Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight. Just my original characters/ideas.
Chapter Fifty Two
*Robert's POV*
I sighed in pure delight as Cordelia rested against my shoulder. Her arm wrapped around my torso while I leaned my head against hers. Cordelia's golden brown curls against my cheek.
We were currently on the couch in the Cullen's living room. After being prisoned and a long battle, I was here, with the woman I loved, watching T.V. We were finally relaxing and it felt so good.
Television! I haven't seen an episode of television in ages. The Volturi weren't too keen on T.V. Not that it mattered. I read a lot, but it was nice to watch a good episode of T.V once and awhile.
"I like it here," Cordelia told me gleefully. Cordelia and I were staying in the living room tonight since almost every room in this home was occupied with one family or another. This home was jammed pack with not just the Olympic Coven, but the Denali's, the wolves, The Sanders-Martin-Williams family, and finally the weird abandoned Volturi children. It felt like some deranged family reunion to be honest.
"I'm glad you do," I replied, rubbing her back. "And when we get back, we'll start a life together. Our new beginning. If Dru wants to, she can come live with us. Hell, even Lucas can come live with us, but I propose we get a nice apartment first. At least our own place."
"Where? We don't exactly have any money or jobs," Cordelia mentioned, chuckling as she now moved her head so it rested against my chest.
"True. Maybe with my family or the Cullen's help we could figure something out, but we'll find something. Once we figure the living arrangements maybe I could go to college finally, and you can go as well! It could be really fun."
"That would be wonderful," Cordelia agreed, snuggling deeper into me. "But maybe we could put that off and enjoy life? I was thinking instead of the city, maybe a nice little home somewhere outside of it. Not too far from your family."
"A home? Why a home? We're young, Cordy. We have nothing holding us back. It could be me, you, Dru, and Lucas living under one roof and enjoying ourselves. It could be great."
"No...Um, Rob. There's something I need to tell you," Cordelia said, lifting herself off of my chest. I could hear her heart beginning to beat a little faster at the reason. "It's why I've been getting sick."
"What is it? You're okay, right?" I worriedly asked. My own heart beginning to pound as I waited for some sort of answer.
Cordelia nodded in response before she looked down at her hands, "I'm alright...It's just, we will have something holding us back when we leave tomorrow morning. Or someone, I should say..."
"What? Are you breaking up with me?" I frantically asked.
Cordelia's eyes immediately went wide and she shook her head, "No! No! Never! We're mates! It's just..."
"What, Cordy? I just want to know you're okay," I whispered, cupping her face. "I don't care, I just want you to be happy."
She just smiled at me as tears leaked from her eyes, "I'm okay. Very okay. And very happy...Look...Robert...I...I...I'm pregnant!"
It took me a few moments to register the words coming out of her mouth. I didn't believe it, but then realization hit and everything came crashing down moments later.
"Wait...You really are?" I asked again more slowly.
Cordelia nodded, "Here. Feel for yourself." She then placed one of my hands on her stomach. Underneath my palm I could feel something there. A new life. I noticed now that besides my own heart and Cordelia's, a faint but new heart was beginning to beat as well. Images filled my head of a new life. Cordelia and I as parents...My hands tossing a small baseball to our son or daughter, Cordelia teaching them how to speak Italian, my mother coddling them every chance she got, Grace teaching them how to draw, Dru playing patty cake with them, Lucas playing pranks with them, and the three of us going out to Washington like Tyler used to take Grace and me...So many new possibilities. It's what I've been wishing for, ever since Cordelia came into my life and I promised the world to her. This was it.
"We're going to be parents," Cordelia told me, bringing me back to focus with her joyful green eyes. "You're not mad...Are you?"
"No," I told her right away, shaking my head. A big smile formed on my face as I placed a hand on her shoulder. "In fact, I'm ecstatic. We're having a baby!"
"Yeah. We are," She said, smiling up at me. "We have our own family."
