Chapter 14: Changes in the World
When we all gathered once more, it was actually Edward who spoke. "Even though I don't see Bella's pregnancy as a miracle like she does, we have agreed, given the similar methods needed to remove the fetus, that we should give this life a chance. On the assumption that Bella will be a newborn, I will be with her, and likely will be joined by Jasper and Emmett. That leaves Alice, Esme, Rosalie, and Carlisle with the primary responsibility to do the work of raising the child until Bella's bloodlust is controllable. We would like to request altering the Newfoundland cabin so that Bella can be contained, like in a basement with a vampire-proofed room, much like Forks. That way we can support Bella and the infant as a family. Also, Bella and I believe that our plan of changing her by injection will serve us. As such, we would like to request Carlisle and Rosalie to be in attendance for the birth itself. Bella promises to abide by any and all medical advice, including picking a date for the caesarean."
After a few moments of respectful silence to ensure Edward had nothing more to say, Carlisle asked the group if there were any thoughts not yet expressed.
There were none.
Expecting Edward and Bella's answer, I told the family, "We will need to do enough to close up the houses here from the elements, so that when we are ready, we can return to finish them. To accomplish this, I will need at least one couple to stay behind and close up the property completely. We will also need to prepare the Newfoundland house, unless someone else has a preferable location."
"Denali?" Emmett wondered.
We all looked at each other, seemingly each unwilling to voice our concerns regarding that option.
It was Carlisle that spoke. "I think that exposing them to a child after things with their mother Sasha might be unkind."
"Just checking," Emmett told us, and the tension that had built immediately dissipated without Jasper's influence.
"Objections? Concerns? Additions?" Carlisle asked.
"My PhD?" Bella voiced meekly.
"Up in smoke," Jasper replied curtly. "We can remake your undergraduate degree with false names later, but it will take you more time to be ready to enter human society than they will allow you to delay your entrance."
"Even with a bribe?" she asked grinning mischievously.
He looked at her seriously and then answered with a slight smile that hinted at devilish intent, "Let me look into it."
"I will withdraw from my position," Carlisle let us know.
"And I will let my assistant know that I will not be in touch as regularly and set up some contingencies," Alice stated.
After a few minutes Carlisle checked, "Anything else?"
We all looked at Jasper, since he maintained our digital lives.
"Identities kept for the time being," Jasper told us.
No one rebutted him.
"Better than fleeing in the middle of the night, but we're doing our regular closed, declined, and excuses made?" Emmett checked.
"No alterations except the ones already stated," I summarized.
He rubbed his hands together and asked Rosalie, "Ready to go to town and spread a little gossip?"
Bella giggled.
"What sis?" Emmett asked her looking innocent.
"Carry on," she replied to him with a wide grin and then after a few moments looked at Jasper. "Charlie and Renee?" Bella asked.
"Email maybe, but before leaving Massachusetts, you should contact them both and move forward with your previous plan to tell them that you'll be travelling, and enjoying the first year of marriage, and will be not able to touch base with them regularly," Jasper suggested. "Let me know the details you want, and I'll make the trails."
We waited the allotted time and no one said anything else.
Bella looked sad, but firm.
"We are agreed," Carlisle stated with what sounded like a heavy heart.
"Before we begin those steps," I told the family before the agreed upon silence ended, "we should discuss the impact of Alice no longer able to see Bella." Turning to Alice, I added, "Unless you don't want to."
She appeared hesitant, while also appreciative for the opportunity. "I get something similar as the Quileutes. With them it's like we disappear when we encounter them. With Bella it's like she's a void, but I can see around her."
"Any input?" I asked Jasper confident they had already discussed it at length.
"With the Quileutes there is nothing emotionally also, as if they don't exist in this plane. With Bella, she receives information, but Bella herself is blank. So, more localized. The most obvious reason is the fetus."
The room was completed silent for a few minutes minus the sounds of Bella's humanity before Carlisle spoke, "We have hypothesized that the Quileute genetic coding has a natural inhibitor to Alice. What if she does not see them, simply because they are governed by instinct shifting forms without choice? Simultaneously, this fetus is also changing rapidly at an instinctual level, and thus changing Bella in ways that remove her from Alice's gift?"
Alice looked contemplative and then asked, "So, when the baby arrives, Bella will return to my vision, as she will be a vampire making decisions?"
"Not as a newborn," Jasper stated with authority.
"You could see Victoria's newborns?" I checked.
Alice closed her eyes most likely pulling on the images from her memory. Edward closed his eyes also, no doubt following along.
"Generally, I couldn't see them great until they decided to come towards us," she reported.
"Okay, good," Emmett put in, "all sorted. Alice will be able to see Bella once she's a newborn on those rare instances when she makes decisions, and no one knows what our new addition will be like for Alice. Time's a wasting and the reason why doesn't matter that much. Alice is used to not watching Bella's future. We're all good." Then, after a second added, "Right?"
We all smiled at him, Rosalie most of all.
"Yes," I agreed, "I suppose we are, unless there's more to add."
"Lots of time to pin it down," Carlisle agreed.
Alice turned to Emmett, "Yes, I'm good. It's helpful to talk about it, since at first I was worried."
He smiled back widely his dimples clear. "You're indestructible, and Edward watches Bella like a hawk. No need to worry."
We all chuckled at the truth of things.
"Anything else?" I checked.
Our preset amount of time for silence passed, and then we all got to work.
