A/N: Thank you to everyone who has read so far!

Chapter 3: Birth

I woke up early the next day. The curtains were still drawn but the pale light that stole around their edges told me it was somewhere near dawn. Jacob and I were still on the sofa, entwined with each other from the night before. We were both still naked but Jacob must have woken up during the night as the blanket from the back of the sofa was now loosely pulled around us. I looked up at him then and was surprised to find him watching me with soft eyes.

"Hi," I breathed with a small smile on my lips. He smiled back at me, a lazy, totally content smile. I thought back to last night. I had jumped his bones pretty good...

"Hi."

I leant up to kiss him warmly and he brought his free hand up to braid his fingers through my sleep-matted hair. I trailed my own hand over his naked stomach, the flat planes making my fingertips tingle. I pulled away and he stroked my cheek tenderly.

"Want some coffee?" I asked. We would oversleep if we drifted back off now. He smiled once more.

"That'd be nice, please," he replied quietly. When I had first fallen pregnant Jacob wouldn't let me do anything for him. He didn't think I should put myself through any unnecessary 'stress'. I didn't agree. Not that I wanted to be under stress I just didn't see it that way. I wanted to look after my husband. He worked too hard to then have to run the house as well. His job was to provide for our blossoming family and protect us and it was my job to care for him and make him happy. He had been reluctant to accept this but I won in the end. I always did.

I detangled myself from him and stood up straight, stretching my limbs casually. I felt an odd twinge at the base of my spine and winced automatically.

"You okay, baby?" Jacob asked, worry creeping across his face.

"I'm fine, I'm fine," I assured him though I grabbed my lower back to support it all the same. Odd, the pain was gone. Must have just been from spending the night cooped up on the sofa.

I made a detour on my way to the kitchen to grab my robe from the bedroom, but I was soon measuring out coffee beans for the machine.

I heard Jake move from the living room to the bathroom and soon enough the sound of rushing water from the shower drifted down the stairs. The niggling little twinge in my back returned then but much stronger this time. It seemed to have spread and spasmed through the whole of my lower back.

Now it was a lot less centralised I could re-exam the pain. It was not so much a twinge as a squeeze. A very uncomfortable, painful squeeze. The water for the coffee was almost boiling now but I couldn't move my hands for pain. The squeeze intensified and wrapped around my sides tightly. My breath rushed out of me and my hands shot out to grasp the counter top in front of me as I struggled to stay upright.

The pain was not on my skin, like a burn or a scratch would be, but much further down, buried deep in my body as though my very core was being ripped apart. I took a step back to steady myself and instantly froze.

As I had put my foot down the noise of rippling water had reached my ears. I looked down slowly, terrified. The boiling water shot out of the coffee machine then, piercing the silence on the room. It filled the cup noisily and churned to a stop, but still I didn't move.

My eyes stayed glued to the floor and the mess beneath me. The pale tiles were covered in a bloody, dirty liquid that seeped away from directly beneath me. It was thin but nothing like water. No, it was too thick – almost like mucus. The pain in my back and sides had muted and I took in a deep shaking breath. Then, I let it all back out again.

"JACOOOOOB!" I bellowed as loud as I could; panic suddenly making my heart hammer in my chest. I spun on the spot, not quite knowing what to do. Should I sit still? Go to the bed? No, I had the silk sheets out...

I needed the phone. That was right. I needed Carlisle. I took a step toward the phone on the opposite counter but jolted to a stop immediately as I was reminded of the wetness coating my legs. It was pretty nasty.

Jacob whirled around the doorway then with nothing but a towel thrown around his mid-drift.

"What the..." he began, staring at the scene in front of him with bewilderment.

"I think I'm going into labour," I breathed desperately at him. More panic welled inside me but this time there was something new. It flickered at the edge of my heart, tickling it softly. Excitement.

My baby was finally coming. After four years he would finally be mine. Just a few hours now stood in the way of me and my complete happiness. I touched my belly numbly at the thought. Yes, my baby was coming two week early, but I didn't care. I wasn't ready, not expecting it but I didn't give a damn. My baby was coming!

"I'll call the doctor!" Jake half-shouted as he raced from the room. He looked scared. I scanned the room quickly and laughed out loud. He had a right to be afraid – it looked like a scene from a horror movie in here. I waddled over to the sink carefully and rinsed the dish cloth with warm water. Bending awkwardly, I ran the wet rag roughly over my legs to clean them slightly. No need to scare Jacob anymore.

I chuckled again to myself as I deposited the cloth in the bin. Should I clean the floor now? It didn't seem like a very good idea but I like my floor tiles and I didn't know if amniotic fluid stained...

