Thank you so much for the sweet reviews! I'm so, so sorry I didn't have time to reply, but it was either send teasers or post the chapter. I hope everyone's okay with the decision I made. ;)
A bazillion thanks to MelissaMargaret for betaing. And some more thanks to anhanninen for prereading.
Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight or these characters.
Esme POV
"Good morning, little mommy."
I smiled as I slowly opened my eyes. "Good morning. Is it time for you to poke and prod me?"
Dr. Banner laughed softly as she shook her head. "Minimal poking and only a small amount of prodding, I assure you. How was your night?"
"Quiet, thankfully," I said, yawning as I stretched.
"Good deal. Get any sleep?"
I shrugged. "Maybe three or four hours all together. I would feel like I could sleep, and then Pumpkin would wake up." I was definitely tired, but my current priority was no longer myself.
"You'll work it out soon," she assured me. "Now, let's get this part out of the way and then we'll chat for a while."
With my permission, she raised the head of the bed a bit higher than I had it set, and once I was in a good position she took care of her prodding. Her gentle smile let me know that everything was fine which I was extremely grateful for.
My labor and deliver, while painful, had been easier than I'd thought it would be. Carlisle's love and support had guided me through it, and as long as I focused on the goal of a healthy baby, the pain was really just an annoyance in the background. And now that it was over I only had some soreness, but it was manageable. Somehow, feeling everything during the delivery made the soreness easier than it had been after Emmett was born. Pumpkin's smaller size might have played a role in that and in me not tearing. No matter what, I was thankful I didn't feel the small pulling down there every time I moved. That was something I could live without.
"Everything looks good," Dr. Banner confirmed, covering me with the sheet and blanket. "Any concerns for me?"
"None that I can think of," I replied. "I think I remember most of the instructions from Emmett."
She nodded and pulled a chair over before sitting down. "You probably do, but a little refresher can't hurt. Use ice or warmth for discomfort, keep things clean, no funny business for six weeks. Make sure hubby remembers that one."
I chuckled and looked over at the couch that was functioning as Carlisle's bed. I knew he wasn't asleep, but apparently Dr. Banner didn't, so she was surprised when he raised his hand in a thumbs up.
"You got it, doctor," he mumbled, ending with a yawn. "No funny business with my gorgeous wife because she just gave me the most precious gift."
I rolled my eyes but felt them fill with tears at the same time. The combination of his sweet words and the image of him with a newborn spread across his chest was too much for me to handle.
My hormones were all over the place anyway, going from frustrated with the scratchy hospital sheets to angry with the television selections at three in the morning to crying because I missed my babies to being humbled by my husband's honest praise and thanks.
And of course, I was in awe of our perfect baby. Our son. Edward was more beautiful than I'd even imagined, and I longed to just stare at him for a few hours without interruption. There weren't enough hours in the day for me to snuggle him and love on him as much as I wanted.
The rollercoaster of emotions was relentless, but Carlisle attempted to ground me. He was there every moment reminding me that my moods would improve and to focus on the good things for now. His advice wasn't appreciated at first, but after snapping at him, crying in apology, and then actually thinking about what he said, I knew he had a point.
Right now, the good was Dr. Banner and her instructions that I hoped meant my hospital discharge would be happening soon, so I turned my attention back to her. She was still shaking her head at Carlisle, but also smiling.
"I hope you can restrain him," she said in a purposely loud whisper.
"He'll be okay," I promised. "I imagine sleep deprivation will ruin the mood for a while anyway."
"Oh, right. Carlisle distracted me from the list. Sleep when the baby sleeps. Please. A lot of mothers don't believe me, but it helps. And accept help." She gave me a pointed look. "Your family would do anything for you, I'm sure, so take them up on the offer. If someone wants to cook dinner, let them. If they want to take the kids for a few hours, let them. You have to give up some control to gain control in the long run."
I nodded. "I'm sure they'll forbid me from doing too much. They can be a bit…forceful when they want to be."
She laughed and agreed. "Don't give them too much trouble and things will be easier for you. Not many women have the same kind of support system."
I recognized that every day and was always thankful. I couldn't remember what it was like to go through this without much help when I now had more help than I knew what to do with.
"One more thing," she continued. "I'd like to advise you to avoid heavy lifting and stair climbing, but I know you, so here's what I will tell you. Take it slow and know your limits. You might feel fine, but your body has been through a lot. Give it time to heal, and then you can go back to carrying around two kids at once up and down the stairs. Sound agreeable?"
"I think I can agree to that," I said with a smile. "The kids will probably just be happy they can sit in my lap again. We'll be fine."
"Good. I think that's about all I have to tell you, so now it's time for my good news."
"Are you paying our hospital bill?" Carlisle asked.
Dr. Banner snorted. "Are you going to pay for my malpractice insurance?"
Carlisle turned his head and opened one eye. "Nope."
