Chapter 9
Thunder
Hero/Heroine
Your voice was the soundtrack of my summer
Do you know you're unlike any other?
You'll always be my thunder, and I said
Your eyes are the brightest of all the colors
I don't wanna ever love another
You'll always be my thunder
So bring on the rain
And bring on the thunder
Thunder- Boys Like Girls
Flash Forward
"This one doesn't fit either," I said as I tried to fit the shirt on Sadie. I grabbed another shirt out of the closet; this one went on easier, but it just fit. I lifted her up and looked her over. She was chewing on her fingers, her brown eyes fixed on them. I rubbed my nose against hers; she giggled and plopped a wet hand on my cheek. I softly grabbed her wrist and pulled it away. I laid her in the crib next to Noah, who was already dressed; it had taken me even longer to find something that fit him. I thought about my options.
One, I could start making their clothes or two, I could go shopping. My eye twitched slightly.
"Shopping it is." I groaned which permitted a giggle from Noah.
After a quick call to Jacob, I packed the diaper bag and loaded Sadie and Noah into my car. I started the relativity short drive to Port Angeles. It was raining when I got there, so I worked quickly to get them into the stroller and out of the rain. I wasn't sure of how the weather would affect them. Did they human immune systems or were they too much of vampires to get sick?
I didn't know, so I wasn't taking any chances. After several minutes my hatred for shopping came to me at full force. Every elderly lady was stopping me; they just had to tell me how beautiful my children were. I smiled and thanked them, trying to escape. Soon I drew the tops of the stroller down and put a blanket over it, blocking them. I wanted to get the shopping over with.
Noah and Sadie were nearly four months, but I bought clothes that were for six to eight months, also clothes that were nine to twelve months; I didn't want to have to take another trip anytime soon. But I soon found myself enjoying picking out the clothes. It put me in such a good mood; I decided to buy myself some new clothes.
After I picked out some blouses and jeans, I went to the checkout. The cashier was a high school boy, maybe around seventeen. I watched as his hands shook, trying to fold the clothes. I handed him the credit card before he even told me the price. He took a deep breath, blowing his scent all over me. Rust, salt and a hint of…pine.
He gave the card back and handed me the bags. I thanked him and he flushed red. I shook my head and pushed the stroller out to the car. The rain had picked up and I rushed to get the twins out of the wetness. I couldn't help but feel someone eyes on me. I sniffed the air, but I didn't catch a scent. My mind went into overdrive, thinking about who it could be.
Victoria.
I went even faster, wanting to get out of the open and into the car. I got Noah and Sadie into the car in record time. The bags and stroller were in the trunk even faster. Just as I was opening my door, my eyes caught a flash of color. It was not the fiery red that belonged to Victoria. No, it was a flash of bronze. My breathing became heavier and if my heart still beat, it would be in overdrive.
I took a deep breath, breathing in the rain and then I caught a faint scent. It was familiar, painfully so.
"Edward," I called out to the parking lot, devoid of all humans. I heard him sigh and come out from behind a SUV. I wanted to cry at the sight of him. He was so beautiful, more so than I had remembered. I wanted to launch myself across the parking lot and into him arms, but I was frozen. I settled for looking him over.
He was dressed in all black, totally unlike him, but it made him even more heartbreaking to look at. His hands were shoved into the pockets of his zip-up hoodie, his shoulders hunched, once again totally unlike his usual graceful walk. The hollows under his eyes were dark as were his eyes; pitch black, much like the first time I had ever met him. Our eyes held, his filled with anguish and pain. I was sure he wasn't use to my golden gaze that held shock and longing.
I walked around to the back of the car where we met. We stood barely a foot away from each other. I reached out to touch him, to make sure he was real. I ran my finger tips across his face, he leaned into my touch. His skin felt soft, silky and warm underneath my hand, the exact opposite of how he felt a year ago.
Edward seemed very surprised at my reaction. I decided to surprise him further. I wrapped my arms around his torso and crushed myself to him. He was stunned for a second before he hugged me back. I breathed in his scent and let the tearless sobs rack my body. Edward clutched me closer to him and buried his face in my hair.
"Shh, it's okay." He whispered to me. I looked up at him. His eyes were warmer now, but they still looked pained.
"You're here." I stated quietly. He smiled lightly.
"Yes, I'm here." He was about to say something else when he was cut off by a loud cry. I unwillingly pulled away from him and opened the backdoor. Sadie had tears streaming down her tiny face. I put her binky back in her mouth; she sucked on it a few seconds before she spit it back out. I reached into the diaper bag and pulled out a bottle of water. I added the powered formula to it and shook it. I brought it to Sadie's mouth and she greedily started drinking. I felt a presence and looked up to meet Edward's gaze again. This time his face was frozen in shock.
