Chapter 6: Changes

~Edward~

There were three weeks between the time Charlie left and when Emmett and Rosalie arrived at the Island. We had asked them to come stay with us primarily so that Bella and I could go to the mainland leaving Renesmee and Anthony behind for a few days at a time in preparation for when Bella would be turned. We would be going home in a week and two weeks after that, Bella would undergo the greatest change of her life. Standing at the window in our hotel room I recalled talking with Carlisle about the use of morphine to try and control the pain Bella would go through. When he had turned Emmett my father had tried that, but the shots were given after Emmett was bitten and the pain medication didn't take. For Bella we were discussing medicating her a few hours before I did my part hoping that with enough morphine in her system it would override any pain she would feel. Moving away from the window, I walked across the hotel room to the bed where my love slept watching over her as I had done since a little after we met. A part of me would miss being able to do this, but a greater part of me was looking forward to spending all my waking moments with the woman I loved.

"Edward, don't go," Bella mumbled as she turned from her stomach over to her left side. In an instant I was next to her, holding my wife in my arms. There were still nights she would call out for me not to leave and times even when she would cry. In the morning, Bella would never recall having had any dreams to bring on her sleep talking and sometimes I wondered if subconsciously she was still remembering that dreaded time when I'd left because I thought she was safer without me. Once my arms were around her, Bella's breathing became deeper and I could feel what little tension had been in her body leaving. My decision to leave her would forever haunt me, and sometimes I found myself hoping that when she was turned, Bella would not remember anything of that horrible period in both of our lives. In a few hours, we would be heading back to the Island ready to be reunited with our children after being away from them for three days. Rosalie had made it a point to phone us twice a day and sometimes more letting Renesmee tell both of us what she had been doing and this time around there hadn't been any trouble from our little girl.

We were debating letting Emmett and Rosalie take the kids home with them. There was enough paper work to allow them to get through customs, but five days seemed like a long time to be away from them.

"Come back," Bella whispered as I felt the warmth of her tears against my chest.

"Shh," I crooned holding her closer.

Her breathing changed and a moment later Bella lifted her head away from me. "I remembered that night," she said, her voice shaking.

"Never again," I promised as I pressed her head back against my chest.

My wife was quiet for a while after that, but she wasn't asleep, "I keep worrying that Renesmee will feel the same sort of hurt I did."

"Not if we treat it like we have been over these past weeks. When she has questions I will answer them according to what she asks, but we don't need to tell her anything about what will happen to you," I answered feeling strongly. Our daughter was extremely perceptive and it wouldn't take her long to figure out that being away from us when Bella's time to be changed occurred was different. We weren't going to tell her about Bella's transformation because Bella and I both felt that would cause her undo stress over things she wasn't ready to understand. At the same time I would have to tell her enough to keep her reassured. This wouldn't be easy for our baby, not by any means, and we both worried about how she was going to react to this change more so than Anthony at this stage.

Once Bella had gone back to sleep, I thought about what I would say to my daughter when those questions came. There would be times I would not be able to stay by Bella's side, and we were both prepared for that. My family was supporting us fully, and I would divide my attention willingly between my wife and my children, and was glad we had two separate houses for that very reason.

The sun was just coming up when I pulled the boat up to the dock on the Island. Bella and I were anxious to see our little ones and had decided to keep them here with us. Once she helped me shut everything down and get the covers put on the things that needed protecting, I took Bella's hand and held on to her as she stepped off the boat onto the small dock. Already, I could hear activity in the house. Rosalie was talking to Renesmee about why she didn't need to use the potty, and from that conversation and my daughter's thoughts I gathered they were in the bathroom.

"Do you hear them?"

"Rosalie and Renesmee are discussing why grown up vampires don't need to use the bathroom. I'm not sure our daughter understands, and she's just finishing up on her potty," I said as we began our walk toward the house. "Anthony made a huge mess in his diaper and Emmett is considering fastening it back on him until Rosalie can do the job." I chuckled as I heard my sister telling him that if he did that she would make him fly home on a separate plane, and passed that along to Bella.

"He's the only one who makes such a big deal about the messy diapers," Bella said as we stepped out of the woods seeing our house.

