"It's today!" she cried with joy.
"What is?" Rosalie asked.
"Little Violet's birthday" Alice's chirping, cheerful voice continued.
Carlisle stood up from the sofa "Today?"
"Uh-huh" Jasper nodded.
"Have your waters broken? Are you having contractions? How far apart are they?" Carlisle's questions came in rapid succession.
Alice watched Carlisle's intrigued face with some amusement, sometimes his worry at her faith was strange. He had been so focused on making sure she didn't go into premature labor that she was forever grateful but it had made appreciating her unborn child difficult. Alice hadn't been allowed to hunt past September, the family's caution was endearing yet slightly annoying.
"Relax, Carlisle. Nothing's happened yet. I had a vision" she added a smile to reassure him.
"Alright, when will something happen?" Carlisle asked.
"Not sure. All I know is she'll be in my arms by night-time" Alice replied with a sentimental smile.
Jasper wrapped an arm around her and held her close. Emmett did the same with Rosalie who remained smiling despite her jealousy at Alice getting to meet her baby so much sooner than she would hers. Esme took Carlisle's hand from the sofa he stood next to, he smiled at her and stroked his thumb over her fingers.
"Very well, I'll monitor your condition. But you must tell me if you feel anything, Alice...even if it's just a twinge" he said finally looking up at Alice.
"Don't worry, Carlisle, I will" Alice winked.
"Is she far along enough?" Jasper's face turned serious.
Carlisle tried hard to stop his face reflecting exactly what he thought. Eight months. 32 weeks. Many women had been known to deliver a healthy child at that time...but it was still premature. Little Violet was at risk. And everyone knew it.
Contractions began soon after that conversation, long and dull pains that came and went. Carlisle timed them while Jasper comforted Alice, holding her hand and stroking her back. His power didn't allow him to feel her pain but he could certainly feel her distress and her fear. Alice wasn't screaming at her contractions, just moaning and groaning.
"Whooo" she panted with her face in a pillow as the pain faded out "That one was definitely worse"
Carlisle looked up from his watch "14 minutes, 23 seconds"
"They're getting shorter" Edward commented from nearby.
Rosalie watched from the sofa across the room, Emmett still had his arm around her. Her hand rested upon her swollen belly, a little part of her was just glad that she wasn't experiencing the same agony her adoptive sister was. One thing that was odd was the beads of venom sweat beginning to appear on Alice's forehead, Esme had gone upstairs to do something about it.
"How bad is it?" Rose inquired.
Alice's voice was muffled by the cushion so she looked up "Can't really describe it, just sort of- Ow! Oooh. Ow! Ow, ow"
Jasper immediately held her hand in his own looking pained and Carlisle looked to his watch. Esme reappeared downstairs with the bowl of water and a cloth, she gave it to Jasper and he gently dabbed his wife's face with the icy water.
Hours later, due to her discomfort, Alice decided to go upstairs and change into nightwear. However, as she stood up from the sofa, her face changed.
"Oh...God" she seemed to be in shock.
"What is it, darlin'?" Jasper asked.
Edward looked up towards Jasper "Jazz, you might wanna-"
But his words were too late as Alice's waters broke in a splash all over the carpet and onto Jasper's shoes. Some even hit the bottom of his jeans. His eyes were wide with shock, the pregnancy had seemed so normal and he should have expected her waters to break at some point.
Emmett stifled a laugh as he watched the empath and the psychic stare at each in shock "Now, you definitely need to get changed"
He was right, the rather large wet patch on the front of her dress and the liquid still dribbling down her legs made Alice look like she had wet herself. Carlisle returned from his office - he was setting it up as a delivery room of sorts - and understood immediately. He held his hand out to Alice and she took it.
"It's alright, Alice dear. It's perfectly natural"
Jasper followed behind them as they went upstairs.
Four people were needed in the office for the birth; Alice obviously, Jasper because he would refuse to leave his wife or child, Carlisle because he would be the one to deliver the baby and Edward as he also had medical training and would be needed in an emergency.
In Carlisle's office, you could tell he had worked hard at making it as much like a comfortable delivery room as possible. There was metal bed of sorts in the centre of the room with stirrups attached. The metallic bed had some blankets on it for comfort - not that they would help. By the bed was a tray on wheels with various forms of medical equipment on it.
By the window, there was a table with towels and more equipment - things for helping a baby in distress. Jasper prayed that they wouldn't be necessary then he returned his attention to his panting wife in his arms.
"Okay, Jasper, down here" Carlisle instructed as he patted the metal bed.
Alice had already said that she didn't care where Carlisle had to look as long as he got her baby out quickly and safely. As soon as she was on the bed, Carlisle pushed her legs apart a little gently and did what he had to do.
He looked up at Edward "She's far more dilated than I thought, this baby is coming now!"
Edward blurred about the office grabbing the things that would be needed.
"Alice, I'm going to have to put your feet in the stirrups. Now, it's more expos-" Carlisle began.
Alice interrupted him in a seething voice "Oh Carlisle, I really don't care! Just get this baby out!"
Carlisle nodded once and proceeded with putting Alice's feet in the stirrups. He was right; she was far more on the show but she was also right as she truly didn't care. The pain was much worse than the humiliation.
The pushing started almost immediately and continued on for several minutes. Alice did extremely well with Jasper constantly encouraging her. Edward stood nearest the wall as it would mean he wouldn't have to look at Alice's most intimate area - he would only come over and do that if and when Carlisle needed him.
"Come on, Alice, and again" Carlisle instructed.
Alice gritted her teeth, pushing as hard as she could. She had thought that her vision had prepared her for this, but it hadn't. The pain of pushing her child into the world was close to unbearable. Jasper, meanwhile, stood at her side gripping her hand. He felt hopeless as he could nothing for her pain.
"I can't!" Alice finally cried.
Her face was damp with venomous sweat, her eyes dizzy with fatigue while her head lolled effortlessly. Her breathing, though unnecessary, was uneven and panicky.
"Yes, you can!" Carlisle encouraged her.
"No" she moaned, tired.
Carlisle's voice became much louder and almost pleading "Alice, you must!"
Alice whimpered gently, more tears pricking up in her sunny eyes. Edward could read every hopeless-feeling thought in her mind, the fear that her own physical fatigue may harm her baby was numbing. Jasper decided that he could not help her as a vampire empath but as concerned father and husband. He put a hand on her sweaty forehead.
"Come on, baby" he kissed the hand that was holding his.
"Do it for Violet"
Alice inhaled a shaky breath before sitting up a little with the assistance of Jasper. He put one arm around her shoulders, pulling her close to him. Trying to ignore the feeling of splitting in two, Alice became determined. With one great cry that was heard all throughout the house and a push stronger than any she'd given in the last hour, Alice delivered her baby daughter.