I turn in on the driveway to the house and the kids look awed out through the window.
"WOW, you are really rich!" Both of them state at the same time and Carlisle starts laughing at my silencing glare.
"Kids." I growl and they lower their heads a little.
"We're sorry." The say in unison and Carlisle shakes his head a little.
"It's okay and yes, you could say we are indeed very rich." He grins at me and I roll my eyes, parking in front of the house. We help the kids out of the car and suddenly they are nervous. I glance down at them, hugging my legs gently, then I shake my head and hold hands with the both of them. I follow Carlisle into the thouse and the family is gathered in the living room, everyone except for Esme looks older. Esme beams at the kids and I smile at her. She really is a mother.
"Everyone, this is Cameron and Elsa. Cameron and Elsa this is Edward, Jasper, Alice, Rosalie, Emmet, and Esme." I introduce. The kids hesitantly peek out from behind my legs. I roll my eyes. I lean down to whisper in their ears. "The big one over there loves games and the small pixie loves clothes and makeovers." I whisper and instantly they look almost longingly at Emmet and Alice. "It's okay, you can go play." I chuckle and they instantly squeal, making me grimace at the loud sound. Elsa runs straight to Alice and starts speaking a hundred miles a minute, then they dissapear up the stairs. Alice throws me a smile over her shoulder and I smile back gently. Emmet and Cameron are already seated in front of the TV, playing some kind of car game. I chuckle and shake my head, following Esme and the others into the kitchen since we need somewhere private to speak. Once we're inside the kitchen and Esme has put a cup of tea in front of me, they look hesitantly at me. I sigh deeply and nod.
"Ask away." I allow and they smile relieved.
"How old are they?" Esme asks lovingly and I smile.
"Five."
"Are they your's?" Edward asks and then he hurries to add. "I mean biologically." I smile a little and nod as I take another sip. "Who's the father?" I gulp.
"Jacob Black." I say and he nods a little.
"Alice wants to know how Charlie is." Jasper says and I close my eyes for a few moments.
"I'm afraid he has passed away." I whisper and a cold hand touches my hand gently. When I open my eyes I see that it's Esme. I smile thankfully to her and squeeze her hand a little. "I think we should wait with questions about my family until the kids are sleeping." I add and they nod respectfully.
"Bella, could we talk alone?" Edward asks and I hesitate, then I nod. I look at my clock.
"The kids will probably be hungry in about an hour, give them whatever they want." I tell the others and Esme beams at me. Edward places a hand on my lower back as we walk towards the door. "KIDS I'M GOING OUT! ANNOY EMMET AND ALICE AS MUCH AS YOU CAN BUT BE NICE TO THE OTHERS!" I yell and they respond with loud giggles. I smile and shake my head as I follow Edward outside.
"The meadow?" He suggests and I smile, nodding. He lifts me up in a bridal carry and I close my eyes, then I feel the wind against my face as he runs.
"It's been long." I mumble and I feel him sigh deeply.
"That it has." He agrees and then we're silent until we arrive at the meadow. He puts me down gently on my feet and I look around amazed. It's even more wonderful than I remembered.
"Am I too late, Bella?" He asks suddenly and I swirl around, looking confused at him. He smiles gently. "Am I too late to win your heart back? To be your forever?" He asks and I shake my head a little.
"No." I breathe and he looks surprised, but extremely happy at me.
"I'm not?" He asks and I shake my head again. "But Jacob?" He asks and I turn around, looking in another direction and wrap my arms around my midsection.
"He raped me." I admit and am met with complete silence, then a pair of cold arms suddenly hugs me tightly.
"I'm so sorry you had to go through that, love…. is Cameron and Elsa?" He asks hesitantly and I nod.
"Yes, but I have kept it from them and I never want them to know. They think I dated Jacob but that he didn't want kids so he left me since we didn't really love each other anyway." I explain and lean back into his embrace.
"I understand." He whispers and I relax into his touch.
"Thank God." I murmur and he kisses my cheek.
"Will you do me the honor of being my girlfriend again, Bella?" He asks and I hesitate.
"I would love to, but I need to make something clear first…" He nods and I turn around to meet his eyes seriously. "If we do this you have to be all in. It's not just about me anymore, it's about my children as well. You can't ever leave us, no matter what you think, without speaking with me. We need to communicate and you won't hide anything from me anymore no matter if it's 'for my own good' or not. Do you understand this Edward?" I ask and he nods.
"I promise. I have done a lot of thinking when we were seperated and I realise how stupid I was. I thought I was protecting you from me when I left but I know I should have stayed until you asked me to go. I loved you then and I love you now, but I have grown up and become a man. I'm not that boy anymore, I promise." He says and I smile at him, then I kiss him passionately. He pulls me tight against him, one arm firmly around my waist and the other tangled in my hair. He licks my lips and I open them willingly, greedily letting his tongue in, tasting his wonderful honey and flower flavour. He continues kissing me until I have to catch my breath and then he just rests his forehead against mine.
"I love you." I pant and he grins.
"I love you too."
"I was wondering one thing…" He nods for me to go on. "Why do you all look so much older?" I ask and he laughs loudly.
"Acting, love. When we moved back here we knew we had to appear to have aged so we went into our older rolls. I'm around 28, just like you, love." He grins and I smile a little at him.
"But even Carlisle looks older! His hair has streaks of gray!" I object and he laughs.
"Alice." He explains and I grin, shaking my head.