"Well, there's your answer. My good news is still good, though. I'm discharging you a bit early. Your recovery seems to be going as smoothly as I could ever hope, and there's really no reason for me to force you to stay. I'll need to see you Monday, though, and you need to call me or come to the hospital if anything isn't right. We don't expect anything to happen, but we're playing it safe. Sound good to you?"
My smile had to be a mile wide as I nodded. "That sounds amazing. My bed is calling me, and the kids definitely need us there."
"Yes, please go home and crawl in bed," she encouraged, patting my hand. "Let the family ooh and ahh over baby Edward while you nap. Make Carlisle wait on you and don't lift a finger."
"I've got it covered," Carlisle promised, groaning as he turned and sat up. "But when Esme kills me for not letting her do anything, you will pay that bill."
Dr. Banner grinned and stood up before walking over to Carlisle and offering him her hand. "Deal," she said as they shook hands.
I had to roll my eyes again at their antics, but these interactions definitely made the hospital stay more bearable. Now that we had Pumpkin, being in the hospital made me antsy and ready to go home since there was nothing else they could offer me here. But with my doctor and my husband constantly giving each other a hard time, I was able to relax and have a few laughs.
"Okay, you two," I interrupted. "I think it's time for Pumpkin's breakfast. Is he awake?"
Carlisle carefully stood and shook his head. "He's sound asleep, sweetheart. Hasn't stirred since I've been holding him." He walked toward me and somewhat awkwardly passed the baby to me. He still wasn't too sure about caring for a newborn, but so far, he'd been nothing less than fabulous with Edward. Apparently it just came naturally for him even though he lacked confidence.
I cradled Edward in my arms as I shifted my pajama top around. Carlisle stayed beside me, waiting to see if I wanted the blanket over me as I nursed, but I really didn't mind at the moment. It wasn't like my doctor hadn't already seen more of me.
Even with his cheek against my breast, Edward continued to sleep. I giggled softly as I ran the back of my finger over his face and cheek.
"Come on, sweet boy," I said softly. "Wake up for Mommy." I moved my hand down to his and let his fingers curl over one of mine. As I brought it up to kiss the top of it, he finally began moving his head as he rooted against me. "There you go, Pumpkin. Time for breakfast."
He didn't open his eyes, but I knew he was awake enough to eat since he was grunting and squirming in my arms. Once I made sure he was latched correctly, Carlisle helped me adjust all of my pillows until we were both comfortable.
"Thank you," I sighed, smiling as he leaned over to kiss me.
"You're very welcome, sweetheart. Would you like some more water to drink?"
I nodded. "Please. I didn't have any this morning when I nursed, so I definitely need some now."
After one more kiss, he took the Styrofoam hospital pitcher and left the room.
I had almost forgotten that Dr. Banner was still in the room, but I didn't mind her presence. Most women didn't have a doctor who offered the same kind of care, and somehow I knew she wasn't finished with her questions. No one could ever say she wasn't thorough.
I gestured toward the chair beside me with my free hand. "I know you're not finished with me."
"Of course you know," she said, laughing as she accepted my offer of the chair. "I just wanted to make sure you weren't having any problems breast feeding or anything else with the baby."
"Everything seems to be fine so far," I said with a small shrug. "The lactation consultant visited yesterday evening, but there wasn't anything more she could offer, so I guess I'm doing it right."
Dr. Banner looked for herself and agreed that there didn't appear to be any problems with Edward's latch or how much he was eating. My milk wasn't in yet, but he still nursed every couple of hours and wet several diapers. Every sign pointed to the fact that we were both doing wonderfully and there was no reason to stay in the hospital any longer.
Dr. Banner left a few minutes later so she could check on her other patients and tell the nurses to start my discharge process. Carlisle still hadn't returned, so I enjoyed my quiet time with my baby.
Edward was fascinating, and every movement or sound he made absolutely captured me. I almost couldn't believe he was in my arms and not inside my belly. But he was here and he was perfect, and he was more than worth every pregnancy symptom and every bit of the pain of delivery and the soreness after. His sweet face made me forget all of that anyway.
"Are you finished, buddy?" I asked after he unlatched himself and ended the second part of his meal. He didn't attempt to relatch, so I lifted him to my shoulder to rub and pat his back to get rid of any air bubbles.
After a few minutes, he was definitely awake and active. With my pajamas readjusted and the pillows in place, I moved him down and held him in front of me. His head fit in my palms, and I couldn't resist the opportunity to study him again.
"There you are," I cooed as he finally opened his eyes. "There's Mommy's Pumpkin. Mommy and Daddy love you so much."
He wriggled around as he blinked and gurgled, and I made sure his blankets were loose enough for him to move. I wasn't sure if this meant Edward would be active like his brothers or if he just didn't like the hospital receiving blanket. I wanted to figure it out though along with everything else about him. He had been known in my heart since the moment I knew he was in my womb, but I wanted to know everything else now.
