A/N: Anything Twilight related belongs to SM. Thank you so much for your reviews, follows and faves. I can't tell you how much your support means to me. I have to issue a BOX OF TISSUES warning for this chapter... trust me…. see you on the other side.

Chapter 58 - Brave, brave beautiful girl

"Momma, oo look bootifool."

"Thank you baby girl. It makes a swishy noise when I swing around."

I walked into the bedroom to find Bella swinging around with Lil Bit in her arms, I tried my best to sound cross but they looked so cute, "Isabella, put Lil Bit down. You know you're not supposed to be carrying her around."

They were both giggling and dropped down on the bed.

"Sorry baby, I just feel so happy. I love this dress," she stroked the material of her dress lovingly. "Tonight was a lot of fun, wasn't it?"

I looked at her spread across the bed with Lil Bit sitting on the pillow next to her. Bella's hair was spread out like a rich, river of chocolate. Pregnancy was having a wonderful affect on Isabella's body. Her skin was translucent, her hair was rich and shiny and her breasts were fucking awesome. She still was underweight but even with my son growing larger every day inside her but she was healthy. The momma-yoga classes were helping her stay supple and I had to admit our sex life was perfect. The combination of our normal newlywed craving for each other and her late stage pregnancy hormones, all made for me to be a very lucky and very satisfied man.

She stood up and start swaying from side to side, "Daddy and I danced all night long. My dress was perfect, see how the material swishes when I swing around. I just love it. Thank you Edward." She leaned up and kissed me chastely.

"As I have said all night love, you look beautiful and you are most welcome." We'd had a minor meltdown a few weeks ago when I couldn't seem to say anything right and my foot just got bigger in my mouth. She was feeling heavy with the baby and shared with me that she worried about what to wear to the Wedding Party. I innocently, albeit stupidly, mentioned that it would be silly to expect to fit in her wedding dress when she was over seven months pregnant with my child. She ran and locked herself in the bathroom, sobbing that I thought she was both fat and silly.

Thankfully, earlier that day Alice had reminded me that it was Esme's and Carlisle's wedding anniversary the night of the Party, so I suggested that they could be the bride and groom for our wedding group. I had the funny idea that Bella, Rosalie and Vicky could be the pregnant bridesmaids. The girls thought that was brilliant and hilarious, so Alice decided she'd be the flower girl and Jasper could be the ring bearer.

I hired a dressmaker to make matching navy blue baby-doll dresses for the three pregnant girls and a cream baby-doll dress for Alice with a matching navy blue ribbon tied sweetly at the back. All the men would wear penguin suits with matching cumberbuns to our girls with Jasper carrying a little pillow with rings attached.

We looked hilarious and the whole night was a lot of fun. Every table was made up of a bridal party and the idea was a huge hit - a wedding without any of the usual wedding jitters or family dramas.

It was a great night for all the charities involved too. We were able to announce that we had raised enough money that we could now build the brand new Child Care Centre for Rev J's parish, in addition to the new Men's Shed which was already under construction as I had already agreed to fund it months ago (not that we announced that to the whole world). The ticket sales for the event and the online silent auction had gone so well that we also raised a sizeable amount for the EMT services, Dad's ER unit at the hospital as well as the Art classes for underprivileged kids which was Anthony's idea.

We did have a great night although we were a fairly sober group since Dad was on call for the hospital and Emmett and I were both off alcohol until our babies were born. Rose was carrying twins and not just any twins, she was carrying Emmett's twins so her Doctor had warned them that the babies could make an early appearance. Doc Senna had also warned that Bella might 'go early' given our son was large and my sweet one was so small. That news was all Emmet and I needed to be on full alert. Emmett hovered over Rose going over every detail of their emergency plans to the point where she was ready to hit him. I had Bella's bag packed and already in the car.

We'd be going to birthing and parenting classes but I was so concerned I insisted we do the course twice, to be sure. Bella was not impressed.

