Chapter 12

Lucky Star

But I remember
You always said it could be great
And I knew it could be
Well there's a way you look at things
That no one needs to know but you
And you'd shout it with me
Like every time the leaves would fall
You promised me that they'd be back again
And I believed in you

Lucky Star- The Goo Goo Dolls

"I can't believe it," I whispered to Edward as I lay in his arms. We were in our bed after another wonderful night. The gray light was starting to creep in.

"I know," his arms tightened around me and I placed a kiss on his neck. He chuckled, "We have to get out of bed,"

"They'll be waking up soon," I finished for him. We both, unwillingly, got out of bed. Edward dressed in a pair of dark jeans and a light gray, button-up shirt. Running a hand through his disheveled hair, he quickly tied his tennis shoes.

I tore my eyes away from him. Even after four years, I still couldn't get enough of him.

I shook my head and looked to my closet to find my own outfit. I would be seeing Alice later on today so I went for something she would approve of, so she wouldn't go out and spend ridiculous amounts of money on clothes I didn't need.

After putting on a bra and underwear set that Edward just couldn't take his eyes off of, I slipped into light blue, cotton top with red and white pinstripes and a dark blue band beneath the bust and on the hem, over which I put on a gray cashmere sweater that I left opened. My jeans were simple and I finished off my ensemble with a pair of blue Converse, just to annoy Alice. I put my long hair into a low, side ponytail.

Edward went to start breakfast as I went to wake Noah and Sadie. I quietly opened their bedroom door and stood in the doorway for a moment.

Noah was in a peaceful sleep, curled up on his side, his blankets wrapped around him tightly. Sadie was a different story. She was sprawled out everywhere, her blankets twisted and partially on the floor. She mumbled something incoherent, one of my unfortunate human traits that she had gained.

I smiled and walked over to Noah, kneeling beside him. I brushed his hair back and kissed his forehead.

"Noah," His eyes fluttered open.

"Mornin', Mommy," He yawned and sat up, rubbing the sleep from his hazel eyes. He was so easy going but also very shy and quiet. He was also the little helper. "Want me to wake up Sadie?"

I nodded and kissed his forehead again. "Daddy's making breakfast," His eyes brightened and he scrambled out of his bed and rushed over to Sadie.

"Sadie," He shook her gently. She mumbled and rolled onto her side. I went over to their shared closet and pulled out their outfits. For Noah, I got him a dark gray, long sleeve shirt and jeans along with a khaki raincoat. Sadie was always hard to pick out an outfit for. She liked to change her mind a million times. So for her, I got a dark blue, baby doll, long sleeve top and jeans with a dark blue raincoat. They both wore Converse, they picked them out.

Noah tried again, only to get a grunt as Sadie pulled the blankets over her head. Noah sighed and pulled the blanket back. He placed a small hand on her face and he was quiet but intensely focused for a minute. Suddenly Sadie's eyes shot open.

"Really?" she asked him and he nodded. She jumped out of bed and raced over to me, wrapping her small arms around me. "Hi, Mommy," she smiled brightly. "Is Daddy really making breakfast?" I nodded and brushed her hair out of her face.

"You two better hurry up," I pushed her towards the door and they both raced down stairs. I sighed and started making their beds.

Everyday, Edward and I worried about our half-vampire children. They aged normally, yes, but their mental capacities were beyond their four years. They could talk to each other and Edward telepathically, but they could also very easily block him out, as well. As we discovered several months ago, a week after their fourth birthday, Sadie could move things with her mind. It was only small things though, such as a doll or a book, but the older she got, she probably would be able to control bigger objects.

Noah's ability was a little more… well more. He could put a thought into your head and make you think what he wanted too. He had no effect on me, of course. He didn't even like to use his power, reasoning that it was wrong to control others.

They also soaked up information like sponges. They were well beyond the regular intellect of a normal four year old, which made me worry about what would happen at school. This is why we, Edward and I along with Carlisle's advice, decided to do preschool, to see if they would fit in, intellectually.

I tidied up their room and then went downstairs and into the kitchen, where Edward was placing chocolate chip pancakes onto their plates. They loved when Edward made breakfast because he would steer away from the usual whole grain and healthy meals I served. With Edward, they got sugary goodness.

They dug into the meal and Edward turned to pour more batter onto the griddle. I kissed his cheek and went to pour glasses of milk for Noah and Sadie. Their eyes were on their food, but they would look at each other as they chewed, gazes intent. They were talking about something.

"Noah, Sadie," I set the jug of milk on the table. "Anything you'd like to share with Mommy and Daddy?" They cast a glance at each other; Sadie nodded.

