Chapter 30: One Large Family on an Island

~Edward~

The concern in Alice's voice the last time we spoke was enough to have Bella and me packing to return to the Island. It was time to find answers and plan how we would do so without having to remain away from our children. Emmett and Rosalie faced a similar issue with Lily by keeping her safe and at the same time trying to find Joham and figure out just what he was planning. The nice part would be seeing all of us together again, and letting Lily adjust to all of the ciaos that went with having a large family. The evening after talking to Alice, Bella and I were on a private plane with our sleeping children. We had told Renesmee about her new cousin, explaining to her that Lily needed a family to love her. So far our daughter was taking everything in stride and I hoped that would continue as we all converged on the Island.

My son shifting against my chest drew my attention to him. He had been fitful when we first took off and it had taken a while to get him settled down enough to fall asleep. For a moment I thought he might wake up, but then Anthony was able to curl to his side while still resting against my chest remaining asleep. His hair was getting longer and eventually Bella and I would need to think about giving him his first haircut. He was also getting longer though still had baby fat on his arms and legs, and a little on his mid section. As Bella approached us, I glanced up at her before looking past where she was to our sleeping daughter. Renesmee had fallen asleep without any problems while looking at a picture book she enjoyed. She was also growing and losing her baby fat. It seemed each day that went by my baby girl was growing more into a child than a baby and it was difficult to watch.

"I'm glad he's still asleep," my wife whispered as she sat to my left.

"He needs a good night's sleep. I doubt either of them will get much during the day once we get to the island," I responded, moving my left hand gently up and down Anthony's back. My wife sighed, glancing away from me toward the front of the plane. I moved my hand from Anthony's back and grasped one of hers. "You're worried," I murmured.

"I don't like that Alice is worried, and that she isn't having any visions to support her concerns. I don't want to leave them again, not for as long as it may take to find Joham or even for us to travel to Italy to do what we must in order to keep them safe," Bella replied looking directly at me.

What we faced was always so uncertain, not that this life was free of uncertainty. It only seemed that since we had our children things had gotten so out of hand, or that our worries were simply enhanced in order to keep Anthony and Renesmee safe. "Hopefully, for a few days we can enjoy our time with the family, and help Lily get used to all of us," I said hoping a change in subject would lighten our moods.

The moment Bella smiled I felt my deadened heart trying to beat. My wife was still just as beautiful to me as the day I'd first seen her. There were still times I wondered how it was I had gotten so lucky, and that Bella didn't run off in the beginning screaming for me to stay away.

"You're being the quiet one," Bella whispered, her smile still on her soft lips.

"There are times, several in fact during the day, when I wonder how it is that I became so lucky to have you as my wife," I answered, willing to admit that to her.

My wife sat very still and for a moment I listened, wondering if there was a problem she had picked up on. When she smiled again, I felt relief both for the fact that we were safe, and that she was, I hoped, about to comment on what I'd replied to just a moment ago. "Is it really so hard for you to believe that your worthy of love?" she asked.

I remembered clearly how long I'd felt like a monster, and along with that how I didn't believe I would ever find a mate the way Carlisle had with Esme, and later how Rosalie had with Emmett. "I'm not sure it's really me feeling worthy. It's perhaps more what I went through in the beginning, after returning home from my rebellious time. For so long after that I was alone and I'd gotten used to that. I never let myself want for someone else to share my life with like the rest of my family had. Then you came along to change all of that. I'm just grateful, more than grateful that you came back to me after that terrible time." There wasn't a need to clarify to Bella which terrible time I was referring to.

My wife wrapped her arms carefully around me and for a while we sat cuddled together with our son asleep on my chest.

By the time we got to the Island the sun was rising, and we were all excited to be with the rest of our family. Anthony had gotten all the sleep he required and was in a very good mood as he sat in the pack carrier on my back. To my right Bella and Renesmee were sitting on the cushioned seats while I docked the boat at the small docking area next to our other boat. "Will Lily remember me?" I heard Renesmee asking her mother.

