"Arrgh!" Edward groaned when Carlisle announced that Bella had a cracked rib. I darted into Dad's study, which was equipped with all manner of medical equipment now, including an xray machine, and went to put my hand on Bella's shoulder to comfort her. I quickly learned it was only Edward who needed comforting. Bella didn't share his dismay. In fact, she defended her offspring.

"There's not enough room in there now, Edward. He can't help it when he has to stretch," she said, one hand on her belly and the other on Edward's cheek. The baby was an active little thing now that it was getting proper nutrients and it took a toll on Bella's body. Her stomach was almost completely black and blue from the baby moving around, not to mention the rib. I really hoped Bella went into labor soon. As much as I worried about the birth and Bella's subsequent change, I thought it would be better for all of us if we could just get it over with. My thought was punctuated by another gasp of pain from Bella.

"Please, for your mother's sake and mine, please settle down," Edward said softly, dropping to his knees so he could address Bella's tummy directly. It would have been endearing and funny to see if Edward's expression wasn't so desperately serious as he put both hands carefully over his growing child. I saw Bella's hands cover Edward's and was about to withdraw, both from the room and from her vision, feeling like an intruder on a very intimate moment. But then Edward blinked and his brow furrowed in confusion as he looked around the room and then up at Bella.

"What are you thinking about right now?" he asked slowly, his confused expression changing to a hopeful one.

"Actually, I was wishing I had a camera so I could capture this moment," Bella said, her voice soft and loving. Edward's expression changed again, the hopefulness morphing into what I could only describe as awe. He laid his ear against Bella's stomach between their hands and inhaled sharply.

"Say something else!" Edward exclaimed excitedly. At that moment, Bella saw a flash of light and I heard several soft clicks. She looked up and saw Rose holding a camera. We watched as Rose gave Bella a very uncharacteristic shy smile and a shrug. Bella's gaze dropped away from our sister quickly, however, because Edward was patting her stomach gently.

"Edward, what is it?" Bella asked, just a hint of worry in her tone. I darted across the room and put my hand on Rosalie's elbow. She looked down at me and I put my hand against her face. She was still smiling. I patted her cheek and grinned up at her before I turned her face back towards Edward and Bella. Carlisle was standing beside them with a roll of bandaging and some medical tape in his hands. His own expression was curious as he watched Edward's face light up with joy.

"I can hear the baby's thoughts," he said in a whisper, awe coloring his tone. Everyone else in the room gasped, myself included. Bella looked down at Edward with an expression that matched her husband's joy. I hugged Rose's arm to me, unable to curb my excitement at this newest development. I smelled the salt of Bella's tears before Rose saw them rolling down her cheeks. She put one hand on Edward's face.

"What is he thinking?" She wanted to know.

"He's happy. And oh, Bella, he loves you. He, or she, absolutely adores you," Edward said, awe in his voice and his face a mask of wonder. I was surprised there wasn't a flash of golden light or something equally fantastical at that moment to signify the difference that simple fact made with Edward. Despite his admission that he wanted the baby and his loving support of his wife through her pregnancy, he had been struggling to understand Bella's almost fanatical love for the child growing inside her. Perhaps now that he had something other than genes in common with his son or daughter, their shared love for Bella, he could fully appreciate the life that had been created.

"Of course he's happy, all warm and safe and loved," Bella cooed softly, caressing the side of the belly. Rosalie took another picture as Edward tilted his head a little more, as if trying to get closer to the small being growing inside his wife. Edward hummed softly, Bella's lullaby. I found myself wishing the rest of the family was here to witness this, but Esme and Alice were over at the Denali's and the rest of the boys, including Adam, had gone hunting.

"He loves the sound of my voice," Edward said happily after a moment, lifting his head so that he could share a joyful smile with Bella. She sniffled and brushed at the tears on her cheek with one hand, her own smile a bit watery but no less happy.

