Chapter 12: Family

Chapter 12: Family
BPOV

Butterflies of excitement fluttered in my stomach as we approached the house. I had heard, through the pain of the venom's fire, my eldest daughter telling me all about her days and her brother and sister, but even so, I really didn't know them all that well. I’d never seen them, never heard them, never held them. Edward had, and that made me feel jealous. I knew that jealousy was irrational, and in the next second I felt guilty for even feeling it. All the sensations and emotions running through me were beginning to give me whiplash; there was just so much going on around me, and everything seemed to draw my attention. Flipping again, my emotions circled back around to nervousness as Edward led me through the back door and into the living room. Alice appeared and handed me a plain blue blouse, which I was grateful for; my hunting hadn't exactly been neat and tidy the way Edward’s was, and I was covered in blood and dirt with big rips in my dress. Once the shirt was buttoned up, it hung just long enough to cover the worst, leaving the relatively undamaged lower hem hanging like a skirt. I got a proper greeting from the whole family, with hugs and smiles and kind words, though Rosalie was still conspicuously absent. Just as I was about to ask where she was, I spotted her sitting on one of the big white couches with her back to me, talking quietly to something in her arms. Edward sat beside her, also cradling something, and I moved towards them almost in a trance. All of the others vanished as I moved, and Rose looked up and smiled at me.
“Hey Bella,” she said. “How are you feeling?”
“Good,” was all I could manage, distracted as I was by what she was holding. The soft pattering heartbeats of the babies and Nessie, who hovered at the end of the couch, seemed to fill my ears until I couldn't hear anything else.

Rosalie stood up, leaving her seat vacant and nodding for me to take it. I sat down gingerly, moving at almost human speed in my nervousness. I was wary of the new strength and speed I could feel singing through every cell of my body, still unsure how I was supposed to control it all. Out of habit, I bit my lip, and the action felt strange and foreign; the feeling of strong sharp teeth on impenetrable skin was incredibly odd. Edward gave me a reassuring smile, and I relaxed minutely. Rosalie held out the bundle of blankets in her arms.
“Here, you take EJ. He's getting impatient.” she said with an adoring smile. The bundle wriggled and cooed excitedly, and she laughed lightly.
“Alright little man, here's your Momma.” she murmured, leaning down to place my son in my arms. As nervous as I was, I felt instantly calmed when my arms curled into the familiar position around him and I looked down into his face.

EJ stared up at me, his wide green eyes sparkling like two emeralds in his pale face. His wriggling had dislodged the blankets around him, revealing a pale blue onesie and a head of crazy bronze hair. He smiled at me, showing off two rows of pearly teeth. He was the spitting image of his father, and just like with Renesmee, I was instantly enchanted.
“He's perfect.” I whispered, my voice full of wonder.
“I know,” Edward whispered back. “They both are.”
A soft, happy giggle drew my attention to his arms and the other baby that he held. Smaller than EJ, this baby had slightly longer, wavy hair and longer eyelashes, pink lips and slightly pink cheeks which made her skin look like fresh cream.
“A girl?” I asked softly, and Edward nodded.
“Elizabeth Rose.” He smiled sheepishly. “I named her. I hope you don't mind.”
I smiled back at him and leaned up to kiss his cheek.
“Of course I don't mind.” I said like it was obvious. “It's a beautiful name.”
Elizabeth laughed again, reaching out towards me and kicking her legs. EJ copied her, grabbing hold of a lock of my hair that hung near him and pulling on it. Edward chuckled while I gently uncurled his little fist and kissed his forehead with a smile.
“Ma!” Elizabeth suddenly yelled, straining out of her father's arms in an attempt to get to me.
“Alright my precious.” he soothed her, shifting his weight so she didn't fall. He slid slightly closer and carefully showed me how to balance EJ on one arm so that I could hold both of them at once. When I was human it would have been awkward at best, and almost certainly impossible, but now it was effortless; I was more aware of every part of my body than I ever had been before, and that new awareness made everything I did feel like the easiest thing in the world. It helped that the babies were far more developed than other children their age and didn’t need someone else to hold their heads up for them. Both of them cooed happily when they were settled, seeming glad to be near each other as well as me. Edward put his arm around me and reached around to stroke Elizabeth’s hair softly, leaning in close and resting his chin lightly on my shoulder.
“I am so proud of you.” he whispered softly into my ear, his voice burning with love, and kissed my cheek tenderly. I couldn’t help but smile and lean back into him contentedly. I could see Nessie still hovering nervously, though she had edged closer and closer with each passing minute. I nudged Edward gently with my elbow, and nodded minutely in her direction. He smiled at her and held out his hand.
“What are you doing all the way over there Ness?” he asked teasingly. Her face lit up in response, and she bounced over to us and into his lap, curling against his chest. I leaned over and kissed her forehead tenderly.
“What do you think?” I asked her, smiling happily. “Shall we keep them?”
She laughed, as did Edward, and nodded.
“They’re fun.” she informed me matter-of-factly. “They talk to each other all the time, and it’s so funny.” She giggled.
“Ne’mee!” EJ shouted suddenly, clapping his hands excitedly.
“Luboo Ne’mee!” Elizabeth added, also clapping.
“They’re talking already?” I said, surprised by this new development.
“If you can call it talking.” Edward replied with a soft smile. “They don’t master things overnight the way Nessie did. It takes them a bit of practice. They seem to have conversations with each other, and they understand the words we say and what they want to say in response. They just can’t quite connect that knowledge with the muscles in their mouths.”
“They talk another way too!” Nessie said, bouncing excitedly. “They can talk in their thoughts!”
She touched her hot little hand to my cheek, showing me a memory of a discussion she’d had with the twins just that morning. They’d sat on the nursery floor in a circle, holding hands, and the twins had asked her questions – mostly about me – just by thinking, and she answered them in the same way.

“Wow.” I breathed, then gasped as the twins each laid a hand on my arm and joined in the conversation.
We love you Momma, they both thought at once. We missed you.
I smiled, trying out the rather odd sensation of thinking my answer.
I missed you too. I thought. And I love you too, very much.
I knew it had worked when they gurgled happily and took their hands off my arm to clap in perfect unison. Nessie giggled and Edward and I both laughed.
“I could hear you.” He whispered in my ear wonderingly. “I heard you in their thoughts. Your mind is so beautiful love.”
I smiled bashfully, embarrassed by his praise, and waited for a blush that would never come. The absence of the usual rush of heat to my cheeks threw me for a moment, before Edward distracted me with a soft kiss behind my ear and another whispered, “So beautiful.” that sent an entirely different heat rushing through my whole body.
“Ick.” said EJ, and we laughed again. There was a lot of laughing and smiling that day.

~ADP~

I carefully pulled a blanket up over the sleeping twins. They both slept in the same crib, waking up and crying if they were separated, and they had automatically curled up side by side when I put them down on the soft mattress. Their hands were clasped together between them, and Elizabeth had her other thumb in her mouth, seemingly unaffected by EJ's soft snoring in her ear. I smiled as they shifted slightly in their sleep, glad that their peaceful faces were free from stress or sadness.

I turned to say goodnight to Nessie, who had scrambled into the rocking chair I had just vacated. While I was changing, Alice and Emmet had gone to Charlie's house and told him that I missed the comfort of my old room, and that I’d asked them to come and get my rocking chair. Charlie, still worried as he thought I was ill, quickly agreed and helped them get it into the back seat of the Volvo, sending them off with a get well soon for me and making them promise to get me to call him as soon as I could. In actual fact, the rocking chair had been a surprise gift for me, and one that I greatly appreciated.

