Same disclaimer applies-Twilight belongs to S.M., but the idea of this story is mine.
Many thanks to my awesome betas and friends - TeamAllTwilight and m0t0b33.
The first week is the hardest, before we get into a routine.
My poor husband insists on waking at night so I can sleep and be fresh during the day, but that makes him extra tired. He ends up being late most of the days, but at least James can relate and isn't upset.
Mom and Esme drop by almost every day, and I appreciate it, but it's not like I can nap while they're with Junior. I have other housework related things to do—cook, wash, clean. I rarely crash while they're over. Most of the times, I sleep only at night, like before, though I'm so tired by the time Edward arrives home that the second he's through the door, I kiss him, talk a little then go to bed.
Since Christmas is around the corner and well, I'm totally not proud of the Thanksgiving party we threw, I'm planning a huge get-together. Edward thinks I'm insane, but it gives me something to do, besides being around Junior and housework. While he's asleep and everything else is done, I scribble away on a piece of paper things we need to buy.
For preparing the party and decoration I call the master of this art—Alice. She squeals loudly and promises to join me as soon as she's done with her client.
Not half an hour after I hang up with her, the doorbell rings loudly.
I watch in horror as Junior jerks awake and starts wailing. I just put him to sleep.
I'm so going to kill whoever is at the door.
"Shh. Just sleep. You don't need to see mommy murdering someone." I try soothe him, but to no avail.
The doorbell keeps ringing.
Sighing heavily, I pick him from his bed and walk downstairs determined to shove whoever is on my doorstep, in the ass. Obviously, it's none other than Alice.
"Finally! Took your sweet time!"
"You managed to wake Junior." I put a hand on his head, bouncing him a little.
"Is that how you're going to call him from now?" she asks, stepping inside, thumping her short boots on my clean hallway floor.
I grit my teeth. "I'm still trying to convince Edward that Sebastian is a nice name."
Alice scowls at me. "Seriously, Bella? If your parents weren't inspired when they named you Isabella, or for that matter, Edward's parents! Edward." She huffs. "It sounds pompous for a baby."
"Edward or Sebastian?" I check, glancing at my little boy. He's finally settled, drooling on my shoulder.
"Both." She chuckles.
"Hey, be nice! I like my husband's name."
"Meh. Anyway, what's the other option for Junior? And don't tell me Edward."
I laugh heartily. "Besides that, on my list are: Jackson or Jack for short, Dylan, or Victor—you know from Victoria? Edward wants—besides his name—Ryan, or Peter."
"Jeez! I'm starting to think that Junior is a great name!"
I glare at her. "Be nice. Anyway, I'm sure we can come to a compromise to use one name from my list and one from his."
"And in the end, call him Junior."
I shrug. "Can you make yourself at home? I really have to put him to sleep."
"Sure. Take your time. Just point me to your notes." She winks.
"On the coffee table in the living room," I say over my shoulder, already walking up the stairs.
Once Junior is fast asleep, I take the baby monitor downstairs with me.
Alice is on the couch with her phone, looking deep in thought. I sit next to her, leaning closer to see what she's doing.
Sadly, I see the last of her message to who I presume is Jasper because it involves some intimate words. She beams at me.
"So I've been thinking," Alice starts rattling off ideas.
By the time Edward makes it home, I know exactly how the family reunion will go, what we'll eat and how we'll decorate. The last part is going to be Alice's job—she offered. I just need to provide her the actual decorations and the tree.
She left a little while ago promising to be back tomorrow bright and early.
I'm nursing Junior in his room on the rocking chair Dad brought to me. It used to be mine—I had no idea he still kept this old thing, but luckily it's sturdy.
"Hey, baby!" Edward whispers from the doorway as not to disturb us.
"Hey." I grin at him.
It's amusing how Junior's eyes zoom to his daddy, all the while his lips latched on my nipple, his little hands holding my boob.
Edward chuckles, approaching us. He strokes Junior's head before dropping a kiss on my forehead.
"How was your day?" he asks, crouching down, bracing himself on my knee, effectively swinging us and earning a fussy sound from Junior.
"I decided on what to do for the Christmas party. Alice is going to help."
"Are you sure, Bella? I don't want you to overdo it."
"I'll be fine. You worry too much. What happened with the newest advertisement? Who won?"
His lips twist in a scowl. "No one, because no one got it right."
"Sucks." I thread my fingers through his hair. "You're taking a couple of days off for Christmas, right?"
"I don't think so. Considering we just ended this unsuccessfully, we need at least one or two more advertisements to have profit for December."
"Aw. Well, at least you have to relax on Christmas day," I tell him, separating my little leech from my nipple, before I turn him around to pat his back.
