I don't own Twilight or its characters. Stephenie Meyer does.
Cheryl, Noles, and Gabby, thank you for pre-reading, and April, thank you for editing. Any mistakes left are my own.
Ch 20
BPOV
We stayed on the island for a few days. I felt rested, but I wasn't in a rush to return to the mainland. I was finally alone with my mate without interruptions or worrying about any threat looming before us.
I relaxed in a hammock in the shade while Edward swam around the lagoon. I watched the canopy above as birds flew about and a spider monkey, who swung high up in the branches with a baby clinging to her back. She reached for a piece of fruit, and it slipped out of her hands. I caught it midair and raised it back up to them.
She screeched at it and turned her head from side to side. For a moment, I thought she wouldn't take it. Quickly she snatched it and scurried to a higher branch and started to eat.
"You want to come in?" Edward asked, swimming closer to the edge.
"I don't know how to swim," I reminded him.
"I'm hardly going to let you drown, Mía Bella." His eyes twinkled with amusement.
I slid out of the hammock and walked slowly to the edge. I eyed the water nervously, but before I could gather the courage, Edward grabbed my hand and pulled me. I yelped and immediately my defenses went up. We both were trapped in my shield, bobbing around the water.
Edward threw his head back and started laughing. "I guess I should have seen this coming. Let down your shield, sweetheart."
I blushed and popped the bubble and we splashed into the water. I gasped and held on to Edward. He wrapped his arms around my waist. He kissed my cheek then shifted me on to his back.
"Hold tight, and hold your breath," he instructed.
He jetted through the lagoon with me hanging on to his back. It was a lot like when he ran with me. In a blink of an eye, we were on top of a small cliff over a waterfall. Before I could stop him, he jumped off the ledge. I squealed and buried my head in his neck as we submerged under the surface. He swam underwater until we were behind the rushing waterfall. He shifted me so I was facing him before pressing me against the rock surface. He kissed me heatedly, and I linked my ankles behind his back.
He pulled back and whispered against my lips. "How about one more time before we head back to Forks?"
"Perfect idea," I agreed as I returned his kiss.
CS
Two days after our return, I knocked on Rosalie's door. Before Edward and I announced my pregnancy to the rest of the family, I wanted to talk to her first. I knew she would be the one to have a hard time accepting the news.
"Come in," she responded.
I went inside and found her at her computer. She looked up from the screen and gave me a hesitant smile. I took a seat on the chair by her vanity and turned to her.
"I was hoping to speak to you privately. Do you mind if I put up a spell?" I asked.
She frowned and tossed her head back. "Sure, but what did Emmett do now?"
"I didn't do anything…I think," he yelled from somewhere in the house.
I waved my hand to give us privacy. "He didn't do anything. I have some news to tell everyone, but I wanted to share it with you first."
"Why me?" She was skeptical.
"Because I wanted to be sensitive to the fact my good news may not seem like it for you. I'm going to have Edward's baby," I told her.
"How is that possible?" Her eyebrows furrowed.
"I'm not sure. I mean I know how babies are conceived. But Edward and I didn't think it was possible with him being a vampire. Perhaps Carlisle will know when we announce it to the family."
"I'm really the first one you guys told?" she asked.
"Yes. However, Alice knows because she saw a glimpse of her. And I suspect, my uncle knows, because he hinted at it," I replied honestly.
"You'll have a baby girl then." Rose bit her lip as she struggled with her sadness and jealousy.
"Yes, she will be born this summer, we will have a son in another two years," I explained. After a few beats of awkward silence, I spoke again. "Rosalie, if I could, I would try to use my magic to turn you and Emmett back to being humans. Or at least give you a baby of your own. However, some things are even beyond my magic."
"I believe you." She nodded sadly.
"I know the feeling of wanting a family of your own. I spent many years grieving myself for something I thought I would never have. I was alone for so long and even before then, it was just my mother and me. I never had a big family, so I'm grateful that Edward had all of you. You all may be different individuals, but together it's obvious you care for one another. I hope you'll consider being an aunt to my children. They would be lucky to have you as an aunt. I can't think of anyone who would protect them more than Edward and myself," I told her.
