Thank you all so much for continuing to read and for being so patient with me.

And thank you anhanninen for prereading and MelissaMargaret for making this pretty.

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

Carlisle POV

I had always enjoyed working at the hospital, being able to help people and even save lives. But somehow, a greater satisfaction came from working in my own practice with Peter. This was where I was supposed to be.

Adjusting to the change in routine wasn't as difficult as I expected it to be. We had chosen our hours together and made them flexible enough for all of us to be comfortable. With every member of our work team having families, we valued our time at home, and even though the office was open for less hours than most, we hadn't had to turn anyone away so far.

My biggest priority was my family and making sure Esme and the kids weren't stressed by me going to work. The first day was rough, but now that we'd been doing it for a month and a half, everything had fallen into place. I was happy which made Esme happy, and the kids picked up on our moods. Now, I received smiles and hugs as I left for work, even from Jasper. There were no more tears because they knew I'd be home before dinner. I kept to that promise, as did Peter, Charlotte, Kate, and Maggie. No job was worth neglecting our families.

I didn't have to worry much, though. Esme's support went above and beyond anything I could have imagined. I couldn't do it without her, and I didn't want to. We were a team, and coming home to her excitement was the best part of every day.

The other best part of the day was seeing the kids. Emmett's question about school served as a reminder of how fast they were all growing. They wouldn't be little forever, so I didn't want to miss anything. They loved to tell me all about their day, and with the addition of lunchtime emails that included pictures, somehow I didn't feel like I was completely missing out.

Our family Saturdays helped too. We all slept late, including Pumpkin. He was gradually going longer and longer between feedings at night and was now up to five hours. After that feeding, he would sleep another three hours, so since we didn't have to get up, we were getting close to eight hours of sleep. I loved seeing Esme well-rested because I knew that taking care of all four kids by herself during the week was tough. She managed easily, but the extra rest definitely helped. The rest of the day was usually spent lazing around the house or whatever else the kids wanted to do. We didn't care as long as we were together.

Today, though, we had a good reason to change the Saturday up and include the rest of the family.

Kate and Garrett's new house was finally complete, making today the perfect day for moving – or at least almost perfect. The continuous drizzle and dreary skies put a damper on things, but we didn't let it stop us. Thanks to their smart thinking and the help of the whole family, the actual moving only took a couple of hours.

At the end of summer, they had made a trip back to Alaska to pack what they wanted to keep and give away what they didn't, as well as help Garrett's parents do the same. They were leaving the cold Alaska weather and retiring to Florida, and their decision made Kate and Garrett's own decision that much easier.

The things they decided to keep had been in storage until moving day, and because it was all organized, transferring it was easy. Miraculously, nothing of value had gotten lost, so the longest part of the day was setting up furniture and taking boxes to their correct rooms.

Kate and Carmen kept everyone in line, including making sure everyone going in and out wiped their feet well. Kate did not want mud tracked on her new floors. But we were rewarded for our efforts with a filling lunch which was definitely worth it.

Around three, we were basically finished. There were still boxes to unpack and things to organize, but everything was in the house and there were beds to sleep on, the last one being Riley's which I helped Garrett put together.

"I think that's it," Garrett said as we adjusted the bed to its correct location. "Thanks for the help, man."

I dusted off my hands and pulled him in for a quick hug, slapping his back. "No problem. We're just happy you're staying. Free babysitting is awesome."

He laughed at my teasing. "What are you talking about? You had that already with Mom. Really, though, we're really happy to be here. This is a good fit. I just wish we could have moved in before the kids started back to school."

I nodded. "They have a break next week, so I'm sure they'll adjust. Or drive you crazy." School had only started back last month, but they already had a week off. With Kate working, Garrett would have all three kids when he wasn't working compared to usually just having Jane.

"Crazy," he said grimly, but cracking a smile. "Definitely crazy."

As if they knew we were talking about them, Corin and Jane ran into the room, followed by Rosalie. Jane held her arms up for me, so I swung her into my arms. Rosalie had to follow, of course, and Corin wrapped her arms around my waist.

"Uncle Carlisle," Jane said, placing her hands on the sides of my face. "Come see our room!"

