Thank you so much for the great reviews and for remaining patient while school slowly kills me. But slow updates are better than no updates at all, right? ;)
And thank you to my awesome beta MelissaMargaret who makes these massive chapters look pretty even though she's busy too.
Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight or these characters.
Esme POV
"Piggy tails, Mommy. Peas."
Rosalie held out her hair brush, two hair ties, and two blue hair bows that matched her little sundress. I smiled as she excitedly passed them to me, but I stopped her before she could turn around.
"Please?" I asked, gently correcting her. We didn't usually go out of our way to correct any of the kids, opting instead to speak correctly around them and wait for their speech to slowly change. But with Rosalie, she was already using L's in other words, and I really just wanted to see what she would do.
Her reaction didn't disappoint as she placed her hands on my face and looked into my eyes.
"Piggy tails, puh-lease, Mommy?" She batted her eyelashes as she gave me a sweet smile.
I chucked before leaning forward to kiss her. "I could never say 'no' to your pretty blue eyes when you ask so nicely. Climb up here, baby girl."
She climbed up beside me on the couch, and I turned from my laundry so I could reach her. She sat still as I parted her hair and brushed it into pig tails that sat right above her ears. Once they were secure, I fastened the hair bows on each side and kissed the top of her head.
I returned to my laundry folding and Rosalie soon joined me.
Carmen, Charlotte, and Kate had all nicely informed me that I was nesting. Once they pointed it out, I knew they were completely correct. I had experienced the same feelings while pregnant with Emmett, but it was worse this time. There were more spaces to clean, more laundry to wash and fold, and just more to do in general. It was impossible for me to stop until everything in the house was perfect. Of course, with a husband and three kids, that just didn't happen.
I knew better than to exhaust myself, though. Laundry was one thing I could so while sitting down which pleased me and Carlisle. As a plus, Rosalie enjoyed it too and was becoming very skilled at folding anything that was rectangular or square in shape.
"Where's Daddy?" Rosalie suddenly asked.
"He's at the new doctors' office with Peter and your brothers."
"Oh. What they doin'?"
"I think they're just sitting around like we're doing. But I don't think they're cleaning, do you?"
She wrinkled her nose and shook her head. "Em and J don't like cleanin'. They toys hurted my feet when I steppeded on them. Gived me a owwie."
"Did their legos hurt your feet?" I asked, and she nodded. "Well, we'll have to make sure they pick them up all the time. They need to be good helpers like you. You're my best little helper."
"Mommy, helpin' is fun! I make the blanket pretty." She smiled and demonstrated exactly how she made the receiving blanket pretty. Her folding skills actually weren't bad for a three year old. I would be refolding them later, but if she wanted to help me, I wasn't going to stop her.
"I see how pretty you're making that blanket," I said as I smiled. "Pumpkin will be so happy that you helped fold them. Pumpkin loves you very much."
"Mommy, is Pumpkin a pink baby or a blue baby?"
It wasn't the first time she had asked, and I knew it wouldn't be the last.
"We don't know yet, sweetheart," I told her. "When Pumpkin comes out of my belly, that's when we'll know if it's a girl or a boy."
"And I gets to hold it, right? Like my baby doll?"
I nodded. "You sure will. And if you want to, you can still be my helper girl. Okay?"
"Okay, Mommy," she said, grinning again. "I be a good helper."
"I know you will, baby. Now let's finish these blankets so we can put them away before Charlotte and Sarah Beth get here."
Once everything was folded and placed in the basket, Rosalie followed me upstairs to Pumpkin's room. She wandered around the room as I began putting the blankets away in the bins in the changing table and then the clothes in the dresser and closet.
Almost all of Pumpkin's drawers and closet were full thanks to Nana. Carmen had washed, folded, and hung up every bag of clothing she had bought. This turned the closet into a land of pink and blue, making it look like we were having twins. We definitely weren't, but Carmen had a plan. The clothes and blankets we didn't use would be donated to the children's home and other places that helped less fortunate mothers and babies. After we heard her idea, Carlisle and I immediately decided we would do the same with our extra car seat. We didn't need the money back, and we loved having an opportunity to help others.
With my back turned, I couldn't see what Rosalie was doing, and she surprised me by tugging on the bottom of my dress. I turned and smiled down at her, but I wasn't expecting to see the hurt look on her face.
"What's the matter, baby girl?" I asked, my eye brows furrowing in concern.
"Mine?" she whispered as she held a package up toward me. I took it from her and frowned once I saw what it was. She had found some of the pacifiers we had bought for the baby. I thought they were hidden well, but apparently it wasn't well enough.
"No, baby," I said softly. "These are for Pumpkin. Can you put them back for me, please?"
She took them, but hugged them close instead of putting them back. "But, Mommy…I finds them. They not lost now. Please I have one?" Her lower lip trembled as her eyes filled with tears.
Her pacifiers had been conveniently "lost" over time, and instead of saying anything, we let Rosalie adjust on her own. She had gone over a month without any pacifiers at any time. Naptime, bedtime, appointments with Siobhan, shopping trips, even visits to the hospital to see Carlisle at work – they were all pacifier-free, and we couldn't have been more proud.
But now that she had found this new package, I had some necessary damage control to take care of.
"Come sit with me, baby," I said quickly. I led her over to the chair and sat down before pulling her up beside me. She couldn't fit directly on my lap, but it didn't matter because she wanted to stand with her arms wrapped tightly around my neck.
I wrapped my arms around her just as tightly. "Don't be sad, sweetheart. You don't need these pacis because you're a big girl, right?"
She sniffled, and I felt her hot tears hit my neck.
"Oh, my sweet Rosalie. You're okay." I hummed and started rocking, shushing her softly whenever she whimpered. I hadn't expected her to be this sad, and her tears caused mine. I hated when any of my children were sad, but I tried to get my emotions under control so I could help my girl.
