Disclaimer: All the Twilight stuff belongs to Stephenie Meyer. No copyright infringement is intended. I'm just playing in her sandbox.

Chapter 50 The Cullen Gang

APOV

Finally! Bella seemed to be listening to me about fashion. Well, perhaps listening to me was too strong a way to phrase it. She was, however, allowing me to order selections for her and she was coming home with them. It was a start. I ordered several other things from the shop as will to arrive with the jeans and at this point I felt like Bella would be not only accepting of them, but appreciative! Having a new little sister was fun, but having one that was changing sizes and shapes was amazing. I had never even thought about the world of maternity fashion! Unbelievable how I had missed that and now I got to dress an infant and toddler . . . well, at least for a little while. We still had no idea just what to expect or how fast little Masen would grow up.

"Jasper, are you coming?"

"Right here, darlin'. Emmett just switched with Esme to watch Edward's house and everyone else is waiting on the porch", he answered.

"I'm coming. Just because we're feeding doesn't mean we can't be fashionable", I said as I adjusted my scarf. Jasper put his arms around my waist and gently bit my earlobe. "If you start that again, we'll never have breakfast and be ready to ride the motorcycles with the others", I said as I took his hand and led him downstairs and out to where the others were waiting on us to go hunting.

~oooOooo~

BPOV

As we left the grocers and piLed back into the car yesterday I was lost in my thoughts. Looking around me, I was amazed by my vampire family. They had changed so much to accommodate me and my human parents . . . even grocery shopping. They didn't seem to mind, even Rosalie. Ever since I asked her to help with the baby she has seemed not just more willing to accept me, but happier in general. Masen was already creating happiness for the people that would become his family!

I could even see myself adjusting to Alice and her wild addiction to clothing. Edward had the right attitude about it and it was starting to rub off on me - just let her get whatever she wants because it makes her happy, then wear the things you like and give the rest away. Easy, non-confrontational, and somewhat adventurous in that you never knew what would appear in your closet! Most importantly . . . it made Alice happy.

The guys had some crazy fishing stories and I thought my Dad would loose it he was laughing so hard recanting how Phil lost his footing in the middle of the stream and took a tumble into the freezing cold water. Luckily, it was just before they were getting ready to come home anyway. I had the feeling that if they had caught any fish, Phil's fall would probably not even have gotten a mention.

There was a huge dead deer draped over the tailgate of Jacob's truck in the front of the house, visible to all as we drove up the driveway. I had a feeling it had been displayed there purposefully - mighty hunters and all. Esme, Rosalie and Alice all exchanged snickers and eye rolls at the sight of it behind my Mom's back as I started to walk over by the truck where all the guys were standing. This had to be a first for my new family. I was sure they were used to burying the carcass or leaving it in the woods, not bringing their leftovers home with them.

"Hi, Love", Edward said as he enveloped me in his arms and kissed me softly, whispering, "I missed you", in my ear.

"How did it go?", I asked as we made our way over to where all the others were gathered by the tailgate.

"Great. I missed, Emmett fed and Jacob shot one", Edward whispered with a smile, "I'll explain later". I could only imagine.

Mom rushed inside where Phil was changing out of his wet clothing. They had to pack since they were leaving in the morning, but I was pretty sure that was just an excuse not to have to look at the dead animal.

Dad and Edward unloaded the grocery bags from the car, leaving me only a bag or two of new clothes to bring in as we all planned to sort of dispersed to our respective houses and Jake and Emmett headed to town to have the deer processed.

I waited on the porch to hug Edward as he was bringing in the last bags. I seemed like I need him with me every minute even more than ever. I suspected that part of the need for him was coming directly from Masen, though I didn't yet understand it . . . I felt it.

"Edward!", Phil opened the front door, yelling for my husband. It was unnecessary. Edward would hear himself being called at a whisper but of course, Phil didn't know that.

"Edward", he said excitedly as he focused on us, "the stock!" He seemed so excited he couldn't even get whatever he was going to say to come out in words. Edward chuckled beside me and I knew that he already knew what Phil was going to say, having heard his thoughts. I guess it must be something good . . . not to worry if they were both smiling.

"Edward, the stock rose 400%. Four hundred percent, Edward!", Phil repeated himself. Edward continued to look at him calmly setting the bag of groceries on the nearest chair in order to put both arms around me. Phil was almost comical, his excitement was so over the top and Edward stood calm, waiting for him to settle down, I guess.