"Daddy, it's so cool," Rosalie added, nodding quickly. "You hafta see it."

Corin nodded too and grabbed my hands. "Yeah, it's awesome, and no boys are allowed except you and Daddy," she insisted, until Garrett gently corrected her. "And Riley, Em, and Jasper," she added grudgingly.

I tried to hold in my laughter as I put the girls down and followed them across the hall to their room. With girls outnumbering boys in this house, I could only imagine the issues they faced on a daily basis. And even though Emmett and Jasper always included Rosalie now, I knew it wouldn't always be that way. I hoped we would eventually have another girl to keep Rosalie company.

Corin and Jane's room looked like a pink explosion. The walls were pink, their bedding was coordinating pink patterns, and even most of their toys featured pink. After showing me everything they could think of, they pulled me down into the floor so we could play with their vast collection of dolls. I indulged them for a little while, loving the chance to experience their imaginations, but after a while, I was ready to head home for some quiet time.

"Can Rosalie stay here?" Jane asked as soon as I stood up and took Rosalie's hand. "Please, Uncle Carlisle? I haves a bed not at Nana's house now, and she can stay with me."

All three girls looked at me, hope clear on their faces, but I had to disappoint them.

"Sorry, ladies, but not tonight. Maybe next week as long as you ask your Mommy and Daddy."

Corin and Jane pouted and started protesting, but Rosalie just looked disappointed. Esme and I loved that she had the chance to play with girls on a regular basis, but tonight just wasn't an option. I doubted Kate and Garrett would approve anyway.

I lifted my sad little girl into my arms and kissed her cheek. "We'll do something fun at home tonight, okay, baby girl?" I whispered into her ear.

She nodded and rested her head on my shoulder, still clearly sad. "Kay, Daddy."

"I love you, baby," I said as I gave her another kiss, turning it into a raspberry to make her giggle. "Let's go find Mommy."

I left Garrett to deal with his disappointed and whiny daughters as I went to find Esme. When I found her in the master bedroom, it was pretty clear that naps were overdue. She and Kate were breaking up an argument between Riley, Emmett, and Jasper over a toy.

Esme's tired eyes found mine, and I smiled, probably looking more like a grimace.

"Nap time?" she mouthed hopefully.

I chuckled and nodded. It was definitely nap time.

After ending the disagreement, we said our goodbyes and excused ourselves to head home. We knew we see them all at church in the morning, so we didn't feel bad about turning down Carmen's invitation to dinner. Having our large family around was nice, but we needed time to ourselves.

Emmett passed out almost as soon as we walked in the door, and even Jasper wanted to lie down and rest after playing hard all day with Riley. Rosalie needed a nap as well but refused to lie down. Instead, she wanted me to rock her, and I couldn't deny her request. Humming softly as I rocked, only a few minutes passed before she was sleeping peacefully, and after Pumpkin finished nursing, Esme placed him in my other arm so he could join in on nap time. I couldn't stop myself from smiling, loving the feelings of having my arms full of children.

I thought Esme might rest too, but she headed to the kitchen to start on our baked spaghetti dinner. It was one of the kids' favorites so I knew they'd be happy as soon as they woke up to eat.

Esme did manage to take a break while the spaghetti was in the oven, and I managed to keep the kids quiet as they woke from the short nap so their mommy could continue dozing. When Esme's eyes did open, she looked over at us and laughed.

"Need some help?"

I nodded. "Yeah, I think that would be nice." With the addition of Emmett and Jasper on my lap, I wasn't going anywhere without some assistance.

"Okay, guys," Esme said as she stood and came over to us, offering her hands to keep the boys down. "Emmett and Jasper go wash hands but no playing in the water. Rosalie and Pumpkin come with me."

The boys hurried off to the bathroom, and their giggles were easily heard as they washed their hands. I remained sitting for a few minutes, watching with a smile as Esme let Rosalie help her change Pumpkin's diaper, but then I knew it was time to check on the two trouble makers.

As expected, the faucet was still running as they held their hands under the water. Soap suds were up to their elbows and water had been splashed all over their fronts. I stood in the doorway, just observing and being grateful that they were finally starting to remember to use soap.