"So did you have a lovely night with Mrs Cope, Lil Bit?" I asked given that she seemed wide awake despite the hour, I had to assume there were more sweets involved in her evening than usual.

"Oh wes. We watched the movie from our birf-day party, then we played tister, then we ate eyes-scream and Mrs Cope wed me th-ree books."

She yawned and stretched out over the bed. "Oh no you don't, time to head back to your own bed my little love." I had plans for my Bella this evening and so I reached down to scoop Lil Bit up and carried her back to bed. "I'll sing to you so you can go back to sleep, okay?"

She was playing with the buttons of my shirt, "Hmmm, okay Daddee."

I started to hum our song as I carried her down the hall but she was already asleep by the time I laid her down. "Dream a little dream of me," I sang as I tucked her up.

I decided to check on Anthony before heading back to Bella so I nudged his door open and tip toed into his room. He was fast asleep with some of his drawings on the bed. I could just make out the images in the dim light coming from the hallway. He'd drawn Lil Bit dancing at her dance class with Alice sitting on the floor watching, it was really beautiful. The next one was me lying on the floor of his room wrestling with him and we were laughing. The other one was unfinished but it looked like Bella and Mrs Cope looking over a cookbook in the new kitchen. Such a gifted boy. Ever since he slayed the dragon lady, aka Kate, he was so improved that even Maggie was astounded with his progress. She was about to drop his sessions back to once a month. I was so proud of him.

I carefully placed the pictures in the leather folio binder Esme had bought him and placed it on his bedside table. I kissed him and told him what I tell him every night, "Anthony Cullen, I love you son and I will always want you with me." He sighed and rolled over.

I tiptoed back to our room but Bella was missing. I heard the shower running and couldn't but grin as I decided to strip down and join her. I had just hung my jacket up and thrown my shirt and tie into the hamper when I heard a terrible crash.

"Bella," I screamed and ran towards the bathroom.

Time didn't slow down it sped up as I burst through the bathroom door to find Bella collapsed in the shower. For a split second I just stood there, my heart racing and my mind confused. Why was she on the floor? What was going on? It was then I noticed the blood mixed in with the water on the floor of the shower swirling down the drain and time really sped up.

I reached into the bathroom and turned off the shower. "Bella, baby," I begged. "Sweet one, please wake up," I sobbed. No response. Fuck. I was about to pick her up when all the emergency protocols Carlisle had ever taught me kicked in. I adjusted her gently and made sure she hadn't swallowed her tongue. I ran to get my phone and came back into the bathroom. I called my father.

"Edw..." he answered straight away.

I cut him off. "Dad!" I sobbed into the phone, then collected myself. "Dad, Isabella has collapsed in the shower there's blood everywhere and I ... I can't wake her. Call the ambulance and send them to us... please."

Carlisle the emergency room doctor kicked straight in, "I will son, I'll call you back." He hung up.

I called Mrs Cope. I had only just walked her to her cottage after babysitting the children so I knew she was still awake. "Mrs Cope... Shelly... Isabella ... I need you to come look after the children... please."

"Edward, oh my God. Has she gone into labour? It's too early? I'm on my way." She hung up. Her cottage was only a few hundred feet from the main house so I knew she'd only be a moment.

It was then that time slowed down. It felt like I aged a hundred years, sitting there watching the love of my life unconscious her blood draining from her. Isabella.

I sat on the floor stroking my girl's beautiful hair. She was out. I reached my hand and held it over my son, hoping, praying that he was safe inside his mother's womb. "I love you son, please just wait a little longer. Please."

My phone rang again but I couldn't answer it. I could hear the ambulance and Mrs Cope calling for me. I screamed for them to find us upstairs.

