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-two: Final

Light was peaking through the windows, and I quickly squeezed my eyes shut and turned my head. A few more minutes of sleep would do me good. But obviously nothing was going my way as I felt a cold hand rubbing soothing circles on my back. "Bella, you need to wake up."

"'m 'wake," I mumbled, wrenching my eyes open. I looked at Edward, rubbing my eyes and trying to get them to focus. Edward smiled at me gently and kissed my forehead.

"You're not running a fever."

"Eh," I said, sitting up slowly and kicking away my blankets. Even in my half awake state, I could feel the general achiness of my body weighing down on me. It felt more intense than normal though, as I stood to my feet. It made me feel sluggish, as if my body didn't want to move this morning. Edward wrapped his arms around me and hugged me gently. I just rested my head on his chest and took several big breaths. His slow and deep breaths would have lulled me to sleep if I wasn't standing.

Today was the big day. I was going to speak in front of my entire English class for my final. I could feel the queasiness settling in my stomach—or maybe it was the flu? Who knows? I thought, looking up at Edward with tired eyes. He kissed me and then pulled away.

"Are you feeling okay?"

I shrugged my shoulders as I rubbed my stomach. "I'm pregnant," I said slowly, yawning. I took a step towards the closet to get an outfit for the day, but before I could even get halfway there, Edward stopped me and handed me folded clothes—someone was thinking ahead for me. I smiled at him sleepily and stood on my tip toes to kiss his cheek.

It didn't hit me until after my shower that today was really the day I had my English final. I stared at my reflection in the mirror and said repeatedly, "Okay Bella. You can do this. You're only going to be speaking for a few minutes in front of a class of people that you've known for a semester. You can do this." I was shaking with nerves by the time Edward and I went to get breakfast, and it took Edward's calming words and Jasper's calming powers to keep me still enough to eat, and then as soon as Jasper's power's were gone, I was back to being a nervous wreck.

With my nervousness and shaking hands, I dropped my cell phone in a puddle outside. Thankfully Edward wasn't with me, but I couldn't bend over or squat to get it. Rosalie was walking outside to the garage and saw my predicament. Without skipping a beat, she had my phone in her hand, and she put her phone in my coat pocket. "Alice will replace this before you get home." And with that, she went back into the house, off to find Alice. Soon after, Edward came out and we got into the car.

On our way to Peninsula Community College, I kept repeating information about the Puritans, checking, and then double checking with my notes. Edward did not find this situation humorous; in fact, he was debating whether or not I even go to class. He thought the stress of my final would be my doom. I just ignored that. If I skipped this class, Edward would skip his finals too—I was shocked when I learned that the last time Edward went to school, he skipped two finals. That meant he had to make them up today or not get his credit hours. I wasn't surprised when I learned this; I knew he went home early on the days of his finals for me.

"Bella, you're going to do fine. Please calm down."

"I hate talking in front of people," I said, feeling my voice shake. My hands were already shaking.

"I know you hate it, but remember what Alice said," he paused and kissed my forehead, taking his eyes off the road as he was speeding. "You're going to do fine; you're going to pass with flying colors. Please Bella," he murmured in my ear, causing my pounding heart to slow down. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.

"Okay," I breathed, leaning into my seat.

It was quiet the rest of the ride to the college. I kept my eyes closed, breathing deeply through my nose. Edward reached over and kept his hand over the one that was on my stomach, and he would squeeze it every once in awhile.

When we finally got there, Edward parked the car closer to my room and gave me the car keys. "You're going to have to wait for me while I make up my other final."

"Okay." My voice quivered. Edward got out of the car and opened my car door within the same second. He helped me out and then he gathered me in his arms.

"You're going to do fine." He kissed me, making my head spin. "Don't worry." He kissed me again and I felt my knees weaken. Was he trying to make me forget everything? "I love you. Be safe." He pulled away, and just for reassurance, I kissed him again. When I pulled away, he walked me to my room. I very carefully walked to the first empty seat in the back of the room, and then I looked back to the door. "Go get 'em," he whispered, winking at me. I blushed and smiled, waving to him. He blew me a kiss, and then went to his own room to take his final.

My nerves were back in full swing by the time the room filled up. I was shaking beyond belief, but I tried to hide it.

My dread seemed to increase by tenfold as some of the best students volunteered to go first. "Holy crow…" I breathed, by the time I realized that everyone had gone except for me. First I took off my coat, because I was getting warm, and then I stood up shakily, keeping a hand on my desk, just to make sure I had my balance. I walked to the front of the room, my knees shaking. I requested that I sit, I was sure I wouldn't be able to stand for very long, and almost immediately, the professor gave me a stool. While she was distracted, I glanced out the window and my eyes widened in shock when I saw Jasper and Alice.