"Can you look at me, baby?" I whispered as I rubbed her back. She nodded and sat back slightly so she could see me. Her cheeks were wet with her tears, so I gently wiped them with my thumb. "It's okay, baby. I'm about to tell you something really, really important. Are you listening?"
She sniffled again and nodded.
"Good girl," I said, kissing her forehead. "So these pacis you found are for Pumpkin because little babies need pacis. But you're not a little bitty baby, are you?" She shook her head. "That's right. You're a big girl, and Daddy and I are so proud of you for being brave without any pacis. Now we can see your pretty smile all the time!" I kissed her cheek and blew a raspberry which made her giggle.
"Feel better now?" She nodded and laid her head against me as she sank down in the chair. If I needed more proof of her acceptance, I received it when she passed the package of pacifiers back to me without another complaint.
We rocked for a while, and I almost thought Rosalie was asleep until her head popped up.
"Mommy," she said with a smile. "Pumpkin kickeded me!" She patted the spot where her hand had been resting and giggled. "Again and again!"
I laughed. "That's because Pumpkin loves you so much and is so excited about having you for a big sister."
She scooted down and placed a kiss on my protruding belly.
It was hard to tell whether or not the kids completely understood the changes happening in our family, but little moments like this gave me hope. For now, everyone was happy, and I hoped it would stay that way forever.
"All right, sweetheart," I said as I helped her down from the chair. "Let's go wait for our lunch buddies."
I managed to stand without much effort, but as soon as I did, Rosalie lifted her arms for me. I gladly picked her up and carried her as far as the stairs. I was very thankful I could still lift the kids, but I didn't trust myself to carry them down the stairs. My balance wasn't always the best, and I wasn't about to risk our safety.
Once downstairs, I couldn't stop myself from wiping down the kitchen counters one last time before setting the table for lunch.
The doorbell rang a few minutes later, and Rosalie immediately jumped up from her spot on the foam couch.
"I think they're here," I said with a smile.
Rosalie grabbed my hand and began pulling me to the front door. I laughed but followed her, not that I had a choice. She was strong for such a little girl.
I checked to make sure Charlotte was the one at the door and opened it quickly so Rosalie wouldn't die of anticipation.
"Hi, girls!" Charlotte said, smiling brightly. "I have food and a baby for you. Which one would you like first?"
I chuckled and reached for Sarah Beth. "I'll take the baby, and I'm pretty sure Rosalie will take you."
Sarah gurgled happily as I took her into my arms, and I playfully kissed and nibbled her chubby cheeks.
"Eh-ma," she squealed, grabbing two fistfuls of my hair.
"She's so close, huh?" Charlotte commented as she picked up Rosalie and carried her and the food toward the kitchen.
"Very close," I agreed. I gently pried my hair out of Sarah's hands, and she gave me a dimpled smile. "Can you say Esme?" I asked.
"Eh-ma," she said again. It sounded more like "Emma," but for her age, it was really more than expected. She was so smart and could identify the people in her daily life with ease.
"That's right, Bethie. I'm your Esme. Now, let's go find your Rosalie."
She squealed again and bounced in my arms. Sarah had always been a happy baby, and I could only hope that Pumpkin would be happy too. We were definitely happy about having him or her in our lives.
After sitting Sarah down with Rosalie on the foam couch, I helped Charlotte set up our lunch.
"Okay. We have grilled chicken salads for us, and a chicken finger salad for my girl. Sound good?"
"Sounds amazing," I said, humming in approval. Charlotte's trip to our favorite cafe yielded salads that appeared to be perfectly fresh, and the fruit she had bought looked amazing as well.
Instead of standing and salivating over the food, I poured some glasses of lemonade and by the time I was finished, we were ready to eat.
Charlotte situated Sarah Beth into her special booster seat with a tray, and I helped Rosalie into hers. Once Rosalie said the prayer for us, I wasted no time before digging into my salad.
Eating six small meals a day was never a problem with me because I was almost always hungry. I hadn't had any weird cravings this time, but I wanted food and lots of it. Carlisle laughed at me all the time, but I wasn't offended. I knew I looked silly when I was so excited about food.
Carlisle wasn't the only one who laughed either. Now Charlotte was enjoying my show.
"You know it's not very nice to laugh at a pregnant woman, don't you?" I asked as I took a break from eating to wipe my mouth.
Charlotte laughed and shook her head. "It's not very nice, but I can't help it. How can you not get heartburn from eating like that all the time?"
"Oh, the heart burn is horrible," I insisted. "It doesn't matter what I eat, when I eat, or how fast I eat. I can't escape it. But I'm not complaining since that's the worse of my symptoms. This pregnancy has been a dream." I rubbed my belly, smiling as I felt one of Pumpkin's strong kicks.
"Other pregnant women would hate you if they knew how easy you have it," Charlotte teased.
"I know," I sighed. "But I went through everything else with Emmett. This pregnancy is my reward."
"Then please don't let me stop you from enjoying it," she said, laughing again as she gestured toward my salad.
I nodded and dug right back in.
Everyone seemed to enjoy their lunch. Charlotte even managed to eat hers while feeding Sarah a jar of baby food. It had been so long since I had had to multitask while eating since the kids all fed themselves now, so I watched my friend and tried to remember what it was like. Soon, I would be doing that again, and I worried it wouldn't come back to me right away.
"Mommy," Rosalie called, breaking me from my thoughts and my salad.
"Yeah, baby? What do you need?"
"Mommy, I like this slimey stuff," she said, pointing with her fork.
"You like the slimey stuff?" I asked, trying not to laugh. "You mean the dressing?"
She nodded. "Yeah that. And the crunchy too!"
"Croutons?"
She nodded again, faster this time. "Mmhmm, Mommy. You make this, okay?"
"Sure thing, baby girl," I said. "I'll be sure to make chicken Caesar salad for us one day." Amused, I turned to Charlotte. "I'm really not sure how she learned to eat like this."