The paramedics came in and starting asking me questions, I answered them as calmly as I could. I needed to do whatever I could to help my sweet one and my son. I told them of her low blood pressure and of the doctor's concerns regarding the baby's size. One of them pushed past me and climbed into the shower, it was only then I realised she was naked but how could I care about that when she was unconscious and bleeding. They examined my girl and when all precautions had been served they lifted her gently to the gurney which I only just noticed. I moved to follow them when Mrs Cope stopped me. She threw a shirt at me and handed me Bella's bag which she'd grabbed out of our car, wonderful woman. I mumbled something to her and she just whispered that the children would be fine.

We made our way out of the house towards the ambulance. I know there must've been noise but I honestly couldn't hear a thing. I was numb, frozen. My Isabella, my son were being loaded into an ambulance and my heart was clamped in a vice of fear. It felt as though it had stopped beating altogether.

"Mr Cullen, take a seat here out of the way. We'll need to work on your wife."

I looked at the man and woman securing Isabella and closing the ambulance doors, "Please help my sweet one... please." The tears were flowing and I could hear the desperation in my voice.

I sat and stared at my girl, silent as these two strangers talked around her, touching her, checking her. They were talking to the hospital but I couldn't understand what they were saying.

"Sir, your phone."

"What?" What were they saying? I looked up at the man. Did he ask me something?

"Mr Cullen, your phone is ringing."

"Oh... sorry." I took it out of my pocket and stared at the screen.

"Answer it or switch it off Mr Cullen, please!"

I switched it off and looked back at my girl.

Isabella.

Suddenly we stopped and the doors burst open. My father was standing with a crew of people. Everyone was talking at once, the noise was like an explosion. I was stunned, I had no idea what was going on. The paramedics were shouting information to my father who was calling out orders. It was all so surreal. I suddenly remembered arriving at the hospital a few months prior with Isabella unconscious and Lil Bit in my arms. Now as then, I had no idea what to do.

"Come on Edward."

"What?" I turned and realised I was sitting in the back of the ambulance.

"Come on dumpling."

Esme.

"Ma," I dove out of the ambulance into my mother's arms. "Ma... Isabella. I can't... please." I had no idea what I was begging for and I had no idea what I thought my mother could do but I clung to her and wept in her arms.

"Grab Bella's bag dumpling and let's go wait inside. Carlisle will come and tell us how she is as soon as he can."

Yes. Carlisle, my wonderful father. He would fix my girl and save my son. I grabbed Bella's bag out of the ambulance and my mother led me to the waiting room. The same waiting room where I sat with Lil Bit as she sat on the floor eating her carrot sticks and drinking her juice. That was the day my family started. That was the day my life changed and my cold heart had started to mend. Now I sat here trying to connect with what was happening around me but it all seemed so out of reach.

Just as Esme and I sat down a woman with a clipboard came in and I am sure she was about to ask me some extremely annoying questions but Esme jumped up and guided her out of the room. Through the glass I could see and hear them talking though it was muffled. Esme filled in the necessary elements of the paperwork and promised to complete the rest as soon as we had word on Bella's condition.

Bella's condition.

My heart froze again. I leaned my elbows down on my knees and grabbed at my hair. And again I prayed. I prayed with all my heart that my sweet beautiful girl and my unborn son were okay.

I don't know how long I sat there pulling at my hair, praying silently. I could feel Esme's soft touch as she rubbed my back. We didn't speak. There was no point. There was nothing to be said.

I have no idea how long we sat there. I had no idea what was happening but while there was no news there was hope and I was going to hold on to that hope with every fibre of my being.

But then Esme whispered, "Edward, they're coming."

I blew out a breath and stood. I watched as Carlisle walked towards me with Doctor Senna at his side. They were walking fast and talking to each as they approached. That was a good sign, wasn't it? If they were walking fast that meant there was something to be done. If god forbid, they were lost to me, why would they rush to tell me that. I blew out another breath trying to calm my crazed thoughts.

Esme took my hand and squeezed it.

Dad and Doctor Senna came in and motioned for us all to sit down. I didn't want to but I obeyed so they'd just fucking tell me what was going on.

