Disclaimer – I do not own the Twilight Saga all rights go to Stephanie Meyer (This counts for my first and future chapters).
Bright New Day
Carlisle POV
Kate slept for most of the night in my arms except for every now and then when she would wake up and cry to be fed or changed. Me, Esme and Rose would take 'shifts' to cradle her although Emmett was pretty desperate for his turn. Rose wasn't very keen to let him in case he dropped her or something he wasn't likely too and Alice insisted he wouldn't from one of her visions but Rose still said no so he just sat and sulked. It's strange that although Kate had been part of our family for such a short time she felt like she had been with us forever. I looked forward to watching her grow up, seeing her take her first steps, speak her first words and one day graduate. But right now I was completely content with just holding her in my arms and watching her sleep.
Sunlight started streaming through the windows to signal that the morning had finally arrived and as promised I took Esme shopping to get paint and furniture for Kate's nursery, after booking a day off work for 'family reasons'. We also managed to drag Rose away from Kate so she could help us pick out colours for the room. Of course this was hard to do but there was no doubt in my mind that Alice, Jasper, Edward and Emmett wouldn't take good care of her. So with that we set off.
We drove into Portland as this is where the best shops for what we needed were. After we looked at what seamed like 50 shades of pink and they ignored me when I asked "does she really need to be smothered in pink just because she's a girl?" But they didn't take notice too what I said and finally decide on a shade called 'dusty pink' that thankfully wasn't too in your face. For the floor they decided to go for wood and after comparing thousands of types to the paint they had chose they settled on soft maple. We then went furniture shopping which I had thought would just be a changing table and some other bits and pieces. But apparently the cot was missing quite a few screws (which I later found in one of Esme's pockets) so we ended up with a new one of them, a sleigh cot in white to be precise. Most of the other furnishings were white aswell the changing table, the wardrobe, chest of drawers and a small armchair. To add to the list we also ended up with some pictures for the wall, a new pram and countless numbers of toys and other bits of things.
Somehow it all fit into the car, mainly because I came in my Mercedes with Esme and Rose drove Emmett's jeep. Also the fact most of the things were flat pack also helped fit them in. It's lucky that vampires don't sleep really because it was going to take a while to get the entire room decorated and all the things built. With that thought in mind I began the drive home hoping the house and Kate was still in one piece after being left alone with Emmett and Jasper although Alice and Edward would keep them in check. I hope.
Emmett's POV
I waited until I could no longer hear the car engines to turn around and face Alice. Grinning at her she automatically guessed what my request was going to be. I started walking towards her but Jasper beat me to it "I think technically it's my turn because you're not allowed to hold her" He smirked at me as Alice shook her head and handed Kate over to him.
"Alice. Come on. You know I've been waiting forever to hold her"
"I'm sorry Emmett but Jasper got here first plus you heard what Rose said" She smiled at me apologetically.
"Yeah so quit your whining and follow your wife's rules!" Jasper laughed at me "Aw aren't you just the cutest Kate, look at her looking at me Emmett those eyes just full of love"
"Shut it Jasper" I snapped at him before I went and stood outside.
I wouldn't drop her or do anything stupid; I just want to hold her. Rose isn't the only one out of us two who desperately wanted a baby, I did to. But normally push that feeling to one side because I have to be there to support her plus someone needs to liven up this house. I can see why Rose and the rest of them are being cautious I haven't got the best track record when it comes to handling 'delicate' things. But this would be different I would be more careful than if I was carrying one of Esme's vases. I could swear on it, I hadn't properly held it but I could tell I was going to love her so much and that I was going to be the best big brother. Even if I did have some clear competition coming from Jasper, he was easy to beat and I speak from experience.
Alice came walking out and put her hand on my back, I looked away from her and into the distance. The last thing I wanted was her to tell me it was right that I didn't get to hold her yet because she'd had some silly vision where I accidently crushed her with my stupid superhuman strength. OK maybe my strength wasn't stupid but right now that's what it seamed like.
She began to speak to me "Emmett-"
"Don't start" I cut in.
"Right if you don't stop your tantrum, I'm not going to tell you my big plan. I think you'll like it" She almost sang it to me "Do you want to hear it?"
I shrugged my shoulders "Go on then" this better be good.
"Well Jasper is clearly only trying to wind you up. Obviously he is succeeding judging by the look on your face" I stepped away from her and she rolled my eyes before continuing "And Rose isn't here not that it matters because she's only messing you about so she gets extra time holding Kate, trust me Edward said. Jasper also said he's willing to hand her over to you for a price that is…" She trailed off on the last bit.
"What's the price?" I asked slightly intrigued now, trying to hide it but failing.
"Well, next time we have a baseball match you have to let his team win" I opened my eyes wide at that but I guess it was worth it.
"Fine I guess I could cope with that" I could always take it back afterwards.
