DISCLAIMER: Madame Meyer owns everything in the Twiverse. I'm just a crazy fic writer who just had to do something for Christmas this year.

Okay, peeps. This is the last one... the longest one yet at more than 5,000 words! I think it's the perfect story to end this collection, and I really hope you like it.

So Happy New Year's Eve, and I'll see you at the bottom :)

PROMPT: Carlisle and Esme expecting their 11 grandchildren for Christmas (suggested by Lizzie Page).

Word count: 5,391 (AH)

Esme stands by her bedroom window, her eager gaze focused on the street. Every now and then, a passing car goes by, but each is too fast to be any of the three she's looking for.

"Es?" her husband calls from downstairs.

"Yes?"

"Are you standing by the window again?"

"No. Still, uh... trying to decide which shoes to wear."

"Oh, lord." The dread in his voice is almost comical. "Then, uh... I'll see you when you come down."

"Okay."

She waits a beat then goes back to the window to keep her vigil. The mention of her shoes makes her look down at her outfit, and she actually contemplates a change of clothes. But the worn jeans, comfy red tee, and reindeer-themed socks are exactly what this occasion calls for.

Though she might break out the antler headband.

Smiling at the thought, Esme looks out the window again and gasps, placing a hand against her chest. Throwing open her bedroom window, she yells, "You scared me!"

"And you're a terrible liar." Carlisle grins up at her from their modest front yard. "Now get out of that window and come down here."

She sticks out her tongue at him, and he begins to unfasten his belt buckle. "Well, I'll never say no to that..."

"Carlisle Algernon Cullen!" She cannot believe he still acts this way. "Behave yourself!"

"Sorry." He shrugs, fixing his belt. "I thought you were offering."

She closes the window with a shake of her head, marveling that after a decade together, he still has the ability to shock, delight, and enrapture her. There are plenty of smiles now, to be sure, but once upon a time, things were quite different.

Carlisle met Esme during his pediatric residency at a small hospital in Forks, Washington. She was a volunteer in her senior year at the local high school who offered snacks, water, and pleasant conversation to anxious NICU parents. He'd caught a glimpse of her as he was getting on an elevator and lost his heart in an instant. The age difference between them was of some concern, but he felt he had no choice but to know her. And over the next year, casual talks in the lounge became long dinners in the cafeteria which became a heart-shaped opal on bended knee. Their romance bloomed quickly, too quickly in the eyes of some, but Esme knew Carlisle loved her, and she couldn't wait to start their lives together as husband and wife.

But as often happens, life made other plans without their permission, and it was in the ninth year of their marriage that Esme discovered she was unable to have children. They had been actively trying since year four, wanting to have a few years just to themselves, but to no avail. And when the doctors broke the news after months of tests and waiting and needles and more tests, the confirmation had been such a shock that Esme has all but blocked out the medical reasons why, though Carlisle could surely explain if necessary.

But what difference would it make? The tragic result was the same.

"A mother of two." As long as Esme could remember, she'd loved the sound of that phrase and knew it would someday define her life. "A mother of two" was all she'd ever wanted to be when she grew up, the lone goal of her existence, and losing that possibility wrecked her in every possible way.

Carlisle grieved with her, comforted her, and did everything he could to show her she wasn't alone, but it wasn't enough. Because the thing was... she felt alone. Alone and cruelly betrayed by her body. And no matter how many books she tried to read or how many affirmations she spoke over her life, Esme could not get her spark back.

So dark and pervasive was her sadness after nearly two years, Carlisle feared she might never come out of it. He knew there was no replacing the life she'd craved and lost, but he thought that if she could find purpose in something else, maybe she might come back to herself. And after talking to a few colleagues at work, Carlisle had an idea that she would either love or hate him for.

"You want me to what?" she'd cried, her hazel eyes bright with rage.

"Just hear me out." He had anticipated this reaction . "I think if you went there and..."

