DISCLAIMER: The characters do not belong to me…they are all the creation of the wonderful Stephenie Meyer.
Twin Blessings
Alice's POV
As soon as my nature alarm started to fill the bedroom with bird chirping, excitement flooded through my body. Today was my baby shower. I couldn't wait to see what Rosalie and my mother had put together for me. Very rarely did I have the opportunity to be surprised—probably my own fault since I loved to help plan and put together anything and everything—but everything about this party would be a surprise for me. I couldn't wait!
"Alice, you're vibrating," Jasper yawned, hitting the snooze button on the alarm. "Any chance at all of getting just a little more sleep?"
"Not for me, but if you get me onto my feet so I can get into the bathroom, you can sleep your cute little butt off for the next hour," I told him.
"Deal," he said quickly, jumping out of the bed and coming over to my side. "I'm sorry I'm so tired, Ali."
"It's okay, Jazzy. I know you've been working hard at the office and around here, getting the new house ready. And I just want to say again, I love our house."
"Good," Jasper chuckled, pressing his lips to my temple. "Need me to help you into the bathroom?"
"Nope. I can manage. Get back into bed and rest. You'll be entertaining the guys all day while we beautiful ladies are enjoying my party."
Jasper laughed and kissed me again before walking me to the bathroom door. "Yell if you need anything and I will be out of that bed immediately," he promised.
"Thank you, Jazz," I said, giving him a quick hug.
I was in love with this house Jasper had designed for us, and our master bathroom was one of my favorite places. I stood in the middle of the room, just enjoying the beauty of it. The floor and the walls were done up in matching shades of light brown marble, the fixtures were a shiny platinum, and the entire room was open and spacious. The shower was completely see-through with two showerheads and a bench seat that went through the glass and became the edge of the large garden tub. The window allowed for a great amount of natural light, while the actual light fixtures used energy-saving, low wattage bulbs to keep the lighting soft and intimate. Jasper had taken all of my favorite things from every beautiful house and hotel I'd ever seen and put them together in one room.
I was thirty-five weeks pregnant and looking like I just might make it to full-term with these twin blessings of mine. The doctor hadn't seen any signs of labor when we'd met a few days ago. He, along with everyone else, was amazed at my ability to still move around on my own—I figured it had to do with my low center of gravity. In fact, I'd only stopped working at my job last week because of Jasper's constant begging. He was so sweet with his worry, but he was also driving me just a tiny bit insane.
After thoroughly enjoying my steamy, soapy shower, I wrapped myself up in my favorite robe and headed into my walk-in closet to get the beautifully wrapped gift box Rosalie had dropped off last night. She was so evil that she'd made me promise not to touch it until this morning. All night long, I'd dreamed of this box and what might be in it.
I sat down on the large circular ottoman Jasper had put in here for me and set my gift on my lap. I ripped through the paper and quickly removed the box top, but I took my time while peeling back the tissue paper inside. I didn't want to accidentally mess anything up in my excitement.
When I finally got to the actual gift inside of the box, I gasped and my eyes teared up a little. Rosalie knew me so well.
"Everything okay?" Jasper yawned, walking into the closet in all of his half-naked just-woken-up glory.
"It's perfect," I sniffled, lifting the dress from the box. "This is my party dress."
"It's going to look amazing on you, Ali. I can see it already."
"And the best part is that it goes great with the new ballet flats my store gave me as my goodbye gift."
"Most stylish pregnant woman for sure," he chuckled, leaning down and kissing me.
"So have you decided what adventure you'll have with the boys today?" I asked, searching for underwear to match my beautiful outfit.
"I'm going to be as sneaky as you. I'm going to offer them each a beer, chat them up a little, and then put them to work helping with the final unpacking and the finishing touches on the nursery."
"Devious, cunning, and practical. I like it, Jazzy."
"I knew you would," he chuckled, hugging me from behind and kissing my neck. "So how do you like the bathroom?"
"If I didn't enjoy wearing clothing so much, I'd live in there."
The phone started ringing and Jasper ran out of the closet to grab it. I could faintly here him talking, saying something was too bad. I made my way out of the closet, hoping nothing had happened to anyone we knew.
"Who's on the phone?" I asked, sitting on the edge of the bed.
"Oh, hey, Edward, let me just give the phone to Ali so you can tell her yourself. And give Bells a hug for me. Tell her not to take it too hard," he said. He grimaced and then handed me the phone.
"Edward, what's wrong with Bells?" I asked, trying hard to stay calm.
"Let me preface this by saying she's technically okay," my brother told me. His voice sounded strained and tired.
"What happened?"
"We spent last night on the third floor and—"
"Oh, what does Charlie think of his room?"
"Ali, he's nine weeks old. I don't think he really understands the difference yet."
"Sorry for interrupting," I sighed. "I'm just not looking forward to whatever you're going to say."
"I could just say she won't be attending the shower and leave it at that."
"Oh, God, Edward! How horrible is it? Is she back in the hospital?"