And then I felt cool, calm, and collected. I grinned gratefully at Jasper, and Alice gave me two thumbs up before disappearing from view, dragging Jasper with her. I let out a sigh, and then carefully sat down on the stool. I took a deep breath and then looked at my notebook with my speech. My face was on fire as I began to speak. "The Puritans were merciless against man…"

When I finished, I got a standing ovation from all the students in the class. My heart was pounding in my ears. I smiled a little anxiously and then I got off the stool, keeping a hand on my back as I walked back to my seat and eased myself down. My professor was congratulating everyone in the class, but I was just trying to keep my heart from escaping my chest.

Class was dismissed after a few minutes, and I gathered my notebook and put on my coat. I walked slowly and deliberately to the car, grateful that the cool air was hitting my cheeks. I was hoping Jasper and Alice stuck around, but I saw no sign of Alice's Porsche. With a sigh, I walked towards Edward's Volvo.

And then I stopped as a sharp feeling, it actually reminded me of a cramp, hit my abdomen, but it lasted for only a handful of seconds. I looked at my stomach and I started rubbing it without realizing it. "Gabe, you can't be kicking me that hard. It hurts." I smiled despite the shock of the pain, and continued to Edward's car. I got inside and sat down carefully. I didn't bother with a seat belt. I tossed my notebook to the back seat and closed my eyes. I had about two hours before Edward would be released from his room, so what was I going to do?

Another pain rocketed through my abdomen, and my hand gripped the door handle and I squeezed tightly. This time this pain took all breath from me, and I couldn't even think. I waited for it to go away, and it took almost a full minute. By the time it was over, I was gasping for breath and a little dizzy. Without even thinking, my shaking hands reached into my pocket and pulled out the phone.

I dialed Edward's cell phone number, and I waited for someone to pick up. It took seven rings to realize that he couldn't answer his phone because he was taking his final. I struggled out of my coat and leaned into my seat. No pain happened, and I relaxed. False alarm. Maybe these are the uncomfortable contractions Carlisle was talking about, I thought weakly, closing my eyes. After another minute, I shivered because I was cold. I turned on Edward's car and turned on the heat.

I checked the time. Fifteen minutes had passed since my class was dismissed. "It's seemed like hours!" I mumbled beneath my breath. I rested my head against the window and closed my eyes. I drifted off to sleep. I woke when I heard a car backfire, and I sat up, wincing. I glanced at the clock, and I saw that I slept for fifteen minutes. Everything is at fifteen minute intervals.

I felt another strong contraction, and my eyes were glued to the clock. I cried out in surprise and my back arched from pain. This pain was not normal. "Oh God!" A minute passed and finally the pain went away. I saw that the phone was still in my hands and I opened it, calling Edward again. Maybe he'd get the hint that I needed him.

No answer.

Instead of calling Edward back, I called Carlisle. I was surprised when he answered, "What can I do for you, Rosalie?"

"Rosalie?" I asked, confused. Why does he think I'm Rosalie? "This isn't Rosalie. It's Bella." And then I remembered that I had Rosalie's cell phone. My cell phone was currently at the store.

"What are you doing with her phone?" Carlisle sounded curious.

"I dropped my phone—" A short, sharp pain hit my abdomen, but it didn't last nearly as long as the other contractions. "Contractions!" I gasped, holding the phone so tightly it probably would have broken.

"What?" Carlisle asked. His voice was cautious, and he spoke slowly.

"I'm having contractions!" I tried to not sound hysterical, but six months was definitely too early to be having contractions like this. Briefly my mind flickered to my day of shopping with Alice. She did say that I wasn't going to have the baby early…

Was she lying?

"How many have you had?" Carlisle's calm voice was gone as he went into doctor mode. For a second I didn't answer him as my mind was frozen on Alice, and then Carlisle said, "Isabella!"

"Four in thirty minutes!" I blurted out without thinking.

"Four in thirty minutes?" Carlisle repeated, trying to verify that what I said was correct. I could hear the worry thick in his voice. My heart skipped a beat and I squeezed my free fist as I struggled for air. After a second, I whispered,

"I had two extremely short ones, maybe two seconds, and then two that were about a minute long. Those two were fifteen minutes apart. I had one just now and then one a little over a half hour ago. It didn't hurt much."

"Where are you now?"