We both smile at each other. I then wrap my arms tightly around the love of my life and kiss the top of her forehead. Cordelia then snuggled into my side as we booth looked at her forming bump in awe. We were going to be parents. I couldn't picture a better new beginning than this.
*Alice's POV*
"Mommy...Is that bad man my real daddy?" Abby asked me as I tucked the sheets around her tiny form. "And that bad woman my real mommy?"
I felt my entire body freeze. Part of me knew this was coming. I knew she was going to ask. Obviously because I'm psychic, but also instinct. Call it mother's intuition or whatever, but I knew my daughter would get curious. Abby was curious about everything. That's who she is. I couldn't stop this from happening. There was going to be a day sometime soon where she was going to ask me about her biological parents and everything else in between. Now that I had the answers, I wasn't sure I wanted to tell her.
I looked towards Jasper who was behind me leaning against the door. I could tell this was killing him. Out of the two of us, Jasper was the one who had a slight yearning for a child. It was never something he needed or wanted. He knew as vampires we weren't going to have children, and he was fine with that. I was fine too. We both accepted it and spent decades just enjoying one another. Children wasn't really a happiness factor for us. I knew if Jasper could, he'd want a child. He grew up with a bunch of brothers and sisters growing up on his ranch in Texas. I had Cynthia, I think, but my human family sucked. I didn't know what it was like to have a family until the Cullen's. Until I became a sister and an aunt later on. Even though my human family was not the best, I know Jasper had a good one. One he loved very much. And if I could give him something like the human family he lost, I'd help him achieve it in no time. But like I said, this wasn't something we yearned for like Rosalie did. That's all Rosalie thought about, besides Emmett, before Lily and Aidan came into her life.
But then, it happened when Abby showed up on the doorstep.
I had a vision the moment she was placed there. Images of Jasper and I raising her. A little girl giggling as I took her shopping and yawning as she cuddled up next to Jasper for a nightly story.
That's when I took action. Jasper and I decided to adopt her and from there, I felt so happy. I always loved spoiling my nieces and nephews, but when you have your own kid to dote and take care of, it's an interesting experience.
"Um...They're your biological parents, sweetie," I explained to her, gently pushing a hair behind her ear. "Daddy and I...We adopted you."
"Ah huh," Abby said, nodding her head slowly. I could tell she understood what we were telling her. She was very bright for her age, but this still seemed to stump her a bit. "But...Why did they not want me?"
Now I didn't know what to say. Way to go Abbs, making the psychic speechless.
We didn't know why the hell Serena would leave a baby at our doorstep, the same people she was trying to kill. We probably think she was trying to hide Abby from Aro and our family would be the last place he'd look.
"Your biological mommy wanted you," Jasper spoke up, coming over to the other side of Abby's bed. "But she left you with us to protect you. And we're very happy she did, because we love you more than anything in the entire world, Abrianna."
Abby nodded. I could sense tears were approaching as she hugged her stuff rabbit close to her chest, "I remember her. She told me things were gonna be alright and then left me."
I shared a look with Jasper before turning our attention back at Abby to see what else she'd say. "My other daddy doesn't seem very nice," Abby mentioned to us in a mumble. "How come you two aren't my real parents?"
"We are," I told her, wrapping my arms around her in a hug. "Whoever you want to be your parents, they'll be. Just because Daddy and I aren't related to you by blood, doesn't mean you're not ours. We love you more than anything, so that means we're family."
"Okay. But I still don't like them," Abby confessed to us. I nodded as Jasper went to stroke her hair.
"It's okay, darlin. Why don't we talk about this another time, you should go to sleep. It's been a long day," He told her gently.
Abby nodded as she curled into the bed, "Can you guys stays with me?" She asked us in her innocent sweet little girl voice.
I smiled at her, "Of course."
Jasper and I crawled on either side of Abby as she snuggled in between us. Jasper wrapped an arm around me as I snuggled deep into his side. Abby was now curled up on our laps, falling fast asleep.
