Chapter 21: Arms of Love

Nostalgia

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

AN: I have decided how I am going to end this story. It's going to be wonderful... at least that's what I think. Anyways, I hope that everyone enjoyed an amazing Christmas, surrounded by their loved ones. Enjoy this New Year. Also, R&R and let me know what you think of this chappie.

Arms Of Love

After Embry kissed me, he took Kyra from my arms and passed me Braxton. We went up to the guest room that he was using and put the kids down. Kyra and Braxton began to play around the spacious room. After a while, Kyra wanted to take a bath in the large tub and Braxton wanted to watch television. I quickly catered to their needs and desires and let Braxton watch some TV and gave Kyra a bubble bath. She played with the bubbles and began to hum a song that my was familiar to me.

"What song is the one that you are humming, angel?" I asked softly, as I washed Kyra's hair.

"Angel mio, eres tu." she said in Spanish. "It means My Angel is You."

"I've heard that song." I said, massaging Kiki's precious hair with the shampoo.

"Grandma Lisa Ashleighe taught me that song." Kyra said, as she closed her eyes, when I poured water on her hair. "She said that she used to sing it to you when you were little."

"Oh," I whispered and continued washing my baby girl's hair.

Kyra laughed and played with me. We giggled and chatted about trivial things, but it was great to spend time with my little girl. Life couldn't get any better. I played with her long brown hair and kissed her forehead, every time she grinned at me. She was so beautiful. Her dimple smile was exactly like her father's and I fell in love with my daughter over and over again. When she was done with her bath. I wrapped her in a large towel and carried her to the bed. I asked Embry to get her dress, because I knew that my hands would be too cold for her tiny body. Kyra protested that she wanted her Mommy to get her dressed, but after explaining to her that my hands were too cold for her body and that she might get sick, she stopped persisting. When Embry finished dressing her, she ran into my arms and cuddled with me for a few minutes. She played with my face and hair and gave me sloppy kisses all over my face. I was so happy to be with my family. She even asked me to combed her long hair into two braided ponytails. When I was done, she ran to the mirror that was on the wall.

"I look pretty." Kyra said contently, as she studied her reflection in the wall-size mirror. "Look, Daddy, I look super pretty!" she chanted as she ran to me and hugged my leg. "Thanks, Mommy." she laughed happily.

Embry was laughing and I knew that he was content to see our little girl's reaction. It'd been a long time since I've seen him smile with true content. "You look gorgeous, Kiki."

"I know, Mommy did it!" Kyra said, lifting her arms for me to carry her. "And it didn't hurt. She didn't hurt me!"

I lifted her up in my arms and kissed her nose. She wrinkled her nose and giggled.

"Finally, you look like a girl, Kiki." Braxton said, when he looked away from the television to stare at his sister. "I can finally see her face, Madison. I thought I had a little brother. "

"Meanie," Kyra said, sticking out her tongue at her brother. "He's jealous because I'm pretty and he isn't!"

"Whatever, brat."

"Guys, come on. Let's have a nice day, just the four of us." I said, walking to where Braxton sat, still holding Kiki in my arms. I stopped beside him and placed my hand on his shoulder. "You are handsome, my son." I said, bending down to kiss my son's forehead. Braxton smiled at me and squeezed my hand.

"I love you, Mom." he said.

"I love you, too." I whispered, cupping his chin in my hand and walking back to the bed.

Braxton turned to watch television and I continued playing with Kyra. When we were done playing, she asked permission to watch television, since the show that Zeus was watching caught her attention. I nodded my head and watched as she ran to the chair where Braxton sat.

"Mommy," Kyra yelled contently, as she ran back to the bed and hugged me. She gave me another kiss and then jumped in her father's arms and kissed him. "Bye, Daddy." she said and walked back to Braxton and climbed next to him on the couch. Braxton scooted to the side and hugged his sister when she had snuggled closer to him. I felt happy to see those two little buggers together. It was cute to watch Braxton hold his little sister so protectively. They were so adorable. Seeing them together, was like a dream come true.

"They are happy." Embry whispered, as he leaned closer to me and kissed my neck softly.

"I'm happy, Em," I said, turning to face him. "I'm with you and with them. I'm never going to leave them or you again. I don't care what the circumstances are." I vowed.

Embry smiled and kissed my lips gently. "Good, because if you even try to leave, I'll find you and force you back into my arms." he said, wounding his arms around my waist and bringing me closer to him.

