Sorry to those who weren't happy that they didn't have a boy. I think that having a girl will be redemptive and healing for Iris, and don't worry, Thea is not Renesmee which you will come to see soon...

Happy Reading!

Ch. 70 Wakey Wakey

"Guys!" Emmett and Jasper appeared in the doorway. "Congrats, Eddie. Cute kid. Damn Iris is being quiet..." Eloquent as always, Em. Jasper and Emmett came back from their hunt as soon as Carlisle gave the all clear. Jasper still had confidence issues in his vegetarianism, and hadn't trusted being anywhere near me with the delivery.

"That's not her. She's in Edward." Jasper's thoughts were interesting, very methodological and practical, militant. He was using his ability to gauge both my emotions and the ones I was channeling from Edward.

"Is this like some weird se—" Emmett began and I saw where he was going before he said it...the gutter.

"Emmett. There's a child present now!" I snapped. Whoa, mama bear. What was that? Easy...

I always knew you would finish maturing one day...Edward's thoughts were teasing.

Thanks, honey. "We didn't plan for me to drift, but it certainly worked in my favor since now I don't have to suffer through that change. Jealous?" I smirked at Emmett and Jasper who were both gawking at me.

"Hell yeah, I'm jealous! Changing sucked." Emmett's face displayed a rare expression of true horror, a testament to how awful changing must be. So far I had hit the Twilight lottery and missed the change twice. Maybe someone somewhere felt bad that I had to go through so much shit since I got here that I didn't need to add burning from the inside out for three days to that list...

•PTaT•

The time had come. I stood over my body, and listened as my heart sped. These were the last beats that heart would ever take. How many times had I heard a human heart stop beating? Hundreds at the hospital back in my world, thousands here in this world at my own hand...but this time, it was my own. This shift from beating to not beating heart...it signaled the end of an era, the true end of my time as a human, the end of being lonely. This was also the beginning, the beginning of life with Edward and the Cullens, the beginning of motherhood, the beginning of eternity.

Was I ready for all that this would bring? Could I handle being a ruthless newborn? What if I had to leave Thea? Could I do it?

Love, you don't have to drift back yet. I'm fine, really.

Yes, I do. I have to know how bad this is. I can't hide out forever. Thea needs to know her mother. She hasn't wanted to leave my body since delivery...

Alright, but you come right back to me if you need to. Do you understand? There was a growl even in his internal voice.

So bossy...save it for the bedroom, darling...

Iris...

Ok, ok!

My heart took one final thud, and I released the breath I had been holding. All was quiet.

We shouldn't be here for this. "Rose, take Thea please...Baby, you have to stay with Auntie Rose now, ok? I will come back with mommy soon, but I need for you to be a good girl and stay here. Be patient, sweetie."

Thea blinked back at me and frowned. She had gotten so big these last three days. She was measuring to be about the size of a two month old. Her growth was slowing, but not much. If I hadn't read the Twilight series to know that this was normal, I would be majorly freaked out.

Yes, Daddy. Thea thought to me.

Oh, did I forget to mention that she also speaks in short phrases in her mind? Yeah. It's odd. She hasn't spoken out loud, but it's only a matter of time now. I hadn't told her that I was both mommy and daddy either... I couldn't give her a complex from this early on...

"Thank you, Thea. I'll be back soon, I promise."

"Come on, Sweet Girl. It's time to eat...yeah, I know you're happy about that." Rose was almost as in love with her as Edward and I. I'm so happy she got to have her own baby even if things weren't completely normal for her and Emmett in the end. Seeing the joy that having my baby in her arms gave her, I couldn't imagine how much pain she was in before I intervened and changed her future.

Alright...here goes nothing. "Emmett, Jasper, Carlisle...can you guys come with us? I think we should be outside for my awakening..." Deep breaths...you can do this. Don't freak out. You've been a vampire before, and you can do this again...

We ran my body a couple hundred miles away from the manor. I wanted to go farther, but Edward thought this was overkill. I wasn't going to risk Thea at all. I suddenly had a new appreciation for how protective Edward was over me as a human all the time.

See, and you thought I was insane...Edward laughed.

No, just a little too thorough...

Right.

I love you. Don't forget that if I try to take a snap at you...

You will be fine. He tried to sound confident and supportive, but I heard the edge to his tone. I would be stronger than any one of them now...shit.

I laid my body down on the ground and stared at it.

"Be ready Emmett. Jasper, send out the most mellow waves you can...we're talking Bob Marley on 4-20 mellow, got it? Carlisle, you're like my father, so don't take it too personally if I try to kill you, ok?"

"Oh, Iris. It will be fine. This is not the first time I've been with a newborn, you know." Carlisle was chuckling. Ok, dude. Your funeral...kidding...kidding...I hope.

Love, stop stalling...

"Just get this over with. I'm ready to spar with you, newbie!" Emmett was smiling. I smiled back because Edward was growling at that.

"Ok, Iris. I'm ready. Just tell us when." Jasper was back in soldier mode, his face serious.

I love you, Edward. "Ok, now!" Everyone tensed, but I had a last thought. "Wait, Emmett, go get a deer or something. Just have it near...maybe if I'm not as hungry..."

"Oh, I'll find something better than that." Sucks there aren't any bears in Scotland...

"I don't need a bear, Emmett. Anything worth feeding from will be fine, please."

"Ugh, fine. Be right back!"

He reappeared less than three minutes later with a stag. Ok good. "Everyone ready?" I asked again.

"Yes. Puh-lease lets just do this!" Emmett was getting antsy.

You've got this, Iris.

Oh Edward, I hope your right.

Of course I am.

Ugh how are you smug even in your thoughts?!

"Ok. Here I go..." I closed my eyes and searched for the light. It had been a while since I had used my ability this way, so it took me a few seconds to get a handle on it. Once I felt it, it was as easy as putting one foot in front of the other.

I let the light wash over me, a familiar, yet still strange sensation.

"Hello again, Iris." The female greeted me.

"Sup, guys? See you later."

"Goodbye." The male said.

Darkness took over me again. Here it goes...

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