Chapter 16: The Facts

~Edward~

Finding Alice and Jasper with the others she had seen in her vision brought some answers and a few more questions. The three Amazonian women were not alarmed when we showed up early in the morning, several hours after finding Micah. Zafrina was very aware of the others, the ones created by this rogue vampire. She and her sisters were able to give us a name, Joham. By then Alice had another vision, and while she and the rest were heading toward Chile, Bella and I made the decision to go home to our children. For us, we had the largest of our fears answered; that our children would be with us for an eternity. As Bella and I finally made it aboard the plane that would take us back to Washington, my mind was on that fact, that my children would live to see people they grew close to grow old and pass away. I'm not certain that even Bella realized just what was in store for her. "I'm ready to see our children," I whispered as Bella leaned against me with her eyes closed. We were flying on a commercial flight so it was important to keep up the charade of being human.

"I'm ready to hold them in my arms and not let them go, or be away from them this long again," Bella replied as I too shut my eyes. "Are we going to make arrangements to move again?"

"We need to think about that," I answered with my eyes still shut, though perfectly aware of everything going on around us. Several rows back I could hear a whispered conversation of a mother and her child, and it made me miss mine that much more. Hopefully Bella and I would be able to be with Renesmee and Anthony without having to go away again to find answers. As I thought of them, I recalled what Zafrina had told us of this Joham. He posed a huge threat to not only us, but to any vampire couple like Bella and I. Until now I'd never thought of anyone else being in our unique situation, and I'd been naive in not considering it. Maybe that wasn't the case, though if anything I had learned just how much the fanciful things of humans were more real than anyone realized.

"What do we do about the werewolves?" Bella asked turning her head as she lifted it away from my chest. My eyes opened to her amber ones, and unable to resist I leaned forward placing a kiss on her forehead, shutting my eyes again for only a moment. "Move on with our lives while remaining in contact with our friends. We can't let them take away from our time with our children or our family. The more difficult thing may be dividing up for a while."

Bella frowned, and I knew without being able to read her mind what she was thinking. "Renesmee will be alright. It might be tough on her for a while, but we need to separate. Perhaps by doing that, and not being a part of such a large coven, we won't draw so much attention," I continued.

While we continued our whispered conversation, our flight drew closer to home and the ones we loved.

~*~

It was still early morning by the time our plane landed, and already we were aware that Charlie was waiting for us, and with him Renesmee. Our daughter was convinced that we were never coming home, and had been refusing to eat, which made Bella and I going home that much more important.

"Don't see them," Renesmee said as they waited for us at baggage claim.

"They're coming," Charlie replied.

"Are you as surprised as I am that Charlie came for us," Bella whispered as we walked quickly down the long winding hallway to get to our daughter.

"Esme said he's been helping out a lot more. I think he realizes we won't always be around," I answered fairly sure that Charlie was getting in all the time he could with his grandchildren while they were still in Forks. His thoughts were still fuzzy to me, though I could pick out that he was wondering if we were coming home this flight.

The second Renesmee saw us, she began to struggle. Charlie hurried toward us, able to give her to me before she jumped out of his arms. Instantly my daughter's arms locked around my neck as she pressed her face there. "We're here now," I whispered, at the same time taking in a deep breath of her sweet smell.

As I held her, Bella hugged her father, telling him how glad she was to see him. It didn't take us long to get our things, and as we walked, Bella filled her father in.

Charlie was stunned that we had found another half human half vampire child, and was as angered as we were that there was another vampire trying to create a new race and doing it so recklessly. My father- in- law was more aware than most of the Volturi and what all of that could come down to if they ever found out. As we walked outside I felt my daughter's grip on me loosen and held her closer as she fell asleep against me. When we got to the car and as I was leaning in to settle Renesmee into her seat, she woke up and clung to me. "Shh, I'm going to sit right beside you."

"No, hold me," she sobbed grasping tighter around my neck.

"It's early," Charlie said sympathizing with what she had been through when we were gone. Once we were all in the car, Renesmee snug on my lap, Charlie pulled out of the airport and we began our journey home.

"How is Anthony?" Bella asked as our daughter went back to sleep.

"He's a pretty happy kid most of the time. Yesterday he was really fussy. Esme and Carlisle think he's getting a tooth in, but I don't think that's it. You didn't get your first teeth until after you turned one."

If our son was getting his first teeth, we would have to watch him around Charlie and even Renesmee in case he tried to bite them. Renesmee might get hurt, but I feared Charlie may end up like one of us, though I had no proof to go on that. Anthony seemed more like Bella and me, and that got me to wondering if he had venom as we did.

When we got home the sky wasn't as dark. Renesmee remained asleep as my parents came out to greet us, minus Anthony who was asleep upstairs in his crib.