“Come on missie,” I said softly, trying not to wake the babies as I scooped up my oldest daughter. “Time for bed.”
She cuddled into my side as I carried her to her new 'big girl' bed and tucked her in. She was unusually quiet, a pensive look on her face that had me worried. She'd seemed detached and upset all day, and I knew Edward had seen it too, but we hadn't brought it up while she was busy playing with the twins.
“Are you okay honey?” I asked her now, stroking her hair softly. Instead of answering, she gave me a question of her own.
“Momma, will you and Daddy still love me even though you have the twins now?”
I was taken aback for a moment, but when I thought about it her worries made sense; with Edward shut away with me and everyone else focused almost completely on the babies, she was bound to feel a little left out.
“Of course not darling!” I told her. “Why would you think that?”
She shrugged and looked down at her lap, twisting her fingers around the legs of a stuffed wolf that Jacob had given her.
“Nessie, look at me.” I said seriously. She peered up at me through her lashes. I put a finger under her chin and gently guided her face up so I could see her properly.
“You have no reason to think that we won't love you anymore. That's not possible.” I paused, seeing her speculative look.
“You know,” I said softly, releasing her chin and looking down at me hands. “There was a time when I didn't think I could love anyone more than I loved my parents, my mother especially. But then I moved here.” I smiled softly and looked back up at her now fascinated little face.
“And I met your father.” I went on. “And I found a love I’d never felt before in my life. Then you came along, and it happened again. But just because I fell in love with Daddy, doesn't mean I don't love my parents anymore. Just because I love you, doesn't mean I don't love Daddy anymore.”
I tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear and cradled her cheek in the palm of my hand. “And just because I love the twins, doesn't mean that I don't love you. That's the wonderful thing about love.” And I leaned in close and whispered like I was sharing a great secret with her. “We can always make more.”
Renesmee's eyes were wide and shining.
“Really?” she whispered, her voice in awe.
I nodded. “Always. You know it too.”
“I do?” she asked with a little frown.
Again, I nodded, still smiling. “You do. You love your brother and sister don't you?”
She nodded furiously. “Of course I do!”
“But that doesn't stop you loving me and Daddy, does it?”
She shook her head.
“Well there you go.” I said. “It doesn't matter how many people you love, you always have enough to go around. You love everyone equally, no matter if you've loved them for days or years. And hey,” I grinned. “Even if we're busy with Elizabeth and EJ, you'll always have Jacob.”

I patted the head of her little wolf and she giggled.

“Silly Momma, that's not Jacob!”
I pretended to be astonished. “It's not?”
She giggled again and held the wolf up in front of my face. “This is Wolfy.”
“I see.” I said, nodding as if it was obvious. “Well, can you and Wolfy give me a goodnight hug?”
She smiled and nodded, leaning up and wrapping her arms around me.
I love you Momma, she thought with her hand on my neck.
“I love you too Renesmee.” I whispered. “Never doubt that.”

She hummed contentedly, then yawned.
I chuckled. “Time to go to sleep now, little princess.”
“Okay,” she sighed, lying down with her head on the pillow. I tucked the covers in around her carefully and kissed her forehead softly.
“Goodnight darling.” I murmured.
“Goodnight Momma.” she mumbled sleepily.
I checked on the twins one more time – they were still sleeping peacefully – and paused at the door to turn out the light. Even in the darkness, my newly enhanced eyesight allowed me to see my children's faces as clearly as in daylight. The sight brought yet another soft smile to my lips as I quietly closed the door and crossed the hall to mine and Edward’s room. I stood still for a moment, listening to the sounds of the house. It was mostly quiet, just a few soft conversations going on downstairs. I didn't listen too closely, but I couldn't help overhearing the muffled moaning and groaning already coming from Rose and Emmet's room any more than I could stop the way my face twisted into a grimace in response. Ignoring them, I opened the door to our room. It was empty, but I could hear water running in the bathroom.
“Edward?” I called, keeping my voice at a normal volume since he could hear me anyway.
“I'm in the shower love.” he called back, also quiet.
“I guessed that.” I said with a smile, rolling my eyes. “What are you doing in there?”
“I'll be out in a moment.” he promised, avoiding my question.
Curious and confused, I went to sit on the edge of the bed with my back to the bathroom door and began pulling off my shoes and unbuttoning my blouse.
“Did you hear Nessie just now?” I asked over my shoulder.
“Yes I did.” he sighed. “I'll have to have a word with her in the morning. Although I think you pretty much covered everything. That was very impressive.”
I smiled. “Thank you.”
I slipped off my shirt and reached behind me for the zipper of my ruined dress. Before I found it, I heard the water shut off and the door open behind me.
I turned around, and my jaw dropped. Edward was standing in the door way of the bathroom, wearing nothing but a pair of black boxers. His hair was still wet from the shower, crystal water droplets glistening amongst the copper strands, which stood up in their usual wild disarray. His perfect face was set in a cheeky grin, but I could see the same old familiar hunger in his eyes, burning deep and intense just below the surface.
“Need some help with that?” he asked, his voice low and slightly amused. Unable to find my voice, I simply nodded slowly and watched his lithe, graceful movements as he approached me. As soon as he was close enough, he reached out and ran his hands up and down my sides. But rather than going for the zipper as I expected him to, he gripped the fabric on either side of my waist, ripping the already damaged dress down the middle and pulling it off my arms.
“Edward!” I exclaimed, astonished.
“What?” he shrugged, his face the picture of innocence. “It's not like you could wear it again. Besides,” He leaned in to whisper in my ear huskily. “Zippers take too long.”
His words ignited the fire that had bee smouldering gently in my stomach since our kiss in the woods, and I couldn't hold back a moan as I gripped his hair tightly between my fingers and tugged his mouth to mine. Our lips moved together softly at first, but they quickly grew more frantic and hurried, an almost feral need taking over my mind completely. My fingers continued to pull at his hair while his flexed around my hips, pulling me impossibly closer. Without really realising how it happened, we ended up on the bed, still kissing as I lay flat while he hovered over me. Our underwear quickly went the same way as my dress, and our bodies, his now warm to me rather than cold, pressed tightly together; the space between us was non-existent. I was at the mercy of his hands as he caressed every curve of my body, and -

“Oh Rosie,” Emmet moaned downstairs. “Just like that baby.”

I broke away from Edward and he groaned in frustration, burying his head in my neck.

“Well that's distracting.” I muttered.
“Tell me about it.” he mumbled sullenly.
“You think this is bad.” I heard Jasper say. “Wait until they really get going.”
Alice giggled, and I was struck again by the sensitivity of my new hearing; it was almost as if they were in the room with us.
Edward huffed angrily and pulled away from me slightly as the noise downstairs intensified. I utilised my enhanced strength to keep him close, wrapping my arms around his shoulders and my legs around his waist, but I couldn't stop him from raising his head and speaking over his shoulder.
“Can you at least try to keep it down Emmet?” he said tersely.
Emmet snorted. “You're not exactly quiet yourself Eddie.” he cackled evilly.
Edward growled and there were several laughs from various rooms in the house.
“Behave boys.” Esme scolded gently. “We've gotten along fine for the last however many decades, don't let's start fighting now.”
Edward just huffed again, and I couldn't stop the giggle that escaped through my lips.
“Just ignore them darling.” I whispered, drawing his head back towards me until our lips brushed softly together. “Focus on me.”
We kissed, deep and slow. I nipped at his lower lip, and he grunted, pushing against me in a way that made the most delicious sensations spark through my limbs and set every nerve ending in my body tingling. His mouth pressed tighter to mine and the rest of the world faded away as our lips parted and our tongues tangled.
Needless to say, the noise of the other couples in the house didn't bother us for the rest of the night.

~ADP~

Being a newborn meant that my appetite was bigger than most of the others – I got thirsty much more quickly and drank more at each feeding. I found myself needing to hunt every day to begin with, and it was on the second of these daily hunts, the day after I had my talk with Nessie, that the first major drama occurred.