"We were just thinking about school," Noah started. "What if they other kids don't like us 'cause we're different?" This surprised me and I looked back at Edward, who looked equally as shocked.

Help, I mouthed to Edward, who stepped away from the stove and placed a hand on each of them. Even though, they were far ahead mentally, emotionally they were still four.

"You two are different, but not in a bad way. You're very special." He told them.

"But you and Momma said that we can't use our powers besides talking to each other, when we are at school," Sadie looked down at her plate. "If they aren't a bad thing, then why can't we use them?"

Edward sighed sadly. "Because, other people don't understand just how very special you are. They would be…jealous of what you and your brother have, Sadie."

"Really?" she asked. Edward nodded.

"Yes," He looked over at Noah. "Are you okay," Noah bit his lip and then stared intently at Edward, cocking his head to the side. They talked silently for a moment and then Noah smiled.

"Okay, Daddy." He started eating his pancakes again. Sadie and I exchanged a look. She shrugged.

"Boys," She sighed and then started eating again. She made me smile and I went over to Edward who flipped the pancakes.

"What did he ask," I leaned against the counter and looked up at Edward. I kept my voice low.

"What he was to do if they started making fun of Sadie and him," I frowned but Edward smiled. "I told him to tell them that they'll have to deal with his uncle Emmett." We both laughed and took note of Edward's nearly black eyes, mine couldn't have been any better.

"We have to hunt," I told him. He nodded.

"We'll go tomorrow." I nodded and his leaned down to kiss me. He pulled away, but I grabbed his shoulders and pulled him back, crashing my lips to his. His hands landed on my waist as his tongue slipped into my mouth.

"Daddy," Sadie whined, causing us to breakaway and look at her. Her nose was wrinkled. "Is there anymore pancakes?"

"Of course," He flipped the pancakes off the griddle and on to a plate. I quickly cut the pancakes into smaller bite size pieces and then put some onto Sadie's plate and then Noah who also wanted more.

"After this, you two have to get washed up and dressed." I started cleaning up the kitchen, putting away the pancake mix. "We are going to see the family." They cheered and handed their plates to me. I washed them quickly as Edward led them up to stairs. After I finished the kitchen, I went upstairs to see how Edward was faring.

He was tying Noah's shoes as Sadie tried to pull her hair into a clip. I took the clip from her and pulled it back.

"Thanks Mommy," She smiled and I kissed her head.

"Get your backpack," She grabbed her blue backpack from where we had set it the night before. She slung it on over her raincoat and went to stand next to Noah who was by the door. They were both so beautiful. They had changed so much from when they were babies. Noah's hair was darker, browner, like my hair, though his eyes remained a startling green. His face was still Edward's but there was a tiny hint of my smile in his. Sadie's hair was just as vibrant as Edward's and her eyes were an exact copy of my human eyes. Her face was still a perfect mix of ours; Edward's smile, but my cheekbones.

"Bella," Edward grabbed my hand and I turned to look at him. "Are you ready to go?" He probably had sensed what I was thinking about.

"Yes," Sadie and Noah rushed down the stairs with Edward and me following. We grabbed our coats and then headed out to the car. Soon enough, Edward was parking in front of the white mansion. The twins were out of the car, a brand new Volvo, and were running up the stairs. Too eager to wait for them to open the door, Sadie turned the handle with her mind and they rushed inside.

We both laughed and got out of the car, walking to the front of it when Edward took me into his arms. He raised my left hand and kissed the ring that rested on my finger. He sighed.

"When are you going to marry me," He questioned, his eyes dark with sadness. He had proposed shortly after we had gotten back together.

"Soon, after Noah and Sadie get settled in school." I bit my lip. I didn't know what was stopping me from marrying Edward. I loved him; he was the father of my children. I wasn't scared of commitment, I was sure of it. But, here I was, making excuses to prolong the long awaited event.

I looked into Edward's eyes and knew that I would marry him, soon. I owed him that much and we both deserved it. Plus, Noah and Sadie would be comforted with the fact that their parents were married.

"I promise, very soon. I'll talk to Alice, today." I told him, kissing his nose.

"Really?" He asked, shocked. I nodded and kissed him on the lips, then pulling him into the house. Before we could get far, he picked me up and kissed me. "Thank you," He leaned his forehead against mine.

"I love you," I breathed.

He chuckled. "I know," I laughed with him. "Let's go," He put me down and led me into the house. The moment we entered, Alice crushed me into a hug.

"Here comes the bride," she sang. "Don't worry, I'll plan everything!" I wanted to groan, but I smiled instead. She rolled her eyes and released me. I looked around, but didn't see Noah and Sadie.

