Content Warning: past abuse, poisoning mention, murder mention

Renee's a real bitch in this chap. And just as a reminder, this isn't a light fic. As we've shown the girls are unhealthily dependent on each other, and that's slowly coming to light, but there are topics we bring up that do need warnings. So heed the warnings and the tags.

Ps: I'm really sorry this was late, my wifi went out and literally came back on 20 minutes ago. if you don't know by now I'm responsible for posting on here and Courtney is responsible for posting on AO3. if you wanna blame someone for my lateness please blame my shitty wifi provider. anywho hope you enjoy this one!


Chapter 19
Mother Knows Best:
Part 2

Day 5

Get Me Pregnant!?

March 3nd, 2003

"That's stupid." I crossed my arms over my chest.

"It is not," Edward insisted.

"There is no way in Hades, or any otherworldly plane," I said firmly. "I am going to put a bow on the pregnancy test."

Edward sighed and shook his head. "We're supposed to act happy about it. This was your plan after all."

"You know who puts bows on pregnancy tests? Crazy people. I'm not putting a bow on a stick that's supposed to have my pee on it like, congrats I'm going to be a teen mom—here's my urine soaked proof!"

Edward frowned. "Well when you put it that way it sounds—"

"Weird? Disgusting?"

"Stupid?" Emmett supplied from where he sat on the window seat, curled up around Rose.

I pointed at him. "Just for that I'm naming you godfather. This fake baby needs a good influence like you."

He wiped away a fake tear. "This is the happiest moment of my life." When Edward went to argue, Emmett threw a cushion at his face. "And my first rule as Godfather to the Greatest Child of all Time is to put their father in time out."

I smirked. "See, he's already got the kid's best interests at heart."

"If Emmett's the godfather then what's my Jazzy?" Alice snickered from where she and Jasper lay on my bed.

"A nuisance," I deadpanned.

Jasper grinned, unfazed. "All the best uncles are."

I sniffed dismissively. "You're not considered an uncle unless you agree to teach them some criminal behaviour."

"You are not teaching my child criminal behaviour!" Edward threw up his hands.

Our first plan of getting Phil here to drag the bitch away had fallen through completely. Not that I'd had high hopes it would work. It had mostly just been a plan in place while we made our proper plan. Now our proper plan had a lot more steps. All of which would be nails in the coffin for the bitch's descent into Hades.

First step: make it clear to Renee she can't take us without a fight.

Second step: show Phil we have strong ties here he won't want to sever.

Third: make the bitch ruin her own life.

I didn't expect any of these steps to work individually, and I knew this was going to take several days, but I also knew by the end of it we would never have to worry about Renee again.

That being said, I was screwed. Making out with Edward had been a carefully considered part of the plan, but all it had done was to royally screw me over. This ridiculous crush was messing with my head.

But as I was a pro at, I was ignoring the crap out of all of it and focusing on my sisters. Right now we were planning the pregnancy route in my bedroom, and the 'father of my child' was getting way too into it.

I rolled my eyes at Edward's dramatics. "Oh please, the only thing I want this child to get from you is your hair colour."

Okay, maybe I'm invested too. I mentally rolled my eyes. But this is too fun not to plan out.

Jasper ignored him. "Does arson count? And how early can we go out for our criminal fun? Is two months too young?"

I thought for a moment. "Yes, it does, and as early as she can strike a match."

"Does it count if I light the match and let her throw it?"

"As long as she has fun." I shrugged. "I don't see why not."

He thought about it for a second. "Well, she's your daughter, so of course she would. Sweet."

"Why are we assuming this child will be a girl?" Edward asked.

"Because it's my child. Do we really need another version of you? Or do you want another mini me running around?" I waved away his protest. "Besides, don't you want a cute little girl with a cherub face, my eyes and bronze hair curled just like mine?" I flashed him a dazzling smile.

His eyes went wide. "Oh." He gripped the back of the chair. "Yes please," he breathed.

"Do you wanna see a picture of Bella when she was a baby in our first life?" Alice asked suddenly, walking over to the drawer where we kept the grimoire locked under blood infused wards. She pricked her finger on the keyhole in the lock and it clicked open.

"No, they don't," I huffed.

"Yes, I do." Edward's eyes lit up like a kid on Christmas.

"Are there photos of you too?" Jasper asked with a sly grin.

"There are but they aren't as good as the one of Bella, and the photos are really just sketches, since there weren't cameras back then."

"Why would the one of Bella be better?" Jasper frowned in disapproval, making assumptions no doubt.

I resisted the urge to sneer at him for Alice's sake. "Traditionally, the first born gets their portrait taken first at the age of three, and the others at the age of three or seven. Mother decided to take their portrait at the age of seven, but when Alice was six, mother got sick for the first time, she couldn't even hold a brush…" I swallowed. "She was bedridden by the time Rose turned seven. I drew Alice's then Rose's, but I didn't inherit mother's artistic talents—that was Alice."

I looked away for a moment before I looked at my sister with a soft smile. "Alice actually looks the most like Mother."

Alice blushed, as she did every time I pointed that out to her—probably because I always insisted our mother was a great beauty.

"Then your mother must have been very beautiful," Jasper said softly, his eyes solely on Alice.

I smiled wistfully.

"She was," Alice and I said in unison.

Rose smiled with only a hint of sorrow. "I'll have to take your word for it," she joked, as she had taken to doing whenever we tried to tell her about the things she herself had in common with Mother. I knew it bothered her that she was the only one who couldn't remember Mother well.

"Here—this one's Bella." Alice held the page open, turning it so that the boys could see. It was a small portrait of me when I was three with my hand covering my mouth. I had snuck some maple biscuits earlier that day and was trying to hide the evidence. Mother, the mischievous woman that she was, had drawn me just like that, crumbs on my gown and all.

Try as I might, I couldn't help but glance over at Edward to see his reaction. Not that I cared, of course.

His eyes were fixed on the portrait, roaming over every inch of it, from the plaits in my hair to the bit of gown that was visible in the picture. He was transfixed. His eyes were wide and his fingers twitched like he wanted to reach out and touch the page. There was something about the way he stared at my portrait that made my heart skip a beat. His eyes flicked up to meet mine. I wanted to look away, but I'd be damned if I showed any hint of weakness to Edward Cullen.

I raised an imperious eyebrow at him. His answering smile was soft enough to make my traitorous cheeks burn.

Alice unintentionally saved me then, distracting him enough to look away as she turned the page to show her's and Rose's portraits. Theirs were just as endearing as mine had been. It had been custom in that time to keep serious whilst your portrait was taken, but as ever Mother enjoyed being as contrary as I did.

Alice had been giggling in hers, holding her 'secret' potted plant behind her back with her hands, and in the same spirit that mother had drawn mine I added the small leaf that was sticking out from behind her to the portrait.

Rosalie's had her wearing a flower crown as she held out a sprig of lavender towards me. In actuality she had been waving the thing around, declaring that she would have a wand made out of lavender stalks one day, and she would use it to cast the best circles in the land. But she had refused to stay still long enough for me to draw her, hence the imagined pose.

"Aww, you were such a cutie, angel." Emmett curled tighter around her, an enraptured look on his face.

"So I'm not cute now?" Rosalie smirked.

