Chapter Three
Jasper
The two children seemed to get on well, they were almost like brother and sister in many ways, spending a lot of time together but Caden was growing much faster. Bella commented on it soon after he was born, she told me she was almost afraid to sleep because he had grown when she woke up! It was a bit of an exaggeration but Carlisle had warned us that hybrids were always said to mature much quicker than human children in the same way they developed much quicker in the womb. It became more noticeable when the two were together. Charity although months older was soon overtaken in weight and height by Caden and by the time he was four months old he was sitting up unaided and interested in everything. He was human enough to need sleep, although not as much as Charity and was now quite happy to eat human food. We only fed him blood when he indicated a need for it and he soon let us know by simply refusing anything else he was offered. Luckily this usually happened when Charity was asleep. It didn't matter now but it might later when she understood and bringing human blood was not on the menu for her.
The house in Oregon was often bursting at the seams because in addition to the family we often had visitors, Peter and Charlotte were almost a constant addition but both Garrett and Darius popped in from time to time and always had an excuse to extend their stay for several days. The children were the draw, Peter adored both of them but I think secretly his favorite was little Charity who showed a preference for him too. Darius on the other hand was fascinated by Caden, noting every change from his last visit to this. I noticed Caden watching him on the computer as if taking mental notes and I wondered if he would grow up to be as computer savvy as his uncle.
Rosalie
Charity completed my life, Emmett's too, she was a little miracle, our very own child. Human yes but we both hoped that she would understand that despite being different from her and not her natural parents we loved her as much as anyone ever could. She loved Caden although he was soon sitting up and then crawling around. I watched as she tried to copy him, almost as if she understood she was older and should be ahead of him. Her little face would screw up with the effort and when she found she couldn't match him she would start to cry in frustration. The beautiful thing was that hearing her cries Caden would make his way over to her and reach for her hand as if to comfort her, and it worked. They were like brother and sister but then living together that was hardly worth comment.
Charity loved her daddy, she always had a big gummy smile for him when he appeared and as soon as she was able she would hold her arms out to be picked up. I think the sensation of being up so high and in such big arms made her feel secure. Everyone fussed over the children and Carlisle and Esme became grandparents to both of them although I could see he was keeping a watchful eye on Caden. He was concerned, even he had no experience with hybrids but Caden did seem to be growing rapidly. As his face lost its baby chubbiness I could see Jasper, although he had Bella's eyes, more golden brown than her chocolate but even so. Would he grow up with her sweet temperament? Or be more the strong silent type like his father?
Once Carmen and the girls heard the news about the children they too came to say hello which I was quite surprised about considering Tanya and the others had lost their mother over a child, an Immortal child not like Charity and Caden, but even so it must bring back horrific memories. I knew Emmett was apprehensive but he needn't have been, when they arrived their arms were full of gifts for the babies and Bella and myself as new mothers. The children had so many toys already it was embarrassing and cluttered up the house but what could we say but thank you? Tanya and Irina took to Charity in seconds and she seemed happy enough to be carried, hugged or fed by them if Peter hadn't gotten in first, while Carmen and Kate fussed more over Caden. Not that it mattered, both children were loved by all, they were such a delight no one could fail to fall in love with them.
Jasper
Carlisle approached us to report that Caden at a year old was at the stage of a three year old, he was developing that rapidly, although we could see for ourselves he was way beyond a human child of the same age. He was walking, talking and getting into every kind of mischief, often egged on by Emmett or Peter, or both. I could see he was going to need firm handling or he might turn out like his uncles! There was another subject Carlisle wished to broach and I could see he wasn't sure how to approach it but we both waited patiently and eventually he cleared his throat and began.
"I know this is strictly speaking none of my business but I just wondered if you two had given any thought to Bella becoming one of us?"
Bella blushed a little but answered him clearly enough,
"We have yes, but I would like to spend a little more time with our son before I go through that. I couldn't bear the thought of missing his early years Carlisle and I know the first two or three I might be out of control and a threat to Caden and Charity."
Carlisle nodded understandingly,
"True, well as long as you two know what you are doing and don't mind Bella still aging. I would suggest you don't leave it too long though Bella. Caden is going to need you even more as he matures and there is of course always a danger the Volturi might hear about you and insist you act. It's a difficult decision I understand that."
Bella sighed, we had discussed it many times but I wouldn't put her under any pressure, she had too much of that over the years, she must make her own choices and I would stand by her whatever she decided to do and to hell with the Volturi!
We had gotten into a routine, the couples going to hunt in fours making sure there was plenty of security for the children and Bella. I hated leaving her but I had to hunt if I were not to become a danger to both Bella and Charity. Emmett and Rose were equally conflicted, they wanted to hunt, to have a little time alone but they hated being away from Charity. Of course it wouldn't be long before I could take Caden to hunt, provided he still had a taste for blood and Bella didn't mind. I doubted she would, she never judged any of us for our nature, not even the human hunters like Peter and Charlotte. In some strange way, living on the streets for so many years had made her more accepting, even of those like the vampire who had killed her parents. I hoped one day to discover his identity and avenge them for her, if she didn't do it herself that is.
Sometimes I would watch my son interacting with Charity and tune into his emotions bathing myself in his love and wonder. He was fascinated by his cousin and her seeming helplessness and I could feel his protectiveness towards her. It was quite obvious he would be her champion whatever happened and I had to smile, there was a little of me in him after all. He was so gentle with her despite his own youth and often fetched her toys or sat making up little stories if she was upset and especially once she started teething and nothing Rose or Esme could do would settle her down. Caden would put one cool hand on her flushed cheek and sing nursery rhymes until she settled down.
Rosalie
Having a child of our own was magical but to see Emmett with his tiny baby daughter was even more so. I knew how gentle he could be but even so, to see him with such a tiny infant in his arms, tiny compared to him anyway, and the love shining in his eyes made my love for him grow even stronger. There were times when Charity was hard work, only because I didn't know what to do, for the first time since I became a vampire I was out of my depth. I felt a failure until Esme told me all mother's felt that way at times, it was the unknown for all new mothers. When Charity was teething neither Emmett nor I could calm her yet Caden did it in an instant and I wasn't sure whether to be thankful or inadequate! Then again as Esme said being a mother wasn't always easy and from what she heard it didn't get any easier as they got older which made both Emmett and I wonder just what lay in store for us, but we wouldn't have had it any other way.