Chapter 21: Holidays

Ten feet in front of where I stood, sitting on a rock formation with its back to me was a large mountain lion. The male cat had been so focused on the herd of deer five feet below us, that my presence went undetected. When he jumped from the rocks, the pursuit was on. The deer scattered with my prey following a larger buck. Before he could overtake the animal, I jumped, snagging it from behind. The lion snarled before my teeth sank into his jugular. As the blood flowed down my throat easing the constant burn, my thoughts turned to Carlie. She was so little and fragile compared to the animals out here. There was no way to imagine her hunting, not even when she was older, though one day it would likely come to pass. As my catch was drained of his blood, the presence of my brothers didn't go unnoticed.

"How many does that make?" Jasper asked.

"Two. How many did you and Emmett take down?

"Emmett only had the one bear, and both of us snagged two deer each. Any bets on which one of us catches the next one?"

Before Emmett or I could answer, Jasper was gone. Running at top speed, I passed him within a minute. In the next second Emmett was at my side trying to knock me off course. Before he was able to try a second time, I pushed myself harder, leaving him behind in my dust. The scent of a huge herd of deer changed my direction to the north. My mouth watered as the herd came into site.

This time each of us had three deer before we were sated. After disposing of the carcasses Emmett left us to join Rosalie. Jasper stayed with me, following behind as we made our way back into US territory. It wasn't uncommon for us the end up in Canada on our more competitive hunts, and it was a treat to be free to mess about with my brothers.

"You were worried when we found you."

"Just in the last few weeks my thoughts have turned toward Carlie. Having her out here facing a mountain lion, or even a buck scares me. She's so little, half human. It's hard to imagine her being strong enough to catch her prey, even when she grows up."

"Have you talked to Carlisle lately? He might be able to give you more information on the boy." According to our father, Curtis had no problem being invisible to humans. He had only been caught because of what my father was.

"I know Curtis was fast." A sigh slipped from my lips. "I'm over-thinking this. We have a while before Carlie will be able to join us."

Jasper put his hand on my shoulder before taking off.

Stepping inside my parents' and siblings home to the smell of all sorts of food didn't bother me. In the kitchen the counter tops were covered with plates of food needing to be cooked all while Esme flitted from one area to the other. My eyes drifted to the table where my baby was sitting with a mixing bowl in front of her. Since her back was to me, and she was occupied, Carlie wasn't aware of my presence.

"How was the hunt?" Esme asked this as she put a casserole dish in the oven.

"More competitive than usual. It was nice to spend time with them."

"I'm glad you had the chance. Bella went over to Sue and Charlie's. Renee wanted to bring a pie over." That was all the information needed for me to understand the underlying meaning. My wife told horror stories of her childhood regarding her mother's experimental cooking.

"Mimi done. Dit down now."

As I walked to Carlie's side she began to laugh, reaching for me. Once she was in my arms she patted my cheek until it was low enough for one of her sweet kisses. "Dadda, Momma doe?"

"She is at Groppa and Nanna's helping your Granna make a pie."

Carlie was already struggling to be let down. A moment later I was following her into our family room. Carlie quickly made her way over to Alice. As my sister began to show her the pictures in her fashion magazine, I headed upstairs, speed-dialing my wife.

"I was just thinking about how much I miss you."

"The feeling is mutual, Love. How is the cooking coming along?"

"Not bad. She's following the recipe under my close watch, not trying anything new. The pie should be fine."

It was quiet on her end of the phone. "Are you lying down?"

"Yes. Tonight I need to go to sleep earlier than one O'clock in the morning."

Settled in my old bed, it was easy to pull up an image of Bella in her old room. "We could leave Carlie over here tonight."

"Mmm, but would I get any sleep?"

"How does a nice bath sound, followed by a full body massage?"

On the other end of the line, Bella sighed contently. "Like heaven. Renee asked if she could keep our angel. I told her I'd have to talk it over with you. Carlie has loved spending time with her Granna and Puh. I thought maybe it would be doable."

The fact that my Love was including me in this decision made me love her more than words could express. "Do you think Carlie will go to bed for them?"

"That's my only worry, along with Carlie showing and feeling for her communications when she wakes up."

"Why don't we play it by ear?"

"Sounds good to me. What is our baby up too?"

As I began filling Bella in, Alice entered putting Carlie on my bed. "Hey love, she is reaching for the phone. I'll call back if we get disconnected."

