BPOV

I reached behind me and braced a hand on the couch before lowering myself carefully to sit. As soon as the weight was off my feet, a sigh of relief escaped my lips. Just a little rest; that's all I needed. My eyes slid shut for a short reprieve, but I could hear Edward banging around the cabinets in the kitchen and felt back. I should have had dinner ready for him after his shift.

"Alright, love." His quiet voice startled me slightly as it was right next to my ear. I smiled slightly as he kissed just below my ear. "Drink this." My eyes fluttered open to see a glass of something within reach. I pulled the glass from his hand and took a small sip. Beginning to lean forward to place the glass on the coffee table, he stopped me with a light hand on my shoulder. "Nuh uh. Drink it all."

"But I'm so sick of water," I whined. Eight months pregnant…I was allowed. He snaked his arms around me and laid his hands on my gigantic belly rubbing softly.

"Little C here needs all the water he can get. You know you're supposed to be drinking more than usual right now." I huffed and took another drink. As much as I hated feeling so waterlogged, I loved that he took such great care to ensure I and the baby were as healthy and happy as possible. "Thank you." He kissed my cheek.

"I'm sorry I'm being so difficult."

"You're not. It's okay, baby." I placed my hands over his and moved his to where the baby was kicking. I sucked in a sharp breath as the kicks grew stronger. "Maybe he'll be a soccer player. He sure has some strength behind that." He hopped over the couch and lay with his head in my lap, his head turned and mouth practically resting on my protruding stomach. "Hey, little man, why don't you ease up on Mommy a little bit?"

I leaned my head back on the couch as Edward told him a story about a soccer game he, Emmett, and some neighborhood kids played on a rainy day. He did this often, speaking to the baby. He'd read in a book that the baby could hear and recognize the parents' voices. He said he didn't want Little C to be confused when he came out. The soft cadence of his voice was so soothing, I found myself drifting asleep. I hadn't registered Edward getting up until he pressed his lips to mine softly. I hummed in contentment.

"Come on, love. Let me put you to bed. You're exhausted." I looked up at him with a pout.

"Just help me up. I need to make you dinner." He reached down and pulled me to my feet, steadying me when I swayed. Damn balance was so out of whack.

"Off to bed. I can make myself something to eat. You're dead on your feet. No arguments."

He turned me toward the bedroom and patted my butt to get me going. I went, absolutely too tired to argue. I sat on the bed gingerly as my eyes drooped heavily. I didn't protest as Edward pulled my shirt off and put my nightshirt, one of his old EMT shirts, on me. He gently laid me back and pulled the sweats off my legs leaving me in just my underwear. I felt the bed shift as he did something. Then he was pulling me to my side where he apparently pulled the covers down. I rolled to my left side, and he pulled the sheet up to my chin.

"Sleep well, angel. I'll be in in just a little bit." My only response was a sigh. I was practically out.

GH

I flipped though the guide for the third time. Nothing was on. I'd been on this couch so long, even the infomercials were reruns. When I heard the doorknob rattle signaling their arrival, I turned off the television and began to push myself off the couch. I couldn't gain enough momentum or balance to rise and halfway up, fell back against the cushions, and knocked the breath from my chest.

"Oh, sweetheart, don't get up on our account." I looked over and smiled at Esme and Sue with a smile. It was so wonderful to see them. They both came over and hugged me then leaned down and greeted their grandson. "How are my son and grandson treating you?"

"Edward's been absolutely wonderful when he's not shoving water down my throat, and your grandson is kicking up a storm." I grabbed each of their hands and laid them on the most active spot.

"Oh!" Sue exclaimed and smiled. "That's a nice strong kick there."

"I placed your bags in the spare room," Edward said as he walked back into the living room. "I also set up the air mattresses earlier. Sorry we don't have a bed for you."

"No worries. Thanks, sweetheart. So," Esme said as she settled in next to me with a brilliant smile. "How are you doing?"

"I'm okay. I can breathe better than I have been in a while now that he's repositioned, but he's putting quite a bit of pressure on my back." She and Sue looked at each other briefly, but I didn't have time to question it before they were bombarding me with more questions. Edward rolled his eyes and left me alone to the firing squad. Not five minutes later, though, I cut them off mid-sentence.