Edward was my hunting partner, and that day we were joined by Nessie and Jacob. Jake didn't actually need to hunt, but his presence encouraged Nessie by bringing out her competitive streak and allowed Edward and I to relax a little and focused on our own feeding.

The four of us had come to a long open stretch of grass, and Nessie and Jake had stopped to play in the slowly gathering snow that fell from the sky gently, like a picture on a Christmas card. Renesmee was jumping as high as she could, trying to catch the flakes and seeing how long she could hold them before her body heat made them melt. Jacob acted as a sort of ladder, letting her stand on his shoulders so she could jump higher, and was always careful to be near her so he could cushion her fall if needed. We followed behind them, smiling and laughing at their antics. I reached out a hand every so often, catching a snowflake on the tip of my finger and studying the bright facets of it. Even in the weak light of the sun filtering through the clouds, it was like looking at a cluster of little diamonds, each one glittering and shooting out tiny eight colour rainbows. Edward always seemed slightly amused by my fascination with the tiny crystals, but his eyes were warm and tender as his fingers gently combed the tangles from my hair; I was neater now than I had been on my first hunt, but I still made a little mess taking down a stag earlier. All in all, we were having a very enjoyable afternoon.

I knew something was wrong when Edward’s fingers froze in my hair and his whole body went rigid. I looked away from where Nessie was throwing little snowballs at Jake, glancing at his face.

“What is it?” I asked, but he wasn't listening, staring off into the distance. I followed his gaze, past the snow and the trees to the mountains, where my attention was instantly drawn to something shimmering on a cliff face. My eyes focused like binoculars, and I saw that the shimmer came from the almost silver blonde hair of a woman clinging to the rock. Even at this distance it was clear that she was a vampire, but I couldn't clearly see her eyes, and that had me immediately on edge.
“Who is it?” I asked, whispering for no reason I could think of.
“Irina.” Edward replied just as quietly.
“Can you hear her?”
“No, she's too far away.”
Renesmee leaped into the air again and Irina seemed to focus on her for a moment before she glared at us.
“Should we go and talk to her?” I asked Edward, wanting very much to find out the source of her anger but unsure if approaching her was sensible. He hesitated, then nodded.
“We're going to look further up in the mountains.” he called to the others. “Stay here, and we'll be back soon.”
Jacob nodded his big shaggy head and barked in acknowledgement. Nessie nodded distractedly, still fixated on the snow.

We took off into the trees towards Irina, and I let Edward run slightly ahead; he knew Irina's scent and would be more able to track her if she ran off. Being in the trees made me anxious, since I couldn't see the mountains anymore, so I climbed up into the branches until they came back into view. Edward followed my lead, and I happily copied the way he leapt and swung through the branches so that he didn't sacrifice his speed for a better vantage point. I kept one eye on Irina even as I watched him, and we both saw the moment she realised we were coming towards her. She started to clamber up the cliff, and we sped up in response. She was fast, but we were faster, and we caught up to her just as she got properly into the mountains. Over the wind that whipped past me, I heard Edward gasp, “No!”, his voice horrified, and he sped up again. I wasn't expecting it, and I fell behind for a split second before I ran faster as well. I wasn't sure where the extra speed kept coming from; every time I felt like I couldn't go faster, I somehow managed it.

“Irina!” Edward yelled. “Wait!”
She didn't slow.
“Please!” he tried again, sounding almost desperate. “Please, stop and listen to us!”
To my surprise, she did stop, wheeling around suddenly with a snarl. I skidded to a stop, almost slamming into Edward’s back as he too came to an abrupt standstill.
“Why should I listen?” Irina hissed. “How can you possibly condone what you've done?”
“She's not what you think.” he insisted, holding out his hands pleadingly. “I swear to you Irina, none of us would ever be so callous, not after what happened to your mother.”
She spat into the snow, clearly not believing him. Edward’s words had caused something to click into place in my head, and I suddenly understood Irina's anger. I had thought perhaps it was to do with our comradeship with Jacob, that she was still sore over Laurent’s death and the part that the pack played in it. Now I saw what had really set her off.

She thought that Renesmee was an immortal child.

Everything Edward and Carlisle had told me about that dark time in the Denali sisters' history came rushing back, despite it being a human memory, and I recalled at once that their experience had made all three sisters very vigilant when it came to the law. I had no doubt that Irina would, having made her assumptions about my daughter, go immediately to those who would deal with it in the proper way.

Irina quickly confirmed my suspicions.
“Give me one reason to believe you.” she told Edward, still half snarling. “Give me one good reason why I shouldn't go straight to the Volturi and tell them what you've done.”
“No!” I hissed, my protective instinct instantly kicking in at even the possibility of a threat to my family. I slipped automatically into a defensive crouch and bared my teeth. Edward put his hand on my arm in an attempt to calm me, and he too was tensed, though for a different reason. I was tensed to spring; he was ready to stop me if I tried.
“Shh Bella,” he murmured softly, placatingly. “Let me.”
He held out a hand to Irina again in invitation. “Come with us.” he begged her. “Come and meet her, and let us show you why you are wrong. If you still don't believe us, we'll let you go.”
I gritted my teeth, holding back the part of me that wanted to snarl at him for even suggesting we let her tell lies to Aro that could get us all killed.

Irina seemed to consider the idea for a moment, and I suddenly realised how hard the choice must be for her; the Cullens were, after all, the closest thing she had to family besides her sisters. It would not be easy to condemn them to death, even if she believed she was justified, and any alternative would likely be very tempting.

“Alright.” she conceded at last. “But if I am not convinced...”
“We won't stop you.” Edward promised, wincing slightly.
Irina eyed me suspiciously, arching one perfect eyebrow in silent question. I just nodded stiffly, afraid to speak in case my emotions took over and ruined everything.
“Alright.” she repeated, and gestured for us to lead the way. I took off at once, eager to get back to Renesmee and let her know what was going on. I didn't look back to see if they followed, and I didn't care; I just wanted my little girl safe in my arms, where I could protect her from all the evils of the world.

I only just made it back to the clearing first; I had just enough time to grab hold of Nessie, and respond to Jacob's questioning look with a quick, “Irina.”, before the vampire in question arrived, Edward just behind her. Nessie stiffened and hugged herself to me tighter at the sight of an unfamiliar and clearly hostile face. Her hand was pressed against my neck, and her mind was full of worried, frantic questions; who is she, what is she doing here, do you know her, is she dangerous, why is she looking at me like that? I wanted to calm her, but since I wasn't calm myself that wasn't going to be possible anytime soon.

Irina stared at Nessie, not even blinking.

“Do you see now?” Edward murmured softly.
“I don't believe it.” she muttered. “What is it?”
I had to hold back a growl; I didn't take kindly to people who called my children 'it'.
“She,” Edward emphasised, “is our daughter. Not our creation, our biological child. She was born while Bella was still human, and she's half human herself.”
Irina came closer, moving slowly until she stood right in front of us. She glanced swiftly at Jacob, standing right beside me now, and wrinkled her nose before returning her attention to Nessie. Edward came with her, placing his hand gently on her shoulder. She stiffened a little, but didn't shrug him off.
“Just look at her Irina.” he said softly, soothingly, trying to diffuse the tense atmosphere. “You can see the flush in her cheeks. You can hear her heartbeat. She isn't an immortal child, she isn't a danger.”
Irina still looked sceptical.

