True Love Way

Chapter 17

I was up early, preparing the spare room once again for Charlie. Bella made some pancakes for us, and I quickly ate before leaving for work. She saw me to the door, giving me a hug.

"Don't go crazy in the kitchen today. Relax. Spend time with your dad. I can pick something up on the way home for us, or we can go out for dinner." I returned her hug with more enthusiasm than usual. "I mean it, Bella. Rest."

"Yes, sir." She snickered against me as she tipped her head back. Her lips performed an awkwardly placed kiss, landing somewhere between my earlobe and my jaw. Then she backed away quickly. "Have a good day at work. I'll see you tonight."

I was still blushing when I opened the door to leave. I hadn't blushed over a kiss since my first girlfriend.

"Edward! Good timing!"

"Charlie." I smiled at him in the hallway, and then Bella. "It's perfect timing. I'm off to work, and you can take care of your daughter all day."

"I intend to, son!" He slapped me on the back as we switched places. I gave Bella a wink before I closed the door on them.

The day dragged on and on. Several times I had to stop myself from calling to check up on her. Rosalie brought over some lunch for us to share at break time. That didn't ease my tension like it normally would. Seeing her so anxious just reminded me of what we all had to lose if something went wrong. I hated that I'd reverted to my old ways of negative thinking, but it couldn't be helped. I'd never been more frightened for everyone involved. But mostly for Bella.

I invited Rosalie and Emmett to come by after work, thinking it would take my mind off the negativity and give Bella a chance to escape her dad if she needed it. It backfired on me. The whole evening was spent with four anxious people watching Bella's every move, and her getting frustrated with us all. She stormed off to bed by eight, leaving three extra people sitting in what would be my bedroom until the birth. I wanted to go to her, but I figured I'd end up making it worse. Instead, I rudely fell asleep on my guests and woke to a darkened apartment with an impossibly stiff neck after snoozing for hours in a chair. What I wouldn't give for one of Bella's massages now.

By morning, I couldn't even turn my head. It sent spikes up through the back of my head, and I knew a migraine was imminent. It hit, full-force, by noon, and I stumbled home six hours after that, shaky and pale, and trying my damnedest not to vomit on the sidewalk. Bella recognized my symptoms immediately and sent me to lie down in 'her room.' Charlie had taken care of dinner – a fish fry. The odour worsened my nausea, and I wished for death to come quickly.

I managed a few hours of sleep after giving into the urge to spew. Charlie and Bella were watching some cop show when I crept out of the room. I gave them a wave before dashing to the bathroom. The air was still so thick with the smell of fish I barely made it to the toilet for the next round. Charlie had gone to bed when I finally came out. They had made up my bed on the couch. Night number two with Charlie as a houseguest was predominantly spent over the porcelain. I would never eat fucking fish for the rest of my life.

Somehow I made it through another day at work, fielding calls in between vomiting in my trash can, popping useless pills, and trying not envision Bella in the delivery room… on her death bed.

I could smell the stale, lingering odour of fish even outside my door when I got home. I banged my head against the doorframe a few times before I regretted that too.

"How long does that smell stick around?" I grumbled, out of earshot from Charlie.

"I'm so sorry, Edward. He tried to cover it up with Febreeze."

"Oh, fuck. Is that what that is?" I knew there was something else aggravating my sinuses.

"I know! I made him stop when I saw him spraying the room down. You can't sleep out here," she whispered to me.

"Well, you're not. Any sign of this baby coming out soon?"

She frowned, hugging herself.

"I'm sorry. It's not your fault." I placed my hand on her stomach and my forehead against hers. "It's not this guy's fault either. I don't mean to rush him. Hell, if I was in his place, I wouldn't want to leave either."

She snorted and then chuckled. "You know, he can probably smell Charlie's cooking in there too."

"Fuck… poor little guy! Oops. Guess I should watch my language. He can probably hear, too." It felt good to have a quiet moment with her, laughing.

Thankfully, everyone had gone to bed when dinner made its return visit on me later that night. I collapsed on the couch afterwards with my arms over my eyes. A throat cleared above me. I slid one arm away, discovering Charlie standing over me.

"Fish fry really isn't your thing, huh?"

My stomach rolled just from the mention of fish. "It's the migraine. Smells don't bother me otherwise."

