A/N: Thanks for all the reviews! I know have over 300 which is unbelievable!
Sorry this chapter is a little late, but better late than never, right? ;)
Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight or these characters.
Esme POV
The light filtering in from the window through my closed eyelids let me know it was morning, but I didn't want to open my eyes yet. My body felt so tired, but comfortable as I lay beneath the warm quilt. As I stretched my legs, the fact registered in my brain that I had not changed clothes before going to bed. I also realized that I wasn't even in my bed. A smile came to my lips as I felt the little body cuddled very close to me.
Yesterday had not been a dream. We were really home with Rosalie and Jasper. I opened my eyes, not wanting to waste a minute with my baby girl, and turned over so I could face her. My smile fell slightly as I saw that she too was awake but there were tears starting to dry against her cheeks. She sniffled as she looked at me with her wide, blue eyes, and I used my finger tips to wipe the tears away.
"What's the matter, sweet girl?" I asked softly. "You're safe here with me. I promise."
She snuggled impossibly closer, but I could tell she wasn't too upset anymore. I assumed she had woken before me and had been afraid of the new unfamiliar environment. Now that I was awake, she seemed to be all right, and her tears had ceased.
"Sorry you had to wake up in a new place, but no more icky hospital for you," I said as I kissed her forehead. I let my lips longer long enough to see if she was abnormally warm, but she felt cool enough to me. I didn't want to have to use a thermometer if I could help it, but kissing gave me an easy way to monitor her throughout the day without her knowledge.
She seemed to understand what I meant about the hospital and brought her bandaged hand up to rest on my chest.
"Owwie?" she whispered.
I brought her hand up to my lips and brushed light kisses over her palm and then gently over the top.
"Mmhmm. No more owwies for you. No one will hurt you here."
She nodded, but didn't remove her hand from mine. Instead, I laid both of our hands against my chest and lightly stoked her little fingers. Rosalie was small, even smaller than I remembered Emmett being at two, but I wasn't sure if she was underweight or if Emmett had been big for his age. Since Jasper was around the same size, I decided it was a little of both. They both needed some good meals to fatten them up, starting with our first breakfast at home.
I wasn't sure how long we were going to lie in bed, but my basic plan for the day was to let Rosalie and Jasper lead. I was hoping that giving them some control would make everything easier. We didn't have anything important to do or anywhere to go, so I was ready to stay in bed as long as she wanted to.
After a few minutes, Rosalie lifted her head, and I assumed she was ready to get up. But before I had a chance to move, she started trying to crawl on top of me. I quickly helped her so she wouldn't hurt herself but then let her lay how she wanted to. Once she was on top of me, she settled down on her belly with her head laying against my chest and her arms on either side of my body like she was hugging me. Her sigh of contentment made me smile as I wrapped one arm around her to hold her to me.
I had no idea how my love for Rosalie and Jasper could grow so much every day with every little thing they did. I knew my love grew for Carlisle and Emmett, but I had loved Carlisle for years and Emmett was a part of me. These children were practically strangers, but it was no different than Emmett. It was just another reason to believe that we were meant to be their parents.
I ran the fingers of my free hand through her blonde curls as we laid in the quiet. The only sound in the room was a mixture of our breathing which was almost in synch since are chests were against one another. There was also a feeling of freedom that we hadn't had in the hospital. At home, we didn't have the constant threat of a nurse coming into the room, and it made the atmosphere so much calmer. As Rosalie relaxed against me, I knew she was feeling the effects as well.
"I love you, sweet Rosalie," I said as I kissed her head. I wasn't sure if I had told her or Jasper out loud yet, but they needed to be reassured of both mine and Carlisle's love for them. Love was what was going to help them heal, and I had no problem with being vocal about it.
She lifted her head again, this time looking at me with a very pensive expression.
"I love you so much," I said again with a large smile. "We're so happy you're here."
This time, I kissed the tip of her nose, causing her to wrinkle it, but I saw her smile behind her pacifier before she laid her head against me once again. So far, the morning was perfect, and I hoped the day would get even better.
Unfortunately, it seemed like all peaceful times had to come to an end eventually. As much as I wanted to lie in bed all day, my bladder had a different opinion. It also reminded me that I needed to change Rosalie. She hadn't been changed since right before we left the hospital, and I was a little worried about how she would react.
I didn't want her to connect pain with home. She already connected pain with the hospital, which I could do nothing about, but I didn't want her to start fearing me now that we were home. I was unintentionally causing her pain through something that couldn't be avoided, but I wasn't sure if she could make the distinction.
