AN: A huge thank you to mauigirl60 for being my beta!

More thanks to all of you reading! I really appreciate it!

Enjoy!

Chapter 9

Every finger and every toe was accounted for. Sarah's smile was bright and Jason was trying to tickle Bella's stomach. This was what happiness felt like. They were two pieces of her that had been missing and Bella was now holding onto them tightly. Two giggling brunettes with big eyes and infectious giggles that made her finally feel content.

The lovely woman with the auburn hair knelt next to them in the sand—Esme. She was the one who'd saved her children. "That's what I've been waiting to see. It's so thrilling to have you here safe and sound."

Bella looked sincerely into the woman's golden eyes. "Thank you for caring for them."

"It was my pleasure! The children are absolutely enchanting and are beloved by all of us." She rubbed Jason's head and he smiled up at her. "You wouldn't believe how having children around this lot brought such joy and lightness. They are blessings!"

The words Esme spoke were heartfelt. It was easy to forget the innocent way that a child viewed the world, the thrill they took from discovering new things. Mostly, the way these two children had seen the worst evil in the world but could still see the goodness in a ragtag band of monsters.

Standing, Esme wiped the sand from her jeans and held out her hand. "Come, dear Bella and brave Seth. I think you two would enjoy a warm shower and some breakfast at the main house. Rose promised pancakes and bacon to the children."

"Monkeys!" Jason exclaimed as he tried to help Esme assist Bella to stand.

"Monkeys?" Bella was confused. Of course, monkeys would probably be the most normal thing she would have encountered the way her life had been going.

"Rosie promised!" Jason jumped up and down in excitement.

The cool blonde who had rescued them before came up, barely glancing at Bella. She cooed at Jason, "I did, my little monkey man."

Bella was tired, confused, stressed, and feeling emotionally drained. She was also not intimidated in the least by this woman.

"I really appreciate that you watched after them for me, but I'd really like to be the to make breakfast for them—get things back to normal."

Sarah snuggled into Bella's side and hugged her tightly.

Rosalie gave her a withering glance. "Normal? Normal in the way that their mother let their homicidal father try to eat them? That type of normal?"

Bella froze as Sarah gripped Bella tighter. Jason sat down and started making a hole in the sand.

Esme gripped Rosalie's arm tightly and hissed, "That's not fair! Bella is an innocent in all this! Apologize!"

"Why? She let them live with a wolf! She brought one of them here! Humans are the stupidest things!"

Edward ran with Garrett toward Bella and when he took in her expression, pulled her and Sarah close. "Hey, now, you did what you had to do. You saved them. You're a wonderful mother."

Rosalie rolled her eyes. "Only you would fall for a living strawberry milkshake."

Bella's body was rigid. She felt more like stone than the vampires did.

Quietly, Bella said, "I made choices with the information I had. Did I know something was wrong concerning Jacob? Yes. I made a decision to get back to my father in order to get help for Jacob. I didn't know about the wolf situation.

"I'm just a human being. I don't have super strength and feel like a piece of marble. I can be ripped into a million pieces and nothing will put me together again. What good would I be to Sarah and Jason then? I wouldn't. All I have is my limited intelligence as you pointed out. I used that and prayer and hoped for some luck to try and get help.

"Want to switch and live a day in my shoes? Fine. Do it! You have to take the fragility and limited abilities that go along with my everyday life. I get the power, superior attitude and lack of compassion that you just demonstrated."

Rosalie just watched her, mouth wide open.

Garrett whispered, "Damn, that little lady has balls!"

"Right now, I'll be taking the children and Seth to wherever Esme tells us to go and fix breakfast," Bella said, her face firm. She moved away from Edward. Her chin was held up high. "Can we go?"

"Certainly," Esme said. She gave Bella's shoulder a squeeze. "I'm proud of you, sweetheart."

Edward could only smile at the praise Esme bestowed on Bella.

"Apologize, Rose!" Emmett, the normally jolly one, stated. His face was thunderous and it made Bella shiver.

Seth picked Jason up, holding him close to protect him.

Rosalie looked at him and turned to Bella. "I'm sorry."

It almost sounded sincere.

Emmett clapped his hands together and hugged a shocked Bella. "I've been wanting to do this since the first time we met! I've been taking good care of the kids for you! They call me Uncle Emmie. Seriously, girl, you need a big brother looking after you and my little goofballs. Jason, let's show your mom and the kid here the toys I got for you and Sarah!"

