Hey everybody! As promised here's my update. I hope you like it. Thank you for all of your reviews. It makes me really happy to read them. You are amazing guys!!! I would like to thank in especial to jdrast for her long and supporting reviews and also for all the great suggestions she has given me, particularly about the triplets. Okay let's stop with the rambling and get on with the chapter. Don't forget to review. It really makes my day to read your reviews when I wake up. So please review whether you like it or not. I really care about your opinions. HUgs
Disclaimer: SM owns all the characters except the triplets and Luke.
Chapter 18
Edward's POV
We quickly arrived home. Jasper was having a bad time with the overwhelming feeling of fear emanating from everyone. Not for us but for the little three scared children standing in the middle of the room that had in only a small amount of time become the center of all our attentions. We intended to win this confrontation but the odds were against us since there wasn't enough time for someone to come and help us, if only Aro arrived... I had never thought the day I would be wishing for the Volturi visit would come but right now I would pray to make that happen. Maybe there was still hope. Right now, my priority is my kids who needed to sleep while we decided how we are going to do this.
"C'mon kids. You should get ready for bed."
"But I want to know what's happening!" Lilly demanded.
"And mommy hasn't even called yet." Lizzie whined.
"I promise that we will talk tomorrow and that if your mother doesn't call while you get ready, I'll call her myself, okay? But it's late and you are tired so you need to go to bed." I replied gently but firmly.
"But daddy...!" Lizzie continued.
"Your father is right. You need to go to bed."
"Let's go!" I gently pushed them in the stairs' direction, following them. "You need to take a quick shower before you go to bed. Esme could you help me?" I asked. I hope that today they won't throw a fit about the shower.
"Sure honey. C'mon kids let's have a nice shower and get ready for bed." She smiled enthusiastically.
We headed up the stairs and thankfully they behaved and calmly had their showers with mine and Esme's help. I think they were too tired and scared to play. I took them to their room while Esme went upstairs after being sure that I didn't need her help anymore.
"Mommy hasn't called yet." Luke noted. Right after he talked my cell started buzzing in my pocket. I carefully picked it up and answered.
"Hey."
"Edward." She breathed. "How's everything going?"
"Fine." I just hoped she didn't notice the nervousness in my voice. I wasn't sure if I should tell her about Victoria. There wasn't anything she could do anyway, besides worrying. I know she will freak out if I tell her.
"Is there something wrong?" She asked suspicious. When she was human she was a terrible liar which also meant she couldn't know if someone was lying at her. I silently prayed so that wouldn't have changed.
"No. Everything is just fine. In fact the kids are already in bed. They were only waiting for your call."
"You're lying to me Edward. I can feel there's something wrong and if you're not telling me it's because it bad. What's happening Edward?" I stepped out of the kids bedroom sending them an I'll-be-right-back look.
"Everything is fine love. It's nothing you have to worry about. We have everything controlled." I assured her though this wasn't exactly true.
"Edward Cullen stop lying to me. Stop trying to protect me. We both know what happened the last time you tried to do that!" She hissed angrily. I stiffened at the mention of the episode that kept me apart from my love and my kids for five years. She had a point but.. "Please Edward tell me what's going on. I don't need to be protected anymore. I know something is bothering you and I can tell it's serious so please tell me."
"Okay." I gave in. "But promise me you won't freak out and that you'll listen to everything I have to say."
"What's happening Edward?" She pressed frightened.
"Promise me, love."
"Okay, okay, I promise." She huffed.
"Tonight we went to a small clearing to play baseball. When Alice was pitching the ball she had a vision."
"And... What was the vision about Edward?" She asked annoyed.
"She saw Victoria..."
"What?" She shrieked cutting me off.
"Bella, love, calm down please. Remember your promise! She saw Victoria heading here. But you have nothing to worry about. Everything will be fine."
"How can I not worry Edward? My entire family is going to be attacked by a murderous vindictive vampire and you're asking me not to worry? Because I'm sure that what she want is revenge which means either her objective is going to be you or the kids since I'm not there. Oh god!" She sobbed. I felt so helpless. What can I possibly say to comfort her? This was not something to say over the phone...
"Bella please calm down. Everything is going to be fine."
"Is she alone?"
"She's not coming alone." I answered curtly. There was no need to go any further.
"Who's with her?" She pushed.
"Some newborns."
"Newborns?" She knew exactly what that meant. "How many?"
"We can handle it Bella."
"How many Edward? Tell me!" She ordered, raising her voice.
"About fifteen. The numbers will surely come down so we'll be able to handle it perfectly." I tried to comfort her.
