I swear this was the hardest chapter to write. I wanted to keep going, but I knew I needed to end it here. I love, love, love you guys for coming along for this ride! It was a doozy at times, but I'm glad you all stuck with it and stuck with me. I doubt this will ever be the perfect last chapter, especially because it's the last chapter, but no matter how many times I read it, I'm happy with it.
Peace out, ladies, gents, and malcontents.
-Gaybe.
Angela walks up the driveway with a small baggie.
"This is so stupid," she mutters. "What's with the secrecy?"
"Because I am not ready for everyone to know."
Angela jumps and spins around. Bella saunters across the road. She puts out her hand, and Angela drops the baggie into her palm.
"Why won't you tell me what it is?" Angela huffs.
"I already answered that," Bella says softly.
"Are you in danger?"
Bella chuckles and shoves the baggie into her pocket. She winks at Angela and asks, "Have you forgotten who my wife is?"
"No, because you won't let anyone forget it."
Bella grips Angela's shoulder and squeezes. "The secrecy is important for the time being. Not even Alice knows. Can you trust I know what I am doing?" she pleads.
Angela puffs out her cheeks and waves off Bella's question. "I trust you, idiot. I just don't like being left out of the loop," she says.
Bella grimaces and scratches the back of her neck. "Rose does not know either," she admits.
"Bella. What-
"This is not like before. I am not keeping a secret at the risk of myself," Bella quickly explains. "This is something more…personal. I promise I will tell everyone the moment I can."
Angela rolls her eyes and says, "Fine."
"Thank you." Bella looks over her shoulder. "I will talk to you later, okay?" she says.
Angela has no chance to respond before Bella is gone. She stares into the darkness of the trees and then the house at the far end of the driveway. Part of her wishes that she'd looked in the baggie while she was bringing it over, but a promise is a promise. Angela turns on her heel and walks back down toward her car.
Bella dumps the contents of the baggie on the counter. She holds one of the vials in the air. The purple/blue liquid inside shines under the light. Bella hesitates before she pops the vial open and drains the contents in one go. Bella dry-heaves at the taste. She snags the other vial and hurries down into the kitchen. The second vial, filled with a green liquid, looks like sludge, making Bella's choice of pesto for dinner exceptionally well planned. No matter the fact, it was accidental. Bella chews on her lip and just goes for it. She dumps the liquid in the pot and tosses the vial in the trash can. She stirs the sauce together until not even her enhanced smell or sight could pick up on the foreign magic. Bella glances at the clock. Knowing Rosalie, she has about five minutes before her wife gets home from work. Bella knows how much this means to her. Despite the fact, Rosalie has not mentioned it in the last week, or so, Bella can sense the growing depression about their empty home. Bella probably should not have taken her potion so early, but she was assured it would last for twenty-four hours.
Which…eh.
Bella shakes her head and goes back to dinner. Just as she predicted, Rosalie arrives at eight p.m. on the dot. Bella speeds through setting the table and barely manages to get the wine out of the fridge when Rosalie enters from the garage. Bella smiles widely when she sees her wife. Nothing hasn't changed. Rosalie still manages to steal her breath away each and every moment of every day.
"Stop staring."
"Never."
Rosalie snorts and kicks off her heels by the door. She removes her hair from the tight bun she normally wears in court and places her briefcase on the island. Bella clicks her teeth in annoyance, and Rosalie kisses her cheek.
"You know I only do it to annoy you," she says, kissing the corner of Bella's mouth.
"Yeah, yeah. Whatever. I made pesto and pasta for dinner."
"What did you do?"
"Nothing," Bella laughs. "I was an ass the other day about the paint job in the art room, and I wanted to make it up to you."
"You were an ass, yes, but I expect nothing less. However, I will not complain as I am getting a delicious meal out of this."
"Oh, gee, thanks."
Rosalie winks and goes to her side of the table. Bella feels something odd between her legs, and she winces. Bella definitely should have waited until after dinner. Sitting down, Bella's grateful she changed into baggier pants because there's no possible way she could hide what she did.
"Why are you turning red?" Rosalie asks, dumping pasta on her plate.
"I guess I stood in front of the stove too long," Bella mutters.
Bella pours a glass of wine and downs it in one go. Rosalie watches her carefully, eyes narrowed and mouth pursed. Bella silently wills her wife to just eat the damn pasta. Rosalie gives up trying to figure out what's going on and finally starts to eat. Bella relaxes a little and eats her own food, eager to get some sort of starch in her system. So distracted, Bella misses Rosalie get up from the table and pause by the trash can. The vampire cocks her head and reaches inside. She scowls and looks over her shoulder.
"Isabella."
Bella looks up slowly. Rosalie's eyes are black, and she holds the vial in the air. Bella chokes and smacks her chest a few times.
"Oh, God. This – fuck. This is not at all- fuck!"
Bella drinks half the wine before it feels like she can breathe again. Rosalie stalks over to her like the apex predator she still is and dangles the vial in front of Bella's face.