None of the kids were really that picky. Jasper was definitely the worst but even he wasn't too bad. Still, having a three-year-old who loved salad wasn't exactly the norm.
"She just has a big girl appetite," Charlotte offered in explanation.
Rosalie immediately stopped eating and bounced in her seat.
"Charlotte, I a big girl!" she said proudly. "And I a helper girl too! You know that?"
I smiled, proud that she remembered our previous conversation. I knew we would have more to deal with once the baby was born, but the fact that Rosalie was already excited about being "big" and a helper calmed some of my worries.
"I sure did know that," Charlotte answered. "You're going to be the best big sister when Pumpkin gets here."
"Yeah, I help good," Rosalie said, reaching over to pat my belly.
"Do you want to help me with Sarah later? When we finish lunch, you can help me by playing with her."
"Okay, Charlotte!" Rosalie cheered and turned to me. "Mommy, I gets to help with the baby."
"So I've heard." I chuckled and kissed her forehead.
We all finished our lunches, and I cleared the table while Charlotte took the girls into the family room. I was tempted to scrub every surface and mop the floor, but I restrained myself. After the table had been sanitized, trash thrown away, and dishes placed in the dishwasher, I called it clean enough and joined Charlotte and the girls.
Charlotte had spread a quilt out on the floor for Sarah to crawl around on, and Rosalie was crawling around after her. I sat with Charlotte on the couch as we watched them, smiling as they giggled and squealed. Rosalie's love of babies definitely boosted my confidence.
With the girls happily occupied, Charlotte and I were able to chat and get in some much needed grown-up time. Even though we went out once a week, I was thankful for any extra time we had together. Charlotte had been through pregnancy more recently than I had, and she managed to slip in advice and encouragement in every conversation. She wasn't condescending or judgmental – just a friend trying to make anything easier for me that she could. And since she was my best friend, I felt comfortable listening to her and trying to incorporate any advice she gave me.
Somehow, we managed to let the early afternoon pass us by without noticing the time until Rosalie climbed up beside us.
"Sarah Beth's sleepin'," she explained, leaning against me.
Sure enough, Sarah had passed out on her belly in the middle of the floor. She was facing us, so we could easily see that she was sound asleep.
Charlotte laughed and shook her head. "I think that might be a sign that it's time for us to go. I'm sure Peter will appreciate us being home when he's finished."
"I can't wait to hear about the new place," I said, smiling in excitement. "Everything is happening so fast."
"I know, and I'm ready to hear about it too. Soon it will be time for you to do your job."
I shook my head. "Oh, I've already started. The color schemes have been chosen, and I have most of the waiting room furniture ordered already as well as the office furniture. I'm working on gathering artwork for the exam rooms now."
Charlotte's eyes widened for a minute before her wide smile returned. "And that's why you're in charge of the design. You're amazing."
I shrugged off her praise but I did appreciate it. I couldn't do much for the new office other than offer my design skills. Carlisle and Peter had to take care of everything else, and when they finished, they would be working there along with Charlotte. I hated feeling like I wasn't useful so I was making sure my contributions were some of my best work. Calm and inviting colors that made the patients comfortable and comfortable furniture were what I'd been hunting for, and so far I'd found almost everything I wanted.
"We should go shopping next week," I suggested. "There has to be some good kid-friendly art work for us to discover." Buying online was fine, but I also enjoyed going to actual stores and seeing the items in person.
"Sounds like a plan," Charlotte said. "Monday still good?" she asked, and I nodded. "Alrighty then, I'll call you tomorrow, okay?"
I nodded again, and she helped me stand before picking Rosalie up to give her a goodbye hug.
After Charlotte gathered all of her things, she lifted Sarah from the floor and carefully gave me a hug. I kissed Sarah's head and rubbed her back and then Rosalie and I walked them out. We stood and waved to them until they were gone, and by then, I was pretty sure I was ready for my own nap.
As we walked back inside, Rosalie yawned and rubbed her eyes. But when I commented about it being nap time, she disagreed.
"Mommy, I don't wanna nap," she whined. "Please, no nap. We play, okay?"
"How about we play when Daddy gets home?" I offered. "Mommy needs some quiet time right now. Come lie in the big bed with me."
"Be quiet time and no nap, right?" she asked, raising her eyebrow at me.
I wanted to laugh at her expression, but instead, I just nodded and took her hand to lead her upstairs.
Getting comfortable in bed was now a challenge for me, but I finally managed to find a decent position with my body pillow supporting my belly. Rosalie cuddled against me with her hand on my belly, making me smile. I kissed her head and began humming softly, knowing it was about to be nap time whether she liked it or not. A few minutes later, she was asleep, and I followed right after.
Unfortunately, Pumpkin's position against my bladder wouldn't let me nap for very long, and I groggily but carefully left the bed to head to the bathroom. After finishing and washing my hands, I knew I wouldn't be sleeping again for a while so I sat in my favorite chair and rocked as I rubbed my belly, enjoying every one of Pumpkin's kicks.
A few minutes later, I heard noise downstairs which sounded a lot like my husband and at least one of my sons. I quietly left the room and headed down to greet them.
"Mommy!" Jasper whisper-yelled as soon as he saw me. Carlisle gently shushed him, but he wasn't paying attention as he ran to me. I giggled as he hugged my legs before lifting his arms. "Mommy, can do it?"
I smiled and carefully lifted him into my arms, not wanting to miss a chance to love on my sweet boy. "Yes, I can do it, baby. I missed you so much," I said as I hugged him. "Did you have fun with Daddy and Peter?"
"Lots of fun," he confirmed, nodding quickly. "I ran round and round. Em did too and he's sleepin on Daddy."
Carlisle smiled as I looked over at him. Emmett was indeed sound asleep against Carlisle's shoulder, and I nodded my head toward the couch. Emmett could get heavy after a while, and honestly, I wanted a hug from my husband.
