Bella POV
A month have gone by since I have come to the Volturi and life is great. The wedding plans are coming along nicely and the Cullen's are flying in tomorrow to celebrate Christmas with us. Alice, Esme and Rosalie are also going to help plan the wedding some.
I was just a week before Christmas and the mall was crazy to say the least. People running around trying to get last minute gifts, children getting pictures with Santa and a ton of sales going on. I was standing in line to check out at GameStop to get a game for Alec. I was starting to grow impatient with the freakishly long line and I just wanted to get back home to the castle.
I finally got checked out and started to head for my car. I sped my way out of the mall parking lot and headed towards the castle. I ran to my room, wrapping the gift quickly and placed it under the tree.
It was abnormally quite in the castle and I wondered where everyone was. I wondered throughout the entire castle looking for anybody. As I went by the door leading to the east garden, I heard laughter from a few people. I headed out there and saw that everyone was having a snowball fight. I quickly joined in on this. Ariana ran up to me, grabbing me in a hug. I hugged her back. She was quite adorable because she was all bundled up in her coat and other winter apparel.
Ariana and I both ganged up on an unexpecting Felix. He retaliated by bombarding us with more snowballs.
"Momma, can I have some hot chocolate?" Ariana asked Chelsea with her puppy dog face that no one couldn't not give in to.
"Of course sweetie." Chelsea led Ariana into the kitchen and the rest of us went inside as well. I followed Chelsea and Ariana into the kitchen, taking a seat by Ariana while Chelsea got her hot chocolate.
"Marshmallows please!" She exclaimed. Chelsea added the marshmallows and some cold water so that it wouldn't be terribly hot.
I absolutely adored Ariana. She was the best niece ever. I couldn't wait until Alec and I had a child.
I sighed. "What's wrong, Bella?" Chelsea asked looking at me.
"Oh. Nothing. What does it feel like to be a parent?" I asked.
"Well, it's hard at times. And it doesn't get easier as they get older. It just brings a new round of things piled onto what is already there. But it's the best feeling in the world. What brought that question on?"
"Well, you know how the visions that I have are certain? Well, I had a vision of Alec and I at the store and we were picking out car seats and cribs. I didn't tell him about the vision, but I asked if he had thought about kids. And he said yes. But he brought up the point about not being able to have kids and so I asked him if he would be willing to adopt after the wedding and everything is settled down. He was quite happy about that and agreed easily."
"Oh Bella, that's wonderful. You and Alec would make wonderful parents. It's such an amazing feeling to be a parent. Sure, there are the times when you just want to pull your hair out, but the feeling that you get when you hold them in your arms or watch them take their first steps and say their first words are some of the best moments in your life. Afton and I both have wanted to pull our hair out at times, but we still love it."
"Thanks, Chels. I really hope Alec and I can be as good of parents as you and Afton are." She smiled and out a hand on my shoulder.
"You two will be excellent parents. You will love the child with everything that you have and that's the one thing you guys definitely have is love. The child will be the most loved kid in Volterra, along with Ariana. And not just by you guys, but by everyone else too."
"Um, yeah. About 'the child'," I said emphasizing on the child, "My vision showed us buying two of everything. Cribs, car seats."
Her mouth dropped slightly. "Bella, two kids?"
"Yes. I didn't see them or anything. Just us shopping for them."
"Wow, Bella. I can't wait to meet them." She smiled.
"Yeah, me either. And I know Alec will be thrilled too. I haven't told him about the vision yet. So, can we not tell him or anyone else of this conversation, please?"
"Of course. My lips are sealed."
"Thanks." I gave her a quick smile before exiting the room.
The Cullens' would be arriving in just less than 24 hours and I couldn't wait to see them all again. Well, minus a few. I still haven't completely forgiving Edward fro lying and cheating. And I hadn't really even met Tanya yet. It should be an interesting encounter.
I walked into my room, heading for the shower. Alec had left to get some things for Aro and had to go all the way to Venice, which is still a three hour drive, even when we are driving. So I had just about the rest of the day by myself. I frowned at that.
I decided to read a book for a few hours. I didn't have guard duty until seven and it was only two. I got bored of reading after a while. I wondered what Jane was doing, and then remembered that she was covering for Alec. Chelsea had gone home and Heidi went with Renata to see a movie. That left the guys. Felix and Demetri. But they were out hunting.
Glancing at the clock, I saw that it was 6:30. There was a knock at the door and Jane came in. "Aro requests to speak with you." She said. I got up and walked into the throne room. Aro was sitting in his throne, an amused expression on his face as always.
"Bella," he began, "Um. We request that you make a decision on your diet preference. Animals only or humans."
I looked down at my feet before deciding. "Father, I know that the Volturi are primarily human drinkers, but I don't think that I could take an innocent humans life. So I would like to remain on my animal diet."
Aro looked at me, then said, "Alright. Very well, then. We will keep your diet choice in mind. It is now time for your duties to begin."
I grabbed my cloak and began my shift.
Shift seemed to drag on. It was very uneventful. I was counting down the minutes until I could see Alec again. Hopefully, Aro wouldn't have him running anymore errands for a while. Or at least I could go with him.
I finished up the paper work that Aro had given me and went back to my room. Alec was sitting there, watching T.V. He looked up when I walked into the room. I went over to him , sitting on his lap, giving him a lingering kiss.
"I missed you." I said.
"I can tell. I missed you too." He said, laughing. "Bella, can we talk about something?" The question was abrupt.
"Yeah. Anything. What is it?"
"Why did you ask about kids?"
I looked down, fumbling with my fingers for a minute before I began, "Well, I had a vision. And we were buying baby stuff. Two of everything." His face dropped.
"Is that why you asked?" I nodded. "Bella, that's wonderful! I've always wanted to be a dad but knew that the chances were extremely small. But two of everything? Why two?" "I don't know, Alec. I guess we will be adopting two kids. I'm not sure though. I didn't see them. I only saw us buying things and we would buy two of everything."
"Wow. Bella, I can't believe it. I mean, first I find you and now I learn that we are going to be adopting kids. It's everything that I have always wanted in life. A love and a family. I love you." He kissed me. It seemed to last for a very long time. I broke it.
"I love you too. And I can't wait to start a family. I never really had much of a family until I met the Cullens'. And so I want a big family."
"Ok. Me too. I know what it's like not to have much of a family. Jane was my only family for the first 17 years of my life. And I know that you didn't really have much of a mother and your father was absent for much of your life. So I want a big family too."
"I just don't want to be like my mother. She was so carefree that I was almost the parent and her the child."
"Oh, Bella. Don't think like that." He tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. "You won't be like her. You are your own person. And I don't want to be like my father. Of course he was an alcoholic, so I know that won't happen. But he was also abusive and unloving. But I'm not going to think like that because I am not him. You'll be a wonderful mommy."
"And you'll be a wonderful daddy, too." I kissed him again.