"And . . .", Edward said, looking expectantly at Phil.

"And? What the hell? You expected this?", Phil said, looking astonished.

"Yes", Edward answered nonchalantly, rubbing circles on my back as we stood on the porch.

"But . . . but, Edward, you have millions invested!", he said quietly.

"Yes", Edward replied as Renee came outside to join us. Apparently Phil had already informed her of the gain and she was as white as a sheet. I put my hand on Phil's shoulder to calm him.

"It takes some getting used to", I said as I nodded my head in understanding.

"See you in the morning!", Esme and Alice waved as they got into Esme's car to leave. I saw a twinkle in Edwards eyes and his lips drew up into a smile. I knew he was up to something.

"Mom", Edward yelled . . . human facade in place, "Stocks made over a hundred mill today."

"That's nice dear," she replied, no more interested than if we had told her that we liked her car, "See you all in the morning!"

"Hard Rock jackets and jeans in the morning, don't forget", Alice chimed in, ignoring the stock comment completely, our attire being far more important and interesting to her.

"Oh my God. Money really isn't important to this family, is it? It's just a daily occurrence around here!", Mom exclaimed, astonished.

"I told both of you before, it takes some getting used to", I said as eyed Edward and hugged him to me.

"It's too late to sell, Edward! Should we wait to leave in the morning till after the market opens so we can sell?", Phil asked anxiously.

"You are welcome to sell if you want to, Phil. That is, of course, always your choice. I think we should leave by nine though if we are all riding down the mountain with Charlie, he has to be at the airport by one and we were going to get some lunch at the Dillard House, just down the mountain."

"No, no, Edward", Phil stammered, looking like he had just made the biggest mistake in the world by questioning my nineteen year old husband's judgment, "I wasn't questioning you! I just thought, well I assumed . . . the stock quadrupled and I thought you would advise to sell in the morning, that's all."

Edward laughed. "Phil, I remember just how you feel. I felt the same way in the beginning when my stock would rise like that. It's a great feeling, I know", he said calmly, "But if you want, I'm leaving the funds there till at least day after tomorrow and I can call you when I think it's time to get out of the market on that one. You are welcome to now, of course, it doesn't offend me. I know how exciting it can be."

"You think it will continue to go up then?", Phil asked.

"Yes, I'm expecting an increase of up to another 300% by in the morning, Phil", Edward said calmly.

Phil looked stunned. He sat down in one of the rockers rather quickly as Edward picked up the grocery bag. "I'll just go put these away for you, sweetheart", he said as he disappeared into the house, leaving me with Mom and Phil.

"I told you he was amazing", I said to them as I sat in the rocker that Edward had emptied by removing the grocery bag.

~oooOooo~

"What's wrong with Phil?", Jacob asked as he strolled into the kitchen, grabbing an apple and plopping himself up onto the counter to sit. Edward and I were nearly through preparing dinner while Charlie showered and Renee finished her packing upstairs.

"Too much exposure to the Cullen's", Edward laughingly answered.

"I heard that", Jake said as he nodded and took another bite of apple. "What?", he asked when he saw that we stopped what we were doing and stared at him. "You guys have to know that you're a lot to take in", Jake said. Neither of us spoke but continued to look at him. "Come on, like it's normal to give people cars and trucks for Christmas and build your wife a house when you're 19 and give your wife's best friend millions of dollars to start his own company", Jake said expectantly, "And they don't even know about the really weird shit!"

We lost it. Edward, Jake and I all cracked up at his statement, delivered so emphatically.

"Okay, someone spill. Just how did that deer get shot and why was there no mess dripping from the tailgate?", I asked, looking at both of them.

They both talked over each other in their enthusiasm to tell me how the hunt had gone and I almost curled up in a ball on the floor laughing at the idea of Emmett and Edward each holding up an end of the deer while Jake backed up some distance and shot the already dead animal. Then I realized . . .

"You let Jake see Emmett hunt?", I asked incredulously, "You made such a big deal out of letting me see you hunt and he gets to do it just, no big deal?" Edward put his arms around me from behind and rested his chin on my shoulder as we stood, facing Jake as he sat on the kitchen counter.

"Bella, you're human", he whispered, as though that explained it. "Jacob's blood is of no interest to us, in fact . . . it's somewhat repulsive. No offense dude", he said as he looked at Jake.