Doctor Senna spoke first, "Bella and your baby are both alive, Edward. We've hooked up the baby monitor and although there are signs of fetal distress it isn't critical yet. So we have some time."

Time? What the fuck are they talking about?

"Isabella?"

"We think she must have fainted, son. All the planning for the event, the excitement of the evening, the heat of shower and she just fainted."

"But all the blood?" What weren't they telling me?

"When she fainted several things happened son. She fell as she fainted on that slippery shower floor. She has two cracked ribs from impact of the fall and the weight of the baby. She has a nasty gash on her shoulder and a smaller one on the back of her head. Thankfully she didn't fall forwards but as it is...," he trailed off and looked to Doctor Senna.

She picked up her cue, "Edward, the abdominal trauma from the fall has caused placental abruption which means the placenta has detached completely from the wall of Bella's uterus."

Fuck. I couldn't speak. I just looked to them both to continue and to tell me how to fix this.

Doctor Senna continued, "This is what caused most of the bleeding you saw. This is a serious situation Edward. Bella is bleeding internally and there is also reducing oxygen to the baby which could lead to brain damage if we don't act soon."

"Act?"

Dad leaned forward, "Your son needs to be born tonight."

Shit. "Yes. Whatever needs to happen, please. I need to see Bella."

"It will have to be a Caesarian obviously... " Doctor Senna kept talking but I couldn't hear anything more.

I stood up, "I need to see Isabella... now."

Carlisle nodded, "Come with me son."

We walked the halls, turning this way and that, pushed through doorways, pushed apart curtains. It was a maze but I didn't care, I just followed my father in silence. I couldn't take anymore. I need to see my love.

"Edward!"

Finally. I ran to her side tears flowing down both our cheeks. "Isabella, you scared the shit out of me, love."

I held her face in my hands and kissed her. Hard.

"The baby," she stated. It wasn't a question.

"Yes, love. The baby is going to be born tonight. Doctor Senna told me already." I reached my hand down to rub the bump where my son lay within his mother. Almost whispering, "I thought I'd lost you both. I was so frightened."

I looked into her beautiful eyes which were still wet with tears. She gave me a small smile, "I'm sorry baby. But it looks like we didn't need to go the baby birthing classes after all."

A laugh burst out of me, "Oh, sweet one. I love you so much. I am so glad you are okay."

She didn't look okay. She was pale as a ghost, breathing hurt her and her eyes were wild with fear. My poor sweet girl. "I love you Isabella. I love you so much." I had to kiss her again.

She sobbed in my arms and then whispered so only I could hear her, "Don't let anything happen to our son. Please, promise me. If something happens you'll choose him."

I pulled back from her, "Isabella Marie Cullen don't you ever talk to me again about making a choice like that. You are going to be fine and so is our son. I know you are afraid but I will be with you the whole time. We are in this together. Yes?"

She nodded.

Damn. Fucking. Straight.

"Now I am going to get the doctor back in here and we are going to listen together to what needs to happen and we're going to get through this together. I love you, dammit I need you. Okay?"

She gave me a small brave smile. "Yes baby."

I went to the curtain and asked the nurse to call Drs Senna and Cullen. I went back and sat next to my girl holding her hand. Her grip was weak but she squeezed my hand and I knew we were going to be okay. We both just sat and watched the machine which was monitoring our baby's heart rate.

Dad spoke while Doctor Senna was examining Isabella's vital signs, "Isabella, Edward. I have called the anaesthetist. You are going to need epidural analgesia so we can perform the Caesarian without having to put you under a general anaesthetic. It will be better for both you and the baby. "

Doctor Senna spoke quietly but firmly to us, "We need to act quickly."

Dad looked at Doc Senna gravely and nodded. Things were going downhill, I could see that. I squeezed Bella's hand, "Do what you have to Dad, but can I stay with Bella?"

"Yes son, but you'll need to get into scrubs and be prepped. Come with me."

