Chapter 4- Alice and Kids

Bella's POV

Shop around the block- designer clothing.

I looked up to see Alice unpacking toolds.

"Alice!" I gasped, loud enough for her head to snap up.

I drove away as quick as I could.

My phone rang. "Hi dad-"

"What are you doing here Bella? Are you trying to torture my brother?" she roared.

Tears welled in my eyes. "Alice," was all I could croak. "Please… don't…"

You're still human?"

"No," I squeaked. "Please, listen."

"Okay."

"Alice I don't want to hurt… him. I didn't realize you guys were here. I'm just trying to calm down. I-"

"Why do you need to calm down?"

"Because the vampire that changed me wanted me to help kill… him. Claudio-"

"Damn him. Bella, listen, come back here-"

"I killed him Alice. I can't. I'm sorry." I shut my phone but it automatically started ringing again.

"Listen-"

"Isabella Marie Swan!" Charlie yelled.

"Dad, I can't come back. I'm eighteen and not coming home. I'm sorry. Can we talk later? I'm going to a job interview." I passed a now accepting sign for a social worker.

"Bella please."

"Later dad. I love you."

"I love you too. Promise to talk later?"

"Promise." I hung up.

I put a pair of sunglasses on and walked in.

"Hello Mrs…."

"Just Bella." I smiled at the receptionist. "May I talk to your boss?"

"One second." She dialed a number. "Someone is here for you."

"Tell them to come in. Name?"

"She said just Bella, sir." She hung up. "Miss Bella?"

"Just Bella."

"He said to come in."

"Thank you." After she gave me directions I took my bag.

I walked up the marble stairs and went into a room labled administrator- Mr. Wilson Steele.

I tapped the door lightly.

"Come in."

"Hello. My name is Bella. I'd like to-"

"Hello Bella. Please have a seat."

"Okay. May I talk to you about adopting-"

"Of course."

"But just until the children find a good home. I've got a large house, you see, and I'm living alone."

"Oh! Well this is new. One second." His beefy hands shuffled some papers. "How many?"

"I have sixtten rooms- five with bunk beds."

"Five times two equals ten plus eleven equals twenty-one. Are you sure you can handle twenty-one kids?"

"I love children and if they get to be too much I'll hire someone." I smiled.

"Okay well if you just sign here…"

X-----X

"Thank you. Where is the nearest home? I'm new in town." I smiled.

"Right next door. Make sure you show them your papers."

"Where is the nearest car shop?"

"Two blocks down on the right."

"Thank you."

"I'll talk to you soon."

"Yes." I smiled once more before walking to the shop.

"Hello, I'd like to buy a van on the spot."

"Right this way Miss."

I got a large blue van and drove it to the children's home.

"Hello ma'am. I was coming to get some children."

"Bella?" I nodded. "Come right this way." She smiled and had me follow her to a small dirty play ground.

I scanned it. "Do you mind if I star for a bit?"

"Take as long as you want." She smiled then walked away.

"Hello." I walked up to a small girl playing by herself with unusual bronze hair in ringlets. "My name's Bella. What's your's?"

"Tennesme," she said shyly.

"Would you like to come home with me?"

She looked down. "Will you send me away?" she asked, peaking up through her long eyelashes shyly.

"Of course not. Would you like to help me pick out some more nice kids?"

"Sure."

"Are those people nice?"

"They tease me."

"Would you like to sit in the car instead?"

"Yes please."

"Okay, let's go."

Se held my hand.

"Ma'am, can I take Rennesme here to my car?"

"Yes, of course."

"Come on honey." She followed me eagerly to the Aston Martin.

"Here's some music for you, and some air conditioning." I turned on the C.D. Edward gave me (she found it 6 months after he left). "If you need me I'll be in the home." She nodded and I left her, going back to the home.

X------X

Two more," I saw a guy raking his eyes across the ground… searching.

Who to pick? He smiled and… thought. His eyes landed on a girl and little baby boy.

I walked over to them.

"Would-"

"Um, Miss?" the guy tapped my shoulder.

"Yes Kyle?"

"How do you know my name?"

"I know if you don't leave now I might be tempted to kill you," I hissed just loud enough for him to hear.

Something in my expression made him get away quickly.

"Hello, what are your names?"

"I'm Selene and that's Damien."

"Would you like to come with me?"

"Sure." She signed to him and he smiled a toothy grin, lifting his arms up for me.

I balanced him on my hip and took Selene's hand.

"Thank you. Please call me if someone wants any of the children except Rennesme- I'd like to adopt her."

"Okay." She smiled. "Have a good day."

"As with you. Could someone take the blue van? I just bought it."

"Of course."

"Thank you." I headed out.

"You two can go in the back. We have to go to get someone before we go home." I smiled and drove to Alice's store.

"Bella!" She jumped from the bench.

"Alice, and you watch some kids? I need to get something from the store." I looked at her through the glasses.

"Sure. Aston Martin?"

"My aunt's. she left everything to me."

"Okay. Esme, I'm going somewhere. I'll be right back."

"Have fun!" she called. My eyes teared up.

"Bella, I thought Edward…" she said while listening to the music.

"I found it."

She nodded.

"So who are these fin people?"

"I have 17 rooms in my house."

"And you are going to get them toys, books, clothes, that kind of thing?"

"Spot on."

"I can do that."

"I need food tool I think I'll take Rennesme, Selene, and Damien that way we can just drop you off and head out."

"Gotchya."

"Thank you."

"You know I love kids." She said. "And you still have your truck."

"Talk more later. The kid will be here any minute."

"Have fun."

Edward's POV

"Esme, where's Alice?"

"She left with someone."

I dialed her number. "Alice?"

"Hey Edward. Can we talk later?"

"Where are you?"

"Watching kids for… a friend."

"Who?"

"Talk to you later." She hung up.

"Be right back!" I called, picking up my coat and keys.

X-------X

"Alice, what the hell?"

"There are kids asleep. Shh. I'll tell you when Bella gets back."

"Bella?" I gasped. My hand automatically went to the tattoo on the corner of my eye.

"Bella," I said once more before walking swiftly out.

X-------X

Bella is here. Changed. It can't be. She has kids.

I walked back to the house.

"Alice, I want an explanation."

"And you'll get one, as soon as Bella gets back. Take Conner, I need to get Liz changed.