Ch. 29 Satellite Hearts

[Edward POV]

It was like opening my eyes for the first time. I could hear everyone's thoughts, my family's and the wolves, as they stood around Jacob, Ness and myself. They all wanted to be near her to hold her but they restrained themselves. I was this child's biological father and they wanted to give me the first moment.

She had my looks and Bella's as well. She had her eyes.

"Hi Vanessa," I whispered.

The tiny thing looked up at me with wondrous eyes. I questioned if my own facial expressions matched hers.

She reached up and touched my face. Images flooded through me: I saw fluid and movements in what seemed to be Bella's uterus. I had been personal with Bella before but to have an inside view of the sacred place where our children resided for nearly nine months was beyond any personal connection I could have had with her. I saw as light hit Ness' eyes for the first time. Saw her bond to Jacob both when she was inside the womb and outside in the world.

"Just great," I said aloud, "Exactly what we need in this family, a pet," I said looking at Jacob.

"Don't worry you'll grow to love me."

"Doubt it," I said with a mock tease in my voice.

"Not likely dog," said Rosalie. "Do you have any idea how hard it's gonna be to get the smell out of this house?"

Ness commanded my attention again and showed me not just her connection to Jacob but her brother's connection to Leah as well. So she knew.

There was a connection Ness and EJ had. Yes they were twins but it went beyond that like what I had witnessed earlier when Ness and EJ held hands and shared thoughts with each other.

I smiled at my daughter. She was gifted all on her own and together she and her brother were gifted as a team.

"Okay my turn, my turn," Rosalie said with a huge smile.

I was hesitant to let go of my little girl but I also wanted to spend time getting to know my son.

Despite all the room in my mind I still could not wrap my head around it. I had sired not one child but two. What had I done in to deserve such an extraordinary life? I was still guilt ridden for having left Bella and I was more than certain that not a day would go by when I wouldn't regret it and spend the rest of my existence trying to make it up to her and to the kids even since I hadn't been around when they were growing inside the woman I loved.

I hesitated for a second and then passed Ness off to her Aunt Rose being as careful with her as I could and making sure that Ness was nestled snuggling in the next set of arms.

Jacob moved away from me and walked near Rosalie. I smiled to myself. The way he moved reminded me of how I often moved when Bella did. It was like magnets or a satellite around a planet. I had heard in Jacob's thoughts, and the others who had imprinted, saying that it was like gravity and he was right.

Rosalie stepped away and tried to turn her back on Jacob but he turned with her and only got closer.

"I don't suppose I can punch you mutt," Rosalie said to him.

"Not if you want your niece to get mad," Jacob said to her.

"My niece and nephew," she said shaking her head thinking about Leah too and what hurting her would do to EJ. "Really? You two couldn't have done your stupid imprinting on anyone else?"

Ness placed her hand up on Rosalie's face. Images of Jacob swirled in her thoughts when he was in human and wolf form. There was no mistaking that Ness didn't want Jacob with anyone else and she had gotten the same sense from her brother. He wanted Leah and no one else.

"Perfect," Rosalie said with a sigh.

"Want to hold your son, Edward," Leah said to me.

I smiled at my daughter and then turned to Leah.

Seth had come inside and stood next to Leah, his face gleaming.

It was so unlike Leah to be this friendly. Nearly nine months had changed everything for her though. I had seen in others passing thoughts and her own that she and Seth had lost their father.

"Might as well know everything, bloodsucker," she said as she saw the look that I was giving her.

Leah opened up her mind to me: how her own transformation had triggered her father's heart attack, the guilt she felt for being the cause of his death, Seth phasing shortly after, her confliction in which pack to be in. Being in Sam's was difficult considering their connection and the pain he had put her through and she hadn't wanted to join Jacob's since he was protecting Bella and the very thing she wanted to destroy.

And then how she'd imprinted on EJ when Bella was six months pregnant with him. How she had freaked out over her own imprinting and then how she and Bella had become close friends. Even now she was worried that Bella wouldn't wake up.

"Thank you."

Leah shrugged, "You were bound to know everything anyways. At least this way you're getting it from me." Leah looked down at the small bundle in her arms, "Hey buddy, wanna go with your daddy?" she said as she handed him off to me.