As Carlisle settled Emmett on the couch, I carried Jasper into the kitchen. I grabbed a bottle of water for me and a juice box for Jasper and went to sit at the table. We enjoyed our drinks as Jasper told me all about his day and soon Carlisle joined us. He added all the details of the day which helped me understand Jasper's story.
The building they were going to use as an office had to be remodeled first, and it was almost finished. The last of the drywall had finally been completed and most of the fixtures were in place. Since the area was safe again, the boys had been allowed to run around all morning and explore the new area. Hide-and-seek was also played many times, and even though I was skeptical, Carlisle assured me that he and Peter still accomplished everything they needed to for the day.
When his juice box was finished, Jasper became antsy and jumped off my lap.
"I go play now?" he asked. Even though the other kids were napping, Jasper looked wide awake.
"Yes, you may but be as quiet as you can be," I instructed.
He grinned. "Kay, Mommy. I quiet."
"Thank you, baby." I placed my hands on either side of his face and leaned over to kiss him. "I love you, Jasper."
"Love you, Mommy," he said quickly before running out of the room.
"Do I get a kiss now?" Carlisle asked, making a pouty face and patting his lap.
I rolled my eyes as I giggled and slowly stood. I sat in Carlisle's lap and threw my arms around his neck before kissing him fiercely. I knew it was more than he was expecting, but it only took a second for him to recover from the slight shock and kiss me back.
"Hi," I whispered again his lips only after we were both breathless. "I'm glad you're home."
He chuckled. "You know, I think I could tell. How was girls' day?"
"It was good," I said as I rested my head again his shoulder and neck. "I love seeing Rosalie with Sarah Beth. I'm almost positive she'll be the best big sister to Pumpkin."
"I'm sure she will," he agreed. "So where is my baby girl?"
"Napping even though she was adamantly against it. Has Jasper napped today?"
He shook his head. "Nope. He hasn't seemed tired or cranky. He'll probably crash tonight, but I guess we should just leave him alone."
"Sounds good. So what are we doing now? Alone time or playing with Jasper?"
He hummed and rubbed my legs. "Well, alone time is very tempting, but the kitchen isn't the most ideal place. And I'm guessing our bed isn't empty, is it?"
"No," I sighed. "But we should have some time tonight."
"If not, we'll make time," he insisted, kissing my forehead.
I smiled as I remembered his plan for us. We would be okay after Pumpkin entered our family because we already made sure to have time for ourselves. As long as that continued, everything would be fine.
"Now," he said, swinging my legs around to help me stand. "Let's go see what mess Jasper's creating."
I giggled and took his hand as we walked to the family room. I knew I would be tempted to clean the whole family room once I saw what toys had been dragged out, but Carlisle always made sure I was as lazy as possible once he was home. I needed to enjoy it though because our lazy times were numbered.
As my due date approached, we became busier, and the combination wasn't pleasant by any means. My body was achy and tired, but there was so much to do. Even though I loved being pregnant, the last stage was almost torturous. Thankfully, everyone took pity on me.
I wanted to help Carmen prepare for Kate and Garrett's arrival like I always did, but she managed everything on her own. She also helped me get everything ready for Chelsea and Alec. They weren't arriving until right before my due date, but I still wanted everything to be ready for them.
Kate, Garrett, and the kids flew down at the end of May and planned to stay for the rest of the summer. Just their presence made my life so much easier.
Kate was always around to help me with whatever I needed, whether it was something for the baby or watching the kids when I needed a break. The kids had their cousins to play with again, and since they were occupied, I had more time to myself. I couldn't get comfortable enough to completely relax, but it was still better than constantly chasing my active children.
Carlisle was still working full time at the hospital, but his superiors already knew that he would be taking time off once our baby was born. They also knew he more than likely wouldn't be returning. Everyone was on good terms though, and Carlisle and Peter worked out some sort of agreement with the hospital to affiliate with them. I didn't understand the technical details, but apparently if any of their patients ever need a referral, they would send them to that particular hospital and their doctors. In return, Carlisle and Peter would always have the option to return if they ever wanted to. They didn't think they ever would, but the option was nice.
Any free time Carlisle had that wasn't spent with the family was used to work at the new office as he and Peter tried to get everything ready. Garrett often went with him to offer any advice and just because he was curious. The whole family was so proud of Carlisle for finally fulfilling his dream, so we were all interested in even the most mundane of details.
Even more important than the office preparations were our final preparations for Pumpkin. The last few weeks of the pregnancy seemed to both drag and fly by. I wasn't nervous about the delivery or anything like that. We were all ready for the baby's arrival, but some worry just couldn't be avoided. Carlisle and I prayed everyday for everything to go smoothly and for Pumpkin and I to both be healthy in the end. There was no real reason for us to doubt, so we just had to have faith that everything would be okay in the end.
I really did have the best support system I could ever ask for. I saw Charlotte multiple times a week and saw Maggie at least once a week. Chelsea called everyday to check on me, and Carmen and Kate were with me at least part of every day. They made it impossible for me to get behind on anything.
"So have you packed for the hospital yet?" Kate asked as we sat in Carmen's den together. It was a weekday afternoon which meant that Carmen and Eleazar had the kids out in the pool, giving us a quiet moment to sit back with some lemonade.
"We packed two months ago," I confessed, slightly embarrassed. "Carlisle likes to be prepared so he researched online about what we would need to bring. I caught him on some baby websites looking at comments and making lists."
"He made lists?" she asked with a chuckle. "That sounds exactly like Carlisle."
"Yes, he sure did. 'Sweetheart, we need to remember socks. Oh, and I've read that some women prefer adult disposable underwear over sanitary napkins after delivery. Which do you like?'"
Kate snorted and quickly placed her hand over her mouth and nose as she laughed and choked on her lemonade.
"Was my Carlisle impression that good?" I asked, laughing with her.
