CHOICES MADE

Disclaimer: The Cullens, the Swans, and most of the characters mentioned in the story that are known from Stephanie Meyer's beloved Twilight Saga, are all hers and hers alone. I neither have nor wish to pass them off as mine. I do appreciate the fact that she did bring them to life and allows us to play with them in our imaginations. The only thing I will claim is the current storyline.

No one sees the lone figure hidden in the shadows of the forest surrounding the field. Then as everyone is hurrying away she steps into the light. "Powerful, those little beauties are." Observe Francesca.

Getting to the house Lee pulls open the door nearly taking it off its hinges and running Charlie into a wall in the process. He continues on up the stairs to Bella's old room to lay her on the bed. Carlisle is coming right behind and with a quick examination is able to determine that Ria has gone into active labor and her water had broken sometime ago while they were in the field dealing with Ihue.

Carlisle quickly turns to check on how Bella is doing, but, she is able to reassure him that she is fine. It was Ria that took more of the stress than she had. That that is what had pushed her into labor. He nodded; satisfied that Bella was well so he could focus all of his attention to taking care of Ria and the baby.

While this is happening everyone else arrives to inquire as to the problem. It is quickly explained so the vigil begins.

CHAPTER 14: ONE DOWN, MORE TO COME

No one noticed when she did it, except, maybe, Lee after a bit, followed after a while when Edward realized that Bella hadn't said a word since everyone had arrived back from the field and settled in the living room at Charlie's. Her eyes were closed and she seemed to be barely breathing. It was as if she was in a trance. Edward started to reach for her when Lee grabbed his arm to stop him. He shook his head to indicate for Bella to be left alone.

"Not now, Edward, you could do more harm than you know. And, it could mean my life." Lee told him in all sincerity.

"Damn, Lee, I was only checking to see if she was okay. Why did you stop me from touching my own wife?"

"Because she is linked with Ria at the moment and that is helping Ria through her labor pains. They do things like that when the other is having problems of any nature. It is giving support to the other in whatever way it is needed to help them, kind of like sharing the load. Ria will be doing the same to Isabella when she delivers the twins. And, with her doing that it preserves my life. Then when Isabella's time comes it will be preserving yours. That my word for that fact." He admitted reluctantly.

With a chuckle from Emmett and a snicker from Jasper and Edward trying very hard to keep a serious expression, asks, "What do you mean it preserves your life and mine when the time comes?"

Lee begins to explain that a woman in labor always becomes aggressive towards the father. "It seems to be the nature of the beast, as the saying goes. I have seen it time and again through all of my years roaming the world. They will threaten any part of your body that comes to mind. Makes no difference, all body parts are on the chopping block." And as he finishes the whole room erupts into laughter. Until Charlie speaks, "Okay, laugh it up until it comes your turn and then don't say a word because we warned you. Every word Lee is telling you is the honest truth, but, it's funny as hell until it happens to you. Renee damn near choked me to death when I got to close to her face and made the stupid statement that the pain couldn't be that bad. Before I could move that woman had both hands around my neck and told me straight out that if I ever made another statement like that again I wouldn't have to worry about another thing in life because I would be pushing up daisies."

"Don't try explaining, Charlie; Edward's turn is coming shortly. Let's see how he survives it. Then we can revisit this discussion at that time." Lee remarks while looking at Edward. "At that time we will see which body part is threatened and we will have the last laugh."

At that moment Carlisle was coming down the stairs and paused to see what all the laughter was about. It was quickly explained and then he surprised the occupants of the room by agreeing with Lee and Charlie. Then continued on telling them some of the stories he knew from the many babies over the years he had delivered. "Women can get downright vicious while in labor. That is one of the few times in life when a man who has any sense will be very afraid." He says with a shake of the head and snort sort of laugh.

About that time a knock is heard at the door and Rosalie moves to see who is there. Both Ankarra and Margarite are together waiting to be invited in the house. Charlie catching sight of them motions them in and offers for them to be seated. Coming in behind them is Jacob Black and some of the wolf pack; some Charlie recognizes and the others he had only met once during a meeting before all of this 'spirit catcher' shit started.

With the arrival of the two queens and added guests, Charlie was sure how his little house was managing to accommodate them all. But, somehow, everyone seemed to be comfortable. The discussion quickly turned from the happenings going on upstairs to what took place in the confrontation against Ihue. All that had been there were quick to tell the others of how the battle went. "It was amazing to watch how those two worked together and no bloodshed, no loss of life and all victory." Was emphasized by Sam and the rest of the younger group that had been present as witnesses hidden in the forest. Billy and the other elders commented in much the same in praising the handling of the situation. Even, tell how Ria and Bella had given Ihue the chance to stop his actions, asking him to release willingly his captives, explaining how with a chant they were able to override his hold on the spirits and release them, how the bad spirits were given a chance to change, but, refused only to be retrieved by black shapes that took them into the ground, and how Ihue, himself, tried to attack only to be conquered in the same method as the other bad spirits. "The two women could explain all that took place better than I since they were in the action. Of course, Carlisle and Lee were there, also, and could fill you in on the action."

