**Guests**
Because we may be spending some time here, we should allow you, dear reader, to understand if at least in part the type of accommodations we have been invited to…
Seth and Embry woke up on side by side beds, in their new surroundings with a sense of shock. The fact that they had landed and driven out to this estate, belonging to 'the new guy' as they called him, passed while they were almost in a sleeping state. They woke up to a room with heavy velvet curtains covering the floor to ceiling windows and the ceiling made of glass.
"Hey dude, is it day time or night time?" Seth yawned at Embry, looking around puzzled and groggy.
"Shoot, damned if I know. Go open the curtain." Embry said rolling over. Just then a knock came at the door.
"Gentlemen it will be our pleasure to invite you to dinner to meet my family this evening," said Damian upon entering the room. Reaching for a remote he pressed a button and the curtains drew back from the windows revealing the setting sun. "You will find clothes that will hopefully fit you, in the closets there," said their host and pushing another button, doors opened revealing a room full of clothes that was connecting to the bathroom. "I'll send someone along for you in a few hours. So take your time gentlemen. Enjoy yourselves."
Embry and Seth were overwhelmed at the room they were given. A flat screen took up most of one enormous wall with at least three different gaming systems, a stereo, and a computer and another wall contained enough music, movies and games to stock a warehouse.
"Dude this is amazing! And I though the Cullen's had the ultimate pad!" Embry said excitedly bounding over to the wall of games inspecting the collection.
"This whole place probably should be on MTV Cribs judging from this room." Seth said heading over to the closet. "Oh my god, look at these clothes."
"Hahaha! What? Are you Alice's little puppy! 'Look at these clothes…'" Embry teased.
Seth leapt across the room tackling Embry, "Shut up, punk!"
Jacob heard the commotion and opened the door, "what're you two retards doing?" he asked laughing.
"Seth's excited to play in the clothes!" Embry teased in a high pitched voice, receiving a punch in the face. "Hey! Kid, that's quite a fist you got; did it come with a moisturizer from Alice's toiletry bag?" He said laughing.
"Ok, okay, knock it off. Can you please pretend to be somewhat refined? Or at least pretend you weren't raised in a barn… or the woods in your case. What if you break something?" Jake said laughing at the two giant boys rolling on the floor.
"Yes dad…" they said in a droll unison tone, and started laughing again.
Seth may have been one of the youngest, but he filled out extremely well. He reached his full height at about six foot one and Embry topped him at six foot two. They were both lean and fast. Jake wondered who would win at a wrestling match between each of them and Emmett… Jake was positive that he could beat Emmett any day of the week… being about six inches taller.
He left them as they were turning on the X-box.
"Yeah well I'll kick your ass on Halo..." he heard Embry say as he was walking back down the massive hallway back to his room.
"Hey Bells," Jake greeted Bella, seeing she was still there with Edward when he came in.
"Are the boys enjoying their new room?" Bella asked with a sweet smile.
"Yea, they are about to start a Halo war."
Edward laughed out loud, "Emmett would squash them; both he and Jasper live on that game!"
"Ha! We should totally have a tournament then. 'Cause those boys did little else at Sam and Em's house."
"Well you guys are welcome to stay and hang out. I need a human moment, as you used to call it Bells, and hop in the shower before dinner." Jake said retreating to the bathroom.
"Shall we leave?" Edward asked with a hint of a smile.
"No, no! Stay, spend time with Nessie, I'll be done soon, its fine." He said, closing the door behind him.
"You really like Jake now don't you daddy." Renesmee asked cuddling closer to her father.
"I do sweetheart. I love him like he's my son. He's really a good man."
Renesmee smiled and her cheeks turned a lovely shade of pink and Edward smiled. "I'm happy you are so in love with him honey." The moments of silent enjoyment passed between them when Edward gasped with a look of surprise, "Can you hear that?" he asked.
"What?" Nessie and Bella asked in unison.
"The baby, I can hear his heart… can you?"
"No…" Nessie said.
Bella face seemed contorted in concentration, then she smiled because she could, "Does it sound like…"
Edwards face beamed, "it does…"
"What?" Renesmee asked.
Edward leaned his head against his daughter's satin covered stomach and closed his eyes in concentration. "It sounds like two… babies… Nessie, I think you're carrying twins…"
Renesmee shrieked in excitement and placed both hands on her belly, looking at her father in disbelief.
"We'll let you go tell him," he said getting up and offering his hand to both Bella and Renesmee.