"Explain."
Bella gives up on talking and pushes back from the table. She stands and waits for Rosalie to notice. Her wife's eyes drop down and Rosalie loses her grip on the vial. Bella saves it before it shatters against the floor and places it on the table.
"Remember how I said I could give you a family?" Bella asks hesitantly.
"Yes, but I feel like I would know if you always had that."
"One of Angela's descendants, ancestors? Not too sure what they are at this point, but they owed me a favor. They are known for their fertility…skills. She brewed something that could…help. Pretty much a guarantee if we do it like…before seven a.m. Maybe eight. Honestly, the time frame is a little wonky at the moment. I just-"
"Stop talking," Rosalie grits out.
Bella deflates.
"You're mad," she says.
"Mad is not the word I would use. Highly invested."
"O-oh. Oh! Are you sure? I was going back and forth on this because I know your history with…this thing? I did not want to make you uncomfortable, and if you are-
Rosalie puts her hand over Bella's mouth and smiles. "While I appreciate your concern, I have to wonder if you remember what happened on our honeymoon?" she asks. "Fourth day. Hurricane outside, and you wanted to try something new?"
Bella's eyes widen in remembrance, and Rosalie drops her hand.
"I am interested in giving it a try. But are you sure it will work?" Rosalie sighs. "Because if it doesn't…."
"I know. But I have faith it will. And I need it to work," Bella says honestly. "Because I really, really want to put a baby in you."
Rosalie twitches and disappears for a moment. Bella doesn't even have time to wonder before Rosalie's back and wearing the exact same thing she wore their first night being married. Bella grinds her teeth as the feeling in her lower half becomes tight and uncomfortable. How do guys deal with this? Rosalie picks up on her discomfort, and she steps closer. She reaches forward and grabs the growing bulge in Bella's pants. Bella yelps and grabs Rosalie by the waist to keep from falling backward.
"Then put a baby in me," Rosalie whispers.
Let no one say Bella never listens to her wife.
Alice stares out of the window. She and Emmett moved to Denver at Bella's request, something about having family nearby. So far, it's been nothing but radio silence. Well, until Bella and Rosalie finally agreed to come over for dinner. Emmett steps up behind her and puts his chin on her head.
"You know staring won't make them appear any faster," he teases.
"They're hiding something."
"Oh, for sure. Asking us to move all the way out here by the end of the month? Random."
"And suspicious. Even Angela says Bella's been acting stranger than normal. I'm sure Leah and the Denali sisters know what's happening. Alec and Seth too!"
"You don't think it's something bad, do you?"
"What if they're getting a divorce?" Alice whines.
"They are not getting a divorce."
Emmett and Alice turn around as Leah drops her bag on the floor. Tanya, Kate, and Irina settle on the couch with matching smirks, and Alice huffs.
"First, how did you get in here without me knowing? Second, what are they hiding?" she asks.
"First, I can be silent when I want to be. Second, we can't tell you," Leah says. "I personally made a blood promise."
Alice blinks.
"It's when two people-
"I know what a damn blood promise is," Alice groans.
"Sorry. You looked a little confused."
"Where are the others?" Tanya asks.
"Charlie and Esme got stuck in London, but they'll be here for Christmas. Jane, Angela, Alec, and Seth are in Greece for some festival," Emmett says.
"Obviously, Marcus and Demetri are in Italy," Alice adds.
"Interesting," Irina says.
All eyes turn to the window as a familiar BMW drives up the house. Alice is out of the room before the car stops, and she gets stopped on the porch as strong arms keep her from approaching the car. She yelps as Tanya holds her in the air, and Emmett is torn between laughing and helping.
"Hey!" Alice shouts. "Put me down!"
"You have to wait," Tanya laughs.
"Wait for what?" Alice exclaims.
The doors to the car open, and Bella steps out first. She snorts at Alice and shakes her head.
"I told you three to block the exit," Bella scolds.
"She's faster than she looks," Leah grumbles.
Bella goes around to open the passenger side door. Alice kicks out her legs and huffs.
"Can someone tell me what the hell-
Alice stops mid-sentence. Bella holds out her hand, and Rosalie gladly uses it as momentum to get out of the car. Tanya places Alice on the ground once Rosalie is out and standing out of the car. Rosalie yawns and scratches her stomach.
"Hello, Ally-Bear," she greets tiredly.
Alice squeals. Everyone covers their ears, even Emmett, who has to clamp a hand over his mate's mouth.
"Babe, lower the decibels," he says.
Alice rips Emmett's hand down and exclaims, "You're pregnant?!"
"Yep. Seven months," Bella says, scratching her jaw. "I think?"
"Did you say you think?" Rosalie asks.
"The days have started to blur together."
"Yes, because you are so weighed down with life," Rosalie deadpans.
"I- never mind," Bella mutters.
"Still haven't learned to shut up?" Leah asks.
"Apparently not," Bella sighs.
"Hold on! How does Leah know?" Alice pouts.
