Thank you very much for all the sweet reviews and congratulations!

Also, thank you to everyone who voted in the Hopeless Romantic Awards. Rosalie placed in the Best Kid category, and it means so much to know that you love her as much as I do! =)

A million thanks to my beta MelissaMargaret for making this pretty.

Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight, these characters, or this poem.

The Answer (to an adopted child)

Not flesh of my flesh

Nor bone of my bone,

But still miraculously

My own.

Never forget

For a single minute:

You didn't grow under my heart

But in it.

Esme POV

I had forgotten how much fun we had when Shelley Cope visited. When she was around I didn't see just a social worker. She was a woman who truly cared about our family, and I assumed it was the same with every other case family. Although, I had a feeling she didn't spend her free time with other families as she did with ours.

"Esme, I don't see how you aren't completely exhausted right now," Shelley huffed as she collapsed next to me on the couch. "My girls are two years apart, but I don't remember it ever being this crazy when they were young."

I chuckled. "That's the difference. You had girls. Welcome to the land of little boys."

Said boys were currently running around the room chasing each other. Their squeals were loud – too loud for indoors – but we really didn't have many options. The cold and wet weather wasn't suitable for playing outdoors.

"You have a little girl too," she reminded me. "She doesn't control her brothers?"

"Oh no," I said, shaking my head. "Rosalie would rather do her own thing when the boys are being crazy like this. She likes quiet."

"She's such a sweet girl. I think she's gotten even sweeter since I was last here. Are you feeding her straight sugar for every meal?"

"Now that would make her as crazy as her brothers," I said, and she laughed. "No, Rosalie's always been my sweet little girl, but she's stubborn, too. Forget terrible twos. We're about to enter the trying threes."

Carlisle and I often felt we were strange for wanting our children to push their boundaries. But in our eyes, when any of them misbehaved, it just showed how comfortable and adjusted they were in their home. There were never any serious behavior problems, but Rosalie and Jasper had started exerting their wills and testing us as they grew and developed.

Today, though, Rosalie was her usual sweet self as she played on the floor beside Mary Randall. It had taken all morning and part of the afternoon, but she was finally comfortable enough to sit by our adoption lawyer and show off her baby dolls.

As if she knew we were talking about her, Rosalie skipped over to stand in front of me.

"Mommy, I go upstairs, kay?" She rushed her words as she turned quickly, but I caught her arm and gently pulled her back to me.

"Wait, wait, wait. What are you gonna do upstairs, you sly little thing?" I tickled her belly, and she shrieked with laughter.

"Mommy…mommy…no more teedo. Peas. Peas, Mommy." She begged, but she didn't try to stop me. Her laugh was just too precious, and I wanted to hear it for a few more seconds.

"But what if I want to teedo you? You're just so ticklish." She laughed some more until I finally stopped. I pulled her into my lap, kissing the top of her head as she calmed.

"Now, Miss Rosalie, why were you going upstairs so fast, hmm?"

"Mommy, my baby doll upstairs," she explained.

"But you're holding your baby." Her favorite doll was still the little pink one Carmen had given her at the hospital. She had several newer ones, but that was the one she always carried around.

"No, lady play with purple baby doll."

Mary gasped, and I looked over at her with a smile.

"You're going to play with Ms. Mary?" I asked, and when she nodded, I let her go. I wasn't going to give her the opportunity to change her mind. This was big.

"Wow," Shelley breathed. "I remember when Rosalie finally showed me her baby dolls. I think you just made a new friend, Mary."

"All I've been doing is talking to her," Mary protested. "I haven't even tried to hold her or anything. She doesn't usually do this, does she, Esme?"

I shook my head as I processed this development. "No, she doesn't. She's never warmed up to someone this quickly since I met her."

"How careful should I be? I don't want to scare her or anything."

"If she was fine with what you were doing before, you don't have to act differently," I assured her. "She won't do anything she's not comfortable with, believe me. Stubborn, remember?"

My teasing relaxed everyone again, and I was able to take a deep breath. I wasn't sure how I had imagined things would progress now for Rosalie, but it hadn't been like this. The reality was better, though. It made sense that Rosalie would become comfortable around other people, not stopping at our family. And after all, these were women visiting us today who had been here before. If she had been comfortable around strange men, that would have been surprising. This was normal, or so I told myself.

By the time Rosalie returned, I was over my shock and had a genuine smile on my face.

