Chapter 19
"You're here for me." Bella declared, stepping around Elijah to show herself to the man she had once thought of as a second father figure.
"Oh my… Bella, is that you?" Esme asked in an emotion filled voice, not quite believing what she was seeing.
"You mean Alice really didn't see this coming? Or did she see it but simply didn't warn you? I have to say, I'm surprised you remember me, with the way you and your family just up and left without saying goodbye, it was like you forgot who I was and all the time we had spent together…" Bella snapped.
"I… Edward said that you didn't want to see us again after the incident that happened on your birthday…" Esme shook her head, speaking in a small, guilty voice.
"And Edward never lies? You're not old enough to come and try to defend yourselves or even just say goodbye? No matter what Edward told you, it doesn't justify the way you left me, the way he left me." Bella replied, trying to stay calm.
"Wait, is this Edward a Cold One? Bella dated a Cold One? Wow, definitely born to be involved in the supernatural." Kol chuckled.
"Bella… I…" Carlisle was trying to find something to say and Bella interrupted him:
"He left me two days after my birthday. Came to my house, said he wanted to talk and took me in the woods. There he told me I wasn't good enough for him, broke my heart and left me. I foolishly tried to follow him and got lost. Good thing Sam and his pack found me and took me home before I died, it was a very cold night." Bella told them.
"We didn't know Bella… We left the day after your birthday, Edward was the only one left by then… I… I'm truly sorry… We were told that you didn't want to have anything to do with us again…" Carlisle replied.
"Alice could have seen the truth, you could have still come, leaving the way you did was your choice but it's not why you're here. What Klaus told you at the door is a real warning, if you choose to help, you can't tell anyone where you are and what you're doing. You'll be able to tell them about me when I decide to and they'll be able to come if they want but one by one, when I decide it." Bella said, trying to sound confident.
"What's wrong with you? Why am I here?" Carlisle asked her after nodding his approval of her terms.
He'd have plenty of time to explain everything to her later, because if she called him here, if she wanted his help, then it meant that she was willing to talk things out, that she was open to discussion.
He started sniffing the air and she knew that he was trying to see if he could smell cancer or something like this.
"I'm pregnant. Klaus here is the father. It's possible because he broke his curse, the one who held back his werewolf side. I obviously have his blood in me now because I heal quickly. Considering how clumsy i a, it's a good thing. Anyway, we don't really know what to expect during this pregnancy and we need a doctor who's aware of the supernatural in case anything out of the ordinary happens. There was one in town who knew but she left suddenly and our other choice would be to compel a doctor, but it would be taking the risk of messing with his capacities... Ever since I found out I was pregnant I have Piper's first pregnancy from the Charmed series on my mind and I need to have my mind at peace. I mean, their mother was a witch, so the babies will be too, but they'll also have the werewolf gene..." Bella explained as she sat down, Elijah on her right and Klaus on her left, inviting them to do the same.
"You… It's… I'll be very happy and honored to be your doctor Bella." Carlisle nodded.
He decided that he'd tell her more about why they left later, now wasn't the time.
"I have bought the equipment you'll need and settled an exam room for you here, along with rooms for you to stay in while you're here. If there's anything missing, just tell me and my hybrids will get it for you." Klaus replied.
"Very well. Is this pregnancy a secret? I'm asking because you don't want us to tell anyone…" The doctor asked.
"The pregnancy isn't a secret, but Klaus wants to keep some control over who knows about it." Bella replied, shaking her head.
"We need to be careful about who knows of Bella's pregnancy, especially the fact that the child is mine and that I care for the mother. I have lots of enemies who'd love to use her against me. Especially since there's a witch in Chicago that's trying to resurrect my mother, who's hell bent on killing us all." Klaus added.
"Very well. Do you want us to stay here for the entire pregnancy or do we come back every month for a check-up?" Carlisle asked.
"We'd like for you to stay here the entire time, just in case something happens in between check-ups. Of course you'd be able to leave and see your friends and family anytime you want, but we'd like you here as often as possible in case something happens to Bella and the baby." Klaus told him.
"We can stay, it's not a problem. The forests are big around here, we should have no problem finding big animals to feed from." Carlisle nodded.