"Calm down, Ali. It's nothing that severe. She was walking from the bathroom to the bed, somehow tripped over her feet and slammed her stomach and face into the edge of the bed. She also bruised her ankle and knee. Needless to say, walking isn't really all that possible and she refuses to take her pain medication. She only has a couple more days before she can try breastfeeding the baby and she refuses to let that go."
"She didn't rip her stitches, did she?"
"No, thank God. She's resting in the bed now, but I can tell the Tylenol she took isn't doing much for her. She's so stubborn, Ali."
"Edward, you know how badly she wants to feed Charlie. Honestly, if I was her, I'd be doing the exact same thing."
"Mom said the same. I'm just…Ali, it's so hard to see her crying and hurting."
"So just do what you can to keep her mind off it. Make it a great day for her."
"She's really upset about missing your party."
"Take the phone to her," I demanded.
"Alright," Edward sighed. I could hear his footsteps and then some muffled talking.
Bella's voice sounded annoyed and tired. "Hello?"
"Hi, Sweetie," I said, hoping a cheery voice would help. "I'm so sorry you fell, but don't you worry about a thing. I'll have my mom and Rose take so many pictures that you'll feel like you were right there with us."
"I'm sorry, Alice," she sobbed, dissolving into tears.
"Oh, Bells, it's okay. I'm just glad you didn't hurt yourself worse."
"I don't even know what happened. My legs have been fine the last two weeks. We even went up to the third floor last night, but now we're back in Em and Rose's room. Edward's freaking out. He hasn't stopped running his hands through his hair and muttering under his breath since it happened."
"So let him know it's bothering you. You know it's just because of how much he loves you, Sweetie."
"I know," she sniffled, sounding a little better. "I really did want to go to your party."
"I know you did," I assured her.
"Esme's going to bring your gift for me. I really think you'll like it."
"I'm sure I'll love it, Bells. It's a gift from my best friend and my brother."
"And your nephew."
"Yes! We certainly can't forget my beautiful little nephew. I'm going to show off his picture to everyone at the party."
"Will you call me tonight and tell me all about it?"
"As if there was any question of that," I chuckled. "I love you, Bells. Stay in bed and recuperate, okay?"
"Love you, Alice."
"Talk to you tonight."
"Say 'hi' to Jasper for me."
"I will. Bye, Bells."
"Bye, Alice."
I hit the end call button and frowned, tossing the phone onto the bed. "She sounds so sad, Jasper. I'm really thinking of just calling off the party to go spend the day with her."
"Are you kidding?" Jasper asked, looking shocked. "Bella will get so upset if you do that. She'll feel like she made you miss your party. The last thing she needs is more guilt."
"Edward sounds horrible, too."
"Sounds like it was a pretty brutal fall. He was sitting on the couch with the baby and he basically was forced to watch her fall. He put the baby down to get her up and then he had her crying and the baby crying and he didn't know who to comfort first. Your parents came up and your dad took a look at Bella while your Mom took the baby downstairs."
"Can they just catch a break already?" I yelled.
"Ali, calm down," Jasper said softly, sitting next to me and rubbing my back.
"It's not fair, Jazz. Bad things just keep happening to them."
"They'll make it through this, Ali. You'll see. They'll take all of this bad stuff and turn it around."
"I really hope you're right, Jasper," I sighed, leaning into him.
"We'll all help them to do it," he assured me. "Don't worry."
Men were always saying "don't worry", like just saying it will make it possible. They might be able to just push things away and pretend everything was fine, but women just weren't capable of shutting things off like that. We were all on or all off, with hardly a middle ground. It was just the way we were built. We worried for our families, dreamed for our children, loved our partners like crazy, and still managed to hold down jobs and make dinner at night.
Still, give us a big enough distraction and we could manage to quiet the worries down to a dull roar. And so it was for me as my party raged and roared. Rose had arranged for my party to be in the same room that Bella's had been in, but it looked so different with all of the fancy pink and blue decorations. My banner said "Welcome Prince & Princess Hale" and the second I saw it, I demanded Rose keep track of it so that we could hang it in the nursery later.
The food was some of my most favorite French items, filled with mini-quiches and amazing pastries. We had a bubbling apple cider for everyone to drink, and instead of having a cake, we had French Silk pies. It was exactly what I would have done if I had been in charge of my own party.
By the time we got to my presents, I was actually starting to run out of energy. My back was killing me and I felt like both babies were sitting right on top of my bladder. I really hoped that didn't mean they had an aversion to parties. These were my babies and it just wouldn't be right for them to dislike parties and gifts.
Bella and Edward's gift was certainly my favorite—a double bassinet that would convert to a play pen later on. My parents' were responsible for my second favorite gift which was matching take home outfits for the babies. Emmett had handled the gift purchase since Rose had been so busy putting my party together; and that's how I ended up with a toddler size football uniform and cheerleader outfit. Rose wasn't sure if she wanted to laugh or kill Emmett and I was just wondering how he expected little babies to actually be able to use these things.
We were in the middle of loading the gifts into the cars when an odd twinge shot through my back, nearly knocking me over.
"Alice?" Rose called, grabbing my arm. "Are you okay?"
