Black Nebula

Never Back Down

Carlisle returned later on that day with the boys, and the fifty bags of clothes. Alice kept complaining that they needed more, but Edward convinced her that the sales people were looking at them strange as it was buying clothes for all types of ages. After dropping his bags in the living room, Carlisle ran upstairs to get a look at the kids.

"Well stating the obvious, they are human. Not completely anyway, which was evident when we saw their powers. I could hit myself for not thinking the venom would affect their development. Carlisle rapidly ran some test and took measurements, all of which I didn't completely understand but because they were my kids, I stayed and watched.

I let down my shield and conveyed my thoughts to Edward, including feeling comfortable calling them mine. "I know love. I feel the same way." He wrapped his arms around my waist as we continued to stare at Carlisle from the door frame. Esme stayed with us and was holding my hand, and the three of us waited for the results.

"Well the good news is they are human, while their heartbeats are beating faster than normal human babies, they are still completely healthy." The confidence that oozed from Carlisle's voice calmed me down.

"But Carlisle, look at them, it's been just over twenty-four hours and they look and act as if they are six months. What's the bad news?" Edward said, which of course brought back my anxiety.

"Edward, I never said there was bad news, but I do have more news. It appears the venom did more than just give them powers, as you know their skin doesn't sparkle in the sun, but it's bonded with their entire DNA. Their skin is as tough as ours, nothing can penetrate it. Their bodies are continuing growing even though the venom does not allow the rest of us to change. The venom however is, speeding the process up and I would imagine, that they will be almost four years old, actually three and a half years by the end of the week. That's if they continue the current rate of growth. If that's the case they will be fifteen by the end of thirty days. Who knows when it will stop. But it also appears that they have our hearing and eyesight. Or at least it's pretty close to ours."

I walked over to the crib where they were now sleeping peacefully. I couldn't believe that by the time they were a month old, I would be a mother of two teenagers. Everything just seemed unreal, again.

"It's okay Bella. We're ready for this. We can handle it."

"I know Edward. It's just I used to be so sure that I didn't want children, but now that I have them, time is slipping away. We have less than a month for them to become teenagers. I was just getting used to the idea." That was a lie and I knew it. I was used to the idea when I first held Elizabeth.

"I know Bella. Me too." We were walking out of the room now to let the babies sleep. I followed Edward to our room as he led me closer and closer to the bed. "You are so beautiful when you worry, did you know that?" I looked at him like he was crazy, but didn't say anything. "You know it's been awhile since we..."

I cracked a smile when I looked in the direction of the bed. He started kissing my neck until we were at the foot of the bed. I felt his lips slowly and passionately leave a trail until they found my lips. We nestled against each other's bodies and found our natural cures.

"So what would you like to talk about?" Edward asked me.

"I don't know exactly. First can we talk about Dartmouth?" Edward just looked at me with his ochre eyes. "I don't think I want to go. We won't have Elizabeth and Anthony for long, and I don't want to miss any of it."

"I had a feeling that would be your decision. I've already made arrangements for us to start next semester. Alice, Hilary, and Jordan will continue as planned. It's all worked out, you don't have to worry about anything, love." He kissed the top of my head and we started another conversation. We took turns with the kids when they would wake up, but for the most part they slept through the night. Edward and I spent the entire night talking. At one point I pretended like I was talking in my sleep, to bring back the memories of when he would watch me sleep back in my room. It was such a cherished moment between us since we've pretty much been on the go since I returned to Forks.