SM owns Twilight.
Godspeed (Sweet Dreams) is owned by The Dixie Chicks and had been a great source of inspiration for me while writing these past few chapters.
I greatly apologize for being a day late with the posting of this chapter.
I want to say thank you for all of the love that the last chapter has received and for all of the wonderful labor and birth stories that my readers shared with me. The nicknames for Edward have been really great as well. Thank you also to those of you reading, reviewing, recommending and loving this story.
There were a few reviews that I was not able to answer because the PM was turned off. So if I did not respond please know I loved your reviews and I thank you for the kind words.
I must forewarn that this chapter is filled with love, lots and lots of love, as new babies tend to have that effect on their loved ones.
Chapter Twenty Six
"Oh my sweet babies." Esme's voice comes softy from the door.
It was 7:30 in the morning and our family had been with us all night long. I knew they were not going to leave until they got to see Rory and that they had waited long enough.
"Come in guys." I call softy not wanting to startle him.
Esme, Rose and Alice are the first ones in followed by Emmett, Carlisle and Jasper. They all gather around the bed and Bella holds Rory up a little higher so everyone could get a look at our little man.
"Everyone I would like to introduce you to Rory Anthony Cullen." Bella says with a huge smile on her face.
"Oh Bella, he's just beautiful. Rose you were right he looks just like her." Esme says with tears in her eyes.
"Would you like to hold him?" Bella asks Esme and I swear I think she is going to explode because of the grin that takes over her face.
"Can I?"
"Of course you can silly; grandmothers should be one of the first ones to hold new babies." Bella answers her and I swear Esme's tears get bigger.
"Rory this is your grandmamma Esme." Bella says as she gently hands him over to her.
"Hey there sweet boy." Esme says as she takes him. "I am so glad you are finally here. We have all been waiting for you, waiting to spoil you and we are going to little man. All of us are going to spoil you rotten, but me and your granddaddy Carlisle are going to be the worst."
There is a collective chuckle throughout the room because we all know it is the truth. Esme and Carlisle will spoil this child like no other child has been spoiled before.
While Esme coos over Rory the others come over and hug and kiss Bella and check to see how she is feeling. Then they hug me as well and give me their congratulations.
Of course their attention quickly falls back to Rory.
"Amy was right." Bella whispers in my ear. "Once the baby comes the parents fade into the background." She giggles.
During one of our Lamaze classes, Amy joked with the mother's in particular to enjoy the attention while they were pregnant because once the baby is born the parents fade into the background. Of course I knew that was perfectly fine with both Bella and I, we didn't need or crave attention.
"Who's next?" Esme reluctantly asks after she has held him for about ten minutes.
"Can I hold him?" Emmett asks in a quiet voice.
"Of course you can my other sweet boy." Esme says as she walks over to where Emmett is standing and gently hands him over.
"Hey there little man, I'm your uncle Emmett but you can just call me Emmie like your mama did when she was little." He is grinning from ear to ear as he speaks and I can tell that he has fallen instantly in love with his nephew. "You and I are going to have fun. I get to teach you all of the things that will drive your mom and dad crazy because that's what uncles do."
"Just remember that goes both ways." I remind Emmett quickly.
"We are ignoring daddy right now." Emmett says as he continues on with Rory. "I have lots of secrets about your mama and will be happy to share them with you to help keep you out of trouble."
He pauses for a moment and then looks over to Bella before looking back at Rory.
"It's like holding you Bella. He looks just like you." Emmett whispers in amazement. He leans in and kisses Rory softly on the cheek. "That's from your grandmamma Renee and granddaddy Charlie." He moves and kisses his other cheek. "And that's from me little man. Welcome to the Swan family."
There are soft sounds of whimpers coming from different directions in the room and as I look over to Bella I see the tears falling down her face.
"I guess I have to share you now Rory." Emmett says clearing his voice. "Who's next?"
"Give him to Alice before she explodes." Bella says with a grin.
