A/N: Happy New Year! I hope everyone is enjoying the new decade. I wrote this on my plane ride home. I've been a little nitpicky! This chapter and the two following it mark the official start of a new life. Exciting!

Reviews are always appreciated. It only takes one or two before I will get my butt up and type out what I've already written down on paper.

Everything under the Twilight Umbrella belongs to Stephenie Meyer.

All original characters belong to me. I am writing a unique piece that does involve all supernatural species, magic, origins, warriors. Not even close to this story and the Twilight world, but the original characters are definitely relatives.

No copyright infringement intended.

Ready or Not.

** Bella ** Three Weeks Later

Sunlight flooded our bedroom, making my eyelashes start to flutter. Taking in a deep breath the scent of honey permeated my senses so much, I could almost taste it. I instantly felt calm, despite my irritation at being woken up. I didn't need to smell him, to know that Edward was in the room with me. He was behind me, not an inch between us, despite his long, muscled legs, and arms, we were a perfect fit. I rarely woke without his arms around me, his long fingers protecting my pregnant belly.

Well… maybe not my entire belly, he didn't have superpowers, that's just how it felt. We were all safe, protected, and loved all night and day. Edward quickly became my cooling blanket—I was hot all the time. I fibbed a few times, unwilling to let him go when I wasn't.

"Motherfucking shit! Why do I always forget not to think of these things when we are like this!"

I didn't need to see smug to hear it. And Edward's voice was superior, "So you're not hot all the time?" he chuckled a bit.

"In one way or another, I am, so, semantics." My neck was heating up from the blush, taking over.

I changed the subject.

Grunting, it took all of my muscles to turn and face Edward. It was shocking how hard moving as I once did became. Now we were more than an inch apart thanks to my stomach

Edward lifted himself and leaned over, giving me a chaste kiss.

"I don't mind being your cooling blanket, and it's the best job to have. How are you feeling? Well, other than being hungry."

"Fat, tired, sore, antsy, the usual. Anything interesting last night?"

Something in Edward's face made me think he'd be blushing if he could.

"It's getting harder to watch your dreams lately. I read Moby Dick to the babies in the rocking chair."

I tried to pretend that my feelings weren't hurt "because your wife is as big as a whale?"

Edward rolled his eyes at me, "You have no idea how beautiful you are, even with all the sigils. I thought that since you were covering the classics. And… well… Bronte, Austen, and Shakespeare are so uplifting. I wanted to give the babies some… variety?"

I felt warm all over, no longer nudgers, the babies were movers, shakers, and kickers. Whenever I started to feel this way, it felt like they were dancing.

"No more arguments about Bronte. Why can't you see my dreams?"

"It isn't that I cannot. Bella, your hormones are producing some interesting, intense sexual fantasies."

I imagine my eyes were wide as a stoplight, my face turning the same color.

"Oh."

Edward stroked my cheek, "They do not turn me off Bella, quite the contrary. My mind starts to wander. I am taking mental notes, hopefully, next week."

Okay, Edward was just as hard up as I was.

Carlisle and Lydia permitted us, in the beginning, to mess around. The best five days of my very short pregnancy. Our honeymoon was the epitome of my life so far, although it had precarious moments. I spent a lot of time mastering the art of concealing my thoughts on the island.

However, since I met Edward, each time we surrendered our thoughts to the other, our bond grew. The first five days were about us, getting ready to be partners in life and parenthood. We both had moments in the past that we were ashamed of, letting go of it all created an atmosphere so intimate, I never thought possible.

We unanimously agreed that speaking out loud was not only beneficial to us but the babies as well... They loved the sound of Edward's voice. The way they communicated feelings without words or thoughts was incredible.

Other times they were not privy to the words due to their sensual nature. Edward and I managed to drop every wall we had up, from fear to embarrassment. We conquered our insecurities, learning how to touch the other, instructing the other what to do. I was thankful for our little gift. With Emmett's sense of humor, I might have died of embarrassment. We evaded his teasing entirely. Edward even learned how to stop destroying headboards.

I was also extraordinarily clean with the three or so baths we took together, daily.

