AN: First, thank you all for reading!

Mauigirl60 makes me happy when skies are gray and she helped me so much with this chapter!

There are about three chapters left.

Enjoy.

Chapter 13

Sarah was trembling violently, her small head in Bella's lap. She was running her fingers through the little girl's hair. Waves of hopelessness filled her.

Carlisle spoke in a soothing tone, "We only have three options. One is that we can snap her neck."

"I'll snap yours!" Bella hissed. Edward glared at Carlisle.

"I was certain you wouldn't go for that one." Carlisle checked Sarah's pulse. "The second option is for her to become a vampire, but we'll need to hide her for eternity. A child vampire is the most dangerous creature imaginable."

"No! What's the third?" Her little girl needed to grow up and find her way to this life or to remain human.

"Suck out the venom," Carlisle explained. "Aro only bit her once. The amount of venom shouldn't be too much of an issue. I did it once in Paris. There was another child bitten, who was fine after the removal of the venom."

Bella shook slightly at the thought of Carlisle's mouth on her daughter. "You could kill her."

"No, Bella. You could kill her," he disagreed. "I can't do it now, though. I've been ingesting wolf's blood frequently, which would lead to the child's demise."

James and Garrett held Jane tightly as she cackled, "You're going to kill your own kid! How hilarious!"

"Off with her head, Gar!" Bella hissed, still watching Sarah.

"My pleasure," Garrett replied, as the men dragged her down the beach. Jane's screams filled the air.

"We need to do this now!" Edward looked down at Sarah. "I'll do it or Esme will. Bella's a newborn! It wouldn't be safe!"

Carlisle shook his head. "You ingested the wolf's blood, too, and Esme—"

Esme interrupted her husband, ". . . Is afraid she isn't strong enough."

"Everything Bella's done has been for her children, Edward. A mother's love is the strongest love there is. It rivals the bond of mates." Carlisle clasped Bella's shoulder. "I have faith in you."

For the first time, Bella found herself being thankful of having the doctor there.

Edward stroked her head. "Sweetheart, you need to get started before it's too late."

Sarah whimpered into her chest. Bella choked back a sob to ask, "Where?"

"You need to suck the venom out from the original wound Aro made," Carlisle answered rapidly. "You need to suck it out quickly and spit. Then, repeat, if necessary. Edward will monitor your child and we'll make sure you stop in time. You have to do it now."

Looking down at her daughter, Bella caught Sarah's big, brown eyes staring at her. They held so much depth which most young children didn't develop until much later. She pressed her lips upon the bloody wound.

The liquid rushed into Bella's mouth. It tasted like tangerines and cherry lollipops—Sarah's favorite foods that she'd beg for all day long, if she could.

That's when the memories came flooding back.

The moment of Sarah's birth when Bella had to have an emergency Caesarean to save both of their lives. The crying baby had been placed into her arms and Bella'd known immediately that she'd met the first love of her life, until Jason followed shortly after. Then, she had two loves.

Suck it out and spit. Red covered the green grass.

The day Sarah walked for the first time, she'd stumbled immediately into Bella's arms. The giggles which had erupted from both of them had filled the room. Jacob had run to get the camera to capture that moment. It had been a happy time—a joyous time.

"A bit more, Bella. Just a bit more." Edward's voice filled Bella's mind, as the past kept playing like a movie reel inside her head.

Sarah had been so frightened her first day of kindergarten. Her fingers were tightly clasped onto Bella's as they'd entered the building. The little girl had stared at all her new classmates with worried eyes. All of a sudden, Sarah had smiled and hugged her mother and bravely went up to a group of unknown children, charming them immediately.

"Bella, you need to let go!" Esme exclaimed.

The thunderstorm was fierce. Sarah and Jason had been in Bella's bedroom, snuggled up against her sides. They all fit comfortably in the large bed. Jacob had been out drinking with his buddies who'd come to visit from the reservation. As the lightning struck and the thunder boomed, Bella had felt content with the loves of her life in her arms.

"Mommy, did you see? Did you see what I showed you?" Sarah asked weakly.

Bella moved away from her daughter's neck and purged more blood out of her mouth. A bit trickled down her chin. She whispered, "Sarah, baby—"

"I showed you our life together—did you see?" she whispered louder.

"Oh, honey," Bella said, holding her tighter. "It was so beautiful. It is so beautiful."

Carlisle whispered, "That child has a powerful gift like her mother."

The little girl looked up with a smile. "Did I miss lunch? Can I have chips?"

Kissing her child's forehead, Bella smiled and said, "You can have anything you want."

XXXXXX

The sun was setting on the horizon. Bella and Jason were cocooning Sarah in a large bedroom in the main house. The joy Bella felt watching her beloved children sleep was amazing.

Seth had brought Jason back not long after they'd gotten Sarah settled in the bedroom. The small boy only knew his sister had a boo-boo and he needed to be gentle with her.

Edward stood at the window, singing softly to them all. Bella thought his voice resembled an angel's. He glowed from the pink light coming through the window pane.

Esme and Rosalie sneaked in quietly. Esme walked over to Bella and whispered, "We'll watch over them. Go with Edward. He has a surprise for you and the children."