Emmett grinned. "You're downright sinfully fucking hot now, angel."

She bit her lip, watching him with hooded eyes. "Prove it, monkey man."

I held up my hand before they could get any more gross. "We're getting sidetracked. When Renee and Phil show up this afternoon, we need to spring the trap. We're going to work it into the conversation that I'm pregnant and push her until she breaks."

I'd thought about using the other thing as leverage—because that would certainly ruin Renee's life—but I wanted to spare my sisters that pain. And there was a tiny tiny part of me that was worried how Edward would react to such a thing.

I don't want him to look at me differently, that tiny voice whispered.

Don't be ridiculous, I snapped back at it. Of course he'll look at you differently. The moment he realises you aren't some pretty princess wrapped in pearls, he's going to go running. And that's perfectly fine. You only need him for this plan, and then you can burn his ass and that fucktard of a pastor the moment you get the chance.

"You've been laying the groundwork already," Edward said, and I blinked out of my thoughts. I was sitting at my desk while he leaned against the wall next to me. "Phil already has his suspicions and is paying a closer eye to you. And Renee has only ever been thinking about how this delay means she'll have to rebook her nail appointment."

I rolled my eyes. "I don't really care if she buys it, I just want her pissed enough to make mistakes she can't take back."

Jasper's smile was chillingly. "I can do that."

Alice lit up like a fireworks display at his expression and I rolled my eyes again. "Keep it on your pants, you two. Renee already found you nearly fucking in the coat closet—if she sees that again she's not going to be as shocked. We need to keep her unbalanced."

"So what do you need from us?" Emmett asked, throwing another pillow at the gross couple. "The moody bitch can make Renee as unbalanced as you like, and the emo bitch can act as the thought translator, but where do you need me?"

"Well, it would be great if you could discompose her around town. Spread the word to others that she's here and drop hints as to how rude she's being. Stare menacingly at her if she drives by in her car. She's always found guys with your stature and muscles scary, thinks all men with the bodybuilder look are gang members." I scoffed.

Emmett grinned. "Rumours are my speciality." He clasped his forehead with a gasp. "Oh dear. Renee is back and I heard she's staying because she was kicked out of Florida for having too many STDs!" He snickered. "And if she doesn't like gang members, well maybe I'll just have to get a tattoo."

I cackled. "Or walk with your mother during her monthly grocery run, ask her 'advice' and maybe mention how you heard Renee say she was going to force us into a Catholic school."

Oh the town would not like that. They were big on people having the right to live their own way so long as it wasn't hurting anybody.

"This is why you're the brains of our operation." He cracked his knuckles. "Mum has a-whole-nother cake planned for you three after this, so we'll be out shopping all day. Think of all the people we'll accidentally bump into on a Monday shopping trip."

I let out a mad little giggle and exaggeratedly batted my eyes at Edward. "Honey, you're supposed to be the doting boyfriend, are you going to let Emmy show you up?"

"I don't believe anyone can compare to the chaos you two create." The twinkle in his eyes made my heart give an annoying flutter.

I bit my lip. "I don't know… Jasper did agree to teach our child the art of arson," I said innocently. "That's pretty chaotic."

"No one could be as chaotic as you, Bella."

And fuck if I didn't take that as the best compliment i'd ever been given. To cover up how his words affected me I smiled sweetly at him. "Is that a challenge?" I asked lightly.

Alice and Rose's eyes widened at the thought of me actually finding someone more chaotic than me just to prove Edward wrong. I would do it too, I was that petty.

His answering smile made me want to march out there and find someone more chaotic than me just to prove myself right, but Emmett cleared his throat, tearing my attention away from Edward. He wiggled his eyebrows with a grin and I narrowed my eyes at him.

Jasper snorted. "Looks like today's going to be fun."

~Scene~

The plan needed to change.

Renee was sitting on Dad's couch alone. How in the name of Hekate did she get Phil to stay at the hotel?

I wanted to rip her head off.

Breathe, Bella. It's only a small change. The world isn't ending. I closed my eyes, grinding my teeth and took a deep breath.

The six of us were crowded around the top of the stairs, hiding from view as we tried to decide where we would go from there. Dad was somewhere downstairs purposefully ignoring Renee to piss her off even more.

"We can still go ahead with the plan," Jasper murmured. I looked at him incredulously, yet any idea was better than none so I waved him on.

"You think Phil's the key to draggin' her ass out of town right? Well how would he feel if he hears you're pregnant from around town, then finds out his wife knew but kept it from him? Especially with how she's been gunnin' to take you away from Charlie, it's gonna look like she did it on purpose just to get him to back her up."

"And with how she's still pushing to take us away," Alice continued, her eyes distant. "This won't change her opinion. So when he finds that out," she smiled, her eyes focusing. "She'll have dug herself too deep."

My anxiety cooled at the idea of Renee ruining her own life. "That could work." I turned to my sisters. "You two stay in your rooms and I'll head downstairs saying you refuse to come out. Then Edward and I can work her up while Jasper adds to it up here."

With that Edward and I stood up while the other four stayed at the top of the stairs. Without saying anything, I grabbed his hand and wound our fingers together. He gave me a squeeze and we headed downstairs.

Time to fuck some shit up…

and try not to fall in love.

~Scene~

"—eats her like a queen, and we really can not move so late into the school year it'll fuck with our GPA and—"

"Enough!" Renee growled, almost snapping at us before she remembered her audience upstairs. She blinked, as if remembering herself but I knew better—the 'loving mother' mask had finally cracked. With a fake sigh she smoothed down her clothes. "I'm sorry for snapping at you, Bella darling. I just want you to come home." She sighed like I was breaking her heart.

"But you're not listening to us, Mother," I said, internally gagging at the word. "We don't want to leave! We love it here and we're not going!"

Her eyes narrowed a little. "I know you think you love those boys, but you're too young to know what love is! By the time you're eighteen if you still feel the same about them you can come back and see them," she said, like that solved all our problems. "But until then you're my children and you'll do what I say."

"For them to be your children, you would have had to be a decent parent," Dad remarked blithely from the kitchen where he sat reading the paper. "You were barely even an adequate parent."

Renee clenched her jaw but paid him no other mind.

"You–you can't!" Edward cut with all the sternness his teenage persona could muster. "You can't take Bella away! I–I won't let you."

He looked perfectly pathetic and useless in his defiance—just like we'd planned. He was supposed to be a backwater-town bumpkin who just happened to have a doctor father. The more pathetic he looked, the more Renee would dislike him. And there was something just so delicious about him looking like that.

"This is ridiculous! Who are you to dictate what I can and can't do with my children? I'm taking them ho—"

I jumped up as if I couldn't take it anymore. "No! I can't leave! Because–be– BECAUSE I'M PREGNANT!"

I dropped back to the couch, a hand over my mouth like I couldn't believe what I'd just said.

Renee stiffened, her eyes comically wide and Dad gasped from the kitchen. Edward instantly put his arms around me just as we'd planned, however instead of saying something about stress not being good for the baby, he stiffened.

I peeked at him from behind my fingers and his look was that of barely concealed anger.

I figured it was something Renee had thought that angered him, so I sniffed and put my hands on both sides of his face. "I'm sorry, darling. I– I know this isn't how we planned to tell them, I just couldn't hold it in any longer. Will you forgive me?"

