AN: Thanks again to ACEMCKEAN, my awesome beta. Don't forget to read and comment on her stories The Cullen Brothers and Marital Bliss?

THANKS TO ALL READERS, PEOPLE WHO HAVE ADDED ME TO THEIR FAVORITES AND ALERTS, AND MY REVIEWERS.

and since I haven't done this in a while... THANKS to the immensely talented Stephanie Meyer - owner of all these wonderful characters. Without her wonderful books we would all be stuck in a world where all vampires are the bad guys and love does not conquer all.

CHAPTER 37

Esme's POV

We all left to give Bella and Edward some space while Bella fed the babies. We ran off through the trees, far enough away that Edward would not be reading our thoughts. Not that we didn't want him to, we just wanted to give him some peace and quiet. Time to enjoy Bella and their children. We used the pretense of hunting so Bella wouldn't object. I knew her well enough to know she would have if she thought we were being put out in any way. We came to a cliff face overlooking the Pacific Ocean and stopped. We all stood quietly, listening to the waves and lost in our own thoughts.

I still couldn't believe that Edward and Bella were parents, even though I had held sweet little Arriel in my arms and stroked little Jace's foot. I was not what anyone would call a gifted vampire, but I have many gifts. Those gifts are my family. My husband, the love of my life and my savior, taught me the true meaning of love. My children; Rosalie, Emmett, Alice, Jasper, Edward and Bella. Each one has brought me so much joy. My family would not be complete without each and everyone of them. Last but not least, my grandchildren, something I never thought I would have.

"Why are you smiling?" Carlisle asked, pulling me into his arms.

I went willingly and smiled up at him. "I'm just counting my blessings," I sighed, resting my head against his chest.

"Me too," he said, kissing my hair.

"So Carlisle, have you ever heard of anything like this before?" asked Jasper.

"Just old legends. Never any facts." Carlisle answered, obviously lost in thought still.

"I bet your thirst for knowledge has been piqued," I said, smiling. I knew my husband. His thirst for knowledge was never satisfied.

"This has been a day of mysteries. Everything I knew about vampires has been put in question," he stated.

"Bella has always been a mystery and I think you could study her for years and still not figure out any answers," Jasper added.

"We just need to keep the mysteries to ourselves. We don't need them involved in this in any way," Carlisle stated, referring to the Volturi.

"We certainly want nothing to do with them. Who knows what they would think!" I shuddered.

"I've told you all many times that Aro is a collector of talented vampires. Edward, Alice and Jasper would be prime targets," he said, causing Jasper to growl. He is always so protective of his tiny wife, though she probably needs the least protection out of all of us.

"So that means we need to avoid all others. That isn't going to be easy," I said.

"Well since they already see Edward, Jasper and I as prizes, I imagine little Arriel would be his masterpiece!" Alice chirped, bringing a full out growl from deep within Rosalie's chest.

"We just need to find somewhere secluded and settle down," Rosalie said matter of factly, Her hands were clenched at her sides.

"We have time and Alice," Carlisle said. "We just need somewhere long term in the next 6 months. In the meantime we need to be vigilant."

Everyone nodded in agreement. I could see Rosalie and Emmett get visibly tense. I knew they would fight to keep our family safe. I was so proud of Rosalie, more than ever right now, in fact. This had always been something she wanted. She wanted the husband and children in a house with a white picket fence. It was a dream I knew from personal experience, would never really die. Yet here she is ready to protect her brother and sister and their babies. We were just lost in our thoughts again until Jasper broke the silence.

"Bella is so remarkably controlled it's easy to forget she is a newborn," Jasper said.

"I like the fact that she still blushes. I was so going to miss that!" Emmett laughed.

"Rose you seem to have accepted her rather well. Care to explain," Carlisle asked.

"No. Not really," Rose snapped, huffing like a spoiled child.

"Come on Rose. I can tell that you love her. Truly love her," Jasper said.

"And so?" Rose sniped back.

"When did that happen?" I asked.

She sighed, resigning herself to the question, "I don't really know honestly. When Edward left her was the first time I realized that I might care for her I guess. I mean I wanted him to leave her before but then when he did I saw how heartbroken she was and I truly felt bad for her. Then when I saw how badly off he was that just settled it. She's good for him, good for us."

"Awww Rose has gone soft," Alice cooed.

"And your point is Pixie?" Rosalie huffed.

"Apparently not THAT soft," Alice sighed, bringing on fits of laughter from the boys. I do admit Carlisle and I snickered a little as well.

"Those little babies sure are amazing. I mean I never dreamed such a thing possible! And for Bella to do it herself.... I honestly can't wrap my head around it," Carlisle said as he shook his head.

"Do you think Jace will be gifted?" Rosalie asked.

"I think he may be. I wonder if there is something in his venom that triggered Bella's change to be different than ours. Maybe it's her that is special, maybe it was the situation. I definitely need more time to study it," Carlisle mused. "So many mysteries."

"Will they grow like regular babies? Will they grow at all?" Jasper asked.

"The answer to those questions and every other question about those two little miracles is going to be the same for the time being; I don't know," Carlisle said, frustrated. He did not like mysteries without answers... I knew he would find answers.

"Do you think we can go back yet? I mean do you think they'd mind? I just want to get my hands on those babies again. It's been so long!" I sighed.

"You only held them a half hour ago," Jasper laughed.

"It's a grandma's duty," I smiled, liking the fact that I now was a grandma.

"I'm staying away from the girl. She packs quite a wallop," Emmett said while rubbing his nose again.

I tried desperately not to laugh with the others, but quickly lost that thought as the vision of my tiny granddaughter smacking her uncle in the nose came to mind.

"It really wasn't that funny," Emmett said, miffed.

His pouting face and crossed arms made it even funnier and we all succumbed to the laughter once again. I must admit it felt good to be so happy, after all the stress the last three weeks brought.

Emmett continued to sulk until Rosalie planted a kiss on his nose, effectively kissing his booboo better. We decided that we had been gone long enough and dashed back to the house. I couldn't wait to get those babies in my arms.

We reached the clearing near the house before we first heard Edward.

"How come it smells so bad?" he gagged.

"Poop stinks," was Bella's response.

"I think you need to change him then." he said to her.

"No way Daddy. You're up," she said. I could hear the laughter in her voice.

"I have no clue how," he complained, sounding an awful lot like a two year old.

We all stopped and looked at each other, knowing that this was something that needed to be seen. We dashed in the door and watched it unfold.

I AM TRULY GOING TO BE MEAN LEAVING THIS CHAPTER HERE...

I WILL NOT POST MY NEXT CHAPTER "EDWARD VS THE DIAPER" UNTIL I HAVE

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