Disclaimer: All the Twilight stuff belongs to Stephenie Meyer. No copyright infringement is intended. I'm just playing in her sandbox.
Chapter 78 Arrival
We were having this baby the normal human way and I could only hope it was possible.
EPOV
I threw the bedclothes to the foot of the bed, leaving only the bottom sheet and laid her gently across the bed, propping her up with all of our pillows. I had scooted her rear almost to the edge facing me and I had her feet flat on the bed with her knees bent. I had only ever done this with stirrups, but we would have to improvise. There would be no time for a Cesarean birth. I felt her abdomen, realizing that Masen's head was turned down and he was entering the birth canal. We were having this baby the normal human way and I could only hope it was possible. I left for a split second to grab linens from the bathroom closet and to retrieve the one thing that I had prepared in case we needed it . . . a large stainless steel syringe that I had filled with my own venom. Bella would survive this birth, one way or another.
I held her hands as she struggled to continue breathing through the now almost constant contractions. I could not see Masen's head yet, but I could feel it and I needed to do an episiotomy to keep her from ripping. It was a simple cut to the thin membrane of vaginal wall to keep it from tearing so that it could be stitched together after the birth, healing much nicer than if I allowed it to tear. I doused my hands and arms with alcohol and quickly put on gloves before I cut her ever so slightly with the scalpel, trying to ignore her scream. There had been no time for the shot of Novocaine to take effect. Her blood held no call for me as it dripped down my hands.
No sooner had I relieved the tension this way, the sac that contained the baby bulged out, forming a large bubble. It had not ruptured and my scalpel did not even mark it, much less make a cut. I bent forward and easily tore a large hole in it with my teeth, careful to swallow as much of my venom as possible first. Clear fluid spilled over the edge of the bed and onto my legs as I knelt there, continuing to talk to my son and wife, telling them both how much I loved them and how well they were both doing, and reassuring Masen that he was alright, just to relax and let this happen and reminding him not to bite. I had no idea if his bite was venomous or not, though I thought it might be, and I tried not to even think about that possibility.
I had heard Esme as she entered the house some moments ago, but she did not come into our room. She stood and called Carlisle, her thoughts letting me know that he would be here in minutes and that she was there if I needed her.
My father might arrive in minutes, but I wasn't sure he would not beat my son's arrival. Masen's head was crowning now and I tried to hold Bella's hand, knowing this was the most painful part and encouraging her to breath and now to push when she felt the desire. We were doing this, she and I. We were going to have a son that I delivered . . . and it was all going to be okay . . . we could do this . . .
"Edward!" she screamed, "Oh God, Edward! I can't do this!"
"Yes you can baby, you're both doing great," I encouraged them, "another big push, come on Bella, his head is out sweetheart. Breath. Give me another big push, his shoulders need to come out Bella, come on . . . push baby. You're okay Masen, it's almost over son, stay calm."
"Edward!"
I continued to run my finger around inside her opening, making sure there was room for Masen's head to emerge as her contractions pushed him further and further out of her body as I continued to talk softly to them. He was scared, really scared. I heard the turmoil in his mind as his instincts told him to get out of there, to tear his way out to survive while his mind told him to trust me, to trust that his Dad would get him out. He didn't want to hurt his Mom, he loved her but he was just so scared. He was fully capable and more than strong enough to get himself out, one way or another but he was trusting me. As soon as he set eyes on me he was fine. I smiled down at him as I suctioned his throat and nose and he smiled back in return.
"That's it, son. It's me, Daddy. You're okay, everything is going to be just fine. Remember not to bite, son. You must not bite Mommy even now, Masen," I told him as I wiped his face, removing the blood and fluid so that he could see clearly. I turned my attention back to Bella.
"Breath, Bella. Masen is fine, breath for me. One more push, sweetheart, just one more and we'll have our son. Come on, love, push."
She was tired and I knew it. Her blood pressure was going up and I needed to relieve some of the pain. She would be fine as soon as he was out, the pain would be over almost immediately once he was delivered and her blood pressure should react almost as quickly. I couldn't spare a hand to hold hers or comfort her with, so I continued to talk to her and to Masen, hoping he could help her.
"That's right. You tell her, Masen. Mommy needs to stay calm and push, everything is fine now, isn't it son?"
"Good . . . good sweetheart . . . keep pushing . . . keep pushing, baby, just a little more . . . yes!"
"We have a son, sweetheart! He's fine. You did it, Bella. I never thought I would be a father, but you did it, love," I said as I held Masen and stood to lean over her and kiss her lips, tucking a strand of sweaty hair behind her ear. It was the first time I noticed her hair was much shorter than it had been.
"Edward," she said as I kissed her, "He's so beautiful! He looks just like you, sweetheart. I love you both so much!"
