A/N: Thanks to all of you who have added ATHEA to your favorite stories or added me to your favorite authors. I really appreciate it. And extra appreciation to those of you who take the time to review. Even if I don't get to reply I read and love them all.

Stephanie Meyer owns things Twilight

Chapter 21

In With the New

She was absolutely gorgeous. She had blonde hair and blue eyes the only thing she lacked was a name. She was a little small since she was a few weeks early but amazingly she was entirely healthy.

After an hour of labor we were now graced with the presence of the newest member of our family. I couldn't help but stare as Rosalie held her new daughter. I'm not going to lie and say it was easy, because it wasn't. I did feel jealousy and resentment but the love and happiness I felt for my brother and his family overwhelmed everything else.

It wasn't fair and that thought did cross my mind more than once but how could I resent Rosalie for getting the daughter she tried so hard to have. It wasn't easy but once I held that little girl I was in love. I was a very proud aunt.

I had been there through the labor and I was in awe the entire time. Rosalie did amazingly well. We had been a little concerned when we didn't hear any cries, that only lasted a moment before she let out a wail and let us all know who's daughter she truly was.

"You have to come up with a name." I whispered trying not to disturb the newborn that was sleeping peacefully.

Rosalie gave Emmett a look and he nodded causing her to give the biggest smile she could in her exhausted state.

"I'm going to go grab a drink, you want anything Bells?" Emmett questioned as he headed toward the door. I placed my drink order and went to sit next to the new mommy.

"We have a name." she said quietly looking up from her baby to me.

"And…"I questioned impatiently.

"Kallie… Kallie Isabelle Swan." She said softly, not breaking eye contact.

"Wow, I'm honored you would use my name…but why?" I stuttered.

"Well I had been thinking about it a little, wanting her to have some type of family name but when I held her for the first time my mind was made up. I want her to have your part of your name and I only hope she has your strength. The way you've dealt with everything shows how strong you truly are."

I must have shot her a look of sheer confusion. "Rose exactly how much pain medication are you on?" I questioned honestly concerned.

"I maybe a lot of things but strong would not describe me. Hell you've been the one telling me over and over again to toughen up and deal with things. How can you admire my strength when you have been the one having to push me to move on?" I asked completely dumbfounded.

She smiled sadly at me.

"I wasn't a mother then. She's only been in my arms for a short while and already I don't think I could breathe if anything were to ever happen to her. I didn't know that kind of love before. Now having known what it is to have a child I'm amazed by what you've accomplished. I am sorry if I ever pushed you to hard or was unnecessarily cruel…I didn't know."

I felt my eyes well up with tears. I wasn't sure why I was crying. It could have been the undeserved compliment my friend gave me, or the mention of my loss, or maybe it was just the postpartum hormones rose was emitting, either way I couldn't restrain my tears. The toughest woman I had ever known was admiring my strength. It felt so unreal.

"Thank you." I mumbled

"And you might have been a little harsh but I don't know where I would be without you riding me the whole way." I said trying not to argue with her kind words about me. I gave Rose a tight hug being careful of niece and I swear I heard her sniffle just a little.

I released her and she cleared her throat and sat up a little straighter.

"Well all of this crap aside, don't think we won't be talking later about the fact that Emmett told me it was Edward who answered your phone this morning."

I couldn't help but laugh at her typical Rosalie behavior; she was never one to be sentimental for long. Before I had the chance to respond we were interrupted by a frantic knock on the door. I didn't make it to open the door before Alice came bounding into the room with the boys in tow.

"Oh she's beautiful Rose. Can I hold her?" Alice cried.

Rose begrudgingly handed over her daughter and she began making a circle around the room. Everyone gushed and cooed over our newest family member. I watched Edward intently as he held her. He held her so gently and I remembered how great he had been with Ayden when he was that little. I hoped that someday I would be able to give him that experience again.

We all spent a couple of hours in the room with Rose until Emmett stepped up and told us she needed her rest. I couldn't wait to see what kind of father my big brother would make. I knew he had been quietly hoping for a boy but it was clear that his little girl already had him wrapped around her finger.

Edward, Alice, Jasper and I, decided to go and have an early lunch before we went to pick up the kids from Esme and Carlisle. We all agreed on a little dinner near the hospital and headed that way. Throughout lunch I was unable to resist feeling Edward close to me. I started off just sitting close to him and eventually I had my hand on his knee. After a while Edward cautiously put his arm around the back of the booth until his hand was resting on my shoulder. I leaned in to him quickly resting my head on his chest.

Alice had the largest grin on her face all through lunch.

"So what's going on with the two of you?" She asked like she was going to burst any second if she didn't acknowledge our closeness soon.

"Alice." Jasper said in his warning voice.

"What? I can ask that can't I? They are my family." She pouted like a child who wasn't getting her way.

