Chapter 13: A Baby Is Born

~Jasper POV~

Alice shrieked again as water puddled at her feet. Everything around me was a blur. I yelled for Carlisle, but I couldn't hear myself. Alice was clinging onto my hand, but I couldn't feel her. Our family appeared at the door, but all I saw were blurred shapes spinning around my head.

It was happening. Our baby was finally coming.

"Jasper! Jasper, snap out of it!" Edward said, shaking me out of my daze.

Reality slid back into place.

Carlisle got Alice to lie down on the bed, and I crouched beside her. She never once took her eyes off my own as Carlisle spoke to her. He sent everyone out of the room, allowing only me and Esme to stay for the birth.

Alice whimpered every so often, and I felt the pain she was experiencing. Esme bustled around getting everything ready as Carlisle began to examine Alice.

"Alice, dear, where did you put the blankets?" Esme asked.

Alice had taken to hiding her purchases in various places round the house. She'd told me that she'd grown tired of the endless teasing every time she came home with yet more bags full of mini bobble hats and barbie princess dolls.

"They're on the top shelf of the closet, behind my jeans." Alice said, "Use the pale pink one, it's-"

She went into another contraction, squeezing my hand so hard that it would surely break bones if I were human.

"Now, Alice, you're already quite a way through labour." Carlisle said, "It shouldn't be too long now before she's born."

I vaguely remembered Dana telling us that labour would be short, especially because the baby was late. I watched as Carlisle injected morphine into Alice's arm, "That should help with the pain a little, as long as your body doesn't burn it off too quickly."

I was still feeling waves of pain from Alice, so I knew the morphine hadn't kicked in yet. I smoothed the hair back from her forehead and kissed it softly, "I know you can do this, Darlin'."

Alice smiled up at me, joy mixing in with the pain. I smiled warmly back, then winced as she went into another contraction. Esme patted my shoulder, "I've heard of husband's getting sympathy pains during labour, but this is a little extreme."

"Oh Jazz, I didn't even think!" Alice said, "You can leave if it's too much."

"Are you kidding?" I asked, "All the pain in the world couldn't drag me away from you now."

Her face lit up in a smile once again. "I love you, Jazzy."

"I love you too, Ali." I told her.

Half an hour later, Carlisle announced that it was time for Alice to start pushing. She gripped my hand tightly, but I gave her a reassuring smile, "You can do it."

I sent waves of confidence and calmness towards her, and she looked at me gratefully.

"Ready, Alice?" Carlisle asked. She nodded, "Okay. Push."

The pain was almost unbearable for me, and I couldn't imagine what it was like for Alice, first hand. It killed me to think of her in that much pain, and knowing that I couldn't do anything to help her.

"Good girl, Alice." Carlisle said softly, "I can see the head. Just a bit more."

Alice was whimpering, but it was nothing compared to the screaming I remembered from my sister's labour. A sense of pride flourished within me as I thought about how easily Alice was getting through this. Well...as easy as you could expect it to be, anyway.

"One more push, Alice." Carlisle said.

Moments later, Carlisle was holding up a baby. Our baby.

He handed me a tool, "You can cut the umbilical cord, Jasper."

I did what he asked numbly, unable to take my eyes off my beautiful daughter.

Esme wrapped her up in the pale pink blanket and nestled her in Alice's arms. She didn't cry or scream, she just blinked up at us with golden eyes and made happy, gurgling noises. I could tell from her emotions that she was happy, and curious. Confused, understandably, but trusting in Alice and myself as we looked down at her with joyous expressions on our faces.

She looked just like Alice, with a few wispy chestnut-coloured hairs on her head. I thought of my mother and her chesnut curls. I smiled, happy knowing that some of my human family had appeared in my daughter. Her eyelashes were long, surrounding huge eyes. Her lips were full and rosy, underneath a cute button nose. She was perfect.

"Hello, Daisy-May." I whispered. She looked up at me, our amber eyes locking. I silently vowed to always protect her, love her, care for her. Anyone who dared hurt my daughter would wish they'd never been born. Anyone who broke her heart would have me to answer to.

I vowed that, if nothing else, I would always make her happy. Everyday I would strive to make her smile. Everyday I would do anything to hear the joyful laugh she was laughing right now. Everyday I would give up my world to make sure her emotions were untroubled.

Finally able to tear my gaze away from her radiant beauty, I looked at my wife. She had sweat dripping down her forehead, her hair stuck out in random places, her face pink. The smile that she wore made her more beautiful in that moment than I'd ever seen her before.

I looked between her and our daughter, their smiles matching my own. The three of us here, a family.

She's finally here! What do you think? How'd you like the Jasper POV? Sorry it's so short...I wanted to switch back to Alice POV here! Next chapter should be up fairly soon! :)

I've been thinking about what vampire gifts Daisy-May could have...as Dana mentioned in earlier chapters, she'd probably have several gifts...I have some ideas, but I'd love to hear your suggestions! If there's one I like, I'll use it in the story! :)