Disclaimer: Stephanie Meyer owns Twilight, but not Merged Souls

Authors Note: Nod to Pienuniek

Chapter 17

EPOV

By default we decided to deal with the most immediate problem in our lives, cars. There was a serious need for transportation on the Cullen compound, with only two cars having survived the fire so a few of our classics had to come out of storage. Rose had gone on line to purchase another Volvo for me, a Mercedes R Class SUV for Esme, and a cherry red Tesla for herself, she got Alice a yellow Porsche and a Ducati for Jasper.

Bella was the only hold out so I decided to put it off until her birthday. My Aston Martin Vanquish was parked in the drive, having been pulled out of storage, along with Rose's 1970 BMW E9. It pained us both to see anyone, other than ourselves, behind the wheel but we had little choice. The Jeep and both classics were going to Seattle. If alcohol affected us, both Rose and I would have been drinking before they had pulled out of the drive.

Alice promised us, that once the Italians had purchased their own vehicles, she would get our babies back into storage. The new cars were set to arrive the next morning, with staggered delivery times. Rose would like to inspect them first before we used them but that may have to wait for another time.

Bella stood by my side while I watched my car disappear down the drive, listening to the sound of the engine as it disappeared out of range. Then she giggled and slapped my arm. "Come on gorgeous, we have a plot to thicken, Rose and Tanya have gone out to hunt."

Marcus was on the floor with the triplets, they were reading to him in turn from the JRR Tolkien Lord of the Rings series, and he couldn't be enjoying himself more. Simon, Ruby and Charlotte were all sitting about the great room reading. Emmett had gone over to Charlie's to make sure the first site inspection went off without a hitch. He liked the construction company we were dealing with but he felt that they dragged their heels if you weren't on site regularly.

It had given him the idea of perhaps financing a construction company, from the reserve, since most of the trades on this job were from LaPush. They just needed some organization and leadership. He was pleased that this contractor was using local talent, but he felt it was motivated mainly by costs and not from any ideas of philanthropy. Emmett loved construction and heavy equipment, so I'm pretty sure a new project will be added to the Trust's list of endeavours.

Esme, Carmen, Maggie, Sabina and Sara were off shopping in Port Angeles. Eleazar, Joham, Shawn and Carlisle were in his office when Bella and I entered. They all stood for Bella and rearranged the seating to accommodate us.

Shawn had examined and tested the triplets. He assured us they were very healthy and maturing physically at a normal pace. Intellectually, they were ahead of where most hybrids were at the same age. Bella surreptitiously jerked her thumb at me and mouthed: 'Nerd'. Everyone laughed except me as I pulled my wife into my side and tickled her until she apologized, "I'm sorry Edward, stop please, stop, even if it is true, stop!"

Eleazar then took over: "Edward, Bella, as you're aware I was once a member of the Volturi guard and Marcus was my mentor. He sees relationships and I see gifts and how we do that has some similarities. For example we both use auras to determine what we see. And I'm amazed by what I have seen here with your little family Edward. You all have identical auras the only difference is the intensity, which varies depending on the emotional climate and who is at the epicentre, when there is a crisis, but when you're at peace they are identical."

At this point Eleazar became very quiet and pursed his lips like he didn't know how to proceed. The aura business we'd already heard about from Marcus, so that wasn't new or surprising. He cleared his throat and continued: "I have always known about Edward's power, he is the most powerful mind reader I have ever met. The only exception is Aro, who requires physical contact, and he is also exponentially more powerful at the same time."

"But Edward, your power has changed. That's something I have never seen happen before in my existence. It has an extension to it, and you seem to be able to manipulate it at will to suit your need. This extension actually appears as a two way conduit. I would have to see it in action to determine its strength, but the fact that I see it at all scares me. Think of the power it may represent! "

Then everyone's eyes turned to Bella, Eleazar actually closed his eyes and shuddered. "And you my dear, I have never seen anything like it. You and Masen are equal in strength but he operates to compliment your power. Bella and Masen are both shields. You my dear are purely defensive, no offensive mental gift will ever be able to penetrate your shield or touch who you choose to protect. Masen on the other hand has an offensive defensive gift. He will be able to turn their power back onto the gifted, when they attempt to use it against him and anyone that you are protecting. But you need physical contact for that to work. And I believe that you would all still vulnerable to a physical attack."

