AN: Thanks again to my awesome beta ACEMCKEAN. Please read her two great stories The Cullen Brothers and Marital Bliss? ALSO WE HAVE A COMBINED STORY THAT WE STARTED CALLED INTERVIEW WITH A VAMPIRE - I need your help. Please read the story and help us with questions.
AN2: Sorry it was so long between chapters. I will try to be faster!
CHAPTER 41
BPOV
"How was it? Please describe it in detail," Carlisle said.
Oh dear God!!! I should have listened to Edward! How the heck am I supposed to answer that? I realized that my mouth was hanging open and I quickly closed it before answering his question.
"Great... fine... I mean... I.... I ummm... well," I stuttered, looking to Edward for help. I was blushing furiously.
"Hot," Edward filled in for me, smirking..
"Oh, okay well I just meant... was it painful? I didn't mean to...Well not the emotion...I just... Oh Dear!!!" Carlisle stammered.
Edward laughed and I took a deep breath looking at Carlisle fumble for words.
"Want to start over?" I asked him.
"Yes! That would be great," he said.
"LMP?" he said, smiling.
"October first," I replied.
"Date of conception?" he asked.
Like he didn't know! "October thirteenth," I replied.
"Any injuries other than the bruises I saw?" Carlisle asked. I heard Edward gasp then hold his breath waiting for my response.
"None," I replied. Edward exhaled sharply.
"First sign of pregnancy?" Carlisle asked.
"Nausea," I replied.
The questions were quick and straight forward, relating to every detail of my pregnancy along with every bodily function I experienced during said pregnancy.
"Okay, so we cleared the pregnancy and delivery. I've asked all I can think to ask for now about your change. Now for the samples," Carlisle said.
"Samples?" I asked nervously.
"Yes, a cheek swab, a sample of your venom, a little tear sample if you can, some breast milk...."
"Oh... What if I can't cry on demand?" I asked.
"Well the next time you do, I'll give you a little bottle, for collection," he replied.
So on with the swabbing and collecting of samples. The only thing he was unable to get was the tear sample, since I was too darn happy.
"Now for the babies," Carlisle started.
"What are you going to do? I want every detail before I hand them over Carlisle," Edward growled, holding the twins VERY possessively.
"Edward!!" I admonished. What did he think Carlisle was going to do?
"Edward, do you really think I would do anything to hurt them? Seriously though, Arriel is tough enough to protect herself," he said sighing. "Edward I just want to weigh them, measure them, listen to their heartbeats with a stethoscope, and take a cheek swab. Plus a sample from their diapers."
Edward grudgingly handed over Jace to be weighed, measured and swabbed, followed by Arriel. Each of the babies' exams only took five minutes and both of them slept through it. After that Carlisle decided that he had enough to work on, so he shooed us out of his office to get started.
By the time we were free, we knew it was only going to be a matter of minutes before the twins woke. We headed for our room in preparation, each holding one baby and holding hands. We walked at a slow human pace up the stairs. As we reached the third floor, I first heard them, the ladies were home.
"She can't come in yet," Alice called out.
"I know," Edward said, "We are heading to our room. The twins will be ready to eat soon."
"Can I take a break Alice?" Esme asked plaintively. "Just five minutes so I can get my hands on those babies."
"Me too," called Rosalie.
"Okay five minute baby break. I can use that time to introduce Bella to her new closet," Alice agreed joyfully.
I looked at Edward, terrified of what Alice had done in our closet.
"Should I be scared?" I asked him.
"Terrified," he responded, squeezing my hand for a second before we were attacked by the the ladies of our family.
Esme had Jace out of my arms and Rosalie had Arriel in under two seconds. Alice grabbed my suddenly free arm and started towing me towards our room. I grasped Edward's hand for dear life, and he came along willingly.
"You'll love your new closet," Alice squealed..
LOVE??? Dear God!! There are so many clothes in here I could change three times a day for two months and never wear the same thing twice!! I stood stunned as Alice showed me row after row of beautiful clothes. Designer names were flying out of her mouth so fast that they were running together.
"Ummm Alice, I think you lost me at 'you'll love your new closet'," I sighed.
"No worries, I'll be here to dress you in the morning.... and every morning until you get it," she said triumphantly.
I sighed, resigning myself to the evil pixie and her evil plan to dominate my wardrobe.
Esme and Rosalie came into our room with two wide awake babies.
"Apparently, it's time to eat again," Rosalie said as she handed me my daughter.
"I knew it was coming." I smiled at her.
I set myself up on our bed as I had this afternoon and prepared to nurse. The family all disappeared quickly, giving us some privacy. Edward, who had taken Jace from Esme, brought our little son to me to join his sister.
"Watching you with them is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen," he said and then smiled at me.
I blushed and smiled up at him. His eyes smoldered into mine and I could see there was more he wanted to say.
"You have something else on your mind Mr. Cullen," I accused him.
