Chapter 2

[Benjamin Michael and Ashleigh Amber Black]

Renesmee was in the kitchen, concentrating on cutting the tomatoes she had bought that afternoon. She was making Jacob's favorite dinner: steak. She had been preparing steak for him since she had learned how to cook. However, Annabelle didn't quite like the taste of steak. Anna was the reason Nessie had started serving a salad before the steak and baked potatoes with the steak.

Glancing up at the window above the kitchen counter, a smiled graced Nessie's lips. She had the perfect view of Jake and Anna, who were running around in the backyard. Anna had turned four just a few months ago, though she was starting to look about five-years-old. The vampire gene in Anna caused her to physically look older and to mentally and emotionally feel older than she was. The small werewolf part of her, however, slowed down the ageing, so she only looked about one year older than she actually was.

Outside, Jacob was oblivious to his wife watching from the kitchen. His only focus at the moment was Anna. His four-year-old daughter had talked him into playing tag with her. Currently, he was 'it' and she was running from as fast as her little legs could carry her. Because of him being a werewolf, Jacob could have caught Anna in the first few seconds of the game, but where was the fun in that?

Laughing, Jake leaned down, reached his arms out, and pulled Anna into his arms and down to the ground. He rolled over and held her on top of his chest, wrapping his arms around her small back. "I caught you, Anna."

Anna giggled and leaned her head against Jake's chest. "You cheated."

"I did not," Jake defended himself.

"Did too," Anna countered, nodding.

Jacob just shook his head, although a smile was on his face. Becoming a parent had changed him, somewhat. He wasn't as carefree as he used to be. He could no longer just go out on a Friday night with his packmates and not come back until Saturday afternoon. He had to grow up and be responsible for another life. Things might have changed for him, but he wouldn't do anything over. He loved Anna with all his heart, and so did Nessie. They were great parents together and they were raising a wonderful family.

"We should get inside, Anna. I'm sure Mommy's going to have dinner ready soon."

Anna nodded and climbed off of Jake's chest, tripping over a fallen branch. Being the daughter of a half-vampire and a werewolf, she had the balance to catch herself before she fell to the grass. She smiled at her father as he pulled himself up from the ground, and then raised her arms. Jacob chuckled and picked Anna up in his arms, carrying her inside.

When they walked into the house, the scent of baked potatoes and steak filled their noses. Nessie rounded the corner and then smiled at them.

"I was just coming to get you two."

Jake shrugged and put Anna on the floor; she went over to Nessie, gave her a hug, and then danced into the kitchen. "I figured you would have dinner ready soon. I didn't want to keep you waiting."

Nessie smiled and then closed the distance between her and her husband. She wrapped her arms around his neck and he pulled her closer to him by her waist. They shared a gentle, yet passionate kiss. Nessie loved the fact that after six years of being married, they still acted as if they had just fallen in love.

When they broke apart, Jake knelt down and laid a small kiss against Nessie's bulging stomach. "How are my babies doing?"

Nessie smiled. She was pregnant again and due any day. This time, though, she was bigger than she was when she had Anna. She had been slightly concerned, so she went to Carlisle. He had told her there was nothing to be worried about, she was only having twins. Of course, the thought of having twins worried her. Just like when she went for check-ups when she was pregnant with Anna, Carlisle asked her if she wanted to know their genders. But she had declined. She and Jake always wanted to be surprised. "We're fine, but very hungry."

Jake laughed, draped an arm around Nessie's shoulder, and the two of them walked into the kitchen. Anna was already sitting at the table, waiting for them. Jake laid a soft kiss to the top of Nessie's head and then sat down at the table, next to Anna. Smiling, Nessie started getting the plates ready for her family. She loved calling them that. First, she arranged a plate with just a baked potato on it. Next to that potato, she placed a small bowl of salad. She laid the bowl in front of Anna, and her smile widened when Anna's eyes sparkled. Next, she arranged her and Jake's plates. Both plates had a baked potato and a steak. They also had bowls of salad, but they didn't fit on the plate. Nessie sat next to her husband and they began their family dinner, which consisted mostly of Anna chattering.

