10 chapters to go and I am not ready
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40
The Hunk
The time has come, and everyone is officially on baby watch.
Rosalie is three days past her supposed due date, and making everyone around her miserable. Esme stays with her while Bella, Irina, and Edward prepare The Bakery staff, both old and new, for the weeks to come. Menus are planned and responsibilities are handed out while everyone learns how to use the point of sale system.
Luckily, Angela has been around long enough to handle stepping in as a temporary manager, seeing as she already knows most of how things go. She's beyond excited to have the opportunity to hold down the fort while the Cullen, Swan, and Devaro clan focus on the newest addition to their family.
If the stubborn little girl ever decides to grace the world with her presence, that is.
When Rosalie calls Edward and begs him to come and rescue her from their insane, overbearing mother, he leaves The Bakery in Bella and Angela's capable hands to finish training and executing one last inventory.
After stopping by Rosalie's favorite deli, Edward comes home and finds his bloated sister lying on his couch with her swollen feet propped up on the coffee table.
"I used my key." She grunts as she tries to sit up. "She's driving me up the wall and acting as if she stares at me long enough, I'll miraculously go into labor."
Edward laughs and hands her the greasy paper bag. "I'm here now, the door is locked, and I brought you a present."
Rosalie peeks inside the bag and inhales deeply. "How did you know?"
"Bella told me that you've been scarfing down Rubens when Mom isn't around." Edward shrugs and heads to the kitchen.
"Have I told you lately that you're my favorite brother?" Rosalie calls.
"I'm your only brother, Ro." He laughs and returns with two glasses of sweet tea and a jar of garlic pickles. "Bella also told me that you love these things about as much as I love peanut butter."
Edward passes her the jar and can't help but smile when he remembers the way Bella dragged him up and down the aisles, piling random things into the cart last night that she thought would be useful to Rosalie. A copy of "The Little Mermaid" soundtrack because that's what Rosalie wants playing while she's in labor, a big exercise ball, and five jars of pickles.
"She's so fucking perfect."
"That she is," Edward agrees.
Rosalie takes a huge bite out of her sandwich. "You better marry that girl."
Edward blushes. "Definitely."
He's only been thinking about putting their grandmother's ring on Bella's dainty finger since the day she told him that she loved him.
Rosalie starts humming the wedding march and popping pickles in her mouth at the same time.
It's disgusting, but Edward's used to it.
"Can I expect to have a sister-in-law anytime soon? I'm sure being the hopeless romantic that you are, you've got big plans to make the proposal ridiculously over the top and sickeningly sweet."
"I have a few ideas, but right now, we need to focus on you and my niece." Edward leans down so that he's eye level with his sister's giant belly. "Anytime, Kit Kat. We're all very excited to meet you, and you can't stay in there forever."
Rosalie grabs his hand and places it just above her belly button.
Edward's smile is a mile wide as his niece starts kicking and punching against his palm.
"I can't wait to meet her," he admits and thrums his fingers, laughing when Kat hits him back.
"You know you're the only one she gets this excited for? She'll hear your voice from clear across the room and start doing somersaults." Rosalie smirks. "She's going to have you so wrapped around her tiny little finger."
"She already does, and she isn't even here yet." Edward doesn't have a lot of experience with babies or young kids, but he's more than willing to learn first hand.
After they finish their lunch, Rosalie suggests that they take a walk around the block.
"You're supposed to be taking it easy."
She sighs. "My OB said it could help bring on labor, and I could definitely use some fresh air. Mom has been lighting lavender-scented candles to help keep a calm atmosphere, and my house smells like a funeral home."
Edward tries to argue, but Rosalie is Rosalie. She eventually gets what she wants, so it's useless.
He nervously helps her put on her shoes and makes sure her hand is wrapped around his arm the entire time. The walk is slow, and it doesn't take Edward long to realize that something is wrong.
When Rosalie stops and grabs her stomach, he begins to panic, but she just waves him off and continues waddling down the sidewalk.
"Motherfucker." She says breathily.
Edward watches her double over and holds her arm for support. "Maybe we should get you home."
Rosalie shakes her head and straightens back up. "It's okay. Just Braxton Hicks. They hurt like a son of a bitch. Let's keep going."
Edward is hesitant, but he knows better than to fight her.