I arranged for the Fork's furniture and belongings to go into long-term storage, and for movers to transport the items we wanted in Newfoundland including Carlisle's medical equipment, the blood from the blood bank, and a delivery bed for Bella. Carlisle and I travelled up to Newfoundland, while the rest stayed and finished the parts that were critical on the houses. Edward agreed to take up my cooking duties of blood-based foods, and Rosalie committed to doing Carlisle's daily measurements on Bella.
When Carlisle and I arrived we informed the house's custodians that we would be staying through the year, but would continue to pay them. Then, we started digging under the foundations and pouring the cement. We were only four days into the project when Alice and Jasper arrived, which greatly sped up the work. I left them three to the basement, while I focused on creating a room for the new arrival. At any given opportunity Alice was busy purchasing everything we would need for the child for a year, especially as once Bella was turned, we wouldn't want any deliveries. The house was remote enough that the snow should keep everyone away, especially as we planned on not plowing and anything else to make it accessible.
The next two weeks were a whirlwind of movement and decisions. When Edward and Bella drove up, she looked reasonable for where she was meant to be in the pregnancy. Edward insisted on carrying her practically everywhere, terrified she would hurt herself. She bit her lip regularly as if she were trying to keep the words in. He wasn't overbearing, as much as taking no risks, but it was clearly hard for an independent woman like Bella to keep in her complaints. The fact that she did so was a testament to her growth and coming to understand Edward in a deeper way.
When they settled he shared with us, pride apparent in his tone, that he had begun to hear the baby's thoughts, and Jasper reported that the baby's emotions were getting more complex. Rosalie had mentioned over the phone that Bella had a few bruised ribs from the baby's movements. When Carlisle asked about it, Edward told him that he had spoken to the baby and explained the need to move slowly and gently as to not hurt its mother. Two days later Rosalie and Emmett arrived. We had already hunted in preparation for the birth, and thus able to offer them immediate greetings to them. Straight afterwards, they went to quench their thirst.
Carlisle had been able to gather more of Bella's blood type legally and had also stolen some. The last few days before the planned birth date, he gave her transfusions in hopes that it would aid her for delivery. She would receive the rest during the procedure, at least according to Carlisle.
Jasper, Alice, Emmett, and I agreed to be out of the house during the operation, but close enough that we could hear what was happening, in case we were needed. It all sounded like it went according to plan as the infant's first cries were heard. A few minutes passed, although it seemed like much more than that due to my anticipation, when Rosalie came out with a bundle. It was a girl who Bella had named Renesmee Elizabeth after Renee, myself, and Edward's mother. It was an honour. According to Rose, Bella was changing and although it had been risky, it all had gone to plan. Immediately, Jasper nicknamed the baby Ren, which I thought was terribly cute.
She was beautiful and even more amazing than I could have imagined. It was about twenty minutes later after meeting our new addition Carlisle told us that the house was cleaned of blood. Carlisle joined Rosalie, Alice, and I, while Jasper and Emmett went to join Edward. Giving Ren her first bottle of animal blood, I couldn't imagine myself more blessed.
Bella had been placed in the basement, but even still I was concerned about the lack of noise. When Jasper came up he looked worried.
"What is it?" I pressed.
"She looks like she is asleep," he told me frowning. "Everything sounds and smells correct, but it's odd. Out of the tens of thousands of transformations I've witnessed never once has someone been still like that. The pain is real enough, so there's that."
"Maybe because she expected it, the experience is different for her?" I pondered.
"Perhaps," he allowed, although clearly still unsettled.
"It could be the medication I gave her," Carlisle added. "If you say the pain is there, perhaps the Morphine is successfully blocking her brain's receptors?"
Jasper looked at him incredulously, but said nothing, simply grabbing Alice's hand and leaving us. No doubt they would be back shortly.
Rosalie was completely smitten with Ren, as was Emmett. Certainly she wasn't without love. It only took a few hours to realise that she was gifted, when she used it to ask for her mother. We explained that her mother was resting, but loved Ren a great deal. Without doubt Edward was watching Ren through our eyes, but he never left Bella's side.
Right on cue at three days Bella's heart stopped. As agreed, only Edward was in the basement with her.
"Thank you, Edward," were her first words.
"You're very welcome," he answered. "I'm just relieved that you made it through and are still with me." Shortly after he grunted and reminded her that she was stronger.
"Right," she replied. "Will work at remembering that."
"Renesmee?" she asked a few seconds later.
"Doing well," he answered, "but you need to hunt first."
"Sure, sure," she agreed.
That was our queue; Rosalie and I went to Ren's room and locked ourselves in. All sounds outside of the walls were muffled, so that Bella would not be attracted to Ren's heartbeat. Our precautions seemed to be for naught, as nothing untoward transpired. Then, a few hours later a knock came on the door letting us know that Bella was back secured in the basement.
Carlisle greeted us with a smile and then informed us, "Bella has requested that she begin the desensitising to see Ren. I am inclined to agree, since, blessedly, Ren does not spark any of our thirst. Do you two have any objections?"
"No," both Rose and I answered, and then Rose gave Carlisle an onesie that was heavy with Ren's scent.
We came back to the living room and Ren placed a hand on Rose and then me probably showing the same image of Bella right after Ren's birth.
"Yes, that's your mother," I confirmed. "She was tired from having you and then thirsty. Your father, Edward, and the rest of the guys are making sure that she is okay. She's strong, and we want to keep you safe."
Ren frowned and tears came to her eyes, but she settled.
