I don't own anything copyrighted and just found out that I won't be able to own the Zombieland DVD until February either....ggrrr.

I bought my hubby the mega boxed set of Red vs Blue for X-Mas and couldn't help but give it to him early! I am such a noob when it comes to presents because I hate making people wait for them rofl.

Remember that I love all of my crazy readers!!! You guys rock my world!!!!!!!

Black Swan

Chapter 21

Edward Cullen

One week can change so many things in a person's life. A puny seven days could be the difference between being a freedom loving bachelor and an expectant father. Seven days could be the difference between a warm bed and a headstone or a corporate bigwig and a desolate pauper.

It's been seven days since Bella found out she had a brain tumor that was quickly siphoning her life away. One hundred and sixty-eight hours since she named the damn thing Ollie, and ten thousand eighty minutes since Bella confessed her imminent transformation and the subsequent phasing of the two souls both she and I hold more dear than anything else in this world.

Stupid, calculating vampire brain. Can't I have some semblance of peace for five minutes?!

Bella mumbles uneasily in her slumber and I immediately try to soothe away her troubles by pressing a kiss onto her temple and stroking her back. The nightmares began the night Seth and Leah went through their first change and then had to join Sam and the other wolves. The added stress to an already volatile situation has taken its toll on my mate.

During the day, she puts on a brave face for everyone and has shed few tears in anyone's presence, including my own. Every morning Bella comes up with a new list of things that must be done before her change and does her best to speed through it like a woman possessed. The problem is that ever since she fainted in the clearing, her energy levels are not what they were. She tires easier with every day that passes and no one is immune from her temper, with its fuse being cut shorter every time she awakens and finds that her precious children haven't returned home yet.

But at night, the Bella I know and love makes herself known while she clings to me in her sleep. Mumbles, curses, shouts, and full out wails spill out of her unconscious mind during those hours. The hardest part, besides being unable to give her even a tid bit of information on the kids, is that in those hours that I hold her, I can physically measure the toll all of this is taking on her.

The tumor has invaded a new part of her brain and now every piece of food, each sip of a drink, tastes like ash to her and she has started to forgo anything but bottled water as sustenance. We learned almost instantly not to force her via instant and explosive vomiting.

Bella has less time than we originally thought.

I made a mistake yesterday morning and begged the love of my existence to let us change her before things progressed any farther, but she exploded and defiantly told us that there was no way in hell that she was going to do a damn thing until Seth and Leah were home safe and she had a chance to talk to them about it. Carlisle and I had tried to argue the benefits of haste, but she just withdrew into herself and stared out of the window until we shut up and left the room.

I hear the distinctive click clack of Rosalie's stiletto heels as she steps into the foyer. Emmett and Ben think they might be close to finding the pack Edward her thoughts float up to me No news from Tia yet though, Alice still only sees her running and searching. How's Bella? I brought her some vitamin water.

"Sleeping, for the moment," I mutter quietly as to not disturb the angel resting on my chest, "She's been out for about three hours now. I'm sure she will appreciate the water when she wakes up sis."

Can I be honest about something without you freaking out on me? My normally blunt sister timidly inquires. I'm surprised that even her thoughts are nervous. I try to decipher what she wants to talk about, but she is blocking me with memories of her, Alice, and Bella gossiping.

"Since when did you bother asking anyone about voicing your opinion?" I murmur with a soft chuckle. The seemingly insignificant movement jostles Bella enough that she shifts so that her head is tucked under my chin.

Because it's about my little sister that you're currently holding you fucking twit Ah, there's the snarky sister I know and occasionally fantasize about murdering.

"Ugh. Fine," I grumble, pushing back the aforementioned musings off to one side.

Has anyone noticed how fast Bella is deteriorating but me? Her thoughts immediately compare the differences between the Bella I was reunited with a few short months ago and the Bella I see now. To make shit worse, she was already showing symptoms when we first came back Edward. What if she has less time than we thought?

"I was thinking about that just before you came in," I confess with a grimace, "But she refuses to make any kind of decision without the twins Rose. What can anyone say against that? I won't let anyone take that decision away from her, not even me."

I hear one of the water bottles that Rosalie is putting in the fridge pop under the pressure of her squeeze and water explode all over my kitchen But she is dying Edward! She won't do the chemo or the radiation and it's killing her faster!

I close my eyes and pinch the bridge of my nose before gently extracting myself from Bella's tight grip and silently ghosting to where my sister is now mopping the water up. "Rosalie, let me ask you this," I take the mop and clasp her hands, "If you had been in a position to make the choice on whether to become a vampire or not, would you have wanted someone to come steal that choice away without being able to talk to Ben or Emmett about it first?"

Rosalie stares over my shoulder for a long moment before she sighs and her shoulders slump, "No, I wouldn't. I would have killed anyone who tried to take the choice away from me. That's why the fucker who raped me and Ali is dead to begin with. He took away our choices on everything."