"Emmett wouldn't be Emmett if he didn't make a big deal about that," I pointed out hearing our daughter's excited squeal as she realized we were almost to the house. The moment the door opened Renesmee was out and Bella barely had time to put the bags down she was carrying before our daughter ran into her arms.

"Momma home. I wear big girl panties." To illustrate this fact Renesmee pulled up the blue nighty she had on showing us the yellow floral panties she was wearing.

We both laughed and Renesmee furrowed her brows before Bella picked her up, spinning her around until she was laughing. Once we were all inside, I took our things into the larger room finding Emmett laying on his stomach in front of Anthony on our bed. My brother was trying a game of peek a boo with his nephew. "No smiles?"

"Not one. He does it all the time for Renesmee."

After putting the bags and our suitcase down I walked over to the bed and sat down on the edge next to my son. He was very interested in what Emmett was doing but that was the most of what I was getting from him.

"Why doesn't he smile like Ness did?"

For a while now Emmett had taken to calling our daughter Ness, and I kept hoping that it wouldn't turn into Nessie, though Bella and I were ready for that eventuality. "Anthony has a different personality than she does, more intense," I said as my son turned his head and looked up at me. I smiled at him before I lifted him into my arms. "Did you make your uncle a nice mess?" Emmett grumbled as he got up and left, at the same time Anthony smiled at me. "You need to do more of that," I said kissing his soft cheeks.

"Do more of what?" Bella asked as she came into our room. I stood, walking to her side as she reached for our baby. Once he was in her arms he smiled at her and Bella hugged him as I held both of them in my arms. "Just saying he should make more messes for his uncle to have to clean up," I told her. My wife chuckled before we parted heading back into the main room with the rest of our family.

~Bella~

Since it was a rainy day, Edward and I decided he should go into Rio with Rosalie and Emmett alone. They were going to hunt together before my brother and sister-in-law left on their flight and both babies had been asleep when everyone was ready to go. Now my daughter was awake snuggling with me as she cried softly against my chest. "Daddy wanted you to get your rest, and its raining and icky. Hey, you know what?" I asked. My daughter shook her head pressing her face into my chest. I gathered her closer, hating that she was so upset. "We could make cookies. We have chocolate chips now."

She didn't respond so I began to hum softly to her, glad when her cries finally began to subside, and also that Anthony was still asleep. "We have chip in pancakes. Nanna do like that." Renesmee moved away from me and sat up. I reached out wiping away the last of her tears.

"I think we can try that, but you have to help me stir." Before I could sit up my daughter was back in my arms hugging me.

"Love you, Momma," my heart melted.

A little later we were all in the kitchen. Anthony was in his bouncy seat chewing on his fingers and Renesmee was sitting on the counter against the wall holding the bowl of batter between her legs as I added the final touches. "Stir slow."

"We make mess if we don't. I made mess at Nanna's, but she not mad me."

I looked into the bowl seeing that I was going to need to help, trying to find a way to do that without spoiling the happy moment. "Will you let me have a turn?" I asked pouting.

My little girl laughed at me and pulled the bowl closer against her, "I the stir girl, you bake them Momma."

Once she was ready, she did let me have the bowl and as she cooed at Anthony, I took the time to get the batter to the right consistency. When the pancakes were ready, I let my baby drop the chocolate chips on them allowing her to stand on a chair and watch a little away from me. Anthony chose that moment to cry loudly and Renesmee jumped off the chair, pushed it over to him, and got him calmed down for me. All of it surprised me because she hadn't really taken an interest in him. It seemed like when we were away she had changed into a more outspoken giving child. I felt a chill running down my spine wondering what it would be like once I was able to see them again after Edward turned me.

"Momma are you sad?"

I came back to myself smiling at her as I put the first of the pancakes on a plate in order to gain some composure. "No baby, just had something on my mind."