"None taken, bro. After what I saw today, my blood repulsing you is just dandy with me", Jake said as he cocked his head and shook it slightly, remembering something from the day, Edward laughed quietly, picking up Jake's thoughts, I assumed.

"Dinner ready yet, kids?", Charlie asked as he rounded the corner, "I'm starving!"

"Almost", I replied as I handed him the dishes to go and set the table in the dining room. Since it was our last meal together this trip, I thought we would eat in there and Jake hopped down to fill the glasses and put them on the table as well.

Jake had brought in the box of now processed deer, neatly wrapped and labeled as though the meat were bought in the grocery store. I put some of it in the freezer, keeping some out to use later in the week and some to send home in a cooler with Mom and Phil in the morning. I had opened a pack labeled 'stew bits' and left on the counter by the fridge, plopping a piece or two in my mouth as I passed it each time while I was putting the other meat away. I hadn't noticed what I was doing till I saw Edward staring. I looked at the raw meat in my hand that I had been about to plop into my mouth like it was an M&M.

His arms were around me instantly, no human pretense. "Masen seems to be somewhat thirsty, love", he said to me, kissing my neck. "Just think of it as feeding the baby, love. He just has different needs than babies you're accustomed to", he whispered sweetly.

"Edward, I'm not accustomed to any baby or their needs. I haven't even ever held a baby! I never had any interest in them. I wasn't lying when I told you it didn't matter that we couldn't have children. I know nothing about them except that you have to change and feed them a lot and there is crying involved." I admit it. This was the moment, for the first time . . . I panicked. Edward must have sensed it and did everything he could to calm and distract me, holding me tight and kissing down my neck. My parents walking in and their coughing, as though they had interrupted something passionate was enough to pull me out of it.

Dinner was on the table and everyone gathered to say grace, nicely offered by my Dad and we sat to enjoy or meal together. Well, everyone enjoyed it but Edward.

~oooOooo~

EPOV

"It will be okay, sweetheart", Bella insisted, "If I can ride you like this and it doesn't hurt Masen, then riding the Harley won't hurt him either." She was impassioned as she sat astride me. She was moving in circles over me as I held her hands, our fingers entwined . . . and she was driving me absolutely wild. It was all I could do to keep telling myself to remain still, gentle rocking of the hips, don't squeeze her hands too tight. Don't hurt her . . . God, don't let me hurt her, please. She had already come twice this morning and she showed no signs of slowing down.

I placed her hands on my chest, anxious to let go of them before I forgot my strength broke one of her fingers. Anxious, as well, to bring her to climax because she just seemed to become more and more frenzied, moving harder and wilder with each passing minute. I reached up and held her breasts in my hands, caressing and massaging, and it was enough. She came violently, screaming my name before I could ever hope to cover her mouth. Sitting up and placing my lips to hers was no longer an option with the baby out in front of her as large as he was.

I was so completely worried about her, I was unconcerned about my own release. I knew though, that if I didn't come she would be upset. I carefully rolled her over onto her back and wrapped her legs around me, her ankles crossing behind my rear as I scooted off the bed. Every fiber of my being concentrated on not ripping the bed and floor around me to shreds. Bella wouldn't mind, but the noise might scare the others in the house. My wife was remarkably unaware when her mind was otherwise involved.

"Dear God, you're going to be the death of me, woman", I whispered in her ear as I moved her and myself back onto the bed and lay beside her.

"That was amazing, Edward. Why have you never done that before?", she asked me.

"No reason, love. It just seemed necessary this time", I said as I rubbed her naked belly with my hand.

"Bella", I said as I froze, unable to move.

"Edward, what's wrong?', she asked as she frantically grabbed at me.

"Masen."

"What, what about Masen?"

I had scared her and though I hadn't meant to, I was momentarily helpless to fix it. I gathered my wits and forced myself to explain.

"Bella, Masen just spoke to me", I told her. I stared into her eyes, hardly believing what I was about to recount to her, "He wants to know why he has to be still and not move around so much if we are allowed to jostle him all over the place."

"He what?", Bella looked at me like I had just grown fur and had three heads.

"I'm so not kidding, love", I told her, smirking and looking at her belly as I sat up and continued to rub it.

"Sorry Masen", she told him, "Mommy isn't as strong as you are and I just need you to not hurt me till you grow a little bigger and let us know that you want out. Daddy will get you out and you can play and roll around with us all you want".

