I just want to credit ReneyC for brainstorming ideas for some of the upcoming events that will happen in the story (can't spoil it by giving too much away, but I will formally say this again later upon the conclusion of the story) :)

And today is the start of the big moving days - going to live with the in-laws for a few months lol, so I may not be on for a couple days. Anyway.. hope u enjoy!

Chapter 15

"Something's not right," Esme said as she and Carlisle got settled in for the night. She laid on her side of the bed with a small stack of pillows watching late night television with the flat screen providing the only glow in the darkened room. Her hands rested on top of her stomach and she attempted to draw a kick out of their child.

"With the baby, or are you talking about Masen?" He slid in beside her, sporting a pair of boxer shorts and a plain white t-shirt before immediately cuddling next to her with a hand on her stomach.

"Masen," she said, "I can feel it."

Carlisle continued to give attention to her midsection and lifted her shirt up a little, "Can you help her relax?" he asked the baby softly.

Esme let out a quiet laugh and combed her hand through his hair.

As much as he wanted to contemplate everything that was going on with Masen, he decided to try to keep Esme calm for the night, knowing they would be talking in depth about his potential illness in the near future.

"We need to come up with some names," he told her, "Right now he's just 'the baby'."

She sighed and drifted her hand down the back of his shirt, "You're right. He's going to be here in a few weeks."

"Mm-hmm." Carlisle continued to run his hand over her stomach.

Esme looked at him and felt calm and okay. She took an extra moment to acknowledge how great of a person her husband was. He wanted what was best for her, for their children and the entire family. His last priority was himself. Carlisle knew exactly what to do to truly make the best out of every situation, and equally how to ease her mind if things weren't exactly perfect. For her, there was no one quite like him in the world.

"Hey," she whispered to him.

Carlisle kept one hand on her stomach and propped himself up on his elbow to face her.

"I love you so much," she told him.

"I love you, too."

"I wish I could have some kind of power like Renesme so I could actually show you, or let you feel how I feel. That might sound kind of stupid, but-"

Carlisle brought his lips to hers, then whispered in her ear, "I feel how you feel."

They stared at each other for a moment before he placed another kiss on her lips. Esme prolonged it and gave him a second one without parting their lips.

"Thank you," she said to him.

"For what?"

"For everything. Every single thing that you do," she sighed and placed her forehead against his and closed her eyes, "Tell me he's going to be okay."

"He's going to be okay," Carlisle said to her.

"I've never seen something like this before."

"We'll get to the bottom of it," he assured her.

Esme pulled back to meet his eyes, "Can you check on him again tomorrow instead of the weekend?"

Carlisle nodded, "Yeah."

She let out a deep breath, 'Okay. Thank you."

He gave her another kiss, "Now start thinking of some names."

Esme smiled, "I've thought Matthew was nice, and believe it or not, the name Jack. It's simple and cute. Also Christopher. Joseph crossed my mind once or twice, and a few others."

Carlisle smiled at her, "We can just give him one long name, or combine them like Edward and Bella did."

She attempted to sound out a combination of the four names before the two of them shared a laugh together.

"I think one of these days coming up something will stand out," he told her.

Esme nodded, "Yeah." She placed her hand over her stomach again and smiled.

There was a light knock at their door, that stood halfway open and Esme quickly called them in.

Carlisle shifted his posture and looked over at the door with a smile as Alice and Nicole entered.

"Hey," Esme said with a smile.

"I drew something for you," Nicole told them with her hands behind her back. Alice stood behind her with a smile.

"That's so thoughtful," she said, "Can we see it?"

Nicole removed her hands from behind her and held out a well sketched drawing that was set in a cute picture frame.

Carlisle reached over and took it from her as she smiled. Esme reached over and clicked on the light on the nightstand, then scooted an inch or so closer so she could see it.

"Nicole, this is wonderful," she gushed, "I can't believe you drew this."

Inside the simple black frame was a perfectly done sketch of Esme holding a baby. In the bottom right corner, Nicole's signature was scribbled, making Esme smile at her attempt at professionalism.

"When I drew that, I was actually looking at a picture of you and Masen," Nicole explained, "Because the new baby isn't born yet."

Carlisle glanced over at his wife with a quick smile before turning his attention back to Nicole, "Thank you," he said, "It's a great drawing."

Esme got out of her side of the bed and walked around to hug Nicole, "Thank you, sweetie. This made my day." She took the picture from Carlisle and placed it next to the lamp on the night stand.

Nicole smiled at her enthusiasm, then looked up at Alice.

"Come on, you," Alice said, placing her hands on her daughter's shoulders. She smiled at Carlisle and Esme before the two of them walked toward the door.

"Open or closed?" Nicole asked, looking back.

"You can leave it open," Carlisle told her.

She nodded and skipped ahead of Alice, who waved once as the two of them disappeared into the dark hallway.

Esme turned her head to look at the picture once more, "She's talented."

"I know," Carlisle agreed, "We'll have to find the picture she was looking at when she did this."

She sighed and cuddled against his chest, refocusing on the television for the first time in a little while. "When did this show come on?"

Carlisle attempted to reach over her to click the light off again before she did it for him, "Thanks," he said, "And I don't even know what this show is. I've never seen it."

Esme handed him the remote, "You can put on whatever you want."

He began to scan the stations, letting one arm linger around her shoulders as she let a few stray breaths land on the front of his t-shirt.

"Law and Order? Criminal Minds?" he asked.

"Either one," she told him, not caring all that much.

Carlisle settled on a station then tossed the remote toward the end of the bed. Esme let out a long sigh and he looked down, kissing her forehead as he did.

"What's wrong?"

"Is it bad when these shows remind me of Masen, simply because there are police officers in them?"

He laughed at her question and looked her in the eyes, about to speak, though she continued.

"I don't know who to focus on," she admitted, "The baby, or Masen." She sighed again, "And now I feel bad because Alexandra wasn't included in that."

Carlisle laughed once more, "Esme. It's good that we don't have to worry about Alex right now."

She looked at him, feeling uneasy again.

"Want to know my advice?" he asked.

Esme nodded and let a smile spread across her face.

Carlisle smiled in response, "I think you should focus on the baby tonight," his hand brushed against her stomach, then he moved it to her face, "And Masen tomorrow morning."

Esme closed her eyes when his hand landed on her cheek, then opened them again as his thumb grazed her lips. She kissed his thumb twice before leaning in to give him a real kiss. "That's good advice," she told him.

He pulled back with a smile and a nod, before finding the remote again and changing it to something with a more comedic tone. Esme looked over her shoulder toward the picture on the night stand before cuddling up into Carlisle's chest for the remainder of the night.