A/N I am so sorry it has taken so long for me to get this chapter written and posted. My hubby had to take a job out of state, and I was left with our toddler-age daughter alone, and then my internet messed up. I have read all of the reviews, and I want to thank all of you that have stuck with me. I read back through the old chapters, and I've spotted a few places where stuff is missing. I promise to fix it. So, the next chapter is written in a few different POVs , and it starts with Lizzie. It's her thoughts, and I tried to write it the way I thought she would think.. Oh, and I promise not to kill off Bella. I'd be crazy to do so.
Lizzie POV
I saw my Daddy! And he loves me just like Mommy said he would. He took me hunting, and he said he was proud of me when I caught a cougar! Then Auntie Alice came and she said she'd take me shopping. She has a pretty car. She said Uncle Jasper and Uncle Emmett were building me a castle bed, and that I have my own room at her house. I don't know Uncle Jasper or Uncle Emmett but I hope they like me. I hope they stay. Mommy told me Daddy had to go away, and I don't want him to go again. I don't want Mommy to go either. She can't leave me 'cuz the bad people will come. Maybe I should ask Auntie Alice...
"Auntie Alice?"
Alice POV
I met up with Edward and Lizzie after her hunt and filled him in on the status of the bed being built for Elizabeth, and told him Bella was awake and offered to take a very enthusiastic Lizzie shopping for a little while. I glanced back at her a few times to see her cute little face as she thought about how her day has been so far. She looked so much like Bella, with all those emotions written across her face. Suddenly her face went from excitement and curiosity to one of fear and sadness. I pulled into the parking spot outside Target, and shut off the car.
"Auntie Alice?", she said with a bit of sadness.
"Yes, sweetie?", I asked, turning around in the seat to face her.
"Are you and Daddy leaving again? 'Cuz Mommy said that some daddies go away, and I don't want my Daddy to go again... and I'm scared that Mommy won't get better and the bad people will come." She whispered out.
To say that I was shocked would be an understatement, but I couldn't let it show on my face.
"What bad people, honey?" I asked her.
"The ones I see in my dreams. They come and Mommy isn't there, and they have red eyes and they wear black cloaks like the bad guys on Scooby Doo. I'm scared they are gonna come if Mommy and Daddy go away." Has she seen the Volturi in her sleep? I need to tell the family. I kept a light smile on my face as I tried to erase her worry.
"Lizzie, I promise you that none of us are going to leave you. And if bad people come, we won't let them hurt you." She smiled, and we began getting out of the car.
"So, let's go do some shopping, what do you say?" I semi- shouted enthusiastically.
"Yes! I ?" she squealed out in one breath.
"Of course. We can get anything you want Lizzie", I said as we got out and headed into the store.
Bella POV
The drive to the house was nice. Edward and I held hands as I told him about Angela and Ben's upcoming wedding, and that they had just graduated from the University of Washington. I told him about Lizzie too. I told him how she loves Disney movies; her favorite color is never the same but most of the time it's pink; and her favorite foods are cougar or Hawaiian pizza. He smiled like the Cheshire Cat the entire time, which made my heart swell. It wasn't long before we pulled into the driveway that led to that big house nestled in the woods. I parked the car, and turned in the seat to face him. He caressed my cheek in his hand, and I leaned into his touch.
"God, Bella. I missed you so much.. I honestly don't know how I managed to stay away for as long as I did", he said huskily.
" I missed you too", I replied as I leaned towards him," But you aren't getting rid of us so easy this time, so you better buck up".
He smirked into my lips as he whispered "Well, you better get used to me being around because I'm not going anywhere", and with that he crushed his frosty lips to mine. His honey taste was divine, and I moaned into the kiss. Hands slid into hair as tongues fought for dominance. I could hear my heart begin to pound into my ears, so I pulled back so I could catch my breath. Edward held me close as my heart rate returned to normal, breathing me in.
"Come on, love. Everyone is waiting to see you" he smiled.
He took my hand in his as we made our way up the steps. Esme and Carlisle were waiting at the door for us. I could feel myself getting nervous, not knowing how they would react when they learned about Elizabeth, or the tumor for that matter. I looked to Edward who smiled and gave my hand a light squeeze, effectively wiping away all worry away. The door opened as Esme closed the distance and threw her stone arms around me.