"I'll never want to leave you. I never did..." I trailed off.

"I know, Madison." Embry said sadly. "You didn't do it on purpose. I know that it's hard to believe, but I'm glad that you considered the well-being of our children. I'm glad that you thought of us constantly."

"I never stopped." I said, resting my head on his muscular chest. I kissed Embry's lip, wounding my arms around his neck, pulling him to me.

"The children are watching." he whispered against my lips.

I nodded and softly kissed his lip one more time and stretched out on the bed next to him. We talked for a few hours about our future and to be honest, I was excited and scared at the same time. It was a strange sensation of talking about our life so easily. Embry rested his head on my chest and I began to play with his slightly long bangs. I told him how much I loved being with him and he told me of things that I had forgotten of my human life. Embry fell asleep and I could hear the kids whispering about me. They were curious to know more about me. Kyra told Braxton that she loved me, but wanted to get to know me better.

"If you want to know more ask her yourself." Braxton said annoyed. "She's our mother, she won't get mad!"

"No, Braxy, you ask her." Kyra whispered in his ear. Braxton shook his head and sighed. "Please, she likes you more than me."

"Don't be stupid, Kiki. Mom loves you more than me." Braxton said, as he turned his head to look over my ways. I shook my head and he quickly turned to face the television.

"Liar, she prefers you over me." Kyra said, pulling on her brother's collar. "She likes you more. You were her first baby. She likes you more."

"Nah-ahh, she likes you more." Braxton said softly. "She had you last."

"Liar!"

"Guys, what's wrong? What are we arguing about? Can we keep it quiet, Daddy is still tired and he needs to sleep." I said in a low voice. I placed Embry's head on a pillow and carefully, without waking him up, sat on the bed.

"Guys, come over here." I ordered in a calmed voice. Kyra looked scared and Braxton just shook his head. "Look, why don't the two of you come here? I want to talk to you guys." I said, offering them a smile.

Kyra looked at Braxton and then at me. She climbed down from the couch and slowly made her way to the King size bed, where Embry and I were. She jumped on the bed and crawled between my legs, her back was softly pressed against my chest. She tilted her head to look up at me and gave me one of her precious toothy smile.

"I'm waiting for you, Romeo." I said, extending my hand for Braxton to take it.

He turned off the television and slowly ambled to where we were sitting and sat beside me, taking my hand in his. He rested his head against my arm and reached for a strand of hair and began to play with it. I felt alive for the first time in a long time. Having my children so closed to me was a miraculous blessing. I couldn't imagine my life without them. I live for this precious and tender moments like this one. I was looking forward to watching them grow up into happy adults.

"Guys," I began, kissing my children's foreheads. "I don't want you two to ever doubt my love for each of you. I don't love Braxton more than Kyra or Kyra more than Braxton. I love each of you the same. Each of you was a present from Embry to me. He made sure that I got the most precious children in the world. He told me that himself." I said, smiling sweetly at Embry's sleeping form. "We made you guys with so much love. Some people find our love sickening, but it's so true. We love you guys so much that if love was sugar, your teeth would be full of cavities from all the sweetness that we feel for you two." I said jokingly.

Kyra giggled and Braxton laughed heartedly. "But," Kyra began and then gave a melodramatic sighed. "You are always talking to him on the phone. You never call me. I want to spend time with you, too!" she pouted.

"I always asked for you." I said, caressing her chubby cheeks. "You two are my life."

"Mom," Braxton paused and moved closer to my ear. "Mama, is it true that,"

"Yes, Braxton?" I asked curiously.

"Is it true," he began, but shook his head. "Nothing."

Braxton began to play with my hair again and for a second, he looked pensive.

"What, chunky-bunky?" I said, placing a finger under his chin and lifting his head to face me. "Ask me anything. You can trust me, angel. I'm your mother and I want us to have an honest relationship. In order to achieve that, we need to be able to communicate. So, start by telling me what's on your mind?"

"It's nothing important."

Kyra raised her arms and snaked it tightly around my neck. "I know what he's wanna ask you, Mommy," she said softly. I lifted her closer to me and pressed her against my chest. She rested her head on the crook of my neck and sighed. "He wants to ask you about you being a vampire." she mumbled in my ear.

Braxton's green eyes stared at me pleadingly. "Don't be scared. You can ask me anything. I won't be angry at you because you want to know about me. I'm glad that you want to take the time to get to know me. We have a lot of catching up to do."