"I'm guessing that's here to stay until Bella delivers." Charlie took a seat in the chair near my head. I had to turn to look at him, and that hurt, so I stopped that.

"Probably so."

"She had a little cramp this afternoon. Thought that was the start of it, but I guess not."

"She didn't mention that." That pissed me off more than a little. I wanted to know what was going on with her at all times.

"Yep. It passed, so we didn't call. What's your number again?"

"9-1-1," I replied dryly.

Charlie chuckled. "Even dead on your feet you've got that humour I can appreciate. How's everything going with Bella?"

"You're here with her, Charlie. Don't you talk when I'm at work?" Couldn't he talk in the morning… after I'd gone to work? I appreciated time with him as much as anyone, but I just wasn't in the mood to talk to anyone.

"Sure. Yeah. I just meant… ah, you know."

Bracing myself for the pain that would ensue, I twisted my head back to look at him. Yep, there was that knife piercing through my skull. I closed my eyes until the dizziness passed and then tried again. "I know… what, exactly? Please don't talk in code, Charlie. It hurts to think let alone decipher anyone's code talk."

He smirked. "Okay then. My daughter seems quite happy these days. Happier than I've seen her in years. I'd say in about a decade. I told you she made a mistake back then. She needs this… thing you have."

I sighed. He was still doing it. "What 'thing' do I have, Charlie?"

"Not you – the two of you together. The friendship or whatever it is you're calling it. Is that what you call it?"

I grunted. "Are you asking me something specific?"

"It's really none of my business."

I stared at him. He looked straight ahead, avoiding me. I didn't respond, instead locking my eyes on him until he felt the burn of my gaze. His eyes shifted to me.

"Well, it's not. But I'm still curious to know if the two of you have come to your senses."

"About what, Dad?" Bella's voice startled us both. Charlie choked on air, and I bolted straight up on the couch, regretting the sudden movement immediately. Bella rushed to grab my shoulders and ease me back down. She placed a cool hand on my forehead as I closed my eyes.

"About moving to a place with better ventilation," Charlie grumbled, rising from his chair. "Fish shouldn't stick around an apartment this long."

Cue the rolling stomach.

"And while we're at it, how long are you going to make him suffer with sleeping out here? A man who suffers migraines the way he does shouldn't be getting a stiff neck, sleeping on the couch. Move back into your room, for Christ's sake." He chastised us both before crossing the room to return to bed. "Think I give a damn if you're sharing a bed?"

"Dad!"

"Isabella, please. If you're both too pigheaded to come out with it, I'll lay it out. He's good for you. Always has been. She cares about you, Edward. Always has. If the two of you can't see what you have right in front of you, then you're both goddamned stupid. But I know I didn't father a stupid child. If that wasn't clear enough, I'll decode it further… Edward, get your ass up and go take care of my girl, and let her take care of you. It'll make these hellish days of waiting much more endurable. Good night."

Bella and I gawked at him as he slammed his door shut. "What the hell was that?"

"I believe your father just told me to go sleep with you."

The shock on her face changed into a smirk. "That's one problem solved. Come to bed."

She didn't have to ask twice. And she would never have to ask me again.

~ 0 ~

"To the left."

"Everything you own in the box to the left…" I broke into song briefly before Bella turned to glare at me. "Sorry. Beyonce moment. Here?"

"Down a bit… a bit more… and over… ahhhhh!" Bella moaned and wiggled as I scratched at the itch on her back. "Is it hot in here?" Suddenly, she was kicking off the blankets and fanning herself. "Is the heat on? It's insanely hot."

I shifted over on the bed. I knew from the previous times during the past couple of nights that she needed space and time to cool down. "No, Bella. It wasn't on at four, and it's not on now."

"It's me, isn't it?"

"It's you," I agreed with a smirk.

"Did you get any sleep? I must be driving you crazy."

"I slept enough. Probably more than you. I'll be good," I assured her gently before being hit with an undeniable urge to yawn. I rolled the other way and stretched dramatically so I could cover it.

"Liar." Bella belted the back of my head with one of her extra pillows. "It's not fair to you. You have to work, and you don't exactly have a job where you could doze off or just go through the motions. You need a good sleep."