About an hour later Jasper came up looking distraught.
"What's wrong?" Rose and I asked almost together.
He shook his head. "Nothing."
We both wore looks of bafflement.
"That's the problem," he continued. "She has this strange ability to take her emotions and dial them down. She doesn't feel particularly thirsty, although she should. She isn't confused or angry. Well, that's not entirely true. She has those feelings, and then she like decides that they're not serving her and smoothers them without my help."
"A gift?" Rose asked her eyes wide.
"That's my guess," he answered. Then taking a few breaths, he told us, "But I came up to get you three. The guys are going to contain her, and you are to bring Ren down. For this first time no contact, just in the same room. Then, we'll see." He turned to Ren and his countenance shifted. He walked towards her and she touched him, probably sending him the same image she had shared with us. He smiled at her with a touch of sadness, "Yes, we all know you miss your mother and want to see her. But you're a wee mite at the moment, and we all, your parents included, are doing everything possible to keep you safe. Trust us please."
Ren frowned, but appeared like she understood. A few days old and understanding such a complex idea was beyond strange, welcomed, but odd.
"You take her," Rosalie said handing over Ren. We both knew Rose was a stronger fighter than I.
Jasper led us into the basement with Rose next and me in the caboose. We left the door open, so I could escape at any moment.
Bella's eyes were only for Ren.
"When you're ready take in deep breaths," Carlisle instructed.
It took Bella a few minutes before she did so, and a huge smile broke across her face.
"No desire other than to hold her," she reported.
Jasper nodded in agreement.
"Nevertheless," Carlisle stated after a few seconds of contemplation. "Let's get you something to drink and then try being closer to her. Even if the urge isn't there, this process is emotionally exhausting, and you are stronger than you are accustomed."
Bella frowned, but agreed sadly. "Be a good girl for Esme and Rose," she instructed.
Ren smiled and then waved.
Bella waved back and smiled exuberantly.
I left, and then Rose. We put together a bottle of formula, then we went up into Ren's room and played with her, feeding her when she asked. She clearly preferred blood, but Carlisle said she needed human food too. Personally, I thought formula was particularly foul smelling.
When we were informed of Bella's safe return by the knock on our door, Ren was asleep. Nevertheless, we went down to the basement and everyone stood exactly in the same places. Step by step Bella walked towards Ren with Edward on one side and Emmett on the other. While she took deep breaths, she checked herself, and then Jasper nodded approving. It was a slow process, but better than the alternative. When she stood in front of me she slowly put her hand out and then laid it on Ren's midsection.
"She's having happy dreams," Edward told us with a smile.
"She's very content," Jasper reported.
We all stayed like that each of us taking breaths and allowing Jasper's calm mojo to ease the tension that had been there. When Ren started waking Bella tensed some.
"Try and relax," I encouraged her. "Babies are attuned to emotions."
Bella smiled sadly and leaned into Edward taking in deep breaths. It was a smart strategy.
When Ren opened her eyes she showed me the image of Bella that she had before.
"Yes, that's your mother. She's feeling better," I told her. "Having babies is hard work, and she is a trooper."
Ren seemed to want to touch Bella, so I kept a firm grasp of her, but allowed her to grab Bella's hand.
Bella's eyes were unfocused for a moment and then she gasped, "What was that?"
"It seems that Ren has a gift," Edward answered.
"You're an incredible little girl," Bella told her, while removing her finger from Ren's grasp. "Thank you for sharing your days with me. It was great to see what you have been up to." Then, she took a step back and whispered, "I think hunting would be a good plan. The images of the bottles were too much."
Smiling in understanding, I left followed by Rosalie. While Ren and I went to the nursery, Rosalie made Ren a bottle of blood and brought it up.
"All our fears and none have transpired," I uttered in awe.
"You think that she'll be able to do her PhD after all?" Rose asked in a hushed voice like the words might dispel what we had thought was impossible.
"Ever since Bella, the world has been turned on its head. Edward dated his singer. We grew and changed, becoming closer as a family. Bella who came into our lives at seventeen and a half is close to being twenty-four. That is seven years in our world with close calls, for sure, but still. The whole story belongs in a fairy tale," I gushed.
"Apart from the hard work and growing pains," Rose muttered with a touch of irritation.
Chuckling, I agreed, "Apart from that."
Each day over the winter was like its own miracle. Ren grew so rapidly that it was almost sad. Bella had moments when she would forget her strength, especially when she and Edward were being intimate, but otherwise she was adjusting rather well. After the first three months we all started acting human, so that Bella could get accustomed to it. She seemed to take to it more naturally than any of us had. And we each took on subjects to teach Ren.
With Bella not lost in the newborn haze, as we had expected, she was able to be more of a mother than she had planned. Despite these pleasant surprises, Ren was raised by us all. It took Jasper about eight weeks to stop being on edge, but once he conceded that Bella was just odd, the whole house settled. Ren was a joy to us all and bonded us in deep meaningful ways, as well as healing regrets and wounds that would have otherwise never been soothed. It was an incredible experience.
Every couple of months Bella sent an email to Renee and Charlie. Renee's responses were unpredictable, but mostly self-focused, while Charlie's were constant if not a bit short, but then he wasn't a man of much words.
At our New Year's family meeting it was agreed that towards the end of the upcoming summer we would plan on returning to the human world and the lives we had intended before the pregnancy. It was risky, adding Ren and a newborn, but we decided it was worth it. It's funny how things we thought were going to be problematic weren't and problems we couldn't even see spelled out doom. But I guess that's life, even with Alice and her ability to see the future.
