A/N: im pretty proud of this chapter. the whole family is together and its cute.
Grace's POV
I watched as Irina, Tanya and Kate sat on the floor of the living room and played a game. It was amazing to see all of them back together. I could see the change in Kate's demeanor, she was happier, lighter. Her eyes light up every time they saw Irina sitting in between herself and Tanya. My eyes fluttered back down to the text book on my lap as I went over the notes I had just taken.
It was finals week for me and since nobody else in my coven were currently taking any classes so I was the only one who was surrounded by books trying to understand the words of one of the online quizzes for my math class. I sent a quick text off to Alice to get help, however when I picked my phone up I heard Eleazar cough and send me a look to stop playing.
"What?" I looked up at him eyes wide. "I'm asking Alice a question about the fake final." I raised my eyebrows at the Hispanic man who just hummed in response and went back to the game of chess him and Carmen were in the middle of.
I looked back down at my laptop and read through the next question. I felt two arms wrap themselves around my neck. I inhaled and noticed the scent of orange cinnamon from behind me and smiled softly burrowing back into the chest of my mate.
"How's the studying going love?" She murmured into my ear and I smiled up at her softly. "You look a little tired…" She mused taking in my face. I snorted and rolled my eyes patting her hands which were locked at my shirt line my head turning back to the pages in front of me.
"I never realized how much I hate math and now I know why I have never taken a math class before." She laughed and nuzzled her nose into my hair then stood up letting go of my neck.
"Well I'm down to take a bit of a study break." She raised her eyebrows with a little smirk. I heard Tanya groan from behind her and Carmen making a small gagging noise. Kate whipped around to face them. "I was going to say to go for a hunt!" She held her hands up in a surrender motion towards the other women.
"In case none of you have noticed Grace's eyes are black and she looks like hell." I looked up at my fiancée shocked. I stood up raising an eyebrow placing my hands on my hips. She turned to look at me with an apologetic face. "Babe… no… I mean…" The look on her face was beyond comical. Her eyes wide with fear running through the gold orbs.
I bit my lip trying to try and hold back a laugh. She studied my face until I couldn't hold it in anymore and burst out laughing. She took a small step back then growled and zapped my side. I yelped feeling the electricity run through my body.
"That was not funny Grace. I thought you were mad at me!" She pouted crossing her arms across my chest. I took a deep breath to regain myself then stepped forward with a glint in my eye smirking. I heard a door slam then looked around and noticed that only Irina was left. Said blond was standing at the door with her eyebrow raised hands on her hips.
"Don't wreck the house. Carm will murder you two." She smirked and walked out the door closing it behind her. I looked back over at my mate who stood with a small smirk on her face. I rolled my eyes and walked towards her.
Irina's POV
I heard the car door close and then Kate and Grace talking to each other. I took a deep breath as I got out of the car and turned to look at the Cullen's house. Grace took my hand and squeezed it gently giving me a little courage.
The front door opened and Carlisle and Esme stepped out with their eyes wide. I watched as the rest of the Cullen's trailed after them and the gasps of shock running through the crowd. I watched the realization cross the faces. The next thing I knew I was wrapped in the arms of a tiny little pixie who was squealing.
"Do you know how long I've been holding this in?!" She buzzed into my ear and pushed back holding me by my shoulders. "I saw you come home but knew you wouldn't want me to say anything so I haven't and I was going to explode but I'm so happy you're home!" I blinked a few times trying to take in all of what she said then laughed at the bouncing pixie.
I was quickly enveloped in the arms of the rest of the Cullen's as they welcomed me back. All but Edward, Bella and Renesmee who just stared at me. I winced noticing how different the young girl looked compared to the last time I had seen her in that clearing. Bella kept her gaze down as Edward wrapped his arm around her waist.
"It's nice to see you again Irina." He nodded curtly in my direction and looked down at Bella who just shoved some rocks around at her feet. I bit my lip stealing a glance at tanya who sighed and cut her eyes to Carlisle who stepped up to Bella and whispered something in her ear. She sighed and looked up at me and nodded smiling with a tight lip.
"Bella… Edward… I wanted… I shouldn't… I was wrong." I couldn't quite get the words out of my mouth as I stare wide eyed at the couple. Renesmee stepped forward and held her hand out. I bit my lip and stepped forward allowing the young girl to put her hand on my cheek. I saw the scene in the forest of me on the rock watching her collect snowflakes then me standing next to the Volturi. I nodded closing my eyes letting her know she was right about who I was.
"Irina… you didn't know what I was… I looked like an immortal child… you couldn't have known." I opened my eyes looking at the brown eyes in front of me. "I never blamed you Irina." She smiled and pulled me into her arms. I wrapped my arms around the hybrids waist squeezing her gently. She pulled back with a small smile.
Bella and Edward looked at their daughter then back at me. Edward smiled softly and gave me a small hug. "I'm glad you are back Irina." I nodded with a small smile. Bella bit her lip and wrung her hands squeezing her eyes shut.
"Bella… don't worry about it… its okay if you can't forgive me yet…" She looked up at me and back at the ground. I turned to see Tanya smiling at me. "Maybe we could all go inside?" I asked the group and received a lot of hums of agreements and nods.
Bella's POV
I watched the group head inside the house lead by Irina. I felt a small squeeze of my hand and looked up to see Edward. He gave me a small smile. It was in this moment I was thankful for my shield.