I turned to Bella, she looked up to me looking so frail and frightened, "I'm sorry Edward. You told me to rest. I should've listened and rested more. I lifted Lil Bit and danced all night. And now our baby is in danger. It's all my fault."

I held her chin and lowered my face to hers, "This. is. not. your. fault. This is childbirth. It is a completely unpredictable thing. No two births are the same. I can't tell you why this has happened but I can tell you that you are in a wonderful modern hospital and thankfully we are not on our own in this. So even though something has gone wrong, we are surrounded by wonderful, clever medical people who are all going to do their best to help you and help our son." I gently placed my other hand on her abdomen, "I know that it is all going to be alright love and very, very soon we will be holding our son, Charlie, in our arms. I love you."

A tear rolled down her cheek and she nodded slightly.

"Brave girl."

I was led from the room and taken to a prep area where I had to quickly shower and change into scrubs. Finally, I was led to an operating theatre and told to stand in a corner and not move until they called me. Everyone was kind to me but largely they ignored me as they bustled around. A humidicrib with heaters was wheeled in and moved to the corner next to me. A nurse explained the process after the baby was delivered, that he'd be checked over and if all was well he'd be given to us for a short cuddle and then placed in the humidicrib under lights as he'd likely be jaundiced. He'd probably have to go to ICU until they were sure he was alright.

I looked over and there were trays and trays of medical equipment which nurses in full scrubs were checking and rechecking. I stood there in wonder waiting for what seemed like forever for Isabella to be brought in.

Finally my father walked in with Doc Senna and another woman all decked out in full scrubs. Dad brought them over to me, "Edward, I called my good friend Dr Fisher to help, she is the foremost obstetrics surgeon in the State. Tia this is my son Edward."

"Good to meet you Dr Fisher, thank you for coming."

"Don't worry Edward, your wife and child are in good hands," she smiled warmly.

Just then the doors burst open, "Isabella!" I couldn't help myself I called to her as I went over where they were wheeling her in. She was drowsy as hell and I looked to Dad for an explanation.

"She's had the epidural son. It numbs her from the waist down but she's so exhausted ..."

I nodded, "Isabella, wake up baby."

Her beautiful eyes opened, "Edward... we're having a baby."

I smiled, "Yes love. We're having a baby."

All around us there was commotion and activity as they raised a little curtain over Bella's abdomen so she couldn't see. I could see over but I didn't, I kept my eyes on my love.

Doctor Fisher came and spoke to Bella, "We're going to start now young lady. Trust me you will soon have your son in your arms."

Bella smiled at her and I mouthed thank you to the Doctor who then went to other end of the table to work on birthing my son.

There was noise and all the staff talked with each other but I stayed with Isabella and shut them all out. I was terrified and locking eyes with Bella kept us both grounded. I leaned down and kissed her nose, "I love you."

"I can feel pressure," she said. "A tugging feeling."

I looked up, "Oh my God, Bella." As I stood up and looked over I watched as the doctor pulled our baby from Bella's body. He was covered in blood but he was beautiful. I held my breath and then we heard it. A cry. A small baby's cry. My son was born.

I looked down at Bella, "He's here."

She smiled.

The nurse brought our son to me wrapped in a small blue blanket, "Here you go Daddy, you and Mommy can have a quick cuddle but then I need to put him under the lights in the humidicrib."

She placed my son in my arms and he was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. He was small but considering how premature he was he wasn't that tiny.

I looked at his little face and kissed his nose, "Hello my son, I am so glad to see you. Do you want to meet your momma?"

I leaned down to hold him next to Bella. She reached her free arm up to touch him, "Hello Charles Carlisle Edward Cullen, aren't you handsome." She kissed his little cheek.

Carlisle gasped and beamed at me with pride.

We'd decided on our trip to Forks that we would call our son after our fathers but we hadn't told anyone our choice since Bella thought it would be bad luck to name the baby before he was born. Huh!