"In Port Angeles, Edward is still taking his final. I have his keys."

"I don't want you driving anywhere. He isn't answering his phone?"

"No." I was beginning to panic. My heart was pounding even harder.

"Sit still Bella. Try to call Edward again, and then call me back, okay?"

"Yeah…" I let Carlisle go, and then I got a bright idea. I opened Edward's glove compartment and looked for any information on Peninsula Community College. I found a pamphlet and let out a relieved breath when I saw something with the school's number on it. I snatched it and dialed with shaking fingers. I composed myself before the first ring. "Hello, Peninsula Community College."

"Yes, can I have Professor Gregory's room please? It's an emergency."

"One moment please." I felt the line switch over, and I tried to think of something that would get Edward calmly out of the room. After waiting a minute, and feeling more anxious by the second,

I heard a gruff voice say,

"Gregory's room."

"Hello, this is Isabella Cullen, and I need Edward Cullen to run his keys to his car. I forgot to grab them from him this morning." I lied through my teeth. I don't want Edward being panicked when he comes out here, but he'll surely be confused because we both know that I have the keys.

"Fine." Then click.

Holy crow, he's rude, I thought bitterly. After a handful of seconds, Rosalie's phone began to vibrate. I picked it up and opened it. Before I could even say, "hello", Edward said. "What do you need, Rose?"

"It's not Rosalie, and stop walking." I stopped talking and looked around for any sign of Edward. I couldn't see him, so he must've still been standing by his room.

"Bella?"

"I need you to run, after I'm through with you, to the car. I don't care who sees you, just run. I'm having contractions," I heard his breath hitch. "I've had four in thirty minutes. I called Carlisle already; he wants me to call him back. Please hurry."

"I'm running." He hung up the phone, and I dialed Carlisle's number.

"Did you get him?"

"Yes, he's coming right now." The driver's side door opened, and Edward climbed into the car. He was looking frightened, and I sent him a nervous smile. I was calm now, and I felt as if I've done this a thousand times before.

"All right. Do not go to Port Angeles; come to the hospital in Forks. Do you think you can make it?"

"Yeah."

"If you start bleeding, forget about it. Just go to the nearest hospital. Have you had any more contractions?"

"N—" I stopped and dropped the phone. Edward's hand was in view, and I grabbed it, squeezing it tightly. I couldn't think, I just squeezed and waited for the pain to be over. It felt like it lasted hours, and I gasped with the intensity of it.

"I'm going." Edward said. He must've taken the phone.

I eased my grip on Edward's hand as the pain subsided, and I took a deep breath. That's when I noticed that the scenery around me was zooming past. I looked at Edward, and he was looking at me frantically. "It hurt," I whimpered, brushing tears from my eyes.

"I know Bella, I know," Edward wiped my tears and kissed me briefly before looking out the window. "I think this may be the right time to learn the breathing exercises for labor."

"Right."

Within seconds, Edward instructed me on how to breathe, and I was breathing just like he was. I didn't care how ridiculous I may have looked or sounded; I felt more comfortable than I have in the last half hour.

Edward grabbed his cell phone, and answered. "What have you seen?" I could only assume it was Alice. I closed my eyes and leaned my head into my seat. I didn't flinch when Edward slammed on his brakes. My eyes did open when he pulled to the side of the road and left the car. I was out of the car and in Edward's arms in a flash. I saw a yellow Porsche not two feet in front, and Jasper and Alice were waiting outside the car.

"I'll take your car, the Porsche goes much faster! Go! Go!" Alice ushered us to her car, where Edward gently put me in and put on my seat belt. Then he got inside, and we were zooming once again towards Fork's.

I lost track of time as everything blurred around me. Not only was the scenery going too fast, but I was crying, because I knew I shouldn't be doing this now. I was only six months—it was still much, much too early!

Edward swerved the car and I strained hard against my seat belt, wincing. I looked at Edward and he just barely had his eyes open, one hand pinching the bridge of his nose. I heard him swear and then look out the window. "We're close enough, Bella, don't worry."

"Worry about what?" I asked shakily, my hand wiping at my eyes.

Edward looked at me a second, and his features softened for the briefest of moments before he whispered, "You're bleeding."

And if it was possible, he pressed his foot harder on the gas, and we seemed to be going even faster.

