AN: Sorry it took so long to get this story updated. I happen to be working on 2 other stories right now. Sexual Healing and Healing Moments. Please check them out as well. Enjoy...

Chapter 36

A week and a half later, I sit in the cozy room that Esme set up for me as a study /music/ relaxation room. I'm reading the book of baby names while being comfy on the chaise lounge I'd asked for. A knock sounds at the door to my little hide-away. I look up as Jacob and Valerie walk in.

"Jacob, Val…Hi, you look relaxed…" I say.

My ex-husband looks me over. "…And you look very pregnant…Bells, you're twice the size you were…last time I saw you…are you… happy and healthy?"

"Oh, Jake…you can't even begin to imagine how happy I am…" I say, going on to tell them some of the names we're considering.

Jacob is silent. "Seriously, Bells…? Why name I kid after me…? I mean, I've been so hard on all of you and the partial imprint is a major imposition on your…happily ever after… How does Eddie-boy feel about it?"

I frown. "He's…not ecstatic about it…but it's an option. We haven't decided anything yet…in fact we've decided not to decide until the birth is done with."

Jake rolls his eyes as Valerie and I giggle at the silliness of what I just said. I talk a bit more with Valerie and Jacob before Edward and Alice join us.

All of a sudden, Jake goes 'Alpha' on us. "So, what time frame are we looking at?"

I sigh. "Early December…twins usually come early so Thanksgiving is also a possibility…"

"…And it's now November 4th… Carlisle measured her yesterday at 34 cm." Alice says. "It's almost over… Don't forget that Charlie and Renee think it's an accelerated pregnancy because of special growth hormones Bella needs for her health."

"So, we're expecting to have 2 little Cullens by Thanksgiving? We can deal with that." Jake says. "When should we plan our first visit?"

Edward and Alice look at each other.

"What…?" Jake asks.

"It's just that… Jake, Valerie… We have something we need to tell you…" Alice begins. "You see, it may not be a good idea…"

Edward interrupts. "What my sister is trying to say is that…"

I crack up and roll my eyes. "Oh my God…Just spit it out, guys!" I turn to face our friends. "Jake, I've recently been told that newborn Vamps are volatile and unpredictable, as well as stronger and faster, and so on, than the older vampires. I would hate to hurt either of you if and when that happens to me. So it's probably not a great idea to bring Valerie around me…for the first few visits at least. You, however, can probably use your wolfiness to avoid an attack, and heal quickly if I do get to you…"

Jake nods. "So the partial imprint wouldn't be disturbed…"

Valerie pales. "You'd really attack me…us?"

My pregnancy hormones kick in and I start to cry. I nod. "…B-But it wouldn't be on p-purpose…"

She runs over to hug me. "Oh, honey, I didn't mean it like that! We know you wouldn't hurt us intentionally."

I sniffle into a tissue and suddenly a baby chooses that moment to kick a rib. I cry out and rub the spot. "It's tender…Edward…" I look up at him but he's just staring at my belly. "What is it, Edward…?"

"I heard it…The baby…I heard one of the babies think 'there's not enough room in here' just before you yelled…Bella! I can hear them…both of them!" He picks me up and twirls me around.

I smile. "Really…? Oh, my gosh, what are they thinking now…?"

He concentrates, touching my stomach. "One is thirsty…the other wants… mushroom ravioli…!"

The whole room laughs. Jake just smirks as Rosalie brings in a thermos for me.

"Wow, this is crazy…but it's a good crazy." He says. "I'd hate to think you went through all you did to find each other again and then have to go through some sickly pathetically painful and draining pregnancy…You deserve to enjoy the last few months of being human, Bells…I'm glad it's happening…we'll see you soon …I promise." He hugs me before turning to his wife. "C'mon, Val…Billy's waiting on me. I promised to do some stuff for him."

I feel the babies move as my friends get up to leave. "The babies like the sound of your voice, Jake." I say. "Don't they, Edward…? Is that what they're thinking?"

Edward nods and smirks. "They're specifically thinking 'where are they going?' and 'I hope they come back soon.' My children seem to like you, Jacob."

"Well, aren't I the lucky one…?" He says, sighing. He places a hand on my stomach and looks at me saying, "Bye, kids…Uncle Jake will be back to see you and mommy soon…And Daddy, too, whether he likes it or not…"

Edward rolls his eyes. "Daddy doesn't mind too much…as long as his family is happy; he's happy. See you in a few days, pup."

Jake growls and goes off with Valerie.

Esme brings a plate of mushroom ravioli for me to eat. "Grandma Esme is here, little ones…" She says talking to the babies.

They start to shift around.

I eat my ravioli and decide to walk around the room. Esme, all the while, talks and talks to the kids and then Rosalie decides to visit with them and I'm thinking to myself: 'Hello people! The kids are still inside mommy! Isn't anyone going to talk to ME?'

This goes on for about a week and a half before my hormones make me rage at Edward about it. The day after my tantrum, Emmett suddenly lures Rosalie away with a 'slight dent in the door of his Jeep'. Alice is tempted to go to Vancouver with Jasper because he needed to get away from the 'unstable emotional currents' that I was giving off. A phone ringing downstairs takes Esme away for a bit, and when I think I'm alone, Edward pops up and whisks me out of the house.

