I'm just playing with the shiny toys, I promise to give them back unharmed. I'm posting this a few hours early because I have many fattening meals to shop for, prepare and cook. Season's Greetings to all.

Chapter 15

A few days after Bella was ensconced in the farm house the Cullens brought Angela, Katie and Beth. With the children finally in her midst, Bella was happy. Angela proved a good companion who had a tender heart for the babies.

Although she grieved for the lives of her husband and new born child killed in the accident that injured her, she still had love to give the babies even though they were not her own. While travelling into town to bring her very ill newborn to the doctor their horse had spooked and caused the wagon to crash. There was nothing Angela could do to help her family, her child was already dying before the accident. But when Dr. Cullen approached her regarding his motherless grandchildren she knew she could help save the lives of two other babies. With a heavy but open heart she agreed to be wet nurse to them.

The Cullens had given Angela time and space to grieve while she nursed the babies. Angela found herself loving the girls, not as a mother, but more as friend. Nothing could replace the love she had had for her own son. She knew that when the time came to leave them she would, knowing they would be well cared for and loved.

Angela had made plans to live with her sister when the girls were ready to be parted from her. At three months of age that time was soon approaching. Dr. Cullen had given her more than enough money for the journey as well as to set her up in a new place. There was to be a new school built in her sister's town and Angela had secured a position teaching there.

Isabella was in awe of the strength Angela had to persevere, the fortitude of spirit. To endure what she had and accept that which you can not change, gave Isabella a new outlook on her own life.

Why had she still allowed the evil of her step-mother to pervade her life? To keep her silent and fearful? The crone was dead, either by her own hand or by her father's, not that the cause was relevant but rather the result. Step- mother was gone and Isabella survived. It was time for her to embrace her new life, her new name and her new family. A family for which she would do anything.

Days turned into weeks and the running of the farm house went smoothly. The babies were wonderful, fat and happy, with sunny dispositions and gummy smiles. They cried when they should, slept soundly, and fed with gusto. Both had taken well to the change to goat's milk, which the charwoman brought daily.

There had been little word on the faring of Mr. Cullen. He had been freed of the alcohol but still behaved oddly on occasion. He had agreed that he needed to parent his children and plans had been made for several days hence to introduce them.

Bella was putting the finishing touches on the second of two adorably small knit hats for the girls when she heard an unusual noise. Angela had fallen asleep at the same times as the girls and the night had been quiet so far.

Bella paused but soon returned to her knitting when she heard the noise again. Embracing her new found bravery, she tucked one extra knitting needle up her sleeve and took the lantern to have a look around the house. Perhaps one of the shutters had gotten loose.

When she reached the landing of the stairs she noticed a faint light coming from the study. She drew a deep breath and made her way to the door. She was not prepared for what she found inside the room.

Mr. Cullen was frantically rummaging through the desk, a fat wallet in one hand. When he saw the light from her lantern he stopped what he was doing and looked up at her.

The look he gave her was one of pure malice, crazed hatred. He was cleaner, fully dressed and incensed. He straighten himself to his full height and spoke.

"What the hell are you doing in my house?"

AN: Uh-oh!