"Sorry, sorry, sorry. Gotta go; gotta go." I tried to push up but didn't make it far. Both stood and took an arm to pull me up. "Thank you. Be back." I made my way to the bathroom quickly. It seemed like he'd been sitting on my bladder lately.

"Okay, love?" Edward asked from the bed when I came out of the bathroom. I smiled and nodded. "He's seems to think my bladder is a punching bag." He sat on the edge of the bed and pulled me to stand between his legs.

"Alright, now, little man," he said to my stomach as he rubbed right where the baby was sitting. "We've had this conversation. You gotta be nice to Mommy. She's trying really hard to take care of you as long as she can." I hissed as the pain and pressure hit me. I forced myself to breathe through it till it subsided. "Bell?"

"I'm fine. Just Braxton Hicks." He frowned a bit and prodded my stomach gently.

"You really firmed up with that. You sure?"

"Yes." I may not have sounded convincing, but that's all it was. Just Braxton Hicks. It had to be. We were still two weeks from the due date.

"Okay," he acquiesced, but it didn't sound entirely truthful. "Let me know if you start feeling something else."

"I promise, Dr. Cullen." He smiled at me and kissed my stomach before standing to kiss me softly.

"How are the grandmas?" I laughed.

"Hovering." He nodded as he wrapped his hands around me as much as possible, my large stomach impeding his progress.

"They're just excited. It's Sue's first grandkid and Mom's first grandson."

"Bella, are you hungry? We were going to make you something to eat," Esme called from the living room.

"What am I? Chopped liver?" Edward called back in amusement. Esme appeared in the doorway.

"You're not carrying my grandson. Bella?"

"I could eat, but I'm not starving. You've traveled so much today. Why don't you relax and let me take care of a snack?"

"Nonsense. You rest. We'll take care of food. Anything in particular you want?"

"Whatever you come up with I'll be happy with."

"How about a selection of fruit?"

"Ohh! With chocolate sauce?" Edward chuckled and kissed my cheek.

"Sure, sweetheart." She left with a bounce in her step. Edward stepped back with a sigh.

"I need to get ready for work." I whimpered and whined.

"Do you have to go?"

"I gotta go." I frowned as my fear spiked.

"Are you sure? You can't stay home?"

"I can't, love. I've got to cover as many shifts as I can, so that when Little C gets here, I can spend as much time home as possible." I don't know why, but the thought of him going made me panic slightly.

"You can stay home." I grabbed his hands and looked down. "They'll understand. It's only once. You can stay home with me." Against my will, tears filled my eyes.

"Bella?" He broke one hand from my hold and tilted my chin up. "What is it, baby? Why don't you want me to go to work?" I shrugged. "You can tell me."

"I don't know." A tear fell, and he wiped it away with his thumb. "I really don't know. I just…I just feel…I just…I don't know." He pulled me into his arms and rubbed my back. "I'm being dumb. I'm sorry."

"You're not dumb. You're pregnant." I rolled my eyes even though he couldn't see it.

"Thank you, Captain Obvious." He shushed me.

"You know what I mean. You're hormones are completely out of whack which affects your emotions. It's going to be okay, love. Mom and Sue are here. They're going to look after you. I'll be just a phone call or page away at any time. Everyone at work knows you're nearing nine months. They're all awaiting the call almost as anxiously as we are. They'll get me if the need arises. Everything's going to be just fine. We've planned for all this. We're prepared." With every word, I calmed more and more. He wouldn't let anything happen to me. I trusted him. I took a deep breath and let it out slowly.

"I know. I'm sorry. I guess I just needed that. You always know just what to say. Thank you."

"Anytime. I love you. We're going to be just fine. All three of us." I smiled, pulled away, and kissed him lingeringly.

"Okay. Get ready for work. You don't want to be late."

EPOV

I grabbed the four charts at the Nurse's Station and stood at the counter to flip through them. I was ten hours into this shift and knew the next two were going to drag. I just wanted to get home to Bella. Today had been…strange. I could have sworn she was showing signs of labor, but she kept insisting it wasn't. Then she'd almost begged me to stay home. She'd whined in the past, but today I saw fear in her eyes. It was unnerving.