Edward and I looked to each other and both chuckled a little.

"I'm sure I don't have a clue what you're talking about Ally?" Edward said nonchalantly before winking at me.

"Yeah, what are you referring to Alice?" I said effectively irritating my sister in law to the point of combustion.

Jasper tried to hide his laugh, but Alice didn't miss it.

"Uh fine, I hate you all. Don't tell me anything I don't even care." She pouted, causing the rest of us to laugh even harder. Jasper leaned in and whispered something in her ear, replacing her frown with a shy grin. I didn't ask.

We left lunch and headed over to Edward's parent's to get our son. I missed him already and I knew he would be full of questions about his new baby cousin. We stuck around longer than planned telling Esme and Carlisle all the details people want to know when a new baby is born or maybe I just had to brag a little bit about my adorable niece. Either way we were there for a while. It was almost dinner time when we decided to head home.

The entire ride back to house was Kallie this and Kallie that. Ayden was more than a little eager to play with the new baby.

"I will share my toys with Kallie." Ayden said.

"That's very nice of you sweetie, I'm sure she'll love that some day." I told him full of pride. He was such a good kid.

"Kallie come play with my toys tomorrow." He asked hopefully.

"No Ayden. She's too little to play right now. Kallies just a baby" I tried to explain.

"Like sister?" he questioned barely above a whisper. I felt my throat close up and I couldn't force out any words. I was never quite sure how much he remembered about the whole ordeal, but clearly he understood a little more than I gave him credit for. Edward in his true fashion came to my rescue. He took my hand and gave it a gentle squeeze before answering his son.

"Yes Ayden, she's a baby like your sister was. But Kallie is going to get big and one day she'll be big enough to play with you." He explained slowly.

Ayden seemed to accept this answer as good enough and went on to ramble about coloring and teaching Kallie to play with his blocks. I didn't remove my hand from Edward's. When he shifted his eyes from the road to me I mouthed a 'thank you' and he gave me a sad smile.

The ride home seemed to take forever and by the time we got in I was exhausted. I threw a few sandwiches together while Edward went upstairs to take a quick shower. Once he came back down we all sat at the table and ate together. Ayden talked to us about everything he did over at Esme and Carlisle's. Edward was not happy about learning what type of things our son got away with at his grandma and grandpa's. I don't think he was so much upset about what they allowed Ayden to do, more over the fact that he wasn't allowed to behave the same way when he was his age. It was quite comical to watch a grown man sulk about the fact that his son was allowed to build a fort in the living room and have candy before a meal.

It felt so natural to be discussing things like this and behaving like a normal family. It wouldn't have been obvious to an outside observer that anything was wrong with our relationship. We were simply a family discussing what was and wasn't appropriate for grandparent's to allow.

As the night wore on we went together and put Ayden to bed. Edward read him a book while I sat in awe of the two most important people in my life. I was dreading the end of Dr. Seuss' whimsical words, because that would mean it was time for Edward to go. I would have to return back to the ugly reality that I had created. If only Green Eggs and Ham had an epilogue, then I could savor this moment for just a little longer.

I walked Edward to the door and it felt every bit as awkward as one would imagine.

"Um…I guess I'll talk to you later." I said blushing for reasons unknown to even me.

He surprised me by cupping my cheek and leaning in toward my lips. His kiss started off gentle but once I parted my lips he deepened it causing my breathing to hitch. He pulled away too soon but instead of straightening up he moved his lips to my ear.

"Sometime soon we're going to have to fix that shower. It's working properly, and we just can't have that can we Isabella?" He whispered in a husky voice. I couldn't find words to speak. He may have just crossed some imaginary line we had in place but, frankly I didn't give a damn.

He laughed a little at my silence and kissed my cheek quickly before turning and leaving.

What a freakin tease!

I shook my head to try and clear the cloudiness that now fogged my thoughts. I went upstairs to get ready for bed. I opened the drawer of my nightstand and pulled out the business card Esme had given me for the support group. I had made up my mind. This week I would make the changes I needed to get my life back together, and by god I would find a way to get that shower fixed in the process.

I fell asleep alone but excited for the possibilities that lay ahead of me. I knew I had a rough road to travel but the destination would be more than worth it.

A/N: All right my lovely readers I have a favor or two to request. It seems most of the stories I keep on alert are either wrapping up or have been abandoned. I need some good reading material. Let me know if you have any great recommendations. I'm a sucker for AH, and I generally don't read anything besides E/B. Let me know if you know of a story that I should be reading. (already completed is a plus!)

Secondly, Review....a little reward for reviews??? hmmm....

ok If I get 15 reviews I'll update withing 24 hours!!! (otherwise it'll be thursday). I know not that big of a jump but hey let me know what you thought anyway.