A/N: Thank you so much to everyone that reviewed!
Bella:
"Ok," I repeat him, also blowing out a long breath. "I'll tell Renesmee and Masen about you," I add shakily.
"Tell me about them," Edward begs, sounding more alive than he has the entire phone call.
"Even though they're only technically five years old, they have the bodies of 12 year olds and the minds of late teenagers. I told them how you played piano, so Renesmee immediately demanded piano lessons. She's as gifted as you. Masen, on the other hand, has inherited my love of books. Both have green eyes, I'm guessing from your human life, though their hair is a bit of a mix. It's mostly my brown, though they have your red highlights," I explain. I could talk about my children for an eternity.
"They sound…incredible," Edward sighs wistfully, and I feel like crying and begging for his forgiveness.
Somehow, I manage to hold it in.
"They are," I settle for.
"I should let you go. You probably have lots to do," Edward says. "Can I just ask one last thing?"
"Sure," I reply honestly.
"What did you tell them about me?" Edward asks.
I close my eyes, not wanting to answer that question. I'm a horrible person. "I told them you studied a lot and were very busy. I…I'm sorry. I never told them much about you. It was too…" I stop myself before I admit how painful it is to think about him, let alone speak about him.
"Thank you," Edward says, an awkward silence falling over us. I know he knows how painful I find it to talk about him. "I'm sorry. I'll see you soon," Edward finishes, ending the call.
For a while I just stare at the phone in silence, trying to process what has happened.
Before I can think too much, I hear the excited laughter of Nessie and Masen as they run into the living room after playing in the forest. I really lucked out with this house. It's only small – nowhere near the size of the Cullen mansion – but it works for us. There's a small living room with glass doors leading out to the garden, with leads into the forest. My room is downstairs, in what was originally the study. I have a small bed, as I don't require much sleep. I'm not as human as my children, but I'm certainly not completely vampire.
Upstairs, there's Nessie's room, Masen's room, and the bathroom. To provide us with an income, I work as a teacher in the local school and I also offer extra private tutoring. Also, I private tutor them, as well, as humans would get suspicious of their ageing and intelligence. I have to work a lot but it means I can give my children whatever they want.
Except their father, though.
"Mum!" Nessie shouts, jumping into my arms. I easily pick her up, kissing her cheek.
"Did you two have fun?" I ask, trying to sound upbeat.
"Yeah!" Nessie squeals, placing her hand on my cheek to show me images of her and Masen racing through the forest. She releases me to sit down on the sofa. I see so much of Alice in her, it hurts.
Masen glances over at me, the look suggesting he doesn't believe my happy act. He's always been so damn perceptive. I'm surprised he can't read minds.
Masen's gift is to put thoughts in people's minds, whereas Nessie's is to put pictures into people's minds.
"There's something I need to speak to the two of you about," I tell them, sitting next to them on the sofa.
"What is it, mum?" Nessie asks, her playful mood from before now gone.
"I called your father, while you two were out playing. He wants to see you," I tell them, watching them closely to gage their reactions.
Nessie immediately grins widely and even Masen smiles a bit. I suddenly feel terrible at keeping this happiness from them.
"When?" Nessie asks eagerly.
"Tomorrow," I tell them.
That night, I have trouble getting Nessie and Masen to sleep. They ask more questions about their father and his family than ever before, and I tell them more than I've ever told them. I relive all the happy memories, most of the funny stories involving Emmett. Eventually, they fall asleep from all my talking.
I kiss them both goodnight, whispering that I love them, before returning to my room. I don't need sleep every night, and I know for sure tonight I'm not going to be able to sleep at all tonight.
"Mum?" Masen asks from the doorway.
"Is everything ok, sweetie?" I ask, starting to worry instantly.
"Yeah," he mutters, hesitating. "Are you ok?" he finally asks.
"Come here," I tell him, opening my arms.
He runs to the bed, wrapping his arms around me. I soothe him, something that's become natural since I've become a mother.
"Don't you want us to meet dad?" Masen asks me.
"No, that's not it! I just want you and Nessie to be happy," I tell him, rubbing his back. "I just haven't seen him in so long," I admit. "You don't have to worry about me, though. You should be excited!" I grin at him.
"I am," he admits shyly. "Do I look like him?" Masen asks me.
"So much. You're like his double," I joke. "Now, you need to go to bed. You need to be well rested," I tell him.
"Ok, mum," he says, kissing my forehead before running off to his room.
A/N: Thoughts?
Again, thanks so much for the response! Also, just wanted to recap, there will be a chapter every day until Christmas Eve, and then two more in the days after Christmas!