"That was the shortest party I've ever been to," I gasp.
"Trust you to be making jokes while you're in labour…" Edward, sitting by my hospital bed while I am struck by pain at regular intervals.
The doctor said that I wasn't dilated enough for the spinal block, as it would run out before delivery…
He also said I couldn't have an epidural because I was allergic to paracetamol, and it might have similar effects.
I wasn't really listening, I was too busy trying to claw Edward's hand off. He has been holding my hand for the entire eight hours I've already been here. Bless him. He must be dead bored. Although, the look on his face says otherwise. It's a mixture of worry, excitement and nervousness.
I look up at him, smiling a weak smile. He smiles back. I can see the doctor coming in, and sigh. Checking to see hoe dilated I am. Again.
I keep looking at Edward while he works, trying not to pay attention to anything but my love. He seems awfully calm… well, calmer than me anyways.
The doctor walks around my bed, to one side.
"Well, you're coming along nicely, quicker than usual, but I'm sure that's a good thing on your behalf.. I'd say another few hours and we'll be ready to deliver. If you would like to walk around the ward, feel free. I've heard that it helps," he suggests. I nod, but don't consider it. I don't think I actually can walk.
The doctor walks out, and Edward squeezes my hand. A few more hours. I could handle it. I jinxed it, because a wave of pain hits me; I arch my back and grit my teeth. They were getting worse. Which meant it was getting closer right?
I didn't know how long the delivery would be. I hope to god that it's not long. I don't know how long I can keep from screaming. I don't want to worry Edward. Then I thought of someone else that should probably be aware of my current state.
"Edward?" I sighed.
"Yes, love?"
"Can you call Alice for me? Her number's on speed dial 3 on my phone…" I ask him.
"Of course," he says blankly. He grabs my phone and dials.
"Hello Alice, it's Edward. I'm well thank you, and yourself? That's good to know. I was calling to tell you that Bella's in labour at the moment." I hear a squeal on the other end. I giggle as Edward holds the phone away from his ear. "Yes, I'm serious. You don't have to do that… well, if you insist. I'm Bella would happy to see you. I will. Goodbye Alice," he says, hanging up calmly.
"She says that she's flying down ASAP. And she also said that she'll stay a while if necessary." I smile. That is so like Alice. To drop everything and come and see me.
The intervals of pain got worse and worse. I passed the time by staring at Edward. We didn't need to talk. Every now and again I would grit my teeth and dig my nails into his hand. I wasn't going to scream. It would only torture him.
Every hour, the doctor would come back. Saying the same thing every time. "A few more hours". It was driving me insane.
"You know what? I think I'll go for a walk," I say confidently. Edward frowns.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. My ass hurts. All this waiting is driving me insane. And I'm hungry." I sit up and attempt to get out of bed. Edward helps me get up. It doesn't help that I can't see my feet. In my hospital robe and bare feet, I walk slowly out of my room.
We wander down the corridor, taking our time. I'd have to stop every 10 minutes ago, but the contractions were only mild. Walking did help.
We are walking back to my room when I spot a woman at the end who looks vaguely familiar. She comes closer, and I can see her clearly. I stare at her with shock.
The woman is wearing worn out designer clothes, and pink heels. Her hair is blonde, and in a general disarray. She has clearly had a boob job, and her cheek bones looked like they were about to break her skin; a sign of Botox. And a lot of it.
I recognise this woman instantly.
My mother.
What was she doing here? How did she even know I was here? Or was it plain coincidence? Did she get lost while going to the rehab ward. I gather not, as her box of cigarettes is poking out of her pocket.
"Mom?" I say, still in shock. Edward looks at me, also in shock.
"Oh Bella honey!"
"Do not call me honey." The name she always called me as a child. She lost the right to call me honey the day she stole my private plane and half of my yearly earnings.
"But I'm so happy to see you! Look at you! You're… huge," she says, looking at my stomach.
"Gee thanks," I say sarcastically.
"I saw you in all the magazines. How you were pregnant, how you toured in Australia, how you were dating another girl's boyfriend…"
"Mom, don't. You should know better than to believe what you hear in those gossip magazines. Yes, I'm pregnant. Obviously. Yes, I toured in Australia. No, I did not date another girl's boyfriend. The girl and boyfriend in question were already broken up. Oh, speaking of which. I should probably formally introduce you. Mom, this is Edward, my boyfriend, and father of my child. We're moving to Australia in a short time, once this is all taken care of," I gesture to my tummy. "and we're most likely never coming back to America. So if that's all cleared up, can I please continue to have my baby in peace?" My mother stares at me as if I've gone mad. She doesn't say anything for a while.
"I'm not going anywhere. I'm staying until my grandchild is born." She stamps her foot. A habit I unfortunately picked up as a child.
"Fine. But just stay out of the w-" I stop mid-sentence, as the contraction was too painful to speak. A lot more painful than the last one. I can't hold it in for Edward's sake. I scream, and almost collapse.
"Bella!" two voices say. I feel a pair of hands pick me up and quickly take me to my bed. Another big one hits me just as hard. I groan loudly. I knew it, Edward knew it.
Our baby had finally decided to be born. I see Edward disappear for a moment. He comes back with the doctor and several nurses.
"Mom, get out," I manage to say, but I'm sure it didn't sound as menacing as I meant it to be. I see her shake her head. Where's something I can throw at her?
Edward strokes my face and holds my hand while the doctor and nurses get ready. I scream with the contraction, and see Edward flinch. Another contraction hits me, and I hunch over myself, groaning very loudly. The midwife next to me is telling me push. What a cliché. I collapse back on the pillow.
It's pitch black outside. And I'm in here, fourteen hours and counting. The pain is unbelievable. I broke my arm once. I take a broken arm a million times over this pain. Take it and be happy.
I can feel the baby moving out. It's a strange sensation. Every contraction, every push meant my baby was closer to freedom. Every push is somehow satisfying.
Edward was there, holding my hand and wiping the sweat off my face the entire time. I owe him everything.
At 20 hours, it was light again, and it felt like I had gotten nowhere. Of course, I had, but it felt like I hadn't made any progress, or at least not much.
"The baby's crowning!" the doctor says loudly. He had to be loud, so he could be heard over my screams.
The baby's crowning. That meant the head was almost out. I was getting somewhere. I smile, happy with my progress. But the fight wasn't over yet.
I keep struggling and pushing, just wanting it to be over. Another hour goes by.
"Just one more push should do it," The doctor says to me.
I give it everything I have, and feel the baby escape.
"Well done Bella!" the midwife says to me. She beams. I smile a weak smile, to exhausted to say anything. I hear the cry of my newborn, and sigh in relief.
"A beautiful baby girl," the doctor sighs, handing her to me. They had cleaned her very quickly.
The tiny, warm thing cuddled into me. Her tiny beautiful face made me cry in joy. She was worth the fight.
Edward put his arm around me, grinning the biggest grin I've ever seen.
"What are you going to call her?" Edward asks.
"What do you mean 'I'? You have a say as well," I say, a little bit of strength returning to my voice.
"Well, I was thinking, maybe… Elizabeth?" he suggests.
"Elizabeth sounds perfect," I sigh. He leans down to kiss me, and I close the distance.
"I'm here! I'm here! No need to worry! Don't panic!" The shrill voice I hear is getting closer. Alice runs into the room, puffing. I grin at her. "I got here as soon as I could. What'd I miss?"
I can only smile at her little gasp as she notices the gorgeous tiny face in my arms.
Definitely worth the fight.