"And what?" she roared. "And pretend that I feel sorry for these poor girls who are stuck with the burden of doing exactly what I can't do? To offer them words of wisdom without pretending I'm not drowning with envy at the sight of their swollen bellies? What the hell would make you think I could benefit from something like that, Carlisle?"

"I wasn't thinking only of your benefit," he said carefully, fearing she might actually strike him. "I was... well, I was thinking of the day in the NICU you spent with the young woman whose mother was flying 31 hours from Ireland to be with her. Her mother hadn't wanted her to move to the states, resented her for being selfish, and hadn't spoken to her daughter in six years as a result. But when she heard her daughter and granddaughter were in trouble, nothing could keep the mother away. The woman couldn't stop crying, and you sat and talked with her for nearly an hour about the wonderful gift of a mother's love."

Esme eyed him cautiously. "What's your point?"

"That very morning, your own mother had disowned you for choosing me, a lowly resident with a mountain of student debt, over Chuck Evenson, the rich boy she'd intended you to marry," Carlisle said gently. "But in that moment, you weren't thinking about your own pain because you were trying to be there for someone else, and I just thought that..."

"Well, nobody asked you what you thought!" she snapped, pushing away from the dining room table. "And you can tell whoever gave you that ridiculous idea to mind their own damn business!"

Carlisle didn't bring it up again and didn't offer her any more suggestions. The silence between them was a different sort of thick now, and neither knew how to overcome it.

But a few weeks later, Esme was making the bed and she knocked over some papers from his nightstand. As she bent to pick them up, she saw a brochure for "The Home for Unwed Mothers" with a volunteer application attached. Esme gasped in horror, outraged by the inherent judgment in the name of the place, for it was just the type of phrasing her mother would use. The idea that these girls had been subjected to similar treatment—or worse—ignited a fire in Esme's belly she'd long since been missing. She showered and dressed quickly, grabbed her keys and coat, and was in the Chief Administrator's office within minutes.

But Esme was pleased to discover that despite the unfortunate name, The Home was a loving place for people to go when they had nowhere else to go. Sometimes the stories were tragic, sometimes just unfortunate, but the workers and volunteers all strove to give these mothers the best possible start. Esme's ire cooled considerably while speaking with Administrator Cope, and after touring the home herself, she applied and was accepted as a volunteer.

And that's where she found her daughters.

Alice was a spunky thing who was "totes" in love with her boyfriend Jazzy. He was the drummer in his cousin's band, Amused Bouche, and they were really big on the small-town rave circuit. He was constantly on tour and never had any money, so when Alice got pregnant during his last visit, her parents kicked her out. But she didn't mind because when Jazzy made it big, all their problems would go away.

Bella was the girlfriend of one James Hunter, an entrepreneur of sorts who talked a big game. They'd met at an airport—she was heading out; he was coming in—and he persuaded her to stay with him. Exclusive shows, first-class accommodations, and hands like velvet had Bella falling in love before she even knew his middle name. But two months later when she told him she was pregnant, he told her never to call him again.

Heaven forbid his wife should find out just what had happened in Vegas.

Rosalie was a different story altogether. She never spoke about her past or the father of her twins. In fact, in the four months since her arrival at The Home, Rosalie hadn't spoken at all. Her violet eyes were bright and alert, and she could often be found in her room, rubbing her belly and humming softly when she thought no one was looking. But outside of the occasional sneeze or cry of surprise when startled, Rosalie remained silent.

But she found herself blossoming when Esme started visiting The Home to read stories in the lounge on some days and direct group activities on others. Rosalie didn't know what it was about the new volunteer that touched her so much, but on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, she made sure to be the first one in the lounge so she could get a good seat for whatever Esme had planned. The first time Rosalie smiled at Esme, Esme's heart swelled ten sizes. And when Rosalie came up to her after her third week there and whispered, "Thank you for coming," Esme nearly fainted.

But instead of passing out, she flew out of The Home after her volunteer shift and straight to Carlisle at the hospital, her eyes brimming with excitement.

"You want to what?" Carlisle asked.

"Bring Rosalie home," she said. "To us."