I took a deep breath and let it out, knowing that I couldn't put off the inevitable. I slowly sat up, and Rosalie's arms moved to wrap around my neck. Once we were sitting upright, I scooted over to get my feet on the ground and stood up. Rosalie hid her face in my neck, and I had a feeling she was afraid of where we would be going. I only had to move a few feet though to find the diaper bag I had brought up and pull out a new diaper, some wipes, and the antibiotic ointment.
After I placed everything on the bed within my reach, I started to disentangle her from my arms. At first, she resisted because she didn't want to leave me, but as soon as I laid her down, she knew what was coming. I hated seeing her cry before I even touched her; my full heart felt like it was going to break.
"Shh, it's all right, baby. We'll get this over real fast," I cooed as I moved some of the hair from her face. She grabbed my hand and held it tightly, but I needed both of them if I wanted to finish quickly.
I saw her baby doll on the other side of the bed, so I reached over to grab it.
"Here," I said as I handed her the doll. "Hold your baby and then I'll pick you up as soon as I can."
She took the doll from me and held it tightly, but it did nothing to stop her tears. I worked as fast as possible, and she cooperated for the most part. The most difficult thing was getting her legs out of her sleeper, but after that, I was able to finish quickly. Her stitches were still healing well, in my opinion, but I had been worrying about something happening to them if she was going to be more active. It wasn't too big of a deal since she liked to be held all the time, but I also knew that she needed to start walking again soon. There was no way I could hold her all the time, even if she wanted me to.
Rosalie knew the moment the new diaper was in place and jumped into my arms and held on to me tightly as she hid her face in my neck once again. She was always so forgiving of me which meant she was able to make the distinction in her mind that I wasn't trying to hurt her like those monsters did.
I sat back down on the bed and rocked back and forth slowly as she calmed down. It only took a few minutes for her whimpers and hiccups to completely cease which was much better than it had been previously. Once she was silent, I pulled her back from my neck so I could wipe her tears away.
"Sorry, sweet girl," I said softly as I wiped tears from her face for the second time this morning. "How about we go find Jasper?"
"J?" she sniffled, but her eyes immediately lit up. I should have mentioned him sooner. She probably thought Jasper wasn't with her any more.
"Mmhmm," I nodded. "Your Jasper is here and so is Emmett and Carlisle. Do you want to go find them?"
She nodded quickly, and I kissed her and smiled at her enthusiasm. After getting her feet back in and re-zipping the sleeper, I threw away the used diaper and walked down the hall to the master bedroom.
I hadn't looked at a clock yet, but I knew it was fairly early in the morning. I hoped the boys would be awake since I didn't want to wake them, but if the last two days with Jasper were any indication, they were most likely awake.
When I made it to the master bedroom, I stood in the doorway for a minute just to take in the scene. Carlisle, Emmett, and Jasper were indeed awake, and it was one of the cutest things I had ever seen. Carlisle was lying in the middle of the bed as Emmett and Jasper used his stomach and chest as a play area. They were on either side of him, both with their stuffed dogs, and Emmett was chatting up a storm. Carlisle looked like he could have used some more sleep, but he was still talking and interacting with Emmett while subtlety encouraging Jasper to speak.
"Good morning, boys," I said, announcing my presence as I entered the room.
Carlisle turned his head to smile at me, and the little boys also greeted me with cheerful faces.
"Hi, Mommy," Emmett said happily. "You gots Rosie with you."
He didn't seem to be put off by the fact that Rosalie and Jasper were here, so I wondered if Carlisle had talked to him. I hadn't had another chance to make sure he was prepared, and I immediately felt guilty. Even though he appeared to be adjusting well, I should have thought to make time to talk to Emmett. This was going to be such a big life change, and I didn't want him to feel left out or eventually resentful.
But currently, there were three kids eager for my attention, so I didn't have time to linger on my guilt. I knew I needed to talk to Carlisle later, but for now, I had better things to focus on.
"I do have Rosalie with me," I answered Emmett. "And you're playing with Jasper. Are you having fun?"
Emmett grinned again and went back to talking and playing with Jasper. Even without an answer, I could tell that Emmett was having a lot of fun. He wasn't a morning person so it said a lot that he was happy to be up early with Jasper here.
I moved closer to the bed so Rosalie could be with Jasper, but I had to keep my distance. She was hiding her face in my neck again, this time because of Carlisle. We knew it was going to be challenging to get Rosalie used to having a man around her all the time, and her reaction so far wasn't that bad. Avoiding direct contact wasn't as big of a deal as avoiding being in the same room would have been.