She nodded as she laughed until she finally collected herself. "Yes, you sound exactly like him. Did he really say that?"
"Yes again. I told him I would stick with pads and to never suggest diapers to me until I'm at least eighty years old." I sighed, still a little offended about his suggestion. I knew he meant well, but there were some things I just wouldn't do even if other mothers swore by them.
"But at least you know he's thorough," Kate added, thankfully getting us back on track.
"Very true," I said with a smile. "If we forget anything, it will be a miracle. Everything we could possibly think of for both of us has been packed, and we have things for the baby too. Seeing the bags waiting in the hallway makes my heart beat just a little quicker."
She reached over and placed her hand on my belly. I moved it over so she could feel Pumpkin kick. I could barely go ten minutes without having one or two hands on me, but I didn't mind. The kids were all fascinated with my large belly and the kicking baby inside, and the adults probably were too. Babies were such amazing little beings, even while in utero.
"We're all so excited so I can just imagine how you and Carlisle must feel," she pondered softly. "Just four weeks to go, right?"
"Just four, but we'd be fine if Pumpkin decided to make an early entrance in two or three weeks."
"Well, we'll just have to ask Pumpkin to hurry up so Mommy can be comfortable again," she said with a wink.
I nodded quickly and rubbed my belly. "Yes, please. Listen to Aunt Kate, Pumpkin."
Kate laughed, and we went back to our lemonade, only to be disturbed a few minutes later by our wet children. Moments of peace didn't last long with six kids running around, but I knew neither of us would trade it for anything.
Unfortunately, Pumpkin didn't seem to want to come any earlier than expected. By the end of my thirty-ninth week, I was beyond miserable. I couldn't find a comfortable position, I couldn't lift my babies, clothes weren't comfortable, the temperature outside was too warm, and I just couldn't win.
Even though I never complained aloud, Carlisle knew. He tried his best to help me, including taking off from work early just to spend time with me to see how he could help makes things better for me. There was no way I could love him any more even if I tried.
"Are you sure you don't need anything, sweetheart?" Carlisle asked for the fifth time in an hour.
Was I counting? Yes. Was he bothering me? Absolutely not.
"Just what you're doing," I mumbled into his chest, groaning as his hands massaged a particularly lovely spot.
Carlisle's back massages were the only thing getting me the discomfort. His doctor's hands were precise as he relieved the tension from my aching muscles. I wasn't sure how he managed to reach around me as he sat in my glider and I sat on the ottoman, but I didn't question it. This was too good.
"I'm glad it's helping," he said as he kissed my head. "I have to leave soon though. We'll do this again tonight, okay?"
I sighed but nodded. "Okay." I was in no way ready to move, but after taking a deep breath, I sat up and smiled. "Thank you. I couldn't do this without you."
He cradled my face in his hands and leaned over for a kiss. "You have no idea how happy I am that you don't have to do this without me. Anything you need just let me know because I'll do it."
"I know you will. I love you."
"I love you. To the moon and back as many times as you can count." He kissed me once more before standing and helping me up.
The walk downstairs was slow, but I did feel much better after Carlisle had worked his magic. The house was quiet since Rosalie and Jane were napping, and they were currently the only kids at our house. We would have all the kids together later, but for now, I was ready to enjoy the quiet of just the two little girls since Carlisle would be gone for a while.
"What time is their flight supposed to arrive?" I asked Carlisle as he put his shoes on.
"Three thirty. I'm leaving a little early, but hopefully the flight's on time and we'll be back soon. You'll be okay?"
I snorted as I laughed and punched his arm. "Carlisle, I'm pregnant, not an invalid. Yes, I can last a couple hours so you can pick my sister and her husband up at the airport."
"Just checking," he said, shrugging apologetically.
"And Carmen or Kate will be over in a few minutes to swap kids. I'll be fine."
Carlisle worried about me like it was his job and I was fine with that, but I knew I really would be fine for such a short time period.
He listened to my reassurances, and after a goodbye kiss for each of us in the house, he headed to the airport.
I thought about sitting on the couch to wait for the girls to wake up, but my nesting instinct won out. The guest room was ready, but I couldn't resist going through it again. But once the quilt had been smoothed out, the pillows fluffed, and the towels straightened in the bathroom, not much else could be done. I couldn't think of anything else to do, so I finally made my way to the family room and flopped down on the couch as gracefully as I could.
I turned the TV on, but didn't really pay attention, opting instead to focus on my large belly. Pumpkin was sleeping as far as I could tell, not moving even when I lightly pressed against where I knew little feet were kicking earlier. A couple minutes into my teasing, I finally received a strong nudge.
"Okay, okay," I whispered with a smile. "Mommy will leave you alone now."
"Aunt Esme?" Jane's voice startled me, but I wasn't surprised. It was so easy for me to get distracted from my surrounds, thus not noticing that my niece was now awake. "Aunt Esme, is the Pumpkin still in there?"
I chuckled and nodded. "Yes, ma'am. Wanna feel?"
She squealed and nodded as she gave me her hand. I almost felt bad about breaking my promise to the baby, but it was impossible to not love Jane's excitement. All the kids were handling this so well.
"I feel Pumpkin too, Mommy," Rosalie protested groggily as she crawled over to us. She rubbed her eyes with one hand and offered me her other one which I placed right next to Jane's.
The little girls giggled as the baby continued to kick them, and I laughed at their reactions. Quiet time for me was overrated when the alternative was to hear their joy.
Thirty minutes later, Kate brought the boys back to me in exchange for Jane. Carmen was making dinner for the whole family so we would see them again in a few hours, but first, we were going to have some time with Chelsea and Alec before the chaos really began.
If Emmett and Jasper were upset about being away from Riley for a few hours, they didn't show it. As soon as Kate left, Emmett involved us all in a game he made up as he went. My role was to hold stuff animals until he needed them, which was actually the perfect job for me since I couldn't sit in the floor anymore. Unfortunately for him, Rosalie and Jasper decided they didn't want to play and went to do their own thing. Emmett took it in stride though and chose to cuddle with me.