"Carlisle said to go to the hospital and to take these," Jake announced as he appeared at the door again. In his arms he had about half a dozen towels of all different colours. He looked down at them as he spoke his face twisted into confusion and down-right fear. "I don't even know what they're for..."

I walked over to him and reached for one of the towels.

"Warm towels?" I asked, sceptically. He nodded meekly and his lower lip trembled. It looked as though he was about to cry.

"Oh, Jacob," I soothed, reaching for his face. He dropped the towels defeated and let his arms hang loosely by his side. I brought his head down and hugged it against my chest. Oh dear, and I thought Jacob was tough. He was obviously just a marshmallow at heart. I kissed the top of his head and lifted his face.

"Come on," I told him. "I think we should get in the car. It's time to have a baby."

His face was still sad but he smiled at the last part. I took his hand and squeezed it excitedly and suddenly Jake's face lit up. I smiled widely back at him at our shared excitement. He took a step toward the door when I remembered the pile at our feet.

"One sec," I told him as I slowly lowered my body and snatched a towel from the floor. When I look back up, Jacob was watching me curiously.

"For me to sit on," I explained. "No one ever told me childbirth would be this dirty!"

He barked a laugh at that and his breathtaking smile reappeared.

"Come on, you. This baby won't wait forever."

Then, he turned and pulled me gently out the door. Suddenly, I wasn't afraid anymore of what was going to happen. I felt strong – confident. I squeezed Jake's fingers and abruptly wished my labour was already over. I itched to be there, after my child's birth, and already have him in my arms.

Because this moment didn't matter anymore. All that mattered was the outcome. Jacob and me and baby together in our little piece of forever.

XXX

"There's still a few more hours to go, Bella. Just relax."

Carlisle snapped off the rubber gloves and dropped them in a metal bin. Fifteen hours I had been here. Fifteen! I was exhausted already and here was Carlisle telling me I had even longer to wait? I couldn't believe it. I leaned back against the pillows and groaned at his words. Who knew having a baby could take this long?

It was hot in the hospital room, too hot, and the moisture had begun to gather on my forehead and dampen my hair.

"Have a little patience, my dear," Carlisle soothed as he moved over to me. He placed a long hand on my forehead comfortingly and I sighed blissfully. Compared to my burning head his hand felt ice cold like he had been working in the morgue for a little too long.

"D'you think Jake'll be back soon?" I slurred my words together lazily, waiting for the next contraction. They came about every half hour. Every half hour for almost sixteen hours. I was shattered.

"Oh, I should think he'll be back soon," Carlisle smiled. Jake had gone back home to grab the essentials – toothbrush, pyjamas – which we had forgotten in our initial excitement. "But, please, try and relax, Bella. Exhaustion is bad for the baby."

I nodded slightly, letting my eyelids fall shut. Carlisle walked away from the bed and busied himself with something on the other side of the room. I didn't bother to open my eyes to see what it was. I started to be sucked slowly into unconsciousness, soothed by Carlisle's quiet movements. But just as I was on the edge of sleep, I became aware of a faint clench in my belly.

My eyes snapped open immediately and I looked for the clock on the wall. Nineteen minutes since my last contraction.

"Carlisle?"

He turned to look at me and I counted again. I spun the minute hand in my head trying to find the lost time. But, I was cut short, the aching bubble that was building in my stomach suddenly popped and sent a sharp pain scorching through my abdomen.

Carlisle was at my side in a flash and I caught hold of his hand tightly.

"It's okay, Bella, just relaxed. Don't push," he repeated what he had told me the last million times once again, but this time his voice was more elated. Like he was suddenly excited and wide awake. The pain subsided and I squeezed Carlisle's hand in thanks, breathing deep.

"Nineteen minutes. That was an impressive jump."

"So, I didn't count it wrong?"

"What do you mean?"

"Nineteen minutes. Not thirty?" Don't act dumb on me now, Doctor. I could hardly breath – full sentences would not be possible.

"That's right – nineteen. Looks like I got it wrong. Two more hours tops, I would say," Carlisle apologised. I exhaled loudly. So it didn't make that much difference. Still ages until show time and the contractions only got worse from here on in. Carlisle still had hold of my hand so I squeezed it gently.

"Thank you."

My words were quiet but full of meaning. Thank you for preparing me. Thank you for staying with me. Thank you for saving me a million times in the last eight years. Thank you for holding my hand. Carlisle nodded with a smile and moved away from the bed. We stayed in silence for a few minutes when the door swung open.

"Jacob!"

My heart race as his face appeared around the door.

"Easy, Bella," Carlisle cautioned. Urgh, stop telling me what to do, Mr I-can't-work-out-how-far-my-patient's-dilated! I was seriously starting to doubt Carlisle's abilities.