I waved my free hand in front of him. His face didn't change. I tapped his face lightly. I grabbed his chin and moved his jaw up and down, forming the words for him.
"Bella, are these my children?" I said, imitating his own voice.
"Why yes, they are Edward." I answered. I let go of his still frozen face and placed a hand on Noah who was sucking contently on his binky. "This is Noah Cullen," I brushed the back of my hand against Sadie's cheek, "and this is Sadie Cullen." I smiled at both of them. I turned to face Edward. His face was composed now; a beautiful soft smile transformed his entire face.
"They're just as beautiful as you are." He said, brushing my hair back behind my shoulder. I relished the contact.
"More like you, I think." I whispered. Sadie had finished her bottle and I removed her from her seat. I burped her, wiping the spit up off her face and then replacing her back into her seat. I closed the back door and turned to face Edward. He was very close to me.
"Do you want to come over?" I asked him, peering into his dark eyes. He nodded and started walking around to the driver's side. I grabbed his shirt and he looked at me, confused. "I'm driving."
He smiled and got into the passenger seat without a fight. I got in the car and started it. I had a lot of questions for Edward, but for the time being I just sat in the silence, letting Edward's fingers massage my hand. When we got home, though, it would be a different story.
Edward's POV
I feel like a hero and you are my heroine
Do you know that your love is the sweetest sin?
And I feel a weakness coming on
It never felt so good to be so wrong
Had my heart on lockdown
And then you turned me around
And I'm feeling like a newborn child
Every time I get a chance to see you smile
It's not complicated
I was so jaded
Hero/Heroine- Boys Like Girls
My breath was taken away as I watched Bella enter the department store. She raced, a bit too fast, inside. My dead heart ached.
Bella, my Bella, wasn't human. She was a vampire. What surprised me more, though, was the fact that she had two infants with her. She never corrected anyone when they said, 'Your children'. She merely thanked them, looking more annoyed each time someone approached her. How was it possible for Bella to have children? She must have…been with someone else after I left. That still left the question of how she had become a vampire and how she was able to be around so many people.
I watched as she shopped picking out boy and girl clothing. Twins, then, a boy and a girl. I was sure this would be one of the only times I would ever see Bella happy to be shopping.
W-o-w. Look at her. She is drop dead gorgeous.
The thought was from the teenager who was at the cash register. I was seething. It had been a long time since I was around thoughts from other males about my Bella. But was she really mine? She had moved on. She had found someone new. That's what I wanted for her, but not really. I was so selfish to keep her from happiness.
Was there another man?
I didn't think long about it. I decided that, whoever he was, I was just going to have to beg her. She was my life, I needed her. This other male would just have to leave the picture.
While I faced the possible, happy future, I also had to think about the "what ifs". What if Bella doesn't love me anymore? What if she isn't willing to give up the man she had her children with?
So many questions, but I didn't focus on them. Instead, I focused on Bella, her every movement. They were graceful now; no more tripping over herself. Her skin was as pale as the moon, her long hair waving with each turn of her head. I almost laughed as the same crease appeared in between her eyebrows, as she looked at the amount of clothing she had gotten. She had also picked some things out for herself; pale colors, the colors my family wore to off set our pale skin. The clothes were simple as ever, though I did catch a blouse that was deep blue; the color I loved on her. She pushed her way to the register, where the teenage male choked up as he took her in. I shook my head and held in a laugh as I watched his hands shake and his voice quiver as he spoke to her.
Bella bit her lip, in effort to conceal her amusement. She then whipped out a black credit card. When had she gotten that? There was a certain money amount that you had to have in order to get a card like that. I knew, I had one myself.
Bella easily carried the bags in one hand and pushed the stroller with the other. She saw the rain and raced through it again, getting the infants into the car faster than any human would ever be able to. She sniffed the air then, trying to find a scent. I was down wind of her so she didn't get my scent. She knew though someone was watching her because she sped up, trying to get in the car. I quickly hid behind a SUV, trying to be close and not get caught.
Bella noticed me though. "Edward," Her choked voice called out. I had no choice now. I stood up and faced her. I watched the emotion play on her face. Shock, surprise, pain, anger and…longing. I sighed and walked towards her, shoving my hands in my hoodie. I knew I looked pretty bad. I hadn't hunted in over two weeks.
We met at the back of the car. Her face was so beautiful. How I had missed her. She gazed into my eyes and she slowly lifted her hand, a disbelieving look on her face. She slowly brushed her fingers against my cheek. Her hand was so different, yet her touch was the same.
Why was she touching me like this? To torture me? I let the surprise leak onto my face. She frowned a bit and then smiled as she crushed me in a hug, burying her face in my chest. Yes, she was torturing me. I didn't care. If I was going to have to live a hellish life without her, I was going to soak up everything that I could.
