A/N: Welcome back, everyone! Ready to meet Hannah? :-)
Thanks and Edward licks to my awesome preaders, Keye, Sandy, and Aleea, for their invaluable feedback and friendship.
I treasure my betas, wmr1601 and Katmom, more than I can say. These ladies are beyond compare. Mwah!
Chapter 21
~Home at Last~
The soul is healed by being with children. ~English Proverb
Jasper hangs around by the car with his head down, reciting battle strategies from his army days. His mood seems oddly somber and broody without being hostile, but I don't have time to think about him right now.
The little girl before us is wearing jeans and a pink shirt with a big flower in the center. Bouncy brown curls frame her cherubic face, and she truly has her mother's soulful eyes. Isabella gasps beside me and drops to her knees so she's at eye level with her daughter.
"Hannah—" Alice starts.
"Mama!" Hannah pulls her hand from Alice's and hurls herself across the room into Isabella's arms.
"Hi, baby. Y-You remember me?"
"Unco Harry and Aunt Mimi show me you all the time!"
"They do?"
"Yah! And they play you, so Nana can hear."
"They must be special people."
"Uh huh!" Hannah chirps. Pulling back, she takes Isabella's face between her chubby hands. "Nana missed you, Mama."
"And I missed you, Hannah Banana!"
Hannah giggles and kisses Isabella's cheek. "Do I live here now?"
"Not quite, baby. Mama is kind of sick, and I need time to get better."
"Oh." Hannah tilts her head but doesn't seem overly concerned.
"You'll stay with your Grandma Sue and Uncle Seth. You can meet them later, okay?"
"'Kay."
"Baby, I want you to meet someone." Isabella looks up at me. "This is Edward."
I crouch beside Isabella so I'm closer to Hannah's height. "Hello, princess."
Big brown eyes meet mine, and she looks me over curiously. Leaving her mother's arms, she inches closer. I'm concerned she might be frightened, so I remain very still. Hannah comes to stand in front of me and looks up into my eyes. She reaches her tiny hand up to rest it on my cheek.
"Edwood special." She smiles shyly. "Nana like."
"Well, thank you. I think you're special, too."
And then something unexpected happens. Hannah moves in closer, going up on tiptoe, and winds her arms around my neck. She rests her head on me with a soft sigh. Cautiously, I bring my arms around her petite body and hug her to me gently.
Isabella's eyes fill with tears, and she smiles at me. Alice's eyes go wide. I think you've got this. She winks and then lets herself out the front door quietly.
Hannah smells sweet and innocent, of apple juice and cookies and baby shampoo. Her warmth and acceptance tug at a place deep inside me that I didn't think existed anymore. I feel an immediate bond to this charming little girl, an overwhelming feeling of love and a desire to protect her.
Hannah steps back and smiles. Already, I miss the feeling of her. This creates a conflict inside me. She doesn't even know me; I'm not her father. I have no claim whatsoever to this little girl, and yet I feel . . . almost territorial over her. I'm no longer sure what I think of her living on the Res. They have more right to her than I do, but I feel strangely entitled. My brow furrows as I try to untangle my feelings. Isabella glances at me with concern, and I make a concerted effort to wipe my features smooth.
"Edwood?" Hannah looks up at me with the ageless eyes of a wise old woman rather than those of a guileless child. She waits until our eyes meet and hold before speaking again. "Mama loves Edwood. Do you love my mama?"
"Very much, princess."
"Phew!" Hannah sighs in an exaggerated way that is almost comical. Then her forehead wrinkles up a little. "Is there room for Nana?"
"Where, sweetheart?"
"In here." She puts her tiny hand over where my heart used to beat, and I hear a small gasp from Isabella.
I rest my hand over Hannah's, holding both our hands against my chest. "Oh, yes, little princess. There's a place already set aside just for you."
"Yay!" She pulls away and claps her hands, delighted.
"Hannah, sweetie? How about you stay here with me tonight, and Grandma Sue can come by tomorrow?" Isabella leans over and tucks Hannah's hair behind her ear.