"Daddy will get you out", I told him, "Be sure to let me do it. If you try . . . if you bite Mommy, it will hurt her badly. This is the most important thing I can tell you, little one. Do Not Bite Mommy. Let me get you out when it's time . . . okay? You must wait for me."

I couldn't believe what was happening. I had no idea how Masen was getting his thoughts to me. It was more than just my reading his mind, it was like he was putting thoughts into my mind directly! He obviously had picked up enough language from listening to us to be able to communicate somewhat. I could not wait to see what Carlisle thought of this new occurrence . . . and I was overjoyed that perhaps we had a way of keeping Masen from harming Bella when it was time for him to be born.

Bella and I hurriedly dressed and stopping only to start the coffee maker and set out some danish for breakfast, got on my bike that we had left parked by the front of the house and rode quickly to Carlisle's, leaving Jasper standing watch outside over the house.

My family was gathered outside the house, each of them familiarizing themselves with their new motorcycles as we rode up.

"Carlisle!", I called excitedly and far louder than necessary. I immediately had every ones attention as Bella climbed off the bike and I set the kick stand and got off as well. "Masen communicated with me!", I almost shouted. I explained as fast and accurately as possible what had happened this morning, and everyone, especially Carlisle, was thrilled. This took away loads of anxiety as to the timing of the birth. Masen was capable of letting us know, himself. Unbelievable. Absolutely unfuckingbelievable that he was that advanced. I had never been more excited about anything in my life.

"Calm down, Edward. We have a ride and lunch with the humans. We'll talk more about this tonight while they sleep. I am thrilled at the news!", Carlisle told Bella and me. "Your son is apparently an amazing creature. Coming from both of you, I'm not surprised", he added with a smile.

"Alright all. Edward, you and Bella go back down to your house and finish breakfast and packing with Renee and Phil and send Jasper up here to get a feel for these bikes. Though we can't get hurt if we wreck, we could cause a hell of a mess for everyone else", Emmett added.

Renee and Charlie were finishing their coffee in the kitchen when we walked in. From their left over thoughts, I gathered that they apparently had a heartfelt conversation about their past together and how they felt about each other. I would have loved to hear that whole conversation and I knew Bella would as well. She never understood why her Dad never remarried, always assuming he hadn't gotten over Renee. She would love some answers and I would have to remember to listen to Charlie if I saw him being thoughtful, maybe he would be thinking about what had been said and I could find out for her.

"Mom, Dad, ready to go?", Bella asked them.

Phil and Jacob stuck their heads in the kitchen about then, Phil announcing that all the bags were in the car and Jacob grabbing a danish or three from the platter on the table.

"I got my bike out of the garage, ready to go when you are", Jacob announced.

"Hey, kids. I guess I never really thought about it, but is there a car I can take to puck up Sue?", Charlie asked sheepishly. Damn it. We never discussed that at all, did we. I was going to have to suck it up and trust my new father in law with one of my favorite possessions. I guess I kind of had it coming, since he was trusting me with his daughter.

"Take the Volvo, Charlie. You might enjoy driving it", I said as I handed him the keys. The look of surprise on Bella's face was priceless as she came over to me and put her arm around me. "Thank you, sweetheart. I forgot about Dad not having a car here", Bella told me, kissing me sweetly in thanks. "I'll set the GPS for the airport, Charlie. Home is already programmed in it", I told him.

"Everyone ready?", Bella asked.

We all headed toward the front door and the vehicles there just as we saw six Harley's coming up the driveway, all the riders clad in the same jackets.

"Cullen gang here and ready to go!", Emmett yelled as the engines were turned off.

"Cullen gang, huh. I'll have to remember that if any reports come over the wire about trouble from a motorcycle gang", Charlie laughed, "You guys aren't planning to rob banks or vandalize property are you?"

"Dad! You have to be kidding . . . but I sort of like calling us the 'Cullen Gang', don't you guys?", Bella asked looking at my family.

"Yes ma'am", Jasper answered as Alice nodded excitedly.

"I love it", Esme replied. "This is going to be so much fun", she almost squealed as Carlisle rolled his eyes at her.

The bikes were absolutely gorgeous. "Bella, you and Rose did an amazing job of ordering bikes. Each one is beautiful", I told them.

"Did you notice that, even without my help, each couple's bikes match and compliment the other?", Alice added.