"My son," I said to him with a smile, "Hi EJ."

Edward Jacob looked up at me, his eyes the same color green that mine were when I was human. His mind was a mixture of faces and events. He was clearly intelligent much the same way Vanessa was but he didn't touch me to communicate the way she did. His way was much similar to the way when I read any of my family member's thoughts.

I continued to smile at him as I said his full name, "Edward Jacob. Huh, never thought that would ever happen."

"What would him having your name or Jacob's," Leah asked.

"Both but mainly mine. I'd given up on having children after Carlisle changed me."

"I know what you mean," Leah said taking hold of one of EJ's little hands.

I looked at Leah. I knew she didn't have any romantic feelings toward him but it was still weird to think that some day she would end up with my son much like my daughter would end up with Jacob.

I couldn't allow myself to think of that now. There would be plenty of time for seething about the whole imprinting thing later.

Still though Leah had thought that she was a biological dead end much in the way I'd seen Rosalie feel but now for Leah she might have a chance at having kids after all.

"Do me a favor son," I said to him, "Don't grow up too fast okay?"

EJ looked at me with widened eyes. He had heard what I said but those words didn't matter to him as he showed me images of blood.

"I think he's hungry," I said to no one in particular.

"She is too," said Rosalie. "How do you guys usually feed them?"

"There's bottles of blood in the fridge," said Seth. "I'll go get them."

"Wait!" I said to Seth having heard Jacob's thoughts that it was human blood. "Jasper, go outside. Emmett go with him."

"What you think we can't control ourselves big brother," Emmett asked. "There are two humans in the kitchen," he said referring to Emily and Rachel.

"They drink human blood," I said to them.

"It's only temporary, I promise. We all ready want to get them on animal blood as soon as they're able to. And by we I mean Bella, myself and Leah although now I guess that includes you since you're back." Jacob got back on his main point. "Being a nurse, Sue made sure to get plenty in case Bella needed it during her labor and delivery. It's a good thing she didn't though since the kids have been using it up like crazy."

"Go Jasper," I said to him again.

"Edward it's been nearly nine months, surely you can forgive him," said Esme.

"I want to but I can't take that risk around my children. I'm sorry," I said to Jasper.

"It's okay I get it," he replied.

"Don't worry," said Alice as she came bounding down the stairs. "We need a good hunt anyways. We won't go far I'm pretty sure Bella will be awake any time now. It also won't be long before you can trust Jasper around the babies, you'll see," she said as she and Jasper made their way outside.

Rosalie nodded to Emmett to go with. She trusted Emmett and so did I but still I couldn't take that risk even though we were all well fed.

Seth left for the bottles and returned with them. One had a blue cap and the other a purple one.

"Esme, can you take your grandson? I want to go check on Bella."

Esme smiled at me, "Never thought I'd hear those words. Sure go on Edward."

I gently passed EJ off to her. One thing I'd noticed while holding him and holding Ness earlier was that they didn't seem to be bothered by our cold and they seemed comfortable in our arms.

Esme took EJ as well as the bottle from Seth and moved over to the couch, taking a place next to Rosalie. Jacob sat beside her on the floor and Leah took up the same position. Completely like magnets those two.

Would I ever get used to that? Maybe, maybe not.

With my children safe and secure with our family I made my way upstairs where Carlisle was with Bella.

As I entered the makeshift hospital room Carlisle turned my way and nodded.

"She's holding steady. It won't be long now," he said to me. "I'll give you a minute, go downstairs and meet my grandchildren."

I smiled at Carlisle as he placed a hand on my shoulder before he left.

I pulled up a chair next to Bella. Even this room smelled like dog. Rosalie was right it would be hard to get the smell out. I doubt we'd even be able to if this is where the pack planned on living.

"Bella," I said taking her hand. "Bella can you hear me? I'm here. I'm not going anywhere. I should have been here for you. I'm so sorry I wasn't. Bella please, can you hear me? Just wake up, please wake up," I said leaning down to kiss the hand I was holding. "I need you to wake up. I know I probably deserve it but don't leave me, please. I love you Bella, can you hear me? Please come back to me."