She held up the other doll she brought down. "See, Mommy? I gots this baby."

"I see that, sweet girl," I said with a nod. "Thank you for sharing so nicely with Ms. Mary."

She grinned and walked back over to sit on the floor. I watched them carefully as they played. Rosalie made her boundaries very clear, sitting a small distance away from Mary and not touching her. Even without any contact, this was amazing.

"So," Shelley's voice broke me from my thoughts, "are you excited about tomorrow? On second thought, that might be a ridiculous question."

"Just a bit ridiculous," I agreed. "But, yes. I can't even begin to tell you how excited we are."

In less than twenty-four hours, Rosalie and Jasper would legally be our children. It was a day we had been waiting on for almost ten months, so of course we were excited. I couldn't wait to sign the new birth certificates, making it no different than if I had given birth to them.

Shelley reached over and grabbed my hand, squeezing it with hers. "They're already yours, though. They have been since the moment I met them."

"We know," I said, nodding. "This just makes it more real. The security is important for them, and even though they feel safe now, this is permanent. And they'll finally have our last name."

"This year, you're adding three Cullens to mix," she mused.

I hummed and rubbed my belly. Pumpkin seemed to be sleeping now after having an active morning. Just last week, I had finally felt the little fluttering, or quickening, as the baby moved. I vaguely remembered the sensation from when I was pregnant with Emmett, but not even the memory prepared me for how amazing it felt. Pumpkin was alive, thriving, and flipping around. Being able to feel provided so much relief.

Thankfully, this pregnancy hadn't done anything to derail Rosalie and Jasper's adoption. Some of our paperwork had to be changed, but there was no reason for the adoption to not be finalized smoothly. Mary and Shelley had both assured us of this last week over the phone and again today after they arrived. I had a feeling we would probably go over it again once Carlisle returned from work.

"Do either of you need anything?" I asked, suddenly feeling like a poor hostess.

"I'm fine, dear," Shelley assured me. "You need to rest anyway. Those were your husband's orders."

I rolled my eyes, making them both laugh. "He knew I wouldn't nap today. This is also the land of overprotective husband."

"But you have to love it," Mary argued. "I've never seen a man love quite how your husband loves you and your kids."

I smiled. "Oh, of course I love it. His love is the one thing I could never doubt."

And I really couldn't. Carlisle loved me, and it was his love that made him so protective. I couldn't fault him for that no matter how annoying it could be. Just because I skipped one nap didn't put me at risk for passing out from exhaustion. But he really was trying to do what was best for me and the baby, so I tried to listen with minimal fuss.

"I have been resting all afternoon," I defended quickly. "My bottom is best friends with this couch by now. I was going to get a snack for the kids anyway, so are you sure you don't need anything?"

They both replied negatively again, so I headed to the kitchen and made a small snack for the kids. I brought it to them, making them all sit down to eat and drink. With a movie on to hold their attention, the noise level in the room decreased drastically, and we were able to have some adult conversation without interruptions.

When Carlisle came home, he spent a few minutes with the kids and then joined us on the couch so we could go over the final preparations for the next day.

"Tomorrow will be similar to two years ago when we did this with Emmett," Shelley explained. "You need to be at the courthouse at ten, and we'll meet with the judge then. It shouldn't take very long at all."

"You have a different judge this time, though," Mary brought up. "She's just as nice and very efficient, and the kids should be comfortable around her. You'll sign the papers and that should be all. And then we'll have lunch or whatever else I'm assuming your mother has planned."

Carlisle chuckled. "Carmen has more than lunch planned. It's definitely another party, and everyone is invited. She will have more than enough to feed everyone, so please don't even think of skipping. She will hunt you down."

They both promised they would be there, and congratulated us again before leaving.

The kids had fallen asleep while watching TV, so I turned it off and let them be while I enjoyed some time with my husband.

"C'mere," he whispered as he pulled me down to sit in his lap. I gladly snuggled into his arms and pulled a blanket over us. "How was your day with the ladies?"

"We had fun," I said, laughing softly. "I think they're exhausted after four hours with us."

"They were here that long?"

I nodded and shrugged. "They both had the day off, and Shelley's girls were at school. I think they like it here, and the kids had fun. Rose even made a new friend."

"Did she?" he asked, kissing my temple. "Who?"

