Late the next morning, Edward and Callie wandered down the long staircase to get Callie some breakfast. On their way, however, they were interrupted by a desperate Alice. She glanced over Edward, shaking her head, before looking to Callie expectantly.

"Callie!" The poor girl almost jumped out of her skin. "You'll go shopping with me, won't you?"

"Uh…I know you haven't done the whole pregnant thing, Alice, but if you had, you'd know about the horrors of swollen feet. They hurt too much to go shopping for hours."

Edward smirked. Alice cried out in dismay. "No one will go with me! Nobody! Not Rosalie, Esme…not even Jasper. What a horrid day," she said, leaning against the wall and pouting.

Edward looked at Callie, catching her eye, before glancing up the stairs. Callie smiled, understanding, and said, "You know, Alice, I bet Leah could use some clothing."

They watched the idea play around in Alice's head. "Hmm," she said, nodding. She walked up the stairs between the two of them and disappeared into the hallway. They continued downstairs.

"Do you think that'll work?" Callie asked. Edward just smiled, shrugging. He poured her a bowl of Lucky Charms as she settled herself on a stool.

Halfway through finishing breakfast, they heard footsteps on the stairs, which meant only one thing. Alice didn't make footsteps; that meant she convinced Leah to go. They smiled at each other and went out into the foyer. There stood Leah and Alice, getting ready to go out. Leah was wearing one of Nate's shirts and a pair of jeans Esme might have given her, while Alice was in a miniskirt and a streamline jacket.

"…Going to get you an entire wardrobe! Of course, there's room in Nate's closet; he refused to let me buy him anything…"

"He got a choice?" Callie whispered. Edward snickered, and Alice shot a look of death across the room at them. "Right. Sensitive hearing."

Never taking his eyes from his intimidating surrogate sister, Edward said, "That's putting it mildly, my dear." He heard Callie's heart flutter at the endearment.

Alice snapped back to focus on Leah, and she began chattering on again. Leah, on the other hand, jumped back with surprise. She looked desperately to Callie for help. Callie shrugged and smiled, watching as Alice got caught up in her enthusiasm, catching Leah too. They were soon through the door.

Callie crossed herself solemnly, trying to joke, but something distracted her. It was Edward, clutching his chest, falling to his knees.

"Oh my god, Edward, I was kidding!"

His melting stopped mid-motion, and he looked up at her with a dazzling smile. "As was I," He said, laughing. Callie glared at him.

"Crosses. I can't believe I fell for it. You nearly gave me a heart attack! Jesus! I saw Jesus!" She went reeling away, trying not to smile. She started to fall, knowing Edward would catch her. Sure enough, he was there, and soon, she was off the ground. He kissed her gently and whispered, "I love you," before setting her down again. She stood up to respond, but what would have been a smile was suddenly a grimace. She clutched her stomach, her face turning red.

"Very funny, Callie, but you're not due for another two wee--" He was interrupted by a wet puddle on the floor. With naught but a moment's hesitation, he swept her back into his arms and shouted, "Carlisle!" as he ran out to the car. Carlisle was at his side in a flash, opening the door and the car doors in less than a second.

Edward sat in the back of his Volvo, Callie still in his arms. "Breathe, Callie, breathe for me." In response, she let out a long, low wail that shook the frame of the car. Esme was outside in a flash, and seated in the passenger side, ready to go. Carlisle took off.

The trip to the hospital, which would, at the speed limit, take fifteen to twenty minutes, took them only five. Edward was running her into the maternity ward before the other two could even get out of the car. Esme was calling everyone as they ran at close to human speed. By the time they got up the elevator, Callie was in a room with a doctor checking out her status.

Carlisle walked in the waiting room to see Edward pacing impatiently. He walked by the younger man, ruffling his hair paternally, before wandering back to Callie's room. The other doctor stepped aside when he walked in, immediately reporting on her wellbeing. "Thank you," Carlisle said, "I will take it from here."

The doctor nodded and left, returning only briefly to deliver a coat and some other doctoring essentials.

"Callie, do you want a shot to numb the pain?"

To say that she affirmed would be to understate her response.

Meanwhile, in the waiting room, Edward was wearing the varnish on the tiles thin. Because of the general public, he couldn't go into the room; he wasn't related to her, nor was he her spouse. For two hours he waited, worrying and anxious.

The seconds ticked by slowly. Edward was about to rip his hair out. Just as his nerves had had too much, Carlisle walked out slowly, removing his gloves. Edward was in front of him in a flash.

Carlisle smiled.

"It is a healthy, beautiful baby girl."

Edward took a moment to smile, but got back to business. "And Callie?"

"Very weak, but alive. Go see for yourself."

Edward rushed down the hallway to her door, bracing himself. When he opened the door, he thought his heart had stopped beating, before he briefly recalled that he hadn't one.

Sitting up slightly on the hospital bed was a largely depuffed love of his life, holding a bundle close to her chest. Edward walked to her with measured steps. She looked up at him, eyes shining.

When Edward was close enough, he reached towards her and she handed him the bundle. In his arms was a green eyed, black haired baby girl. She had the russet skin of her father and the freckles of her mother. Her eyes were wide open and looking up at him adoringly. She wrapped her tiny hand around his pinky and he sat on the bed next to Callie.

"How does it feel, Dad?"