AN: Thanks to all of you reading and mauigirl60 for being a wonderful Beta.

Enjoy!

Chapter 12

The honeymoon was over.

Bella rubbed her eyes. Her body wasn't tired, but her soul was.

She folded a tiny shirt covered in dinosaurs, placing it on the pile. A floral skirt was placed next to it in the next pile. A place for everything and everything in its place.

This is how she kept herself sane and hidden away from Carlisle.

Bella sat on the floor, surrounded by clean laundry. It had been a month since she was turned into a monster like the Cullens, but she was finally feeling human again. Sort of. Her manic energy had turned to possessive worry over the children.

Sarah and Jason reclined on the bed. Big sister was holding her brother tightly and reading him The Cat in the Hat.

"Mommy, can we go outside and play?" Sarah questioned.

Bella twisted a pair of shorts so tightly the fabric ripped apart. She dropped it quickly to the ground.

"No. It's not safe." She could hear vampires frolicking in the surf.

"Rosie!" Jason whined.

She grabbed her knees. Must breathe and calm down. Don't scare them. The children reeked. "Do me a favor and stay safe."

"Red-eyed Mommy mean!" Jason yelled.

Sarah grabbed her brother tightly. "Stop, Jay!"

They were right. She felt meaner. In the week without them, it was easy to fall in to relative vampire debauchery with Edward. It felt like she was young again and it reminded her of the first throes of love with Jacob. It was passion at all times; heated touches and intense kisses which ebbed as soon as she saw Sarah and Jason again.

Their little faces lit up for her immediately as Edward and Emmett held her tightly back in the living room. The television played quietly in the background. The talking bumble bees on the screen were being used to make the situation less stressful, but they weren't working. Bella hissed, "I won't hurt them."

Immediately, smiles became frowns upon hearing their mother's words. Sarah quietly asked, "Mommy, are you sick? You sound funny."

Jason added, "Scary eyes."

"I'm okay!" Bella stilled her movements. "I just need to hug them."

Jason clung to Sarah and repeated, "Scary eyes."

The sun came out and the windows filled with light. Bella's body sparkled. Sarah's eyes filled with tears. "You're like Mrs. Esme now. Didn't you want to be like us anymore, Mommy?"

Bella crashed down to the ground on her knees, venom pouring from her eyes. The pain was nothing compared to the splintering of her no-longer-beating heart. "I love you two! Oh, God! What did I do?"

Her mind spun at what had become of her and the children. The happy days when they were babies and Jacob had acted like the boy she fell in love with changed to fear and worry when he'd turned into the monster. It was too easy to let the golden-eyed vampires lull her into laughter and joking—it was a way to avoid the dread of what was to become of them. Now that Bella could see the fear and sadness in the children's faces, she was bereft. Why couldn't this just be a horrible nightmare?

Alice and Esme looked at each other. Bella's pain was being amplified through the house from the howling Jasper. Alice nodded once and they went over to the children.

Esme kneeled down, taking their small hands into her own.

"Your mommy loves you so very much. She looks a little different, but the way she feels about you has never changed. Your mommy is your biggest champion. She can just protect you even better now."

Esme took Jason's hand, as Alice held Sarah's. They were led over to their mother who hugged both of them tightly.

"Let them go play, Bella." Edward stood in the doorway, his arms crossed.

Emmett popped his head over Edward's shoulder. "Just for a little bit, Bella. I'll keep them on the front lawn near the house, and bring them back before lunch."

Sarah put down the book. "Can we go to the beach?"

"Let's not push our luck, kitten. I'm going to have enough trouble talking your mama into letting you monkeys into the sunshine. Uncle Em does the talking." Emmett turned to Bella and asked, "Please let me have a play date with your kids?"

Edward added, "They'll be safely indoors in time for lunch."

Bella looked at the hopeful faces of the children. They needed to run and they needed to feel fresh air on their faces. "Where's Carlisle?"

She refused to put all her trust in the man who had gleefully terrorized her. It would have been worse if Jasper was out of the basement. Supposedly, it was easier for Carlisle to regain control. The rest of the vampires might be secure in feeling that he wasn't a threat, but Bella would always be aware of everything Carlisle did.

"Talking to Esme in the study," Edward answered.

"Alec and Jane?" she questioned.

