AN: Thank you all for reading! You make me really happy!

Thanks to my wonderful beta, mauigirl60! Your suggestions were perfect!

Chapter 8

"Hey, Edward, relax your hand a bit. You're scaring Isabella," Garrett spoke in a calm, almost hypnotizing tone. Edward's head whipped toward Bella, watching as she grasped onto the quivering Seth, his eyes dark and unreadable. "Isabella, sweets, take Seth back to the boat."

Bella had barely registered the arrival of the others; her eyes couldn't leave the sight of Edward causing the man's eyes to bulge out as his hand squeezed tightly.

James and Laurent were speaking so quickly that their words couldn't be registered by the humans surrounding them, but Bella could see the slight twitching of their lips. Victoria, who was covering the rest of the cowering group of humans, expressed herself loudly, "It's dangerous for the girl to take the pup back by herself. His kind nips."

Garrett shook his head slowly. "She'll be just fine, Vickie. Won't you, Isabella?"

Isabella was sure she would be just dandy. The fates of the men in front of her were suspect, however.

"Please, Bella, go." Edward looked at her pleadingly, slowly relaxing his grip. It wasn't that she hadn't seen the worst of his nature before, but it had become abhorrent to him how he was viewed by her. He wished to be more to her than just a horror monster.

Seth trembled more violently, as James demanded, "Now, Bella!"

Grabbing Seth by his shirt, Bella dragged her friend down the road. He was snarling quietly. She hoped he wouldn't lash out and take a bite. Bella shivered, hearing the conversation behind them that the vampires were having with the young men.

"Let's go take a walk, boys," Victoria purred. "I promise not to bite."

"We ain't going anywhere, la—" The man's words were cut off as he groaned instead.

James was heard cackling and added, "My girl doesn't take no for an answer."

Bella continued to walk forward, holding tightly to Seth and never looking back. He was starting to relax slightly, the tremors easing.

"Remember, Edward, no munching," she heard Garrett say. "Esme's rules!"

She just kept walking, never looking back.

XXXXXX

They sat next to each other on the cot. Seth played with his sleeve as he stated uncomfortably, "I bet they're totally dead."

"Totally dead," Bella deadpanned in response. Those men were probably buried deep in a hole somewhere.

An awkward silence fell between them.

"I probably would've killed them, if the Walking Dead hadn't shown up." Seth looked down at his shoes. "I felt the change coming."

"I saw the change coming, Teen Wolf." Bella gave him a tiny smile. "This whole thing is just so messed up. Housewife-turned-horror movie-victim wasn't what I imagined for my future."

That statement did give her pause. If this horror story, that Bella found herself thrust in, had any minuscule amount of a positive outcome, it would have to be that she'd had some moments to reflect on her life. Had she really been fine with only being Jacob's wife? Motherhood, she loved, but her marriage had been lacking even before her husband became a snarling, furry werewolf. He was fine with working at a garage, which was okay with her. The issue was that he never supported Bella with her goal of advancing her professional career. The degree in English she held seemed to loom over her. She was mocked, maybe not as sweetly as she previously imagined, when broaching the subject about teaching.

Maybe, when this was all finished, she could provide for her children and further her ambition. That would be her way out of her humdrum existence.

"Bella, how do you attract all these creepers?" Seth's words shook Bella out of her thoughts. "You're a magnet for danger."

"I'm a magnet for assholes, Seth. It's really simple. Only psychotic and delusional ones need to harass me." She sighed and frowned. "I would have preferred saving myself in this mess."

The sound of footsteps echoed around them.

"Your rescuers are back." Seth gave Bella's hand a squeeze. "I think you've done pretty well for a human in all this."

But had she really? To be completely honest with herself, Bella wasn't even able to escape from some surfer punk and his pals. 'Victim' was written all over her in an invisible Sharpie that she couldn't rub off. One look at her and that man from the pack of surfers decided he could demoralize and destroy her for a thrill. If a person without otherworldly powers could think that, then it was no surprise that she was probably considered no more important than a gnat needing to be squashed.

"There's a story I like to read to Sarah called A Paper Bag Princess," Bella stated out loud, as the thought hit her.

They jerked as the boat suddenly started moving.

Seth looked at her quizzically. "Mom and Dad never read that one to me. It was probably the princess thing."

She didn't even hear him, just continued speaking, "I want her to be like that. My Sarah and Jason, too — brave and strong. Willing to face the dragon with their wits and show that they're just as special as those that want to destroy them. Jake and even the vampires think they're so much better than we are — because they can eat us? Well, I call bullshit, because they were us!"