"Anthony is a mind reader like his father but he is also a kind of psychic, he doesn't have visions he sees potential outcomes from what he reads in people's minds. He's like a super computer that can run computations based on the data available to him, together with Alice they are force to be reckoned with."

"And your Beth is a mirror and a conduit. She is the communication hub that keeps everyone else in touch with the other. But Edward, what really scares me is that you are the control centre. You can choose to supply energy to your family but you can also siphon it off from the others and redistribute it within your family. You spoke about manifesting human characteristics when Bella borrowed from you. She in fact never borrowed. I believe you just allowed her to take it. The presence of human characteristics is an indication that you have reached your power limit and need, if you will, to recharge. It may also be a latent trait that allows you to change and present a more human facade if needed. Have you tried to make it happen independent of your stressful or ahem intimate situations?" Bella and I shook our heads. "No, oh well never mind it all needs to be investigated and tested. Fascinating!" We were all mesmerized while Eleazar talked. "This is still only my opinion and I would have to see you in action, but if I am right then you and your family will have a death sentence hanging over your heads if Aro and Caius ever find out. Singly you are gifted but together you're more than formidable!"

Bella leaned into my side and sighed. "Why do we always get the heavy stuff to deal with? Well I've had enough of being worried and frightened. I'm not going to look for a fight but if anybody wants one it looks like we can knock them on their asses." Bella leaned over and kissed me on the cheek and squeezed my arm. "That is if we're fast enough and don't drain the energizer bunny here."

I looked at Eleazar. "Since I seem to be the lynch pin that everyone relies on, any suggestions on how to test our collective powers so we know how long we can keep it up? Because I don't think we can stay under the Volturi radar for very long, now that we've taken in Marcus and his followers."

There was a collective shrug of the shoulders by the others in the room, Marcus had joined us at some point and smiled saying. "We'll find a way."

Though I felt like my life was trying to spin out of control, I at least had my epicenter and my compass sitting right here beside me. Marcus was right, we would find a way. Bella looked at me and the others in the room and got up to sit on my lap to make room for Marcus to sit. Then Bella jumped in. "Okay gentlemen, lots to think about, but we have a more immediate problem and her name is Tanya. Eleazar, Edward and I had an idea. What if we allowed Tanya to catch us in the act, as it were? Do you think she would finally get the message that Edward is no longer available to her?"

Eleazar sighed and leaned forward, he stood up to pace the room, "I wish it were that simple Bella. But Tanya for all her intelligence and beauty is selfish and self centred. She knows how to act as the sweet caring sister and friend but that's all it is, an act. Her jealousies are many and they are as superficial as being jealous of Irina's hair to her deep seated hatred of you my dear." Bella grimaced. "Bella, Tanya has never been denied anything. Whatever she saw and wanted she got, the one exception is Edward. When they first met..."

Bella's head had popped up, "Yes I know it was love at first sight for her."

Eleazar smiled at her. "Quite the contrary, when they first met she saw him as an annoying newborn. Edward was a champion brooder even then. He was sullen and prone to staying in his room shunning all company except Carlisle...there were only the two of them at the time. He drove her crazy playing the piano at all hours and chose the most morose pieces. At one point she even told Carlisle he should destroy him, that his age and the circumstances that surrounded his change had damaged him. She was so sure she was right, that she was prepared to do it herself. She even followed him when he was alone to the hot springs on our property with the intent to do just that. But she returned leaving Edward alive."

Bella looked confused. "Why?"