"I'm sorry they've been so 'baby-centric', love. You know they love you and not just the babies, right?" He asks as we lose ourselves in the forest.

I sigh. "I know, Edward, but sometimes I just feel like a human incubator. Esme had a whole conversation with the unborn children and she's not even the mind reader!" I laugh. "Hey, should we be going this far away from the house this close to the end of the pregnancy?"

He stops. "Shoot! You're right, I didn't think! Let's go back."

"No, its ok…we're here already and I feel fine. Let's stay…" I say. "…Just for a little while…?" I gaze innocently up at him.

Edward just gives me a smug look. "So I did good…?"

I nod. "Yeah…Thanks for rescuing me… I love you!"

He continues on and the closer we get the more certain I am of where he's taking us…The meadow… We haven't been there in what feels like forever…

He sets me down and rolls his eyes. "Alice has been here…" There's a box a few feet away with a note attached. "It says…and I quote… 'Enjoy your little outing, brother and sister-dears…because it's your last before the babies get here- love Alice."

I watch as he opens the box to find a blanket and a thermos of blood. "She thinks of everything!"

He puts the blanket down and helps me lie down on it with him.

The flowers and scenery look as lovely as ever and I breathe deep and easy, falling into a nap. I don't dream this time…but I am shaken awake by Edward moving around. My eyes open to find that our little meadow has a visitor…a hungry one… a mountain lion has decided to invade our haven.

I feel the babies stir inside me. They sense the danger, maybe? My breath catches as I smell the wildcat. Perhaps they smell the blood of the cat.

"Bella, stay perfectly still and don't make a sound." He says into my ear. "I'll chase him that way and feed; I was getting peckish anyway… I'll be back shortly. Don't move, love." He slowly gets up and herds the lion away from me. His movements are so swift and graceful that I feel arousal building in me as he performs his task of keeping me safe. Moments later, he rejoins me.

I notice a drop of red at the corner of his mouth; he is otherwise impeccably clean, as always. I smirk and lean in close. "You missed a spot, lover…but don't worry, I'll get it for you…"

He seems speechless as I use my lips and tongue to clean the drop of blood from his lip.

I take full advantage and savor the taste of his last kill. My hands rake through his hair and I pull lightly.

He moans and finds his focus. He undresses me and I him…Our hands wander as we give in to our…Ok; they're actually, my…hormonal urges.

My breasts have grown and have gotten more of Edward's attention than any other section of my body.

His hands are now magnetically attracted to them during sex. His mouth makes a meal…metaphorical, of course…of my entire body. He delights in the noises he draws out of me.

I feel like I'm on fire, but the slight chill from his touch is barely noticed as he works me over. My hot wet core invites him in and surrounds him as I move with him. I take the upper position and he helps me remain stable as I ride him hard.

He uses his fingers to rub my clit and make my spirit soar.

I cry out, "EDWARD! Oh my, Edward…!"

"Bella, my love… God, Bella…" He yells with me as we rise to our peaks perfectly in sync with each other.

A short time later Edward helps me back into my clothes and we begin to walk back to the house. He never leaves my side but along the path a large tree had fallen and he needed to move it so I wait leaning on a knee-high boulder.

Sudden moisture on my legs alerts me that something is happening.

"Edward, leave the tree and just carry me…Vampire speed may be necessary… I think my water just broke." As I finish this sentence, I feel a terrible cramp in my lower back. "Edward…please, hurry…!"

He looks surprised but he scoops me up and runs at the requested speed to the home of our family. He stops for a minute to call Alice, who will call and inform the others of our situation.

At this point, the pain in my back has stopped for a few minutes and Edward is accurately keeping track of our heart-rates. Mine is a bit elevated. The babies are fine.

As soon as we get within sight of the house, Rosalie comes out with Esme and Carlisle comes up the driveway.

"Your water broke? I was certain that with the density of the amniotic sack, we would need to perform a C-section. Oh, well… looks like this may be easier then we thought. Daddy, let's get mommy inside and properly set up." Turning to my sister-in-law, he says. "Rose, make sure you've laid everything out for both a natural birth and an emergency C-section. I want to be prepared for anything."

Alice joins us. "I'm sorry, Carlisle, I haven't seen anything."

Edward takes me into the house and sets me up on the OB/Gyn table that's been set up in the living-room. He whispers to me. "It's a good thing we used a condom, love. I don't think it would be pleasant for the babies to push their way out through our…well, you know…"

I blush, probably for the last time.

Carlisle joins us and asks if Edward has checked for my dilation yet.

"I was just about to, Dad." He says as he moves into position. "Bella-love, we are halfway there already. You're 5 cm dilated." He looks at his dad. "Just so you know, Dad, we had intercourse about an hour and a half ago…so her orgasm probably triggered the beginning contractions."

I blush a deep red color. "Edward, did you have to tell him that…?"

"It's good that he said something, Bella. Yes, Edward, it is likely that your activities induced the labor but Bella's measurement is in the acceptable range for delivery. So let's meet our newest family members…" Carlisle says.