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

Chapter 92 Moms

It might truly be possible to be loved to death.

EPOV

Days passed, and Bella and I fell into somewhat of a routine. Masen was happy to sleep through the night, but just as willing to sit up with me. We really weren't sure if he needed sleep, or if he just humored us by sleeping. Bella still used the breast shields, probably more for my piece of mind than for her benefit. Masen never ever slipped and bit her. He seemed to function quite well on a diet of breast milk without supplementing it with blood, but I was basically a selfish creature. While on the outside it appeared that I was being considerate, sharing my son by letting a member of my family give him a bottle each evening, I was in truth selfishly saving a treat for myself each evening when Bella went to bed. I loved nursing from her and she loved it, of that I had no doubt. As far as the ruse of letting the family have time with Masen by offering to let them feed him a bottle, she saw right through me. I didn't care.

Bree left the hospital Wednesday afternoon; Jacob willingly saving her parents a trip to get her by driving her back to school. I think it took some convincing, but then Jacob could be quite convincing when he wanted to. Jacob and Bree seemed to be working out quite nicely with her acting like he hung the moon and Jacob, well Jacob's primary reason for existence had become that girl. I understood. He spent every moment that he was allowed to, visiting hours that is, at the hospital on Monday and Tuesday, never leaving her side till he drove her back to school. He actually seemed to be in physical pain when he returned from dropping her off and honestly, I had no idea how he would make it on the two weeks trip he had planned without seeing her.

He left on Thursday, he and Charlie. He made plans to drive Charlie home to Forks, thereby getting Charlie's new boat home with him and giving Jake transportation while he was on the West coast. He was going to make all the arrangements for Black Swan Racing to move its headquarters to Highlands, North Carolina. Seems he bought property here before he met Bree and decided that it was still close enough to her, Clemson being less than a two hour drive from here. Well, an hour if I was the one driving, and I suspected Jacob drove in a similar manner. Bella was ecstatic that he would be living in town, and she would have her best friend close by. I had no idea how he would pull that off with the tribal elders though and since he had not yet been back to La Push, I was pretty sure he didn't have a clue either.

Emily had improved drastically and was now up and walking around the halls of the hospital with Sam in tow. They didn't speak much and though I read their thoughts, it was best to let them have their privacy to work out their differences . . . if that was possible. Carlisle chartered a private jet to fly her home on Saturday and Sam and Sue were flying with her as well as Carlisle, Esme, Emmett and Rosalie. They had all signed the treaty with Ephraim Black many years ago and were going back to Forks to settle the matter with the Quileute tribe. Though I had signed the original treaty years ago as well, I refused to leave Bella and no one pressed me on that . . . not that it would have done any good. Jasper and Alice were staying behind with Bella and me, just for good measure.

It was a good thing that Sam was leaving. Though his mind told me that he was truly contrite, sorry for what he had done by attacking me; he had still managed to anger Esme, and that had been a sight to behold! We all had a new-found respect for just how adamant she was in her love for her family, and at how truly formidable a vampire she really was. She was so loving and so agreeable and so human most of the time, we had all been surprised at her display. It was startling to us all . . . except for Carlisle.

Bella's mom had postponed coming to visit . . . for a week at least. Not having access to her mind from a distance, I wasn't sure if it was really because Phil's schedule changed or because Sue was here or because, as she told us, we had help this week, she would come the next week when everyone else had gone home. Great. At some point, I just wanted to be left alone with my wife and son, but it seemed as though it wasn't going to happen any time soon. Anyway, she was expected to arrive Monday and everyone else was leaving on Saturday, so we would at least have some down time with no guests.

Bella was amazing, though neither of us was expecting to ever be parents, it was as though she had always meant to be one. She got Masen up in the mornings, waking him after she and I spent some alone time in bed, keeping our routine of always making love in the mornings. I brought her breakfast in bed and she would feed him in our room, then take him to his room to dress him and let him play with his toys. He was a week old now, and sitting up on his own. After playtime, he would nurse again and she would encourage him to lie down and rest for a while, whether he slept or not, while she did necessary things around the house, had lunch, or played with the stock market with me. She would feed Masen again, then the afternoon was filled with someone, and they fought over it constantly, getting to play with the baby.

