Supplemental Chapter #1 – Esme POV
When I received the phone call from Jasper asking me to come over right away, I couldn't help but to smile. The two of them were panicking and I could hear my daughter in the background cursing at her poor husband as the pain coursed through her. Although she was already a week past her due date, the call had come as a bit of a surprise to us… Carlisle and I just barely sitting down following Edward, Bella, and Nessie's visit for birthday cupcakes.
Within minutes of the call however, I had grabbed a hold of my husband and we had left for our daughter's house. Jasper had informed us that labour had begun rather quickly and Alice was insistent that the baby was going to be coming right now… at first I had assumed that she was exaggerating slightly, but upon hearing even her husband's panicked voice, something told me to hurry up.
By the time that we arrived, it was a flurry activity and I was taken aback when we walked into the living room to see Alice cursing loudly at the paramedics who had arrived on scene; stark naked as she waited for an opportunity to 'push'. As the midwife came in behind us, we stepped back and out of the way, while she tried to speak to Alice and assess her progress. It was only minutes later that we got to meet little Henry, watching as our daughter brought him into the world right there; with the help of her midwife.
As I watched her hold her son, and the chaos of people that had arrived to help and ensure both of their health, it wasn't the first time that I was taken back to memories shared with me from Bella. I couldn't possibly imagine how she had done it alone, functioning as a mother without support immediately following the birth; despite her age and maturity level and the trauma of the entire situation. This was an experience that even the most prepared mother often struggled through.
As I was brought back to the current situation and the new family in front of me, my focus shifted back to little Henry and of course Alice. She was a natural mother and I was thrilled to witness this transformation with her. Of course little Henry was perfect, and if his early cries were anything to go by, he was bound to have a spitfire personality just as his mother did.
By the time we left them to get some rest, it was the middle of the night and again my thoughts were bouncing between everything – Henry's birth, Nessie's birthday and the party we had planned for the following weekend, and of course Bella's birthday – the anniversary of her disappearance.
Once we arrived back home, Carlisle and I headed up to the bedroom to try and get a few hours of sleep, but before I could settle, I felt I had to send my son a message. We had witnessed their call with Alice and Jasper from the background, but I knew my son, and I knew the significance of what today held for him.
Thinking of you today Edward, as well as Bella. It's a new anniversary this year… one of freedom instead of the prison that you both existed in for twelve long years. Enjoy the day ahead, and you know where to reach me if you need to talk at all. Love Mom and Dad.
3:03 – I smiled as I set my phone down, glancing at the numbers on the clock and realizing that over the course of twelve years, this was the approximate time that Edward almost always came down to talk on her birthday. The nightmares haunting both him and I. For the first time this year, that tradition would be broken, and as thrilled as I was to have Bella and Nessie safe and at home with my son, I also had to admit that those conversations between Edward and I had helped to build a strong connection.
Thanks Mom. I'll call you after lunch and we can have a virtual tea.
As his next message came through I smiled at the little emoji's… two little smiley faces with a tea cup between them.
Edward did call me later that afternoon, and I could sense immediately that something was different within him. When Bella got on the phone briefly so that I could wish her a Happy Birthday, I could hear a lightness to her voice as well. I didn't know what had caused it, whether it had been her birthday and the anniversary of her kidnapping, or whether it was something else entirely. I just knew that it was there and it was different.
Over the next several years, I got to step back and watch my family grow. It was strange after everything that had happened – raising my own family, including Edward through his continuous searching – had become a part of my identity. The adjustment from being needed as a Mother and Wife and into being loved and wanted as a Mother, Grandmother, and Wife was smooth; and as I felt the transition and stepped into my new role, I learned more about each of our children, their spouses, and the art of being a grandmother.
With Nessie, it was easy. She was mature and incredibly wise beyond her years. What should have been awkward and uncomfortable at times, had actually been completely natural between us… she was my grand-daughter, and it was incredible to watch her grow, branch out, and adjust to her new family structure with Edward formally taking on the role of Father that he had filled since finding them.
I had of course already become a grandmother before Nessie had come into our lives – Rosalie although not my child by blood, was still a part of our family, and losing her first pregnancy had brought us close together when she was just a teenager; I had been able to connect with her in a way that nobody else that she knew could… having lost a child myself before Emmett came along. When she gave birth to Haley, she had spent many days and weeks following her daughter's birth confiding some of her feelings to me, and again, we held a special bond that had only grown stronger over the years. By the time that she had William, followed shortly after by Katherine – Katie; I knew that the bond between us would never unravel.
By the time Henry was born, I was already getting the hang of the Grandma thing, and when Alice eventually had Ella, I was ecstatic to keep adding to our family. Not only was little Henry a little spitfire, just like Alice, but Ella took after her father, quiet and contemplative – always seeming to be aware of the atmosphere surrounding her. Jasper himself had become an amazing father – something that I was well aware that had been a fear of his. Early childhood trauma had deeply affected him, and despite the work he had done; there had always been a lingering fear deep within himself that said that he wouldn't be a good father.