I wrapped my arms around her. I heard her breath deeply before she started to sob. Her entire body shook with the force of her tearless cries. I held her closer to me and pressed my cheek against the top of her head.
"Shh, it's okay." I whispered into her hair. She turned and looked at me. She had missed me that much I could gather. Her mind was still quite, not a whisper of thought. I thought through her response to me. It had been almost a year since we had seen each other. When you had what we had, it was impossible to not show feelings. She missed me, that gave me hope. But I kept waiting for the hate, the anger that would come.
"You're here." She said, her bell-like voice subdued. I smiled at her. I got more hope from that sentence.
"Yes, I'm here." I was cut off by a loud wail from the back seat of Bella's car. Bella let go of me, rushing to open the door to check on her children. I went and stood behind Bella. She didn't notice me, she was far too busy.
Watching Bella being a mother to this little baby was amazing. I permitted myself one glance at the child. My eye went wide and my jaw dropped. This little baby girl, looked so familiar. There was Bella's chocolate brown eyes, but reddish brown hair covered her head; my hair. I saw bit and pieces of me on this little girl's face. I heard the sucking sound and looked over at the other baby. This one was a boy. His half lidded eyes couldn't hide the green that I saw. He had curly brown hair, but looking at his face was like looking in a mirror.
Bella finally noticed me and frowned at my shocked gaze. She waved a hand in front of me, but I was still just trying to process. Her hand lightly grazed my face and then suddenly she was holding my chin moving my slacked jaw up and down, adding her words, imitating my voice
"Bella, are these my children?" she asked, her voice deep. She let go of my face and placed her hand on the boy.
"Why yes, they are Edward." She said, her voice full of motherly love. "This is Noah Cullen," she smiled and brushed her free hand against the little girl's face. "and this is Sadie Cullen." The smile that overtook her face was breathtaking. I couldn't help but smile myself at hearing the babies, my babies, last names.
Bella turned to look at me, relived at the smile on my face. I brushed her hair away from her face; I had gone so long without seeing it.
"They're just as beautiful as you are." I said and Bella leaned into my touch.
"More like you, I think." Her voice was soft. Sadie was finished eating and Bella carefully lifted her out of her carrier to pat her on the back. A small burp and some spit up came out of her mouth. Bella cleaned Sadie's face and buckled her back in. She closed the door and turned to face me, our bodies almost touching.
Then she asked the most wonderful question.
"Do you want to come over?" She asked, pleading with her eyes. I nodded and automatically started going to the driver's side. I felt myself being pulled back and I looked at Bella who was smirking.
"I'm driving." She stated simply. I merely smiled and climbed into the passenger's seat. Bella got in and started the drive to her house. I could tell by the look on her face that she had many questions, but she remained quiet.
She let me take her hand and I moved senseless patterns on her palm. I noticed how fast we were going. It was so different to be with Bella, her driving at nearly a hundred miles per hour. My law-abiding, cautious driver had turned into a speed demon…I loved it.
Soon she pulled up in front of her house, her truck still sitting in its regular space. She pulled into the space next to it and smiled at me before getting out of the car.
I grabbed all the shopping bags out of the trunk while Bella had both baby carriers. We both entered the house that never changed. Everything was the same. Bella went up the stairs and I followed her. I quickly set the bags down and joined her in the nursery. She was currently changing Noah's diaper and I cringed. Bella laughed and beckoned me over. I stood next to her.
"You have a lot to catch up on." She explained. She showed me how to change the diaper, which seemed easy enough. She laid Noah in his crib and I hesitantly picked up Sadie. She studied me, her eyes looking me over. I held her for a minute when finally she smiled. I chuckled and laid her down on the changing table. I held my breath. I did exactly what Bella had done, completing the job in a matter of seconds. I handed her off to Bella, who smiled and laid the baby next to her brother.
I saw the question in Bella's eyes.
"Time to talk," I stated. She grabbed my hand, interlocking our fingers, and led me to what was now her room. I had only been in Charlie's room twice, but I could easily pick out the differences. There was a different bed; this one was full sized with a dark blue comforter, the old quilt folded up at the end of the bed.
Bella scooted to the middle of the bed, folding her legs up and wrapping her arms around her knees. I sat on the edge, facing her.
"So," she broke the looming silence. "What have you been up to the past year?" She tired to keep her tone light, but there was that burning curiosity.
I composed my face. "Nothing of consequence," I lied. I had been hunting Victoria until I lost her trail.
"Liar," my dark haired angel breathed. "What were you really doing?" Her golden gaze burned me.
"Hunting," I told her, a little bit closer to the truth. She eyed me, once again not believing me. I sighed. "Tracking," I admitted.
"Who?"
"Victoria," at the same time our lips both curled back and I heard a low growling in Bella's throat. "Has something happened?" Bella looked like she was debating, biting her lip. She finally threw herself at me, crushing herself to me.