Eleazar was bemused and then he looked over to me and raised an eyebrow. "Bella, I'm surprised you would ask. I assume that you have seen your Edward naked. But have you not seen him also totally vulnerable and open to you at the same time? Not only did Tanya see his physical beauty, she saw his inner beauty, while he was staring at his reflection in the water asking god for answers to why he was still alive and his purpose in life. She saw him lay back despairing of ever finding those answers or of finding love and meaning. When Tanya came home she told her sisters and Carmen that Edward was glorious, that she had never seen such a specimen of our kind in all her years and she was determined that he would be hers. She tried everything from blatant seduction to pretending to be just his friend. I have never seen a vampire obsess over another of our kind to such an extent, without being their soul mate. For a time we encouraged her hoping that we were wrong, but it only made things worse for poor Edward."

I couldn't look at anyone, I definitely couldn't meet Bella's eye. Eleazar continued. "I'm sorry Edward, if I'm embarrassing you I know what a private person you are. But Bella should know what feeds Tanya's obsession. Tanya has never been denied by a man human or vampire except for your Edward. He was always the gentleman, but never once did he even try to feel anything towards her other than a kind of brotherly affection. And that wasn't even as strong as he felt for Alice or even Rosalie."

Eleazar stopped his pacing and looked at me, "Edward do you remember the night I asked you why you denied yourself physical pleasure? And your answer?"

I pulled Bella back further onto my lap so I could turn her to see her eyes, "Yes, I remember. I told you that I was waiting for the one true love that my mother promised I would find one day. I would just have to be patient. That we would find each other eventually because love cannot be denied."

Eleazar slapped his thigh. "Yes! And that was when I knew that Edward would never feel anything for Tanya and that she would never win him over. I went to Carlisle that night and told him what you said and advised him to leave. You would not find your true love there with us. I wish that I had known then that not only was the place wrong but the time was as well, it might have saved you many years of pain. But things often work out the way they do for a reason. I'm just happy that you finally found your one true love."

I had not stopped looking into Bella's eyes as I replayed those times over in my head. I had to agree with Eleazar that perhaps there was a reason that I had to wait so long for my wife, my one and only love, she hadn't even been born yet.

Eleazar then stood in front of us, "Bella, as much as it pains me to say this and I have talked to Carmen and the other girls about this, Tanya will not be put off by just a physical demonstration of your love, in fact she will never acknowledge your connection. But it will be the catalyst to her downfall, and unfortunately her betrayal of us all."

Carlisle smiled from behind his desk, "Alice called just before you joined us and she agrees Tanya's betrayal is unavoidable."

Eleazar stood up and walked over to the window by Carlisle desk. "Bella, you haven't met Kate's mate Garrett, he's been in Ireland working with Siobhan, developing a high security ward. They've learned from their mistakes with the Black fiasco and realized there is a real need for more intensive treatment options. Shawn has been able to recruit some top notch psychotherapists that in their human lives specialized in treating the criminally insane and they can't wait to start at this new centre for our kind. Kate and Garrett will be overseeing its development and initial start up to ensure that the treatments remain humane. The reason I'm telling you this, is because Tanya will not stop, even after she is exposed. It will be up to you two what her ultimate fate will be. However your choices are limited. It will have to be either incarceration in Ireland or death we cannot allow her to go to the Volturi."

Bella gasped and turned to me, I could see it in her eyes, what Rose would refer to as the 'bleeding heart look'. "Eleazar, those can't be the only choices, has Tanya no say?"

Eleazar looked over his shoulder and shook his head sadly. For the first time since I'd met him he looked almost human. His eyes were tired and his countenance was drawn with the weight of such a heavy decision. "Edward, those are the only options that will keep you and your family safe from harm. But Tanya does have a choice but only one. She can choose death instead of incarceration." He then sat down heavily in the chair nearest the window and looked at Carlisle. "My friend, this is one of those times that I wish I could enjoy the effects of a nice single malt scotch."

I couldn't let him do this to his family. How would her sisters react to this, it could destroy our relationship and the sense of family that we shared. "Eleazar, we can't let you do this, there must be something else that can be done? Surely Tanya can be reasoned with or perhaps we should just let her go to the Volturi banish her but imprison her or death how would ..."