"I'm so hot!" I complained through dry lips. I looked around the hospital room that was painted a light shade of purple. I actually found the color a little peaceful, if I stared at it long enough. Edward gently tapped my hand, and I looked at him. He was sitting right beside me, a cup of ice chips in his hands and Alice and Jasper were sitting on the other side of him. I opened my mouth when Edward indicated to me that I could have an ice chip. I sucked on it willingly, leaning back into my bed. I was so tired and hot! In the few hours that I've been in the hospital, I've had an ultrasound and a pelvic exam to try and determine the source of my bleeding, and I just kept feeling worse and worse as the hours progressed, because I didn't know what was wrong!

"Bella, this might help." I peeked at Alice as she moved from beside Jasper to the side of my bed. She asked me to sit up, and I did, sucking in a breath at moving. She gathered up all of my hair and tied it up so it rested on the top of my head. I immediately felt relief from the thick mass that was off my neck.

"Thanks." I grimaced when I felt a contraction. "I'm getting better at this…" I groaned as the contraction fully hit. Edward grabbed my hand and I squeezed it, breathing just like he instructed me to do in the car. He leaned close to my ear and whispered,

"You're doing a good job Bella."

As the contraction dwindled away, I sighed and beamed at Edward. They were getting easier to handle, and I was pleased that I had a good hold on them. I was sweating and still panting as I took another offered ice chip.

"That was the first contraction in an hour and a half," Jasper said, and I looked at him. He was examining one of the many machines that were around me.

"This could be a false alarm," Alice said.

"Gods, I can only imagine what real labor will be like then." I chuckled at my own little joke and sighed quietly. I wanted very dearly to sleep, and I looked at Edward, hoping he would let me. "Can I sleep?"

"Yes," Edward leaned closer to me. "I think that would be a good idea. Get as much rest as you can."

I smiled at him, and then I requested that he help me turn over. I was tired of sitting up. Edward very carefully helped me turn, and when I was resting on my left side, I kissed his hand and closed my eyes. I was not surprised when sleep took me in almost an instant.

I woke to a constant thudding sound. At first I thought it was an alarm clock, and it took me a long time to open my eyes to recognize my surroundings. I was still in the hospital, and the thudding noise was coming from a machine. It took me even longer to recognize that it was the fetal heartbeat.

"Bells, you okay?"

I looked up, and instead of Edward sitting beside me, it was Charlie. I smiled at him, still feeling a little groggy. I nodded my head and tucked my arm beneath it. Charlie reached out and touched my cheek for the briefest of moments, and then he retracted his hand. I rejoiced in that touch, because it was rare for Charlie to show any type of emotion. His cheeks flushed, and I just smiled. "Where is everyone?"

"Edward went home to fetch you a pair of clothes to change in to, and the rest of the Cullen's are sitting in the waiting room."

"All of them?"

"I think so."

I looked around and noticed that the sun was still up. "What time is it?"

Charlie checked his watch. "Ten thirty-seven. I guess you slept through the afternoon and night without a single contraction. The hospital is sending you home."

"Really?"

Charlie nodded his head. He smiled at me reassuringly, and I just nodded my head. I closed my eyes, and Charlie whispered softly, "It's been a long nineteen years since I've heard a fetal heartbeat."

"It's a little scary," I whispered, cracking an eye open so I could see Charlie. He was looking at the machine. "It's a little scary to know that something inside of you is actually growing and breathing, it actually has a heart…" Charlie nodded his head slowly, still absorbed in the machine, as if it were a baseball game.

"I remember when you were born…" Charlie trailed off, and I could tell he was getting a little sentimental on me. He looked at me and grinned. "You did not want to be born on September 13th, that's for sure! Renée was in labor for twenty-one hours, and you came out at 11:57pm."

"I've always hated my birthday, since day one." I laughed when Charlie agreed. After our little moment, there was a knock at the door, and Esme peeked in, smiling at me and Charlie fondly. I'm sure she heard our conversation.

"I hope I'm not interrupting." She had a bundle of clothes, and it looked like she was going to be the one to help me change.

"No, no," Charlie said standing up. "I have to get going anyway." He turned to me and kissed my forehead, shocking me. "Call me with any news, okay Bells?"

I nodded my head and watched him depart from the room. Esme sat down in the just vacated chair, and a moment later, Edward walked into the room. He sat down on the edge of the bed behind me, and leaned over, kissing my cheek. "Are you in pain?"

"Nope. I just feel a little tired."

"You had eight contractions; I think you deserve to be a little tired." He kissed my cheek again and pulled away. He rubbed my back with his fingertips, and I could feel myself slowly drifting off. There was a knock at the door that made me open my eyes, and then Carlisle stepped into the room. His expression was somber as he sat down in a chair with a chart in his hands.

