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A/N: The idea for this story literally came out of NOWHERE tonight. I wrote the prologue extremely fast and am currently working on outlining the rest; however, since I think the prologue can actually kind of stand on its own, if I never get around to writing the rest of this, it's okay. (Although I probably WILL because I like the idea...) If it's been done before, I'm completely unaware because I honestly have only read maybe 5 pieces of Twilight fanfic total.
This is post-Eclipse (ten years down the road to be specific), but completely ignores Breaking Dawn, so I suppose it's AU. Obviously, I don't own Twilight, blahblahblah.
Merry Christmas!
He knew that it was a dangerous and stupid thing to do. If he was discovered, it would hurt Bella inconceivably, Jacob would be beyond furious, and it would only make his own still heart ache with longing. There was also the off chance that he would have a murderous pack of werewolves after him for breaking the treaty, but he wasn’t quite as worried about that last part.
He couldn’t resist once Seth told him, though. (The rest of the Cullens still found it hilarious that he kept in touch with a werewolf of all things, but Seth was a good kid and he kept Edward informed about Bella’s life.)
Edward knew if he had a heart, it would have stopped beating at the moment the words left Seth's mouth. He should have expected it, of course. She had married him and it was what married couples did after a few years – started families.
He still hadn’t been prepared for the sight of her, though; swollen ankles, her breasts much larger than usual, and her heavily pregnant stomach. She was more beautiful than he remembered and he wished with every fiber of his being that it was his child she was carrying. Their child.
The baby, however, would have a head full of black hair like her real father, chocolate brown eyes, and a dusky complexion fitting of her Quileute ancestors.
But best of all and most important to Edward, Bella’s child would have a beating heart and be wonderfully human.
**
She was born on Christmas Eve. Edward watched Jacob shuffle Bella out of the house and into the car to go to the hospital at four o’clock in the morning, looking frantic and beyond excited, and Edward couldn’t help the jealous rage that rose in his stomach.
You chose this, he kept repeating to himself. She would be with you right now if you just could have done it…
He spent the day near Charlie’s house, waiting for news. When he finally pulled into the driveway at 8:00 that night, Edward heard what he needed to hear. Ellie, 7 pounds 8 ounces, 21 inches long, born at 5:17 pm. She has Bella’s nose.
That night, Edward hunted with a ferocity he had been missing for ten years, ever since she walked out of his life for good. For some reason, the thought of that baby, the daughter of not only the woman he loved, but his sworn enemy, completely floored him. He couldn’t make himself leave if he wanted to.
**
They came home from the hospital the next afternoon, Ellie wearing a fuzzy red Christmas hat, bundled in layers of blankets and sleeping peacefully in her mother’s arms. He only got a brief glimpse of her as the garage door closed, but it was enough to keep him waiting in the snow for hours.
Later that evening, after eating a simple Christmas dinner and fawning over their new grandchild, Charlie, Billy, Renee, and Phil all left the little family alone to celebrate privately. Edward crouched behind a tree as their headlights swept by, then crept carefully closer to the living room window. Even though he knew Jacob stopped phasing a few years before, there was still a chance his senses were more acute than a normal human’s. It was a risk being here, but one he was willing to take.
Edward could see that Jacob was sufficiently distracted, however, with Bella wrapped in his arms. They were watching Ellie sleep, gently rocking back and forth in her swing. He still couldn’t see the baby, since her swing faced away from him and he felt a surge of frustration. He would just have to wait a little longer.
**
An hour later, Bella and Jacob finally rose, and Jacob carefully picked up his daughter. He carried her to the nursery and gently placed her into the crib, tucking the blankets securely around her still sleeping form.
“Is she supposed to sleep this much? I thought newborns were supposed to cry or something,” he muttered quietly to Bella.
Edward could almost hear Bella’s grin.
“Well, maybe we got lucky. You never know.”
Edward listened to them mumble their goodnights to Ellie and grew anxious when the light from the nursery finally extinguished. Just a few more minutes…
He listened for another hour, but apparently, the new parents were exhausted. As far as he could tell, they were both already in a deep sleep. It was safe now.
In less than a second, Edward was standing in the middle of the dark nursery. The walls were a pale yellow, very gender neutral, and the furniture was made of a dark and heavy wood. It must have been a gift, since the crib, changing table, and rocking chair looked more expensive than Jacob and Bella could possibly afford.
Edward slowly took a deep breath, even though he obviously didn’t need to, before silently padding up to the crib. As he leaned over the edge and gazed down at Ellie, Bella’s daughter, he felt his breath catch in his throat.
What a remarkable little creature. She looked just like her father, unfortunately, but Charlie was right – that was Bella’s nose. Before he could stop himself, Edward reached down and lightly touched her little cheek, a smile gracing his features, even though he felt like his heart was breaking.
As he traced the gentle curve of Ellie’s lips, her eyes suddenly popped open. Edward immediately drew his hand back, ready to bolt and leave no evidence of his presence if she started to cry, but she simply looked at him.
Her eyes were beautiful, neither the color of Jacob’s nor Bella’s exactly, though he knew that could very well change.
“Hello, little one,” he whispered, and before he knew what he was doing, he had reached down and scooped her up into his arms. She was swaddled so tightly she wouldn’t immediately be cold, so holding her for just a moment would do no harm.
It was the first time he had ever held a baby, but it felt natural. Right. Though she was a million times more fragile than her mother had been at seventeen, Edward was not afraid of hurting her. He would never hurt her.
He closed his eyes and leaned down, placing a gentle kiss on her forehead.
“I love your mother more than anything,” he sighed, then inhaled her sweet baby scent.
Edward froze.
He knew that smell. Oh.
She smelled like her mother, or at least she would someday. It was so slight at the moment he almost couldn’t catch it, but it was there. It filled him with a longing so desperate and deep he wanted to cry heart wrenching painful sobs.
Instead they simply stared at each other, Edward and Ellie, Ellie and Edward, and he suddenly knew down to the very core of his being that he would die for her, just like he would her mother. He would protect her until the day she left this earth, no matter what, because she was Bella’s. And then he would protect her children, and their children, and their children’s children after.
If he couldn’t have Bella, if he couldn’t have a real life, he could do everything in his power to protect her family. Even though it was a sad excuse for happiness, it would bring him peace.
Edward kissed Ellie once more, then carefully laid her back in the crib as he’d found her. She immediately started to cry, and Edward heard both Jacob and Bella stirring right away. He left as quickly as he’d come, but he turned around at the edge of the trees and looked back to the nursery just in time to see the light flicker on and Bella lift Ellie out of the crib.
Bella kissed her head and began murmuring comfortingly as she brought Ellie to her shoulder, but almost immediately, she stopped. Edward saw her slowly turn, her brow furrowed, and look around the room curiously. Then she slowly leaned in and sniffed Ellie.
Edward heard her gasp at the realization, as she smelled his enticing, sweet smell all over her child. She knew he’d been there. He didn’t wait to see how she would react, however, and instead began running at full speed toward Seattle. It didn’t matter how she felt about it.
He had already made up his mind to come back someday.
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