"Ms. Randall. They played with baby dolls. I've never seen her adjust to someone so quickly."

"That's our girl," he said, his voice taking the same proud tone as mine. "She's growing up fast, huh?"

"A little too fast. Is it wrong that I want her to depend on us? I mean, I want her to recover and grow to be everything she can be, but I love how she is in our home. She's so sweet and needs us. Maybe I shouldn't think that way."

He pulled back slightly and turned my face to see his. "No, sweetheart. I think it's fine to think that way. We just want her to be our baby girl forever, and I don't think we're the only parents with those thoughts.

"But now we have Pumpkin," he said as he rubbed my belly. "The timing seemed weird at first, but it's perfect. Rosalie and the boys may be getting older, but we have this baby now, too. The best of both worlds."

"I love you." It was the only response I could think of to convey how I felt. Somehow Carlisle also managed to understand what I was feeling and know just what to say to make it better.

"I love you too, Esme. I missed you today." He leaned forward, bringing his lips to mine, and I eagerly returned the kiss. As much as I loved reunions, I was ready for the day when he didn't have to go to work so early and not stay as late as he usually did.

Carlisle soon deepened the kiss, making me sigh. We had kissed many times before, but that didn't make it boring. Instead, he knew exactly what I loved and how to get me worked up. It didn't take much these days thanks to second trimester hormones, but I regretfully had to slow the kiss down.

"Sorry," I said breathlessly. "We don't have time right now."

He sighed and rested his forehead against mine. "I know. Later?"

I nodded and kissed his cheek. "Later."

We didn't let the kids nap much longer, and even though they were cranky for a while, it made an early bedtime possible. With them in bed, Carlisle and I had plenty of later time to ourselves.

The only negative thing about an early bedtime was an early morning. My sleep was deep and peaceful until the bed started moving. The jarring movement continued for a few minutes before finally stopping.

"Mommy…Mommy…Mommy…Mommy…"

"Yeah, Em?" I whispered.

"Mommy, we're jumpin' on your bed," he whispered back loudly before dissolving into a fit of giggles.

I hummed to acknowledge him, but I really didn't want to be awake.

"Mommy, why yous eyes closed?" Jasper.

I turned my head, opening my eyes just enough to see the clock. I groaned internally as I saw the time and rolled my head back to its comfortable spot on my pillow.

"Because Mommy doesn't open her eyes before six o'clock."

"Kay. Whassa a'clock?"

I sighed and reached up to rub my eyes. I might have wanted some more sleep, but that wasn't going to happen.

I finally opened my eyes and glanced at my surroundings. Emmett was spread out in the center of the bed trying to make snow angels, or quilt angels in this case. Jasper, however, was lying beside me, watching me with a smile on his face.

"Good morning, sweet boy," I said, smiling back at him. He scooted closer until he was touching me, and I wrapped my arm around him.

It was impossible to be annoyed about the early morning wakeup when the only thing my son wanted was to cuddle with me. And this morning, I didn't think I could be annoyed about anything. Today was special, and we were going to enjoy it no matter what.

Emmett rolled over to cuddle with us, and he was much calmer than before. Usually, he was the late sleeper and was never awake to cuddle while we were still in bed. This was nice.

With the boys happily snuggled to my sides, I turned to look at Carlisle. I wasn't all that surprised to see that Rosalie was here too. She smiled at me but didn't move from her spot beside her daddy, not that I expected her to.

I reached over and ran my fingers through Carlisle's hair until he began stirring. His arms reflexively hugged Rosalie, but his head turned toward me. When his eyes opened, he smiled.

"Morning, sweetheart," he mumbled. "Are we having a sleepover?"

"Something like that," I agreed with a giggle. "But I don't think they spent the night with us. Did you boys sleep all night in your bed?"

They both smiled and nodded proudly, and we praised them for the seemingly minor accomplishment that definitely wasn't minor in our family.

Jasper had slowly transitioned out of our bed so that he was now staying all night in his bed most of the time. The process had been gradual, so much so that we almost didn't notice until he went for days at a time without waking and climbing in bed with us. Carlisle and I were thrilled with his progress, especially because we knew if Jasper continued to stay in our bed, he wouldn't be sleeping much once Pumpkin was born. He was such a light sleeper that I didn't doubt the baby would still disturb him even with the doors separating our rooms.