"I... I think it's wonderful that you care so much," he said gently. "But honey, why would you do that?"

"Because..." Esme looked into his eyes. "She's my daughter."

And that was all she had to say.

Unfortunately, Administrator Cope had a lot more to say on the subject.

"I'm not sure this has ever happened before," she said cautiously, looking between Carlisle and Esme the next morning. "I mean, volunteers have certainly accompanied mothers to their appointments or taken them shopping. In one case, we even had someone throw a baby shower for an abused mother of triplets."

"Oh, I would never do that!" Esme shook her head. "Rosalie would hate that kind of attention."

"My point, Mrs. Cullen, is that we don't..." Administrator Cope cleared her throat. "That is, we cannot sanction fraternization between volunteers and mothers outside of The Home. Liability issues and all that."

Carlisle squeezed Esme's hand as her heart sank. "I see."

"However." Administrator Cope leaned forward, lowering her voice. "These women are here of their own free will. So if, for example, someone decided to leave and go somewhere else, well, there would be little we could do to stop them."

Esme brightened. "I see!"

"I'm glad that you do," Administrator Cope said sternly, frowning for added effect. "Rules are rules, after all."

Esme couldn't hold back her smile. "They certainly are."

"I should also mention that if, for example, a volunteer happened to have a conversation with one of the mothers about possibly staying somewhere else, that would be a conversation I should not overhear." Administrator Cope looked at Carlisle. "So on a totally unrelated note, do you have any questions for me, Dr. Cullen?"

"I certainly do." He leaned back in his chair, laying his ankle across his knee. "And I'm afraid they may take some time to answer."

Administrator Cope sighed. "Very well."

"And these questions are of a rather confidential nature," he added. "So I think it best if my wife left the room. Sensitivity concerns and so forth."

"Well, if that's what he wants." Esme came to her feet, shaking her head. "Then I guess I'll find somewhere else to be."

Administrator Cope's eyes softened as she looked at Esme. "I think that's a wonderful idea."

Esme all but ran upstairs to Rosalie's room, surprised to find Alice and Bella in there also. They appeared to be having some sort of in-house pamper day—Alice was braiding Bella's hair, Bella was painting Rosalie's nails, and Rosalie was humming again, the soft song providing the perfect soundtrack to the sweet domestic scene.

And as Esme looked at the three girls together, her plans tripled in size.

She spent an entire hour with the girls without saying a word, concerned for the first time that they might not be willing to go live with a woman they'd only known a few weeks. Stability was important during pregnancy, and permanent or not, The Home had been exactly that for them, and Esme didn't want to ruin that.

But when she prepared to take her leave, all three of their faces fell.

"Are you coming back tomorrow?" Alice asked. "I didn't get to play you Jazzy's new song."

"And you didn't tell me which book we'd be reading next month," Bella said. "I want to read it at least once before we meet."

Rosalie just looked at her, violet eyes shining. "Bye," she murmured.

Esme's bottom lip trembled, and she burst into tears, spilling her plans to the girls before she could stop herself. The entire room went silent, three sets of eyes blinking at Esme and each other, until Alice whispered, "You... you want us to live with you?"

Esme nodded, her cheeks damp. "Yes."

"All of us?" Bella asked.

"Yes."

"But what..." Rosalie's voice was so soft Esme could barely hear her. "What about the babies?"

"Well, if it's okay with you..." Esme crossed the room and sat beside her. "They can be my grandbabies."

"Holy crap!" Alice shouted then covered her mouth. "Are you for real?"

"I'm totes for real," Esme cried, causing the girls to laugh. Then she sobered a bit. "But... but only if you really want to. I realize this has been your home for the last few months, and I would never assume you'd want..."

"When can we go?" Rosalie asked.

Esme took her hand, looking at Bella and Alice also. "As soon as I can clean my house and..."

"Oh, we don't care if it's clean." Bella ambled to her feet, her big belly quite in the way. "We just wanna go!"

Esme laughed, tears still streaming. "I'm thrilled to hear that, Bella, but I can't have the three of you sleeping on my living room floor now, can I?"

