Come What May

Disclaimer: I do not own any part of Twilight, t is all the property of S.M…lucky girl!

Special thanks goes out to Jennifer V, for editing the original Unexpected awakenings. As this sequel takes off I will be uploading the chapters she has painstakingly repaired of all flaws, she is amazing!

(This chapter has not been beta'd…so don't judge me too harshly.)

I think that I might finally ne able to get it together here everyone…fingers crossed!

Chapter 5

Edward's POV

Never have I felt the minds of my children split in so many different directions. Matthew's euphoric, yet filled with trepidation. Emma' excited and yet she is suddenly quiet and subdued…and Masen,…Masen is behaving in reverse to his normally controlled demeanor and is talking non-stop in short clipped sentences that are in tandem with the way his thoughts are currently flitting from one topic to another.

I know it is exciting for them, exciting yet difficult. It is even difficult for me, though not for the same reasons. I am trying to absorb it all, the sounds, the volume of voices

The hustle and bustle of the airport is not unfamiliar to me, though it has been many years since I have been in such a hub of human activity that has had so many minds speaking in so many languages at the same time. It is so discombobulating for a moment that I actually have to focus to know what each mind is thinking, and for a moment I close my eyes and try to take it all in, trying to let my mind synch with the cultural flood.

The breath has barely left my stone lungs when I feel her hand on the small of my back, rubbing soothing circles. My mate, she knows me as well as I know myself…in fact sometimes even better as she does not need my gift to read my mind and to know how I am feeling. She knows inherently, she is my perfect match in every way.

"Is it too much?" She inquires in a whisper so low I doubt even my family would have heard it.

I shake my head not bothering to respond in words. All speech would do, at this point, would be to add to the din. While it is almost too much to cope with, I know that I will bear my way through the discomfort. I feel the family jostling around me and my hold starts to settle, allowing me to begin siphoning out those thoughts that do not require my focus. I am just getting a handle on it when, for a moment, Matthew grasps my arm to get my attention the noise becomes tenfold with his gift. I nearly collapse under the renewed strain of it when his touch is gone and I feel Bella's firm hands wrap around my waist and the sounds fade to nothingness. I breathe a sigh of relief as her shield protects us both, knowing that to those outside our family we appear to be wrapped in a tender embrace amidst the chaos. It appears to be something so simple and tender when in fact our embrace goes beyond the physical encirclement of arms, it is the unity of souls and minds as well.

It calms me. I no longer hear the din of thoughts and passing minds.

I hear the only mental voice that I constantly crave and ironically the only one I have to ask for permission to hear.

Love?

Her voice is a balm over raw flesh, and I let my eyes open only once I feel her brow pressed flush against mine. Her eyes are deep and warm, pulling me to safe harbors and away from turbulent waters. She doesn't need any words to provide an answer, she only needs to see my eyes rise to connect with hers to know that I will be alright…thanks to her.

Her grip tightens around me, and I relish I her strength. I still in her embrace, eyes closing as I nuzzle my face into the crook of her neck to allow myself to calm further. The scent of her skin rejuvenates me for she smells of strawberries and freesias and us, my scent still clinging to her skin from our earlier joinings. I smile and draw my face back, calmed and invigorated. I open my eyes and smile at her, her eyes cast downward for a moment as if she can guess where my thoughts have gone and in my mind I can easily imagine the flush of embarrassment that would have colored her cheeks, giving her away.

As her eyes rise to mine once more, I square my shoulders, the set of them showing her my readiness to move forward. I feel her arms unfurl from around me as she steps back, easing up her shield as she gives me space, but before she has done so completely I let my hands slide down over her arm, skimming over her delicate wrist before my fingers slide against hers and I intertwine our fingers, keeping her close. She smiles gently, and gives my hand a squeeze as we step forward to follow our now moving family. Her shield left in place for the time being.

Emma's POV

I think the air is fresher here…less polluted? Perhaps it is just the fact that I will no longer be surrounded only by my family for the unforeseeable future that makes the air here taste better as it fills my lungs. It is the air of freedom.

I try not to dwell too much on what I am feeling as I help pack our bags into the cars the family had rented, but I know mom has dad covered and so it is okay to be less guarded for the time being. I can't wait to shed myself of my childhood. I am not just a child, here I plan to show that I am a woman in my own right, not just a little girl to be coddled. This can be my chance…perhaps if it all goes well mom and dad will go home.

It isn't that I don't love my parents, but one can only be a little girl for so many decades until that gets old.

"Who is driving with who?" I hear my Aunt Rosalie ask, and I am flushed with gratitude when I hear Masen say that he, Matthew and I will follow in the last car so we can enjoy our last quiet moments together before we reach our destination in Volterra. He is the best brother, always knowing just when I need space, or perhaps he just needs it too, either way I am grateful when dad and mom glance our way and nod their approval of the arrangement.

"Got everything?" Uncle Jasper asks, and I duck my head remembering that while dad might be currently off guard, that Uncle Jasper can feel every flux of my emotions.

I nod my head and he smiles, feeling my embarrassment, but as always being the wonderful uncle that he is, he does not call me on it, or bring it up to embarrass me further.

"Every last bag." I confirm, smiling at him as he goes to help my aunty Alice. She packed light, or so she said, but she still has more luggage than anyone else. Uncle Jasper snorts through his nose, but makes no comment as he goes to move a large trunk into the rear of one of the cars.

The cars begin to load up with passengers next, and it does not surprise me to see who pairs up with whom. Mom and dad, pair up with grandpa Carlisle and nanna Esme. Uncle Jasper and aunty Alice pair up with aunt Rose while Uncle Emmett gets elected to drive a cube van filled with things we felt we could not part with and shipped ahead. He complains, but doesn't really mind as he can sing as loud as he likes with no one complaining about it.

Masen grabs the keys from dad and hops into the driver seat of the rental. He starts the car and flicks on the radio scanning for radio stations. I growl lowly as I stalk towards the front passenger seat, there is no way he is hogging the radio for the whole ride. I slip into the seat and give him a stern glare as I hear Matthew slip in back.

Masen stops turning the dial, and pulls a pair of sunglasses from his hair, letting them fall into place as the first clear strains of music start to filter through the car.

"Welcome to Cullen's taxi service," he chuckles. "There will be no stops from here till we arrive at our destination, so please sit back, shut up and don't piss off the driver." he states as he cranks the volume up causing me to groan at the song. How on earth in an entirely new country did he manage to find an English station?

"Gotta love satellite radio," Masen says with a laugh and he starts to sing along as we pull out behind our entourage.

"Highway to hell…" he sings loudly banging on the steering wheel in rhythm with the drums, and the only thought in my head is it so better not be.