For now, we could enjoy the morning as a family of five with no disturbances. As active as the boys had already been, they had no complaints about lying in bed for a few extra minutes, giving Carlisle and I time to fully wake.

Eventually we had to drag ourselves downstairs and feed our hungry children.

I wanted the whole day to be special, so for breakfast I made heart-shaped blueberry pancakes. We also had special little containers of Valentine's Day candy waiting at the table for the kids as well as small stuffed animals. They loved them, but they loved my dozen roses from Carlisle even more. I wasn't sure how he managed to surprised me with flowers for nearly every special occasion, but I didn't question it. I did give one to each of the kids, earning me many hugs in thanks.

After breakfast, we wiped down the kitchen and the kids before lounging around together in the family room. Since we ate so early, there was really no reason for us to dress to leave. We had a couple of hours to watch TV and talk to the kids about what we would be doing.

Carlisle and I had already explained that it was a special day. We told them what would be happening, but we didn't really go into the details. In Rosalie and Jasper's minds, we were already their parents and we had been since day one. That was our view as well, but it didn't make the day any less special.

Emmett didn't remember his adoption, not that we expected him to, really. As far as we knew, he couldn't remember a time without Carlisle in his life, and we were very thankful for that. We hoped Rosalie and Jasper would be the same way.

Enough time passed for us to start getting ready, so Carlisle and I split the kids. He took Emmett and Rosalie, and I took Jasper. Their clothes were already laid out, so it wouldn't be too difficult.

Carmen had designed long-sleeved t-shirts for all of us for the special day. Rosalie had a white one with a pink "Sister" appliqué on the front, and Emmett and Jasper's were the same but with "Brother" in blue. Carlisle's had "Daddy" in green, and my "Mommy" was in purple along with a tiny red heart right over my belly for Pumpkin. We didn't usually dress this casually for something important, but I loved our shirts. We were a family, and our clothing made sure everyone knew.

Upstairs, Jasper was cooperative as I placed him on the bed to dress him and comb his hair. His face held a pensive look, though, so I sat on the bed and pulled him into my lap before he could leave the room.

"What's up, bud?" I asked, running my fingers through his blonde curls.

"What we doin'?" he whispered as he reached up to grab onto some of my hair.

He was nervous which showed that our earlier explanations weren't enough to ease his mind about the day. I took a moment to think of what I could say to make him feel better but not confuse him.

"Well…we're going to see a lady so Daddy and I can sign some papers and then we're going to eat at Nana's house."

"You signs yours name?"

I nodded. "Mmhmm. Daddy will sign his name, and I'll sign my name." Just then, I thought of a way to explain in a way he could maybe understand.

"What's your name, buddy?" I asked, trying to show simple, honest curiosity.

"Jasper," he said slowly.

"Jasper what?"

"Jasper Wilim Cul-len."

"That's right, sweet boy," I said, hugging him tightly. "You're Jasper William Cullen. And today, Daddy and I are going to sign papers that say you are Jasper William Cullen and that I'm your mommy and Daddy is your daddy forever."

He turned and looked up at me. "Forever?" he asked as a wide smile formed on his face.

"Forever and ever," I confirmed, knowing how much he liked the word. "We're going to sign papers that say that you and Rosalie are ours and these papers won't let anyone take you away from us no matter what."

His grin fell slightly. "What bout Em?"

I felt the tears forming in my eyes, but I willed them away. I loved seeing how much our children cared and looked out for each other. It completely melted my heart, but Jasper seemed to do that on a daily basis.

"We already signed the papers for Em," I explained. "Now it's time for us to sign them for you and Rosalie. And when the baby is born, Daddy and I will sign a paper for Pumpkin too."

Providing a clear explanation was easier than I had thought it would be. We had several papers to sign today, including birth certificates, and we would of course sign one when Pumpkin was born. In this way, our children really were all the same no matter when the certificate was signed. The thought made me smile as much as Jasper's own smile did.

"Feel better?" I asked, and he nodded. "Good. Now, let's go find everyone else so I can get dressed."

He jumped out of my lap, but placed his hands on either side of my face to stop me from standing.

"Mommy, we have cake at Nana house?"

I laughed and hugged him tightly as I placed kisses all over his face. He giggled and threw his arms around my neck. When my assault was over, I stood and shifted him to my hip.

"Yes, my sweet boy. We will definitely be having cake at Nana's house."

He nodded and laid his head against my shoulder. "Kay. Love you, Mommy."

