Alex was playing with Antonia under Emmett and Rosalie's supervision while we waited for Angela and Ben to arrive. Bella wasn't interfering, but she kept a watchful eye on her son. She didn't even move when our newest family members arrived. She wasn't outwardly hostile to anyone and responded civil to anyone that spoke to her, but it still felt as if there was a wall and she was still on the other side of it. Alice went to answer the door for our guests.
"Hello Angela and Ben and welcome back." I greeted them. Both of them could feel the difference in the room and wondered what had happened since they had been here the last time.
"Hello everyone." Angela greeted. Bella looked up and smiled softly at her before subtly moving her body to block any further view of Alex. I will have more to work on I suppose in getting Bella to let Angela meet Alex. Damn it, Alice!
"Would you like something to drink?" Esme offered and both of them shook their heads and took the seats on the couch that were offered to them.
"So, we all know why we're gathered here today. I'd like to ask questions and sort out some details if that's alright with everyone." Angela moved around the elephant in the room. All of us nodded. Rosalie gave Emmett a pointed look and left the room. The humans in the room flinched when she closed the door too hard.
"Is she alright?" Ben asked.
"She's fine, for personal reasons and nothing against you personally, she voted against you both being changed. She felt the same way about Bella too at first and in time, you will learn why." Emmett explained. He wanted to go after his wife, but he still had the baby to worry about. I motioned for him to go, indicating that I would watch the baby for him. He thanked me in his thoughts and I heard Emmett take Rosalie away from the garage where she had moved herself to. They were going hunting for a few hours.
"I hope she'll be ok with us in the future." Angela was worried.
"She'll be fine. Like Emmett said, it's nothing against you personally, she has her own reasons. In time, she will tell you." Bella said softy.
"We'd like to know who your friends are that we will be with." Angela asked.
"Well, Bella and I will join you for a bit. You'll be staying with Jessica and Garrett." Angela gasped.
"Jessica, as in our Jessica?" She asked. I nodded.
"The one and only. Her change was a bit earlier than expected, but they are doing well. They were here on your last visit, actually. Jessica misses you." Bella told her. Angela smiled.
"When will you change us?" Ben asked.
"Anytime during or shortly after your honeymoon. Ideally, during your honeymoon is the easiest way to cut all ties with your families. We can make it look like you had a car accident on the way to the airport or something and we'll already be in Europe, which will minimize the amount of humans we will come across as we head to Jessica and Garrett's place." I explained to them.
"That sounds like a good plan; we've started to put together some mementos to keep with us. Can we give those to you to hang onto them for us?" Angela asked, picturing the photo album she was making, dedicated to her family.
"Absolutely, anything you want us to have, we will keep for you. I'd just urge you to have it all to me as soon as you can. I wouldn't want it to get mixed up with wedding plans or forgotten." I suggested.
"Bella, would you like to come over and help me?" Angela asked. I saw Bella light up at being included.
"Absolutely, thank you for asking me." I loved it when Bella smiled and right now loved Angela for getting her to smile.
"Where would we be during the change?" Ben asked.
"We have homes all over the world. Luckily, we do have one in Paris, on the outside of town. We will take you there if you'd like, or get you closer to Garrett and Jessica first."
"I like the second option better. I'd feel awful if anyone got hurt because of me." Angela decided and Ben nodded with her.
"That's what we'll do then. Will you also be committing to our diet as well? No one will judge you if you choose not to." Jasper asked.
"Yes, I think that what you have chosen is better. I can't picture myself hurting another person just to satisfy my hunger. I already eat animals, and this is just a different form of that." Ben said and we all chuckled.
"That's how we all feel, Ben. We will teach you and it will be a few months before we let you go hunting on your own. There is a reason why you'll be referred to as newborns." Bella said conversationally. My mind went back to the day she woke up and had trouble getting dressed. Great, now I need my wife, and I can't do anything about it. I sent a pleading look to my brother, who no doubt had picked up on the change of my mood. He calmed me down and I smiled gratefully.
"Is it really bad?" Angela asked.
"Yes and no; it's different for everyone. I've not only experienced it, but have witnessed it in person four times now and for three of them, I've been in their minds too." I explain.