X~X~X

"One more," Anna asked. It had become routine for Jake and Nessie to read Anna a bedtime story. Tonight was Jake's turn, and just like with every other night, Anna was trying to convince him to read her a second story.

"Anna, you know the rules: one story and then bedtime."

Anna pouted and crossed her arms over her chest; Jacob sighed. He knew this game all too well. Anna would ask for a second story, he would say no, and she would try to get him to give in. They did this almost every night. Jacob didn't mind too much, not as much as Nessie. This little game always seemed to tire Anna out. And she never argued with her parents over anything else. It was always just the story. Tonight, however, Jake was too tired to play Anna's game.

"Anna, please, I don't want to do this tonight. Daddy needs to sleep."

Anna's face softened and she laid her small hand on Jake's arm. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, Anna," He smiled at her to emphasize his words. "I just need to sleep." When Anna didn't look convinced, he quickly added: "Don't worry about me, Anna. I'll be all right."

The pout found its way back onto Anna's face. "I hate when you do that."

"Do what?"

"Tell me you'll be all right when there's something going on. And don't tell me nothing's going on. I can see it on your face." Jake had to smile. His four-year-old daughter was too smart for her own good.

"Anna, the only thing going on is that I need to sleep." The pout was still there. "Hey," Anna looked into his eyes, her pout fading away slightly. "you're my girl."

Anna smiled now. Jacob calling Anna his 'girl' had become something quite special to her. She was his baby, but he was always calling Nessie 'baby'. She had wanted to be called something special and her own, so Jake started calling her his 'girl'. "And you're my guy."

Jake smiled, kissed the top of Anna's head, and then gently laid her back in her bed. He pulled her pink covers up to her chin and tucked her in nice and tight, just the way she liked it. "Goodnight, Anna. I love you."

"'Night, Daddy," Anna yawned. "I love you, too."

Jacob smiled, kissed Anna's forehead, and then left the room, turning the lights off as he went. He made his way down the hall, towards the master bedroom. When he walked in, Nessie was lying on the bed, a magazine in her hand. He climbed onto the bed next to her and draped his arm over her waist.

"Anna asleep," Nessie asked, closing the magazine and placing into on her bedside table.

"Yeah," Jake sighed.

"Tired?"

"Very," Jake mumbled into his pillow. Lately, he'd had to run patrol more and more. The lack of sleep was starting to take a toll on him.

Before Nessie could open her mouth to tell her husband that he should get some sleep, and she'd stay up a little longer in case Anna needed something, something hit her. It was a terrible sensation, but familiar. "Jake."

"What?"

"The babies are coming."

Jake was in action before Nessie could blink. He was off the bed and grabbing his car keys and whatever else he would need. Soon, he was coming up on Nessie's side of the bed. "Let's get you to Carlisle, Ness."

"But…Anna," Nessie panted out.

"Shit," Jake turned away from Nessie and grabbed his cell phone. Quickly, he called Edward and Bella and told them Nessie's water broke. They said they'd be right over to watch Anna and they should just head to Carlisle; they wouldn't be long and Anna was asleep, nothing would happen.

X~X~X

"They're tiny," Anna said upon seeing her baby brother and sister. Bella and Edward had brought to the Cullen's main house just minutes ago.

Nessie chuckled and glanced down at the baby in her arms. "They're newborns, Anna. They're supposed to be tiny."

"Which one is which?" She asked. They were identical twins, she couldn't tell them apart, even if one was a boy and one was a girl.

"Well, this is your sister and that's your brother." Jake asked, gently rocking his new daughter in his arms.

"What are you naming them?" Bell asked.

"Well, we're naming him Benjamin Michael and we're naming her Ashleigh Amber." Nessie replied, smiling.

Bella smiled and gazed between her newest grandchildren. "They have your eyes, Nessie." Nessie smiled up at her mother. Bella smiled back and then looked at Jacob. "And your skin tone."

"I hope that's not going to be a problem." Edward mused.

"It won't be," Jake mumbled down at Ashleigh. She won't be a werewolf, he just knew it. She won't have to go through any pain, he'll make sure of it.