"Fifteen? I'm going there. When is she arriving?" What? She was thinking of coming here? There's no way I'm going to allow that! I already had my kids in danger; I would not allow her to come!
"No way Bella! You're staying exactly where you are! You wouldn't come in time anyway. She's arriving tomorrow night. Bella I need to know you are safe."
"Tomorrow? My babies! I shouldn't have left. If I was there I could help... This is my entire fault. If my blood wasn't so sweet James would have never tried to kill me and you wouldn't have needed to kill him..." She sobbed even harder than before.
"Bella you listen to me! This is not your fault! And nothing is going to happen to the kids. I won't let any harm come to them. Not even if it's the last thing I do. I would give my life for them in less than a second. "
"That's exactly what I'm afraid of. Edward, I don't want you to get hurt. I don't want anybody to get hurt! I can't live without you. Why is this happening now?" She was freaking out; I had to try to calm her but how was I supposed to do that? By phone? How could I comfort her if I couldn't hold her next to me?
"No one will get hurt Bella. We can do this! Everything will be fine, love. Please calm down. We will take care of this and when you return we will all be waiting for you."
"Isn't Aro there yet?" She asked suddenly full of hope.
"No, love, but maybe he'll arrive in time. Though, even if he doesn't, we can take care of this. Jasper has experience in dealing with newborns, I'm sure he'll teach us the best ways to get to them and I'll take care of Victoria myself. I'll make sure she won't be a threat to our family any longer. We will keep the kids safe!" I affirmed vehemently.
"I believe you but I don't want any of you to get hurt in the process."
"We will all be fine. Please calm down Bella. I love you."
"I love you too. So much. I'm so scared, for you, for the kids, for everyone. What about the kids? They must be terrified. Do they know what's going on?"
"It's going to be fine Bella. They do have an idea of what's going on and they are scared but they trust us, at least Lizzie and Luke do. Do you want to talk to them?"
"Yes I do, please."
"Are you calm enough? I just don't want to scare them further. If they hear you so nervous they may think things are worse than they are."
"Things are already horrible but you're right, I don't want them to be more scared."
"Just know that I love you Bella. No matter what." I will do my best tomorrow and make sure everyone will be fine, but if for some reason something happens to me I want to let her know how much I love her.
"Don't talk like that Edward. It looks like you're planning to die!" She scolded angrily. "I love you too. Can you hum a bit of my lullaby before I talk to the kids? It always calmed me; I hope it still has the same effect." I gladly complied while walking back into the kids' room.
"Thanks Edward." She whispered calmly.
"No problem." I replied handing the phone to Lizzie.
"Hello mommy. I'm so scared." She half sobbed.
"Hi honey. I know it scaring but you don't have to be afraid okay? Daddy and everyone else are going to keep you safe. I'll come back as soon as possible. Promise me you will do everything daddy asks you to."
"I promise mommy. I love you very much and I miss you. Come back soon."
"I will. I love you too." Then Lilly handed the phone to Luke. Both he and Lilly said more less the same thing as Lizzie but Lillian was more reluctant to promise Bella to do everything I asked her. Eventually she agreed. It seemed that no matter how hard I tried I would never get to her. I know that Lizzie told her and Luke the real reason why I had left Bella but that didn't make any significant difference. She was too hurt by my past actions. If nothing changed in the next few days I would talk to her. When Lilly gave me the cell I put it back in my pocket.
"You need to sleep now. It's late and you are very tired."
"Can you stay here all night, dad?" Luke asked.
"Of course I'll stay." I moved to tuck them in starting by Luke.
"Sleep well." I kissed his forehead and moved to Lizzie.
"Sweet dreams sweetie." She kissed my cheek and I kissed hers.
"Don't leave daddy." She whispered.
"I won't. I promise. You don't have to be afraid." I went to Lilly and she pretended to be asleep. I did the same thing I had done to Lizzie and then turned out the light going to the rocking chair. A few minutes after they fell asleep and the door slightly opened to reveal Alice.
"Jasper is going to teach us how to beat the newborns. Are you coming?"
"No. I promised I would stay here with them. I'll follow everything through your thoughts and I can practice in the morning."
"Okay." She silently left the room.
***
I followed intently Jasper's lessons through Alice's thoughts. I watched as all of them fought against him, pretending he was a newborn. They were all doing great. I stopped paying attention to them when the kids started squirming in their beds. Something seemed to bothering them but they were still deep asleep.
I remembered the first day Bella came to our house after five years, with a sleeping Lizzie in her arms. She had said the kids had been restless during the night because of a nightmare. Were they having a nightmare? Should I wake them?
"No! Leave me alone! Don't hurt daddy! Daddy help me!" Lizzie cried in her sleep.