There was a tightness in his neck like he wanted to leap across the room and tear Renee apart. For a moment I wondered what she must have thought to piss him off like this, but I couldn't dwell on it any longer. He needed to be the devoted boyfriend, not a slightly murderous vampire.

I pulled him down to rest my forehead against his. "I won't let anyone tear us apart. Forgive me?" I asked in a gentle voice, looking into his eyes as I pulled him in for a soft kiss.

It was only meant to be a chaste kiss, something to cover his composure lapse, but the moment I began to pull away, he gripped me tighter. He kissed me fiercely and my world tipped on its side. I curled my fingers through his hair and wrapped my legs around his waist. I sighed into his mouth as he pressed his hand into the small of my back.

We were in our own little world. And everything was perfect.

His other hand trailed along my side leaving a trail of fire in its wake. I groaned, parting my lips slightly. His icy tongue slipped in just as his hand made it to the hem of my shirt.

Someone cleared their throat and we both broke away, dazed and gasping for breath.

"Well. At least how she got pregnant is abundantly clear," Dad said leaning against the kitchen wall watching us with a furrowed brow. He looked like he was torn between having an apoplexy and letting us piss off Renee even more.

I blushed before getting off Edward's lap and clearing my throat. "Well, at least you're supportive, Dad. I would just blame it on the hormones—"

"It's not possible!" Renee snapped, her eyes wide and chest heaving as she got to her feet. "You can't be pregnant!" "You're infertile! The doctor said so!"

Dad stiffened behind his ex-wife, shocked by her outburst.

I swayed on my feet as if shocked to my core. Edward was beside me in an instant. I clutched the sleeve of his shirt as his arms came around my waist to steady me.

"You swore you wouldn't say anything!" I whispered like my heart was breaking, my voice cracking on the last word. "You promised!"

I knew it would satisfy Renee to see me in pain, but she could have that small victory. After all, I would destroy her before this was over. I could afford to be generous now. While I wasn't fond of the damsel-in-distress act—it perpetuated the ridiculous notion that women were inherently weaker—it was working perfectly now.

"Oh stop with the dramatics! You're clearly lying! Or did you miraculously recover the ability to have children?" she snapped. "This is all just some ridiculous ploy to stay in this stupid town. You aren't pregnant, no matter how much I'm sure you tried."

Dad's eyes widened in horror. I clenched my fists in Edward's shirt, feeling how he trembled around me. I focused on him to keep from tearing her apart.

I could feel my eyes filling with tears as I looked her directly in the eye. My chin wobbled. "I don't know. I don't know if this is a miracle, a gift from the gods, or–or if the doctor was just wrong, but…all I know is I'm pregnant and no matter what you say it isn't a lie!"

Really, they should just hand me an Oscar, I thought in mild amusement.

Edward hugged me tighter. "Bella, Bella my love, please." His voice shook. "All this stress isn't good for the baby…" He kissed the side of my head.

"Renee!" Dad snapped. "How could you be so insensitive?"

Renee frowned tightly before her expression smoothed out as she took a deep breath. "Oh, of course, I apologise. What I meant to say was, well—Bella…dear, are you sure you're pregnant? I mean maybe you're deluding yourself?" She asked, hope evident in her words. "The doctor couldn't have been wrong."

I shook my head fervently. "No, I know. I haven't been eating or sleeping, and I've been super disoriented lately." My grip on Edward tightened and I whispered, "And I'm late."

Out of the corner of my eye, Dad paled. I knew he was going through all the times I had been like that of late, and by the way he narrowed his eyes at Edward I knew he was definitely trying to connect some dots. Dots that weren't related at all, but still.

Edward pulled me closer into his chest. "As I mentioned before, my father's a doctor—we double checked the symptoms with him," Edward nearly growled. It sounded like he was ready to attack her so I gripped his arm. I was starting to wonder just what he heard in that bitch's head.

"Well, is it– did you—" She cleared her throat. "Are you completely positive? Have you gotten it confirmed by a doctor? Those tests can give out false positives all the time—"

"Renee," Dad growled. "The boy said they did. I know it's a shock to you, but I'm sure—"

"No, he said they double checked the symptoms. Not that they went to an actual appointment, and is the father a gynaecologist? Perhaps this is a mistake. I mean the doctor in Phoenix promised—" She coughed. "Assured me that she was infertile," Renee said with increasing desperation.

"I have peed on five sticks!" I snapped. My patience was wearing thin and it was getting harder to play the shell-shocked pregnant teen, particularly when she brought up that. Could I just blame it on changing hormones? I took in a deep breath and willed more tears to my eyes. "You think I wanted this to happen?"

"Yes!" she snapped. "Yes, I do think you wanted this! You were always going on and on when you were younger about having babies and raising a family, as if that were anything to aspire to! A perfect GPA, and yet you want to be nothing more than a glorified baby maker!"

"You just don't know when to stop, do you?" Dad growled, stepping into the living room. "What sixteen year olds give up their childhood to become parents?"

"Oh, as if that one has ever been a child! She was born with arrogance—always acting as if she knew best! Even as a small child she acted as though she knew what it was like to be an adult! As if! She couldn't be a child evil if she pretended!"

"Because you never let her!" Dad exploded, rounding on her. "You think I don't know about how you treated my daughters growing up? They've told me of the times you abandoned them for hours to go on dates, or the times you refused to feed them to make them 'watch their weight'!"

"Well somebody had to put food on the table, and my kindergarten teacher's salary didn't cut it!"

"Bella did that!" he snapped. "You may have paid for it, but Bella did it all for you!" He shoved a finger in her face. "You turned her into a glorified slave because of your narcissistic gold-digging ways!"

I blinked in shock. Damn, Dad. Rip into her! Don't hold back!

"Oh, like it's my fault they acted like they were too good for anything I cooked! I tried but they always whined! It's burnt, it tastes funny, it's yucky!" she mimicked, though I noticed she didn't deny being a golddigger.

He scoffed. "I've tasted your cooking. I wouldn't feed it to a dying animal even if that was its last wish! Your cooking put me in the hospital on our wedding night!"

"They probably got it from you, and she wasn't a slave! No one made her do any of that stuff, no one made her be a prissy little ungrateful brat!"

"YOU DID!" he bellowed.

Any other time I would have been furious at the words she was spewing, but I was too caught up in Dad defending me. I hadn't even asked him to. It wasn't part of the plan, or anything.

"I DID WHAT I COULD FOR THOSE LITTLE MONSTERS! I DIDN'T EVEN WANT THEM! I ONLY KEPT THEM CAUSE I KNEW YOU'D LEAVE ME IF I DIDN'T!" she screeched, her eyes wide with fury.

"YOU STOLE THEM FROM ME!" Dad expelled a shaky breath, his fingers tearing at his hair. "You took them away from me when they were three! You barely even let me see them when they were growing up! I never got to comfort them when they were scared or hold them when they were sad!" Tears glimmered in his eyes.

"They were my baby girls, and you stole them from me. Why? Why couldn't you just leave them with me and do your gold-digging elsewhere?" He sucked in a deep, shaking breath and I realised none of this was fake. "You stole my daughters away from me. You're sure as hell not taking my granddaughter away too."

