SM OWNS ALL THINGS TWILIGHT
AN; I'm not sure what to say about this chapter. It may, not be how some of you imagined things to happen, but I really hope, you can find something to enjoy.
Mae's dream is based on a real sweets advert here in the UK. I thought it was funny. And, if anyone has ever had to take strong meds, whilst ill, you know, you can have crazy dreams…or is that just me. Lol.
Again all, I can say is thankyou so much.
ESME POV
I was sitting by the door of an interrogation room, watching as Alexander, who was about seven maybe eight. God, he was the living image of Carlisle, tall, lean, blue eyed. The only difference was, that Alexander's hair was a mixture of my brunette and the coppery red colour that Carlisle had as a baby, and Edward kept and it was curly.
"We know you ate the last chocolate biscuit Dad, make it easier on yourself…and sign the confession." Alexander said patiently to his father, who was sitting slumped on the other side of the table, a cocky smirk and a small chocolate stain plastered all over his place.
"Alright…I'll sign your confession…" Carlisle said, picking up the piece of paper in front of him, glancing at it briefly, before proceeding to screw it up and use it to wipe the chocolate stain on his face.
With a deep sigh and shake of his head, that was the mirror image of what I'd seen his father do so many times in difficult interrogations, Alexander rose to his feet, resting his hands on the table and leaning towards Carlisle.
"You can't say I haven't tried to be nice…" Alex said, before turning to me.
"Mum, can you ask Detective Marshall- Cullen to step in here please? " he said, giving me a sweet smile. Before I had chance to do as he asked, the door of the room was flung open, allowing a tiny, blonde, curly headed whirlwind to blow past me.
Slamming her tiny fists down heavily, on the table she could just about see over, my daughter…my little Harper, who I could just about make out, had my hazel eyes, which were blazing furiously in her little face, stared at her father.
"Sign, the fession…" she lisped.
"Alright! Alright…I'll sign…" Carlisle whimpered, shrinking back in his seat.
"Mae…Mae…sweetheart…wake up Mae…"
"Carlisle…you should sign the fession…Detective Marshall-Cullen is one tough cookie…" I half mumbled, half laughed. It took me several long moments after I opened my eyes, taking in the Quaker style furniture of our new bedroom and Carlisle's half amused, half confused face as he sat on the side of the bed gazing down at me, to realize I was actually awake.
"Hi…" I rasped.
"Hi…" Carlisle said softly, gently tucking my hair behind my ear.
"I…I was dreaming…"
"About chocolate biscuits and cookies by the sound of it…" Carlisle said smiling softly.
I laughed. "You, you ate the last chocolate biscuit…and our children weren't happy…"
"Oh really?"Carlisle laughed his face alive with genuine interest.
"Yep, was a case of good cop…Alex…and…"
"Slightly more direct…and hands on cop…"
"Well, that can only be my daughter…Detective Marshall-Cullen…who will obviously, inherit her mother's unique interrogation technique…"Carlisle chuckled.
"Watch it buddy, I may be the size of a baby whale and not feeling a hundred per cent, but I could still take you down…" I growled, playfully shoving his shoulder.
"Of that, I have no doubt my love…" Carlisle said with a smile, as he kissed me softly. "How are you, feeling darling? You still look so pale…" Carlisle said gently, his humour replaced with genuine concern.
"Doctor says I'm doing much better…you can check with Alice…my temperature has stayed down all day, the antibiotics are doing their job on the infection…the pain killers are making me have crazy dreams, but are helping with the pain…and Alexander is doing just fine. His big strong Cullen heart is beating strong and steady."I said, giving him a quick kiss, before attempting to push myself up into a more comfortable position.
"That's my boy…" Carlisle said quietly, as he gently stroked my huge bump. I had to laugh at Carlisle's face, as almost as if he was answering him, Alex shifted beneath Carlisle's hand. It had been happening for almost three months now, but Carlisle's reaction every time, was one of total wonder.
