Finally, I am able to post chapter 4. I had so many issues with this one. I'm trying to make this story shorter chapter-wise, but there's so much I need to pack into these chapters! Some of you might be mad/upset/disappointed that I cut some Haleigh and Caden short, but it just needed to end where it did. Sorry I took so long. I have missed you guys!

*Disclaimer*

Please Enjoy!


JPOV

It was Nessie who had decided that we not stop at the beach in California. Too scared the kids would fight us when we left. They could have all the beach time they wanted when we got to our own island. Rosalie would no doubt have a blast watching over them when Nessie and I were otherwise occupied. But Ness had brought her camera anyway.

Edward had also bought a rather large boat to fit all of us so we could avoid flying in a tin can with floaties. I agreed vigorously.

The guys and I were unloading the boat, but I kept my eye on Ness and the kids at the water's edge. She was grinning down at them, a hand on her stomach which had blown up another inch or so over the sixteen hour trip, while they ran around her splashing in the water. They'd been told to hold onto her pants so they wouldn't go too far. Bella and Rosalie were nearby, their feet in the water, too.

The island wasn't huge, but large for just one building on it. Plush and green with tropical plants and birds. The sand was white with crystal blue ocean lapping over it. It was gorgeous and I couldn't believe it was ours, mine and Nessie's. We'd definitely come back for some R&R. Hell, we may just stay for a while after the babies were born. Family bonding and all that before asking Edward to come back and drive us back. He'd do it, too. Being a vampire, he had a lot of time on his hands.

I heard a chuckle and looked up. Edward was giving me an amused look.

"Well, it's true," I mumbled.

He nodded. "It is true. And I would be happy to be of service." Coming toward me, he took the bag from my hand. "Now, go enjoy your family. We'll take care of all of this."

I just stared at him. Now that we weren't enemies, all he and the Cullens wanted to do was help all the time.

Edward chuckled again. "After all, Jacob, we have a lot of time on our hands and you have enough to worry about."

"Thank you, Edward. I'm really glad you're here. I'm glad Nessie has you."

He shrugged. "I'm her father. Where else would I be? Just like your father."

Narrowing my eyes, I said, "Speaking of, did you plan for him to be out here? I mean that walk goes all the way out into the water with a slope that he can park at and still be in the water. And you bought him a wheelchair to go in water."

His shrug told me nothing. "I had some spare time before we left."

"Edward, there was only about thirty minutes between deciding to bring him and us leaving."

He shrugged again, closing his eyes, hiding his emotions from me. "We work fast, which leaves us with a lot of extra time."

Giving in to defeat, I held my now free hand out to him. "Thank you."

He took it with a grin. "You're very welcome. Seeing as how he and I are now the same, I understood the need to have him here. I wouldn't want to be excluded from this. Now go."

After shaking his hand once more, I turned and went for Nessie.

"Daddy!" Will ran for me and I scooped him up.

His legs were wet as they wrapped around me. "Hey, big man. You like the water?"

He nodded enthusiastically. "Uh-huh." He pointed. "Jues!"

"I see her." She was running around her mother's legs, one hand always on Nessie's pants. Her long hair was getting damp from all the water splashing up on her. "Is she having fun?"

"Uh-huh. Down, Daddy!" His legs kicked against me until I put him back in the sand. Screaming in glee when his toes hit it, he flexed them, giggling and smiling up at me. Then he pointed at my shoes. "Soos off, Daddy."

Nessie giggled as I rolled my eyes and kicked off my shoes and socks. Together Will and I dug our toes into the sand. He giggled again planting his feet in front of mine and copying me.

"'irt, Daddy."

I knelt down in the sand and scooped some into my hand. "No, Will. It's not dirt. This is sand. Can you say that? Sand."

Standing in front of me, he patted his hands in my palms, spraying the sand everywhere. "Sand!"

I grinned. "Yeah. Sand." I held my hand up with the stuff in it. "This is sand. You wanna go tell Mommy what it is?"

That was how we got them to learn. One of us would teach them what something was and have them go to the other to tell them in order to reinforce it. Jules was easier to mold that way. Sometimes, with her, it only took one time of telling her. Will, on the other hand, was not. Once he was stuck on something, he was like a dog with a bone. One time, I sat with him for hours teaching him about ice. Somehow, he knew its base was water and refused to call it ice. I'd given up until out of the blue about a week later, he'd handed me his cup of water and asked for ice.

Today was going to be no different. He shuffled his feet through the sand to Nessie, bent over to scoop some the way I had, held it up to her and said, "Mommy! Sa-'irt!"

I hung my head while she laughed.

"No, baby. It's sand."

"Sand?"

"Yes. Hey, Dad?" she called. "Could you go get a handful of dirt so we can show him the difference?"

About a minute passed before Edward flashed to Nessie's side with his hands cupped. Nessie held one hand out for it before crouching down a getting some sand in the other. She held the one with dirt in it to Will, while putting the other out of sight.

"What is this?"

"'irt!"

She nodded, smiling encouragingly before putting that hand behind her back and bringing out the other with the white granules. "And what is this?"

He actually stopped and frowned. "'irt," he said but it was more of a question.

Nessie shook her head. "Sand."

"Sand!"

"Good." She tucked that one back and brought the dirt forward again. "This?"

"'irt."

She brought out the sand again.

"Sand!"

She grinned and emptied both hands, grabbing him up and pressing kisses all over his face. "That's my smart boy!"

I shook my head. "That's it. We're trading kids. I want Jules back."

Squishing her face with his, she laughed. "You're the one who wanted to try to teach Will."

"I know," I grumbled, actually a little peeved that I wasn't as good with him as Nessie seemed to be. "I guess I'll teach him when he's older."

Nessie, knowing me as well as she did, put a hand on my cheek. "Jacob, he loves you as much as he loves me."

As if to prove his momma's words, he reached up to me. "'uv you, Daddy!"

Feeling a bit emotional, I picked him up. He wrapped his arms around my neck and squeezed. And then planted a wet kiss on my cheek. "'uv you, Daddy," he said again.

Having to clear my throat, I said, "I love you, too, big man."

"Jacob," Nessie said, "some kids just learn better with certain people. Maybe it's the sound of my voice or the fact that he spends more personal time with me. When you aren't home Jules is off by herself but Will is always around me, showing me stuff and asking things. Jules learns better with you. Does that affect me? Sure it does, but I just remember that she is her father's daughter through and through. She learns better with you than with me. We'll trade places eventually. When they're older, you'll deal with the teenage boy and I'll be dealing with the emotional, girl stuff."

"Momma! Daddy!"

We both turned toward Jules. She ran to stand between us holding a shell in her hands. Her face glowed at the shiny object she'd never encountered before. One side of it was bleached white from the salt. The other was opalescent, flashing purple, then green, then blue. Giggling, she held it up in both of her hands, still glowing.

We knelt down again and I sat Will on my knee. He reached out to touch it.

"It's a sea shell," I said slowly to her.

She frowned, which told me she needed me to say it again.

"Sea. Shell."

"Thee. Thell." She still had issues pronouncing her S's.

Now Nessie said, "Jules, can you tell Mommy what it is?"

She held it up to her mother and grinned. "Thee thell."

Nessie grinned, wrapping her arms around her. "Very good, baby girl. Is it pretty?"

Jules nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah-uh. 'ere, Mommy." She held it out to Nessie, who took it.

"Can I have it?" Nessie asked, taking it from her in both hands as if it were the most precious thing in the world.

Jules nodded again. "Yeah-huh." She was eyeing the beach. "'or Daddy."

"Are you going to find one for Daddy?" Nessie translated.

Curls bounced with another nod. "Yeah-huh." And then she was gone.

In my arms, Will frowned after his sister. "You want to go with you her?"

He nodded, eyes still on her. Rosalie had come up and was watching over her which was why we hadn't freaked out at her running off. I set Will on his feet and he ran after her. She was crouched down, playing her fingers through the wet sand. Picky about her choice, she tossed shell after shell back into the water when it didn't meet her standards.

When we straightened up, I wrapped my arm around Nessie's shoulders and hugged her to me. Beside us, a camera went off. We turned to see Esme with Nessie's camera.

She smiled at us. "I hope you don't mind. I thought you might some family moments captured."

Nessie grinned. "Of course not! Can I see what you have?"

Together the two women bent over the camera oohh-ing and ahh-ing over the pictures. While they did that, I continued to watch my kids. Will kept watch over his sister even while he searched through the sand. Jules was perfectly content and focused. Although, every now and then, she'd look up to watch her brother and a smile spread her lips. If she were older, I'd think that she often thought he was too serious and was happy when she found him having fun. Because that's exactly what that expression looked like.