I look over and sure enough my sweet little sister is about to explode. She has been doing so well holding in her excitement that she looks like a tea kettle that is about to whistle.
An amazing thing happens though, as soon as Emmett puts Rory into her arms she calms and grows very still and very quiet.
"He's so little." She whispers as she just stares at him as if she has been hypnotized by the little bundle in her arms. She just stands there and watches him, never taking her eyes off of him. The others in the room looking at each other and then back at Alice and Rory, each of us amazed and rendered speechless.
It is when tears start to fall from her eyes that Jasper moves over to her and puts his arm around her.
"Alice baby, are you alright?"
"He's just so perfect." She whispers as she looks up at Jasper.
"He is darling, he's perfect." Jasper says as he kisses his wife before running his fingers softly over Rory's cheek.
It is such an intimate moment they are sharing with one another and the rest of us get to bear witness too. Their words are unspoken, but clear for all of those in the room; there will be children in their future. How soon is unclear, but there is no denying this future.
"Can I hold him now?" Rose's voice is loving but anxious.
Alice and Jasper break their little love bubble and both of them look up at Rose with a smile before they both kiss him on the cheek and hand him over to her.
"Hello sweet baby." Rose coos as she takes him.
He has been quiet the whole time he has been passed around but as Rose speaks he begins to grunt a little and with the way Rose is holding him we can see that he is opening his eyes.
"Hey little man." Emmett says as he walks over to Rose. "Why didn't you open your eyes for me, I'm supposed to be your favorite person here."
"Sorry Em but I think that would be his mama followed closely by his daddy." Rose says and as she mentions our names, Rory begins to move his head around as if he is trying to see us even though we know he cannot.
"Told you." Rose says with a grin.
"You're crushing me little man, totally crushing me." Emmett says as the rest of us cannot help but laugh at his silly nature.
I cannot help but notice the fact that Emmett and Rose are standing just as Alice and Jasper were a few moments before, Emmett standing just behind Rose with his hand on her shoulder, the two of them both looking down on Rory with nothing but love in their expressions.
As I look around at the rest of my family, all eyes positioned on the little blue bundle in Rose's arms I feel love. Love for Rory of course, but also love for one another. Alice and Jasper are holding hands, Carlisle has his arm around Esme and Bella's head rests on my shoulder. A rush of pride flows over me and I silently thank God for blessing me with them all.
"Ok I have been patient long enough." Carlisle says with a huge grin on his face.
Rose looks up at him and cannot help but smile too as she gently hands Rory over to his grandfather.
"Hey Rory, I'm your granddaddy Carlisle but you can just call me granddaddy or whatever you like. I will proudly answer to any name that you give me." The smile on his face begins to fade a little as he watches Rory. "I really wish my brother was here to hold you in his arms and give you all of his love, because I know he would, he would love you with all of his heart just like I do." Carlisle pauses for a moment as if trying to calm his tears. "I feel him here Rory, as I hold you in my arms I feel him in this room. You are a part of him just like your daddy. I will always have him because of the two of you. He's smiling on you right now, just like Elizabeth, Renee and Charlie all are. You are a part of them all Rory, a little bit Cullen and a little bit Swan and that makes you perfect."
"Thank you Carlisle, that was…just beautiful." Bella says through tears.
"I think it's time we left you to your parents little man." Carlisle says as he walks back over to the bed and hands Rory back to Bella. As soon as he is in her arms he begins to root his little head around.
"Looks like someone is hungry." Esme says as she wipes tears from her eyes. "We will come back later on this afternoon. You two try and get some sleep, especially you Bella." She says as she walks over and gives us both a kiss on the tops of our heads. She places a hand on one side of both of our faces. "I love you both so much." She pulls her hands away and kisses one of them before caressing Rory's cheek. "I love you too sweet boy."
The others repeat Esme's actions in some way, hugging or kissing the three of us before leaving us alone.