Once our daughter had the phone, she began telling Bella all about her morning with Esme. Another vision came to mind of a teenage Carlie sitting propped up against the pillows in her bed talking to her friends at night while she needed to be asleep.

As Rosalie sat by my side playing a duet, the sounds of two cars pulling off the highway was heard by all of us. Even so, we continued playing while Alice came over, handing both of us hot packs. A thump and some shifting in the bed upstairs was what stopped the music.

"I'll get her," Rose offered. When I nodded she smiled before disappearing.

At the door, Carlisle greeted Renee and Phil first followed by Charlie. Charlie's new family didn't celebrate Thanksgiving due to their native heritage, and though Sue had offered to accompany Charlie, he didn't have to convince her to stay home. She was getting used to my side of the family, but asking her to come to the Cullen home for a long evening wasn't fair, and we all accepted that. My wife melted into my arms, resting her cheek against my chest.

"Does Carlisle have any of those anti-nausea pills?"

Leaving the rest of our family behind, I led Bella to his office finding the pills she needed. "Do you want to sit in here for a while?"

"Do I have time?"

"Esme said dinner will be ready in an hour, so yes."

Once she was settled on the sofa, I left to get her water.

Carlisle met me while I filled the glass. "Morning sickness?"

"This is the second time this week."

"Dadda?" An image of Bella appeared in my mind. After Carlie was in my arms we headed back to see her Momma.

Dinner was very relaxing. The talk flowed easily and with Charlie there to help distract Phil and Renee, making food disappear for all of us was easy. Beside me, Bella was barely eating, and the offer to either have Carlie stay here or go with Phil Renee and Charlie was becoming more of a possibility.

While the rest of our family gathered around the TV to watch the games, Bella agreed to come upstairs with me. Once she was settled in bed, I removed her suede boots and began to rub her feet. "Did you have any morning sickness with Carlie?"

"Not until after I came back. I don't think it is morning sickness though. Doesn't it happen more than this?"

"It varies. Some women have constant morning sickness and others just have a very mild case. How are you feeling?"

"Better, still tired though."

It was evident by the circles under her eyes that she was. "Why don't we let Renee and Phil give keeping Carlie a try. If they have any trouble getting her down, I'll make an appearance."

My wife was smiling. "They will be thrilled. Mom already reassured me that she'll remind Carlie to use her words" The little patter of tiny feet followed by the click of heals making the way up the stairs had me smiling. "What is it?"

"Carlie is climbing the stairs with your mom following behind. Our daughter is making little grunting sounds the further up she gets. She's also determined to arrive on her own feet."

A couple of moments passed before Carlie came in, running to the bed. "Up."

"She's very careful using the steps," Renee informed as Carlie snuggled against Bella's side. "Are you alright honey?"

"Just tired, I haven't stayed up that late in a while. Do you and Phil still want to take her with you?"

Renee nodded clapping her hands together. "Oh thank you both. Let me go get some paper and a pen so I can right down her schedule."

As she left, Bella sat up, pulling our baby into her arms. "Carlie, you get to go stay with Granna and Puh."

"An Groppa."

"No, Groppa is going to the new house."

"Have Bunny an Bink an me have dit horse an a book. Me dit baf toys an no hair an you rock an no Granna."

"I think you can take all of those things with you. Momma and Dadda are staying at our house."

"Momma rock no Granna. I dit bag. Dadda down."

Bella was doing her best not to laugh. When Carlie had something on her mind, she would keep up with the conversation, mentally or verbally until she found a way to get what she wanted. Leaving her to rest, I followed our baby down the stairs, passing Renee on the way. Alice greeted us at the bottom having already packed all the things her niece listed off, plus some essentials.

There was a chill in the air as I moved Carlie's seat into the cab of Charlie's new truck. He was letting Renee and Phil use it to get back and forth and had used Sue's SUV to drive here. The cab was deluxe size with seats in the back. It was a much safer option than the old clunker. While getting the seat securely strapped in, there wasn't a way for me to hide my grin. After weeks of trying to convince Bella to give up The Red Beast, as Emmett referred to it. It just happened that the truck puffed its last breath, perhaps with a little help from Rosalie. One day I might tell Bella about that, though knowing how smart she was, I had a feeling she was already aware.

Inside, everyone was gearing up to leave. In the kitchen, I could hear Esme and Renee talking while they gathered up left overs for her and Phil to take with them. Bella was on the sofa getting Carlie into her blue London Fog coat, something she let Alice order for the colder days of winter. "Dadda, Granna rock. Momma say rock morrow an cudda bed when me home."

