A/N: So, what does everyone think is going to happen? What happened to Frankie? Who is Frankie? What has Sam got planned now he's lost two more wolves? So many questions, these and many more will be answered in this chapter. Starting to round this story up now, starting on the sequel once it's finished. This story isn't very long compared to others, but I'm planning on putting so much more into the sequel.

Chapter Nineteen: Today is just full of surprises

Bracken took a few deep breaths and steadied herself; she gripped onto the back of the sofa and used it to hold herself up. Cubby stood and waited before speaking again "I know it's a shock, I'm sorry we have to bring you such bad news". Bracken shook her head to clear out the last of the fog that had set in and spoke "how?" her voice was barely a whisper. Cubby looked back at his mother quickly before looking back to Bracken "he took his own life because Cassie died during childbirth", "childbirth?" Bracken asked as her jaw dropped. Cubby nodded "yeah, Frankie was the father. She left this letter for you…. Bracken… she wanted you to have the babies", Bracken gulped as she took the letter from Cubby "babies? As in more than one baby?" Cubby nodded "twins, everything is explained in the letter. We had to look at it to find out who she wanted to be guardian", Cubby and Anastasia walked out of the room and came back in carrying a bundle each. Anastasia passed her bundle to Alice and Cubby passed his bundle to Bracken. Alice looked down at the sleeping baby in her arms and felt the venom pool behind her eyes "she's beautiful"; Bracken smiled "they both are". Cubby looked around as he tried to find the words "well uh… we have to go now. The twins are yours, as you know there's no birth certificate or anything. Congratulations Bracken, you're a parent now". Bracken nodded and Cubby and Anastasia slipped out as everyone crowded around Bracken and Alice. "Cubby!" Bracken called as she saw them slipping out, Cubby turned around "yeah?" Bracken smiled "you're doing a good job as Alpha", Cubby's chest swelled with pride as he smiled. Anastasia and Cubby walked out of the door, leaving Bracken alone for good.

"What are you gonna call them?" Emmett asked as he looked down at the twins, everyone's attention switched to Bracken and Alice as they looked at each other. Alice tilted the baby girl so everyone could see her better "I'd like you all to meet Anastasia Esme Rose Bella Cullen", everyone smiled at the name choices and Esme looked like she was trying not to cry. Esme felt such pride at having her name given to her first granddaughter, Rose looked even happier as she covered her mouth with her hands. Bracken tilted the baby in her arms "And I'd like you all to meet Cadoc Carlisle Edward Emmett Jasper Cullen", Edward, Emmett and Jasper all puffed their chests out as their names were listed. Carlisle smiled at Bracken and placed his hand on her shoulder "you've both honoured us all by naming your children after us. Thank you". "Because we love you all" Alice replied sweetly, Bracken nodded "you all took me in and made me a part of the family, this is a good way to repay you". Alice gasped and smiled "we get to go shopping!", "and make a nursery!" Esme beamed excitedly.

The guys and Bracken groaned as the girls rushed off to go shopping, Alice handed Anastasia to Jasper as she left. Bracken looked down at the sleeping babies and smiled "at least you get spared from the shopping trip Bella", Bella nodded and smiled as Bracken sat next to her with Cadoc in her arms, Bracken passed Cadoc to Bella as Jasper handed Anastasia to Bracken "um…what do we feed them?" Jasper asked nervously. Emmett laughed "even I know that, they drink milk", Bracken shook her head "actually, wolf milk is a little different to human milk. We need to make something close to it". Everyone started wondering how they were going to do that when vampires don't like the smell of any kind of food and know absolutely nothing about werewolf milk. "I know how to make the milk; I've had to help Anastasia raise orphaned cubs a few times. We need to use meat to make the milk thicker and higher in protein" Bracken explained as she saw the confused looks, Bella looked at Edward "don't know why you're standing around here, go get bracken some meat". Bracken laughed as the boys ran out of the house, arguing about what meat to buy.