Bella and I cooked dinner together, with Sue or Charlie either helping or watching, and I always sat with her while she had her dinner. She read and I played piano or we watched a movie with everyone in the evenings till she was ready for bed, then I prepared a bottle that caused yet another fight over whom got to feed it to my son and play with him till I came down to get him sometime during the night for Bella to give him his two am feeding. After that it was my turn. I spent the time between his feeding and his nodding off with him alone, answering his questions and hearing all about his day. It was one of my favorite parts of the day, second only to the time Bella and I spent alone.

When we first went to bed at night, someone else would be downstairs giving Masen his bottle, allowing Bella and I to have some alone time . . . allowing me to have my turn nursing from Bella..

I loved it. She loved it.

She insisted on it, determined to take advantage of my reaction to her fluids at every opportunity till she became immortal. Truth be told, I think she was worried that I would miss it, that we would miss it. I wouldn't lie to her, she was right. There were just so many other advantages to her being immortal, not being so breakable, that I was certain it would be a fair trade off.

We had not discussed our having another child, it was unspoken between us. We made love often, every single day and we took no precautions against her becoming pregnant. Really, we had no idea if precautions were even possible since I was a vampire and my semen was composed mainly of venom. Perhaps it was too soon or, more importantly, I'm not sure we cared. The time would be upon us, and soon, when it would no longer be an option.

I would change her the moment she asked me to, of that I was certain.

~oooOooo~

Jacob POV

"Yes ma'am. No ma'am, I understand. Yes. I appreciate it, I really do. Would you like to speak to Bree again? Alright. Yes. Yes ma'am, maybe I'll see you sometime later in the semester. Okay, well, here she is," I said as I handed the phone to Bree.

She was so much better now, walking around the hospital room dressed in jeans and a tee shirt instead of a hospital gown. She had insisted on putting on the clothes that Alice had given her the moment she got them and seemed to prefer the bloodsuckers taste to the clothing her mom had brought for her. Whatever. I had to admit, Alice was good at dressing everyone up, though I had no idea how she seemed to always get the right size without ever having asked or anything . . . but she always did. I had given up saying no. I found random clothing in my truck from her all the time and it always worked out just fine, even if it did reek of vampire.

"Okay, mom. I promise. No, I can still get all the books and I have only missed a class or two. It'll be fine. Yes, I'll take it easy," Bree continued speaking to her mom.

We had become really close the last two days, closer than I thought possible for someone who didn't imprint. She still had no idea . . . I mean I hadn't told her or anything. She kept saying things like meant to be and karma and destiny or some such shit. How was I supposed to explain it,

Hey Bree, I'm a werewolf and have absolutely no choice but to be bound to you and in love with you forever more, regardless of how you feel about me.

Not sure that would go over well. I stuck to the whole love at first sight thing, feeling safer with just going with that. She would know everything in good time, well, soon really. When I came back from La Push to get construction started on the new building I would make a point of spending some time each day with her and be here to talk about it with her. Right now I was just busy being in love.

"Eric? No, mom. Well yes, he did offer. Mom. He'll just have to understand. I know he's a good friend and he still will be, mom," she continued.

Eric. I had to snicker. He was toast. I was pretty sure he was headed for the big fall when she got back to school and saw him. Edward said she loved him, but more like a friend and brother, and that was exactly the role I would allow him to play . . . maybe. In any case, it was obvious to me from being with her the last four days that she was into me, really into me. I hadn't kissed her yet, but that was all about to change.

"Okay. I'll call you when we get to the dorm. Yes, of course I'll wear a seat belt. I love you, too. Bye, mom," she said as she got off the phone.

"Is everything alright?" I asked.

"Fine, Jake. Are you ready to go?" she asked, smiling sweetly at me.