"I think that sounds like a very good idea." Once Bella was done, I lifted Carlie out of her lap and settled her so she was facing me. "Will you try very hard to use your words, just like you are now? Her head nodded once.

With everyone already at the door, I stood with Bella, joining the rest of our family. Everyone in my family gave Carlie hugs and kisses with the exception of Emmett who was trying to teach her to give him high fives. As Renee came over reaching for Carlie, my angel shook her head. In my mind I saw a vision of me putting her in the car.

"I think I'll get her settled."

The warm waters of the bath lapped around Bella's body as she leaned away from my chest, allowing me to suds up her back with her luffa sponge. All around us were candles giving the room a soft glow.

"I'm so relaxed that I could just fall asleep right here."

Once her back was rinsed off, she leaned back against me. Reaching around her, I rubbed the sponge over her neck moving lower to her collar bone. Bella moaned softly as the sponge was replaced by my sudsy hands. Gently I caressed the top of her breasts moving my fingers slowly over her nipples as my mouth suckled just behind her ear.

"I need you," were the only words she needed to say. After helping her to her feet, I wrapped a soft towel around Bella's body before cradling her against me. Her lips trembled as I worshiped them, walking into our room. Grabbing another towel, I spread it on the bed easing Bella down in front of me before I began to dry her off.

When we were both mostly dry, I moved over her kissing her lips, stroking them with lips and my tongue. Her hands grasped at my phallus moving it in place. Ever so slowly I pushed inside of her sex, moving until I couldn't. Her head lifted and I kissed her soft wet lips fully as I began to move in and out of her, drawing out both of our pleasure. When her breath came out in gasping pants, our dance changed to one of desperation. Our bodies moved together as if we were one being.

Holding my wife in my arms as she slept was paradise found. After another round of love making, she was spent and fell asleep with us still joined. The moment of solitude came to an end for me as my phone chimed so softly that only I could hear it. As I held the phone to my ear, I was already getting dressed, knowing who it was and that Carlie was missing us.

The moment I knocked on the door little feet made their way to answer. In my arms, Carlie snuggled against me as Renee handed me her bag. "I'm sorry to have woken you."

"There is nothing to be sorry for. Thank you for giving us some time alone."

She smiled, leaning forward to kiss Carlie's head before closing the door. The drive back to our house was quiet, though Carlie remained awake, holding Bink and Bunny tightly against her small chest. At our home, Bella was still sleeping. After getting Carlie's coat off, and getting her into a dry diaper, I settled in the rocking chair cradling her against me. Visions of her evening filled my mind. They were pleasant up until she woke up, realizing that she wasn't in her own bed.

"Dadda…"

"Shh."

Her chest rose and fell with her sigh, though her green eyes were wide, watching me closely. As I began to sing to her, Carlie rubbed her eyes before yawning. They began to blink as she shook her head trying to fight sleep. After five minutes of singing, I stood up settling her against my chest as I pressed her head gently to my shoulder. We waltzed for another half hour before sleep won out, though when I settled her in bed, her head lifted.

"I'm right here sweet heart."

When she rolled on her back, I began to rub her tummy. Carlie grasped at my hand moving it to her chest before wrapping her arms around it. Her eyes fluttered shut as I began to sing again. In our room the bed shifted before the sheets were pushed away. Sounds of cloth moving over Bella's body indicated that she was headed for us.

As if she knew her momma was now at my side, Carlie whimpered until Bella had her. "Will you bring me that blanket from the bottom of our bed?"

After they were both covered, Bella drew Carlie upward until her cheek was pressed against just below her neck. "We could…"

Her head shook. "I've done this before, but it's been a while. When she came home there were some nights where I slept in my rocking chair just like this. It's a part of being a momma, and this was a big step for her." Bella's eyes drifted closed as she began to hum Carlie's new lullaby.

With the blanket draped over them, I knelt down beside the chair listening to their beating hearts, three hearts that were intertwined with my own.

AN: I hope you all enjoyed these two chapters. I'm taking my time with this. I've mentioned before that some of my past stories felt rushed to me once I got done and went to read them from front to end. Family is one of those that I rushed just to finish. I'll try and finish it at some point, but I'm having fun with this idea.

Please leave a comment, and thank you all for the last chapter with the reading.