Chapter 3 – Realisation
No one moved. From a distance you would have thought that even Charlie, Renée and Phil were vampires. The only noise throughout the house was the ever constant crying of Isabelle.
Eventually Rosalie got up and crossed the room to the kitchen to get Issy some milk. After heating it up she fed her and went back to her original position. Issy then proceeded to go to sleep but, the tears still ran down her rosy cheeks. Nessie also had fallen asleep on Jacob's lap. The tears on her face were fresh as well.
After what seemed like hours Esme stood up. All eyes in the room turned to look at her when she spoke.
"Ok, right. Emmett, Jazz you go find my deceased children or what's left of them and bring them back. We'll ready the cellar to store them. Jake, go put Renesmee in her bed and you sleep too. Rose put Issy in her crib and you and Alice stay and watch over her whilst preparing funeral outfits for the bodies and us. Carlisle, darling, ring Mike and Jess but keep it light – they are just married. Then, call the Denalis and the Amazons and invite them up. Actually just the Denalis," she said glancing at the humans, "Renée, Charlie you and I will arrange the funeral. No one's going to enjoy this but it has to be done for the children's sake."
Everyone nodded and went about their allocated task. The Denali family were to be down in the morning and that's when the funeral would be held.
"This house is officially a home," Esme whispered, "We've had a wedding, two births and a death here."
Renée put her head on Phil's shoulder and sobbed whilst Charlie sat there awkwardly, tears in his eyes.
By the morning the whole house was covered in great swathes of black material. Alice had picked everyone an outfit of plain black, the ashes were in their coffins though no one could identify them and all that there was left to do was wait for the Denali clan to arrive.
Around ten they arrived. Kate coming first flanked by Garrett. Both were beside themselves but no tears flowed. Tanya came next whispering: 'I'm so sorry', then lastly Carmen and Elezar.
Carmen ran to Nessie who threw herself into her arms. Kate went over to Rose who was cradling Issy and picked her up.
"Bella?" she whispered questioningly.
"No this is Issy - their daughter," Carlisle replied.
Issy was still sniffling and had been since last night. Nothing could stop it.
Suddenly from the corner Alice stiffened and a huge smile lit up her face. She glanced at Issy who had stopped sniffling and was quiet in Kate's arms. They all stared at the baby curiously but she couldn't talk yet so no one knew why she had so suddenly stopped.
Alice concealed her joy with a forced sorrow as she crossed to take Issy out of Kate's arms.
"Four years we have to wait my Princess. Two lives for two lives, two losses for two gains. We will all be reunited. It's a matter of time but I cannot wait my darling," she whispered in Isabelle's ear.
Issy gurgled in agreement and Alice laughed her tinkling laugh.
Everyone stared and Alice swapped her laugh for a sob which just made her laugh more.
Jasper knew something was up and he sent waves of calm across to his laughing wife. She instantly stopped but smiled a secretive smile at Issy.
"That child," Elezar began, "Has the most unusual gift since Bella. She has both of her parent's talents but, can also use other people's powers against them. You'd better keep her safe from Aro."
Emmett stiffened and growled at the name. Rose put a hand on his shoulder and replied:
"No one will take her from us. Ever."
So the funeral commenced. Alice took Issy and Nessie to the back of the sitting room and continued to smile exuberantly.
Nessie reached up and touched her face. She was wondering why her Auntie Alice was so happy when everyone else was grieving.
"Wait and see honey, wait and see," Alice whispered back.
Oh what a surprise they would get but first Issy would have to grow up and become more and more like her mother every day.
