Chapter Eighteen

Bella's POV

I was still a little numb as I fed my daughter for the first time. She was just so precious, just so perfect. Her little eyes held mine as she suckled my breast.

Before all this happened I never saw myself in this role. Holding my baby, and smiling lovingly at her. But now that I was holding her, I never wanted to let go.

" How are you feeling, my love?" Edward asked, stroking little Lizzy's soft hair. It's been about half an hour since she came into the world, and during that short time we got to witness her first bath, and those little coos she makes when she's happy. The nurses who examined her were surprised by how intelligent she seemed. She could grasp things and stick her tongue out purposefully. She was doing things that three-month-old babies were just beginning to do.

They wanted to keep a close eye on her development. I wasn't so sure though. She must have been so developed because of her father. Lizzy was only a mere half-hour old and she was already doing things that could blow my mind.

I could tell Edward was thinking the same. Whenever she grabbed his shirt, of touched his nose he got this look on his face. Pure happiness showed in his eyes.

The first visitor we had was my father. Edward told me that he'd been there the whole time, and I faintly remember sometime during the pain that I was told. He walked in, his face etched with worry, and stopped when he saw me holding Lizzy. His face melted into a sloppy grin, the kind of grin that makes him look young.

" Bella." He smiled wide and walked over to me. He gave Edward, who'd been next to me all day, a hug. It was an accepting hug, a congratulations hug. A hug a father gave a son. When I saw this, it topped off my already perfect day. He turned to me and smiled at Lizzy. I was burping her after her feeding. I barely had to support her.

" Who is this gorgeous gal?" Charlie asked in a soft, adoring voice.

" This is little Elizabeth." I smiled, while patting her back.

" Elizabeth?" Charlie asked. I stole a glance at Edward, who was smiling.

" It's my mother's name, Charlie." Edward whispered. Why were we all talking in hushed tones?

" Oh." Charlie said, again in a loving voice. " That's great." He looked to my face and smiled even larger. " Can I hold Elizabeth?" I laughed gently and handed her over, but not before giving her a little kiss on the temple.

" Call her Lizzy, dad." I whispered as I watched Charlie rock her gently in his large arms. She seemed to get lost in him.

" Lizzy." He whispered, still rocking her softly. He leaned over her and kissed her petite nose. " She's perfect."

Charlie stayed with us for another hour before he got a call from the department.

" I gotta go." He said regretfully. He gave Lizzy and me another kiss and Edward another hug before leaving.

It seemed that almost right after Charlie stepped out of the room our family came in. Alice was jumping up and down excitedly; Rosalie huffed and walked right up to me asking for Lizzy. I handed her off smiling. Emmett made funny faces at her as she held his finger. Esme kissed me on the cheek and then kissed Edward on his cheek, and then went to see her granddaughter. Carlisle did the same, but with hugs.

" How did the delivery go? Carlisle asked.

" It was long." I complained. " But worth every second." I smiled. You'd think my cheeks would hurt, but they didn't. I just couldn't find anything wrong with my life.

Jasper was smiling, obviously tasting everyone's joyous emotions. He hugged Alice to him affectionately, then the both of them went to see Lizzy.

" She's just so gorgeous!" Esme exclaimed. " You're both so blessed." She turned to Edward and me. Edward was sitting behind me on the bed, rubbing my shoulders.

" We are. All of us." I said. I felt Edward nod his head as he kissed the nook of my neck. I sighed, completely at ease for once.

" I love you." Edward whispered in my ear, lightly kissing beneath my ear.

" I love you too." I leaned into him and he wrapped his arms around me.

When visiting hours were done everyone left with heavy sighs. Everyone that is, but Edward. The room I was located in had an extra bed, for a family member.

Of course Edward wouldn't be using the bed. He'd be in my hospital bed, with me.

Though the nurses came in every couple of hours to check my medicine they didn't object that he was in the bed with me. Even if they did, he'd be back in it before they even closed the door.

" Thank you." I whispered into the dark.

" For what?" He whispered back. We were spooning. His mouth next to my ear.

" For making my life perfect." I felt him smile, and felt his gentle lips on my hair.

" Well, if that's the case. I must say thank you, also." I giggled gently. He kissed my hair again. " Thank you, my love." We were silent for a short time. " You should get some rest. You'll need it to recover." His hand moved down to where my bandages were covering the incision.

" What ever you say, doc." I joked, already half asleep.

" Good night." Edward's voice was the last thing I heard before I conked out. I was glad it was too, because his voice gave me dreams to die for.

The next day our family stayed away, it was decided a while ago the visit plans, and my friends came to visit. Angela and Ben showed up first. Angela went straight to me and hugged me tight.

" Bella. I'm so happy for you!" She cried. It was so unlike her to cry, so I knew she must have been really happy for me.

" Thanks, Ang." I smiled at Ben, who was talking to Edward awkwardly.

" So where is she? Where's you're daughter?" Angela asked.

" How'd you know we had a girl?"

" Alice called me last night. She was so excited, she had to tell someone." Angela and I laughed.

" It's around her time to feed. I hope you don't mind."

" No. No. It's fine. I mean, if it's fine with you." Ben blushed and left the room, mumbling about snacks.

" Ok." I laughed. " Edward." I smiled to him, he knew what I was asking and he left the room.

" Where's he…" Angela trailed off, confused.

" He's going to get her." IT only took a moment to get Lizzy, and when Edward came back into the room he was cradling her lovingly.

" Here's our Lizzy." Edward said in a sing-song voice, handing her to Angela.

Angela, who's taken care of the twin all their lives, knew how to hold a baby. She was an expert. In fact, she told me she'd baby sit for free, which Edward told her we'd pay, and she'd give us any tips we may need.

" Oh, aren't you just the most adorable baby I've ever seen!" Angela gushed over Lizzy for a couple of minutes before Lizzy, who'd gotten hungry, made a face and started wailing. Angela smiled, not even bothered by the cries, and handed Lizzy to me.

While I feed Lizzy, Angela, Edward, and I talked about basic things. Then, as if something dawned on her, Angela made a face.

" What is it?" I asked confused. I had just handed Edward Lizzy so he could burp her, so I tok Angela's hand.

" It's about Charlotte." She said. Her voice had switched in seconds, going from happy to mournful and worried.

" What about her?" I asked, a little confused still. I hadn't spoken to Charlotte in so long, and she never hung out with people at school.

" Bella. Last night her parents got home to find she missing. There wasn't any notes but all her stuff was still there. Her coat and shoes and her car! Your father thinks she was kidnapped."

I sat there, processing what I was just told. Charlotte was kidnapped? I felt my eyebrows pull together, and I looked to Edward, who shared the same expression as me.

And just like that, as if fate couldn't help but ruin my life, everything was a disaster.

Ok. Seven pages for this chapter! YAY!! And, like I promised, I added more romance into Edward and Bella's relationship. I felt kinda cheesy for putting it in, but hey!, they just had a baby!