"How dare you! I gave birth to them! I'll do what I want with them!" Renee seethed. "Nine months of torture for those disgusting brats! There was no way I was leaving them here when I could use them to get a better life!"

"Those are your children!" Edward growled in disgust.

"They're trash!" she screeched at Edward before whirling on Dad pointing an accusatory finger. "The only reason I kept them was because you were so enamoured with them! And now look at them! That little slut turned out the way I always knew she would! Pregnant before she even finished school with some boy from bumfuck nowhere, that'll probably never leave this town!"

Renee rounded on me. "You should have stayed infertile! Do you have any idea how expensive those drugs were? How many times I had to sleep with that disgusting doctor to get them? I tried so hard to keep you from spreading your filth, and then you turn up pregnant anyway?!"

I didn't know who was trembling with rage harder—Renee or Edward. His fingers dug into the back of my shirt, tearing holes into the fabric as he shook under my hands. I kept my fingers locked around his wrist, knowing the moment I let up Renee would be plastered across the wall. And I wasn't letting anyone else get that privilege.

But Renee's anger wasn't something different. It was more blind. Uncontrollable.

Jasper. I glanced at the base of the stairs. He must be feeding her anger, keeping her unbalanced so she can't think about her words before she says them. Good.

"What did you say?" Dad was pale as a sheet with eyes wide.

"Oh please," Renee huffed, her face red with anger. "Everyone knows you shouldn't breed bitches with bad genetics."

"You drugged her so she couldn't get pregnant?" Dad's voice was a hoarse whisper and I heard four stifled gasps from the top of the stairs.

Edward stiffened again and I realised this might have been verbal confirmation for what he'd heard in Renee's head earlier. Renee froze for a moment and I could practically hear her mental 'oh shit'.

At least something good can come out of this shit show.

Turning into Edward's chest so no one could see my mouth move, I whispered to Jasper. "Push her harder."

"Why is Bella so calm about this?" I heard Emmett ask, his voice cracking slightly.

Edward shuffled slightly, his eyes flicking to the stairs to whatever he was hearing in response and pain flashed through his eyes. He bent his head back to me. "Because you already knew, didn't you? That's why you're not shocked, why you're so calm."

I looked away, swallowing. "I found the prescription when I was twelve. It was for our 'dog'." I shrugged like it didn't still ache. "Nothing I could do about it by then." It didn't matter anyway. Only I knew that, but there was no reason to dig up past choices. "Other than feed her rat poison of course," I added with a pained smirk.

A strangled moan came from upstairs, and with a start I realised my sisters were hearing all of this too. I closed my eyes, leaning into Edward's chest. I'd never wanted them to know. Renee was awful enough to all of us without them knowing everything else.

Edward's arms came around me tighter. Into my hair he murmured—too low for even the other immortals to hear— "You never have to go through anything like that again. I'll kill her myself."

As much as I still definitely hated him, I was grateful for the thought. I leaned further into his arms and murmured, "You'll have to get in line though."

Rosalie's voice suddenly came down the stairs. "Let me go, Emmett! I'm going to kill her!"

A moment later Rose herself came flying down the stairs, hair and eyes flaring furiously as she launched herself at Renee, right arm raised. My eyes widened and I didn't even have time to blink before Rose's arm came baring down on the mother from hell with all the force Rosalie could muster.

SMACK!

A large red welt began to form on Renee's cheek and the only thing that stopped Rose from making another one was Emmett's arm around her waist, hauling her away. "You fucking bitch! How could you—you monster! I'm going to kill you!"

Everything was silent for a moment before Renee hissed, "Monster? Me?"

Alice appeared by my side, Jasper behind her, fury shining through both their eyes. Emmett lifted Rose, still screaming at Renee, to stand beside Edward. Renee glared at all of us. I flattened my eyes, ready to end her with a final statement.

But then Dad stepped in front of me. "Get out of my house."

"Excuse me?"

"Get. Out. Of. My. House." His fists were clenched like he was holding himself back from throwing her out himself.

"Or under it," I sneered.

"I am never allowing you near my daughters again," he snarled before looking over his shoulder. "Edward, pass me the phone. I'm calling the station. You're going to spend the night in the cells while I charge you with everything I can find!"

Renee sneered at him. "Well then you'd better arrest your precious daughter first!" she spat.

Edward stiffened beside me and I dug my fingers into his wrist harder. What shit is she spouting now?

Renee then looked at me and smirked. "Does the name Mr. Clark ring any bells for you? I have to say that patch of wood was well fertilised after you dumped his body there."

I froze. No… Surely she didn't see me…

"What, did you think you were alone? I was taking a call in the back when I saw you. At first I didn't know what you were dragging, but once I realised. Well. I was sure to get some nice pictures of it," she smirked.

Whoops… Well, I was twelve. Hardly a master criminal yet. Outwardly I narrowed my eyes because I could see what she was doing. If we arrested her for poisoning her own child, then she'd take me down with her. Maybe killing her really would be easier.

"I was going to call the police and have you kicked out of my house for good." She tapped her finger on her chin. "—but then I thought to myself: 'Renee, what a good thing to use for blackmail!' So here we are."

Dad's back was stiff as a board in front of me as Renee grinned at him.

"That's right; your precious little girl murdered a poor middle aged man," she taunted

Oh you bitch. Don't hurt Dad with this! "I took care of him because no one else would!" I snapped at her. "You have pictures of that but do you have photos of when you watched him lure that little girl into his car? Her body was found in the desert a week later!"

Renee scoffed. "That's hearsay—it'll never stand up in court. Not like my pictures will," she said as she tauntingly dangled her phone in front of our faces. "Oh, and don't even think about destroying my phone, I have multiple copies hidden in places you'll never discover. If I go down, I'm taking your slut of a daughter with me, Charlie."

I glared at her. Of course, no prison could ever really hold me, but that would make things difficult for the girls and Dad.

"Get out," I hissed.

She smirked at me and turned. "Okay, but be sure to have all your things packed when I return tomorrow."

And with that she opened the front door and I growled, my eyes bleeding violet. The door violently swung itself closed after her, smacking Renee on her arse and sending her stumbling down the steps before she landed in a heap on the gravel.

I locked the door behind her with a snarl. "I hope the neighbours don't report us for having trash in our front yard."

"Maybe we should burn it just to be sure then," Ali said darkly as she came up behind me.

My sisters and I stood side by side at the front door, watching as the bitch picked herself up and stumbled to her car with another glare at us. With dark satisfaction my eyes flashed again and the too-tight-skirt of her 'classy' dress tore from the small of her back to the bottom of her arse. She'd dug her own grave now. I was just looking forward to slamming that coffin lid shut once and for all.

But Dad brought me out of my satisfaction with a defeated murmur, "Did you really kill him, Bells?"

I flinched. That was what he was focusing on after all of that? Then I recalled our conversation from the other day. Perhaps he really hadn't believed me then. I looked him straight in the eye. "Yes. I told you, I've killed people. He wasn't the first and he won't be the last."

He sat down heavily at the kitchen table. "Did he come after you and your sisters?" Then he shook his head. "No. Don't tell me. A confession is bad enough. With just Renee's word before I could pretend she was making it up, but you…" he sighed.