We returned to our houses in Massachusetts almost a year to the day after leaving them. As Bella was hoping to complete her PhD, we decided it would be best to keep Ren out of school at least in the beginning.
In the first semester, Bella reported having to leave class a few times and then make excuses. Her grade suffered a little, due to an uptight teacher, but no humans lives were lost. We all collectively breathed easier.
The first time Bella called her father was to wish him a Merry Christmas. It seemed that instantly Leah and Seth, who had been in the background, started growling and were aware of Bella's change of species. A few days later she received a call from Sue, to whom she explained that she had been turned at her behest rather than die and no one had bit her. From that day following, Charlie's requests for Bella and Edward to visit became practically non-existent. We were sadly grateful that the tribe's anger meant that Sue was probably running interference and creating more of a gap between Bella and her father. Additionally, we were deeply appreciative that the Quilietes, despite their disapproval, decided that our actions had not violated the treaty.
Two years after Ren's birth, Garrett stopped by for a visit and was initially afraid of Ren, assuming she was an immortal child, but warmed to her before we parted ways.
Ren's first three years went by in joy and love. Bella completed her comprehensive exams. Alice's clothing line thrived and the advances in virtual communication allowed her to be the inventor and creator without showing her face. She claimed that her staying in the shadows was a result of having social anxiety and an undisclosed medical condition. She paid her human assistant handsomely to be the face of the company. Emmett started programming games and even created a business from it. He and Jasper also created the technology needed to protect our identities and the whole family became even more averse to our picture being taken than we had in the past. Fortunately, the family was very close to fixing the problems needed so that we could appear to age.
Rosalie, Edward, and I did most of the raising of Ren, whose growth had slowed, thank goodness. According to Rosalie, we would have three more years before Ren would stop physically maturing. By appearance she looked like a preteen without the common human hormonal traits that accompanied those years.
The Denalis had been putting pressure on us to come for a visit. So, after no longer being able to put them off, we rented a private jet and went during Christmas break. When we arrived it was a surprise to also find Garrett there and that he had found his mate in Kate. I was glad for them both.
Kate, Tanya, and Irina had initially been irate at seeing Ren, but it only took them a few seconds to realise that her heart beat. Once we were settled, we explained the events. Eleazar more than any other was shocked at our news.
When Edward requested he share, Eleazar simply stated, "I have never met a mother that survived, and had assumed no half-breeds existed."
When pressed by the group to explain, he looked weary, but reluctantly answered, "Usually they are lacking instruction, and thus their behaviour is very similar to immortal children. Thus, the Volturi have responded in kind."
We were all surprised by such news. I refused to allow it to impact me. Though, Eleazar's knowledge was scary and sad. Ren was probably a year or so from having the appearance of a teenager. It was clear to us all that she wasn't an immortal child.
The conversation eventually turned to Bella, and her odd newborn year. We explained our belief that knowing what was coming aided her.
However, Eleazar had a different take on it, "Carmen was aware of what she was choosing when I changed her, and although she was more calm than most newborns, it wasn't anything close to what you're describing. I suspect that Bella's behaviour has much more to do with her gift than the other factors."
"I told you'll," Jasper muttered seemingly appreciating having his theory supported, since he was the only one that had entirely rejected the idea that knowing beforehand would help.
"Other than keeping Edward from hearing my thoughts," Bella refuted, "I don't seem to be gifted."
Eleazar smiled in a charming yet devious way, like he was luring her into a trap.
Carman hit him gently and seemed to be chastising him without words.
Eleazar's smile turned more genuine and he told Bella, "I have not encountered a vampire with a gift as strong as yours since the twins. At the same time, I cannot tell you exactly what it is that you can do, as you are a shield."
"We suspected she was a shield of sorts," Carlisle agreed. "Mental shield?"
Eleazar agreed, "And more than that."
"More?" Carlisle, Edward, and Bella all asked at almost the same time.
Her eyes got huge and Jasper looked smug.
"I cannot say, exactly," Eleazar hedged, "as the nature of her gift obscures it from mine, but given the strength of it that I can sense, absolutely."
Carlisle looked at Eleazar in trepidation, "She would be coveted even above Alice by Aro."
"Without doubt," Eleazar concurred, his tone somber.
After some looming moments of silence, Bella asked, "Can you help me learn more about it?"
"Of course, child," Eleazar offered.
We talked some more, but when the conversation lulled, Bella pressed Eleazar once again to learn more about her gift, and so everyone went outside to watch the training.
Jasper pulled Eleazar aside and they conversed in low tones.
Edward scowled, but said nothing.
"Let us start with you, Kate," Eleazar decided, clearly with Jasper's approval.
Thus, began us spending our time helping Bella. Eleazar and Jasper seemed to be in their element. It had only taken a day to discover that Bella could extend her shield to cover Edward. Alice then volunteered to be the next test subject, as Bella and Alice were closely bonded and although Rosalie and Bella were sisterly, it wasn't like Alice. No one was willing for Ren to be a test subject, even though she wanted to. It was hard for Jasper to not protect Alice and Alice to not use her visions to see the outcome, so it could be a more genuine test. Nevertheless, three days later Bella had been able to protect them both at the same time.
When we all went hunting, I engineered it so that Eleazar, Carmen, Carlisle, and I were together. Carlisle and I had already spoken about it, and he was in support of my request.