Not one minute later, a loud belch leaves his little body making Edward bursting in laughter. "That sounded like daddy after he drank beer."
I roll my eyes.
"Oh, I didn't tell you," I say, getting up to change Junior's clothes and get him settled for the night. "A few days ago, Junior got fussy and after rubbing his back trying to eliminate the gases, a loud sound came followed by a stinking smell. For a good while I thought it was Spaz, because dog farts stink, but then I realized it was our little man."
Edward starts laughing harder.
"See, you need to stay home more. You're missing the fun."
"Don't blackmail me into staying home. You know I can't say no when it comes to Junior." He joins us at the changing table.
"Speaking of…we really need to choose a name," I insist.
"Definitely not what you want," he tells me seriously.
"And definitely not your name. We're not from last century when the father passed his name to the son until one man had six after his name." I scowl. "No."
"Fine, but I only suggested my name because you started calling him Junior."
"Anyway…can one name be Sebastian, or maybe Victor?"
"Let me think about it. In the meantime, let me put him to sleep while you heat me some of that lasagna you made yesterday." He shoots me a smirk.
"I was inspired to save you a helping, because that's what I ate with Alice." I giggle. With a kiss on the mouth, I leave him to put Junior to sleep.
I hope he'll be successful, because he rarely manages to make the little guy sleep.
When half an hour passes, I decide to check on them, realizing that Edward couldn't put Junior to sleep.
The sight that greets me in our room is otherworldly. I think I just fell in love all over again.
My man is on the bed with our baby on his chest. They're both sleeping deeply. I don't have the heart to wake him and tell him to eat, because that will probably wake Junior, too. Besides, Edward is tired. Stroking his hair away from his eyes, I kiss his forehead then pull the blanket over them.
I smile at the way Junior has Edward's shirt in a fist, holding tightly to him.
*BH*
On Christmas morning I wake up so rested that it takes me a few minutes to figure out what's wrong.
There's no Edward or Junior in the room.
Rubbing my eyes, I yawn and stretch, before checking the nursery room—empty. I find them downstairs, in the living room. They're by the tree. Edward holds baby boy to his chest whispering to him and poking at a ball making Junior squeal.
Or should I think of him as Sebastian Victor Cullen?
I grin as I remember how Edward gave me a photo on our one year anniversary. The picture has all of us smiling at the camera—it's from when we were in the hospital. But what grabbed my attention was the writing on the back of it.
December 21st
Isabella, Edward and Sebastian Victor Cullen
That was the best present ever.
I walk to them and wrap my arms around Edward. He turns his head to look at me and winks.
"Your meal is awake," he jokes.
To my surprise Junior—uh, Seb—turns his head to me, his blue eyes alight.
"Hey!" I mock-protest.
"What, it's true!" Edward says seriously. "He wanted boob since he woke up, but I made him eat that bottled milk."
"Of course he wanted boob. Just like his daddy." I take the baby from my husband, hugging him tightly to me.
"What can I say, baby? Like father, like son."
"Do you have a shirt for that?" I ask amused, gently pulling Seb's hand from my hair. My little man loves to tug at my poor hair. "If you keep that up, you won't get any boob!" I scold him, laughing at what I just said.
Edward seems to find it just as amusing, bursting in loud laughter.
Seb tenses and for a wild moment I'm afraid he'll start crying, but then he graces us with a huge smile, waving his arm toward his daddy.
"Yup. He's insane," I tell him. "Let's get ready. We're having guests later."
"If I'm insane, then you should be locked in the madhouse, Bella!"
"The pot and the kettle," I tell him over my shoulder.
By the time or guests start arriving we're still not ready. I fed Seb then handed him over to Edward who was already dressed, so I could go and put my dress on.
He appears in the bathroom not long after I left him to burp Seb and change his diaper. He's covered in baby vomit, stinking like hell.
I eye him suspiciously.
"Where's Seb?"
"With Rose. They just arrived. Thank God. I was this close to slapping a paper on the door inviting all of them inside, or just leaving the door open."
"But what happened?" I ask, setting down my mascara. I turn to him, watching as he peels his soiled clothes off.
"What do you think happened, Bella? He decided to shower me in puke." He gags, throwing his clothes in the bathtub. "I suck at burping him."
"You just have to be gentle." I walk to the door. "Take a shower and put some other clothes on. Uh, I'm not sure there's another suit ironed," I add worried.
"Don't worry. Emmett's dressed casually so I won't put another suit on."
"But it will look weird. I have this nice dress on, and you can't appear in sports pants and one of your beloved shirts."
"Now that's a good idea, though I think I need one that says I got…puked."
I laugh, leaving him to clean up.
Everyone still with me? I haven't received much feedback lately. We're 5 chapters away form the end.