She wiped hot, angry tears from her eyes, as Seth patted her back, trying to soothe her. "You know I agree with you, Bells."

"Sarah doesn't need one of these mythological princes to save her and Jason. I should be the one to do it, damn it! I'm their mother!"

"I have your bags, Bella," Edward said quietly from the doorway. He was leaning against the frame, as her words filled his very soul. He thought she was a warrior and he wanted to take hold of her and reassure her that she was truly more remarkable than anyone he'd ever met.

"Oh!" She looked up at him with a startled expression. She looked into his red eyes. "You didn't feed from—"

"No, this is left over from before. They won't, however, hurt anyone ever again." He smiled a gentle smile. "You two get your rest. We'll be at the island tomorrow, bright and early. Get some rest."

Tomorrow. She just needed to make it until tomorrow.

XXXXXX

The wind was whipping the sand and cool rain around Bella on that cursed beach. She kept running to get away from the dark skies, and to find her car. Her rusty Honda Civic was always breaking down, but it would be a blessing to get away from this place. The sand felt like tiny pieces of ragged glass digging into her skin. Her hand reached up and she saw that it was covered in red.

She attempted to run faster. The sand became mud, then quicksand, as her feet sank into the soft muck. It was impossible to move. Then the sand truly became glass and abraded her harder. Blood ran into her eyes, clouding her vision.

All of a sudden, Bella could see clearly as the clouds parted and bright sunlight filled the sky. It wasn't a comfort; instead, it felt as if her skin was roasting. She looked down to see her skin bubbling.

She heard a howl as she saw a rust-colored wolf walking toward her. His sharp teeth were bared and foam dripped lazily from his mouth. Bella knew instantly who the wolf was.

Jacob.

His furry body was seizing as the fur fell off, as his body twisted and skin started reappearing. His snout shrunk back into his face and the Jacob she used to know came back to her — at least appearance-wise, because his face was still hard as stone.

"Jake, please! This isn't you!" she pleaded in frustration. "You love me and the children! Let us go!"

He stood in front of her, completely nude. She couldn't see what the appeal was anymore. The boy she had loved was no longer present.

"Did you think you could hide them with the fucking leeches?" He approached her and grabbed her face. "What kind of wife are you?"

Bravely staring into Jacob's brown eyes, she hissed, "The kind of mother who always puts her children first, you piece of shit! You're their father and they love you! Do you even care? You have no humanity left!"

"Brave words, little girl!" He smiled then; Jacob's teeth were still so very pointy. "My children love their daddy and will do as they're told. It's for the greater good!"

"No!" She struggled to get away. "I won't let you have them!"

His one hand moved off her cheek and rested on her stomach. His fingers sharpened like talons and sliced into her as she let out a ragged gasp.

"I'll enjoy watching you die, my love!" he growled, as his teeth ripped into her neck.

Bella awoke, screaming, filling the room with sounds of terror.

Edward was beside her in an instant and cradled her body to his. Fingers gently stroked her hair, as she wept, "Oh, God! Oh, God! Oh, God!"

"Bella, you need to calm down," Edward stated, trying to sound soothing. Her panicked face terrified him and he knew she was at her wits' end. "It was just a dream. You're here! You're safe!"

She grabbed Edward around his neck tightly, eyes desperate. "I'm going to die! He's going to rip me to shreds! You . . . You . . . Need to—"

Edward brushed the tears from her face, which felt like fire to his cold skin. "He won't do anything to you! I swear to destroy that beast before he comes near you!"

"Lis . . . listen to . . . me," she stuttered. Taking a deep breath to steady herself, she continued, "Jacob's going to kill me. Promise . . . promise me that you'll protect my babies! Spirit them far away, where they can grow up and be happy, experience joy and have their nightmares banished! Promise me!"

Her cries further warmed his cold, stone heart. He swallowed thickly, her lovely face so close, lips very near his. He loved her.

His lips met hers slowly at first. Bella's mouth was so very warm and soft, but that wasn't the only attraction. She felt like his due north, the final piece to the puzzle that was Edward Cullen. She was his everything.

Bella wrapped her fingers in his hair without thought, pulling him closer. She felt frenzied by his touch. Was it fear that drove her to this unexpected action? She didn't know. The only word that filled her consciousness was more.

His arms wrapped around Bella's waist and she was pulled into his lap. She stroked his cheek, chin and the shell of his ear. It filled him with bliss.