"Really?" Edward whipped his head around and looked happily at Esme. "We can do it?"

"I think it'll be perfect," Esme replied. "What do you think, Rose?"

"Emmett and I are planning on being close by. Instant babysitters." Rosalie tapped her chest with a grin.

Bella sat up slowly in order not to jostle the children. "What are you taking about?"

"Show her, Edward!" Rosalie said excitedly.

Edward held out his hand. "Come, my love."

XXXXXX

Running down a path away from the main house, Bella couldn't imagine where Edward was taking her. All of a sudden, the trees opened up and they ended up at a cluster of rose-covered cottages. There were lights lining the sidewalks, making the area seem like a small neighborhood. They were so charming that Bella imagined she'd just stepped into a whimsical painting.

"What is this place? It's lovely." Bella gazed at the small gardens. She couldn't help imagining digging in the dirt with the children, planting flowers and vegetables. Jason would love searching for worms.

Edward took Bella's hand and led her toward one of the cottages. "Esme has a theory that if vampires live as they did before they were turned, they'll be able to keep the humanity they believed was lost. We need to remember that we're still human—"

"Only dead ones with dietary issues?" she kidded, as he let her inside. Bella gasped at the comfortable family room. Jazz music played on the stereo and a fire was lit in the fireplace.

"I see Alice got things ready," Edward snickered.

"Is this her house?"

"It's ours," Edward admitted, taking Bella's hands.

"The children—" Bella's head was spinning.

He got on one knee. "Our children will be living with us. Sarah's room is pink and full of crowns and fairies. Jay's room is filled with elephants and is a jungle theme. Emmett said it was a must."

"Jay?"

"I call him Jay, because he likes it!" he said excitedly. "I'm going to teach him to play the piano!"

"I think the drums—" Bella began and stopped. She looked at Edward who was still kneeling on the floor. "Why are we talking about this when you're down there?"

"Isabella Swan, I want to be every part of your and the children's lives. I want to be their father and teach them that they can trust me to love and protect them both. I want to be your husband, whom you can also love and trust. Will you marry me?"

His eyes were so sincere. She wanted to kiss him. She was terrified.

"You work fast. We've met only recently," she teased. "I mean, you were planning on eating me!"

Edward stood and wrapped his arms around her. "It'll be okay. I know you're scared."

"I have a terrible marriage track record," she said quietly.

Edward placed his forehead on hers. "My love, I'm not Jacob. You're my treasure. Those children are a huge part of you, so they're important to me. I love you all."

"You'll get tired of me," she voiced one of her fears.

"The fact that we're mates makes that concern completely invalid." He kissed her head.

Bella pulled away to look at him. "You really want this?"

"I do."

Isabella Swan decided to look deeply inside her heart. The children were there in their permanent spot and now, Edward was also there. She trusted him with both the children and with her heart.

"Yes." Bella shook slightly with all the emotion she felt.

Edward kissed her passionately before grabbing her up in his arms.

"What's this all about?" she questioned in surprise.

"We need to celebrate in our new room." Edward took her through several beautifully decorated rooms and up a staircase.

She giggled. "I thought we don't sleep."

He made it to the end of the hall and kicked open the door. There was a large bed covered in navy silk sheets. Edward smirked and tossed Bella on top. "This bed isn't for sleeping."

Edward dove on top of her and their clothes were shed quickly. Touches were soft and loving, as they rolled around on the soft mattress. Candles lit their skin, giving off a faint shimmer. Their lips explored every visible spot of their bodies.

Entering Bella slowly, Edward moved inside her with gentle thrusts. His hands held her face, as he kissed her with all his emotions. This was not the frenzied sex of the newly-mated, but the romantic lovemaking of two people deeply in love.

Bella cried out and dug her nails into his back, as Edward increased his thrusting and stroked her with his fingers. "Edward!"

He kissed her even more in response.

They finally came together, their limbs all entwined and with satisfied smiles.

Bella gave a little sigh and said, "I needed that."

"As did I," Edward agreed. "Ready for another round?"

"You are insatiable!" She looked at him with bright eyes.

Edward rubbed her breasts. "And you aren't?"

"Fine! I'm as bad as you!" She flipped him over. "I want to be on top."

Bella straddled Edward and bit his chest, as a voice cried from downstairs, "Bella? Edward?"

It was Seth and his voice was upset.

"Coming!" Bella jumped up, wrapping the sheet around herself to hurry downstairs. Edward quickly followed, his body wrapped in a towel.

Seth stood at the bottom, his face pained. He didn't even notice the couple's state of undress. "They have them all! They have Charlie, Bell!"

Bella gasped. "Charlie! Harry was going to pro—"

"Dad's in the hospital. He's the only one who made it out and had a heart attack when he tried to tell the police. He called me before the surgery." Both of Seth's hands went to his hair in frustration. "Jacob killed Billy!"

"Oh, God! If he'd kill his own father—" she started to say.

Edward pulled Bella to his chest.

"He'll do anything," he finished.

Bella knew the answer, what they needed to do.

She said powerfully, "We go there and kill them all!"