The vampire boy had apologized profusely for hurting her and Bella had forgiven him. Around the children, she made the young-looking vampires stay away. She knew any spilt blood would be too tempting around them.

Emmett rolled his eyes. "Taking a walk in the woods."

He was not a fan of the vampire couple.

"If they come back to the house?" she continued, worrying.

Edward reassured, "The kids will come inside."

"Carlisle?"

"He won't come near them," Emmett promised.

Bella closed her eyes. "Okay. Take Seth, though. Jane is frightened of him."

The girl was terrified of the wolf. He made her cower in fear.

The children cheered and ran to Emmett. They didn't stop to hug their mother. Bella looked down at her hands trying to hide her melancholy.

Edward sat next to her. "It will get easier."

He rubbed small circles on her neck.

"They don't want to hug me," she admitted. She dug her nails into her palms. "It really doesn't Jasoner. I'm too scared to. I could break them in half."

He pulled her toward his chest in a hug. "Bella, trust me, you will be able to hug them again. Your control has been impressive."

"Perfect?" She smiled a tiny bit.

"God, no! You ruined my computer! Light touches, woman." Edward's laptop had paid a horrible price when Bella was trying to research Jacob's whereabouts. "You love those kids. They're a part of you. That's what gives you control and makes you strong."

"Thank you," she said quietly. "I don't know what I can ever do to show you my appreciation."

Edward laughed, "I do."

"I'm not having sex with you," Bella stated. He was still ready to go at a moment's notice, but Bella's mind was now fixated on the children's well-being.

"I was going to suggest you let me help fold socks. I enjoy feeling useful to you and the kids." He smiled. "A kiss would be great, too."

Bella leaned over, giving him a quick kiss, and pushing a pile of socks at him. "Make sure they match."

They folded in comfortable silence. Every few minutes, they would glance at each other, smiling. It was at a human pace that they folded small pairs of pants and shirts, just enjoying the companionship.

"No!" Seth screamed from the yard. In a flash, Bella and Edward flew out the window to where chaos awaited them.

Immediately, Bella sought out the location of Sarah and Jason. They stood behind Emmett and Seth, shivering in fear.

"I never should have let them out of my sight," Bella whispered. Edward took hold of her hand silently.

A large band of vampires were standing there, ruby-eyed and rabid. The leader, standing up front, had pale skin and long dark hair. His black velvet cloak swayed in the island breeze. "How delightful for you to join us! Edward has found a beloved mate! This is a joyous occasion!"

Behind him, a dark-haired woman, her face dripping with blood, held the corpse of young Claire. The disappearance of the young wolf girl was now solved. Bella glanced at poor Seth, who was changing swiftly.

The man clapped his hands and let out a wild-eyed giggle. Bella knew instantly that he was clearly insane.

Esme, followed by Carlisle, walked toward the man. "Always with the dramatics, Aro. Go back to Italy. We're living quietly here. There's no need for this little visit."

"Let us kill them and be done with it, brother," sneered a flaxen-haired vampire with a pinched face. It looked as if he'd been sucking lemons.

Bella shifted her eyes toward Emmett. He was putting Jason onto Seth's back, while Sarah clung to Rosalie.

"Caius, no! We need to bring our family back into the fold. They've been confused and led out to the wilderness. Carlisle and young Edward need to return to our important work with the wolves." He tapped his chin. "Eleazar, my dear friend, do tell us the gift of the wolves' mother. Do we need her in Volturi?"

Another man walked over to the insane giggler, looking Bella up and down. He was followed by a tiny woman, whose black hair fell to her waist in ringlets. The man said, "She's a shield, Aro. I would imagine she's quite powerful."

Irina walked slowly up to them. "Why, Eleazar? Carmen, this isn't like you!"

Carmen sneered. "Couldn't you and Kate be more like Tanya? She knew where her priorities lay."

"Her priorities got her killed!" Kate screamed. Her body trembled, as Garrett held her back.

All of a sudden, there was a whoosh as Jane and Alec came out of the woods. Their hands were tightly clasped. Jane looked at Aro in reverence and whispered, "Father."

It was Jane's small smile that chilled Bella to the bone. Bella glanced at the boy and commanded, "Alec, come here!"

Instead, the boy looked lovingly at his mate. She held his face with both her hands and gave him a sweet kiss. "I love you, Alec."

