Chapter 14: The More the Merrier

Whitlock Ranch TX

[Peter's POV]

I have to ask, "Since when have we become supernatural central?"

Charlotte laughs and Jasper shrugs, "Just lucky." The expensive Lexus rental pulls up to the gates of the Hacienda. A tall red headed woman gets out of the driver's side. "Hello, I am Sage. I am looking for Charlotte Whitlock."

Charlotte walks up to her. "I'm Charlotte Whitlock. You will see Finn in about fifteen minutes they are right behind you. Your news can wait until they get here. Won't you come in, I'm sure someone has put on some tea and coffee by now." Sage walks into the house behind Charlotte.

Port Angeles WA

[Alice Cullen's POV]

I don't understand. I no longer see any decisions about Bella, it's like she is invisible now. Jasper, Charlotte and Peter are also invisible to me now. I can't pick up anyone's decisions concerning them. Something is wrong with me. I book a flight to Juneau; I'm going to join the family in Alaska. Maybe they can help me find out what's wrong.

Whitlock Ranch TX

[Charlotte's POV]

After I get Sage settled with some tea and scones, I let Elijah and Angela entertain her. I pull Bella aside and hand her some quartz stones I picked up in the caverns. We go out to the work shed to polish the stones so she can make some more truth stones for the Mikaelson's that will be joining us soon. "Bella, Kol is going to be a challenge for you. He will be fascinated by Leylock magic. He is the eternal teenager. If you treat him like a favorite younger brother, he will behave well. His exuberance will try Damon's patience. I'm letting you know up front."

"Thanks Charlotte. I overheard the same advice Elijah was giving Angela early this morning. I am going to save some of these stones and teach him how to make truth stones too. That should keep him occupied for a bit." I grin at her. "I have a few things planned for Damon also." Charlotte is rearranging some of the equipment in the shed. "Bella there is something else you need to know."

"Charlotte, you want to tell me that I conceived right?"

"How do you know?" I glance over at Bella.

"Damon has been super protective recently. I think my scent has changed enough for him to be aware at a subconscious level. I'm not far enough along yet, so I prefer to keep this under wraps for the time being. At least until Damon settles down a bit."

I nod in agreement with that statement. I have a hunch that her news won't be a secret long. I'm not worried about our family. I just worry about the news getting out to the supernatural community at large. The news that Jasper, Peter and I are a different kind of vampire now will cause more than a few problems in the future for our growing family.

[Damon's POV]

Bella's body is changing. Her breasts are a little bigger, her scent is changing, similar changes happened when Sheila Bennett was expecting Abby. I mentally rewind that thought. I need to get Bella away for a night. We have some things to discuss. The other Mikaelsons will be here sometime within the next twenty four hours, bringing more drama with them. I need a night with just us. I enter the house and head back to our rooms.

I dial Bella's cell. "Damon?"

"We need to getaway tonight just for us. We will come back in the morning. Jasper has a cabin about ten miles from here we can use."

"Do I need to pack anything?"

"Some clean sheets, a change of clothes for in the morning and two pillows. The cabin should have everything we need for tonight."

"Ok, I'll meet you by the truck in a few."

Private Cabin: Whitlock Ranch TX

[Bella's POV]

We are quiet, while Damon drives us to the cabin. It is a comfortable silence. We need to have this discussion away from prying ears. I know what some of his worries are and I think that most of them are unfounded. I just need to remind him of a few things.

The tiny log cabin is nestled in a small grove of trees next to a small lake. I can see why Jasper keeps the cabin. Privacy can be a very rare commodity, with Pete in the family.

Damon places the items I brought with me inside the cabin. We sit down in the two rockers on the small porch of the cabin. "Damon, my period is a week late. I'm sure you sense some changes to my body already. Charlotte wanted me to know and we discussed it briefly this afternoon, while we were polishing some stones. Yes, I want this with you. You will make a great dad. Charlie will make sure of it."

He gets up out of the rocker, and hugs me to him. "How do you know the right things to say to me?"