"So, how was your class Professor?" I asked, desperate to lighten Carlisle's concern. We had both been scared when I had become ill, almost overnight, with a fever, chills, even worse back pain than I had been enduring for most of my pregnancy and terrible pain when I passed water. But Dr Gerandy, who Carlisle in full Lord Cullen mode, had demanded pay me a home visit, at some ungodly early hour of the morning, had diagnosed a mild kidney infection, a common, but painful pregnancy related condition.
Carlisle had been all set to cancel the rest of his highly successful guest lectures at the police training school, until I had begged, Edward had reminded him that he still was a doctor, and the rest of our little family had taken it in turns, to watch over me, during the few hours Carlisle was away. And my doctor's appointment today, had shown that I really was doing much better. My exhaustion was a side effect of being ill, my medication and being eight months pregnant. I had been scared and felt like death warmed up, but I knew, that compared to a lot of women, I had had a really easy pregnancy, with only the usual morning sickness and a bad back, which had as much to do with some of my old battle scars, as it had me being pregnant.
"It went well I think. A real highlight was the raid video, where the recruits watched in awe… and I quote…"the, fucking hot Yank, who could arrest several of the recruits, any time they liked…" Carlisle chuckled.
"I'm sure Jasper will be thrilled, to hear he's still got it…" I teased.
"I'm sure he'd be thrilled, but I'm afraid, they were looking very much at you my love…" Carlisle said.
"Okay, how many of them did you give detention, and an impromptu lesson in effective prisoner restraint holds to?" I said, hoping the small smirk of satisfaction and slight blush, I felt heating my cheeks at Carlisle's revelation, were not visible. It was nice to know I still had it.
"Ah..and there was you, worrying that our professional bond, would disappear when we weren't working together. You've just proved, just how well you know me…" Carlisle smirked, as he disappeared into the bathroom.
"You didn't…Carlisle…"
"Sorry Mae, can't hear you…" I heard him chuckle over the sound of the running shower.
Hoisting myself awkwardly up of the bed, I padded to the bathroom door, stopping for a moment, to admire Carlisle's ass, in our large showers, glass door.
"Did you want something love?" Carlisle asked, slowing the flow of the water, but without turning round.
Yep, that bond was working just fine.
"I..I was going to ask, if you were hungry? All that extra -curricular activity must have made you hungry." I said weakly. I was so damn glad, that I hadn't gone for the frosted glass doors, preferring the look of the clear glass, with the tiled floor, overhead spotlights and large mirror and double sink, that took up most of one wall, of our ensuite.
"Starving, which is why, I ordered a Chinese to be delivered, on the way home…should be here in about ten minutes…"
"I really, reaaally, don't tell you often enough, just how much I love you…Or Alice, how much I love her inability, to keep her mouth shut…" I groaned in delight. I had mentioned to Alice, earlier in the afternoon, that for the first day in awhile I was really hungry, and craving Chinese food.
"So they were both cops?"
"Carlisle, it was a dream…"
"I know, but I'm hoping, that at least one of them will get a rewarding job. Dustman, pizza delivery guy…doctor, pathologist…I mean, how often do you see Emmett miserable? Maybe there is something, in cutting people open?"
"Carlisle…"I huffed, poking him, with one of my feet, which were in his lap being massaged, as we lay on the sofa after dinner.
"Sorry…sorry, maybe when they are old enough, being a policeman, or woman, won't be a job that turns you into a well meaning, but prematurely cynical, frustrated pen pusher." Carlisle sighed, leaning his head back against the cushions of our large, deep sofa.
"I thought you were enjoying your teaching baby…" I said.