"You can hunt with Stefan Salvatore, he also feeds on animals." Bella told them.
"Really? Is he one of their kind? And he feeds on animals?" Esme asked, surprised.
"He's kind of a… blood-ahoolic. He has control issues when he's on human blood. Ever heard of the ripper of Monterey? That was him." Bella explained.
"I always thought it was someone from our kind. The Volturi were so sure of it too…" Carlisle shook his head.
"Maybe you'll be able to help him get his control back while on human blood, I know that his brother has tried to build his resistance over time, give him little by little, a little more everyday but then he fell back into ripper habits after an incident and so they stopped and went back to the full on animal blood diet." Bella informed the doctor who nodded.
"If you really want to do this, we can have a check up now and when we're done, our witch will have arrived with everything that's needed to do your two sun rings. If you want more, you'll be able to see directly with her later." Klaus explained and Carlisle nodded, standing up, ready to follow Bella and Klaus.
"Oh, I guess everyone's coming then…" Bella chuckled when she noticed that everyone was following.
"Well, it is our niece or nephew you're carrying. We want to see it." Rebekah replied cheerfully.
"We want to see the new member of our family." Finn nodded with a smile.
"So, Bella, are you and Klaus a couple then?" Esme asked her, trying to make conversation.
"Yes, but we don't live together yet." Bella replied.
"But you're carrying his child…" Esme insisted.
"Yes, but we don't want to move too fast. A relationship that goes too fast could die out just as fast, by taking our time, we're ensuring that it lasts and that, even if we were to fall out of love, we'd still be able to be friends. We don't want our child to be around warring parents and we're doing everything we can to ensure that." Bella replied, shaking her head.
"Of course." The Cold One nodded with a smile.
"I have to say Bella, you don't look your age at all." Esme added, complimenting her.
"Thanks, I've been taking witch herbs for the past few years, it makes me age slower, and I'll live a longer human life. At least that was the plan before I met Klaus. Now I know that I'll turn eventually."
"Witch herbs ?" Carlisle asked her, glancing at her baby.
"I'll give you the list later if you want, but there's no risk for the baby, don't worry. Witches have taken them and had babies for centuries, if not longer. And none of the herbs are poisonous to vampire or werewolves, I've checked." She replied and he smiled, happy to see how prepared she was.
Once everyone was in the exam room and Carlisle checked everything, making a list of things he might need later, he started by taking a blood sample from Bella (she noticed Esme holding her breath). The doctor put it aside and turned on the equipment for the sonogram.
"The doctor I saw a couple of weeks ago said it was too blurry to say if there was one or more babies." Bella told him.
"Well, it is a bit blurry but I can definitely hear two hearts. They're beating almost at the same time so an untrained ear wouldn't notice it but they're here." Carlisle replied as he pushed buttons on the computer to try and get a better image.
"Two babies?" Bella asked, tears in her eyes as Klaus held her hand, just as moved as she was.
"I guess it's a good thing that we're such a big family. You'll need the babysitters." Rebekah replied excitingly.
"Hang on, I think I have something… Yes, it's clearer now." The doctor added, his eyes still on the screen.
"Maybe to you." Bella shook her head.
"I see them, right here. Baby number one is right here and baby number two is over there." Carlisle showed them on the screen.
"I don't see it. Are they behind the beans?" Kol asked.
"It's not beans idiot, it's the babies." Rebekah shook her head.
"Can you see their genders?" Bella asked softly.
"I can. A human wouldn't be able to see it, it's small and difficult for them to see it at this point but I definitely can see it. Do you want to know?" He asked her and Klaus.
Both parents nodded and Carlisle turned to them with a smile:
"You have a girl right here and a boy over there."
"How can you tell he's a boy? I don't see it. Poor thing is going to have a hard time with the ladies." Kol shook his head, making them all chuckled as Rebekah hit him over the head.
"He's still developing! You were just as small when you were in mother's womb." Finn replied, shaking his head while Klaus and Bella didn't look away from the screen.
"Shall I print copies?" Carlisle asked.
