Forty-seven

EPOV

Walking back into the kitchen, after getting our gifts from her car, I couldn't help but smile. After we found out that we were having two babies, and not one, Bella and I had gone to eat lunch at The Plaza, knowing that it was her favorite restaurant in Amarillo. It was too much to absorb and I don't think either of us was sure on how to react to the news. I mean, there were two babies inside of Bella's stomach. It was just…wow.

"You're hiding something," said Esme, looping her arm in with mine. "Besides the sex of my grandbaby, that is."

"Don't know what you are talking about, Mother," I said, not meeting her eyes. If I did, I would blurt out everything and that is not how I wanted my mother to find out about the babies. "Is there any juice?"

"Yes, apple, grape, and orange juice, as there always is," she said. "I'll get you some if you tell me if we are getting a boy or a girl."

"Mother," I sighed, shaking my head. "I'll get it myself."

"You're not being very nice, Edward Anthony," she pouted, walking over and sitting at the table. Carlisle, who was trying very hard not to laugh at her, took her hand in his.

"Esme, darling, we will find out soon enough," he said, smiling at her. "Have some patience, my dear."

"Don't want to," she muttered.

Jasper, Alice, and Rose were laughing as they watched my mother pout. I can't tell you how many times as a child I had begged her to tell me what she got me for Christmas or my birthday but she never told me. Ever. This seemed like the perfect payback, maker her sweat it out a bit. Besides, I knew it was important to Bella that she told Charlie first. The two of them had been working so hard on rebuilding their relationship.

Emmett seemed to be the only one who wasn't laughing with my mother, or at her for that matter. He was sitting in his seat, nervously tapping his fingers on the table. I had never seem my brother so jittery before. Before I could ask him what was wrong, he stood up and started pacing, causing everyone else to look over at him, too.

"Emmett, what's wrong?" asked Rose, standing up. Emmett stopped and looked over at her. Just staring at her. "Emmett."

"I love you," he said, seriously. Rose smiled and blushed, something that was not like her at all.

"I love you, too," she murmured

"I've been waiting for you for so long, Rosie," he said, emotionally. Rose smiled as she came over to him, bringing her hand up to his face. Emmett's eyes closed as he leaned into her hand. We were all watching, even though they seemed to be oblivious to that fact that we were here. "I never thought that I would meet someone who makes me feel the way you do, Baby."

"Me either," whispered Rose. "I didn't even realize I was looking for you."

Emmett opened his eyes and smiled as he dropped down to his knee. Rose gasped as he took her left hand in his and pulled out a small, black box. The room was a quiet as it could be as we all waited for Emmett to do what he was planning. Who knew Emmett would ever make this leap?

"Baby, I want to spend the rest of my life holding you in my arms. I want to wake up every morning knowing that you are mine. I want to have babies, lots of babies," he said, letting a tear travel down his face. Rose brought her free hand up to her lips, trying to stop herself from sobbing. "You're the only woman I have ever loved, Rose. I will only ever love you. Will you marry me?"

"YES!" squealed Rose, falling into Emmet's arms and letting him slide the ring onto her finger.

As Rose and Emmett held each other, Charlie and Bella came rushing into the kitchen, demanding to know what had happened. I stood back and watched as Rose showed Bella her ring. Bella, being the amazingly, sarcastic woman that she was, made the comment about hell freezing over. While we all laughed with her, I knew that she was extremely happy for Rose and Emmett.

Bella got emotional with Emmett, who clearly wasn't sure how to deal with it. I smiled as I led Bella into the living room, settling her on my lap and holding her. Hearing her talk about wanting to give up, about being pissed that she fought back, was hard to listen to and hurt but I was glad that she fought for her life, and I told her so. It was while I was holding her on my lap, my hand resting on her baby bump, when I felt it. The small, fluttering as the babies moved inside of her. I gasped as I looked up at Bella, smiling bigger than I ever had.

"I felt them," I murmured.

"It's amazing, isn't it?" she asked, covering my hand with hers. "This is our family, Edward."

"Our family," I murmured, tucking my head into her neck as I felt myself getting emotional. "Our perfect little family."

"Oh, Edward," cried Bella, wrapping her arms around me.

Bella and I sat there, wrapped in each other's arms, until we heard someone clear their throat behind us. Pulling away from each other, we saw Emmett standing there, nervously. I could tell this was new terrain for him.

"I don't mean to interrupt, but everyone else is about ready to come in here and demand some answers," he said, shifting from one foot to the other. "I'm trying to hold them off but you know how they are."