"You took a long time!" I scolded Jacob playfully, paying no attention to Carlisle.

"Sorry, I spent some time cleaning up," Jacob explained.

"Oh right," I blushed as I remembered the mess I had made in the kitchen. Poor Jacob for having to clean that up. He noticed my pink cheeks and smiled bleakly. I guess he didn't enjoy it then. He walked over to me then and grasped hold of my hand.

"How long, Carlisle?"

"A couple of hours," I told him before Carlisle could answer. Ha, payback for getting it wrong and telling me what to do. Did no one ever tell him not to piss off a woman in labour?

"Are you the doctor now, or is he?" Jacob responded with an eyebrow raised. I pursed my lips stubbornly and looked at the wall opposite. "Carlisle?"

"Like Bella said: a couple of hours. I suspect its taking so long because Baby is slightly early. But both Mother and child are stable at the moment so there's nothing to worry about," Carlisle informed Jake.

"Thank you, Doctor," Jacob replied. He was lucky it was his child I was carrying otherwise I would've told him to get lost. Acting petty with me while I was in labour! Silly boys surrounding me! Let's see him squeeze a bowling ball out of his youwho! I felt my bottom lip jut out in a pout. Jacob laughed and leant forward to kiss it softly.

"Stroppy Bella," he breathed before jutting his own lip out and crossing his eyes. I couldn't help it. I burst into laughter, batting him away playfully with my hands as I shook.

And then I gasped. A contraction slammed into me like a brick wall. I squeezed Jacob's hand hard trying to stay relaxed. That one was definitely more painful.

"Fourteen minutes – wow. Why's this baby suddenly in such a hurry?" Carlisle mused to himself when the contraction was over. Then he turned to us. "I think we should probably get you to a delivery room soon."

"Really?" I gasped. "But, you said..."

"I know – I was wrong."

I heaved myself up and swung my legs round, suddenly ecstatic. My baby was so close I could almost feel him in my arms! Carlisle and Jacob helped me hop down from the bed before I could jump down myself. Carlisle grabbed the wheel chair and eased me into it.

"That's twice now. I think you're losing it, Doc," I joked as he began to push the chair toward the door. Jacob was just in front of us and held the swing door open, his eyes bright. I heard Carlisle suck a breath in through his teeth and Jake laughed.

"I know – it's terrible. For your next baby? Please. Hire a better doctor."

XXX

I have never been so happy in my entire life as when I finally gave birth to my baby. Not when I married Jake, not when I found out I was pregnant and not even when I held my baby for the first time. No, I was so happy because finally, FINALLY, after hour upon endless hour the gut-wrenching pain had stopped.

I was floating around on enough morphine by the end to dose up a whole ward seemingly and still begged for more. It felt as though the baby was literally chewing its way out of me.

When those first resonating shrieks had filled the air I could have cried with happiness. There was still a bit of pain, but nothing to what had gone before.

I collapsed back onto the pillow and Jacob leant over to touch his forehead to mine.

"Well done, baby," he sobbed. Was he crying? Pansy – he hadn't done anything! Which made me feel a bit guilty for shouting all those things about him and his sperm a few minutes earlier...

He moved to the side and planted a delicious kiss on my open mouth which I happily returned. I guess I was forgiven at least.

"Bella? Jacob?" Carlisle was suddenly by our side. We broke away from each other to look at him. In his arms was a screaming bundle of woollen blanket. I heard myself gasp as my eyes zeroed in on the package.

My child. My own little Jacob and I was right there in Carlisle's arms. I looked to his face and saw he was smiling so happily back at the baby in his arms that I knew he was going to be handsome. Carlisle looked at me then and his smile got wider.

Suddenly, I needed my child. I heaved myself up quickly with my arms outstretched. Jacob grabbed me by the arm to steady me but I didn't thank him. I just reached out to Carlisle. To my baby.

"Congratulations," Carlisle began at my cue. "It's a beautiful little girl."

My heart broke in two in that instant. Not from sorrow but from too much happiness. Carlisle leant forward and transferred my daughter into my arms. I didn't know that one person could ever experience this much joy and it felt like my heart had shattered from the sheer effort of trying to capacitate it all.

I gazed down spellbound at my daughter's face for the first time. My breath hitched in my throat and I blinked away the tears that were beginning to crowd my eyes. Jacob wrapped his arm around my shoulders and brought his face close to mine so he could see her too. He exhaled quickly and I heard him sniff.

She had a little round face that was all crumpled together as she cried. Her richly tan skin was mashed into horrible disfigurements as she shrieked once more, yet she was still perfect. Little wisps of fine black hair escaped from under the edge of the blanket cocooning her. It didn't matter she was a girl. It didn't matter she wasn't the perfect little boy who had haunted my dreams. Because she was still my baby and she was still my little Jacob.