“Let her show you.” Edward insisted, holding a hand out to Renesmee in invitation. “Go on Nessie, tell her about yourself. Let her see you aren't a threat.”
Nessie looked back and forth between her father and Irina, then looked up at me.
Should I Momma? she asked. Is it okay?
I took a deep breath and closed my eyes, trying to calm down. When I felt like I wasn't going to explode at any second, I opened my eyes and nodded for her to go ahead. Cautiously, carefully, she leaned out of my arms towards Irina, stretching out her hand. Irina took a step backwards with a little hiss, and she shrank back too, frightened.
“It's alright.” Edward assured them both, taking hold of Irina's wrist and pulling her hand up to hover near Nessie's still outstretched palm.
“She won't hurt you,” he said softly, and again he was speaking to both of them. He gave Nessie a little nod and let go of Irina, leaving the choice up to her. Though she still looked suspicious, after a second or two of hesitation Irina's curiosity got the best of her and she touched the tips of her fingers very gently to Nessie's hand. Nessie's eyes closed, and, through the hand still on my neck, I saw what she was showing to Irina.

She started at the very beginning, with her first memories of the sounds of voices, mine and Edward’s, muted and muffled but still clear to her, and the steady thump of my heart from somewhere above her head. She remembered darkness and warmth, comfort and security. Then came a bright light and cold hands, soft blankets and Rosalie’s soothing voice, followed quickly by my face and then Edward’s. She remembered her first bottle, and meeting the rest of the family. She remembered measurements being taken, half overheard conversations about how quickly she was growing. She remembered my birthday, and the weeks of our developing routine, and being told she was going to be a big sister, and the rapid expanding of my belly. She remembered the frightening birth of the twins, the three days of nervous waiting while I changed, and finally our conversation form the night before. Then she pulled back, shy again, and rested her head on my shoulder. I kissed her forehead, told her quietly how well she had done, how brave she was to relive all of that, how proud I was of her.

Irina blinked as if awakening from a trance, and her stare now was utterly disbelieving, without a hint of suspicion or malice.

“Incredible.” she whispered, and Edward chuckled.
“Do you believe her?” I asked, nervous. She blinked again, then nodded slowly.
“How could I not?” she said, her voice still sounding a little startled. “Such a vivid gift... I’ve never seen anything like it.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Nessie smiling, practically glowing with pride at Irina's praise. I couldn't help but smile too, giving her another gentle kiss.
“There are others?” Irina asked Edward, and he nodded.
“They're back at the house if you want to go and meet them.” he offered. “And you could borrow our phone to call your sisters if you would like. I know they're very worried about you.”
That seemed to make up her mind; I saw a brief expression of guilt flash across her face before it set in determination and she nodded.
“I'd like that.” she said with a little smile.

We ran straight back to the house, and Irina almost seemed surprised by the warm welcome she got, even without any warning or advanced notice that she was coming. EJ was a little wary of her at first – he seemed inclined to be suspicious of strangers – but Elizabeth seemed to like her well enough, and Irina was more enchanted by all the children the longer she spent with them. By the time she got around to calling Tanya, she was even smiling and playing with them. We tried our best to give her privacy when she was on the phone with her sisters, but we gathered that her apology for running off was easily accepted and she had quickly moved on to telling them all about our latest additions to the family. She decided to go straight home, not wanting to be away any longer, but promised to come back and visit sometime in the new year, and bring the rest of her family with her. Rosalie gave her some pictures, in case the other Denalis wanted to see what the children looked like, and she accepted them gratefully.

Just before she was going to leave, Irina pulled me aside and unexpectedly apologised for her actions in the summer.

“I shouldn't have reacted the way I did.” she told me, her eyes sad. “I knew Laurent wasn't committed to our lifestyle, and it shouldn't have made me angry that your friends destroyed him when he was killing innocent people. I just...”
She bit her lip, clearly unsure how to go on. I waited, not wanting to push her.
“I felt like... maybe... I was starting to really feel something for him.” she finally admitted. “Something more than normal friendship. My sisters and I have been alone for so long... to think that I might have had the chance to end that loneliness and it was taken away from me...”
I put my hand over hers. “I understand. And I don't judge you for what you did Irina.”
Irina shook her head. “You should. I was petty and selfish and childish... Carlisle’s never asked anything of us before, and it was my fault Tanya refused our help when you had most need of it... I refused to come to your wedding for crying out loud. The biggest day of your life, and Edward’s, and the biggest event our families have had in decades, and I didn't come because I was still holding a grudge over someone who didn't deserve it. How can you even begin to forgive me?”
I smiled and squeezed her hand. “Easily. Like you said, you thought you had a chance for something more with Laurent, and losing it can't have been easy. I just hope we can be friends from now on, and stop this split between our families getting any bigger.”
She nodded and smiled back at me. “Of course. I’d love that.”

We parted that evening on much better terms than we'd met, with warm hugs and promises to call soon before Irina disappeared into the forest with a wave.

“I like her.” Nessie told me as I was putting her to bed that night.
I smiled. “Me too honey. Me too.”

~ADP~

The next day, the talk of moving started. Dartmouth had lost any lingering appeal for me, and I wanted to stay in Forks a little longer for Charlie's sake, as well as to minimise the big shake up for the children while they were still so young. However, there were other things that needed to be considered, like Carlisle’s physical age versus the age he claimed to be. As the member of our family with the most human contact, it was vital that he avoid suspicion at all costs to prevent the Volturi from coming down on our heads.

Jacob didn't like the moving talk, and I could understand why. His imprint on Renesmee had made her his top priority, but he couldn't just leave La Push when we moved on; he still had his father and his sister to think about, as well as his responsibilities to the pack. I shared his reservations; though I hadn't spoken to my father in over a week, I still felt obliged to stay close to him for as long as possible.
Unfortunately, when the twins were about a week old, my choice was taken away from me.

It was a day like any other. The twins, slightly more human than Renesmee, were in the habit of taking a short nap after lunch and they had just settled down to sleep. The rest of the family was scattered throughout the house; Esme and Carlisle were both in their respective studies, Carlisle reading and Esme sketching, and Rosalie and Emmet were setting up a game of chess in the living room while Alice flipped through clothing websites on the computer and Jasper arranged cards for a game of solitaire at the dining room table. Edward was playing the piano, lost in his music, and I was playing with Nessie in the back garden. Well, she was playing, chasing birds around and giggling madly while I watched with a smile on my face, making sure she didn't run straight into the river.

After about fifteen minutes, we both looked up at the sound of Jacob's heavy paws beating against the forest floor, his heavy heart pounding as he raced towards us. Nessie's already happy face lit up even more, and she seemed to forget the birds entirely for a moment as she bounced up and down with glee.
“Jakey!” she squealed when he finally came into view in human form across the river. I smiled and waved to him, but he didn't smile back and his answering wave was distracted. He leapt across the river, only just reaching the near bank without getting wet, and Nessie instantly wrapped herself around his legs. He patted her head and smiled a little, but there was evidently something else on his mind. He walked across the lawn towards me, Nessie skipping along at his side and chattering happily. While he didn't seem to be ignoring her, he didn't look like he was really paying attention to what she was saying either.
“Hey Bells,” he said when they reached me. “Do you think I could talk to you inside? It's kind of important.”
“Sure Jake.” I replied, perplexed, standing up to lead the way in.
“Stay out here honey,” Jacob murmured to Renesmee. “I need to talk to your mom and dad for a minute.”
“Okay Jakey.” she said breezily, looking only a little bit confused.
“Stay away from the river darling.” I told her sternly, and she nodded in acknowledgement before racing off after the birds again.

Jacob and I went inside, meeting up with Edward in the living room. He had stopped playing, though he was still sitting on the piano bench, and he was frowning in confusion.

