I need to say something. This was from the other fan fic, but it was about both- about the novel writing- if that was you (I really wish I had a reply link for you) THANK YOU! That's actually my dream so that's the biggest complement I could ever get. Now, another chapter of Beginnings. One more thing: we don't know anything about Tanya or her clan except that they're all girls & live in Delhi, Alaska. Since we only know a little bit about Tanya she's the only one mentioned. So don't get your hopes up too much.

After Bella and I left Forks Alice called and wanted to apologize to Bella for her separation in the best way she knew best-with lots of people. She and Esme wanted to throw Bella a surprise baby shower, and Esme had already talked to Renee, who seemed almost as excited as the planners. In middle April, during our spring break, Renee and my family would fly up here.

I kept my promise and didn't tell Bella anything about it as I secretly invited Bella's friends. At last the day came. Jody and Mary Ann kept her busy at the mall while I picked up Esme, Alice, Rosalie, and my mother-in-law from the airport. The guys in my family were staying with Tanya's family for a few hours, and Phil was with his team at their state championship.

"So how is Bella now?" asked Esme once we got home. She was rearranging the furniture to make room. Renee was in the kitchen with Alice.

"She's going great. There's quite a bit more of her than you remember though," I answered laughing. The last time her mother had seen her Bella was in a wedding gown, skinny and pale. Now her stomach had tripled in size, and her skin was a shade darker than normal. She looked pretty, but she was even more fragile now than she was before! I wanted more than to hold her close beside me at night, but I knew I'd have to wait until late June.

"I don't think you two ever told me. What is it?" Renee held her breath, praying for me to say it was a girl. Esme and Rosalie were hoping for a new baby boy to raise, and Alice was excited for us. Bella and I had to choice to find out in late January or February, but…

"We didn't want to know. We're a little old fashioned, and want to be surprised."

"But this is your first child! It might be best to be as prepared as possible, Edward," warned Renee as she sat her present down on the coffee table next to Esme's.

"Oh, let them do this their way," said Esme. "Aren't grandma's suppose to help anyway?" I then left the ladies to their party planning to visit Tanya.

Jasper opened the large, black front doors of Tanya's house. Emmett was standing behind him with a huge grin- that meant trouble. Inside Carlisle was reading the morning paper at the dinning room table. He looked up from the page and smiled at me. Tanya and Irina were sitting on either side of him.

"Where's this Bella everyone keeps talking about?" asked Tanya. She strawberry blonde hair rested on her shoulders before she swept it back into a low ponytail. Irina, another blonde, was also smiling at me and got up to hug me.

"It's good to see you again, too. She's out with some friends so the girls can get the shower ready. Where are the others?" I asked as I looked around and listened for the other female voices.

"Hunting. We can't go as a group anymore without attracting people. Poachers are getting worse around here. If they don't stop our moose and deer will be endangered and even harder to kill," grumbled Tanya. It was a growing problem in the wild part of Alaska.

"My range hasn't been hit yet; it's private property anyway so I may be one of the lucky ones around here."

"Juneau isn't that far from here, Ed. What's your excuse for not seeing us?" asked Irina. I grimaced at "Ed."

"It's Edward, and I'm trying to keep Bella in school as long as possible."

I thought he was going to change her! She can go to college anytime she wants, can't she? thought Irina. I smiled at her and chuckled.

"Oh, that's right. You can read minds. We're not used to that around here. So what do you have to say to that?"
"You're only in college the first time once. I want her to have as many human experiences as possible. Besides, she's dropping out after this year to take care of the baby and learn restraint."

Edward may be fast, but I can beat him, though Emmett.

There's no way Emmett can beat someone who can hear your every though! thought Jasper.

"Ten on Edward!" he called. "Edward! It's been too long since we've had a fair wrestling match! Please prove to Emmett that brains are better than bronze."

"Ten? That's all? Ten fifty says I'll win within five minutes!" challenged Emmett. I thought about the odds of the bet and shook hands with my opponent.

Outside Emmett and I stood ready as the others crowed as safe distance around us. My brother and I stared into each others' eyes, waiting for the first move. Seconds crawled by, but we remained granite statues glued to the Alaskan spring ground. At last Emmett's patience broke, and he darted towards me with lightning speed, but, as always, I was half a step ahead of him. We danced around in blazing circles until I grabbed him around the neck, but he pulled me up and had a full grip on my arms and legs. I struggled in his massive arms, but he was too strong. Desperate to get free I did the only thing I knew no one would expect. I swallowed all the venom from inside my mouth as I could and slowly, for a vampire, opened my mouth for the bite. He immediately dropped me, and the fighting continued. Over five minutes went by, and Jasper stopped us.

"That's it, Emmett! You owe me one thousand fifty dollars! You're five minutes are up, and Edward could still win." Jasper held out his hand, waiting for his cash winnings. I laughed and looked down at my watch. It had been a few hours since the girls had got in, so maybe it would be safe to go home. The rest of my family, after telling Tanya bye, got in my Volvo and came back to Juneau with me.

It seemed that my time judgment had been off because Bella had only opened a few gifts when we got home. Diapers, bottles, bibs, burp cloths, and gift certificates were stacked in a neat pile beside the couch, but Esme, Rosalie, and Renee's gifts still laid wrapped on the table.

"Carlisle! Emmett! Jasper! You're here?" Bella jumped up from the middle seat of the couch and hugged each of them. Smart remarks echoed through my brothers' heads. I hit them both on their backs.

"Hey!" they both shouted. Bella, understanding why I hit them, asked me to hit them for her too, which I gladly did.

"Give me one good reason not to shove that food over there down your throat, Ed!" threatened Emmett. He remembered when Bella and I cut our wedding cake, and how she, forced it in my mouth when I was talking. I shuddered at the taste flashback.

"Because whatever you make me eat I'll make you eat three folds!" I growled back. Carlisle walked in between us. I walked over behind my wife who had gone back to her couch seat. She silently read the card from her mother.

Renee ordered a crib for us and had picked it up while Bella was out and I was at Tanya's. Bella thanked her mother, and went to the next box from Rose. Knowing how much Bella insisted we give her hand-me-downs, Rose found an antique lamp.

"It's from 1915. It was the closest I could get to Edward's year, and I know how much you two want to be old fashioned," she explained as Bella and I looked over the deep blue, glazed lamp. The shade, newly restored, was pure white and covered in blue stars embroidered into the material. As Bella reached for the large, skinny gift beside the table Alice began shouting her thoughts.

Don't open that if you don't want to explain it! And then she began singing the "Battle Hymn of the Republic" in Arabic. I looked at her, full of curiosity and a hint of fear.

"Wait, Bella. Alice, what is it?" I demanded. She sang louder and smiled.