"I told you." Kyra said in a sing-song voice and stuck out her tongue at Braxton. "Mommy isn't mean!"

Braxton shrugged and laid down in the bed, imitating his father's position. He crossed his arms behind his head and placed his legs on Embry's chest.

"Fine, but please, don't get angry." Braxton said, as he looked at me.

"I won't, I promise."

"OK, here I go." Zeus said, scowling at Kyra.

"I go first, Mommy!" Kyra said excitedly.

"Braxton was first, Kyra Faith."

Kyra nodded and returned to her previous position. I could feel the warmth of her breath tickling on the skin of my neck. I could smell her talc scent and I fell in love with her sweetness.

"Is it true that you can sparkle under the sunlight?" Brax asked, lifting one hand in front of him. "I heard Aunt Rachel talk about seeing a vampire sparkling under the sunlight. Is it true?"

"Seth also told us that's too. He said that some vampires are friendly and would never harm us. He said that you are one of them. He told me that you loved me and that I shouldn't pay attention to Uncle Sam words. He said many good things about you, Mommy. He said that you were nice to him when you were human." Kyra said merrily, as she dug her hand in my hair and began playing with it. "He also said that some vampires are mean and that we have to be careful. He says that we should never go into the woods alone. I'm scared of the woods. It's scary and I don't want get lost."

"Mm-Hmm," I said, caressing Kiki's back. "You have to pay attention to Seth. He is smart and he is saying the truth. The woods are dangerous. Only go there if you are with Seth, Embry or me, got it?"

"It's true." Embry said. We looked at him and found him smiling. "Remember what happened to Sierra? She got lost in the wood and she got scratched by squirrel and she ended up in the hospital for a day, getting her tetanus shots, because she disobeyed Paul and Rachel. She was lucky that she didn't come across a bear, a mountain lion or a vampire."

"It's true." Kyra said, nodding vehemently. "There are vampires that are mean. I know you aren't, Mommy. I can see it in your eyes. I feel safe with you."

"Of course, idiot." Braxton said aggravated. "I've told you time after time, that Madison is not mean."

"I get it!" Kyra said, rolling her little eyes at Braxton. "Meanie. Mama, can you show us how you sparkle?"

"Show me, please!" Braxton said pleadingly.

I looked at Embry and he gave me an understanding smile. "What if you get scared? I don't want you guys to be scared of me."

"I won't," Kyra said happily. "I like sparkling things. I like to see, too."

"Embry?"

"Go ahead, I want to see you too." he laughed, licking his lips in anticipation. Kyra nodded and clung tightly to me.

"Show me, please." she whispered in my ear and kissed my cheek. "You are already beautiful, Mommy."

"OK," I said, holding Kyra in my arms and kissing her soft cheek. "But please, don't be scared of Mommy. I will never hurt you, princess." I begged. Kiki gave me a reassuring hug and kissed my nose. "I will never hurt you, princess." I said sadly, as I got up from the bed. I closed my eyes and slowly walked towards the windows. I spun around to face the bed and found Brax and Embry seating against the edge of the bed waiting patiently for me to stand under the sunlight. I looked down at Kyra and she was smiling, encouraging me with a sweet smile. "OK, here I go." I said softly, inhaling deeply. Kyra nodded and tightened her arms around my neck.

"So?" I asked, when I was near the bay windows.

Kyra's eyes opened widely the moment that I stood under the rays of the sun that filtered through the bay windows of the room. She began to bounce contently in my arms and tilted her head to me.

"Wow!" she mouthed. "Mommy! Mommy! You are so pretty!" she chanted, as she touched my face with her tiny warm hands. "Pretty! I love you, Mommy." she said, her smile dying on her lips and a lonely tear descended her face. "Don't leave me again, Mommy. Please," she cried, hugging me tightly.

"Oh, baby, please, don't cry." I said dejectedly, as I pressed my princess closer to me. I could feel her little body shaking softly as she sobbed. "Don't cry, Kiki. You are my world and I won't leave you. Never. Mommy had to be away from you for a while only, but she's not going away ever again. She'll stay with you, Daddy and Braxton forever."

I heard Embry standing up from the bed. His steps were loud against the floor. I looked to him and found him standing next to me, holding Braxton's hand. He opened his arms and I rushed into them. I picked up Braxton in my arms and I held both of my children tightly against my heart. Embry's strong warm arms encircled us. It was a tender moment. It was only us four, covered in the arms of love.