Chapter 36

Family life is not easy.

The days that followed flew by like lightning. Everyone was busy preparing for the arrival of the babies as well as my potential transformation or convalescence. Rose literally had stars in her eyes when she learned about the twins. Alice's buying frenzy intensified and she pestered Edward to find out the sex of the babies. Either he didn't know, or he preferred not to tell Alice. In any case, the situation amused him greatly. I didn't ask him. For once, in a long time, I had the chance to be surprised and I liked it. Edward must have understood it, or heard it, in any case, he didn't tell me about it.

We didn't talk again about him being able to read my thoughts and what he might have learned. In reality, I don't feel the need. Edward hadn't changed his attitude towards me and I told myself that whatever he had read in me, either it hadn't shocked him or he was quite happy about it. I decide to postpone this potential discussion until after my delivery. This one was scheduled in a few hours, my family is around me. Carlisle had gone hunting for a few hours, but Edward had preferred to drink the blood of the animals brought back by Emmett. He takes great care of me and I am over the moon.

His presence reassures me. We can't really say that Bella's birth was one of the most pleasant moments she's ever experienced and, even though I'm in better shape than her (no broken bones, it must be noted), I'm still in good shape. 'a rather fragile constitution. My father stayed at home as a precaution, even if it took all of Esme's persuasion and the promise to keep him informed of the slightest problem for him to agree not to rush to my bedside.

Suddenly, I feel a warm liquid flowing between my thighs. I don't have time to tell Edward that he has already gently taken me in his arms and is heading towards the room they have set up for the birth. When I see the surprised looks of the others, I understand that he has read my thoughts. He smiles at me, nodding.

"Ready to meet our children, darling?"

My heart is more than ready, I respond fervently, just before feeling a sudden contraction in my lower abdomen.

We will start quickly, Carlisle reassures me, who has moved closer. But first, I'm going to anesthetize you. »

Edward sits me down on the operating table. He gently removes my top and bra, then asks me to turn my back. I feel Carlisle pass a cold liquid over my skin and sting my lower back. That's when another contraction decides to rear its ugly head. Edward suddenly raises his head and Carlisle immediately stops his movements. I breathe like Edward taught me and the pain eventually passes. Carlisle finishes with my back and asks me to lie down.

The rest is a bit blurry... Literally... They both move so fast that I have trouble following them. Rosalie enters in turn with a blouse and her hair tied up. She smiles at me and whispers in my ear:

"You're going to be fine." I'll take care of them while you rest. »

She squeezes my hand and I look at her, touched. Edward takes his place and takes the time to explain everything to me again. The cesarean section goes as planned, except that the scalpel is replaced by Carlisle's teeth. Edward has already taken care to store his venom in a vial. He transfers it into a large syringe. As I hold my children. My daughter is beautiful. We had made a list of 4 first names, two masculine and two feminine in advance, even if Edward had to know in advance which first names would be chosen.

This is how I found myself with Eline and Riley in my arms. Rose took a photo of the three of us, then one with Edward, and she picked them both up, while Carlisle worked to stop the bleeding. Edward exchanged a look with his father and I understood. He kissed me tenderly then apologized. I immediately understood what he meant. The transformation was inevitable. A blue window then appeared.

"Main quest: Suffer in silence. You must go through the transformation in complete silence. Reward: shock resistance lv3. Penalty: none. Duration: two days. »

For once, I was happy to see this quest window appear, because it brought two good news for me: first, my transformation would only last two days and second, I couldn't wait to see what a climb level would give. But I didn't have time to rejoice because Edward was getting closer with the syringe. He kisses me one last time, telling me he loves me. I return the courtesy by expressing my gratitude, then he sticks the needle into my heart.

What followed was a succession of pains. I focus on my memories and remind myself of the rewards whenever I feel faltering. I know that my body is being taken care of and these icy touches are almost imperceptible because the burn consumes me so much. Edward stays by my side most of the time, I smell him, I hear his voice, even if everything seems distant. He ends up asking me if I can hear him. I then shake his hand.

I hear his relief through his flow of words. He then tells me everything that happens in the house. He tells me about our children. How extraordinary they are. They bring them close to me, shifting my arms so they can rest against my sides. I feel them sleeping against me and it greatly relieves my pain. They remind me why I must survive this ordeal.

Edward sits next to us and explains his disappointment when he was no longer able to hear my thoughts and I vow to work on it quickly to give him that pleasure again. Alice enters explaining that it won't be much longer. She takes the kids with her and I already miss their little bodies. Suddenly the pain increases in my chest, moving away from my limbs. I deduce that the transformation is about to end. I hurry despite the pain to try to remember the last important memories for me. My heart accelerates and then, after a final jolt that literally lifts my chest, stops. I then open my eyes to a different world.

I see and feel so many things at once that I feel overwhelmed by the information flooding my brain. This is when a blue window appears:

"Quest validated. You have been given a reward. »

I hear a rustling next to me and I immediately crouch down, feeling a little ashamed when I see Edward in front of me. An irrepressible desire takes hold of me and I jump into his arms. I hear him moan and I immediately release him, feeling immense pain at the thought of having hurt him. All the emotions I experience are difficult to contain. I delicately place my hands on Edward's cheek and confess to him tenderly:

" I love you my heart. »

My happiness reaches new heights when he responds fervently that he loves me too. I want him. His body calls to me, his touch electrifies me and I feel my underwear getting damp in a few moments. Edward's eyes instantly turn black. But, while he kisses me passionately, we hear a clearing of the throat. When I turn, I see my family looking at us. If Carlisle could blush, he would be scarlet.