After getting the boys dried off as best as I could, I got them settled at the table and helped Esme with the finishing touches. Just as I predicted, the baked spaghetti was a hit with everyone, and we all thanked Esme with hugs and kisses and by cleaning up our rather large mess while she enjoyed a nice long shower.

When we finished cleaning, I took the kids upstairs to help them dress for bed and changed Pumpkin into a sleeper, but no one was anywhere close to ready for bedtime.

"Daddy, why we wearin' pajamas?" Jasper asked, frowning in disapproval. "I not sleepy."

"I'm not sleepy too," Rosalie exclaimed as she ran into the boys room. "You sayed we could do something fun."

"I did?" I asked, feigning confusion. "I said that?"

She nodded, eyes narrowing slightly. "You did, Daddy. A'cause I didn't get to stay with Jane and Corie."

I had to hold in a chuckle over her serious expression because I knew it wouldn't be appreciated. "Well what would you like to do, sweetheart? You, Emmett, and Jasper agree on something, and we'll do it, okay?"

The three of them turned to look at each other and then quickly left the room and ran down the stairs. Edward headed butted my chest from his position in my arms, as if to say that he wanted to go with them. I laughed as I rose from my spot on the boys' bed and kissed the top of his head.

"All right, all right. We'll follow them, but don't blame me when they involve you in the game." I was rewarded with a wide, gummy smile and some happy gurgles which was definitely one of the best rewards possible.

Miraculously, the kids had already made a decision they all agreed on by the time I entered the family room. Three boxes were handed to me, and I knew right away that they had no plans to go to bed anytime soon.

When Esme came down after her shower, we had the Hungry, Hungry Hippos game set up and ready for play. She agreed to be the referee as I battled the kids because we did usually need a referee. Emmett could be overzealous at times and had been known to knock over the game on accident. Esme's presence ensured that he, Jasper, and Rosalie remained sitting on their bottoms so no one would get hurt.

Five rounds later, we switched to Memory using both the Toy Story set and the princess set. Originally the games were meant to be somewhat education, but now Esme and I were routinely beat by our little ones. They were serious players too – keeping a close count on exactly how many matches they each had. Esme and I shared silent laughter after several turns when the count got too high and numbers were invented.

But the important thing was that we were together and having fun. Nothing could be better than that.

The fun of organized games wore off after a while, and the toy doctor kit was brought out. Esme, Edward, and I served as the patients as the kids examined us and treated any possible owwies. They were thorough to the point where I considered offering them a job at our practice. Nothing was escaping their notice. Pumpkin could only handle being poked and prodded for so long, though. He made his displeasure known by angrily sticking his tongue out and squirming until Esme took him away from the madness and placated him with a meal.

I decided the last diagnosis of the night would be my broken knee that needed four shots and two band aids to heal because it was getting late.

"Bedtime, guys," I announced. "Let's pick up our toys and head up to bed."

Jasper and Rosalie were agreeable enough and started to put the plastic toys in their carrying case, but Emmett wasn't having it. Unpacking and scattering the toys out again earned him a time-out with Mommy as I took the other two upstairs. There was no time for a story, but all of the playing had worn everyone out so there weren't any protests.

I headed back downstairs to get Emmett after tucking Rosalie and Jasper in, but he ran into me on the stairs and attached himself to my legs. I lifted him into my arms and carried him to bed, letting him hide his face in my neck.

"Sorry, Daddy," he murmured. "I needs to listen when it's bedtime."

I hugged him tightly, kissing the top of his head. "Thank you, buddy. We can always play some more tomorrow, but we have church tomorrow so we need to sleep. You'll listen next time, won't you?"

He nodded, and though I knew he definitely wouldn't always listen, he'd be making an effort.

"Good. I love you, Emmett."

"Love you, Daddy." He leaned back, giving me a wide smile. "Love you to the moon and to infinity and beyond! Beyond, Daddy," he stressed.

I widened my eyes. "Whoa, dude. That's a whole lot of love."

He nodded proudly. "Yahuh. It's the mostest ever."