"I am, I'm enjoying the new challenge, but sometimes when I see just how young some of the recruits are, how enthusiastic, how idealistic…it just makes me sad, that they are going to have so much knocked out of them…"
"And you know, as well as I do, the knocks, the run ins with the twisted and devious…both in the job and out…" I chuckled humourlessly, "they're what make you the better, sharper on the street. And there is no one better, or sharper than you baby…maybe apart from me. What you can do, is teach them how to deal with, rise above those knocks, help them keep the compassion and hunger they need, to do a job that will always need doing. And, whilst I don't like the idea, of either of my kids facing the dangers we've had to…I've kinda resolved myself, to a least one of them, following in our footsteps…" I said seriously.
"You do realize, that cops kids are notorious for getting into trouble. Shoplifting, fighting, underage drinking, smoking, drugs…"
"OKAY, that does it. Both Alexander and Harper, won't have careers, we'll just let them be trust fund brats…" I exclaimed.
"OVER MY DEAD BODY! I would rather Harper became the first female Police Commissioner and Alex, becomes the head of SWAT…My son and later my daughter, will be useful, productive members of society. Although, it could still be cool, to have a pathologist in the family. Emmett would be thrilled…"
"Sounds like a little you might actually regret, not following Edward and your Dad into medicine…"
"Naa, was hopeless at science…"
" Anyway, Alice has already, placed Alex down for an internship at Tiffany…"
"Alex? Not Harper?"
"No…apparently, Harper is going to join Danielle, in running Danny's gym when he retires. They are going to take on the world of boxing…"
"WHAT? As if I'm going to let my little girl, be around all those men…not that she won't be able to handle herself. I just know what men…what fighters, who have been forced to abstain whilst training, think…I don't want some sweaty lump, looking at my daughter like that."
"Well, if Harper takes after me, as much as you, think she will…it could be the other way around. I seem to remember, I was quite turned on by the whole boxing gym scene…" I purred.
"That does it…I'm putting her name down for the Police Academy, first thing in the morning…" Carlisle growled, fixing me with a look, that in other circumstances, would have had me launching myself at him.
"That leaves…this young man…" I giggled, resting my hands on my stomach. "He could be a humanitarian…work for charities…go into business…" I offered.
"True…or, with your looks…and my charm, he could be an actor…"
" He could, the next generations George Clooney…" I mused.
"Or, he could take after you…and be an artist…" Carlisle said quietly, his hand absently stroking my leg.
"I'm not an artist…" I huffed.
"No love, you're a genius…what you've done to this house…look around you Mae…you've made us a home…" Carlisle said softly.
"You like it…" I said shyly. We had only been moved in three months, and still had a guest room full of boxes that needed unpacking, but I had really tried to as Carlisle said, make us a home. The downstairs was a mixture of wood floors, large comfortable furniture and bright, but warm colours. I had also made a feature of the beautiful fireplace we had in the lounge, placing a sofa and a plush rug, which when I had full control of body once more, I planned to christen with Carlisle. Our kitchen, diner was light and airy, and a great space to entertain, I also had perfect views of the garden, vital for when the children were old enough to play out there. Upstairs wasn't done yet, but I had made a start with restful colours and light furniture.
"I love it. Edward can keep Harroview, I have my very own little castle right here…" he said, kissing my foot, as it was the only part of me he could actually reach.
"The nursery furniture is arriving next Thursday…"
I knew everything was going well with my pregnancy, apart from my kidney infection, but I had still not wanted to tempt fate…draw attention to my little piece of happiness, and have something come along and destroy it once more. There was always something that could go wrong, something that could take Alexander away from me, from us. During a night when I had been feeling really ill, and my temperature had risen, I had wailed almost hysterically to Carlisle that we were doomed, that after everything the three of us had been through, I was going to lose Alexander, because I hadn't taken enough care of myself. It was all nonsense I knew, but I couldn't shake, quiet that nagging doubt that something was going to go wrong. That Alexander, my visions of him, were just that visions. But then, I had seen my latest scan, seen my baby, my son in glorious 4D, sucking his thumb, yawning, stretching…and what really did look like laughing.