The smell of her changed for him permanently. Bella no longer smelled of prey, but of desire and need. That was what Edward craved now.

He murmured into her mouth, "Love."

Bella pulled away, gasping.

They just stared at each other, red eyes trying to read brown.

He stroked her nose with his thumb. "Oh, Isabella."

"Land ho!" Garrett yelled from the deck. "Get out here, kids! Seth is looking worried."

Bella jumped off quickly. "The children!"

She rushed toward the ladder and looked back at Edward, sitting solemnly and staring in her direction. A gentle smile graced her face and Bella gave him a nod.

Edward was filled with hope.

Bella's mind was a whirling dervish of thoughts and feelings when it came to the man downstairs. She desperately pushed them out of her head and jogged over to Seth. Looking out to where they were docking, she gazed to where two small figures were running toward the boat, dark hair flying behind them. A large, sparkling man was lumbering behind them with a booming laugh. He looked familiar. He called out, "Let the boat park, munchkins!"

A blonde equally-shimmering woman followed languidly behind, her arms filled with beach toys and towels. She corrected, "It's dock, not park, Emmett. Jason, sweetheart, you need more sunblock!"

They acted like a family. Bella gripped the railing. Sarah and Jason were hers.

A hand grasped her shoulder. Instantly, she knew it was Edward. "They're just protecting them, Bella. You will always be their mother, I swear it. We're also a family here, though. Uncle Emmett and Aunt Rosalie love to spoil little ones."

"You can't read my mind," she stated in confusion. "Did that change?"

He stroked a tendril of her hair. "It's written all over your face."

She gave him a grin. "Oh, goody, now I'm an open book."

Edward grinned back, as Seth rolled his eyes.

The crew of the boat quickly finished securing the vessel. Garrett bowed and held out his hand to help her from tripping as she exited the boat. "Princess Isabella, your children await."

Bella didn't even glance at him as she rushed down the dock to the beach, followed by Seth. She jogged across the white sand to the running children, the family sliding into each other.

"Mama! Mama! Kiss my mama!" Jason peppered her face with kisses. It felt wonderful. "Love my mama!"

Sarah clung to her mother's side and cried. Her voice was thick with tears as she whispered, "You're alive, Mommy! I love you!"

"I love you too, babies!" Bella answered. She grasped them tightly, never wanting to let go.

Next to them, Seth sunk into the sand, teary-eyed. Bella took his hand, joining him in their family embrace. He was now her brother.

Edward and Garrett watched from a few feet back. Glancing over at the younger vampire, Garrett stated nonchalantly, "You need to practice your daddy skills, kid. Your mate will never forgive you if anything happens to the poppets. They need to become as important to you as she is, that mama's babies will always come first, as it should be."

"Is that what I'm feeling? That we're mates?" Edward had a suspicion that his intensity was something special.

Garrett gave a chuckle. "Yes, all that kissing going on means exactly that."

Edward looked at Garrett worriedly. "Bella's married, though."

"I think that relationship became null and void after her husband tried to eat her and the poppets," Garrett explained, shrugging.

"You'll stop flirting with her, then?"

"Never! It's far too much fun! After walking the earth for so many years, I refuse to give up on some amusement." Garrett looked at Bella hugging her children and Seth. "Don't worry though, kid. I won't steal her away."

"Like Kate will let you," Edward scoffed at a glaring Garrett. The mate relationship between Garrett and Kate was always amusing for the other vampires. They were argumentative to a fault and ended their relationship repeatedly.

Then Edward grew somber. "She believes she'll die by that monster's hands."

"She's not Alice," Garrett pointed out. "No magic dreams. We'll protect her."

"The children?" Edward asked.

Garrett watched as Jason kept petting his mother's hair, both children situated in Bella's lap.

"They must be protected at all costs. Bella will never forgive us and I refuse to be haunted by the Princess for all eternity. She would be terrific at giving a guilt trip."

Edward's face morphed into anguish. "I can't lose her!"

"Kid, you won't. She won't die for good. If you don't do it, I will. Esme and Alice will pinch-hit, if necessary."

"What if she doesn't—" Edward began.

"As long as those children are safe, she will," Garrett explained confidently. "The mates' bond is almost as strong as a mother's."

Bella kissed the children and started singing a lilting tune, "My bonny lies—"

Her song filled him with need for her love. Edward could only wish on the stars hidden from view by daylight for Garrett's words to be true.