I nodded understanding what he was saying, but I decided to tell him in a roundabout way anyhow. I didn't know why I felt the need to justify my actions to him, but now I couldn't stop. "Alice wasn't allowed out alone until I dealt with him."

Rage flickered in his eyes before he closed them forcefully. "Don't tell me anymore, Bells."

"Why? Do you think I'm a monster?" I asked mildly.

"Bella, I am the Police Chief." Dad looked me in the eye. "It's my job to take confessions like the one you just gave me and put people behind bars."

My nerves were already beginning to fray with this entire situation. "You should arrest me then," I said coldly. Ha, he had the nerve to claim to want to protect me, but didn't have the stomach to hear the truth.

His stare turned hard and he clenched his jaw, almost growling as he said, "I am not going to arrest you." He turned to Edward and the other boys who stood behind us. "And what we heard does not leave this house." He waited until they nodded before turning back to me. I avoided his eyes.

For some reason I felt disappointed. Perhaps because I had hoped that he actually loved us unconditionally, like he said he had. But I was a fool to listen. He was just a human—and they lied all the time. He could never truly understand us. I should have known his words were empty.

"As long as you can pretend I'm your innocent sweet daughter, right? That's fine; I won't tell you when the monsters come out to get us, I'll just take care of them then too."

"Bella!" he snapped. "You're not listening to me!"

"Oh I think I am. I'm hearing everything you're not saying, and I've had just about enough of this whole damned situation. Girls don't worry, I'll handle everything—"

"BELLA!" he yelled, shocking me into silence for a moment. In all the time I'd known him, I'd never known him to get even close to this angry. "Listen to me! You are my daughter, and I will protect you from anything that comes at you. Even the law. I just don't need to know about the things you've already had to do— jeez, this isn't coming out right— Look, I know everything you do is to protect your sisters, and I trust that you always know to do what's right. So trust me to protect you from this."

I stared at him, my eyes wide. After a moment Dad ran his hands through his hair with a sigh, the anger leaving him. "I don't think you're a monster, Bells. I'm just worried I can't protect you from everything."

Something in me ached at his words. I stepped back and fished around for something to say to end this. What was this? Was he trying to trick me into pretending to be something I wasn't? I frowned, feeling a flicker of anger. Like hell I will!

I stoked my temper to life. Who the hell was he to think he could raise his voice at me? I had been taking care of my family since before he was born!

"You think you know everything, don't you?" I clenched my fists. "You think you can just come in and decide what's best for us like you really know us, but you can't and you don't! I've been caring for my sisters for longer than you can imagine! I keep them safe! I keep them protected! It's my job to make sure things like this don't happen! But ever since I've been here I've had to play 'innocent schoolgirl' so much that it's frankly ridiculous.

"I am not a good person, Charlie! I've killed people! I've tortured people! I've done all that and more because there isn't a damned thing I wouldn't do to protect my sisters! It's what I do! And if you can't accept that then stay out of my way because nothing, and I mean nothing will stop me from keeping them safe!" I yelled.

Charlie looked like I'd slapped him and I couldn't breathe past the lump in my throat. Feeling my magic swell inside me, I turned and ran for the door. Yanking it open, I sprinted down the driveway and into the tree line. Because no matter how furious I was at Charlie I couldn't let my magic hurt him. The girls cared about him deeply, and as much as I didn't want to, so did I.

I don't want to get hurt again. I brushed at my cheeks, my chest aching as I realised they were wet. I can't get hurt again. I can't let anyone else in to hurt me! I can't!

I ran further into the forest, not bothering with any direction other than away. Finally, after my legs were aching and I couldn't breathe, I texted the group chat the six of us had for this plan. I didn't want anyone following me right now, least of all someone soft to me. Like Edward.

I can't keep doing this.

~Sceme~

A few hours later, I swung back through my bedroom window, finally calm again. I hadn't used the front door because I could see Charlie sitting at the kitchen table, his head in his hands, and I did not want to have the same argument again. I couldn't expect him to understand how it was my job to protect my sister's. And I certainly couldn't expect him to love me after he'd learned what kind of person I was.

My bedroom was empty, so I creeped out my door and headed to Rose's. There I found her sitting in her bed, Emmett's head in her lap while Alice and Jasper were curled up on the window seat and Edward sat on the floor, reading.

I stamped down the surge of jealousy that flared within me and smirked. "Girls, what did I say about taking in strays?" I asked teasingly. I wouldn't deny them their boys while the she demon was running about.

"Don't worry, Bella," Alice murmured, eyes closed and half asleep. "They're all toilet trained." She opened one eye and gestured at Edward. "Well, maybe not that one."

I snorted. "You'll have to feed and bathe them as well."

Emmett looked up at Rose like he had exactly that idea and I pointed at him. "Keep it in your pants, gorilla." I narrowed my eyes. "And Alice, I expect you'll want to neuter yours," I added mildly.

"Already done." She patted Jasper on the face and he curled around her tighter with a hum of approval.

I smirked at Edward. "You won't have to worry about getting neutered." My comment had a double meaning that made his brow furrow and my heart ache.

"If this plan doesn't work, Renee isn't leaving Forks alive." A fire flickered in his eyes. "Renee isn't coming near you again."

I shrugged, not denying it. "Obviously. If this doesn't work I have a backup plan."

I didn't have to say the backup plan was to kill her. I knew what road she was taking out of Forks—since Phil came separately he was taking a different rental car. I'd already been through the road and hidden a few tools. And even if they had come together, I planned to make Phil hate her as much as we did.

But there was such a tortured look in his eyes that made me want to bite him. In the fun way, of course. So, against my better judgement, I slid down the wall to sit beside him and stole the book from his hands.

"You wouldn't be you if you didn't." His eyes crinkled at the edges, the fire dimming into a steady, steamier burn.

I cocked my head to the side. "Flattery will not get you into my panties."

Rose gasped theatrically. "You mean it hasn't already?"

I couldn't help the burn in my cheeks so I threw the nearest pillow I could reach at her.

After getting my blush under control I smirked. "No, the only one that's been in my panties since we got here is Bob." I side-eyed Edward to see his reaction.

Rose gagged but I was focused on Edward's contorting face. Jealousy looked delicious on him.

Alice laughed "Ah good old bob. I threw out mine after two weeks of being here," she smirked with a wink at her boyfriend. After a moment I decided to put Edward out of his prudish misery.

"Bob, or B.O.B. stands for battery operated boyfriend." Edward furrowed his brow and I rolled my eyes. "For fucks sake. A vibrator!"

Oh, if vampires could blush. Emmett and Jasper guffawed; my sisters rolled their eyes.

Edward looked mortified. And mildly turned on.

Jasper threw a pillow at his head, knocking the distracted vampire over and almost putting a hole in the wall. "Before you replace Bob, we need a plan on how to get the beast out of Forks. I'm not above murder."

"That's Plan D." It is my favourite plan though. If Jasper and I took turns I'm sure we could drag it out for weeks until she's begging for death.

"What about plans A, B and C?" Emmett asked, his brow furrowing.

I rolled my eyes. "Plan A was showing her horny you all are for each other, Plan B was telling her I'm pregnant, and Plan C…well that's where we destroy all her 'evidence' and get a little of our own."

Edward took the book from my hands and a slow smile spread across his face. "Does it involve humiliating Renee?"