When I got a cramp during my climax, that was the end of that. My dreams must have taken it from there.

"I am not going to apologize for that. I cannot wait for this to be over."

Rose knocked on the door. She was giving us a ten-minute warning. Food would be coming, and so would the mother hens.

I groaned, looking for the damn remote that made our bed turn into a very comfortable, albeit massive lounge chair. I watched Edward get dressed, drooling, quite literally. This was torture. Those first five days were critical in another way; I surrendered control, and some of my pride to Edward and Edward alone. His husbandly duties included helping me get dressed and undressed.

Rose learned the hard way why she needed to give us a warning. The kissing, oh, the kissing was unavoidable, and so was the time limit. With my garments coming off and on, it didn't matter how Shamu like I felt. Edward had a dazzling effect on me.

After Rose's shift started, Edward would take his leave to hunt. Nobody knew how long he would go without hunting after the kiddos were born. More like, nobody knew how long it would be after I started the transition. I was not going to let him suffer. This rule was strictly enforced. Carlisle insisted over the last four days that I switch to human blood. So, being around blood wasn't exactly pleasant for Edward. He would bring it to me whenever I needed it, but he had to be in pain, he had a great poker face about it.

"See you soon, love," Edward said before disappearing, the very second Rose opened the door.

Things were changing in the Cullen household; I did not know how to feel about it. Edward and Rose finally seemed to forge a real friendship. We spent our days in the living room, so Emmett and I bonded over the stupidest things (Edward confirmed both he and Rose did not understand it.)

Jasper, well, he was torn. It was not that Alice didn't want to be around me, she would get headaches, and she had to start living a life without her gift. I made life very difficult for her. She withdrew a lot if anything to avoid the physical suffering. Since she had separated herself from the family, she and Edward started to grow apart.

Yet! Alice was thrilled to be an aunt, and I got to hang out with Jasper as she was going nuts in Seattle with Esme getting the nursery ready, buying baby clothes. Add in Gabe, Nia, and Lydia's constant presence. I couldn't complain. I was immensely grateful for the large living room.

"Type O Negative, pancakes, fruit, eggs, and bacon!" Rose announced.

God, I couldn't believe I was eating this much or drinking as much blood as I was. As soon as my meal was finished, the babies would drift into sleep, and Rose moved me into Carlisle's office, where Edward would join me. As far as the routine went, we had it down pat.

The measuring of my stomach thankfully worked.

"41 cm, today, Bella," Carlisle informed me, thoughtfully. "Bella, it was 40 cm yesterday. It is my opinion that you should deliver in three days. If everything you have been writing down is accurate, their brain development has surpassed a three-year-old human."

That was concerning.

Edward put his hands and ear to my stomach while Jasper sensed them.

"Without a doubt, you could deliver today, but this is probably a good time to get your head straight about what is going to come right after, you know, becoming a vampire." He flashed a grin that Edward missed, entirely focused on something else.

Holy, fucking, shit, this was going to happen.

"Might want to start thinking about names before someone makes up a stupid nickname when you are in transition," Jasper added.

I shot Edward a dirty look. We still hadn't agreed on this subject.

"Lilith Emma-Luna Cullen," I spat, "If we have a girl."

We agreed that there was no way to name them after family, it wasn't fair, nor did I want them to have 13 middle names or a dub smash of them all.

Except… I really wanted Masen if we had a boy. Edward was warming to the idea.

"Ugh," Edward tried to hide his dislike for the witchy nature of it.

"Lilith, well you know, was the first woman according to lore. I think that's fitting. Emma for the actress who played Hermione, and Luna because she is such an amazing, carefree, adorable, loyal wizard, who cares? Harry Potter is so mainstream these days. They'll think I'm a bit quirky like she is. Unless you prefer Katniss."

The last sentence took Edward by surprise because there was no hint of a bluff in it. If that was what it took, I would name our daughter Katniss. I hated it, but I was getting tired of this. What was wrong with Lily anyway?

"Lilith Emma-Luna Cullen and Masen Elijah Cullen." I boasted.

Elijah was my favorite vampire in a show that had themes of my Mother's theory on the idea of the origin of the vampire species. That is precisely what bothered Edward. God help us if we had two girls or two boys.