"Sure am. Your bags are in the truck, I guess all we need is Dr. Cullen to sign you out and we can leave."

"Did I hear my name mentioned?" Carlisle asked as he strode into the room with her chart in hand.

"Hi Dr. Cullen," she greeted him, going to sit on the bed.

"Well, today is the day. I'm glad to see you are going back to school, but we will certainly miss you around here," he told her as he put her chart down on the night side table and put his stethoscope in his ears.

He listened to her chest using the instrument, which made me smirk. I caught the glance he shot me, knowing that I knew he probably heard her heart better without the damned plugs in his ears, but he kept the facade intact. He felt some of the ribs, asked a few questions, and reminded her about not carrying a book bag full of books anytime soon. He wished us well as he left the room, giving us the okay to leave.

Bree loved my truck. Turns out she wasn't much of a car girl and had always preferred the ride that a truck offered, though she did like sports cars. Yes. She is definitely my kind of girl.

It wasn't a long drive to Clemson, just over an hour before I pulled up in front of her dorm. I carried her bags up to her room. She wouldn't have had but the one bag her parents brought for her, but then there was Alice. I was hoping to meet her roommate, but it seemed everyone was in class or out or something. It was kind of tense all of a sudden; I guess neither of us really understood where we stood with the other. I took her hand and held it while I talked to her quietly, letting her know how long I would be gone and making sure she had the phone I had given her with my number and Bella's programmed in it.

I said goodbye for about the fourth time, finally getting up the nerve to lean in and kiss her on the cheek. As I did, she turned her head and her lips met mine. To say I felt a spark would be an under exaggeration of the worst kind. I lit up like Christmas . . . and if I was any type of judge, so did she.

~oooOooo~

Emily POV

It was just so damned cold. Really cold. Shaking even. I felt like my bones were going to freeze, but my throat was burning. Somehow that was funny. I wondered if that was what it was like for vampires, I mean, they said that their throat burned from thirst . . .

Nothing was making any sense. There were lights and beeping all around me, but I didn't remember anything beeping on the mountain we had just climbed, or even in the truck. Then, the pain hit. Stabbing, excruciating pain my chest, my throat cluttered with something hard, something that kept me from screaming out in agony. My arms felt like lead weights and i was unable to move, trapped there to endure the pain.

Soft amber eyes came into focus. Blond hair and porcelain like skin on the face of the angel. There was white light all behind him and I could only see his face as he spoke to me. It had to be an angel, I must have died somehow and now i was in heaven. What was he saying? Hospital?

It was then that I remembered.

Sam.

My Sam

He had gotten angry, gone berserk really. The man with the angel face had been there. Carlisle. It wasn't an angel, it was Carlisle. All of a sudden I understood. I remember colliding with Sam, and pain, and wind. I was sliding in the snow and ice until I felt wind and then . . . nothing.

I fell.

I remembered that at least.

I saw him clearly now, though I could not move my head, his face was full in my view as he spoke to me, telling me that I had been injured and was in the hospital. Blink. What's that?

Blink once for yes, and two for no. He repeated it over and over. I could do that.

"Are you in pain, Emily?" he asked.

Blink.

He touched whatever was in my mouth, explaining that they would be removing the tubes shortly, and apologizing for how uncomfortable they were. And they were.

"Sam is outside. Do you want to see him?"

Blink. Blink.

I heard the beeping around me get faster and the angel tried to calm me. "Alright. Alright. He won't come in then, for now," he assured me. "Emily, did you know you were pregnant?"

Blink.

"Well, not to worry. The baby is still fine, you didn't lose it. That's good."

Blink.

"Yes, I agree. Congratulations, by the way," he said as he smiled.

It seemed like hours or days but maybe it was just minutes before I woke up again, but my mouth had nothing in it, including skin. It felt raw and sore, but I guessed that was from the tubes or breathing through my mouth or something.

"Do you need anything?" a voice asked me. I tried to focus and finally I saw Sue sitting by the bed, stroking the back of my hand.

"Hi," was about all I could rasp out.

