Flabbergasted Phenomenon
Summary: "This is the most unique situation I have ever heard of with a human and a vampire," was what Carlisle said, but all I could think was, "I'm going to have a baby."
Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight, New Moon, or Eclipse. I just own the scenarios where I thrust my favorite vampire and his family and the love of his life! Yay for me!
Chapter Twenty One: The Contractions of a Lifetime
Two o'clock in the morning! It's two o'clock in the morning, and I have not slept for two seconds! I glared heavily at the outline of Edward's body, but I wasn't angry at him. I was just glaring in his direction because that's where I was facing. With another forceful roll, I managed to get from one side to the other, for the hundredth time, and I took my pillows with me. I placed them where they were previously, between my knees and underneath my stomach, and I squeezed my eyes shut.
I was tired; I just couldn't get to sleep! "Sleep!" I commanded beneath my breath, wishing for once that my body would listen to me. Instead, the only response I got was Edward moving closer to me. Since eleven o'clock, I've been trying to go to sleep, and we've tried everything. Counting sheep backwards, my lullaby, warm milk, goodness, I would have willingly run a mile, just to be exhausted enough to collapse!
"Still having trouble?" Edward murmured, whispering. I think he was speaking softer, hoping that his voice would help me. Usually it did, but now—this was so frustrating!
"Yeah," I whispered, looking at him with tired eyes. "I just can't sleep—" A sigh cut through me, and I stopped. A frown settled on my face. Maybe drinking warm milk before bed isn't a good idea. "I have to use the bathroom." Edward was out of bed in an instant, and I carefully maneuvered out of bed, keeping a firm grasp of Edward's hands. I pulled myself up, and kept a hand on my back. I winced as I shuffled forward; I'd do anything to get rid of this back pain! Edward followed me to the bathroom and waited as I used the toilet and washed my hands. As I wiped my hands on a towel, I stared at my reflection. My eyes had dark circles and I was a little pale.
I sighed again. For two days I've had this flu! I've been constantly trying to recover before I got sick again, my head felt like it was going to explode, and this back pain was making me miserable, I just wanted to call it quits and stay in my bed for the duration of the pregnancy, but then I'd miss presenting my speech that I worked hard on, and then I wouldn't get my credit hours for English…that would be too much.
Edward followed me back to bed and helped me sit down. Another thing I'm sick and tired of? Moving! I am sick of standing, of sitting down, of lifting a finger! All I want to do is sleep! I looked at Edward when he settled on the edge of the bed, holding my hand. "I think I might be a little cranky after I wake up."
"Understandable," Edward whispered. He ran his fingers repeatedly over the palm of my hand, and I just looked at him. My eyes were even burning from being awake. Why can't my body just
accept that I need to sleep, and let me? I closed my eyes and took a breath.
"What is everyone else doing?"
"Carlisle warned everyone that you were having trouble sleeping, so to keep their noise levels to a bare minimum. Emmett decided to not take a risk, so he and Rosalie went hunting. Alice is debating whether or not to take you shopping, since you're so miserable, and Jasper is reading."
My eyes opened and I looked sadly at Edward. "Oh, I don't want to make her cancel the trip! I promised I would go shopping with her." Even though I detested shopping more than blood, I made the promise.
"She said don't worry about it, she's found other ways of spoiling you." Edward leaned down and kissed my forehead. I think that was the signal to stay quiet and try to fall asleep. I nodded my head and obediently closed my eyes, once again wishing for sleep to come.
My eyes snapped open when I heard a booming crash, which shook the entire house. I groaned and blinked my eyes tiredly. I halfway sat up in bed, still half asleep. I looked for Edward and found him sitting in the rocking chair, his head in his hands. It was shaking slowly. Blearily, I somehow managed to get out of bed on my own, and walk to Edward, depositing myself in his lap. I rested my head on his shoulder, and he began to rock gently. "Wha' 'appen?" I mumbled, feeling as my body began to wake itself.
Edward looked at me. "After rolling around in bed for two hours," his voice was annoyed and he pressed a gentle kiss to my neck. "You went to sleep at four fifteen, and you were sleeping for a total of 129 minutes when Carlisle's cross decided to fall off the wall. Esme and Carlisle are fixing it right now, and apologizing."