I gingerly sat down on the end of the bed next to Carlisle's feet and turned so I was facing them. Coaxing Rosalie to sit in my lap took a few minutes, but she finally came out of hiding to see her brother. I scooted farther up the bed as far as I could while keeping a comfortable distance, and I lightly rubbed Carlisle's leg. I wanted nothing more than to curl up beside him to make up for our night apart, but sitting next to him was nice, too. Carlisle couldn't move much since the boys were still playing on him, but he remained smiling and mouthed "I love you" to me which melted my heart as always.
As soon as Jasper saw that Rosalie and I were on the bed, he crawled over to join his sister in my lap. Based on his smile, he was extremely happy to see her and me as well. I was able to tell him that I loved him, just as I had with Rosalie, and shower him with kisses until he giggled.
Emmett quickly joined us, and Carlisle laughed as I attempted to hold all three of them. I managed, but it was difficult as Emmett bounced around as he excitedly told me about how his monkey pajamas matched Jasper's. With all the bouncing, my bladder was once again protesting, and I regretfully had to release Emmett and Jasper from my lap. It didn't really bother them, and they went back to playing with their dogs.
Rosalie was still gripping me tightly as I stood up, and I wasn't really sure how to handle it.
"Can you sit on the bed with Jasper?" I asked softly, moving the hair from her eyes. "I'll be right back."
My promise seemed to mean nothing as she looked at me with panicked eyes and shook her head vigorously. I had hoped that the two little boys would be a buffer for her to stay with Carlisle, but it didn't appear to be the case. I sighed and gave Carlisle an apologetic look. He wanted a "Daddy's little girl" so bad, but it didn't seem like he would be getting one soon. His smile fell slightly, but he nodded to let me know that it was okay. We were already finding out just how patient we would have to be.
I had no choice but to take Rosalie with me to the bathroom. It wasn't too big of a deal. Privacy for me had been pretty much nonexistence after Emmett was born. It was a little better with Carlisle around, but I was still used to having to leave the door open and being prepared for Emmett to need me at any time.
It was more difficult with Rosalie, first having to get her to stand by herself, and then having to hold her and wash my hands at the same time once I was finished. Even though it took a little longer than usual, it was a relief to know the task wasn't impossible because I knew I wouldn't be doing anything by myself for a long time.
When we finally made it back to the bedroom, the boys were still playing. Carlisle was sitting up, so they weren't able to play on him any longer. Having to move their play over to the bed didn't deter them from having just as much fun.
I couldn't help but smile as I watched them. Emmett was doing so well playing with Jasper, especially with not playing rough. He and Riley had a tendency to like to wrestle, but I didn't think Jasper was ready for that kind of play. He and Rosalie still had some recovery to do before any kind of rough-housing could be possible.
Carlisle caught my eye as I was watching them, and his knowing look showed that he was enjoying the sight as well. Our house already seemed brighter, livelier than it had been since the last time we were here. There was also peace beneath all the noise, a peace that I found reassuring. Our life was going to be wild from now on, but that was the way it was supposed to be.
"Are you hungry?" I asked Carlisle. "I think it might be time for breakfast soon."
"I could eat whenever you want to fix breakfast, sweetheart," he said with a smile. "It's still early, but I think these two might be ready for some food."
I hadn't thought to look at the clock, but when I did, I saw that it was only a little after seven. It already felt a lot later in the morning after all of the commotion, but at least I was fully rested. I didn't think I could say the same for Carlisle.
I crawled on the bed once more, farther up this time, but turned Rosalie so she was facing Emmett and Jasper. She seemed fine with my body as a shield which gave me the opportunity to focus on Carlisle.
"Did you get much sleep?" I murmured as I reached over to hold his hand, lightly rubbing the top with my thumb. He hummed and brought my hand up to tenderly kiss my knuckles.
"More than in the hospital, but Jasper still woke up twice. The first time we had to go downstairs to get something to drink, but I was able to get him to fall asleep fairly quickly the second time. What about you? How was your night?"
"I had a full night's sleep," I said, almost regretfully. "If Rosalie woke up any during the night, I didn't know about it. There were a few tears this morning, but I think it's because she was in a new place. How did Jasper react?"
"Don't feel bad about getting some sleep. You deserve it," he said with a smile after sensing my regret. "And I'm sorry Rosalie was scared. Emmett woke both me and Jasper up, but Jasper was fine. Emmett's excitement gets in the way of fear, I guess."