Once Renesmee was in her highchair, I moved Anthony in his seat to the table in front of me feeling my heart warm when he smiled. Renesmee thankfully was too into her pancakes to get jealous which she sometimes did. Breakfast was over without any complaints from either of my children and after getting Anthony changed and settled on a soft blanket in the family room, Renesmee and I made a trip to the bathroom before I started in on cleaning up. My thoughts took me back to my earlier worries, and I tried not to get into worry mode. We would handle what ever came. Edward was prepared to answer her questions as they came and I was preparing myself for my daughter not to be happy about my new looks and the red eyes. That was what worried me the most. Alice told me a while back that she already had contact lenses ordered a little darker brown than mine are now so that wouldn't be a factor. The problem was I didn't know how wild I was going to be when it was all said and done.

Once the dishes were clean, I turned my attention to my children. Anthony was on his back watching the fan above him, but my daughter wasn't anywhere to be found. "Renesmee," I called out going to the bathroom. She wasn't there and I ran to my bedroom. The door wasn't open, but I didn't trust what I saw and looked out the window. It was pouring and my baby wasn't anywhere I could see. "Calm down," I growled to myself knowing that panic wasn't going to help me in this case. After taking a few deep breaths I grabbed my cell dialing Alice's. She picked up on the first ring. "You saw something?"

"You were really upset about something and Edward isn't there."

"Shit, not you. Renesmee isn't where I can see her."

"You start looking; I'll call Edward."

We hung up and I tore my room apart looking everywhere I could think. I crawled on my hands and knees into the family room looking in cabinets while I called her name. "Renesmee, if you come out now or inside I won't be angry. I won't even tell your daddy about this." Alice was, but right now I'd do anything to have her found. Ten minutes later, I had Anthony in the sling and had put on a rain coat. My phone vibrated and I picked up.

"Have you found her?" Edward asked.

"No, I'm going outside now."

"I'm on my way home, try to stay calm, love." His own voice betrayed him. Edward sounded as afraid as I felt. Renesmee couldn't be hurt easily, but if she got in the water. "I have to go," I hung up and went outside finding that it was barely raining. "Renesmee, please answer me," I yelled trying to sound calm. A million things were running through my mind. When I found her, I was going to have to put her in a chair so I could gather my thoughts. If I didn't, she wouldn't be able to sit for a while and I needed to be in control.

In back of the house, I found her playing in a huge puddle of mud. There was so much on her it was hard to believe there was a little girl under all of that. "You need to get up and follow me," I said proud that I wasn't yelling.

"All dirty," Renesmee answered obeying. I'm not sure she knew how much trouble she was in, and I said a silent prayer, thankful that she hadn't gone anywhere near the water. There was a hose on the porch and I turned it on as Anthony began to cry.

"It cold," Renesmee said backing away.

I shut it off and led her to the ocean. "Sit."

She did being very quiet as I began cupping the water in my hands pouring it over her head. "Walk out a little and sit down wash it all of of your arms and tummy." Edward would be here soon, and most of the time he dealt with the more unpleasant part of being a parent, but this time I needed to put my foot down.

~*~

Both of our babies were asleep when Edward arrived and the moment I was on my feet his arms were around me. "Alice called, she said you were waiting for me. Where was our daughter?" He still sounded worried and a little angry like he might be ready to punish her once she was awake.

"She found a huge puddle of mud around the back of the house and was covered. She didn't go anywhere near the ocean until I realized that was the best place to rinse her off. After I got her inside and bathed, I asked her if she heard me looking for her. She wouldn't tell me and I had to put her in her room until I could get calmed down. She was afraid of what I would do. I did a stupid thing, too."

"What did you do, love?"

"I told her I wouldn't tell you, when I couldn't find her. Renesmee said she heard me say that. We talked about why she had to stay in the house and I gave her three swats. I'm not sure if she felt them, but we were both a mess after it was all over with. I understand why it tares you up and I'm sorry I haven't been more supportive. We need to put locks where she can't get to them."

"Yes we do. I'm sorry you had to do that and that you were upset."

"We had a good morning," I said pulling a little away from him enough to get Edward to sit down with me. While he listened, I told him about making pancakes and how Renesmee had helped with that and with Anthony when he had started crying. "It's like she grew into a different child while we were gone. I've noticed that her speech is getting better. She's starting to make complete sentences."

"We have both noticed the same things. I am angry that she did that."

I turned, facing my husband seeing his lips drawn in a tight line. "She's two, and as smart as she acts she's a baby still."

