Chapter 16

Christmas had come and gone with lots of joy and holiday cheer. Renesme got an abundance of presents from the Cullens, as well as from Charlie and Sue. Jacob showered her with his own gifts and now the house was filled with something or other in every corner, whether it was toys, boxes or leftover candy. The girls decided to leave the Christmas decorations lounging around until after the new year, which was almost upon them.

Esme was looking heavily pregnant. From one week to the next it looked as though she grew months and months worth, according to a typical human pregnancy. Thoughts of Aro still lingered, but their happiness fought back against the potential bad things that could come their way.

Carlisle had begun hunting for Esme, and bringing her "food" as close to the house as possible where she would still have her own space to eat. As much as she suggested it was fine for her to hunt on her own, he gracefully demanded otherwise.

The rest of the family enjoyed seeing the two of them grow closer and closer together as Esme's stomach got bigger and bigger. As loving as Carlisle had always been, the girls in particular loved to see an extra mushy side of him now that their baby could potentially arrive at any minute.

Esme and Carlisle returned from their place just outside the house, where Esme had just finished off a deer.

"What'd you decide to eat?" Emmett asked, "A basketball?" He placed a gentle hand on her stomach over one of the extra large sweatshirts he let her borrow.

"Thanks for this huge sweatshirt, Emmett," she said to him. Her tiny arms were engulfed by the long, bulky sleeves. "I can't believe you fit into this. It's so big."

Rosalie leaned into Emmett's chest with a smile at her parents, "Any day now," she said happily.

Carlisle couldn't help but force a smile.

"Any names picked out yet? I know you didn't really have the proper time to think, but there's got to be some floating around in your mind."

Esme and Carlisle looked at each other. "Of course Carlisle Jr. ran through my mind," she told them, "But there are others-"

"I think a Carlisle Jr. is perfect." Rosalie cut her off.

"We'll see," Esme smiled, "I think when we see him, we'll know."

"I was actually thinking Masen," Carlisle said, "I know you're not for the more modern names, but spelling it M-A-S-E-N is the same way Edward spelled his last name in his human life. I've thought about it over the last day or so. What do you think?"

Emmett and Rosalie nodded to each other. Esme seemed to like the idea, herself. She went to put a hand on her stomach, but she seemed to squirm for a second, then smiled. "I think he likes the idea," she said.

"Come sit down," Carlisle told her.

She agreed and willingly went to the couch.

"I like the way mom's starting to get the baby waddle," Emmett laughed. He mimmicked her walk. Carlisle shook his head.

"Just wait until I'm back to normal, Emmett," Esme threatened.

"Please," he blew her off, "I'm too strong for anyone in this house." He sensed this would bring a reaction from someone, and without warning Jasper was in the room waiting to challenge him.

"Guys," Carlisle said, unable to resist a smile, "Let your mother rest. Take it outside. If you break something in here-"

"I'll kill you, "Esme finished.

"And then I will," Alice entered the room.

Emmett continued to taunt Jasper, who looked at Alice, waiting for her to signal to him that it was alright to go outside and rough house.

When she rolled her eyes lightheartedly and smiled, the two of them were out the door.

Renesme entered the room a few minutes later with a tiny dreamcatcher that she and Jacob had made together. She handed it to Esme. "Here, it's good luck."

"Thank you so much Renesme," Esme hugged pulled her in close for a long hug, "I love you very much."

"I love you, too," she said back, then added, "You can put it in the baby's room."

Carlisle looked to Esme, and she looked back. They appeared to be embaressed.

"Carlisle," she said with a laugh, "We should probably make up a room for him. We don't know if he'll sleep or not, but he should have a room."

"We already did that," Renesme explained, "While you two were out before. We wanted to surprise you." She pulled Esme up from the couch, who was surprised, yet followed her granddaughter.

Edward and Bella waited in where his old room once stood. Renesme lead Carlisle and Esme into a beautifully decorated room for their future son. The walls were blue, baby themed decorations were strategically placed around the room, and a crib was set in the corner, though no one knew if the crib would be for show or actual use. It was beautiful.

"How do you like it?" Edward asked, placing an arm around Bella.

Both of them looked stunned and very grateful at the same time.

"Wow, this is amazing," Esme managed to say. Carlisle looked around the room. Renesme grabbed his hand and lead him to the crib.

Bella smiled ear to ear at their astonishment in the work she and Edward had put into the room.

"Look," Renesme said. She read a saying that was perfectly engraved in the top of the crib, " Welcome to the family. May God bless you..."

"We left a space for the name you pick," Bella told them, referring to the empty space at the end of the quote.

"Thank you," Carlisle told them, "Thank you Bella. Thank you Edward." His hand gripped Renesme's tightly, "Thank you Nessy."

"Thank you so, so much," Esme said, "This is too much."

"It's not even close to being enough," Edward said.

"We're so happy for you guys," Bella went on, "We all can't wait for him to be born."

" I think we picked out a name," Esme stated.

"What is it?" Edward and Bella said at the same time.

"Yeah, what is it?" Renesme echoed.

"Masen. With an 'e'."

Edward looked at Carlisle and smiled. He knew Bella knew, but turned to her, "That was my last name."

She smiled and nodded.

"Plus, I'm sure you don't mind us returning the favor after naming this little one after Esme," Carlisle said, motioning to Renesme. She smiled wide at him.

"Thank you so much, all of you," Esme repeated, "This is just amazing."

They exchanged hugs. Everyone hoped that the rest of the way would go just as smoothly.