"We'll see you at dinner darling. Congratulations." Bella said as they left the room.
Renesmee was overjoyed at such news; she threw the door to the bathroom open.
"What happened?" Jake asked immediately on alert, soap falling from his forehead down his face.
Nessie ran to him and jumped in the shower throwing her arms around her husband's neck.
"We're having twins…" she cried, "daddy just heard their heartbeats."
Jake wrapped his arms around his lovely wife as she was completely soaked in her long satin nightdress and kissed her tenderly.
…
After a leisurely shower and dressing for dinner Renesmee laid stretched out on the bed with Jacob laying next to her in an adorable black and white silk maternity dress, his head on her stomach listening to the heartbeats of the babies in her womb.
A knock on the door followed by a well dressed person, who was obviously a servant, signaled the time for dinner. "If, sir and madam would follow me…" the attendant said and led the way into the hall. The Cullen's (with the exception of Carlisle and Esme who are of course still in Washington) followed down the hallway behind the attendant.
The course throughout the house seemed at one point to change from modern architecture to the old French style as they were led from the west wing to the central hall leading to the dining hall in the eastern wing of the mansion. Columns replaced windows and lattices, while candelabras and chandeliers replaced lights and sun.
The ceiling rose above them as they transitioned into the eastern wing with flying buttresses and angles carved from marbles in the high walls and ceiling. It seemed this eastern wing may have been carved out of the mountain that the mansion was so well placed against. The style went from the Baroque Period finally to the Neo-Classical period of the salon they entered after their tour from west to east wing.
The grandeur with which they were presented far surpassed anything that they had ever witnessed.
They were seated in a large salon with large portraits all around of a striking man and a beautiful young woman. The paintings depicted the change of the times, but the faces always remained the same in their glorious perfection. There were portraits of what could be assumed members of the family, for they all bore a striking similarity.
"If you will wait right here the Count will be with you shortly," a servant with the heavy French accent said.
"The Count?" Jake whispered to Edward. "Like seriously a Count?" he said again in disbelief.
At this time a man entered the room and announced, "His Excellency, Damian Dantès."
"Edward, hello my friend, I'm so sorry for all of this fanfare. You will have to forgive us, in this wing of the house it seems we are still in the eighteenth to nineteenth century, well at least the servants are. It's of no use to tell them that no one really uses their titles anymore. Please, allow me to present to you, my parents, Edmond and Haydee Dantès."
The Count and Countess were amazing in the extreme. They seemed to glide into the room and were even more stunning in life than in their beautiful portraits that hung from the walls.
Edward stepped forward as his family all rose from the plush cushions of the velvet couches that were featured in this room.
"Father, Mother, may I present Edward Cullen and with the exception of his parents, his family." Damian said and introduced them one at a time.
"I understand my son was of some assistance to your family recently," the Edmond said proudly.
"Yes, your Grace. I will forever be in your debt. He helped us to save my daughter, Renesmee." Edward said bringing his daughter forward.
"Oh, please, call me Edmond. The formalities of our former world have died off, except for with my own personal help. Besides I am more recently a Doctor than a Count." He said with a wave of his hand. Directing his attention to Renesmee, he smiled kindly, "I am very pleased to make your acquaintance," Edmond said and bowed to her.
Renesmee wasn't exactly sure how to respond. She had never met anyone like this man before. "It seems your son learns his exquisite manners from his father. The pleasure is mine Monsieur. Renesmee said taking his hand and dipping her head to him.
"As I'm certain you have learned your lovely manners from your father and mother my dear," said he.
Edward spoke up, knowing that his thoughts betrayed him anyway. "I must ask. Edmond Dantès… I know your name… as in the Count of… -"
Edmond cut him off, "Oh, please, don't mention that…that story is a gross exaggeration."
Edward was visibly overwhelmed.
"And this is your remarkable husband I take it Renesmee." The Count continued.
"Yes, Jacob Black." She said, blushing.
Edmond's eyes sparkled upon meeting Jake when their hands clasped in greeting. "You are remarkable indeed. I've never met anyone of your kind before."
"Well, now you have, and two more. These are my brothers, Seth and Embry." Jake said with a smile introducing his comrades.
"My son has told me of your news. Congratulations on becoming a father. It is a wonderful gift that I am sure you will treasure." Edmond said kindly. "If you are all willing, shall we go in to dine?"
