Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from Twilight or Vampire Diaries. Those rights are reserved for Stephanie Myer and L.J. Smith. Thank you.
Writer's Notes: Thank you Sassy Mimi, CrazyGryl, Guest, kouga's older woman, and UsraMinor1991 for your reviews! The more the merrier for the oncoming war. But first. Graduation!
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Graduation was today. It was the day that Bella had waited for and couldn't wait for it to be over. Renee and Phil were actually going to make it for graduation and Bella couldn't be happier that she would have her mom and dad at her graduation. She couldn't wait to see her mom after almost a year of not seeing her. She had to admit that she did miss her, and she couldn't wait to see her beautifully pregnant with her little brother and sister.
"Bella! It's finally happening!" Caroline squealed as she looped her arm through Bella's and another through Elena's. The three girls laughed as they walked down the hallway at Mystic Falls High. Rebecca came around the corner wearing her robe and hat and smiled big when she spotted the trio.
"There you girls are," Rebecca called and rushed to them. Her hands went to Bella's stomach to feel the small roundness of it and smiled big. "Just checking on the girls," she said and then the four of them were hugging. If you asked Elena a year prior if she would be having a group up with Rebecca Mikaelson in the future, she would have laughed, but she has grown close to her over the past few months.
Bella smiled big as she pulled out of the hug first. "I can't wait to get this day over with. Violet said that she's going to try and make sure Klaus doesn't do anything to embarrass us all," she said with a laugh and Rebecca rolled her eyes.
"Please, my brother will always find a way to do something embarrassing," Rebecca turned when she heard Jared come around the corner. She smiled and walked to him, putting her arms around him smoothly. Jared kissed the top of her head and then made a nodding motion to Bella. "You ready?"
"Hell yes!" Bella said excitedly. The five of them joined the others, Matt, Emmett, Jake, Tyler, Leah, Embry, Paul, Bonnie, Alice, Stefan, and Jasper. They were all decked out in their red graduation robes and everyone was smiling big as they all took their places and waited for their names to be called.
Alaric, Charlie, Jenna, Liz, and Damon all sat gathered together while Klaus, Elijah, Kol, Freya, and Violet sat together down a row. Charlie looked at his watch and frowned. Renee and Phil hadn't made it yet and he was starting to worry. Renee did say that her and Phil were on their way and they were in Virginia, and that was a couple hours ago. He smiled to Liz. "I'm going to call Renee and see where she's at," he said and made his way to a quieter area to make the quick call before Bella's name was called. They were still doing the speeches, so he knew there would be some time.
"Hello?" A voice sounded rushed on the other end.
"This isn't Renee? Who is this?" Charlie asked.
"I'm sorry, this is Nurse Watkins at Mystic Falls General. The owner of this phone is currently in surgery," Nurse Watkins stated quickly.
"Surgery? This is Officer Charlie Swan with Mystic Falls Police department, what has happened?"
"A really bad car accident. Unfortunately, the male driving was DOA, but the woman was rushed back into surgery. It's not looking too good. Dr. Cullen's priority is the babies she's carrying."
Charlie ran a hand through his hair as he tried to collect his thoughts. "Okay. I'll be there shortly." He said and hung up. He rushed up to the bleachers where everyone sat, and he pulled Liz away. "I have to get to hospital. Renee and Phil have been in a car accident. Phil was killed on impact, but Renee is in surgery. Carlisle is trying to save the twins. I need you to keep Bella calm when this is over."
Liz's arms went around Charlie and hugged him close before her lips met his quickly. "It's okay. Go and find out what happened, and I'll see to it that our girls are okay," she said and he kissed the top of her head before Alaric showed up.
"Charlie?" He asked, worry in his voice.
"It's Renee Ric. You need to come with me. She's not looking good," Charlie said quickly and that was all Alaric needed to hear before rushing off with Charlie.
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Everyone threw their caps in the air, marking the end of the graduation, and the celebratory hoots and hollers met with air horns honking and a roar of applause from everyone in the stand. Bella and Caroline hooked arms as they rushed off the field to find their parents. When Bella didn't see Charlie, only Jenna and Liz standing there with small smiled, she got worried. Damon came to her first and pulled her into a hug and kissed her quickly.
"Hey, where's Dad?" She said, looking past Damon to Liz and Jenna. "And Uncle Ric?"
"Your dad got called away, I'm sorry Bella," Liz said and then she hugged her. "We need to get somewhere out of the crowd," she said into her ear.