The past three mornings had been similar to this. Three people in my apartment, all tense and worried and sleep deprived. I knew better than to ask Bella if she thought today would be the day. Charlie had asked her just before bed, and she nearly ripped his head off and then burst into tears. He and I had agreed to keep our heads down and just take Bella's lead so we wouldn't upset her.

"Edward, are you going to run off as soon as I go back to the hospital? Take a vacation from me and my insanity?"

I ran my hands down my face, scratching at the two-day growth of stubble as I swung my legs over the side of the bed. "Of course not. I told you I'd be right there with you."

"Then afterwards?"

"Do you want me to leave, Bella?" I asked with a frustrated sigh. It was too early in the morning to go through this again.

"You need a vacation."

She must have missed my sigh, so I repeated it. Louder. And longer. "How many times are you going to tell me I need a vacation? You're making me feel like I'm in desperate need. I feel old. And withered. Do I look that bad?"

"I don't know… I'm annoying you, aren't I?"

I turned to face her. "You don't know if I look that bad?" Even though I knew I shouldn't, I couldn't resist teasing her. It could go either way – she could break down in tears or perk right up. Thankfully, it was the latter this time. A bright smile lit up her face.

"You know that's not what I meant. You know exactly how you good you look."

I narrowed my eyes at her. "Do I?"

She rolled hers at me. "Please. Did you see those girls in the diner last night? They sat there with their eyes glued to you and their mouths hung open. I know you noticed them."

I had, in fact, noticed them. My keen listening skills that I'd mastered in school hadn't failed me so far. "Bella, those girls were no more than fifteen at the most."

"Ha! You did notice."

I blinked several times. "Fifteen, Bella. Tops. I don't make a habit of flirting with fifteen-year-old girls. In fact, I've never once in my life flirted with a fifteen-year-old girl. They still make me nervous."

"What about older girls?"

"What… women?" I snickered when I saw the colour flood into her cheeks. "Do I flirt with women? Is that what you're asking?" I took advantage of her blushing to tease her further. "I may have to do that… on my vacation."

She shot daggers at me with her eyes.

"Are you jealous?" I teased on.

She huffed, crossing her arms over her chest. "I told you I don't have issues with jealousy."

"Right. You did." I crawled across the bed until I was face-to-blood red-face with her. I braced myself with an arm on either side of her. She shifted nervously against the stacked pillows she was reclined against.

"I got up for a snack last night. I've got cheese breath. Morning cheese breath."

I ducked my head down to my chest, laughing at her. "Is that all that's making you nervous?"

"I'm not nervous!" she argued. "I'm just trying to save you from gagging. If you gag, I will too. It won't be pretty. And we don't have another set of sheets."

"We should get some," I replied calmly. I honestly loved how she always used 'we' and 'our' in regards to my household belongings. Her use of it now encouraged me to continue picking at her. "We'll do that after our vacation."

Her eyes flew up to meet mine. They showed shock whereas mine were filled with amusement.

"What do you consider flirting, Bella?" My morning voice dipped very low when I tried to speak softly. Her eyes widened. "I wouldn't want to do anything on vacation to make you jealous."

"I… I don't… get… jealous. Or nervous."

My smile widened as the sound of her own deepened voice gave her away. She was very capable of being both. "Much," I added to her statement. That was barely above a whisper and uttered mere inches from her face. Her dark eyes flicked back and forth across my face.

"No comment?" I goaded.

"You… you're…" Her breath tickled my cheek as she whispered her attempt to put me in my place. I snickered, lowering my face another inch so my nose nuzzled against her cheek. It was there only for a moment before her hands pushed against my chest. "A tease! A big, fat tease!"

I sat back on my legs, feigning hurt. "I used to be. I'm not anymore. It's not nice to bring up my fat days."

Bella rolled her eyes at me, seeing through the act. She struggled to sit herself fully upright, wiggling from side to side to find a way to do so. Finally, she growled in frustration and flopped herself back against the pillows. "Okay. You win this round. You've out-teased me. Now don't torment the fat woman anymore right now. I'm about to piss the bed. Help me up?"

Laughing, I climbed over her to get out of the bed on her side, then gave her a lift and helped her stand. "I really won?"