I looked at Jasper and I could tell he was thinking the same thing as me. We weren't sure what was going to happen, but we knew this was going to be a long ride. But whatever the cost, we do it for Abby. She was our world now. Aro was not going to take our baby away.
*Grace's POV*
"Here we go," Aunt Ava cooed as she handed me the little boy. I grinned as the little baby looked up at me with wide eyes and made a tiny yawn with his mouth.
"He's beautiful, guys," I told them, kissing the baby's forehead. "You did a good job, Aunt Ava. A really good job."
"Thanks," she replied, chuckling as Zach wrapped an arm around her shoulder. Lexie was also there, curled into her mother as she watched her baby brother with pride.
"What's his name?" I asked, brushing his cheek with my finger tip.
"Thomas," Aunt Ava told me delightfully. "Thomas Matthew."
"After my brother," Zach filled us in with a big smile. "I like to think my brother is looking down on us, wherever he is, with Gwen. They're both smiling because our two families are together now. Mine and Ava's... Somehow I like to thank the two of them for this."
"I promise I will be the best aunt to both Tommy and Lexie," My mother announced, kissing the little boy on the head. "God, Ava I'm so sorry. I was so stupid..."
"You weren't stupid, Ellie," Ava said, using the playful nickname she use to call my mother as a child. My mother smiled at her sister and then at the baby.
"This reminds me of when Robert and Grace were babies. I could never let you two go," My mother recalled wistfully as she stroked Tommy's hair. I noticed her eyes began to water. Her hand now going to wipe a stray tear away. "Your father use to love playing with you for hours. When we would go on vacation to Washington he used to take you both fishing and you would all play in the waves..."
"I know, mom," I said softly, looking at her with the best understanding look I could give. "I miss him too."
"All of this is so overwhelming," she confessed, trying to blink back the tears. "But, it'll be fixed. I promise."
"I know. We believe you," Ava quipped from the bed.
"In the meantime, I think Aunt Ellie should read me a story for bed," Lexie announced, smirking at my mother.
"Oh yes! Of course sweetie!" My mother exclaimed, scooping Lexie up in her arms. My little cousin giggled as my mother then started coddling her.
That left me alone in the room with Ava, Zach, and baby Tommy. I sighed as I placed my little cousin into my aunt's arms, "She loves having my mom around. I'm glad she'll be around for Tommy too."
"Me too," Aunt Ava replied as I sat down at the edge of her bed. "I can tell now that now she has both you and Robert back in her life, things will be different. Your mother's life has been so controlled by grief. First, she had to witness our father get murdered by a vampire. Then she gets raped by one, your father dies, and then Robert's taken...It's been too much on her. She doesn't want to loose anyone else. She's been through enough."
"You think Grandma might change her mind around now?" I asked, thinking of my anti-vampire grandmother.
"I don't know...Probably not. We'll see...I haven't talked to my own mother in years," Ava mused, looking towards her newborn son.
I bit my lip as I watched Tommy look up at his parents in wonder, "I have to ask you guys something...I don't want to say anything to my mom because it's a touchy subject."
"Alright. Fire away," Ava said, looking to confirm with Zach that it was okay. He nodded in agreement as they both looked at me curiously.
"Could my father be alive?" I blurted out, fiddling with my hands. "Is it a possibility?"
"Why do you ask that?" Zach questioned, his eyebrows furrowing together. "It's been seven years, Gracie, I don't know..."
"I know. I know," I said, shaking my head. "It's just...Mom told me that he disappeared during the whole newborn raids of 2006. Whatever that was. I know he was either vampire..." I swallowed hard, "Vampire food...Or he was...He was changed into one."
"Dear, if he was changed into one it's very likely that he died. The Cullen's killed all the newborns that were in vicinity," Ava explained to me gently.
"I know, but what if he's still out there. What if he escaped?" I questioned curiously. "What if he's out there and we don't even know it."
