We'll Be A Family
C16: Birthday Girl
Standard Disclaimer: I don't own any of the recognizable characters.
Rosalie's POV
The day of Bella's birthday I could feel Alice buzzing outside of our room. "Calm down Alice, Bella's not even up yet and she will have a proper breakfast before you will start your craziness." I said soft enough not to wake up Bella.
"She'll be waking up in a few minutes anyway, and I can't help but be excited, we've never had the chance to actually celebrate a birthday, so you might want to prepare. Esme and Sulpicia really went all out today." Alice said in an equally soft tone.
I sighed softly at that. "I suppose I should've expected that. I trust everything is ready for the party?"
She giggled at that. "Of course it is. We have plenty of food available and everybody hunted yesterday, the gifts are ready and yours is waiting out front all tied up in a nice bow for your mate."
"Thank you Alice, I promise once Bella feels up for it we will go on a massive shopping spree with you, just the three of us." I said softly.
She poked her head into the room and smiled. "It's okay Rose, I can wait with that until your daughters are born. We have plenty of time, but I will be keeping you both to that."
I smiled at her as Bella stirred and Alice gently closed the door, and I could hear Esme giving orders to the rest of the family to get everything ready.
Bella woke up not soon after and pulled the blankets over us. "I don't want to get up Rosie. It's so warm and comfy here with you."
I smiled and kissed her softly. "I'm afraid I can't keep you here for long baby, your mothers and sisters have been working very hard for you today. Happy birthday."
She smiled and cuddled against me. "Thank you love, and I'll get out in a bit, I just want to bask in your presence for a little while longer."
"That's more than okay baby. You know I would never object to having you close." I said softly.
She smiled and kissed me before getting out of bed. "How about you get dressed while I take care of my tiny bladder syndrome."
I nodded and gave her butt a spank as she walked passed me, and the resulting glare she shot me was more than worth it.
While she was in the bathroom, I walked into the closet, selecting my sexiest set of underwear and the dress that I had specifically chosen for today, a little red dress that I knew for sure would drive my mate wild.
"Love, I'll go on ahead to see how far Esme is with your breakfast. I'll let you dress in peace." I said loud enough for her to hear.
"That's okay love, I'll see you in a bit." She called back.
When I came downstairs the entire family was already waiting for Bella, all of them in their best clothes, although Alice was surprisingly absent. "Where's Alice? I thought she would be the first one waiting."
"She decided her dress for today wasn't good enough, so she went to change after she talked to you. She'll be down in a minute." Jasper said with a soft smile.
I smiled at him. "I figured something like that. Will you be okay today Jazz?"
He smiled and nodded. "I will Rose. I've become accustomed to having Bella's scent around the house, short of a serious accident, which I know will not happen, I will be fine."
I smiled and hugged him. "Then you know Bella will want to dance with you today right? She's been wanting that ever since she heard about this party."
"Then I will make sure my little sister will get that dance, as long as you are okay with it." He said with a soft smile.
"Of course I am Jazz. Why wouldn't I be. I know you would never hurt her." I said with a smile, knowing he needed the reinsurance that I was truly okay with Bella dancing with him.
He then turned to the stairs and smiled. "You might want to rethink that, Rose."
I turned as well and could barely contain the growl that rose up in my throat. Bella was wearing a little black dress that not even over-emphasized her belly and judging by the grins both my mate and Alice were wearing, they had planned this specifically to get this reaction.
"Surprised love?" Bella asked with a smile.
I lifted her into my arms and smiled at her. "Very much so love. I suspect I can thank Alice for this?"
She nodded and smiled at me. "Of course, you know I am still developing my sense of style."
I smiled and kissed her softly as I put her down on her feet again, and she was quickly swept up in a wave of congratulations and hugs from the entire family, of course Esme and Sulpicia being the first to congratulate her. "Happy birthday sweetie." Esme said with a loving smile as she hugged Bella close.
Bella smiled and visibly relaxed in Esme's arms. "Thank you Mom. I think this will be the first birthday I will actually enjoy."
Esme smiled and pressed a kiss to the top of Bella's head as they walked to the kitchen, where a literal feast was waiting for Bella. "Mom, this is too much. There is no way I could eat all of this by myself."