Bella giggled. "I suppose not."

"I'm so excited!" Alice clapped her hands. "I can't wait to tell Jazzy."

"Make sure you don't tell him too loudly," Esme said. "We don't want to tip off the staff. Volunteers taking mothers home would reflect poorly on this place."

"Right." Alice mimed zipping her lip. "I'll call him tonight."

"And I need to take a nap." Bella yawned. "All this excitement has worn me out."

Esme chuckled. "I know the feeling."

Bella and Alice walked toward Rosalie's door, looked at each other, then turned to Esme.

"Could we..." Alice hesitated, and Bella nudged her. "I mean, would it be okay if we gave you a hug?"

Esme melted inside. "Of course, Alice. That would be more than okay."

Alice and Bella did their best to envelop Esme in a hug, but their bellies only allowed for so much closeness. The three of them dissolved into laughter at the awkward angles, and Esme stepped back with a smile. "We'll have to work on that."

Bella looked at Esme. "So you'll be back..."

"Every day," Esme said. "Until... well, until there's no one to come back to."

Bella grinned. "I like the sound of that."

"Bye, Esme!" Alice waved then raised her voice. "Thanks for the hair-braiding lesson. It was very informative."

She gave an exaggerated wink as Bella ushered her out of the room. When they were alone at last, Esme turned to Rosalie who was watching her closely.

"I didn't want to say anything in front of them," Esme began. "But I wanted to ask you how you felt about living with a man."

Rosalie's eyes widened, and she didn't respond.

"I don't know much about your past," Esme continued. "But I have to assume that if your babies are the result, it likely involved some horrible man."

Rosalie looked down, a tear trailing down her cheek, and nodded.

"I thought so." Esme patted her hand. "And I am so very sorry to hear that."

"I..." Rosalie paused, further lowering her voice. "I don't talk about it."

"And you'll never have to. Not unless you want to. But Rosalie..." She waited for her to look up. "I want you to know that my husband is the kindest, gentlest man that has ever lived. He would never hurt you, disrespect you, or even violate your privacy. And if... if you wanted him to give you lots of space or not to speak to you unless you speak to him first, he's perfectly willing to do that. Or anything else to make you comfortable."

Rosalie gasped, shaking her head. "No."

"No?" Esme's stomach dropped. "No, what?"

"I can't..." She waited for the words to come. "I can't let you do that. Not for me."

Esme squeezed the hand she was holding. "I would do that and more for you, Rosalie."

"But why?" Her violet eyes shone with feeling. "Why would you do that for me?"

Esme wanted to give her the same answer she gave Carlisle, but she thought that might be a lot for the timid blonde to hear. So she settled for an easier truth.

"Because two years ago when I learned that I couldn't have children, after five years of trying, a part of me died. I had no joy, no light, and no purpose in my life." Esme laid a hand against Rosalie's cheek. "But then you smiled at me one day in the meeting room. And for the first time in two years, I felt something more than empty. I felt... I felt special and wanted and worthwhile. You gave that gift to me, Rosalie, with just a smile, and I want to give you just a portion of that in return, if you'll let me."

Rosalie stared at Esme for a long time, and Esme feared she'd said too much.

Then the young blonde threw her arms around Esme's neck, squeezing with all her might. "Thank you."

Esme rubbed her back, her own eyes welling with tears. "No. Thank you."

"Es!" Carlisle bellows from downstairs. "Come on!"

She blinks out of her memories. "Are they here?"

"Alice said she and Jasper are six minutes away!"

She lets out a little squeal. "I'm coming!"

This time, Esme does leave her bedroom and heads for the staircase, pausing to look down the hall at the other two bedrooms. When Carlisle and Esme left The Home that afternoon, they rushed home to figure out how to reconfigure their space. The three-bedroom house was certainly big enough for the life they'd initially envisioned, but with three girls and four babies soon arriving, they had to look at things through fresh eyes. And after a quick discussion, it was decided that the four babies would share the smallest room, Carlisle and Esme would take the mid-size space, and the three girls would be given the master bedroom with its large closet and modern en suite.