I moved to sit on the bed next to her, holding our son on her stomach for her to see. I was hesitant to let her hold him because I was unsure about Masen being calm enough to continue to control himself and not bite. I grabbed one of the blankets I had gotten from his room and wrapped him in it, his beautiful eyes wide with wonder at seeing us for the first time. His eyes were dark, not a color yet really, and the thick hair covering his head was matted and wet, his skin covered in blood and still bearing the thin coating of cheesy substance that he was born with so I had no idea just how pale he really was. He had a full compliment of shiny white milk teeth and he smiled at us as he examined our faces and we admired his.
"I'm going to lay him here on the bed beside you so that you can still see him while we finish this, okay?"
"Okay," she agreed softly as I moved off the bed.
I opened his blanket so that I could get to the umbilical cord, grabbing the surgical scissors to cut it as Masen stared at me. Nothing. The scissors did nothing to the cord but temporarily dent it in. Bella watched, looking from the cord in my hands to my face and back to the cord.
"Edward?" she said, a small amount of panic crossing her face.
I smiled, touching the back of my hand to her face and rubbing along her cheekbone. Turning to the baby, I did what most every other animal in nature did when they had a baby, and I severed the cord with my teeth, easily biting through it.
"He has a heartbeat like his Mom, sweetheart, but he seems almost as tough as his Daddy is," I told her, pausing to give her lips a soft kiss. I wrapped him back up and moved to take care of her.
"I need to deliver the afterbirth, love," I told her as she continued to stare at our son and allow him to wrap his tiny fingers around her pinkie.
I pressed on her stomach to help move the placenta along and keep the uterus contracting. She frowned at me and I apologized to her, explaining why it was necessary and how sorry I was to be hurting her. I was a little concerned that I get all of the afterbirth, as the consistency was obviously vampire in nature and I wanted to be sure that her uterus was unhurt and that the bleeding would stop. Everything seemed normal, well . . . as normal as a half vampire birth could have possibly been. I had only delivered a few babies in medical school and I considered asking Carlisle to come in and make sure that I had done everything correctly, but I was comfortable enough with what had happened that I didn't want to embarrass Bella by having him examine her. She only required a few stitches and the Novocaine seemed to be working so she really never realized that I was sewing her up. I took the tray with surgical implements along with the tray that I had placed the placenta and afterbirth in and put them on the bench in our shower, stopping at the linen closet on the way back to get fresh bedding. Bella was so small she took up less than half the bed and I placed a fresh mattress cover and sheet on half the bed along with pillows at the head of the bed. I lifted her and placed her on the fresh linen, sitting up with the pillows at her back against the headboard with a towel under her, carefully handing her the baby still swaddled in a blanket. I placed him in her arms as she sat up leaning against the pillows in such a manner that his mouth could not reach her skin. The soiled linens were crumpled into a ball and on the floor of our shower in an instant, the wood floor of the bedroom cleaned and the rest of the bed neatly made.
She looked like an angel sitting there on the bed, gossamer curtains hanging down and gathered at the corner posts. I sat beside her, still wearing only my boxer briefs as I admired my wife and son.
"He's here! He's here and he's really ours, Edward . . . yours and mine! We have a son!"
"I know, sweetheart. You amaze me, you did so well. How do you feel? Is anything hurting you?" I asked as I held her hand, continually monitoring her heartbeat and blood pressure.
"Is this my husband talking, or my doctor?"
"Both," I said smiling. "Are you sure you're alright? I need to get you an ice pack to put here," I said as I let my hand drift between her legs.
"Your cool hand feels good. I bet an ice pack wouldn't be nearly as good, Edward," she said as she raised an eyebrow.
"You have stitches love, so you need to know to be careful. No straining when you go to the bathroom and wipe carefully so that you don't pull them, and no lifting anything for a day or two, okay?"
"Yes, doctor," she smiled, beaming at me. God she was beautiful.
"I think there are a few people that are waiting to meet this little guy. Are you up to it?" I asked he as I kissed her again.
"Yes. But Edward," she smirked looking down at her bare chest, "Shouldn't I at least have a gown on before our family comes in?"
I totally forgot that my wife was sitting in bed naked, with covers only partially pulled over her body. I retrieved a gown from her drawer and slipped it over her head, holding Masen while she put he arms in and tucked it around herself.
"Now we can let the family meet him," she said.
~oooOooo~
Esme POV
I knew when he walked away that someone needed to stay with him. I had apparently lost a daughter and grandson, and I was loosing my son as well. He did just as I thought he would and headed straight for his house, needing to feel close to Bella and heading to where her scent and memories would be the strongest. I felt my body shaking as I followed him, my tearless sobbing was uncontrolled and I could only imagine how my son was feeling.