"How are you Bella?"

GOOD ! Thank you, I respond with a smile. I can't wait to go hunting to find my children.

How is it possible ?! Jasper whispers, taken aback. »

I turn to him and widen my eyes. He has a lot more scars than I thought. My poor human eyes couldn't even perceive 25% of it. He looks at me, still in disbelief.

"How can you react so calmly? »

I look at him, taken aback.

"Do you find me calm?!" But I almost undressed my companion the minute I saw him, my desire was so uncontrollable! »

I hear a laugh as melodious as a chime. Alice gets closer to her husband:

"I told you, darling, that she was going to be extraordinary.

Holding a calm conversation and even using humor in your first minutes of life is absolutely unprecedented! Jasper exclaims. »

I don't understand, I was very serious. I'm starting to get annoyed. Edward must feel me tense and decides to intervene.

" My darling ? »

My head and my spirit immediately turn to the source of my happiness.

" Yes my heart ?!

What if we went hunting? he suggests.

Squirrels ? I ask, impatiently. »

I see him scowl and hear Emmett's booming laugh.

"If squirrels tempt you then we will look for some," he replied with resignation.

Don't you want to eat squirrels? he asks, amused.

Not really, no, but if that's what you want, I'll hunt every squirrel on Earth.

It's very romantic ! I chuckle.

That's corny, I hear Emmett chuckle.

Don't listen to him sweetheart. I love it when you tell me phrases that others find corny, I respond to Edward by kissing him tenderly. »

I'm starting to feel discomfort in my throat. It's definitely time to go hunting. But before I go, I ask my family about my children. They are downstairs with Rosalie and Jacob. I raise my eyebrows at the mention of the Quileute. Edward then quickly tells me that he will explain everything to me after the hunt. He's clearly uncomfortable. I decide to let it go.

I wave quickly to my family, take off my shoes and jump out the window, calling Edward, who rushes to join me. He lands next to me and takes my hand. I run alongside him. The feeling of freshness on my skin is invigorating. It's quite ironic, when you think about it.

"It's even nicer now that I can run without tripping over my own feet," I say to Edward, who bursts out laughing.

Shall we race?

You're going to let me win... I know you're the fastest.

Did you see me win?

Dare to tell me you wouldn't!

You got me, he chuckles.

For the trouble, I want to eat squirrel!

Demanding with that!

You can't even find me a squirrel?! I provoke him.

Alright ! A squirrel for the little lady. »

Edward stops and pulls me closer. I start to kiss his neck, but he turns me around, hugging my back to his chest.

"As nice as it is, my love, we are hunting.

I'm chasing a handsome, terribly sexy male, I'm provoking him.

Eowyn…

Yes my heart ?

Concentrate !

On ?

The noises, the smells. Close your eyes ! »

He seems determined to chase me away before making love to me… Damn! Well, I guess I'll have to hunt before I get the prey I'm aiming for. I close my eyes and concentrate. I am soon able to target sounds and smells. I smell this nutty smell that I love. I open my eyes and head towards that smell. Just as I am about to reach the animal, I see a small squirrel coming out of a tree trunk and I stop. A small 'oh' escapes my lips and I look at Edward saddened. He sighs and takes my hand to pull me away.

At this moment I smell another smell which reminds me of a significant memory of my human life. I run in his direction. I hear footsteps following me. When I get near the animal, I see a silhouette on the ground, it's a human. He has just been attacked by the feline I am hunting. His smell is attractive, but going near him repels me. On the contrary, I want to keep the feline away from him. I don't want his blood to stain my prey. I then jump on the puma, wring its neck and sink my teeth into its flesh. I hear noises nearby, but the other individual doesn't seem to want to take my prey, so I relax and finish my meal. I let go of the beast and look around me. Edward is next to the human. He stares at me, uncertain. I then ask him:

"Is he okay?"

He is unconscious and has a wound on his side.

But will he get through it? I question him, worried.

It's worrying, but not fatal, he quickly replies. But how can you not throw yourself at him?

To tell you the truth, its smell is appetizing, but not so much that you can't resist. Yours is much, much more attractive. »

I see Edward relax. He gives me his famous smirk and comes closer to me.

" You are amazing ! Do you know that mature vampires would have had great difficulty resisting the call of his blood while hunting?!

He didn't have a mate as sexy as me. »

He bursts out laughing and takes out his phone. I hear him warn Carlisle of our discovery while I pepper his neck with small kisses. I'm about to open the third button of his shirt when I hear suspicious noises. I turn around and growl at whoever is interrupting us. I stop when I see Carlisle and Esme. I immediately feel shame and apologize.

"You don't need to apologize, darling," Esme replies. This is a normal reaction.

Unlike not lunging at an injured human within 5m, Carlisle continued.

She finds his scent less attractive than mine, Edward replies. »

If I didn't know him so well, I'd swear he was bragging.

"Really," Carlisle wonders. We'll take care of it from now on. Return to your activities.

Thank you, replies Edward.

He takes my hand. We hunted a few squirrels and rabbits, then headed back towards the house... Finally, we still had to take a detour to our cabin to relieve the pressure. Arriving at the villa, Jacob is waiting for us on the porch. Edward scowls. I do not like it. He has worn a blissful smile since our visit to our house and I don't plan on letting that smile go. I then grabbed my companion's arm and said to him:

"Don't worry Edward. I know that Jacob is our daughter's imprint and I don't mind as long as he waits until she is mature to court her. »

Jacob and Edward look at me shocked.