"You did. You've got mega flirting skills, Edward. I don't know how or when you learned you had it in you, but you win. You win!" She called over her shoulder as she dashed to the bathroom. I was left standing alone in my boxers, feeling quite proud that I had managed to get her worked up. Maybe, just maybe, she did have deeper feelings for me.

I took one last jab as we traded off places in the bathroom. As we passed each other, I dipped my head down and told her, "If I was really flirting in there, I wouldn't have cared about the morning cheese breath, you know." She stared at me, slack-jawed as I winked at her. I caught my self-satisfied smirk in the mirror before I climbed in the shower. Who needed sleep when Bella thought I flirted well? I was even somewhat certain that it had affected her in a good way. I would definitely be testing that out. I vowed that I would tone down the childish teasing we did with each other and see if she reacted to me as a man in other situations.

~ 0 ~

I was in the midst of a call, keeping a frantic mother calm while she waited for paramedics to arrive when my cell phone vibrated. The woman's son had choked on a piece of Lego. I'd advised her how to clear his airways, and she had managed to get the little block out, but she was currently more upset than he was. I kept my soothing voice going as I reached into my pocket to look at my caller ID. Rose. I left it.

A moment later, she called again. I tapped out a message quickly while I talked through my headset, 'On a call. I'll get back to you.' My shift was almost over. This was probably my last call, so it wouldn't be too long before I could call her back. Moments later, it went off again. This time it was Charlie. The next two minutes until the paramedics were in place felt like two hours. Two calls from Rosalie and then Charlie could only mean something was happening with Bella. I could practically feel the blood draining out of my face as I wished the caller luck and said good-bye. My fingers trembled as I called Charlie back.

"We're at the hospital. I told Bella I'd call you." Charlie didn't waste time with pleasantries, and I was thankful for that.

"Is she okay? Is it the baby?"

"It's time, Edward."

"Yeah? For sure?"

"For sure."

"Okay… see you there."

The dispatcher across from me looked up from his screen. "All right, Edward?"

"Yeah. Uh, no. I have to… Bella's at the hospital!" I'd already confided in Ben about the situation. He and I often covered for each other when we needed time off or shifts changed.

He grinned over at me. "Go!"

"I have twenty-five minutes left."

"Go, man! I'll punch out for you. Get outta here!"

I nodded shakily, smiling at him as I gathered up my stuff. "Thanks, Ben. I owe you one." My feet pounded the pavement on the two blocks to the hospital. I tried calling Rose, but now she wasn't answering. I knew she'd be in Labour and Delivery, near the back of the building, so I cut through the parking lot to enter through the rear. I spotted Emmett instantly. He was shaking a vending machine with one hand while the other held two Snickers.

"Did it eat your change?" I asked him calmly as I dropped my bag at our feet.

"It won't release the damned Doritos! I paid for it, and it keeps giving me Snickers!"

I had never seen Emmett rattled by anything, much less getting the wrong snack from an automated dispenser. "Try hitting the Snickers button then." It made perfect sense to me that if A5 Doritos was dispensing B5 Snickers, then B5 should give up the Doritos.

Emmett beamed as the orange bag fell into the slot. "You're a genius. Want a Snickers?"

I shook my head as he extended the bars out to me. "Nah. Keep them for later. I can't eat right now. Where's Rose? She's here, right?"

He nodded, crunching on the chips. "She's in with Bella. Charlie's there too. They're taking her to surgery."

I looped my hands on top of my head, releasing a breath. Caesarean had already been discussed as an option when the time came. I was actually relieved that they had opted to go with the surgical route. To me, it seemed better controlled than if Bella were to deliver naturally. "Okay," I said, nodding. "This is good. It's happening. Rose will be in surgery with her?"

Emmett nodded as he lifted the bag to his mouth and dumped the remaining crumbs into it. He crumpled up the bag and tore into one of the Snickers bars. "Yep," he said around a mouthful of chocolate. "They'll only let one of us in, and we figure Bella would be more comfortable with Rosalie. Got any change?"

I patted my pockets. "Sure. What do you need?" He proceeded to point out three additional snack items, insisting he needed to stock up because there wasn't a machine like this in the OR waiting area. "You eat when you're nervous, huh?" I smirked at him.

"Shut the fuck up. You puke or pass out when you are. I'll make sure there's a trash can and a stretcher nearby, you just get the snacks for me."

