Edward offered.

Renesmee shook her head. "I was thinking that maybe in a few months, after everything settles down, I could look at getting a job at the Swedish clinic, as a pediatrician. I'd have normal hours, a normal schedule…" Renesmee's eyes trailed her son's body.

"I love my job. But, the sacrifice is worth it."

"You're absolutely sure, Renesmee?" Jacob asked. "I don't want you giving up a passion because you have to."

"I'm not even sure if it's my passion, though." Renesmee admitted. "With spending my life trying to impress Mom, I honestly believe that I only got interested in the human heart, because it was her passion."

"You're really sure, Renesmee?"

"Yes," Renesmee insisted. "Jacob, I'm doing this because I want to. I refuse to make the same mistake my mother made."

"Well, Renesmee, if that's your decision," Edward said, giving his daughter a kiss on her head.

"Thanks, Dad," Renesmee smiled.

xXx

The lights were dim as Renesmee slept peacefully in the hospital bed, a long deserved rest after having major surgery.

Jacob sat in the corner of the room, holding his sleeping son. He smiled down at Robbie, and continued his story.

"Your mommy and I had so much to drink that night, and we had both had bad days. We didn't know what had happened until the next day." He smiled, as his son grasped his finger.

"And even though we may have regretted it earlier, we don't anymore, because you're here."

Robbie yawned, and Jacob looked up at the woman sleeping peacefully in the bed. He still couldn't believe that something as idiotic as that night had turned into something as amazing as this. He felt like the luckiest man alive, and nothing would change that.