I nodded my head, barely comprehending what just came out of Edward's mouth. "Bre'fass," I ordered, yawning as I spoke. I stretched my arms over my head.
Edward shook his head firmly. "You're not even awake Bella," he pushed me back against his shoulder and resumed his rocking. "If you sleep for a little longer, I'll make you breakfast."
"No." I wanted to sound stern, but my voice was thick with sleep. I struggled to sit up, and I looked at Edward. I couldn't even fathom as to why this sounded so absurd to Edward. "I want breakfast now…please." I forced the words to come out of my mouth.
A few hours later, I found myself on the couch, nestled between Edward and Esme. I had been quiet for awhile now, staring at my stomach. I tried focusing, ignoring everything around me. My shirt was pulled over the swell of my belly, and I was waiting.
"Bella—"
"Shh…" I whispered. I couldn't afford to be distracted. I needed to have proof of my thoughts, and I also needed to stay calm. I can't be having contractions; I am only six months along. I tried
to keep my heart at a normal rhythm, which meant breathing deeply, which only made me more nervous. I wanted to believe that I wasn't having contractions, because nothing hurt.
"Will you please clue me in to what you're thinking before I take you to Carlisle? Your heart is going a mile a minute."
"It would probably be a good idea to see Carlisle…" I made a move to stand, which would have probably been difficult without the help of someone else, when Edward caught my arm.
"Bella!" he insisted, a growl entering his voice.
"Or it might not be a big deal…I think I know what's going on." I relaxed as I recalled information from one of the baby books I bought in Port Angeles. Braxton Hicks contractions were common, and most the time they went undetected, I just happened to catch one. I haven't had more than four in the past hour that I knew of, I was safe.
"Isabella," Edward said warningly.
I looked at Edward, smiling. "I'm okay. The contractions—"
"You're having contractions?" I turned and looked at Esme. She moved closer to me, easing me back onto the couch, concern showing brightly in her eyes. I looked at Edward and he had a wild look in his eye, and I recognized it as fear.
"I think they're Braxton Hicks contractions. They don't hurt."
After almost ten seconds sitting on the couch, I think Edward and Esme simultaneously agreed that diagnosing myself was not a good thing. That's why I found myself sitting in the little patient's room down the hall from Edward's bedroom, watching as Carlisle put a tape measurer around my stomach. It was only two days before my real prenatal visit for him, but Edward insisted that I get checked immediately.
Carlisle had to rush home from the hospital, and I apologized, but Carlisle said, "You don't need to apologize Bella, this could be something serious."
When Carlisle wrote down my measurements, he looked at my feet. "How long have your feet been swollen?"
"For forever," I said, lifting my feet up. I haven't really seen them in quite awhile.
"Have you been feeling a lot of movement from the baby?"
"I think Gabe may plan on playing soccer." I rubbed my stomach soothingly, wincing at the thought of him kicking every organ in my body. Carlisle took my blood pressure, and then weighed me. I shouted in glee when I realized I was two pounds over my initial estimate of weight. I pounded my fist into the air and did my own little dance as I stepped off the scale.
Before I knew it, I was in a tight embrace in Edward's arms, and I was just giggling.
"Oh this is so exciting!" I squealed, looking up at him. "In August I weighed what? 94 pounds? And now I weigh 120 pounds!" I nearly shouted this, and I added for emphasis, "I weigh 120 pounds!"
Edward laughed with me, kissing my hair. Soon, I was directed back to the table, and Edward lifted me up so I could sit down. Carlisle moved towards me and lifted up my shirt, touching my stomach briefly. "Have you noticed contractions before?"
"No. It was just by chance that I saw one, and I haven't seen one since."
"Contractions start at about six weeks into the pregnancy. Women tend to not realize it until mid pregnancy, which is why I'm not entirely too surprised, but I'm glad you called me, nonetheless. Have you felt any pain?"
"No."
"Have you felt increased pressure, as if the baby is pushing down?" I shook my head. Carlisle stepped back from me to take more notes. "Have you felt lower back pain?"
I was about to say no, when I remember the back pain I've been having for the past few days. Did it go along with the flu I had? Was it a normal ache…or maybe…it could be something serious? "Actually, I have." I felt a shiver of nervousness run up my spine.