I chuckled as I dropped my coins into the slot. I was glad I wasn't the only basket case on site. Somehow, it would relieve some of my tension if Emmett and I were looking out for each other. I knew he'd have my back, and I wouldn't let him down either. Some of my newfound calmness dissolved when I turned around and got a look at Charlie. If I thought he'd looked haggard and stressed after the accident, it was nothing compared to his current state.

"It's really happening." His voice was strained, his brow furrowed. He followed his statement with a heavy sigh and then a grunt. "It's happening. Dammit."

My eyes drifted to Emmett who looked torn between wanting to throttle Charlie for not throwing his support behind Bella from the start and trying not to cry in his own fear and excitement over it all.

"We should go to the other waiting area," I suggested in an attempt to relieve the tension in the room. "Want anything, Charlie?"

"Can't eat. How can you eat?" He glowered at Emmett who was stuffing the last third of his bar into his mouth.

"I eat when I'm nervous, okay? Shoot me."

Charlie's hand went to his waist. He huffed and shoved it in his pocket when he didn't find his holster there. Emmett and I exchanged a look and tried not to laugh. Retrieving my bag, I led them to the hall that would take us over to the OR. Bella was being wheeled out as we turned the corner.

"Edward!"

It was muffled by the oxygen mask, but I heard her call out. I ran up the hall to catch up with them.

"Wait!" She pleaded with the orderly to stop. "Just stop! Stop for a minute!" The oxygen mask was thrown to the side, and she attempted to sit, to no avail. "Edward!"

"I'm here," I assured her breathlessly as I arrived at her side. "I'm here. I made it." My hand went to her head, stroking her hair as I smiled down at her.

"Are you okay?" she whispered to me.

I snorted, dropping my head. "Don't worry about me, Bella. I'm supposed to be worrying about you right now."

"That's what worries me," she confessed. "I'm so glad you made it before they took me… I wanted to see you. Rose called."

"I know. I left work. Ran here. The treadmill paid off." I smiled for her, despite my growing anxiety. She needed to go in there concerned only with herself. I could be strong for Bella. I had to be.

"We should go, Bella. They're expecting us in the OR," Rosalie reminded her as she squeezed my arm. "Can you take care of Em?" she asked me softly. "He's kind of a mess."

I nodded. "We've already got a plan of action. Don't worry about us. Either of you." I turned my attention back to Bella. Her eyes were welling up with tears, and she was trembling. "Please don't worry, Bella. Go. Have a baby." My voice faltered, and my own eyes got misty.

"Edward?" Bella called out once more, her eyes pleading with me. "Is there anything you want to say? Can you tell me now?"

A tiny sound resembling a kitten's mewl came out. There was so much I wanted to say. So much I could tell her. I cleared my throat and leaned over her. "We'll talk after," I vowed. She needed to know that I had faith in her making it out of this. I was doing my damnedest to clear all thoughts of my own disastrous birth from my thoughts for Bella's sake. "I promise, I'll tell you everything you want to know after. Go have a baby." I placed a soft kiss on her damp forehead. "See you soon."

~ 0 ~

Charlie and Emmett provided perfect distractions from my own distress. They bickered like children during the brief and to-the-point surgery. This wasn't lengthy, like Bella's previous ones. It seemed as though I'd just got them to simmer down when Rosalie came out with the precious bundle in her arms. All three of us stood there like idiots, wondering where the hell she got the baby from.

"Well? Are you just going to stand there, or are you coming over to see him?" Rosalie was absolutely beaming. It was obvious she'd been crying, but her smile lit up her entire face. The only time I'd seen her even close to being like this was on her wedding day.

"That's him?" I was the first to speak or move. Emmett was next, rushing to his wife and new baby boy. Charlie was frozen on the spot, no indication of moving at the moment.

"Yes, this is him, Edward. Watch what you say," she warned me.

I looked at Charlie, then at my sister. I had to know first. I couldn't look at this baby until I knew Bella was…

"She's fine," Rosalie said softly. "Bella's doing just great. I stayed with her until they closed her up. She's in recovery now. And she's…"

"She's…" Charlie sputtered.

"Good?" I finished for him.

Rosalie snickered at us, choking back a sob at the same time. "Great."