I strolled into the house "Hey Jasper, I'll go long" I grinned while everyone looked at me with completely straight faces.
"You see Emmett this is what Rosalie was talking about" Edward said with a roll of his eyes before he went upstairs.
"I was only joking Alice, I promise. Still let me hold her please" I pleaded with her but she just shook her head at me and said "I know". I walked up to Jasper and he placed her carefully in my arms. "Whoa" I said as I pretend to almost drop her. It was meant to be a joke but I was the only one laughing. I went and sat on the sofa and cradled her carefully in my arms.
She was so tiny and now I could fully understand why everyone was so cautious about giving her to me. One little slip up and I could easily crush her. I made a mental promise not to joke about while holding her again, now all I had to do was stick to it and I was almost certain I would. She had been through enough already with what happened to her parents the last thing she needed was me goofing around and almost killing her. I felt the need to give her back to Alice and Jasper to stop that from happening but when I looked up to do so they both had gone. I was completely on my own with her. Oh God.
Rosalie's POV
I couldn't wait to get back and hug Kate again although I knew I would have to fight Esme and Carlisle for the first cuddle. I was driving Emmett's jeep something I didn't particularly enjoy doing, it wasn't my type of car. I much preferred a convertible of some sort or something lower to the ground at least. But anyway it was worth it to buy all this beautiful stuff for Kate's new room. Although we may have gone a bit overboard it didn't matter the room was going to be perfect and have everything she needed in, that's what mattered.
It was going to be hard not to think of Kate as my child but she wasn't, she was Maria and Peters. I wasn't even going to be a 'surrogate mother' that would be Esme's job. So what was my role? Big sister I suppose, but that didn't seam enough. We had only had her one day and I already loved her more than a sister. I immediately became glad I wasn't in the same car as Carlisle and Esme I needed time to think things over, to be by myself. I would have to settle for something in between. Something between a sister and mother, whatever that was. Nevertheless whatever that was I was going to be the best person for the job.
I pulled up onto the drive just seconds behind Carlisle and Esme. I grabbed a couple of bags and one of the many boxes before walking into the house. Not to be meted by Alice holding Kate, but by Emmett. His eyes looked full of shock and surprise; clearly he wasn't expecting us back just yet. "Er, hey rose" he nervously said as my eyes trailed to the tiny baby in his massive arms "I promise I haven't dropped her or broken her or anything like that, Isn't that right Alice?" he looked at her as she walked into the room begging her to back up his story.
"Yes that is 100% true" She smirked at him clearly liking having this much power over him. I just laughed it was funny seeing him this terrified for once in his life.
It's not that I didn't trust him I did completely, more than anyone else. More than Carlisle. But he was just like a big kid and could get very excited at times. It was during these times that he broke things, like Esme's vases or the piano. I just didn't want him to get overexcited while holding Kate and slip up because he could very easily break her and I very much did not want that to happen. He however clearly had defeated my expectations and was sat holding her quite calmly. "Don't worry so much Emmett, I'm not mad. You obviously have done a great job looking after her" He sighed with relief and I walked aver and wrapped my arms around him and placed a kiss on his cheek. How could I ever be mad at him? He was just a big kid with an equally as big heart plus to top it all of he was my man and I loved him.
Esme came over and picked Kate up out of his arms before instructing him to start bringing the boxes in with Jasper and Carlisle. Edward must be upstairs, he didn't agree with this. But every now and then last night I could see him warming up to the idea. I think he worried about what the Volturi would do if they found out but we weren't breaking any rules. Kate wasn't human she was a wizard so it wouldn't make a difference if she knew about our existence from us because she would grow up to find out anyway. Also he couldn't stay grumpy for long because I've never seen Esme smile like that, ever. That smile was enough to make anyone agree with the whole thing.
Once everything was in and after Alice had made them change clothes into something less expensive, Jasper, Emmett and Carlisle started painting the room that was going to be Kate's and laying the floor. The rest of us would have helped out but with vampire speed it wouldn't take them very long. I say that but if you put Jasper and Emmett in the same room with paint it was going to be difficult to keep them (especially Emmett) focused on the task on hand, hopefully though Carlisle would stop them getting too out of control.
They quickly got it done but the paint didn't dry at vampire speed so there was a wait before they could start setting the room up properly. Esme still had Kate and although I was getting slightly jealous and impatient but it was nice to see her so happy. Edward had finally come back down not that I was too bothered either way but Carlisle seemed to be relieved that he wasn't going to spend all night sulking in his room. Although I'm not sure he was as relieved as Alice was when Jasper had no paint on his clothes.