Bella started to drift away and I became alarmed so I took the baby handing him over to the nurse who whisked him away in his humidicrib.

"Bella? Dad? What's going on?"

Doctor Fisher answered, "We can't stop the bleeding Edward. I am afraid we're going to have to take the uterus. I'm sorry."

Bella was unconscious, oh God. This would mean no more children. She'd be broken hearted.

"Dad?"

He nodded, "I'm sorry Edward but in severe cases of placental abruption such as this after the delivery of the child heavy maternal bleeding can and has occurred. She's just lost too much blood son and we can't stop it. She's going to need a blood transfusion and an emergency hysterectomy. If we don't, she'll die."

"DIE! Hell No! Do what you must. Do it quickly. Please."

She was still unconscious when I leaned down and kissed her while they worked on her. My poor sweet girl. She wanted to have so many children.

I leaned down to her ear, "We have Anthony, Elizabeth and Charlie. We are blessed my love. And if we want more we can adopt. Stay with me love, stay with me forever. I need you my sweet girl."

When they were finished I followed her to post-op care and sat at her bedside holding her hand. They tried to coax me away from her but I wouldn't move from her side. I promised her we were in this together and so I stayed. They had her hooked up to bags of blood and plasma and god knows what. They monitored her vitals and wrote in their charts. I didn't ask. I didn't care. I didn't move.

I shuffled my chair closer to her, still holding her hand I lay my head on the bed and drifted to sleep. It had been a very long night.

I was woken by a gentle squeeze of my hand. I sat up and staring at me were the most beautiful brown eyes, "My love. You're awake. How do you feel?"

She smiled sadly at me. She knew. Had someone told her? Damn, why didn't they wait for me?

"Where's Charlie?" she whispered.

I smiled. "He's in a special humidicrib. Once we move into our room they'll bring him in to us. They explained to me last night what would happen. Even though he is a good size and his tests came up well, it is a precaution for a premmie bub to spend time in ICU under special lights as he is a little jaundiced. Nothing to worry about though."

"Can we see him soon?"

"Yes, love."

A tear rolled down her cheek, "Edward. I heard them talking ... did they take my uterus?"

I nodded, "Yes love. You'd lost too much blood and they couldn't stop the bleeding. But sweet one please don't be sad. We have Charlie. He's alive and you're alive. Last night I thought I was going to lose you and now I have you both. We have to count our blessings. Please love…. Love always hopes, Love always perseveres."

Another tear but she smiled.

"I suppose we can adopt when we want more children, can't we baby?"

"Yes, my love. Oh yes, of course we can. I was adopted and that worked out pretty well!"

She chuckled lightly but there was another tear.

"Sleep love. Sleep and I'll go see about Charlie. Okay?"

She didn't answer. She was already asleep.

Brave, brave beautiful girl.

A/N: I had this planned out from the beginning but I have to say it was very hard to write. But all is well, Charlie is born! They are strong and they will survive.

I had five pregnancies, four babies (sadly I lost one). Each birth was different and each child is different. It is a miracle in my view thanks to modern medicine that so many women and children survive the birthing ordeal.

I wonder how many of the growing Cullen family are in the waiting room right now? Lol. We'll find out next chapter.

Just a few chapters to go. Thanks for sticking with me you wonderful people. Can't wait to hear your thoughts.

Song credit:

"Dream a Little Dream of Me" is a song, from c.1931, with music by Fabian Andre and Wilbur Schwandt[1] and lyrics by Gus Kahn. It was first recorded in February 1931 by Ozzie Nelson and also by Wayne King and His Orchestra, with vocal by Ernie Birchill. A popular standard, more than 60 other versions have been recorded, but some of the highest chart ratings were in 1968 by Mama Cass Elliot with The Mamas & the Papas. wiki/Dream_a_Little_Dream_of_Me

Bible reference - 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 New International Version (NIV)