The things I did know were fascinating to both me and Carlisle. Edward's eyes were dark blue, not really indicating what color they would eventually turn. The hair on his head was light, so light that I thought it was blonde, but the rest of the family had drawn another conclusion. The consensus was that our Pumpkin was indeed a pumpkin head, and the thought excited me.
I studied his face for a few more minutes, but soon, he was really wriggling and trying to change positions. I wasn't sure what he wanted, but I clearly wasn't giving it to him.
But when I sat back and brought him up to rest on my chest, he calmed immediately.
"So that's what you wanted," I whispered, chuckling softly. "Well, okay, sweet boy. We can lay like this again." I kissed the top of his head over and over, never getting enough.
If this was Edward's favorite position, I wasn't going to complain. I had loved having him so close to me right after his birth. The bonding was truly incredible with his skin touching mine. This was a bit different since we were both dressed, but I could still feel every breath, and I knew he could feel mine. It was so comforting, and I felt like I could easily go back to sleep.
I pulled the covers over us, but as soon as I was about to close my eyes, someone knocked at the door. Before I could answer, Carlisle entered, carrying the new pitcher of water. I smiled at him, and my smile grew even more when I saw that he wasn't alone.
"I found her in the hallway," he explained. "And since she comes bearing breakfast, I figured she could come in."
Maggie laughed and hit his shoulder with her free hand. "Of course you just want the breakfast, Carlisle. Not the company for your lovely wife."
"Morning, Maggie," I said with a grin.
She came over and kissed my forehead. "Good morning, dear. How was your night?"
"Pretty good. Everything was quiet after you left."
Maggie and Ben had stopped by in the evening after Ben got off work. Just the sight of my sweet friend had me crying. She had been my biggest support when Emmett was born, and I almost felt like I was betraying her by not having her at the hospital this time. Of course, she eased my fears right away and promised she had no feelings of betrayal whatsoever. She assured me that everything was as it should be this time around.
She was also smart enough to come in the evening so she would have more time to hold and love on Pumpkin, and I didn't begrudge her that. When the whole family was around, even I had to fight to hold my baby.
When they'd left, Maggie promised to return with breakfast for us which explained why she was back so early. My appetite wasn't lacking, so I was almost as excited as Carlisle about the food.
Maggie smiled and nodded. "I'm so glad to hear you had a good night. Do you know when you'll be going home?"
"Today, actually," I said, still incredibly happy about that piece of news. "Dr. Banner's letting me go early."
"That's even better! I know those little ones are going to be so happy to have their Mommy home again."
"Speaking of which," Carlisle interrupted, "I need to head home in a few minutes to see the kids and tell everyone what's going on today. Can you possibly stay for a little while, Maggie?"
I knew Carlisle hated the thought of leaving us here alone even for a short amount of time, but I could understand. I wasn't too excited about him leaving. The kids needed to see him, though, and I was excited about spending some more time with Maggie now that he'd suggested it.
"Of course I can stay," Maggie said with a nod. "Is that okay with you Esme?"
"More than okay," I answered. "But first, let's eat breakfast."
Maggie laughed at me just as she had with Carlisle, but humored my request. Lucky for us, she'd made her special breakfast mini-quiches with eggs, bacon, and cheese, and I couldn't get enough. I inhaled four before even stopping to take a drink of water. Between the three of us, we cleared the entire container and were completely full and satisfied.
Carlisle left soon after and promised to be back as soon as he showered and spent a few minutes with the kids. I didn't need him to rush, though, since I had Maggie to entertain me.
We talked for a while as she held baby Edward and watched TV when he was nursing. A nurse came by once to check my vital signs, but other than that, I was left to spend time with my friend in peace.
After Edward was fed and dry, Maggie held him while I took a quick shower. I knew I wouldn't get a really good shower until I was home, but this was better than nothing. It was too easy to feel soiled after lying in bed for so long. Once I was clean, I went ahead and put on a pair of shorts and one of my nursing tops instead of more pajamas. I hoped Dr. Banner would discharge me soon, and I was going to lie in bed again anyway.
Maggie helped me gather all of our belongings and place them back in the bags. She did most of the work, but I let her without too much fuss. I had to get used to it since Carlisle was bound and determined to keep me from doing anything.
The only thing left to do was to dress Pumpkin in his going home outfit, but I was waiting. Carlisle had discovered he wasn't the most skilled at dressing a newborn, but I knew he'd want to help with this. I told him he would only learn by experience, and he was ready to practice.
By the time Dr. Banner returned, all the bags were lined up on the couch, and I was nursing Edward in the rocking chair. She laughed at my eagerness but promised that the nurse had our discharge papers ready for whenever Carlisle returned. I wished I would have told Carlisle to hurry, but Maggie kept me well entertained.
After what seemed like a short lifetime, Carlisle came rushing into the room, carrying the "Carlisle" car seat. I had almost forgotten that we hadn't opened either one of them yet, so I was glad he remembered to get the right one.
