AN: Unfortunately, a car accident delayed my ability to get this to you sooner, but at last it is finally here.

Chapter 18 - Newborn Awakening

"Sorry," Edward muttered grumpily, looking away. "How was I supposed to know?"

Peter and Charlotte gave him skeptical looks and sneered disdainfully, otherwise ignoring him.

"Oh, Jasper," Esme murmured lovingly. "You poor dear. Of course you did the best you could in that situation. Nobody blames you. I'm sure I would do the same thing if I were in your shoes."

"Indeed," Carlisle agreed, reluctantly considering what he would be capable of doing to protect his own family.

"Thank heavens you had Peter and Charlotte to help you," Emmet declared. "I know I would kill humans and vampires alike if it were Rose's life on the line. I killed James when he hurt my little sis, and I only regret I didn't get to him sooner."

Rose simply gave me a hug and sent me a strong dose of understanding. Alice, on the other hand was pouting at me, causing me to raise my eyebrow in question.

"Why didn't you tell me, Jazzy? It would have been so much easier to stomach your past, knowing you were protecting your loved ones," she whined.

"Seriously?" I growled. "What difference does it make? If you were really my mate, you'd love me even if I voluntarily joined and loved every minute of it. You might not like my choices and actions, but it wouldn't affect how you felt about me. Besides, you knowing anything about my human family would be a potential liability if Maria ever caught up to you."

"Speaking of which, would ya mind filling in Char and me about what went down here?" Peter asked before anybody else could comment. "It seems like an awful lot of things happened in very short period of time."

I explained the series of events to the best of my understanding, with bits and pieces added by the rest of the family. Edward kept trying to defend his actions, but none of us wanted to hear any more of his excuses. When we finally got them caught up to the present, they asked to read Bella's letters for themselves. There were some objections, but I pointed out it would be wise for them to understand her mindset at the time of her demise, just in case any memories did carry over to Bella's new existence. Rose handed it over for them to peruse.

They shared a speaking glance when they finally finished with it, both filled with a turmoil of emotions. Char looked all around the table and then cleared her throat. "I just have one question. Why on earth are Edward and Alice still here?"

"Good point," Rose agreed, staring pointedly at the two of them.

"They're here because we haven't had time to really discuss the whole situation and come to a consensus on a course of action," I explained. "Mainly, we don't know for sure how much Bella will remember. I'm assuming little to none, based on past experience, but Bella's situation was different from the head injury victims I changed in the past. Her mind was focused with a clear person to blame for her pain and suffering, as opposed to those under attack in a war. If she does have any memories still intact, she deserves the right to choose Edward's and Alice's punishments herself. Also, there is the possibility, though I highly doubt it, that Bella will still mate to Edward, and it would only hurt her if we sent her mate away. So, really, they are still here for Bella's sake, until we see how she reacts to them upon awakening."

Charlotte raised both eyebrows and stared at Carlisle and Esme incredulously. "You would let Edward try to mate with your daughter again? You're going to let him push her around and lie to her and control her again, all in the name of 'love'? Is he even capable of love? Because, I admit I have my doubts. Edward's idea of love is my idea of domestic emotional abuse. Why would you let that poor girl suffer like that after all the things she's already endured? Do you really think he'd be any different with her than Alice was with Jasper?"

I could practically hear the wheels turning in everybody's heads as they considered her questions.

"Well, y'all think about that and what you want to do once baby girl's awake. We're gonna go on up and keep vigil at her bedside, just to make sure everything happens the way it should, and we don't get any surprises," Peter informed the group, pushing back from the table. Char and I joined him up in the guest room, all getting situated to wait out the change, ignoring the whispered argument going on beneath us.

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I enjoyed getting caught up with Pete and Char while we sat peacefully beside Bella's inert form. Though not much had happened since their last visit, earlier in the year, they took the time to expound on some of their business ventures, their exploratory adventures, and their hopes for the future. Nobody bothered us for hours, which suited all of us just fine. Occasionally somebody would peek in to get a glimpse of Bella's changing looks, but it was really quite peaceful for the most part.

After a while the rhythm in the room began to alter, alerting the entire house to her change in status. I heard Edward enter the room behind me and stare over my shoulder at the beautiful woman on the bed, as we all listened intently to her rapidly accelerating heartbeat.

"Oh, look! It's Fuckward Shitforbrains Masen," Peter casually remarked, pointing him out to Charlotte as if he were an exhibit at the zoo.

"How many times do I have to remind you not to poke fun at stupid ass losers, honey?" Charlotte calmly replied. "You know they really can't help how pathetic they are. It just comes naturally to them."

Outwardly, Edward ignored them, but I felt his anger and irritation at their remarks. Then his emotions made a huge change. I looked at him, only to see him focusing all his attention on Bella. The lust, hope, desire, longing, possessiveness and mild love radiating from him toward her infuriated me.

"What the hell are you thinking, Edward?" I growled. "Are you really delusional enough to think you have a snowball's chance in hell of ever being close to her again? Because that aint gonna happen, little boy. We're not gonna let you take advantage of her compassionate, forgiving nature ever again."

Alice came dancing into the room, her eyes darting back and forth between Edward and me. "What are you planning, Edward?"

Edward smiled at her as if he had just solved the world's energy problems or cured cancer. It was really rather creepy under the current circumstances. I suppressed a responsive shudder. "She's my mate," Edward explained smoothly. "I can't wait to meet her again."