Charlie dropped into the nearest chair, his shoulders hunched over as cradled his head. The sound of my thumping heart threatened to deafen me. Looking at Rose and Emmett, I could see their smiling lips moving as they talked softly, but I couldn't hear a word. If Rosalie's reassurance that Bella was not only alive but 'great' was the last thing I ever heard, I'd be all right with that.

My lungs forced air that I'd been holding out with a loud choking sound. All heads turned to look at me. For the first time since I was a teenager, my emotions were battling it out inside me. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry or scream. It all came out, and as I unloaded, so did the men who'd waited with me. Emmett was flat-out bawling, and Charlie was near hysterics, tears leaking from his eyes as he laughed and laughed. Rosalie cradled their baby against her cheek, smiling like her life depended on it. When I got myself under control, I looked up and thanked God for giving me faith when I most needed it and offered my soul to whoever had made all of this possible by sparing Bella's life.

And then I went to meet him. The little guy who'd been kicking my side for the past couple weeks whenever I tried to sleep. The thumb-sucker. The most beautiful creation in the world. Emmett had his arms around Rosalie, who held the baby for dear life. Charlie was bent over, smiling at the bundled babe, apparently approving of him with his entire being now that Bella was safe. He stepped aside to let me have a look.

Only his little face and one tiny hand were exposed. His eyes were closed. His little mouth twitched slightly as he took a deep breath that turned into a yawn. They all snickered and cooed, just like everyone always did around Emily over every little thing. I simply stared at him. He had long lashes and a hint of soft brown eyebrows. There was a little fold in his chin and his fingers that were trying to find their way into his mouth were long. He had fingernails already. Did all babies have fingernails? His seemed quite long. I turned my head to examine his profile – he looked just like the ultrasound image. He really was that same little shadowy blob, only now he had skin. Perfect skin. Plump red lips and a tiny little nose. He was working very hard to find his thumb. I think the others were currently cooing over that. I'd blocked them out, mesmerized by this little wonder. Slowly, I reached in and took hold of his hand, pulling it away from his chin. He tried to curl up his fingers, and they ended up around one of mine. Very carefully, I guided his thumb towards his mouth, touching it to his lips. As he took it in, he released my finger from his grip. He was perfect. Incredible.

"What?" I asked when I became aware of all three adults staring at me.

Rosalie released a sob, blinking back tears. "You said he's perfect."

"I did?" What else had I said out loud?

"And… you… you let him hold your hand!"

I stared at the baby in wonderment. My smile grew as I admired him. I had let him hold my hand – sure, it was only one finger, but that's all he could manage. I hadn't even hesitated to reach for his hand. I hadn't flinched when he took hold of me. Somehow, I trusted this little guy. He'd struggled to survive until birth, and he hadn't harmed Bella in any way. If anything, he'd helped her through the loss of his genetic parents – her friends. We were on the same side, this tiny wonder and I. Both of us looking out for Bella.

~ 0 ~

"Hi."

Bella smiled sleepily from her hospital bed. "Hi."

I stepped further into the room, unable to take my eyes off her. She looked tired but remarkably good. The hum of the dialysis machine filled the silence between us. Her heart monitor indicated a strong beat. But it was her eyes that displayed the most vibrant life.

"How are you feeling?" I asked softly.

She sucked in her bottom lip, giving it some thought. "Accomplished."

I smiled at the unexpected response from her. "Accomplished," I repeated with a nod.

"Uh-huh. I saw this one right through. It was iffy there for a while."

I chuckled along with her. It certainly had been. "It is an accomplishment, Bella. You should be proud."

"Have you seen him?"

I nodded slowly. I didn't know what to expect from her at this point. She'd been hellishly moody – apparently a normal thing for pregnant women – but would that be over with now that she'd delivered the baby? Did I still have to watch my words? Would she still cry over the most inane things?

"He's healthy, right? No problems?"

"Yeah, yeah. He's great." I hesitated before asking my question. "Have you not seen him?"

She shook her head. "I gave up my chance in the OR. He's Rosalie's son. I wanted her to have him right from the start."

"You've made them incredibly happy, Bella. You know that, right?"

She smiled broadly, nodding.

There was no way to pose the next question other than directly, so I just came out with it. "Do you want to see him?"

She paused, chewing on her lip for a moment. "I do. Yeah. I think." She looked at me pleadingly. "Do I?"

