EPOV

November

It had originally fallen on Bella and me to host the family Thanksgiving dinner this year. But because of Bella's pregnancy, Alice decided she would take over all cooking tasks. And, of course, there was no way I could keep my mom from coming over to help.

Both showed up at our front door at 11 a.m. on Thursday morning, already armed to the teeth with supplies. I led them into the kitchen and tried my best to help in any way I could. Alice was quick to give me the easiest task she possibly could.

"Here," she said, handing me a can of cranberry sauce, "Open this, put it on a dish and set it in the fridge."

I rolled my eyes, "Thanks Al."

My mom was busy preparing a Turkey. She covered it in some kind of butter, herb rub and set it in a roasting pan, surrounded by chopped carrots, celery, onions and potatoes. I sat back and marveled at my mom's cooking skills when the twins walked into the kitchen.

"Hey, you guys are supposed to be watching your brother and sister," I said gently as I stooped to get eye-level with them.

"Mommy wants you," Keely said with a shrug.

"And it took two of you to tell me that?" I replied with a smirk.

"Yeah," they said as if it should have been so obvious to me.

I walked them out to where Bella was once again seated on the over-stuffed arm chair, her feet up on the ottoman. Right away I could tell something was not right—Alys was near Bella's feet, fresh tears running down her cheeks.

"What's wrong?" I asked, hurrying to her side.

She was surprisingly calm, "I think my water broke."

"But...we have another month," I protested as I checked out the situation.

Sure enough, there was a wet mark just underneath where Bella was sitting. I was surprised that she hadn't cried out in pain when it happened; but, I suppose when you've been pregnant three times before, labor pains aren't as severe as they once were.

"Well, let's get you up, then," I said as I lifted her off her chair and helped her towards the door. "Aina, Keely, go tell Aunt Alice we're taking your mother to the hospital."

"Yes Daddy," they said.

I had Bella to the door when Alice came streaking out of the kitchen with the twins in tow.

"What? What's wrong with her?" She demanded.

"My water broke," Bella replied calmly.

"Oh my God!" Alice replied as she turned to run back to the kitchen, "I'll let Mom know."

"Alice," I called after her, "I think you should stay here and help Mom with the kids and the food."

"Edward, we're not having dinner now," Alice countered.

"Yes we are," I replied. "The whole family is still coming over for dinner, and that's what they're getting. You can all come by and see us afterward, OK?"

Alice looked like she was about to argue when Bella clutched her stomach and leaned into me with an agonizing groan. The twins ran over and tried to comfort their mother.

"Alice...please?" I begged as she stood in the foyer with a panicked expression.

"Yes, alright," she conceded. "Just get her to the hospital."

"We want to go with Mommy!" Keely cried as she held on tight to Bella's hand.
"You have to stay here, baby," Bella replied, kissing Keely's hand. "You help Aunt Alice and Grandma; you'll see me later, OK?"

The twins nodded obediently, "Yes, Mommy."

I hurried Bella to the car and was on my cell phone as I pulled out of the driveway and steered us towards the hospital.

"Dad? Bella went into labor," I said as my father answered his phone.

"Oh my God! I'll meet you at the hospital, is Alice or your mother with you?"

"No, and Dad, I want you to go directly to our house, OK?"

"What? Why?"

"Because I want the family to still have Thanksgiving dinner together," I said. "And then you all can come by and see Bella and the babies later."

My dad sighed, "If that's what you want, son. I'll see you later today, I guess."

"I love you, Dad."

"I love you too, Edward."

I hung up my phone and set it aside as Bella took my hand and patted it gently.

"You know, we don't have to have Thanksgiving dinner today, Edward," she said quietly. "We can hold it for tomorrow, everybody is still going to be here."

I shook my head. "This is perfect, actually. We don't need a host of people sitting around in a waiting room. Just think how boring that would be for the kids."

She nodded, "That's true enough, I guess."

"It's best to just keep everyone at the house until everything's said and done," I continued.

We pulled up to the hospital and I helped Bella through the doors and into an awaiting wheelchair. I got her checked in and followed the primary nurse to get some scrubs on before heading to Bella's room.

It took about three more hours for Bella to be dilated enough to make our way over to the delivery room. But it was worth the wait to sit behind my beautiful wife and hold both of her hands as she gave birth to our baby boys.

Bella got some much needed rest afterward as I walked to the nursery and stood in front of two bassinets. There, wrapped in blue blankets, were Donovan Charles and Rory Carlisle Cullen resting silently – their little chests the only part of them at moved as they slept peacefully.

We had our little boys; Owen would be a big brother. I chuckled to myself as I thought this birth finally brought balance to our clan—four men and four women.

BPOV

I woke up two hours after giving birth to the feeling of someone gently stroking my hair. I opened my eyes, and there was my Edward, gazing at me with so much love in his eyes I could feel the tears begin to well up.

"Hello my angel," he said softly. "I have two little boys here who want to say hi to their mommy."

He helped me sit up so I could hold one of the boys in my lap. The child he placed in my lap was beyond beautiful – a tiny angel with wisps of bronzed-colored hair already sticking out under his little blue cap.

"Rory," Edward cooed gently, "Say hello to your mommy."

"Rory," I whispered, "Hello my precious angel. I'm so happy to see you."

Edward turned to grab Donovan from his bassinet and sat next to me on the bed with him. I touched Donovan's head lightly. He yawned and Edward and I both giggled softly.

The nurse knocked gently before entering, "There are some people out here who'd like to see you two."

"Is everyone here?" I asked Edward.

He nodded, "Even your dad, Sue, Leah and Seth."

"Seth's here? That's awesome; I haven't seen him in forever."

"Can I send some in?" The nurse asked.