He looked at me and drew me back into his arms,. "You are very right. I'm still going to talk to her when she gets up." After a moment, he eased my head back and brought his lips down on mine. My arms seemed to have a mind of their own as they wrapped around behind him, and he deepened the kiss when I pressed on the back of his head.

~Edward~

After what our daughter had put her through earlier in the morning and after we made love, Bella fell into a much needed rest in our room. Our babies were still asleep and I found a book on one of the shelves and was leafing through it when Renesmee shuffled out of her room. By the time she reached me, her little head was down and she was sniffling. I lifted her into my arms and she put her cheek against my shoulder as her tears began to wet my shirt. Her thoughts were focused on Bella and how her mother had cried with her after her punishment was delivered.

"Made Momma sad," she whispered.

"What did you do?" I encouraged rubbing her back.

Her chest heaved as she rubbed her cheek against my shoulder, "You be mad me."

I kissed the side of her head lifting her away from me and settled her on my lap. Gently, I tilted her head up kissing her forehead., "I think maybe you might feel better if you told me."

"Be sad. You spank me."

"Momma already punished you."

My daughter sighed shutting her eyes., "Went out in the rain. Got muddy all on me and Momma scared. Momma yell me and not tell her and got mad me. I got spank Momma cry and I cry."

"Do you remember what I said about going outside without us?"

"Say no," she whispered dropping her head again.

My mind was screaming for her to explain why she had gone outside, and I felt a little angry but pushed it away. "Why did you go?"

"Fun. Not get in water. Not get hurt."

"Look at me," I whispered.

Her eyes were instantly on my own, "If you do that again while we are here, even if I am not. I will spank you when I come home."

"Momma spank and you spank?"

"Yes."

She looked down again, "No now."

"Not this time," There was doubt in my mind over that choice, but Bella had wanted to handle what happened today on her own. We were going to put locks on the doors to both houses when we got back, but my daughter needed to know there would be a consequence to her actions, something that I still struggled with. When Anthony was older, I wondered what it would be like to have two escape artists if he was anything like his sister.

Once Bella was up and Anthony had been fed, we sat down with our daughter and played a game called Memory. Renesmee caught on fast how to play the game and was good at finding the matches to the pictures she saw. For the rest of the day she clung to Bella and wouldn't go to sleep in her own bed. The events of today seemed to have an affect on her and I was hoping I'd never have to follow through on a double punishment.

~*~

Just past four on a Monday morning, Esme and Carlisle greeted us at the baggage claim at Logan International in Boston. My mother greeted us with hugs followed by my father before Bella let Esme take Anthony. Our son saw her and smiled, making his Nanna's day. Renesmee was in her pack carrier awake, but very much in need of sleep. Our little girl had barely gotten any since we left Rio, though to her credit Renesmee had been very cooperative. "Do you want Pop to get you out?" Bella asked. I heard our daughter's thoughts and let Carlisle take one of the suitcases as we headed on our way to the cars.

"How was the flight?" Esme asked.

"Long," Bella answered.

"Have you two made any more decisions regarding treatment plans?" Carlisle asked quietly mindful of young ears.

"Still in the air," I replied.

"Momma go pee now," Renesmee announced right before we were ready to exit the airport. Our baby was diaper free and had refused to wear a Pull up since Rosalie had gotten her all her new panties. So far we had only had a few accidents, something that upset Renesmee greatly when it happened.

Once she and Bella were out of ear shot, I answered both of my parents thoughts. "Rosalie has earned all the credit. Renesmee loves her new panties and we haven't had too many accidents. Any time she does, it's something that upsets her greatly. I don't think it will be long before she's completely potty trained, and can only hope Anthony will be as easy." When I said his name, my son turned his head fussing when he couldn't find me.

After I had Anthony cradled in my free arm he smiled once before he yawned and shut his eyes. Bella and Renesmee joined us soon after and we got to the cars without too many problems. "You don't need to buy a SUV," I said answering Carlisle's thoughts as I helped him load his car while Bella and Esme went to the other to get the kids settled in their seats. Once everything was loaded Bella decided to ride with Esme and I went with Carlisle.

"Bella is worried that she will have longer to recover if you give her the morphine. I wasn't sure if that held true."

