My Original
by wizardtho
Chapter 9:
That day when Coop and I retired to bed, Jazz was battling Em on the PS3 in the game room, Ali and Rose were shooting a game of pool, while Carlisle curled up with Esme on the loveseat in the library to read together. I showed Coop just how much his surprise meant to me by making slow, sweet love to him. We fell asleep to the sound of the click/click/click of the UV shades locking into place.
We both ran to Edward, who was waiting for us on the large boulder near the top waterfall. He cooed to me when I launched myself into his arms. “Shh... I know, Love. Let it all out.”
I cried tears of joy and worry as they both held me. When I calmed, I said softly, “Let's get comfortable... I have something I need to talk to you both about.”
We sat in a little circle with our legs all entwined on the forest floor near the stream. I took a deep breath before I spoke. “Edward, I... they said that there's a big chance you'll come back to us human.”
Edward smiled, so I asked, “Before... when you were alive... you said more than once that-”
I was nervously fumbling over my words until I felt them each take one of my hands, then Edward said, “Love, we know what this is about, and we both want this. We know there won't be time before I have to be turned, plus you might not be ready yet, but there are always ways to accomplish it down the road.”
I looked up at Coop warily, but he smiled as he kissed the inside of my wrist. “We love you, Isabella, and we know you would never consider carrying a child from someone other than us. We both long to see you round with our children... and yes, they would be all of ours. I would love them as if they were my own, just as Edward would if the situation were reversed. I've spoken to the queen at length about our situation. It took her almost a month to give me her final decision. She told me that if Edward came back to us, she would allow the child or children to be created. The only stipulations would be that she would need to see us once near the end of each pregnancy, any children would need to be turned before their 19th birthday, and they would have to be home-schooled due to the risk of exposure.”
Hope filled my chest to the bursting point before I dared to ask, “You're sure? You both want this? I mean... I had a flash of a little bronze haired baby last night. That's why I got up. I didn't think there would be time, though, so I tried to push the thought away. It's just...”
I let out a sigh, then continued, “I was content not to have children, because I had the both of you, and you're vampires. Then, hearing that Edward might come back to us human... well, I couldn't help but hope.”
They both beamed at me, then Edward pulled me to sit over their laps sideways. “We want this, Love, as long as you do, too. I'll need both of you to sit down with Carlisle as soon as possible, so he can get the necessary equipment put into his lab on Isle Esme. I don't want to make you uncomfortable, Isabella, but you know you won't be able to see a regular doctor, right?”
I shook my head, “There's no discussion. I wouldn't have anyone but Carlisle taking care of me... of us. I trust him; I wouldn't feel comfortable seeing someone else. If he doesn't want to do it, then there won't be anything to discuss, because I won't go through with it.”
That was the end of our discussion. We all played and laughed until it was almost time to go. Edward looked sad as he pulled me into his arms, so I wondered what was wrong as I smoothed the worry lines on his forehead. “I don't want to do this, but it's a must if the spell is to bring me back, Love. I can't see you again until I return to you alive. The nightmares won't come back, but you won't come to me here, either. You both will have dreamless rests until I return to you.”
I frowned but nodded as tears filled my eyes. “Shh... Love, don't cry. I promise I'll be returning to you soon. Just do exactly what Lydia needs you to, then I'll have both of you in my arms soon.”
I sniffled while nodding, then pulled him into a tender kiss, “I love you, my lion. We'll talk to Carlisle as soon as we wake, and we'll do whatever's necessary to bring you back to us.”
The three of us held each other until we heard the combination of tinkling bells and click/click/click on the breeze. With a kiss to my lips and a whispered, “I love you, Isabella,” he faded into blackness.
Coop and I began to wake, then he held me as I finally let the tears fall. I wasn't looking forward to not dreaming of him, but knowing I would see him soon, alive, helped tremendously. I hurried to sit up as I thought about talking to Carlisle, grabbing my robe as I told Coop, “Hurry, My Love. We need to talk to Carlisle, to make sure that he'll have time to get what we'll need.”
We both donned our robes before hurrying out to the kitchen, where we heard voices. Carlisle and the guys were talking at the breakfast table, while Esme and the girls cooked up a storm. I smiled at the sight of my family, then asked, “Carlisle, can we go to your suite to talk to you about something?”
He stood with a smile, “Of course, Dear. Esme, how long do we have until your creation is ready to be served?”
She smiled, “You have plenty of time to talk. It'll be ready in about 45 minutes.”
Once we were settled into the garage suite's sitting area, Carlisle looked at both of us expectantly. I turned to Coop, then at his smile, I said, “The three of us have discussed the possibility of me carrying Edward's child -or children- if he comes back to us human. We know there won't be time for me to conceive in the week before his turning deadline, so we wanted to talk to you about what needs to be done. We also would like you to be the one to take care of me and any little ones medically.”