"Wow. Well, I love you to infinity and beyond and to the moon and back."

His eyes widened, and I could tell he was thinking of a reply. But as much as I enjoyed this game that I played with at least one child a night, it really was time for bed. He let me tuck him in without a fight, and once I was out of the room, I sighed in relief. Busy nights always made me wish for my bed, but it was still early enough for Esme and I to spend some time together. That was always preferred.

Esme was waiting for me on our couch, Edward asleep in his swing beside her. She looked so peaceful with her head resting against the back of the couch, eyes closed. Slowly, I sat beside her and pulled her legs across my lap, rubbing her feet.

"Mmm…that feels nice," she mumbled. "Keep going?"

"Of course," I answered softly. It was rare that she asked anything of me, and I was happy to do it. She deserved a good foot rub and more after everything she did today and every day. I was in awe of her.

We enjoyed the quiet, something that was also rare. Time for ourselves had been limited over the past few weeks. The last time we'd had any semblance of private time apart from when we went to bed was a few weeks ago on our third anniversary.

For the first time, Esme left Pumpkin for a few hours so we could enjoy a nice dinner out. She'd left him before but never for longer than an hour, but since she waited until she was ready, leaving him with Carmen and Eleazar for the evening wasn't a problem in the least.

We took our time in getting dressed up and driving to a nice restaurant that wasn't kid friendly. The evening was spent just enjoying each other's company as well as the good food. Esme looked more than beautiful in the new black dress she had bought for the occasion, but I was partial to how it looked on the floor that night. Though Pumpkin did come back home with us, we still enjoyed the night, celebrating our three years in our favorite way. I didn't mind the lack of sleep one bit.

Tonight didn't allow us the same possibilities, but the quiet was very welcome after our long day.

"You should probably stop now," Esme warned a few minutes later. "I'm going to fall asleep."

I reluctantly stopped and rested my hands on her calves, choosing to rub little circles there instead. "I would carry you to bed."

"I know you would, but maybe I want to talk to my wonderful husband for a while." She scooted closer and placed her hands on either side of my face, eyes tired but happy as she leaned in for a kiss.

I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her even closer, letting everything else fade away as we enjoyed each other. When we finally pulled away, it was with reluctant sighs.

"That's much better than talking," I whispered, placing a kiss on her forehead. "I approve."

She chuckled softly and rested her head on my shoulder. "I figured you would. I really did want to talk though. The doctor kit reminded me."

I paused for a second and then nodded in understanding. "Pumpkin's four month appointment is on Tuesday. Worried?"

"A little bit," she said with a shrug. "It seems like our last appointment wasn't that long ago, and you know I hate when my poor baby gets poked."

"I know," I soothed. "Time does pass quickly. But at least he won't remember any of this. On the bright side, after fifteen months he really won't get that many more vaccines until age five or so."

"Fifteen months? My poor baby's legs are going to fall off. I don't remember going through all of this with Em."

"But I'm sure you did," I gently reminded her. "And he's fine now. Isn't even afraid of going to the doctor and takes shots like a champ. Baby Edward will be the same way."

My assurance calmed her enough for us to enjoy the rest of our quiet time together, but I knew she wouldn't feel much better until Tuesday was over.

…

When Tuesday morning arrived, I hoped I wouldn't be eating my words in four years. Esme dreaded the appointment the rest of the weekend but tried not to let it show so it wouldn't rub off on the kids. Emmett and Rosalie were spending Tuesday morning with their nana, giving them no reason to be nervous.

We'd started letting the kids take turns going with us for errands in attempt for some more one-on-one time with each of them, and it was Jasper's turn. He was excited about riding with me to work instead of going with Esme to Carmen's first. The whole car ride was filled with his chatter and was a special treat for me as well. I loved hearing everything that went through his head.

"Daddy, dis is where you work!" he exclaimed as I helped him out of the car. "And you have a spinny chair, right?"

I took his hand, locking the car before we started walking toward the door. "I do have a spinning chair, buddy. Want to go spin in it before I have to go make people better?"