I wanted to ask Carlisle about Emmett, but I should have known that our talking time would be cut short.
"Mommy, I hungry," Emmett said as he crawled toward me. "I have pancakes? Please?"
He stuck his bottom lips out and tried to pout, but I just laughed as I pulled him into my lap beside Rosalie.
"I don't know why you're pouting so much, Monk, but it's not going to work. It never works for Corin either." I tickled him until his pouting turned into laughter, and Jasper crawled over to join the fun. Carlisle pulled him into his lap, and it felt really nice to have all five of us in one central location.
"How about omelets?" I suggested, mostly to Carlisle and Emmett. So far, Rosalie and Jasper were agreeable to most foods, so I hoped omelets would be okay with them as well.
Carlisle nodded in agreement, and Emmett thought about it for a few seconds before finally giving his consent as well.
"With cheese?" he asked hopefully.
"Sure," I chuckled.
"Bacon?"
I nodded and he jumped out of my lap, clearly excited about the breakfast menu, but Carlisle pulled him back down before he could hurt himself or jump on anyone. Emmett's outburst was taken as the cue that it was time to get out of bed.
Carlisle slid out first, holding both Jasper and Emmett. I followed him with Rosalie, and we made our way downstairs. The boys laughed as Carlisle playfully jostled them as he went down the stairs, but I walked carefully so Rosalie wouldn't be jostled. She couldn't decide whether to hide her face or look at her new surroundings. A tour was definitely in order, but breakfast had to come first.
Carlisle took the boys straight to the family room and sat down on the couch. Emmett got down on the floor and went directly to his toys, but Jasper stayed in Carlisle's lap to snuggle. I didn't even think about trying to get Rosalie to stay in the room with them, so I took her with me to the kitchen.
Gathering what I needed to make breakfast wasn't too hard, but I had no idea how I was going to make breakfast with one arm. I did it for a couple of months when my arm was in a cast, but it was different when I was holding a child. Being close to the stove was a dangerous place for Rosalie, and I needed to find some way to be able to put her down and not have her under my feet. Sitting on a hard chair wasn't an option for her yet, but I remembered that Emmett had a couple of small foam character chairs which could possibly work.
"Carlisle?" I called, and he was standing in the doorway within seconds. "Could you bring me one of Emmett's foam chairs, please?"
He smiled and nodded, and it didn't take long for him to return with the Sesame Street fold out sofa. It was a little bigger than what I had requested, but it would work. I pointed to the spot on the floor where I wanted it and he set it down for me.
"Thank you," I said as he was about to leave.
"You're very welcome," he smiled and quickly stole a kiss while Rosalie wasn't looking before going back to the family room.
I smiled as I started to pour juice into three sippy cups. Carlisle and I sneaking around could be fun, especially stealing kisses. And even if we got caught, I hoped Rosalie would see that he wasn't dangerous.
Once the juice was poured and the lids were sealed tightly, I carried two of them along with a container of cheerios into the family room for the boys. They immediately started munching while watching TV, and I knew they would now be able to wait for the main course.
I went back into the kitchen with Rosalie and knelt down beside the small sofa. She protested when I began loosening her grip around my neck, and after a few seconds, I was able to sit her down on the sofa. I quickly made sure she had her baby doll and juice before she could start crying.
"Okay, baby. You can sit right here while I cook breakfast. It's just you and me in here, so don't be scared." I spoke in a soft, calm voice, willing her to listen to me. She studied me for a while before taking her pacifier out of her mouth and drinking her juice. I sighed as I stood up and hoped that she would stay in her seat.
Once my hands were free, I was able to cook breakfast without much delay. Rosalie stayed on the little sofa, drinking her juice and eating cheerios as I gave them to her. She was quiet as she sat and hesitantly looked around the room, but there were no complaints or protests about not being held.
Thanks to my large griddle, the omelets were all finished at the same time. I made some with only cheese and bacon for the kids and some with the addition of peppers and onions for Carlisle and me. I placed them all on plates and cut the ones for the kids into little bits so they would cool faster and be easier to eat. I also sliced some strawberries for them and fixed coffee and juice. After everything was ready, I placed it on the table and called the boys to come eat.
Besides the beds, Carmen had also brought booster seats to use at the table. Jasper had no problem sitting in his which was between Carlisle and Emmett, but Rosalie refused to sit in the one beside me that was for her. I couldn't tell if she was uncomfortable in the seat or if she just wanted me. Either way, she got her wish and stayed in my lap.