"Yes, Mama." Then she looks between us with her big brown eyes. "Can Nana sleep with Mama?"
"Of course, honey!"
For the rest of the afternoon, I listen and watch as Isabella gets to know her daughter again. They play a silly game called "Go Fish." Hannah doesn't really understand the rules, and the two of them end up in a tickle fight on the living room floor. After they have a lunch of soup and sandwiches, Isabella leads Hannah down toward the river to show her the flowers of hope, both of them bundled up in coats, hats, and gloves. Watching the two of them walking hand in hand would bring tears to my eyes if I could shed them. It's a beautiful sight, and I feel a sharp pang in my chest when I think of our son. I never expected the loss to hurt so much, and I wonder how much deeper Isabella is feeling it than I do.
"Look, Hannah! These are the flowers I was telling you about." Isabella sounds exhilarated, happy, and free as the two of them crouch down over the flowers.
"Wow! Boo-tiful. Nana like."
I keep my distance, but I can't keep my eyes off them. I'm fascinated by their connection to one another, and by the one I feel for Hannah. I'm drawn to her in nearly the same way I was to Isabella—sans the sexual attraction. It's pure and innocent but palpable all the same.
The two of them stand almost as one unit and start walking upstream. The sun glints off their matching mahogany hair, creating fiery highlights. I forget myself and draw too close.
Hannah turns around and gasps. Isabella stops and glances over her shoulder, her eyes widening.
"Oh, my God," she whispers.
"Rainbow!" Hannah yells and starts running my way.
"What is it, princess?"
"Rainbow Edwood! Rainbow Edwood!" She giggles as she throws her arms around my legs.
And I immediately realize my stupid mistake as I stand in a beam of sunlight with little Hannah's arms trapping my legs and Isabella looking me up and down with fascination.
"Oh, shit!" I mutter, too low for human ears before raising my voice. "I'm sorry, Isabella." My eyes meet hers as I back slowly into the shadow of a tree with Hannah still attached to me.
Once she lets go, I sit on the ground with my back against the trunk of the tree and drop my forehead to my knees. How incredibly stupid and careless.
A warm little hand touches my cheek, and I look at Hannah, who puts a finger up to her lips. "Shh . . . Nana keep Edwood's secret."
"You will? Thank you, princess. Nobody's supposed to know about that."
Hannah makes a zipping motion in front of her lips before running off to make some snowballs.
Isabella comes over and sits sideways on my lap, snuggling against my neck. "So that's why you people stay out of the sun."
"'You people'?" I can't help but laugh.
"It's okay, you know. I don't think Hannah will tell anyone, and even if she did, we could always find a way to explain it . . . Mr. Sparkle." Her eyes are filled with amusement.
"Mr. Sparkle? You wound me." I slip my fingers inside her jacket and tickle her until her cheeks are rosy and she can barely breathe.
Later in the evening, I watch over the two of them as they lie curled into each other on the bed. Their faces are nearly cheek to cheek, fingers entwined, their matching ivory skin and mahogany waves causing a smile to form on my lips. There are no bad dreams; the two of them sleep deeply, never pulling apart. My heart swells with love for them both, and I know I'll do whatever it takes to protect them.
In the morning, after feeding my girls a hearty breakfast of scrambled eggs, toast, and fresh fruit, we head up to the house to see Carlisle. Hannah seems amenable to meeting my mother and father; there's no evidence of the repellence most humans feel in the presence of vampires. So much like her mother.
Esme crouches down, and smiles when Hannah hugs her. "Hello, Hannah! Would you like to see my greenhouse? Flowers grow in there all year round."
"Yeah! Nana loves flowers."
Esme takes her hand and they head off toward the back of the house. About thirty seconds after they're out of sight, Isabella looks at me apologetically and takes off after them, leaving me alone with Carlisle.
"Son." He nods. I don't want there to be any awkwardness between us. I'm sorry if I dismissed your concerns about feeding.
"Thank you. Maybe we can discuss that another time." I wait for his acquiescence before I continue, trying to get my thoughts together because I'm not entirely sure how to approach this. "Walk with me for a few minutes?"
"Of course."