"Of course he loves your voice. It's the most beautiful voice in the world," she told Edward and he stood up to pull her into an embrace. Bella winced and Edward was immediately contrite.

"I'm sorry love, I completely forgot. Let Carlisle tape you up. I know that's painful," he said, giving her lips a caste kiss and her belly a gentle pat before he stepped aside to let Carlisle work. I found myself picked up and swung around by my overjoyed brother. He kissed me soundly on the mouth and then put me down to do the same to Rosalie. I heard Rose's soft giggle and I was amazed by her attitude change. So much so that once Edward moved back towards Bella, I grabbed her hand and dragged her out of the room and down the stairs.

"Rose, what..." my quiet question was met by Rosalie's fingers on my lips.

"Emmett sat me down and helped me put things into perspective," Rose said softly. "I can either be jealous and bitter over my own lost causes, or I can be a part of the miracle as it happens. I know I'll never get anywhere near that baby if I don't come to some kind of peace about it. Bites to have brothers that can suss out your every thought and emotion, really it does. But this is the closest I'll ever come to experiencing motherhood myself so I'm going to be the best aunt in the world and hope I get the chance to be part of raising her. Or him," she said, just a hint of a quiver in her voice.

"I have a feeling Bella and Edward will need all the help they can get, Rose," I told her gently.

"Exactly," she said, nodding her head firmly against my hand, which was currently on her face to gauge her expressions. I leaned up and kissed her cheek, then and turned to dart back up the stairs. I paused on the bottom stair, however, and giggled.

"You might have a bit of a fight on your hands, Rose. Alice has already bought the 'World's Greatest Aunt' t-shirt for herself," I told her and then continued up the stairs as Rose huffed and started muttering,

"We'll just have to see about that."

As I moved back into Carlisle's study, glad that Bella was no longer gritting her teeth against the pain of taping up her ribs, Edward was helping her down from the examination table and Carlisle was taking inventory of his blood supply.

"I can't believe you're letting your sisters fight over the best aunt title, my girl. Thought sure you'd be smugly announcing your right to it," Carlisle said with a chuckle. Bella saw him turn towards me with an amused smile. I couldn't help return it with a rather smug smile of my own. Edward snorted, knowing exactly why I was letting my sister's fight over that honor. I decided to let them in on the secret, too.

"Best Aunt's nothing. I've got godmother on lock."

The sound of Bella's laughter, interspersed with groans as her mirth made her ribs ache, was music to my ears as I danced out of the office and up to my room.

"I know you're convinced it's a boy, but what if you have a little girl?" Rose's question was asked one night two days later as we were all gathered around on and around the couch. Edward was perched on the back of the couch, his legs braced on either side of Bella as she leaned back with her head against his stomach. It was as comfortable a postition as Bella seemed to get these days, what with the bruising on her belly and now the sore ribs. Rose and Emmett were cuddled together on the floor where Emmett was playing some game on his laptop. Adam and I were on the other end of the couch, him sprawled out reading a book with me tucked in beside him. Alice and Jasper had slipped away a few hours ago for some couple time and Carlisle and Esme were on a trip to get more blood before tomorrow's anticipated event.

After much discussion, Carlisle and Edward both agreed that the baby should be developed enough to deliver safely and Bella insisted that she was ready for the change, even if Edward was still uneasy about it. Edward did think tomorrow was fitting, though, since it was also Bella's birthday. Bella hadn't really commented on the exact date except to complain that she was going to turn 19 before she was changed into a vampire. She hadn't dwelt on the fact, though, since she was anxious to make sure the baby was ready before Edward delivered him. Or her, as the conversation turned.

"We're still talking over names," Bella said, looking up at Edward with a wicked grin. Edward raised an eyebrow at her and snorted softly.

"Not true. Everytime I suggest something, you shoot it down," Edward said, his tone was offended but his were eyes dancing with amusement.