Carlisle beamed at us, then said happily, “Wonderful news, My Daughter. I would be honored, but Coop, have you talked...”
Carlisle raised an eyebrow to make his point without saying the words. In response, Coop chuckled, “Yes, we've been given the green light, as long as we host a visit from her near the end of each pregnancy, we home-school any children that we are blessed with, and they are turned by the end of their 18th year.”
Carlisle clapped his hands once with a happy chuckle. He came over to me, knelt down, then took my hands as he whispered, “You're going to make me a Papa?”
I grinned, “That's the hope, but I understand that you have some things to order for the lab on Isle Esme before we can accomplish that. That's why we came to you right away.”
Carlisle nodded before kissing my temple, then returned to his seat. “I will need to order several things, but some of the basics can be brought back with us from the Forks home. You'll need to start tracking your cycle, to the day, if you don't already. I'll need to do a sonogram on you when you're at the midpoint of your cycle, to see how fertile you are, then we may need to start you on fertility injections to boost the chances of you conceiving. If you're on any birth control, please stop taking it immediately. Make sure you're eating and drinking well. The wine will need to be cut out once we start actively trying to implant you. Edward will need to be examined once he returns, to ensure his health, but after that, I can start collecting his semen for storage.”
I let out a breath, then nodded, “Okay, good. You won't have any problems getting the needed supplies and equipment?”
He shook his head, then said, “Coop, I have more donated blood being shipped in, so we will be well prepared for Edward's turning, along with your normal needs. Since Isabella won't be turned right away now, it should last a good 6 months, depending on Edward's thirst.”
That reminded me of Coop feeding from me, so I asked, “Should Coop stop feeding from me while we're intimate? It's not all the time, plus I'm on an iron supplement, but he does feed a small amount every few days.”
Carlisle looked at me, then at Coop, before turning back to me. “Have you not bonded? I would have thought that you...”
Coop cut him off, “I didn't even talk to her about it yet, because, by the time the feeding came up, Edward and I were already looking into bringing him back. I can't bond with Isabella before his return, or the spell won't work.”
I looked between the two, asking with a huff, “Would someone mind explaining to the human in the room?”
Coop turned to me, explaining seriously, “Carlisle was asking if we had done a mutual feed, one where we fed from each other during intimacy. You wouldn't need the supplements then, since my blood would automatically replenish you. I didn't tell you, because I was hoping that there was a way to bring him back. We know now that the spell won't work if we're already bonded before his return.”
I nodded, “Okay, that makes sense, but it still doesn't answer my question.”
Carlisle smiled softly, “No, you do not need to stop the feedings while you're intimate. By the time of your pregnancy, you will most likely be bonded to both Coop and Edward. Their blood will replenish you. It would help keep both you and the children strong and healthy if you were to have a mutual feed at least twice a month after the initial bond is formed. Now, I suppose you want to keep this as quiet as possible until Edward's return?”
I smiled at Carlisle. “Yes, please, but I know that you keep nothing from Esme. She is your mate, so I wouldn't expect you to hide this from her. Just please ask her to come to us in private if she wants to talk.”
We spoke about smaller things for several more minutes, then I noticed Coop starting to fidget. My eyes went wide as realization dawned on me. I cooed as I looked into his eyes and bent my neck, “Oh, My Love. I'm so sorry. Here, feed.”
He shook his head while pursing his lips, “No, Isabella. It's barely been two days. I won't take from you again this soon. I just need to get back inside, then I'll have a glass of blood.”
I nodded before standing, “Okay... hurry. Carlisle and I will be right behind you.”
He dashed out the door after placing a tender kiss on my lips. Carlisle smiled as he held his arm out to me. “Shall we, Dear?”
I smiled as I took his arm, “We shall. I forgot with the excitement of telling you. He usually feeds as soon as he wakes, with the morning bar being in our suite, but I totally forgot with rushing to see you.”
Carlisle nodded, “It's understandable, Bella. He's taking good care of you by not feeding from you too often. Do you mind me asking... does he feed until full when he does?”
I shook my head as we reached the bottom of the steps, “It doesn't take much to fulfill him on the days that he does feed from me, because he drinks to the bursting point on the days he has donated. A few mouthfuls at the height of our love-making is all it usually takes, but there have been times when he will bite, lick, and heal throughout. It just depends on the mood we're in.”
Carlisle chuckled, then led me through the family room doors. Esme called out happily, “Coop is finishing up his breakfast now, so you two have time for a shower before your breakfast, Bella. Alice already had Coop's ready when he came in.”
I smiled at Alice, “Thanks, Ali. I drug him out of the bedroom before I realized. I suppose you have my clothes already laid out?”
Alice shook her head, “Nope. I'm not going into your room without permission. That's your sanctuary, and I don't want to mess up any mojo that may be helping you both dream of Edward.”