The unbridled joy that filled the house the moment he discovered that she was there, alive and in their room was indescribable. I heard them, of course, but I lingered outside for a time before I went into the house, unwilling to intrude on their reunion. Edward knew I was here and he would call me if he wanted my help. He was apparently quite busy preparing to deliver their baby.
"Carlisle, she's here! Bella's here at her house," I told him as I heard a sigh of relief from his lips.
"I'm in the car, Petal. I'll be there shortly. Where's Edward?"
"He's here as well. I followed him here from the fire and Bella was apparently already here, Carlisle, they're having the baby. Edward is upstairs with her delivering it right now!"
"How does she look, is it going well?" he asked, seeming desperate for imformation.
"I have no idea, sweetheart. I'm downstairs and I haven't intruded. I'm sure he knows I'm here and he's talking to her and Masen, telling them how well they're doing and to stay calm."
"Petal?"
"They need to be alone, Carlisle, unless you think there's going to be a problem."
"I have no idea how he will manage the birth, Petal. We had planned to take the baby surgically. There was never any intention to let her deliver it normally . . . the legends told us that didn't work out well for the mothers. Edward must have found a way."
"Well, from what I'm hearing with him telling her to push, it sounds like they are having it the normal way and he keeps telling them both how well they're doing."
"I'll be there momentarily."
Charlie, Sue and Emily walked in, just as I was rummaging around in the kitchen, putting the first aid cabinet back in order where Edward had obviously dropped several items in his apparent haste to get what he had needed. I left out what I would need to tend to his arm as soon as he would let me.
"Esme?" Charlie called to me, the questioning look on his face asked everything all at once.
"She's here, Charlie. They're upstairs, Edward is with her."
"Oh thank God," he said as he turned and took a hasty step towards the staircase.
"Charlie," I said, gently putting a hand on his shoulder to get his attention, "She's having the baby. I haven't gone up to disturb them."
"Here? Now?" he shrieked. "Don't we need to get her to a hospital?" he said, panic stricken.
"No Charlie, it's too late for that,. It would have never happened anyway . . . the baby is too special . . . too different. It would attract too much attention and the staff would not know how to handle it anyway. The child's father . . . vampire, remember?" I reminded him.
"Oh God!" he sighed, his face now a mass of worry.
Carlisle arrived and walked into the house and over to stand by me, putting his arms around me in a tight hug.
"Are you alright, Petal?" he asked, knowing I was beside myself before thinking I was loosing all of them.
"Yes. I'm fine. Edward?" I asked, a questioning look on my face.
"Fine. He's doing just fine," Carlisle answered.
We heard Bella scream and it seemed to go right through Charlie as well as Sue and Emily. I nudged Carlisle, thinking his reassurance would mean more than anything I could say.
"It's normal, Charlie. Delivering babies is almost always a loud affair," Carlisle told him calmly, his eyes giving away his excitement.
"Carlisle, shouldn't you get up there? She needs a doctor, and the baby . . . you need to deliver the baby!" Charlie said, beside himself now and becoming frantic.
"Calm down, Charlie. I can hear everything from here. Edward is already almost through delivering the baby. Masen is almost out," Carlisle told him. Charlie looked at Carlisle and I like we had lost our minds. An explanation . . . a reminder really, would help.
"Edward has delivered babies before, Charlie . . . although certainly not a child that was part vampire and not his own, but he is quite capable. Medical school, twice . . .remember?" Carlisle reminded him.
"But Carlisle," Charlie said and took steps toward the stairs. I was on the stairs in front of him before he realized I had moved.
"Please listen to Carlisle, Charlie. Do you really think Bella would want her father to walk in while she was giving birth? Hum?" I told him as gently as possible, cocking my head and staring at him so that he would get the message I was trying to send.
"You're right, I know you're right. It just seems wrong for Carlisle not to be up there, he has so much more experience at that sort of thing," Charlie said, turning to stare at Carlisle. Sue moved to stand by Charlie and put her arm around him to sooth him.
"You can here them from here, I mean other than my daughter screaming?" Charlie asked.
"Every word, Charlie. In fact, let me give you a play by play," Carlisle said using terms that Charlie could relate well to.
"Her respiration is fine, though her blood pressure is a little high right now, pain causes that and it will probably go down as soon as the shoulder passes out of the birth canal. Bella is lying on their bed and Edward is suctioning Masen's nose and throat and telling them both how well they are doing and that they are almost finished. Bella is quite tired and he's trying to encourage her to push, he has to get the shoulders out."
We all heard as Bella screamed again, even louder this time.
"Edward! Oh God, Edward! I can't do this!"
Emmet, Rose and Jake had come in while Carlisle was explaining and stood statue still, taking in what was happening. Time seemed to stand still as we all stood and waited.