"Noah's upstairs, with Jasper and Sadie is talking to Esme, in the kitchen. " Edward told me. Noah usually spent his time with Jasper. They were both quiet, studious. Also, Noah's steady, calm emotions made Jasper more comfortable around him. Sadie was all over the place. Sometimes she was with Alice and Rose, playing dress up or dolls. She played hide and go seek with Emmett and always asked questions of Carlisle. When she was with Esme, she usually did something creative. Once in awhile she would spend more time with Jasper because she enjoyed the way he read books to her, making her excited, happy and sad all in the same book.

I kissed Edward's cheek and turned towards the kitchen. Sadie was sitting on one of the stools, her legs swinging back and forth.

"Grandma," Sadie asked innocently as she colored. "Can I have some chocolate milk?" She pouted when Esme turned around, not knowing I was behind her.

"Sadie Elizabeth," She turned around and then smiled.

"Mommy," she held up her coloring book. "Look, I colored you a picture." She was trying to be cute and not get in trouble.

"You just had a big breakfast that Daddy made," I told her. She frowned and nodded. "You can ask Grandma for some apple juice," I countered. She debated for a moment then turned back to Esme.

"Can I have some apple juice, please?" She asked, dejected. Esme smiled and had a glass in front of her in a second.

She kissed the top of Sadie's head. "Anything else, darling?"

"No, thanks Grandma," Sadie took a sip and went back to her coloring. Esme turned to me and embraced me.

"Hey Mom," I hugged her back and then released her. "How are you?"

"Good. I'm starting a new project," She wiped at a counter that was spotless.

"What is it?" I asked, intrigued. Esme always found the most interesting things to do, which I sometimes helped her with.

"There's a house in Hawaii, which I'm going to be fixing up." She told me. I could feel my jaw drop.

"Hawaii?" I questioned. She nodded and laughed.

"Hilo, Hawaii. It's one of the rainiest and cloudiest places in America, right after here of course." She picked up Sadie's now empty glass and put it in the dishwasher. I focused my hearing upstairs and heard Carlisle telling Edward. This was going to be a major discussion for us. Would we stay, or would we follow?

"Wow," That was all I could say. It would help take the edge off of the threat that was still to come. Victoria still hadn't made good on her promise to make Edward and I suffer. I wrapped my arms around Sadie and buried my face in her soft hair.

"I love you," I whispered in her ear.

She laughed. "That tickled." She turned and looked up at me. "I love you, too." I picked her up and hugged her. Esme smiled and I winked at her, walking back into the living room. Edward was already there with Noah in his arms. He moved him so that Noah rested on his left hip. Edward wrapped his open arm around Sadie and me.

"We better get them to school," He told me, kissing my lips lightly. Noah patted my check, resting his hand there.

"Its okay, Mommy." He picked up emotions so easily.

"Thanks, baby." I kissed the palm of his hand and then helped Sadie into her coat. Everyone was at the door when we getting ready to leave.

"Why don't all of you, come with us," Sadie suggested. She had put on her pleading face.

"We would love too, but there is too many of us." Carlisle told her. She pouted even more, trying to win him over. She knew that the decision rested on Carlisle.

He sighed and bowed under the force of her gaze. "I'm sure we'd all be fine." Smiles broke out on everyone's face and they followed us out of the house and to their respective cars.

"Mommy, can I ride with Aunt Rose?" Sadie tugged on my hand.

"Go ahead," I pushed her in the direction of the garage. She ran off, much faster than any normal child. Noah stuck close to Edward's side, grabbing my hand. He liked when Sadie was away because he didn't have to share the attention with her. Sadie loved the limelight and did just about anything to stay in the light, even if it meant getting in trouble.

"Are you excited," Edward asked him, peering down at Noah.

He shrugged. "Sure," I buckled him up and we started the drive to the preschool. We stuck out of course. Three expensive, shiny cars speeding down the slick highway. I could feel the excitement building, but also immense sadness. My children were growing up, with futures that we still weren't entirely sure of.

Dropping them off was quite the sight. Many people gawked at the rarely seen Cullen-Hales, but hurried inside. The preschool was in the basement of the elementary school.

"Alright, say goodbye." Edward told Sadie and Noah who hugged and kissed all of them. There were hushed statements of "Have a good day" and "Don't worry, it'll be fine". They all stood in a line, waving and smiling as Edward and I led the twins into the building.

"Be good and don't use your powers," Edward reminded both of them as he hugged them. After we hung up their coats and backpacks, I hugged them tightly.

"I love you," I kissed both of their foreheads.

