Chapter Eight

Carlisle's POV

I picked up the phone the moment I knew what was happening.

Ella had come in for her bi-weekly checkups leading up to the baby's birth like she had been doing for the past month.

Everyone besides Ella had already assumed that the second fetus wasn't going to make it, so they all decided that we were only going to focus on the soon to be arriving baby boy. The second fetus was still growing though because everyone found it too inhuman to abort it. He or she was at an undetermined stage since everyone refused to let me examine it now that we had deemed it un-birthable.

Ella was much farther along than expected, even with the little amount of time she had been spending with the rest of the Cullens. Other than myself, she was only allowed to be visited by Nessie's family since they had hardly any vampire in them anyways. Apparently, that wasn't enough of a ban. The shape-shifter boy was growing at an alarming rate and today was the day to calculate just how varied the new due date was going to be from the original calculations.

"Have you guys decided on a name for sure?" I asked Collin while Ella was in the bathroom changing into a hospital type gown. He wasn't comfortable with her being in so little clothing around me, even though I'm a doctor and it is my job, but it is easier for Ella to wear the gown during her checkups.

"We like Alejandro Adan." Collin said with a grin. "It means 'defender of the people of the earth' which is what he will do as a werewolf. She thought it was a nice tribute since it literally means what he will be and she's Hispanic after all."

"Is she still considering names for the...other one?" I asked quietly, knowing it was a sore subject for him to talk about the baby who's future was already nonexistant. He nodded, not meeting my eyes.

"Esperanza Belinda which means 'beautiful hope', for a girl and Ezequiel Guillermo or 'God will strengthen strong-willed Warrior', for a boy." He admitted. "She is determined that it will survive and earn one of those names."

The sound of waddling footsteps broke us from our discussion as Ella entered the room. Collin helped her up to the examining table where she swung her feet the best she could to get more comfortable.

"How are you feeling this morning, Ella?" I asked like usual, going to my charts to take notes.

"I'm doing alright. I can't complain." Ella responded, glancing at her husband Collin with a hesitant look in her eyes. She was such a sweet girl but I knew she was not being completely honest, so I asked Collin to step outside for a moment so I could talk with Ella alone.

"And leave a vampire alone with my wife and unborn son? I don't think so!" Collin growled defensively, his natural werewolf tendencies showing.

"Please, sweetie? I'd like a cup of water, if it isn't too much trouble..." Ella said sweetly. It was obvious from her tone that she knew how to get what she wanted. And Collin was the good impriter that did whatever she wanted.

"I'll be right back." Collin said with a nod. He placed a kiss on her forehead and one on her stomach before he left the room. I could hear his footsteps all the way down the stairs with my sensitive hearing but knew that my wife would stop him to chat in the kitchen so we had a few minutes to talk freely.

"Tell me now, how are you really feeling this morning?" I asked, trying not to pry but knowing there was no time to waste.

"I've had more morning sickness like you predicted, but that isn't really the problem." She said, taking a deep breath. I waited for her to say more, but she didn't. Instead, I could physically see her tense up, bitting her lip so that she almost bled and closing her eyes as tight as she could, for a good minute and a half.

When she finally looked back up, I had a pretty good idea as to what was going on.

"Ella, how long have the contractions been going on?" I asked knowingly.

But instead of an answer, what I got was a bloody murder scream that rivaled any leading lady in any horror film. I let her grab my hand to squeeze and she did, with all her might. If I had been human, it would have broken bones.

Collin came barreling up the stairs, the cup of water left abandoned and shattered in the kitchen as he took off in a haste to protect his imprint from whatever dangers his imagination could come up with.

"What did you do to her!" Collin growled as he forced my hand out of Ella's grip and took my place by her side.

"Your wife is in labor, Mr. Harlen." I informed him. "Now, if you don't mind, I need to get Edward and Esme up here to help assist me."

"Ca-call Max." Ella whimpered when her latest contraction ended.

"I will. Don't you worry about anything." I commented. "You are in good hands."

Edward, get Esme. This delivery is happening soon. I thought to my son. Tell the others so they can leave and not be around the blood. This could get messy.

I picked up my phone next, checking to make sure Ella was completely through with her contraction first, and dialed Max's number.

"Yes, Max? It's Carlisle." I said calmly. "Ella wanted me to inform you that you are going to be an aunt soon. She's just gone into labor."

"I'll be right there." Max replied frantically. I could hear her on the other end of the line shouting at who I assumed was Fang, "Keep the kids occupied. Ella's having the baby!"