A/N: Sorry about the cliffy last night. I was hoping to get this written last night, but I was so very tired. Summer is always a whirlwind of activity and add in that chasing two toddlers who are constantly testing boundaries and I'm exhausted at the end of the day. Which is the only time I can find to write when my husband is away, but I digress. Thanks for the favs, follows, and reviews. You guys are truly awesome!
My hand flew to my stomach as a feeling of dread settled at the base of my spine. Mrs. Cope the school receptionist just happened to be passing by when she must have heard me hiss. She came and held me by the shoulders as I was hunched over holding my stomach.
"Bella honey what's the matter?"
"I don't know," I said through tears. "It hurts…Oh god! Please call an ambulance." Another pain washed over my lower abdomen. I heard Mrs. Cope calling an ambulance.
"Yes, I need a medical squad to the high school. I have a student here Bella Swan she seems to be in some kind of pain." All I could think about was my baby. This can't be happening.
"Oh god, please. Not my baby. Don't take her please." I prayed. I wasn't sure to who. "Paul, I need Paul," I said as I grabbed onto Mrs. Cope's arm.
"Oh dear lord Bella are you pregnant?" She asked her face ashen.
"Yes, I'm a little over twelve weeks now," I said through gritted teeth. She relayed the information to the dispatcher and told me they would be here in two minutes.
"Bella where is your cell phone. So I can call your father." I shook my head.
"He already knows. Police scanner." I said taking a deep breath. I need to calm down. "He would have heard the dispatcher call the squad."
"Oh yes, I forgot he is the Chief of Police."
Just then I heard a loud bang and looked up to see a haggard looking Paul standing between the school doors down the hall. One door was hanging from its hinges at an odd angle. He immediately spotted me crouched down with Mrs. Cope holding me.
"What the hell is going on?" He asked
"Sir, you can't be here. Visitor's aren't allowed on campus without a pass." Mrs. Cope said tightening her grip on me. I was confused for a minute and then realized she didn't know who he was.
"It's okay Mrs. Cope this is Paul, my fiance." I gasped another pain shocked through my system. Paul froze where he stood.
"The baby…?" He asked. I could hear the devastation in his voice.
"I think so." Was all I could manage before the sobs wracked my body. Mrs. Cope's soft hands were replaced by Paul's hard warm ones. I immediately felt a sliver of comfort. I burrowed into his chest sobbing "I'm Sorry" over and over again. He shushed me and brushed my hair. Then the doors burst open again and the squad came running in. My father was with them. Paul helped them load me onto the gurney. "Call Sue and Old Quil for me Dad," I said as I grabbed his hand. "Tell them to come to the hospital."
"I will baby. I'll e right behind you." He kissed my head as they put me in the back of the ambulance. Paul climbing in after me the EMT asked if he was family. He told them he was my fiance and the father. The EMT nodded and climbed in as well and shut the doors.
Once we arrived at the hospital it was a whirlwind of activity around me. There were nurses fluttering around taking my temperature, starting IVs, and placing a blood pressure cuff on my arm. Suddenly the room came to a standstill. A doctor had entered pulling a machine behind him. It was an ultrasound machine. Suddenly Paul was growling beside me. "You won't touch her." He hissed at the doctor. I was confused at this point. So I looked to see what the doctor's reaction was. With one look I understood. Dr. Cullen was standing with his hands raised in front of him, but he didn't back away.
"Please. I am the only physician available right now and time is of the essence here. The sooner I know what is happening, the sooner I can stop it." Paul was vibrating. I grabbed a hold of his arm and implored him to see reason.
"Paul he's right. We can't wait for Sue. Please." I begged. He only gave a curt nod. Dr. Cullen was by my side in a flash. He had the machine turned on and the wand placed on my belly so quickly it made my head spin. I watched the monitor as another pain hit and my stomach contracted slightly.
"Push .25 milligrams of Terbutaline." He said to a nurse. Doctor Cullen continued to observe the machine for about fifteen minutes. Sue and Old Quil had arrived during this time. Sue was whispering to a nurse while Old Quil came over and placed Paul's hand on my shoulder. He began chanting waiving his hand over our joined was. A sense of calm spread over my body.I was surprised when there was no pain. Dr. Cullen's shoulder sagged and he sighed with what sounded like relief. "Bella look here. See that flicker. That's the babies heartbeat." Tears were flowing freely down my face. She's okay. My baby is alive. Paul let out a sob as he bent down to hug me saying "thank you" again and again. I held him back tightly. After a minute I released Paul and asked the doctor what he thought happened.
"Well, you were having some contractions. Early labor is usually brought on by stress. I was able to stop them, but it'll be up to you to limit your stress. I would like to admit you and monitor you over the next couple of days. If all goes well I don't think bed rest will be needed. But that being said you will have to take it easy. You'll need to avoid stressful situations and people." He said firmly. I nodded. I already knew what had to be done.
"Thank you, Dr. Cullen. I can't tell you how glad I am that you were here." Paul surprised me by sticking out his hand.
"Yes, thank you. I will be forever grateful." He said as they shook hands.
"Just doing my job." He said. "If you need anything just let a nurse know. I'll make sure they know I'm on call if you need me." With that, he left the room. A nurse came in and told me they were getting ready to transfer me to an overnight room. She began asking my father questions about insurance and other pertinent information. I pulled Paul down to me and kissed him deeply.
"I was so scared," I whispered to him.
"I know baby, so was I." He said as he brushed my hair back from my face. "But you're safe now. You both are." His hand came to rest on my stomach. I placed my hand on top of his hand and we remained there for a moment. Sending our love and comfort to our daughter inside of me.
"I think we should name her Grace." I said suddenly.
"Grace?" He asked. I nodded and said,
"Because by the grace of the spirits she will be born healthy and not a moment too soon."
"I like it," Paul said smiling down at me.