After we had each found something and when no one else was around, I told Eleazar, "I'd appreciate your help."
Looking at me confused, he asked, "With what?"
"In our story we left out how I've been meditating and its effects on Edward and Jasper," I confided in him and Carmen, as she was close enough to hear me. "We did so out of respect for my privacy. I'd like to do so now and have you observe me. We are divided in the family about whether or not I have a gift."
"You do," Eleazar replied his tone sweet. "I told you on our first meeting."
Smiling at him, I repeated to him what he had said, "I have the gift of loving."
"You do," he repeated. "Loving is not a small thing in our world full of fear and greed."
"Perhaps," I allowed, "but it seems that since Bella's 18th birthday, I have been able to imagine the most harmonious and truest outcomes. And I have been able to assist each of our family members in change, including Edward."
He mulled over my words and then looked at me critically. "It seems that your gift has increased in strength over the last century, but that is expected, and true of all vampires. To start in this life with a gift at Bella's strength is unusual for sure, but for a gift to develop over time is not."
"So, you don't see a change in my gift, only it growing in strength?" I checked.
"Yes," he answered with a smile. "Love is one of the rare things that changes us vampires other than venom. Your gift is subtle, but the gift of loving is a beautiful thing, just not prized by Aro."
Smiling at his attempt to lighten the mood, I playfully retorted, "Well, that's good to know."
"Yes," he agreed with a wide smile. "Your family has enough for him to covet already." Shaking his head, he teased Carlisle, "Only you could have four gifted vampires out of eight that would attract Aro's attention."
Carlisle appeared bashful and shrugged.
Wanting to get back on track, I requested, "So, will you monitor me while I meditate?"
"Of course," he replied with a tender caring smile.
Sitting in the lotus position, since this had seemed to aid me best, I closed my eyes.
Carlisle moved a bit away from me, sitting down at the base of a tree.
Carmen moved near Carlisle, while Eleazar sat down across from me, but there still was more than ten feet between us.
Focusing within, it was easier to find the light and have it fill me, given my practice doing so over the last years. Wanting Eleazar to have a true opportunity to evaluate what was happening, after it filled me, I sank deeper into the light and myself. I allowed it to guide me towards the feelings and images that came, letting go of remaining aware of sensations surrounding me, and trusting Carlisle to keep me safe. Perhaps hours later, at the periphery of awareness, I felt jolts of alertness, which were clearly from Jasper, as they were being sent as a form of Morse Code. It was a clever communication device he had invented and then trained me on. In addition to asking me to return to him, it told me that everyone was present. Coming back into my awareness, I sent him appreciation in return in the same fashion, requesting that he ensure Eleazar keep whatever he sensed private.
The response of agreement was all that I needed to know to have assurance that Jasper would ensure it was so.
When I opened my eyes, Tanya blurted out, "What were you doing?"
"Meditating," I told her.
"And Eleazar?" she turned to him.
"Joined me," I answered.
He confirmed, but he almost sounded groggy, which was weird for a vampire, but common in relation to touching my gift, as Jasper and Edward were often similar.
Jasper spoke, using his gift and natural charisma, "Remember we told you that after leaving Bella, due to my attempt at draining her on her 18th birthday party, Esme was getting lost in her thoughts?"
The Denali sisters and Garrett nodded.
"I suggested meditation to her," Jasper continued, "and it seems to be aiding her and the family. Her gift of love is almost tangible in the air when she meditates. It is a lovely experience."
His ability to tell the truth while keeping my confidence was masterful. Even more stunning was that it seemed to immediately alter the Denali's reaction. Instead of confused and apprehensive, they were agreeable and curious.
"It seems to most affect those with gifts like Edward's and Jasper's, well, and perhaps Eleazar, whose talent allows them to pick up what is in the environment beyond our senses," I told them as a form of explanation. "What did you experience Carmen?"
She smiled at me letting me know in her look that she would keep my confidences. "Honestly, I did not participate as much as observed. I was curious to see what you meant by meditating. Perhaps next time, I too can try and still myself."
Smiling back warmly in appreciation, I hoped it was enough to convey my meaning.
"What about Kate?" Tanya asked.
"Has a different kind of gift that starts from within her and radiates outward, much like Esme's love, so she is likely to respond in the same way as you, Irina, and Carmen." Then, he turned to Bella, "How about you?"
"She loves me in so many ways, and her love has formed me into a better version of myself in a variety of aspects that do not include meditating," she answered, smiling in love at me. "Each time we have meditated as a family, I find it centring and rejuvenating, but I cannot say that it has touched me like Edward."
He nodded his head like that made sense. "Your love is picked up more strongly by those who have gifts to do so, but clearly it touches everyone you meet."
Smiling at him in gratitude at his kind and diplomatic words, I said nothing.
Emmett then blurted out, "So as much fun as staring at Esme and Eleazar has been, can we go back to enjoying the hunt?"
Everyone chuckled at Emmett's exuberance.
There were debates about hunting groups or competitions to challenge the hunt. Eventually, the Denalis, Garrett, and our seven, as Ren had been included in the games, decided on a combined form of a complicated capture the flag, which included hunting prowess. Apart from his strength, this was Emmett's gift. He had a magical way of making the most mundane thing fun. The four of us declined, and the rest seemed to expect that we would continue to spend time together, as we usually did, given Carlisle and Eleazar's years with the Volturi and how much Carmen and I had in common.