Without a word, Carlisle rested my feet back on the sofa, and came to sit so he could wrap an arm around me, and hold me, as we both lost ourselves in the thrilling, terrifying thought, that it really would not be long, before Alexander was here to use his new furniture.
"Are you scared?" Carlisle asked after a long moment, spent gazing into the fireplace's imitation dancing flames.
"Terrified…but so excited. I want to see him Carlisle…I want to hold him…so badly…" I sighed, my voice becoming ragged with emotion.
"I want to see you holding him. Although, you may well have to pinch me, more than once…to reassure me, that the two of you…that he, is really..finally here."
"Ohhh, he's real…and by the feel of the way he's kicking my bladder, he's decided that he really wants to be a soccer player when he grows up." I groaned. Carlisle helped me up, but before he let me waddle off the bathroom, he caught my hand.
"We can do this Mae…" he tried to hide it, but I could still here, the slight uncertainty in his voice.
"You and me…we can do anything…" I said passionately, because I truly did believe it.
"Okay, Okay, so how much is in the pool?"
"What pool?" Jake said trying and failing, to look innocent.
"Jake, just because she's pregnant, doesn't mean her brain has stopped working, or she's forgotten what you're like…" Emily sniggered.
"ME…it was Jasper…I mean DCI…I mean acting DCI…"Jake stammered.
"Jasper started the pool…and didn't tell me!" Alice sqeaked.
"It's just a bit of fun…" Harris piped up.
"We only do it, cause we're happy for you and the boss…" Tweed added.
"Harris, do yourself a favour and stop talking, before you have a very pregnant lady, crying very loudly…" I laughed. " The boss and I miss you guys too.." I said quietly.
I was the size of a small killer whale, waddling to the bathroom, what felt like every five minutes, eating like a horse, napping like an old lady, as my son, who was ready to be born…"anytime now" according to Dr Gerandy, was making sleep almost impossible, but I had never felt so full of energy.
In an attempt, to stop me from trying to scrub our spotless house for a third time, in the week following the baby shower Alice had thrown for me, Carlisle was taking me out to lunch. After, he had sat through a finance meeting that would affect the SCI's future, when he would be back in charge, in three months time. Alice had offered to drive me to the station and get me out, from under the feet of poor Mrs. Doyle, who I was snapping at, as she tried stop me cleaning, or rewashing and ironing, the sheets on the Moses basket that was set up in our room, or the wardrobes full, of clothes I had bought for Alexander over the last few weeks.
Carlisle and Jasper were running late, but I was loving spending time with the SCI team, and several of the other members of the team from downstairs, who had been genuinely welcoming when they saw me.
"Okay, so there's two hundred pounds…"
"That much, really?"
"So what date have you got then Jake?" I asked.
"Fifth of November…I think I've got a good chance…I mean first babies can come early…my brother came two weeks early, and the fifth is only …"he reasoned.
"Tomorrow…Harris?"
" The eighteenth…"
"Carlisle's birthday? Really?
"Well…you and the boss, I mean…it would be the perfect ending…and babies can come late too. My son Spencer…two and a half weeks…"
"Dare I even ask what weights, people have guessed…"
"Well, you are pretty big, way bigger than Mrs. Whitlock…so I'm guessing at least nine pounds…" Jake babbled happily, until he saw my face.
CARLISLE POV
"So, how are you planning to eat the placenta? Fried? Grilled? Raw…I had Danni's as a smoothie?"
"WHAT? You drank a smoothie made of…" I exclaimed, only stopping when I saw Jasper's raised eyebrow and smirk. "Very funny…" I groused.
"Well, I had to do something, to bring you out of the boredom induced coma, Higgenthwaite put you in. I mean, that guy, gives accountants a bad name. I swear…"
"You should see him when he gets some caffeine inside him, becomes a real wild man…uses different fonts on his power point presentations…" I chuckled softly.