Carlisle prayed before we ate, and Emmett held Jasper's hand without any prompting. I loved watching them together. They had very different personalities but were still able to quickly form a friendship that I hoped would one day turn into a bond between brothers.
Breakfast was quieter than usual. Emmett hadn't been lying about being hungry, so he spent more time eating than talking. Carlisle and I let Rosalie and Jasper feed themselves for once, and they also ate well. Omelets appeared to be something everyone agreed on, but I was going to have to keep guessing when fixing every meal. Rosalie and Jasper couldn't tell me what foods they liked or disliked, but I hoped that if I stayed within the foods Emmett ate, they would also approve.
When we finished eating, we were left with three very messy little ones. Rosalie and Jasper had eaten with their fingers which left them very sticky, and Emmett hadn't mastered using a fork yet so he mostly used his fingers as well. I had thought to put bibs on them which protected to some degree but did nothing for the sticky fingers. Baby wipes were kept in the kitchen for this type of situation, so it was easy to get them cleaned up. The table was another story.
"You cooked, I'll clean," Carlisle suggested after we finished with the sticky hands. "Maybe Emmett can help you show Rosalie and Jasper around the house."
His plan sounded like a good one to me, so after grabbing Rosalie's baby doll, we left the kitchen so Carlisle could tackle the mess.
"Okay, Emmett," I said once we were in the family room. "Let's show Rosalie and Jasper where everything is in the house."
"Like my room?" he asked excitedly while jumping up and down.
I smiled and nodded. "Yep, like your room. But let's start down here first."
Emmett held Jasper's hand and led him over to where the toys were in the family room. He had already seen them earlier, but Rosalie hadn't so it was a good time for her to see where they were. She still couldn't decided whether to hide against my shoulder or not, but she looked when I pointed things out.
Next, Emmett decided to go over to the dining room and formal living room. We didn't stay long, and Emmett made it a point to say that they weren't supposed to go in those rooms and no toys were allowed. I had to laugh when he said the same thing at the doorway to both mine and Carlisle's studies, but at least I knew he listened to what we told him.
Emmett was most excited about going upstairs, and I was, too. Rosalie and Jasper needed to know where their rooms were in relation to ours because we wouldn't be sleeping with them forever. We had to go to Emmett's room first, and he tried to personally introduce all of his stuffed animals. I put a stop to it after the first ten or so, but at least Jasper did seem interested in the room.
Once I managed to drag Emmett from his toys, we went to the master bedroom across the hall. The major attraction of Mommy and Daddy's room according to Emmett was the bed which was good for jumping. I also had to stop that demonstration fairly quickly before something or someone got broken or injured. While we were there, I made sure to tell Rosalie and Jasper that if they were scared at night, this was where they were supposed to go.
Carlisle popped his head in the door as we were talking and smiled at us.
"How's the tour?" he asked.
"It's good. Emmett was just showing them were the best jumping location in the house was," I chuckled.
He chuckled with me and shook his head. "Buddy, you really shouldn't jump on the bed, especially if no one is with you."
"I know, Daddy," Emmett said as if Carlisle had said the dumbest thing ever. "I's need a jumpy like Nana."
I rolled my eyes at his comment. He had been begging for a trampoline, even though Carmen and Eleazar had one he could use anytime we were there. We already had a backyard full of play equipment, so it wasn't like he had to do without.
"Maybe for Christmas," Carlisle conceded. "But for now, keep the jumping on the bed to a minimum, okay?"
Emmett nodded but started sulking, so Carlisle came into the room and started tickling him to get him to smile. Jasper wanted to play, too, and it didn't take long for both of them to be laughing as they rolled around on the bed. Even Rosalie was smiling as she watched them, and I was able to tickle a giggle out of her.
"Okay, guys," Carlisle said as he backed away. "I'm going to get dressed and then go to the pharmacy. You need to finish your tour."
I was glad Carlisle remembered the prescription because it had totally slipped my mind. But with everything going on, I knew it was ridiculous for me to expect myself to remember everything on my own. That was one of the many reasons why I was thankful. He completed me in ways that included my thoughts and memories.
Once Emmett and Jasper had caught their breath, I took them into the hallway so Carlisle could have some privacy. Emmett ran down to Rosalie's room, and I followed him with Rosalie and Jasper. As we entered the room, I made sure that Rosalie was out of hiding. It would be her space, and I hoped by the time I was finished with it, that it would be some where she felt safe and secure.
"This is your room," I said softly. She looked around before turning back to me and giving me a small smile. I kissed her cheek, and her grin widened.
