Chapter Forty Four

Bella

The next couple of weeks went quickly with the others keeping Grace occupied when she wasn't doing school work. Jasper taught her Maths and History while I still did English with her, like me she loved books even the classics and we read Wuthering Heights together. Charlotte spent time drawing maps of all the places Grace wanted to visit when she was older while the guys did the outdoor play, teaching her tracks of animals and about the plants in the wild with their properties which surprised me at first. Then it was pointed out to me that they'd been humans when plants in the wild were often the only medicines to hand. I drew the line at taking her on a bear hunt and was given the cold shoulder until Jasper spoke to her. It was the first time he was ever cross with her and she was devastated, coming to me in tears because she'd upset daddy. A cuddle and a few kisses later it was all over. Grace and Jasper reunited but she'd learned an important lesson, to think about others and not to upset her mummy or daddy was ready to tell her about it.

I was getting huge even quicker than I did with Grace and I felt fat and ugly but Jasper seemed even more fascinated with me,

"Bella that's my child you are carrying, how could I find that less than wonderful and you less desirable or sexy?"

I wasn't sure why but he still loved and desired me and he still cuddled me up in bed and caressed my swollen belly as he had my breasts before I became pregnant. He kissed me and pleasured me any way he could while I couldn't get enough of his body, tracing the patterns of his scars and using my fingers or my mouth to bring him to climax, in all we loved each other more every day.

When the second letter arrived I was ready, Id been expecting it, the slightly less polite tone of it just making me mad,

Bella

It has come to the attention of the Volturi that you are still human despite our earlier reminder. There will be no further communication and we expect to hear news of your transformation very soon.

It was signed by the three brothers and this time I handed the letter to Jasper without getting upset.

"What do you want to do? What we discussed before?"

I shook my head,

"No I think this time we'll answer but not quite as they expect."

"Really? Is my Bella ready for a fight?"

"Yes she is."

I took a pen and a sheet of paper and sitting at the table I started to write,

Thank you for your communication reminding me of the promise I made to become a vampire. The tone of the letter seemed to be slightly threatening although I imagine this must be a misreading on my part. After all why would the Volturi threaten the one person they cannot harm. I assure you that my decision has not changed but circumstances dictate that I cannot do so quite as quickly as I thought. A soon as the deed is done my mate will inform you, in the meantime be assured that you are in my thoughts at all time.

Bella Whitlock.

I handed it to Jasper,

"What do you think?"

He read it and a smile spread slowly on his face,

"Very nice with just a hint of a threat. I'm sure Aro will read and understand your message."

I got up from the table and felt a pain in my back putting a hand to it as I straightened. Jasper was beside me instantly, his arm around me but I just smiled.

"Its OK just back ache. Don't worry Jazz I think we're almost there."

I went through to sit by the fire watching Grace, Emmett, and Peter, building a house of cards in the middle off the room.

"I think you're supposed to use playing cards"

"Yes but its more fun with Christmas cards and it falls down more often."

I shook my head in bewilderment at Peter's explanation until it fell and I saw the forfeit. Em had knocked it over so he had to stand on his head and recite a nursery rhyme, although the words seem to have got twisted as he spoke.

Char came over to me taking the seat beside me,

"It starting?"

I nodded looking out the window where I saw Jazz walking to the barn.

"I don't want you to say anything yet. Let's have a little peace first. I'll just go lay down, with a little luck he'll be out with Major for a while and Grace seems occupied."

Char looked over and shook her head,

"I swear the boys are more child like than Grace."

"Where's Esme?"

Char shrugged,

"I think she's involved in a long telephone conversation with her latest client. He doesn't like the colour scheme she suggested for the master bath or something! She's a real perfectionist."

I got up slowly and made my way upstairs without alerting anyone else to the imminent birth. Once upstairs

I showered but the pains were getting closer very quickly so I cut it short and went to lay on the bed looking out at the snow-covered scenery. It was so beautiful and I tried to imagine myself on the snow-covered slopes of the distant mountain ridges but without much luck.