"For once we will all eat with you sweetie. We thought you deserved that on your birthday." Sulpicia said with a soft smile.
She smiled and took a seat in her usual spot, and of course I took my spot next to her, with Jane on the other side of my mate, looking adorable in her top and skirt combination, which gave her a bit of a goth look, which honestly suited the blonde very well.
Breakfast for once was a lively affair, mostly centered around Bella and her birthday, and I could see she was reveling in the attention, and I couldn't help but smile at the sight of my mate enjoying herself.
Bella's POV
After breakfast I was ushered to the living room, Rosalie telling me to sit my cute butt down and accept my gifts, and it was only because she worded it so cutely that I did what I was told, but we would have a talk about this at some point today.
We shared a look as she sat down next to me, and I could see in those beautiful crimson eyes that she had only been teasing me. "Are you okay love?" She asked softly.
"I will admit it hurt a little bit when you basically told me what to do, but I can see in your eyes that you were only teasing me." I said honestly.
Rosalie smiled and pressed a long kiss to my cheek. "I'm sorry if I came across a bit demanding baby, but I think there are quite a few siblings that want the chance to dance with you tonight, and we don't want you to be tuckered out beforehand." She said softly.
I smiled at her. "I'm okay love, tonight has been the reason I have been resting so much. I want to last through the party tonight."
Rosalie smiled and kissed me as Alice and Jasper walked up to us. "Happy birthday Bella. Jazz and I have been thinking for a long time what to get you, but I think you will love it. I promise that I didn't cheat." Alice said with a grin.
I stood and hugged the Pixie as I accepted her gift, a neatly wrapped package what I suspected to be a book of some sorts. I then carefully unwrapped it and smiled at the red leather cover, and flipping through the first couple of pages, I gasped softly. "Alice, these are beautiful. Did you draw these?"
She nodded and smiled at me. "I did. They are drawings of the vision I've had from you and Rose together so far. Nothing in the future, but things that got you to this point."
I smiled and hugged her tightly. "Thank you Ali. It's beautiful."
She smiled at me as Jasper also presented me with a neatly wrapped box. "A little bird told me that you've been a bit annoyed that you don't have a proper pair of boots that you fit in anymore, so I got you these to wear once you are able again."
I smiled and again carefully unwrapped it, and opening the box I saw the cutest pair of ankle height cowboy boots I had ever seen. "Thanks Jasper. They are lovely. Can I hug you?"
He nodded and I stepped into his arms, the first real hug I had been able to give him in all the time I had known him, and it felt so full of love that I couldn't help the tears that gathered in my eyes. "Are you okay darlin'?" He asked softly.
I nodded and smiled at him. "I'm so glad that I can finally give my big brother a hug without being afraid. I've been wanting to for so long."
Jasper smiled at me. "I wanted to be sure that it was safe, and finally I feel safe enough to be close."
I smiled and pressed a kiss to his cheek. "Then we are going to spend a day just talking about history, I've been looking forward to that for ages."
He nodded and smiled at me as he and Alice stepped back so that Emmett and Victoria could give me my gifts. "Happy birthday Bella Bear, but I am afraid my gift will have to wait. It's super special." Emmett said with his usual grin.
I smiled and hugged him, feeling him stiffen for only a moment before he hugged me back. "I'm sure it will be amazing brother Bear. Thank you."
He grinned at me as Victoria handed me a long package. "I know it's not as spectacular, but I think you'll like it anyway."
I only smiled at her as I peeled the paper off, revealing a beautifully painted picture of me and Rose together, reminding me very much of the picture I had as a background on my laptop. "It's beautiful Vicki, thank you so much."
The redhead grinned and hugged me as I handed the painting to Rosalie. "I have to say Victoria, you've outdone yourself on this one." Rose said with a soft smile.
"Thank you Rosalie, I figured you two would enjoy a permanent reminder of your sweetest moment to date. I tried to capture the love you two share and I hope I did it justice." She said with a smile.
"You did Vicki, I love it. I'll make sure it gets a special place in our room." I said with a bright smile.
