Chapter 4

BPOV

I woke up to a fog. I head was so fuzzy. I couldn't really focus on anything. My eyes kept trying to focus. I could remember something or someone hitting me in the face. Finally, I opened my eyes and saw the love of my life. I whispered "Edward" and started to clear my throat and cough. It was so dry. I heard Edward asking someone to bring me some water. I drunk 2 glasses down quickly to soothe the burn and ache in my throat. Then, I was able to recognize my surroundings. I looked to the little girl that looked so much like my little Nessie, my first born, but so much older. Then, I realized it was her. I looked to my Marie Claire, who also looked older. Her cheeks were less chubby and her features more defined and childlike. I looked to the little boy and realized that was my Edward Anthony. My heart filled with so much sadness. I had missed so much. It seemed as though they had aged years. I finally spoke to my children stating "My Nessie, you have gotten so big, you too Marie Claire, and Anthony". Even though I was sad to miss so much of their lives, I was so happy to see them, so I smiled at the angelic faces of my children. Too soon, Edward started pulling the children away from me, and I gave him the most sinister glare that I could muster. This just caused him to smirk in my direction. Same Edward, I thought to myself.

Then I looked down to the 2 children that were climbing on top of me and over me. I just knew these were the twin boys that I last remembered carrying in my womb. I knowingly asked them "And who are you 2 beautiful boys?" They spoke to me with their broken toddler speech: "I Jessie mamabelle" "I Charles, mamabelle." Mamabelle, what a beautiful name. I wonder who taught them that. None of my other children ever called me that. I heard Edward sniffing and looked up to see him crying. The sight of him crying melted my heart. I looked down to my twin sons and said "mamabelle, I like that"

"Edward, honey, how long have I been asleep" I asked my husband.

"Bella, maybe we shouldn't talk about this now." He responded

EPOV

She wanted to know how long she had been sleep. I knew that she could tell by the current looks of our children that she had been out a while. I just wasn't ready to discuss that with her. I knew she would want to know details about how I and the children coped. I just was too afraid to stress her out right this second. Also, I just wanted to cherish seeing her like this, surrounded by our children, the children we conceived out of love. Never once during these 2 years have I ever stopped loving Bella. My love for her never shifted or lessened, if anything, it intensified. I guess it is true when they say that absence does make the heart grow fonder. Just looking at her, she looked like an angel. I knew the doctors would need to look at her soon. I silently thanked Nurse Angela for giving us this time before having the room flanked with doctors. Even though I could have examined her, I couldn't allow myself to move in that moment. I was just too mesmerized with having Bella back.

Angela walked in. "Dr. Cullen, Bella's doctor will be in soon" she stated.

"Great, I'll take the children outside while they examine her".

"Stop talking about me like I'm not here" Bella said with a pout on those luscious lips of hers.

"I'm sorry honey, the doctor needs to examine you and I want to give him the space to do that"

"But, I don't want you to leave or the children" she responded.

The children were so enchanted with her. While I was lost in my thoughts, she had the twins engaged in a game to peek-a-boo. Marie Claire, Anthony, and Nessie just watched and started playing the game with the twins as well. They were all giggling and Bella looked like the happiest woman on earth.

"Honey, it won't be long. We'll be right outside. I want to call our family and let them know that you are up. Everyone is going to be so happy to see you my love. Angela will come to get me the second they are done"

"O.k., but promise me you will be right outside, Edward"

"I will my love, right outside."

Then, she began to place tons of kisses all over the faces of our 5 children. They giggled and squirmed in her embrace.

"Come on kids" I stated.

I grabbed the twins and placed them in their toddler stroller, while the other kids followed me out of the hospital room. My hand began to tremble as I dialed my sister Alice's number. She and Bella had been best friends from the very beginning. Alice always tells the story of how they first met. Over the past 2 years, each holiday she told the story. Every single member of the family would listen attentively, like we had never heard it, especially last Christmas. It was almost as if Alice sensed that we all had been missing Bella even more so than normal. The children were inconsolable. Even with all their gifts and cousins to play with, they just would not smile. So Alice began her story.

Flashback APOV

I was walking down the hall to decorate my locker for the first day of school. As I swung my locker door open, I heard someone say "ow". I moved the locker door towards me and saw her sitting on the floor. I had knocked her down. I said "oh, I'm so sorry, please forgive me" She said "its o.k., I would have fallen sometime soon today anyway, it's best to get it out the way now" and then she smiled at me. It was the most beautiful smile. I was able to take in her features. She was so beautiful, but in a classic way. She had on no make-up, only a small amount of cherry lip gloss. She was dressed in a pair of holey jeans with some converse and a plaid shirt. She was definitely in the need of a makeover and I was just the girl to do it.

"I'm Alice, what's your name?"

"Bella Swan, I'm new here"

"Oh, you must be Chief Swan's daughter"

"Yeah, I am"

"Well, welcome to Forks High. Are you a junior?"

"Yeah, I am."

"Cool, what's your first class"

"Biology"

"Great, you have the class with me and my brother Edward, OMG; you would be so perfect for him"

"Oh, I don't date."

"I have a feeling you and my brother are going work out just fine"

"I don't know Alice, let me just get through my first few months of school before you go auctioning me off, o.k."

"O.k., hey do you want to go shopping with me after school? I still don't have my complete fall wardrobe yet."

"Ummmmmm, I don't know Alice"

"Please, Bella, we could get something to eat, shop, and get to know each other better, please" and then I gave her the Alice pout.

"O.k., fine, but I refuse to try on any clothes"

I smiled, because Bella did not know what she was getting in to. We walked into Biology and as if the gods had heard my prayers, the only seat available was next to Edward. I saw his eyes as we walked in the room. He could not stop looking at her. I just knew he thought she was so breathtakingly beautiful. Whenever we would talk about the kind of girls he was into, it was always the natural beauty, brunette, slim type that made his mouth water. Bella was that and then some. Now, all I had to do was wait for the magic to happen. I knew there would be no need for interference; I just knew they were destined for each other. Call it my 6th sense.

I smiled at the memory of Bella walking into Biology. She was dressed like such a tom-boy, but she was the most beautiful girl I had ever seen. I pressed the number to call Alice. She answered on the second ring.

"Alice"

"Yes, Edward"

"Bella's up, my baby's back"

"Oh Edward, I knew it, I knew when I saw your name on the caller ID that this was it. Don't you worry about a thing. I will call the rest of the family and we will be there within the hour. Tell Bella I love her, o.k."

"She's in with the doctor as soon as they're done, I will tell her. Thanks for calling the rest of the fam for me. See you soon."

I waited patiently playing with Nessie's hair for the doctor's to be finished, to see my love once again.