Author's Note: This fic is dedicated to my beautiful Mother, without whom I would be nothing. This one's for you. Happy Mother's Day!

I sit on the pristine white couch in my living room, quiet and contemplative.

It's one of the best days of the year for me, and yet one of the worst.

It's Mother's Day.

My children are away, and my husband is at work, leaving me to my own devices.

I think of the incredible amount of love in my family, and it makes me smile. Unlike some covens of vampires, we are so happy. The bonds in our family are unlike any other.

I love my children more than anything. I have three girls and three boys, along with one granddaughter. I am also blessed with an adoring husband. My life is perfect- with the exception of one thing.

I get up from my spot on the couch and go out the back door into my garden. All colored flowers are blooming around me. Roses, azaleas, orchids, freesia and orange blossoms. I turn toward a large willow tree with leaves hanging down like shaggy hair.

I brush the strands of leaves behind me as I go to the very back of the tree. As the strands go behind me, there is a small clearing with bright flowers, and a little grey headstone. I kneel in front of the headstone, being careful not to get my dress dirty.

The tiny little headstone brings a myriad of emotions as I stare at it. Anger, frustration, and predominately grief flood me. I feel the familiar ache in my heart as I look at the headstone.

Anthony Robert Evenson

May 2, 1926 - May 4, 1926

Beloved son

My son, of course, is not buried here. He's buried in Columbus, Ohio. My husband, in homage to my wishes, has the gravestone put in every backyard we go to, so that I can feel close to my son. I put my hand on the rock and caress the rough edges of the marker. I imagine my baby son up in heaven, and imagine that God has adopted my child. I picture him happy and healthy, and smile at the image. Although I'll never get the chance to hold or cuddle my baby again, I feel so close to him as I sit here.

Quietly, I whisper, "hello sweetheart. I've missed you very much. It's that day of the year again- the day that I miss you the most because you're the one who made me a Mommy." My voice breaks, but I keep talking. "There hasn't been one day that I haven't remembered you, and thanked God for the chance to know you." I kiss the headstone. "Mommy loves you very much."

I get up and brush myself off before coming back into the house.

When I get there, I happen to glance at the kitchen to see a vase of different flowers on the counter.

There's a dandelion, an orchid, a rose, a snapdragon, buckwheat, and king's spear, but at the center is a flower called the immortal flower. There's a flower for each of my children, and one extra for my husband.

I feel them come inside, quiet as a mouse.

Slowly, I turn to face all of them.

"Happy Mother's Day!" They say together. A smile creeps onto my face.

"We wanted to thank you for all you've done for us over the years." Alice began.

"If it wasn't for you, none of us would be who we are." Rosalie continued.

"You've cared about each of us individually and accepted us into your family without question." Emmett added.

"You love us unconditionally, and are always there when we need you." Jasper proceeded.

"You've become a mother to all of us in the truest sense of the word. We can never express to you in full how much you mean to us." Edward supplied.

"So this is our way of saying thank you." Bella finished.

"We love you, Grandma." Nessie said, hugging me.

I gathered all my children into my arms, and held them tightly.

This is the reason I was put on earth- to love these children and to be a mother.

I couldn't ask for anything more.