"Hey, Jake!"

I turned to see Billy in his new wheelchair and half submerged in the water. Edward was close by making sure that the chair wasn't faulty. Laughing, I walked over to him.

"Really? In your clothes?"

Billy put his head back and closed his eyes, enjoying the sunlight. "I've missed this."

Studying him, my stomach flopped. In the sunlight, it was easier to see that the grey and white had multiplied significantly in his long dark hair. There were new wrinkles to his skin that I had clearly ignored or refused to acknowledge. He was dying, getting ever closer to that last huge, and permanent, event of life. Looking at him, I could totally throw in my support to Tricia. But I would never suggest such a thing to Billy. Not only would he refuse vehemently, but he would tell me I was being selfish. I had Nessie, and my kids. I had my own family. And he needed to get back to his, which was my mother.

When he opened his eyes, I forced a grin. "Well, it belongs to me and Ness, so we can come back whenever you want a Black vacation. Maybe we can bring Rach and Becca out here. Have a family thing."

He grinned back at me, slapping a hand on my back. "Now that sounds amazing, son."

My heart clenched again, but I kept the grin. When he looked out to the water, I looked up to Edward. His eyes and smile were sad, as if he would miss Billy, too.

"Jacob?" Nessie came up behind me and wrapped her arms around my waist.

I smoothed my hands over her arms. "Yeah?"

"Carlisle wants to do an ultrasound before we eat. Aunt Alice is making us dinner. Why don't we go see our new vacation house?"

"Sounds good." I turned to Billy. "You gonna be okay out here?"

He chuckled. "As long as Edward doesn't push me to the sharks, I think I'll be just fine."

Edward laughed. "He's in good hands."

"Thanks." I turned to Rosalie a ways down the beach. Nessie moved to my side, keeping an arm around my waist. "Rose, you got the kids?"

Her blonde hair shining in the bright sunlight, she smiled. She really was beautiful when she wasn't being a bitch. "Of course. You go on."

"Jules, Will?" When they both looked up at me, I said, "You be good for your Aunt Rosalie, okay?"

They both shouted back a chorus of, "Otay, Daddy!" before going back to digging in the sand.

Laughing, Nessie excitedly pulled me toward the two story house that seemed taller than just two stories. The side facing us and the water was mostly glass. Both floors had wrap around terraces. The ground floor had showerheads at regular intervals and drains for washing the sand and saltwater off your skin. The low walls of the terraces were white with silver fixtures. Inside, the house was open and airy, windows cranked open, letting the breeze flow through the gauzy curtains to waft through the house. The floors were hardwood in a light honey color. The area that we'd stepped into from outside was a living room. Despite the fact that this was a tropical island, there was a fireplace just in case the nights became cool. The room opened to the top of the house, cutting through the second story. There was an overhang across the room. Underneath it was a dining room table with windows looking out into the woods. The overhang, it turned out, was just a narrow walkway that served as a hallway and looked out over both the living room and the dining room. The stairs to the second story were to the right. On the other side of them was the kitchen and a smaller eating area.

Beyond the kitchen was solid wall. Going through and around the kitchen there was a hallway. It looked like the three bedrooms and they all had window walls that opened out to the beach. Walking down the hallway, I could see that there was a room beyond it. Nessie gasped as we walked into the huge room that surrounded by glass and sunshine. It had to be the dayroom. Like the living room, it soared the two stories. There were tropical plants in the corners. The floor hear was marble tiles in cream, white, and tan. Plush chairs that had probably been positioned in the middle of the room had been pushed to the walls to make even more room for Carlisle's medical equipment. Situated to the side were two of those hospital-esque plastic cribs. Everything was set up just as it had been in the Cullen house, but the sunshine streaming through made it seem less sinister, though there was a rail that ran across the top windows that, when followed, led to curtains that could somehow be pulled around.

"Guys, this place is ridiculous!"

Ness and I both turned and looked up to find Cricket and Mara leaning over another overhang. The house was kind of set up like a hotel where the bedrooms were concerned. All the doors faced the back hallway with windows to the waterfront. The windows along the hallway looked out over the dense forests. So either you could sit on the terrace looking at the ocean, or you could sit out with the green vegetation. Either way, it was a win-win situation. Both views were gorgeous.

"I am so going back home with a tan!" Cricket said. Then she pointed down. "Did you see this? You have a slide in your house!"

Sure enough, when I looked down, there was a twist of white slide that actually went higher than the second floor. I frowned. Emmett had said only two floors. Cricket ducked down behind the wall and a moment later popped out in front of the book case. The slide was tilted up at the end so you practically flew out instead of being dumped. A large rectangular hole was cut out of the floor and filled with cushions. She bounced, laughing.

"C'mon, Mara. Get your panties out of a knot and have some fun before things get hairy."

Mara quirked an eyebrow before sighing and rolling her eyes dramatically. She ducked down and likewise slid down. Even though she tried to hide it, she was laughing all the way down. When she bounced out behind Cricket, she was grinning a grin so huge, I thought it would break her face.

"Oh, and by the way," Cricket said, still giggling and helping Mara to her feet, "there are three stories. But I won't tell you what's up there. You need to see it for yourself."

Mara nodded. "Indeed. It's pretty wonderful."

Nessie and I glanced at each other before making our way to a set of stairs against the wall that led to the second story. The hall opened into what was another, smaller sitting room, just as open and cozy at the same time. Against the far wall of the sitting room was a set of stairs that I realized was situated at the end of the house. They opened up like the furnished attic we had at home. But it was darker, the curtains drawn. It took a moment for me to realize that it was lit much like a movie theater. And once my eyes adjusted, I realized that that was exactly what it was. Huge round sofa-like chairs in suede and leather surrounded a shallow square cut out filled with cushions. The area in front of it was clear so the screen could be seen. And the screen? Covered the entire side of the shorter wall at the end of the room.

"Well, move," Cricket said.

Taking Nessie's hand, I pulled her up the rest of the way.

Cricket and Mara followed, grinning.

"This isn't all of it. And trust me, this took us some time to figure out, but-," she clapped her hands.

Instantly, the weak lighting went off just as the curtains started swinging open and were tucked into the corner. It was a surround-sound view.

"There isn't a terrace so if you crank the windows open you'd have to watch the children," Mara said. "However, the seats? They're filled with toys, blankets, pillows, and gaming systems. I think Emmett hopes you'll move in eventually. Oh, and one more thing." She pushed a button in the wall that separated the stairs from the room. The cushions in the shallow square raised up, the pillows falling off, clearly attached to the sides of the cut out. Where they landed, they could serve as chairs.

"A table," Nessie breathed.

Cricket nodded. "Dinner and a show. Family night. Whatever you want."

I nodded. "Alright. He's remodeling our house."

Nessie laughed and playfully slapped my shoulder.

"I'm serious. Our furnished attic is big enough."

"Yeah but we don't have the view."

I looked at her, feeling the need to step up a bit. "We could make it that way. Spruce up the area around the lake. I'm sure there are some colorful flowers that will grow in Forks. There has to be. We could make additions to the cabin where the kids could have a playroom. We'll be using that third room when we get home for the twins."

She bit her lip, looking at me worriedly. "Are you sure? I mean, that's a lot of work, Jake."

"I know but you know how Jules and Will are. They always want to go outside and play but some days they can't because of the rain. Let's fix that. It will give Emmett something to do."

"I would love to!"

Emmett was standing at the bottom of the stairs grinning at us.

"See?" I said, grinning. "Ness, as much as I would love to, we can't move here. Maybe when I retire from the pack and Will takes over, but that won't be for a long time. Let's give them something special. Besides, when they get older, they're going to have friends over all the time."

Her eyes narrowed. "You already have an idea, don't you?"

I nodded excitedly. "Yeah, I do. I'll draw it out with Emmett with this stay and then run it by you. Please? Let me do this for them. I want to be the awesome dad."

Her face melted, eyes glazing. "Oh, Jacob. You already are, but if it's that important to you, I'd love to know what you're thinking."

Hugging her to me, I felt a sense of usefulness. I was going to do something for my kids that they would be proud of.

A throat cleared down beside Emmett. It was Bella. "Sorry to interrupt, but Carlisle is ready and antsy."

"Oh right," Nessie said, pulling back and swiping her eyes. "The ultrasound."

"Thanks, Bells. We'll be down in a sec."

Nessie moved to the window and laughed.

"What?" I asked moving up beside her.

She motioned outside. "Think we'll be taking all those with us?"

Jules and Will had made a huge pile of shells by Rosalie's feet. The pile was almost to her knees, and she was a tall woman.

I laughed. "Well, at least it would go with my ideas."