"I need to call the school and let them know my leave is starting a little earlier then expected." I had worked it out that two other professors would help me out with my classes for two weeks so I could spend some time with Rory and Bella after coming home from the hospital.
"Has anyone called Angela yet?"
"Yeah, Esme called her last night."
"Remind me to thank her when they come back."
"I will sweetie." I say as I lean in and kiss her cheek and then Rory's before getting up off the bed and grabbing my phone from the table.
As I dial the number I watch my beautiful wife as she pulls the gown down her arm so that her right breast is exposed. She moves Rory over to the other arm and takes hold of her breast with her left hand and moves it to Rory's little mouth that seems to be desperately searching for something.
I watch with rapt attention at the amazing exchange between Bella and Rory as she tries to get him to suckle and he tries to find what he is looking for. Even with Bella's guidance and contact made he seems to be unable to latch on.
I am so lost in the scene before me I barely hear the voice on the other end of the line. I break away for a moment to tell the department chair the news and accept his congratulations.
After ending the call I turn my attention back to Bella and Rory. With the patience of Job, Bella speaks softly to Rory encouraging him to nurse. I want so badly to go and try and help but I know she doesn't need the distraction.
Amy told us that it may take a while for him to nurse and not to be discouraged by it and to just keep trying, which was what Bella was doing now.
After a few minutes of her encouragement and I guess his natural reflexes he latches on and I can see his little chin moving up and down. Bella looks up at me with the biggest smile on her face.
"Yeah?" I ask knowing full well she understands what I am asking.
"Yeah." She says with a sigh.
I move closer to the bed wanting to hold them both in my arms as she nurses but not wanting to disturb Rory as he eats for the first time. I stand there and watch his little mouth as he suckles, the tiniest sounds coming from him as he continues to nourish his body from his mother's as he has done for the previous nine months.
His movements begin to slow down and stop altogether. Bella hands him to me so I can burp him as she pulls her gown back on and ties it in the back. I hold him against my shoulder and gently pat his back until the tiniest of burps escapes his little body. It floors me how damn cute that noise is.
"Did we remember to pack that breast pump?" Bella asks me.
"Yeah it should be in the bag. Are you ok?"
"I am, my milk has definitely come in and my other one is engorged and a little sore. I think I'm going to change into something other than this gown and see if I can release some of the pressure."
"Is there something I can do to help?" I ask wanting nothing more at that moment than to take away any discomfort that she may be having.
"I think…"
Her words are cut off by a knock on the door followed by the sound of Deanna's voice.
"How is my new family doing?"
"We are just great." Bella answers.
"Well maybe not great." I say.
"What's wrong?" Deanna asks looking back and forth between Bella and Rory to see who may be in need of help.
"Nothing major." Bella answers her before shooting me a look of frustration.
"Her milk has come is and she is sore." I say ignoring her look knowing she could use some help but would never ask for it.
"Did he nurse?" Deanna asks.
"Yes." Bella answers with pride. "He did for about ten minutes."
"That's great news." Deanna beams. "Do you have a breast pump, if not we can use one of the ones here."
"We did bring one." Bella answers her.
"Come on darling; let's get you into the bathroom and moving around a little bit. You can pump in there, change clothes if you like and I will introduce you to the wonderful world of a sitz bath."
Deanna helps Bella out of the bed and I cannot help the grimace on my face as I see her struggling with the pain of getting up and moving around for the first time since having Rory. Once Deanna has her bag they disappear into the bathroom and close the door leaving Rory and I alone.
"Hey there little man." I whisper as he has fallen back asleep. "Don't think because you are out of mama's tummy that we are not going to still have our man to man talks. I still have so many things that I want to share with you and teach you. Now I know I have told you a hundred times how special and amazing your mama is, but I have to tell you Rory, all of those things are nothing in comparison to what I have witnessed her doing over the past twelve hours. Watching her give you life, the patience she had while trying to get you to nurse, the way in which she looks at you with so much love. Your mama is amazing little man, just amazing. You my son are the luckiest baby in the world to have her and I am the luckiest daddy in the world to have you both."