Carlisle smiled reassuringly at me, and the brief feeling of nervousness left. "You said you haven't noticed your contractions? Can you describe to me what they felt like?"
"I didn't really feel them. I just saw them." I was quiet a moment, and then I added, "My stomach hardened up though."
"They were painless?"
"Yes." Carlisle nodded his head and wrote more notes. He then looked at me with concern.
"Have you had any bleeding, spotting, and or an increase in or change in discharge?" I shook my head, my face burning more. Edward squeezed my hand, but that didn't take away my embarrassment. It was a little awkward talking about things like this with Edward's father, even if he was a doctor. "And you said you haven't had more than four contractions in an hour?"
"I waited for a long time, I only had one."
Carlisle wrote his notes diligently, and I looked at Edward, worried. I wasn't going into labor, was I? Edward kissed me and whispered, "Don't worry love. Everything is okay." I wanted to believe him, but something kept nagging me. I knew my placenta previa hasn't changed since my last ultrasound…I would double check with Alice, just to make sure.
"Just incase Bella, I want you to keep your activity levels low for a few days, okay?"
"I'm only planning on going to school—what is today?"
"January fifth," Edward answered immediately.
"Well, the only activity I was planning on doing was going to school, and that's on the seventh…and Alice wanted to go shopping…I promised—"
"She'll understand," Edward said. "If your health is in jeopardy, she'll be more worried about you than what you're wearing."
"Even if I'm wearing your clothes?"
"You can wear my clothes any time you want."
I smiled at Edward, kissing his cheek. I leaned my head against his shoulder when he sat down on the table beside me. He wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me closer. Carlisle finally looked up from his notes and said, "Your contractions shouldn't get worse than what you've had as of late. But you need to tell me immediately if they begin to feel uncomfortable, or are followed by any of the symptoms I asked you about earlier."
"Okay."
"And sometime's these contractions are due to dehydration, so make sure you're drinking enough fluids." I nodded my head, making mental notes. I knew Edward was listening, with the pauses between Carlisle's statements, I'm sure he was saying something to Edward as well. Carlisle let me go after that, and Edward helped me off the table, and we walked silently out of the little room.
As we were walking, to where, I wasn't even sure, I was trying to find a way to politely ask Edward if he would leave me alone with Alice for a few minutes, and if he would swear not to listen. I needed to have some girl time with my psychic vampire sister.
"Bella!"
I looked up from the floor and at the small vampire dancing towards me. My name floated from her lips as if she was singing. "I would love to take you shopping today."
"Alice I think that—" Edward stopped midsentence, and I watched in amusement as, I think, Alice relayed a vision to him, or was telling him something really important. He was quiet for a second, and then he looked at me, studying my features. I bit my bottom lip and cocked my head to the side, wondering what he suddenly found so interesting on my face. "I didn't know," he whispered, turning back to Alice. She smiled at him and tilted her head.
"I think I can give her the reassurance that she needs. It'll only be a few hours, and I've kept my mind open to visions pertaining to her."
I guess I was unconsciously feeling low self-esteem and uncertainty with my pregnancy, because Alice was obviously speaking to Edward about me.
Edward turned to me, gently cupping my cheeks in his hands. He pressed his lips to mine, and my knees automatically weakened. I grasped his shirt to keep my balance. He pulled away after a second. "Do you want to go with Alice for the day?"
"Yes," I said without hesitation. I kissed him again, wanting to get as many kisses in as I could before I had to depart from him. Edward kissed me back fully, and I marveled at how I was still standing on my feet. When we broke the kiss, I rested my head on his chest, taking deep breaths. His hands ran up and down my spine and I shivered.
"I love you. Be safe."
"I love you too," I squeezed him as tightly as I could, and he hugged me back, a little less fiercely. He kissed the top of my head and then he pulled away. Alice was waiting at the stairs for us, and she was smiling at me. Thankfully, I didn't need to take a shower, and I was dressed in the latest outfit that I borrowed that fit; Edward's t-shirt and Rosalie's yoga pants.
Edward went with me down all three flights of stairs, I was a little out of breath at the end, but I kept going. I slipped on a pair of shoes and kissed and hugged Edward one more time before leaving. I had my cell phone tucked into my coat pocket, and I knew that if I needed to, I'd call him.
Alice drove her Porsche. That's all I can really say.
