[For Bella] The baby moves

[masochistic_lion]

There were few things more pleasant in my life on the island than waking up next to Bella, turning over and seeing her sleepy smile or just watching her sleep for a while if I woke first. It was quiet and peaceful, and even if it didn't always remain so, most of the time that was also a turn for the better. I didn't think my passion for her would ever wane, any more than my love would. I would always love her more than my own life, and I would always want her.

This morning when I opened my eye I lay still for a few minutes, feeling her comforting warmth near my back, before rolling over to face her and smiling at my first sight of her for the day.

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[swan_diver]

Sleeping wasn't exactly uncomfortable, but since she'd always been more prone to sleeping on her side or face down, the adjustment to sleeping on her back hadn't been an easy one. Placing pillows in strategic places around the growing lump had helped, though, and eventually, she got used to it.

More often than not, though, even with the pillows, she ended up flat on her back. This morning wasn't any different so she lay, head turned to the side, hair back in its low ponytail for sleeping, and the light loose tank she'd worn to bed pulled tight from being stuck under her when she turned over in the night.

[masochistic_lion]

I shifted closer, resting my hand on the gentle swell of her stomach as I leaned in and lightly kissed the tip of her nose.

[swan_diver]

"Mmmmorning," Bella mumbled, starting to wake slowly, her body automatically shifting towards him, "timeisit?"

[masochistic_lion]

"Around eight? You can keep sleeping if you want, I didn't mean to wake you," I murmured, slipping my arm around her waist as I moved closer to her.

[swan_diver]

"Mmmmyeah. Sleep," Bella agreed, her eyes still closed against the idea of waking up.

Something happened, though, when he spoke. A little pressure against the arm across her waist - a little thump.

[masochistic_lion]

I went very still as I felt something against my arm, my breath held. "...I felt something," I whispered, pulling my arm from around her again so I could rest my hand against her stomach again, hoping for a repeat.

[swan_diver]

"Mmm?" Bella mumbled, still mostly asleep.

The baby, however, is wide awake, and happy to hear his voice. Another little thump, right against his hand when he speaks.

[masochistic_lion]

I inhaled sharply, then broke into a wide grin. "The baby. I can feel the baby moving!" I laughed, feeling overwhelmed with emotion from that simple little nudge against my hand.

[swan_diver]

There are another two thumps, harder this time, since his voice is louder and easier to hear.

"What?" Bella blinked, sitting up. "You can feel her this time?"

[masochistic_lion]

"I can," I replied, awed. I sat up and slipped my free arm around her, rubbing the bump lightly. "That's so incredible." That was my little son or daughter, growing inside of her, alive and real and nudging against my hand.

[swan_diver]

Bella leaned back a little to give him better access to the bump. "She's never been so active. I mean she flutters every now and then, but nothing like this. It's like...," she considered for a second while her brain woke up. "Say something. Talk to her."

[masochistic_lion]

I arched an eyebrow at Bella, then shifted, leaning my face closer to her belly. "Hello, little one," I murmured, my hand stilling.

[swan_diver]

That direct contact netted him the sharpest kicks yet, right to where his hands were. Bella gasped. It wasn't painful exactly, it just felt strange.

"I'm guessing she likes the sound of your voice," she commented, feeling that odd deja vu of repeating something from the book.

[masochistic_lion]

I shook my head a little, too overwhelmed with emotion to speak for a moment. Then I looked up at Bella and smiled wryly. "I wish I could hear her, too."

[swan_diver]

Bella's hands covered his. "I think that might be the first time I've heard you say you miss being able to hear thoughts." She nodded, though. "I wish you could, too. But without the vampire part making her mature faster, you probably wouldn't be hearing much."

[masochistic_lion]

"Maybe. But if she's aware enough to recognize my voice, maybe I could get something." What I really wanted was that moment of revelation, where I heard how much the baby loved us. Then again, I didn't really need that to know that it was probably true. Why wouldn't she? She would be adored and spoiled from the moment she was born, no matter whether we were human or vampire.

[swan_diver]

Bella laughed as she kicked at his hand again. "I think you're getting something, all right. Either that or she's thinking about becoming the youngest ever on the Olympic soccer team."

She watched him watch her stomach move under the little kicks. "I hate that we have four more months to wait to meet her."

[masochistic_lion]

"I know, so do I," I said quietly, sitting up to kiss her cheek, my hand remaining over the little thumping life inside of her. "But it will pass quickly enough, and then she'll be here."

[swan_diver]

"And something tells me I'm probably going to have a battle on my hands, getting her out of your arms for longer than it takes to feed her, right?" Bella giggled, slipping her hands into his hair.

[masochistic_lion]

"Oh, that sounds about right," I agreed, grinning as my mouth found hers for a lingering kiss.

[swan_diver]

Bella leaned back and pulled him into her, keeping his lips on hers, nibbling on his lower one before sliding her tongue along it. "Should I set up an appointment schedule?"

[masochistic_lion]

"Mmm...maybe later. I have something else in mind for now." My hand moved from her stomach at last, sliding up her side, beneath her tank top as I kissed her again, deeper.

[swan_diver]

"Mmm, you do, huh?" Bella melted into his kiss, body fitting perfectly to his in all the ways that matter. "Seems to me all that 'something else' is what got us into this situation in the first place."

[masochistic_lion]

"Mmhmm." I let my mouth wander along her jaw, up toward her ear. "And now that the damage is done, there's no reason not to continue."

[swan_diver]

"So I'm damaged goods now, huh?" Bella laughed against his cheek, poking at his sides while he leaned in for more.

[masochistic_lion]

"That is not what I said," I told her firmly, returning my mouth to hers. "You. Are. Perfect." I accented each word with a tender kiss.

[swan_diver]

"You. Are. Biased," Bella answered, smiling against his lips.

[masochistic_lion]

I laughed at that. "True, but that doesn't make me any less accurate." I moved my hand up to cup her breast, my thumb teasing at her nipple as I kissed her again.

[swan_diver]

She arched easily into his touch, knowing just where she fit best, her leg curling around his hips to bring him closer.

[masochistic_lion]

I hummed in approval, pressing against her as I kissed her deeply, then pulled back to smile down at her. "I'm really going to miss this when you get further along," I told her with a playful grin, pushing her tank top up out of the way so I could look at her beautiful curves, the growing fullness of her breasts, the gentle swell of her stomach.

[swan_diver]

"Is this going to end?" Bella asked, breathless from his actions and her own pulsing heartbeat and the heat his intense gaze spreads through her body.