Only Alice would think of that. I just shook my head. Rosalie had remembered and ordered everyone helmets, so we were ready to ride.

Phil and Renee led the way, since they had driven it before, Renee following Phil, driving the new Mercedes they got for Christmas. Charlie followed her and Carlisle and Esme followed, tailed by Jasper and Alice, Emmett and Rose and Jacob and my bike with Bella riding behind me.

We headed down the mountain towards Dillard, Georgia, where the family style restaurant we wanted to take them to for lunch was. It had quite a reputation and meal's were served the old fashioned way, all the serving bowls on the table and passed from person to person. We had been so fortunate with the weather this last week, the cloud cover had held, without fail all most all day long everyday, so that we could move about freely with our guests.

One of my family had stood watch outside my house each night to make sure there were no intruders, having Victoria and another vampire in the area. Three other members of my family had searched faithfully, every night looking for any trace of Victoria. Each result was the same, night after night. Victoria's scent and the other vampire's were all over town. Every store front, every alley, every front porch and sidewalk. Two or three miles from town there wasn't a trace of them to be found. They were not in any of the houses or staying at any of the hotels . . . hell, they weren't even hold up in any of the trees or caves, though we did catch a strong odor in an area on top of Satulah Mountain, between our houses and the city of Highlands.

Nothing anywhere near our house. Nothing.

We had run along both sides of every highway for 50 miles in each direction and still nothing. No scent of them what so ever. Victoria was smart. She was using a car to come anywhere near, and only then getting out in town. We were going to start hanging around town in small groups as soon as our human visitors left and see if we could locate her, or set a trap for her.

I was musing over all these things, swaying side to side as we took the curves heading down the mountain on the winding road, just enjoying the day. We came around a blind corner and there, driving a late model tan pathfinder was the flaming redhead herself, and a male sitting in the passenger seat beside her that I recognized from one of the posters at the police station in Forks. Riley Biers. The boy had gone missing almost two years ago from Seattle.

My brothers saw what I saw and both of them, along with Jacob and Rosalie cut out of our formation and turned to follow them. Carlisle, Esme, Alice and I continued to follow the humans in the car. I was not taking Bella anywhere near Victoria, certainly not following her at high speed on a motorcycle with Bella on the back! Charlie noticed them turning and pulled over. I rode up to his window as he rolled it down, letting him know that Rosalie had lost a necklace and thought she knew where it flew off, and they had gone with her to get it. They would meet us at the restaurant, at least that's the story that Rose had in mind when I read her thoughts as she turned her bike to follow Victoria.

Damn. I wanted to rip her apart myself.

I have never been more nervous than waiting for them to return. Charlie pulled back onto the road and in less than an hour we were parking at the restaurant. We got on the waiting list for a table for twelve as I paced back and forth along the railing of the deck outside, staring at bits of the road back up the mountain that showed in the distance. Humans would not have seen them or been able to hear their bikes, but I knew the minute they appeared halfway down the mountain. They were all there, safe, which either meant that they lost Victoria or they knew where to find her. They could not have ripped her apart and burned her and Riley that fast and I had seen no smoke on the horizon.

They rode up and parked beside our other bikes, heading in to join us.

"Did you find your necklace?", Renee asked as Rose walked up onto the deck. Rose fingered the chain around her neck, showing Renee the family crest that was attached to it and how she now smartly wore it inside her shirt and jacket, not hanging outside so that the wind could force the clasp open.

"I'm so sorry to bother all of you like this, we tried to hurry. It was just where I thought I felt it fly off", Rosalie told her.

"I'm so glad that you found it! It would have been a shame to loose something so valuable that you treasure so much, dear", Renee said, patting Rosalie on the shoulder to console her.

Lunch was uneventful except, of course, that we had to actually eat. Thank God for Jacob and his appetite. Food for twelve, being actually eaten by five was hard to disguise no matter how much you pushed the food around on your plate. We finished our meal, individual dessert portions of pie and ice cream included. We headed out to the parking lot to say our goodbye's to Renee and Phil and see Charlie off to go to Atlanta to get Sue.

Bella hugged her Mom for what seemed like hours, but I was sure was only a few minutes. They were both crying and finally parted blowing kiss after kiss at each other as Charlie shook his head in exasperation and disgust at the public display.

I tried to wait patiently, but the sooner they left, the better.

Then we could get down to the business of finding Victoria.