He readily agreed and after greeting everyone in the office, my office chair was put to good use. I let him spin for a few minutes until I could tell it was getting to be a bit too much for him, even though I kept the spinning as slow as possible. Once I stopped the chair, he raised his arms for me, and when I picked him up, he buried his face in my neck.

"Daddy, everything spins," he mumbled. "Tell it no more spinning."

I placed my hand on the top of his head, chuckling softly. "Sorry, bud. It'll stop soon, I promise."

After a minute, he lifted his head slowly as if to test to make sure the spinning had stopped. Satisfied, he smiled, and I kissed his cheek.

"Better?"

He nodded. "Yeah, Daddy. No more spins."

"Good," I said with a smile. "Now, how about we go find Maggie and see what she's doing?" I only had one patient this morning before Pumpkin's appointment, and I hoped Maggie wouldn't mind having Jasper at the desk with her for a few minutes and that Jasper would be okay with it too.

Thankfully, my suggestion was met with an enthusiastic nod, and when we found Maggie, her agreement was just as clear.

"Of course he can stay with me!" she exclaimed as she stole Jasper from my arms. "We'll have so much fun, and I'm sure Jasper can be lots of help."

"I help," Jasper agreed with a nod.

"See? You go ahead with your schedule."

"And you're sure?" I asked to clarify one more time even though her answer was crystal clear. "It's just some scheduled lab work and review so I'll be back in no more than fifteen minutes."

"Carlisle," she paused, giving me a pointed look albeit with a smile, "I promise this is no inconvenience to me whatsoever. We might just inconvenience you with all the fun we'll be having. Aunt Kate will be telling us to keep it down."

Jasper giggled at that idea and was obviously fine with staying with Maggie for a while, so I kissed him one more time and excused myself.

I saw my patient, keeping the time in the exam room as short as possible. Peter and I strived to be efficient and keep everything moving at good pace, especially in the morning. If a morning started out slow, it always continued that way for the rest of the day. But I was in and out of the exam room in ten minutes, only needing to go over some lab values before sending the patient to the lab tech for some blood to be drawn.

I hurried back to Maggie, but my rush wasn't needed. Maggie had put Jasper to work, having him hand out the paperwork to our next appointment – the one that just happened to be for his little brother.

"Ask her for her insurance card," Maggie instructed gently. I chuckled to myself as she went all out. Jasper was truly getting a full experience today.

He sat forward on Maggie's lap and held his hands out. "Mommy, I needs your…in-sure-ant card. Please, okay?"

Esme smiled, holding in a laugh that clearly wanted out, and handed over the card. "Here you are, sir. Do you need anything else from me right now?"

Jasper looked back at Maggie, and she shook her head, so he turned back to Esme. "No, Mommy. Dats all."

Unable to not make my presence known any longer, I stepped over until I was right behind Maggie's desk. Pumpkin noticed me first and started kicking his legs, so I reached for him. Esme finally noticed me as well, and passed the baby over the desk along with meeting me in the middle for a kiss.

"How's it going?" she asked. "Any problems?"

I bounced Edward in my arms and proudly shook my head. "No problems at all. Jasper has been great and I think he's had a great time with Maggie. Haven't you, buddy?"

"Uh huh. Maggie is lots of fun," he said, nodding.

Maggie hugged him and kissed the top of his head. "Well you are lots of fun too, Jasper. You'll have to visit me again sometime, okay?"

He was completely thrilled with that suggestion, but I unfortunately stole him away so we could go sit in my office to wait for Peter. I knew our waiting area was as clean as possible, but that didn't mean I wanted Esme and Edward to be out there for any longer than necessary with it being cold and flu season.

Esme carried Jasper and listened to him tell her all about his morning. Though we hadn't been here long, going to work with Daddy had already left a lasting impression.

After Jasper finished his tale, Esme filled me in on her morning. Apparently Carmen had a meeting to go to that she forgot about, so Eleazar took Emmett and Rosalie to work with him. Since Garrett had the other kids today, it was probably for the best. Trips with Pops to the hospital were a family favorite, mostly because he had a large candy bowl on his desk and many doctor and nurse friends who gave out stickers, pens, and basically anything that would hold the kids' interest. Rosalie and Emmett were definitely going to have a good day.