“What's going on Jacob?” he asked. “I can't understand what you're thinking.”
Jacob looked upset. “I'm sorry. I’m really sorry you guys. We didn't know... Dad didn't mean to... We weren't trying...”
He seemed muddled and confused, unable to finish one thought before moving on to the next one.
“Jacob,” I said, my frown matching Edward’s. “Just explain slowly and calmly exactly what is going on. Did something happen to Billy?”
He shook his head. “No, Dad's fine. Okay...” He took a deep breath to calm himself down. “Okay, so you know how Charlie helped Sue out a lot when Harry died?”
I nodded, not sure where the link was.
“Well, they've been getting pretty close lately, and Sue invited him to a bonfire we had the other night, just for fun. And Dad... he wasn't really thinking about it, he just asked Charlie if he wanted to hear the legends. And of course Charlie said yes.”
“You mean the same legends you told me?” I asked, dread beginning to take root in the pit of my stomach.
He nodded, looking guilty. “He didn't mean anything by it. He didn't think... well, he was hoping Charlie wouldn't make the connection-”
Edward growled, cutting him off, and appeared suddenly at my side.
“Charlie knows.” he snarled.
Horror washed through me as the look on Jacob's face and his slow nod confirmed that he spoke the truth.
“Charlie called our house this morning,” he said, very quietly. “Started yelling at Dad for keeping secrets and telling him lies. He barely let him get a word in edgeways. Then he said...” He trailed off abruptly, as if he'd said too much.
“What, Jacob?” I said, taking a step towards him and clenching my hands into fists. “What did he say?”
“It will make you angry.” he hedged, not meeting my eye.
“I don't care.” I snapped, angry already. “Tell me.”

Jacob paused for a moment before he sighed, resigned.

“He thinks Edward forced you to marry him.” he finally admitted. “He said he was coming to get you out of here and take you home.”
My anger evaporated and I froze, shocked beyond comprehension by the conclusion my father had drawn. I could feel many eyes on me, waiting for my reaction.
“But I am home.” I mumbled numbly. Edward wrapped his arms around me from behind and held me to him tightly.
“I won't let him take you.” he murmured in my ear. “I won't let him come between us.”
“Neither will we.” Rosalie added fiercely, and Alice, Emmet and Jasper all nodded in agreement. Carlisle was frowning and Esme looked worried, but they both nodded as well. The whole family had gathered in the living room by this point, with the exception of the children, and they stood in a circle, as if they were forming a protective barrier around us.

In the distance, the wail of a police siren approached, getting louder and louder. Rather than passing and fading away as the sounds of most cars did, it continued to get closer, and it was clear that the car had turned onto the driveway and was coming towards the house. Quickly.

Upstairs, the babies woke up, the foreign sound stirring them from their sleep and setting them off crying. In no more than a few seconds they were howling pitifully, panicked and frightened by the noise. Reacting on instinct, I broke out of the circle and dashed upstairs to the nursery without a backward glance. I could focus on nothing but the crying of my children and the wailing siren getting closer all the time. The noise, heard through my now more sensitive ears, threatened to deafen me, and I had to stop outside the nursery door for a second, screwing my eyes shut and clamping my hands over my ears to try and block it out before I could continue. Then I pushed the door open and rushed to the crib, scooping up both of the twins at once and trying to shush them gently.

A moment later, there was a shout and a screech of brakes outside, followed by a shrill scream and a low metallic crunch. The front door opened and slammed shut, and over the crying of the babies in my arms, I heard Nessie whimpering in terror.
“He's not alone.” Edward hissed angrily, and sure enough not one but three doors slammed outside.
Elizabeth and EJ were still wailing, their little faces red and tear stained as they clung to me and each other, their cries almost indistinguishable from the blaring siren.
“Shh my darlings,” I murmured to them. “Momma's here, Momma's got you. Momma won't let anything hurt you.”
Not even your grandfather, I added mentally, and braced myself for the coming storm.

Chapter 11: Changes

Chapter 11: Changes

EPOV

Bella’s final scream cut me to the core as her hand clamped down on mine. Then it faded away, melting into the shrill wail of the new baby.

“A girl.” Carlisle said, and my heart leapt yet again. A girl. A precious baby girl. Another daughter. And a son too. Two new children for our little family. Edward Jacob and …

I turned to Bella; she'd spoken right away before, instantly giving EJ his name, but she hadn't made a sound yet. I froze solid when I saw her. Her body had slumped back, her other arm hanging loose where Esme had released it to take the baby, her eyes closed and mouth slack. I squeezed her hand, limp in mine, and said her name, but there was no response. I breathed in; the sharp tang of the fluid that coated the babies filled the room, but I could still smell the floral scent of Bella’s blood, fresh and flowing, though I couldn't see where it came from.

“Carlisle,” I choked. “She's bleeding.”

He looked up and nodded grimly. He smelt it too.

Heavily and internally, his analytical mind thought, working through all the details he could gather using the heightened senses of a vampire. I’m sorry Edward, it's not something I can deal with here, and we can't get her to the hospital. Not fast enough to help her, at least.

I fell to my knees, feeling my features twist in agony as I stared into the beautiful face of my unconscious wife. I knew I had to make a decision, and fast; her life was slipping away with every passing second, with every drop of blood that left her body. I could hear the babies begin to cry again as Esme and Rosalie tended to them, heard their minds calling out for their mother, wondering where she was. If I hesitated any longer, she might be gone. They would never know her, and she would never see the result of her incredible efforts to give them life. I knew I could never live without Bella, and I couldn't leave my children orphaned at such a young age. The fear of being a single parent loomed in the back of my head as I contemplated that reality; a world where I remained after Bella was gone. Unthinkable. Unendurable.

All this passed through my head in a second. It took only that amount of time for the decision to solidify in my mind. I stood, and Carlisle seemed to understand, as if he could read my mind for once.

The syringe? He thought, picturing the tube full of my venom that still sat in the little fridge on the other side of the room.

I nodded. “And morphine.”

My voice was terse, as was his answering nod. I knew it might not have any effect, but I had to try and reduce her pain in any way I possibly could.

As he prepared the needles, I turned back to Bella. Her heart was still beating strongly; soft breaths, like those of someone deeply asleep, blew from her lungs in a regular, even pattern. But I could hear the slight exertion beginning to set in, the weakening of her pulse by minute degrees as she lost more and more blood from whatever vessel had been severed.

I gently folded her sprawled limbs into a more natural position, pulling down the now too large t-shirt she was wearing to give her a bit more cover. Alice would probably insist on dressing her up as soon as possible, so I didn't bother to do much else. If I backed up the injection with bites, as I planned to, I would need access to her major pulse points anyway.

Carlisle returned, syringes in hand. He passed the larger of the two to me and pushed the smaller on into Bella’s arm, forcing the morphine into her veins. Her heart slowed even more, and I had to restrain my panic while we waited for the medicine to spread. Just as I was getting really impatient, Carlisle gave me a nod to let me know I could proceed. I moved immediately, reaching inside Bella’s shirt and carefully pushing the needle through her skin, past her ribcage, into her heart. Then I pushed the plunger down, ignoring the sick feeling it gave me to cause my love pain of this magnitude and focusing on the surety that this would keep her with me always.

As soon as I removed the needle, Bella’s body gave a sudden jolt like she'd been given an electric shock and her heart began to beat furiously, pushing the poison around her body with each squeeze of the tired muscles and each pump of thick, sweet blood. I knew the process would go faster if there was more venom in her, so I quickly worked my way over her body, blocking out everything else and focusing on my control; I bit her wrists, the insides of her elbows, her inner thighs and both sides of her neck. Her blood flowed across my tongue as my teeth pierced her carotid artery and her jugular vein, hot and wet, but I refused to allow myself to swallow, pushing venom into the wounds instead.

“I'm so sorry,” I whispered in her ear once I was finished, moving back to kiss her forehead. She didn't move, didn't wake, and I hoped that meant the morphine was doing its job and keeping her unconscious, free of pain.