"Have I missed anything?" he asked as he gave me a kiss and then kissed the top of Pumpkin's head.
"Nothing with Pumpkin, but Dr. Banner came by, and we can leave whenever we're ready."
"Excellent. So what do we have to do to be ready?"
"Just get Pumpkin dressed in his new little outfit." I nodded toward the bed where I had everything laid out. "I figured you would want to help me.
He took a deep breath and nodded, clearly excited. "Of course I want to help – with anything and everything. I could use the practice too."
"You'll be a pro in no time," I assured him. "It's tricky for me at times even though I've done this before. Good thing we make a good team."
"The best team," he agreed.
He helped me out of the chair, and I walked over to the bed and gently laid Pumpkin down. He was mostly asleep but still squirmed slightly, and I had to giggle when Carlisle placed his hand on his belly to hold him in place. His protectiveness was completely endearing.
It didn't take long for us to get Edward dressed and ready to go. I changed his diaper and dressed him in his new white bodysuit with a pumpkin on it, and Carlisle was in charge of the socks, orange pants, and pumpkin hat. I hadn't even thought about what Pumpkin would wear to come home, but when I saw the gift from Chelsea, I knew this was it. It was the most adorable use of his nickname.
Conquering the car seat was an even greater hurdle than getting dressed. There were so many straps and buckles to fit in such a small space. It was great for safety but no so great when trying to secure them on a baby. Pumpkin wasn't too happy about his new seat until I popped a pacifier in his mouth. That calmed him right away.
The nurse arrived with my discharge papers and a wheel chair, which I reluctantly sat in. I felt fine and wanted to walk, but the hospital policy just wouldn't allow that. Carlisle barely managed to stop me from attempting to find someone to listen to my complaint.
Maggie helped us carry all the bags down to the car as Carlisle carried Pumpkin and the nurse pushed me. Carlisle had no trouble getting the car seat in place on the base, and once the bags were in the trunk and I was in the back next to my baby, we were ready to go.
Before we left, I made Maggie promise to come for dinner within the next few days. I was sure Carmen wouldn't let there be a shortage of good meals, and with our houses being full anyway, adding two more wouldn't make a difference. Once she promised, we finally pulled out of the parking lot and headed home.
"I can't wait to see them," I said to Carlisle, meeting his eyes in the rear view mirror. "What do you think they're doing? Are they okay? Are they ready for us to come home? I bet they are."
He laughed. "They were fine a little while ago, sweetheart. Yes, they're ready for us to be home, but Kate's been keeping them busy. Right now, they're probably playing or watching a movie. And I didn't call anyone to tell them that we're on our way, so this will be a surprise."
"Carmen is going to be so mad at you," I said with a chuckle. "You know she has to be prepared for everything."
"Good thing she loves me and you…and Pumpkin. I'll use the baby to protect me."
"That's a good idea. He's sleeping so she won't be able to yell at you." Edward hadn't stirred at all and was maybe in a deeper sleep thanks to the movement of the car. His fingers were curled tightly around one of mine, and I couldn't resist kissing his hand. He was just so perfect and beautiful, and I couldn't get enough.
The sight of so many cars in our driveway was a bit unnerving, but I was thankful that the whole family was trying to keep things normal for the kids. I wasn't sure if I was ready for the chaos, though. Now that I thought about it, I really just wanted to spend some time with Carlisle and our kids. But I hated the idea of telling everyone to leave when they were being so supportive.
"Sweetheart, what's wrong?"
I turned to the side and found Carlisle kneeling beside the open car door. He reached over and ran his thumb over my cheek to wipe the tears away that I hadn't realized were falling.
"I…I want to spend time with you and the kids." I let out a shaky breath. "But I don't want to just kick everyone out. Then they'll hate me."
"Sweetheart, no," he said, trying and failing to hold in a chuckle which only made the tears fall faster. "They could never hate you. I'm sure they'll understand. We'll spend a few minutes with them and then spend the rest of the day with Emmett, Rosalie, and Jasper. Everything will be fine."
I sniffled and nodded. Hopefully he was right.
I wiped the rest of my tears away and carefully removed Edward from his seat. I needed him close to ground me and try to control my emotions. His scent calmed me as did the feeling of his warm body against me. Now I just had to make sure no one took him from me right away. My mother-in-law was a master baby stealer.
Carlisle left the bags in the trunk for now and wrapped his arm around my waist as we walked to the door. As he opened it, I could already hear the kids squealing and the adults laughing. They obviously had no clue we were here.
Quietly, we walked through the empty kitchen and into the doorway of the family room. No one noticed us for a few seconds until Jane stood up on the couch and looked in our direction.
"Hey, Aunt Esme, Uncle Carlisle, and Pumpkin baby," she said with a wave before jumping to the floor and running over to the toys.
Silence filled the room as everyone froze and turned to look at us.
"Umm…surprise?" I said with a shrug. "We're home."
"We were busted out early," Carlisle added as he waved to everyone.