"Really?"

"Yeah." I kissed her forehead. "Come on. Let's go take a peek at our buns in the oven."

RPOV

An hour later, I was still lying on the bed even though the ultrasound was over. Like a cat in a patch of sunlight, I was soaking up the warmth and rays with my eyes closed, listening to Carlisle and Jacob talk.

"From their growth, I will say that it's a good guess to say they'll be identical, not fraternal."

"How can you tell?" Jacob asked.

"The way they're positioned. Fraternal twins tend to have their heads facing the same way. Nobody really knows why. It's just very common in studies. I also suspect within a couple more days of growth, I'll be able to identify the sexes. If they're opposites, then fraternal, for sure. If they're the same, we won't know until they're born."

Jacob's heavy footsteps echoed as he moved toward the glass. "If they're identical, how will we tell them apart?"

Carlisle laughed. "The fear of every couple having indenticals. There will be some way to tell them apart. Birth marks, hair color, eye color. A mole that one of them has that the other does not. There are ways besides having shirts that say 'kid one' and 'kid two'."

Jake and I both fell into fits of laughter at that.

"There is, however, one concern I'm having."

Well that sobered us right up.

My eyes snapped open, landing on my grandfather. "Which is what?"

"When I listened to the heartbeats. You didn't hear it because it was so slight, but they have gotten slower."

Jacob stepped up beside the bed, lips tight, eyes glaring a hole through Carlisle. "Why didn't you say something at first?"

"Because the solution is quite obvious."

"Well, what is it?"

Carlisle's eyes moved to me. "You've avoiding your craving for more blood. The babies are losing strength from the lack of nutrients. You can only eat so much to support their rapid growth. The blood fills in. You must start drinking more blood, Nessie. The babies won't survive if you don't. I know that it scares you, sweetheart, but if you want these children to be healthy, you've got to swallow that fear."

Dad appeared a moment later with a glass of the red stuff. "You haven't had any since before we left the main land."

Taking the glass from him, I took a healthy gulp. It wasn't that I had been avoiding it. It was a sort of out of sight, out of mind type thing. For some reason, this wasn't like Will or Jules where I would think about it and crave it. It looked like I was going to have to consciously think about grabbing a glass of it. A couple more gulps and it was gone.

I licked my lips. "Can I get some more? All of a sudden I'm dying of thirst." My stomach rumbled. "And apparently ravenous."

"Good, because dinner's ready." Aunt Alice stood in the doorway of the hallway, grinning with a pair of tongs in her hand.

Jacob helped me off the bed. "What are we having?"

"Chicken pot pie."

"Oooo, that sounds yummy."

She wrapped her arm through mine. "Cricket taught me how to make it. Apparently it was my little sister's recipe."

As we walked into the kitchen, the smell of cooked chicken and veggies assaulted my nose, making my stomach rumble even more. I patted my belly before hopping into a stool at the bar that ran above the sink.

When Aunt Alice set a plate in front of me piled high, I said, "Yes, guys, all of this is for us."

Jacob chuckled as he sat beside me. He reached over to pick a carrot off my plate, but I glared at him until he took his hand back.

"I'll have you know that that carrot is going to the well-being of your children. Would you really do that to them?"

He rolled his eyes as the sound of little wet feet hit the hardwood. "Mommy! Daddy!" Will and Jules ran in, eyes bright and excited. Jacob helped them into chairs between us so we could help them eat.

Aunt Rosalie walked in a moment later, her jeans rolled up to her knees, and a big grin on her lips. "They wouldn't come in until they were absolutely convinced that their shells were safe. Emmett's out there right now making sure there aren't any crabs in them before putting them in a bag."

"Thanks, Aunt Rose. They were good for you?"

"Of course." She came over to kiss my cheek. "You two really do know how to raise kids."

"Jules," Jacob groaned.

She was piling her carrots onto Will's plate, one at a time. The child hated them something fierce. I remembered the first time she'd tried one outside of baby food. She hadn't recognized it and had bitten into the first cooked carrot. Her face had scrunched up so tight that it was a wonder it hadn't stuck that way. And then she'd proceeded to spit it out on her plate. Jacob had laughed for days. Will always ate her share of the carrots.

Once all the carrots were off her plate, she started eating, swinging her legs happily. Will was much more serious, watching Jacob eat. With a frown, he tried to sit like him, scooting higher in the seat and putting his elbows on the counter, arms framing his plate. Jacob looked over and laughed. Putting his fork down, he ruffled Will's hair.

"There ya go, buddy. Just like Daddy."

Will beamed at the praise. Though it was bad manners, it was still a bonding moment. I smiled at Jacob over our kids' heads. He had that proud gleam in his eyes.

It was then that everybody else came in. Seth and Shelby with Brayden and Piper. When Brayden sat at the table, Will wanted down to sit with him. Jacob got up to move him around. And once at the table, Will resumed sitting like his father. And of course, Jules wanted to sit with her brother. So Jacob moved her, too.

"See?" I said with a smile when Jacob sat back down. "You can teach him."

"Yeah, bad manners."

"And yet you do it anyway," I replied lovingly.

Shelby came around with Piper and kissed my cheek. "So, what did the doc say?"

After wiping my mouth with my napkin, I gripped Piper's hand and grinned. "He said that they're probably identical. A couple more days of growth and he'll probably be able to tell the sexes."

She bounced Piper. "Oh wow. What are you hoping for?"

I looked over at Jacob and rubbed my belly. "Well, I actually saw us as having a pack of boys, but of course, I don't really care either way as long as they're safe and healthy."

Jacob nodded over his food. "Absolutely."

"Any names yet?" She looked up. "Oh, thank you, baby. I'll be right there." And then she looked back to me. "Sorry."

I shook my head. "Heavens no. I suppose we do need to think about it, though."

"Oh my god, it smells so good in here!"

Everybody laughed as Cricket came in followed by Mara. They each grabbed a plate and went for the table. Dad rolled a now dry Billy to the table and went to grab him a plate. Shelby went to go sit with her family, Piper eating the pot pie. She and Jules were growing at about the same rate even though Jules was at least six months older.

"Thanks, Edward," Jacob said.

Dad just gave him a smile as he fixed a plate up.

Though it was nice having everyone here, it felt congested and claustrophobic. It would have been nice to have first seen this place with just me, Jacob, and the kids.

"Ness?" Jacob asked quietly while everyone around us laughed and talked. "You okay?"

Sliding on a smile, I nodded. "Yeah. I'm okay."

I knew he didn't believe me, but he said, "You need anything?"

Knowing he was asking so he could help in some way, I tried to think of something. Shrugging, I said, "I wouldn't mind a glass of the good stuff, if you know what I mean."

"Sure, of course." He wiped off with his napkin and went for the fridge and cups. He took down one large glass and two smaller ones. He knew that once Jules and Will saw my glass, they'd want their own. Filling mine up, he only put an inch or so into each of the small ones. On his way back, he set mine in front of me first before going to the kids.

"'ank you." "'ank you, Daddy!"

"You're welcome. Be careful, okay? Don't spill."

"Otay!"

The blood-drinking was now so normal that not even Billy questioned it nor did he seem so uncomfortable with it.

Jacob kissed me as he sat back down.

"Thank you, baby."

"Is it good or do you want me to heat it up a little? I didn't even think about it."

"Actually, cold works just fine."

Once we were both finished eating, Jacob took me by the hand. "Excuse us for a moment please."

He led me outside and down the wooden planks to where the walkway met the water. We both took off our shoes and dipped our feet in.

"What's up?" I asked, swishing my foot around in the warm water.

His arm snaked around me. "Nothing. I just figured you needed some air. And to watch this gorgeous sunset."

"How did you know that I needed that?" I said, wrapping my arms around his waist.

"Are you kidding? You're my imprint, and I've known you since you were born. Of course I know when you're feeling a little closed in."

Leaning down, he pressed his lips to mine and deepened the kiss. I clung to him, enjoying the way our tongues danced together. His hands came up to cup my face, keeping me where he wanted me. When he pulled back, he pecked my lips once, twice.

"Mmm, there. That's better."

Despite myself, I grinned and leaned into his touch. "I love you so much. I'm glad that you're here with me."

He turned me to face us toward the fiery orange sunset and kissed my hair. "I wouldn't want to be anywhere else."

And the truth was, no matter how scared I was, I wouldn't want to be anywhere else either.

SethPOV

Shelby, Nessie, Jake, and I had just tucked all the kids into bed in the same room. Piper had had the most difficulties until Jules had wrapped herself around my daughter. She'd calmed down and cuddled close.

Shelby and I had just gotten into our room when my phone went off. Of course it did. Pulling it out, I went to the huge canopy bed and sat down.