"Damn! I am so sorry I missed that…" Jasper laughed. For several long moments, we didn't speak, just let the traffic noises and general hub bub of central London, wash over us.
"You know, I'm impressed. I couldn't have managed a meeting like that, when Alice was so close to dropping…"
"I'm hoping you took good notes…" I teased.
"Some things, never change…" Jasper growled. " You do realize, that you would never have passed your History O-Level without my, extensive notes…"Jasper said smugly.
"I still only got a C… I was thinking about Mae, of course I was…but for some reason, I've been thinking about little Kelly…the little girl Talbot and…"
"I know who she is Carlisle, I don't think any of us, will ever forget her." Jasper sighed.
"She would have been five yesterday…"
"Carlisle…this is supposed to be the happiest, most exciting time of yours and Mae's life, if she's anything like Alice, her already crazy hormones, will be in full melt down about now…she doesn't need to…"
" I know, I know you're right…I just can't get out of my head, the fact that it was Kelly losing her life, that gave me back mine…I mean, her accident, bought Mae back into my life…gave me everything I ever wanted, dreamed of…"
Before Jasper could answer me, both his and my cell phones burst into life.
"Hi honey, I'm sorry we're so late…if Mae gets really hungry, tell her there's some biscuits in my desk drawer…" Jasper joked.
"Food is the last thing on Mae's mind, right at the moment…"
"WHAT? Alice what's happened…is Mae alright?" I almost screamed.
" She will be, as long as you get your asses, to the hospital…Carlisle…it's time…"
ESME POV
"Alice, this wasn't supposed to happen…Carlisle and I, were supposed to drive in nice and calmly… or as calmly as Carlisle can manage. I swear, when I had the false alarm with the Braxton Hicks contractions, he worked his way through, all my breathing excercises…I was NOT meant to be rushed to hospital, in the back of a police car…" I wailed.
"Just like, I was not supposed to give birth, in the middle of your wedding reception, without all the lovely pain relief you are going to have…"Alice soothed as she rubbed on the base of my back.
How had this happened? One minute I was threatening to do Jake serious harm, with the pen I had been playing with, before bursting into hysterical laughter at his truly terrified face. The next, I was doubled over in pain, sitting in a puddle as my waters broke. I had dismissed the niggling pains as my back playing up, mixed with the Braxton Hicks contractions I had been having on and off, over the last few days. The following twenty minutes, were a blur of me being carefully helped into the back of a police car, but what felt like half the station, the other half, had spilled out into the yard to call words as encouragement, as we raced off, sirens screaming.
"I haven't got my case…"
"I've told Jasper, to make sure Carlisle gets it from the boot of the Mercedes."
"Where is he Al…I want Carlisle…I need him…I'm scared…" I whimpered, unable to stop the tears I could feel streaming down my face.
"Oh, honey…I know you are…but just keep in your head…a little while from now…you are going to see, hold that beautiful…beautiful boy, that we have all waited so long to meet…" Alice said roughly as she held my face between her tiny hands.
"I'm going to be a Mommy…finally…" I whispered.
"Yes…Yes you are…and young master Alexander, is going to realize just what a lucky, lucky boy he is…" she said, kissing the top of my head tenderly.
"Couldn't have put it better myself…"
"Carlisle…" I whimpered, as I looked over Alice's shoulder, to see Carlisle standing in the doorway, his face alive with excitement and the same fears I had.
"Of course you couldn't…now get over here…and start rubbing. This crazy fool, has decided, she's doing it without the epidural…I have to make sure that Edward picked up Embry okay…and that Danny hasn't bought little Danni, half a toy shop, or given her soda again. That child, with caffeine…sooo not a good mix." Alice said. Or at least think she did, she was speaking so fast, the words were blurring into one continuous sound, as she raced out the door.
Carlisle looked after her for a minute, shaking his head, before rushing over to me.