"You gave us all quite a scare, Emily. Jacob and Sam are in the waiting room, well, Sam is. Jacob is probably down visiting Bree in her room," she said as she smiled and laughed softly.

I couldn't help but smile. Jake imprinting was a good thing, it might settle him down and it would at least help him to completely let go of Bella. That was, after all, a lost cause. I hoped he had someone that was just as nuts over him, though, like Bella and Edward were. I used to think I would always be that way over Sam, but now I just wasn't sure. He was such an ass sometimes and i just wasn't sure I trusted him to try and change, if he even wanted to.

"Sam wants to come in, would that be alright?" she asked, seeming reluctant to ask, but I knew that Sam was probably driving everyone out of their minds and behaving badly because I hadn't let him come in and see me yet.

"No. I need to talk to Edward first. Could you get him for me, tell him I want to see him?"

I couldn't face Sam right now and I really wasn't sure just what I was feeling except that I was angry and hurt and . . . embarrassed. Embarrassed that I was so connected to someone that was being such an ass . . . that was capable of such hatred and violence. I had to know what had been happening and Edward would tell me the truth. He knew others thoughts so he could tell me what I wanted to know about my husband, no one else could.

~oooOooo~

Edward POV

"Bella, Sue called and Emily wants to see me. Do you want to come to the hospital with me and let Bree see Masen? I'm sure she could wank down to the lobby to see him, she's almost well enough to leave the hospital and return to school."

"That's a great idea, sweetheart. I'd love to get Masen out of the house for a little while. I was wanting Bree to see him but I didn't really want to take him into the hospital. Maybe you're right, just the front lobby," she answered, looking up from the book she had been sitting on the sofa reading.

"Shall I come with you?" Esme asked, "I could keep the baby in the lobby while you two went up and got her from her room, then I could visit with your father for a little while. I haven't just dropped in on him in forever."

"What do you think, son? Want to go meet some of mommy and daddy's friends?" I asked Masen, stepping over to look at him in my mother's arms. I answered his question, "Yes, these friends are breakable like grandpa Charlie. No, no you won't be able to talk with them, they can't read minds as far as I know. Yes. I know it gets old just lying there and acting like you can't even sit up, but that's exactly what we need you to do, alright?"

Bella laughed at me. "Are you actually having an argument with a child that is less than a week old?" she chided.

"As a matter of fact, love . . . I am," I frowned. "The problem is that his logic is impeccable and I might actually loose an argument to a child that is not even a week old yet," I told her, leaning down to kiss her on the forehead and offering her my hand to help her stand up. Not that she needed it. In my youthful human days, I was taught to be a gentleman and it stuck I guess.

We got Masen dressed appropriately for the cold weather, as it ws still middle of winter and since he had a heartbeat, we were taking no chances. We would keep him warm like any other human child. We headed to the hospital, Esme holding Masen while Bella and I went to find Bree. Jacob was in the room with her of course and Bree was delighted with the idea of seeing and holding Masen. I hadn't thought about the fact that she would want to hold him.

I reiterated to Masen the importance of not showing his strength and continuing to act like a newborn as I watched Bree and Bella sitting on the sofa fussing over him with Jacob looking on from a chair he had pulled up close to them. Feeling comfortable that my family was safe siting with Jacob, Esme left with me to check on Emily in the ICU.

I noticed Sam still sitting in the waiting room, but I buzzed the nurses desk and Esme and I were ushered into the intensive care area. I noticed a look of what seemed, if i read him right, to be rage coming from Sam. Apparently he had not yet been allowed to see her, and he was beside himself about it.

Sue was with Emily, and she seemed to be keeping her somewhat entertained by continuing to talk to her. From Emily's thoughts, I realized that talking was still painful for her and we would need to limit the words we expected her to say. From the moment she saw me, she mentally bombarded me with questions. She wanted to know,

How had Sam acted once he realized what he had done . . . causing her to fall.

Had he been repentant or had he continued his rage in the waiting room?

Did I think, having read his mind, that he was genuinely sorry - not for hurting her, but for what he had attempted to do to me?