We take off through the forest until I'm sure we're far enough away to have complete privacy. I scan the surrounding area for any of the wolves, but we're completely alone. Now that I've dragged him out here, I feel ridiculous. This really isn't a huge secret, but its emergence has left me feeling unsure and off balance which is something I abhor. Carlisle waits patiently while I pace back and forth in the small clearing, wearing a track in the previously undisturbed snow.
"Have you ever heard . . ." My eyes meet his, and I falter. "Father, I feel a . . . connection to Hannah. It's very much like what I feel for Isabella—only completely innocent and platonic. I feel entitled to her. I want to protect her. The thought of her living on the Res no longer sits well with me, although I'll go along with it because I know it's the best thing. I just . . . want to crush her to me and make everything okay."
"Hmm." Carlisle purses his lips, nodding his head.
My pacing ceases abruptly, snow and churned up dirt spraying into the air. "What does 'hmm' mean? Are you hearing what I said?"
"Oh, yes, Edward—loud and clear. You have a mate bond with Hannah."
"No, I don't! That's preposterous and—and disgusting! I told you it's innocent."
Carlisle holds a hand up. "I didn't mean to insinuate it was anything nefarious, Edward. Of course not. You have bonded with her, though. It's not the same as with Isabella, but it's a mate bond just the same. Did you listen to yourself when you explained it to me? You sounded like . . . a father."
"How so?"
"You want to protect her, to make everything okay for her. The most compelling thing you said was you'll let her live at the Res because it's the best option for her. Parents often sacrifice what they want for the good of their child."
"Have you ever heard of such a thing?"
"No. Then again, I've never heard of a vampire mating with a human. Have you?" He smiles and pats me on the back.
"What do I do now?"
"I don't see the problem."
"I feel entitled to that child. She's not mine."
"But she is yours, Edward, as surely as Isabella is. Did Hannah feel a connection to you as well?"
My mind drifts back to the way Hannah came right up and touched me, how she said I was special—which brings a smile of pride to my face. "Yes. She came right up to me and touched my face. She also asked if I loved Isabella and then questioned if there was room for her in my heart, too."
"Well, there you go. She felt that connection, too." Carlisle looks delighted, but I'm still unsure about this whole thing and how it will play out.
"I also made a really asinine mistake earlier today." I hang my head, feeling stupid all over again. "Isabella and Hannah walked down by the river, and I watched from a distance to give them privacy. I was so fascinated by the two of them, I forgot I was in the sun."
"Oh. What happened?"
I explain their reactions. Naturally, it doesn't matter that Isabella knows, but children sometimes come out with things.
"How could I be so stupid? It never occurred to me to hide in the shadows."
"Most likely the urge to be yourself in front of them—to be accepted for what you are. Hannah seemed to understand it's a secret. I wouldn't worry over it." Carlisle looks troubled for a moment. "You do realize you're responsible for both of them now. Are you prepared to take that on?"
"Absolutely."
"That means if Isabella doesn't make it . . ."
"I'll be responsible for Hannah for the rest of her natural life. Then I will off myself."
Carlisle's face twists with dismay for a moment, but he doesn't try to talk me out of it. The thought of living without Esme floats through his thoughts for a moment and the pain is almost more than he can bear. By unspoken agreement, we head back toward the house silently.
When we enter the music room, Hannah and Isabella are sitting at the piano playing Chopsticks. When a note goes flat, they both giggle.
"Ladies." I crouch behind the piano bench and put my arms around their shoulders. "May I?"
They make room for me, Hannah moving to Isabella's lap. Placing my fingers on the keys, I play my own version of the little tune and then move on to some other songs I think Hannah will recognize—playing them all with my own flair. Hannah claps her hands, delighted, and Isabella looks just as thrilled. By the time I finish, we're all laughing together.
Rose walks into the room and stares openly. Jesus. Is Edward actually smiling and laughing? And then her eyes come to rest on Hannah. Oh, how beautiful she is . . .
I stand up faster than humanly possible, but Hannah just giggles. "Edwood fast, Mama!"
"Rosalie, I'd like to introduce you to the beautiful Hannah."