"Possibly, but why are you thinking of this now? Because your mother just told you?" Ava asked me. "It's been years, Grace. Why hasn't he contacted you then in those seven years?"
"Because my mom hated vampires," I pointed out, getting up from the bed. "I don't know! I just have this gut feeling in the pit of my stomach telling me he's somewhere! Ever since my mom told me...I just can't help but believe."
"Maybe. But, don't get your hopes too high. It might not even be true," Ava told me softly, squeezing my hand.
"I know...I just...It was just a thought," I confessed, sighing.
"It's okay. And you know what, don't give up on that hope. You never know. Look at Lily and Aidan. I thought my brother's children were dead. It looks like I was wrong," Zach told me, a small encouraging smile on his face. I nodded, giving them a smile, before I headed out of the room towards my own.
When I got there, Masen was sprawled out across the bed. He was not wearing a shirt and he was in nothing but his boxers as he read some book.
"Hey," I greeted him.
"Hey," He said, instantly forming a big grin on his face as he scooted over in the bed. "Want to join me, madame?"
"I would love to," I replied, chuckling, as I climbed onto the bed with him. Masen wrapped an arm around my body and I snuggled onto his chest. He began to stroke my hair as I closed my eyes and took in everything about him. His scent, the way his chest rose and fell as he breathed, the slow beating of his heart under my ear.
"How are you holding up?" He asked me as he wrapped the covers around us.
"Okay..."
"You're lying," He muttered, calling me out right away.
"Yeah, I am," I confessed, shrugging. "I just...I almost lost you today and Robert's back...Everything is so..."
"Crazy," Masen summed up. I nodded, closing my eyes as I curled up even more against him. His arms wrapped around me and squeezed me tighter.
"Just rest. When we get back, we'll take a nice vacation. Just you and me and we'll pretend none of this exists," He whispered against my hair.
"I like the sound of that," I said softly as he played with my hair. "Can we? Once I get caught up with Robert?"
"Sure. We can go out to the Hamptons or something. It'll be relaxing," He told me, kissing my forehead. "We can chill on a beach."
"Yeah. It will," I agreed as I then fell asleep in the comfort of my boyfriend's arms.
*Lily's POV*
I chuckled as I finished up a game of monopoly with my parents and Aidan. It was nice just playing a board game with them. I haven't really had much time with my parents since his whole thing started. We use to have family game night every Thursday night. It was really fun too. There were times we'd just spend hours with one another. Even though I wasn't always too keen about hanging out with my family, I hated to admit the fact I missed this. I missed all of us together.
"Well, that was one tuff game," my dad joked as we cleared the table. "Damn, Lily, you got good at it."
I just smirked at him and shrugged, "What can I say? I'm a natural!"
"Yeah, well wait until we play clue. I'm gonna creme you all in that one," Aidan announced proudly, smirking.
"Ah no you won't. Your mother is an expert at clue, dude. She even beat Uncle Eddie back in the day, the same guy who reads minds," My dad said, wrapping an arm around our mother. My mom chuckled as the two reached in for a kiss.
"Why would anyone even want to play with a mind reader? I feel like all Uncle Eddie would do is cheat in games," Aidan mentioned.
"Oh he did, and that's why no one liked playing board games with him or Alice. That's why those two are even close to begin with. While the rest of us played games, they would watch from a far and laugh like little kids about which move we'd all make next," our mom told us, rolling her eyes in amusement at the thought.
"But thank god for Bella and her shield." My dad laughed. "Fun fact, your Uncle Eddie spent decades perfecting his game of chess. More like cheating his way through. It was his favorite game to beat others at. Then one day, God sent your Aunt Bella who whipped that boy's ass finally after years of board gaming torment. Ahhh, I love my little sister."
"Funny," I mused, sitting up. "Well, I'm going to bed. I'll see you all in the morning."