"I love you, too, Jasper. So much," I said, kissing the top of his head.

We found the rest of the family in the master bedroom. Carlisle had Rosalie and Emmett occupied on the bed with a large book while he dressed in the bathroom. I sat Jasper beside them and joined Carlisle in the bathroom.

"An encyclopedia, huh?" I asked as I leaned against the counter. "Starting them early?"

He chuckled as he finished combing his hair and then turned to face me. "It's a children's encyclopedia. They like the pictures, and I like the peace. At least it wasn't a medical journal."

I laughed with him and reached out to wrap my arms around his waist. He pulled me close and held me. I would miss this once my belly grew. I loved feeling every part of my body touch his. Carlisle could make me feel so loved, just with a simple hug. We didn't need grand gestures even though we indulged in those quite often, like the new diamond earrings I would be wearing today and the new cologne Carlisle was wearing.

"You smell good," I confessed as I buried my nose into his shirt.

"Oh, is that why I received this gift? So you could smell me all the time?"

I went along with his teasing and nodded. "Of course. I might never leave this spot."

He rubbed my back and kissed my head. "Fine by me, sweetheart, but I think we have somewhere to be pretty soon."

I had to agree, and even though I didn't want to move, I did so I could dress.

My hair and make-up only took a few minutes, and it took even less time to slip on my t-shirt and denim skirt. When I joined everyone in the bedroom, I had to smile. I loved every chance we had to match, and today was no different. Our family t-shirts provided a lovely visual, and I couldn't wait to see the pictures that would be taken.

"Mommy," Rosalie called as soon as she saw me. She jumped off the bed, nearly giving me a heart-attack in the process, and ran over. "Mommy, you make my hair petty, peas?"

Once my heart slowed, I picked her up, holding her in front of me as I made eye contact. "Baby, be careful. Can you please get off the bed nicely without jumping next time?"

She nodded and placed her hands on my face like Jasper had earlier. "Kay, Mommy. No jump."

"Thank you very much," I said, giving her lips a quick peck before carrying her into the bathroom.

I sat her on the counter and worked my magic until part of her hair was pulled back in a large, pink hair bow – just how she liked it. She studied herself in the mirror before nodding her approval.

She started to stand on the counter, so I helped her and held on to her waist as she twirled in front of the mirror. Her bright pink and white tulle skirt was perfect for twirling. Carmen had made it for our special day, and coupled with Rosalie's "sister" shirt, leggings, and pink sparkly shoes, it was adorable.

I let her twirl for another minute before placing her on the floor and telling her to go show her daddy.

Once everyone was dressed and ready to go, Carlisle and I herded them to the van.

The drive to the courthouse didn't take long, but with my anxious anticipation, it felt like a few hours instead of a few minutes.

Walking into the courthouse, a sense of déjà vu came over me. The day was very similar to when we came for Carlisle to adopt Emmett. We waited in the lobby for our family to arrive, and after a few minutes we had the place filled. Carmen and Eleazar, Peter and Charlotte with Sara Beth, Liam and Siobhan, Maggie and Ben – they were all here, and their support still meant the world to us. Shelley Cope and Mary Randall were present as well, and even though technically they were here in a professional capacity, we knew they personally supported us regardless.

Rosalie and Jasper weren't as afraid as I had expected, but I had expected the worst. They were obviously nervous and wouldn't leave our arms, but it was manageable. Being surrounded by familiar people helped, at least until we were called back to meet with the judge.

In the room, Carlisle and I had to sit right in front of the judge while our family and friends sat behind us. I knew Rosalie and Jasper didn't like to be the center of attention, and Emmett didn't either. That left us with three very anxious children who were trying to hide themselves against us.

The judge was a middle-aged woman with a nice smile, and she made me feel at ease right away.

"We'll make this quick," the judge assured us. "I promise to have you out of here in less than thirty minutes, provided you've been practicing your signatures."

"Carlisle's an expert, but you might not be able to read his handwriting. I'm almost positive there's a special penmanship class in medical school just for doctors."

Everyone laughed at my joke which eased some of the tension in the room.

As the judge promised, we finished quickly. Mary Randall had thoroughly explained everything already, so we knew exactly what to do and where to sign. The last documents for us to sign were their new birth certificates. Tears streamed down my cheeks as I signed my name in the spaces marked as "mother," and Carlisle's eyes also filled with tears as he signed in the "father" spaces.