Who was this man? One moment he was frightening and the next moment he was charming.

Emmett then exclaimed, "Alice! We need to take you to Alice!"

XXXXXX

The main house was mostly windows overlooking the ocean. One whole wall was glass and the light just bounced over the neutral and pastel furniture, making the vampires milling around the property sparkle brilliantly.

"I need sunglasses," Seth complained, as Bella handed him plates loaded with food for the children sitting at the kitchen table.

Bella grinned. "It is bright."

"I mean for the vamps! They look like somebody poured Elmer's glue on them and rolled them in glitter."

Bella laughed hard. Emmett laughed even harder.

He patted Seth on the back gently. "Garrett told me you were a nice kid! Welcome to the family!"

"We need a pet," Garrett added. "I like puppies."

Seth rolled his eyes and went to grab more plates of food. They were brimming with steaming eggs and bacon. One plate was piled high with slices of buttered toast. Bella was feeding an army of four. Emmett and Garrett were sniffing the air and making comical expressions of disgust which made the children dissolve into giggles.

Bella was filling glasses with juice when she heard a high-pitched squeal, making her looked out the window near the sink to discover the cause of the commotion. Edward was at the water's edge, his toes were in the water and he was glowing. She couldn't help but be drawn up in his beauty, until the shimmering strawberry blonde, wearing a barely-there bikini, ran squealing down the beach. She leapt onto Edward, her lips meeting his.

The cup Bella held crashed into the sink, shattering into pieces.

"Princess Isabella? Are you all right?" Garrett asked worriedly.

Bella closed her eyes from the sight before her and steadied her nerves. "Just tired. More coffee's needed."

It occurred to her that Garrett had let out a growl when he looked out toward the beach. Perhaps she was his ex. She found the whole situation frankly ridiculous.

Why was she acting like this?

Bella had no idea, but she didn't like it—one bit. She needed her children, not to harbor some bizarre attraction to an undead teenager who'd been around since cars were called horseless carriages.

"Bella?" the dark-haired girl, dressed in lemon, timidly asked. She was Billy the Kid's wife, Alice.

Her heart racing, Bella gripped the counter behind her.

The girl exclaimed, "No, Bella! Please! I would never hurt you!"

Seth barked, "You're that Jasper-guy's lady? He was eating me, along with the gay guy in the scarf."

He pointed at the scars on his neck.

"Carlisle as the gay guy with the scarf! I love it! Can I see the formerly good doctor's love bites?" Emmett lumbered over to him and tried to look, causing Seth to growl.

Jason clapped. "Can I be a puppy, too?"

"Eat, baby," Bella instructed. She certainly hoped his childish make-believe wouldn't become an adult reality.

Clasping his neck, Seth glared at Emmett. "No offense, big guy. I really don't want any of you near me."

"You stink, kid! Trust me when I say I have no desire to put something that stinks as bad as you in my mouth." Emmett looked at Seth's wounds. "Damn, those bites aren't even normal! Alice, it was like they went rabid."

Alice crumpled into a chair and her face was forlorn. Bella instantly felt pity for the poor girl. Without thought, Bella went and wrapped her arms around her in comfort.

"Did you know about the blood? I heard about your visions."

Alice looked at her in confusion. "I've been missing so much. There are black spots where visions should be. I was fairly certain that the Volturi had some new talents to block me, and to be the reason for Jasper, Carlisle, and Edward's drastic change in personality."

"I don't know about the missing visions, but it's the blood of the tribe that caused them to act like assholes. It's a drug."

Alice smiled widely and stared at a wall, her eyes glassy. All of a sudden she pulled Bella into a hug, and cried out in joy, "You brilliant girl! I need to talk to Esme! I always knew you'd be my favorite sister!"

She bounded out of the room and Bella watched in wonder. Sister? Where did that come from?

Edward ran in from the back door. "Bella? Are you all right?"

"Your timing is impeccable, Teen Angel. Worry for our dear Princess Isabella was premature. She and Alice are going to be the best of friends as the prophecy foretold," Garrett explained, frowning.

Emmett looked angry. "How's Tanya, Ed? She still smells like Windex. You reek of it."

Bella felt the heat from Edward's eyes on her as she twisted the dishrag tightly around her fingers. She'd had about enough and her appetite was gone.