"I'm going to hunt. I'll be back in a bit." I took a step back and turned to run into the forest. I got about 10 minutes into my run when I felt two people enter my shield. I looked up to see Alice and Esme run up to me with concern etched on their faces.
"You can't run away from everything Bells." I rolled my eyes at the little Pixie in front of me as she stood with her hand on her hips.
"I'm not running away. I needed space."
"You can't ignore your feelings… I know you're upset and you need to tell someone. Irina feels awful about what she did." I sighed sitting on a rock next to Esme who wrapped an arm around my shoulder as she continued. "Please go talk to her. You'll see she's really nice."
"I know she is Esme. I've heard you guys talk about her and she sounds super nice but it's hard. She is the reason I almost lost my daughter. I want to get to know her but its hard to forget what happened."
Esme nodded and rubbed my arm looking over at Alice.
"That's why were going to be with you the whole time. If you ever feel uncomfortable and need out we can make a safe word and you can escape. The safe word will be… camera." I nodded at the small vampire and stood for us all to head home.
Esme opened the door and we all walked in and found seats with our mates. I looked around at the others and sighed burrowing into Edward.
Kate and Grace had taken place on one of the arm chairs, Kate on Grace's lap, the dark haired girls chin on the blonds shoulder. Irina was sat underneath them on the ground, her back pressed against Grace's legs. Tanya had her head in her sisters lap staring at the ceiling her feet resting in Garrets lap.
Carmen and Eleazar were wrapped up with each other on the love seat, Carlisle and now Esme in a similar position on the end of the sectional. Rosalie and Emmet sitting not far from them in a similar position to Grace and Kate. Alice and Jasper were sitting on the rocking chair, Alice on her partners lap. Renesmee was leaning against my legs with her legs draped over Jacobs lap on the floor.
I looked over at Irina and took a deep breath.
"Irina… I would like to get to know you. I've heard many stories of your pranks you've pulled on your sisters and could use some tips." I smirked slightly at the look of pure delight on Irina's face.
"Yes!" She grinned like the Cheshire cat causing Carmen and Esme to groan simultaneously. I laughed looking over at Esme with an innocent look on my face. "What?" I heard Irina ask in a mock innocent tone. "Carmen I'm innocent. I haven't even done anything!"
"You better not do anything Bella. I'm not going to warn you again. If you ruin one more couch with your pranks you are grounded for life." I looked towards Edward then back at Esme.
"Yes mom." She rolled her eyes at me as I shrugged causing irina to turn to look at me with her eyebrows raised. "I won't ruin your couch. I'll just ruin mine and Edwards." Edward whipped around to look at me eyes wide. "I'm kidding! I wont ruin anymore couches…" I grumbled crossing my arms slouching back pouting.
Edward chuckled and kissed my temple settling back with me.
"What did you do?!" Irina asked bouncing forcing her sisters head off her lap.
Esme's POV
I laughed watching Bella and Irina curl up on the floor whispering quietly, Emmett made his way over to them and sat conferring with them in god knows what those three got up to. Kate who had shifted off Grace's lap also joined the trio. I watched Grace pout at her mate then turned and caught my eye.
"Katie left me." She pouted at me.
"Em left me." Rose pouted crossing her arms. Edward just chuckled and rolled his eyes at the pouting girls.
"Bella left my side and I'm not pouting." He pointed out as he rested back against the arm of the couch. I laughed and stood pulling out of Carlisles arms. I headed towards the kitchen to work on dinner for the two food eaters and kissed Grace's head on the way out. She stood and followed linking her arms with mine.
"I'm going to help you make dinner since Katie left me." I laughed and nodded patting her hand which was laid on my arm. I handed her a knife wih a small smile on my face.
"Then you can chop the veggies." Grace just nodded with a small wrinkle on her nose. "You can handle the gross smell G." She cut her eyes to me and she stuck her tongue out at me. "Are you sure you aren't 5 years old?"
"She is 5 years old Esme." Edward walked in chuckling. He stuck his tongue out at the raven haired girl who just stuck her tongue back out at him. Alice skipped into the room and pulled herself up on the counter. "So is that one." He motioned his hair to the pixie.
"You are too Eddie." Alice pointed out with a small smirk on her face. I rolled my eyes at the three of them. "You are the one who pouts when his wife isn't by your side all the time." Edward shot her a glare as he flicked Grace's ear after she burst out laughing.
"You were literally just pouting over Kate leaving your side." He grunted when Grace elbowed him in the gut. "Not fair…" He groaned rubbing his stomach as he shot daggers to his little sister. Alice flicked his nose. "Alice not fair! It's two against one?"
"You were picking on my twin sister." The pixie pointed out as she grinned at Grace who kissed her cheek.
"You guys are honestly like 5 year olds together. Are you sure the three of you aren't biological siblings?" The girls laughed and Edward chuckled kissing my head. He leaned against the counter. The three of them laughing, our family now complete with Irina back.
Alice, Edward and Grace in the kitchen laughing. Jacob and Renesmee had sat in the dining room to eat. Kate, Irina, Emmett and Bella scheming in the corner. Rosalie, Jasper and Tanya sitting discussing a book. I sat back down next to Carlisle and we started a conversation with Carmen and Eleazar.