Chapter 9

What felt like a minute later but in reality was almost a month came to a crushing halt with the ring of a telephone in the dead of night. Instantly alert, because phones ringing when not even Santa is awake are rarely a good thing, mat grabbed the phone by the bed immediately paying no attention to the fact that he wasn't in his own house

"It's time!"

Roger called from the other end of the line.

"It's too soon"

Bella exclaimed as she too had woken up and Roger's shouts were very audible.

"I'm scared"

Roger said with a whimper in his voice. Bella jumped from the bed and began pulling clothes on paying attention as to what she was wearing.

"Rog, take Ang to the hospital. Bella and I are on the way alright? Everything's gonna be alright"

"The.."

"We'll do it. Be with your wife man"

Matt hang up after calming his friend down. Bella's wide, fearful eyes met his own.

"get dressed, start the truck. I'll call the pastor and Angela's brothers"

Bella said feeling that if she didn't do anything she'd scream. Almost on autopilot Matt was dressed and the two were speeding well above the speed limits. When they were stopped by a patrolman all the officer had to do was look at Bella's wide eyes to let them pass with no note

"my sister's giving birth. the baby isn't due for two more months"

Matt would comment on her lie about Angela being her sister if he wasn't equally freaked out himself. the moment he parked the truck illegally on two parking spots and ran inside the hospital to find Roger, Bella had finally managed to wake up Angela's parents in forks.

"Sorry to disturb you pastor but it's time. The baby's here"

She panted

"But it's too soon"

Angela's father stammered scared.

"I know. Start praying padre"

Bella snapped the phone closed and hogged inside the hospital as well locating immediately Matt and the giant, commonly known as Roger.

"How is she?"

She asked. As Roger opened his mouth to reply a loud scream was heard from one of the rooms in the maternity ward.

"Yeah"

Matt replied.

"Bells why don't you go inside with Ang and I'll hold the fort"

Matt proposed throwing one look to the weeping Roger next to him. The man was muttering how it was his fault for letting Angela eat kidney pie when the doctor had advised them against red meat. Bella nodded and hugged both men strongly before passing her phone to Matt telling him to keep calling pastor Webber every hour

at 9 am Elena Stranton came in the world followed by the unexpected arrival of Erica Stranton. Angela was crying tears of happiness as she held the tiny, premature infants in her arms as Matt and Roger came inside followed by Angela's parents and twin brothers with Evan taking a ride in his grandmother's arms.

"Two kids. I'm never stopping changing diapers am I?"

Roger exclaimed before he settled in the chair next to his wife and kissed both infants softly.

"Here Evan. you're a big brother now"

Matt said softly to the dark skinned toddler that was staring at the babies with wonder. Bella wiped her eyes and put her head on her boyfriend's solder

"Don't even think about it"

She warned him before he had a chance to open his mouth. Matt grinned tiredly

"Whatever you say baby"

A year later:

"Hey, Bella, come with me!"

An eager Angela pulled her friend by the hand to the door of the church. Both women were dressed warmly shivering at the long forgotten Christmas cold of Forks.

"I wasn't supposed to tell you but you can't say 'no' if you know"

Angela whispered hurriedly and pointed inside the church. a stern Charlie was glaring at Matt making the effort of the younger man asking for his blessing so much harder. a part of Bella felt bad for her boyfriend but it was a small part. Planning to ambush her with the question in front of everyone later deserved this. In fact Charlie caught his daughter's eyes over Matt's shoulder and raised an eyebrow. Bella nodded and Charlie's eyes twinkled

"Are you going to stop groveling son if I tell you 'yes'?"

"Yes?"

"Fine then. Hand, arm, and leg you can have her"

Matt's eyes widened and hugged the older man for all it was worth. Charlie froze in the embrace before chuckling and patting Matt's back.

An hour later the church was filled with the screams of Elena and Erica that did not like being dipped in the cool water of the holy basin one bit. Little Evan, thinking his granddad was hurting his baby sisters was yelling at him to stop it much to everyone's amusement.

Bella was nested in Matt's arms, each holding a screaming and shivering baby as pastor Webber blessed when she looked over her shoulder. In the distance and morning snow she could barely see a few streets away the red brick of the high school that had began everything. A smile crossed her lips as she bounced little Erica.

"Vampires of our lives"

She mused quietly. Roger raised an eyebrow from his perch next to his wife. Angela smiled and whispered to her husband.

"It's the name of the book we will never write about how the vampires of our lives brought us together"

Roger snorted.

"It will be a darn best seller"

"Roger!"

Pastor Webber admonished his son in law.

"Sorry father"

Matt had to bring the baby in his arms a little higher to cover his laughter.

"sooo if you're not busy this summer we could get married"

"Sure, I can pencil it in"

The two locked eyes with the chorus of baby cries and friends around them before smiling.

The End