I shook my head as tears filled my eyes, causing Coop to hurriedly wrap me in his arms. “Soon, My Sweet Dove. We'll see him alive with us soon.”
I looked up to see my family watching us worriedly, so choked out, “We can't... no dreams until after he's with us, now. Today was the last day he could come to us. The spell won't work if he sees us in our dreams anymore.”
Esme came over, wiping my tears, “Oh, Darling. He's still with you, even if you can't see him... and we'll all be seeing him very soon. I just know it.”
I nodded with a sniffle, causing her to give me a sad smile as she said, “Go on, now, Darling. You and Coop need a few minutes, so go take a long hot shower. Your breakfast will be ready when you come out.”
The next few days were a whirlwind of catching up with everyone, which barely gave Coop and me a minute to think. I knew they were trying to help us keep from missing our time with Edward. One evening, I heard Jasper's smooth southern drawl as I was burying my feet in the sand. “Hey, Sug. How are you holding up?”
I smiled up at him while patting the sand next to me. He sat down as I looked out at the water.
“Thank you, Jazz. I know you've been helping the family keep us busy when you feel us missing him, so thank you. It's just really hard. For so long, I was constantly reliving what happened on that cliff... every horrifying moment of what really happened. When the dreams started changing, I clung to them. Seeing him smile, knowing that I could be with him there... it was my life preserver in a vast ocean of pain. Then Coop and I made love. When we fell asleep together that morning, all three of us were there. It wasn't just Edward and me in our meadow in Forks, but all three of us together here on the island. That made it more real, so it was like we never slept at all. We were with him, playing in the pools, or lounging together in the library. Now it feels like it was all ripped away... for Coop and I both.”
Jasper nodded but stayed silent, so I continued. “When it was just Edward and I in the meadow, I started making a list of things that would never happen. The first time all three of us were together in the dream, I was alone at the falls first. I stripped down and dove into the pools, thinking I was alone, but they were both watching. The three of us played in the pools naked that day, but we never made love. When I talked to Coop about it later, he told me that Edward explained it was against the rules. He would have been able to if we had before the newborn battle, but since we hadn't made love before he died, he couldn't during our dream time. I had been hoping that at some point we would, but I told Coop it was just another thing to add to my list.”
I sighed, then explained, “Now... now all those things I gave over to the list could still happen, and I don't know how to feel. I would literally walk through the fires in the deepest pits of hell to bring him back to me, Jazz... I love him that much. But... do I dare hope that all of those things can still come true? Do I let myself believe that I can have both of them, that we can live our forever together? I won't make it if he comes back and something happens to one of them. I barely lived through it the first time.”
Jasper hummed, then said thoughtfully as he drew idly in the sand, “I believe you've been through enough heartache and pain in your short life, Bella. I think Phoenix messed up the timeline, seeing as we had all planned to invite you to come to Isle Esme over the summer. You most likely would have both met Coop at that time. Edward would still be alive, had that been able to happen. Since you're human, you should not have lived through the pain of losing a mate, Sug. That's why we were all so worried and checking on you constantly. You've seen Marcus, so you know what it does to vampires, if they even choose to go on living. I believe this is the fates’ way of righting a terrible wrong. They're giving you back something that shouldn't have been taken, without you being with your other mate.”
I didn't understand. Jasper smiled down at me as he said, “With your type of mating, Edward should not have died until sometime after your bond was formed with Coop. It's unheard of in all of vampire history, Sug, for him to have died before your bond with Coop was sealed. He was to be your rock to get you through the pain of losing one of your mates. You living through the nightmares and hell that you did... I think that's the fates' way of testing you... to make sure you were worthy of having two mates for eternity. This is their 'I'm sorry. Here's your do over,' so to speak. They can't just give him back to you, though, so that's where Lydia comes in. Does that make sense?”
I smiled up at Jasper with a nod. It did make sense now, which allowed me to feel so much lighter than I did before. “Thanks, Jazz. You always have the perfect way of explaining things.”
He smirked then said, “So... Ali told me a little secret about you. You've been thinking about something really special lately, haven't you?”
I groaned before palming my face, “Shit... I forgot about that. I love that all-seeing Pixie, but sometimes, well...”
We both chuckled, so I asked, “Did she tell you what the decision was?”
He nodded in response, “She did, but we haven't told anyone. Her vision was of you and Coop talking to Carlisle. When you both pulled him away to talk the other day, she knew. I have to say we're both extremely happy that you're going to try.”
I chuckled, then stood up before brushing the back of my shorts off. “Come on, Nosey. I'm not talking to anyone about it until Edward is back with us, because Carlisle will have to check him out first. You can tell your mate to be patient for a few more days.”
He chuckled and stood up, brushed himself off, then swooped me up onto his back, “Fair enough, Sug... fair enough. Now let's get you back to that man of yours. He's missing you something terrible right now.”