I peek up at him through my lashes. "I speak from the heart. I know you worry. I just thought I would summarize what's going on so you can process it in your own way." He takes me by the hand and leads me into the cabin. He Vamp speeds and puts clean sheets on the bed. I'm doing my best to hide my laughter. My man is so transparent.

Damon sheds his clothing quickly. He is fully aroused. He is examining me with narrowed eyes, like I am his favorite sweet. "Quit looking at me, and do something about it." I laugh as he peels my clothing off me quickly and we bounce on the bed as he pulls me down with him. He starts kissing me all over. I laugh, it tickles.

He kisses every inch of me slowly and tenderly. I feel cherished. He makes love to me for most of the night. We fall asleep just as the first rays of dawn filter through the bedroom window.

Later, as we are getting dressed to go back to the Hacienda, "Damon, Charlotte warned me Kol is going to glom onto me. He is going to be my 'annoying' younger brother." I laugh. "Charlie is going to have a challenge; Kol will glom onto him too."

"You both are probably the first decent role models in his long life."

I look at him. "That is a sad thought." Damon nods as he puts the sheets and pillows behind the driver's seat.

As I open the door to get into the truck he asks, "Charlie is coming for a visit too?"

"Yeah, he said he would come as soon as he could arrange some time off." I grin at him. "I think he will be thrilled to know he will be a granddad."

Damon swallows hard. I can't resist, I have to laugh. "Don't worry, we're married."

"He still carries a gun."

"I'll protect you." He just gives me a mock glare and gets into the driver's seat. I laugh.

Whitlock Ranch, TX

[Jasper's POV]

Life has a way of evolving in unexpected ways. Three months ago I was a member of a much different family. Since the day I saved Pete, then the day he rescued Charlotte, they are my family.

I joined Alice and her coven to learn how to survive being a cold one without wanting to commit suicide on a daily basis. The Cullens were good fit for a few decades. Then a girl stumbles into our lives and changes everything. Bella upon meeting me for the first time forgave me instantly for being the monster I became after Maria changed me. She looked into me and saw something in me that I was incapable of seeing, which allows me to be better. She opened me up to new possibilities. Due to her I met my other half and I am now free of the curse of being a Cold One. I owe her more than I can say.

When the Cullens voted to abandon Bella for her own good, against my advice, they ceased to be family. I returned to Pete and Charlotte. They helped me rescue Bella before Alice could do more damage. I owe Bella more.

Over the last week, Elijah has become a friend. I dread dealing with the rest of his Original family; they have a lot of historical baggage and dysfunctional family issues. I pull out a bottle of Ranger Creek Bourbon pour three fingers into a glass and down it in one swallow. The car with Finn, Rebekah and Kol pulls up into the drive. God I hope Charlotte manages to muzzle Pete for the rest of the day, he is more breakable now. We step out of the house to greet our newest guests.

[Elijah's POV]

A Lincoln town car pulls into the drive and parks. Rebekah exits from the driver's side. Finn and Kol exit at the same time. "I thought you were two days away?"

"Rebekah was in a hurry, she booked a flight to Dallas by the time we reached Kentucky," Finn states. He glances up and sees Sage for the first time. He looks shocked.

"How can this be? Mother said you died and Elijah was responsible."

Sage scoffs, "I have been waiting for your return. No one could tell me anything about you. I just had to hope that one day you would come back. So I kept tabs on Elijah. He would know something eventually. I followed him here."

"Welcome to the Whitlock ranch, I'm Charlotte, this is my husband Peter and your host is Jasper Whitlock." "Your rooms are in the west wing of the Hacienda. If you would like to get settled, dinner will be served in an hour." Charlotte indicates we are to enter their home.

Rebekah homes in on Angela, standing behind me. "Who are you?" "Rebekah, Finn, Kol please meet Angela, she is my fiancée. I would like to introduce you to Elżbieta Kowalski, Isabella and Damon Salvatore; they are also guests at the Hacienda."

Finn holds Sage's hand and follows Charlotte into the house. Rebekah huffs and pulls her large suitcase out of the trunk of the car slamming it shut. Kol just laughs and follows Charlotte. I take Angela's hand as we enter the foyer. I know she has a few choice words for me later.