Before long, everyone was off the field and were gathered in a quiet corner of the parking lot.
"Bella, we need to get to the hospital. Renee and Phil got into a car accident on the way here. Dr. Cullen is working on your mom right now in surgery, trying to save the twins. I'm sorry, but Phil did not make it," Liz's voice was calm and soothing. Jasper immediately put a hand on Bella's shoulder and send calming vibes to her, so she wouldn't panic, and Damon grasped her hand in his tightly.
"Oh, I see. Okay. I'll go now, "she said mechanically and turned, her eyes meeting Violet's. Violet went to her immediately and grabbed her free hand with hers and they got into Damon's car together. Her, Violet, Damon, and Jasper rode together to the hospital, while the others followed, leaving Matt, Tyler, Leah, and the other Quileutes behind, only Jake coming to the hospital with Stefan, Alice, and Klaus. Jenna stayed with Liz to help wrangle the other supernatural teens so that they could be more of help with Bella when she made it back home.
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The waiting room at the hospital was alive with different noises and different people sick. Dr. Fell came to greet Bella and her family. "Bella let's get you to a quieter part of the hospital," she whispered and pulled Bella, Damon, Jasper, and Violet to the back, leaving the others in the waiting room.
When they got to the new room, Charlie and Alaric were waiting for them. It was clear that Alaric had been upset or had at least cried and Charlie's face looked gloomy. Bella looked between the two of them before Carlisle made an appearance. He still had his scrubs on, but he had changed out of his other ones before coming to see Bella. He didn't want her to see him covered in her mother's blood.
"Bella," Carlisle's voice called to her and she turned to look at him.
"She didn't make it," Bella's voice was barely a whisper. "The twins?" She choked.
"She didn't make it Bella, but your brother and sister are in NICU right now. Your sister is the stronger of the two. She's doing exceptionally well. Your brother is doing good as well. They have to stay in the incubators, but I can bring you and Violet back to see them if you want," Carlisle said and reached out a hand to Bella.
Bella looked at her dad and then to Violet before Violet grabbed her sister's hand and nodded. Bella let go of Damon and grabbed Carlisle's hand with her free hand. He led Violet and Bella back to an area where they put on blue scrub gowns, gloves, facemasks, and hats. Bella felt numb, her mind only focused on her little brother and sister fighting to make it in NICU.
They looked down into the two incubators next to each other. There were two tiny bodies there. At 32 weeks, they looked like babies. Just smaller versions of what Bella imagined a baby to look like.
"She was 3 pounds 4 ounces, and he was 3 pounds and 7 ounces. They were a really good weight for preemie twins. They both require the ventilator for a little while. They'll be in here a good five weeks, or until they can regulate their own body temperature, and breath steadily on their own," Carlisle explained.
"Can I…touch her hand?" Bella asked, her eyes not leaving her sister's tiny body.
"Of course. Put your hand in this hole here, and you can touch her hand. Violet you can do the same."
Violet and Bella went closer to the incubators as they reached their gloved hands into the incubators and held their little sister and brother's hands. Tears welled up in Bella's eyes as she stared down at her sister's little body. She had a little dark fuzz on her head, and so did her brother.
"What's going to happen now?" Violet asked.
"Well, the next living relative is you and Bella. Alaric as well. Phil didn't have any family. Child services would like to place the twins in the home of blood family before adoption was ever an option," Carlisle said and then looked up when Charlie joined, wearing the same attire as the girls. He looked at the twins and sighed before looking at Bella, who was crying now. She sniffed.
"Can I talk with Damon and Klaus a moment," Bella said, looking up to her Dad and then to Violet.
Charlie and Carlisle nodded, and watched the girls close the little door on the incubator and leave NICU together.
"Carlisle. Thank you for saving them," Charlie said.
"I tried to save Renee. Esme should be at the crash site. It wasn't a normal accident, they were attacked by Laurent and Victoria," Carlisle's voice dropped low.
Anger flared in Charlie's eyes as he understood. "I'll go there now to see what I can do. We should have some deputies there now. Who brought Renee and Phil in?"
"Enzo and Kol, they left immediately to go help Esme," Carlisle said as they exited the NICU. "I'll go with you. I left my phone in my car, so I haven't been able to talk to Esme since all of this happened."
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Bella and Violet asked to speak with Klaus and Damon alone in one of the empty rooms.