Carlisle pushed his desk chair towards me and I sank into it gratefully, moving closer to Bella’s side and taking her hand in mine. I was determined to stay here until this was over; I would not abandon my wife in her greatest hour of need. I looked up at the sound of Esme thinking my name. She was standing beside me, a small bundle of blankets in her arms. Shrill cries sounded from inside; a baby, crying for its mother.

“She needs a name Edward,” Esme said softly, holding the bundle out towards me. I took it from her carefully, cradling my howling daughter in my arms.

“Shh,” I murmured soothingly, rocking her slightly. “It's alright darling. Don't cry, Daddy's here. Daddy's got you. ”

She quieted almost instantly. Across the room, her brother's crying also faded to silence. She stared up at me, her little face curious and a little frightened. She was perfect; beautiful, just like Nessie. Just like Bella. Her hair was bronze, though not as thick as Nessie's, just a light dusting on the top of her head. She was smaller too, by at least an inch, and not as heavy, and her eyes were wide and shining, a beautiful emerald green. She made me think of my mother; one look at those eyes brought back a flood of memories that I had thought were lost forever. Memories of carefree summer days and afternoons at the piano and cosy evenings by the fire. Just like that I knew I had the perfect name for the tiny child in my arms.

“Elizabeth,” I said softly, stroking her cheek with one finger. Then I looked up at my sister, standing nearer now, holding my son. Rosalie, who had been through so many awful things, been so angry and bitter, but so strong and determined to make her life better. Rosalie, who had saved the life of a human man she didn't even know and found her soul mate in him. Rosalie, who had agreed to care for my children if Bella and I ever weren't around. Rosalie, who I owed so much to, who I had yet to repay for everything she had done for me in the last 70 years. Sure, she wasn't perfect, and we had our ups and downs and our falling outs, just like any siblings. But we still loved each other and cared for each other deeply, our comradeship formed in the early days when we were both awkward third wheels to a happy couple. Now I knew I had the perfect gift to thank her for all the good she had done.

“Elizabeth Rose.” I said with finality.

Rosalie’s eyes widened. “Really?”

I smiled and nodded. “It suits her. And you've done so much for us, more than I could ever hope to deserve. This is all I have to give you in return. I hope it's enough.”

She shook her head, but smiled. “It's more than enough. It's too much actually. Thank you Edward, I’m honoured.”

Elizabeth cooed happily in approval; she liked her name. I smiled down at her adoringly.

Rosalie came closer then, offering me her bundle. “Here. You hold him for a while.”
I carefully shifted Elizabeth, using the arms of the chair to help me balance her on one arm. Rose gently placed EJ in my other arm in the same way, making sure I had him before she let go, and then she, Esme and Carlisle all slipped quietly out, leaving me with my family.

I looked down at my son, and couldn't help smiling. Like his sister, he had a smattering of bronze hair, already sticking out at odd angles, and wide green eyes. He was bigger than her, but still smaller than Renesmee had been as a newborn. As soon as the two were close, their previously separate minds synchronised perfectly, just as they had when they were inside Bella.

“Incredible,” I whispered, listening intently. They wondered where their mother was, and why she wasn't here. I sighed, knowing this would be hard to explain to them in a way they would understand.

The door creaked open behind me, and Nessie poked her head around the edge.

“Daddy?” she said nervously, worried that she was intruding.

I smiled at her warmly. “Come in darling.”

Slowly, tentatively, she crossed the floor until she stood in the thin gap between me and the bed.

“Are you alright?” I asked her softly, hoping she hadn't been frightened by all the screaming. She nodded slowly, her eyes fixed on the bundles in my arms. I felt my smile turn knowing; she was preoccupied, understandably, and I knew I wasn't going to get much out of her until I satisfied her curiosity.

“You can look if you want,” I told her, nodding towards the objects of her fixation. She looked at me for a moment, slightly startled, then moved closer. She was still a little too short to see clearly, but there was a tiny bit of space left on my lap, so she clambered up until she was kneeling there, sitting back on the bed behind her slightly. Then she peered over my arms, her gaze curious. The twins gazed back, just as curious to find out who this new face was.

“They're so small,” Renesmee whispered, her voice full of wonder. “Was I ever that small Daddy?”

I chuckled and shook my head. “Not quite. They're a little smaller than you were, but not by much. They'll get bigger very soon though; like you, they won't be small for long.”

She took a moment to process that before she asked her next question.

“What are their names? Are they boys or girls?”

“One of each, just like you wanted,” I told her and she beamed. “This is Elizabeth,” I said, nodding to her and lifting her up slightly, “And this is EJ.”

Nessie leaned in closer as the twins gurgled, already recognising the sound of their names. Then her wondering expression turned into an excited smile. Her voice was soft and gentle when she spoke, adoring as she greeted her brother and sister.

“Hey guys,” she said, and they stared up at her in amazement. “I'm Renesmee, your big sister. We're going to have so much fun. I’ve got tons of things to teach, when you get bigger. You're going to love it here.”

The twins listened intently, their expressions utterly fascinated. It filled my heart with happiness to see my children bonding, and I wished Bella could see it too. I looked over at her still form on the bed and wondered why she hadn't moved or reacted to the venom yet. Her heart was thudding out of control, and her breathing was also racing, but other than that she seemed to just be deeply asleep. Her eyes were closed and her muscles were relaxed. Carlisle had covered her with a thin hospital sheet, so she was concealed from the neck down, and her hair was tangled, matted to her forehead as if she'd been tossing and turning with nightmares.

Nessie noticed that I was looking, and her attention was drawn for the first time to her mother. Her little face fell as she took in her still form, and she scrambled further back onto the bed beside her.

“Momma,” she whispered, touching the back of Bella’s hand, which lay outside the sheet where I had been holding it. She turned back to me, clearly upset.

“Is she okay?” she asked frantically, her eyes begging me for the truth, but also for reassurance. I nodded, and Nessie relaxed minutely. She still wanted to know what was happening, and now they had caught up with what was going on, so did the twins.

“Momma's going to be fine,” I told them gently. “She's sleeping right now, and she's going to sleep for a few days. But when she wakes up, she'll be all better and then we'll be together forever.”

The babies cooed and gurgled happily, but Nessie didn't look convinced. I raised an eyebrow at her in silent question.

She's changing, isn't she? She thought. Momma's becoming like you.

I nodded, and she relaxed fully, convinced that things were going to work out. She scooted up to sit beside Bella’s head, stroking one little hand across her matted hair soothingly.

There was a knock at the door, and when it opened, Esme was standing outside with two bottles.

“I thought they might be getting hungry.” she said softly, coming in with a smile on her face. I could see in her mind how we looked, a little family gathered together. I smiled back at her in thanks and prepared to hand her one of the babies.

“Can I feed EJ?” Renesmee asked, and I smiled wider at her eagerness.

“Of course you can.” Esme said. “Sit up against that pillow there and I’ll help you.”

Nessie got into position and Esme gently lifted EJ from my arms, letting me get Elizabeth settled more comfortably before handing me one of the bottles. I watched as she guided Nessie into a good position to hold him. Nessie seemed perfectly comfortable with her brother in her arms, though he was only a little less than half her size. As if she had years of experience, she guided the bottle into his mouth, and he began to suck greedily. Elizabeth squawked impatiently in my arms, so I gave her what she wanted and soon she was gulping down the blood-and-milk mixture enthusiastically. I could hear her mind, still linked to her brother's, thought they were now having a conversation rather than thinking together. EJ could see Bella from his place in Nessie's arms, and he was relaying the image to Elizabeth. They discussed their appreciation of the food, the differences in the way Nessie and I held them, how we felt different, and how loved they both felt.

I like it here. Elizabeth thought happily.

Me too. EJ replied. There's more room out here.