The girls raided pretty much every shop in Port Angeles, buying everything they could to do with babies. Dainty dresses, suits, vests, socks and shoes and anything else they could get their hands on. After hours of buying every designer outfit and piece of baby furniture possible, they hit the hardware stores. Esme was finally in her element, after hours of looking at wallpaper and paint, she finally decided on cute bunny wallpaper with baby blue and pink paints, a light shade with crayons on them and bunny carpet. The girls knew that once they got the stuff home; it would be the job of the boys to construct the nursery, under the guidance of Esme of course. Back at the house, Seth walked through the front door and into the living room. "Hey, where is everyone?" he called out as he looked around, "gone out" Bella said as she looked over the back of the sofa. Seth walked around the sofa and stopped dead in his tracks, his jaw dropped as his gaze was drawn to Anastasia asleep in Bella's arms. As he looked down at the tiny baby he felt as if his whole world had shrunk and nothing mattered but the little girl before him.

Bracken watched Seth's gaze and started growling loudly, Bella looked between the two of them and called out "Jake! Jake I need you!" Jake came running in and skidded to a stop as he saw Seth's face and noticed Bracken's protective growling. "Relax Bracken, Seth's only imprinted on her" Jake said as he rushed to stand in front of Bracken, Bracken looked at Jake "you what?" she shouted. Jake held his hands up in surrender "easy Bracken, it's not his fault. Imprinting isn't something you have a choice over", Bracken carried on growling "but why my daughter?" Seth looked up for the first time since he walked into the house "Bracken, I'm sorry I imprinted. But I don't want to hurt your daughter in anyway; all I want to do is protect her and be there for her". Just at that moment, Leah walked into the house to find out what all the fuss is. "OK, what the hell is with the…" Leah's question was cut off as she saw Cadoc asleep in Bracken's arms, Bracken took one look at Leah and growled even louder "oh hell no! Not her now!"

Both the guys and the girls returned home at the same time, the girls loaded with baby supplies and decorating items and the guys loaded with meat. As they walked into the house, they saw Bella sat on the couch holding both babies, Bracken growling at Seth and Leah who were now backed into a corner and Jake trying desperately to hold Bracken back. The boys dropped the meat and rushed to pull bracken back while Rose grabbed the meat and put it in the freezer. "What the hell is going on?" Carlisle shouted as they dragged Bracken back to an armchair and forced her down into it. "They imprinted on the twins, Bracken isn't taking it well" Jake said as he pointed to Leah and Seth, Alice sighed "you're kidding, this is all we need". Edward and Emmett carried everything upstairs with the help of Rose, while Esme and Alice went to sort the whole mess out. Alice took Anastasia from Bella and sat next to her on the sofa, Esme stood in front of Bracken who was still being help down in the armchair "Bracken, please think about this. An imprint isn't always a bad thing, listen to Jake and let him explain it to you before you freak out". Bracken sighed and looked over to Jake.

Jake looked over at Seth and Leah and sighed "imprinting on a child is different to imprinting on an adult, there's nothing romantic to it", Jake rubbed the back of his neck and continued "when a wolf imprints on a child, they become the best babysitter ever. Then when the imprint gets older, they become his or her best friend. By the time the imprint becomes an adult, the wolf becomes the perfect partner". Bracken stopped struggling in her father and brother's arms "so what, I still don't like it", Alice sighed "why not Bracken? Like Jake said, they'll be perfect for the twins". Jake cleared his throat to bring attention back to him "when a wolf imprints they can't be separated. It'll kill them", Bracken looked at Seth and Leah stood in the corner watching the twins. Bracken sighed "I don't have a choice do i? I don't like it but I don't have a choice", Seth smiled "so you'll let us be around them?" Bracken growled and walked off upstairs. Alice sighed and followed Bracken upstairs, Seth and Leah smiled and sat down on the sofa.