Instead of going to Port Angeles though, we drove all the way to Seattle. It was silent in the car almost the entire time. I tried to take my focus off the road, Alice's driving was treacherous, and it could have probably made me sick, so instead, I thought about my latest mission to get information out of Alice. I was hoping it wouldn't be too hard, and especially since Alice managed to convince Edward that I needed it…
Shopping, I forgot, was an experience with Alice. I have never been to any of the stores she took me too, but I did get my fill on trying on shoes, pants, shirts, and looking at underwear. Thankfully, Alice steered clear of shoes that would be dangerous for me, we stuck to shoes without heals, and a pair of sneakers, just for comfort on my part. The clothes on the other hand, that was all Alice. I didn't even know there were special, extremely expensive, designer maternity clothes.
But Alice found them.
I now have enough clothes to fill Edward's closet, replace my old wardrobe, and then some.
"Okay!" Alice said excitedly, once I tried on a pair of maternity jeans and a cardigan sweater. "I think you're going to need a dress—Bella, don't give me that look—you'll look beautiful in a dress…but what color? Red…no…" The hyperactive vampire was flittering around me, looking at me from all angels. "Well, lets get you out of these clothes, Cullen's do not wear sweatpants, and then we can go to a few more stores..." Alice was speaking so fast that I lost her. I decided to stand exactly where I was while Alice sorted through all the clothes I tried on, and then she held up the first outfit that I tried on. She ripped off the tags and then ushered me back into the dressing room so I could change.
My face was red by the time I finished getting dressed, but I examined myself in the mirror. Maternity black dress slacks and a blue empire sweater—Alice just had a thing for showing off my stomach. But I had to admit, I felt really…pretty. Except my hair.
My hair! It was so long, past my waist now. With all the extra calcium I've been taking, my hair's been growing fast and so have my fingernails! I examined them. I haven't really bitten them in a long time. I haven't felt the nervous habit kick in.
After a second, a pair of shoes was shoved beneath the door. I laughed and eased myself down on the bench, slipping them on. I winced when I noticed that the bench was a little low. I felt around for something to grip, and when I couldn't find anything, I sighed. "Alice?" I called, hoping she'd be able to get into the locked room.
"I'm already here!"
I jumped when she came from the top of the room, landing easily on her feet. "Someone could have seen you!" I hissed, trying to figure out how she managed to slip through the space between where the wall ended and the ceiling began.
"No one saw me," Alice tapped her temple, and then she held her hand out. I took it, and she raised me to my feet. I kept my hand on my back as a flare of pain shot up my spine. Alice turned away from me, gathering up my discarded clothes, so she didn't notice. I sighed and followed her out of the room.
"Are you feeling okay?"
I rolled my shoulders before picking up the mass of bags that contained my new wardrobe. "You have no idea what it's like to wear clothes that actually fit—even my bra fits now." Alice giggled, shaking her head.
"That's not what I meant. Are you hungry? Edward reminded me while you were getting dressed that you need to eat."
"I'm a little hungry." A light blush covered my cheeks as Alice led the way to a little diner beside the store we were in. It was cold outside, and I shivered, regretting my decision to leave my coat in Alice's car.
We sat down in a booth, and once again, I winced, feeling an ache as I sat down.
"You're not okay."
I looked at Alice and her brow was furrowed. I tried to smile at her reassuringly, but I think it turned into a grimace. "I'm fine Alice, nothing to worry about. Just back pain." Talking about my back pain brought my recently forgotten worries back to the surface. I tried to act nonchalantly as I picked at imaginary things on my legs, until our waitress came and asked if I was ready to order. "Just water for right now."
"Nonsense," Alice answered sternly. "You're pregnant Bells, you must be famished. I think you should get a Caesar salad and a slice of pizza." She gave no room to argue, and that's what she ordered for me. At least I kept my water. When the waitress was gone, Alice looked at me. "What has been bothering you, Bella? I had a vision that you needed to talk to me." I waited for a second, trying to think of the right thing to say. "And don't edit."
"I'm just a little scared," I blurted out, still looking down. "You don't see me going into an early labor, do you?" I looked up to see her shocked by my question; did she expect me to ask something else? Then she closed her eyes. After almost a full minute, she opened her eyes again.
"No, I don't see you going into labor."
