Chapter 35
Almost 3 weeks later, I wake up in a frenzy of desire. My eyes pop open and I grab Edward, ripping at his clothes. "Edward, I don't know what's going on…" I kiss him. "I need you…" More kissing ensues. "Please…I need to feel you…I want you sooo much!" I gasp, trying to get closer to him.
"Bella…What the…?" He tries to calm me and hold me still. "Bella, I…we don't know if it would be safe for the babies…" He protests keeping his arms around me. "I think it's best if we wait and ask Carlisle…"
I somehow push my way out of his embrace and end up straddling his lap. "No… I'm not waiting, Edward…" I look straight into his eyes. "I'm not waiting, and I'm not asking… I'm a grown woman and I'm pregnant and hormonal. You are my husband and I need you to make love with me, Edward…now, please." Our lips collide and my sleep-shirt comes off in seconds.
He gives in quickly and gracefully. His hand grazes the spot where one of the babies had kicked me the other night and I expect to feel a sting…nothing…I look down…the large purple bruise is gone… not a trace is left to indicate it had ever been there.
But, as soon as he takes one of my breasts into his hands and lightly squeezes my nipple, all thoughts in my head are erased.
His lips replace his fingers and I moan in want. He tears my panties off and slips his fingers right into my hot wet core.
I writhe as he reaches for my g-spot and climax wildly on his hand.
He lays me down on my back and takes position between my legs.
I feel his manhood brush my wet folds and I urge him to push in further.
He sinks deep into my core and holds my close. Beginning to thrust carefully into me, he moans my name into my hair and drives us ever closer to the edge of a steep cliff.
Suddenly, and without warning, it feels like I'm flying without an airplane… and I scream my pleasure into the room, but I trust my husband to catch me as I fall back to earth. I immediately fall back to sleep, but when I wake later in the day, I find my father-in-law watching me as closely as Edward does. Of course, I blush and hide my face.
"Now isn't the time to feel embarrassed, Bella…I need to know what caused your rather insistent outburst this morning." He asks.
I shake my head. "I don't know, Carlisle…I woke abruptly and had an intense need for…marital relations…" I laugh and blush a deeper shade of red. "I'm sorry if we were loud, but I really couldn't control myself."
Jasper must have felt my discomfort, because I felt a wave of calming energy flow my way from directly below me.
"Thanks, Jazz." I whisper.
"It's really no problem…Now, on to the interesting G-rated tidbit from this morning's encounter. Lift your sleep-shirt." He says. "Your bruise is gone…how interesting… I have a theory, Bella…I think one of the babies has a 'healing touch' and, as for your dreams, I have a feeling that the other child has a gift something like Alice's."
I look at Edward. "Our children are gifted! How cool is that?"
"That doesn't explain her dreams before the pregnancy began, though…" Edward frowns.
I cry out and cringe as I feel a stabbing pain in my side. "I think you're about to have your theory tested, Carlisle ..." I move the shirt and see a large purple bruise above my belly button. "Edward had me remove the ring the other night." I say. "It looks like that was a good idea."
"Carlisle, look…" Edward says pointing at the edges of the bruise. This time, it disappears right before our eyes.
Carlisle grins. "This is amazing! I think the babies are now almost fully developed. Their unconscious or involuntary reactions are already formed. They are now forming nearly conscious thoughts… The cerebral-cortexes must be ahead of schedule. You have been having the sexual urges for over a week now. They were not as urgent as this morning though, because Edward generally is able to clear the house before anything happens. We understand about that, though, so don't be embarrassed… This is a miracle, Bella, and we are so happy to be witnesses to it."
"Thanks, Carlisle…" I sigh. "Edward, I'd like to go down to the living-room, today …I want to hang out with all of you today…"
He helps me climb down the staircase and I see the family in the living-room just sitting around. Jasper's playing Wii base-ball with Emmett. Rose is looking at the many different catalogs for baby clothes and toys.
Alice is frowning at me. "I can't see you…Why can't I see you, Bella?"
"It's probably the babies, Ali…I hope it gets clearer soon." Edward says frowning.
"Well, kids, we're off to hunt…and we'll probably be back in about 3 days. Bella, Rosalie and Edward have both had medical training. You'll be fine…but if you or they need to call me, I'll have my cell." He says.