We only had a chance to sit and talk for a few minutes before Peter knocked on the door frame and stuck his head in. "I'm ready when you are. Or I guess I should say that Charlotte is ready when you are."

Charlotte popped up beside him and waved. "Who's getting weighed and measured today? Is it…Jasper?" She knelt down and held her arms out.

Jasper giggled as he skipped over to her. "No, Charlotte. Baby Pumpkin has to do dat. I'm a big boy."

"You are such a big boy," she agreed as she hugged him. "Are you going to help me measure your brother, then?"

With his enthusiastic agreement, we all headed to the scale. I helped Esme undress Pumpkin until he was only wearing his diaper, and then we laid him on the scale. Charlotte got his weight and height as quickly as possible, and then had Jasper help her get his head circumference.

"Everything looks great, guys," Charlotte assured us. "I can give you percentiles as soon as I grab his chart, but let's get you to a room first."

She lead us to a room where three chairs had been placed for us. We sat down, and no sooner than Charlotte had stepped out, Peter walked in and closed the door slightly.

"I really can't believe it's been four months," he said, shaking his head with a smile.

"We can't believe it either," Esme sighed. "It's going by so fast."

"Well, I'd like to be able to tell you that it slow down, but I'm afraid that it doesn't. Look at our Sarah. She's like a little girl now."

"This is why you two should have more," I teased. "You need a handful of Reaves babies to keep busy."

Charlotte chose that moment to walk back in the room, shaking her head. "Carlisle, don't you encourage him. Let me get Sarah potty trained and then we'll talk. I can't imagine more than one in diapers."

"Oh, it's not that bad." I laughed at the evil eye she gave me. "Seriously, it's not. We did two at one time and survived."

Esme nodded. "We did, and we're alive to tell you about it."

Charlotte shook her head again, but she couldn't hide the smile on her face. "Okay, okay. What is today? Pick on Charlotte day? I thought today was about Baby Edward. Let's talk about him."

Peter had watched our exchange with a grin and laughed at his wife changing the subject. "We have great friends, don't we, sweetheart?" he said as he threw his arm around his wife and pulled her in for a hug. "You're right, though. We're here to talk about Edward so let's get to it. Set him right up here." He patted the paper-covered exam table, and Esme carried Edward over and laid him down.

Peter went through a general exam while asking us questions the whole time. How much was he sleeping? How much was he eating? How active was he? Was he making sounds?

Most of the questions probably could have been answered without our input since Peter was around our family often, but we went through the routine. Honestly, Esme and I loved how he stepped into the mode of being the pediatrician instead of just our friend. We were very reassured that he was giving all of our children the best possible care.

Pumpkin definitely let Peter hear all the sounds he could make, including babbles, angry grunts, and happy squeals. He wasn't too excited about all the positions Peter kept putting him in, but he cooperated for the most part and did his little push-up move and rolled from his stomach to his back a couple of times.

Developmentally, he was completely on track and was even ahead on the fact that he already liked to put weight on his legs and would bounce if we were holding him upright. He could also already grasp objects with one or both hands and bring them toward his mouth – something I wasn't sure was so great of a development. We were definitely going to have to be more careful about the older kids' toys being left out for Pumpkin to grab.

Charlotte happily informed us that his growth was on track as well. Head circumference was normal, and height was in the ninetieth percentile. His weight was a bit lower – only at the fiftieth percentile, but we were assured that it was perfectly normal as well.

"He eats well, right?" Peter asked. "Still nursing on schedule?"

"Every two or three hours during the day and we go five at night," Esme answered. "Is he not getting enough? Should we start solids soon?"

Peter thought for a moment then shook his head. "No, I don't think we need to rush solids. He's obviously just long and lean and will probably stay that way. But since he's more than doubled his birth weight, I don't think this is anything to worry about. We'll talk solids at six months as long as you're okay with that."

Esme and I both agreed on this plan. If Peter didn't think we needed to introduce solid foods yet, we would trust him.

The rest of the exam was over in just a few minutes, and Peter picked Edward up and brought him back to Esme.