She twisted off his head with a quick snap. His head dropped to the ground next to his body. Jane said in a bored tone, "But I love Father more."

That's when all hell broke loose. Vampires were grabbing one another to bite and pull apart limbs. The vampire that Carmen had taken ripped off Irina's scalp, as her teeth ripped into her skull. Laurent was trying to pull the woman off his love, but Eleazar yanked the head right off him, causing it to fly into the air. The dark dreadlocks flapped around the severed head, as Victoria screamed and went after Eleazar.

Bella and Edward ran toward the children but were beat by Jane, who made Rosalie fall to the ground. She proceeded to rip Rosalie's arms off and grab Sarah.

Emmett yelled to Seth, "Run!"

Seth took off into the woods, with Jason clinging to the wolf's thick fur.

There were screams as Jane ran toward Aro. Bella ran quickly behind her, as other vampires were falling into heaps from both Jane and Kate. Edward landed on the grass, screaming in anguish.

Bella's brain flooded with emotion and fear. She just needed it all to stop. The children were scared and Bella needed to protect them. The view around her became a swirl of colors and all the pain from both Jane and Kate stopped. The vampires all got up slowly.

"Here, Daddy!" Jane had just placed Sarah in Aro's arms, when she realized what was occurring. "What the fuck did you do?"

Bella smiled brightly. "I'm going to kill you, you psychotic middle schooler! However, I need my daughter first."

She rushed toward Aro, who was cradling Sarah to his chest. "Now, Mrs. Black, let's stay calm. We can work this out. My goodness, this child is just divine!"

Caius rolled his eyes, as he sat in a tree regarding the action. "Can we just kill the children now? The wolves are a nuisance and these games are just prolonging my annoyance."

He sniffed the girl's hair with a crazed look in his eyes. "It's a horrific odor, but what's underneath this pretty skin is true nectar."

"Get your face away from her!" Bella growled.

"Calm down, Mama Lion. I have the precious child in my arms and you need to be quiet." He stroked Sarah's hair. The child had passed out from pure fear. He giggled in an unhinged, high-pitched tone. "I do love children! I love to eat them!"

Bella inched closer. The rainbow was still in her eyes, but she noticed that she could move it around in her mind. The color faded away from Kate.

A little closer Bella moved, giving gave Kate a wink.

"She's just a child. Leave my family alone," Bella stated.

Aro scoffed, "I can't, darling! Your family is the key to keeping the wolves in line. The children must die. You can decide if it's fast or slow. I'm an altruistic man."

Eleazar chuckled, making Carlisle hiss in his direction. Carmen and Irina were dead by his feet.

The rest of the vampires were on edge, waiting to make a move.

Bella moved still closer. Aro was in a manic tailspin. He pointed at a vampire with a goatee. "Bring me the boy, Alessandro! That one has the mark of the wolf! He'll be yummy."

Edward hissed behind Bella, "No!"

She hadn't even realized he was so close behind her.

Aro's eyes turned to slits. He was like a snake and dangerous in his lunacy. "I'm starved!"

His teeth chomped down into Sarah's neck.

Bella ran. Her baby was hurt and it was killing her inside. Aro lifted his face from Sarah, her blood streaking his face. His eyes were looking around in wonder. "Why does her blood taste like heaven? Pure ambrosia!"

Bella jumped on him, as Sarah was caught by Edward. "Die!"

Aro was no match for her strength, as she proceeded to rip him to shreds in her anger. Pieces of the lunatic hit the grass of the front lawn. An arm by the front porch, a foot by the driveway, as Bella screamed in a fiery rage.

Esme pulled her away, as the remaining vampires fought behind them. Alice yelled triumphantly as she beheaded Caius in the tree. Kate was shocking various vampires, as Victoria was helping Emmett protect Rosalie. James was ripping off Jane's fingers, one by one.

"Sarah needs you, honey." Esme kissed Bella's hair.

There on the ground was Sarah, held in Edward's arms. Her face was devoid of color and she was trembling.

Bella sank to her knees and took Sarah gently into her arms. "Oh, baby! I couldn't save you. Oh, God, what do I do?"

Edward held onto Bella's arms, his eyes filling with venom.

Carlisle clasped Bella's shoulder. "You must do the unthinkable."