"She's just like you, Jacob," I whispered, as the tears began to fall.

"Oh, I wouldn't say she was all him," Carlisle said with a slight laugh. "You just wait until she quietens down."

What did he mean by that? I rocked my arms slightly trying to soothe her and gently cooed.

"Shh, it's okay, little baby. Mommy's here now."

Jacob reached forward and touched her cheek delicately. Their skin almost matched. Our daughter's was just a shade lighter.

"Daddy too."

At his touch, she seemed to calm down. She took a big gasp and then smacked her lips together, only making tiny gurgles in the back of her throat. I wondered if she felt as complete as I did at that moment.

I felt her arms and legs wriggle inside the blanket and her eyes squeezed shut even tighter. For a moment, I thought she was about to start crying again. But she didn't. Instead, her eyes flew open and both Jake and I gasped.

She had just revealed to us her most potent weapon. Her eyes were wide set and big – already sparkling. They were of the richest, deepest chocolate brown and framed by a luscious set of fragile eyelashes. She blinked lazily a couple of times and my heart swelled even more.

"See what I mean?" Carlisle laughed. And I did. Although her hair and skin were almost an exact copy of Jacob's, her eyes were mine. It was like looking in a mirror – an exact replica of my eyes set in her tiny face. However, I had never thought my eyes were as powerful as this?

"There's just one slight difference," I voiced my thought aloud.

"What is that?"

"Mine aren't as beautiful," I stated, not in the least upset that it was true.

"You don't see yourself very clearly, do you?" Jacob said in reply. "You're still the prettiest."

I laughed quietly, my gaze never leaving my daughter's face.

"I'm afraid I've got to disagree."

I managed to look away from her somehow to smile at Jake. He smiled back and kissed me quickly.

"So, have you thought of a name yet?" Carlisle moved over to a nurse who was holding a clip board and pen toward him. He began filling in whatever the form was. I creased my brow in thought.

"Actually, I had thought of something," Jake said suddenly. "For if it was a girl."

I turned slightly to look at him and raised my eyebrows. He hadn't spoken to me about this.

"What is it, then?"

He bowed his head quickly as though embarrassed before looking back at me.

"Nessie."

"Nessie? Like the Loch Ness Monster?"

"No, like my Mom. My mother's middle name was Vanessa, so I thought Nessie was kinda short for it and I thought about Sarah for a bit but I thought you'd be unsure and I know Dad and Rebecca still find it hard, so I thought..."

I made sure the baby was tucked securely into the nook of my left arm before reaching up with the right to touch Jake's cheek and stopped him mid-sentence. Of course he would want to name her after his mother. I can't believe I didn't think about this. I hadn't thought he would want to remember her this way.

"It's perfect," I told him and we both turned back to look at the bundle in my arms.

"Nessie," I tried out timidly, hoping it would sound right coming from my mouth. It did. Her name rolled off my tongue effortlessly and I could hear the reverence in my voice. It suited her perfectly – one of a kind. Jacob and I had both said in the past how we wished his mother could be there at the birth and I realised then that this was the most perfect way to honour her. I yawned loudly and began rocking Nessie again gently.

Carlisle had been standing at the bottom of the bed silently watching our touching exchange and took this moment to interrupt.

"I think it's time Mommy got some sleep," he said while moving around to the side of the bed. "Bella, you look exhausted."

He stretched his arms out as a signal to pass him Nessie so I could lie down. I whimpered at the thought of being separated from her.

"Yeah, I've got to go too and make a few calls" Jacob chipped in, stretching out his arms. I looked at him sharply. "I got so excited that I didn't have time to let anyone know we were at the hospital. Dad's probably been trying to get hold of us."

"It's okay, Bella, she'll be right here when you wake up," Carlisle added gently. "But, you need your sleep. Improper rest can increase the risk of post-natal illnesses. You need to let your body recover."

Something about the tone of his voice and the set of his mouth told me this was nonnegotiable. I nodded meekly and let him take Nessie from my arms. Jacob stroked my hair and left the room as I watched Carlisle place Nessie in a cot on the other side of the room.

I numbly slipped down between the sheets and let my eyes fall shut. Come on, Bella, the sooner you sleep the sooner you can see her again. You won't even realise she's gone while you're asleep.

After a few minutes, the room fell silent and I felt my body go limp. A few seconds later I would be unconscious and I knew I fall into a deep, dreamless sle..

A/N: N'awhh, Nessie's here! I hope you enjoyed and check back for the next chapter!

Thanks for reading!

Mel x