"She does remember you and she's very excited that we are coming to see them," Bella answered as I shut the engine off already hearing some of our family heading our way.

"Renesmee, wait by the boat until your mother and I are ready, or until someone is in sight of the boat," I said not wanting her to run off. Once she was on the sandy shores of the island, Renesmee did as I said, but I could tell she wanted to go greet Esme and Alice who were almost upon us. Already I could hear my sister's thoughts assuring me that Renesmee would be fine so when I told my baby girl she could go and meet my mother and sister, she was gone in an instant.

"She'll never go to bed," Bella fretted as she got the rest of our things while I finished covering the console and the seats of our boat to protect it from moisture.

"I think she might after the day I've seen planned in Alice's head," I answered as my mother and sister came into view along with Renesmee. My daughter was already asking all about Lily, slightly disappointed that Emmett and Rosalie had taken her to the other side of the island last night to camp out. "They should be home soon," Esme was saying in effort to keep Renesmee from getting too upset.

Once Bella was on the other side of the boat, I finished covering everything while Anthony bounced gently in the carrier. As I stepped out beside her, Alice was already reaching her arms up to my son, ready to hold him. I knelt down and a moment later Anthony was in his Aunt's arms gurgling happily as she showered his chubby cheeks with kisses.

"Daddy, I want us to go find Lily," Renesmee announced as we headed for the house.

"She'll be along soon, like Nanna said. We need to give them some time alone when they want that."

My little girl was reaching for me and I lifted her against my left hip while still carrying the rest of the luggage Bella and Esme didn't have room for. "Why?"

"They are still getting used to being a family."

"Is it hard for them?" Renesmee asked.

"Maybe a little, but your Aunt Rosalie and Uncle Emmett have had a lot of practice while they took care of you and Anthony." I wasn't sure if Renesmee understood what I meant, but when she didn't ask me anything else, and when I didn't hear any question in her thoughts I figured that she did, finding myself amazed again at just how smart she was becoming.

Though there was at least six years between Renesmee and Lily, the two girls were having a great time playing together. While they played out on the beach with Rosalie, Bella, Esme and Alice, Emmett, Jasper, Carlisle and me along with Anthony remained indoors keeping mostly to ourselves. Anthony had just gone down for a nap, though was still awake playing in his crib in the blue room while I joined my father and brothers in the main part of the house. Emmett was reading a parenting book Alice had brought for them, but his mind was on the night they had spent with Lily. When I sat beside him he put the book aside. "She's really glad to have us all under one roof," Emmett admitted.

"We've been apart too much lately," I agreed, seeing wisdom in why Alice wanted us all together. Separately it would be easier for Joham and those that worked for his cause to get at us. As a coven it wouldn't be as easy, and I could understand some of the reasons Alice had been feeling apprehensive.

"So, do we have any ideas one where we are going after this?"

We hadn't had the chance to sit down together and discuss that, but my feelings were to head to Europe and start looking there, or to Denali if Carlisle could talk to Tanya and her family and try and explain to them why we needed their help. They would be the hardest to convince as far as the children went. Their mother had harbored an immortal child after it had been forbidden and they along with Irena were strongly against that. "Maybe someplace in Europe or to Alaska for a while to see if Tanya and her sisters along with Eleazar would be willing to help us find the answers we need.

Emmett's thoughts were loud in my head. He was worrying about something he had told Lily, and thinking about what Carlisle had advised if he ever came face to face with Joham.

"Carlisle is right you know," I finally said breaking his train of thought.

"It won't be easy," he admitted.

"You already know what you need to do, and what Lily needs from you," I reminded hearing that in his thoughts as well.

We dropped the conversation as we heard the approach of smaller feet. Our girls were ready for us to join them and after making sure Carlisle and Jasper were alright staying inside with Anthony, I joined my brother and our wives along with our little girls out on the white sandy beach.