We all nod and chase them out saying that I'll be fine. It's nearly dinnertime and I start to feel nauseas. I rub my stomach.
"Bella, are you alright?" Edward asks. "Did you say something…?"
"I'm fine, Love, I didn't say a word but I'm a bit hungry." I say. "Could I have a steak, tonight?"
"Of course, sweetheart…" He says. "How would you like it cooked?"
"Medium-rare…please…" I say without thinking.
He looks at me sharply. "Is it time for the blood?"
"I don't think so…not yet… I'm not wearing the right clothes and we're not on the porch…maybe tomorrow or the next day, Edward." I say quietly.
"Do you promise to let me know? Nobody will think badly of you or make any comments…I promise. Whatever you need, I want to know…" He says.
I can only nod.
After dinner, I lie on the couch and try to relax but feel a pain in my chest below my right breast. Edward checks me and finds a broken rib. Before an hour passes, the rib isn't sore and when Edward presses on it, I feel completely better.
The next day starts smoothly, although my out-of-wack hormones make me a little moody. One moment I'm laughing, the next I'm crying.
Edward swears that Jasper isn't playing jokes and he must be right because my poor brother-in-law looks to be sharing my emotions instead of toying with them.
Alice is driving me crazy though. She's constantly giving me new clothes to try on.
Rose is being very sweet, she keeps asking to feel the babies kick and making sure I'm not hungry or thirsty for long. She spends a lot of time with me and I love it. I always wanted a close relationship with this whole family.
Em is great too. He's always trying to make me laugh when I'm crying.
Edward made a special omelet this afternoon. He seemed to be staring at me or watching me extra closely at different points of the day.
I've just thrown up, brushed my teeth and now I'm showering. I step out of the bathroom in the plush blue robe my dad bought me for my birthday and gasp. I can only stare at the outfit Alice has lain out for me to wear next…a denim skirt and purple top… "Edward, call Carlisle…"
He comes in a moment later. "I left a message…What's wrong, love?"
I know that when I put this on, I'll be one step closer to my first sip of blood. "This is the outfit I wear in my dream…when Carlisle gives me the deer…" I take a deep breath. "Edward, I'm scared…I watch the days unfold until I see signs that indicate that certain things are about to happen…I don't like this feeling…"
Alice appears next to me. "I hate that feeling too, Bella. You know, about a year after we left Forks the last time, I had a vision of the Volturi coming here…I couldn't tell if they would find you…They'd decided to send someone to invite Carlisle to a gathering and then they disappeared… Mike, Jessica and Angela disappeared too. When I saw this I told Carlisle. He called Aro, in Volterra, and asked them to visit us in 10 years. Edward, you were away hunting at the time and we didn't think to tell you we'd have to come back to Forks in 10 years." She helps me get dressed as Edward and I process this information.
"The black cloud… Alice, why didn't you say something? The black cloud in Bella's dream must be the Volturi! We have to inform Carlisle…as soon as he returns from his hunt…" His eyes find mine. Carlisle will have to worry about me and the Volturi as well, now.
We sit quietly for a moment before I notice a dull ache in my throat; it's almost like I have a sore throat… I brace myself. "Edward, what does it feel like when you get 'thirsty'…?"
He starts to watch my face very closely as he explains. "Uhmmm…It's kind of a dull ache that starts in the back of my throat…I can barely swallow if it gets bad… Why, love?"
I cringe and say, "I'm starting to feel just like that…"
"I'll call Carlisle." He takes his phone out. "Dad…? Her throat is starting to ache… like with us… Okay." He hangs up and turns to me. "They're only 10 miles away. I want you to know what's going on, love. He's decided that instead of bringing home the whole deer, he's going to drain its blood into several thermoses and give you those. He thinks that this will keep you from thinking too much about what you're actually doing."
I nod. I'd really like to not think about drinking blood while I'm still human.
"He and Esme will be home shortly." He says taking me into his arms.
"Let's wait on the porch…" I suggest.
Edward nods and walks behind me as we go down the stairs. Jasper is in the living-room. Emmett and Rose wait for us at the bottom of the steps.
Rose catches me as I trip on the bottom step. "Whoa, there Bells… Are you okay?"
"Not really, Rose. I was getting 'thirsty' and now I'm a little dizzy, too…" I say.