Eleazar smiled and turned back to the window. "Edward, this decision was not arrived at quickly nor taken lightly. Kate, Irina, Garrett, Carmen and I have all agreed, and really this is not only about you and your Bella. Tanya threatens the very existence of our families. You must realize that Aro and Caius will not hesitate to destroy us. I have long been under suspicion and will now be considered a traitor, for assisting Marcus and his followers. And if we were to allow Tanya to go to the Volturi it would result in her death anyway because her betrayal was discovered by us and for no longer being of any use to them. It will also result in us having to confront the Volturi sooner than we would like."

It finally dawned on me and Carlisle, Marcus and Shawn confirmed for me, that the men in this room represented a council of war and not just a group of friends. Marcus had for many years being planning to depose his brothers. They had been corrupt for centuries and no longer served the best interests of our kind. I cannot say that I was shocked, except that my father sat there condoning this plan. A man, who had always been peace maker, Carlisle, was fully committed to this course of action. It was clear that the Cullen's had been kept out of the initial planning because we were already persons of interest to the Volturi. We had too many gifted vampires in one coven and the potential for more if Bella was brought into our family, which made Aro suspicious of Carlisle. Our ignorance of what was going on behind the scenes had been our only protection up until now.

Marcus was sitting with downcast eyes and deep in thought. "Marcus, is this it then? We will be at war and you want our family to assist?"

Marcus looked at Carlisle and then at me. "Yes Edward, we have no other choice before us, we want and need your family, but specifically we want you, Edward, to lead us."

If my heart still beat it would have stopped with that announcement. "Marcus, I'm not a warrior or a leader! I'm barely a century old! Compared to the brain trust sitting in this room, I'm nothing."

"Ah but Edward, your family has something that most of us don't and it is most apparent in you! Edward, you embody it, a self sacrificing passion to protect what you believe in, and those you love! Even in the years you lived apart and survived on the blood of humans, your choice of prey was still directed by a very strict moral code. Our kind is essentially selfish and self serving but not without the capacity to change! You and your family have demonstrated that change is possible, that there can be more to our lives than just to exist!"

Bella looked at me with terrified eyes. Through our mental link I knew she was sobbing, afraid of what this meant for us. She envisioned me going off to war, finally achieving my human desire to be a soldier, but for what purpose. She flew off my lap and out the door, I rose to follow but Marcus put his hand on my arm. I heard his thoughts as he looked into my eyes, 'she has human fears about a supernatural cause, But she and your children will be just as much a part of this, Edward, as is any of us. They will be at your side throughout what is to come. Alice has seen it and you cannot change it.'

BPOV

I practically ripped the hinges of the door of the refrigerator and grabbed the blood stored there. I ripped open the containers and dumped the blood down the drain of the kitchen sink. It was a foolish reaction to stress. The blood wasn't tainted, I would have known if Tanya had tampered with it. I would have seen or smelled something, but it was the only thing I could do. The only thing I had any control over. I stood over the sink watching the water wash the blood away. I heard him behind me, but I couldn't face him. We were all in danger and we could do nothing but fight or die.

Was this my proverbial bad luck following me into this life? Was I still a danger magnet? If Edward had not come back, if we had not had the babies and I had stayed human, would all of this still be happening? Was everything I loved in danger because of me again?

Edward wrapped his arms around my waist. "I'll have Emmett get some more and we'll store it in our room from now on. Bella, look at me, turn around my love." I turned in his arms, I felt so small and vulnerable. "Bella, I don't know what to say except we will do this together, like everything. I have no idea what's going to happen or how it's going to happen. But I promise you that I will protect you and the babies, our family will work together and we will win Bella."

Bella walked away from me to lean against the kitchen island. "But why us, why is it always me? Do I have some kind of cosmic black cloud that follows me around until somebody dies? Are we only allotted so much happiness before we have to suffer an equal amount of pain? This isn't a game Edward! This isn't just you going off to war. It's all of us risking our existence!"

He was at a loss for words he knew I was right in everything I'd said but we had no other choice. "Bella, regardless, whether we doing nothing or we're in the thick of things we can still, potentially, lose our lives. What would you have me do? Tell me Bella and I will do it, but personally I don't see any other way!"