"Mae, why have you changed your mind about the epidural? The pain is going to get worse…"
"Trust me Carlisle…this…this isn't pain…" I stammered. It was Carlisle's turn to take my face in his hands, as the memories of the past, filled the heavy silence that had fallen between us.
"Do you have any idea, how much I adore you…how proud I am" he whispered, tilting his forehead against for a minute after kissing me softly. I gripped the front of his shirt, almost ripping it, with the strength of my grip.
"Don't leave me…"
"I promise, I will be right here…all the way…us against the world remember."
"Don't faint…"
"That, I can't promise…" Carlisle chuckled softly.
"I'm scared…"
"So am I…but…you and me…we can do anything…" Carlisle breathed against my hair, using my words from the other night.
"Alexander's going to be okay, isn't he?"I said into his chest.
"He's going to be just fine sweetheart…" Carlisle said tightening his grip on me. "I know, that you will do everything in your power, to bring him into this world safely." He said.
We had booked the birth, in Dr Gerandy's private birthing centre, which was on the top floor, of a maternity hospital, giving us a calm, less formal environment for the birth. The rooms were like large private bedrooms, whilst also giving us access to more specialized medical help, if god forbid, something was to go wrong.
"And so, in the middle of the coroners court, where we were giving evidence to one of the meanest, pedantic coroners EVER…he…starts shuffling in his seat, looking like a four year old, that needs the bathroom. And when the coroner, finally asks him, what's wrong, he bursts out with "I'm having a baby" Rose sniggered, jabbing a thumb in Emmett's direction.
In an effort to distract me, from the increasingly severe pain, Alice, Edward, Bella, Danny, Embry, Sue, and finally Rose and Emmett, popped into my room, at intervals, to chat for a few minutes. As much as I didn't want Carlisle to leave me, as I saw how tense he had become, watching me in more and more pain. It was for his sake, more than my own, that I agreed to take some gas and air. Emmett had joked, that he wasn't sure, who looked like they needed it more. I ended up asking Rose to drag Carlisle outside for a cigarette.
"I'll be five minutes…" Carlisle insisted.
"I'm in safe hands…" I panted, smiling at Emmett.
As soon as Carlisle was gone, Emmett was by my side.
"So, how bad is it?" he asked
"The gas and air, helps a little…but Christ Em…it hurts…" I groaned.
"Well, just think kiddo…with every contraction, every push you're going to do, you're beautiful boy, is that little bit closer. And you are driving a stake, through that evil old bitch's heart. Making sure, that she can never, rise up again, to hurt you…or your family…"
And ninety minutes later, when my body felt like lead, and I was sobbing with fatigue, pain and the desperate desire to finally see my son, it was Emmett's words, that gave me the final burst of energy I needed, to give that "one last big push".
"Never going to hurt my family…never going to hurt my family…never again…my family…" I screamed silently, as I bore down and pushed with everything I had, to finally, bring Alexander, Jonathan Cullen into the world.
Dr Gerandy and his nurse were moving around the room, and obviously talking, congratulating us, by the look of the smiles on their faces. But Carlisle and I took none of it in. We were looking at each other in stunned disbelief.
He was here.
Our beautiful, longed for, oh so precious little boy, was finally here. He was no longer a vision, a dream for the happier future, we both so desperately wanted, the future we had fought so damn hard for. He was a living, breathing, baby we could touch, we could feel, we could see observing us, with unfocused, but strangely intense blue eyes. Carlisle had one arm wrapped around me whilst his other hand, was resting so tenderly on his son, who after an initial test of his not inconsiderable lungs, was quite happy to lay on my chest.
Tearing my eyes, away from my son, I had a son, I was a mother…I had given the man I adored, a child. I had done that, I had put that look of love, of completion…of hope, of peace in his beautiful eyes. I looked at Carlisle once more. He was trying to speak, but the silent sobs that were rippling through him, were making it impossible. I wasn't in a much better state, but I managed to stammer through my tears…
"We…we…did…it…"