I sit there holding him in my arms falling in love with him more and more with each rise and fall of his tiny chest. Just as Emmett said it would be, I am overwhelmed with the very thought of him as I watch him sleep. His little mouth quivers, his little eyes race back and forth beneath his eyelids, his little arms pull closer to his body and then further away, tiny little noises escape his mouth. Each movement is awe inspiring, each tiny sound like music. This is heaven, heaven right here in the palm of my hands.
After a while the bathroom door opens and Bella emerges looking fresher and more relaxed then she did before going in. She has changed into a t-shirt and a pair of loose fitting sweat pants, her hair is up in a high ponytail and she is walking a little better.
"We so have to get one of those." Bella says to me as she climbs back into the bed with Deanna's help.
"All new moms say that." She chuckles and she heads over to Bella's chart to write something down.
"What is a sitz bath?" I ask, the curiosity getting the better of me.
"It's a mini shower for your who ha." Deanna says as if she is giving me medical facts.
"What?" I ask trying to figure out what the hell a who ha is.
"It's a therapeutic warm water bath for a woman's vagina." She answers me in a clinical voice.
"Oh…wait...oh." Understanding exactly what she has been talking about.
"I liked your first explanation better." Bella giggles.
"I know me too!" Deanna answers back.
"Since little man there is asleep I want you to put him in the bassinet over here and try and get some sleep while you can. You both have to be exhausted. I am headed home but will be back to check in on you tonight when I come back into work."
"Thank you Deanna for everything." Bella says.
"It was my pleasure sweet girl." She answers her as she goes over to the bed and hugs her. "And just so you know I accept thank you gifts in the form of sugar cookies." She says with a wink.
"Not to worry, I think you've earned a life time of free sugar cookies anytime you come into the bakery."
"I just love my job." Deanna says with a grin before she leaves the room.
I do as she suggests and reluctantly place Rory in the bassinet they have giving us for the room.
"Snuggle?" Bella asks as she slides over on the bed making room for me.
I readily shake my head yes and pull my shoes off before climbing into bed next to my wife.
The bed is a large twin, giving us both a little bit more room than a traditional twin would afford. It is a tight fit but well worth the lack of space to have my sweet angel wrapped up in my arms again.
"I love you Bella."
"I love you too Edward." She sleepily whispers before we both drift off to sleep.
Bella and I slept off and on most of the day. Rory woke up twice and Bella nursed him and I changed his diaper. It felt really good to work together to take care of him.
We had fallen back asleep after Rory's last feeding when the sound of a chair moving woke me up. I raised my head to see Charlie standing on a chair watching Rory.
"Hey big man." I whisper.
"Hey Edward." He responds without looking over at me.
"Are you here by yourself?"
This gets his full attention and he looks back at me before he rolls his eyes. I lower my head into Bella's shoulder to hide my laugh.
"I six Edward. Daddy is outside talking to a doctor that pees on bodies. I got bored and told him I wanted to see the baby so I came on in here."
A doctor that pees on bodies? I would have to ask Emmett about that one.
I gently slide my arm out from under Bella hoping not to wake her up. I make my way over to Charlie and Rory and pick Charlie up off of the chair and hold him so he can get a better look at a sleeping Rory.
"So what do you think big man?"
"He's little."
"He is right now, but he will grow up and be big like you one day."
"He looks like Bella."
"He does look like Bella big man."
Charlie watches him for a moment before he turns and leans into my ear.
"Do you think he is an angel like Bella?" He whispers.
"I do Charlie, I really do." I whisper back to him.
"My new best friend is an angel." He says more to himself as he moves his eyes back to Rory.
"I think I might love him already Edward." His words are so innocent and sincere that it melts my insides.
"I think he might love you too big man."
"Cool." He says with a huge smile on his face. "Can I hold him?"