"Hey, Dr. C," Nancy said as she set up beside me to do some charting of her own.

"Hi, Nancy. How are you?" Nancy was my favorite nurse at the hospital. She'd worked here for twenty years and knew everything. She did her job, was a fierce advocate for her patients, and was a huge help to me throughout my years here.

"I'm fine. How about you?"

"I'm good." She nodded while still watching her chart.

"How's the missus?" She stopped what she was doing and gave me her full attention when I took too long to answer. "What's goin' on?" I sighed and shook my head.

"It was just a weird day. I thought she was showing signs of labor, but she insisted it wasn't. Then she begged me not to come to work. She looked so scared. I don't know what of. It was just…unnerving."

"You worried?"

"I don't know."

"Maybe-"

"Dr. Cullen," Nurse Janice interrupted. "I'm sorry, but it's your mother on the phone." I snatched the phone from her hand quickly, my heart beating rapidly.

"Mom?"

"It's time, sweetheart." Three words. It only took three words to put me in motion.

"Are you on the way to the hospital? Do you have the bag? Did her water break? How far apart are the contractions? Have you called Dr. Jameson?" I glanced over to see Nancy staring at me with an amused look on her face. I turned to pace, not in the mood to deal with her.

"Yes, we're on the way to the hospital. We grabbed the bag and left right after her water broke. She's about-That's it, sweetheart. Keep breathing. Good. Good. Now relax."

"Mom, let me talk to her." I heard the phone shuffled before an out of breath Bella greeted me.

"Hey, love. How are you doing?" Her puffs of breath were loud in the receiver.

"I'm hurting. What did you expect?" I smiled despite the situation.

"I know, baby. I know." I gripped my hair, frustrated I wasn't there. I should be with her. "I'm going to be there as soon as I can. I just need to notify Dr. Ellison." She whimpered.

"Please hurry. I need you." My heart clenched. She needed me, and I wasn't there.

"I'll be right there, baby. I'll be right there. I promise. I gotta let you go now, baby. I love you."

"I love you too." I hung up the phone and turned back to Nancy.

"I gotta get- No, I gotta call- well, first-"

"Edward, what are you still doing here?" I turned to see Dr. Ellison approaching with a kind smile.

"Bella's on her way to the hospital."

"Yes. Nancy filled me in. Don't worry about the rest of these patients. We've got it covered. Head on out. Your wife needs you."

"Thank you. Thank you both, so much." I turned down one hall but stopped when Nancy called my name. She and Dr. Ellison were both laughing.

"You might want to grab you stuff from your locker first." Shit. My keys and wallet; I'd almost forgot them.

"Yeah. Locker." I turned down another hall and jogged off.

I took practically everything from my locker. My mind was already with Bella. I couldn't even concentrate enough to just take the essentials. I got in my car and headed to Comer Children's Hospital. Halfway there I realized I hadn't even changed out of my scrubs but guessed that'd be fine. I hated that it was taking so long to get to the hospital and was about to lose my mind when I finally pulled into the parking lot. I took the first spot I saw and ran inside to Labor and Delivery.

"Bella Cullen," I said to the woman sitting at the desk. "My wife. She just came in. Her water broke. Where is she?" She smiled at me brightly.

"Just down the hall. Room 4. She just got settled in."

"Thank you."

"Edward." I turned to see my mom waving at me from down the hall. I hurried over to her.

"What's going on?"

"She's 8 cm and 75% effaced. We're past the point of receiving an epidural so she's in quite a bit of pain. She's been asking for you." I calmed myself before stepping inside. She needed me to be strong and held together. I walked in to find her in the bed, in a gown, and already covered in sweat.

"Hi, love." I walked over and kissed her forehead.

"Edward. Where were you?"

"I was at work. I got here as soon as I could. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else."

"They won't give me an epidural." I sat on the side of the bed and held one hand while I rubbed her belly with the other. Esme and Sue stood on the other side fussing over her.

"I know. You're too far along."