I stepped closer and looped a stray lock of hair behind her ear. "You don't have to decide right now. Maybe you should rest, and then we'll see how you feel about it."

She reached for my hand, holding it with both of hers. "Will you tell me about him?"

I couldn't hold back the smile as I thought of him. "He's perfection. Seriously."

Bella chuckled softly, staring into my excited eyes. "He's not all wrinkly like a Pound Puppy?"

"Um…" I rubbed at my chin with my free hand, frowning as I considered that. "I don't think so. He's got a little bit of dry skin at his temples. I didn't see his head. He could be bald. Or wrinkly. I don't know. His face is angelic though." There was that smile again. "He looks really cute when he yawns."

"Edwarrrd… I think you're smitten with a baby," she sang out, teasing me.

"Shut up," I retorted, still smiling. I had never in my life taken the time to examine a newborn baby. To me, they were potential mother killers. If they were lucky, they'd grow up with two parents – happy. Healthy. Oblivious to the sorts of things that had plagued my mind as a child. I didn't know if it was because he had come from within Bella, but this baby was different. I didn't see him as lucky. He was treasured. Both blessed and a blessing.

"How've you been handling this? You seem calm." Bella's voice broke into my thoughts.

"Yeah. Yeah, I've been cool as a cucumber. No problem." I smirked, chuckling as I lowered my head. "Okay, I was scared shitless. But I was with two guys who were worse off than me for a change. I feel empowered."

Bella's sweet laughter rang out. "Accomplished and empowered. That's us."

"Yep." I joined in her laughter until her face scrunched up in pain. "What's wrong?"

She released my hand to grip her stomach. "After-pains, I suppose. The spinal is wearing off. I'm feeling the cramps again." I helped her position the pain button that would release a dose of morphine through her IV. She relaxed again soon after, looking ready for sleep. "Edward?"

I hummed, leaning in to hear her since she was whispering.

"Can you tell Rosalie and Emmett thank you for me?"

I smiled, rubbing my cheek against the shorter part of her hair. It was still growing in from her last surgery. "I think they want to say that to you. Nobody's going anywhere. You can say what you need to later on."

"Okay." Her eyes closed. I watched them twitch, making her lashes splay across the top of her cheek. Her chest rose and fell rhythmically. I continued stroking her hair as I watched over her.

"Edward?"

Another, bigger smile. "I thought you were asleep."

"I have to say something." Her voice was lower than a whisper, her words almost slurred. I had to press my ear very close to hear her. "I need you to know what you mean to me. I hurt you. I ran out on you."

"Bella… shhh… " I caressed her face with the tips of my fingers. "It's old news."

"You forgave me? I asked if you would… did you?"

"I did," I whispered back.

"You're the best person I've ever known."

I swallowed heavily. The self-loathing I'd once felt was long gone, but I was nowhere near ready to accept being the best at anything.

"Truly. I'd be lost without you."

"I'm here. Not going anywhere, Bella."

Her lashes fluttered as she licked her lips. "I was scared," she said even quieter than her previous whisperings.

"You did great," I assured her. "You don't have to be scared anymore."

"I was scared I'd never get to tell you."

I could barely make out her words. She was determined to fight off sleep, but the Sandman was winning. "You can tell me after you sleep," I murmured against her cheek. I gave her a soft kiss on her temple. "Just sleep. I'll be here."

"Promise…"

"I promise. Sleep, Bella. Just sleep."

As she gave in, I pulled a chair up and bent my arm next to her pillow. I rested my head on it as I watched her and wondered what on earth she was so afraid of. Had I frightened her by relating my own birth experience? And what on earth was she not telling me? It wasn't long before sleep took hold of me too. I slept dreamlessly in the chair, half on her bed. The relief of her getting through this birth gave me a sense of peace I'd never felt in my life.

A/N ~ Reading this through, I got to wondering why Edward thinks he's so different from the others. The whole bunch of them are nutty! LOL Ah well, we never quite see ourselves as others do, right? Do you think Bella will stay away from the baby? Well, you will find out next week.

Thanks and squishes to Shug for fixing everything and msj for just... everything, in a BID way. And thanks to all of you for the smiles last week. I made it through! Meetings and all! Woo-hoo! You all rock my world. XX ~ SR