Rosalie blinked her eyes a few times. Her sadness and jealousy was still there, but happiness started to break through it. "You're very kind to share your babies with me, after how I treated you. I am honored you want me to be their aunt. I promise you, I will love them as if they could be my own. After all, someone will have to rein in Emmett and Alice." A smile grew on her face.
"I believe you're right." I grinned back.
CS
I stared into the flames of the bonfire, waiting to see if I would see my mother. When I tried a century ago, she hadn't appeared. But if I was being truthful, at the time, I had been wishing for Edward to visit me. I now knew why he didn't come that night, but it didn't explain why she didn't.
The wind picked up, blowing softly, lifting my hair in the breeze. The flames grew and a mist spread around the area before the air grew still. I glanced around to see that Edward was no longer beside me, yet I felt his presence nearby.
"Isabella," my mother called as she stepped from the mist. She looked like I last saw her, except translucent.
"Ma." I blinked back some tears. I rushed to hug her but realized it was impossible, since she was in spiritual form.
Mother gave me a small smile. "It's been a very long time."
"Too long. Ma, I'm sorry—"
"No, my dear child, I owe you the apology. When I had my vision of what was to come, I had no clue you and Edward would be separated for so long. I knew it would be for a time, until after his rogue period, but not a century. I couldn't go to Carlisle myself, because I would've put a target on his back. My main concern at the time was protecting you," she said sadly.
"Why didn't you tell me everything then?" I asked.
"I thought about it, and even searched for the outcome for if I had. However, in that vision you would have stayed by my side to fight. And with your powers bonded, you wouldn't have been able to fight them off. Aro would have taken you and tried to force your submission by destroying Edward. You would've become something dark and sinister. I wish I had trusted Charles with your training. Perhaps, it wouldn't have been this long. At the time, I trusted no one but myself to protect you," she explained.
I nodded thoughtfully. I knew deep inside she was right. My control did waver whenever he had been threatened. "Aro is gone now."
"I know. I have been able to watch you through the years. I am proud of you, my daughter. You will make a wonderful mother." She reached for my stomach and her hand hovered without touching before she backed away toward the flames.
"Are you leaving already?" I was disappointed our visit was so short.
"Yes, but I hope to see you again. I would love to meet my grandbabies." She smiled fondly.
The wind shifted and the mist dissipated as the flames died down. Edward turned me to him and cupped my cheek with his palm. He looked at me worriedly.
"Are you all right? I've been calling your name, but you appeared to be in some sort of trance," he said. His other hand covered my belly. I wasn't showing yet, but Edward had been excited once he could hear her heartbeat.
"I'm fine. I take it you didn't see her?" I asked.
"See who, Mía Bella?" he asked, looking at the fire.
"My mother." I glanced around and realized I had been the only one to be visited by anyone. "Maybe you do need to be a witch after all."
"Did it go well?" he asked curiously.
I nodded. "Yes, but let's talk about it at home."
"Sooner the better if you ask me, you're looking tired. At least, Emmett held out longer than I thought he would." Edward smirked, then looked at his brother.
Emmett had gotten bored and had started to juggle several of the jack-o-lanterns. I flicked my fingers and caused him to lose control of them. Several crashed around him while the largest landed on his head.
"Hey, who did that?" he snapped.
"Who do you think?" Edward chuckled.
"You!" Emmett pointed at me, but he looked completely ridiculous.
I started giggling and couldn't answer him.
"You never looked better, Emmett. Be grateful she put out the fire first. And you owe me fifty. I knew you couldn't take this seriously." Jasper laughed.
"I knew I would need my camera." Alice grinned and took a few pictures.
Emmett started yanking on the pumpkin without any success. "Ha-ha. I'm glad you guys are laughing at my expense. Rosie, help me get this off me."
Rose was laughing so hard next to Jasper, she wasn't able to answer him. Jasper finally did a spinning kick and hit it. It split into pieces, falling at their feet.
Emmett grinned at me evilly. "Why I oughta—"
"You'll do nothing, she's pregnant and you had it coming." Rosalie got a hold of herself and went to his side. "Now pay Jasper and let's go home."
"Home sounds good. Are we flying, running, or teleporting?" Edward whispered into my ear and kissed my cheek.
"Teleporting is the fastest way." I winked and held on to him, and we made the jump.
A/N: A lot of loose ends tied up and only the epilogue left.