A/N - I don't particularly like this Chapter and I'm sorry if you don't either. I was having a bit of writer's block and just needed to conclude the baby shower for now so here it is... please forgive me :)

We gathered in the living room with Alice in her throne and Jasper in a chair beside her. The family, Rosalie and myself included apparently, took up the sofa directly opposite them, but the other women filled up the other sofa and some white folding chairs that had been arranged for everyone. As someone without many female friends this was a new concept to me, but I'd seen showers and things in movies before and it all seemed pretty standard. Jasper handed her gifts one at a time and Alice opened them, most of them gift cards or cash, but she ooh'ed and ahh'ed appropriately.

Rosalie's gift was spectacular, three pristine model toy cars in shadow boxes that Alice declared would look amazing hanging near the crib in the nursery. Rose hugged her and a few of the uppity women sniffed, offended that their gift cards and generic baby gifts had not received such affection. Alice pretended not to notice and moved on to the next gift. Esme gave them a quilt made of baby boy clothes, "they were Jasper's," she explained and the couple looked surprised. "I spoke to your mom after you found out it was a boy and asked if she had kept anything," Esme told Jasper. "Obviously Alice's baby clothes wouldn't do and it didn't feel right to give away Emmett and Edward's things."

"Thank you, Esme," Jasper stopped her, surprising everyone by crossing to give her a hug.

"Oh dear," she patted his back softly and returned the hug, her eyes red rimmed with tears when they pulled back. "I was happy to do it."

I cast a questioning glance at Edward, who shook his head minutely, telling me not now, and turned my attention back to the room. Alice was near tears herself as she folded the quilt and laid it tenderly aside. My present was next, and I wished I didn't have to follow something that clearly meant so much to them. "Go to someone else," I wanted to say, but kept quiet. Jasper pulled the tag open and read mine and Edward's names while Alice began pulling the tissue paper off the top of the bag and started pulling the onesies out one at a time. They were cute, nothing special – plenty of "I love my daddy" and "Mommy's Little Stud" type designs, as well as one that claimed "My Uncle is Cooler than Yours" which got Emmett excited and made everyone laugh. I had also included three tiny pairs of shoes and a set of little socks, which got plenty of squeals from the less uptight women, before Alice got to the blanket.

"Who says he'll be a Whitlock," Carlisle teased and Alice laughed, running her fingers over the stitching as she thanked me for the thoughtful gift.

"It's perfect for the new nursery," she winked and I laughed, causing Edward and Jasper to roll their eyes at us.

After gifts were done the guests were quick to leave, as Carlisle had said they would be, and then it was just the family left. "Well, now that that's over," Esme declared, collapsing on one of the sofas with flourish. Carlisle chuckled and came to sit beside his wife, picking up her feet and placing them in his lap. They were a beautiful couple, I thought, watching as Carlisle pulled off Esme's shoes and carefully massaged her feet and she flirted openly with her husband. Their kids didn't seem to notice their exchange, presumably because they were used to seeing their parents behave in such a way.

"Bella, Rose, thank you so much for coming," Alice hugged each of us warmly in turn. "I know those women can be horrible sometimes, but their gifts are amazing." She was teasing, but she wasn't wrong. "This is normally the time when we drink to excess and… wait, you've already done that."

Esme waved her hand at her daughter and laughed, "you couldn't drink with us anyways."

"Time for some real food then," Carlisle asked, patting his wife's feet so that she lifted them and he could stand.

"Oh God yes, I'm starving," Alice whined as Emmett gave some grumbles of his own.

"You know, it's amazing we got rid of you two while we still could. A few more years feeding the both of you and we might have had to take out a second mortgage on the house." Alice stuck her tongue out at her mother and rubbed her swollen belly affectionately.

Edward, Emmett, and Jasper joined Carlisle on the back deck once more to help him start some kabobs and other things cooking while the girls helped Esme tidy up her house. Smart woman that she was, Esme had the foresight to keep some empty boxes on hand for Alice's gifts, making the cleanup that much easier. I kept waiting for things to come back around, for Esme and I to have a proper introduction, but they never did. Esme didn't seem fazed by this either, as if our pretending to have known each other for a long time wasn't an act at all.

When we finally moved ourselves outside with the guys Carlisle had lit a few tiki torches I hadn't noticed earlier, the kind that kept bugs away. Someone had also set the table and brought out glasses for the pitcher of Sangria that Esme carried out with them. Each of the men held a beer in their hands that made my mouth water and I eyed the blue cooler that had been set up beside the grill; beer was definitely more my speed.

Edward caught my eye and winked before reaching into the cooler and pulling out a beer for me. As I gripped it in my hand, he twisted off the cap and then leaned in to place a soft kiss on my cheek that made me blush and smile at him. Alice giggled and looked at her mother who wore a shit eating grin, watching our exchange. "So Rose, how did you fair this morning," I asked, taking a long pull from my beer and hoping to change the subject away from Edward and I.

"Not as bad as you, I'm sure," of course the bitch was merciless.

"Speaking of, when are you two moving in together," Alice piped up and I wanted to sink into my chair.

"You're moving in together," Esme exclaimed, placing her glass on the table and sitting on the edge of her chair.

Edward glared at Alice then nodded at his mother's question. "We decided last night," Edward told her and she squealed. The woman literally squealed; the same squeal I'd heard from her daughter too many times to count.

"Oh I'm so happy for the two of you. Emmett told me earlier that Rosalie would be moving in, but I didn't want to assume…" Rose smacked Emmett, who had come to stand beside her, and the sound was audible.

"Hey, I'm proud of my woman," Emmett defended himself, rubbing the spot on his arm when she'd hit him.

"It'll be nice having my big brother close again," Alice declared with a smile and Edward made a mock gagging sound at the sentiment.

"Stop it, all of you, we have company." Esme scolded, but her tone was halfhearted. The adoration for her children shined through her eyes and I couldn't help smiling as I watched their family interact.

It was dark by the time we got back to my apartment and I was exhausted. "You did great today," Edward told me, grabbing my hand to pull me into his side as we rode up the elevator together. "I know you were nervous."

I smiled against his shoulder, "am I that transparent?"

Edward smiled in return, "only to me."