"It's fine," smiled Bella. She looked down at me. "Want me to send them in?"

"Yes, please," I said, softly.

Bella was still smiling as she walked over and hooked her arm in with Emmett's, pulling him back into the kitchen. I stood up and walked over to our pile of gifts that were sitting next to the tree, pulling out the gifts to my parents. I turned as they came into the room, looking both excited and nervous about why I wanted to give them our gifts in private. Just as Bella had needed that time with her father, I needed that time with my parents.

"Here," I said, handing them each a box. Esme took hers and settled on the couch with Carlisle, next to her.

"What is it?" she asked, shaking the box. Like that was going to tell her.

"The answer," I smiled.

Esme tore the paper off the box and tossed it onto the ground. Pulling off the top of the box, she lifted the small item inside, smiling as she did. "A girl," she smiled, lifting the pink t-shirt that said 'Grandma's little angel.' "You and Bella are having a girl."

"Yes," I confirmed. Looking over at my father, I said, "Open yours."

"Ok," he said, looking a little confused on why he was getting a gift, too. Carlisle carefully pulled the wrapping paper off the box, driving my mother insane as he did so. He laid the paper on the couch next him and pulled the top off his box. He shot his eyes up to me as he saw the small blue t-shirt that said 'Grandpa loves me more.' "A boy?" he asked. "You and Bella are having a boy."

"Yes." I smiled as they looked at each other, trying to put the pieces together.

"How can the baby be a girl and a boy?" asked Esme. "Does it have both parts?"

"No," I laughed, settling on the edge of the coffee table. "Bella and I are having a baby girl and a baby boy."

"You mean…" Esme trailed off as she smiled.

"Twins," finished Carlisle, grinning like a fool. "My boy is having twins."

"Yes, we are," I said, smiling.

"Oh, Edward," whimpered Esme. "Two babies."

"I know," I murmured. "We're still in shock."

"Congratulations, son," said Carlisle, hugging me. "This is just…amazing."

"Thanks, Dad," I said, quietly. "For…well, for everything."

"What else?" he asked, pulling back.

I shook my head and took a deep breath. "When I came back from Austin, I wasn't in a good place. I know that I didn't make it easy on you both. I just… I needed some time to deal with the fact that you were right about her," I explained. "Neither of you pushed for details. You gave me what I needed and I can't thank you enough."

"Oh, my sweet boy," murmured Esme, bringing her hand up to my face. "We were so worried about you."

"I know," I said.

"We didn't know how to help you," she added.

"I didn't know either." And I didn't. It wasn't until I found Bella sitting in the sand out at the lake that I felt anything. "It was Bella."

"What was Bella?" asked Carlisle.

"She was all I needed," I said, getting choked up. "She thinks I was the one who saved her or whatever but it was all her. She's my everything,"

"Oh, Edward," murmured Esme, wiping the tears off as they fell.

"I thought I knew what love was until I found her again." I closed my eyes. "She was lost and scared, but so was I. She fought so hard. She gave me the strength to help her and I love her so much."

"I love you, too," murmured Bella. I opened my eyes and saw her standing in the doorway to the kitchen with everyone behind her. I crossed the room, pulling her into my arms, kissing her softly on the lips, and just loving her. "Oh, Edward, if you hadn't been there for me…"

"Me too," I whispered, knowing exactly what she was saying. "But we're together and having babies. And-"

"Wait, babies?" squealed Alice. Bella and I smiled as we looked over at my little sister. "What do you mean babies?"

"Edward and I are having twins," smiled Bella. Rose's mouth fell open. Emmett and Jasper both looked down at Bella's tummy, like they were trying to figure out how she was holding two babies in there. Behind them all, stood Charlie, huge smile on his face.

"A beautiful baby girl, just like Bella," I added.

"And a handsome baby boy, just like Edward."

Alice's eyes glazed over and I knew just what she was thinking. "Ali, no going crazy," I said, snapping my fingers at her. She opened her mouth to respond but I held my hand up, stopping her. "No, Alice. I'm serious. You can buy for them but remember that they aren't going to need ten shirts that are exactly the same but just different colors."

"Fine, but I want to throw the baby shower," she said, crossing her arms in front of her. "Deal?"

"Nothing too big," warned Bella. Alice rolled her eyes. "I'm serious, Alice. Please, nothing insane."

"Ok, ok," she sighed, moving over to the couches. "Gees, try to do something nice and everyone thinks you are going to go crazy."