"Mommy," he said thoughtfully, "I love you. And Daddy. And Rosie and Jasper and Pumpkin."
I held him closer and kissed the top of his head. "I love you too, monkey. And so do Daddy, Rosalie, Jasper, and baby Pumpkin."
"Why's Daddy not here?"
"Well…" I said slowly, "Daddy went to get Aunt Chelsea and Uncle Alec."
"Really?" he asked, jumping to his knees as he smiled. "They be here now?"
"They'll be here in just a few minutes," I confirmed. "And they're staying for ten whole days."
I had originally suggested that Chelsea and Alec wait until after the baby was born before visiting so they would have more time to see the baby. There was no way to predict when Pumpkin would make an appearance, and there was always the possibility that I could go past my due date. But Chelsea insisted that she wanted to see my pregnant belly, so I didn't try to discourage her. She deserved a chance to get in my personal space just like everyone else in the family.
"Mommy, I'm so essited!" Emmett exclaimed as he bounced beside me. "We gonna have lots and lots of fun! Can they be here now? Please, please, please?"
I laughed and shook my head. "Not just yet. Go play with Jasper and Rosalie for a while and then they'll be here."
Emmett face fell slightly but he climbed off the couch and went to play with his brother and sister without protest.
To Emmett's pure joy, I heard the car pull into the garage less than an hour later, and my sister was obviously as excited as her nephew.
"Where's that belly, sister?" she called as soon as she walked into the door. "I need to get my hands on it."
I laughed but didn't even attempt to get up. She could get to me faster than I could get to her so I just waited.
"In here," I answered. "But be careful. Little people are excited to see you."
As soon as she walked into the room, Emmett was hugging her legs tightly as he cheered.
Rosalie and Jasper ran over to me first as they assessed the situation. When Carlisle and Alec followed right behind Chelsea, my babies really didn't know what to do.
"It's okay," I reminded them softly. "You know Aunt Chelsea and Uncle Alec. Go see them."
Apparently Jasper only needed a little reassurance before timidly walking over to his uncle. Alec looked shocked but didn't hesitate to kneel down and give Jasper a hug. Rosalie, on the other hand, stayed close to me until Carlisle came over and lifted her into his arms.
"Now, why isn't my favorite niece coming over here to give me a hug?" Chelsea asked teasingly. She picked up Emmett to free her legs and came over to sit beside me, but Emmett had no interest in sitting and ran over to where Jasper and Alec were now playing in the floor.
"Hi, Chels," I said as I pulled her in for the best hug I could manage. "How was your flight?"
She hugged me tightly before pulling back. "The flight was just fine. How's your baby growing?"
"Baby growing is just fine, as you can see." I laughed and gestured toward my belly, and her eyes seemed to glow as she slowly reached out and placed her hands against me.
"Wow," she whispered. "You're belly is so big."
"Be careful what you say," Carlisle warned. "No insulting a pregnant woman or you'll be in trouble."
"He's right, so be careful with your size comments. No calling me fat."
"Oh, Esme," she said, chuckling as she shook her head. "You're not fat. You have a baby in there. This is amazing." I grabbed her hand and placed it over Pumpkin's busy feet, and she gasped. "No, that is amazing. What does it feel like?"
"Like a baby's kicking me," I teased, making Carlisle laugh. He had asked the same question months ago and received a similar reaction.
"Maybe you should grow one of these?" I hedged carefully, not really knowing if they were planning kids.
"Maybe so," Chelsea said and looked over at Alec. He winked back, and I smiled and patted Chelsea's leg. The prospect of having another niece or nephew was definitely an exciting one.
After talking for a while, and Chelsea finally getting Rosalie into her lap, we all got ready and went over to Carmen and Eleazar's for dinner.
Dinner was loud, but everyone had a good time, including Chelsea and Alec. If they were uncomfortable with the large crowd, they didn't show it, and I was so happy to have our extended family all in one place.
Throughout the meal, there was an underlying feeling of excitement and anticipation. If everything went as expected, this would be our last big family dinner before our family gained another member. I held Carlisle's hand the whole time, and we couldn't seem to stop glancing at each other. Big changes were coming, but with our large and happy family supporting us, we could assume that everything would be fine.
When dinner and the clean-up were over, we sent the kids to the play room while the adults sat around in the den. Many conversations were happening at once until Carmen stood and clapped her hands. We all quieted down, making Eleazar chuckle.
"Do you need something, Menny?" he asked his wife.
"Yes, I do," she said as she took her seat beside him again. "Next week is going to be an exciting and busy one for our family, so I think we should have a game plan."
"What kind of game plan?" Kate asked curiously. "After three times, I'm almost positive this isn't something you can plan down to the minute."
Carlisle chuckled as he pulled me closer to him and kissed my temple.
"You'd like that, wouldn't you?" I asked him. "Planning Pumpkin's arrival to the minute."
"Hmm…it's very appealing," he agreed, trailing his nose down my cheek until he was breathing right by my ear. "But I think I like the surprise too. Maybe this baby has some spontaneity."
I giggled and shivered as his words both ticked my skin and unnerved me. I closed my eyes as I turned my head, letting my lips brush against his.
But when someone cleared their throat, I quickly pulled back and looked around. Six pairs of eyes were watching us, all with varying expressions of amusement. I didn't even have it in me to be embarrassed anymore, so I just shrugged.
"Are you finished now, dears?" Carmen asked with one eye brow raised.
Carlisle shook his head. "Definitely not, but we'll finish later. Please continue."
Of course, that set off a round of loud laughter, but eventually, everyone controlled themselves enough for Carmen to continue.
