A/N: This is story from Carlisle's Point of view when he gets the call from Alice telling him that Bella was giving birth. There is one more chapter to complete it. Once I get at least one review, I will update with the second half. Hope you like! Please let me know what you think.

Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight.

The night was a deep violet tonight, the pinpricked sky above an inky indigo. Even in our haste to return back to the house where Bella was waiting in her precarious state, Esme and I couldn't help but dawdle a little in the open meadow, some few hundred miles away.

Her soft hand was clasped lightly in my own, our fingers wound gently around each other's. Even as we tried to enjoy a few moments of peace, we kept a brisk pace, not wanting to be too late, just in case. At the sharp memory of Bella's drawn, pale face, her swelling abdomen, and her loss of strength, the ever-present worry gnawed at my mind.

I rubbed my temples unnecessarily, trying to ease some of the pain. Dear Bella, even with how much better she was doing now, still weak, so devoted to her selfless love.

At that thought, I turned to my wife, my breath catching just as it had the first time we realized we were in love. Her serene smile was understanding, soothing, and sensual all at the same time. I found myself lost for words at the sight of her gently curved mouth, the flicker of her eyelashes as she tilted her head down bashfully in response to my admiring gaze.

I slowed our pace slightly, not wanting to go back to the harsh reality of home just yet. For one stolen moment, I felt almost as I had before this ordeal. The strain I felt at watching two of my children in agony slowly ebbed away at the merest glance from her honey eyes; the pain I went through as I watched my beloved son burn away from the inside out dulled as her gentle finger smoothed away the crease on my forehead; the remorse that tormented me as I watched my beloved daughter being torn between two beings so precious to her seemed to fade when she placed a sweet kiss on my cheek.

Finally, we slowed to a stop just a few yards from the edge of a young forest, and I turned to her face to face. As always, she wore a kind, patient look. My sweet Esme, so constant in her love, powerful in her soothing words, and faithful in her family. The only thing worse than my own suffering was watching her go through the same trials.

""My dear Esme," I murmured, brushing a lock of her caramel hair away from her face. Although she was looking at me so tenderly, I could see the pain deep within her soul, eating away at her. She hurt so much, seeing Bella the way she was; but her respect and fondness for Bella only grew with this most disastrous of decisions. A motherly respect, one that no one in our family but Esme could feel. Not even Rosalie.

She stroked my face, furrowing her brow questioningly.

"You mustn't be so hard on yourself." She whispered, staring into my eyes imploringly.

Once again, I felt the weight of all the burdens fall back onto my shoulders, and I turned my face away from hers, ashamed.

"I just wish…" I choked on the words and felt her soft touch on my face again. I grasped her hand and held it against my cheek, as if it would give me the strength to speak my most shameful fears. "I should be able to help her; I should be able to make her better."

Esme waited a moment, letting my words sink in before speaking herself.

"Carlisle," Her voice was like a ghost, feathery and quiet. "No one believes that you are failing Bella. Everyone sees that you are doing whatever you can. And you need to see the positives."

I looked back at her face, almost pleadingly. I searched her expression, hoping that I could find truth to her words there.

"Positives?" I whispered back, knowing that no one else could see me falter; no one could know I was breaking down like the rest of them. I had to be their leader, their father, and give them hope the way Esme gave it to me.

"Yes. All you need to do is look into her face. She has found new strength; she has color in her cheeks again." We both grinned at this. Bella's beautiful blush had always been something we adored about her.

"She does. If only we had discovered this remedy sooner…" my voice trailed off as she placed two fingers on my lips.

"And think," her face glowed now with whatever revelation she was about to share with me, "when this is all done with, there will be a new baby. A beautiful little baby. Edward and Bella's baby. Who would have believed such a blessing would be bestowed on us? Just a few years ago our despair had been for Edward being all alone. Now he has Bella! You are getting a happier Edward, a new daughter, and a grandchild!"

I couldn't help but smile at all of this. Esme was rejoicing quietly inside, her eyes glowing with happiness, her white smile glittering in the moonlight. Through all of this, I had been so focused on getting Bella and her baby out of this alive and I hadn't paid much thought to what would be if-no, when- I succeeded after.

A grandpa. I was going to be a grandpa! As Esme had pointed out, it was a blessing I had not dreamed to ask for of life. I took her hand again, turning to the woods. I had the strength now to return to my family. My family needed me, and now I would be able to return to them with a smile, albeit a strained smile, on my face.

But just as we began to run again, our stolen moment of happiness was shattered by the shrill ring of my cell phone.