"She's here, Edward." She whispered. I placed a hand on her cheek and made her look at me.
"How long," I growled. Bella shrugged.
"A couple of months. She came here, to the house, a couple of weeks ago." Bella told me. My fist clenched and the anger swelled in me. I was so stupid! I had followed that false lead and Victoria had come here, to the place I was trying to keep her from.
Bella's hands were suddenly on my face. "It's okay. The wolves have been looking out for us." That one threw me.
"Wolves?" I questioned.
"Yea, you know, down at La Push. The werewolves." She stated and then it clicked. The wolves, the werewolves. Carlisle and I had believed the line had died out with Ephraim Black. Obviously, the gene was handed down. Why would they change? Did Bella really just have the knack for drawing out the supernatural?
"They've been running by the house when they make their rounds. They almost had her, but she got away. She seems to have a knack for that." Bella told me. Well at least those dogs were trying.
"I'll take care of her, they won't need to worry about it." I said, not looking at her. Suddenly Bella was gripping my jacket, panic in her eyes.
"You're not leaving," her voice was ice and stone.
"I have to stop Victoria. I have to make Sadie and Noah safe." I told her, my hands holding her face.
"No! I would rather have you here, with me." She whispered the last part, her eyes dropping. "Why did you leave me, Edward?" I felt a sharp pain in my chest when I heard how agonized her voice was.
"I had to." I told her. She looked at me her eyes asking the question. "It…Bella, I never stopped loving you. I'm so sorry for what I said that day." I looked away and took a breath. "I was…scared that if I kept you so close to my world, that you…that something would happen to you. Every minute, every second, that we were together, your life was at risk. You deserved a normal life."
"All I ever wanted, was you. My life had never been normal. Dreadfully boring, yes, but never normal." Bella said. She got up and crawled back to the middle of the bed where she laid down, curling into a ball. I laid down next to her, wrapping my arms around her.
"I was so alone, Edward." She sobbed and I felt the knife twist. I held her closer.
"What happened? Tell me everything." I demanded. She sighed and started into her tale. I listened intently, getting angrier as she told me each detail. I did laugh a couple of times, especially when she told me she punched Lauren. I never thought Bella had it in her.
Bella finished her story. She watched me; the crease appeared in between her eyebrows again.
"I'm such an idiot." I stated simply. I brushed my hands over her face. "I left to protect you and yet, you seem to be in even more danger." I forced a laugh. "Still a danger magnet."
She smiled weakly. "Always," The silence was welcoming. I looked her face over, taking in all the similar differences. I tentatively kissed her forehead. I looked into her amber eyes only to fine them closed; she sighed in contentment. I smiled and placed another kiss on her nose, continuing on to both her cheeks, placing another one on her chin.
I looked at her mouth and placed a light kiss on the corner. Bella's mouth was suddenly covering mine. This kiss was so much different than the ones we had shared when she was human. I didn't have to worry about being careful. Our mouths moved together with familiarity.
No love was lost when we kissed; it was like I had never left. Soon the kiss became more than it ever had as our tongues met and Bella gasped.
I rolled us over so I was on top and Bella's leg hitched over my hip. Before things could go any further, two loud cries floated into the room. Bella and I were both in the room in a half second. Bella put Noah into my arms and she took Sadie.
"Noah needs fed," Bella told me as she tried to hush Sadie. I had seen Bella make a bottle but, I didn't know what to do. Of all the things that I knew, I didn't know how to make a bottle. Bella held one out to me, already made. I put the bottle full of nasty smelling formula near Noah's mouth. He eagerly started drinking.
"They eat, a lot." Bella told me, looking at my face. She bit her lip. "Edward do you know anything about half-human, half-vampire children?"
I shook my head. "No. As far I knew vampires couldn't have children, at all. But when has anything been impossible with us." I chuckled and Bella smiled.
"True."
"Humans rarely survive such…trysts with vampires." I looked down at Noah; he had almost finished the bottle off.
"I survived. Edward," Bella called to me, wanting me to look at her, which I did. "You-" if she could still blush, she would have been, "Do you ever regret it?"
I caught her meaning. "Never, what I regret is leaving you, leaving them." I stood in front of her and kissed her lightly on the lips. I rested my forehead against hers. "I'll never forgive myself."
"You came back though. That's what matters." She whispered. "And you're not leaving."
"Never," I whispered back.
AN: Remember to check out the links! I have a cover made (which isn't that good and i'm making a new one) there are links to the outfits that i do and DO NOT describe. Some nifty extras, like what Noah and Sadie look like! (looking for new pictures of them too. If you find a picture that you think would work send me the link and i'll check it out!) THANKS!
Edward is back-FOR GOOD!! I promise. Y'all can kill me if I change it again. Hope y'all enjoyed! Thanks for reading!