We love you, too Mommy. The voices were inside my head and my eyes flew open in shock. Edward's eyes were wide, but we both remained composed. My eyes pricked with tears that would never come.

"Thank you," I hugged them each again and then went to the door. They headed over to their teacher who pinned a nametag on each of them. She led them over to the blocks were they played. I wanted to try something.

Take care of each other, I directed the thought at them and they both looked up at me, smiling. They nodded and went back to playing. They always said that a mother's bond to her children were stronger than anything.

Edward and I held hands as we exited the warm building. The fresh air was welcoming after being around so many humans, though I wasn't really bothered. The family was gone so Edward and I drove home.

I went into the kitchen and sat on the counter. Edward stood in front of me.

"What are we going to do," I asked him. Victoria's words played in my head. But you have weakness, two of them. When you least expect it, Bella, that's when it will happen. My lips curled back and my hands clenched into fists.

"We could follow," He wrapped his arms around me.

"Hawaii would be very different," I mused. "Far away too. There would be a whole ocean between here and there."

"True. They can't stay for much longer. This is the longest Carlisle has pushed his age. Thirty-seven and the rest of us are pushing mid-twenties. I can't pull off that for long, and neither can you." He smiled crookedly, making me smile.

"I wouldn't want Noah and Sade away from them, anyways. They are so involved in their lives. They deserve a big family." I thought back to my own hazy human life, how I had always wished for a large family, to fill the emptiness.

"We're going," Edward tested.

I bit my lip. "We're going," I repeated and hugged him. I looked around, the same table with mismatched chairs that I had ate dinner at with my father. I was going to miss this house. Maybe in a hundred years or so, we could come back.

"I'm going to miss this house," Edward's dark eyes met mine. "So many memories." I thought back to one in particular. The memory of how Noah and Sadie were conceived. I giggled and Edward's eyes searched mine for the meaning behind my laughter. I pushed my body closer to his, wrapping my legs around his waist. He growled slightly at the contact. His hands gripped my hips and he kissed my neck.

"I was just thinking of…our first time." I breathed, tilting my head back.

"Good memory," He said between kisses. I nodded and brought his head up, crashing my lips to his. We didn't even make it to the bedroom.

Awhile later, as we picked our selves off the kitchen floor, tugging at our clothes, we smiled at each other.

"A new one to add to the list," Edward smirked. If I could of blushed, my entire face and neck would have been beat red. Early on, it was hard to control ourselves. Sometimes we happened to be in awkward places. The stairs, the car, a couple of public places; one time we happened to be grocery shopping, let's just say it ended with a broken sink in the women's bathroom and a crushed soap dispenser. Emmett still wouldn't let us live that one down.

"I thought we were getting better," I smoothed my hair back into its ponytail. I went into the laundry room and started a new load of Noah's clothes. Edward's arms were around me.

"We are getting better," He nuzzled my neck. "Some things just take practice, a lot of practice."

That time we made it to the bedroom.

Life became hectic after that. Noah and Sadie were excited about the move as was the family when we told them we would be coming.

On the last week in Forks was coming to a close, a taped off another box and looked around at the emptying house. A flood of sadness rushed through me. I could close my eyes and picture Charlie sitting in his chair, yelling as his favorite team scored. It was a bitter sweet memory.

As much as I would miss this house, and yes, even the town of Forks, I realized that this was part of my new life as a Cullen and as a vampire. This was the life I wanted and I was happy with it.

One thing I was not looking forward to was being in high school again. The story had to work so that we could stay as long as possible.

Sadie was now going to be Edward's little sister and Noah was going to be my nephew. They similarities were just too much for us to pretend that they were just adopted. I was going to be Bella Swan again along with Noah as a Swan too. I was afraid that the changes would be too much for my babies, but they accepted it and were excited to play make believe.

We hoped that, with Noah and Sadie aging, people would ask fewer questions. Thought Carlisle and Esme rolling into town with eight adopted kids was still going to draw eyes.

I walked through my home. Edward was out getting more boxes and the twins were at school. I drenched my self in memories. I walked into Noah and Sadie's room last. I smiled as I looked at the walls that I had painted and then at the floor where I easily spotted the loose floorboard where the truth was thrown at me, reminding me that Edward still loved me.

I would come back to this place. It would always be close to my heart.

"Hello, Hawaii,"

AN: And this now concludes this season of, Doing This Alone. Haha. I had so much fun writing this. I thank all of you for your votes. They will help shape the sequel! Yes, there will be a sequel. Thanks also, for sticking with me through this crazy story and all my crazy changes. You guys rock! Thanks for reading and reviewing. I'll post something on here, letting you know when the sequel is up.

Thanks for everything,

Marie Pattin