Copyright declaration: The Twilight series and its characters are the creation of and copyright of Stephenie Meyer. I own nothing and this story is purely a not for profit work of fan fiction. No copyright infringement intended.

Author's note: Sorry it's been over a month since I updated this story. We're coming to the end now, only one chapter left after this one! Let me know if you want me to include anything that should be included in the next chapter…any ideas or any feedback/comments/constructive criticism are very much appreciated! :-) Thanks to everyone who has reviewed and followed my story so far!

Chapter Twenty-two

– Birth –

Rose was hysterical, her eye makeup running in little black rivulets down her face. "Jacob," she wailed, over and over and over until I put my hands over my ears to block out the sound.

"Renêe!" Charlie said loudly over the sound of Rose's agitation. "I'll deal with this. You need to get Bella to the hospital."

Mom nodded and then I was being hurried out the door and into her borrowed Mustang. Rose's outburst was a temporary distraction and as my mom put her foot on the gas, I was overwhelmed by the pain shooting through my sides.

"It's okay, Bella. Hold on, sweetie. We're nearly at the hospital."

She pulled up outside the Labor and Delivery entrance and called for assistance. I was shown to a comfortable delivery suite where a midwife came to examine me and check my medical details.

Mom was right by my side, reassuring me. But throughout the long hours that followed, when I paced the floor in an attempt to escape from the nagging pain, all I wanted was Jacob and to feel his strong arms around me, his dark eyes giving me the power to deliver our baby.

After several agonising hours of anxiety and pain, I was told it was time to push. And then came the moment when I called into action what felt like every muscle in my body.

"I can't do this," I moaned.

"Yes, you can, sweetheart," Mom said and the midwife echoed her, "You're doing great, honey!"

A spasm of pain shot through me and then my own cries merged with the sound of a very different type of cry.

"Congratulations Bella! You have a healthy baby boy."

"Oh," I gasped, too overwhelmed to think straight. When my baby was given to me to hold, my heart swelled with joy. The rest of the day passed in a blur as I slept soundly, only waking when the nurses came to check on my new little bundle and me.

Later the next day, a nurse knocked on my door and Mom got up to answer it.

"You have a visitor, Mrs Black," the nurse said. ""He can't stay long but he wanted to see you."

"Who is it?" I asked, raising my head from my pillow.

Mom smiled as she said to the nurse, "Let me help you with that." She opened the door as wide as it would go, assisting the nurse in wheeling through a hospital gurney.

And then I burst into tears. "Jacob!"

"Hey there, beautiful," he replied, weakly holding out his arms to me. We hugged for a long time as tears ran down both our faces, only letting go when a shrill whimper reminded us that we were not the only ones in need of love and comfort.

"Jacob, meet our son," I said as I carefully lifted our baby out of his bassinet and held him so that Jacob could see him.

"Can I hold him?" Jacob asked in awe, as if he were a child asking to play with a new toy.

The nurse laughed, "I would think so, Mr Black! Just be careful you don't pull out the drip in your arm."

I helped Jacob to cradle the baby in his arms and we both smiled. "He's perfect, Bella, truly perfect. And you're so clever, my beautiful girl."

I leaned over to him so our lips could touch and he kissed me, his love evident in his eyes.

Mom snapped a photo of our happy little family and when Jacob had to go back to his room, I felt bereft of his company.

"Don't worry, Bella. He's going to be fine," she said.

"I know," I murmured drowsily. "It feels too good to be true but…[I yawned]… I'm just… so… happy."