"This is happening too quickly." I tucked a strand of hair then another contraction hit. I watched her tense up.

"Breathe through it baby. Remember our trip to Italy. We stayed in the little village just outside of Florence." We'd talked about what she wanted to use as her happy place to focus on when the contractions hit. She'd been quick to pick this memory. "The cottage was cozy and just the right size. We woke up each morning to the sun shining into the room from the balcony. There wasn't a soul around, so we could spend time just enjoying each other without worrying about anyone interrupting us." The contraction started to dissipate.

"We're not enjoying each other again. That's what got us into this mess." I fought to suppress the smile. "Never again."

"Okay, baby." That's how the next hour continued. Her contractions grew closer and more intense. I talked to her about our trip, trying to keep her mind off the pain.

"Hello, lovelies," I heard Dr. Jameson say as she walked into the room. I turned to the doctor and smiled. "Let's see how you're doing, Bella. I'd hazard a guess that we're just about there."

"I need to push," Bella said as she tried not to tense up.

"Just a second. Hold that." Dr. Jameson checked Bella and looked up with a smile. "Well, Bella, you're right. Let me get scrubbed, and we'll get started in just a few minutes." She walked away as two nurses came over to adjust Bella's bed and prep us.

"We're going to step outside to the waiting room now," Sue said as she kissed Bella's forehead. "You're going to do just wonderful, honey. I can't wait to meet this grandbaby." Bella nodded with her eyes closed as another contraction hit. As the moms stepped out of the room, Dr. Jameson came back and got into position.

"Alright. On the next one, I want you to bear down and push for me. Kay?" Bella nodded and took a deep breath.

"You can do this, baby. You're going to do just fine."

"You better be-" She stopped as the next contraction hit, took a deep breath, and pushed.

"Alright, Bella, you're doing good," Dr. Jameson said after the third push.

"Something's not right," Bella said as she panted. Dr. Jameson and the nurses looked over the monitors and Dr. Jameson took a closer look at Bella.

"Everything's just fine, Bella. You're doing great, the baby's not in distress, everything's looking picture perfect."

"Bella, you're doing just fine, baby. We'll get to meet Little C soon. Do you think he'll have hair?" She took a deep breath, leaned forward, and began to push again. "Come on, baby. You can do it."

"That's it, Bella. I can see the head. We're almost there." I leaned forward and kissed her sweaty forehead. "Not much longer, baby. He'll be here soon."

"Edward." She sounded so tired and so weak. I leaned forward to hear her better. "Something's not right." A tiny fission of fear ran through me.

"You're fine, baby. You're fine, Little C's fine, everything's going to be fine."

"Push, Bella. One last really big push." A nurse and I helped her lean forward to bear down and she pushed. A few seconds later, a loud wail filled the room. I looked down to see Dr. Jameson leaning back with a tiny human in her hands. "Congratulations. You've got a son." I looked back at Bella to see her staring at our son with tired eyes.

"You did it, baby. He's here." She looked at me with tears in her eyes. She was panting from the exhaustion.

"I love you." I smiled at her whispered words and kissed her lips.

"Edward, do you want to cut the umbilical cord?" Dr. Jameson asked.

"I love you too," I told Bella.

"Tell him I love him." My brows furrowed.

"What?"

"Tell him how much I…how much I…love-" Her eyes rolled back in her head and she slumped on the bed.

"Bella?" An alarm went off and Dr. Jameson turned back to Bella quickly.

"She's hemorrhaging. Call up and get an OR prepped. Get the baby into the nursery. Edward, I need you to step outside." I looked from her to Bella.

"What?" I stroked Bella' cheek softly. "Bella, love, wake up. Wake up, Bella." My fear spiked when she didn't respond. "Bella, baby. Come back to me. Talk to me."

"Edward, please step outside." A nurse took my arm and gently pulled me to the door.

"No. She needs me." Dr. Jameson never looked at me.

"Right now she needs our full attention, and you're just going to be in the way. Step outside." Before I knew it, I was being shoved into the hallway. What just happened? I walked in a daze down the hallway not knowing where I was going.