The room was still pretty much empty and not very exciting, so we only stayed for a few minutes before going across the hall to Jasper's room. His room was basically the same, and we didn't stay long there either.
After the tour was over, I figured it was time to get dressed. Carlisle had finished getting himself ready, so he helped me by dressing the boys. While he took care of them, I was able to dress Rosalie and myself. I needed a shower, but it would have to wait. I hoped I would have an opportunity if Carmen came over. Rosalie seemed to trust her, and maybe it was enough to allow me to get a quick shower.
As soon as we were all dressed for the day, Carlisle left for the pharmacy, and I took the kids back to the family room. Emmett begged me to go outside, but the weather was messy. I managed to talk him into watching a movie, and he picked out one of his favorite animated films. We snuggled together on the couch, and it was perfect. My arms were full with the children I loved, just like I had always dreamed. All of the months of heartache were worth it to be able to have the opportunity that we did now.
By the time the movie was over, all three of them were fast asleep against me. I couldn't move, but it didn't matter. I was comfortable and closed my eyes to soak in the moment. I almost fell asleep when I felt a soft kiss against my forehead. When I opened my eyes, Carlisle was smiling down at me.
"Having fun?" he whispered as he winked.
"Of course. Want to join us?"
He immediately agreed and picked up Emmett so he could sit down next to me. He held Emmett in one arm while I had Rosalie, and Jasper was between us. Having him home again made it even more perfect, and my smile was so wide that it made my face hurt. My head automatically rested against his shoulder, and he had his arm around my shoulders as his fingers played with my air.
"Rosalie's medicine is in the kitchen," he said, breaking our silence. "You can give her a dose before bed and then in the morning. I think Peter wants her to take it until she's completely healed, but it's a really small dose. There shouldn't be any harsh side effects."
I hummed in response, glad that it wasn't going to be dangerous for her. She didn't need to get sick from preventative medicine after everything else she had been through.
"I also bought some more pacifiers and a few 'girly' sippy cups. I figured she might like those better than all of Emmett's blue ones."
"Good thinking," I said and kissed his cheek. "She only has one pacifier, and I don't want to find out what would happen if she lost it and we didn't have any others. This should be interesting, you know? We have another one to wean from pacifiers eventually and two more to potty train. Are you up for the challenge?"
He chuckled softly at my teasing. "I'm more than ready for a little challenge, sweetheart. In fact, I think I might be ready for anything these two want to add to our lives."
I hummed in agreement once more. No matter what would happen in the future, I knew Rosalie and Jasper would enrich our lives. The journey might be rough, but in the end, everything would be worth it.
The rest of the day was as low key as the morning. We were trying to establish some sort of normalcy as Rosalie and Jasper got used to their new lives. They were hesitant which was to be expected, but I hoped they would become more comfortable as we settled into a routine.
We mostly played together in the floor. It was the easiest way for everyone to play the same thing, and it was a lot of fun for all of us. The mood was very laid back as we continued to let them lead, and our only break from playtime was for lunch. After some quick sandwiches and crackers, we went back to the fun we had been having.
I was able to take a break to call and talk to both Kate and Chelsea. Carmen had already filled Kate in on some of what we were doing, but I was able to better inform her. She was happy for us and was excited to be able to meet them when they came down during the summer.
Chelsea was also happy for us. She knew we were going to adopt, but I hadn't had a chance to talk to her since finding out about Rosalie and Jasper. She was planning a summer trip to see us as well, and it still created a warm feeling to know that she wanted to be in my life and my children's lives. Our relationship continued to grow stronger every day and was aided by the fact that our parents were still locked away and unable to contact us in any way.
I was glad that no one was trying to visit us right away. Rosalie was only slightly uncomfortable being around Carlisle all the time, but adding new people to the mix wouldn't make it easier for her. And even though Jasper was completely comfortable with us, I knew it wouldn't be the same around people he didn't know.
After all my phone calls were finished, I realized it was almost time to eat again. I had been so busy that I didn't think of anything to cook, and I didn't know what I was going to do. Miraculously, Carmen called and offered to bring over something for us. I almost felt bad for quickly agreeing, but I was glad I had agreed when she brought mouth-watering food into the house.
"Carmen, this smells delicious," I said as I breathed in the aroma that filled the kitchen. "You're a lifesaver. I had no idea what I was going to make for dinner."
"Well, I hope you enjoy it dear," she chuckled and patted my arm. "I knew you would probably have your hands full today, so I wanted to make your life easier. And I did want to see my new grandbabies again."
