A/N: I'm so sorry for the almost 2 week delay for this story. PTB was having huge problems with their betas, and long story short, it was a mess having to wait for them. But they finished editing tonight's chapter, HALLELUJAH! Thanks for being so patient!
Previously…
Edward kissed me again, and I lay back on my pillow. "Tired?" he asked.
"Exhausted." I sighed happily, stifling a yawn.
I heard Carlie's gurgles and I peeked to see Carlisle slide her into her daddy's arms.
"We'll be here when you wake up." Edward took her hand and made her wave to me. "Night, Mommy."
I smiled as I closed my eyes on my new family.
~oOo~
After a few days, Carlie and I were released from the hospital. The paparazzi were immediately on our tails, their annoying flashes from their cameras blinding me. Carlie started to cry as we ran to our car, and I held onto her for dear life, wishing I could take away the pain in her ears. As soon as the car door shut, I soothed our baby, tears forming in my own eyes.
Why didn't those assholes understand that a newborn baby's hearing was precious? That screaming for a picture of the baby's face to scrutinize and pawn over did nothing but terrify said baby? I cried for my baby's fear of bright lights and noise and my high-running post-pregnancy emotions. I looked to Edward, whom I could tell wanted to lash out in anger. Carlie's cries leveled down to hiccups, and he gently took her out of my arms. His anger melted away when he saw his daughter's face, holding her close as the car passed through a few speed bumps.
I looked out the back window and saw two pap vans following us. I rolled my eyes and turned around.
"You okay?" I asked quietly.
Edward nodded, bouncing Carlie on his shoulder. "I hate paps so much," he said, gritting his teeth.
I smiled sadly. "I hate them even more for making our baby cry."
Edward slid closer to me and kissed my hair and went back to rocking Carlie. "I knew we should have gone with Rob. He would have made better arrangements."
"No, it's fine. Anything more would have caused an even bigger scene. Headlining news on CNN."
"The first time our baby comes out from the hospital, and she meets paparazzi. It's just disgusting." He spat, then sighed when Carlie began to fuss again. He passed her back to me, and I put her in the carseat in between us.
"It'll blow over in a few weeks. It's just so new with the baby and everything," I said. "Plus, it'll give us more time to spend with her as a family."
"Yeah, you're right. I'm just getting angry over something we asked for."
I held his hand in between our now-sleeping daughter. "We didn't ask to be practically chased by paparazzi and asked a million invasive questions. We asked to be musicians and share our experiences with people. And this little bundle of joy is a part of that experience." I smiled at our tiny baby and sighed happily. Edward caressed her cheek and sat back in his seat, looking out the window.
Edward and his relationship with the media was always rocky. He loved being a musician and sharing his talents with the world, but he had a hard time expressing himself with the media otherwise, such as in interviews and things like that. I worried, but not to a level where I had to be with him all the time in case something happened. I knew he wouldn't ever intentionally hurt anyone, even though they irritated him to no end. Plus with Carlie now in the picture, we all had to be extra careful with how we dealt with the media. We didn't want our daughter to see that.
We finally got home and packed our things into the house. It was a good thing our complex was gated, so no paps or media people could get inside our property. We turned on the lights, and I settled Carlie into the living room. She was still sleeping, thank god, so we unpacked our bags quietly when a thought came to me.
"Hey, where's Carlie going to sleep tonight? The nursery's walls aren't painted yet," I asked.
We sat together on the couch and sighed. I lay my head on my husband's shoulder, and he held me closer.
"We can put the basinet in our room, and I'll call Emmett and Jasper to paint the walls tomorrow."
"OK," I sighed, my eyes almost closing, but I woke back up when Carlie fussed in her car seat. "Uh oh." I got up and helped her out of her car seat, jacket and shoes. She needed changing, so I carried her to the kitchen.
"You're going to change her in the kitchen?" Edward asked. I could hear a smile in his voice, but didn't turn around as I took a fresh diaper out of Carlie's baby bag.
"Yup." I smirked, "It's closest to the living room, and she really smells."
"OK, then," he said. After Carlie was all changed, Edward sprayed the kitchen with air freshener. "Now we'll really know she was in here."
"Yeah." I laughed and turned back to the living room. I couldn't let go of the little baby in my arms, so I rocked her gently. Her face was still a little pudgy from birth, but I could hint a few small freckles across her face. I counted her long eyelashes and traced her tiny nose. She had her father's deep green eyes and tiny strands of brown hair spurted on her head. She was my beautiful baby, and I couldn't wait to see the traits of Edward and me in her.