It was early morning once the paint had dried and Esme had to go upstairs to give instructions to where everything was going to go so this meant I got to hold Kate. In the end it was just me, Kate and Edward left downstairs although he was just sat reading. I stopped focusing on him and turned back to face Kate; she'd just woken up and was staring back up at me. Her eyes seamed to be transfixed on me and I was as equally as transfixed on her. It sounded odd but it was nice to see some brown eyes for once instead of golden ones. She was absolutely beautiful and I knew it was a cliché coming from a member of her new family but it was so true.
I heard Esme calling for my advice about where to place the cot. I walked over to Edward took the book out of his hand and placed Kate in his arms. I wasn't sure whether it was a wise decision leaving Edward looking quite agonized holding Kate almost as far from his as possible. But I just walked out laughing to myself inside my head anticipating and secretly looking forward to the looks of anger and annoyance I would get when I returned.
Esme's POV
The room was coming along great and I was looking forward to bringing Kate in, sure she would most likely not have a clue what had happened but that didn't matter. Of course it was hard instructing everyone to put things where I wanted them to go and Alice appeared to be the only one listening (probably because she'd already seen the finished result in a vision).Carlisle was to busy trying to read instructions on how the pieces of the new pram fit together clearly they were just as difficult for vampires to understand as they were for humans. Emmett and Jasper, well I wasn't pretty sure what they were doing, they were meant to be building the changing table but currently that was not going to plan but things never did when you gave them a hammer.
Rose came in after I called her up, Kate not with her. She most have known what I was thinking and just said "Edward" not that cleared up my confusion but I didn't have time for that now. She took the hammer of Emmett just as he swung it up in the air and hit the nail in herself before putting it to one side. I thanked her for restoring some order back into the room before asking her opinion on where was the best place to put the cot. I'd always thought as myself as someone who had pretty good vision but this was testing me and I wasn't quite sure why. I listed the options; opposite the window, on the wall near the door as you came in or opposite that wall. We finally decided on opposite the window 'a cot with a view' as Carlisle had called it while he searched for a missing screw.
Emmett had picked the hammer up again and was trying not to hit the next nail in with so much strength as he didn't want to break the wood. Rose watched him impatiently as he built up to and finally gave up on him snatched it off him and did it herself. He got annoyed at this but didn't put up much resistance after all she was the one with the hammer although with his strength it didn't matter much either way. I remembered that there were still some things left downstairs so I went to bring them up.
As I went to get them I passed the doorway into the living room and saw Edward cradling Kate in his arms looking at her in complete amazement. He was mumbling things and I realized he was talking to her, baby-talk of course. He was so transfixed that he didn't notice me gazing at him in pure astonishment. Of all my children my eldest son was the one who I worried about the most when it came to bonding with Kate, I wanted them all to love her like they loved each other. As a sister. It had only taken the rest of them less than an hour to fall in love with Kate but Edward obviously needed time. Her fist was holding onto his index finger and he was moving it up and down as he began to hum to her. It wasn't one I had heard before so he must've made it up on the spot. Perhaps I could look forward to a new piano song coming from him soon. I smiled at that prospect he had a beautiful talent when it came to writing music and I loved hearing him play. As he began to rock her back and forth I shook my head in amazement before going back to try and finish of the room.
Carlisle POV
We finished the room within a couple of hours and it looked amazing. The cot was opposite the window which looked out over the garden and into the woods; in fact everything was perfectly placed. The whole thing looked like something you would see in a catalogue and I had to admit that the pink did look nice on the walls. I may have allowed Esme to buy one toy to many and the toy box was slightly overflowing, she was only 4 months and didn't really need all of them yet anyway but still she had to have them apparently. The walls had the classic pictures of flowers, hearts, bears and rabbits, but over the top of her cot hung the picture of her mum and dad.
Alice, Jasper, Emmett, Rose and Edward all went hunting as they were due to and that just left me, Kate and Esme. We sat on the sofa together, Kate asleep in Esme's arms and I had my arm around her shoulders. I flicked through the channels until I found the news channel for the wizards and all things 'supernatural'. It sounds strange that we have our own private news channel but it wasn't really for vampires must of us were nomads moving from one place to another. But since the whole war broke out between the wizards I have been keen to hear the developments in the story.
After a while of not properly watching the TV a name came up that recognised. A name that instantly drew my attention to the screen. Gabe Lament. He had been arrested for the murder of James, Maria and the rest of the Cameron family as well as countless other people. It came up that he had reportedly said in his hearing that he was going to find a way out to finish what he had started. To finish killing those he viewed as complete traitors to the man he almost worshiped Pevureil. To finish off the last of the Cameron family. He knew Kate was still alive and he vowed that he wasn't going to rest until she was dead.
I would like to say thank you for my first review from the guest account 'Alice' and for my first story follow. Your support means a lot. Please rate and follow, as always constructive criticism greatly welcomed as I am always looking to improve my writing. Once again thank you to all who have read this and I have future chapters planned.