I smiled and nodded. I knew that she would want to see them again, and I hoped that they would soon grow to love her. She truly was the best Nana any child could ask for.
"Do you want to go see Nana?" I asked Rosalie who had been the permanent fixture on my hip. She hadn't left my side all day, and even though my arms were tired, I wouldn't have traded the opportunity for anything.
Carmen held her arms out, and I breathed a sigh of relief when Rosalie finally let me pass her over. Carmen showered her with hugs and kisses, and Rosalie's smile showed that she really did like it.
Carlisle brought the boys in the room a few minutes later, and Carmen took the time to show her love to the two of them as well. She left soon after that, saying that we probably wanted some more time with just the five of us. I was a little disappointed that I wouldn't have a chance to take a shower, but she was right; I really liked it being just Carlisle and me with the kids.
We were able to enjoy a delicious meal of chicken casserole and rice. Everyone cleaned their plates, and the meal passed without any drama or meltdowns. When we were finished, Carlisle cleaned up again, making sure to put the leftovers away for us to eat later.
It was early in the evening, but I decided it would be easy to go ahead and change the kids into their pajamas. Emmett was prone to falling asleep wherever and whenever he dropped, and I didn't want to have to change his clothes after he was asleep.
I dressed the boys first in another pair of matching pajamas, this time with dinosaurs. Even though I still thought Carmen had done too much, I couldn't help but admit that all the matching outfits were adorable. Emmett and Jasper loved them, too, and I hoped it would possibly help their bond.
Once they were dressed, I sent them downstairs to go to Carlisle and laid Rosalie on the bed to change her. She tensed immediately, so I tried to think of something to distract her.
"Did you have a good day?" I asked as I pulled her dress over her head, hoping she would respond.
She finally nodded, and I smiled. "Well what did you do today? Did you play?"
She nodded again and patted the baby that was in her arms. "Baby," she said as she hugged it.
"I see your baby doll. You're so sweet to the baby. You give her lots of kisses just like I give my baby."
I leaned down, and Rosalie giggled as I placed many kisses all over her face.
"I love you," I said and kissed her one last time before standing up fully. This time, she didn't look confused. She gave me a small smile, which I hoped meant she was beginning to understand.
I tried to keep her distracted as I changed her diaper, and it worked somewhat. The tears couldn't be stopped, but the sound of my voice was soothing to her. As long as I continued talking and singing, she stayed moderately calm. After I was finished, I dressed her in a new nightgown and took the hair bow out of her hair before going downstairs.
Once downstairs, I found Carlisle sitting on the couch with Emmett and Jasper. They both had sippy cups of what I assumed to be milk, and I could tell Carlisle was trying to get them to wind down for the night. It seemed to be working because Jasper was very calm as he sat in Carlisle's lap, and Emmett was also staying still as he snuggled against his daddy.
"Hi, sweetheart," Carlisle said when he noticed that I was in the room. "Rosalie's milk is in the refrigerator and I already measured out her medicine for the night."
"Thank you," I smiled. "I guess we'll get that taken care of now."
I took Rosalie into the kitchen and found the syringe Carlisle had measured out on the counter. I picked it up and then found the milk in the refrigerator. She watched me carefully as I moved around the kitchen, and I had no idea how she would react.
After grabbing a napkin, I went to the kitchen table and sat down with her facing me in my lap. I gently pulled her pacifier out of her mouth, and her eyes became wide and fearful.
"It's okay, baby," I said softly. I brushed the hair from her face and kissed her forehead, but she continued to be afraid.
"You just have to drink this little bit," I said, showing her the syringe. "Then you can have your milk."
I slowly raised it to her mouth, praying that she wouldn't get upset. She continued to look at me, and my heart almost broke when she whimpered. My mind knew she needed it but that knowledge did nothing to put me at ease. Rosalie didn't need any more trauma to deal with, and I was about to give up when she opened her mouth. I smiled and injected the medicine into her mouth before she could change her mind. She swallowed and started coughing, so I quickly passed the milk to her.
"I'm so proud of you, baby," I said as I hugged her to me. "You're such a good girl."
She rested her head against my shoulder as she drank her milk, and I was very thankful that no tears had been shed from either of us. After I rinsed the syringe and making sure I had the pacifier, I carried her back to the family room and sat down next to Carlisle.
I was able to sit much closer than I had been without any protest from Rosalie, and I took it as a sign of progress. Carlisle also seemed thrilled with the proximity and was even able to hold my hand as we sat together as a family.