"Because the mutt is the god…creature," Rosalie says flatly.
"Wow. Impressive. That was both mean and offensive," Leah laughs.
"I am carrying two demonic spawns who I love very much. I am allowed to be a little mean and offensive!"
Bella reaches into her pocket and pulls out a candy bar. She holds it out to Rosalie, who takes it with a huff. Bella kisses the side of Rosalie's head.
"I love you," she says softly.
Rosalie's face shifts and Bella is already waiting with her arms out. Rosalie cries into Bella's neck while Leah jogs down the stairs and grabs their bags before she carries them into the house. Tanya and Kate take out their phones and time how long it takes before-
"Goddamnit!" Rosalie seethes.
Bella drops her arms as Rosalie hurries the best she can toward the house.
"Six seconds," Kate says.
"I have eight," Tanya adds, frowning. "Oh, I see. You started…okay. That's not as bad as it was before."
Irina is already waiting for Rosalie and helps her up the stairs. Bella closes the door and locks the car before she makes her way over to Alice and Emmett. Alice stares at Rosalie's stomach in disbelief as the vampire passes into the house before she turns on Bella.
"You-
"Leah was chosen because you are already the aunt, and we felt it was weird to have you pull double-duty like that. We had to tell the Denali's because Rosalie needed a specific kind of help when it came to the early stages of the pregnancy. They were best-prepared, considering Esme lives on the other side of the world and can't exactly leave her six-figure job for nine months without some backlash. Alec and Seth know because Leah is the godmother of one child, Seth is the godfather of the other, and both have been sworn to secrecy. Angela and Jane will find out the same time as Charlie and Esme because we felt it would be funnier if they found out last."
Alice closes her mouth and says, "You two are monsters."
"Rosalie didn't want to tell any of you until after the baby was born," Bella deadpans.
"But why?"
"She liked the bubble," Bella says, shrugging. "But I told her we have to tell someone."
Emmett runs a hand over his hair and asks, "How did-
"Do you really want to know that?" Bella interrupts.
"No," he says quickly. "But this… this is a little wild. Rosalie's pregnant? With humans?"
"Demonic spawns!" Rosalie shouts from somewhere in the house.
Bella rolls her eyes and says, "Hybrids."
Alice glances at Bella and asks, "Has she been this, you know, the entire time?"
"You do realize she can hear us, right? And that I have been toeing the line between doghouse and decapitation since the fifth month?"
Alice winces. Bella chuckles and gestures to the house.
"Come on, you two. Go inside so you can officially introduce yourselves to Spawn 1 and Spawn 2."
Rosalie licks a popsicle as Alice and Emmett sit at her feet. Alice places her ear on her stomach and giggles.
"I can hear their heartbeat," she whispers.
Emmett stares hard at the stomach and says, "I have so much to teach them."
Rosalie has a brief image of Emmett teaching the twins how to take down a bear and shudders. She glances over to the other side of the room at Bella. Bella has that same look in her eyes, like when Rosalie first showed her the pregnancy test. The night it happened is a bit of a blur considering all that went down, and Rosalie did have to pay for another bed, but it's all been worth it. Even when they found out, they were having twins. Rosalie remembers the startled and excited look Bella had on her face. At the same time, Rosalie couldn't stop thinking about whether they would be raising either two Rosalie's or two Bella's. Either way, the world is not prepared for the sheer terror that would be unleashed from their spawns.
Rosalie scrunches her face when Bella smiles at her, loving and open, and everything that makes her heart try to beat out of her chest. She flushes and touches her stomach, mindful not to poke Alice in the eye.
"Have you two decided on names?" Tanya asks.
"Not really at the top of the list yet. But I was thinking Gerald and Gertrude," Bella jokes.
Rosalie winces and remembers she forgot to tell her wife one little detail from the appointment Bella missed the other day. She clears her throat and says, "Two girls."
Bella blinks and crosses the room. Emmett picks up Alice and puts her in his lap just as Bella drops down in front of Rosalie and puts her hands on her stomach. Rosalie stares at her wife warily. Bella avoids touching Rosalie's stomach unless she absolutely has to.
"Daughters," Bella whispers.
Bella lays her head on the stomach, uncaring their audience, and Rosalie feels herself about to start crying again. Damn hormones.
"Guess that means I'll be hosting a lot of tea parties," Emmett says solemnly.
"Or running for your life," Kate quips.
"I predict a lot of running for everyone," Alice teases.
"As long as they don't inherit their mother's stupidity and self-sacrificial behavior," Rosalie deadpans.
"Or their Mom's attitude," Bella shoots back.
Rosalie scowls and flicks Bella on the ear. Bella kisses Rosalie's stomach again and settles on the couch beside her. Rosalie grunts and leans into her side, whining when Bella reaches for her popsicle. Everyone in that room knows that Rosalie and Bella will raise strong, creative, and powerful women.
With that said, Rosalie mentally concludes that the rest of the world can go fuck itself.