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Summary: What if there was something different about Bella? What if it meant that Edward & Bella had a more "normal" relationship?
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Chapter 49 – Times Apart
Edward's POV
The news of James' death lifted the weight of the world off of my shoulders. I knew, however, everything would not be as it was before between Carlisle and us.
He had broken our trust. Bella said she forgave him but I couldn't even come close to saying those words to him.
Christmas was a happy event now that there was no danger around Alice was so excited that she flitted around like a pixie on speed. It was actually quite amusing. I hadn't seen the family this excited about something in so many years that I'd lost track.
The first month back to school was horrendous. I missed Bella. It was so bad that I even considered quitting and staying home with her. Bella and Esme talked me out of it. It would cause suspicion if I did that. It wasn't that the town didn't realize that supernatural events happened in the vicinity, it was just that they chose not to acknowledge it. Anything that pointed out what they were trying to avoid would not be a good thing. If I left school too, too many of our fellow students would question why and they would just get way too nosy.
I suffered through it much to the exasperation of my siblings. I was miserable and I didn't let them forget it. I can be a pretty angsty vampire when I wanted to be. My moods were even bringing down the perky Alice.
Evenings were spent with Bella. She loved for me to catch her up on all the school's gossip. She caught me up on her day and every move and twitch the babies made. The connection between her and them was growing stronger as well. She could hear more of their random thoughts as they grew.
One of the things I knew she had been doing was to scour the Internet for baby names to make lists of ones she liked. We'd sit in our room before going to bed and see which ones we both liked.
Even though I didn't sleep, lying in our bed, holding Bella in my arms while she did was one of my favourite times of the day. The other was when she first woke up in the morning. It took everything in me to force myself to leave the house in the morning before she was awake. I knew that if I stayed to watch her awaken, I'd never leave.
Weekends were my favourite now. I loved to watch as she took stock of everything around her as she lay with her eyes closed. The way her nose wrinkled and he body shivered as she shook off the last remnants of sleep. Her eyes would slowly open as she turned her head towards me when I moved my hand caressingly over her belly. Her eyes lit up and she would lean up for a kiss. Of course, I would happily oblige.
One night we discovered that the babies were much more aware than we thought possible. We were just hanging in our room while the others had gone hunting, taking the opportunity of a quiet house to spend some quality time together.
I loved my family to pieces but sometimes they could be really overly intense sometimes.
We were taken by surprise and we both jumped, startled to hear the voices in both of our minds at the same time.
It seemed that our children had become impatient, deciding to name themselves from the names that they had heard us discuss. Four very distinct voices rang out, two girls and two boys. Ciara Esme, Elisabeth Renee, Edward Charles, and finally Aiden Carlisle.
We looked at each other and down at her stomach in shock. I was pretty sure that the look on my face was what I saw mirrored on Bella's.
"You heard that right?"
She nodded slowly as her eyes moved back down and her hand reached down to splay over them.
"I did. Holy shit! What else are they going to be able to do?"
"I'm not sure Bella. Apparently my mind reading abilities and your link with the Pack have merged into something a lot stronger within them."
"Do you think it will just be with us and the Pack once they're born? Or do you think they will be completely telepathic?"
"It's a possibility. There hasn't been children born of Vampires and Shape-shifters before so this will be completely unknown territory and no map to follow."
""Are we truly prepared for this Edward? I mean, you never thought you'd have kids at all and I never dreamed I'd be "that girl". The one that got pregnant in high school that is."
I chuckled at where her mind was going, "It's a little too late to change anything now Bella."
She scowled and hit my shoulder with some force, "I know that! I'm just saying, are we really ready for this? I'm getting a little scared now. They're going to be here soon."
I pulled her body close to mine and rubbed her back gently. "You're not the only one that's scared Bella. I've never really had anything to do with children, especially since being turned. This is beyond scary for me. I don't know what to expect when they're born."
We lay there for several moments just drawing comfort from each other. I felt her sigh and asked what it was for.
"I guess now all I can do is schoolwork and wait for them to get here." She laughed. "Apparently we suck at picking out names."
I laughed with her. "Apparently we do."
"Edward?"
"Yes, Bella?"
"Would you play the piano for us?"
I grinned down at her and picked her up in my arms, carrying her to the piano. "Of course, I definitely will. What would they like me to play?"
"I think anything you choose will be fine."
I watched her relax on the sofa near the piano as I started to play, her hands fanning over her stomach caressingly. She closed her eyes and seemed to absorb the music as I played.
I wasn't sure how much time passed before I realized she was sound asleep. I carried her back to bed and spent the rest of the night watching her and listening to our children talk to each other. I hadn't told Bella about that aspect of their abilities. I wasn't sure how connected she was with them at the moment and didn't want her to feel left out of the loop.
The days passed quickly, each one much the same as the one before it. We told the family the chosen names and sexes of the babies when they'd returned from hunting that day and of course, Alice had gone monogram crazy as a result. I don't think there was a single item in our room that wasn't at this point. There would be no doubt on what belonged to who when they arrived.