"Hello?"

"Hey, man," Walker said. "So I take it you made it?"

After kicking my shoes off, I laid back, legs dangling of the foot of the bed. "Yeah, we made it. How's everything there?"

There was a slight hesitation before he said, "Fine. We're all pretty good."

"And you're a terrible liar. What's going on?"

"Seth?" Shelby asked from the closet. "Everything okay?"

"Yeah, Walker's on the phone." I brought the phone back to my ear. "So what's up?"

He sighed. "Dead deer on my property. Three. Ripped to shreds and arranged. Bianca says it's just traveling wolves."

"You don't believe her?"

"She's honest in her belief, but…I don't know, man. It just seems like a weird thing to do. She said they dumped the deer on our property knowing what we are and knowing we could take care of the bodies on our land."

I felt Shelby step in front of me before she crawled onto the bed and straddled my waist. She rested her palms on my chest. I arched an eyebrow at her. She just grinned.

"Yeah that does sound weird. Did you tell Jacob?"

A sound said he was moving around, and then his voice from far off. "Yeah, I'll grab it." And then he was back. "On the day Nessie collapsed? Hell no. I wasn't going to worry him even more, especially if B is right. Besides, nothing else has happened. It could be nothing, and I'm worrying because it's my job."

"True that. I hear ya. Oh, hey, tell everyone that Carlisle thinks the twins could be identical. He said he should be able to tell the sexes in a couple more days." Shelby leaned down over me and started kissing a scalding line over my throat and jaw. I pushed my head back to give her more access and forced myself not to groan in Walker's ear.

Walker whistled. "Damn. Those two really are growing fast, aren't they?"

I had to put the phone away from my ear and clear my throat a couple times before I could answer. Shelby chuckled. "Yup. Carlisle increased her blood intake, too, to help the babies stay strong because of their growth rate."

"Wow. Well, I'll let you go. And I'll be sure to let everyone know. Tricia and Christa are staring holes in my head right now."

"And me!" I heard in the background.

Walker chuckled. "And Haleigh. Gotta give the gossip to the girls."

"Of course. Night, man."

"Good night."

I threw my phone back on the bed and wrapped my arms around Shelby while she nipped at my ear. "What the hell are you trying to do to me?"

"Mmm," she mumbled against my neck. "I just can't help it. It's so good to have you back. I love this body under me, the strength. It drives me crazy and I want you all the damn time."

Letting go of her, I spread my arms out on the bed. "Well, here I am. You want me, come get me."

Jumping off me, she stripped down before yanking my clothes off. Before I knew it, she had me in her hand with one good, tight stroke. Bending over my hips, her tongue darted out for one long, luscious lick before she straddled me once more. She was radiant in the moonlight that washed over the room. The drapes had been opened earlier in the day.

Slowly, Shelby slid her body over mine, sheathing me inside her. Her eyelids fluttered closed as she adjusted to me filling her without foreplay first. Under her, I arched back and thrust up trying to stretch her a bit. And then, after a moment, she started moving with me, dancing her hips over mine. Though she was on top of me, I could feel her slightness, how tiny she really was compared to me. I loved it. Back when I had still been sick, I'd felt small and hunched over without realizing it. The moment Mara had patched up my aura, protecting me, I'd realized how broken I really was and had fought like hell to not go back. Now, I could visualize my surroundings in both the physical and the metaphysical. With Mara's help I learned to how to read the colors and know which I needed to protect myself from. I'd started eating again, and then had approached Derek and Xavier to help me gain my physical strength back.

Larger than I had been before my death and resurrection, I practically dwarfed Shelby. She was smaller and more delicate than before. It was easier to remember that she was a woman, though tough and pushy, still a woman. Emotional, delicate. In need of emotional support and love. She'd barged her way into my life, had brought me back from death, and given me two beautiful babies. And while I was busy getting my crap together, she took care of them. At first, with my healing, I'd lose energy too fast and pass out from exhaustion. She had had to tell them that daddy was too tired to play. Now, I was strong again. Strong enough to roll around on the floor after working in the shop with Embry all day and play with them until dinner was ready and bedtime came.

She was the best thing that had happened to me after my father's death so long ago. And now, I had two children of my own. If I had to do it all again, including my death, I would.

Reaching up, I cupped her face and brought her lips to mine.

"Seth," she whispered against my mouth. Her breathing was harsh and broken, and her body trembled above mine while I continued to gently make love to her.

"Yes, baby," I whispered back, stroking my hands down the smooth skin of her back. "Come for me."

If I didn't come before her, she had a tendency to hold off her own orgasm, putting her through more pain than pleasure. Anticipation was good but only in foreplay. When so close to the finish line, the pressure was just too intense.

Stomach quivering, she squinched her eyes shut tight.

I ran a finger between her brows. "Baby, just let go. I'll follow. Promise."

With the next roll of her hips, she cried out, her nails digging into my chest as her body clenched around mine. I followed not a moment later with my own release pulsing into her.

Once I was sated and breathing hard, I held her against me, the two of us just lying there in the moonlight flooding the room. Rubbing her back, I stared out the window.

After Piper's birth, we'd both decided that two was enough. Shelby had gotten her tubes tied and I'd had Carlisle fix me up. It hadn't really been that hard of a decision. If they took after my side, they could imprint on humans, age with them, and then die. If that happened, we didn't want to get pregnant again to replace the child or children we lost. Because we both agreed that it would be like replacing them.

"Seth?"

"Hmm?"

"I'm scared for Nessie."

Sighing, I held her against me. "I know. Me, too. But Cricket said that she and the babies will make it through. We have to trust that because I don't want to think about other options."

"You really love her, don't you?"

I shrugged under her. "Of course I do. Those of us closest to Jake helped raise her. She's like my little sister."

Her hands played little designs over my chest, fingers flicking over my nipple. "You really think they'll make it through? Be honest."

Tilting my head, I forced her to look at me. "Again, of course I do. Nessie is strong, even stronger with Jacob close by. And her kids? She'd never do anything to jeopardize them. Not to mention, you. She won't leave you. She loves you."

Not saying anything else, she moved off me and went to clean up before crawling into bed. I followed and wrapped her up in my arms before falling asleep to her scent in my nose.

December

RPOV

Boys. Two of them. I wasn't really surprised by that fact. Neither was Jacob. And now, a week before Christmas, I was huge. Cricket's estimations of when I would finally go into labor were becoming clearer the closer we got to the date. Definitely February. She'd also been right that my blood intake increased to where it was all I drank. Jacob and Carlisle practically had to shove water down my throat to make sure I stayed hydrated.

Right now, I was up on the top floor in the cinema area resting back against Jacob in one of the large circular chairs. Jules and Will were resting on either side of us, their ears pressed to my stomach. They squealed in delight whenever one of the boys moved or kicked. Honestly, I didn't know how human women did pregnancy with two or more babies inside. My ankles were so swollen that they practically didn't exist anymore and walking hurt so bad that I rarely moved. If I didn't have to go anywhere, I didn't. Jacob, Dad, or one of my uncles didn't mind carrying me. And I was the first to admit that I was a whiny pain this time around. At least I gave the guys something to do. Jacob had started showering with me to make sure I got clean. He'd even learned to shave me, which was both embarrassing and hilarious at the same time. Once I grew to the equivalent of the end of my pregnancy with Will or Jules, Jacob had started doing everything for me. Though I wasn't on official bed rest, I knew that everybody would freak out if I started doing too much if I was able. My husband had made sure to let me know that he didn't mind waiting on me hand and foot. He preferred that I stay down to read a book, watch movies or play games with the kids.

"You okay?" Jacob asked softly in my ear.

I nodded, cuddling back into his chest. His arms wrapped around me, hands resting on my stomach to feel his sons kicking up a storm. We hadn't even touch on names even though we knew they were boys. Neither of us wanted family names, but we wanted something not so normal.

Sighing, I looked down to watch Jules and Will grinning with their hands on me like their father's. The two of them had grown even more. Everybody was working with the kids on their speaking skills. They were starting to progress past what they had been. The more time they spent watching movies, being read to, or being talked to, the more they learned. Will was well on his way to reading; Jules potty training. My babies were growing so fast.

"So, what did Embry call for earlier?"

Jacob kissed my temple before resting his cheek against mine. "He said that he and Tricia had a talk. Also that he would have called sooner but he was busy with the shop."

"They had a talk about what?"

"Her wanting to change. Apparently, they talked around the same time that we left to come here. They'd argued about it before she won the battle with him. But he got her to agree to try to approach her parents once more to see if she could really give them up in case they were willing to try to have a relationship with her."