When everyone was out of hearing distance Eleazar waved at Carmen to come and sit next to him, which she obliged, and then Carlisle copied.
"It was like watching love become manifest," Eleazar told me in reverence.
"You were still and non-responsive for greater than six hours," Carmen told me her tone worried.
"I cannot say why that happens," I told her. "When I first started practicing the meditation Carlisle required for him or someone else to be in the vicinity who does not have a gift, as he worried that I could be attacked easily. Thus, I originally was practicing when Carlisle and I were in the Forks house and he was doing his medical research stuff. Over time I have been able to meditate while also keeping a part of me aware of my five senses. However, in order to show you the full impact like Jasper and Edward had experienced, I allowed myself to be completely immersed in it."
Carmen looked at Carlisle and they shared a look. Then she uttered, "It was apprehensive, but Carlisle calmed and comforted me."
"Thank you," Eleazar told Carlisle.
He nodded his head, but said nothing.
"It was moving," Eleazar expounded, "and beautiful. It was like the spark of your gift that I usually sense turned into a bonfire and filled me with its warmth." Then, Eleazar frowned, appearing contemplative.
Carlisle chuckled. "Yes, Edward and Jasper were as equally lacking in a description. This is why Esme wanted to ask you about it. Given your gift, she was hoping you might have some insight."
"Let me ponder it," he answered.
"Shall we find more blood?" Carmen asked.
"Yes, let's," I replied and the men agreed.
It was over a week later when Eleazar and I were alone he came up to me and uttered softly so the words would stay between us, "I believe that what you are experiencing and, through you, others, is simply a more concrete manifestation of the core of your gift. Perhaps over time, you could project it into the atmosphere and it impacts others like how Jasper does. I cannot say. However, it does seem that the potential loss of Bella pushed your gift into developing faster than time would have done otherwise. Nevertheless, it is most likely that what you are doing presently would have come in a few centuries anyway."
"Thank you," I told him, truly appreciative of his insight, as it helped put my mind at ease, even if it gave me only marginally more clarity than before.
The day before we were to leave, a mated nomad pair showed up on the border of the Denali's land. They happened to run into Tanya who invited them back to the house. If she had warned us, we probably would have removed Ren from the room, but she was in the main area learning history from Carmen. The visitors paused briefly when their eyes passed on Ren, but said nothing. They stayed long enough to meet everyone and exchange some stories, but it was clear that they were uncomfortable being around so many of our kind, especially in an enclosed space, and after thanking Tanya for her hospitality, left.
We returned to Massachusetts and were close to the end of the school year when Alice had a vision of the Volturi visiting. According to what Alice could see, we would be charged with harbouring an immortal child. Even though the decision had been made, it looked to be some months before they would arrive.
After a heavy and long family discussion, it was decided to contact all our friends and ask them to be witnesses and to meet us at the Newfoundland home, as well as spread the word through the vampire world. Carlisle took the summer off, much to the hospital's dismay, and we closed up the houses, moving back into the Newfoundland one. Within days the Denalis arrived and then others. Each that met Ren were moved with the story and unsettled with the idea of hybrids generally. Rosalie called Neheul who agreed to come along with Hullen and the Amazon coven. When Ren and Neheuel met, Ren asked lots of questions of how his developmental process had been.
Our greatest contention was whether or not to ask the Quiluetes to stand beside us. Since Bella's stepmother was on the tribe's council, it wasn't an inconceivable request, and we had fought together prior, but in a split decision, it voted that the Quiluetes standing against the Volturi wasn't in their best interests.
We certainly had individuals show up that were unexpected like the Romanians and Amun with his coven. Even some of the Asian covens Alice, Jasper, Rosalie, or Emmett had met had sent coven members. There were also those that I had never even heard of previously and Carlisle had never met, but were disgruntled with the Volturi in some way.
Jasper, Peter, Garrett and other fighters led training camps and Carlisle along with Eleazar offered to help those with gifts hone their capacities, which Bella joined at every opportunity. She had been taught fighting by Jasper over the years already, but we still didn't know the full potential of her gift.
As Alice was able to pin the time down, we seemed more and more unprepared for the moments ahead. Jasper told me one day about a week before they were meant to arrive that soldiers prepare the best possible, but that there is no such thing as completely prepared. His words, although disconcerting, allowed me to focus instead on my belief that our love for one another would get us through.
When the Volturi arrived they did so like an army of old, and just like Alice predicted their numbers included the wives, all of the guard, and their own witnesses.
Aro spoke first, "Carlisle, my dear friend, I came to see for myself the rumour that you harboured an immortal child. Yet, it seems like you have assembled an army."
"Only witnesses that this child you speak of is the natural born offspring of my son Edward and his wife Bella," Carlisle told him.
The three of them step forward, so those who had come with the Volturi could see.
It seemed doubtful that there was a vampire coven not represented, for the exception of warlords and their newborns, like Maria.
Caius appeared furious. "So the charges are true."
"How can a naturally born child be compared to the immortal children? Their daughter has been kept from humans, and when old enough taught the necessities to keep the secret. As she eats and has other human functions, she actually is less at risk of exposure," Carlisle refuted. "Just like a newborn, they have taken responsibility for their creation until such time as she can care for herself, and we as a family have supported them."
"Clearly since there was an offspring, a human knew your nature long enough to become pregnant and bear the child," Aro spoke softly as if regretting the words.
"And then was changed," Carlisle stated. "The law was kept. The human who learned the truth was turned, as you can see with your own eyes."