Their stride eventually slows to a mere crawl.
"I wanted to talk to you about something in private before the baby comes." Rosalie grunts and grips his arm. "I had this really cheesy speech all planned out. It was so heartfelt and touching that it was going to make you cry, but I don't think that's going to happen." She looks down, and Edward watches a small puddle pool around her feet.
"Fuck, Ro." He starts scrambling for his phone, but she stops him.
"Just hang on. I want to ask you something really important."
Edward looks at his sister in disbelief. "What could be more important than you going into labor and possibly giving birth on the sidewalk in front of the haunted house?"
Rosalie hisses in pain. "I want to formally ask you to be Kat's godfather."
Edward's eyes water and a lump forms in his throat. "Really?"
"Well, yeah. I'm going to ask Bella to be her godmother. I was hoping to do it beforehand but that's obviously—" Rosalie wails.
"That's it. I'm calling an ambulance."
"No. Just get me home. I need to change and get my bag. Mom's probably going to freak out, so you'll have to call everyone."
Edward half-walks, half-carries a hobbling Rosalie home, stopping when she needs to breathe through a contraction.
When it finally passes, she looks up. "You never answered my question."
"Ro, I would be honored, and I promise to let you have your emotional tear-jearking moment, but right now, we need to focus on you and Kat."
Rosalie nods.
Just as she predicted, Esme flips her lid when they stumble into the house. She pauses only to calmly help her daughter up the stairs to change into fresh clothes while Edward grabs the hospital bag from the nursery and calls Bella.
"It's time," he cheers.
Bella curses softly because she really wanted to be with Rose when it finally happened.
"Irina and I will meet you at the hospital. Don't tell Rose and don't forget the CD player. Love you."
She hangs up before he can reply, so Edward calls Rosalie's doctor and then Carlisle, who will be jumping on the first available flight out.
Edward has to practically carry Rosalie out to the car, and Esme sits in the back seat, rubbing her back and talking her through the pain.
"I really wanted to see Bella before we left," Rosalie cries. "But I don't think this stubborn little brat is being very patient right now."
Edward promises her that everything is going to be fine, but it falls on deaf ears when Rosalie gives a piercing scream.
The car comes to a screeching halt at the hospital entrance, and a very excited, albeit nervous, Bella is waiting nearby with a wheelchair.
"Bella!" Rosalie sobs.
"Surprise! Let's go have a baby, okay?"
The admin nurse informs the very excited party that only one person is allowed to go back with the laboring mom to get prepped.
Esme doesn't seem upset when Rosalie chooses Bella.
They take their seats in the waiting room, and Irina eventually returns from parking Edward's car.
"Phew. I guess this is it." She bounces. "My girlfriend is having a baby."
Esme weeps quietly.
"Mom, don't be upset. Bella and Rosalie have grown really close—"
"I'm not upset that Rose wanted Bella. I know this can't be easy, but she's here for Rose. It's such a big deal, and I'm proud of her. Of both of them."
Apparently, Katherine Marie Cullen's patience has worn out because, for someone so hesitant to be born, once things start progressing, they progress fast.
Irina and Edward are only able to visit for about thirty minutes after Rosalie is hooked up to a lot of machines that monitor her and the baby.
Her excitement soon turns to fury when the doctor informs her that it's too late for an epidural, and it's time to start pushing.
Edward hugs his sister as tight as he can and kisses her cheek while his hand rubs Kat from the outside for the last time.
"I love you, Ro. You're gonna rock this."
"You bet your ass I am."
He follows Irina out to the waiting room, and they sit in silence, watching the swinging doors that lead to the labor and delivery ward.
And they wait.
It feels like it's been years, when in reality it's only been an hour and a half, when they hear the birthday song start playing through the intercom, signaling that a baby has been born.
Minutes later, a bright-faced Esme comes crashing through the doors. "She's here. She's perfect. They're just finishing up with Rose, and then we can all go in."
When it's time, Edward holds the doors open and lets the women walk in front of him to be polite.
The room is quiet aside from soft whispers.
Edward has always found Bella to be the most beautiful woman in the world, but nothing could have prepared him for the sight before him. She's breathtaking and smiling so big as she stands next to Rosalie's hospital bed holding a perfect pink bundle in her arms.
Edward only has one thought in his mind.
He's going to marry that girl.
