The soft rays of dawn filtered through the bedroom window, gently waking Bella. As she turned over, she found herself face-to-face with two pairs of wide, eager eyes.
"Good morning, Mama!" Isabella chirped, her tiny voice clear and confident.
"Good morning, Dada!" Elliot echoed, grinning up at Edward, who blinked in surprise.
Bella gasped softly, her heart swelling with joy. "Did you just—" She paused, her eyes misting over. "Edward, they're talking!"
Edward's smile widened as he reached out to tousle Elliot's messy hair. "It looks like they're growing up faster than we thought." He leaned in, pressing a kiss to Bella's forehead. "Good morning, love."
With the twins already so full of energy, Bella and Edward quickly got ready for the day. Bella chose a flowy white dress, its soft fabric hugging her figure, while her hair cascaded down in its natural, body wave texture. Edward opted for a classic look: a crisp white button-down shirt tucked into dark jeans, with sleeves rolled up to reveal his muscular forearms.
The twins were dressed to match their parents—Isabella in a miniature version of Bella's dress, complete with a delicate white bow in her hair, and Elliot looking like his father's twin, down to the tiny button-up shirt and jeans.
As they made their way downstairs, the sound of laughter and cheerful chatter filled the house. The living room was transformed with colorful decorations and an array of gifts. Balloons floated near the ceiling, and a banner read, "Welcome, Isabella & Elliot!"
"Surprise!" The Cullen family, along with Charlie and Bella's mother, Renee, cheered as they saw the couple enter the room.
Bella's eyes widened, and she brought a hand to her mouth. "You did all this… for us?" She looked around, her gaze resting on Esme and Alice, who were beaming with pride.
Alice stepped forward, her eyes twinkling. "Of course! We couldn't let the arrival of the most special hybrids in history go uncelebrated."
Renee hurried over, pulling Bella into a tight embrace, her eyes glistening. "I can't believe how fast they're growing," she whispered, wiping away a tear. "I missed so much, Bella. But I'm so glad I'm here now to see this."
As everyone gathered around, it was time for the gift-giving. Esme approached first, holding a beautifully wrapped box. She knelt down to Isabella's level and smiled warmly. "This is for you, sweetheart."
Isabella tore into the wrapping paper, revealing a small, hand-carved wooden jewelry box with intricate floral designs. "I thought you might like to keep little treasures in it," Esme explained.
Isabella's eyes widened with delight. "Thank you, Grandma Esme!" Without hesitation, she made a flower blossom from the air, placing it gently in the box.
Carlisle then presented Elliot with a set of antique, beautifully illustrated children's books. "These belonged to my family many years ago. I thought you might like them when you're ready to read," Carlisle said, his eyes shining with pride.
Elliot grinned, lifting one of the books into the air with his telekinesis. "I like them already!" he said with a giggle.
Alice and Jasper were next. Alice gave Isabella a tiny, elegant tiara that sparkled in the light. "For our little princess," Alice teased, placing it on Isabella's head. "Every queen needs her crown."
Jasper gifted Elliot a hand-carved wooden sword. "A little something for our young warrior," he said with a wink. "You might need it to protect your sister one day."
Elliot's eyes sparkled as he made the sword float around the room, earning a round of applause from everyone.
Emmett and Rosalie stepped forward with a joint gift—a pair of matching stuffed wolves for the twins. "We figured you might need some new friends to cuddle," Emmett said with a laugh.
Isabella hugged her wolf close while Elliot made his wolf hover around the room. "Thank you, Uncle Emmett, Aunt Rosalie!" they said in unison.
Finally, Charlie approached with a shy smile, holding a large, wrapped box. "This one's from your Grandpa Charlie," he said, setting it down in front of the twins.
Isabella and Elliot eagerly ripped open the box to reveal a set of tools designed for children. "I figured, with all your parents' gardening and building projects, you might like to help out," Charlie said, his voice gruff with emotion.
Isabella's eyes lit up, and she used her biokinesis to grow a tiny sapling right there in the room. "I help Mama grow!" she announced proudly.
Elliot floated one of the toy hammers to himself and mimicked pounding it in the air. "I help too, Grandpa!" he beamed.
Overcome with emotion, Bella hugged both her parents tightly, grateful to have them here to witness this special day. "Thank you all for coming and for being here to support us," she said, her voice soft but steady as she addressed the room. "These last few months have been… intense, to say the least. But seeing all of you here, celebrating with us, it means more than words can express."
Edward wrapped his arm around Bella's waist, nodding in agreement. "Our children are a testament to the love and support we've received from each of you," he added, his golden eyes shining with sincerity.
As the celebrations continued, the twins' laughter filled the air. Isabella attempted to grow flowers in everyone's hair, while Elliot floated toys and decorations around the room, much to everyone's delight. The family was united in joy, savoring this peaceful moment together after all the darkness they had faced.
Bella leaned into Edward, her eyes glistening with tears. "I never imagined we'd have moments like this," she whispered.
Edward kissed her temple. "It's only the beginning, Bella. And I can't wait to see what the future holds for us."