No one moved for a few seconds until Jasper came running over. I knelt down and carefully shifted Pumpkin to one arm as I caught my sweet boy in my other arm.
"Mommy," he whispered, full of relief. "You home forever now?"
The tears returned and I nodded and kissed his head. "Yeah, baby boy. I'm home forever. I missed you sooo much." I wanted to hold onto him for the rest of the day, but Rosalie and Emmett decided to run over to me too. "Hey, Jasper? Daddy missed you too. Give him some love, and then I'll sit with you on the couch, okay?" He nodded against me and let Carlisle lift him into his arms.
Rosalie and Emmett threw themselves against me at the same time, obviously not willing to wait. I giggled as they kissed me and I kissed them. Whereas Jasper seemed like he needed some serious comfort now that I was home, Rosalie and Emmett seemed to be okay.
"Mommy, you're home!" Emmett informed me. "Did you sleep in the hospital?"
"I did sleep in the hospital. Where did you sleep?"
"In my bed," he said with a giggle. "And Rosie sleeped in her bed. Right, Rosie?"
She nodded. "Uh huh. And, Mommy…Nana gived us breakfast today, and it was blue pancakes. Blue, Mommy! For Pumpkin."
I raised my eyebrows in surprise. "Blue pancakes? Did they taste yummy?"
"Yeah, they were so good," Emmett said as Rosalie nodded in agreement. "Jasper eated them too."
I turned and looked up so I could see Jasper, but I didn't need to. Carlisle had knelt down beside us and had Jasper on his knee. They were both smiling, something I was glad to see.
"Did you eat the blue pancakes, Jasper?" I asked as I reached over to tickle him.
He laughed and nodded. "Uh huh. Mommy, blue's yummy."
I hadn't even noticed what everyone else was doing as we talked to the kids until Carmen came over to kiss the top of my head.
"Welcome home, darling," she said with a smile. "We weren't expecting you so soon, but this is definitely a lovely surprise. Although, I would have appreciated someone calling to let us know." She glared at Carlisle before smiling back at me.
I laughed and reached up for her hand to help me get back to my feet. I could move a little better now that I wasn't carrying so much weight around, but it was still difficult.
"Sorry we didn't call, but we weren't expecting to leave this early. I was thinking sometime after lunch, but I guess they were trying to get rid of me."
"They were probably tired of your complaints," Garrett said with a laugh. "They know we love you and have to put up with you."
"Yeah, yeah," I scoffed. "Laugh it up. I'll be sure to send all my complaints to you from now on."
Kate smiled. "Do it, Esme. It seems he's forgotten what's it's like to face postpartum wrath."
Everyone seemed to move at one time after that. Carlisle and I were both hugged by everyone including all the kids, and I managed to hold on to Pumpkin until Chelsea stole him. I didn't mind as much as I thought I would because I knew she and Alec didn't have much time with us and because Jasper was ready for some attention.
Somehow, the family understood without me even saying anything that we wanted to be left alone for a few hours. Everyone, including Chelsea and Alec, had "plans" at Carmen and Eleazar's house. Carmen promised to bring us lunch later, and then they were gone.
"That was weird," Carlisle muttered as he sat in the recliner with Pumpkin in his arms. "I've never seen them move that fast."
"They were so nice to do that without me even asking."
"They understand," he repeated, giving me a calm smile. "That's what family is good for."
I hummed in agreement and sank down in the middle of the couch. Being home was so much better than being in the hospital. Here, it was warm and inviting. And there were two little boys who could freely climb into my lap.
"Mommy, we fit!" Emmett said excitedly as he and Jasper each took a side. "I missed you."
I kissed his head followed by Jasper's. "I missed you too. Now you, Jasper, and Rosalie can sit with me whenever you want."
Jasper smiled and relaxed against me, but Rosalie was too busy to hear what I'd said. Carlisle had her in his lap as she studied the baby. I was so glad that she loved him even if he was a boy. We girls were outnumbered for sure, but Pumpkin was already a sweet baby. He would love Rosalie as much as any baby girl would, and I hoped she would see that.
With the six of us together, I felt more like me. My hormones settled enough for me to enjoy sitting with my boys and listening to their stories of what they did while we were gone. Jasper also seemed more relaxed, and even though he wouldn't leave my side, I wasn't as worried anymore. We were all going through a period of adjustment now that Edward was here. It would take a while to figure everything out, but we could do it.
Carmen brought lunch as promised, and after we ate, I was in desperate need of a nap. Carlisle volunteered to keep the kids occupied downstairs while I went up to our room. Besides needing sleep, I was excited about sitting in my chair to nurse Pumpkin. I had dreamed of rocking a new baby in this chair and hadn't been sure the dream would ever come true.
The reality was much better than the dream, though. Pumpkin was still eating like a champ and not giving me any trouble, and even he seemed to be calmer now that we were home. It was definitely quieter and warmer than the hospital.