My smile matched his. "Better," I purred. "It involves ruining her completely." Everyone leaned forward and I grinned. "First things first Edward and I are going to be out in town a lot for the next two days. We'll play up my pregnancy until the whole town knows, and make sure they're all on our side. While we're doing that the four of you are going to head to Florida and make things extra shit for Renee."

"Vacation. Score." Emmett fist pumped.

"Emmett and Jasper you'll find whatever remains of the body and destroy any other evidence Renee might have to use against me. I buried the body a mile east of the house in a small park the locals call 'the woods' between two willow trees that create an arch." I walked myself through the mind map I had of it. "You shouldn't have any trouble with witnesses—that part of the woods is known for being haunted."

"Cool. Haven't disturbed any graves in a while." Emmett cracked his knuckles. "Should be fun."

I turned to my sisters. "Then you two will need to look for any evidence of her being a shitty parent in general. The more we have the better. I'll also give you the password to my safe where I kept my own evidence. It's under the floorboards beneath my bed and it's covered by two illusion spells."

"Two days should be enough." Jasper nodded. "On the way back I'll pick up some listening devices that we can plant around the house and use to bait Renee into admitting she poisoned you again."

"Exactly. And to put the cherry on the cake, we'll make sure Phil is here when we bait her this time. Jasper will amp up her emotions until she freely admits it, and by the time she realises what's happening, it'll all be too late. She'll have nothing left."

"And I'll come in after she's already there with all the congratulatory bears everyone suddenly got you." Edward nodded along.

"She won't know what hit her." I grinned.

~Scene~

A few hours later I headed downstairs for a glass of water and almost jumped when I heard a snore come from the couch. I peeked around the wall to see Charlie crashed on the couch. Where he lay he had a clear view of the front door.

He waited up for me to come home. My heart squeezed in my chest at the realisation. Was I wrong to judge him so quickly?

I dropped to a crouch in front of him and tried not to cry. "I don't know how to do this," I admitted in a whisper. "I don't know how to be the daughter you want me to be." I gnawed at my lip. "I don't know how to do any of this. The sperm donor in our first life was barely worth the air he wasted, and Mother…" I closed my eyes.

"Is it bad that I want to be? Am I betraying Mother if I want to just lie down and not have to care about everyone else for a while? Let someone else take charge for a bit? Am I allowed to do that?" I wiped at my cheeks. "I know you want me to, but I don't think I can. Not after everything."

Dad let out another snore. I closed my eyes with a soft sigh. Grabbing a blanket from the other couch, I wrapped it around his shoulders. "Good night, Dad."


Day 6

Manipulation Part 1

March 4th, 2003

"I love you." Edward brushed the hair back from my face. His touch so tender my heart skipped a beat. "So much. And our baby is going to be the luckiest child alive to have you as her mother."

I leaned into his touch. "I'm scared, baby." I worried at my lip, my eyes firmly on the diner tabletop. "What if I turn out like Renee? I can't be that kind of mother to our baby, Edward—I can't!"

"Hey. Hey, look at me." He held my face in his hands so I couldn't look anywhere but at him. "You are nothing like her. That woman did nothing but torment you and your sisters your entire lives. She is evil, and you couldn't be further from her if you tried."

"But I'm just a kid. We're both still just kids. How are we supposed to raise a kid of our own? How are we supposed to do this alone? We're not prepared for any of this!" My voice rose. "What are we supposed to do when she wakes up in the middle of the night screaming and we can't calm her down? What are we supposed to do if she hates the food we give her? Oh gods, what if she hates us?"

My lip wobbled and his face crumpled. "Oh, my love, come here." He stepped around my side of the table and crouched in front of me, his arms out. I collapsed into him. "I'm terrified too. I can't sleep at night because all I can think about is how I don't know how to change a diaper!" He held me tighter, even as his voice hiccuped through his own tears. "But do you know what gets me through? Knowing I'll have you by my side. I can get through anything if I have you by my side."

I buried my face into his neck and sobbed.

Whispers burst out from the closest tables around us in the diner. Just as we'd planned. I was so glad my face was hidden in his shoulder so I could grin widely.

We were comfortably seated in the diner, which was the unofficial "go to" place for the town's 'leaders' of sorts. Not the mayor, mind you. No, the people who really ran the town. Those who, with a single sentence could ruin your reputation in the town forever: the wives, the fishermen, and the cops.

When I was younger I found it quite amusing that the people most easily overlooked in a big city actually ran this town. And today I was taking shameless advantage of that.

Even at the age of seven I knew how to charm the birds from the trees. The matrons saw me as a spirited little minx, a quirky girl always ready to tumble with the boys in the mud. And that suited me just fine. The cops and the fishermen saw me as 'Charlie's little angel'. Well, perhaps more like a dark angel, but still a lovely young girl who deserved everything good. Thanks to my reputation, rather than being shamed for getting pregnant I knew I would be pitied and absolved of any wrongdoing. It would be seen as a mistake, something that could have happened to anyone.

The table I was most interested in hearing from however, were the matrons.

I turned my attention to them, eager to hear their opinions.

"Bella's pregnant?!"

"I thought she and the Cullens hated each other?"

One of them snorted. "How many times did you and your husband have hate sex before you got together, Miriam?"

"Oh shut up, I'm just saying I didn't expect them to get together. The Cullens have always kept to themselves, but that boy was especially quiet, and Bella Swan is anything but."

"Well you know what they say about opposites"

"They also say that love and hate are two sides of the same coin. Easily flipped you know!"

Edward grinned into my hair, his body still shaking from his 'sobs'.

"I am having so much fun," I whispered into his neck.

His arms pulled me closer into his body. "You're a natural at this!" He wound his fingers through my hair. "Want to see how far we can take this?"

"Always."

"Then I'm going to need an illusion spell to make me look truly heartbroken, my love." The delightful mischief in his voice—and the endearment—made my heart skip a beat.

"Anything for the father of my little cactus."

"You're going to nickname our child Cactus?"

"No of course not that would be ridiculous, her name is Cactus. Naturally." I grinned. "I don't know what her middle name will be yet but I'm absolutely determined that her first name will be Cactus. It's such a lovely name." I went on, just to goad him. I quickly murmured the illusion spell against his skin

"You're terrible," he murmured, love practically soaking his words.

"Thank you, it's better than something horrible like Gertrude. Or something obnoxiously common like Elizabeth. Circe there were twelve Elizabeth's in our village in our first life," I commented absentmindedly.

He pulled back, and this time he looked absolutely wrecked. Tears stained his cheeks, and his eyes were swollen and red. If I looked harder I knew I could see past the illusion of it, but there was something so wickedly delightful about seeing him like this that I didn't want to ruin.

Though I could definitely see the amusement fighting to show in his eyes at my teasing. He was loving this as much as I was.

Hmmm, maybe he's not so bad, I thought, running my fingers through his hair.

"I just don't want to lose you, my love." Edward's chin wobbled. "We can't let that woman take you away."

I gulped as if the very thought caused me pain, and really that wasn't hard to do. "I–I won't! I won't leave you! I was so alone before I met you! My sisters and I only had each other before we met your family and we've been so happy here, I can't— No! I won't let Renee take that from us! There– there has to be something we can do! We can run, hide for a while— I know how to camp and–and— We can't just give up!" I took a shuddering breath.