During a conversation with him following Ella's birth, he had spoken to me in depth about how he had finally realised those lies; and he broke down in tears as he described the need that he felt to protect, not only both of his children, but Alice as well. It was truly remarkable to see the growth that had happened within him as well.
The kids of course were all close, and to mine and Carlisle's surprise had decided to all stay or return to the Forks area. I was thrilled to keep everyone close by and to have the opportunities to watch as their families grew, with the ability to help out when asked and participate in their lives.
After Bella and Edward got married, they confessed to Carlisle and I that they had not been using any birth control since shortly after becoming intimate together. Edward was worried that nothing had happened, and Carlisle of course gave him the contact information for a friend of his who specialised in fertility. After the trauma that Bella had faced in the bunker, there was a possibility that she would not be able to conceive or to carry a pregnancy – at least without assistance. Bella and I spoke several times about her frustration over not being able to get immediately pregnant. When she stopped bringing it up, I waited anxiously for the news, trying to hold back any questions until Bella herself broached the subject.
When Thanksgiving arrived, I had a feeling that they were about to finally make their announcement; Bella had gained a small amount of weight in her face, and I simply just knew that she was expecting. As dessert was shared at the table, Edward stood up and waited for the family to quiet down before launching into his excited news. Not only was Bella going to have a baby, but they had learned early on that she was carrying fraternal twins.
Over the course of six months, I was honoured to sit with Bella as she faced the scariest pregnancy of her life – filled with worry, fear, triggers, and most of all joy. Because as much as she was doing something new and terrifying, she had worked hard to become the woman she was now… strong and firm, loving and kind, and most of all determined to not let the years she spent in the bunker, rule the rest of her life.
Watching Bella while she birthed twins was yet another remarkable experience. Of course she had nurses and the midwife at the hospital, and Edward was there throughout it all, holding her hand and offering her words of love and comfort; she was calm and collected, needing little guidance from anyone to allow her body to experience this miracle. Again, I was left in awe as I sat in the background and observed this amazing event; present for the birth of both grandsons – Miles Anthony arriving first, followed minutes later by Masen Charles.
The way that she would spend her days following the birth, leaving me no less in awe, as she adjusted to having two little ones with ease. Her patience and kindness never seemed to wane, and as the boys grew, she was there to teach them anything and everything; oftentimes even getting down into the mud to play with them.
A little over two years later, I was there again as she brought my last grandchild into the world, Emily Renee. Emily's birth had been more difficult than the twins, with the cord wrapped around her neck, as she came into the world it was silent. Bella had immediately thought back to Anthony and believed at first that her daughter hadn't made it. Thankfully, the birth had been fast and as a result, there had been no damage to the baby… another miracle in itself. She was normal, healthy, and surprisingly feisty.
As the years continued on, and I watched the family grow and change; some things remained the same:
Up with Emily at 3:00am – every year, a different reason, and yet always the same reflection… six years ago today we found them, and life has never been better. Looking forward to dinner tomorrow night. - E
I chuckled lightly as I read his message, up myself and already boiling the kettle. It didn't seem to matter how many years passed… Bella's birthday would always hold more memories – both good and bad, than any other; and each year Edward and I both spent time sending messages back and forth around this time – reminiscing, supporting, and generally just connecting – always in awe at the way the situation had turned out.
Edward was our middle child – and though we loved our children all equally – Edward had a different bond with both Carlisle and I. His 'bunker years' difficult for him, and forever changing the way that he would approach life. The experiences he had faced and overcome – had brought him close to us; and I doubted that anything could ever change that connection… it might shift as his family grew, but he would always maintain a strong link to us as well.
One September day, our families attended a fair to celebrate a birthday. That day, forever changed our entire family… twelve years later, on the exact day of her disappearance, we found our missing girl, and the daughter conceived during her time in captivity. It was an indescribable moment as I watched her hobble out of the shed and come into the light. Since finding Bella, she had continually thanked us for allowing her and Nessie to join our family… but what I had come to realise over the years is that there was no joining our family. She had always been a part of it. It was why Edward had been unable to stop searching, believing, and hoping to find her. She might have been hidden in the ground, buried under concrete and earth… she might have been taken from her family and friends, and beaten, raped, and tortured… but those years in captivity had never removed her place from our lives. It was there all along, we just needed to find her again; and once we did, well, of course she was a part of our family.
She always had been, and she always would be.
A/N: Just a little extra – call it supplemental, or a secondary ending… not really any new information, just Esme's POV on our happily-ever-after. I have always loved Esme's character… the genuine strength, and yet also soft nature of the way that she cares for her family as the matriarch.
I have a few more of these "extra" chapters – some take place after our story, some take place during the 'bunker years', and some even before that. I may add them from time to time as I feel like re-visiting. I still absolutely love this story, and again, thank you to all who took the time to read and review it!