"I don't shoot them down. I just don't think they sound right. The name needs to be as unique as our child," Bella said, lifting her hand and resting it on Edward's knee. She looked back over at Rose "We really do want to honor our parents, though. Just in a less than obvious way. So far we've come up with Renesmee Carlie. Like Renee and Esme together and then like Carlisle and Charlie," Bella stated. Edward's grin didn't falter but he shook his head.

"I like Renesmee. It's beautiful. But I'm not sure about Carlie. I like the sentiment behind it, but I'm leaning towards Elizabeth as a middle name," he said quietly. I knew Edward's real mother's name had been Elizabeth and though he didn't remember her very well, she still held a special place in his heart. Bella knew this as well, but thought the name Elizabeth wasn't unusual enough for their special child. Which made no sense, really, since Bella was adamant that their child was a boy and that his name would be Edward Masen. On that note, I decided to help out Edward's cause a bit.

"Is that why you've taken to calling the baby Lizzy when you talk to her, Edward?" I asked curiously, making Bella's head turn quickly in my direction. I switched to Adam's vision. As if knowing I needed his eyes for a moment, he looked up from his book so I could see Edward's slightly panicked expression. Bella didn't know about the nickname for their child and I knew that once she found out, she'd think it was adorable.

Oops, did she not know about that? Sometimes I forget where her hearing range stops. I thought at Edward as innocently as possible. He flashed a handsign that wasn't repeatable in polite company. It made me giggle for a moment, but I could already smell the salt of Bella's tears. She cried at the drop of a hat these days. Between the hormones and the pain she must be in constantly, I wasn't really surprised, but it tended to drive the men in the house insane, especially Edward. But in this case, they were happy tears.

"You call the baby Lizzy?" Bella asked in a choked up voice. Edward nodded solemnly, reaching down to brush at the tears trickling down her cheeks.

"Sometimes. I know how you like calling the baby Masen when you're talking to him or her. I just...well..." Edward trailed of, unsure how to defend himself in this situation. I rolled my eyes, knowing that the simple fact that he had given their baby a nickname would make Bella estatic. I was proven right when Bella's smile threatened to break her face in half.

"Oh, Edward, I don't mind! I really like that name. It, it fits. If we have a girl, we can name her Renesmee Elizabeth, Lizzy for short," Bella said, excited despite the tears in her voice. Edward looked torn.

"Do you really like it?" he asked uncertainly and then his eyes flicked over to Emmett, who no doubt had some sarcastic comment running through his head about Edward being totally whipped. Emmett had been uncharacteristically quiet over the last few weeks. When I'd asked him why, he'd shrugged and said he was practicing for when the baby came. Evidently Rose had told him that baby's were extremely sensitive to loud noises and that if Emmett ever woke the baby up with his 'usual loud antics' (assuming that the baby slept), she would castrate him. I thought that was a little harsh, but Rose was handling her excitement about the baby by reading all the 'experts' and telling everyone how the baby should be raised. Not that any of us, except Emmett, took anything she said seriously. I doubted this baby would follow any of the normal child development guidelines.

Edward rolled his eyes at Emmett before turning his full attention back to Bella, who was nodding. Edward's expression turned happy and he leaned down again to kiss his wife, one hand flashing a 'Thank you' in my direction. Adam leaned into kiss my cheek and chuckle.

"My beautiful little trouble maker," he murmured in my ear. I turned to smile up at him.

"I prefer to think of myself as a peace maker," I said softly. Adam tugged gently on one of my curls before turning back to his book. Emmett was still playing his game and Rose had run from the room to find her phone. I heard her call Esme and let her know that the girl name was finally picked. No doubt Esme would come home with a pink monogramed diaper bag to match the blue one already waiting in the nursery with Edward Masen's name embroidered on it. Never let it be said the Cullen's weren't prepared for every possibility. No doubt Bella would complain about the waste of money in buying one set of things that would never be used.