The rest of our time with the judge passed quickly, and after a loud round of cheers and congratulations, we were ready to go. It had taken less than half an hour, as the judge had said, but those thirty minutes were some of the most important in our lives.

Rosalie and Jasper were now our children, and in the eyes of the law, it was no different than if Carlisle and I had conceived them. The relief was so strong, and once we were in the car on our way to Carmen and Eleazar's house, all the previous anxiety just melted away. Now our family was in no danger of being torn apart for any reason, not that the danger was present before. Having those papers just made it official and provided a feeling of calm security I didn't even know we had been missing.

Carmen once again threw a lovely party. Everyone remained a bit teary at first, but we were all soon laughing and enjoying ourselves as we always did. Carmen's theme for the party was a mix of Valentine's Day and a celebration of family, and it was perfect. There was plenty of delicious food as well as a large cake which the kids loved.

The guests gradually left but not before they all congratulated us once more. We were very blessed to have so many people in our lives who cared about us.

After the party remnants were cleared away, we sat down together to use the webcam to talk to the rest of our family who hadn't been able to make the trip. Kate, Garrett, and the kids would be down in the summer as would Chelsea and Alec. Getting time off was easier in the summer, and they really wanted to be here when the baby was born. We didn't blame them at all. Their long distance support was enough for today.

The rest of the day was like a normal day for us. But really nothing was different. Carlisle and I were Rosalie and Jasper's parents, and we had been since the moment we met them. We didn't need papers to tell us. It was something we knew in our hearts, and they knew it in theirs too. This day wouldn't stand out as special to them, and if it did, it would probably only be remembered for the chocolate cake. That was fine with us because their lives hadn't changed. If anything, the papers we signed assured that their lives would always be like this. They would always be with us, and we would always be their parents. Forever, as Jasper liked to understand it.

With the adoption complete, our attention shifted to the next family celebration – Rosalie and Jasper's third birthday.

Based on their reactions at Emmett's party, I assumed this would be the first birthday party ever thrown for them. I put a lot of pressure on myself to make it perfect, but I knew it would be worth it in the end.

I wasn't the only one involved in the planning, though. Carlisle wanted to help with anything he could. During his time-off from work, we shopped together for gifts and party supplies. Carlisle's input was great, and we were able to incorporate all of his idea except one. I had to convince him that having a piñata for toddlers wasn't the best idea. The idea of Emmett trying to hit things with a stick just didn't seem like it would end well.

Carmen was a huge help as well. She shopped with me until I found the perfect birthday outfits for my babies. We loved the chosen outfits, as did Carlisle, and I hoped Rosalie and Jasper would too.

With everyone's help, the party preparations were completed without giving me any extra stress, not that I could have been stressed out if I wanted to be. Carlisle made sure I rested and let others help me, and by now he had Carmen and Eleazar backing him up wholeheartedly. I wasn't going to complain, though. They were a bit overbearing at times, but the evidence was clear. My pregnancy was very easy so far even with me chasing around my active children. I almost couldn't remember what it was like to be pregnant without all the support.

The night before the party, everything was set and ready to go at Carmen and Eleazar's house, and my rest was worry free and peaceful – at least until I was woken by a touch against my belly. I almost turned to get away from the tickling feeling until my mind registered Carlisle's soft voice.

"…Today's your brother and sister's birthday party. They turn three years old tomorrow. You'll get go to their party next year, and you'll have your own party too. But you won't miss Emmett's party. By then, you'll be out of Mommy's belly for us to hold and play with. Don't worry about that, though. You stay in there and grow so you'll be big and strong. I love you so much, Pumpkin."

He finished by placing three kisses on my belly and rubbing it once more. I reached down and ran my fingers through his hair, showing him that I was awake.

"Good morning, sweetheart," he whispered. "Sorry if I woke you."

I shrugged and smiled. I was used to it by now. Every morning, night, and sometimes in the afternoon, Carlisle chatted with Pumpkin. No matter how used to it I was, tears still filled my eyes. Few things were better than seeing the evidence of Carlisle's love for our baby.

"Should we wake the kids up or let them sleep?" he asked. I was surprised that Jasper wasn't awake yet, but I didn't want to question why. I wanted to take advantage of the rare time alone with my husband.