"She's not your mate, dipshit," I snarled. "And if you stick around much longer, she's liable to rip your head off your shoulders at the first opportunity."

Edward shook his head emphatically. "No, you're wrong, Jasper. She's mine. She loves me. You said she wouldn't remember what happened between us, so I get a new chance, a fresh start, a clean slate. I'll woo her correctly this time, since I won't have to worry about hurting her or changing her by accident."

I jumped up out of my chair, landing in a crouch in front of Bella, facing toward Edward. Before he even had time to get into a crouch of his own, he was surrounded by the growling disapproval of Carlisle, Emmett, and Peter, with their mates standing behind them, hands on their hips, scowling.

I started to retort, but Carlisle put up a restraining arm, so I gave him a chance to explain. If I didn't like his explanation, I knew another way to get the point across.

"Bella is no longer your mate, Edward. Your previous treatment of her has broken any bond you had formed with her. She is, however, my daughter, and I will not allow you to hurt her again. My daughter deserves better than you," Carlisle reprimanded.

"I just want to take care of her," Edward whimpered, pouting toward Carlisle and Esme.

"If that's all you wanted, then why are you lambasting me with all your lustful emotions, hmm?" I sneered.

Esme frowned, eyeing him with disgust. "Grow up, Edward. Have you been listening to what we've all been telling you? Have you learned anything over the past three days?"

Alice went over and tugged at Edward's arm, distracting him away from his standoff with Esme. "C'mon, Edward. I don't see you with Bella anymore. You need to just realize it's over and move on with your life."

He curled his lip up in a snarl as he glared down at his sister. "You can't see Bella at all, so it's not like that bears any merit. As for moving on, Bella is my life now. She's the most beautiful woman I've ever seen, and the only woman who doesn't drive me crazy, because I don't have to listen to her silent mind. She's a mystery, allowing me to be surprised when we converse, or kiss, or spend time together. Nobody else has ever been able to offer me that."

I felt Alice's jealousy and sadness and realized she must have taken Carlisle's words to heart. Her affection for Edward had increased since they parted in Forks, and she was beginning to have sexual feelings for him as well, for the first time since we joined the Cullen family all those years ago. She was beginning to consider him hers and was seriously put out that Edward refused to look at her as anything other than a sister. I smirked to myself, for even if they were mates, as long as Edward believed he belonged with someone else, he'd never recognize it.

Knowing they had conspired together to rob me of my ability to find my true mate, even if they weren't cognizant of the true consequences of their choice to keep secrets from the rest of us, made me less than sympathetic to their plight. After all, my daddy always said, 'If'n ya sow the wind, ya gonna reap the whirlwind. Eventually, the consequences of yer actions are gonna catch up to ya and bite ya in the backside when ya least expect it. Ya might get away with it for a bit, but sure as shootin', sooner or later, that trouble's gonna come home to roost.'

Movement on the bed put a quick stop to the argument, as we all realized the change was coming to its conclusion. The beats were slowing now and starting to skip. Quick as lightning the others lined up along the wall, taking submissive poses to show they weren't a threat to the new vampire, who would be running solely on instincts at first. Carlisle motioned to Esme, and she quickly raced down to the kitchen to start preparing some of the blood we had obtained and stored for her. I moved into position about halfway between the bed and the rest of the family, ready to soothe and calm the frightened newborn.

The final beat sounded, followed by silence, except for the humming and whirring of the blood warming machine downstairs. We all kept as still as statues, not even daring to breathe, lest it startle our newest family member. All eyes were carefully examining her, using our peripheral vision to prevent causing her hackles to rise at the feeling of being watched. She remained still for a few seconds, except for her eyes, which were darting around to take in everything in her surroundings that could be seen without moving her head.

After they had scanned everything within her range, she inhaled deeply, taking in the scents swirling in the air around her. Her breath hitched and then began again at a varied pace, fast and slow, deep and shallow, as she processed all the information that could be gathered that way. After a few minutes, she found a rhythm that worked for her and opened her mouth, her cute little pink tongue poking out to taste the air.

I could feel the amusement of the others as she explored the use of her tongue, wiggling it, curling it, running it over her teeth and lips, swirling it around inside her mouth, and poking it in and out like a snake, while waving it left and right. Once again, she seemed to come to terms with her mouth and how it worked. Every third breath she would take in through her mouth instead of her nose. It was fascinating to watch her learning about her body, her senses, and her environment. She had found a rhythm for herself that was one I had worked out several years into my vampire existence as the one that gave the maximum amount of information with the least amount of effort. It was the best way to keep on the alert against being taken by surprise by anything or anyone entering their safe zone.

Very slowly I inhaled, knowing she would hear me. Sure enough, she startled, classic human newborn style, eyes widening, nostrils flaring, arms and legs both flailing out to the sides and back in again, as if to catch herself. Being a vampire, her nails instantly shredded the bedding. After a second or two, she turned her head so she could see me.

I smiled gently at her, careful not to show my teeth, my arms out in a welcoming manner. All of my body language was geared toward making her feel safe and comfortable. She stared unblinkingly at me, studying me with fascination. I poked my tongue out at her and was rewarded when she did the same. I moved it side to side, and she copied me. I blinked my eyes several times and, with only a slight hesitation, she blinked her eyes, watching me the entire time. I smiled, keeping my mouth closed, and this time, after a brief pause, she returned it.

Satisfied she was beginning to adjust to my presence without being frightened of me, I finally greeted her with my charming drawl, "Hello, darlin'."

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AN: Aww, isn't she cute . . .