"You can when he wakes up ok big man."
"Cool." He says again.
There is a soft knock on the door and Emmett quietly comes into the room. He glances lovingly at Bella's sleeping form before he comes over to Charlie and me.
"Hey guys." He whispers. "Hey sorry about Charlie just coming in like that. I ran into one of my old clients, Dr. Peabody and we caught up on a few things." So that explains the doctor who pees on bodies. "I hope he wasn't a problem."
"Charlie is never a problem." I say as I squeeze him a little closer to me.
"Yeah he is a pretty good kid." Emmett says with pride in his voice. "So how are our Rory and Bella doing?"
The three of us sit and talk quietly until Bella wakes up about an hour later. The rest of the afternoon is filled with people coming to see Rory. Jessica and her mother come with a huge basket of baby goodies. Tanya and her parents come as well. By dinner time the room is swimming in flowers, balloons and stuffed animals.
Esme and Alice bring dinner for Bella and I which we are both really grateful for because let's face it hospital food kind of sucks a little bit.
Dr. McCall comes by and checks on Bella and Dr. Adams who will be Rory's pediatrician comes and checks on him. Barring any unforeseeable complications, both Bella and Rory will get to go home the next day.
Our families leave us a little before eight thirty and as the room quiets back down it amazes how much has happened in less than twenty four hours. This time yesterday Bella and I were washing dishing after supper and now we are sitting in a hospital room admiring the beauty of our little bundle of joy.
Life changes so quickly.
One minute I was riding in a car with my parents and then they were gone. One hour Bella was waiting at home for her parents and then they were gone. One day I was driving home and then I met Bella and I was home. One night we were a family of two and now we are more.
We slept off and on throughout the night. The small bed was really getting to be very uncomfortable but I knew it wasn't going to be for much longer and there was no way in hell I was leaving the hospital without my wife and son.
The next morning both doctors came and did their final exams giving us the all clear to leave. Carlisle had gone by the house and gotten Rory's car seat and installed the base into our car, bringing the carrier up to the room.
They were released a little after one pm and Carlisle helped me bring all of our gifts down to the car while one of the nurses pushed Bella and Rory in a wheelchair.
There was a huge Welcome Home Rory sign waiting for us across the door to the front entrance and a huge blue stork cutout sitting in the front yard. I had a sneaky feeling that Rose and Alice were behind this and I couldn't help but smile at their gesture.
Our evening was very quiet compared to the last few nights at the hospital. Our family said they would see us the next day giving Bella and me some time alone at home with Rory. It was nice to be back in our home because that's what it was more than ever, a home.
Esme had cooked several meals for us and put them together in a way that allowed me to just pop them in the oven to warm up. I couldn't love that sweet woman more than I did as I was pulling the wonderful smelling food out of the oven. I could manage cooking a few things, but I knew Bella would get tired of pancakes and hamburgers after a while so it was wonderful that Esme provided for us both.
We stayed in the family room together watching TV, taking turns holding Rory, catching little cat naps here and there, changing diapers and me helping Bella as best as I could with his feedings. It was a comfortable routine that we fell into, one the seemed as if we had been doing it for years. We had been partners in our marriage and now we were partners in parenthood.
I spent the next day straightening up the house because our family and a few friends were coming over for dinner. Esme and Rose of course insisted on bringing all of the food.
I had a very special errand to run and I told Bella I would pick up a few bottles of wine and some other drinks for everybody while I was out knowing she wouldn't want anyone else to do all of the work.
When I pulled back into the driveway I was surprised to see Emmett's truck there. It was a few hours before anyone was supposed to be there.
As I walked into the kitchen I could hear Bella and Emmett talking and realized they didn't know I was home yet. I could see them standing over the bassinet that we had in the family room. Their backs were turned to me and Emmett had his arm around Bella's shoulder.