"And if they do?"

I felt him shrug around me. "Honestly, I don't know. I do know she'll want the change no matter what. But she might stay human a little longer if her parents will still speak to her. Embry told her that the relationship wouldn't last if they found out that she was infected."

I nodded. "That's totally-," I broke off when Jacob lifted his arm up, probably to scratch his jaw, and my mouth watered at the taste.

My head snapped to the side, nostrils flaring, scenting him. Suddenly, I could hear the blood under his skin, so close to the surface. I was parched and crazed with thirst as if I hadn't been sucking down blood all day. His hand moved down again to rest on my stomach, but it didn't make it. One second he was moving, the next I had his wrist wrapped tightly in my grasp.

"Ow! Ness, what-," His sentence trailed off when he caught a look at my hunger-crazed eyes. "Edward," he said calm but stern. "Come get the kids."

Two seconds later, Dad was there trying to coerce Jules and Will to go play outside. He gave us a look before herding them down the stairs.

"Nessie," Jacob said slowly, but he didn't try to get free of my grasp. "What is it?"

His pulse jumped under the thin skin of his wrist. My stomach rumbled and the babies settled down as if they knew Momma was having issues and didn't want to spook me.

Swallowing hard through the sandpaper that my mouth had suddenly become, I croaked, "I'm thirsty…and you smell delicious."

His breath came out on a shudder as if the thought of me feeding from him was something erotic. "But you've never fed from me before," he whispered.

"Well, I want to now."

"Are you sure?"

I nodded. "It's like when I'm hunting. I get the scent of my prey and suddenly I'm in predator mode, fully locked onto that scent. My mouth waters in anticipation." The entire time I spoke, my eyes never left his wrist and pounding thrum under that skin.

Now, his breath whispered across my neck as he pressed his lips to my skin. "Then take what you want. Everything of me belongs to you."

I swallowed hard again before I looked up at him. He nodded. "You're not venomous. You won't hurt me."

Before I could even think more about it, I sank my teeth into his wrist. He hissed before relaxing back against the chair. I moaned at the taste of his blood pouring down my throat. His hand cupped my cheek as I fed from the wrist. Mmm, so good. So hot. Sizzling energy and heat flooded my body, and the babies fluttered in a flurry of movement. It was like all the blood I'd been drinking had been the watered down version of a shake. Jacob's blood was the rich, thick, filling shake that made you groan in bliss.

I wasn't exactly sure on when, but at some point, I stopped seeing Jacob as my husband and mate. He became the prey I had mentioned. Going up on my knees, I gripped his forearm, wrapping myself around it and drank deeply from his wrist. Not once did he complain, and in the back of my mind, I knew it was wrong. He should have been fighting me. I was taking too much, but I couldn't stop.

Luckily, someone else intervened.

"Nessie!"

Someone gripped my hands and pried them away from Jacob.

"Nessie, stop! You're killing him!"

Not even that reached me. A hand wrapped under my chin, a thumb and fingers pressing against my jaws. The pressure forced me to let go of Jake, and the person hauled me backward away from him. My back hit something hard, hands gripping my upper arms as I snarled, trying to get back to my meal.

Shelby's face appeared in my line of sight while Carlisle moved in on Jacob.

"Jacob? Jacob, can you hear me?" He turned to my father. "He's lost too much blood, and his wrist is still gushing."

Shelby's hands cupped my face while my body struggled against the hold someone had on me. "Nessie, sweetie, please. Calm down! The babies!"

"Move."

Mara appeared before me a moment later after she shoved Shelby out of the way. Her hands were warm on my face, one cupping my chin, the other over my eyes.

"Sleep, Nessie. Sleep."

The last thing I saw was Jacob's very still body draped over the chair, spread out. His eyes were closed, and he wasn't responding.

My last thought was, what have I done?

CadenPOV

Ahhh, the house was quiet. Mara had been gone for a month and my house was my own. Well, Leah's house anyway. Mara was a wonderful woman now that I'd gotten to know her but she could be demanding when trying to get someone to do as she asks. I wasn't the kind of man to take commands very well which was hindering my ability to heal. She was trying to get me to the right mental state before we let loose my memories. And this break was what we needed to recharge ourselves even though I worried over the reason she had to leave in the first place just like everyone else. Nessie and Jacob had become family over the years I'd been here, and I prayed that they made it safely through this current storm of theirs.

Standing at the stove, I flipped the pancake to make sure it was done. Leah and I had had a long night and had decided on brunch. It wasn't until I turned to slide it onto the stack I'd already made that I saw Leah walk into the doorway between the kitchen and the living room. A phone was clutched to her chest and her face was ashen.

Turning off the stove, I moved toward her. "Leah? Luv, what's wrong?"

She seemed sad and scared at the same time, anxious even. "That was Seth," she said softly. "Nessie almost killed Jake."

I must have heard her wrong. Tilting her chin up, I made her look at me. "She what?"

"You heard me. She almost killed Jacob."

So much for my hearing problem.

"Seth said that for some reason she was craving his blood, and she just wouldn't let go of him. She took so much. Mara had to put her under a sleeping spell just to calm her down after Seth pulled her off. He said it was like she was hunting. Jake's wrist is shredded."

I pulled her into my arms against my chest. "Is he alright?"

Her arms wrapped around me tightly. "Still unconscious, but stable. Apparently, Nessie's still out, too."

"Other than this, how is she?"

"Huge. That's what Seth says. She drinks blood all day. Cricket says she's definitely having them in February. What would make her crave Jacob's blood? I mean, she used to bite him all the time when she was a baby, but as far as I know, she's never actually drunk from him. She's not venomous, so it won't hurt him."

I shrugged. "Maybe his blood has more nutrients than the animal blood and she can sense it? I honestly don't know." Letting go of her, I gripped her hand and tugged her toward the table. "Here, sit down. The food's ready."

She sat down heavily and put her head in her hands. "Man, I thought the danger to us, to Jake, was over. It's so hard knowing that this time it was Nessie. She loves him so much."

Setting her plate in front of her, I said, "And he loves her. That's why he didn't stop her. She was taking what she needed from him and he let her. I'd have done the same for you."

Surprise lit up her chocolate eyes. "Really? I've always felt like you would never let anyone threaten your life, no matter what."

Sighing, I sat next to her. "Leah, luv, as much as it pains me to say this, you would be right if it were anyone other than you."

"Even Alora?"

I nodded without hesitation. "Even Alora. It's extremely hard to explain how I feel for you."

She shrugged, cutting up a pancake. "Well, I suppose it's not too different when you could still up and leave since you're an omega." Her tone was nonchalant and honest, as if she had no illusions that she was truly that important to me.

Gritting my teeth, I reached over and lowered her fork. She looked up in surprise. "Leah, don't you ever think that I will leave you."

"But Mara said-,"

"I don't care what she said. I'm not like the others. I need you. And you need me. I will never leave. Even if you make me leave the house, I will stay close, just in case."

Eyes filling with tears, she brought my hand to her lips so she could kiss my knuckles. "I love you so much. And I've been so scared ever since she said that. I mean, I would have let you go if it's what you wanted, but I've been praying that I'm wrong. Every night, I just wait for you to say you've had enough, pack up, and leave."

"Never, Leah. I will never make that mistake. All those others who leave their true mates are idiots. They have a chance for a loving home. I'll never understand why they would give that up. And I won't be one of them. I will never leave you. Ever."

She rested her cheek against the back of my hand and closed her eyes in sweet relief. I'd had absolutely no idea that that's what she'd been thinking all this time. No idea that she thought she meant so little to me. That I could just get up and leave her. She was as tortured over her past as I was over mine. And seeing that relief let me know that she needed me, that I helped her, and that she loved me very much. How could I ever leave that? My home?

I squeezed her fingers before pulling on it gently. "Come here."

The tears still shimmered in her eyes when she opened them. When I tugged her hand again, she stood up and came to me. I pulled her into my lap and then mixed her food onto my plate.

"What are you doing?"

"What you need is for me to show you how much I love you. When wolves share their food with their mates, it means that they consider that wolf a mate for life. It may not mean much to you but I've never shared a plate with anyone. And no, not even Alora. And I've never fed Alora the way that I want to feed you from my hand. It's a level of respect and reverence that males show of their highest affection."

"But you loved her."