I had made my voice as desperate sounding as I could before I gave a pitiful whimper and buried my face in Edward's chest.

"I don't care if we have to fight the entire world, I'm not letting anyone take you away." He pulled me closer and I felt his sobs reverberating through his chest. "Least of all that awful woman all the way back to Florida."

I sniffed. "We might not have a choice. She has a good chance of winning a custody battle! Oh Edward, I know it was wrong to listen in but she threatened Dad! I heard her. She said she'd make up lies about Dad hurting us or– or worse!

"The things she said— I nearly threw up! She's determined to get us by any means necessary, and all so she can show off her 'brilliant' and 'perfect' daughters to her fancy new friends at some stuffy club in Florida. She wants us as trophies. I can't do that again!" I broke off into a sob.

The best way to get ahead of any rumours Renee might begin about Charlie was to establish them as lies before she could spread them.

He sobbed into my shoulder, shaking his head. "No, no, she can't." He clutched me tighter. "I can't lose you. I can't!"

A fresh wave of tears poured from my eyes. I dug my fingers tighter into his shirt, desperate to hold him closer.

"Even if I have to follow you to the ends of the earth," his voice broke, "no one is tearing our family apart."

The matron's table exploded again, this time even louder. They were still quiet enough that had we been human we wouldn't have been able to hear them. But others did.

"That scheming, manipulative, gold-digging bitch!"

"I heard Renee was back! I didn't realise she'd brought her bitchiness with her too."

"Please. When has that woman ever been anything but a malicious snake?" One of them sneered.

"Poor Charlie was so besotted with her he never saw it coming."

"I remember how heartbroken he was when she left and stole the girls from him."

"Mhmm. You ever want a man to stop loving you, you steal his daughters and never let them visit."

"Looks like she's trying to do the same to these kids now."

"Not on my watch. My ex-bastard tried to do the same to my daughter and now he's rotting with the worms."

"Plenty of forest around here—an unmarked grave is so hard to find if it's done properly."

Hmm well, maybe these mortals aren't so terrible. They are still inferior, but tolerable I suppose. Then recalling a line from my favourite book I grinned my eyes gleaming. "'Yes, tolerable I suppose, but not handsome enough to tempt me!'" I murmured, grinning wickedly.

Oh that gave me a delicious idea, I could turn this entire performance into something like a novel! It would be perfect! I'd been writing Pride and Prejudice fanfiction for two years; I could base a fanfiction off of the events. I could just see it now! I'm the beautiful and witty Elizabeth Bennett, Rosalie would be Jane…and Alice…hmmm, Alice would be a better behaved Lydia! Of course Edward was my Mr Darcy—

"I can see you getting distracted, my love," Edward murmured, his smile pressing against the skin of my shoulder.

I blushed. Mainly because of the idea that Edward would be my true love… but I couldn't stop my heart from pounding at his proximity. It was so easy to get lost in a dream, one I didn't even know I needed. Here secure in his arms, inhaling his intoxicating scent and feeling so…safe. My heart pounded at the revelation and that worried me. For so many years I'd made it my mission to be everything my sisters needed. I never thought I'd do anything else but here was this infuriatingly handsome and lovely man. Ready to be everything I never knew I needed.

I shook my head: focus on the mission. Get rid of Renee, then Victoria and her bookends, after that you can have your man! I told myself sternly.

"Shut up," I murmured back and he snorted softly.

"You love it," he mouthed with a surprising teasingness.

My heart thudded and I firmly reminded myself that this was not a story. But by the gods how I wanted it to be one. If this were a story Edward would be mine and— I shook my head forcing a reply with a lightness I didn't feel. "Oh I love something alright." I mentally smacked myself—stupid! Stupid stupid! "The food, that is," I covered it weakly.

He laughed softly.

I swore I would fuck him before summer.

Lust. That's what I feel, I lied, even to myself. But I didn't really want to be truthful. Not about this.

"I have an idea." He ran his hands up my arms, and there was an element of hesitancy. "But I'm not sure you'll like it."

"Uh oh. Should we send for your father? I was sure your brain was just there for decoration," I teased. And strangely enough thinking of Dr. Cullen didn't make me want to immediately set him on fire anymore.

"Hilarious." The brush of his lips against my skin lit my very atoms on fire.

I bit my lip. "You could—" I cleared my throat. "You could be a little more convincing with your kisses," I said blandly, forcing myself not to blush. "If you're looking for an idea, of course."

He jolted beneath me and tensed. "You—" he cleared his throat. "What— I—" He tried again. "Yes. Of course. I can do that." His lips continued to brush ever so lightly against my shoulder. "But my idea is far more…shocking. Particularly in a town as small as this."

"Well, tell me. I do love to shock people." I said with a steady confidence I didn't feel.

He hesitated. "How about I show you?"

"I insist you tell me before doing anything. Who knows what your brain will come up with if left to its own devices?" I teased

And like he was trying to kill me, he lifted his mouth to my ear, his lips brushing every inch of skin along the path. "If I proposed right now, do you think the ladies would have enough gossip?"

The air rushed from my lungs.

"Are you trying to seduce me with that suggestion?" I demanded, blushing furiously. It was so deliciously dramatic. He obviously knew about my love for drama and putting on a good show. There was absolutely no way he didn't know what that idea did to me. He must have been trying to get into my pants!

I might just let him.

He pulled back, cupping my cheeks in his hands and said with a seriousness that set my heart on fire, "Yes. Always."

"Propose," I breathed. "Make it good and I guarantee I'll fuck you before the year is out. That's a promise."

He looked like his heart had stopped as he searched my eyes to see if I meant it. I dropped my forehead against his and murmured, "Do it, lover boy." I wonder if Rose or Ali told him I always keep my promises?

He was already on his knees so the move wasn't dramatic enough,but he probably knew that as he made sure his voice was loud enough to be heard by the entire diner. "I can't lose you. I won't. You are everything to me, and I will do whatever it takes to keep our family together." He reached into his pocket and my jaw nearly dropped as he pulled out a ring box—he'd brought one here?! "And this way, no one can come between us. I love you. So damn much. So will you marry me, Isabella Esmerelda Swan, and make me the happiest man to ever grace this earth?"

He opened the box and my eyes widened. There sitting in the box was a beautiful platinum ring. The metal twisting to form a ring of witches knots—my throat felt impossibly tight at the realisation. The knots were inlaid with rose quartz and the centre stone—a brilliant gleaming fire opal—was surrounded by fragments of white jade.

My lips trembled, a turret of emotions washed over me. An act, this was just an act, I told myself. My traitorous eyes filled with tears, so I decided to use them to my benefit. I let out a choked sob and dropped to my knees embracing Edward as if he were my salvation. Then ignored the part of my brain that said he just might be.

"Yes, by aphrodite, YES! I'll marry you. My heart. My everything. You must know, surely you must know that above all I would love to become your wife, and soon the mother of your children," I said as tears poured down my face.

I stuck out my right hand, a silent demand for him to put it on me. I knew it was the mortal custom to put rings on the left hand. However witches strongly believed rings given by lovers and spouses belonged on your dominant hand.