Charlotte

I could hear Bella's breathing becoming laboured and with a quick look at the guys went upstairs to see if she needed help yet. As I opened the bedroom door I could smell the blood. I looked over to the bed where she lay her eyes closed and blood seeping onto the quilt, something wasn't going to plan. I scrubbed my hands and with a little help from Bella got into bed and checked what was happening. This baby was coming fast and he or she was big, this wasn't going to be anything like Grace's birth so I grabbed a few towels and called down for Esme who came up immediately telling the guys to take Grace to see Major and let Jazz know things were about to happen.

"I don't like all this blood Char."

"Me neither but there's not much we can do but pray the baby comes quickly then Jazz can change her before she bleeds out."

"This isn't like last time?"

"No, last time was almost normal, except for the speed of everything."

Bella was struggling this time and I thought it was because the baby was bigger, she was only a slight framed girl so it was going to be painful and bloody as we already saw. I heard footsteps and Jasper came through the door, his hands still dirty from the stable.

"Freeze Major, get washed up or get out."

He looked down and went through washing his hands so fast it was almost as if he hadn't moved, then he came to kneel beside Bella taking her hands in his.

"You don't need to be here for this" she murmured.

"Yes I do, its my baby too"

"But the blood"

"Hey, let me worry about that. If Char and Esme can cope then I'm sure I can."

I knew what to expect with the blood but Esme struggled although to her credit she wouldn't leave. It was a long painful process even with Jasper helping Bella with the pain. I was more worried about the blood loss but I knew it would be useless to bring it up, she wouldn't do anything until she knew the baby was safely delivered. An hour later Bella's son made his appearance, a huge baby compared to his sister but he had two arms, two legs, and a healthy set of lungs. She smiled through her tears and held her arms out for him. Jasper who had taken him from me knelt back down and held him out for her to see.

"He's so beautiful Jazz, just like his father, our son."

She leaned forward slightly with his help and kissed the baby's head then lay back.

"I'm so tired and cold, I think I'll sleep now"

I looked at Esme whose eyes reflected my own panic and she took the baby from Jasper,

"You need to do it now Jazz she's lost too much blood."

He looked shocked,

"If not you'll lose her, she doesn't have the strength to fight any more."

He put his lips to hers kissing her tenderly and I saw in his eyes he felt how cold she was. He wrapped the quilt around her and held her tight before sinking his teeth into her neck pumping in as much venom as he could then sealing the bite before picking up her delicate wrists and doing the same. When he was convinced there was nothing more he could do he held her body wrapped like a mummy in his arms, rocking her gently as her body started to shake with the agony of the burn. It seemed so unfair after what she'd just been through but it was the only way and I knew he wouldn't survive without her, however much his children might need him. The baby started to cry quietly and he looked up then laying Bella down very gently he took him from me and went down stairs to present his son to the rest of the family, especially his sister.

We cleaned up the blood and threw open the windows to get rid of the smell then followed, leaving Bella alone for just a few minutes before Emmett and Peter went up to sit with her, a vigil we were to keep between us until she woke. Grace was over the moon with her baby brother but upset her mummy was sick

"Its OK Grace, mummy's going to be fine, she's just changing so she'll be more like us."

Grace nodded and held her arms out to take her brother. As soon as he was in her arms he quietened, his eyes closed and he slept. Grace sat on the couch singing to him for the next hour and when he woke demanding to be fed she took the bottle from me and sat beside Jasper feeding him and talking to her father about the plans she had for her brother.

"What's his name daddy?"

Jasper looked at a loss,

"Mummy and I never decided on a name until we knew if it was a boy or a girl."

"Mummy chose my name so you get to choose his."

He looked at her face which was so serious and smiled.

"OK, let me think, how about Josh? That was the name of my little brother and I missed him most of all when I left home"

"Josh, that's short for Joshua isn't it?"

"My brother was just Josh, do you think he'd like that name?"

Grace thought about that and nodded then looked down at her brother,

"Hi Josh, I'm your sister Grace and this is daddy."

We watched Grace play mummy to the little boy while their mother fought the venom that was changing her.