After changing Pumpkin's diaper and rocking him to sleep, I placed him in the basinet we had set up beside the bed and crawled under the covers. The soft mattress felt heavenly on my sore body, and even though I was hyperaware of every sound and movement Pumpkin made, it only took a few minutes for me to almost fall asleep only to be interrupted by little bodies joining me in bed.
Carlisle shushed them as all three climbed up beside me. Rosalie snuggled right up against me, and I assumed the boys and Carlisle filed in behind her. With everyone together again, I was able to drift off easily even with their constant whispers.
Edward's gurgles woke me after only a couple hours, but I felt so much better. After making a quick trip to the bathroom, I got settled in my chair with my Pumpkin and relaxed as he ate.
Carlisle and the kids were sound asleep in bed, and seeing them made me smile. The idea of having four kids remained daunting, but so far, we were handling it without any issues. Maybe the kids were just taking it easy on us today, but I wasn't going to question it.
Once Pumpkin finished eating, I made sure his tummy didn't have any air before changing his diaper.
I really wanted to take a real shower, so I quietly walked to the other side of the bed and placed Pumpkin on Carlisle's chest. His arms reflexively reached up to hold onto him as he opened his eyes.
"Hey, sweetheart," he whispered. "Have a nice nap?"
I leaned down to kiss him and nodded. "I did. I'm just going to shower real quick, okay? Pumpkin should be happy for a while."
He smiled and kissed Pumpkin's head. "And I'll be happy with him for a while. You enjoy your shower."
I quickly gathered everything I needed and headed to the bathroom. The shower felt amazing, and I allowed myself to enjoy the hot water for the first time in a while since Carlisle always worried about me overheating. But today, I deserved a treat, and the hot water did wonders for the soreness. I stayed in a bit longer than necessary, but by the time I was dressed, I felt even better.
From what I could tell, no one was stirring in the bedroom so I took my time with my hair too. The simple act of blow drying my hair and pulling it up into a pony tail gave me an amazing feeling – like I was human again and not just a baby incubator. I had loved being pregnant, but now I remembered what it was like to not be pregnant, and it was fabulous.
I cleaned up my mess and walked back into the bedroom. Carlisle was sitting up in bed holding Pumpkin in front of him. Rosalie and Emmett were still asleep, but Jasper was curled up to his side, gently touching the baby's face with one finger as he curiously studied him.
"What do you think, Jasper?" I whispered as I crossed the room and sat on the edge of the bed beside Carlisle. "Does he look any better now?"
"Mmhmm. But he still winkly."
I laughed. "He is, but he won't be like that forever. He's a cute little wrinkly thing though."
"Yeah, he cute," Jasper agreed. "Can I hold him now?"
"Sure you can, buddy," Carlisle said as he passed me the baby and pulled Jasper into his lap. "You can hold him anytime as long as one of us is with you, okay?"
He nodded and held out his arms above Carlisle's just like we taught him yesterday. I carefully placed Pumpkin in their arms, making sure Carlisle had his head. Jasper's eyes widened and he smiled as he realized what he was doing.
"I'm holdin' him! Mommy, I'm holdin' Pumpkin!"
"You sure are, baby. And you're doing such a good job. Can you give you brother a kiss?"
He slowly leaned over, and I quickly slipped the pumpkin hat off so he could actually get to his head. Jasper kissed Pumpkin's forehead, and he wrinkled his face and sighed in response.
"Why'd he do that?" Jasper asked, clearly worried.
"Babies just do stuff like that," I assured him. "They like to move around and make funny noises when we love on them. Oh, and look. I think he's waking up just for you!"
Pumpkin grunted as his eyes fluttered open and he looked up at Jasper. It didn't matter that he couldn't really see anything yet. All that mattered was the smile it put on Jasper's face.
"Hi, Pumpkin," he said softly. "I your brodder, okay? You lived in Mommy's belly, but now you's here and I sit in hers lap again."
Carlisle chuckled softly, but I had to turn my head to wipe my eyes. Jasper was being so sweet, even remembering to talk softly and use gentle touches. He still needed some extra attention from me, but he wasn't angry with Pumpkin. It was pretty obvious that he loved his little brother.
"Do you want to go sit downstairs?" Carlisle asked almost hesitantly.
I turned to him and smiled, showing that I wasn't overly upset. "Yeah, that'd be good." I looked at the clock, surprised it was so late in the afternoon. "And we could change Pumpkin's outfit before everyone comes back for dinner. You could even go solo if you'd like."
"My first time by myself, huh?" he asked with a smirk. "Okay, I'm in. Jasper can help me, can't you buddy?"
Jasper readily agreed, and the three of them headed downstairs. I thought about waking Emmett and Rosalie to go down with us, but since Emmett was spread out on his back with no sign of moment, I probably wouldn't have much luck with him. Rosalie, however, was moving her feet, so I went over and pulled her into my arms.
