A Precious Gift....

[Rosalie Hale]

*It had been 3 days since the death of my best friend Zoe. I could not get the images of our last day today out of my mind. Those last hours with her were so bitter-sweet to me. That was the day that I lost the only human I ever let get close to me but it was also the day I became a mother. "A mother", I don't think I will ever get use to that word. For such a long time, it was a word that sent such pain and regret pulsating through my heart that I just knew I would die a thousand deaths but now, now that word filled my dead heart with such joy and peace, I would swear you could hear it beating again.
The first few hours after losing Zoe, was spent with me caring for my new son. I bathed him and feed him, which was a experience I shall never forget. First we gave him blood of course and he finished that in record time, then Carlisle said to try infant formula just to see how well he tolerated that. I was worried at first cause Nessa preferred blood over human food and I didn't want to cause him any discomfort at all but he drank that bottle down in no time flat also. We were also worried about him biting too cause all the info that we knew about hybrids stated that males were venomous, so we have kept him away from Jake just to be sure. Then that bring us to the other members of the pack, of course Jacob was accepting of him because he loved Nessa so much how could he believe that another just like her would be less then perfect but I was worried about the others. Once they found out about him, would they try to kill him? Jake imprinted on Nessie and that is why they had to let her lived but nothing like that happened with Ryder, thank God. I could not deal with having a dog as a daughter-in-law.
Carlisle and my brother's took care of having Zoe's body cremated, which is something I wanted to have no part of, so while they did that, I just tried to get use to being a mother, which is something that I feel as if I was born to be.
Today, Emmett and the other's where out hunting while I stayed home with Ryder. Once they returned I would go out but for now, it was just me and my little man.
I had given him his bath and lotion him down. Alice of course went out and brought more clothes then he will ever be able to wear but we all knew how much she loved to shop.
I had diapered him and was in the middle of putting the lotion on when he fell asleep, I couldn't bring myself to wake him just to put clothes on, so I just laid down on the bed beside him and watched him sleep. If he was anything like Nessa, he would not be this size long and I didn't want to miss a minute of it

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[Emmett Cullen]

*Emmett playfully hit Jasper back on the shoulder as he and his brothers ran through the thick brush, hunting. It had been three days since the birth of Ryder, his...son. The fact that Zoe risked her life to give him a chance, and then committed such a self-less act of giving her baby to Emmett and Rose was still dumb founding to him. He never expected to be a father due to their circumstances. Sure, he wanted it. He'd never seen Rosalie so happy, so content. This was all she ever wanted, and finally he was able to see her get it. Looking into Ryder's eyes on that second night of his life, he smiled down at the small bundle and found himself in awe of how perfect he was. When he started to cry, Rosalie always knew what to do. Eventually he'd learn but she seemed so happy in comforting him. It made Emmett a tad nervous, since he never was a father, but he felt that fatherly instinct. Sometimes he found himself fantasizing about teaching him catch, playing football with him, teaching him to hunt the biggest bears. Emmett smiled as Edward and Jasper laughed loudly snapping him from his thoughts.*

"What's wrong papa bear? You're smiling silly again. What are you thinking, brother?" *Jasper chimed in, as he felt his emotions. Edward just smiled and nodded, reading his thoughts.* "You're doing fine, Emmett. You'll grow into it, I promise." *He nodded, trying to agree.*
You're right, how hard can it be if you did it. *He let out a loud guffaw laugh and took off at record speed calling over his shoulder. Keep up already, slow pokes!

*After the hunt, he made his way back home while Jasper and Edward went to meet their mates. As he walked into the room he and Rosalie shared he smiled. Being extra quiet even though she could probably hear him, he watched as his wife and son laid peacefully in bed. His tiny snores echoed in the room as she laid there still, not sleeping. Creeping into the bed and crawling behind her as he wrapped an arm around her, pulling her to him with her back to his chest. Nuzzling his face in her hair as he smiled and whispered into her ear.* I love you, so much. And OUR son.

[Rosalie Hale]

*I was thinking that I could lay there in the bed that I shared with my husband, one that used to be used for one reason alone now held many uses. I was content just watching my baby sleep the only thing missing from this peaceful afternoon was my monkey man. Whispering so to not wake him "You are one lucky little boy Ryder. Your father is the best. Strong, smart, goodlooking and very funny. You will have a wonderful life. You know why?" I kissed him on his forehead ever so slightly "cause I promised a very special friend of mine that you would. I can't wait to tell you all about her"
I laid my head down and continue to listen to his tiny little snores. Moments later I heard footsteps walking towards the bedroom door. I would know those heavy boots anywhere. I leaned towards the baby and whispered "your daddy's home" and smiled the biggest smiles ever. Eyes closed, I listened while he opened the door, pausing there for a minute before climbing into bed with us.
"I love you so much. And OUR son" he said as quite as he could manage but still loud enough to cause the baby to stir. He just couldn't help it, he was a big man with a big voice and I would not have it any other way. Looking down, I noticed that Ryder had a smile on his face. "Look, our son loves his daddy's voice"
We laid there for a long time, the two of us watching as our son took his nap. It was short lived tho as soon as the rest of the family came in. I could hear Jasper and Ed talking about who would be a better cook, Bella or Alice IF the two of them had any reason to cook.
"Bella for sure Jasper, remember, she was human just five years ago" Edward said as I heard him slide the glass door shut. "Come on Ed, this is Bella we are talking about. I love her but she was no Betty Crocker even as a human" Jasper teased his brother.
The two of them went back and forth until I heard a tiny whimper float up from beside me. "Looks like your brothers have woke the baby. I guess like me, they will never get use to having another baby in the house." Laughing, I sit up and pull Ryder into my arms. "If only we had a place a little more "Baby Proof"*