"I can't believe my baby girl is all grown up and a mama now." "Emmett's voice broke a little as he spoke. "I remember when you were this annoying little thing in pigtails that followed me everywhere I went, trying to play with me and my friends. And now…now…you're…"
"Oh Emmie." Bella says as she pulls her oversized man child of a brother into her tiny frame. "I love you so much. I know I don't say thank you enough to you and Rose for what all you have done for me, but I hope you know that I wouldn't be here right now if it wasn't for the two of you."
"No baby girl you would have been just fine without us. You were also so strong and so full of life that I know no matter what you would have been ok." He says as he pulls back and wipes tears from Bella's eyes. "But I will gladly take all of the credit if you let me." He chuckles.
"Emmett!" Bella sighs as she pulls him back into a hug.
Rory begins to stir and as they focus their attention back on him I make some noise to let them know I was home.
Dinner that evening was filled with lots of laughter and love for our little man. He was gently passed from one person to the next. If there was a doubt our son would be spoiled it was completely lost on this night.
Charlie finally got to hold him and even Addy with the help of her daddy's lap got to hold him. She kept repeating sweet baby over and over again.
It was a great night and as I fell asleep that night I was filled with love.
The crackle of the baby monitor invaded my sleep and as I began to wake I heard the beautiful sound of my lovely Bella over it. I laid there trying to listen to her words and after a moment I realized she was singing to him.
God bless mommy and match box cars
God bless dad and thanks for the stars
God hears "Amen," wherever we are
And I love you
Godspeed, little man
Sweet dreams, little man
Oh my love will fly to you each night on angels wings
Godspeed, Sweet Dreams
Her voice was soft and sweet with a slight quiver. I listened to my wife serenade our son lovingly and I was consumed by the love I felt for the two of them and I did something I haven't done in years.
I spoke to my parents.
"I really wish you were here, wish that you could know Bella and Rory. I love them both so much and I know that you would as well. I'm so proud to be your son and I hope that I can be half as good a parent to him that you both were to me. I love you and I miss you both so much."
I wiped the tears from my eyes and made my way over to my dresser drawer, pulling out the box I had snuck in there earlier before making my way to the nursery.
Bella was just laying Rory back down in his crib.
"Hey beautiful." I whispered.
"Hey handsome." She whispered back. "I didn't mean to wake you."
"I would welcome waking up to my wife singing any day of the week and twice on Sunday."
I walk over to the crib and look at our tiny son lying on his back, his little chest rising and falling softly in the glow of the mobile light.
I pull Bella into my arms and kissed her gently.
"Happy Valentine's Day." I whisper as I place the box in my hand in front of her.
"Edward you shouldn't have. I didn't have a chance to get you anything yet."
"Bella, you gave me a son, that is all the gift I will ever need."
"Cheesy at three in the morning, really?" Bella giggles. "Seriously though baby you shouldn't…"
I gently place the box over her lips interrupting her words.
"Shush mommy and just say thank you." I grin.
"Thank you daddy." She says as she takes the box and opens it.
"Their amethyst." I say as she looks at the square cut earrings.
"Rory's birthstone?" Bella asks.
"I thought they would look perfect on your ears." I say as I lean in and kiss her lobe softly.
"I have a sapphire for my birthday and an amethyst for Rory's but I don't have a pearl for your birthday."
She looks at me with a soft smile that lets me know she really wishes she had a way of representing me as well.
"You don't need a pearl for me sweet girl. You have my heart." I say as I place one hand over her heart and the other over Rory's tiny chest. "Right here and you always will."
"Oh my sweet man, I love you even when you are cheesy." She says with a grin as she pulls me into her arms. "But I still want a pearl so I can have all of my family with me at all times."
I make a mental note to start looking for some type of pearl to get her for our anniversary, because what my love wants, my love shall get.
A/N:
A sitz bath is pretty much as Deanna describes in the story, a warm gentle bath and shower combined for a woman's (or man's) most delicate parts. They really are wonderful and greatly needed after labor; at least it was in my case.
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