Thank you to everyone for the reviews and favorites/alerts, as well as not giving up on the story, even when it has taken so long. I plan to, very soon, finish this story. This chapter is quite short; however, I will definitely make the next one longer.

For those wondering, the story is almost to an end. It will probably just be a few more chapters.

Disclaimer: All characters in this story and the Twilight Saga itself belong to Stephenie Meyer. I do not own any songs in this story. I merely own the plot.

Chapter 23: Miracle

Only days after my accident, I had gone into labor. Edward, my family, and friends had decided to stay in Jacksonville instead of returning to Washington.

Nothing I have ever felt could have prepared me for this. This kind of pain, this degree of pain – I didn't even think it was possible, until now.

Contractions made their way through my whole body as I held onto Edward's hand tightly. I cried out in pain as Edward reassured me over and over again, that everything would be alright. I knew he was right. I had always known everything would turn out okay, even if I hadn't realized it before. Everything had to turn out alright.

My eyes sprang open in shock and pain as another contraction ripped its way through me. I looked down at the doctor in between my spread legs. He looked at me and gave me a thumbs-up.

"Alright, Bella…" The doctor began, "You can start to push now, but don't stress yourself too much."

I nodded at him, and looked at Edward. As he looked at me with his sparkling green eyes, even through the pain and the terrified feeling in both of us, I saw the love that he held for me. I saw it the way he looked at me, the way his eyes sparkled at me, his reassuring smile through his fear and concern. The love we shared gave me strength, and every doubt I ever had about our relationship and our baby instantly disappeared.

I squeezed his hand tighter, my knuckles turning white with force. I heard his quick intake of breath as I closed my eyes and swallowed deeply. I took a deep breath before I began to push the lower half of my body.

The pressure and pain of pushing so hard tore through my body. Through all the pain, I keep pushing and pushing, and, somewhere along the way, I lose track of the time. I don't know how long I was giving birth, but somehow, it didn't really matter. No matter how much pain I was in, it would all be worth it. I would have our little miracle, and we would finally be a family together. Our baby, Edward, and I would become a family.

All throughout the birth, Edward was by my side, holding my hand. He would brace and rub soothingly on my shoulder every time I pushed. I would look at him occasionally, and would see how his bottom lip trembled slightly the entire time. I could just tell that it wasn't only from fear, but from the excitement of this moment – our miracle being born.

I heard the crying before I saw our baby girl. I pushed so hard that final time. I heard the high-pitched wailing. I looked at Edward tiredly, and offered him a smile through all the soreness of my entire body. He grinned brightly at me, jumped to his feet, and kissed my lips gently. We looked at the doctor as he held our baby, wrapping her up in blanket after cleaning her off.

I don't recall what happened next. I think Edward might have taken the baby in his arms, but I passed out from being tired and sore soon after Renesmee was born.

When I woke up later that night, I was back in my regular hospital room. Edward was holding a bundle in his arms in the chair next to me. As I woke up and stretched out my hand to him, he looked up at me, joy and excitement dancing in his green eyes. His beautiful lips stretched out into a smile as he took my hand softly.

"How are you feeling, love?" I smiled as he spoke, realizing just how much I loved and missed his voice.

I cleared my throat before softly speaking, "Tired. Sore. Happy."

I sat up in my hospital bed as I stretched out my arms for the baby girl in his arms. Edward rose from his chair and gently handed her to me with that same smile on his face. I cradled her in one arm against my chest.

"She looks like you. She has your adorable nose and your light brown hair..." He watched me with love as I watched our baby.

I smiled at him before turning my full attention to Renesmee.

It had been as if the dream I had days ago resembled her exactly somehow. She did have my lightly brown-colored hair. She had my nose and cheeks. Her face was scrunched up, forming wrinkles on her pale, soft face. Her eyes were shut tight, but I could just imagine those baby blue eyes that would, eventually, turn to a hazel color. Her hands were balled up in front of her body. Her cute, tiny fingers flexed every few seconds, twitching lightly.

I brought my hand slowly up to her cheek, brushing against her soft skin with my index finger. My smile grew the longer I looked at her.

Edward sat down on the edge of the bed next to me, wrapping his arm around my shoulder. He kissed my temple before leaning down and kissing Renesmee on her small forehead.

I looked up at Edward and spoke softly, "She has your cheeks and lips, even as a baby. She's so beautiful…"

Tears slowly fell from my eyes, rolling down my cheeks. Edward reached up with his hand, and wiped them away with his thumb gently.

He smiled at me, shaking his head. "Don't cry. Bella, baby, I'm so very proud of you. I don't think I would've been able to go through that much pain. It only makes me love you even more by being able to bring this beautiful baby into our lives."

"Well, you know, I couldn't have done it without you, Edward. I'm proud of you, too. And I'm sorry for everything, again. But I know now, that everything is going to be alright. Isn't it?"

I tilted my head up and gave him a slow peck on the lips. I smiled into his lips as I felt him kiss me back.

"Yes, everything will be just fine. I know it." He kissed me again before kissing my forehead.

Edward and I just sat there for what seemed like hours, but was probably only minutes, admiring our little miracle.

Eventually, there was a light knock at the door. It opened slowly before Esme's head popped through the crack. Her smile burst through as she entered the room, with the rest of the family piling in one after the other.