"Edward!" I looked up startled to her my mother's voice until I realized I was in front of the waiting room door. "I called your father and Charlie earlier. They should be here later tonight. They're catching the red eye. So…" I finally looked up at her confused. Her brilliant smile faded a little. "So…tell us."

"He…she…" I didn't know what to say.

"Sweetheart." Her smile faded completely as worry etched her face. Sue stepped forward and laid a hand on my arm. That was apparently my breaking point. I felt a sob rip up my throat but it sounded like it was coming from somewhere else in the room. "Edward, what? What is it? What happened?"

"She…she was…hemorrhaging." Sue gasped and covered her mouth. "They kicked me out."

"Did they say anything?" I shook my head. Her eyes had just rolled back.

"They're prepping an OR." Saying it aloud made it real. "Mom, she just…her eyes just…she didn't even get to hold him." I didn't realize my body was shaking until Esme pulled me into her arms. "She told me…she told me…she said to tell him she loved him." I cried. She couldn't leave me. She had to be okay. I couldn't do this without her. I couldn't be without her.

"Shh. Pray, Edward. Pray everything's going to be okay. She can pull through this. She's a strong person." I felt Sue's arm on my back as she guided me to sit in a chair. My mom never let go of me. Eventually my tears stopped, but my chest never stopped throbbing. "What about the baby?"

"Edward." I jumped up when Dr. Jameson called my name. I don't know how long I'd waited, but it was too long.

"How's Bella? Is she okay?"

"She's in recovery." I released the breath I'd been holding.

"Is she going to be okay?"

"She's going to be fine. The hemorrhage was caused by a uterine atony. That means her uterus wasn't contracting enough to control the bleeding. We got lucky and were able to get it under control with medication and massage before we actually had to perform surgery. She's going to recover fully, and she should be awake within an hour." When I heard Sue whimpered, I turned to see her crying. I pulled her into a hug with one arm and my mother with the other.

"She's going to be okay." I needed to say it to reassure myself.

"We're getting her settled into a room. We want her to stay for observation for a while. We'll know how long for sure as time progresses. While we're waiting…do you want to meet your son?"

"Y-yes." She smiled and had me follow her to the nursery. Esme and Sue stayed behind. She walked in and handed me a gown.

"Put this on." I did so quickly, anxious to see my son. My son. She walked to a tiny plastic crib and plucked a blue bundle from it. She walked over and stood in front of me. "Here, Daddy. Why don't you hold you son?"

She placed him into my arms gently and stepped away. He felt so light in my hands but so heavy at the same time. He was such a tiny little thing, but he was my son. I had a son. I had someone relying on me to care for him completely. I watched his little face scrunch as he whimpered once. I pulled him closer to my chest and swayed slightly shushing him. His whimpers turned to small cries.

"It's okay, little man," I told him. His cries stopped and his little eyes opened. I swear he looked straight at me. "Hey there. It's your Daddy. I'm so glad you're finally here." His blue eyes found mine. He knew it was me. I pulled the little cap back off his head slightly. I ran a finger over the little bit of brown hair he had and let out a relieved sigh. He didn't get my hair.

"He's 5 lbs. 9 oz. and 20 inches long. He was born at 8:52 pm. He's a perfectly healthy, beautiful baby boy." I looked up at her beaming. She smiled back. "What's his name?" I shook my head.

"I need to wait on Bella. We have a few picked out, but she wanted to meet him first before we chose." A nurse I recognized from the delivery stepped inside.

"504, Dr. Jameson." She nodded at the nurse and turned to me.

"Do you wanna go see Bella now?" My heart rate increased, and I nodded quickly. "Go ahead and put baby Cullen back in his crib. Once you see Bella and get settled, we'll bring him down to the room."

BPOV

I woke slowly with a heaviness to my limbs. I didn't feel much pain, just a dull ache and…something didn't feel right. I wasn't sure what. I just knew something was wrong. I blinked a few times to clear the haze and turned my head to the side. A smile bloomed on my face at the sight that met me. Edward sat in rocking chair with our son cradled closely in his arms. Our son. He was murmuring too quietly for me to hear him. He lifted the baby and kissed his head softly.