I heard the rustle as Bella shifted on the couch, either to get up or just to turn towards Edward. I also heard the slosh and tumble of the cup that had been in Bella's lap as it headed towards the floor. Adam looked up and I lunged forward to catch it before it hit the floor. I grimaced when the top came off in my hands, spilling what little blood that had been left in the cup over my hands. I was only slightly tempted to lick the lukewarm droplets off my hands.

"Oh, Lei, I'm sorry," Bella said fervently. Edward had his arm braced across her chest or she would no doubt have lunged after the fallen cup as well. I shook my head and laughed for Bella's sake.

"No worries. I'm just going to go wash this off. Did anything get on the floor?" I asked, keeping my voice light. Adam stood from behind me.

"I'll get that. Go clean up, Lei-love," he said gently, his tone letting me know he was concerned. I turned a smile on him before I wrapped my shirt tail around my hands and flew up the stairs to the bathroom. I didn't want to leave a blood trail through the house. Too bad I'd have to burn the shirt. It was one of my favorites.

As I washed my hands, I heard the rest of the family, except for Adam, leave the living room. By the time I returned downstairs, Adam was done wiping down the floor with some kind of bleach based cleanser. He moved into the kitchen to get rid of the soiled rags and I followed him. I perched on the edge of the kitchen counter and he moved between my legs. I leaned against his warm chest and pressed my ear against his heart.

"Hi," he said gently.

"Hi," I said happily, my hands skimming over the thin fabric covering his well defined, muscular back. I hummed contentedly until he slipped his hands under my thighs and hitched my legs around his waist. I turned my head up towards him with smile that he immediately captured with his mouth. As always, I felt an overwhelming desire get as close as possible to my mate. It was getting harder and harder not to drag him off somewhere private and have my wicked way with him. Two things held me back.

One, I knew there was a chance I could hurt Adam if I ever lost control. It wasn't as bad as Edward's fear for Bella had been, since Adam was a lot sturdier than the average human, but that didn't mean I couldn't shatter his bones in a moment of passion. The second thing was timing. It wasn't something we could just fumble into spontaneously like most couples. It meant more than that and we didn't want to take that step in our relationship when there were so many other things distracting us. Like Bella's pregnancy.

"Alright, I promise to go get a snack if you swear to me you won't leave this bed until I get back," I heard Edward saying as Adam finally pulled away from me. He rested his forehead against mine and inhaled deeply. I pulled one hand around to cup his face, enjoying the warmth of him as I listened to Edward and Bella try to compromise. I knew Adam could hear them because Bella's next comment made him chuckle.

"What if I have to go to the bathroom?"

"Then call Leia to help you," he said immediately.

"I can go to the bathroom by myself," Bella grumbled. Edward sighed.

"Promise me, or I won't go," he said. Bella was quiet for a few moments, no doubt thinking over her options.

"Fine. I promise I won't get out of the bed without calling Leia to walk with me," she said finally. Her response seemed to satisfy Edward because he kissed her cheek and then kissed her belly.

"Be good for your mama, little Lizzy," he said softly. And then, in an even softer tone he addressed me.

"Keep an ear out for her, Leia," he said.

I'm almost insulted you had to ask. You know I'll listen. If she's not asleep in a few minutes, I'll go up and sit with her. Don't come back until you're full, Edward. You'll be face first in her blood tomorrow and it will be hard enough without the extra hunger. I thought at him, trying for my sternest mind tone.

"You'll have to go when I get back if you plan on staying in the house during…" he trailed off, as if unwilling to name the event. I gave him a mental nod, knowing he was right. I was going to be present and would be watching through Adam's eyes. As one of only three people in the house that Bella's blood wouldn't send into a near frenzy of bloodlust, he was going to help Edward and Carlisle with the delivery.

Edward finally left the house and I heard Bella sigh and pat her belly.

"Don't worry, Masen. He'll be back before we know it."