"See ya, baby," My mom said, kissing my temple. My dad did the same as I told them all goodnight.
"Night sis. Don't let the bed bugs bite," Aidan teased with me. I rolled my eyes as I then headed down the hallway. That's when I heard some arguing.
"You're leaving!?"
"Ethan, I know we haven't seen one another in years but...I gotta get back to my job-"
"Are you serious? Do you know how long it took me to find you!?" Ethan cried out.
"Look, I don't have time for this. I'm sorry," the other voice replied woefully. I held my breath as the person Ethan was arguing with left the room and closed the door behind him. He sighed and leaned against the door. I approached the area closer and saw it was Lucas. His face buried in his hands.
I cleared my throat to notify him I was present. The moment I did that, he looked up at me startled. "Oh you...Lily, right?"
"Yeah," I said, crossing my arms over my chest. "What happened?"
"It's none of your business, Polly Pocket," He remarked. Lucas then got up and began to walk away. I wasn't having any of it though.
"He's spent the last couple of decades trying to find you!" I called out to him as he began to leave. "Don't do this to him, please. It'll destroy him. You should've seen him when he saw you again, please Lucas. He thinks he didn't just fail you, but your parents."
"It's...It's not that simple," Lucas told me, turning around now to face me. "I...I can't stay here with your family."
"Why not?" I asked softly.
"Because, I don't fit in. I've gotten into a lot of trouble over the years." Lucas muttered. "And I don't need Ethan going through more than he's already gone through with already. He's been through hell-"
"And doing this will make things worse. He's your brother. He loves you no matter what you do," I explained to Lucas gently. "If you do this to him...That'll be possibly the worse thing anyone can do."
Lucas looked at me solemnly, "What if I stay for a month? Then I have to go back...I'll visit, obviously. I just...I have my own life. I don't want to pretend to go to high school a billion times. I went to high school, it was dumb. I hated it. I don't want to relive that over and over again for the rest of eternity. I have a life I left back in Tulsa that I'm going back to with Jackson, Maysun, and Dru."
"Ethan doesn't go to high school. This is the first time he's been back to college," I retorted, narrowing my eyebrows. "I mean, come on. Isn't your brother more important than going away with your girlfriend!" I fumed.
"Girlfriend? Who are you talking about?" Lucas asked incredulously, raising his eyebrows at me. "You mean Dru?"
"Yeah...Your girlfriend, right?"
"No. She's not my girlfriend. Make sure your family knows that," Lucas said, shaking a finger at me. "Look, we have sex. She's into guys, but she's more into..." I watched as Lucas tried to put it into words until he gave up all together. "Look, Dru's bisexual. If she's going to start a relationship, it's going to be a woman. She likes guys, but she tends to prefer women. I'll tell you that right now. We're just friends with benefits, so spread the word."
"Oh. You could've just told us that," I huffed, crossing my arms over my chest. "Everyone thinks you two are dating."
"You know, sometimes I think we are myself. Even if I wanted to date her...I feel like it wouldn't work out. We're free sprits. We work better as friends. Screw things up together as buds, rather than a couple. I'm not into settling down and neither is she. We're...We're partners. We're going to do a lot of damage in Tulsa. The world better watch out," Lucas said, doing some playful karate move.
"Alright, even if you are such a free spirt just please consider staying longer...Just to bond with him. Please? He's missed you," I begged at Lucas. "Just please think about it."
Lucas chuckled, "Alright...I'll think about it...Speaking of girlfriends, aren't you his?"
"What!? No," I said, shaking my head. I felt the heat rise in my cheeks. "I...I'm not. He doesn't-"
"I think he likes you, the way he talks about you," Lucas told me, whistling a little. "You know, I think the only reason this guy hasn't gone on a date or banged anyone in years is you. I think it's always been you."
"I doubt it," I muttered, scratching the back of my head.
"Well, you should talk to him then. In the meantime, I'll talk to my brother in the morning," Lucas said, nodding his head. "Thanks, Polly Pocket."