"I did. But as I've told you, I knew she wasn't my true mate. I never felt the urge to share with her or feed her. She was never aware of those customs. I never told her. She didn't want to know anything about the wolves because I wasn't part of a pack and therefore not a member of pack politics. All I did was run the woods around our house in wolf form to burn off the energy and then went back home. But you're different. I want you to know because I want to do this for you. I want you to know how much I love you and how much I need you. This isn't a one way street where you think that I mean more to you than you to me. You could never understand how I feel for you. Yes, sometimes I want to give up, but then I look at you and I know I'm home. I'm where I'm supposed to be and that I can trust the people around me. I can trust you to hold me up when I'm fragile. And that means the world to me. I can be a wolf around you. Alora didn't mind what I was, but she was scared of me deep down. I could smell it. You've never been scared of me. You stand up to me and force me to let you take care of me. I've never had someone care so much for me that they want to tear down all the walls I've built around me. I won't ever give you up. Not without one hell of a fight."

She teared up again. While she swiped at her eyes, I reached forward and plucked a strawberry from our plate and held it up to her. Laughing, she leaned forward and wrapped her mouth around it, lips brushing my fingertips. Naturally, some of the juice escaped and I couldn't stop myself from leaning forward to lick it from her skin in one long stroke. She shivered before feeding me a bite of pancake. I licked the syrup and butter from her fingers.

And that's how we spent the next hour or so, gently feeding and petting each other. Loving each other.

Just after we finished cleaning up, the doorbell rang. Leah called for Walker and his family to come in. Haleigh had started showing signs of wanting to shift. Walker was unsure how to help her and didn't want to see his precious daughter go through the pain. So, I'd offered to help her. The young of the pack had to be pushed gently over the edge, nothing like the way I'd forced Walker to shift. They came into the kitchen a moment later.

"Uncle Caden!"

I was drying my hands when Haleigh flung herself into my arms, wrapping her arms around my waist. I was getting better being around kids. Mara had made it mandatory for me to spend time with the young males in Walker's pack. I'd never admit it to her, but it was quite refreshing.

"Hello, luv. How are you feeling?"

"Okay, I guess. I think I found my trigger like you taught me."

I looked down at her. "Yeah? What is it?"

She looked back over her shoulder where Walker and Christa were talking to Leah. No doubt she was telling them about Seth's phone call.

Haleigh turned back to me. "Someone hurting my mom and dad. Every time I think about Tristan hurting Dad-," she shuddered in my arms before a small growl escaped her.

Walker was right. Her wolf was close to the surface.

"Easy, luv. We'll get you taken care of."

"It's going to hurt, isn't it?"

For a nine year old, she was very smart. Of course, that's the way it was with young who were born into the packs. They developed faster. Just look at Brayden and Piper born to Shelby. Once Haleigh shifted for the first time, her body would follow the development. And that's what scared Walker other than the pain he knew she'd go through. Her pain would be less than his, which was something to celebrate. Walker was terrified of her growing too fast and mating too early, but none of the males close to her would allow that to happen. We were all keeping an eye on Garrett and how he watched her.

I rubbed her back and kissed the top of her head. "Hopefully not as bad as mine or your father's."

"Why would it be different?"

Smiling, I rubbed her cheek with my thumb. "Because you were born into the pack. Your father and I were infected. It's easier for those who were born into it."

"I'm scared, Uncle Caden."

"Of course you are. And it's perfectly natural. I was scared, too, with my first time."

Her sapphire eyes widened. "Really?"

"Really."

She grinned up at me as a knock sounded on the door. Walker and I shared a frown before Leah went to answer it.

"Garrett?"

"Hey, Ms. Leah."

"What are you doing here?"

Haleigh let go of me to follow me and Walker to the front door. I opened it wider to see the fourteen year old boy standing there. The moment he saw both me and Walker, he shrank back before catching himself and forcing his body to straighten. I wanted show encouragement since he was training up to be alpha, but I didn't. I knew what he was here for and I had been hugging her a moment ago. Garrett was every bit as attractive as his parents with bright, pale green eyes, sandy blond and black hair, and strong features.

"Garrett!" Haleigh said with a smile coming between us. She hugged him. "What are you doing here? I thought you were playing soccer with the guys."

He smiled down at her, pale eyes warm. "I was but Brent told me what was going on. I was hoping I could help."

She brightened instantly. "Really? That would be great." She turned to Walker. "Is it okay, Daddy?"

Walker's eyes were narrowed, jaw clenched as he looked from them to me. "What do you think?"

I shrugged, impressed with Garrett's understanding. "It is normal to have an older child in the same age range to relate. Besides, they're close enough to know how to relate to each other."

"I don't mean any harm, Mr. Walker. I just want to help."

I leaned toward Walker. "It would be good experience for him."

Walker gave me a look that told me just how much he cared that this experience would help him, but he gave in at the end. "Fine. Let's get this over with."

Leah and I exchanged a look before we all trooped out and around the house toward the woods in the back. Christa and Leah shared a smile when they caught Walker glaring at Garrett as he followed behind him and Haleigh. Garret was more enthralled of her than I originally thought.

"Garrett?"

He looked over his shoulder. "Yes, sir?"

"How old are you, son?"

To my surprise, his cheeks flushed. "Fifteen, sir."

Walker's eyes widened angrily. He looked back and forth between the boy and his daughter.

Garrett saw it, and talked fast. "I'm too engrossed in my studies for anything else, sir. I prefer to wait." His eyes slid to Haleigh who was humming and skipping ahead of them.

Walker's eyes went from anger to respectful suspicion. "Wait for how long?"

Shrugging, Garrett hung back to walk beside Walker. He shoved his hands down into his pockets. "I'll wait until the time is right and the female is ready. Father doesn't agree. He thinks I should choose next year when I turn sixteen."

"But?"

He sighed. "But I don't want to mate for power or alliances. I want to mate for love. My parents learned to love each other. They were promised to each other before they were even born, or so I was told. That's not what I want." The teenager looked to the alpha. "I know why you watch me so much. You see how I look at Haleigh."

"And you know she's too young," Walker said factually.

Garrett nodded. "Yes, I do. I'll never hurt her. It's just, I can sense her maturity. It's innate in us, especially those of us who were born to it. Mating at sixteen has been bred in us. My mother mated my father when she was thirteen. He was sixteen. But I really do like Haleigh. She's. . .please forgive me for being forward, but she's lovely."

Haleigh giggled up ahead where she was running with Christa and Leah. We all turned to watch them play in Leah's backyard.

"Mr. Walker, Haleigh is one of the best friends I've ever had. All the other females in my pack, older and younger, try to woo me. I've never had a true friend who was female. It's quite refreshing. I care for her. Deeply. Hurting her would hurt me, and I won't do it. No matter what my hormones or wolf want."

After watching his women for a few more minutes, Walker clapped a hand on the boy's shoulder. "Just make sure you watch yourself. She may not be my daughter biologically, but she's still my baby girl."

Obviously surprised, Garrett blinked up at Walker. "You mean I can still hang out with her?"

Walker sighed and looked at me. I shrugged. "Up to you, alpha," I said.

He turned back to Garrett. "Yeah, you can still hang out with her."

His grin said it all. "Thank you."

Haleigh ran up to us and grabbed my hands. "Come on, Uncle Caden. I'm ready to try."

We chuckled.

"I'm coming, luv."

"Yeah, but you're so slow!"

Grinning, I looked up at Leah. She was laughing and relaxed. Over the years, she'd become wonderful with all the children. I'd watched the iciness I had first met melt. Leah was a different person than she had been. She was happy and full of laughs and love. Watching her with Haleigh and Garrett, I realized how wonderful a mother she'd be.

As I was dragged to the middle of the field by this determined girl, a sense of my own determination crashed over me.

It was time to get over my issues.

It was time to move on.

It was time to give my mate the family she deserved.

The Next Day…

JPOV

White static met me on the way back to consciousness.

"Carlisle, he's surfacing."

Something squeezed my hand. "Come on, son. Come back to us."

Billy.

Instead of a smooth swallow, I coughed before opening my eyes. The room was bright with warm sunshine. I was in the dayroom-slash-library in the hospital bed. The bed was tilted up so that I was reclining and could see Carlisle and Edward studying the machines next to my head. Billy was on my other side grinning up at me. The one person I wanted to see wasn't here.

"Ah, Jacob. Good of you to come back," Carlisle said, appearing in my line of sight.

"What happened?"

The three men shared a look.

"What do you remember?" Carlisle asked, taking out a penlight to shine in my eyes.

Squinting against the light, I tried to think about what had happened just before I passed out. All I could really remember was the bliss of Nessie's mouth sucking on my wrist. My hand jerked with the memory and pain shot up my arm, making me hiss.

"Easy, Jake," Billy said. "She tore you up pretty good."

"Where is she?" Everything was coming back crystal clear, and though I felt a little weak, I didn't feel the need for all the tubes and wires. Something told me I needed to see her, to know that she was okay. For some reason, the image of my blood killing her wouldn't leave me alone.