"I would say that Baby Pumpkin is still completely healthy and perfect," he told us. "And I would say he's a happy baby too, but I think based on how he's sucking on that hand, he's more hungry than anything else."

Esme laughed and agreed. "Oh, definitely. I made him wait longer than he's happy with because I wanted him to be eating during the torture."

"Torture?" Peter questioned, but then quickly realized what she meant. "Ah, yes. Another big round of shots today, huh? I think that's my cue to leave. Charlotte or Kate will be in here soon."

After shaking my hand, giving Esme a quick hug, and high-fiving Jasper, Peter left the room. I reached down to the diaper bag at our feet and pulled out a blanket for Esme to use to cover herself while she fed Pumpkin.

Jasper had been on his best behavior throughout the exam, sitting quietly in the chair beside mine and listening closely when Charlotte and Peter explained things to him. But he seemed to understand what was going on now. He crawled into my lap and looked up at me with brows furrowed.

"Daddy," he said quietly, "does Pumpkin have to get owwies today?"

I kissed his forehead and nodded. "He does, but the shots are to make sure he grows up and big and strong like you, Emmett, and Rosalie. He won't remember them. Okay?"

Esme nudged me, so I turned to look at her as Jasper buried his face in my neck. "You might have to take him out if he gets scared," she whispered. "I can handle it if Edward cries, but you know what will happen."

I did know. Jasper remained our most sensitive child, and he easily picked on the emotions of his brothers and sister. If one of them was crying and he was around, he had to cry too. Esme and I were happy to have such an empathetic child, but it wasn't convenient in situations like this. I prayed Pumpkin would be fine with these shots so Jasper would see that it wasn't as big of a deal as he thought.

I expected Charlotte to be the only one to return to the room, but when she did come back Kate was with her.

Kate held her hands up and shook her head. "I'm here under duress. I always promised that I would do this to my own kids or your kids, but Char had an idea or something."

"It's a good idea," Charlotte defended. "Esme, if you can turn him so we can get to both legs, we'll do two at a time so we'll be finished in no time. And since some babies, including Pumpkin, don't notice anything until the second shot, we'll be basically finished after that."

"Sounds good to me," I said and stood up with Jasper to get out of their way. I took Jasper to stand by the door just in case we needed to leave, but I wanted to stay as close as possible to support Esme.

Esme maneuvered Edward around so that he could still nurse while both of his legs were exposed. Kate gently rubbed his legs as Charlotte got everything organized, and after a couple of minutes they were ready to go.

They took care of the rotavirus vaccine first because it was oral. Pumpkin liked the taste so it was no problem. It was the rest of them that would be stressful.

Charlotte softly counted to three, and they attacked at the same time. I winced as I saw Pumpkin jump slightly in surprise, but the second set was finished before he could even unlatch to cry. As soon as the band aids were in place, Esme stood and walked over to the window, bouncing Pumpkin as he whimpered. When he started eating again instead of crying, I let out a sigh of relief.

"That was the best idea, Charlotte," I praised. "Seriously. I don't think it's ever gone that smoothly."

She shrugged and elbowed Kate. "I hope we can try to do that some of the time now, if this one will ever get over me making her torture her nephew."

Kate smiled and elbowed her back. "Hey, you just be glad this worked. I wasn't about to give up my future Pumpkin snuggles because of trauma I inflicted."

"And you expected me to?"

"Sure. I had always planned to make you the bad guy with my kids too."

Charlotte tried her best to look offended, but then they both started laughing. Esme and I had to join in too. Kate and Charlotte already worked well together and continued to bring a sense of teasing and happiness to the office. There were no regrets at all about the selection of staff.

After Kate and Charlotte hugged us and gave goodbye kisses to Jasper, they left us to dress Pumpkin and leave at our own leisure. I didn't have another patient for about an hour so I had time to spare.

I sat back down with Jasper, gently coaxing his head out from its hiding spot.

"That wasn't so bad, was it bud?" I asked as I patted his back. "Pumpkin's okay."

"But dat hurted him, Daddy," he protested. "I no want Pumpkin to be hurted. I love him."