Unlike me, Rose approaches slowly. "Hello, Hannah. I'm Edward's sister, Rosalie."
"Hello, Rolalie." Hannah's forehead wrinkles. "No, Rosie?"
"It's Rosalie, but Rosie is fine, sweetie."
"R-Ros-alie!" Hannah claps her hands, excited she got the name right.
Carlisle stands by the archway leading to the living room. Edward, a moment?
Rosalie takes my place at the piano bench. "I play piano, too. Would you like me to play for you?"
"Yay!"
I join Carlisle in the living room, and he looks vaguely uncomfortable. "Son, Sue and Seth are on their way over to meet Hannah. Before she leaves here, we really need a blood sample so I can find out what makes her blood the cure for the affects of the anomaly."
"Oh . . ." I run a hand through my hair. The thought of causing Hannah any pain upsets me. "I don't know, Father."
"I expected you to be torn, Edward, but we really need some of her blood. I'll use a butterfly needle—she'll barely feel it."
"Only if Isabella is okay with it."
While Carlisle gets the supplies, I explain to Isabella, who agrees. I kneel down and call out to Hannah. "Can you come here a minute, princess?"
She comes to me without hesitation, and the smell of sweet innocence envelops me, causing my chest to constrict.
"Yes, Edwood?"
"We need a blood sample from you to see if we can help your mom get well. My father is a doctor, so he knows just how to do it. It would be a little tiny pinch right here . . ." I tap lightly in the fold of her arm ". . . and will all be over really fast. What do you think?"
"Sure! Nana wants to help Mama get better." Hannah looks down shyly. "Edwood? Can I sit on your lap to do the blood thing?"
"Of course, princess."
We settle on the couch in the living room, and Carlisle places everything he needs out in plain sight where Hannah can easily see it. After tying on a tourniquet, he swabs her arm with an alcohol pad, and she giggles. "That's cold, like Edwood's fingers!"
"Yes, a little chilly." Carlisle holds up the butterfly needle. "This is a thin little needle, and you shouldn't feel more than a slight sting, okay?" He smoothly slides the needle under her skin, and she doesn't even flinch. He takes three tubes of blood, releasing the tourniquet just as the third tube starts to fill. "All done, Hannah! You were a great patient."
"Does Nana get a lollipop? The doctor always gives me a lolly when I'm a good patient."
"We don't have any lollipops, but I think maybe—"
"Of course we do!" Alice skips into the room with a rainbow swirled lollipop.
"Ooooh . . ." Hannah's eyes light up, and she accepts the confection. "Thank you, Aunt Ali!"
Hannah goes back to the piano with Isabella, Rosalie, and Alice while I head down to the lab with Carlisle. Esme stays upstairs to keep a lookout for Sue.
"Okay, first I'd like to see what happens when we introduce Hannah's blood to a Petri dish with your venom and Isabella's blood."
Carlisle places a drop of Isabella's blood next to my venom, and it immediately begins attacking. When he extracts a drop of Hannah's blood from one of the tubes and drops it into the mix, it immediately neutralizes the destruction. Not only that, but her blood reverses the damage.
When he places Hannah's blood in with my venom, her blood creates a barrier of protection around it that repels Isabella's blood, which simply surrounds it peacefully.
"Fascinating! There's still an attraction to your venom, but Hannah's blood provides a buffer of safety that keeps the destruction from initiating. I can't wait to run some tests on her blood. Edward, this could be really important."
"How so? We can't drain blood out of a child."
"No, but if I can isolate the component, I may be able to come up with a vaccine."
"How does that save Isabella?"
"It doesn't, but it may appease the Volturi. It also may help us understand the anomaly better."
Our conversation is interrupted by the arrival of company. I hear Sue and Seth, along with an unexpected visitor—Billy Black.
~*RK*~
A/N: Hannah's home and has instincts only a perceptive child can harness. Thoughts? Theories? FYI: Edward's bond with Hannah is strictly a fatherly bond, most likely formed because she's the daughter of his mate. There's nothing squicky or imprint-like about it. 'KK?
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