"Bella! Oh, dear, I have missed you so very much. Come in! I've made a chicken casserole for dinner. I hope that's okay. I haven't had a chance to cook in so long", she exclaimed as she led towards Carlisle.
"Bella, it's so wonderful to see you again" Carlisle said as he too caught me in his cold embrace," I wish it could be under better circumstances".
I felt bad that I was dragging them into my problems. I felt as if they were always having to bail me out of one disaster or another. First it was a van skidding on black ice, then it was a sociopath vampire, and now it's a life threatening brain tumor. On top of that , they may or may not be raising Elizabeth without me, and that depends on whether or not they change me. And say they do? Then they have to deal with a newborn vampire and a 4 year old half vampire.
"You don't need to feel guilty, Bella", Jasper said as he entered the room with Rosalie and Emmett, "We have always considered you family, and we're not doing anything another family wouldn't do".
A huge smile sat on all their faces as Emmett nearly rushed me and lifted me and spun me around.
"Bella! I missed you, sis!" he thundered. I hadn't realized how much I had missed Emmett until
this moment. He always felt like he was really my brother, and because of the curly brown hair, we could almost pass as such. It would have been nice if he had really been my big brother. Growing up with him would have definitely amazing.
"I missed you too, brother bear. How have you you guys been?" I exclaimed as I steadied myself before timidly heading towards Rosalie. She sensed my timidness towards her, and closed the distance with a bright smile on her face.
"Bella, I'm sorry I was, quite frankly, a bitch. I never really had anything against you. I was... jealous because you have something I don't. You have a beating heart, and you change, and you can have babies. I can't. I'm pretty sure I never will. But the past five years have shown me that when you … before we left, this whole family began gaining back a piece of their humanity through you. And I want you to know that no matter where this mess takes us, it's not your fault and I will be here for you, no matter what you need", she finished, looking my in the eye. Well, not exactly what I thought was going to happen. I smiled back, and thanked her, not really sure what else to say. Jasper was the only person I hadn't hugged yet, and while I wasn't scared of him, I was concerned that I'd cause his thirst to flare up.
He chuckled, "I know you're not scared of me, so get over here 'n give your brother a hug". His easiness brought out my own little chuckle as he pulled my into a strong hug. The atmosphere in the room swam with love, joy, and amazement. I smiled at each of the family members that I had missed like air.
" I've missed all of you so much. And, Jasper, I want you to know that I have never held what happened against you. I imagine that everyone else's blood lust magnified yours to a level you couldn't take."
"Thank you, Bella. It really means a lot to me that you don't hate me. I have been working a lot on my tolerance, and Carlisle and I actually have been discussing a way to build it even further. But it'll have to wait because Alice just pulled in."
I was relieved that Alice was here with my baby girl. I hadn't seen her since Edward showed up right after I fell. Edward's arms were around my waist, with his face in my hair when Alice and Elizabeth burst through the door laden with Target bags.
"Mommy! , Mommy!Auntie Alice got me fairy wings and a crown! And she got me Disney Princess movies! And look! I got a Kai Lan doll!" she exclaimed as she pulled item after item out of the bags.
Esme laughed at Lizzie's enthusiasm, and said, " She's beautiful.. Edward, dear-"
"Yes, Esme. Everyone, Bella and I would like to introduce you to Elizabeth Renessmee Cullen, my daughter." The mood of the room changed to surprise, acceptance, and love. Everyone began to introduce themselves to Lizzie, and were smitten with her from the second she had entered the room.
"She really is perfect", Edward whispered into my ear and began planting kisses along the curve of my neck making me melt into his hold, as we watched her try to get Emmett to wear a pair of fairy wings . I groaned, and turned around in his arms and wrapped mine around his neck.
"Yeah, she really is. She gets it from her father" , I smirked. He let our a little sigh, saying " Bella, Bella, Bella. My love, you still don't see yourself very clearly, do you?" I laughed, " No, I see myself just fine. I am one hot Momma, didn't you know?"
Hi eyes darkened slighly, and he whispered, "I know" huskily into my ear.
"Dinner's ready!" Alice called from the kitchen, and we pulled apart to make our way into the dining room for dinner.