The redhead just smiled and pressed a kiss to my cheek as Jane and Alec stepped forward. "We didn't really know what to get you, but mother helped us find the perfect gift. Happy birthday Bella." Jane said softly as she handed me a small package.
I smiled at her and peeled away the paper, revealing several books that were clearly very old, but still seemed to be in pristine condition, and looking more closely at the titles, it occurred to me that they were Shakespeare originals. "Where did you get these. No one has seen these in ages."
Alec smiled at me. "When Didyme heard how much you like to read, she thought you would appreciate these. They come from the library in Volterra."
I hugged them both. "Thank you. I promise to take very good care of them."
The twins smiled at me before stepping back as Heidi stepped up, holding a box up to me. "Happy birthday little dove. I hope you enjoy it once you feel up to it."
"Do I even want to open it in front of everyone?" I asked softly.
She nodded and smiled at me as I peeled away the paper, and when I opened it, it revealed a cute blue dress that was clearly something I should wear when I had my figure back again. "Thanks Heidi, it's adorable. I look forward to trying this when I do not resemble a whale."
She smiled and pulled me into a hug. "You don't look like a whale Bella. You look more radiant by the day, and besides, you'll be back in shape in no time, we'll make sure of that." She said with a smile.
I smiled at her as she stepped back so Esme and Sulpicia could give me their gift. "Happy birthday sweetie. While our gift is not as big as the others you have received today, it is a gift from the heart." Sulpicia said as they presented me with a thin box tied up with a bow.
I smiled at them as I pulled the ribbon off and opened up the box, a beautiful gold necklace with the Volturi crest on a pendant laying on a red satin cushion. "It's beautiful." I said softly.
They smiled at me. "This necklace we had made specially for you, it shows that you are our daughter and that hurting you in the slightest will have dire consequences." Esme said with a soft smile.
I sniffed as I fell into their arms for a hug. "Thank you, this means so much to me."
"It's only right Isabella. You are our daughter and any vampire that crosses our path in the future will be aware of that, and they then will think twice about crossing us." Sulpicia said softly, pulling me against their bodies tightly.
I couldn't help the smile that threatened to break my face. "I love you both so much. I promise to be the best daughter I can be."
"You already are Bella, just keep being yourself." Esme said softly.
I nodded and pressed a kiss to both of their cheeks. "I will, I promise."
They smiled at me as Rosalie pulled me into her arms again. "There is one more gift left baby. Would you follow me outside?" Rosalie asked softly.
I nodded and followed the blonde outside, where in the driveway was a brand new BMW M5, in red of course, because how could a gift from my Goddess not contain any red. "It's yours love, you deserve to have a car that can go faster than thirty miles per hour."
I kissed her deeply as I pulled her to me. "Thank you baby. I love it."
She smiled and kissed me again. "That's not all though, Emmett's gift has already been installed. He thought you might like a decent sound system."
I smiled and went to hug my bear of a brother. "You know me so well, Emmett. Thank you."
He grinned at that as we made our way back inside, and apparently my stomach thought that was a good idea, because it growled loudly as I sat down.
Rosalie's POV
As the party went on I couldn't help the permanent smile on my face as I saw Bella enjoy herself, not even a small sign of fatigue on her features.
Right now she was dancing with Jasper and I had to admit it looked adorable seeing them shuffle around the room.
"Rose, can I talk to you for a minute?" Alice asked softly.
I nodded and followed the Pixie outside, a bit of worry creeping in because I had been a while since she wanted to talk to me alone. "What's wrong Alice?"
"I had a vision earlier today that I want you to know about, but I didn't want to worry Bella with it just yet, it's been so long since I have seen her this relaxed. I saw Edward deciding to come back to Forks, and when he finds us no longer there, this will be the first place he'll check. The big problem is that it will be close to Bella's due date when he does. He's willing to play this out and wait for us to leave her alone." She said softly.
I took a deep breath before I replied. "We knew he was going to play the long game, and when he finds out that Sulpicia and part of the Guard are here, he might become reckless. We need to let everyone know tomorrow, because I will not hide this from Bella, she wouldn't want that."
