Chapter Ten
Bella's Birthday
September 13th 2006
Bella's 19th birthday started out just like her 18th with one added bonus, this time she was already in the arms of the man she loved and she knew loved her just as much. Waking slowly from her slumber the familiar nauseous feeling greeted her as she made a beeline for their en-suite bathroom, thankful they had a house I'd their own rather than surrounded by their family. Kneeling in front of the toilet basin she vomited heavily leaning her head against her arm as she felt cool hands rubbing her back gently. It appeared their daughters wanted to say happy birthday first.
After her stomach had settled down to a faint queasiness Bella became aware of aches and pains throughout her body however none of it was connected to her baby bump. Looking up star husband she could see the concern rolling off him as he felt the change in his wife's temperature. Before she could say she was fine Edward was on the phone, however not t the person she thought he would call.
"Jacob, how soon can you get to Seattle?" Edward asked quickly.
"Ten minutes max, why what's happened?"
"Can you describe to me the symptoms you has when you discovered you were transforming for the first time?"
"Aches and pains throughout my body, nauseous. This is happening to Bells right?"
"Yes though I can't figure out why. Or how?"
"Renee is my Dad's sister, it's something I've only just found out and was going to phone Bells. I didn't think it would happen before I got there. I'll tell Charlie and bring him. This explains a lot, her being comfortable at the reserve, it definitely explains Renee's attitude."
"I'll see you soon then. We live separately to the family, I'm sure you'll find us."
"I will give Bella my best."
"Thank you Jake."
"It's my job to look after my pack, that includes Bells now. See you soon."
Before Edward could respond the phone line went dead, dropping the cell he made his way into the bedroom where Bella was now curled up on the bed whimpering. Unable to cope with seeing he in so much pain, he climbed on the bed pulling his wife into his arms sighing in relief as the whimpering stopped and she snuggled into his chest, yanking his shirt off he watched his wife try to get cool. If Bella was destined to be Quiluette wolf he knew now that she has imprinted on him as much as she was his mate, no one would ever part them. Not unless they wanted to have a fierce wolf on their hands.
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Ten minutes later Jacob Black barged through the front door making his way into the master bedroom where Edward was still desperately trying to cool down his wife. Jacob looked at his newfound cousin actually wishing she had the option to turn into a vampire no one deserves to go through the pain she was right now. Making his way to Bella's side he gently took hold of her hand watching as her head turned in his direction.
"What's happening to me Jake?"
"Remember the day I couldn't come to the phone to talk to you?"
"I remember, I think I pissed Billy off. What does that have to do with me?"
"This is what I was going through, my body changing to accommodate the wolf. Right now you have aches and pains everywhere but where the babies are right?"
"Mmhm. And it feels like I'm in a sauna."
"You're a lot further along in the process than I was. Did you have any aches through the night?"
"In my back but I just thought that was to do with the twins."
"Bells I need to tell you something. Your Mum is my Dad's sister, the reason she ran is because he'd just told her what would happen when you reached a certain age. Because you didn't grow up in Forks the transformation was pushed back until you came to the reserve that first time. I'm guessing because I was so intent on stopping your imprint it didn't kick in until you were settled with your imprint and mate."
"Does Charlie know?"
"He's downstairs but I haven't said anything yet. It wasn't my place."
"So if I'm further along than you were, how much longer am I going to go through this pain?"
"Not much longer Bells. Another twenty minutes I'd say, then we get to see what colour wolf you are."
"What about the babies? Will transforming hurt them?"
"If you were Leah I'd say yes however your children are part vampire so they're well protected."
Bella let out a painful moan as her bones began to adjust to accommodate her new form, biting onto her lip she almost drew blood before her husband kissed her forehead gently and her cousin (she'd always wanted Jake to be family and now he was) held her hand tightly as the aching began to ease off. Before too long she was panting heavily trying to gain her breath back. Not wanting to hurt anyone she quickly rushed from the bedroom into the back garden closely followed by Edward and Jacob who reached the backyard just as Bella was focusing on her new form, Edward could see the concentration on his wife's face, then suddenly before them stood stunning white wolf with chocolate brown eyes. Unknown to both wolves and vampire Charlie Swan had reacted when he saw his daughter bolt from the bedroom to the backyard. Looking between Jacob and the wolf he slowly walked over to his daughter.
"Bells?" Charlie asked.
"Charlie you might want to look away. When we transform for the first time we forget that when we change back our clothes don't change with us." Jacob said.
"How did this happen?"
"That's for Bells to tell you."
Edward grabbed Bella's shorts and t shirt from the previous day making his way toward father and daughter, he'd always hoped that he wouldn't have to change his wife into one of them, and now it seemed he wouldn't have to. Though it certainly wasn't in the way he'd expected. Wolf Bella made her way into the bushes with Edward behind her handing the clothes over. Five minutes later a (once again) human Bella made her way to her father's side.
"Billy and Mum are siblings. She left you because she didn't want me to become the wolf, when she let me come to Forks two years ago she wasn't banking on me getting close to not only vampires but the Quiluette Wolves. Only when I've settled with Edward the gene set in. He's my imprint and I'm his vampire mate, Jake and I are family."
"Your mother has a lot to answer to." Charlie fumed.
