Chapter Ten

Edward's POV

Everything was going normal with Ella's delivery. Or as normal as a woman having a werewolf baby and a not-coming-to-term human baby can be.

Collin was doing great with the whole "keep the woman happy" part and Max was by Ella's side for moral support. Though, in her mind, Max honestly didn't want to be here when the too-small baby was going to have to have its embillical cord cut and force it to die. That would be hard on any new aunt. The person I felt sorry for, though, was Ella. She was still hopeful about the second baby's chances.

"You're doing good, Ella. Keep it up." Carlisle praised. The glare Ella shot him though was far from accepting. Her dark hair was sticking to her face as she breathed harshly like the exercises taught her.

"No veo por qué no lo puedes mantener." Ella complained half-sarcastically in between heavy panting. She was dialating quickly and it wouldn't be long before she had to push. (AN: "I don't see why you don't 'keep it up.'")

Carlisle ignored her jab though and continued to monitor her breathing.

"I love you, Ells. You're doing great." Collin whispered reassuringly. She half-smiled at her wolf. Though there was still tension in her eyes, she seemed to have relaxed a little. Ah, the powers of imprinting.

"Okay," I announced, glancing at Ella and motioning Max and Collin to get ready, "get ready for a big push; this baby is ready to come out."

"You can hear him?" Collin asked, marvaled.

"Just barely." I said frightenedly.

It was strange. With Renesme, and all of the other babies born in the Cullen house over the years, Angel and I had always been able to hear the baby's thoughts for months before delivery. Typically, a baby could form thoughts (usually general pictures and a few familiar phrases that it overheard) at about three months.

Alejandro, as Ella and Collin decided to name baby one, had a distant mind. It reminded me sort of like Charlie's mind; gaurded and quiet.

I had yet to pick up anything from the second baby, which didn't make me feel good about its chances of survival once it was 'birthed' in a few minutes.

"I'm ready. Yo te amo mis bebés pequeños." Ella announced, rubbing her tummy to signify to her children that it was almost time to come meet her. (AN: "I love you little babies.")

Just as she was taking a few more deep breaths, she suddenly yelled. "WAIT!"

Everyone focused on Ella, even Fang who just arrived at the door, as they waited for what she had to say.

"Ella, sweetie, what is it?" Collin asked.

She ignored him and instead stared at my father. "Carlisle, promise me you'll do everything you can."

"I-" Carlisle started to answer, but Ella cut him off.

"No. I mean, promise me that you will do everything you can to save baby two. I just want him or her to have the same fighting chance as Alejandro has." Ella said sternly.

"Significa el mundo para mí. Necesito que me prometas." She said, switching to her native tongue as another contraction came. (AN: "It means the world to me. I need you to promise me.")

"You have my word, Mrs. Harlen." Carlisle said honestly. And his thoughts reflected that oath.

"Okay, are you ready now?" My beautiful Bella asked.

Ella nodded, picking up her breathing to the regimented pace she had practiced, and her thoughts focused on pushing both of her children into this world safely. "Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhh!" She screamed, squeezing Collin's hand with all her might.

"Estúpido hombre lobo bebé con la fuerza estúpida hombre lobo." She muttered and I heard a few bones crack in Collin's hands as Ella cursed everyone and everything, but I knew Carlisle or I wouldn't have a chance to reset it before she had another contraction. (AN: "Stupid werewolf baby with stupid werewolf strength.")

Within two minutes, Alejandro Adan Harlen was born. He was something beautiful, though he was definately no Renesme. He had Collin's dark skintone and deep brown hair color, but Ella's teasing smile and her playful hazel eyes.

From the look on Collin's face when he caught a glimpse of his newborn son, I knew that he felt the same way towards Alejandro that I felt towards my precious little girl; which was really hard to do considering how great my love for Nessie is.

"Seven pounds, nine ounces." Bella announced. "He looks perfectly healthy, Ella. You should be proud."

Ella rested her head against the pillow, physically exausted from delivering her son, while Max cooled her off with wet handtowels and ice chips. Collin was caressing her face and trying to get glimpses of his son while Bella cleaned Alejandro off and prepared him to formally meet his family.

"You need to get ready to push again." Carlisle advised. "Ready or not, this next baby has to come out as well."

Ella nodded, the tears rolling down her cheeks going unnoticed by no one, as she closed her eyes and focused once again on delivering a baby.

"...so help me COLLIN! AAAAAAAAAAAAHHH! ¿Por qué me hicistes esto a mí, Collin? Usted me hizo estar tan dolorida!"She screamed in pain; this time more dramatic than the last time. Though it was typical for the second twin's birth to be more painful, this extreme had me worried. (AN: "Why did you do this to me, Collin? You made me this pained!")

Twenty minutes later, after much, much deliberation and effort from Ella, the second baby was born.

It was a tiny, but beautiful, little girl. She was a mere four pounds, five ounces, and estimated to be only six months to term. She would have to be put on a breathing machine and monitored for most of her infancy, if not her whole life.

This, despite all the obstacles and limitations, was Esperanza Belinda Harlen. A very 'beautiful hope' indeed.

She was so much like Ella it was scary, but I could definitely see Collin in her as well. Esperanza had Ella's thick black hair, a mixture of Hispanic and russett Quillite skin pigmentation, Ella's (and Alejandro's) playful hazel eyes, and Collin's devious grin. (Though that last one was just a guess since she was frowning, not smiling; but the mouth shape was definitely the same.)

"Ella, she's...she's beautiful." I admitted, glancing over at the teeny tiny infant as my Bella cleansed the child alongside her brother.

But Ella wasn't listening. She was unresponsive and had a blank stare when Collin tried to stir her. In truth, she wasn't even conscious. Delivering Esperanza had sent her body into shock and her vital organs seemed to be shutting down. If Carlisle didn't revive her soon, it would be too late.

AN: *sung dramatically* Dun, dun, duuuuun! Will Ella survive through the night? Can Collin go on without her? And what will happen to little Esperanza? Read and Review to find out :)

-sidenote: sorry if any of the Spanish is translated incorrectly; but thank you to my lovely reviewer MaximumX777 for helping me correct it :)