Chapter One: Labor Pains

Ages-
James Morgan: 4
Bella Cullen: 2
Edward Hale: 2
Emmett Cullen: 1
Jasper Hale: 1
Alice Cullen: 4 months

Esme:

Timothy entered the hospital waiting room, grinning ear to ear, "It's a girl!"

I was stunned. Christina has always wanted a little girl, and after three boys, she finally got what she wanted. I stooped down to face her middle child, "You have a new baby sister." Edward wrapped his small arms around me, and waited for me to pick him up.

He nestled his head into the crook of my neck, "I want to see mommy."
"We're going to let mommy and the baby get checked on and cleaned up before we go in."

Timothy walked over. He pulled Edward into his arms, "Mommy can't wait to see you."

I took this moment of time to take in everyone around me. Alice was sleeping in her car seat; and Jasper and Emmett were in their separate strollers dozing in and out. Edward lay in his father's strong arms and Bella sat on Carlisle's lap, wrapped in his protective embrace. James was currently being occupied by his uncle Christopher Jr. or CJ, his mother's youngest sibling. Although James wasn't Timothy's son biologically, he loved and raised his wife's son as if he was his own.

Christina's mother, Clarissa, threw her arms around her husband, Christopher Sr. in excitement. The new baby was her first granddaughter. Clarissa pulled away from her husband, and turned to face her eldest daughter, Crystal. Crystal's three boys were currently spending the summer with their father, her recently divorced husband. Over the past few years, Crystal and Christina had a falling out, which resulted in estrangement between the two. Timothy is the only other person –outside of Christina and Crystal- who knows why the falling out occurred in the first place. Everyone else is just as clueless…and will remain that way until one of them decides to spill.

Timothy's mother, Elizabeth, held her oldest child Tara's hand tightly, as she jumped up and down. This wasn't Elizabeth's first granddaughter, but a new Hale being born into the world was always reason to celebrate in excitement and joy. Thomas, Elizabeth's other son, walked over to his brother and offered a congratulatory pat on the back.

"Do you think they're done yet?" I anxiously paced back and forth. Watching everyone could only last but so long. Now, I am impatient and eagerly waiting to see my best friend and the new edition to our lives.

Timothy placed Edward onto his size two feet, "I'll go check."

"Hurry!" Elizabeth clasped her hands together, "Clarissa, we're the grandmothers of a beautiful baby girl."

Edward tugged on the bottom of his Grandma Elizabeth's dress, "You didn't see her yet."
"Trust us Eddie." Clarissa lifted him into her petite arms. She pressed a small kiss against his fatty cheeks, "She has three adorable brothers, it's only sensible for her to look just as adorable."

Timothy rushed in, panting, "You all can come on back."

I brushed through Christina's family in an effort to beat them to her hospital room. I wanted to be one of the first to hold the baby. I knew once one of the grandmothers got her, I would have to beg and pry her from their arms.

Timothy pointed towards her door, "That's her room."

I stopped right in front of it. I feel like I'm the one who just had a baby…I'm just mixed with varying emotions. Maybe it's because I know how hard it was for Christina to get pregnant again after suffering two miscarriages since Jasper's birth. Or it's because her little girl came a month early –on July 4th, our Independence Day- and she's doing perfectly fine. And it can also be because after three boys and two miscarriages, she felt her purpose was to be the mother of three sons, and no daughters were in her future.

Tara set her hand gently on my shoulder, "If you're not going in, step to the side so we can!"

I opened the door to be met with Christina's bright smile. She lay in the hospital bed, located against the back center wall. IVs were connected to the back of her hands. Her blonde hair was in a fizzled mess, as the sweat beads on her forehead slowly started to disappear. Securely resting in her shielding arms lay her newborn baby.

Christina adjusted the baby in her arms, "This," she titled her arms in order to allow everyone to see the baby's face, "is Rosalie Lillian Hale."

I rushed to Christina's side and admired the baby. Rosalie had her mother's green eyes, ears, and fully, pink lips. She was her mother's mini-me. Christina embraced in the newly found love she had in her daughter. Timothy sat beside his wife and held her in his arms.
"Do you want to hold her?"

I nodded my head and extended my arms. The small baby was as light as a feather. Her eyes were barely open and alert, but I could tell from her rosy cheeks, that she knew her loved ones were here just to see her.

Carlisle approached my side, holding our youngest daughter in his arms. Alice was just four months. It wasn't a lot she could do, but when she saw the new baby held mommy's attention, she voiced her opposition loud and clear.

Clarissa approached me, "Your daughter's trying to tell you to cough up the baby." Her arms extended and her fingers wiggled impatiently.