My husband may have looked like a seventeen year old boy, but he was far from it and I don't just mean his age. He was unbelievable, and I wished I could yell and scream at him that he was wrong, but he wasn't. So I would risk everything I loved and I would follow him into the pits of hell to save my family. I reached up and held his face between my hands. "Edward, your right we'll do this together and we'll start with that bitch Tanya."

Edward and I decided to go with our original plan, of having Tanya discover us being intimate. But to protect our children, it would have to be away from our home and we would have to unleash the vampire within us, to convince her of how deep our love is. The act had to be primal, no tender human love making, we had to be seen as mated vampires, erotic sensual and sexually charged.

"Edward, this is so far out of our comfort zone are you sure we can pull it off?"

He gave me a very evil grin and looked at me with half lidded eyes, "Bella, this will be so easy. Every day we reign in our true natures to maintain the human façade. All we have to do is let go of that, we've been close so many times. Trust me, it will work."

Edward and I packed a change of clothes and left for the hot springs. Rose was going to let it slip to Tanya where we had gone for some personal time. Running through the woods was always an exhilarating experience with Edward. He looked so free and at peace. Funny he should look that way now, when we were setting up an extended family member to potentially be executed.

Finally we reached the hot springs it was not one of my favourite places. Par boiling oneself, had never made any sense to me, even when I was human. And that's why it was safe for us here. It held no place in our hearts. We had originally thought of the meadow, but I could never have tainted our special place with Tanya's disgrace. We tossed our bag into the trees and I began to undress. Edward stopped me. "Sorry Love, but that's my job." He stood there undressing me with his eyes first, like he could see beneath the layers of clothes, anticipating what lay beneath, even though he already knew it intimately. My husband was a bit of a tease he liked to go slow, he said. 'Every time was like unwrapping the greatest gift he had every received.' I usually snorted when he said it out loud. But I felt the same way about him. He was the best gift I could have ever received.

Then, without warning, my clothes were shredded, along with his and left lying in a pile at our feet. His presence was magnificent he oozed sexuality. I felt myself getting wet, just by looking at him. He inhaled deeply and growled, his cock was stiff and oozing pre-cum. When I looked back up at his eyes they had shifted from burnished gold to fathomless pools of onyx. He looked at me as I imagined he'd look at his prey, his head was down slightly and cocked to one side. There he was looking at me out of half lidded eyes, this was a very dangerous man... no this was a vampire!

I felt something stir in my chest that reacted to all that was before me, and I wasn't afraid. I was his equal, his mate and this would be a battle of wills. Of one trying to dominate the other, to possess and claim what was ours and to mark that claim. Edward dove for me, tackling me to the ground. I twisted out of his hold and scuttled to the side. We were both crouched, taking in each other, preparing to spring and take the other down. We shifted, looking for a break in the others concentration, growling and flexing. I was mesmerized by the movement of his muscles. He exuded power from his tight abdomen, his tense and flexed biceps, to the curve of his hip leading back to a sculpted ass that begged to be touched. Then around the front of that same curve, down to his groin, the exquisite display of his manhood, thick, long, hard and dripping, waiting to be buried inside me. While my mind was tallying the assets of this man, the vampire lunged and I was pinned spread eagle to the forest floor.

TPOV

Rose had obviously tired of keeping trying to keep me busy. As if she could keep me from Edward! Eventually I knew I would get my chance. He needed to be released, set free from playing the human lover every day with that pathetic mate of his. It was ridiculous, that so much was wasted by him in pleasing her mulling desires. I would get rid of her and those brats! Edward had been trapped by her, it was so apparent. Yet, I was the only one that saw it. No one but me saw the agony he suffered in playing the role of loving husband and father! Those were human constructs that had no place in Edward's life. He was destined to be powerful and I could him obtain that power. He could even lead the Volturi guard. Edward could be Aro's right hand man and I would be his bride.