"You're welcome, Fonzie," I replied, smirking at him. He just rolled his eyes as he then left the area. I then approached the door and slowly opened it. I looked to see Ethan was in the corner, sitting, and rubbing his temples. I sighed, closing the door behind me, and entered in slowly.
"I can handle this myself, you know," He told me sharply. "You don't need to work this out with Lucas. He's my brother, not yours."
"I know, but it doesn't hurt if you get a little help once and awhile," I shot back, walking towards him. "Look, letting people in won't kill you."
"Lily, just leave! I said I didn't want your help!" He snapped at me. "Just. Go. I don't want to see you anymore. Just go!"
"Alright," I growled, crossing my arms over my chest. "I'll go. But realize this, I don't want to see you again either! I don't want to deal with your weird mood swings, Ethan Rider! So go to hell you selfish bastard!"
With that, I stomped out of his room and ran down the stairs. I don't know what came over me but I ran out the door into the dawn of the morning. It had to be about four am and I was running towards god knows where. I don't know what caused me to do this, but I was mad. Really freaking mad and I needed to blow off steam.
I ran through the woods until I got into the tiny town located right outside of the trees. I walked along the sidewalk and the river flowing nearby. The town seemed like it was going to wake up in an hour and so would my family, so I should probably head back at one point...But I didn't want to. I just was so angry at Ethan right now.
Just then, the motor of a truck pulled me out of my foggy thoughts. I turned around to see Ethan in his stupid red pickup truck.
"Lily!" He called out to me as he parked the car on the side of the road.
"What!?" I yelled at him, my hands forming into tiny angry little fists. "You think you can just come running over here and think everything's alright!? It's not alright, Ethan! I can't be around someone who keeps treating me like I don't-"
It was then Ethan came running at me and planted a kiss on my lips. I felt my eyes widen in shock as his lips molded with mine. I don't even know how to describe what happened next. One minute I wanted to punch him...But now...I just wanted to be all over him.
I then began to smile against his lips as I accepted the kiss. His hands running through my hair and my arms wrap around his neck as our kisses become a little more fiery.
We finally pulled away and he leaned his forehead against mine. I let out a small chuckled as I looked up at him. He had an amused grin on his face, "I'm sorry. I...I'm a jerk. I'm going to be honest. I've had problems with people and I've been a jerk...A huge one."
"Yeah. You are," I agreed, tousling his hair.
He sighed as he brushed some hair out of my face. "Look...You're the last person I want angry with me. I'm sorry about all the things I said because, I need you Lily. You're my rock and I just...I don't want to fight this anymore. I keep fighting it. I have been fighting it for months. It's sucked and it also keeps making things worse the more I keep it in. When I'm with you, I can be me again...So...I love you, Lily. I can't stop how I feel and I just love you. I love you."
I chuckled as I cupped his face in my hands gently, "Well then, don't. Just let it happen because I love you too and I think this is the only right thing either of us has ever done the past year."
We both laughed at each other as I dove in for another kiss. One of his hands were on my back and another in my hair while mine gripped to the collar of his jacket. "Mo grĂ idh. Tha gaol agam ort," he whispered under his breath as we pulled apart. I melted under his touch as he spoke some more soothing foreign words.
"We should go back soon," I mentioned before kissing him again. "I mean, we kind of ran out of there probably like crazy people."
"Ah, I mean...After everything that's happened this weekend...They'll deal." He chuckled. I chuckled too as our lips pressed together again.
I think it's safe to say, that kiss was worthy of any movie to ever hit theaters. A happy ending to one of the craziest nights of my life.
A/N: One more chapter left and the epilogue! Oh my gosh! I can't believe it's almost over. Honestly though, this was one of my favorite chapters in the entire fic. It's building up to a lot that's going to happen in Sunset. So be ready people :) In the meantime, I hope you enjoyed it and keep on the look out for more!