"Now, as my smarty pants daughter kindly pointed out, planning can only go so far. But I wasn't thinking of specifics. Just what Esme wants as far as where the kids will stay and who will be at the hospital and when. If we decide now, the actual day baby Pumpkin decides to join us won't be confusing. So, Esme, what would you like?"
I was momentarily startled to have the attention back on me, but even more unprepared because I had no idea. Birth wasn't a new experience for me, but having a family and kids to worry about at the same time was.
Carlisle must have been able to tell that I was out of my element because he squeezed my hand tightly.
"What do you think?" I asked as I turned to face him.
"Let's start with one thing at a time," he suggested calmly. "Your birth plan already has some of those questions answered."
I nodded, realizing that he was right. We had done the usual preparations for birth by going to the birthing classes, making a birth plan, and everything else Dr. Banner recommended. And many of the things Carmen was addressing had been discussed between the two of us.
"We already know how we want things to be at the hospital," I said confidently. "Before doesn't matter, but once I'm in active labor, I only want Carlisle with me. Whoever has the kids can bring them in after the birth and once we're settled, and after they spend a few minutes meeting Pumpkin, everyone can come and go as they please."
I wasn't apologetic about our plans. The birth was something between me and Carlisle. As much as I loved all the women in my life, I only wanted my husband there during everything. With the kids, Carlisle and I thought it was important that they get to meet and bond with their new sibling before everyone else. This was what we wanted, and we were sticking with it.
"I like it," Kate said with a nod. "I was not fit for company while in labor, and really, you don't need us all there. We'll come for the important stuff like baby cuddling."
"Yes, thank you for not including us until after the action is over," Garrett immediately added. "I love you like a sister, Esme, but some things are best left behind closed door."
As Alec and Eleazar agreed with him, I just had to laugh, and Carlisle joined me. Our crazy laughter received a pointed look from Carmen, so we quickly stopped and offered her our best apology smiles.
Our family discussions were anything but boring and not always productive, but that wasn't going over well with Carmen tonight. That made the situation even funnier to me, and Carlisle had to place his hand over my mouth to help me hold in the giggles.
"I have a suggestion," Chelsea brought up suddenly.
"Excellent, Chelsea," Carmen praised. "Go ahead."
Chelsea nodded, and even though I was dying to tease her by calling her a suck-up, I refrained. "Maybe who watches the kids could be determined by what time everything happens. If it's in the middle of the night or in the early morning, Alec and I can keep them since we're at the house anyway. And if it's in during the day, we'll probably be over here anyway so they'll just be added with their cousins."
I loved her idea, so I told her so.
"Then nothing will be too different for them," she added with a smile.
"It is a really good idea," Carlisle agreed. "So we'll go with that. Everything else can't really be decided now, can it?"
"I don't think it can," Carmen said. "Doesn't everyone feel better now that we have a plan?"
"I certainly do. Thank you, Carmen," I said sincerely. Our family was crazy and protective, but I wouldn't want them any other way. "And thank you, everyone. We're so blessed to have you here supporting us."
"We always will, Ezzie," Eleazar said with a wink and a nod.
The kids gradually filtered back into the room which meant our discussion was officially over, but I did feel better about everything and made sure to thank Carmen again before we left. We seemed to be prepared for any situation, and the only thing that was left to do was wait.
All the talk of labor planning put me on edge, and I could tell that Carlisle felt the same way. After we tucked the kids into their beds and said goodnight to Chelsea and Alec, we decided to take a hot bath in hopes that it would calm us.
The water was calming and also soothing to my aching body, and Carlisle's skilled hands definitely helped. Leaning against him in the water, I was the most relaxed I had been in days.
"Are you nervous?" Carlisle murmured into my ear, breaking the silence.
"Just a little. Are you?"
"Mmhmm. I've never seen you go through this before. I don't really know what to expect."
I turned my head to kiss the side of his jaw. "Every birth is different so I don't know what to except either. Let's figure it out together?"
He chuckled softly and nodded. "Okay, sweetheart. Together." He placed a soft kiss on my lips, and we returned to silence.
I never wanted to leave the most comfortable place I had been in a while, but as the water cooled, I knew we had no choice. Carlisle helped me step out of the tub and wrapped me in a towel before he dried himself.
When I started to walk out of the bathroom, Carlisle grabbed my hand to stop me. I turned back toward him, and he gave me a cheeky grin.
"So...do you want to try to start labor tonight?"
I stared at him for a second, trying not to crack a smile, but it just couldn't be stopped. "Carlisle, that is the unsexiest thing you've ever said to me." I shook my head, giggling softly as I moved to him and placed my hand against his bare chest. "But, yes. I'd love to try to start labor with you tonight."
Sure, it might have been a myth, but I was feeling much more relaxed and had an eager husband. I couldn't say no.
Carlisle kissed me once more and led me to the bed as quickly as I could waddle.
We gave it our best effort but had no luck. The next day passed with no contractions or any other signs of labor. Every night and day after that was the same. It seemed Pumpkin was determined to stay put even though we were determined to bring him or her into the world.
Finally, my due date arrived and instead of celebrating by having a baby, we headed to Dr. Banner's office for hopefully the last time.
Dr. Banner wasn't discouraged, though, and did her best to encourage us after she finished my exam.
"All right, Cullens," she said as she sat on her stool and rolled over so she was sitting in front of us. "I want you to remember that due dates are approximate. Any time two weeks before or two weeks after is full term, so you're fine. Apparently our original guess was a little off, but that's okay."
"So we just keep waiting?" I asked, frowning. I didn't like the sound of that.
"You will do just that," she confirmed. "But I have some good news. When I checked you, you were already dilated one centimeter and your cervix is thinning. Your body knows what it's about to do, so I would say that Baby Cullen will be here very, very soon."
Carlisle squeezed my hand tightly. "That is good news. See, sweetheart? Pumpkin will be out soon."