I followed their scent, and knew they were heading to the hot springs. This would be the perfect opportunity to deal with Bella, and free my mate, without the family being close enough to interfere. I could see it then, after I shredded Bella and set her on fire. Edward would take me there, by the fire reveling in his freedom and our passion. I could hear them now, I had been working at closing my mind of to Edward, but I had no idea how successful I had been. Rose had explained to me that Bella was a shield, and usually isolated his mind so he wouldn't hear anyone. It made sense since he had not responded to my offers of help to free him from this weakling of a newborn maybe I didn't have to worry about blocking my thoughts.

EPOV

I couldn't risk letting Bella know that Tanya had already arrived just before I stripped her naked. She was now watching us from just inside the tree line. As much as I admire and love my wife she is a lousy actress. I had to keep her worked up and distracted, which turned out to be less of a problem than I thought it would be. It had been more than twelve hours since we had made love, a bit of a record for us these days.

Tanya's mind was an open book to me she wasn't even trying to block her thoughts. I was so tired of having to put up with her delusional thoughts. Over the years I had become used to her attempts to mentally assault and seduce me. But lately she had become more depraved, and violent in her imaginings, especially where Bella was concerned. But I'm afraid she'd underestimated my mate. Bella lay before me, my hands held both her arms above her head and my legs pinned hers beneath me. Her arousal was intoxicating and started to overwhelm me. But I had to keep my head in the game in order to hear Tanya and keep my wife distracted. Bella was bucking under me as I trailed my nose down her neck, across her belly and to her wet folds and back to her throat. Then let go a growl from deep in my chest, it resonated through Bella and the surrounding trees. Bella was a newborn and could have, probably, heaved me off, but my wife is a sensual creature and she enjoys my dominance of her.

Tanya's mind was on fire, she honestly thought I was about to tear into my wife's throat out and rip her head off! She was waiting for it, her venom was actually pooling in her mouth and she intended to join me. She began looking around for a place in which to burn the pieces. Her thoughts sickened me, but also gave me an idea.

I didn't actually want to share an intimate experience between my wife and me with Tanya. It had been a fantasy of mine that Bella and I would eventually enjoy a primal full blown vampire tryst, but without an audience. So I would not waste this on Tanya. Instead I would feed her fantasy.

I mentally nudged Bella. 'Darling, don't stop, just listen to me.'

Bella continued to buck and responded back. 'She's here isn't she.'

'Yes she is, and there's been a change of plans. I will not share this experience with Tanya. This is for you and I to enjoy at another time and alone. But I do want to try something. Tanya thinks I have tired of you and that I'm about to rip your head off. She intends to join me and help complete the job.'

Bella gasped inwardly but I knew that she trusted me implicitly, 'Do whatever you think is right Edward.'

'Bella, I'm going to bite your neck, it's something that mates do from time to time. I haven't done this before because you're a newborn and I didn't want to freak you out. But it's highly pleasurable during sex and a way of marking your mate. So that other vampires will know that you're mated. But I'm going to make it look like I'm going to rip your throat out. That should flush Tanya out and we can go from there. Marcus and Carlisle are nearby I can just hear their thoughts but they're too far away for Tanya to hear.'

'Okay Edward, I'm ready ...except can we have a do over with this hot vampire sex? Because I think I'm really going to like it!'

I chuckled inwardly at my wanton wife, she never ceased to amaze me or arouse me.

Tanya was poised to run to my aid, she had found a place for the fire. I bent over Bella's neck, 'I love you,' I kissed her neck and bit. Bella roared and Tanya rushed out of her hiding place. But Bella and I were on our feet before she had registered the change.