"I do," he said, smiling. "Will you come hunting with me when these two are done. I want to watch you hunt with my own eyes."
"I suppose I could," I said, shyly, praying that my success with the mountain lion was not a fluke.
"I'm babysitting!" Rose, Esme and Alice called in unison from the nursery.
"There you have it! The babies will be well cared for, and we can have a little alone time," Edward said, his sexy lopsided smile gracing his face.
I motioned with my head for him to come and sit with me on the bed and he snuggled in beside us while the babies ate. Soon enough they were done and I was about to change their diapers so we could go.
"Just go you guys. We'll take care of the diapers and everything," Esme said.
"Okay, we'll be back soon," I said. "Oh and we'll take a cell phone."
"Bella! Just go," Rosalie said, joining Esme in our room.
I smiled at them gratefully and looked at Edward. He reached out his hand for mine and I grabbed it. I looked down at our hands, they fit so perfectly together, then I took one more deep breath and looked back up at him.
He smiled at me again and said, "So are you ready to go?"
"Almost," I answered, dropping his hand, going to the babies and kissing their little heads.
I grabbed his hands again and we ran, vampire speed, down the stairs and out the door. We ran for a little while, I was enjoying the speed before Edward stopped and pulled me to a stop beside him in a small clearing.
"Is this where we're hunting?" I asked him.
"I'm not thirsty," he answered, pulling me into his arms.
"But you said we were going hunting," I said.
"I lied!" he said, crushing his lips to mine.
It didn't take me long to catch his meaning. I didn't answer him, as my lips were far too busy.
We gently removed each other's clothes, somehow managing to keep the fact that we needed something to wear home on our minds. His perfect body was pressed against mine, our breathing coming more in pants than breaths. Our lips parted only to get shirts over our heads. I was so thankful that breathing was not needed and that my pounding heart didn't sound like a freight train.
"You are beautiful," he whispered to me, consummating our love for the first time with my new body.
I should have known, as with everything else so far, sex with Edward was better as a vampire than as a human. As I lay gasping against his chest, with his arms wrapped around me, he pulled me away from his chest so he could look in my eyes.
"Marry me," he said.
"I already agreed to that Silly," I told him.
"But I mean now. I want to call you my wife soon. I want you to be mine forever!" he said.
"I am yours. Forever. But if you want the papers to say it, I would love to marry you, today, tomorrow... You decide," I told him, snuggling against his chest again.
"How do you want to do it?" he asked.
"As long as you are there, it doesn't matter to me," I told him.
"Ummm I think we better get dressed... Quickly," he said.
"Why?" I asked, not moving from my position against his chest.
"Alice," was all he needed to say before I sprung into action. I got up quickly and threw my clothes on as he did the same. Just as I got my last shoe on Alice burst into the little clearing.
"We have so much to do!" she yelled.
"Alice, control," Edward responded.
"But we have so much to do... dress....decoration... flowers... cake..." she said.
"Why do we need a cake?" I asked.
"You can't get married without a cake." she said, looking at me as though I had grown a third head.
"When?" she asked.
"Tomorrow," Edward answered.
"Can't be done!!" she shrieked.
"Two days at most," he compromised.
"But invitations take time..." she said.
"Alice it will only be us. Just our immediate family," I said.
"And Jasper is going to marry us," Edward added.
"No minister?" Alice asked.
"No minister," Edward confirmed.
I stared, confused, at both of them.
"Jasper got his license so he could perform the marriage ceremony for Emmett and Rosalie when they got married the twelfth time," he explained to me.
"Alice, I just want a simple dress. It doesn't even need to be fancy," I said.
"Oh yes it does!! Don't worry about the dress! I got one made for you in Paris, it's already in my closet," she said, as if it should have been followed by a DUH.
We started walking back to the house slowly as Alice asked more questions about the details and made plans in her head.
As we got back to the house Alice said, "Oh yeah... The nursery is done. You can come see it now Bella."
I smiled and grabbed Edward's hand dashing for the stairs. The nursery was not what I was in such a hurry to see. I wanted to see the occupants of the nursery. For once I led the way up the stairs with Edward and Alice trailing behind.
As I got to the door of the nursery Alice dashed between me and the door.
"Wait!" she commanded.
"What now Alice?" I asked.
"I just want this to be perfect," she said.
She placed her hands over my eyes and guided me into the room. I could smell my babies in there, as well as Esme and Rosalie. She removed her hands and let me take in the sights.
The room was painted buttercup yellow and there were two wrought iron cribs with pastel bedding. Between the cribs were two rocking chairs and a changing table. The dressers were along the wall with the closet, which I could see was jam packed with clothes.
"Wow!!' was all I could say as the tears started to stream down my cheeks.
Edward wrapped his arms around me from behind and I sniffed a little. This action brought Carlisle running in with a little vial to collect my tears for testing. I sniffled a little but gave him what he needed.
