„Yes, mom. I know, it's early but Carlisle said we cannot wait any longer. Yes, I'll be glad if you come. Yes, tomorrow. Yes. Yes. Of course. Love you, too. I'll see you tomorrow. Yes. You, too. Thank you. Tell him, I love him. Yes. Bye."

She put down her phone. Tears shimmered in her gold- and purple eyes, but she didn't wipe them away. Her thin body shook as her arms lay protectively on her huge belly. She stroked it with her thumb and murmured something. Her white hair was loose, falling nearly to her waist, encircling her frail form.

God, when had she gotten so thin?

Her usual cheeriness and her happy face were gone when she finally looked up at him. Instead, there were only fear and sadness. And such a deep loneliness that it shook him to his core.

Still uncertain if he was welcome, he stood in the doorway to the library, her place of retreat. „Hi," he murmured and was rewarded with a small smile. „Hi"

„Can I… come in?" His voice was quiet but raw with emotion.

She nodded and reached out to him as he stepped inside. She didn't have to wait long. He was at her side in a heartbeat, kneeling, looking up to her. „Sara, I'm so, so, so sorry. I've been an idiot."

She cocked her head but didn't say anything. He lowered his gaze until it was on a level with her belly. „I've been buried so deep in my guilt and fear that I didn't see how much you needed me. It didn't occur to me that maybe you are afraid, too. I only saw how happy you looked and how forward you looked to this baby, and I let myself be blinded by that. I'm here now, much too late, I know. I can only beg you to forgive me and promise you that I'll always be at your side, no matter what happens. This is our child; our miracle and I believe that everything will be okay. Our child will be okay. And we'll figure out the rest together, I promise. If you will still have me, that is." Now he looked up again, uncertainty in his eyes.

Tears were streaming down her face but still there was a small smile on her lips. Her gold-and-purple eyes shone with a love so bright, it nearly burned him. He didn't deserve this love, didn't deserve her and still she was here. If this wasn't enough to make someone believe in God, what was?

„I love you," she mouthed. I love you so much

He almost sobbed and carefully lay his head in her lap. „I love you, too", he said, then lifted a hand to stroke her huge belly. „And you, little one"

And then, he stilled. His eyes grew wide as saucers and suddenly, he put his palm against her belly. She cocked her head. „What is it? What's wrong?", she asked, concern in her voice.

„It… He… He's talking to me…," he whispered.

„What?" Her voice was loud in the silence of the room. „What do you mean, talking?"

„He's sending me his thoughts… Like you. He hears us and he wants us to know that he loves us too."

Now she was sobbing in earnest. Her hands rested atop his, stroking her belly. „He?" she asked, and he nodded.

„A boy. Our boy. Our son," Edward answered and suddenly it hit him. Everything became crystal clear in a second. Everything he hadn't seen before. „We are going to be parents," he whispered, as much to himself as to her. She nodded. „Yes, we are."

They spent the night together in the library and emerged together the next day.

Carlisle had organized everything they would need. They had cleared an extra room with a small bed where she lay now. Edward was at her side, together with Esme, who would assist her husband. The others waited outside. They had prepared some bottles with formula and blood in case the baby needed some. They didn't know what the baby would eat and wanted to be prepared for everything.

Bella and Jacob were on their way and would be here shortly, in time to meet their grandson. Originally Bella had wanted to be at her daughter's side during the C-section, but Sara had told her that it wasn't necessary. Edward would be there, and she would meet them afterwards with her son in her arms.

The room was bare apart from the bed. Her face was pale but determined. Her hand was intertwined with Edward who didn't feel so well, either.

Carlisle had injected her with pain meds but had also prepared her for the unlikely situation that they wouldn't work due to her vampire nature. She nodded, which was his clue to begin.

He had pulled up a sheet between himself and her so she wouldn't have to watch as he cut open her stomach.

„How do you feel? " Edward asked to distract her from what was going on.

Afraid. Happy. I don't know.

He smiled. „Our son will be alright. He is strong."

She nodded. Can we call him Charlie?

Bella's father and her grandfather had died in a shooting a few years back. They had been very close and not a day passed that she didn't miss him.

Edward smiled. „Of course."

All of a sudden, her face became a grimace of pain. She groaned and shut her eyes. Her hand clenched his to the point where he thought she would break it. He turned to his father with alarm. „What's going on?"

Carlisle didn't look up as he answered. „It's the skin. It's healing too fast. Every time I cut it open it heals before I can get to the baby."

„But how are we going to get him out?" Edward asked.

Carlisle looked grim. „The old-fashioned way." He turned to Sara who looked afraid and in pain. Her skin was covered with a faint layer of sweat. She didn't breathe but her whole body shook with the amount of energy it cost her not to scream. „Sara, I need you to listen to me. I will inject you with something that will trigger contractions. Then I will pierce the amniotic sac which will speed the contractions. When I tell you to, you will push alright?" His voice was steady and calm, and Sara nodded weakly.