Carlisle then enlisted the help of his concerned colleagues over the next three days to help paint and move furniture around. His superiors learned what he and Esme were doing, and they jumped in with convertible cribs, new beds, dressers, and all the accessories four children and their mothers could ever need. But it was the brand new minivan in the driveway that stunned Esme when she came back from The Home the day before the girls were to move in.

"I could never do what you're doing," read the anonymous note. "But I want you to know how much I appreciate it."

Esme never discovered the author of the note, but whoever it was had her eternal gratitude. And it was in that minivan that Esme met the girls at a coffee shop down the street from The Home the next morning, the day they'd all decided to leave.

Unrelatedly, of course.

"Crazy coincidence," Administrator Cope wrote in her official notes on the departures of the three girls. "Nothing more to say on the subject."

The girls arrived at the Cullen house with wide eyes and even wider grins. Hearing about what Esme and Carlisle wanted to do for them was one thing, but seeing it with their own eyes was more than they could process.

Even Alice was speechless.

The girls went upstairs to the room they would share, and Esme held her breath. This was the part she was most nervous about, and she prayed the girls wouldn't be too disappointed. She'd crammed two twin beds and a daybed into the room, adding two rocking chairs and a cushioned chair for extra seating. Each bed boasted a monogrammed throw pillow, the girls' first initials welcoming them to their new resting places. The room was cozy and well decorated, but there was no illusion of privacy.

Would that be the deal-breaker?

No one spoke as they looked around the room, and Esme thought she might pass out for wondering what they were thinking. But almost on cue, each girl turned to Esme with a different but equally bright grin, and Esme relaxed.

"It's perfect," Rosalie said at nearly normal volume. "Thank you."

"It wasn't perfect," Esme chuckles to herself as she remembers. Three new mothers... four, including Esme... and four babies quickly became an experiment in chaos. There were arguments, sleepless nights, and threats to move out...

And that was just between Carlisle and Esme.

But like all families, they eventually found a groove that worked for them, and by the time the oldest baby was a year old, The Cullen home was everything Esme had dreamed and more.

So much more.

A chorus of honking horns startles Esme out of her thoughts, and she squeals like a little girl. "They're here! They're all here!"

"I'm jealous." Carlisle smiles as she reaches the bottom of the stairs. "I remember when I used to make you come running like that."

"Oh, shut up." She grins up at him wickedly. "You know I always come for you."

His eyes darken. "You are awful for teasing me like that when our grandkids are just outside."

She kisses him quickly. "That's what you get!"

He huffs. "Just for that, somebody's getting coal in their stocking."

She waves him off, too giddy for words, and opens the door with a grin. "Merry Christmas!"

"Hey, Ma-Me!" Alice reaches the step first, hoisting a little one on her hip. "I hope you're in a diaper-changing mood."

"I'm always in a diaper-changing mood." She kisses Alice's cheek, tickling the curly-haired girl in her arms. "Did Avery have an accident?"

"Ma-Me!" Avery cries excitedly. "I pee-pee!"

"Yes, you did, munchkin!" Alice kisses her daughter's cheek and sets her down, turning to Esme. "Somebody gave her a giant cup of water before we left the house."

"She said she was thirsty, Ma!" Jasper comes up the steps with their other daughter, Lexie, in tow. "What was I supposed to do?"

"It's fine, Jazzy." Esme hugs him hello. "We've got plenty of diapers and extra clothes."

"Pee-pee!" Avery laughs again, running into Carlisle's waiting arms. "Pee-pee, PaPaw!"

"Hey, I pee-pee, too!" Carlisle says, making Avery scream with laughter.

"I don't pee-pee in diapers, Ma-Me!" Lexie beams proudly. "I got on sparkly pink underwear like Mommy!"

"Of course you do!" Esme cracks up. "That's because you're a big girl now!"

"I have on underwears too, Ma-Me!" a blond little boy calls out as he climbs the stairs. "But Denny doesn't."