The smile that lit up his face made breathing difficult. Cheers burst through the diner around us, but he was all I could see. There was a lump in my throat and for a moment I let myself believe this was real. I let myself believe this wasn't an act, and as he swept me into a sweeping kiss, I let myself believe I could have this.

He pulled away and rested his forehead against mine, his breath tickled my lips, still burning from his touch. "Fiancée. I like the sound of that," he murmured and I desperately wondered how that would feel whispered against my skin. I almost whimpered.

The matrons in the table behind ours got up and came around to our booth. They were all in their late fifties or early sixties. Grey hair in various styles from springy curls to modest simple buns. Their clothes were modest, dresses at least four decades out of fashion, but it looked well on them.

"Excuse me dears, we couldn't help but overhear you." Their leader stopped beside us.

I blushed as if I was embarrassed. "Oh, I'm sorry! I-"

She interrupted me with a wave. "Oh no, honey. You have nothing to apologise for. I don't know if you remember us, we used to rotate watching you and your sisters while your father was at work, before that bitch forbade you from visiting."

I did in fact remember them, but humans didn't remember many things from when they were seven, especially when it was during a short two month visit.

I furrowed my brow as if concentrating, trying to pick out something that would stick out in a child's memory before smiling brightly. "You were the women who always snuck us the caramel candies!" I exclaimed.

The women smiled brightly, pleased that I remembered them even a little. "I'm glad we made such a strong impression." She chuckled, before her smile dimmed a little. "Now we didn't mean to eavesdrop, dears, but we couldn't help overhearing what you two were talking about before that lovely proposal."

Edward ducked his head, his cheeks flushing in the illusion. I bit my lip, the butterflies in my chest not entirely faked.

"It was a very cute proposal." One of the other ladies nodded at us like we were adorable children in the sandbox. "If other men had your romantic way with words, no one would turn down a proposal ever."

Well that's a ridiculous thought. I wanted to raise an eyebrow at least. If a rapist proposed to me like that I'd remove his throat through his dick regardless of how romantic it sounded.

Edward interlocked our fingers and rubbed his thumb across the back of my hand, soothing me like he knew exactly where my thoughts were going. "Thank you," he said, still blushing. "I just said what came to mind." He turned to me. "Bella is the light of my life and I can't imagine a world without her."

I smiled impishly. "And Edward is my Mr. Darcy." I said in a dreamy voice that might have not been entirely fabricated.

He ducked his head.

"You kids are adorable." The first matron smiled softly. "But as beautiful as your proposal was, congratulating you wasn't the only reason we came over."

Another hummed. "We heard you're pregnant, dear."

I made my lips tremble again. "I might as well admit it." I glanced up at Edward, tears filling my eyes. "Renee swore she'd tell the entire town!" I broke off with a sob. "Yes I am, but it was an accident! We didn't know—that is to say I thought I couldn't get pregnant because of— " I slapped a hand over my mouth as if I'd said too much. I waited to see if any of them would take the bait.

"Oh dear, we're not here to criticise you." One of them rested her cool hand on my arm. "I had my first boy when I was sixteen and alone. So I know the stress of what it's like. And—"

"Wait— Shut up, Miriam— What do you mean you couldn't get pregnant, sweetheart?" The first woman's brow furrowed. "You're still very young. What makes you think it's not possible?"

I bit my lip and looked down as I gripped Edward's hand. "Renee, she—I don't know, she never liked me. And when I was five she started giving me medicine. She told me I had asthma and that's what the pills were for—

"I didn't know any better…You must think i'm so stupid." Tears poured down my face. "By the time I realised what the pills were actually doing… The doctor said it was too late, that I'd never have any children. And I was so devastated! I–I even thought about ending everything then…"

Edward pulled me into him with a strangled whisper. For a moment I wondered if he was acting or if the idea really killed him. I continued: "But now I have this baby and it's a miracle." I pulled back to look up at my fiancée. "And I have someone who loves me so much." I turned back to the matrons. "But I'm so scared! Renee wants to take her away from me, and I–I just don't know what to do." I sobbed, burning my face in his chest again.

There was a long tense pause as the ladies swallowed my words before another set of cool hands took mine in hers. I looked up to see the first woman watching me with eyes brimming with tears. "You are so strong and so brave, sweetheart. The things you have had to go through would break anyone, but you have powered through into a strong and confident young woman who can handle what life throws at her. And I am sure you will work out everything that comes with this baby."

Of course Renee's poison wasn't the true reason for my infertility. My affinity to blood magic was, however no one save my sisters and Edward needed to know that.

"And as for Renee…" Miriam cracked her elderly knuckles. "Let us handle her. I know the perfect spot where she can meet my ex-husband."

I couldn't help my smile. There was a rumour in Forks that her husband's disappearance wasn't as mysterious as the Port Angeles police believed. In fact, most people knew exactly where he was. Truth be told, I wouldn't be surprised if the Forks police helped dig the grave. Her husband was a brute, and well…she did allegedly warn him against hitting her again. That had always been my favourite story to hear.

My kind of woman. I dipped my head. "Thank you," I whispered, my voice cracking. "But we have a plan."

"She can meet her god, same day shipping," Edward growled into my hair. "And if our plan doesn't work, we know who to call."

Miriam patted his cheek. "Good boy." She turned to me, passing me a slip of paper. "Now here's my address and phone number. I don't care if it's three in the morning or during church; if you kids need anything, you come straight to me, you hear?"

I blushed. "Thank you, though I might not interrupt church… Pastor Webber doesn't like my sisters and I." I blushed. Angela's father had been decidedly cold towards us when he discovered we were pagan. He took it as if we did it purposefully to insult him.

She waved her hand. "Stuff the old pastard! He's getting too repetitive in his sermons these days anyway. He told me my boy was going to hell for loving another boy so you can interrupt as many of his sermons as you like, dear."

I smiled. "Nick is your son right? He and Carter make a gorgeous couple," I said kindly. And it was true. The two were a year below my sisters and I, but they were one of the tolerable couples in school. Emmett and I had a running bet on when the wedding would be.

"Thank you, dear."

"And don't worry too much about not being good parents," one of the other matrons piped up. "All parents worry about that. But you have something a lot of people don't. You have a team of elderly women willing to kick this entire town into gear to help you raise your baby."

Another one hummed. "Between us we've all raised heaps of babies, so we know what we're doing—so if you need any advice at all, just come to us. We meet here every Tuesday, and we're happy to help."

I smiled shakily. "Well in that case, can you tell Edward it's definitely going to be a girl? He seems to think I'm wrong and we're bound to have a boy," I said shakily as if I was struggling to joke.

They all snorted. "Trust a mother's intuition, boy." The first woman shook her head at him. "And when you're wrong, be prepared to grovel."

Edward smiled lovingly down at me. "I'm always prepared to grovel."

I intertwined our fingers and hummed. "He's gotten quite good at it too."

With a sudden wicked idea I put an exasperated look on my face. "My poor Edward, I love him dearly but he can be quite silly sometimes. Would you believe he wants to name the baby Cactus?"

His smile twitched into a grin and he pressed a kiss to my forehead. "You'll kill me at this rate," he murmured against my skin, too soft for anyone but me to hear. Then he raised his voice. "Well, I can't make it too easy for you, my love. Otherwise you'd get bored."

My heart fluttered. You could never bore me.