It didn't take long for Rosalie to fall asleep, and Emmett followed soon after. Jasper held off as long as he could but once Carlisle started rocking him, he couldn't evade sleep any longer. Carlisle and I sat for a while and watched them sleep, but finally took them up to bed. We decided to put Emmett and Jasper in Emmett's bed so if Jasper woke up, he wouldn't be alone. I tucked Rosalie in with her baby doll in her bed and made sure to set up the baby monitor for her. Since she wasn't walking around yet, I was going to have to go get her if she woke up.
After she was tucked in, Carlisle came in so he could have a few moments with Rosalie. When she was asleep, he was able to be around her without worrying about upsetting her. My eyes watered as I watched him gently kiss her forehead and whisper how much he loved her. Rosalie now had the best daddy possible, if only she would grow to trust him.
When Carlisle was finished, I saw that his eyes were also glassed over, but he smiled to show me that he was okay. After turning out the lights in the bedrooms and making sure to leave the hall light on, Carlisle led me to our bedroom.
"I wanted to spend some time with you on the couch, but I think cuddling on the bed would be a good substitute," he explained with a smile. "I've missed you."
"I've missed you, too," I sighed as I hugged him for the first time all day. "And I would love to cuddle in bed with you, as long as I can shower first."
He chuckled but agreed to my simple request.
The hot water felt wonderful on my tired body. I was tempted to stay in the shower longer than necessary, but my husband waiting for me in bed was even more tempting. After drying off and dressing in a sleep shirt, I hurried back to the bedroom feeling much better.
Carlisle was in his pajamas and waiting for me, but he was sitting on the edge instead of already lying down. He had my hairbrush in his hand and looked at me expectantly as he silently asked for permission. I smiled and nodded before going over to sit between his legs. Having him brush my hair was extremely relaxing, and I hummed in contentment many times. Once he was finished, he pushed my hair to one side and trailed kisses from my shoulder, up my neck, ending behind my ear which made me shiver. I would have wanted to attach him if my body wasn't so tired, but crawling into bed together was incredibly appealing even without our favorite nighttime activities.
"I love you," I sighed as I laid my head against Carlisle's chest. He wrapped his arm around me and pulled me closer to him as he kissed my head.
"I love you, too, sweetheart. How was your day?"
I chuckled because he had been home almost the whole day, and our days were very similar, but I knew he was asking more about my feelings.
"It was good. I guess just easier than I expected, not that it was easy because I am worn out. I'm just surprised at Emmett and how he didn't have a problem with Rosalie and Jasper being here. Did you talk to him?" I was glad I had remembered to ask him because it was still making me feel guilty. I hated that my son's feelings had slipped my mind.
"I talked to him a little bit before breakfast yesterday and then Carmen, Eleazar, and I casually mentioned why we were moving things into the house. I think he understood enough, but you should have seen him this morning. He was so excited to wake up and see that Jasper was here." He smiled at the memory, and I smiled, too, but I wasn't sure if it met my eyes.
"Hey," Carlisle said softly. "Don't feel guilty about not saying anything to Emmett. You were needed with Rosalie and Jasper at the hospital. I promise Emmett is okay."
I shook my head and smiled again. Carlisle knew me better than anyone else, so it wasn't really surprising that he knew what I was feeling.
"There's a real smile," he said and kissed my forehead. "You're already Super Mommy, but you shouldn't expect yourself to be able to do everything. We're a team, and we always have each other's back, right?"
"Right," I chuckled. "But if I'm a superhero, does that make you one, too?"
He laughed quietly and shrugged his shoulders. "I guess I could be, but I'm not wearing any tights. Corin tried to convince me to the last time they were here, but that's not happening."
"Fair enough," I said and couldn't prevent a yawn from escaping.
"I think it's time to sleep," Carlisle said and turned out the lamp. "There's no telling what time we'll have to wake up tomorrow, and I want to enjoy sleeping beside you for as long as I can."
"I think I like that idea," I said and snuggled closer.
"Goodnight, sweetheart," he whispered and kissed my head. "I love you so much."
I didn't want to go to sleep after just a kiss on the head, so I leaned up to capture his lips with mine. Our lips immediately molded together as they moved in a familiar dance that ended much too quickly.
I sighed as my head went to its original resting place. Falling asleep in the arms of my husband was the perfect way to end the day. Our new life seemed to be taking shape without many issues, and I was excited and a little nervous to experience whatever God had to throw at us next.
A/N: Well, this week is finals week. So if I survive, there should be an update this weekend or possibly next Monday!
Thanks for being patient, and I hope you enjoyed the chapter!