"Yes, I do!" the boy who is presumably Denny replies hotly. "Mines are just different, right, Mommy?"

"That's right, love." Rosalie smiles down at her twin boys. "And they've got race cars on them too."

"Whoa!" Carlisle bends to scoop up both boys with Avery still around his neck and pretends to struggle under their collective weight. "I wish I had race cars on my underwears!"

The boys look at each other, and Denny shakes his head. "PaPaw, mens don't wear race cars on their underwears."

Carlisle looks shocked. "They don't?"

"No!" The boys giggle. "They have grown-up stuff."

"Like bagels and taxes," the blond boy says as Carlisle carries them into the den.

"Tack-shess!" Avery giggles. "Tack-shess!"

"Is Denny still struggling with potty training?" Esme asks as she hugs Rosalie.

"Yeah. Derek took to it right away, but it's taking Denny a little longer."

"Don't worry about it." Esme helps her take off her coat. "Everything happens in due time."

Rosalie turns around, smiling at the open doorway. "It certainly does."

"Ho ho ho!" calls out a booming voice. "Merry Christmas, everyone!"

"Merry Christmas, Emmett!" Esme rushes over to the big bear of a man who has just walked in. "Is Dylan asleep?"

"Out like a light." He smiles down at the car seat on his arm. "But I think we should wake her up."

"You will do no such thing," Rosalie chides gently. "You know how fussy she gets when you wake her up prematurely."

"Aw, you're no fun." He hands the car seat to Esme and turns to Rosalie. "It's a good thing you're hot."

"You're hot, Auntie Rosie?" Lexie asks with great concern as she returns to the foyer. "Maybe you should go eat some snow."

"That's a great idea!" She beams down at the little girl. "Maybe you can take Uncle Emmett outside and help him gather some."

"Sweet!" Emmett cries, taking Lexie's hand. "Let's go get some bowls from the kitchen."

Esme looks through the window. "There's barely three inches on the ground."

Rosalie smiles fondly at her husband of two years. "He won't care."

"Boys!" someone calls from outside. "Don't go running in Ma-Me's house like that!"

"Okay, Dad!" The five boys reply as they do just that. "Merry Christmas, Ma-Me!"

"Merry Christmas, boys!" She wraps her arms around them, kissing one of each cheek in turn. "How are you?"

"Hungry!"

"Tired!"

"Bored."

"Happy."

"Stinky!" The littlest one frowns as Esme looks at him. "I farted."

The other boys dissolve into laughter as a bronze-haired man walks in after them. "What did I tell you about farting?" he asks.

"Whoever smelt it, dealt it?" the oldest boy suggests.

Esme's lips clamp together to hold in a laugh as she looks at the man. "He's got you there, Edward."

Edward shakes his head. "What am I going to do with them?"

"Bring them outside!" Emmett cries as he appears with bowls. "We're gathering snow for ice cream."

Edward chuckles. "There's only two inches of snow out there."

"Then we better get it all before it melts!" Emmett gathers the troops. "Let's go!"

The five boys and Lexie trail after Emmett with a shout, nearly running over Bella who is holding a young girl's hand.

"Where are they going, Mommy?" she asks.

"Hopefully to burn off some energy with Uncle Emmett." She smiles at Esme. "But you can stay in here with us where it's warm."

"Where's PaPaw?" she asks. "I wanna show him my new doll."

"He's in the den with Avery."

"Avery's here?" the girl screeches. "Yay!"

Bella chuckles. "Can you say 'hi' to your Ma-Me?"

"Oh!" The girl runs at Esme, wrapping her arms around her legs. "Hi, Ma-Me!"

"Hi, April!" She hugs her from above. "Merry Christmas."

"Uh-huh." April tears out of her coat and drops it to the ground before running into the den. "Averyyyyyyy!"

"Aprilllll!" comes the reply, making Bella and Esme laugh. "I love their bond," Esme says.

"Yeah." Bella picks up April's coat. "It's good that she gets some girl time every now and then. She could use it."