Even though their skin was becoming wrinkled by the amount of time Lily and Renesmee spent in the water, the two of them weren't ready to get out. They were sitting in the surf playing with some of the dolls Lily had gotten when Alice arrived while the rest of us sat on towels under the umbrellas Alice had set up. To our left, Anthony was awake enjoying his tent and all of his toys. He liked the water, but not like his sister and cousin.

"Daddy, you and Uncle Edward need to come and throw us again," Lily called out as she stood up next to where my baby was still sitting in the surf. Emmett was about to comply but Rosalie put a hand on him. "Lily, you need to come dry off and have something to eat," she said.

Bella told our daughter the same thing, and neither of the girls was all that thrilled, remaining in the water preparing to complain. "Renesmee, when you finish eating we can come back out," I said hoping to defuse any sort of tantrums.

"But I like it here," she whined as I heard her mind come up with what she thought was a better idea. I let her tell me before responding. "Daddy, we can eat down here."

Lily liked that idea, agreeing. "Please Momma," she called out.

"You can eat on the porch, but you need to come up here now and start drying off," Rosalie answered.

"I'm not hungry," Lily complained which prompted Renesmee to tell us the same thing.

"Girls, if we have to come down there to escort you back to our blankets, you can stay in the house," I told both of them knowing Rosalie and Emmett agreed with me answering for them as they had both thought the same thing.

Lily grumbled, but did what Rosalie asked of her, and after Renesmee considered not obeying and maybe getting more than just having to stay inside as punishment she got up and followed her cousin. When Lily arrived, Rosalie wrapped a towel around her and Bella did the same for our daughter when she was close enough. "We were having fun," Renesmee grumbled as Bella wiped the water from her face.

"I know baby, and you can have more fun, but you need to eat."

When Renesmee's tummy grumbled it lightened the somber mood.

"Aunt Bella, may I carry Anthony into the house?"

"He's too squirmy," Renesmee answered while Bella lifted Anthony out of the tent.

"You have to be careful with him," Bella warned before she handed him over to Lily helping our niece move her hands and arms around him to give Anthony the support he needed. Lily laughed as our little boy put his fingers in her mouth, and at the same moment Renesmee threw down her towel and ran inside still fairly wet.

"I'll get her," I said. I hadn't heard any of her thoughts before her abrupt departure and found her in the bathroom trying to get her wet bathing suit off.

"Him my brother," Renesmee said getting her wet bikini bottoms pulled off.

I knelt next to her. "Yes he is. Lily is allowed to play with him just as she does with you."

"Don't want her to. She my friend first."

My daughter was tired from spending all morning out in the sun and surf. When I reached to help her with the rest of her suit, she didn't try and pull away and snuggled in to my arms once she was wrapped in a dry towel and was cradled against my chest. In the room she was sharing with Lily, the master bedroom, Bella already had dry clothes ready for her. Renesmee didn't say much as I helped her get dressed and sat on my lap at the table while she ate some fruit and her sandwich. Lily was eating outside worrying about her cousin being mad at her for holding Anthony. Once my little girl was finished eating, I carried her into the blue room which was darker with the blinds drawn.

"I don't want to take a nap," Renesmee sobbed.

I laid her down in the bed and she really started to cry. "Shh, you had a long morning, and you still need to rest. Anthony will have to take one as well," I crooned rubbing her back. When her cries continued I slid in bed next to her and settled her against my chest pulling the blue comforter over both of us. Once we were settled, Renesmee's cries came to a halt and she fell asleep while I hummed her lullaby.

The rest of the family had come inside and Lily was still worried about Renesmee's outburst before she went inside.