"Bye sweetie." I placed her into her grandmother's arms.

I extended my arms to Alice and watched as she leaned forward, ready to be picked up. I scooped my baby into my arms, and held her tight as we watched Rosalie get passed around for each person to hold and coo over.

James approached his mother's bedside, "Mommy, are you sick?"
"No." She slid over and patted the spot next to her. "Come up here James. Come here Edward. Mom, can you bring me Jasper."

Alice soon began to doze off in my arms, as Crystal was passed the baby. Crystal blinked away her watery eyes as she pressed a gentle kiss onto the sleeping baby's forehead. She walked up to her sister and smiled, "Congrats Chris. She's beautiful."

"Thank you." Christina returned the smile and extended her hands for her baby, "Boys, are you ready to meet your sister?"

James and Edward excitedly nodded their heads. James couldn't contain his enthusiasm. Carlisle nodded his head in the direction of the door, and I followed. The Hale family needed their bonding time. They all deserved it…especially Christina and Rosalie.

Christina:

After meeting the baby and talking to her, James and Edward fell asleep. Jasper awoke from his nap, curious about the new bundle that interrupted his peaceful slumber with her wailing cry.

Timothy slid out of the bed, "I'll take the boys home, and then I'll be back. My mom's going to be staying with them. Your dad and brother are going to take them to see the fireworks later."

I wiped under my eye as I watched the sleeping newborn in her bassinet. Because Rosalie came a month early, we had to stay one night, possibly more, depending on the tests they run.

Timothy re-entered the room with his brother and sister behind him. I didn't even realize he left out. Thomas picked Edward up as Tara lifted Jasper. Timothy picked our eldest son's sleeping form into his arms.

He pressed a kiss against my forehead, "I'll send Esme in."

I nodded as he pulled away. He and his siblings disappeared with my sons. Tonight was going to be hard. I've hardly spent a night away from my boys, but I could comfort myself with the sound of my daughter's breathing and knowing they'll return tomorrow morning.
"Up for company?"

I nodded, "Always."

Esme crossed the room, and smiled down at my sleeping infant.
"Scoot over."

Esme crawled in beside me, "I just love babies!"
"Is that your way of telling me you want to have another?"
"Oh no Chris! I have three, I'm done."

I leaned my head on her shoulder, and smiled, "I finally have a girl."
"I know." Esme leaned her head on top of mine, "I have two daughters already, my oldest is only two and I can honestly say girls are more of a handful. If Rose is anything like her mother, you're in for it."

"You called her Rose." I blew a strand of blonde hair out of my face, as she pulled away to glance at me. Esme flashed her pearly white teeth and nodded her head, "Rose is short for Rosalie. I hope-"

"No," I interrupted, "I like it."

Esme pulled her knees up to her chest, and wrapped her arms around them. She rested her chin against them, and sighed, "Girls are more fragile. Emmett can bump his head, and not cry at all, but if Bella did, she'll cry for weeks. The more you fall in love with her, the more protective you'll get, and the more you'll realize there's nothing you can do to prevent this crazy world from getting to her."

Christina leaned back and pulled the sheets over her hospital gown, "If I'm anything like my mother, then I know there is something I can do."

Esme scoffed. "You're mother's ruthless. She's unemotional…and don't take this the wrong way, but she's a witch."
"How do you expect me not to take that the wrong way?"

Esme cleared her throat and threw her hands in the air, "Happy occasion Christina!"
"Yes," Christina nodded, and slowly pushed herself out of bed, "you're absolutely right my dear Esme!"
"Where are you going?"
"Window." Christina pointed towards it.

"You just had a baby!" When Esme realized her words went through Christina's ear and out of the other, she quickly rolled out of the bed, and raced to her waddling best friend's side, "Let me help you!"

Christina bit down onto her lip, as she struggled to ignore the caesarian section wound on her abdomen. She moved past Esme, as she continued to approach the window.
"Why do you have to be difficult?" Esme sighed, and walked up to her friend, "You should let me help. You got a C-section. You don't want the staples popping out!"
"Fine."

Esme rushed to the corner of the room, and grabbed the wheel chair, "What are we even looking for?" She held the wheel chair still as Christina gently sat down. The agonizing expressions on her face, reminded Esme that her best friend was in more pain than she tried to portray.
"Fireworks." Christina drew open the curtains and smiled. Once the curtains were open, colorful fireworks hit the sky in a rainbow of colors and ranges, "The 4th of July…is now my favorite holiday."

A/N: I have decided to re-do The Growing Years story! Some storylines are remaining the same, while others are changing.

-Tiffany.