"Thanks Bella," he said, smiling like a kid in a candy shop, before dashing out back to his office.
"Incurable thirst for knowledge!" Esme sighed, lovingly, from her seat in the rocking chair with little Jace in her arms. Arriel slept in the crib to her right.
I moved to her side and smiled down at Jace, who was wide awake in his grandmother's arms.
"Hi Handsome Boy!" I said, taking him up in my arms. Everyone else started out of the nursery into the hall, listening to Alice talk about my upcoming wedding.
My son just sat calmly in my arms, looking into my eyes as I did the same. Suddenly, he burst into a huge grin. My heart seemed to double in size at the view of his toothy grin.
"Edward come quickly!" I called from the nursery. He ran in, completely panicked, followed by the rest of the family. All eyes were on me, making sure everything was okay.
I laughed. "Umm sorry guys, nothings wrong.... it's just that Jace smiled and I wanted him to show his daddy."
"He smiled?" Rosalie gasped, like someone had just told her tonight's winning lottery numbers.
The nursery was quickly filled with oohs and aahs. Emmett went immediately to make goofy faces at my son. Nothing. Alice and Rosalie baby talked to him. Nothing. Carlisle and Esme even got in there. Nothing. Jasper decided to flood the room with happy vibes and smiled at him. Still nothing.
"Bella, you must be imagining it. There is no way that he smiled and then had no reaction to the faces I was making or anybody else's stuff," Emmett said.
"He did it. Not my fault if he doesn't think you're funny," I said.
"Not my fault if you breed babies with no sense of humor," he answered back.
"I think he's perfect," Edward said, walking over to us.
"Hello my Little Man.. Did you smile for Mommy?" Edward asked our son. His answering smile said it all and the nursery was once again filled with oohs and aahs.
"That boy has no discrimination at who he smiles at," Emmett said, rather loudly.
There was an answering wail coming from Arriel's crib. Esme, who was standing right there, picked her up. She raised her little fingers to Esme's face and Edward immediately laughed at the picture our tiny daughter was obviously sharing.
"Umm Uncle Emmett," Edward started.
"Oh no you don't Bro! I ain't getting anywhere near that one!!" Emmett said, stepping as far away from Arriel as the room would allow.
"Actually Emmett, she didn't want you anywhere near her. She wants her mother to challenge you to an arm wrestling match." Edward laughed.
Emmett and I both looked at him, shocked. Emmett recovered quicker than I did. ME??? Arm wrestle that big bear of a man?
"Bring it Little Sister!" Emmett said as he smiled menacingly at me.
I turned to Esme and took Arriel from her. Arriel put her hands to my face and shared the same picture she had shown Esme earlier. I couldn't help but grin as I handed the babies to Carlisle and Esme.. I looked at Edward, who nodded encouragingly.
"Alice, what do you think?" I asked, turning her.
"I think you are going to have a great time Bella," she answered, smiling.
Carlisle and Esme took the twins with us as everyone filed to the backyard. Emmett pulled up his sleeves and flexed his gigantic muscles. My breath caught in my throat momentarily(,) but I looked over at both Alice and Arriel, then at Edward and smiled.
Emmett laughed and put his arm down, I went willingly and did the same, grasping Emmett's hand. I took a deep breath, looking at Emmett's massive hand dwarfing mine.
"Okay you two," Rosalie said, on the count of three you go. "One... Two...Three!"
It was over in the blink of an eye, maybe faster. I exerted all my force on Emmett's hand, smashing it into the rock. I looked, stunned at Emmett who was obviously just as stunned as I was. Everyone seemed to be.
"Well that ..." he stammered, obviously flustered at the ease with which I beat him.
Jasper and Edward started laughing, they were nearly rolling on the ground, they were laughing so hard. Everyone else just stared.
"Sucked!" he finished, stomping off into the forest.
"Was that okay? I asked.
"That was incredible," Carlisle answered, "I've never seen anything like it."
"It was perfect Love," Edward said, wrapping his arms around me, still snickering at Emmett's reaction.
I smiled, as everyone else started to agree with Edward. They started talking amongst themselves as they headed into the house.
"I love you," He whispered in my ear, kissing my neck.
"I love you too," I said, spinning in his arms so we were face to face. I placed my lips to his and kissed him softly.
"Uh oh," he said, obviously reading our daughter's list of demands that she was dumping on her grandma. "You're going to be summoned very shortly."
"Arriel?" I asked.
"Yup," he answered as we heard Esme's voice from the house.
"They're hungry again Bella," she called.
"Come on Love," Edward said, letting his arms drop and grabbing my hand.
We dashed into the house and right to the babies' sides. Carlisle and Esme handed them over willingly and we started upstairs to our room, the place where we preferred to be when I fed them.
"So two days and you will be my wife. You will officially be Bella Cullen," Edward said.
"I like that," I smiled, kissing him softly.
"Me too, Love, me too," he said, wrapping his free arm around me.
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