"I'm not sure. My back's been hurting for the last hour, but that one was different. It was sharp and shooting, right at the base of my back."
Rose whipped out her phone while I held onto her arm, breathing deeply and hoping that twinge wouldn't come back again.
"Alice, what's wrong?" my mother asked, coming up and taking my other arm.
"Jasper, get your ass to the hospital pronto. I'm bringing in the Pixie and I'm pretty sure she's ready to pop," Rose yelled into her phone.
"Don't be silly," I laughed. "My water hasn't even broken—" My sentence was cut off by my scream as my back locked up again.
"Trust me, Pixie," Rose said, leading me toward her van. "I know labor when I see it."
"I agree with Rosalie, Dear," my mother added as they helped me into the back.
"What? I'm supposed to make it to full term! And Jasper is supposed to be with me."
"He will be, Alice. He's on his way to the hospital with your dad, Emmett, and Lily."
"Edward!" I cried. "I want Edward."
"Honey, he's home with Bella and Charlie, remember?"
"Can Em please go stay with her?" I begged. "Please, Rose? I really want Edward with me."
"I'll see what I can do about that," Rose assured me, speeding toward the hospital.
I tried to listen to her phone call, but with the way my back was hurting and with my mom talking right into my ear, I didn't hear a thing. But whatever had happened must have worked because one minute, the doctor was explaining the c-section procedures to Jasper and me, and the next, Edward was holding my other hand.
"I'm so sorry I pulled you away from Bella and Charlie," I said, squeezing his hand as hard as I could.
"She understood, Ali," Edward assured me, giving me his dimpled smile. "She's glad one of us could be with you. And she expects a full report later, including hearing that the three of you are perfectly fine."
"Alright, Alice. I need to know who's going into the delivery room with us. You can only take two," my doctor said.
"Jasper and my mom." I looked up at Edward, hoping he wouldn't hate me too much. "I know I made you come all the way down here, but I really need Mom with me in there."
"I understand," he chuckled, pressing his lips to my forehead. "I'll be in the waiting room with Dad."
"You're the best little brother, you know that right?" I asked as he walked away.
"Love you, too, Ali," he called out, disappearing through the door.
My mom came in shortly after and then I was wheeled away into one of the surgery rooms. They put up a curtain thing so I wouldn't get grossed out by seeing my stomach sliced open, but I was sure I would have been fine. I was just so excited to finally see these babies.
"What's it look like?" I asked, squeezing Jasper's hand.
"Gross," he replied, looking a little green.
"Jasper, dear, stay on your feet," my mother chuckled. "You don't want to miss seeing those babies come out."
"Can I just look away for now and you tell me when you see a hand or a foot?" he asked, pressing the back of his hand to his mouth.
"Jasper Hale, since when are you so squeamish?" I fussed.
"Since I'm watching them stick their hands in my wife's stomach," he replied.
"We have the first baby," the doctor announced. "And it's your little girl," he added excitedly.
"Yeah! She's the oldest," I chirped.
"My poor son," Jasper chuckled.
"She's going to love her brother and take great care of him," I said. "Just like I did with Edward."
"Here he comes," the doctor said. "Your little boy is up and out."
"Ali, can I go see them?" Jasper asked, shifting his weight from foot to foot.
"Go on," my mother laughed. "I'll keep an eye on my baby girl."
"Mom, I'm a mom! Can you believe it?" I screeched, too excited to care about my volume.
"Are you decided on the names?" she asked, hugging me the best she could.
"Elizabeth Esme Genevieve Hale and Brandon Carlisle Thomas Hale," I told her. "Jasper and I talked for a long time about names and we decided we wanted to honor the people who taught us everything we knew about how to be good parents."
"Oh, Alice," she sniffled. "That's so sweet of you to think of your father and me that way. And I'm sure Jasper and Rosalie will enjoy having their parents remembered as well."
"Ali, I have some very important people who want to meet you," Jasper said softly. I looked up and found him holding one pink bundle and one blue one. "Alice, meet Elizabeth and Brandon. Guys, meet your amazing mother." With my mom's help, he set the babies on my chest and let me get to kiss their wrinkled little foreheads.
"Hello, Elizabeth and Brandon. I've been so very anxious to meet you both. I can't wait to get to know you and find out what kind of personalities you have. I might seem a little excitable at times, but just know that it's my attempt to live life to the fullest. And if I get too bad, your daddy will be right there to calm me down."
"Alice, we need to close you up now," the doctor said. "You'll be able to see the babies again in a few hours."
"Bye my little sweethearts," I whispered, kissing them once more.
I was a mother! Me!! Alice Cullen Hale was someone's mother!! Two someones! And not just in the way I took care of my brother and all of my loved ones. I had my own babies to raise and love, and to teach all of the wonderful lessons my parents had passed on to me. I couldn't wait to get out of here and starting spoiling my babies.
And there is our very bouncy chapter from our favorite hyper woman! Look out world! She's got twins and they might just end up being exactly like her! LOL
Pictures of Alice's dress and her favorite gifts are on my website, which you can reach from my profile page. Have a great Saturday!