Chapter 14: Hardball
Edward was sitting out in the waiting room of the hospital. Earlier that morning Rosalie had gone into labor and he was the only one home. He had called Emmett on his way to the hospital while Rosalie was screaming in the passenger's seat how much she hates Emmett and vowing he would never put his hands on her again.
As he sat in the waiting room, he saw Renesmee in the play area humming and playing with the blocks there. He moved his fingers through his hair letting out a shaky sigh. He closed his eyes as his mind started drifting when Renesmee pulled on his sleeve. She raised her arms up. "Daddy…" she said quietly. Edward lifted her up in his arms, kissing her forehead.
"You should try to sleep," he whispered.
"No sweepy," she answered.
He kissed her forehead again and started humming softly to her. Renesmee gripped his shirt as her eyes started drooping.
Bella arrived at the hospital and saw Edward in the waiting room with a dozing Renesmee. She heard the song he was humming and felt her heart stop in her chest. He was humming her lullaby. She let out a shaky sigh, swallowing hard. James stood behind her, his hand resting on her shoulder. She glanced at him and smiled a little.
Edward stroked his daughter's hair with a small smile on his face. He was able to sit in silence and look at the child he and Bella created together. She was the most beautiful little girl he had ever seen in his life and it was hard to believe that he and Bella created her. He adored this little girl, the moment he first saw her his heart was hers. He stroked her hair gently with a sad smile on his face. "You know, I would've married your mom after high school, I had planned on asking her after graduation," he whispered.
Edward swallowed hard and continued stroking her hair. "I messed up, Ness, I messed up badly and I missed out so much on your life. I missed your first step…your first word…your first smile…I'm sorry I missed out on everything with you too. But I promise I won't miss out on anything else in your life. Your first day of school…I'll be protecting you from any of the boys that would come around to ask you out. I'll be there for you when that first heartbreak happens, when you graduate high school, graduate college, when you get married, and when you become a mommy too. I'm not missing out on anything else Renesmee, I love you so much," he whispered. He felt his heart break and pressed his forehead to his daughter's. "Its all my fault this happened and I wish I could take it all back," he said quietly.
Bella had heard his words and leaned against the wall, thankful that James had left to get some coffee. She put her hand against her forehead and choked back a sob. She put her hand over her mouth and fought back all the tears. "Why am I so stupid?" She whispered, sniffling. She looked over to see Edward rocking their two-year-old back and forth in his arms.
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A few hours later, Edward walked into the cafeteria to get some coffee when he saw Bella sitting at one of the tables. "I thought you'd be sitting with James," he commented.
"He's with Renesmee," she replied.
Edward grabbed a cup of coffee before sitting at the other table. "Edward…why won't you sit here?" She asked.
"Why? You still don't trust me even though I lowered myself to my knees in tears telling you how I feel from my heart and you still shove me away," he replied.
"Yes," she told him.
"Why?" He asked.
"Because you hurt me," she replied.
Edward sat down across from her. "Dammit Bella what is it going to take to get you to see how sorry I am?" He asked.
"I don't know," she replied.
She got up and went back upstairs. Edward closed his eyes tight and let out a shaky breath.
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When the sun started to come up, an exhausted Emmett came out. "It's a girl," he announced tiredly. Bella and Alice got up to hug their brother.
"Congratulations," they told him.
Emmett hugged them back with a smile. "What's her name?" Esme asked standing up.
"Evelyn Rachel Swan," he replied.
"Beautiful name," Alice commented beaming.
"You're not dressing our kid up," Emmett told his sister.
"You guys are just not fun," Alice whined.
Jasper laughed as he got up, wrapping his arms around his wife's waist. Bella smiled a little, biting her lower lip.
She walked into Rosalie's hospital room to see her baby niece. "Rosalie she's beautiful," she whispered. Rosalie smiled tiredly.
"Want to hold her?" Emmett asked.
"Um…sure," she replied.
Emmett took Evelyn from Rosalie's arms and carefully placed her into Bella's arms. Bella looked down at the baby with a small smile on her face. She looked up when the door opened and saw Edward walk in with Renesmee on his hip. "Baby!" The toddler gasped. Bella smiled as she walked over to show her daughter her new baby cousin.
"Renesmee, this is Evelyn," she said quietly.
Renesmee waved smiling. "Hi," she whispered. She looked at her mother. "Baby's sleeping," she said quietly.
"Yep, the baby's sleeping," she replied.
Edward smiled a little. "She's beautiful Rose," he told his sister.
"Thank you," Rosalie said tiredly.
Edward looked back at Bella, their eyes locking. She cleared her throat and placed the baby back into the crib. "I should go," she whispered leaving.
"Renesmee do you want to go with mommy?" Edward asked.
"No," the toddler replied, burying her head into Edward's chest.
Edward looked at his ex confused, never did he hear his daughter decline going home before. "Bella…" he started.
"I have to go," she told him leaving the room quickly.
"Emmett…" he started.
Emmett took Renesmee into his arms while Edward went after Bella. "Bella!" He called. Bella kept walking when Edward grabbed her arm. She let out a cry, ripping her arm away. "I hardly touched you," he told her. He grabbed her arm again, revealing a large bruise on her arm. "Bella…" he started.
"I hit the counter," she told him.
She walked away after that. Edward stood there with anger showing on his face. He let out a shout and kicked the nearest wall. Emmett walked over and stood by his brother-in-law. Edward looked at Emmett, letting out a deep breath. "That's it, that son of a bitch isn't going to do it again," he muttered. Edward grabbed his jacket off the chair. "I'm keeping my promise, Em, I'm going to protect your sister," he told him before storming out of the hospital.
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Edward ran down the hill of the forest, heading towards the same place he knew James was. The rain started to fall, but Edward just continued on his path. The anger was pulsing through his veins, his eyes were burning with hatred. He hit a wet spot on a hill, but instead of falling down on it, he just purposely slid through the mud and the leaves.
Once he reached the bottom, he could hear the laughter and he could smell the fire. He came to the spot to see everyone under a tarp while the fire was burning. "JAMES!" He shouted angrily. Just as James looked up, Edward crashed into him, sending them both to the ground.
"EDWARD!" Bella shouted from behind one of James's friends.
Edward stood up just as James kicked him in the stomach, sending him into the ground. "Well, well, big bad Edward's come out to play," he taunted. Edward held his stomach.
"You're hurting her you son of a bitch," Edward snapped.
James kicked Edward in the side, sending him into the ground. "Not too much, just enough to show the bitch her place," he laughed. Edward got up from the ground, punching him in the face.
"You sick asshole!" He snapped.
James held his jaw with a grin. "Well, I guess it's on," he commented with a chuckle. Edward took off his jacket, throwing it aside as James did the same with his.
"You won't hurt her again," Edward answered.
"We'll see about that," James cackled.