Damon's hands rubbed up and down Bella's arms. "I'm so sorry," he whispered, and she shook her head.
"It's okay. I'm just…. I don't know what to feel. I wish I told her to just stay at home and I would see her after the twins were born. It was too close to her due date for her to be traveling like that," she sniffed.
Klaus was looking at Violet, who was calm, no tears. He imagined it was because she wasn't attached to Renee like Bella was, but he could tell that she was sad too. She lost her biological mother.
"The twins will likely be placed with blood family first," Violet spoke now.
Damon looked over to her and then to Klaus and then back to Bella. "We can do it Bella. We can take care of your brother and sister. It's not a problem," he said immediately.
Klaus nodded. "They will have a home with us as well. We will do whatever it takes. We won't let them go to a strange family." This put a shocked expression on Violet's face.
"You would do that?" Violet asked, looking at Klaus with a new emotion.
"Of course, I would. Why wouldn't I?" Klaus said raising a brow. "You don't think I like children?"
"Well, I never pegged you for the type that would like to clean up after a being that spits up all the time, and poops more than they sleep," Violet pointed out.
Klaus snorted. "I'm full of surprises. I happen to actually love children, even if all they do is eat, sleep, and poop."
This made Bella laugh and she pulled away from Damon to put her arms around Klaus now. Klaus hugged her tight against him and sighed into her hair. "Listen Bella, I'm being serious. I know that you have two of your own on the way, and I will do anything for you and Violet."
Bella nodded and pulled back to smile at him. "Then thank you. We'll be one big family." She kissed Klaus on the cheek, and he smiled at her. She moved over to Violet and pulled her into a strong hug. "I know you didn't know mom like I did but thank you for being here and being supportive. We have two little babies now. We will make this work. Let's go tell Uncle Ric and Charlie," she said and left Klaus and Damon to themselves.
"You are incredibly lucky Damon," Klaus said as he stuck his hands in his pockets.
"I know. She's stronger than we all give her credit for. It's not going to be easy at first, but thank you," Damon said, and his blue eyes met Klaus'. "We used to be enemies but now I think of you like a brother, and I could not be more appreciative."
Klaus smiled and moved to Damon and hugged him in a big strong hug, slapping his back like a normal brother would do. "It actually warms my heart to hear you say that, but let's keep that between us or the others would think that I've grown too soft."
"Deal," Damon said, grinning.
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Carlisle and Charlie made it on sight where Phil's car was wrapped around a tree, pieces of car lay scattered everywhere. Enzo and Kol stood next to some deputies, with grim faces. Edward was there with them and that confused Carlisle and angered Charlie. Edward put his hands up as if he was surrendering. His shirt was torn, and he had blood splattered on him. Enzo and Kol walked forward with Edward. Enzo put a hand up to silence Carlisle and Charlie before they could speak.
"Listen. I know he's not on your list of favorite people right now Charlie, but he's here for Carlisle," Enzo said, and Edward's eyes met Carlisle's.
"Carlisle, I…" Edward began and sighed. His eyes were red rimmed Carlisle noticed.
"Edward, what happened?" Carlisle's voice seemed to waver as he looked around for Esme and then saw the blaze off a little way. He could smell the putrid smell of burning vampire. "No…"
Edward and Enzo moved fast, gathering Carlisle against them. "Carlisle, I'm sorry…." Enzo was the one to speak now. Edward only buried his face in Carlisle's hair and closed his eyes, tears fighting their way to break free.
"What…. happened?" Carlisle's chest heaved and his body shuddered.
"We were outnumbered. Esme flanked Victoria and Edward jumped to help. He was following Renee and Phil to ensure they safely arrived and then they were ambushed. Enzo was surprised from behind by two baby vamps, and I had my hands full with about five of them. Laurent was no where to be seen until I saw him rip Phil from the vehicle and break his neck. He started towards Renee, but Esme left Victoria and Edward to protect Renee. Enzo finished off the two baby vamps he had, and Esme ordered him to take Renee immediately to the hospital. He did so. When he did, Laurent took advantage of her distraction, and she…she uh…protected Renee with her life. By the time I managed to kill the baby vamps swarming me, she was already burning, and Victoria and Laurent had retreated. Edward took chase and I took Phil to the hospital, I knew that he was gone, but I had to do something. Me and Enzo made it back to Edward standing over there by Esme," Kol explained.