I see the venom glittering in her eyes so I pull her into a comforting hug, "Exactly. We know that whatever damage that occurs in the next few days or weeks until the kids return can be reversed during her change or I would have bit her myself already sis, I swear it. I want Bella to make this choice with as little regret as possible. Hell, if she would wish it, I would leave her human simply because it is her choice to make."

"You're a stronger person than I am," she sniffles into my shoulder, "If it had been Emmett, I wouldn't think twice about having him turned. I can't see my life without him, ever."

I kiss the top of her head, "I'm glad that you never had to make that choice. Your mate was waiting for you the moment you woke up to this existence. Don't ever say a word to Bella but I'm a bit envious of that."

Rose shifts her head to look up at me, "Is the thirst too much?"

I shake my head no, "It's not that. I'm-I'm so afraid that I'm going to break her all the time, but she doesn't believe that I will ever make a mistake and hurt her. She's so goddamn trusting all the time. I don't know how things would have turned out if her blood had drawn me in."

"Speaking of that," she pushes away from my chest to lean against the counter while I finish mopping the water up at vampire speed, "Do you think that maybe some of the reason Bella's blood wasn't as appealing to any of us because she was already sick? Could it have been something unconscious in our psyche that recognized her not only as family and not food but that she was ill as well?"

"It's possible, but you would be better off asking Em or Jazz since they're so much older," I tell her honestly after putting the mop away, "I think that she was less appealing to me because I've known for almost twenty years that she is my soul mate. There wasn't room in my heart for anyone else but her."

A tiny smile flirts with her crimson stained lips, "Aw, and Sapward finally makes an appearance in the daylight. Aren't you the cutest thing?"

I roll my eyes and give her the finger as I start back up the stairs, "I'm going back up to Bella blondie. Don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out. You replace it if it does."

"Go fuck yourself Assward," my sister snickers as I ascend, "And no molesting your girlfriend while she's asleep or I'm siccing mom on you!"

I resist another eye roll and just slip back into bed next to Bella when I'm assaulted by a cacophany of thoughts coming this direction.

Edward, I know you can hear me! We're home! Seth's excited and surprisingly well focused thoughts hit me.

Is mom okay Edward? Leah's more subdued but no less forced mind finds its way through the din.

I know it's very early in the morning, but I couldn't hold them back any longer Edward Sam's mind is soothing despite the echoing of the pack in it All these two have been able to focus on for days is getting back to Bella.

They are still miles away from being able to hear me answer so I don't even try. Instead, I hover over my love and gently plant light kisses across the alabaster plane of her forehead until she begins to stir under my frigid touch.

"No...Emmett...no puppy...not help....kids...missing....dad," Bella incoherently mumbles and covers her face with the blanket.

I can't help but chuckle at the love of my life scolding Emmett in her sleep. I gingerly extract the edges of the cover from her hand and nuzzle my nose against hers, "Bella love, it's time to wake up. The kids are on their way home. They'll be here in a few minutes."

Her chocolate orbs pop open and my heart aches when I notice that her left eyelid comes up significantly slower than her right. Her complexion is also grayer today, her blood is growing thin from being unable to hold down any solid foods. Seth and Leah are gong to be angry with me for not taking better care of their mother.

"They're home? My babies are really home?" she slurs groggily, a smile already making its way onto her features.

She looks like a kid on Christmas and I give in to the urge to kiss her rose hued lips, "Yes my sweet girl, they're home. Another minute or so and they'll be crashing through the front door, I suspect. Come on, I'll help you downstairs."

I help her to her feet, keeping a careful eye on her until she is steady enough to walk on her own. I keep a hand around her waist and hold firmly so she doesn't try to run down the stairs and injure herself. This is my Bella after all, Ollie just makes things worse. Oh crap, even I'm calling her tumor by that stupid name now.

Luckily Alice saw things going blank and is ready to attack Bella with a hairbrush as soon as she concludes her human moment. My tiny sister also has a pair of comfortable black yoga pants and a loose fitting dark rose colored peasant top for her to change into. I quickly retrieve Bella's slippers from the upper level while Alice is dressing her because I know that her feet are bound to get cold once a draft gets kicked up from the front door being opened and closed.

I sit the slippers beside the bathroom door and make my way towards the main entrance. After I unlock it, my hyper hearing catches the steady thumps of four sets of paws speeding across the mossy forest floor.

Less than a half mile to go now and I'll have my family back under one roof. If my heart still beat, it would be on the verge of exploding with anticipation right now. I just hope that they can forgive me for wanting to have their mother changed so we can have her forever.

I made sure to leave clothes for them just inside the treeline Alice thinks to me as she rolls a lock of Bella's hair out of the curling iron I didn't think they would want their mother to see them naked or vice versa.

"Shit, I hadn't even thought about that Ali," I confess, shame-faced, in a voice only she can hear, "Thank you so much. I've really got to work on this parental omnipotence thing."

You'll get the hang of it eventually she chortles inside and out It just takes practice and a shit load of trial and error. Trust me on this.