Esme was at her other side and stroked her long white hair. „It is going to be alright, honey. Just a few more minutes and you will hold your son in your arms. But for that you will have to help him. He needs you; do you hear me? He wants to come out, but he cannot do this alone."

Edward was sure he was going to faint, vampire or not. This whole situation had turned into a nightmare in a matter of seconds. They would use contraception every single time from now on. Or wouldn't have sex at all, he swore to himself. He would never, ever put Sara in a situation like this again.

He watched as Carlisle pulled some liquid in a syringe and then injected it into the crook of her elbow. He could practically feel how it spread through her body, starting the labour.

Waves of waves of pain rushed through her and every time she pressed his hand tight. Carlisle looked up from where he was standing between her legs. He had something which looked like a very long needle in his hands. „I am going to pierce it now. When you feel the first contraction, don't fight it. Go with it and push when I tell you to." He lowered his head and suddenly there was a wave of water coming out, splashing onto the ground.

Sara cried out in pain as the first contraction hit her with full force. „You have to push now, Sara."

She couldn't even speak or send him thoughts anymore. Everything was pain. She screamed every time a contraction hit her, but she also pushed with all her might.

After a few minutes which felt like hours, Carlisle said: „Alright, I can see the head. Just a little more"

Esme stroked her hair. „You are doing great, honey. Just a little more"

Sara sobbed. „It hurts…"

Esme nodded. „I know. It will be over soon, I promise."

„I want my mom," she sobbed. Another contraction hit her, and she screamed.

„She'll be here soon."

Edward didn't know why Bella wasn't here. She had known when the C-section had been planned so why wasn't she here? She should be here, holding her daughter's hand, telling her that everything would be alright, not Esme. Had nobody told her what was going on?

„Just one more time, Sara. Push, now!"

Sara screamed. A wet sound, some blood and then another scream, tiny but stable. And just like that Charlie Anthony Cullen was born.

Carlisle quickly cut the umbilical cord then placed the small bundle in Sara's waiting arms. The baby still screamed but got calm when he felt his mother's presence. Sara clutched him gently to her body, eyes full of love and wonder. The smell of blood was thick in the air but not one of the four vampires present noticed it. They were all focused on the tiny being in Sara's arms who had buried his head at her breast. As nearly all babies did, he found her breast on his own and was now sucking with strong, heavy gulps. „That solves the question of what he eats," Sara joked faintly, gently stroking her son's head. Esme had put a blanket over them both to keep them warm. Now she stood at her husband's side and watched the small family in front of her with soft eyes. „They look beautiful, don't they?" she asked gently, and Carlisle nodded. „They did great."

„You did great," Esme responded, placing a small kiss on his cheek. „Grandpa"

„I like the sound of that," he grinned. „How about we clean up a little and then let the others know?"

Esme nodded and they got to work, quietly so as not to disturb the happiness in front of them.

If he had believed in God, he would send him prayer after prayer, Edward decided as he watched his mate and son.

Sara looked exhausted but blissful, watching her son drink.

„He has your eyes," she said gently.

Indeed, the baby's eyes were already a mixture of brown and gold. „But your smile," he gave back which earned him a doubtful look. „You didn't see his smile yet"

Edward chuckled. „I can sense it."

„Is he sending you any thoughts?" Sara asked curiously when Edward stroked the baby's back. He shook his head. „Maybe he's too tired or doesn't know how to work this ability yet. I mean, he's only a few minutes old, so I say we should give him some time."

She grinned quietly and let her head fall back. „Do you want to hold him?" The baby had stopped sucking and had fallen asleep. He nodded and she carefully handed him their child. Then she watched happily as he looked down at the baby with wondrous eyes.

Half an hour passed, and Sara was nearly asleep when there was a soft knock on the door. The door opened and Bella stepped in, her eyes lightening up when she spotted the small family. Within a second, she was at her daughter's side, holding her hand. „I'm so sorry I wasn't here for you, darling. The car broke down and the sitter didn't come…"

„It's alright," her daughter answered sleepily. She nodded towards Edward who still held the baby in his arms. Bella stood up carefully and approached her former lover, her gaze focused on the child who had begun to stir when he noticed the unfamiliar presence. „He is so beautiful," the woman whispered as she gently put a finger on his small head. Edward nodded. „That he is"

Bella looked at him fondly. „I am so happy for you. I don't know anybody who deserves this more than you."

Edward smiled. „Thank you…"

Another hour passed. Sara had taken their son back to breastfeed him while her parents and Edward watched. Afterwards, the rest of the family was welcomed in. Everybody had the same expression of wonder in their eyes as they watched the miracle child, half vampire, half werewolf. He was passed down to each of them and at one time he woke up. But instead of crying he just watched his aunts and uncles with big eyes as if he wondered who all these people were.

Eventually, he was handed back to his parents, and they were once again left alone to enjoy their newfound life as a family.