"Are you gonna wake up, baby girl?" I asked as she reflexively wrapped her arms around my neck and pushed her face against me. I couldn't remember the last time I'd been able to hold any of the kids like this. I'd missed it so much.
"Mommy, I'm awake," she mumbled, wrapping her fingers in my pony tail. "I am."
I chuckled and rocked her back and forth. "I believe you, baby. And when you're super awake, I have a helper job for you."
That caught her attention, and she raised her head and smiled. "I get to be a helper girl now? Where's Pumpkin?"
"Pumpkin's downstairs with Daddy, but I need you to help me pick out something for him to wear. Do you think you can do that?"
She nodded fervently. "I can do it! Let's go to Pumpkin's room, Mommy!"
Once we were in Pumpkin's room, I walked straight to the closet and helped Rosalie look through all the options. I tried to keep her away from the pink side, but she mostly focused on blue without my help. The little dresses were calling to her though, and I could tell.
"What do you think of your new brother, sweetheart?" I asked randomly, hoping to get a candid answer – not that anything Rosalie said was ever planned.
"He's good." She shrugged. "Daddy didn't get me a pink baby, but it's okay. We can keep him."
I had no idea what she was talking about. "Daddy didn't get you a pink baby? What do you mean, baby?"
"I askeded him, but he didn't get me one," she repeated. "But I hold Pumpkin and it's okay."
I still wasn't entirely sure what she meant. Carlisle hadn't mentioned anything about her asking for a pink baby, but I made a mental note to ask him about it later. I had other things to talk to Rosalie about right now.
"Okay, sweetheart. I'm glad it's okay. So did you have fun with Pops at the hospital?"
Her face lit up as she told me all about Pops protecting and holding her. Even after seeing it firsthand, I could barely believe what had happened while we were gone. We'd always had faith that Rosalie would make a full recovery, and her acceptance of Eleazar just seemed to make it seem like a reality. She was doing so well.
"Mommy, I love Pops," she said, ending her long tale. "He gives good hugs."
"He does give good hugs," I said with a watery smile as I placed a kiss on her temple. "And you know who else gives good hugs?" She shook her head, making her curls fly. "My Rosalie gives good hugs. They're the best."
She giggled and threw her arms around my neck. "I love you, Mommy."
I squeezed her tightly, attempting to ignore my tears. "I love you too, baby. I'm so happy to be home with you and Emmett and Jasper now."
She pulled back and gave me a serious look. "Don't go 'way anymore, okay?"
I kissed her nose. "Promise."
Rosalie eventually settled on a little blue sleeper which I approved, and we went downstairs. Emmett had woken up and went down on his own, so all my boys were in one place. Miraculously, Pumpkin was still awake, probably thanks to Emmett and Jasper trying to entertain him.
I passed the sleeper to Carlisle, and we all watched him change Pumpkin. He'd already improved in a day, and even though he was slow, he got the job done with minimal complaints from him or Pumpkin.
Once Pumpkin was dressed, the kids had the idea to give him a tour of the house, so Carlisle and I followed them from room to room as they explained where everything was. The three of them completely warmed my heart, and I just wanted to hold them all and never let go.
The tour ended just in time for Pumpkin to eat again, and Carlisle helped me get comfortable in the recliner so I could interact with the kids while they played.
We also gave them their gifts from Pumpkin. With all the new gifts for the baby, we knew it would be easy for the kids to feel left out, so we decided that the baby would be giving them something they'd enjoy. The boys loved their new car play sets, and Rosalie more than loved her new stroller and car seat for her baby dolls. We emphasized that they were only for dolls and not for actual babies, but somehow I just knew that she'd have Sarah in them the first chance she had.
By the time the family returned with dinner, I was ready to spend time with everyone. No one would let me feel bad for wanting some quiet time with my husband and babies, and I was basically informed that they had always been planning to leave and give us that time.
To top it off, everyone had gone shopping together and bought a few more outfits for Pumpkin and a pack-and-play for us to keep downstairs that matched his car seat. Kate explained that it was much easier for changing diapers without having to always go upstairs to use the changing table. After I finished crying over their thoughtfulness again, I kept a smile on my face for the whole night.
It seemed like there was a line to hold Pumpkin, and I just knew he'd be sore tomorrow. I couldn't help that he was a very well loved baby, nor could I deny everyone the chance to get to know him. He was almost too precious with his little button nose and his sweet little sleepy smile. We all knew it was just gas, but even his gas was adorable.
Carmen's dinner was delicious and hit the spot. Grateful didn't even cover how I felt about everything she was doing for us. Unlike most mothers, I didn't have to worry about cooking and cleaning along with caring for my newborn. My focus could be devoted to what was really important instead of having to juggle everything.
The house cleared out again right before the kids' bedtime, and Chelsea and Alec volunteered to watch Pumpkin while Carlisle and I took care of baths and the bed time story.