"But your visions aren't set in stone," I mumbled beneath my breath.
"If something were to happen like that Bella, I'd see it." That eased me, and I relaxed into my seat. A few minutes later, my food came, and I nibbled at it as Alice watched me eat. She suggested that I eat it fully, so it wouldn't go cold and be wasted.
Halfway through my salad, Alice sighed and tilted her head, watching me. "Is there something else you want to ask me?"
"Not that I know of."
"It might pertain to something you and Edward talked about a few days ago?" I shook my head, unable to find a recent conversation that I would need to discuss with Alice. She sighed in frustration, closing her eyes. "I had a vision…but I haven't had one changing the outcome of this conversation…humans…" she laughed, and I laughed too.
And then what Alice said made me put two and two together. Gabriel was human…wasn't he? My pulse quickened and I pushed my food away from me, losing my appetite. I couldn't eat with that thought floating through my mind. "Is something wrong?" Alice was leaning over the table to look at me.
"The baby…" I whispered.
"What about him?" Alice asked, and I could see she was raking through her mind for a vision
that would have anything to do with little Gabe.
"He's—he's human, isn't he?" I wasn't sure if I wanted to hear Alice's response. She blinked once, twice, three times, before she said,
"Human?"
"Edward frightened me. He said since he was a vampire, Gabe might not be human, but he tried to assure me that that wasn't going to happen—" I was whispering and almost hyperventilating. Alice was beside me in an instant, her arms around me. I didn't know it, but I started to cry. She rocked me as I tried to pull myself together.
"It's okay Bella," Alice murmured. "This baby is more human than you; you have nothing to worry about. Nothing at all…" She stroked my hair until my tears stopped flowing and I had hiccups. Then she lifted up my head so she could see into my eyes. "Don't let something like that bother you, okay? I think this is one of the reasons why you haven't been sleeping well. This idea has been plaguing you internally, and you didn't even know it." I rubbed at my eyes and sniffled.
"Are you sure?"
"Don't bet against me," she tapped her temple and I smiled, my lip still trembling. She hugged me tightly and squeezed my eyes. I felt a little better about everything now. "Are you ready to go home? I shouldn't have made you shop so much today. Edward is going to kill me." And just on cue, I heard a little melodic ringing, and Alice snatched her phone from her pocket.
"Hello. Yes, we're eating—well, she's eating—was eating, we're getting ready to go. Yes. Yes. Yes Edward, I made sure she ate. She ate right across from me! I'm sure she wasn't putting it in her napkin…" I giggled as Edward interrogated his sister. Alice rolled her eyes at me, and then she handed me the phone. "He wants to interrogate you too."
I took the phone. "Hello?" Even to my ears, it was quite obvious that I had been crying.
"What's wrong?" Edward's sweet voice demanded. I swooned just at the sound.
"I was crying—but everything's okay now. Don't worry." I wiped at my eyes, feeling a little tired.
"Did you have a nice afternoon?"
"Yes I did. But I miss you." I saw Alice pull a plastic card from her pocket. That's how she's been paying for everything. I can't even imagine how much money she spent on me. "Your sister spoils me too much."
"I told you so love." I smiled, excited for no apparent reason. "Dinner will be done by the time you get back to Forks. Jasper once again tried his hand at cooking for you. Steak and a baked
potato. It looks edible, but if you don't like it, there's stew from last night in the fridge."
"Okay. I'm sure Jasper tried his best."
"He appreciates the comment." I could imagine Jasper standing behind Edward, listening in on the conversation. I giggled at the thought, and I looked at Alice, shaking my head. "I love you Bella."
"I love you too, Edward, with all my heart and with every fiber in my being."
He laughed. "I'll see you soon."
"Bye."
It was dreadful hanging up the phone, and when I did, I felt sad for not being able to hear his voice. Alice paid for our meal, and with a heave, I got out of the booth grabbed as many bags as I could, giving the much smaller vampire more than a normal human her size could carry.
"Bella, Bella, Bella!" Alice sang, when I was safely in the car, the bags put away. "Are you ready to hit the road?"
"I'm ready to get home, by whatever means possible."
"Good. Because I feel a need for speed."
And then Alice pealed out of the parking lot.
xoXoXoXox
BB/N: Thanks for the reviews!
Love,
Bob Bennit