"I'll bet you could, too." Esme nudges her playfully. "Five boys is a lot."

"They really are." But her smile says she doesn't mind. "But Edward is a great father, so we make it work."

Bella had recently met a slightly older man who had adopted five boys of his own. Bella fell in love with his generosity—and gorgeousness—and didn't think twice about becoming his wife. It had only been about eight months, and they were still figuring things out. But there was no doubt of how much they loved each other.

"Don't ever hesitate to bring them here if you need a break." Esme loops her arm through Bella's. "We're always happy to have them here."

"Well..." Bella trails off as she hangs up April's coat. "My parents have actually been helping out with that."

Esme's eyebrows shoot up. "Really?"

"Yeah." Bella smiles a little. She hadn't heard from her parents after they learned she had an affair with a married man, a subject she seldom spoke about. "They reached out just after April's last birthday, wanting to see her. We've been taking it slow, but they seem sincere. And it's been nice having them around again."

Esme rests her hand on Bella's arm. "I'm happy for you. Truly."

"Thanks." Bella relaxes, and Esme realizes she was nervous to tell her. "That means a lot."

"Of course." The two women head into the den where Carlisle is riding Denny and Derek on his back like a horse, and Avery and April are huddled in a corner introducing their new favorite dolls. Alice and Jasper are flipping through Carlisle's record collection, eager to get the dance party started.

And Rosalie is in her favorite spot, the rocking chair by the fireplace, holding baby Dylan. She's looking out the bay window and smiling, likely at her husband as he frolics in the snow like the big kid he is, and Esme could not be more thrilled at the sight.

Bella sees Esme watching Rosalie and decides to take her leave. "I'm gonna join Avery and April," she says softly. "See if they'll let me play this time."

Esme nods and goes over to the window, settling on the window seat by the rocking chair. "She still asleep?" she asks.

"Yeah." Rosalie looks fondly at the baby in her arms. "Sometimes I still can't believe she's real. So I have to keep holding her to be sure."

"And I'm sure she loves every minute of it." Esme smooths her daughter's hair. "A mother's love is always the best thing for a child."

Rosalie looks up. "Or a scared pregnant girl who's afraid to speak anymore."

"You had good reason to be silent," Esme says gently. "And I hope you're beginning to understand that."

Rosalie nods. "The sessions with Dr. Carmen are definitely helping. I still can't believe my parents turned their backs on me, but it's getting easier to accept. I..." She glances at the window. "I don't think I'm ready to tell Emmett the whole story yet... about the boys' father, I mean... but I... I think that's okay."

"It is okay. And if you do decide to tell him, that will be okay too." Esme gasps as Emmett falls face-down in the snow to the extreme delight of his niece and nephews. "Because that man has loved you since the day he saw you with the boys at the park and will never do anything else."

Rosalie watches as the kids pile on top of him, their laughter ringing out loud and clear. "He's a true wonder, much like this little one here."

"She is definitely that." Esme tenderly rubs her head. "The little girl you always wanted."

"Yeah." Rosalie looks up at Esme, her eyes misty. "If I... If I can just love Dylan half as well as you've loved me... then I will consider myself a great mom."

"Oh, Rose..." Esme hugs her around her shoulders, happy tears threatening. "My precious, precious girl..."

"I love you, Mom."

"I love you too, honey." The two women rock in misty unison as snow begins to fall outside. "With all my heart."

With the boys now wrestling each other, Carlisle stands up and looks around, taking in the scene before him. His heart fills to overflowing at the scene of raucous domesticity, and he spots his wife and daughter huddling by the window. Sensing his gaze, Esme looks over at him and blows him a kiss, and he returns the gesture, awash with joy.

"And she thought she only wanted two kids," Carlisle thinks to himself with a grateful sigh. "Thank God we don't always get what we want."

Annnnnd... that's all she wrote!

Thank you all SOOOO MUCH for spending the end of your 2018 with me! I pray 2019 is your best year yet, and who knows? Maybe I'll see you next year with something new...

LOVE YOU, ALL! XOXO