"That's why I didn't recognize you… I thought you looked familiar, but I thought I was going crazy or something." I chuckle and he grins, ruffling his hair so it's his usual Edward hair instead of back slicked. I smile and ruffle his hair even more. "You all make me feel old with your ageing." I groan. He winks and throws me over his shoulder.
"Sorry, ma'am." He laughs as he starts walking into the woods again.
"Young man, let me go!" I lecture him teasingly and he laughs loudly, changing me until I'm in his arms and then he runs us home. "SHIT!" I scream and he looks around worriedly. "I'm older than Carlisle, aren't I?" I ask and he laughs loudly.
"Well, technically, yes." He laughs and I groan. "But he's over 400 year old so I think you're okay." He adds and stops in front of the house.
"Feeling old, Bella?" Emmet grins when we walk in and I groan.
"Yes."
"If it helps I'm actually 25." He laughs and I look shocked at him.
"It actually helps a little." I say, pleased, and he grins. "Where's the kids?" I ask, looking around for Cameron.
"Baking with Esme." Edward smiles and I sigh pleased.
"Bella!" Alice squeals as she bounds down the stairs. I open my arms and catch her as she hugs me tightly. "I have missed you so much and Elsa is such a wonderful little girl. You should stay over and we can do girl things all night and then-"
"Alice." I sigh and she frowns a little.
"We can't do girl things?" She pouts and I roll my eyes.
"You and Elsa can do girl things, as long as I don't have to." I say and Edward wraps an arm around my shoulders.
"So you will stay?" He asks and I smile up to him, nodding.
"I would love to, besides I think you have some questions for me." I say and he smiles apologetically but nods.
"That we have… When does the kid usually go to bed?"
"Around eight, but they will probably stay up much later here." I say and Alice grins, then she nods.
"MA!" Cameron yells suddenly from the kitchen and I hurry inside to find Elsa crying. I scoop her up in my arms and rock her softly.
"What is it, my baby girl? Are you hurt?" I ask and she clings to me like a little monkey. "Elsa, tell me, are you hurt?" I ask gently but firmly. She shakes her head, but continues crying. "Then what's the problem baby?" I ask and she just sobs into my chest. I hold her tightly as I begin to walk around inside the house. It usually calms her when I carry her and after a few minutes she stops crying, just holding tightly to me. "Can you tell me what's wrong?" I prod softly and she nods her head, looking up with a little pout.
"Cameron said I couldn't play games with him and E-emmet." She sobs and I sigh, carrying her back into the kitchen.
"Cameron." I say sharply and he lowers his head.
"I'm sorry, ma." He pouts adorably and I sigh.
"No milk for a week for you." I state and he widens his eyes dramatically. He really loves his milk.
"But ma-"
"No, Cameron it's either that or letting Alice and Elsa play dress up with you." I say and his eyes almost pop out of his head as he shakes his head violently.
"No, ma, please." He pleads desperately and I can't help but smile.
"So no milk?" I question and he nods sullenly. "And what do you have to say to Elsa?" I ask and he looks at Elsa.
"I'm sorry, sis'." He says sincerely and she nods a little.
"Good." I state, then I walk over to Emmet and hand him Elsa. I know they all heard what Elsa told me.
"You wanna play games?" Emmet asks with a wide grin as he throws her over his shoulder and joggs at a human pace into the living room. She squeals and giggles as he carries her. I smile at them and shake my head a little. Kids. A small tug on my sleeve makes me turn my attention to Cameron. He holds his arms up so I lift him up and place him on my hip.
"What's the matter, sweetie?" I ask and he buries his head in my chest.
"I'm tired." He tells me and yawns loudly.
"Are you hungry?" I ask and he nods a little.
"The dinner is ready." Esme says. I smile gratefully to her and carry Cameron with me towards the table.
"Emmet." I call and a few seconds later Emmet carries Elsa inside by her ankle. We all start laughing at her adorable pout and then Edward frees her.
"You aren't hungry?" Elsa asks as the three of us eat while the other watches. The others look kind of panicked at them, but I smile a little.
"You know those legends uncle Sam told you?" I ask and the kids nod. "Well, this is the Cullens." I explain and they look amazed at them.
"You are vampires?" Cameron asks, amazed. The Cullens look awkwardly at them and then me.
"They are." I confirm and Cameron grins widely.
"That is so much cooler than wolves." He states and I start laughing at the Cullens shocked expressions.
"True." I agree and the kids start firing off questions nonstop. Such as 'sunlight? speed? bats?' and more. I sit there laughing quietly as I eat. The Cullens still look shocked, but Carlisle makes sure to answer their questions correctly while Emmet shows his strength and speed, which the kids thought was very cool.
"Bella?" Edward whispers behind me and I look over my shoulder. "Explain?" He asks too quietly for the kids and I sigh.
"Jacob is a werewolf from La Push and Cameron most likely carries the gene… maybe even Elsa." I whisper underneath my breath, making sure the kids don't hear. "Sam is the pack Alpha so I have let him have some contact with the kids to explain the legends." I continue and they nod barely noticeable. "It's their right to know as a part of the tribe." I add and they nod again, understanding. "I'll explain more when they are asleep." I breathe, then I get up and put some more food at the kids plates before I kiss Edward on the cheek.
"Mom is going to take a shower, be nice." I say and the kids nod completely synchronized again. I chuckle as I walk up to Edward's room and steal one of his shirts, then I get into the shower. It's nice to be able to have some time alone without having to worry about the kids.