"Oh, Alice, we don't think, we know," I laughed.

"Whatever," muttered Alice.

Rose crossed the room, pulling Bella over with her. They sat on the couch next to Alice, giggling about babies, and clothes, and engagements. It was great to see Bella laughing so freely now. Every once in awhile I would see a shadow of doubt creep up on her face but I was doing everything I could to make it better for her, just as she was doing for me. Jasper and Emmett came over and stood next to me, watching as our women bonded.

"Two babies, huh?" asked Emmett.

"Yep," I said, nodding my head.

"Wow," snorted Emmett. I looked up at him. "You're going to be pretty busy."

"I can't wait," I admitted.

"Congratulations, Edward," he said, placing his hand on my shoulder. "If anyone deserves to be happy, it's you and Bella."

"And you and Rose," I added. "You're getting married, Man."

"Figured we were ready." Emmett shrugged his shoulders. "Rosie deserves everything, Edward. I am going to make sure she gets it."

Emmett walked over and settled down on the hearth to the fireplace, watching as his fiancée giggled with my wife. "Who would have thought that Emmett would ever settle down," mused Jasper.

"Not me," I admitted. "But I guess when you find the one, you do what nobody expected."

"True," said Jasper. "You know Alice already has about a years worth of clothes bought, don't you?"

"I figured as much." Looking over at him, I smiled. "It's what Alice does."

"It's cause she loves you all so much," he said, seriously. "She's trying in her own little way to help make everything easier for you. Just like after the fire."

"I know," I said, nodding my head. "I wouldn't have her any other way, Jasper."

"Me either," he snorted, looking over at them. "She was really worried about you."

"I know," I said, again.

"She thought you didn't need her," added Jasper. "That Bella didn't need her, that nobody needed her. That's why she pushes herself on you all like she does. She's afraid that if she doesn't show you that she loves you, that you won't know."

"How could we not?" I muttered, shaking my head. "Alice is so selfless."

"She is," smiled Jasper, placing his hand on my shoulder. "It's just one of the things I love the most about her."

Jasper moved over and lifted Alice off the couch, causing her to squeal and throw her arms around him. He leaned in and discretely kissed her. Alice sighed and melted into his embrace. I had always known that Jasper and Alice loved each other but it wasn't until this moment that I really saw how much they were in love with each other. Every gesture, touch, murmured word. They were like me and Bella, always telling each other how they felt, even if they weren't saying anything.

"Time for presents!" squealed Alice, jumping out of Jasper's arms.

We all laughed with her and settled on the couches, while she started passing out presents. As much as Alice loved receiving gifts, she really did enjoy giving them more. Bella sat next to me on the couch, hands resting on her belly, as we watched out family opening their gifts. She reached over and grabbed my hand, placing it on her belly. Our babies pressed against my hand, and I smiled. Our perfect little family.

"Aren't you two going to open your gifts?" asked Esme.

"Of course we are," smiled Bella.

"Yeah, just watching everyone else first," I added.

By the time we were ready to head home, both Bella and I were exhausted. We had received so much that it took me three trips out to the car to load everything up. Once I had the car running, hoping it would be warm before Bella got in, I headed back into the house. Bella was wrapped in my mother's arms, while Esme whispered into her ear. It was beautiful to see how close my mother and my wife were.

"You got everything?" asked Charlie.

"Just waiting for her," I smiled, gesturing to Bella.

Charlie chuckled. "You might be waiting a while. Your mother has been talking to the babies. Something along the lines of a drum set and some make-up."

"Oh lord, help us all," I groaned. Bella laughed as Esme leaned down and kissed her belly. To anyone else, that would be weird but not to my mother.

"Be careful," he said, patting me on the back. "The roads are icy and you have precious cargo."

"I know," I said, heeding more than his warning about the roads. Bella came up to me. I leaned in and kissed her cheek. "Are you ready, love?"

"Hmm," she murmured, laying her head on my chest. "More than ready." Bella leaned over and kissed Charlie's cheek. "Night, Daddy."

"Night, Honey," he said, quietly. "I love you."

"I love you, too."

I kept my arm around Bella's waist as we made our way down to the car. The air was cold and the walkway slippery. The last thing we needed was for Bella to fall. She slipped her keys into my hand, murmured something about being too cold to drive. I helped her into the passenger seat and carefully made my way around the car to the drivers seat. Bella snuggled into her seat, pulling her seatbelt on, and smiling.

"Let's got home," she whispered. I picked up her hand and brought it up to my lips.

"Home sounds perfect."