"Let them sleep," I suggested with a coy smile. "We can make breakfast alone together."

Carlisle jumped out of bed and came across to my side to lift me into his arms. I laughed as he carried me to the bathroom, and then once we finished our morning routine, I was still laughing as he carried me downstairs.

"Like that idea, did you?" I teased as he lowered me to my feet in the kitchen.

"It's a fantastic idea, sweetheart," he agreed, cupping my face in his hands to kiss me.

Somehow, breakfast did get finished, but it was a challenge. Our playful touches and kisses were very distracting in all the best ways. I almost over-cooked the bacon, and Carlisle barely took the cinnamon rolls out of the oven in time, but we managed. The kitchen was a mess by the time we finished, but I would gladly clean any mess if that meant having fun with my husband.

Once breakfast was on the table, we couldn't wait any longer to wake our little ones, so we headed back upstairs. Carlisle went to wake Rosalie while I took care of the boys.

As I walked into their room, everything was quiet. I approached the bed cautiously but smiled as soon as I saw that Jasper was already awake.

"Good morning, birthday boy," I whispered as I knelt beside the bed. "I didn't know you were awake."

He yawned as he rolled toward me and held his arms out. I gladly took him into my arms and hugged him tightly, swaying us back and forth slowly to help him wake.

"Hi, Mommy," he mumbled into my hair. "I a birday?"

I chuckled as I kissed his head before pushing him forward slightly so I could see his face. "It is your birthday, sweet boy. You're three-years-old today. Are you excited?"

He grinned, but I wasn't sure if he really understood or not. By tonight, there would be no room for confusion, though. He and Rosalie were going to find out exactly how special their birthday would always be.

A soft noise alerted me, and when I looked up, I found Carlisle standing in the doorway with Rosalie in his arms. She seemed to be holding onto her last bit of sleep as she yawned and rubbed her eyes.

I stood with Jasper and walked over to them. Jasper reached for Carlisle, so we traded, giving me a chance to love on my girl.

"Happy birthday, Rosalie," I said as I pulled her into my arms. "Are you a sleepy-head this morning?"

She nodded and placed her head on my shoulder, obviously not ready to be conversing.

After Carlisle woke Emmett and he received all his morning hugs and kisses, we went downstairs for breakfast.

As a special treat, I put sprinkles on the kids' cinnamon rolls which they loved. The extra sugar definitely woke them up, and once they finished eating, we wiped them off quickly so they could run around the family room for a while.

The running didn't help much, though, and I felt sorry for Carlisle since it was his day to dress the boys. Rosalie was a bit calmer than they were, plus she was excited about wearing her new birthday dress.

The pink gingham dress with smocked cupcakes around the neck was the perfect birthday dress, and Rosalie loved it as much as I thought she would.

"Mommy, I has a pink dress for my day, right?"

"That's right, sweet girl," I said with a nod as I attempted to work around her twirling as I fixed her hair.

"Mommy, it a cake dress like we gonna eat, right?"

"You are very right. You and Jasper each have a birthday cake, and you'll get to blow out the candles before we eat them."

"It J's day too, right?" She turned to look up at me, but luckily, I had just secured her hair bow.

"Right again," I said, leaning down to give her a kiss. "You two have a special day that's all yours."

She smiled brightly and returned to her twirling.

While she occupied herself, I readied myself and then went to find the boys. Carlisle had them downstairs on the couch with a video playing. They were unmoving for the first time since breakfast, so I was almost afraid to say anything.

Rosalie skipped over to sit beside Jasper, and I had to get my camera to take a picture of them. Jasper birthday outfit consisted of a white shirt with little blue gingham overalls that had smocked birthday frogs on the front. Together, they were absolutely adorable. And with Emmett beside Jasper in his matching shorts and t-shirt, my view was beyond adorable. They loved posing for pictures, so I made sure to capture many memories.

A few minutes later, Carlisle came downstairs, and we were ready to leave.

We were the first to arrive at Carmen and Eleazar's house, and Carmen rushed us in so she could show the decorations to the kids. They loved all the streamers and balloons, but the biggest squeals occurred once they saw the items waiting in the dining room. They each had a separate theme for the plates, napkins, and other things, and we had done a good job selecting them.

"Daddy, see the princesses?" Rosalie exclaimed as she bounced in Carlisle's arms. "Princesses everywhere!" Her smile was huge and definitely worth every moment of planning.

