Chapter Fifty One

Bella

I was terrified something would go wrong although so far I had been fine, better than I had been carrying Sky but I put that down to Jasper's love and support. I could see how eager he was for a son or daughter, one that was truly his although from the way he behaved with Sky it would have been impossible to see that she wasn't his natural child. Sometimes when I looked at her I thought about Darius, not with longing but with pity for the tormented soul I had come to know and I really hoped he had finally been reunited with his beloved Sara. Jake didn't seem as if he would be leaving any day soon, in fact he and Emmett had become friends even hunting together. He and Rose had a rather more remote relationship but she was grateful for all he'd done for me so they were cordial enough. When I told Charlotte about the impending birth she was delighted for us but I got the feeling that there was something a little off with Peter. Did he think things would be difficult for us now I was about to present Jasper with a child that was his in every way? Charlotte promised to visit as soon after the birth as I felt ready to have visitors and when I put the phone down I felt I'd lost a best friend and now just had a good friend instead but I didn't have much time to think about it.

This time the birth was more relaxed, I wasn't being hunted by the Volturi and hiding in a swamp but I other ways it was the same. Jasper was by my side and it was he who delivered our new daughter under Roses watchful eye. She was beautiful with her fathers coloring and strange mauve eyes that seemed far too knowing for a newborn. It was fairly evident that she was more vampire than Sky and Jasper went to get her first meal as he had with Sky. How Rose managed the smell of blood was a mystery to me, I thought her need to see these babies into the world had a lot to do with it, but once she'd helped me clean up Emmett came in with Sky on his shoulders. Once in the door he put her down and I watched as she took his hand and made her way to me on steadier legs.

"Jasper and I have been working with her, this is a surprise for mummy in return for the new baby sister you've given her."

He lifted her onto the bed and she studied the new baby very seriously then reached out a small hand and touched her sisters cheek,

"Hello baby, you are very pretty."

I could have cried hearing those words, I had been concerned that Sky might resent another child in the house, she had so much attention which she would now have to share but it didn't seem to phase her at all. Within days she and Rosie were best friends. Wherever Rosie, named for her Aunt was, Sky was close behind and when she introduced Rosie to Ben I knew she had been accepted. The dog took it all in his stride, he'd been a climbing frame for Sky and within weeks he was acting the same for Rosie. She was progressing even faster than her sister had and within months they were playing together, sharing everything as if they had always had one another. It sounds stupid I know but I watched to see if Jasper would favor his own flesh over Sky but they were treated exactly the same in every respect. Both girls were very beautiful and both were extremely intelligent. With Rosie's help Sky's vocabulary came on in leaps and bounds and her hearing started to improve. Rose and Jasper thought her own venom had finally healed any damage but I liked to think it was the magic of her little sister. Jake who seemed to have become a permanent fixture at the house was loved by both and if they went missing it was a certainty that Jake and Ben were too. Sky now rode on Jake's back holding on to his ruff of fur when her legs became tired while Rosie could ride Ben if she found the going hard.

Jasper

My family was now complete, two beautiful daughters who made life wonderful. Rose and Emmett stayed for two months in the end and Jake had now taken over the spare room although he spent most of his time in wolf form with Ben and the girls. Sky was now a real little chatterbox and although it was sometimes a little hard to understand her if she spoke too fast Rosie always understood and translated. While Rosie outgrew her sister, being taller and broader Sky was the more extrovert and they complemented each other. Sky ate mostly human food now but Rosie turned her nose up at anything other than blood and needed hardly any sleep so while Sky slept Bella and I spent time with her, giving her a little special attention or Emmett and I would go hunting close to the house and take her with us, a treat she always begged for if Bella were tired.

We heard from Peter and Charlotte to say they wanted to drop in and see the new arrival on their way to meet Garrett for an extended hunting trip. As soon as she saw Rosie Charlotte was taken with her and I lost her to her new Aunts embraces. Peter went straight to Sky who was in the meadow with Jake and Ben and I saw him speaking to her.. Jake meantime came back over to the house while Ben hovered close to his little mistress, he knew Peter but even so he never completely trusted anyone but Jazz, myself, and strangely Jake.

"I expected to see a babe in arms but look at you Rosie. Six months and you look almost ready for school. How are you Bella? You look amazing."

"I'm fine thanks. Is there something wrong Charlotte?"

She looked down shaking her head,

"No, its just...are things the same now you have Rosie? With you and The Major I mean?"

I nodded knowing exactly what she meant and she smiled a little too brightly before allowing Rosie to pull her away to see her room which Emmett and Rose had decorated before they left.

Jake came in the house after Charlotte disappeared upstairs,

"Was Peter as pleased to see you as you were him?"

"Nah he was OK, he wanted to speak to Sky that's all."

I looked over but Peter was already on his way back, one hand holding Sky's as she trotted beside him.

"She's really grown Bella. Pretty little thing, so is her sister,"

I nodded but there was something a little odd in his tone and I wondered if he was thinking about the difference between the two.

"Is The Major in the stable?"

"No hes out riding, he went to look at a new mare but he'll be back soon. Is anything wrong?"

Peter glanced at Charlotte and shook his head,

"No, nothing I just wanted a quick word before we left."

"You aren't staying? We haven't seen you for ages and I guess I thought you'd stay for a while."

"I have to meet Garrett before he leaves. He's off to London to stay with Alistair for a while. I promised I'd see him before he left but I'm cutting it fine as it is."

"I thought you were going with him on a hunting trip?"

Peter looked uncomfortable, as if caught out in a lie, but he didn't say anything more.