"That's a tall list," I told her, Esme and Sue staring questioningly at my having made that statement without Emily having spoken.

"Sue, would you and Esme excuse us for a moment? Emily would like to ask me some things in private," I explained.

"Certainly, dear. We'll just go and find Carlisle and see what he's up to. You take your time," Esme said to me. Turning to Emily, she squeezed her hand saying, "I'm so glad you're on the mend, dear. I'll check back on you soon and you let me know if you need anything. I mean it . . . anything at all."

I heard the commotion with Sam as they left. He confronted them asking why the hell they had left a bloodsucker with his wife and he wasn't allowed to go in and see her. Sue told him, again, that Emily has asked to speak with me and that she had asked that he not be allowed in to see her yet. he was outraged, insisting on going with them to find Carlisle and in his capacity as head of the hospital, he was going to demand that he let him in to see his wife. Ha. Good luck with that, dog. Carlisle will always go with the patients wishes and I knew it.

I answered Emily's questions as honestly as I could, each and every question that came into her mind. I told her that Sam had apologized of his own accord and that to the best of my knowledge and having read his mind, that it was genuine and sincere. She loved him, but she was not about to let him off the hook for his attitude and actions and she was trying to decide if she was going to go home with him, or back to her relatives on the neighboring reservation where she was from. I could only give her the facts as I knew them, but it seemed to calm her. I told her that he seemed contrite and remorseful, determined to end his hatred and resolved that the Cullen's, anyway, would no longer count as cold ones to him.

I left her to think for a bit and headed toward Carlisle's office to see if Esme was ready to go. I knew that Bella and Bree were still sitting in the lobby talking and I laughed at some of the ridiculously obscene thoughts racing through Jacob's mind, thankful that Bree was the object of his thoughts and not Bella. I would hate to have to end him if those thoughts had involved my wife, now that we were friends and all.

Sam and Carlisle were arguing, and Carlisle's thoughts told me just to open the door and come on into the office with them. Unfortunately Sam was in mid thought when I walked in and he turned and seemed to snarl at me. When you spend so much time around humans, you become accustomed to things moving slowly. Esme's grip on Sam's arm wretched behind his back and twisted in such a way as to cause him to kneel on the floor and arch his back took me by surprise, as it did Sam and Sue.

I remember the determination with which Esme handled me when I sat frozen in my meadow in Forks, refusing to move or even breath for weeks, and I had witnessed her resolve on various issues over the years. None of that prepared me for this. Sam's movement and snarl had been perceived by her as a threat to me, causing Esme to incapacitate him instantly. Not only had she quite literally brought him to his knees, but her face was in his. She was every inch a quite lethal vampire. There was not a sound in the room, her teeth were bared and lips curled back as she spoke in a deadly quiet tone.

"My son, Edward, is a gentleman, Sam. Because of his youth and good nature, he may have accepted your apology but let me assure you . . . I have not. Give me a single excuse, a half threat to any member of my family. I will have the patience to end you slower and in more pain than you can possibly imagine Sam. Believe me, in over a century on this earth I have seen many many horrible ways to die and I would be willing to test out several of them on you."

No one moved. I don't even think either of the humans breathed.

I noticed the twinkle in Carlisle's eye and the fact that he didn't look the least bit surprised at his wife but gazed at her with pride, matching his thoughts. He would back her up no matter what she did, as I would Bella.

I put my hand on Esme's shoulder and she instantly lost the hard, predatory lines that had been in her features. The tendons in her face and neck relaxed and her teeth were again covered by the normal smile that graced her gentle, soft features.

"He meant nothing by it, mom. Trust me. Mind reader," I said tapping my temple with my finger.

A smile crossed her face as she dropped her hold on Sam's arm, his body falling sideways to the floor as she gracefully stood and walked around the desk to stand by Carlisle.

Sam hadn't intended a threat of any kind, but mom had perceived one and it was never a good idea to mess with mama bear, no matter the species and I had never appreciated family more.