I nodded, feeling a bit better. I was glad that my body knew what it was doing, but I just wanted it to go a little faster. I had expected to be holding my baby today, so knowing we would have to wait even longer was discouraging.
Dr. Banner gave me a sympathetic smile. "Now, let's go over the plan one more time, just so we're clear, and then I'll get you out of here. We're going all natural, right?"
"That's my goal," I said with a nod.
Emmett's birth had been made easier with an epidural, and while I hadn't had any problems with that, I knew I could go without it. As Carlisle consistently reminded me, I was strong. I wanted to feel everything and get through it on my own with my husband's support. That's what had been missing last time, so since I now had Carlisle to lean on, I was confident in my choice to go without medication.
"I think that's a good choice for you," Dr. Banner said thoughtfully. "This baby is a lot smaller than your first, so that might make things a bit easier for you. With your hips, I'm fairly confident this deliver will go smoothly, barring any other complications. And I should be there the whole time to take good care of you."
"Thank you so much," I said, feeling tears gathering in my eyes. "We couldn't ask for a better doctor than you."
"Yes, thank you," Carlisle repeated. "This ride wouldn't have been nearly as smooth without you there."
She brushed off our thanks, but I could tell she knew how much it meant to us. "You don't have to thank me. Seeing your joy is enough. Now, you guys get out of here and go have some fun. Practice making another baby Cullen for me to deliver."
Carlisle laughed loudly as he shook Dr. Banner's hand, and my cheeks grew slightly warm. She was my doctor, but that didn't exactly make her suggestion any less embarrassing for me. After giving me a hug and offering a few last words of support, Dr. Banner left the room, and I redressed so Carlisle and I could head home.
Dr. Banner's reassurances helped somewhat, but once we were back home, the waiting game was difficult.
I didn't sleep much and neither did anyone else. We were all anxious for something to happen, as if I was a ticking time bomb, and I really did feel that way.
All of the adults spent the day sitting in Carmen and Eleazar's den with the TV on. None of us were watching, but it did provide a nice background noise as everyone took turns asking if I needed anything. Somehow, I managed not to get annoyed with them.
The kids noticed that something was off, and our three were very clingy. Rosalie and Jasper didn't want to leave my side, so I didn't make them. We assured them as much as possible, but only the extra snuggles and attention seemed to help them relax. Emmett wasn't as worried as the twins, partially because Riley was distracting him, but he wouldn't let us out of his sight for very long either.
Every hour passed at a snail's pace. When I got tired of sitting, someone paced the house with me. When I was hungry, someone ate with me. Carlisle massaged my back any time I asked, and ask I did. His whispered words of love and support were exactly what I needed. He was already an excellent labor coach before I was even in labor.
By late evening, everyone was exhausted from our day of waiting, and Carlisle and I decided it was time for us to go home for the night.
The kids resisted sleep as long as possible, and I hated that they were so anxious. It was one thing for us to anticipate the delivery, but I didn't want the kids to fear this. After lying in bed with them for a while, they finally all fell asleep, and Carlisle and I quietly snuck downstairs.
Chelsea and Alec didn't stay up much longer, and I was grateful for that. I just wanted to curl up in bed and attempt to find a comfortable position to sleep through some of the waiting. Carlisle was on the same page and after locking up and turning all the lights out, he took my hand and walked upstairs with me without even asking.
I changed for bed quickly but then decided I was too uncomfortable for my cotton night gown. I heard Carlisle's quiet groan as I pulled the gown over my head and slipped under the covers wearing absolutely nothing. Apparently we weren't going to be just sleeping after all, so I made sure I was as comfortable as I could get.
When Carlisle crawled into bed and settled behind me, I shivered. His skin against mine both calmed and excited me, and I scooted back to feel as much of it as possible.
"I would do this for you if I could," he whispered as he kissed the spot behind my ear.
"I know," I sighed. "It's okay though. It's worth it."
"Wanna try one more time to speed things up?"
"Well, since we're already naked…" I trailed off.
He chuckled. "If you're sure…"
"I'm positive," I said as I lifted my leg to rest on top of his. I reached behind me to grab his hand and placed it toward the bottom of my enormous belly. Carlisle took the hint and let his hand drift lower, teasing me with his finger. "Mmm…I love you."
"Love you too, sweetheart."
Spooning was the most comfortable position for us now, and as Carlisle slipped inside me, all other thoughts left my mind. All the frustration and anxiety from early in the day disappeared as my husband loved me.
Our original goal was forgotten. Labor didn't matter. All the waiting didn't matter. The only thing that mattered was Carlisle moving inside me, hitting all the best spots, and making me moan louder than was probably appropriate considering we had kids sleeping down and across the hall.
Carlisle reached his peak before me, but thanks to his talented fingers, I was soon there too.
After resting for a few minutes, Carlisle kissed my shoulder before going to clean up in the bathroom. When he finished, he helped me out of bed so I could clean up as well.
I decided to take a shower, and the hot water beating against me started to lull me to sleep. I was hesitant to leave the sanctuary of the shower since I was sure I wouldn't feel this relaxed in bed, but I knew Carlisle was waiting for me.
I turned the water off, grabbed my towel, and stepped out of the shower. But as I moved, I felt another stream of warm water run down my leg. When it didn't stop running down my leg, I realized what was happening and gasped.
Carlisle rushed into the room and immediately placed his hands on my shoulder. "Esme, what's wrong? Did you trip? Do you need to sit down?"
I shook my head slowly.
"What is it then, sweetheart? Please. What can I do?"
The pleading tone of his voice broke me from my stupor, and I looked up at him.
"My water just broke."
A/N: What? I'm leaving it there? Yep. But I promise you'll all get to meet Baby Pumpkin in no more than three weeks. Just hang in there with me.
Also, updates would be even slower if I didn't have MelissaMargaret and anhanninen to WC with. Go read their awesome fics while you're waiting on me.
Reviewers will receive a teaser, and I'll try to make it a good one! =)