AN: Thanks again to my Beta ACEMCKEAN. Read her super awesome stories
Marital Bliss? - .net/s/5003989/1/Marital_Bliss
and
The Cullen Brothers - .net/s/4763428/1/
CHAPTER 26
BPOV
"Rosalie? What the heck are we supposed to do?" I asked her.
"This is the easy part. There is not a lot we can't live without. Everyone has a small box and a large one, they all fit into the large moving van we keep for such instances. Just keep calm and get the twins ready to leave." She said.
"Tell me if you need me. I'll go change and feed them, and then we'll be ready." I told her as she sprinted from the room.
"This vampire stuff is pretty confusing guys." I told my children, "I'm glad I got a chance to bring you guys here, even if it was only for a little while. This was your Daddy's room. I guess it will always be special to me because you guys were made here."
They suckled silently, not even seeming to notice that I was speaking to them. I reached my hands up to rub their soft little heads. "You guys have had a lot happen in your lives and you aren't even a day old."
I looked at the clock and smiled. I had an eternity of life stretched ahead of me and Rosalie was certain I would see Edward again soon. Yet somehow, this day seemed so long. Twenty three hours ago, I had met my children for the first time and within the next forty three minutes we were going to have to run for our lives.
"Vampire life sure isn't boring." I told them, rubbing their little heads again.
Rosalie rushed into the room and grabbed Edward's stuff from his night stand.
"Is there anything special you wanted from in here?" She asked me.
"Just these guys, I think. I'm going to miss this house, it's got so many memories." I smiled.
"Like when Jasper tried to bite your head off at your birthday?" She asked, giggling.
"No," I laughed back. The dreaded birthday party seemed so long ago. "I was thinking more about the fact that I got engaged here,and these little guys were...."
"Okay I get it. I really don't need details." She said,pretending to shudder.
The babies were nodding off by this point, so I tucked them into their seats.
"What else do we need Rosalie? Can I help at all?" I asked.
"I think I have everything except for Carlisle's paintings and the cross." She said. "You need to decide what car to take. Your Jeep, Edward's Vanquish, the Volvo or something else."
"Oh dear! I didn't think about that. What do you think?" I asked her.
"Well, practicality dictates the Jeep, sentimentality dictates the Volvo and emotionality dictates Edward's Vanquish. He really loves that car." She said. "Only thing is that it only seats two."
"So if I take the Vanquish with Jace, you can take Arriel in the truck?" I asked.
"You trust me with her?" She asked,stunned.
"Rose, I trust you with all of us. You found me and protected us from the wolves. You are a wonderful protector to my babies and me. I trust you with both my babies with all my heart." I said.
"Bella if I could cry I would." She said. "Thank you."
She bustled about getting the rest of the Cullens' needed belongings. I walked through the house with my children snapped into car seats looking at this place one last time.
"Thirty minutes until we have to leave Bella. I transferred all the stuff from the Jeep into the Vanquish, so all we have left to load is ourselves." Rosalie stated, very satisfied with her efforts. "Is there anything else you need before we go?"
"I'd like to take the babies to the meadow. It sounds so impractical, but it was such a special place for Edward and I. I'd like to see it with my new eyes, so I can remember it properly." I said.
"I don't know what the wolves will think about that Bella. I don't want to push it." Rosalie said. "Besides we need to get you somewhere where we can hunt. You may not feel it, but you need to hunt and soon!"
"I understand. Where are we going from here? To Alaska?" I asked.
"No. Bella, I need to keep you away from all Vampires, at least until the family is back together. Did anyone ever tell you about the immortal children?" She asked.
"Immortal children?" I asked.
"I take that as a no." She said. "Oh well here's the quick scoop. Many years ago, before I was alive many coven's changed children."
"Into Vampires? Oh my!!!" I gasped.
"They were sweet, angelic, beautiful and deadly." She said. "They killed when they wanted and nobody was able to tame them, to teach them the rules. But they were beautiful and lovable! So finally, the Volturi became involved. They insisted that the children couldn't be taught and needed to be exterminated. Of course, the covens didn't want to see their children killed and fought to the death to protect them. It was horrible. It's been many centuries since this happened, but it is still very fresh in the minds of many."
"So why does that mean we can't go to your friends in Denali?" I asked.
"Tanya, Irina and Kate are sisters. They were changed by one woman, their mother.. But she had a secret that the sisters never knew. They had a brother, a two year old blonde, blue eyed cherub named Vasilli." Rose said. "They never saw him until the day that the Volturi landed on their doorstep. Their mother was with them with Vasilli in her arms. She begged for forgiveness from her daughters, but before they could even decide, Aro and Caius had both Vasilli and their mother killed and burned before their very eyes."
"How horrible." I gasped.
"Since the girls' coven had protected an immortal child, they were to be executed too, but Aro decided to use his gift. He's a mind reader, more powerful than Edward. He found that none of the girls had any knowledge of Vasilli and so he let them live. Caius was furious and demanded their deaths, but Aro refused because their minds were pure. Let's just say our cousins will not look upon the twins with the same joy we do. We cannot go to Alaska."
"Then where Rose?" I asked.
"We go South - East and find a little place to park ourselves. We have phones and as soon as the others are back in the States, we can reach them. Our first priority is getting out of here. Second is getting you fed. Then the rest will fall into place." She said, smiling.
We walked out the front door to the waiting cars. The wolves were in the forest not far away. I could hear them breathing and the thundering of their hearts. I looked up at the house that had meant so much to me and turned to Rosalie.
"So now we leave?" I asked.
"No." She answered.
"Then what Rosalie?" I asked.
"I will not let the wolves have the satisfaction of burning my home. I will do it myself." Rosalie said. She reached beside the moving truck and grabbed two cans of gasoline. Starting in the garage, she poured the gas into the house and went inside, while I strapped the babies into the car and stood between them awaiting her return. I watched as she came out the front door, emptying the last gas canister onto the front porch.
"Ready to go Bella?" She asked.
"As ready as I'll ever be." I answered.
She pulled a lighter from her pocket and lit it. She touched it to some newspaper that she had under her arm. The paper caught fire quickly as she dropped it onto the gasoline and walked off the porch. As she walked toward me, I noticed the flames were growing behind her, causing her blonde hair to billow against the flames.
She grabbed my hand and gave it a squeeze, before we turned to the house. Watching the flames engulf the building, I felt my heart shudder and tearless sobs came to my lips.
"I'm so sorry Rosalie. If it hadn't been for me..."
"Stop Bella. If it hadn't been for you, Edward would never have known how to love. If it hadn't been for you, my whole family would be miserable. If it hadn't been for you, we'd never have these little miracles. Now let's get out of here. We have seven minutes to spare." She said.
She jumped into the truck. I could see her double checking Arriel's car seat straps and adjusting her blanket, before checking her reflection in the mirror. That simple action made me so happy, as I jumped into the Vanquish and did the same with Jace. Rosalie had changed. My daughter's safety came before her. I knew that as long as Rosalie was with us, we'd be safe.
I followed as she started driving down the winding drive. In my rear view mirror, I could see flames shooting out of all the windows. The house would soon be gone. As we reached the bottom of the driveway, Rosalie turned to drive through Forks. I looked straight ahead for a minute and saw Jacob in the bushes, tears streamed down his cheeks. I raised my hand to wave, but he turned and was gone.
I followed Rosalie closely, as we sped through the streets of Forks. I watched as we passed the library, grocery store and school. All these places held memories for me. The police station was much harder,since Charlie's car was in the parking lot. A single tear escaped my eye and ran down my cheek.