Sitting at the head of the table, Edmond clapped his hands twice. Servants filed into the room, some carried trays of different wine bottles and presented them and others brought in trays of food, a feast of delicacies from different lands. The wine bottles contained different…shall we say… vintages from around the world, for our non eating friends and before them was an array of wine glasses and brandy snifters.
Edmond eyed Edward carefully whose mind was trying to decipher what was going through the Count's mind. Perhaps we can talk after dinner, and I can put you at your ease… Edmond said subliminally and smiled. All the while Damian saw the exchange.
"I thought we were going to meet the rest of your family too." Emmett said to Damian, pouring from a bottle that read, chateaubriand.
"Yes, you will. They are all out for the week on a hunting trip to Central Canada. It's a camping trip that includes lots of hunting we'll say. Perhaps next time you and your brothers would like to join them. I know they are planning a trip to Siberia before the winter is over, but if you prefer to go closer to home, Greenland has a very nice vintage. Canada's Polar Bears are great too, but you will find the difference varies greatly depending on the habitat."
"Your son tells us you are an avid scientist." Edward said to Edmond.
"I am. I worked with humans as a Doctor for about five decades, and then combined what I learned with what we are. It has made for a most interesting study, to be sure; which reminds me, I am most anxious to monitor your daughter's growth, and offer any assistance I can with the birth of her child."
"Children actually, I think I'm having twins." Renesmee said blushing again.
"Oh, really, that is most interesting," the Count murmured to himself. "Would you mind if I examined you?" He asked, "With your family and your husband's permission, of course."
Edward contemplated it for a moment and looked at Jacob for signs of discomfort with the situation.
It seems alright with me… he knows more than we do, and he does have experience with it… were Jake's thoughts on the matter. Renesmee simply looked at her father, fully trusting in his decision.
"You are welcome to view the entire procedure, Edward." Damian said with a humble smile.
Weighing everything, Edward agreed on behalf of Renesmee. "It is best we know as much as possible…" he mused.
Edmond's eye twinkled, almost dangerously.
…
We will find that after dinner finished, everyone followed Renesmee for her makeshift doctor's appointment.
"You all are free to roam about if you like." Edmond said approaching the corridor down to his offices.
"I think we all prefer to stay with her. After everything we've gone through, I'm sure you understand." Emmett said inching closer to his neice.
"Completely," Edmond responded, "there is a viewing room overhead if you care to watch, Edward, Jake and Bella, you may enter with me into the operating room."
"Operating room?" Renesmee said instantly worried.
"It's alright my dear. It's simply an examination, if you are still here when you have your baby, this is the room in which you will deliver. It's where all my daughters deliver their children."
Renesmee recalled that Damian had mentioned his father's work with Halflings and giving birth and she was calmed by the fact that at least this was something he had prior knowledge of.
The room was pristine white and there was a tray of instruments. It gave her an eerie feeling of the Professors lab and she was instantly nervous again.
Jasper, overhead, could feel her tension, and eased her feelings, for the time being.
Edmond measured her, took her pulse, timed her heart beat and listened to the heart beat of the babies, confirming that there were indeed three distinct heartbeats in Renesmee: hers and the beating of her children's hearts.
"Will an ultrasound work?" Edward asked the doctor.
"Unfortunately not, because of her skin you see. We can't see past it. So I don't know if the babies are in a sac similar to when a total human mother is carrying a vampire child. It will be interesting to see if she will be able to give birth out of her canal or if we will have to lift them C-Section." Edmond said taking notes avidly in his book beside the table.
It then became crystal clear to Edward.
Edmond was so interested in Renesmee for similar reasons to Aro and Michael, but Edmond knew what Aro did not. Renesmee wasn't pregnant with vampire babies. She was pregnant with something else. Something perhaps even more powerful... and Damian had offered them asylum after learning she was pregnant…
Edward could see he was faced with two options. Go home and leave madmen to their mad science, or stay and see if their hosts were indeed trustworthy. Nothing seemed to raise a flag that they weren't, but now everyone was suspicious to Edward. Perhaps there was something to be learned here…
These thoughts and more circled through Edward's mind, and he realized, this wasn't his decision alone to make, but there was something he couldn't figure… Why would Edmond want to breed a race of gifted immortals? What was he trying to protect? Those with power are afraid to lose it, so Aro's aim was plain. But what was behind Edmond's drive?
A/N: You all still with me? Or have I lost you already? :) Sorry, but it only gets more complicated...