"I know, but I really don't want to ruin this night for her. I just wanted you to be the first to know. I was planning of telling everyone tomorrow. I also saw that Sulpicia is not going to react well to this and that she is going to everything in her power to catch him early, but that in doing that she will put Bella in danger, so I need you and Bella to try and talk her out of that course of action, she'll listen to you and Bella." Alice said softly.
I nodded at her. "I'll try Ali, but I will admit that I am a bit worried about Edward going for this, it's like he knows that she's pregnant."
Alice nodded at that. "I've had that same feeling for a while, but I can't find anything on how he should know, unless he's been watching us somehow, but I know that's impossible. We would've noticed if he was close."
"I know, I don't think he has been close to us for a long time, at least since Bella's attack. If he is keeping tabs on us, I don't know how he does it." I said softly.
Alice nodded at that. "I wouldn't put it past him to find some sort of partnership now that he no longer has Carlisle to make plans with."
"It would be someone who hates our family just as much as he does… Shit. There can be only one vampire I can think of. It has to be James." I said with a growl as I came to that realization.
I saw Alice's eyes cloud over for just a moment. "I don't know why I didn't make that connection before. It can only be him. This could be a chance for both of them to get what they want. Edwards wants Bella, one way or another and James wants Victoria, and I don't think they care who they hurt in the process."
"I know they don't, but now that we know, we can plan. We'll tell everyone tomorrow as soon as Bella wakes up." I said with determination.
Alice smiled and nodded. "We will, come, let's go back, tonight we will not let this hang over us."
I nodded and smiled at her as we walked back inside, seeing Bella sitting on the couch with Jane, the two sitting so close that it looked like they were planning something.
Alice had already taken Jasper onto the dance floor, so I made my way over to the two girls. "Interesting talk with your sister, Bella?"
She smiled and nodded. "We were just talking about some of the things we have planned once I have given birth to the girls and I've gotten my figure back."
I smiled and took a seat next to her. "I've never known you to be so image conscious, baby."
"Well, since I know what will happen if I don't get back in shape and I have no desire whatsoever to look like Renee, when it comes to this, yes I am a little bit image conscious." She said softly.
I smiled and kissed her cheek softly. "I was teasing love, but there is one thing that we haven't done today, and I would really like to dance with my mate."
She smiled at me. "I was waiting for you to come back. I've saved the last dance for you."
I smiled and led her onto the dance floor, where we danced slowly together for a few songs, until I could see she was getting tired, after which I carried my love upstairs so she could get some rest.
Bella's POV
The following morning I woke up early from Rosalie gently running her fingers over my back. "Good morning Rosie. What time is it. It feels so early."
She smiled and kissed me softly. "It's around ten, love so it's not that early, and I let you sleep as long as I could, but there is something we need to talk about with the family."
"Is this about what you and Alice talked about yesterday?" I asked softly.
I nodded at her. "It is, we didn't want to ruin your night because you were having so much fun, and I promise whatever you hear, everything will be okay."
I nodded and kissed her softly as I crawled out of bed. "I trust you and Alice baby, but I really need to take a shower. I feel a bit sticky from last night."
I smiled at her. "Then I'll make you a nice breakfast in the meantime. Is there something special you want for breakfast?"
"That depends if you are an option for breakfast? Otherwise something light and crispy." I said cheekily.
Rosalie smiled at me as she made her way to the closet. "Perhaps when we are truly alone for once, my love, then I would gladly be your breakfast."
I smiled at her and flashed her a wink before stepping into the bathroom, and I could feel that the girls also seemed to be awake as the moved a bit in my belly. "Good morning my sweets, could you quiet down for Mommy a bit."
I could feel a little flutter as they settled, and it took everything I me not to break down in tears as I stepped under the spray of the shower. "I can't wait to hold you two in my arms and show you off to the world." I said softly as I rubbed my belly.
My shower was a bit of a haze because of the reactions I got from my girls. This was certainly the part of pregnancy that I enjoyed, just these small moments bliss before my headache would take over for the day.
After drying myself and blow drying my hair, I made my way back into the room, seeing my favored outfit already on the bed, which had to be either Rosalie or Alice's work, and I was thankful that they did, because it seemed to be a thing for me to forget things these days. I put that up to the girls eating my brain, as people liked to say about pregnant women.