[Emmett Cullen]

*He smiled and shook his head as his brothers debated over a better cook. His money was on Alice, because she could tell if it would taste good or not before making it. As Ryder began to stir he heard Rosalie mention something about having a place. This made him think that maybe they did need their own place. Rosalie's birthday was a few months away now, and maybe he'd have enough time to sell the house he'd purchased in Alaska a few years back. With that money he could build them a house on the land owned by Carlisle. His mind began to whirl with thoughts and ideas that he needed to talk to Carlisle about, and soon. Kissing her forehead as she sat up and pulled him into her arms. Kissing Ryder then looking back to her, knowing she was about to feed him.* May I? *He asked coyly, still unsure of what he was doing but he wanted to learn, he wanted to help.*

[Rosalie Hale]

*I heard Em ask if he could be the one to feed Ryder. Even tho I hated missing one minute of his care, I couldn't think of anyone else I would rather share him with "Of course love, here..." I placed the baby in his big arms. Ryder was a fairly big baby due to his background but he looked so small in his daddy's arms.
I rushed to the kitchen and made him a bottle of baby formula. He was taking a bottle of blood every two hours and he also liked his milk every once in awhile. I loved that about him. He was the best of both worlds, human and vampire.
Rushing back to the bedroom, I handed Emmett the warm bottle. "Now remember, hold his head up a little while you feed him so that he won't choke." I watched as Em tried to be as tender as he could but let's face it, he is a big man and a even bigger vampire. I sat down beside him and chuckled. "Em honey, you won't break him, he is half vampire remember"
My husband looked up and cocked his brow "It is the other have that I am worried about"
I leaned in and kissed him on his nose "You are doing wonderfully. Look, he is not complaining" Just then the baby let out a cry. Em held up the empty bottle "Well, mom. I think he is complaining now" We both laughed. This was going to be both a pleasure and a learning experience for the both of us.

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[Emmett Cullen]

*She placed him gently into his arms as he looked down at how tiny he appeared in Emmett's large arms. Being careful so not to harm him when Rosalie reminded him he was part vampire. That's not the half that worries me He said with a grin as he held the bottle up while Ryder drank. It seemed natural and soon it just felt normal and right. Looking up at Emmett with the biggest blue eyes as he fed from the bottle, he couldn't help but smiled when he grabbed his large finger.*

He's got strength that's for sure. For such a little man *Emmett said with a chuckle as she watched them. Just after she said he wasn't complaining he let out a cry, seeing that he was done with that bottle, Emmett smiled.* Well, Mom...he's complaining now. *He sure had an appetite and it made Emmett so proud it felt as if his heart was swollen with joy and pride. Rosalie took the empty bottle and sped into the kitchen for more as he held Ryder up with a hand under each of his arms and started to talk to him.

Hey little fella, I'm Emmett...well, your....your dad. Sorta, but we'll explain that to you one day, I promise. We're gonna go hunting, play baseball, football, and you're going to have the best life. I promise you. *Ryder smiled and cooed as it sounded like a giggle and Emmett smiled wider.*

[Rosalie Hale]

*I rushed back to the bedroom from making Ryder another bottle. Stopping at the door, I saw Em sitting while holding the baby up in front of him. He was telling his son all about the things they were going to do together, all the things he was going to teach him. I swear it sounded like Ryder was giggling. Edward was right, he is a happy baby.
I stood there watching as Em talked to his son. Soon the baby started to cry. "What's wrong with him Rosie?" he asked. I could tell he was getting nervous. "Well love, I am not 100% sure but I think he might have to burp" I walked over to the chair that the duo was sitting in.
"Burp? Like I use to do after sneaking my old man's whiskey out behind the family barn?" I laughed at the thought of Em being a human teenage boy so many years ago. "Yes, like you use to do"
I helped get Ryder up on Emmett's shoulder "Now, very lightly, remember your strength love, pat his little back. Like this" I softly patted the tiny back. "Now you try" I watch Emmett give it a try. "Like this?" He asked as he tenderly patted his son. "Yes, just like that....now be careful cause......" and just as if Ryder understood what we were talking about, he spit up all over his dad's shoulder. Em jumped up and held the tiny baby out in front of him. "Oh my God, Rosie, I broke him" I couldn't help but laugh as I stood there in front of my family.....my family. My world was now complete*