"Leave my sister alone!" Luke screamed. Their voices were full of fear. I had to wake them. I gently shook Lizzie and Lilly, trying to free them from this horrible nightmare. I did the same with Luke. Suddenly their eyes opened and they sat in their bed panting. Lizzie immediately started crying and I quickly made my way to her and picked her up.
"Ssshh. Everything is fine. It was just a nightmare. Ssshh." I sat in her bed and rocked her back and forth trying desperately to calm her. I didn't like seeing her so upset. Luke got out of his bed and came to sit on my right, leaning against me. Only Lilly remained seated in her bed staring at us. In her eyes I could see she was as scared as everyone else. She too wanted to be comforted and it hurt me deeper than anything to know I couldn't do it. She wanted this too but she couldn't overcome her doubts about me.
"It's okay." I whispered looking at her directly in the eyes, doing my best to comfort her. Without even realizing I changed Lizzie's position so that my left arm was free. As soon as I held it in her direction she ran to me and seated on my left with her hand clinging onto my shirt. I let my left arm wrap around her small body. She too started crying and sobbing violently. This could mean nothing tomorrow but my heart found some comfort in the fact that she felt safe in my arms.
"She was going to take us away from you and mommy, daddy." Lizzie cried. "She was going to hurt you and take us away." She sobbed, tears flowing freely down her face. "Don't let her take us daddy. We don't want to go away." She choked out between sobs, gripping my shirt harder.
"Ssshh. Everything is okay. No one is going to take you away because I won't let." I assured gently rocking her.
"But she was going to hurt you." Lizzie sobbed harder. "Don't let her take us." She begged.
"I won't. It was just a bad dream. Everything is fine."
"Is it already time to get up dad?" Luke asked.
"No. It's still very early. You have to go back to bed." As soon as those words left my mouth all of them tensed and grasped my shirt stronger. If that was possible. Maybe they were afraid I'd leave if they went back to bed. "I promise I'll stay here. I'll be sitting in the rocking chair." I tried to convince them.
"No. Stay here." Lizzie begged. It broke my heart to see them like this. They were so scared. If only Bella was here… They couldn't sleep like this. I had to find a way…
"Come on." I said starting to get up from the bed. I had just had an idea.
"Where are we going?" Lilly asked. I chose not to answer. Instead I left their bedroom, crossed the hall and entered mine. I led them to the king sized bed Alice had bought me when we moved here. At the time I didn't understand why she had decided to buy me a bed since I couldn't sleep and I hadn't nobody to lay there with me but now I was grateful she had done it.
I put them in the bed and they immediately arranged so that there was an open space between Lizzie and Luke. They looked expectantly at me. I took of my shoes and climbed to the bed settling between the two of them, being careful so that the bedspread was between me and them. They moved closer: Lizzie set her head in my chest and Luke gripped my shirt. Lilly put her arms around Lizzie's waist. They seemed to be calmer but didn't close their eyes so I decided to give them some help. I started humming their lullaby. Lizzie smiled closing her eyes.
A few minutes later they were all deep asleep.
***
As always Lizzie was the first to wake up. First she got scared since she didn't recognize the bedroom but after she noticed me she relaxed and moved carefully not to wake her sister. Both Lilly and Luke were still soundly asleep. Lizzie smiled and for a moment it reached her eyes but then she must have remembered what's happening and the fear came back. I didn't need Jasper's power to say she was terrified; her eyes were as communicative as Bella's though they were green just like mine had been when I was human.
"You don't need to be scared sweetie. Nothing is going to happen to you or to your siblings." I re assured her. I didn't mind to say the same thing over and over again if it eases her fear.
"But what if something happens to you or to Aunty Alice or to grandma Esme? Or to anyone else?"
"While you were sleeping Uncle Jasper was teaching everyone how to... deal with the vampires that are coming. Nothing is going to happen." I wasn't sure this was the truth but what else could I say? I knew that this was dangerous for us but I wasn't going to scare her further. My instinct was to protect and comfort her and I would do everything so that no arm came to her, her siblings or the rest of the family. We would overcome this just like we had overcome other obstacles through the years.
"But you weren't there..."
"I saw everything through Alice's thought and I'll train during the day. Don't worry."
We were laying in the bed when Alice came in.
"You scared me Edward! Neither you nor the kids were in their room..." She scolded.
"Sorry, but they had a nightmare and this was the only solution I found so that they would agree to fall asleep again." She took in the scene before her and smiled brightly.
"Oh." She seemed positively happier and wasn't as scared as last night. I wondered if something had happened besides Jasper's lessons. Something that would gives us more chances to win this battle. She was hiding her thoughts which meant something was up.