I agreed with Carlisle about the three days. If anything, I may be able to convince him…

"Edward, I won't know my babies when the change happens. I want something that I can pull to my head, to think about while I'm changing. Even if we go with Emma-Luna, these were characters who helped me become who I am. Especially during my time in school. The institute was no Hogwarts, but it was a great way to escape. Hermione was my hero, is my hero, and our kids are going to be witches, I want that for them too!"

I saw the look in his eye. I was getting through to him. It looked like I got consensus from everyone else. Of course, this happened every day.

"…and …" I sighed, I didn't want to hurt Carlisle's feelings, but this was the truth, "Masen is you! I know we said no family names, but this child is biologically a Masen! Maybe since his last name will be Cullen, your Mom and Dad should get some credit for conceiving you! Credit your Mom for asking Carlisle to take care of you. The Masen's are important!"

Edward looked at Carlisle, I hated their silent conversations when it came to this shit, but I just laid back on the table.

"Oh, hell, we're going to binge-watch The Originals until I deliver," I said through gritted teeth.

"Masen, and Emma-Luna Cullen?" Edward asked.

"Lilith, Edward! Emma-Luna to our family but formally Lily Cullen to the humans. Lily Cullen! C'mon! Please?!"

"Tell me the name of the original vampires again."

"Did you just agree?" I asked, completely taken back.

"Yes."

Grabbing Edward's face to kiss him, I whispered, "thank you, I love you."

He shot me a lopsided grin, and everyone else seemed to be cheering on this conversation.

"Um, Nicklaus, he's a hybrid, Rebekah, Elijah, Cole, Finn, and Michael." I was suddenly unsure if I wanted him to watch the show, given the brutality, but I was all in at this point.

"Actors name?" Edward asked, clearly disliking the vampire names.

"Hmmm… I think Joseph, Daniel, Claire, Nathanial, and I don't know the others."

"Masen Joseph Cullen," Edward said, definitively.

I was so glad he had not watched the show now. He picked the character who was both the protagonist and antagonist…and part werewolf. He was complicated, but so was Edward.

"Lilith Emma-Luna Cullen, and Masen Joseph Cullen?" I needed to get confirmation. Jasper was so right about a stupid nickname.

Edward smirked and sealed our agreement with a kiss.

"Lily and Mase," I said, listening to how it rolled off my tongue.

Edward kissed me again before scooping me into his arms and carried me to where I spent my days. The same type of bed, but in the living room. I had a habit of randomly zonking out. Once I was settled, I wanted to tell everyone.

"Ahem, I have an announcement, we decided on names!"

"Assuming we are having a boy, as you seem to believe." Edward amended.

"Masen Joseph Cullen," I chirped.

Esme turned around, that worried me, she was so expressive! But quickly she turned back around, her approval was evident.

"We certainly owe the Masen's quite a bit. It's perfect." Esme leaned her head against Carlisle's shoulder. Carlisle approved, that was easy to see but without reading his mind. I saw that he had the same faraway look that Edward did. They were thinking about Elizabeth Masen. Without her open acceptance and trusting Carlisle with her only child allowed him to be a grandfather in Edward Sr.'s stead.

I grimaced, "The girl's name is a little different. Lilith, but we will call her Lily. Nobody uses Esme's full name."

"Thank goodness," she chuckled.

"It's no different than that. Never Lilith… Lily, or amongst family Emma-Luna."

Gabriel barked a laugh at that one, "You should have just gone full-on Hermione!"

"Shut it!"

"I get the Luna…" Emmett was deep in thought, trying to figure it out.

"Emma is the first name of the actress who plays Hermione."

"I like it," Emmett gave me a broad smile.

Rose snorted, "That's because it's close to Emmett!" she play punched him.

"That's true. So what does Joseph mean?"

I tried not to get too upset about him bringing this up. Deceiving Edward was a bad thing, but I knew he would overreact. Emmett and I binged both the Vampire Diaries and The Originals together.

Edward looked at me, and then Emmett, and back at me again.

"It's the name of the actor who plays Klaus on The Originals," I admitted.

