Hello! This is a little something I've actually been working at for a while now, but now I'm rewriting it and putting it up. I hope you like it!

UPDATE 07/30/13: With everything in mind, I've decided to update this opening author's note with a few warnings for those who are triggered easily. This fic will contain dark themes include abuse on several different levels, including sexual, injuries stemming from said abuse, and talk of divorce and war. Reader discretion advised. This will be the only warning since I think that adding a note on each chapter would be needless and overbearing. Thank you for listening and I hope you enjoy the story!

Disclaimer: I don't own.

It's about midnight when I wake, groggy, with an aching back. I really should just move a small bed in here instead of sleeping in a rocking chair every night. I stand, wincing when I hear my spine crackle like Rice Crispy cereal. I look over at the crib in the corner, step closer to it, and smile. Little five-week-old Rose is fast asleep. At peace. Thank God.

I quickly pay closer attention to her breathing; it's still somewhat patchy, but at least it's better than it was when she was first born. The sound of her gasps still give me nightmares, over a month later. But she's getting stronger, something that the doctors really didn't expect to happen. They said that no baby born that early could live. "Well, you showed them, didn't you, darling?" I whisper.

I startle when I feel strong arms wrap around me, but I quickly realize that it's Edward. "She takes after you, you know," he tells me, softly so we don't wake her up. "You're both beautiful and tough."

Chuckling, I ask, "What're you doing up?"

"Missing you," he says, sighing. "Why don't you come sleep in our bedroom for the night? The doctor says that she's out of danger; you don't have to stay with her all the time."

"I don't want for her to be in here alone. What if something happens? Eddie, she's still weak."

"Do you want for me to stay in here instead? Staying in that chair all the time isn't good for you."

I shake my head, even if he's right. "I'm fine. I can wait until she's strong enough to be moved."

Suddenly, we're both shocked by a cry. It's not the loudest, or the clearest, but it's a whole lot more than we expected out of her. I gently pick her up. I'm careful around the small feeding tube that she has in her nose. I hate that thing—it must be so uncomfortable for her. But it's kept her alive and for that I'm thankful. I hold her to my chest and kiss her head, both acts that usually calm her down. This time is like no other. She stops crying and just relaxes, gently looking around. Doctor Hershel says that she probably can't see very much right now, but I think she recognizes me. Wishful thinking, maybe, but it's what I think.

Edward gives me a soft peck on the temple. "I love you both so much."

I hum. "Is this better than the inevitable ginger baby you would've ended up with?" I ask, teasingly.

He pouts at me. "Nancy…you know the answer to that."

"What? I'm just the rebound. A very, very long-lasting rebound."

"No, you're my true love. I love you more in one day than I could've Giselle in a lifetime."

"And the sex is better."

"Nancy! Not in front of the baby…"

"Oh, you…You're going to be terrible when she starts dating, aren't you?"

I can tell just by the way his lip juts out that he doesn't like this thought. "I say we have a boy. Then she won't have to get married to carry the line."

I stifle a giggle. "Why don't we wait to cross that bridge when we get to it? Let's just be happy with what we have before thinking of having another."

He nods into my shoulder. He kisses the nape of my neck. "I don't think we should think about it at all. I nearly lost the both of you."

I swallow hard, but try to make it playful. "Aren't you being a bit dramatic?"

He kisses me more firmly. "You nearly died. I saw the blood. I'm not going to let that happen again."

"You don't have to worry about that. No one around here is going to be dying anytime soon. She's getting better and I'm as healthy as a horse."

His brows knit together. "What's so healthy about…Was that one of those 'figure of speech' things you told me about."

"Yes, dear," I say, shaking my head at him. "Why don't you get back to bed? Don't you have some sort of meeting in the morning?"

"Oh, of course," he says, sighing. "You know how much the Board of Marketplace Owners love to complain…"

I roll my eyes. "If you want to, I could handle the meeting if you'll stay in here with her. Maybe the Board of Marketplace Whiners just need a woman's touch."

"No, I think I can do it. You just worry about two things: you and her." He yawns. "I'm going to go get a few more hours of rest. Nancy, please, don't stay up all night." He kisses me one more time and leaves.

I look down at Rose. She's still awake, her eyes open and big and blue (they might change once she's older). "Well, now we're in here all by myself, aren't we?" Carefully, I pull the rocking chair closer to the crib with my foot (I don't know why the maid keeps moving it away; I want to be closer to my baby, dammit!). Without pulling the tube, I sit down with Rose in my arms. "You're so lovely, aren't you baby? My lovely, lovely little girl."

I can't contain my grin when she actually coos in response. It's the first time she's done that. I just lightly nuzzle the top of her head with my cheek. I love doing that. Her dark fuzz is incredibly soft. She's a brunette just like her parents. And a sleepy brunette at that. She's already out cold against my chest. I should probably put her back in the crib now. But I don't want to. I think I'll just hold her for a few more minutes. Yeah. Just a few.

It's over an hour later when I feel myself nodding off. I sigh, standing. I tuck her back in her crib, all safe and cozy, before whispering, "Goodnight, my Rosie."

I settle back into the chair, my back already going back to aching. It may hurt, but it's worth it.

I hope you liked it! Please review!