Bella assumed her hunting crouch while I was upright. She had reacted instinctively to a threat to her mate and was prepared to protect me, even though she had known it was Tanya. Tanya looked at me and was perplexed. "Finish it Edward! Sorry if I jumped the gun I just wanted to help. You were ready to tear her to shreds and it was just so erotic, I couldn't resist. But I'm so glad you finally came to your senses! Now you need to finish it babe, we can't let her go she'll never leave you alone." She really was a dumb blonde. I know my face showed that I was pissed, at her intrusion and not the least happy to see her. "This is so wonderful Edward! I can have Aro send us a private plane we can leave right from here, once we torch her. Oh Edward, we'll be so happy, you'll see. I'm just sorry I couldn't get rid of those things back at the house. The bitch walked in on me fixing their blood. But once Aro hears about them he'll take care of them. You won't have to touch them or see those abominations ever again."

Bella snarled then stood up. Tanya looked from me to Bella and back. "Well, finish her Edward...or I can do it if you need me to prove my love for you?" Tanya crouched ready to launch herself at Bella. "It'll be easy darling look she's so stupid she doesn't even know she's about to die! Cover me Edward."

She made her leap, but before I could step between them Bella had her by the throat. My love had jumped at the same time and had Tanya pinned to a tree. Bella was the primal vampire right now the newborn was in control. She was growling at Tanya and on the verge of destroying her. I couldn't let Bella kill her, she would never forgive herself. I approached Bella with caution, I tried our mental link but she shook it off. I spoke softly to her and she growled. So I took the only other approach open to me, I became the dominate vampire male. I cast my voice out low with a commanding tone that she could not ignore. "Bella…let her go! She is my kill not yours!"

She looked over her shoulder at me snarling, her eyes were onyx, but she eased Tanya down until her feet touched the forest floor. Tanya still looked hopeful, until she saw Emmett, Marcus, Carlisle and Eleazar step out of the trees. Emmett came forward to stand beside Bella. "Hey little sis, watcha got there? Oh a skank! Well we usually throw them back, baby girl. Hand it over to me and I'll take care of it for you."

Emmett looked at me and nodded at the two women. Bella was still looking at me and I nodded to her. She released Tanya, who made a break for it but Emmett had her before she took more than a few steps. I rushed to grab our bag with the clothes and covered my wife with my tee shirt then I pulled on a pair of pants.

Emmett held Tanya in place as she started to plead with us. First she told the others that she had just happened on us and Bella being a newborn had attacked her. Then she tried to tell them that I had invited her out here for a tryst but that Bella had followed us.

Bella reached for my hand and we walked over to stand in front of Tanya. Bella looked beautiful and powerful when she said. "Good-bye Tanya ...there's a choice Edward and I were asked to make, regarding your future. But frankly you're not worth taking the time to think about it, so the choice is yours now ... choose wisely."

And with that my astounding wife turned with me and we walked further into the forest, headed towards our meadow to finish what we had started here. Once out of ear shot we ran, free of Tanya and the responsibility for her sentence.

And WOW! The dreams we made come true in our meadow should have set the forest on fire.

BPOV

We returned at dawn and found our family relaxing, with our visitors, in the great room and watching our children build a monumental house of cards. We were greeted with knowing smiles all around. Emmett waggled his eyebrows and said: "Well care to share little sis?"

"Emmett, I can't, there just aren't words enough to describe it and besides you wouldn't believe me anyway. But remember when you and Rose drove us all out of the house a few weeks back?"

Emmett leaned back into Rose with a smirk on his face, "Oh yeah, that was one of our wildest nights yet, wasn't it Rosie. But then I am a champion in the bedroom!"

I looked at Edward and smiled he was standing with his arms across his bare chest, his pants just hanging on his hips, wild sex hair and a smirk that rivaled Emmett's. Then I turned to Emmett leaned over and I whispered into his ear: "Well, if you're a champion? Then Edward should be legendary!"

I smiled at Emmett, patted his cheek, then fist bumped Edwards shoulder. We kissed the kids and promised that we would be right back after we showered. Rose was laughing her ass off. Emmett looked totally freaked and the rest of the people were smiling or laughing.

Then Eleazar said as we walked up the stairs. "Tanya left this morning with Maggie, Shawn and Carmen. She still doesn't believe that Edward wants to be with you."

Edward turned and looked down into the great room. "I don't think she ever will, but if she ever comes near my family again, I will kill her and feed her pieces to the fire myself."