Emmett started laughing at Edward, too loudly.

"You haven't seen that show, have you, Eddie?"

NOOOOOO

Edward looked at me for an answer to Emmett's reaction.

"He's complicated, yes, but he's also an original Vampire hybrid, they are all a quarter witch too."

Edward knew I was up to something.

"Wait… he's a hybrid of what—"

"If I tell you, you won't understand. So, you can watch it or believe me when I say being the first hybrid partially by birth is more important."

"Oh boy," Emmett started to laugh, this time Rose smacked him for real.

She smiled, "They are lovely names."

Carlisle decided to intervene, "I agree. No one is perfect Edward,"

Everyone got the subtext of that statement.

"Bella chose the first woman, and in choosing free will, Lilith was demonized, literally for it. I understand why Emma-Luna is essential. The 21st century is the first where the trend is not the damsel in distress but the heroine who saves the world. If there is a love story, the men are their equals. Men and women are working together for a greater good.

Sure, it's Harry's story, if it were not for his friends, he would have never made it. She didn't define herself by her looks or sensuality. Hermione is all brains, practice, and talent. Now the media is full of supernatural shows, books, and films portraying us in ways I never thought I'd see. Vampires who are complicated, or who abstain, witches who work for good, not using magic to punish or get revenge. Covens turned family, both vampire and witch alike."

Carlisle was so much better at convincing Edward of these things than I was.

"That is why Bella will be a different vampire. She is a child of this generation, where women heroines are looked upon as role models, their "otherness" is what makes them so unique. Commercially, women heroines are the most successful in both literature, film, and television." Jasper had my back.

"Humans can also be, as they have been in history, the actual monsters." I shrugged.

"Just be glad she's not insisting on Katniss Hermione Beatrice Cullen," Gabriel tried to hold in his laughter, unsuccessfully. "Or R Four Tobias-Petah Cullen."

He knew me too well.

"That's quite enough. Gabriel!" Lydia yelled, sensing my uncomfortableness.

"Four? And R?" Edward asked.

"Really, Edward?" I married such a nerd.

Emmett started pelting him with DVD's: Divergent, Warm Bodies, The Hunger Games; I am Number Four, and so on.

"I guess we have the entertainment portion covered. If I was going to go weird, I'd name her Six since it's Tris' nickname in Divergent.

Six from the Lorian novels, and in the movie, I Am Number Four… well… Six is the biggest badass, the kickass fighter. Her scenes alone make me smile. You'll see." I looked up at Edward, biting my lip, "I'm hot."

The conversation ended when we curled up together and popped in the first movie.

Thank God.

xxxxx

Alice joined the entire family to watch Warm Bodies. She was a sucker for a good zombie love story.

I felt something crack and screamed out in pain. Edward started to freak out but let Nia sense what it was, this dormant gift of hers became active when she needed it the most, to see her best friend live.

"Cracked rib," she muttered

The first week, Lydia, Gabe, and Nia would deal with broken bones together. One day, Rose asked her to channel her, and it was much more potent. That was the turning point for Rose and Edward.

Another sigil appeared, but my rib completely healed.

I looked at Edward, "Something wrong? What's going on?"

He was frozen, and I didn't like seeing that. I never wanted to see that expression again.

"Edward! Cut your shit out! What's wrong!" I screamed.

The room was uncomfortably quiet.

He shook himself out of it, "Nothing terrible after you screamed. I heard one say, 'Mommy!' the other, 'I hurt Mommy.' They have words and can attach emotion to them, just like you. So much remorse, worry, and love. Bella, I think we should do this tomorrow, they are not happy or comfortable."

My mouth hung open. This was what we had been waiting for! Edward heard them, and they were suffering!

"No, we have been waiting, hoping, that you would hear them…" I looked down, nope, not going to wait another day. "Cullens who haven't hunted go now. We are doing this today. Lydia, gather anything you need. Carlisle, Rose, when you get back, let's get it set up."

I looked at my brother as Edward processed what I was saying. I needed Edward out of the room.

"Edward, will you find clothes to wear while I'm changing and something for when I wake up." I looked at Alice, "Jeans, and sneakers, no heels or dresses. This happening today…Edward, are you…."