"I spent years working exclusively with newborns; Bella is definitely an exception to the norm. Generally, newborns are known for erratic behavior, wild mood swings and uncontrollable thirst. Bella is the first one I've seen that remained calm and collected. I was prepared to alter her moods, but I wasn't needed. It could possibly be because she chose this life and has been preparing for a while to join us, we may never know. In Alaska, it's different because they had two newborn males in the house. Individually, who knows how it would have turned out; it's something you have to experience. I'll be there to help you too." Jasper assured the couple.
"Bella?" Angela called and my mate turned to look at her again.
"Yes?"
"If it's alright with you, will you use your venom to change me?" Bella again, smiled.
"I'd be honored, thank you."
"Edward, will you use yours on me?" Ben asked. Part of me wanted to say no; that I'd already sired one vampire and that was enough for me, but I see why he wanted it so I nodded.
"Thank you for asking me; yes, I'll do it." I answered him.
"Can we meet Alex?" Angela asked and I saw Bella tense.
"It will be fine, Bella. If it happens, then it does, but we still have him for a while and it's Angela, baby one of the sweetest girls on the planet." I said to her quietly so that the humans couldn't hear. Jasper wanted to help, but with Carlisle's new rule, he couldn't.
"Ok." Bella mumbled. I went to her and kissed her head before taking Alex by the hand. Bella was still playing with Antonia.
Upon seeing him, Angela gasped and Bella froze as though her fears of Angela being Alex's mate were true. I gave my wife a reassuring look and subtly shook my head. She relaxed minutely. Angela's gasp was because she had pictured an infant, not a toddler.
"I thought you had the baby a few months ago?"
"She did. First she had Antonia, who was adopted by Rosalie and Emmett; and while we were on our honeymoon, it came to our attention that we could have a baby that I fathered." Angela gasped again as she put the pieces together. I nodded to confirm her theory.
"After some discussion, we decided to have him. Alex is half vampire and half human. We think it's the vampire parts that contributed to his accelerated growth. Bella's second pregnancy was just over twenty weeks instead of forty for a human baby. Alex is the younger of the two by seven months, yet he's already walking and talking." Bella saw her cue, and brought over Antonia.
"Both of them are super adorable. Congratulations." Angela cooed over both of the babies. I kept watch of Bella, who was studying Angela's interactions with Alex. I was in both of their heads and we were in the clear.
"It's all fine, baby. No mate for Alex yet." I told her verbally this time. Bella relaxed her posture even more upon hearing this and engaged Angela in the wedding plans. I could see in her head that she was excited. The wedding was only a few weeks away and we should be getting our invitation in the mail any time now. Bella still wouldn't be able to attend with me because of our last trip through town making everyone believe she was deathly ill. I knew that she would be as close as she could without being seen to not only watch, but watch me. We were still too new into our mating to be without the other for very long.
Angela and Ben had stayed long enough that we served them lunch. Bella was amazing as she tended to both babies; feeding them and getting them ready for their naps. Knowing that they would both be soon sleeping had me fidgeting in my seat. I was ready to claim my wife again and there was no subtle way for me to kick our guests out and accomplish my mission. Jasper was smirking; he knew what I wanted and he wasn't planning on helping me. I tuned into the thoughts of our guests. Both of them were nervous about their upcoming change.
"Angela, Ben, do you want to know when we're coming to change you or would you both rather us take you by surprise?" I watched as they looked at each other and was amazed that their thoughts ran close to each other. I fully believed in that moment that they were mates. They looked back at me with their answer in their eyes.
"We want to know when you're coming; it will give us the proper amount of time to mentally prepare for what's going to happen." Angela spoke for the both of them and Ben nodded in agreement.
"Alright, we will come to get you and if you need a little more time when we get to the house where you'll be changed, we can give you that." Jasper told them and I felt them relax ever so slightly.
A/N: Hello everyone, I haven't forgotten about you or this story. I had inspiration for another one that I'm writing and I finished it last night along with two outtakes. I can now fully concentrate on finishing this one. Thank you to everyone who has stuck it out with me. I don't know how many chapters are left at this point, but I am winding down to the end. Reviews are wanted and appreciated. Have a great day!