"It will take three days regardless of the medication and the venom will burn it off long before she's finished with the transformation. How are you handling what is to come?" Carlisle asked while glancing over at me.

"This is what is best for her living a life with a vampire husband and two children who are half vampire. Bella has no more doubts about wanting to do this and now that Charlie is supporting her as best he can, she's less apprehensive. My greatest concern is how to walk Renesmee through this change. She's been really close with Bella since that day she ran off and I'm not sure how we are going to explain why she can't see her Momma."

"Just answer her with honesty and love and only in accordance with what she asks. Don't give her too much explanation." Carlisle suggested.

"I've been thinking along those lines. If Bella can't see them for weeks or months, that is the part that concerns me the most."

"She is going in to this willingly when the rest of us never had the choice to say yes or no. I truly believe that she's going to be born ready to handle this life without the years of control it took the rest of us. If it does turn out the way you fear we will cross that bridge when it comes. There is nothing we can do to prepare Renesmee for this without confusing her and frighting her."

I nodded, wanting to talk about something else. Carlisle seemed to know that and told me about a young patient of his who was a ward of the state. "Marissa has a brain tumor that even I can't remove. She's been fighting this for a year and a half now and has more strength than most adults I know. Yesterday she asked me if I was a vampire," Carlisle said having kept his thoughts from me.

When I faced him he smiled, "I asked her why she thought that, and she told me it was my cold hands. She's very observant for a six year old. When she asked me again I had a hard time not admitting it to her, wishing I could save her. If she was able to grow into an adult she would be one amazing person to know."

Over the years, Carlisle had taken care of people from birth to very old age. It was always the children that got to him, and now that I had two of my own I knew how he felt.

Getting home was the highlight of our day. I carried Renesmee to the bathroom and she woke up long enough to use the potty before she was fast asleep in my arms as I carried her to her room. Once she was tucked into her big girl bed and the blinds were drawn, I walked down the hall to what had been the guest room finding Anthony's new room in its place. Bella was changing his diaper and he was rubbing his eyes as she snapped his clean sleeper.

"Did you know?"

"No, but I like what they did."

"I do too," my wife agreed as she settled our son against her shoulder. Anthony snuggled against her shutting his tired eyes as she walked the new rocking chair.

Once she was seated I knelt down in front of them resting my cheek against her lap, "It's good to be home."

Her fingers stroked through my hair and I sighed wanting nothing more than to lay with her in our bed and not move from that spot. It was tempting to take Esme up on her offer to keep our children, and later on in the day we might do that, but right now we all needed this time together in our own home.

With Anthony asleep and once he was settled in his new crib, Bella led me to our room. When she very nearly walked into the dresser I did the leading and got her to sit down on the bed. "Why don't you let me take care of you?"

"Because I want to do that for you," she answered through a yawn.

"When you have a little more sleep, I'll happily take you up on that offer, but right now it looks like you could use some rest."

My wife nodded and I sat next to her pulling her gently into my arms for a moment kissing the top of her head as I inhaled her floral scent mixed with the strawberry scent of her hair. I moved my hands down her back rubbing her there a moment before I lifted the hem of her long shirt. Bella eased away from me letting me take her shirt off. When I had her bra off, I stood up gently pulling her to her feet. Once she was fully undressed she swayed and I caught her in my arms. "Ready for bed?"

"Only if you join me," she mumbled. Bella hadn't slept either and it was a wonder she was still able to function at all. My own need to protect and care for her overthrew any desire to do more and once she was settled under the warmth of our covers and the electric blanket I undressed and was soon holding her against me.

For a moment she was still, but when her lips began to move against my chest I had a clear idea of what my Bella wanted and was willing to let her have her way with me, more than willing.

~*~

AN: Well what did you think? I had a request to do one where Bella has to handle a situation with Renesmee, so that was where part of this came from. I promise Renesmee won't always be so in to things, but I think she would have a mind of her own, and I also think that she's more worried about Daddy handling things than Momma, things might change once Bella is more like Edward. That is coming up very shortly. I haven't worked on that yet but I've got some ideas going around in my brain, and intend to work on it after this is posted. Thank you all for the great reviews and for continueing to add me to your alert lists and favorites. More coming your way soon.

~Ella~