"Of course," I replied.

A few moments later, Esme, Carlisle, Sue and my dad walked in. Esme immediately rushed over with tears in her eyes.

"They are too precious," she whispered as Edward handed her Donovan.

"That's Donovan, Mom," Edward said with a proud smile.

"Hello Donovan, I'm your Grandma Esme," she said with a slight sob in her voice.

Carlisle ran his finger over Donovan's cheek lightly and smiled while Sue and Dad walked over to my side of the bed.

"And this must be Rory," Dad said. "I'm your Grandpa Charlie."

Rory opened one of his eyes and glanced at where the strange new voice was coming from. Dad and Sue immediately began waving excitedly at him, but he simply yawned and closed his eye again.

"I think he's still a little tired," I laughed.

"Aw, bein' born is hard work, huh?" Sue replied as she leaned in and kissed his head gently.

"Yep," I said.

After the grandparents left, the brother and sisters walked in with Alice, Jasper, Aiden and Jacee. The twins rushed to my side and climbed into the bed to see their little brothers.

"Which one is he, Mommy?" Keely asked.

"This is Rory," I said as I shifted over and let them get a closer look.

Alice and Jasper lifted Alys and Owen so they could look at Donovan. Owen reached over and put his hand on Donovan's head, "Brother?"

"Yes, son, this is your little brother, Donovan," Edward said.

"Donovan," Owen repeated.

"Don-o-van," Alys mimicked.

Keely moved over to sit in Edward's lap and held out her hands, "Can I hold him?"

Edward shift forward, "Carefully…put your arms in a cradle position."

"Like this?" She asked as she bent her arms so her hands were at the opposite elbows.

"That's good, now keep him close to you and in your lap," Edward continued as he set Donovan in Keely's arms.

I turned to Aina and she was giving me big, pleading eyes.

"Would you like to hold Rory?" She nodded.

I leaned forward, "OK, do it just like your sister did."

She folded her arms so I could set her little brother in her waiting embrace. She settled him into her lap and freed her left hand to run her fingers slowly over Rory's face.

"He's beautiful, Mommy."

"Yes he is," I replied. "All my children are."

She smiled up at me before leaning over gently to brush her lips across Rory's forehead. He opened his eyes again and gazed at her. But he didn't yawn this time. No, he stared at his sister in wonder.

"I think he likes you, Big Sister," I laughed as I reached forward and touched his cheek.

"His eyes aren't like ours though," she noticed, "They look blue."

"Most newborns have blue eyes, sweetie," Edward explained. "Soon, they'll probably turn either brown like your mothers', or topaz like mine."

"Why won't Donovan open his eyes?" Keely whined.

"He will eventually honey," I said. "He's just really tired right now."

Aina was gazing up at me again as I turned to her, that inquisitive look back on her angelic face.

"Mommy, what does it feel like to have a baby?"

I sat back and gazed at her for a moment, wondering how I explain this without scaring her too much.

"It hurts a little bit," I said, noticing how Alice smiled wryly at my explanation. "But, once you see your new baby in your arms – you can't really remember the pain. It just feels…indescribable, really. You kind of have to be a mother to know how it feels, sweetie."

"I can't wait to be a mommy," she replied.

"Oh yes you can," Edward remarked with mock severity. "You can wait until you're older, and married."

I nudged Edward playfully, "I don't think she meant she was going to plan for children as soon as she's able, hon."

He smirked at me as we heard a knock at the door; the nurse stuck her head in again.

"There are a couple other guests here, can I send them in?"

"Sure," I replied.

The door opened all the way to reveal Leah, Seth, Jacob and Lizzie.

"Hi," I greeted them warmly. "I'm so glad to see all of you!"

Lizzie walked over with a huge smile, "How are you feeling?"

"I'm fine," I replied wearily. "I got a nice nap a little bit ago."

"Hey little ones," Jacob said as he came to stand behind Lizzie.

He put a hand on her shoulder and looked over the top of her head – a good foot-and-a-half shorter than him – and smiled at the twins. I turned to Edward slightly and gave him a secretive smile. I could see the corner of his mouth turn up at me in reply.

Rory had drifted back off to sleep by this time. It was now Donovan's turn to open his tiny eyes and take in his whole family gathered around him. Keely looked up at Edward and me with a huge grin on her face.

"He's awake!" She said excitedly.

"Hello Donovan," Edward whispered to the younger twin, "Ready to meet your family?"

Donovan looked at his father with curiosity written across his face – almost as though he recognized Edward's voice. I moved closer to my husband and placed my face close to his and in Donovan's view, "Hello there, my precious little boy. Were you the one kicking me all that time? Or was it your brother?"

Everyone chuckled softly as I reached out to Donovan. He had one hand free of his blanket and I placed my index finger in his tiny palm. He clenched it tightly for a moment before yawning just like his brother and closing his eyes again.

"They're perfect, Bells," Jacob said quietly as his hand moved from Lizzie's shoulder to rest on her hip.

She unconsciously moved back to lean against him and I felt my heartbeat increase at the exchange happening between them. After their initial meeting, I had found ways to keep throwing them into situations together – like helping Jacob move to Seattle.

Edward, Emmett, Jasper and all of Jake's friends help him get his stuff out to his new place, which I helped him find. In fact, I found an apartment just three blocks from where Lizzie lived – and I managed to be inconspicuous about it. Lizzie and I then planned a welcoming party for Jake, and the two of them ended up chatting quietly in a corner for the majority of the night.

I wasn't sure what was transpiring between them on their own time, but it appeared they were really getting to know each other.

I smiled as I leaned into Edward. I felt his lips on my ear, "You can pat yourself on the back later, Angel."