Chapter 17

Edward's POV:

It didn't seem right that the woman that I love, my Bella, was tucked away in a tent with another man. It was something that I couldn't get use to. When she walked away crying after slapping Jacob, I had wished I was the one there to console her. Instead, it was Gabriel who ran to her side. I could hear them speaking when they entered the tent, even from a distance. A thousand jagged daggers and pointed arrows pierced me through the heart when I heard him say that he had made love to her on a beach. I suppose it was only natural, being that she was having his child, for them to be intimate, but it hurt so bad to have to hear it.

The only sound I could hear now was the sound of the peculiar heavy downpour that suddenly fell, only after she complained of lack of privacy. His power worried me and it's not to say that I feared him, because truly I didn't. But I feared for Bella. Although, he loves her – his love is diseased with torment. There wasn't anything he wouldn't do for her, even if it meant taking her life.

I had objected strongly to his brazen decision of letting her die, not wanting to play a hand at her death. As if her suicide alone wasn't enough to nearly throw me off the edge and follow her in the act. Yet, he was right. She would do everything in her power to stop him, inadvertently risking the child's life. Gabriel was adamant that his life be saved at all costs. But what a heavy price to pay.

A piercing scream broke through the rain, jolting me into action. I sprinted across the clearing and to her tent, tearing through the zipped entry, not caring about their privacy. I found her thrashing on the air bed, holding her stomach as she groaned in pain. Gabriel looked up at me with an eerie calm, though his eyes were red and not of thirst, but from crying.

"It's time" he said gravely.

She screamed again, this time grabbing his wrist.

"Please! Please, make it stop! Please!" she pleaded desperately. Gabriel smoothed her hair and whispered in her ear.

"Everything is going to be ok, Bella. Everything is going to be ok."

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Gabriel's POV:

My heart sank when she gasped, screaming in agony. She had tossed and turned in her sleep for the past four hours and I could hear the baby's heart slowly dying, signaling his arrival. The minutes were winding down now, fast and imminent and already, I was mourning her.

I whispered in her ear that everything was going to be ok, and in truth, it was. She would never have to feel pain again, never have to worry for her safety, never mourn the loss of her loved ones and she would never see me again. She would be free as she was always intended to be.

Carlisle rushed into the tent, prepared with the backpack I had set up for him. He knew how important it was to save the child and knew that it would mean sacrificing the life of Bella. He, too, thought it was wrong but knew that there truly wasn't any other way. She had to die, the child had to be born, and I had to face my brother for once and for all.

From somewhere in the distance, I can already feel them making their way to us. The time was nearing, closing in on us as the pendulum swung. Bella screamed again. I could hear the baby ripping his way through her. Carlisle moved me aside and went straight to work. Esme and Alice were already by her side, trying to hold her in place and Carlisle examined her.

"Cut it out!" she begged, "Cut it out!' and Carlisle looked up at me, waiting for my direction. I shook my head once. A cesarean would be less painful for her, allowing a smooth delivery, but it would spare her life and I couldn't allow it. He turned back, feeling inside her womb.

"I'm sorry, Bella. But it's too late for a C-section. The baby is already in position. In just a few more seconds, I'm going to need you to push as hard as you can at my word."

She cried in agony as she reached out for me. I was numb, staring at her, remembering the anguish in her face so long ago.

"Please, Gabriel, please!" she begged. "Please give me blood."

I knew if I got too close to her, she'd bite me and my blood would take away all the pain. I wanted to tear my flesh more than anything and give her all my blood, but I couldn't. She had to die. She had to.

I could hear them now and I tuned to look towards the direction of their approaching steps. Edward, too, heard them as he was looking out through the torn tent. He looked back at me with a urgent expression.

They're almost here.

I looked back at Bella, for one last time. I can feel my hear falling apart. So long I lived with just the memory of her and so little time I was able to spend with her when I found her. At the end of it all, despite what she thought, we really weren't meant to be together even though we seemed to be designed for one another, even though fate wanted us to have this child. I hated God and fate and destiny for all their cruelty and all their injustice.

She continued to push, crazed with pain. She was becoming very weak and Carlisle could already see the baby's head. When I knew she hardly had any fight left in her, I walked over to her, kneeling by her side. I took her hand which burned like fire. Her eyes were heavy and her breathing was shallow. Tears ran down my face as I kissed her fingers. She turned and looked at me, face as pale as snow.

"Why do you cry?" she whispered.

I smiled, though inside, my heart was tearing apart.

"It's just rain" I said.

"I want to go home" she said weakly.

"You will, my love. You will."

The time had come. They were finally here. This was it … our final goodbye, though she didn't know it. Pain racked her once again and she let out the loudest scream yet. With a swift move, Carlisle pulled the baby out. I couldn't hear anything at that point other than my beating heart. He brought him to me and placed him in my arms. The first thing I noticed was his chocolate colored eyes, exactly like Bella's. He was beautiful … my Lucian.

I lowered him to Bella but she didn't respond. Her heart beat was fading fast and so was her shield. I actually feel it thinning around me.

"Gabriel, you must go now" said Carlisle urgently. I kissed her lips and her forehead.

"Forgive me, my lady. Forgive me."

Slowly I stood, not wanting to look away from her, and I walked towards the tent's exit, staring at my son's wondrous eyes, feeling my soul fall to pieces. Edward was standing there, keeping at watchful eye outside. He turned and stared at me, face hard like stone.

"You will be a good father" I said handing Lucian to him. His eyes were wide in shock. "He will be a fine son." I said and I kissed the top of his tiny head. Before Edward could look up and protest, I was already gone.

More to follow soon...

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