Chapter Forty Five

Jasper

I stayed down with Grace and Josh as long as I could but Bella was calling me even through her pain and unconsciousness and I went back up Em and Peter nodding and going back downstairs. Bella twisted and moaned as the venom destroyed her human tissues and I took her in my arms pulling as much pain from her as I could bear to give her some relief and I told her through gritted teeth about our son and Graces reaction to him. I had no idea if she heard me, if she was even aware I was with her but I kept talking anyway. I have no idea how long I stayed with her but Esme and Char came up to relieve me, Grace was asking for me to tell her a bedtime story and Josh needed feeding. I took the bottle from Char at the door and Josh from Peter taking him into Graces bedroom and telling her a story while Josh drank his formula.

"I don't think he likes it very much daddy"

He did seem to be struggling with the milk.

"I think maybe he'd rather have blood like you"

Grace never ceased to amaze me the way she took my vampire habits in her stride. I wondered if she might be right so when I finished her story and kissed her and Shadow I took Josh downstairs and asked Peter what he thought. Em volunteered to go hunt up some feed for Josh so Peter and I sat in the lounge to wait.

"He's a real cutie. So Major, not one but two kids, bet you never dreamed of that"

I shook my head holding my son close,

"I wonder how controlled Bella will be as a newborn. She has plenty of incentive, a baby, a daughter and you. Its gonna be difficult if she's typical, you don't want a blood thirsty new vampire close to the children"

He was right but I couldn't imagine Bella hurting her own babies for any reason.

"We'll just have to wait and see. Keep a good eye on her"

He nodded,

"Well it will be just like old times, working together to keep the newborn in line."

Emmett came back then with a struggling elk and Peter bled it into a formula bottle which we took to Josh. I offered it to him hesitantly and knew immediately it was the right move. He almost snatched the bottle in his haste to feed.

"I'll get another bottle ready, it looks like this ones going to be a guzzler."

Josh finished the bottle very quickly followed by two more before he closed his eyes again and slept in my arms.

He fed regularly after that so Emmett and Esme became food suppliers as well as companions for Bella. I spent as much time with her as I could without neglecting my children. Grace continued to be fascinated by Josh and he seemed content in her arms or watching her as she drew him pictures or played his mobile over the crib. She even allowed him to cuddle Shadow, a great honour as he'd been her constant companion from birth. When she passed him to me to go have a bath Shadow came too and when I offered him back to her she shook her head,

"Josh needs Shadow now. He looked after me and he'll look after Josh too, like he did you daddy."

I watched her go out of the room hand in hand with Esme and I wondered how I'd been so lucky, to have such a sweet daughter.

Josh nuzzled against my chest then fidgeted, something he rarely did, but nothing seemed to calm him so I decided to try putting him to bed. At the top of the stairs I turned to his room but he started to grizzle

so I turned to our room and he quieted, did he know something? Was Bella ready to wake? I took him in and walked to the bed where Bella lay quiet now, her breathing almost stopped and her heart beating its last few ragged thumps. He wriggled again so I lay him beside his mother and he snuggled against her stomach and fell asleep.

"Are you sure that's safe Jasper?"

Emmett looked concerned

"We're here Em, I'm sure we can get him away if she goes crazy. I don't think he smells much like food anyway, his blood is so tainted by venom the blood is hardly distinguishable. But Grace it might be better if you waited downstairs with Charlotte just until mummy wakes up properly."

Grace went over and kissed Bella before taking Charlotte's hand and going out. No sooner had the door closed on them than Bella's heart stopped beating and silence filled the room.

We waited in anticipation as Bella sniffed the air then opened her eyes which were a vivid ruby and looked down at Josh asleep beside her. She smiled at him and lifted a hand to reach and touch his cheek very slowly and carefully.

"You are so beautiful little one, just like your father."

Then her eyes turned to me, gazing into my eyes and the flames she had ignited in my chest burst forth again as she whispered my name. Peter and Emmett stood close to her as she sat up being careful not to disturb Josh as she did so, then she got up and walked over to me ignoring them completely.

"Jasper? You are even more beautiful with these eyes."

She kissed me and wrapped her arms around me then looked back at Josh,

"He's grown already. What did you call him?"

"Josh after my youngest brother."

"That's beautiful. Where's Grace?"

"She's waiting downstairs. We thought it might be too much for you in one go."

She turned to the others,

"It's OK boys you can stand down I'm not going to attack anyone I promise"

They both looked at her apprehensively then Emmett smiled,

"You are one strange newborn Bella"

"Fucking weird if you ask me. Why can't you do anything like a normal person? Not afraid of vampires as a human and sitting there as if waiting for tea and cake as a newborn, you're driving me crazy, at least try to act blood thirsty, just for me."

She crouched and snarled low in her chest then started stalking Peter round the room.

"Now that's more like it, scary newborn."

Bella straightened up and laughed before pouncing on him to lay on top of him, her teeth touching his throat.

"Does that make you feel better Peter?"

"Oh yeah. Now you're talking."

At that moment Josh woke up and grumbled, he wasn't used to being alone, he usually slept in someone's arms or with Grace in her bed, but Bella was there in an instant picking him up and cradling him carefully. I went over and saw as his eyes opened and he smiled up at her.

"He is so beautiful Jazz, can I see Grace now?"

"Yes of course darlin', just remember she might smell more appealing to you, she's more human"

"How?"

"Grace eats like a human and she isn't venomous whereas Josh drinks blood, animal blood, and he is venomous."

I pulled down the neck of my sweater to show her his tiny teeth marks in my shoulder.

"Oh Josh naughty boy biting daddy"

Her tone was loving and he gurgled at the sound. She took a deep breath and handed Josh to me taking my hand and steadying herself with a deep breath before walking out the room and down the stairs flanked by Peter and Emmett who were still on alert. Char and Grace were playing ludo with Esme and looked up hearing our approach. Esme and Char kept still, smiling encouragingly at Bella, while Grace got up slowly,

"Wow mummy you are even more pretty now. Can I come and cuddle you?"

She looked at me and I nodded, we'd talked about this and she knew not to move until I told her it was OK and then move slowly. Bella nodded and crouched down opening her arms for Grace to walk into an embrace. I heard Bella stop breathing to prevent any scent of blood tempting her and Peter braced himself to move but Bella smiled as her arms enfolded her daughter.

"Do I make you feel uncomfortable mummy?"

"No sweetheart, you're my little girl why would you think that?"

"Daddy and Uncle Peter told me you might feel thirsty when you scented my blood but that I shouldn't worry because you wouldn't hurt me."

Bella smiled,

"I wont hurt you my darling, I love you and I've missed you the past few days."

Peter

The Major knelt down to put his arm around Bella and Char took a picture of the little family group. I never thought I would ever see The Major as a family man, happy and contented but to see him there with his mate and two children brought a lump to my throat. Bella was as unusual as a vampire as she had been as a human. The reunion was interrupted by a knock at the door and Bella froze then sniffed the air and relaxed, like us she'd smelled vampire and was more relaxed but The Major and I recognised the scent. The Volturi had come in force, whether to see if Bella had changed or to kill her and him we had no idea but we weren't taking any chances. I called Emmett and Char to my side as Esme rose to answer the door, The Major moving to stand between his family and the incoming Volturi, whispering information to Bella as he did so.