I quickly got dressed before waddling downstairs, because I was really hungry and I wouldn't want to keep my mate waiting, but mostly because I was hungry, a girl had to set priorities when she was seven months pregnant.
In the same daze, and probably smiling like an idiot I walked into the kitchen where Rosalie had just put down a glass of orange juice next to my breakfast, which was most of the full English breakfast I had craved for the past month, which was everything except the beans, because really, who had beans first thing in the morning.
"Good morning sweetie. Did you sleep okay?" Esme asked with a sweet smile.
I nodded and smiled at her. "Of course I did Mom, I slept next to Rosalie after all, although I am a bit annoyed that I can't sleep on my side anymore."
She smiled and pressed a kiss to my cheek. "Unfortunately that is something all pregnant women go through sweetie, it's only a couple of months before your due date."
I smiled at that. "I know and I'm so excited, they are starting to respond to me and Rose already. It's so hard not to break down in tears every time I feel that little flutter."
All three women smiled at that and Rosalie pressed a soft kiss to my lips. "Soon love, soon we'll be able to hold them in our arms and show them all the love in the world. Our own little Princesses."
I smiled and nodded as my stomach once again reminded me that there was food to be had and that it required sating before anything else was to be undertaken today.
I ate in relative silence, mostly distracted by Alice buzzing around near the entrance to the kitchen. "Ali, please calm down. I'll be with you as soon as my stomach has been satisfied, I swear it's becoming a beast the further I get along in this pregnancy."
Alice smiled as she took a seat next to me. "Sorry Bella, I'm just a bit nervous, and movement is the only outlet I have at the moment."
"It'll be okay Ali, it can't be that bad, right?" I asked softly.
She smiled at that. "I think when you hear it you won't be so optimistic, my vision last night really shook me up."
I smiled and gave her a hug. "It'll be okay Ali."
She smiled at me as she pressed a kiss to my cheek and made her way back into the living room, Rosalie, Esme, Sulpicia and I joining them a few moments later and as soon as we were seated, Alice launched into her explanation.
"So last night I had a vision that shook me up a lot. It showed Edward's decision to come back to Forks to woo Bella back to his side and when he finds us no longer there he will come here, which is where things get difficult. I saw that it will be very close to Bella's due date when he decides to come here and I saw he is quite willing to play the long game and wait until she is alone, but as Rosalie quite correctly pointed out yesterday, he might become reckless and that will be very dangerous for Bella. I also have a feeling that he will not be alone. We have a feeling that he might team up with James to try and get her, after which I am sure we all know what happens next." Alice said softly
Sulpicia and Esme growled at that. "I will personally end him for the stress he has put on my daughter."
"I saw that you would say that, but I also saw that choosing that course of action will put Bella in danger because he will adapt to that and choose a moment where she is extra vulnerable." Alice said softly.
I wrapped my arms around Sulpicia's arm and leaned against her. "Please Mom, we can deal with him when he shows up."
Sulpicia smiled and pressed a soft kiss to the top of my head. "Alright sweetie, but we will increase patrols of the area, as stealthily as possible, I want to be kept up to date on everything he does. Can you inform me when you get another vision of Edward?"
Alice nodded and smiled. "I will, I'm already looking out for his decisions as well as those of James, but so far both seem to keep themselves from making decisions."
Sulpicia nodded at that as she pulled me against her body. "Are you okay sweetie?" She asked softly.
I nodded and smiled at her. "I'm okay mother. As everyone has said at some point, I am the safest human in the world right now. I know whatever Edward might try will be useless because there is no way he will get close enough to hurt me. I have the fullest trust that everyone will keep me safe, besides, if he tries to get close I have a brother and sisters who can literally take him out with just a look."
Everyone smiled at that. "And we will the moment we get the word Bella. I will not have him hurt my baby sister." Alec said with a soft smile.
I smiled at that. "I know Alec and I am sure that Edward will not be a problem, not now and once we catch him, not ever again."
Everyone smiled and Alice also seemed to more at peace with my answer, and I was glad for that, because to see Alice worried was very unnerving.
