Chapter Twelve

Labour

June 20th 2007

12am

Nine Months Pregnant

Four months had passed since The Denali's had turned up on their doorstep and after getting along so well when they decided to stay in Seattle for a while Bella was over the moon with the news. As the pregnancy had progressed Bella and Edward decided to move into the family home so Carlisle was on hand should there be any complications. One spring morning Bella was woken by the first contraction overtaking her, gripping hold of her husband's hand she began to breathe through the contraction, gaining her breath back as the contraction ended. Before she knew it she was sitting in between her husband's legs as she gratefully leaned against his bare chest.

"Was that the first one?"

"Mmhm, they've been moving around none stop all day."

"I spoke to Charlie last night, he had a phone call from Renee."

"What did she want?" Bella asked pulling off her pyjama pants.

"She tried to apologise to him for leaving."

"How is it she can phone him but she can't phone me. I beginning to wonder if it's worth trying to mend things with her."

"I used to think you got your stubbornness from Charlie."

"It's a wolf thing I think." Bella said through gritted teeth as she felt another contraction building up.

Bella gripped Edward's hand as the contraction began to increase in strength not caring that she was on an entire household full of vampires as she moaned out loud, using the breathing techniques she'd been learning for the last few months with Carlisle. Edward began to rub Bella's low back hoping to give his wife some sort of relief, they'd talked about pain relief and his Bella has been adamant she did not want pain relief. He knew the contraction was ending when he felt his wife relax back against him.

"How far apart are they?"

"I'd say around 20 minutes or so. You think the backache I had during the night was labour starting don't you?"

"It's possible, Carlisle would have to examine you to make sure though. Are you okay with that?"

"Right now I'm in too much pain to care. We knew labour might be quicker as there are two of them inside me."

Before Edward could call for his adopted father the Cullen patriarch was entering the bedroom, making his way to the bed of the bed to examine his daughter in reassuring Bella he had warmed up his hands (which earned him a pained laugh) he began the examination to determine how far dilated she was. After a few minutes Carlisle stood up smiling brightly at the young couple in front of him. Despite the odds against them, they'd made it through and now we're about to bring their children into the world.

"Well I'm pleased to announce you're 6 centimetres dilated. Only four more to go and you'll be meeting your daughters."

"So the backache I had during the night was labour?"

"I believe it was,though with your shapeshifter gene and it being a multiple birth, it's gone quicker than if it was just one baby."

"Can you stay, the contractions are getting more painful and I'm comfortable here."

"Of course I can. Your father has arrived with Sue, it appears a family reunion will happen as Renee turned up shortly after."

"If she can keep from being rude she's welcome."

"That's exactly what Esme said." Carlisle chuckled as he watched his caught in law take a much needed nap in between contractions.

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Bella was woken from her slumber once more an hour after the contractions had started as the newest contraction brought with it an intense pressure. Opening up the link she shared with Edward as her imprint she informed him silently how much she felt as if she needed to push. Gritting her teeth and squeezing her husband's hand so tight if he'd been human there would have been broken bones, betwee her husband and father in law she began to push her first child into the world. With Edward support she bore down pushing into her bottom as the contractions began to come on top of each other.

For a split second she felt a fiery feeling thinking something had happened until Carlisle reassured her it was simply the baby's head. However she didn't have time to feel relief as the contraction started up again. Grunting in pain she pushed down again, the next sound she heard bringing tears to her eyes, she'd done it. Renesmee Carlie Cullen was born, after a quick cuddle, she handed the whimpering baby to Carlisle (who lay the slowly quieting baby into her bassinet) before preparing to deliver her sister.

The relief she'd been feeling soon disappeared as the need to push returned, taking both of Edward's hands in hers she squeezed them tightly beginning to push through the contraction once again feeling the fiery burn as Elizabeth's head was freed. Taking a deep breath she began to push bringing forward every ounce of strength she had left. After three more pushes Elizabeth Alice Cullen was born, Bells looked at the date grinning brightly.

"Happy Birthday Edward."

"Thank you, love. I'm so proud of you."

"They heard everything didn't they?"

"They won't say anything."

After delivering the placentas Bella prepared to hold her children for the first time, the moment Carlisle laid Renesmee and Elizabeth into her arms her entire world shifted as she watched the hunt for food. With Edward's help she watched the twins latch on beginning to nurse hungrily. Everything she'd hoped for was finally happening, she didn't think it could get any better than this.

A/N shorter than the others but the next one will be longer