Let's stay. Momma will be better soon, and then everything will be perfect.

Yes, let's.

They settled into contented silence then, focusing on their meals. I smiled, feeling an incredible sense of fullness as I stared at the family I never truly believed I would have.

~ADP~

I laid Bella gently onto our bed, leaving her on top of the covers. I knew the confusion that accompanied a newborn's first minutes, and I knew that being restricted would be the last thing she would want; in fact it was very likely to make her panic. She was still and silent save for her breaths and heartbeats; she hadn't moved at all since the venom entered her system almost five hours ago, and only Carlisle’s continued reassurances were keeping me calm. I was dangerously close to panicking, sure that I had done something wrong.

Nessie had stayed with us until bed time, when Rosalie and Esme came to take her and the twins away. I had kissed each of them on the forehead and told them that I loved them, but I needed to stay with Momma. She needed me, I explained, but they could come in and see us if they wanted to, whenever they wanted. Nessie had been very understanding, kissing her mother softly and doing her best to calm the twins, who were decidedly less happy to leave. I could hear her determination to be of some use, to help Rosalie take care of EJ and Elizabeth as much as she could. My heart swelled with pride at that, and I knew right then that Renesmee would grow up to be just as kind, gentle and selfless as Bella.

They were all sleeping now, after the twins had met everyone, and a peaceful quiet had settled over the house. Alice had cleaned Bella up and dressed her in a dark blue dress that was rugged and stylish at the same time, paired with simple black flats. She had wanted to go for a silk cocktail dress and stilettos, but I convinced her that it might make Bella’s first hunt easier if her clothes were sufficiently practical. Alice had conceded, grudgingly. She'd also brushed Bella’s hair smooth, leaving it lying in it's usual flowing waves. The dried blood, sweat and tears that covered her skin had all been washed away, leaving her skin once more flawlessly smooth. Looking at her now, I could see that her skin was in fact very slightly paler, her hair slightly thicker, the red tones more prominent. Her stomach, initially loose with stretched muscles after the twins were no longer inside her, had sucked in to give her back her usual slender shape. Her cheekbones and jaw were more defined; every part of her minutely sharper and more even, with the possible exception of her lips, which were still that little bit out of balance. I knew these tiny changes would continue over the next few days, and that they could very well add up to a big change, but I was confident that she would still be herself at the end of it. As I had promised her all those months ago when our biggest problems were graduating and defeating Victoria’s army, she would still be my Bella. She would still be herself, and look like herself – almost.

~ADP~

It took two days for those changes to take place. Two days of agonising waiting and worrying, wondering what Bella was going through, and feeling horribly guilty that I was the cause. Two days of complete silence, except for her thumping heartbeat, working to pump the venom through her veins as it changed every cell, one by one, into something new and entirely different. The only interruptions to my brooding were the daily check-ups from Carlisle and the visits from the children every couple of hours. Nessie had made it her mission to stop me from moping, at least for a little while. She came in three times a day, bringing the twins with her every time. The three of them then proceeded to tell me everything they had done so far that day; first thing in the morning they told me about their dreams, at lunch time they recounted their morning, and before bed they reviewed the afternoon, with each conversation including a bit of general discussion. Nessie talked a lot more than usual, while EJ and Elizabeth had yet to begin talking properly, though they gurgled and cooed and began to form the rough outline of words, and they spoke perfectly in their thoughts.

In Nessie's head, I saw that she'd been talking to Jacob, who had told her that sometimes people in very deep sleeps like comas could hear people talking around them. He had suggested she try talking to Bella to give her some comfort, and to tell her what was going on so that she didn't feel left out and behind when she woke up. I had no idea whether it would work; most people could hear what was going on around them while they changed. I knew I had, and so had Rosalie and Emmet and Esme, but there was no telling what effect the morphine would have on Bella’s level of consciousness. I didn't mention anything to Nessie, and she carried on talking to her mother regardless.

They had found that the twins' talent for shared thought extended further when Renesmee touched them, allowing all three to think together. Elizabeth took it upon herself to try it out on me, and found that the same thing happened. However, it didn't work with anyone else in the family, so we assumed it was restricted to people who had a genetic relationship with EJ and Elizabeth. It intrigued Carlisle, and he was eager to try it out on Bella, to see if it might just be our talents that allowed us to connect that way.

It was just after lunchtime on the third day when things changed. Bella began to breathe more heavily, though the pace of her breaths never slowed. Her heartbeat kicked up another notch, and the fingers of the hand I held in mine twitched minutely. It was the first movement she had made, and I leaned forward waiting for more, hoping it wasn't a one off.

“Bella?” I whispered. “Bella, can you hear me love? Can you squeeze my hand?”

She didn't respond, but her eyes clamped more tightly shut, and her body began to shake and shudder violently. Her frozen lips parted and a soft whimper escaped from her throat. I waited with baited breath to see what she would do next.

Suddenly, her eyes snapped open, her back arched as she gasped, and her hands clenched tight, one in a fist and the other pressing on my hand with a crushing force that was almost painful. Her skin was no longer blazing hot on mine; instead it merely felt warm, comfortable... normal. The same temperature as mine.

It must be almost over.

“Edward,” Bella whimpered as she flopped back onto the mattress, still shuddering. Ice stabbed at my heart because I was the cause of that pain, while relief rushed through me as she spoke, knowing that she was alright.

I threaded my fingers more tightly through hers and reached over to stroke her cheek with my knuckles.

“I'm here Bella.” I said gently. “It's alright love, just a little bit longer. It's almost over, I promise.”

She whimpered again, clutching my hand tightly. Then she rolled over towards me, reaching out her other hand to grab hold of my shirt and pulling sharply. Taking the hint, I gently wrapped her in my arms and pulled her onto my lap. She clung to me tightly, as if holding on for dear life. I did my best to soother her and make her feel better, but I knew there was very little I could do; the very end of the transformation process was the worst part, more painful than any other and seeming to drag on and on forever.

Bella managed to position herself on my lap with her arms around my shoulders and her face buried in my neck. I rocked her gently back and forth, humming her lullaby in an attempt to calm her and keep her grounded in reality. Over her head, I saw the door open and the rest of the family, minus Rosalie, Jacob and the children, came into the room quietly, standing against the wall out of the way. I spared them only a short nod before returning my attention to Bella. Her eyes were closed again, squeezed tightly shut, and her heart was beating so fast it was difficult to hear the separate sounds of each beat. Her body was stiff in my arms, completely unmoving as her final human organ thundered towards its end. I could do nothing but hold her and whisper soft words of encouragement and promises that the end was in sight.

Suddenly, her breathing stopped dead mid breath. Her racing heart thudded loudly once... twice... then was silent. Everyone became absolutely still. No one so much as breathed. For one long second, the only sound was the fluttering of heartbeats downstairs as the seven of us sat like statues, frozen in time, waiting for something, anything, to happen.

Against my neck, I felt Bella’s eyelashes flutter, soft and gentle as the wings of a butterfly. She sucked in a sharp breath and jerked away from me. Though I was expecting it, the speed of her movement still surprised me, as did her face when she was still again. Her skin, already pale despite living in the Arizona sun for seventeen years, was even paler, stark white, almost pearlescent and shimmering, without so much as a freckle marring the flawless surface. Her rosy lips were plump, soft and inviting, still just a little bit unbalanced with the top too full to match the bottom. Her hair shone, the red far more prominent despite the lack of sunlight, and it framed her face in dark waves that hung almost down to her waist. Her cheekbones and jawline were more defined, and her eyes blazed a vivid crimson I hadn't seen since Emmet's newborn days seventy years ago. They were wide, startled and a little frightened, flitting back and forth as she took in my face just as I was taking in hers. She was stiff, tense, not even blinking, and I slowly removed my arms from around her to see if it would calm her down. She relaxed the tiniest bit, but she still seemed worried. I had a sudden flash of panic; what if she was like Alice and couldn't remember anything, couldn't remember her life before waking up? How would she react to being told she had a husband and three children?