Looking disappointed and upset, Aro stated, "The technology of the human world requires an ever present vigilance. This is a time, more than ever, for us to keep the secret. The risks are simply too great."
Nehuel stepped forward and he looked at Carlisle who nodded in agreement for him to speak.
"What about the women like my mother who were raped to create me?" Nehuel pressed. "Are you claiming that a vampire loving a human and keeping her well, even through a pregnancy, breaks the law, but my father's actions are acceptable, since I am over one hundred and fifty years and not once had the Volturi come to stop him?"
Then, Nehuel stepped back, but the murmurs on the Volturi side could be heard, especially from the women.
"We must stay in the shadows and be nothing more than myths," Aro countered. "Your father's actions, as upsetting as they are, did not break the law, and if the rumours are to be believed, have only increased placing us into mythology." His pause was pregnant with anticipation, everyone hanging on his words. "But this is not the case here. This half-breed, by Carlisle's own admission, interacts with humans. Do you or any of the offspring of your father do this?"
"Not that I know," Nehuel answered truthfully, but disappointed in how Aro had painted it.
As if speaking to his subjects, Aro told the crowd, "The laws about immortal children were made for the same reason werewolves were hunted to extinction or guardians are left in peace. All of these sub categories, everything the Voltrui have done has been to keep our secret, to protect us from prosecution from the humans, and given their recent weapons, keep us from annihilation."
Many from the crowd gasped in surprise.
"Yes, there are crimes in which we as individuals might have a strong loathing for, and rape is certainly one that is abhorred. However, the Volturi do not enforce these types of things. Our role, since we formed, was to keep our secret. It wasn't hard when I was first turned to imagine a time when the humans would vastly overwhelm us in sheer numbers," Aro waxed. "We are here because the Cullen family is risking our secret. Whether it is from an immortal child or allowing a human to get pregnant and then tend to that human long enough to create an offspring does not matter. What is important here is the risk of exposure the Cullens have created."
Caius looked pleased as punch, while Marcus' apathy turned into a frown.
"We agree to the critical need to keep the secret," Carlisle began. "By living within human society we have been aware, more than most, at how close humans are to discovering us. Yes, they have weapons, which could destroy us, like what happened in Japan. And yes, they number the stars and could, if they worked together, annihilate us. My family is as much at risk of dying by their hand as you, my dear friend. However, because we do live by hiding in their midst and using the myths to obscure our true nature, we have come to believe recently that we have an even greater threat than the ones we have faced previously: technology.
"There are so many cameras in cities now recording and watching their streets at better and better quality that it seems almost a matter of time before one of us makes a mistake and is caught in the act. Then, there are the cameras on their phones that allow them to record our image at a touch of a button. There are location trackers that tell their loved ones and authorities the last place they were. And they have computers that can take this information and come to conclusions that they could not prior, even fifty years ago. We are equally concerned as you, my dear friend. And my family is grateful for the role you play in this world. We are merely trying to do our part, including overcoming these technology concerns and even discovering ways to fool the humans into believing that we are aging."
My pride in my mate and his persuasive ways was hard to contain, but I managed to keep a straight face. This was the version of Carlisle that had kept him in Aro's graces while he lived with them for those decades. His eloquence, passion, and charisma were exactly why he was the face and voice of our family to the world.
There was a general disquiet in the Volturi ranks. These things had been conversation topics over the last weeks as our visitors had arrived, but it seemed like their witnesses were not aware of many of the things in which Carlisle had spoken.
"To the matter of my granddaughter, I have to concede that her presence and what she represents is a risk. So, too, are any newborn without attention and care. Nehuel had his Aunt Hullen to teach him and his half-sisters have their father. There is no disagreement regarding the tremendous risk a half-vampire offspring could have in our world without guidance and training. Immortal children were banned because it was found that they could not be trained. Newborns are allowed because they can be. Thus, by your own admission of the necessity of keeping the secret, it would seem to me that our granddaughter Reneesme falls squarely in the category of someone capable to be trained to keep the secret."
A hush fell over the two sides.
"Perhaps if I were to get the information from your own eyes, I might be able to see that of which you speak," Aro spoke like it was a kind gift.
Carlisle smiled like Aro had given him the perfect way out of the situation, and then instead of stepping forward, he stated, "Perhaps it would be even more fruitful for you to also gain understanding from reading my wife, Esme, as she often manages the family when I am at the hospital."
Aro smiled warmly, even though his eyes were calculating, "Of course."
We walked forward to him.
Aro took Carlisle's hand and then after commented, "As always your presence teaches me things. You do see the world so distinctly."
As Carlisle and I had agreed, I lifted my hand and then immediately imagined my spark and let go of my senses, trusting Carlisle to keep me safe. It seemed like less a second had passed when I felt Jasper's gift telling me to come back. Upon returning to the moment, I smiled kindly to Aro and then stepped back. Like Eleazar, he looked slightly stunned, but his scowl gave his appearance that he was in thought. Carlisle and I walked backwards towards our family.
"We need to confer," Aro announced after a moment.
It was not even three seconds later that Edward gave the signal that Alex was beginning to send his gift, which I relayed to Carlisle through Morse code tapping on him. The only possibility of such a short time frame on his part was if he had been instructed to do so before they even arrived. Except, it never reached us. The only way that was possible was that Bella's shield protected us. With a great prayer of thanks to God above, I continued to try and use my gift to see what would be best for all. Carlisle was right that we needed the Volturi. Someone had to use the stick to keep our race in line.