"Yes, I want one for my office, and one too for the baby's album we'll make. One for my dad too. No need printing one for mom, she doesn't want to think about the fact that she's going to be a grandmother. If she doesn't see the babies, then she's not a grandmother." Bella replied.
"I'll need one as well." Klaus replied and in the end, the entire family asked for a copy.
It was, after all, a first and a welcome event in their family, they all wanted to keep traces of it.
"Actually Carlisle, print one more. I'll need it for Elena." Bella added and the doctor nodded.
.
A few minutes later, they were all in the living room, talking, when the doorbell rang.
"It must be Bonnie, I'll get it." Bella said, standing up before anyone else insisted she sat down any longer.
Bella thanked Bonnie for coming and assured that she'd be paid. The witch refused any money from Bella and replied that a couple of free therapy sessions would be enough. Bella agreed and showed her to the living room.
Once Bonnie was introduced to the Cullen's, she took out what she needed and enchanted them stones they'd be able to add to their jewelry so they could walk in the sun.
"Thank you, we really appreciate it." Esme told her.
"Well, I usually don't like helping vampires but Bella says you don't hurt humans, that you even save lives, so…" Bonnie shrugged her shoulders.
"We were wondering if you'd be willing to make a few more of this stones for us. We're willing to pay a lot of money for it." Carlisle asked her, thinking of not only his family but also Tanya and her family.
"Meet me at the Grill tomorrow after school and we'll talk about it. I have to go now, Caroline and Elena are waiting for me for a girl's night." Bonnie replied.
"I'm guessing you're heading to Caroline's then?" Bella asked with a smile.
"How do you know?" Bonnie asked her, surprised.
"Jenna told me that after she found Jeremy spying on you and Caroline changing during your last slumber party, she banned them from her house." Bella replied with a smile, making Bonnie blush.
"Yeah… Plus, Caroline's mom is working tonight so it'll be much better." Bonnie added.
"Kol, can go with her and make sure she gets there safely? Look around for anyone suspicious, especially other witches. We can't risk Gloria's men getting their hands on you." Klaus asked his brother who nodded.
Bonnie thanked them and left.
"I should go as well, I have a session with Liz Forbes early tomorrow morning and right after that I have the Salvatore brothers and Carole Lockwood. It's going to be an emotional morning followed by an emotional afternoon with John Gilbert, Alaric and Elena." Bella announced as she stood up.
"Where are you living?" Esme asked her.
"I have an apartment above my office for now. It's protected by technology and magic, I'm safer there." Bella shook her head.
"I'll come with you, make sure you get home." Klaus told her, eager to be alone with her.
"No, stay here. You just got your brothers back. Have fun, do something together. I'll be fine. I'll see you later tonight." Bella shook her head and he reluctantly nodded, knowing that she was right.
He kissed her and promised her to come by later.
"I'll go with her, brother. I'll see you all tomorrow. I'm still living there anyway." Rebekah suggested and Klaus nodded, feeling better about someone being with Bella.
"Well, Esme and I will leave you as well. We need to hunt and buy some things. We know there's a Mall open all night a few hours from here." Carlisle told them.
"Before you go come with me, I'll show you to your room. I know you don't need to sleep but you'll still have your space around here." Klaus told them.
"We don't want to abuse your hospitality, we can stay at an hotel or find a place to rent." Carlisle shook his head.
"Don't worry, you're not abusing anything. I had a small guest house built in the back yard, you'll have your intimacy and still be close by in case we need you. And it'll be better for you when your family comes over." Klaus waved it off.
Bella then said goodbye to everyone, along with Rebekah who hugged her brothers before she left the house to drive back to her own home.
When Kol came back, assuring his brother that Bonnie was safe, Sage and Finn had gone up to their bedroom to 'reunite' and the three other brothers decided to celebrate their reunion with a good old bottle of Bourbon.
Klaus had a lot to celebrate that night. He had his family back and was going to have twins. A little girl and a little boy. He was going to be a father and his family was by his side. He also felt like celebrating his love for Bella, her presence in her life, making him feel like the sun was shining above him for the first time.
Though they hadn't found the time to discuss their mother coming back to life yet, he knew that it was only a matter of time and that they would be united together against her. They were well on the way to being a real family.
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Lorelei Candice Black