Just the look on his face made my heart skip, but as soon as it started to beat again, it was going way too fast. Edward leaned towards my ear and whispered, "Breathe…"

After a few seconds, Edward grabbed my hand and squeezed it tightly but briefly for a second. Finally Carlisle spoke. "Your sonogram revealed that your placenta previa has turned into a total previa, and it is covering your cervix. The contractions that you were having caused your cervix to dilate, which disrupted the blood vessels in that area. You've stopped bleeding, and you haven't had contractions in over ten hours, but I still want to keep you here overnight for observation.

"For the duration of your pregnancy, I am going to put you on pelvic rest, which means no exams or any other strenuous activities." Despite the bad news, I blushed at the thought of Edward and I doing anything...strenuous. "You're going to be monitored with ultrasounds and sonograms to watch for any distress from the baby and you. If the bleeding starts again, we're going to have to deliver him immediately with a c-section because the placenta is blocking his only way out. Right now I am going to start you on a dose of corticosteroids to strengthen his lungs, and to prevent any other complications incase we have to deliver him prematurely."

I was numb for a few minutes, my face pressed against the bed. For a long time I didn't utter a single sound, except for a squeak when Carlisle gave me the steroids. I couldn't find anything to say, but my thoughts were in overdrive. Carlisle told me last month that everything was going to be okay, he could guarantee it, but now…what changed? Is this my fault? I shouldn't have gone shopping, and I probably shouldn't have gone to school today, I shouldn't have moved off the couch! My body suddenly began to shake with sobs, and I couldn't stop myself. My baby, my Gabriel, is in danger, and there is nothing I can do.

I felt the weight on the bed shift, and then a door closed. Edward's cold arm wrapped around me, embracing me as tightly as he thought was safe. "Bella…" I felt his body shake with heavy, dry, sobs. He held me until my sobs subsided, and I was just down to quiet sniffles.

"Is this my fault?" I croaked, thankful that Edward couldn't see my face, afraid that he would be ashamed of me, just like I was ashamed of myself.

"No." Edward placed a firm kiss against my throat. "This is not, nor will it ever be your fault. Don't think it; don't even put energy into that thought. This is how fate planned it, and Gabriel will be fine."

"How do you know?" I wanted to believe him, but I couldn't wrap my mind around the fact that something wasn't going to go wrong.

"Alice."

"I thought Alice was watching me this entire time. She should have seen this!" My words came out like venom, and I felt a bubble of anger well inside of me at the thought of Alice not seeing this before it happened. She could have prevented some of this pain; she could have prevented me from doing something that made this situation happen.

Edward's entire body stiffened behind me for a second, and then when he spoke, it came out in a growl. "What do you think she saw this morning Bella? Why do you think we changed cars on the highway?" My heart wrenched painfully and I gasped as tears began to well up in my eyes. Very gently, Edward grabbed my hand and whispered, his voice much softer, "She saw this, Bella, and she was trying to find us. Do not blame her."

I began to sob wildly now. Edward left my embrace and sat down in front of me, wiping away my tears. Alice was probably still close by, and she more than likely heard me. I can't imagine what she feels like now…

"I—I'm s-sorry." I wasn't sure who I was apologizing to, either Edward or Alice, as I wiped my eyes. I sobbed heavily for a few minutes as Edward tried to catch my tears. I took almost a full minute for me to calm myself enough to speak again, and even then, it was through clenched teeth. "Ca-Carlisle s-said th-that every—and Al—Ali—"

"He was right Bella," Edward stressed, kissing my forehead and forcing me to look into his eyes. "Everything is going to be okay. Just trust us, okay?" I nodded my head, and he leaned in and kissed me. I pulled away quickly and gasped, and Edward was on his feet. "What?"

"If he kicks me that hard again!" I choked out, looking at stomach. "It's his new thing, a strange and demented version of soccer." I rubbed my stomach at where the source of pain came from. Edward reached out and put his hand on my stomach. I looked at Edward with heavy eyes, and I was surprised by the look of pure fascination and ecstasy on his face whenever he felt the baby's movement.

I think it was the thought that Edward wanted this so badly that kept my head on my shoulders, or at least, halfway on my shoulders. I took Edward's hand and he looked at me. "Everything will be fine," he repeated softly, kissing my fingers. I just nodded my head and closed my eyes, my instincts telling me that all I needed to do was put my trust in Edward.

xoXoXoXox

BB/N: Okay, overall, this wasn't a happy chapter, but it ended on a happier note!

Happy Mother's Day to all those great mothers out there!

Love,
Bob Bennit