June 20th 2010

"Cheers!"Everyone cried and clinked glasses where we were all sat around the large circular table my parents kept for events just like this. Now that we had all grown up and moved out, it was rare that we all sat around together eating and drinking at the house if there wasn't some kind of reason behind it.

The amount of alcohol consumption in the room was growing, and it was reaching the point where only my wife and Emma could say that they truly weren't drunk.

Emmet was a giggly drunk, and as such kept laughing at things that were neither funny or existed.

Jasper was a cuddly drunk, and was stroking Alice's hair, which wouldn't have been so bad, had he not kept missing and just stroking her face instead.

My mother and father were actually pretty sober, although I think that my dad was trying desperately hard not to look pissed, because he knew exactly what mum thought about drinking.

Although a phrase about a pot calling a kettle a very dark shade sprung to mind, I was smart enough to keep it well to myself.

Rosalie and Alice were just generally having a good time and talking more to my wife than me, which left me, who was sat next to my mother and no one else, because Bella had moved some time ago to be nearer to her two best friends.

My mother smiled at me when she caught me smiling at my wife. My eyes flitted over to Emma very occasionally, where she was laying on the sofa, long asleep. I was surprised my wife was still this awake, and I was more than prepared to have to get her ready for bed here, and sleep at home by myself tonight.

"I'm very proud of you." My mum said quietly and I groaned, feeling like an embarrassed teenager.

"Mum..."

"What?" She got defensive, "I'm being serious."

I rolled my eyes and she kissed my cheek.

"I raised you well." She commented.

I nodded, letting out a breath, "That you did."

My mum smiled, seeing that my eyes were on Emma again.

"I remember when she was born..." She whispered.

I nodded slightly, "So do I."

April 7th 2005

Bella had been asleep for just under an hour, and I was still sat with my sleeping daughter in my arms in the hard backed chair beside Bella's bed.

Even though she was nearly three hours old, I couldn't put her down. Now that was here she seemed so real, so vulnerable, and putting her down could mean anything.

So I made the decision that it would be best for everyone involved, including myself, If I kept her next to me. The room we were in was only softly lit in one place by the lamp by my head.

Bella was lying facing me, breathing in and out softly, her chest rising and falling in perfect motion.

Emma rubbed her eyes and yawned, snuggling back down further into the blankets.

I ran my finger down her cheek gently to calm her, and she caught it tight in her fist.

"You've got quite a grip on you there sweetheart, I think Uncle Emmet will be asking for you on his team for family baseball when you are older." I chuckled to myself just thinking about it.

"But don't you worry, daddy won't be letting you anywhere out of his sight for at least eighteen years, so you'll be fortunate to even leave the house." I smiled.

I sighed, "I never thought it would feel this good, being a dad." As I spoke a large smile spread across my face at just the mention of my new title.

"I love you so much Emma... and one day, you'll know the feeling me and your mother are experiencing now..." I sighed, "Not soon mind you, you have your whole life for that." I shuddered and smiled. "Because one day, although i don't want to think about it now... one day you'll have another man who takes care of you... but for now..." I stressed and chuckled.

"I am never going to let you down... you or your mother. You and her mean more to me than anything, and I promise you... that you will be the most loved little girl there has ever been, and as long as our happy, then I won't need anything else." I whispered and kissed her forehead.

"Do you talk to me like that when I'm asleep?" A soft voice asked.

I looked up to see Bella smiling at me, her eye heavy with sleep.

Smiling I stood and placed Emma gently in her cot thing beside the bed. I kissed her forehead and she stirred slightly but didn't wake.

I then went and lay down beside my wife on the hospital bed. She pulled the duvet over us as I kicked off my shoes. Bella snuggled into my side and winced.

My eyes shot down to look at her, "Are you okay?"

She nodded tiredly, "Yeh its just a bit sore..." She stressed and I kissed her hair.

"How much did she weigh?" Bella yawned.

I stroked her hair, "eight pounds nine, you did very well my love. Dad said he thought you'd freak out after pushing once, and that he was impressed you saw it all the way though."

Bella laughed, "Well I couldn't disappoint."

I kissed her gently and lay my head on top of hers, my eyes sliding shut.

"You never do."