Carlisle's body continued to shake as he hurt for the loss of his love, his mate. He raised his face to look into Edward's, putting his forehead against his. "Thank you," his voice croaked, and Edward nodded.
Charlie watched Carlisle fall apart in front of him, Edward holding on to him trying to hold him up. He didn't know that Edward was watching Renee and Phil.
"I thought that you were here in Mystic Falls?" Charlie finally said to Edward.
Edward looked up at Charlie and sighed. "I was. I was so angry at first. I really was and maybe I still am, but when Kol and Elijah approached me again, they were very convincing that I needed to help with this upcoming war and to not put too much on Bella. I do love her Charlie, and I don't want to cause her harm, especially now that she's carrying children, and at first I was in a rage and I couldn't quite understand how she could move on, but I did some real soul searching while on my assignment to watch Phil and Renee. Elijah thought that they would be in danger and retaliate since Enzo, Emmett, and Lexi managed to rescue Angela, Ben, and Sheila so I took that very seriously. I wanted to help Bella, even if she didn't know I was."
Charlie nodded, listening to Edward. "She's happy Edward. I don't want you upsetting her. She's in love with Damon, and they are bringing a family into this world. He's really good to her, and while he might be a vampire, he would never harm her in any way."
Edward was quiet. "I know." He looked down at Carlisle who had stopped shaking but was just silently crying now. "I will do anything that you ask of me. I only want the best for Bella and Damon is that for her. I can only be sorry that I caused her as much pain as I have. I'm here to dedicate my allegiance to this side of the war and will fight with my very life to ensure the safety of Bella and her children."
Carlisle straightened now and looked at his 'son'. "You will come home with me. Rose is at the house. She should hear from us that Esme is gone."
Edward nodded and they both stood straight now. Carlisle's eyes were bloodshot, and Enzo rubbed a hand down Carlisle's back. "It's going to be alright mate; we're going to find Victoria and Laurent and put an end to them. I'm going to go back to the Salvatore boarding house. Ezra and Callum are returning today from Washington DC, they should have some more information that we could possibly use. I will call later to check in," Enzo stated and nodded to Charlie before he left, taking Kol with him.
Charlie cleared his throat. "Carlisle, I don't know what I can say to make you feel any better, but if there's anything that you need from me and Liz, please ask."
Carlisle nodded and then hugged Charlie. "Thank you, friend." He said and then him and Edward turned and fell into the shadows, running home.
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Bella sat in the parlor with Violet and her older brothers, Ezra and Callum. They heard about Renee and immediately came to the boarding house.
"So, you and Damon are going to take the twins in?" Ezra asked. "Because I can help too. They are my brother and sister too."
Bella nodded, as she looked up to Damon, who was bringing her a cup of hot cocoa. Hot cocoa always seemed to make anything feel better. "We will, but Klaus is going to help out too. We're thinking that these twins will have the best big family ever. All the help is greatly appreciated."
Callum nodded. He had been silent for some time. "Of course, we're all in. Helping with anything. You're carrying my nieces and you need to make sure you take care of you," he said softly.
Bella smiled at Callum, "Thanks Cal. I am taking care of myself. Damon won't let me do anything until I take care of myself first. For now, Carlisle said they have to stay in NICU for 5 weeks, so we'll have time to prepare for them."
Just then Charlie came in with Liz. "Hey Bells," he said softly and went to her and hugged her. "So, I thought that I would tell you first. Esme…she didn't make it tonight. I'm sure Enzo has already filled you in on the events that took place tonight?" Enzo and Bella both nodded.
"Edward is also back. I don't want you to worry. I had a long talk with him," Charlie said, and Damon looked at him with a worried look.
Bella nodded, understanding. "I don't think Edward would do anything to hurt me, but I'm thankful that he was there trying to help. Carlisle needs him, and Carlisle is hurting right now. Which brings me to an idea. I want to give the twins names, so I was thinking that my sister could be called Renesmee for Renee and Esme, and my brother could be Jaison. My mom was telling me last week that she kept seeing the name Jaison everywhere, and that she felt like he was telling her that's what he wanted to be called. So Jaison Philip…. I guess the twins will have to take one our last names," Bella said and looked over to Violet.
Violet nodded. "It should be you Bells."
Bella smiled. "Well, it'll be Salvatore soon. So Jaison Philip Salvatore and Renesmee…." She trailed off.
"Hope," Damon said and that made Bella smile. "Renesmee Hope Salvatore," she mimicked.