"Um Alice, could I ask a favor, if it's not too much?" Bella interrupts our quiet conversation. I can hear the uncertainty making her voice tremble.

"Anything for you babe," Alice answers without missing a beat, "What do you need?"

"Could you help me put on some make-up before Seth and Leah get here? I don't want them to see how crappy I look. They might freak out and phase again and I don't think that I could handle it if they left for another week Ali," her voice cracks at the end. Oh, my poor sweet angel. It takes everything that I am not to drop everything and run to her side and console her.

Calm down Edward or I'm going to have Jasper launch your ass into the next county Alice warns, sensing my need to comfort Bella I know that you'd think she was beautiful if she was covered in pus filled boils but she has a valid point. Even to human eyes she looks ill brother, how are the heightened eyesight of her own children going to take it though?

"Of course I'll help, you silly girl," Alice says aloud and I hear Bella's immediate sigh of relief, "Just know that you're beautiful no matter what."

"Cheater," I grumble as she thanks my sister for the compliment.

Um, I'm psychic, remember? She scoffs I always cheat!

"Whatever sis," I snort and step out onto the porch because I can hear snuffling close to where Alice left the clothing for everyone.

I do my best not to look anxious as Sam, Jared, then Seth and Leah, materialize out of the brambles when all I want to do is run to them and hug them tight. It's hard to see both of them with hair less than four inches long now, but it has to be easier to deal with than being a wolf that has hair as long as a collie's. "They're here," I warn Alice as calmly as I can, "And the kids just started running this way."

I'm not surprised that as soon as Alice relays the message, the bathroom door is thrown open and a brunette colored streak comes racing through the house and out into the lawn where she is tackled by her now over six foot tall children.

I do my best to give them room until Seth waves me over with a bright smile. My feet carry me over in a flash and before the boy has a chance to blink, I'm hugging him as hard as I dare. No half-assed man hug will do right now and the normally acrid scent of werewolf doesn't even register on my vampire radar as I hold the young man I view as a son.

"I've missed you boy," I admit, my emotions causing my voice to quiver, "It's been so wrong without you and Leah home."

"Missed you too Edward," he mumbles and he's nearly knocked aside when Leah puts her arms around me as well.

"Thanks for taking care of mom," she whispers as she hugs me. I feel the warmth of her tears on my shoulder when I wrap an arm around her and hug her as well.

"It was never a problem," I qualify and kiss her now short hair, "I love you all too much to just walk away. I promised your mom that I'd be here until she didn't want me anymore and I'm not about to break it Lee-Lee."

"You stink," she answers with a low chuckle and touches her head to mine.

"You don't smell like roses to me either kiddo," I snort, earning another laugh accompanied by an eye roll.

"Oh my god, where is your hair?!" Bella cries out suddenly, capturing each of her children's faces with a hand, "Who cut it off? It couldn't have been one of the boys, they always look like they've gotten into a fight with a weed eater and lost."

Seth rubs his head and offers a sad grin, "Emily did it mom. When we first found our way back to our human forms, Sam went and got her because Leah refused to let anyone chop on her hair. Emily also promised to donate all of it to one of those charities that makes wigs for kids with cancer."

"Thank goodness for small favors," Bella smirks and pulls both of the kids down to her for another crushing hug. I make to step back, but she grabs my shirt and pulls me over so that the twins are being hugged between us. We stand like this for a few minutes until Bella begins to shiver.

"Let's get your mom inside guys," I announce, stepping out of the gaggle of warm limbs, "We might not notice it, but it's still fairly cool out here and she could get sick."

"Annoying overprotective boyfriend," Bella growls in her angry kitten voice but squeaks and concedes when Seth shrugs and moves to pick her up. She clings to me and glares at her son, "Pick on someone your own size!"

He lets out an exaggerated sigh, "But mom, you said that I'm not allowed to fight with my sister!"

She shakes her head and allows Leah to snake an arm over her shoulder and they start walking towards the house.

"We'll be right in," Seth calls up to them before laying a hand on my arm. I stop and turn back to him, inwardly laughing that I have to look up to gaze at his russet face.

His normally cheerful demeanor evaporates as soon as the girls cross the threshold. "Edward, I know things have been pretty messed up," he begins, his tone on the verge of anger, "but why haven't you turned my mom yet? I thought you said that the only way to save her was to make her like you?"

Sorry, I know you wanted all of this at once, but I had to end it there because I don't want to change character POV's in the middle of the explanations and shit. Please don't kill me!!!

Quick note, my birthday is next Friday, I'm turning the big 3-0, and for the first time in twenty years, I actually want to go out and celebrate. Too bad I also still have to put up our damn tree then decorate it, buy more X-Mas presents for the monsters I mean children, then sit down and wrap all of them!!!! AGH! Brain overload!!!!! Oh shit, where was I? Oh yeah, with everything going on next week don't expect more than maybe one update next week. I'll do my best, but please don't be upset if I don't make it.