Edward instantly picks me up and carries me to the rocking chair outside on the porch.
I feel a baby kick and know a bruise has formed. I lift my shirt to inspect the damage. "The bruise is fading slower than usual, Edward. The babies need the blood…"
He rocks us slowly in the chair. "They're on their way, love…"
I feel tears well up in my eyes. "The ache is becoming a burn…I feel like someone set my throat on fire…"
His head jerks to the north. "They're at the edge of the property, Bella; they're coming…just relax and hold on." Edward sets me on my feet and I'm standing on the porch looking out at the river.
I watch the scene from my dream play out. One hand goes to my stomach and the other is shielding my eyes from the sun, which has broken through the clouds. I see a distant sparkle.
Edward comes up behind me as Carlisle and Esme rush toward us.
Carlisle has a bag in his arms this time…he hands it to me…
I take out a thermos and open it. I sniff the opening and feel the babies stir inside my belly… "It smells…good… The babies like the scent…" I nod and place it to my lips. It feels thick and smooth…like a warm milkshake. It slides down my throat and the burn is soothed …It's back to the dull ache… I sigh. "It tastes good, too…" I look up at Edward and Carlisle. "Thank you, Carlisle…I feel much better now."
He only nods in acknowledgement. The others look at him and I sit with my thermos and listen as Alice and Edward tell him about the Volturi being the black cloud from my dream.
"Edward, what do you think will happen when they get here?" My father-in-law asks.
"I'd guess that if Bella's still human there will be some kind of altercation…I can only hope that it won't endanger her…" My husband answers.
"They won't be happy, though…I can guarantee that." Jasper says.
"What about the babies?" I ask. "Will they be in danger?"
Once again, Edward's arms envelop me. "They'll be hybrids, love…The Volturi have probably never heard the stories and legends…I don't know how the Volturi will react to them…Yes, Carlisle, it's possible."
"But will they allow us the time to explain that while the children are immortal they're not 'Immortal Children'?" Carlisle asks.
"What did I miss?" I ask. I'm stunned to hear of the 'Immortal Children'. This is not a tale I'd ever heard before and it confuses me. "So, what does this mean?"
Carlisle pats my shoulder. "I'm sorry, Bella…I really don't know…"
Esme changes the subject, starting a whole new conversation. "Have you been thinking of names?"
"Yes, but we're not sure which ones are right yet. We plan to have it narrowed down to 5 boy names and 5 girl names by next week. We'll need to figure out which 2 names of each gender are good enough for our special little angels." I inform them. "You'll know what we've decided only after they have been born."
Esme seems disappointed, but Rose just looks at Alice. My BFF nods.
"Oh and final decisions will not be made til the birth is over…So not even Alice will know until we've told you all…" I say with a smirk.
She pouts and snaps her fingers.
"Sorry, Ali, but fair is fair, after all." I say.
"Do you have any ideas yet, at least?" Rose asks.
"Yeah…" I crack.
"Well…?" She badgers.
"Ok, I have, like, a whole list…" I concede.
"C'mon, just give us a few?" She pleads.
I look at Edward, who just shrugs his shoulders. I roll my eyes and give in. "Ok, some of my recent ideas for girl names are: Jazzlynn Renee, after Jasper and my mom…Maria Regina, after my Grandma Swan, or Rosabeth Mae..."
"That's after Rosalie, Esme and my human mother Elizabeth…" Edward chimes in.
"Oh, Bella, that's so sweet…Rosabeth Mae Cullen…I like it…" She winks at me.
"What about boy names?" Emmett asks.
"Well, for boys I'm considering Edward Charles and Phillip Carlisle… or, and I'm not sure about this one…Edward Jacob…" I fix my gaze on my husband. I hadn't even brought up that one to him…
Edward's eyebrow rises just slightly. "Have you thought about something out of the family completely, love…? I kind of like Aidan or Joshua…and girl-wise, I really like Samantha…"
"I have a whole book, remember, hun…Mom sent it to me…" I smirk.
"I think you should keep looking." Edward says with a distracted frown.
"Come on, guys, I need to demonstrate how I got the blood from the deer so some of you can do it the next time." Carlisle says.
Esme, Jasper, Alice and Emmett stay in the house with me while Edward and Rosalie go off with him. I settle in to watch the guys play Wii again. It's boxing this time…