"I do see them, sweetheart," Carlisle said, chuckling. "So many princesses."

I took Jasper over to the other side of the table where his Cars supplies were. "See your Cars, buddy?" I asked as I pointed everything out. He wasn't as vocal as Rosalie, but his smile and enthusiastic nod were enough to show his feelings.

The usual suspects soon arrived until everyone was present and accounted for. At this point, Rosalie and Jasper were used to our group of friends and family, and we didn't have to worry about fear or anxiety. The house was loud and full, but more than that, it was happy. We were all thrilled to celebrate Rosalie and Jasper and how much they had grown and accomplished in a year.

Carmen and Eleazar fed us well, and after lunch, our challenge was to keep the kids occupied. None of the adults were ready to eat cake yet, but the colorful icing seemed to be begging for little fingers to take samples.

Finally after half an hour of chasing the little ones around the den, Carlisle and I declared that it was time for cake. Carlisle held Rosalie, and I held Jasper as we stood at the end of the table in front of their cakes. We sang "Happy Birthday," making sure to include both of their names, and they each blew out their three candles without any help from us.

We set the kids up with cake and bibs. They didn't wear bibs often, but it was a smart decision today. Based on the way they were eating, the icing would have ruined their birthday outfits, and I wanted to have them as keepsakes.

After many slices of cake, many pictures, and many napkins, we returned to the den for Rosalie and Jasper to open their gifts. They understood eating cake but still didn't quite grasp the concept of receiving gifts.

Carlisle and I sat on the floor with them and passed them each a gift.

"Go ahead, guys," I encouraged. "You can open them."

Rosalie made the first move, slowly tearing the paper from her gift until she could clearly see her new princess things. Jasper needed a little more encouragement, but after a couple gifts, they were both unwrapping like professionals.

We had them thank everyone when they finished unwrapping all of their toys and clothes, and as they went around the room giving selective hugs and high-fives, Emmett jumped down from Carmen's lap and came over to me.

"What's the matter, monkey?" I asked, noticing his sullen expression.

He stuck his bottom lip out in a pout and collapsed into my lap, mumbling something I didn't understand.

"What wrong, Em?" I asked again as I rubbed his back.

He turned to look up at me with his pout still in place, but I could see hurt in his eyes as well. "Mommy, why I nots get any presents?"

"Because it's not your birthday today," I explained softly. "Remember your birthday party? Rosalie and Jasper didn't get any presents then."

"But I want to play, too!"

"I know you do, sweet boy, but I'm sure Rosalie and Jasper will share with you."

The hurt faded from his eyes, and his pout slowly turned to a smile. "Really?"

"Go play with Daddy and Jasper now," I suggested as I kissed his forehead. "They're opening something fun."

Emmett quickly turned and after seeing I was right, left my lap to go sit in the floor by Jasper. My prediction was correct, and Jasper immediately asked his brother to play with him.

The incident was minor and no one else noticed, but it was a big step for Emmett. Jealousy and sharing were daily issues in our house and usually caused a breakdown or tantrum before they were resolved. I knew better than to believe this would be our new normal, but it was good progress. Hopefully the threes and fours wouldn't be so bad.

When the party was over, I rested on the couch as Carlisle helped Carmen clean and Eleazar entertained the kids by putting together their new play house. It was their big gift from Carlisle and me, and we planned to put it on our front porch so they would have something to do when Carlisle and I wanted to sit outside. We weren't going to assemble it until we were home, but Eleazar volunteered to both assemble and take it to our house later. The kids were excited about playing in it, so we approved his plan.

Carlisle joined me on the couch a few minutes later, no doubt after being kicked out of Carmen's kitchen.

"We did good, didn't we?" he asked, placing his arm around me and kissing my cheek.

I snuggled close and nodded. "I don't think we could have done better."

We sat quietly and watched the kids run around and have fun. Rosalie and Jasper hadn't stopped smiling all day, and apart from the few minutes of sulking, Emmett hadn't either.

I was sure we had given the twins a birthday to remember while showing them how much we loved them. So many things would soon be changing in our family, but that never would. We would always love them and be so thankful they were in our family.

We might have missed their first two birthdays, but we would definitely be there for all the ones in the future.

A/N: Pictures for this chapter are posted on my profile.

I hope you enjoyed the chapter! Feel free to let me know what you think and receive a teaser in return. =)