Say something son, Carlisle prompted me. She's likely to be confused and disorientated, and she needs something familiar.

Of course. I remembered the first thing Carlisle did with each of us after our changes finished was to say our names and offer reassurances, explanations, and answers to as many questions as he could.

“Bella?” I said softly, cautiously, trying not to startle her. “It's alright Bella, you're safe. It's over now.”

She stared at me with a look of fascination on her face, as if the very sound of my voice enchanted her. Still, she made no sound of her own.

She was still perched on my lap, her hands resting lightly on my shoulders. After a moment or two of silent staring, her lips parted and she finally spoke.

“Edward,” she said, and her voice was unlike anything I had ever heard. It was an entire glorious choir of angels in a single voice, in a single word. The memory of her human voice was rough, coarse and almost ugly by comparison. My name had never sounded so beautiful in all my one hundred years.

I focused back on the here and now when Bella frowned.

“Is something wrong?” I asked.

Her eyes flitted around the room as she spoke, but something seemed to be distracting her, as she wasn't getting very far.

“What... How... Where... I... Is that me?” she stuttered, and I realised her problem; she didn't recognise the sound of her own voice. I chuckled.

“Yes love, it's you. I know this is all very confusing, and I’ll do my best to explain everything if you would like, but it will be easier if you tell me what you remember.”

She frowned, her marble forehead crinkling as she thought. I couldn't hear her mind – much to my chagrin – but I could still read her face, and I could almost see the wheels turning in her head as she struggled to remember the end of her human life.

“I remember... the babies,” she began hesitantly. “I remember EJ. I remember pushing for the other... and blacking out. Then the fire came.” She shuddered and winced, and I nodded in understanding. On the outside I was calm and cool, but on the inside I was dizzy with relief that everything was okay. I couldn't even find it in myself to feel bad about causing her pain in the first place; I felt only gratitude that it was over.

“Was everything okay?” Bella asked me, frowning worriedly. “With the babies I mean. They're alright?”

I nodded and smiled reassuringly. “All the children are absolutely fine. Rosalie's with them now, and she's been taking care of them.”

“Can I see them?” she said excitedly, perking up slightly. Carlisle took that as his cue to step in.

“You should probably hunt first Bella.” he said gently, pulling her attention away from me for the first time. “You seem to be incredibly controlled for a newborn, but I have a feeling there's a limit to how long that can last.”

That made Bella frown, which made me wonder what on earth she was thinking. I stood up, placing her on her feet and gently taking her hands off my shoulders, holding them in mine.

“Come on love,” I said with a warm smile. “Let's hunt.”

~ADP~

Bella as a vampire was stunning. Her physical appearance had been enhanced of course, but it was more than that. My clumsy little human had been replaced by a creature so graceful and poised that it was hard to believe that they were the same person. She dropped out of the window – because using the door meant a potential run in with Jacob and the children – landing on the ground below like a cat, balanced delicately on her toes. After watching me go first, she took a flying leap across the river and ended up holding a tree branch, swinging back and forth like a gymnast and laughing with startled exhilaration. And when she descended upon her first kill, a mountain lion she managed to cross the trail of all by herself... There were no words to describe how I felt watching her circle the big cat, pounce on its back, sink her teeth into the pounding blood vessel in its neck and take gulp after hungry gulp until there was nothing left to drink. It was one thing to see her bent over a deer or elk that I had caught and brought back for her, another entirely for her to be taking down a large predator for her meal. The lust which only worry for my wife's well-being could truly subdue reared its head once again, and I embraced it, letting it fill me and warm me down to my toes. When she stood up, revealing the jagged tears in the front of her dress from the lion's claws, and wiped the tiny traces of blood from around her mouth, I couldn't help the growl that tore from my teeth, making her stare at me heatedly. In less than a second I had her pressed against a tree, kissing her with a force I had never dared to exert when she was human. She gasped in surprise before responding with just as much fervour, threading her fingers into my hair and opening her mouth to my probing tongue. My hands gripped her waist and hers tugged at my hair. The crackling energy sparked between us as the kiss went on and on, growing gradually deeper, until I could taste the blood that she had drunk in my mouth; my two favourite flavours – mountain lion and Bella – combined into one glorious mixture that made my head spin. Unneeded air passed from one set of lungs to the other as we panted, moaned and groaned. I knew that soon we were going to take things too far, and as much as I missed and craved her touch, I also wanted to make her first time in this life special for her, and I certainly wasn't going to accomplish that in the middle of the forest up against a tree. Carefully, I ended the kiss, pulling back slowly. She pouted adorably, opening her eyes wide and trying to pull me closer. She was strong enough that she managed to get my head down to her level, but I didn't let her distract me, offering an alternative.

“Bella,” I sighed, moving my hands from her hips to her face. “I'm sure you haven't hunted enough yet, and I know you want to get back to the children as soon as possible. As much as I would love to continue, there will be plenty of time later.”

“You started it.” she grumbled, and even sulking she was beyond gorgeous.

I just laughed and kissed her nose. “I won't apologise for that.”

“I don't want you to apologise.” she said cheekily. I smiled and ran my thumb across her bottom lip tenderly.

“I love you.” I murmured softly, not realising until I said it that this was the first time I had told her I loved her since she woke up. I wondered how I could go so long without expressing the most sure and fundamental truth of my entire existence.

“I love you too.” she replied almost shyly, looking up at me in a way that made me feel mildly befuddled. I pulled away before she could tempt me with her feminine charms and took her hand before we took off running again. I just managed to keep up with her; anyone else would have been left behind very quickly, but my higher than average speed allowed me to keep pace.

We both hunted this time, taking down a large proportion of a herd of deer. Bella was finished before I was, making me realise how long it had actually been since I last fed. I hadn't actually gotten around to feeding the day the twins were born, though I'd meant to; the hunt was a cover for a project we were working on as a family, the end result being a gift for Bella which we were still trying to keep a secret.

Bella insisted we race back to the house, delighting in her new-found abilities, and she managed to beat me by jumping for the river sooner. Her exultant laughter and impromptu victory dance had me laughing along with her as I picked her up and spun her around in a circle. That made her squeal, which brought us to the attention of the rest of the family inside. One member in particular, whose excited shout made Bella’s smile even wider.

“Momma!” Nessie called out, barrelling across the lawn towards us with Jacob hot on her heels. I could see his concern for her, knowing the frenzy newborns went into when faced with fresh blood and worrying that Bella might unintentionally hurt both Nessie and herself due to a momentary loss of control. He needn't have worried however; Bella had no trouble with either of their scents, and didn't even seem interested in Jacob at all as she bent down to catch Renesmee and wrap her in a hug that was tight and loving without using her full strength and crushing her. Her control continued to astound me; with every new challenge, she carried on as if nothing out of the ordinary was happening. I couldn't help but smile along with my girls as they embraced. Soon though, Nessie's impatience got the best of her. She dropped to the ground and began to tug Bella towards the house.

“Come on Momma,” she said, a touch of excited anticipation in her voice. “You have to come meet the babies.”

Inside the house, Jasper was carefully monitoring Bella’s emotion, and through him I saw her sudden spike of nervousness at Nessie's words. Of course, I couldn't miss the slight stiffening of her shoulders and the glance back at me that accompanied it. I just smiled at her calmly and stepped forward, placing my hand on the small of her back.

“Come on love,” I murmured, guiding her towards the back door gently as our excited daughter bounced ahead of us and Jacob followed calmly behind. “They're waiting for you.”