I was sitting in English class one morning when an unheralded screeching went through my mind, making me wince in pain. Alice was totally freaking out but her mind was in such a tizzy that I couldn't make heads or tails what the hell the problem was. I didn't hear anything distressful in Jasper, Emmett or Rosalie's thoughts so whatever it was it wasn't life threatening. I barely made it through the next hour without losing a little sanity however.
She was standing outside the classroom door as soon as the bell rang a look of horror on her face.
"EDWARD!" she screamed in her mind, grabbing my arm a little painfully.
"Alice, use your words." I reached out to touch her face, hoping Jazz showed up soon to calm her down.
I no sooner thought it when Jasper appeared at her side and I felt the death grip she had on me ease up.
"What's the matter Alice? What's wrong? I could feel your emotions clear across the school for the past hour!" Jasper was doing his best to calm her while trying not to panic himself.
"Edward! What is the date?!?!?"
Jazz and I exchanged puzzled looks as I answer her. "February 10th?"
"YES! February 10th! You have FOUR DAYS!"
She was really starting to annoy me now." Er. Four days for what exactly?"
She smacked me on the forehead and huffed. "Are you completely clueless Edward? What the hell do you think! Valentine's day!"
"And?" I kept my face relaxed while I waited for her response. At this point, I'd figured out where her drama was coming from and I couldn't help but pull her leg. She was so worked up over this that her precognition wasn't even working. It only happened sporadically but it made for much amusement when it did.
I could see her body start to vibrate and Jasper started glaring at me. I could almost feel the energy he was exerting to prevent Alice from going off like an nuclear bomb right in the middle of the school hallway.
"EDWARD!"
I broke at that point. I couldn't stop the grin forming and the laughter welling up my throat.
"It's okay Alice. I know what day is coming up. I was just kidding with you."
I guess that wasn't the best thing to say since now she just glared at me, huffed and stormed off.
"Thanks dude." Jasper grunted at me as he left to follow her.
Grinning, I headed to my next class, which I knew I was going to be late for. My opinion of school hadn't changed since Bella stopped coming. It just sucked. Especially given that the girls figured I was once again fair game even knowing that I was still with Bella whether she was here or not. The thoughts that went through their minds were utterly disgusting to me. The things they wanted me to do to them gave me shivers. I kept to myself more than I did before Bella came into my life, dreading each day I had to be here.
Talking with Alice reminded me that I had to speak to Esme and Carlisle about my Valentine's plans with Bella. I knew that some of my birth mother's jewelry was still in the safe in the study and although I wasn't allowed to buy Bella gifts, she couldn't turn down an heirloom, could she? I hoped not. I wanted to give her something special.
I got through the rest of the day avoiding the skanks to the best of my ability. The worse it got, the more difficult time I was having keeping their actions away from Bella. The link between us got stronger every day and I was afraid of her reaction when she caught wind of their thoughts towards me. She knew there was no way that I could do anything with any of them, our link guaranteed that and even without it, I would never willingly touch any of them.
Since Emmett had brought his jeep to school that day, I headed to the hospital to talk to Carlisle by myself. I wanted to let him know about the advancement of the telepathy between the babies, Bella and I while I had some time before heading home. Alice had informed me that she was taking Bella shopping again when she got home so I had a few hours to kill. I wasn't sure what Alice thought there was left to buy but as long as Bella was going with her willingly, I wasn't going to say anything. I knew she was getting a little stir crazy while we were all gone during the day.
My Valentine's plans for Bella weren't really excessive. I knew she didn't like a lot of fuss or anything but I wanted it to be special. It was our first together. It still amazed me that so much had happened in such a short period of time. Within months, I'd met the love of my life, my mate and I was going to become a father. The thought still scared me. When Bella asked if we were ready for this, I was torn on how to answer her. I was scared spitless about being responsible for four young lives but I was excited at the thought at the same time.
I wondered if this miracle was going to happen again too. Was it a one shot deal or was there actually the possibility that we would have more in the future. I yanked my thoughts back from that avenue quickly. It was enough to have what I did right now without wishing for more. Since we had no idea what the babies were going to be like as far as vampiric or shape-shifter abilities went, I didn't want to push my luck or my sanity too far.
My chat with Carlisle ended with us both leaving the hospital at the same time. He let me go through Bella's file with him on the progression of the pregnancy. The babies were all doing well and he was completely fascinated by the telepathy that they all exhibited.
We got home just as Alice and Bella arrived, weighed down with bags upon bags of purchases. I watched, fascinated as Bella walked towards me and moved her body up against my own. She had the power to bring me to my knees with a look and her touch literally melted me. I kissed her deeply while I reached for the bags she was carrying with one hand, the other going around her waist to assist her into the house.
I greeted Alice over my shoulder as I escorted Bella down the hall to our room. I'd arranged for Esme to put out some food for Bella and wanted to make sure she ate well before retiring for the night.
"Good night all!" She yelled back at everyone while laughing at me. "Apparently we'e going to our room.".
Hope you all enjoyed the chapter!
Posted on April 30, 2010
Words: 2454