Edward came over to smirk at me. "She's up in your room. Perfectly healthy."

Sitting up, I pulled the IV out of my arm.

"Jake, what are you doing? You need to rest." Billy tried to push me back, but I evaded his hands.

"I need to see my wife."

Carlisle stepped up, stopping me from swinging my legs over. He put a hand on my shoulder. "You need to rest, Jacob. You lost a lot of blood."

I glared at him. "I don't care if I lost every ounce and now I'm a vampire. I need to see my wife."

Rolling back in the wheelchair, Billy sighed. "Give it up, doc. You won't win when he's like this. Trust me; I've tried."

After a long moment of staring at each other, Carlisle moved out of the way. Standing up took a second to get used to. The room tilted just bit before righting itself. Once the world was solid under me, I went for mine and Nessie's room, which was on the second floor. But I got stopped in the kitchen.

"Daddy!" both Will and Jules yelled from the table where they were eating lunch. They scrambled from the table and ran straight for me.

Kneeling down, I hugged them both. God, I loved them. Leaning back, I brushed their hair out of their faces. "Hey, guys. Have you two been good?"

They both nodded earnestly.

"Good. I love you."

"Love you, too, Daddy." Over the past month, both of them had learned to use their speech better. They were growing up so fast.

"Daddy, where's Mommy?" Jules asked.

I frowned at her, but said, "I don't know, baby. Why don't you both go finish eating and I'll go find her, okay?"

They nodded again before hugging me. "Okay, Daddy."

Shelby came into the kitchen as they settled back at the table.

"Why did my daughter just ask me where her mother is?"

Shelby sighed heavily. "After she woke up from Mara's sleeping spell, she remembered what she did. She's locked herself in your room since last night. She'll only eat or drink if we leave the plates and cups outside the door and walk away. We've been trying to get her to come out to see the kids, but she's scared she'll hurt them like she did you."

Growling, I went straight for the stairs. As I neared the doors to the room I shared with Nessie, I heard voices inside the closed double doors.

"Nessie, please. They're your kids. You'd never hurt them."

"Yeah," Nessie snarled back. "Just like I swore I'd never hurt my husband! Oh wait-I nearly killed him! I actually would have if Seth hadn't pulled me off of him. No. Just tell them I'm still resting. They're safer with you since that's all you're good for. Shouldn't you have seen this? I mean, that is why you're here, Cricket."

Shock momentarily stunned me. I'd never heard Nessie be that nasty to someone. When the shock died down, anger replaced it. I tried the handle, which was locked, before I pounded on the door. "Renesmee Black! Open this door."

Silence. And then it opened just long enough for Cricket to come barreling out as if she were shoved before it closed and locked again. I just managed to catch her.

Cricket straightened up and brushed off her clothes. "Great. Nice going, Kujo. You upset her even more."

"Did you hear how she was talking to you?"

She pretended to clean out her ear with her finger before looking at the nail. "Actually, yes I did. Just had my hearing aid battery replaced. Nice and loud."

I rolled my eyes. "And you're not mad?"

"Uh, no. Why would I be? She was right. Not to mention, hormonally imbalanced what with the two kids you impregnated her with. Moody is beyond an understatement, your alphaness. Any woman would be that vicious when she's literally the size of a whale."

There was a thud on the door as if Nessie had thrown something against it that made us both jump.

"I heard that!"

Quirking an eyebrow, I gave Cricket a look. "I upset her? Nice going, insect." Shaking my head, I pounded on the door again. "Nessie, open this door!"

"No."

Great. Now I had to go all Beauty and the Beast on her.

"Open it or I'll break it down." Nothing. "Come on, Ness, you know I will." Silence. "It'll scare the kids. Just open it a little so that I can see you. I won't come in."

After a long moment, the locks clicked and the door opened just a crack. Nessie stared up at me with tear-filled eyes. I wanted nothing more than to pull her into my arms, but I'd promised her I wouldn't come inside.

"You're okay," she whispered.

I nodded and lifted up my wrist. "A little tender, but perfectly fine." I reached through just to stroke her cheek but she pulled away. I sighed. "Why aren't you down with the kids?"

She shook her head. "I can't be around them, Jake. I nearly killed you. What's to say I won't have another craving and go after them? They are half your blood."

"Nessie, you'd never hurt them."

She snorted. "Yeah, right. Now you sound like Cricket."

"Good," I said forcefully. "She's right."

"Ha!" Cricket shouted triumphantly behind me. I'd forgotten she was there. "Score one for the bug!"

Ness and I both ignored her.

"I'm a monster, Jacob."

I scowled. "What the hell are you talking about?"

She snorted. "I attacked you, nearly drained you dry. I'm surprised my eyes aren't red."

Glaring at her, I said, "Don't even start that, Ness. You're not a monster. All it was was a craving. We both knew that, going into having kids, it wouldn't be normal pregnancies. Seth got there in time to pull you off me. Now we know what not to do. Don't start this crap."

Her reaction was to clench her jaw and purse her lips.

The room beyond her was dark, the curtains drawn and lights off. "What have you been doing?"

She shrugged. "Sleeping and pacing mostly. And drinking gallons of blood." Her eyes dropped from mine when she said, "Craving yours," softly. And then they shot back up to mine. "Don't you dare say-,"

"That you can have it?" I gave her steady eyes. "You can."

"Jacob-,"

I held up a finger as I got an idea. "Hold on. I'll be right back."

Darting back down the stairs, I grabbed a glass from the kitchen before going back to Carlisle. "Slit my wrist."

He blinked. "Excuse me?"

"Nessie's craving my blood, which means she needs it, right? She needs what I can give her."

He and Edward shared a look. "Jacob, you've already lost a lot. Another glassful would not be wise."

"So don't fill it up. Maybe all she needs is a taste, like Will and Jules. Maybe the craving is from the boys."

Carlisle frowned. "If that was the case, Jacob, she wouldn't have nearly bled you dry."

"Not necessarily. The initial taste could have been the babies. But the rest was her. We're in love. She's a vampire with a mate that's not human and doesn't die easy. She's only barely tasted my blood before. What if this craving set off a new taste bud for her?" I lifted the glass. "Maybe, if we limit her access to it, it will help her control the craving for it. Therefore, she'll let me near her again." When neither of them said anything, I continued. "At this rate, she'll keep herself locked in that room for another month and a half until she goes into labor. Will and Jules need to see her. Never mind me. I'm worried about them. They need their mother."

Carlisle sighed the sigh that I knew meant he'd given up. I unwrapped the bandage around my wrist. He came at me with scalpel and a look that told me he really didn't like this plan. I didn't care. As long as Nessie got what she needed, I'd endure that look for the next twenty years. I placed the glass under my wrist as he put the knife to the raw wound. The skin split easily, allowing the blood to seep down into the glass. Once it was filled a little less than halfway, Carlisle bandaged me back up before I took off, calling thanks over my shoulder. Truthfully, losing that little bit of blood left me weaker than before, but I didn't say anything.

Nessie had closed and locked the door again.

I knocked. "Baby, it's me. You can open it."

When she did, I held up the glass. "Here. Fresh."

Her eyes widened. "What did you do?"

"I had Carlisle reopen the wound just enough to put some in here. Take it. It's what you want."

She shook her head. "Jacob, you're actually pale. I can't take more from you."

I gave her a look. "So you're just going to let this go to waste? It's not like I can put it back in my body. Take it or I'll have to throw it out."

The woman actually growled at me before snatching the glass out of my hand. She swallowed the contents in two large gulps, and when she was done, her eyes stayed closed in bliss. I could actually feel her mood change, feel the energy pulse through her. It was like she was shaking off a second, nasty skin to reveal my beautiful wife once more. Her skin blushed healthily and the dark circles under her eyes vanished.

Sighing contentedly, she opened the door a little more.

"Better?" I asked.

Pressing her lips in a tight line, she nodded.

Testing my luck, I moved into the room and took her into my arms. She let me, wrapping hers around my waist. "It's okay, baby. That's how we'll do it from now on, alright?"

She nodded before looking over at Cricket. "I'm sorry for what I said. It was mean and unnecessary."

Cricket crossed her arms over her chest. "Not really. I should have been watching more closely. But thanks for the apology anyway. I'm going to go check on the kidlets and let them know Momma Bear will be down soon." Before Ness could protest she was already down the stairs.

I held her tightly. "No, Ness. You need to go spend time with them. Jules actually asked me where you were. That's not right, and you know it."

She pulled back to look up at me and the fear in her eyes clenched my gut. "I don't want to be alone with you or the kids. Please. I don't trust myself. The glass helped, but I can still feel the craving underneath."