"I didn't mean to make her mad. I just want to play with Anthony too," Lily whispered as Rosalie and Bella tried to make her feel better. Knowing my baby would sleep, I rolled to the left and shifted her to the mattress, making sure Renesmee was covered up before I joined them, sitting on the floor next to my niece. "Lily, Renesmee loves you. She was just very tired and sometimes that makes her grumpy."

"Is that why you made her have a nap?" Lily asked looking up from where she had been brushing her doll's hair.

"Yes, and when she wakes up she should be in a much better mood."

Anthony toddled over to us ready to take Lily's doll, so I lifted him over my head which made him laugh, and gave Lily time to put her doll away. When she was ready I let her hold him and a moment later they were playing a game of peek-a-boo.

Emmett put his hand on my shoulder when I walked over to where he and Rosalie were talking to Jasper and Alice. "Thanks for giving us a hand with her," he whispered low enough that Lily wouldn't hear us.

"You're welcome," I whispered before we both listened to what Jasper was saying about his and Alice's recent visit to Denali to see our friends.

Being able to take a walk on the beach alone with my wife was something we both enjoyed and time we needed to reconnect. After her nap Renesmee, or Nessie as Lily was starting to call her had been in a much better mood and the two girls had included Anthony in their play.

"I still can't believe Emmett teasing about Anthony playing with dolls," Bella said before adding, "Well maybe I can."

"That's Emmett for you."

My wife nodded. "What were you talking about earlier with Jasper and Alice?"

"They were talking about their visit to see our Denali friends."

"That's right; I forgot that they were there. What did they say?"

"None of them have heard of anymore attacks by true Werewolves. Tanya asked them when we would be making a visit, but Jasper didn't tell them our real reason for not seeing them."

Bella let go of my hand and turned toward the incoming tide. "Does he think they would be receptive to our children?"

"Once they realize that Anthony, Renesmee, and Lily will grow and not be a threat to our way of life, Jasper feels they will come around and may be able to help us track down Joham," I answered.

"What about us going to Italy?"

Before answering my wife I took her hand back in mine looking out at the ocean. "Carlisle reminded me that Eleazar served on the Volturi for a time. It may be to our benefit to talk to him and see if he has any advice for us."

"So we should make plans to head to Alaska?"

I drew my wife into my arms. "Right now I want us to enjoy this walk and not worry so much about any sort of plans." I tilted my head down as Bella lifted hers and brushed my lips over hers. "I love you," I whispered right before her hand was pressing against the back of my head wanting more of my kisses. I can't say that I didn't agree with the direction she was leading us and complied willingly crushing my lips against hers as I slid my hands down her sides around to cup her bottom and lift her up. When I ground myself against her, Bella gasped, growling before she attacked my lips with hers, sucking my lower lip into her mouth as she bit down.

In a flurry of motion we quickly got rid of our clothing, and before my wife had time to think about anything else, I had her pinned to the sandy ground beneath me. Neither of us cared about the sand against our skin as we resumed our explorations, and moments later I was the one with my back to the sand as my wife straddled my chest pushing her hands against my shoulders. Before I had a chance to think Bella was pushing down against my shaft drawing me into the wet warmth of her body.

I reached up and grasped my hands around her hips, but Bella knocked them away with her hands in one quick movement pinning my hands above my head as she began to move against me. This wasn't a side of her I saw often, and I would think about why she was being a little more aggressive later. Getting my hands away from her wasn't easy and a second later we were rolling around in the sand while our lips pressed together in a fierce kiss. There was nothing else in my thoughts other then the way my wife's touch made me feel and the absence of worry was what we both needed most.

AN: Thank you all for your input with the last chapter. I'm glad so many of you enjoy that Emmett and Rosalie are now parents. I want a few chapters to be light, because at long last for those who have been wanting the action, that's about to come their way. Much more to be written and thought over, and hopefully I'll be able to make a longer chapter. I hope you enjoyed the lemon at the end, a few more of those now and again doesn't hurt or offend I hope. Thanks again for all of you who read my stories, that means a lot.

~Ella~