"Seth, I really need a shower. Could you watch the children for me, please?" Bella gave Seth a tiny grin. "My loves, be good for Seth. I'll be out in a little while."

"You need to eat," Edward directed, trying to take her hand. "And we need to talk."

"I'm not hungry and not talkative." Bella wouldn't look at him and rushed out of the room.

Even though she was married and a hypocrite, Bella owned up to the fact that she was jealous when it came to Edward Cullen. What a mess!

XXXXXX

The Discovery of Witches sat in Bella's lap, her eyes dancing over the words. No sparkling virgin vampires, just a dashing Matthew and a heroine with powers of her own. Bella wished that it was her story and not this mess she found herself embroiled in.

"Candy Land!" Emmett crowed, on the floor with Sarah and Jason. He was really a giant child with a gentle spirit.

A group of them were sitting on the side porch. Seth was dozing in a chair and Victoria sat next to Bella on the wicker porch swing. They were swinging back and forth.

"Are we reading about the handsomest vampire in literature or pouting about an idiot and a trampy siren?" Victoria asked with a snort.

Bella's head whipped toward Victoria, as Sarah asked, "What's a trampy?"

Emmett laughed hysterically and then turned to Jason, who was randomly making his gingerbread man dance on the board. "I saw that, you adorable little cheater!"

Rosalie walked out, clutching a margarita. She took a deep breath and held it out to Bella. "Peace offering."

"Poisoned?" Bella asked, her eyebrow raised.

"Touché." Rosalie looked sheepish. "Alice and Esme talked to me. I was jealous of you. Your children are lovely and I've always wanted to be a mother. I was having too much fun pretending."

The look of sadness on Rosalie's face was all it took for Bella to forgive her. She took the drink. "Thank you. They need another player."

Rosalie looked down at Emmett and the children. "Are you sure?"

"They'd love it," Bella replied.

"Forget Garrett's Princess Isabella—I'll call you Saint Bella." Victoria swung them faster.

"I'll call you a pain in my ass!" Bella retorted, enjoying the levity. "Don't spill my drink!"

There was a whistle and a fisherman sweater smelling of pine needles hit Bella in the head. Alice trilled, "Put that on, take your beverage and get some clarity from the sea breeze!"

"What did you see?" Bella's eyes narrowed.

"Ask me no questions and I shall tell you no lies." Alice grinned. "It's all good."

Bella stood up and stretched. "Fine, it's only because I like looking at the stars."

Minutes later, Bella was walking on the beach, the cool sand between her toes. How different this place was then the one where Jacob had taken them. There was a serenity here which lulled Bella into a feeling of ease. The sweater smelled like Edward, Bella realized. Alice was a troublemaker.

"Bella?"

Edward.

Serenity gone.

"I'm having some alone time here, Edward."

"Bella, I need to talk to you about Tanya." His hands gripped her waist.

She shook her head. The supermodel vampire? No.

"It's cool. You have a smoking hot girlfriend. I have a homicidal husband, myself. You and I had a moment. Stress can make people and vampires act like hormonal teenagers. I need to drink more. Buh-bye!"

She took a swig of her margarita.

Edward pulled it out of her hand and threw it into the ocean. "Edward!"

He pulled her close, kissing Bella with all he had.

When he pulled away, Bella breathlessly squeaked, "I'm married."

"He tried to kill you and the children. I think divorce is unnecessary, because I'm going to kill him."

"No, I am. I need to stop Jacob." She gripped his shoulders. "What about Tanya?"

"She's desperate but I'm only interested in you." Edward stroked her cheek

Eyes wild, Bella shook her head. "This is nuts! I barely know you and I hated you at first."

"We're mates." His forehead rested on hers.

"That's weird." She sighed, closing her eyes. "You're basically dead and I'm alive and breathing."

"Yes, it's weird." Edward moved away slightly and kissed her nose. "Strangely perfect, I think."

"What do you want me to do with all this information?"

He looked into her eyes. "Kiss me."

So she did.

Their lips mashed together as the waves hit the sand. Bella clutched his shirt feverishly, the sea breeze whipping through her hair. Her body was feeling pure bliss. The children were safe and she was feeling something close to happiness, as Edward's mouth kissed harder, his hand rubbing her back.

Only bliss had a habit of making one careless.

As the couple kissed and caressed, four sets of red eyes were watching.