"Mommy and I don't want him to hurt either, but sometimes you have to do things that hurt. But only for a little bit. Mommy's hugs made it all better, right?"

I hated how torn up he was about this, though I did love being able to witness his love for his baby brother.

The mention of hugs made his face brighten. "Yeah, Mommy hugs make hurts go away."

"What about Daddy hugs?" I asked as I pulled him close for a tight hug. "And Daddy tickles." I reached around to tickle his sides, and he giggled and squirmed until I stopped.

"Daddy hugs are good," he agreed, slightly out of breath from his laughter. "Really good, Daddy. Love you." He sat up a little so he could give me a kiss and then wrap his arms around my neck.

"I love you too, Jasper. And you know what? I bet a Jasper hug would make Pumpkin feel even better."

Esme had been watching us with misty eyes, and when Edward finished eating, she sat beside us. Jasper wasted no time in turning so he could hold Edward with my help. After giving him a good hug and a kiss, Esme pulled Jasper into her lap for a Mommy hug. I had no doubt it would do the same for him as for Pumpkin. I was partial to Esme's hugs myself.

Pumpkin's mood wasn't affected from his shots. He smiled and babbled at me as I changed his diaper and redressed him. I knew he might be cranky tonight, but for now, he was his happy self. His somber tendencies had been lessening as he grew, and though there was nothing wrong with him being serious, I loved how happy he was now. He was a joy to have in our lives.

Maggie peeked her head in the room, and after seeing that Pumpkin was in a good mood, stole him to go back to the front desk. When Esme released Jasper, he ran off to follow Maggie, so that left just the two of us in the room.

I helped Esme repack the diaper bag and then claimed my own hug. I could feel the tension melt off of her as I held her in my arms. She might have been the picture of composure of the outside, but I knew how much she worried on the inside. With the appointment being completely over, we could both relax and enjoy Pumpkin's health.

"That went better than I was expecting," she murmured against my chest before lifting her head. "Charlotte's idea was great."

I nodded. "It really was. Pumpkin handled it like a little champ."

She hummed in agreement. "I think it startled him more than anything. And I'm just glad to have it over. I need a nap after all that."

"Go home and take one, sweetheart. I'm sure Pumpkin will fall asleep during the ride home."

"But Jasper won't," she pointed out. "He's full of energy now."

"Call Uncle E to see where he is," I suggested. "You know he's love to have all three of the kids today."

She pondered for a moment and nodded slowly. "I guess I could. Jasper would love to hang out with Pops, wouldn't he?"

"Definitely. And you'll get to nap, and I'll get to come home to a rested wife. This is a win-win-win situation."

She laughed and nudged my head down for a kiss. "I love you so much," she said against my lips.

"Love you too, sweetheart," I managed to stay before molding our lips together. There was only so much we could do with an open door, but we did it all thoroughly before I had to tell her goodbye.

After giving Edward and Jasper goodbye hugs and kisses, they left and I got back to my normal work day.

The day seemed to fly by, probably thanks to my good mood. My family – immediate and extended – could always brighten my day. There was also a sense of relief after Pumpkin's appointment. We could see how he was growing and changing every day, but having a professional tell us that everything was normal always made us feel that much better.

It was hard to believe that Pumpkin was already four months old. Our kids were all growing up so fast. Emmett would be five in a couple of weeks, and Jasper and Rosalie would be four in a matter of months. While it was a bit sad that they couldn't stay little forever, we loved watching them learn and grow.

And knowing that Esme and I would face all of their milestones together made everything even better.

A/N: Rotavirus is a severe tummy bug that infants can contract. It can cause serious dehydration, but the vaccine can help prevent it. Just a fun fact for you. =)

I hope this chapter was worth the wait. I am so sorry it took so long, and I sincerely hope that the next chapter will be completed much sooner. I do have a May class, so I'm not making any promises about the next update, but if there's a long delay, I'll put another note on my profile.

On another note, I've posted two one-shots and a new story over the past month and a half. Check those out if you haven't already.

Thanks again for reading, and feel free to let me know what you think. Reviewers will receive teasers.