Bracken stormed into the bedroom they shared and growled loudly, Alice walked in after her and tried to calm Bracken down. "I hate this Alice, I hate how our kids are gonna have their choices taken away from them" Bracken whined, Alice wrapped her arms around Bracken's neck and hugged her tightly "I know, I hate it too. But if we don't agree to it then it could mean Seth and Leah's deaths. Plus, we have two perfect babysitters ready to go". Bracken sighed and nodded "I guess I can get used to it, over time", Alice closed her eyes and enjoyed the quiet calm that washed over them as they stood still together. Bella rocked Cadoc to sleep "I understand what Bracken is saying, I'd feel the same way", Jake looked at her in surprise "what about if you had a daughter and I imprinted, how would you feel then?" Bella shrugged "I'd still hate it, having a child's choice taken away from them is hell for a parent", Jake looked slightly hurt by what she said "Claire doesn't have her choice taken away from her, Cadoc and Anastasia don't have their choice taken from them. It's not losing your choice, its nature's way of finding the perfect partner".

Bracken and Alice walked back downstairs, seeing Seth and Leah holding the twins with such care made Alice smile. "See?" she asked Bracken "they care about them so much", Bracken sighed and walked up to Seth "I don't like the idea of you two imprinting and I'm never going to, but I will allow it". Seth handed Anastasia to Bracken softly and smiled down at her lovingly "thank you Bracken. I promise you, they'll know no sadness or pain. We'll be there for them when you and Alice can't". Bracken nodded "just remember who their parents are", Seth nodded "of course, that's not what an imprint's about". Bracken nodded and looked over to the kitchen "well, you get to look after Anastasia for a while Seth. I have to make their milk", Seth took the sleeping baby as Bracken walked off to the kitchen with Esme following close behind. "Well, that went easier than I expected" Emmett joked as he was pulled away by Rosalie, Edward walked close behind, carrying the plans Esme had drawn up while all the chaos was going on. Alice sat next to Bella as they started talking about babies and names for her baby, Leah sat on the love seat next to Seth. Alice looked over and smiled at the two of them, holding the twins, smiling and ticking their toes.

"We still have Sam to worry about, we need to figure out a way to deal with this" Esme said, Bracken took out several pounds of venison from the freezer and started cutting it up. "I have no idea how we're going to deal with any of this mom, we have the twins to worry about, Bella to protect and now with this imprint we have to worry about Seth and Leah" Bracken sighed as she put all the chopped meat into the blender. Jake cleared his throat from the doorway "I might have an idea", Bracken took out a bottle of milk and poured a large amount into the blender with the meat "what's your idea Jake?" she asked. Jake watched Bracken for a second before speaking "Seth and Leah's imprint, we can use it to get the council to call of Sam's attack", Esme thought for a second before nodding in agreement "that could work, but how would we inform the council?" Jake shrugged and raised his voice to be heard over the blender "I could go talk to my dad and Sue, once Sue finds out both her children have imprinted with werewolves she'll order Sam not to attack herself". Bracken poured the liquid into bottles and started heating two of them up "how soon can you get the message to them?" she asked, Jake shrugged "I can go see my dad right now, Sue's always with my dad". Bracken put the other bottles in the fridge while the two bottles were heating, "right, well Jake you go tell your dad and Sue. We'll just have to wait and see if it works" Bracken said as she grabbed the two bottles of milk.

Bracken and Esme walked back into the living room where everyone was now sat watching the twins. Bracken handed one bottle to Alice who was already rocking Anastasia, Bracken took Cadoc from Leah and sat on the sofa next to Alice "Jake's going to talk to Billy and Sue; he has an idea on how to stop the attack". Seth sat forward in his chair "really? How?" Bracken didn't even look up from Cadoc as she spoke "he's going to tell Sue and his dad about your imprints, he said that if your mom knows about it she'll do anything to stop the attack". Carlisle nodded "It makes sense; she'd do anything for her children. To break an imprint would mean their deaths", Alice put the bottle down and started patting Anastasia's back "as long as our family is safe, I don't care how this is all sorted". Bracken looked at Alice and smiled reassuringly "don't worry love, we'll sort it out. I'll do whatever I have to do in order to protect our family" Alice smiled and lent her head on Bracken's shoulder, Bracken went back to feeding Cadoc.