"I've been mentally preparing … you know about becoming a father and turning you."

I gave him a meek smile and swiped away a tear, then another. I didn't like the instruction I had to give out next. "Esme, can you get the room and everything else set up and ready to go for when it's your turn."

I couldn't hold back crying. They would all know my babies better than me when I woke.

That was the bargain.

Esme sat down next to me and put her hand on my leg, "Dearest Bella, you are their Mother. They love you and Edward; nobody is going to take your place. Just think of us as babysitters. I can relate to how you are feeling, but in the grand scheme, three days is nothing. You will get to meet them first. Thank you for trusting us."

I sniffed and nodded, letting Edward comfort me, "everything is going to be okay, love. I felt it, how much they love you. Nothing will change that."

"What if I am a blood-crazed monster who can't be around her kids," I started to cry again.

"You won't be, they've altered you, you couldn't hurt anyone that is so much a part of you. I'm not going to let you down, Bella. We'll figure it all out, no matter what comes." Edward started looking very worried.

I looked at Lydia, "If they are too powerful when they are born, I want you to bind their powers temporarily."

Edward gave me a bewildered look, "are you sure?"

I nodded, "I don't think it will be necessary, but they need to be guided into their magic if they are too powerful. I've been thinking about it, and I may not be able to control my powers. But I'm cutting off my lifeline, nobody, except me, can bind my magic.

There is so much Edward, I am afraid. My brother and I haven't known anything else but becoming more powerful, more deadly our whole lives. I am happy with the person I am… the first time I actually felt my age was at Forks High School. I don't want that for them. I don't know what to want…" I started hyperventilating.

Jasper calmed me before I had a full-on attack.

Edward got up, "I'm going to go get everything you need. We'll figure it out, but I think you should talk to these guys about this."

"Ella, why haven't you brought this up with any of us?" Gabriel looked genuinely upset.

"Because then, I'd have to admit that some of Charlie's thinking was right. You work for the institute; you are on the council. Obviously, our education and physical training worked out for you in that way. But what if I don't want that for them? What if I want them to be kids? Normal for as long as possible. I don't want them learning how to kill people before the age of 10."

"Then, they don't." Lydia said, shaking her head, "You are the Mom, and Edward is going to back you up on what you think is right here. If you feel their powers should be bound until you can control yours, we will talk about that. Don't worry about what you cannot control.

Your Mom and Phil, they had good intentions, but they did not know any different. The good thing is you grew up with your brother, and few share a relationship like you two. But we aren't their parents. We can advise. Only you and Edward will guide them down their path, help them decide their fate. They won't be attending the institute anyway."

"Because…" I sobbed, "I'm sorry… they aren't going to be accepted."

"And who said that is a bad thing? So they don't join the collective of pretentious snobs and their bloodline purity bullshit." Nia spat, looking at Gabe, shrugging, "sorry, but you know it's true."

"Come on, Ella, you have a good head on your shoulders. You're going to be a good Mom. They'll have more than enough love, with just the people in this family and ours." Gabe showed me a vial, with a note.

Ella,

Take this right as Edward is about to turn you. When the transition is over, it will wear off. I'll deal with the family's thoughts. You're doing the right thing.

I grabbed a pen and wrote back on the note, looking over my shoulder. Edward was probably freaking out on his own.

I'm going to take the fall for the potion Gabe. He won't be mad at me. Just pretend like you didn't know.

I made sure Lydia, and Nia all saw and agreed before I incinerated it.

"See, you learned how to do cool things like that, it wasn't all that bad." Gabe winked, but then hugged me. "I know you can do this; do you know why?"

I scowled, "Why?"

"Because there is not a single thing you cannot do when you put your mind to it. You are much stronger than you realize. I love you, Ella."

I gave my brother a silent acknowledgment, "I love you too, big brother."

A/N: I have the first half of the next chapter written. I can say, with certainty, having a child of my own, I could never write anything gory, as breaking dawn was. Childbirth and Then Vampire transition coming up. Then we are going OOC completely! Reviews are always appreciated. They do give me the motivation to write, especially when I am world-building for my original fic.