Suddenly a whimper was heard coming from Bella who seemed to totally relax. Lee was closes to her and grabbed a hold of her to prevent her from hitting the floor. But, before anyone could ask what had happened footsteps were heard on the stairs coming down. Everyone looked to see why and was met with the wonder of Ariabella Culleen Marie du Toulouse being carried by Esme over to Lee. "Young man, let me present you to your daughter." She told him softly.

Lee reached out to receive his baby girl and looked at Esme with questioning eyes. "She is doing just fine, Lee. Carlisle, delivered her by C-section. She is a little earlier, but, then from what you and Ria told us about Jason, it was expected. This young lady weights in at six pounds and two ounces." After handing the baby over to him, Esme turns to leave, but, turns back with a final word of, "Oh, Lee, Ria said to tell you that if you even think about coming near her again in the next six months for anything other than a friendly chat that you would be singing higher, not lower in the future immediately after that." Then she did leave heading for the kitchen and then returning upstairs.

Lee heads up the stairs and enters the bedroom where Ria has been made comfortable for now. He walks over to the bed, kneeling down to kiss very gently his wife on the lips before leaning is forehead against hers. "Thank you, beautiful lady, for this precious gift. She is absolutely beautiful just like her mother."

While Lee and Ria were bonding with their daughter everyone else quietly left the room and headed down stairs to give them some privacy. Carlisle when over to check on Bella who was quietly resting in Edward's arms. Lee had handed her over as soon as he was able after catching her sagging body when she released from the twin connection with Ria. With a quick once over Carlisle assured Edward that all was fine and she was just exhausted from all of the stress and activity of the last several hours.

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Francesca was delighted with her discoveries. The prophecy of the twin witches has come to pass and she had just observed them in action against once of the worst menaces that dark magic had ever produced and won. Of course, she was aware of who had called forth that bunch of shit and they would have to be dealt with at the right time.

She could now fully understand why they would want to grab the twins and their offspring, but, that was something Francesca would never allow. Those two evil wannabe's will never be allowed to control the true bloodlines. Never in her lifetime or Margarite's. That was why she had contacted Margarite in the first place.

It was at this point that she wondered if she would be strong enough to control them. But, from what she had seen the answer was no. They were too powerful for even her. But, the union with the crossover twins could still be useful in so far as getting rid of Margarite and taking complete control of all of the witches. She could dictate the laws and rule. The world would be under her control and all species would be answerable to the power of the witches. With a little more thought Francesca felt she could see the fulfillment of her dream to rule. It was almost to hand and she could taste both the power and the victory.

The one thing for sure is that the crossover twins would have to be dealt with first and that would fall to the prophecy twins to do. Once that was done then the door would be open for her to take over. By using the alliance with Margarite to stop the crossover twins from gain a hold of the true blood twins and their offspring, by appearing to help guard them, she would have accomplished keeping the vampire species in their natural place, stopping them from ravishing the entire population and give her the opportunity to take control from Margarite without anyone being the wiser.

Good plan but needed to be refined some more.

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As Bella slept in her husband's arms from the tension, stress, worry and aid she rendered to Ria to deliver her baby safely, completely exhausted, she dreamt of coming events. Events that would come in three parts, but, the dream wasn't complete yet to be able to give any sort of direction. However, she joined with Ria to share what she was seeing.

Ria watched as the action unfolded in Bella's dream. She knew that war was coming and they would have to find a way to stop it before all got out of hand and there would be no going back. Of course, it involved Jane and Alec, Marcus with the Volturi and rogue vampires and black witches. It was going to be a damn mess before things would get better.

Alice was having her vision again that was a repeat of just a few nights ago when Ria and Bella went missing. She still needed to talk with Ria and Bella to get a better understanding of what she was seeing because a lot of it she was unfamiliar with the people or species.

Edward was seeing what Alice was viewing and the emotions both were feeling gotten thrown over to Jasper who was responding to the overwhelming feelings of fear. Reasons he didn't understand yet.

A/N: All are in wait for the arrival of the newest member of the family and they didn't have long to wait. Bella helped with the twin connection to ease Ria's labor pains. The guys had a bit of sport with Lee about staying the away from his wife until after the baby is born. Carlisle fills them in on the mindset of pregnant women during labor.

Ankarra and Margarite arrive to find out about the outcome concerning Ihue and how that all went down. It seemed the shape shifters were impressed with the way things were handled.

Francesca found out what she wanted to know and now her plotting and planning are starting to take a new turn. How will she deal with the crossover twins, the vampires and the prophecy twins? How will she do away with Margarite? Will she have any chance to succeed? What are Alice, Bella and Ria seeing? How will they begin to deal with it?

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