I stroked her back. "Okay. Half the house will be around us. They want to see you. And I know Carlisle wants to check on you. I'll have Mara stand by just in case."

"Actually," a voice said behind us. "I have a tea that can curb the craving."

We turned to see her in the hallway with a steaming cup of something.

"Why didn't you give to her earlier?" I asked.

"I tried."

"Sorry," Nessie said, reaching for the cup. "Thank you, Mara."

"You're welcome. I can help you, Nessie, but you have to let me know what's happening."

"I'm scared."

Mara's smile was gentle. "I understand that. But that's why we're all here, to help you. You have to let us."

Nessie nodded before drinking the tea and handing the cup back.

"Come on," I said pulling her out of the bedroom. "Our kids want to see their mother."

Tiredly, Nessie followed. Her belly was huge, bigger than it had been the day before.

I turned to Mara before we got to the stairs. "Could my blood cause the babies to grow faster? Have you ever seen a female wolf crave the blood of her mate?"

To my surprise, she nodded. "Actually, now that you mention it, it's entirely possible. Some females become pregnant in their wolf forms, so they choose to stay in wolf form through the pregnancy. If powerful enough, the female can change to human to carry out the pregnancy. But usually in those that stay wolves, they give birth to litters, sometimes two to three cubs. It's very common for the female wolf to crave her mate's blood, especially if he chooses not to stay in wolf form with her."

"Why is that?"

When we reached the head of the stairs, I scooped Nessie up into my arms so she wouldn't have to navigate them.

Mara shrugged as she walked down beside me. "No one really knows. And I didn't think about the similarity because neither you nor Nessie are Children of the Moon. And unless she's been unfaithful, neither are your children."

"Well, I wasn't," Nessie snapped.

Mara held her hands up in surrender.

I chuckled. "Baby, I know. I never even entertained the thought. Besides, who would it have been, and when would you have had the time?"

She relaxed in my arms. When we got to the bottom of the stairs, I set her carefully on her feet. She had to take a minute to orient, her hand gripping my forearm. The other was on her very big belly.

After a few deep breaths, she nodded. "Okay. I'm good. Uncle Emmett? Seth?"

Immediately, Emmett was standing beside us, grinning.

Seth came in from the kitchen. "You rang?"

Nessie gripped my hand. "I don't want to be left alone with anyone I can hurt. Uncle Em, you're the fastest. And Seth, you pulled me away from Jake the first time. I trust you to do it again."

Seth nodded. "Of course." He jerked his head toward the kitchen. "Your kids are wanting to see you."

Nessie was so scared of herself that it shined in her eyes. Her hands absently rubbed her beach ball belly as she stared, terrified, at the kitchen door. "I don't want to hurt them," she whispered, more to herself than anyone else.

"You won't. They may be half of me, but they're also half of you. Besides, they're your kids. Your instinct is to protect, not hurt."

Taking another deep breath, she nodded and moved for the door.

I knew the moment Jules and Will saw her because they both screamed, "Mommy!"

Shelby and I had to catch them before they mauled her so she could slowly kneel down with Seth and Emmett's help.

I knelt down beside Nessie, but held them both back. "Easy, guys. Remember, you have to be gentle with Mommy, okay? She doesn't feel well."

"Okay, Daddy." But their eyes were all for her.

Beside me, she was tearing up as she reached out to brush Jules's unruly curls back. "Hi, baby."

"Hi, Mommy," she said as she reached for her mother.

Nessie hugged her tightly. She held her other arm out for Will and then kissed them both. "I love you. Both of you, so much."

"Love you, too, Mommy."

She pulled back, wiping her eyes. Clearing her throat, she asked, "So, what have you two been doing?"

"Pi'tures!"

I helped Nessie stand while they ran for the table. Brayden and Piper were sitting there, too. There were a couple boxes of crayons and colored pencils stationed between the four of them. Nessie hugged Shelby while Will and Jules climbed into their chairs to hold up their pictures.

"Have they been good?" I asked.

She nodded and smiled. "They always are." Her bright green gaze went back to her best friend. "You're not a monster, sis. We're not human. Mishaps happens, alright?"

Nessie nodded and hugged her once more.

"Look, Mommy! Look!"

Nessie pulled back to look at the pictures. Jules had attempted a flower, or maybe a star. Will's talent was a little better in that I could clearly tell that he'd drawn a car and a dog that was probably supposed to be a wolf since he'd never really seen a dog before.

"Here, Mommy," Jules said, handing over her picture.

Nessie took it with a grin. "Can I have it?"

Jules nodded, curls flying. She was rummaging in the crayon box. "Yeah-huh."

"It's really pretty, baby. I'll put it on the refrigerator so other people can see it, too."

"Otay."

"Dis one, too, Mommy," Will said, handing her his picture of the wolf.

Gasping, Nessie took it. "I can have this one, too?"

He nodded enthusiastically.

"Thank you, baby!" She kissed them both before pinning the pictures on the fridge.

Then it was Brayden's and Piper's turns to give their pictures to Seth and Shelby. They pinned them to the huge dry-erase-slash-cork board on the cork portion so as not to disturb all the important reminders and notes on the white board. By the end of this trip, the kitchen would be covered in children's drawings. Something told me that nobody would mind. They brought a cheer to a place that was clouded with worry and anxiousness. We could all use a little cheerful emotions now until the babies were born. Everyone here was worried about Nessie and the boys despite Cricket's assurances that the three of them would pull through. I knew that Carlisle was perilously close to slapping his granddaughter with bed rest. And I was perfectly okay with that. Movies, reading, and napping with the kids was perfectly enough for her right now. Watching her interacting with them now, sitting down to color with them, I could see how much it helped. They constantly showered her with love and kisses, hoping to help her feel better. Even Brayden and Piper joined in, wanting Aunt Nessie to feel better. We'd explained the best we could that they would have to be easy around her because she was "sick". That was the only way we knew to get them to understand.

So far, they'd all been perfectly gentle around her. They'd learned not to be too rowdy or loud when in the same room. In fact, if they came into a room while she was lying down, they'd cuddle up around her and take turns feeling her tummy with their hands or press their ears to the massive bump. Sometimes, all five of them would fall asleep with the kids curled around her. We all tried to get her to eat, sleep, and drink as much as she could before the babies came. Over the past month, Mara had tucked herself away into her room so she could experiment with her spells and potions. Pops and sizzles would echo through the house, sometimes accompanied by faint booms. We all learned not to question it after Cricket said it was normal and kind of like chemistry.

The afternoon passed with me, Seth, Shelby, Ness, and Billy coloring and painting with the kids. Most of the Cullens had gone to the mainland to hunt. Only Carlisle and Esme remained behind just in case something happened. When everyone else came back and Edward was here with his medical knowledge, they would go off to hunt. Emmett had passed on Nessie's request to Esme so he could go with Rosalie.

Eventually, we ended up outside in the dimming sunlight. Nessie and I sat in the beach chairs watching Seth and Shelby chase the kids in the waves. Esme and Carlisle were cuddled up underneath the leaves of a large plant. Billy was parked out on the dock in the water with Cricket and Mara watching over him

Reaching over, I gripped her hand. "Feeling better?"

Her fingers gripped my hand. "A little. I'm still scared, Jake. Nothing's going to change that."

Bringing her hand up to my lips, I kissed her knuckles. "Hey, I now know what to expect. We know not to let you sink your teeth into me, at least not while you're pregnant. The catastrophe was avoided and we can prepare for you craving my blood. We'll be alright, Ness. We'll get through this. We always do. Please, just try to relax and enjoy yourself before the boys get here. I'll take care of whatever you need. That's my job while you grow our kids. That's all I want you to worry about. The rest of us are here for you, not vacation, and they know that. Let us do what we can. Can you do that? For me?"

Her expression melted. Pulling her hand out of my grasp, she cupped my cheek. "What would I do without you?"

It was my turn to snort. "You wouldn't be going through all this crap if it wasn't for me."

She smiled. "That's true, but I wouldn't have two beautiful toddlers, two more babies on the way, or a wonderful family in your dad and sisters. I might be scared of my cravings and of the coming labor, but Jacob, I wouldn't trade my life for another one even if I had the choice. I'd pick you and my babies every single time."

I gave her a famous Jacob grin. "And you once wondered why I love you."

Gripping her hand again, I played my fingers over her wedding ring. Together, we sat watching our kids chase after Seth in his wolf form while the sun set over the crystal water.


Well, then...I don't blame Ness for craving that man's blood. I'd crave it, too. I love Jacob! So how do we feel about Walker, Garrett, and Haleigh? Caden and Leah? Let me know! Love you guys!xoxoxoxo