Charlie gave us all hugs, more comfortable around us than he had been at first, before he left. Upstairs, Bella headed toward the nursery while I took Renesmee into the bathroom as she stirred in my arms. Without a fuss she did her business and once back in my arms she went back to sleep, not even waking when I laid her down in the big bed in mine and Bella's room. Knowing she would likely sleep for a while, I felt it safe to leave and joined Bella and our son who was awake as she finished changing his diaper. "He's grown," I observed while Anthony smiled at both of us.

"I know, and I think they are right about a tooth. He was gumming my finger and I can feel swelling right in front."

"We will need to be careful with Charlie if that is the case," I replied as Bella picked our baby up.

"Why?"

"If Anthony is anything like us, he may have venom." There wasn't a need to say more as Bella seemed to know where I was going with that.

"Should we try and go be with Renesmee?"

"I think that's wise. Why don't you go while I fix him a bottle." Carlisle and Esme had gone hunting, needing some time alone and I understood that.

Being home brought back many memories, and as I walked down the stairs one came to mind. I recalled that day Bella came down the stairs on Charlie's arm and how I swore she was an angel come to save me. There had been no one else in the house with us as she came to my side. Bella was my best friend and so much more. She gave more than I deserved, and I was grateful that she had never taken my advise those first few weeks and run away screaming. My mind was still on her as I heated the blood for Anthony's bottle, hearing him cooing at her as she waited for me at the top of the stairs.

A few minutes later we were all in the bed in my old room. Anthony had already closed his eyes as he rested in Bella's arms while drinking his bottle, and I held both of them to me as Renesmee slept on my other side.

"We aren't leaving them again," Bella murmured.

"I agree," I said, hoping it would never come to that. For a few minutes we were both quiet. Anthony finished his bottle and was now sound asleep against my chest as Bella rested on my other side. "Where would you like to live this time?" I asked rubbing my hand over my son's back.

"I liked where we were before, but maybe further north. What about Maine?"

"We would need to find a fairly secluded area, though school wouldn't be an option at least not high school."

Bella lifted her head away from my chest. "Maybe we need to focus on the kids this time. At some point we need to think about teaching Renesmee. Do you think she will ever be able to attend school, before high school with any of us?"

My wife's question surprised me, though as I thought about it Renesmee was likely going to be the only one of us who could pull that off. She was in great control of her blood lust, so the opportunity to go to middle school at the very least could be a possibility. "We could send her to middle school."

"What about grade school?" My wife asked, anxious for my response.

"We have a long way to go before we need to consider that. I guess it would all depend on how well she's able to keep everything a secret. Could you stand to be away from her, not knowing what she's doing?"

My words caused my wife to stop and think. In the end Bella sighed, resting her head back against me. "I worry that she will resent us for moving so much, and for not being able to be like all the other kids she might see when we get to take her around other people, or when she watches TV."

"That's something that concerns both of us. Our life isn't going to be an easy one for our children. I hope she and Anthony will adjust and learn to love experiencing new places."

~*~

Morning arrived and Renesmee was ready to go hunting with me the moment she opened her eyes. She went with Bella to get dressed and while I waited for them I sat in the family room watching my son crawling around reaching for his toys and some of his sister's. Just as Anthony grabbed one of Renesmee's dolls, she was there to grab it away, and he started to cry. Before Renesmee could get away Bella picked her up. "That wasn't very nice," my wife said.

"This mine doll. Antony bite her, make her wet."

"Then we should probably put the things you don't want him to touch away," Bella tried.

"Mine. Want down now."

"Renesmee, will you be gentle with your brother if he gets something you don't want, and maybe give him one of his toys?" Bella tried again as our little girl began to struggle.

"Mine doll. Let go Momma," Renesmee whined.

My wife gave up handing her to me as she picked Anthony up. Once Renesmee was on my back, wearing her winter coat, I ran out of the house making it across the river in a few seconds time. "You need to listen to what Momma says to you. I want you to be gentle with your brother."

"Him yucky."

It was difficult not to laugh, and teaching our daughter to be more tolerant of her brother was foremost on my mind aside from catching something for her morning meal.

"Smell good," Renesmee said as we both picked up on the sweet scent of a cat.

I stopped and put her down below the tree where the cat was lounging. "You stay right here," I said sternly. She nodded and sat down on the damp ground as I took to the trees. I a few seconds I had the cat where I wanted him and brought him to the ground not far from Renesmee before I killed it. My baby came to us and once I tilted the big cats head to the side she did the rest kneeling next to it while she drank. Soon I hoped Bella could join us, though we were both still worried that she didn't have enough control to hunt with our daughter.

"All done," Renesmee said a few minutes later. I wiped her chin off with the bottom of my shirt before draining the cat and disposing of his body.

"Like better, it yummier," Renesmee informed me as she settled back on my back. Bella and I would still need to hunt on our own, likely individually until more of our family returned.