Shortly after it was relayed that Jane was trying her gift on our group with no success.
A few times through the brother's discussion Caius eyed us sideways, and the longer they spoke with no evidence of the twin's gifts working the more agitated he seemed.
When it was abundantly clear that the twins' gifts were not effective on our group, the brother's turned back to us. I did not know the brothers well enough to know what they might say, but Carlisle relaxed infinitesimally, so I hoped for good news.
"How I have missed our discussions, my friend," Aro lamented. "Over the years we have come across a rare few half-breeds and in each case they were a danger to our secret. We are pleased to discover that doesn't have to be the case, as we are always loathed to kill needlessly. Thus, we concede that your granddaughter did not break the law by her birth and that the human Bella is now a stunning vampire, and thus the law, although broken, was mended in her case. However, the close relationship you keep with humans, especially as there are nine of you, flaunts danger, despite your earnest intentions to keep the law. Nevertheless, as there are no witnesses to you breaking the law in this regard, only grave concerns, we find no grounds to find you guilty. Therefore, as a remediation of the risk your choices create for us all, your family is requested to use this knowledge for the common good."
"We would be more than willing to share with anyone who seeks our assistance. For instance, my son Emmett has created software that makes phone calls secure beyond what the human governments can collect. We are also more than willing to offer lessons on how to avoid detection by the human technology, as well as other aspects that our family has been using to keep ourselves from exposure," Carlisle offered.
Aro smiled, but he looked exceedingly displeased with Carlisle's generosity and openness to everyone.
The ways of the old were falling away, even in our world, and the exchange made it clear that our family's way of life had something meaningful to offer to our world.
"Please come visit us soon," Aro told Carlisle right before they turned and left.
As the last of their cloaks could be seen, we turned looking at each other in wonder. It was the best outcome we could have imagined.
Shortly after our guests began to leave. When they did so, if they requested, Emmett gave them an encrypted phone, which if I had understood correctly relays to monitoring devices a random human conversation thereby completely hiding the true one, along with a solar charger. Their software was sneaky and something only Emmett and Jasper would have come up with.
"Didn't know you had it in you," Jasper teased Carlisle with a clap on the back when the family finally came together to discuss what had transpired.
Carlisle appeared bashful and then looked at Jasper, "I guess I am more of my father's son than I knew."
"I could have never imagined the day when diplomacy and rhetoric would supersede the brawn of the Voluri," Jasper gushed, then in a hushed tone told him, "You are creating quite the following, maybe not for the animal blood, but for respecting human life and culture. They fear the humans a bit now, and that's a good thing. Three hundred years and your dream is just beginning."
"I blame Esme," he retorted clearly self-conscious.
Smiling widely I welcomed the blame.
When we were once more just the nine of us, Alice told us that Aro had decided as soon as he entered the field to end us, but that it had changed after he took my hand. She didn't know how come, but I had to believe that Aro had experienced my spark and doing so had held his hand.
As the winter came to an end, our life returned to our hectic normal.
When Bella graduated with her PhD, she told Charlie that she already had a job, so wouldn't be at the graduation. He was disappointed, but seemed to understand. Her mother had forgotten that she was even graduating.
By her graduation, she along with Edward and Rosalie's help had discovered how to create what was needed for our appearance of aging project. Deciding to stay in the area, we began trying it out. The first months were a challenge to get used to the fake skin being adhered and the strange sensation it created, but eventually I got used to it.
Rosalie, Emmett, Jasper, and Alice ended up staying busy in their companies, which helped the vampire world stay ahead of human technology.
Bella got a tenured position at MIT and thrived there all the while using her skills to aid our world.
Rosalie opened a garage specialising in historic repairs. She had a waiting list.
Edward and I kept the home front together, while I dabbled in my home designs and Edward his composing.
Carlisle got to fulfil his greatest wish and rise in the ranks of the hospital creating lasting systemic changes.
Ren requested and after a lot of warnings as well as trepidation went to a human high school. She found it difficult to make connections and keep the secret, but also appreciated time away from the family. After she graduated she requested to go meet Charlie. With reluctance we voted to allow her to go with the condition that she keep her identity withheld. Carlisle called the Quiluetes and told Billy that she would be travelling, ensuring his guarantee of her safe travels. It was then with great surprise when she called Edward from Billy's home number to tell the family that Jake had imprinted upon her, and she wasn't sure what to do, as he had become Alpha. Bella was actually the most upset at fate sending someone to Ren when she was so young.
Jake was uncomfortable coming to our place and we were unsettled about her living with the Quiluetes, mostly due to the risk it posed to Charlie. Thus, as a compromise they decided to travel the world for a few years, and Jake gave over his responsibilities to Seth. It didn't take long for the vampire world to be full of stories of a guardian and our Ren.
It took another two years after our trial for Aro to request our assistance. Just as Jasper had predicted, technology had made their usual hunting practices increasingly challenging to cover up. It seemed like Aro was in our debt, although he ensured to make it seem like he was doing us a favour.
It was hard to know what the future might hold, or how life could get better. In a strange way my paintings were beginning to come true, just not in the precise way depicted.
Whether we existed for one additional year or ten thousand, I couldn't ask for more.
A/N: So, those of you who have read me before will know that I usually have epilogues, and this story is no exception, although be warned that it will not be very long. I wait in anticipation to your thoughts as we come to a close.