We let the kids play for a while longer than usual because we enjoyed their imaginations and giggles as much as they did. Once we did finally pull them out of the water, I dressed them in their pajamas and Carlisle took them downstairs to say goodnight. They came back upstairs with a book, and we all lay in the boys' bed for me to read it. They fell asleep within minutes, and after Carlisle put Rosalie and her bed, we took a moment to just relax while standing in the hallway.
"We did it," I said as Carlisle pulled me into his arms. "We survived the first day."
"We surely did, sweetheart." He kissed the top of my head. "And we can survive every day after this too. Don't ever doubt that. Or if you doubt, come tell me, and I'll be sure to remind you that we can do anything together."
"I love you," I said, not knowing any other way to express how I felt about him. He was perfect.
"I love you, Esme Anne Cullen. Thank you so much for everything. Now, let's go see our Pumpkin."
Chelsea and Alec were both staring at Pumpkin when we entered the family room. I laughed at them but didn't stop them from having their fun. Baby staring was now a popular past time in our home. It was if none of us had ever seen a newborn before, and we had to pay attention to every little move he made. He was truly fascinating.
When he began to fuss, Chelsea immediately passed him over to me, and I settled in to nurse him. Carlisle and Alec distracted themselves with a sports program on TV which couldn't be watched without an in-depth discussion.
But Chelsea was focused on me – or more accurately, on Edward and me as I fed him. She seemed very curious, and I purposely left the blanket covering me a little loose to lose some of the mystery.
"You can ask me anything," I assured her. "You know I'll tell you anything."
"Does that…hurt?" she asked, almost apologetically.
I didn't want her to apologize for being curious though. From what I could tell, Chelsea and Alec were seriously considering starting a family, and I didn't mind sharing any of my experiences with her.
"It doesn't hurt me," I explained, shaking my head. "Some women have some discomfort, but it's never bothered me. My milk hasn't dropped yet though. That can unpleasant for some."
Her eyes widened with this new information. "Oh. And do you enjoy it?"
I smiled. "I do. Very much. There are other ways to bond, but this is my favorite. I'm the only one who can do this for him. And he's definitely a hungry little thing."
Chelsea laughed in agreement. "He is! He'll be a little chunky baby before long. You'll have to send us pictures of his little fat rolls."
I hated that Chelsea and Alec would have to leave soon and miss out on so much. Just the thought had tears forming again, but Chelsea saw them right away and threw her arms around my shoulders.
"Don't cry, sister. We'll still talk all the time. You can teach Pumpkin about the webcam, and we'll be back at Christmas. It'll be all right."
I nodded and sniffled. "Yeah, you're right. It's just so hard."
"I know, but it's only a few months. Besides," she lowered her voice, "Alec and I need to go practice making our own little baby so Pumpkin will have a cousin close to his age."
I snorted and covered my mouth as I quickly looked over to see if Alec had heard her. Thankfully, he and Carlisle were engrossed in their conversation and not really paying attention to us. When I turned back to Chelsea, she simply shrugged and grinned, and I had to smile along with her. I did love the thoughts of having a new niece or nephew to spoil.
Even with the nap earlier in the day, I was exhausted by ten o'clock, and Carlisle suggested we head to bed. Chelsea and Alec didn't have a problem with entertaining themselves, so we didn't feel bad for abandoning them.
Pumpkin was sleeping soundly, but I knew he'd be awake soon to eat again. Carlisle quickly showered and changed for bed, and then I passed Pumpkin to him so I could do the same.
When I finished, I crawled into bed and snuggled up to my husband. He had already turned out the overhead light, leaving just the lamp on. The room was quiet and calm, and when he wrapped his arm around me and pulled me closer, I was sure I could be asleep in less than a minute.
"I missed our bed," he murmured, kissing my forehead.
"Mmm…me too. And I missed sleeping next to you like this. Hospital beds should be bigger. And more comfortable."
"The couches should be more comfortable too. But I guess it didn't matter since we didn't sleep much anyway."
"We probably won't sleep much tonight either," I reminded him. "Well, you can sleep, but I'll be up ever two or three hours."
"I'll be awake too, sweetheart. There's no way you're doing this alone. You'll feed and I'll change. Sound good?"
I yawned and nodded. "Sounds good."
"Go ahead and sleep, sweetheart," he said softly. "A couple hours here and there is better than nothing."
I titled my head up and my lips searched out his. We kissed until I couldn't hold my eyes open anymore, and then he gently cradled my head against his chest.
We had a long night ahead of us and many more after that, but it was exciting. Having baby Edward home with us was better than I'd imagined. I couldn't wait to see everything he would add to our lives.
A/N: You guys are seriously awesome, and I don't know what I'd do if I didn't have such patient readers. RL has been crazy busy, but the good news is that the semester is finally winding down.
No promises on when the next update will be, but hopefully the wait won't be too long. There will be a teaser, though. That I can promise.
Lots of thanks to LaughingBlueEyes for finding Pumpkin's outfit. Pictures have been added to my profile, so feel free to check those out.
Thanks again for reading! =)