"Oh don't worry I'll be having words with her. She had no right to hide this from me."
"I think she'll listen to you. She owes you."
"Thanks for coming Dad."
"Anytime Bells."
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Bella pulled out her cell as they made their way to the family home intent on giving her mother a piece of her mind. It was one thing to keep her away from Charlie, but to not tell her what would happen to her one day was something completely different. With her father on one side, her husband on the other and her cousin behind her she's felt for the first time like she truly belonged. Was it different from how she imagined? Yes but it didn't change anything, she was still the same person just with an added quirk. She was just about to give up when she heard her mother's voice on the other end of the phone.
"Bella, oh sweetheart I'm sorry."
"For what exactly, trying to take me away from my husband or lying to me about the reason you left Charlie."
"What do you mean?"
"Don't play dumb Mom, I went through the transformation this morning. A little warning might have been nice. Oh wait, you don't do honesty do you?"
"It wasn't like that Bella baby. They're dangerous."
"So your nephew is dangerous yes? Or your brother? Just how many lies are you going to try and get out of mother, I could have forgiven you for trying to keep me safe but this... ...if Edward hadn't known to call Jacob Lord knows what would have happened. I'm pregnant for gods sake."
"I'm sorry, I didn't want that life for you."
"Newsflash Mom this is my life, it was meant for me and I'm embracing it. I'll talk to you once the twins come. Maybe by then I'll have calmed down."
"Bella," Renee started."
"No! You don't get to talk to me like that anymore. Bye Renee."
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Before Renee could talk again Bella shut off the cell shoving it into her shorts pocket just as they reached the family home. As usual Alice rushed ahead of everyone else eager to greet her brother and sister. This time however her usual cheery sister was frowning. Suddenly self conscious Bella stepped back slightly as her sister took in her appearance, muscled arms, glossy hair and dressed like the she wolf Leah. Before she could protest Alice took hold of her hand dragging her through the house where everyone else was seated.
"Happy Birthday Bella."
"What did you do?"
"Nothing elaborate I promise. But before that there's something different about you."
"Jacob and I are cousins, I woke up today in pain, no Rose nothing to do with the babies, it turns out my mother is a Quiluette. Born Renee Black she ran away when I was born to stop the gene from setting in, little did she know I'd end up marrying a vampire and wanting to return to Forks. I always wondered why she tried so hard to take me back. I'm a Quiluette Wolf. I know you hate the smell of wet dog Rose but this is me."
"You're family Bella, and by extension so is Jake no matter how much you smell."
"I was worried you wouldn't accept it."
"We wouldn't turn away from you Bella. None of us wanted you to be stuck as a vampire this way you are still imortal but you get to stay close to Charlie." Carlisle said softly.
"Whilst you're all here, I'd like to announce the names we've chosen for the twins."
"Oh yes please do tell us." Esme said softly coming to hug her daughter in law.
"Renesmee Carlie Cullen and Elizabeth Alice Cullen."
"Oh Bella thank you." Alice said bouncing around the room, leaving Jasper struggling to calm her down.
"Thank you sweetheart." Esme said truly honoured.
"I get Renesmee is a play on Renee and Esme but Carlie?" Charlie asked.
"For you and Carlisle Dad. And Elizabeth was the name of Edward's birth mother."
"They're beautiful names Bells."
"Thanks Dad."
"Alright enough of the mushy stuff, open your presents."
Suddenly the joy in Bella's eyes went out as she clutched onto her husband tightly burying her head into his shoulder. pulling her close Edward led her to the couch where her gifts waited for her pulling the first one out. He knew exactly where his wife's thoughts had gone and he wasn't about to let a silly paper cut ruin any more of Bella's birthdays. Thankful for his thoughtfulness Bella peeked out from her husband's shoulder gasping as she saw the mountain of personalised baby clothes from Alice and Jasper. After thanking them, she gently pulled out another gift deciding to open it herself seeing it was from Carlisle and Esme, once again she was taken aback as she found a Cullen necklace with the Cullen crest on with a delicate lion and lamb design around the outside. Once again the newly turned nineteen year old thanked her father and mother in law as Edward set the necklace in place, though already a Cullen by name the necklace declared her officially part of the family.
Rosalie and Emmett had purchased almost every baby toy they could find, it seemed for once the family had taken it upon themselves to make the transition to mother easier for h. Though she was sure they would do more shopping over the remainder if her pregnancy this was a wonderful start. Jacob was next handing his cousin a small package, nestled inside was a miniature charm made by hand of herself and Edward holding two children, tears filled her eyes as she took in the detail. Holding out her arm she watched Jacob fasten the charm into the bracelet he'd made her for graduation. Last but not least was Charlie, two huge packages were brought through by Jasper and Emmett. Once open she couldn't believe her eyes, inside was the rocking chair from her bedroom back at Forks and the crib she had once laid in as a child.
"Thank you, so much. All of you."
"You're very welcome Bella." Carlisle said for everyone.
As those who are sat down to a birthday lunch Bella couldn't believe how lucky she was, not only did she have the best family in the world, she knew for certain now she would be able to keep Edward by her side forever (even if it was in a different way than she'd expected). She wouldn't hinge anything about what had happened to her that morning because everything suddenly slotted into place. This was how things were meant to be.