She's been in labor for nearly twenty seven hours. Her doctor and I tried suggesting a Cesarean shortly after we hit the double digits, but she stoutly refused. My stubborn wife is determined to bring our daughter into this world as naturally as possible.

"Edward," she whispers, reaching for my hand. Even with no makeup and her hair matted to her face, she is the most beautiful woman in the world to me. The buzzing of the nearby machines ebb away as I gaze into her large brown eyes.

"Yes, dear," I murmur as I give her hand a reassuring squeeze. "I'm here."

"I'm so tired."

"I know you are." I bring her hand to my lips and kiss her knuckles.

"I don't think I can do this anymore."

I bring my head down to kiss her forehead. "You are the bravest and strongest person I know, Isabella Marie Swan Cullen," I tell her. She smiles weakly back at me and cups my cheek.

Before I can ask if she wants to go through with a C-section after all, I am being roughly pushed out of the way by a nurse. I vaguely hear her doctor order the staff in the room, "We need to get her to OR, stat."

I stare bewildered at her doctor.

"Mr. Cullen, your wife's labor is not progressing. She is still dilated at seven centimeters and now the baby is showing distress," she explains to me briefly. "Your daughter's not getting enough oxygen. We need to get into surgery and perform an emergency C-section."

I blink dumbly.

"BP dropping," a nurse reports.

"Let's go, people!" her doctor shouts.

A flurry of people and movement descend upon my wife and suddenly, I am left alone in the delivery suite. In that instant, my world comes crashing down on me.

A/N - Sorry this was so short. I intended for this to be a prologue as I try to figure out how to proceed.

Also, I am in search for a beta. If anyone is interested, will you please pm me? I've never had one before... Thanks!