As we got closer to home, Anthony's fussing became the sound I focused on. My thoughts went back to when Renesmee had been teething and how hard that was for her. Carlisle said he had the same medicine we used for her, and as we walked inside, and Renesmee headed over to play with her toys, I went to the back of the house finding Bella trying to comfort our baby boy.

"How can he be old enough to be getting teeth?" Anthony was a little over five months old.

"It's not so uncommon for babies to teeth at this age," I answered as she handed him to me.

At that time Renesmee called out for Bella, wanting to go see Grandpa Charlie. While my wife went to be with our daughter, I headed upstairs with Anthony letting him gum my index finger even though I knew I shouldn't encourage that. The coolness of my skin likely felt good to him and once I was rocking him he began to calm down further.

~Bella~

Finding Charlie at the old house was a surprise. We called and he said he would be happy to have us come to visit. As Renesmee got down to playing, I noticed that Charlie was quiet which wasn't anything out of the ordinary. The thing was it looked like something was bothering him. "How are things with you and Sue?"

My dad scratched the back of his head looking over at Renesmee as she danced to the music her little play oven was making, "Not all that great. You remember what I said a while back about maybe wanting to be more able to help you protect my grand-kids?"

"Oh no," I said realizing what he was getting at.

We walked into the kitchen and Charlie got a beer out of the refrigerator before sitting down at the table across from me. "Yeah, well that didn't go over too well with her or Billy for that matter. I don't think it effects their willingness, or the packs willingness to help you find answers or keep a look out, but Sue hasn't had much time for me lately."

"I'm sorry."

Charlie shook his head, "Don't be. I've gotten used to being a bachelor, though I miss having someone who knows what they're doing in the kitchen. Esme's been baking enough for me to take home when I go visit the kids. I'm not sure how someone who doesn't need to eat food can be such a good cook."

"They watched a lot of the Food Network," I said as we both laughed.

"Grandpa I need you here with me," Renesmee called out. We both went back into the den and I sat on the sofa watching as Charlie sat near where Renesmee was cooking. He was really great with her, and they both were enjoying playing restaurant. When ever we did move, Edward and I would have to get a stove for her that lit up and played music. She really did enjoy it.

While Charlie and Renesmee were outside enjoying the cold but rainless day, I began to prepare a few things that my dad could eat for the next few days, enjoying having vampire speed, and able to recall exactly how much ingredients to use to make everything taste the way my dad would like it.

"Grandpa, you need be like Momma and Daddy." I had just put the last casserole dish into the oven when I picked up on that part of the conversation. I stood perfectly still, trying not to feel guilty for eavesdropping.

"Be a vampire?" Charlie asked without any hint of panic or disgust in his voice.

"Yes. You move and be with us and not have to be here."

"I don't need to be a vampire to do those things. Forks, being here, is where I like to be. I always miss you guys, but I'm used to my life here and the people need me."

"Them need you drive car with lights and louds?"

"Yes," Charlie said.

It was amazing how much Renesmee seemed to understand, "I get sad when go way and not see you."

"But we get to talk on the phone, and I will send you pictures on the computer."

"Not like now. You holding me and swing. You not do it when I all gone way."

If I would have been able to shed I tear there would have been many going down my cheeks. Why did she have to be such a smart little girl?

When they came back from playing outside I had dinner ready for Charlie, and set out two plates knowing Renesmee would pitch a fit if I tried to get her to leave now. While she chattered with him, I took my cell and went out to the porch to call Edward.

"Hey, how are things going there?" I asked when he picked up.

"Pretty good. Anthony's comfortable. He just had a bath. Alice hasn't called yet, but I don't guess she will until they have more news. How about you?"

"Renesmee asked Charlie to be like us. She said that way she wouldn't miss him as much."

Edward was silent, but only for as second. "What did he say?"

"He told her he didn't need to be like us to be with her, and that he likes his life in Forks. I think that made her a little sad."

"We won't be going anywhere for a while," Edward pointed out.

I sighed, "I know it's just so hard when we do."

"Momma got have deserts."

"I need to go. We shouldn't be much longer." Already I was missing my husband, though I had as smile on my face as I joined my dad and Renesmee at the table smelling the too sweet scent of the cake they were eating.

~*~

AN: I finally got this one out. Okay so there are a few things familiar to those of you who read BD. I like the idea of Joham and the thought that maybe he was making a superiour race of vampires, so I'm kind of flying with that idea. I know I still need to address the issue of the wolves and that may very well end up being dealt with in a later story once Renesmee and Anthony are a bit older. I'm ready for Edward and Bella to be back with their babies. THey now have the answer they need, and they really need to be with their babies, at least that's what I was feeling. There's lots more to come so stay tuned.

I wanted to thank you all for the great reviews and the well wishes. I'm doing better, starting to get in some exercise so maybe I wont get so sick when that happens. Thanks also for those of you who have added me to your favs list, You guys are awesome, keep those reviews coming.

~Ella~