"You look so good with him," I said on a sigh. Edward looked up quickly and smiled widely. He stood from his chair and came to perch on the bed beside me. He leaned down carefully and kissed me softly.

"Hello, beautiful." I smiled and looked down at the squirming bundle in his arms. "Can you sit up?" It took some maneuvering, but I eventually pushed myself up. As soon as I was settled he placed our son in my arms. The feeling I'd had earlier, the feeling that something wasn't right, disappeared. I looked down at the tiny little face and smiled as he began to whimper.

"It's okay, little one," I cooed at him. "I've got you. You're going to be just fine." His squirming ceased, but he continued to whimper. "I know. You're hungry. We can take care of that." I scooted forward a bit. "Will you sit behind me so I can lean against you?"

"Of course." Edward moved to do as I asked, and I settled back against him. I took a pillow and propped it under my elbow. I pulled the gown aside and turned his little body towards me. I could feel Edward lean his head forward to watch.

"Come on, baby." I stroked his little cheek lightly. "Open wide. I know you're hungry." He did as I asked, and I pulled him into me. He latched on quickly and began to drink vigorously. I smiled in pride. It'd barely taken any coaxing. Edward reached around and stroked his back softly.

"He's perfect, isn't he?" I looked up to see pure awe and adoration in Edward's eyes as he watched his son.

"He is." Edward turned to me with glassy eyes then looked back down.

"What are we going to name him?" I watched as the baby's suction slowed.

"What do you like?" Edward furrowed his brows for a second.

"I think you've been right all along."

"Yeah?" I asked curiously. He'd been so set on Matthew from the beginning. For him to give up so easily without a fight was strange. I wasn't going to complain though.

"Yeah. You were right." He turned to kiss my cheek before turning his attention back to the baby. He was enthralled. I looked down to see he'd fallen asleep. I covered myself and pulled him back against my body. Just as I'd resituated, the door opened quietly. I looked up to find Esme and Sue looking in anxiously. "Come in." Esme smiled at her son and came in quickly, Sue not far behind her.

"It's so good to see you awake," Sue said as she leaned forward and kissed my temple. I smiled at her.

"Oh, just look at him," Esme cooed excitedly but quietly. Both grandmas leaned forward to see his little face. "He's sleeping so soundly."

"He's got a full belly," Edward said proudly, as if he'd had something to do with it. I chuckled.

"He latched on okay?" Sue asked. I nodded. "You're lucky. I had such a hard time with Seth. He just wasn't getting it and would get frustrated. Eventually he got it, but up until then it was hell. You're lucky you won't have to go through that."

"So introduce us!" Esme exclaimed. "We wanted you two to see and hold him first so we haven't even had a glimpse until now." I looked back at Edward, signaling him to tell.

"You sure?" He was always so thoughtful. I nodded. "Alright then. Grandmas, meet your new grandson, Ethan Charles Cullen." Both smiled widely. Sue's eyes grew teary.

"He's going to be so honored, Bella," she said thickly. I smiled.

"Do you two want to hold him?" They both nodded. I didn't know who to hand him to first. We hadn't discussed that.

"Go ahead, honey," Esme told Sue. "It's your first grandbaby." Sue smiled and reached forward to pull him into her arms.

"Oh, Bella. He's beautiful, and he's so tiny. How much does he weigh?" I looked back at Edward.

"He's 5 lbs. 9 oz., 20 inches long, and he was born at 8:52pm. Ten fingers, ten toes. Healthy lungs, all organs fully developed. He's truly perfect." I leaned my head back against Edward and closed my eyes as Sue handed Ethan to Esme.

"Oh, Edward, he looks just like you." I smiled. I'd hoped he would. "He's got your nose and lips and cheekbones." As Ethan started to whimper, I sat up and reached for him. Esme handed him over immediately.

"I got you, little one. Calm down. We're here to take care of you. Nothing to worry about." He quieted almost immediately. I pulled him to me to kiss his head as Edward leaned in the kiss mine. I heard a faint click and looked to Esme when I sat back up. She smiled poudly.

"Family photo."

AN: I thought you might like a little visit from our friends. Hope you enjoyed. :)