"The nursery's done, we're just waiting for the paint to dry and then we can do the furniture" Emmett announced loudly, everyone could tell by the wide smile on his face that he was feeling very proud with himself. Cadoc yawned and slowly fell asleep in Bracken's arms; Bracken passed Cadoc to Leah and walked up the stairs to her and Alice's bedroom. Alice passed Anastasia to Carlisle and went upstairs after Bracken; Alice opened the bedroom door and stood in the doorway watching Bracken. Bracken stood in front of the window and held a letter in her hand; Alice walked up behind her and wrapped her arms around her waist. "Is everything ok my love?" Alice asked quietly as she kissed Bracken's shoulder blade, Bracken said nothing but held the letter up for Alice to read.

Dearest Bracken

If this letter reaches you then it means I am dead, I really hope you don't read this letter. While I'm writing this, I am pregnant and due to give birth any day now. Only our mother knows that Frankie is the father, it would not be allowed, but you know as well as I do that he is a good man. Frankie has been there for us both from the moment we were both born and has been a faithful companion for decades. If anything is to happen to me during or after the birth, then I would like or you to raise my children. I see no one more suited to the task than you my dear sister; please raise my children as if they were your own… because with this letter they become yours. Even though Callum is long gone now, I still fear what would happen if my children were to be raised in this pack. You know there are others who follow his ideals; my children would be killed if they were to have their way. So I am intrusting you with their lives, I know you'll raise them right.

Your ever loving big sister,

Cassie

Alice finished reading the letter and folded it back up "It explains a lot" she said, Bracken nodded "Cassie and I were never raised together, she doesn't really have many other siblings. None of them would raise her children anyway". The two of them stood in silence for a few minutes, neither of them speaking. Finally Bracken was the one to break the silence "we have to raise the twins in the same way she would raise them, I owe her that much. She did so much for me in my life" Bracken spoke softly. Alice kept quiet while Bracken stared out of the window, thinking about the past.

Russia 1901

Bracken stood in the manor grounds looking into the wilderness, the night covered the landscape like a thick blanket of nothingness. The quiet sounded eerie to mortals, but to Bracken it was comforting. She liked the quiet and the dark; it made her feel at peace. The sound of music and talking coming from the house behind her, the snow was thick in front of her. "You're missing the party" Cassie said as she stood behind Bracken, "not like they'd miss me" Bracken replied quietly. Frankie came running out and stopped next to Cassie before whispering something in her ear, Cassie nodded and stepped closer to Bracken. "Bracken… Frankie and I… we're together now" Cassie said quietly as she placed her hand on Bracken's shoulder, Bracken nodded "I knew you two would get together". Cassie smiled sadly and hugged Bracken from behind "this won't change anything; we'll still be here for you. We'll still protect you", "with our lives" Frankie agreed as he stepped forward. Cassie smiled "It's the three of us Bracken… the three of us against all of them. Forever" Cassie said as she pointed back to the manor house, Bracken looked up at her older half-sister and smiled "you promise?" Frankie smiled "we both promise".

Present day

"It was supposed to be us against them all… forever" Bracken whispered so quietly that Alice thought she was mistaken, "Cassie and Frankie, they were supposed to be there for me always. Now they're dead" Bracken finished. "I'm sorry Bracken" Alice said "but they've left you something precious to them, to take care of and protect". Bracken nodded "your right, now all we have to do is stop this wolf attack and everything will be fine". Alice nodded, all they could do is hope that Jake was successful… if not; they'd have a fight on their hands.

A/N2: sorry it took so long, I had so much going on. Next chapter is the last one, and then there will be a short break before I get started on the sequel.