"Carlisle, are you sure you shouldn't be up there with them . . . ," Charlie pleaded, but he was cut off by yet another scream from Bella and Edward's voice, loud enough for even the humans to hear,
"Good . . . good sweetheart . . . keep pushing . . . keep pushing baby, just a little more . . . yes!"
We waited. Nothing. More time passed . . . nothing. No baby crying. No sounds of a newborn at all. The quiet was deafening.
"Carlisle?" Charlie said quietly, his question implied.
Jake, as well as my family heard it, of course. Edward's quiet words to his wife, and hers to him.
"We have a son, sweetheart! He's fine. You did it, Bella.
I never thought I would be a father, but you did it, love."
"He's so beautiful! He looks just like you, sweetheart.
I love you both so much!"
"They have a son, Charlie. He's fine," I smiled, "Bella is telling Edward how handsome the baby is and how much he looks like his father. I'm sure they'll call us up there soon, he knows we're all here."
Charlie just shook his head, "I don't know if I'm ever going to get used to this vampire thing."
We all laughed as Sue kissed his cheek and hugged him while he turned red with all the attention focused on him.
"Well, I'm sure my daughter is going to be hungry after all this, so I'm going to make dinner for her. Anyone want to help?" I asked.
"Sure, I'm in," Sue said as we headed into the kitchen to keep ourselves busy.
~oooOooo~
EPOV
I spoke normally, calling each of their names and they were beside us in a flash, obviously forcing themselves to wait till I called them in, Bella's father scrambling in the door after them with Sue and Emily.
I disappeared into the bathroom with Carlisle to tell him the details of the birth and for him to examine the afterbirth and make sure all was well. I knew he would be fascinated with the fact that the amniotic sac had to be ripped open using my teeth as did the umbilical cord, as nothing else phased it.
"You did well, son. I couldn't have done better myself. Congratulations!" Dad said as he patted me on the back. A frown crossed his face as he looked at my shoulder and arm. Venom was still leaking from it and he wanted to tend to it as soon as possible.
"Soon, Dad. Let me sit with them for just a few more minutes first and I need to get Bella an ice pack," I said running a wash cloth over my tear stained face and torso and removing Bella's necklace, placing it by the sink. I walked to my closet and pulled on some jeans, not even attempting to pull on a shirt over my arm and shoulder.
Carlisle's mind raced over everything, but he was centering on the fact that there were gouges and rips in my shoulder that had obviously been caused by teeth, and he wanted to know what happened.
"Sam," I said by way of answering him. I turned to look at him to explain,"Sam grabbed me as I ran past where he and Jacob had just finished off Victoria. He wanted Jacob to help him rip me apart and then blame it on Victoria."
"No!" Carlisle exclaimed in a quiet exhaled breath.
"Jacob refused. I read his mind as they struggled between them while Sam had me with his teeth shaking me. I didn't want to hurt him, but I was prepared to snap his neck if I needed to. Apparently Sam was using his position as the Alpha to command Jacob to help him, and the Alpha command can not be ignored," I told Carlisle as he listened intently.
"Jacob refused, assuming his rightful place as Chief of the Quilette tribe and Alpha of the pack in order to be able to command Sam to let go of me. He really is a good friend to Bella and me, Dad," I told my father.
"I'd say so, son. I knew Sam was hostile towards us, but I didn't realize he was capable of that kind of treachery. Does Emily know?" he asked.
"They all know. Emmett asked me where the teeth marks came from when we were still at the fire and I told them, though I didn't give any details. Sam ran off and I have no idea where he is or what he intends to do, only that Jacob commanded him to release me and leave me alone," I recalled, feeling thankful for Jacob's friendship even more now.
"Well, this will have to be dealt with, but right now is for you and Bella. Let me go take a look at my new grandson," Carlisle said, patting me on my unhurt shoulder as we walked back into my bedroom and watched the crowd that was gathered around my bed.
Bella was beaming as I went to the opposite side of the bed so that I could crawl over and sit beside her. Carlisle stood beside her at the edge of the bed looking at Masen.
Masen's thoughts were all over the place, but he seemed happy and comfortable, though he would need to feed soon and I started to wonder if he would nurse from Bella, or if he would be . . . thirsty.
Carlisle lifted him, cradling him in his arms and announcing that he wanted to take him into the bathroom and clean him up so that he looked more presentable for his parents. Bella looked a little uncomfortable at the loss of her baby in her arms, but she didn't object so neither did I. Carlisle and Esme headed off towards the baby's bathroom with Rose following closely, an outfit for the baby in hand.
I didn't like the idea of Masen being so far away from me, but I knew that everything they needed to bathe him was in his bathroom, not ours. My Dad wanted to check him over and make sure everything was alright. He was also curious as to just how many vampire qualities had been passed on to the baby, and there was no one I trusted more with my son.