"What are you hiding Alice?"
"Aro, Felix and Demetri are going to arrive in a few minutes." She answered satisfied. I was right. The Volturi would be a great help. I was sure Victoria wouldn't give up her plan because of them but I knew they cared for my kids so they would fight along with us to protect them.
"Yay! Grandpa Aro is arriving!" Lizzie screamed with happiness. I hushed her, eyeing Lilly and Luke. She understood what I meant and calmed down settling quietly in my lap.
"Sorry daddy." She whispered.
"It's okay. Let's allow them to rest a bit more. Last night was very tiring."
"Can we wait for Grandpa at the door?"
"Yes but we have to take Lilly and Luke. We don't want them to be scared when they wake up, right?"
"Right." She agreed. I got out of the bed and put her in the ground. Then I proceeded to pick up Luke.
"Alice can you pick Lilly and bring her down?"
"Aren't we going to dress them?" She pouted. I glanced at Lizzie and knew she was anxious to meet with Aro.
"Later Alice. It's not like they haven't seen them in a pajama before. Besides I want to keep Luke and Lilly asleep for as long as I can." I argued.
"Fine." She agreed contradicted. Lizzie grabbed my hand and we headed downstairs. Lizzie bounced up and down until the door and waited patiently while I got there and opened it. We stepped outside and she grabbed my hand and kept bouncing.
"Five minutes." Alice announced coming to stand with us in the porch with a sleeping Lilly in her arms. A minute later the rest of the family joined us.
Soon three figures appeared in between the trees. When they became visible Lizzie looked like she was about to burst but she waited next to us. They came closer and before they could say something she launched herself into Aro's arms.
"Grandpa." She cried excitedly.
"How's my little princess?"He asked delighted. I had never saw Aro acting so... genuinely. He was always pleasant but everyone could see that was just a pretense. But not now. It was very strange, yet amusing to see how my little daughter had them wrapped around her finger.
"Good." She answered, moving to Demetri and Felix and hugging them with the same enthusiasm. They seemed very comfortable with her, picking her up and spinning her around while she giggled. I wondered how much time they had spent with my kids. How many things that I should have done with them had they done?
"Carlisle, my good friend. Long time no see. The last time I heard about you was when my dear Isabella contacted the Volturi to tell us her story and inform us of her status." He greeted Carlisle shaking his hand and eyeing Lizzie as he said the last part of the sentence. "I'm happy to know that things between her and your family seem to have changed since the last time I saw Isabella." He looked truly happy.
"It's a pleasure to see you again Aro. Yes, things have changed. This was a surprise for us." Carlisle replied eyeing the kids.
"I believe. So Edward... how is it being the father of these little angels?"
"Amazing." I managed to answer, still astonished with this new Aro. He noticed the still sleeping Luke and Lilly.
"Did they go to bed late? They are usually awake by this time." Felix asked speaking for the first time.
"Not exactly. They had a rough night." I answered.
"Is that so? Is there something wrong?" Aro questioned eyeing us curiously.
"We have a problem and we were hoping you would come in time to help us." Esme spoke.
"It would be a pleasure dear Esme. Shall we hear about that problem?"
"Maybe we should go inside." I said. Everyone entered the house and settled in the living room.
"So... what kind of help do you need?" Demetri asked pleasantly with Lizzie in his lap.
"While Bella was still human a vampire came after her, decided to have her blood." I didn't want to go into much detail when the kids were around. "We managed to save her and we killed him. Now his mate is coming with an army of newborns to attack us."
"There are fifteen newborns. They will arrive at dawn." Alice informed them.
"Alice was only able to see what was going to happen last night so no one would get here in time to help. We could only hope you would since you should already be in your way." Carlisle concluded.
"Of course we will help. Especially since the triplets are here. Do already have a plan?" Aro agreed immediately.
So what do you think? Did you liked it? I know this chapter is bit of a filler but it needed to be done. Next chapter will be the fight!!!!! So please review, you know I write faster when I receive a lot of reviews. They inspire me. Those who review will be able to know when I'll post next chapter when I reply... It will be soon since I'll have the weekend free, at least I think I will. I already have the next chapter planned in my head and I really want to write it. Don't forget to REVIEW! You ROCK! I love you. You are the best fans ever. I MEAN IT!I'm not a person to just say things I don't feel. Here I am rambling again. I have to stop doing this. It must annoy the hell out of you. When I start rambling stop reading this note. I don't want you to get tired of me and stop reading my story. Here I am again. Must be the sleep. ARG!!!!!! Just Review. Thanks. HUgs