EPILOGUE

Jacob's POV

I'm going crazy.

That must be the only rational explanation.

Not aging and seeing the years pass by is not exactly as fun as I once thought. Edward warned me, but I didn't believe him.

I do now.

Especially since that absolutely insane change my body decided to make. We considered Tommy a miracle, a blessing and a one-time thing, obviously.

Of course, Emmett joked when the time came for me to give birth to my baby, curious if there would be more than one. We knew Tommy was the only one. We've talked to him, for Christ's sake. Edward had, but still. I don't like to remember the process of delivering, though I'm thankful Carlisle suggested I shift into my wolf form. I found it odd at the time, but it helped.

Everyone welcomed our little precious baby with open arms, and all too soon, he became the most spoiled baby in the world. He grew faster than the average human, but with our genes and how the pregnancy developed, we weren't exactly surprised. What surprised us—me—was when I found out I was pregnant again.

Carlisle worked on finding out about the reproduction of werewolves, while I went through the whole thing all over again. It was then Edward and I agreed that if he wanted to top, he needed to wear protection. I wasn't ready to go through childbirth ever again. Once was enough, and twice more than enough.

Because I was either mocked by fate, or Emmett had cursed me the last time when he was disappointed in me not popping out a litter of pups, I ended up making two.

All our children behave mostly like humans; they eat, sleep, and have blood pumping through their veins. Of course, they can consume blood as well as food, or spend a sleepless night without being tired the next day—something I hate, considering I need sleep. There are also personal traits that distinguish them from an average human.

For example, Tommy has my black eyes, which turn an alarming shade of burgundy red when he's angry or extra hungry. And to everyone's surprise, his hair is blond. We suspect that's from Edward, because obviously my hair couldn't be blacker.

Then there are the twins: Amy and Adam. Amy is Edward through and through, from appearance—bronze curls and amber eyes—to her behavior. Adam is a lot like me, again from his black hair and eyes, to the way he acts. It's scary sometimes when I see myself in his gestures or actions.

It's been five years since we had Tommy. the advanced aging process makes him look like seven years old. Carlisle has discovered that he will stop aging when he hits his teenage years, just like the twins. They are three, but look five, and are adorable, but when they share that look—like right now—it means trouble.

I usually don't care much about that look, because there's always someone around to help me keep them in control. Right now, I'm alone with the three rascals while everyone is hunting.

This has never happened before. At least one of them usually stays behind, but since Tommy had a cold, which was quickly caught by the twins, the family has held off hunting until the kids were healthy. Now I'm alone with freshly healthy children—joy. Not.

I clung to Edward's arm begging him to stay, but he told me firmly that a few hours alone with our children wasn't the end of the world.

For him, maybe. For me, that's how it feels.

Where he has unlimited amounts of energy and patience, mine started wearing thin two hours into babysitting.

"Whatever you're plotting, forget it!" I warn the twins, shaking my finger at them.

"Us, plotting?" They speak at the same time looking like two angels, but more like devils in disguise. One thing I quickly learned to accept is all of them have developed faster than anticipated and are smarter than their age level. Actually, Tommy is reading Shakespeare and having intelligent conversation with Edward about the Big Bang and the creation of the Universe. Now if that isn't something to make me realize how stupid I actually am, I don't know what else will.

"We thought you'd like to play with us."

I purse my lips. "What do you want to play?" It won't be ball in the backyard or a tea-party, of course.

"Scrabble," Amy tells me with a huge, blinding smile.

"Scrabble?" I echo her, my eyebrows raising high. That's new.

"Yup." She bobs her head. "Tommy said he won't play with us."

He's in that stage where his siblings aren't interesting any more. But I'll play Scrabble, as long as it keeps them quiet. It's not like I won't do anything for my babies, but sometimes I feel like a housewife, and it's driving me crazy.

Alice has tried to explain to me that Edward is stuck in the mentality he grew up with. It's like he is the husband and goes to work, comes home and plays with the children, before spending time with the wife...or husband, in our case. We're not married, but it feels like it. Especially since the twins arrived, we rarely find time for us. When we do, it feels like routine, and he hasn't been interested in exploring new sides of our love life.

But he has a new one coming his way. Esme has promised to keep the children while I take my man on his favorite trip—walking the Appalachian Trail. We're moving away soon, and I'd hate not seeing it again. We've gone twice by now—once in the very beginning, which was so much fun, and then a couple years ago, but with the kids and family. Not as much fun, but it was nice to discover new places we missed the first time. Now I'm taking him alone, and I'm determined to remind him what he has right next to him.

An hour into our game, my phone rings loudly. I jump and turn over the board as I hurry across the room to grab the phone.

"I'm sorry," I say over my shoulder when Adam protests loudly. "Put them back. I know you know exactly how they were. Hello?" I answer.

"Problems?" Edward's soft voice calms me immediately.

"Define problems," I joke, eyeing the twins as they fight over how the letters were placed on the board.

"I'm coming back soon. Actually, I'm on my way. I didn't go too far."

I sigh in relief. "That's the best news I've heard since you left early this morning."

"I'm really sorry, but you do realize we couldn't be of much help with how hungry we were."

"I know, I know. Guys!" I groan when Adam dumps the board full of letters on his sister's head and calls her "Stupid" before stomping out of the room. "Edward, I have to go," I say urgently, when my little angel bursts into tears.

"What happened? Is that Amy crying?"

It never ceases to amaze me how he can hear so well through a phone. "Yes, twin decided she's stupid."

"That sounds like something you do when you don't get your way."

"Edward!" I shout, but say no more. He's right, of course. "I really have to go," I insist, as I walk to Amy. Huge tears are rolling down her cheeks.

"All right. Tell Baby Girl I'll be there in less than an hour." He hangs up, leaving me to listen to the dial tone.

I pick Amy up and carry her to the couch, where I sit with her on my lap. Stroking her hair, I manage to soothe her, letting her know Edward will be home soon. That cheers her up.

Once I'm sure she's calm, I turn the TV on a cartoon channel, then track Devil Twin down. He's in their room, brooding. Scarily similar to me.

"Hey, kiddo," I say from the doorway. "That wasn't very nice of you. You need to apologize to your sister."

"No."

"No?" I sit next to him, tilting his head.

"No, Daddy. She's mean. She wanted to cheat just now, and you see that?" He points to the other bed in the room. I stare at the pink bed and see his Batman shaped pillow. "She stole it from me. That's my favorite pillow! Uncle Emmett gave it to me."

"Well…" I'm at a loss for words. Amy told us Adam gave her the pillow when Edward asked why it was on her bed—and that was a month ago. "Didn't she give you something in return?" I know they've exchanged stuff since they were born.

Adam points to his nightstand. There's a pink teddy bear.

Another thing I didn't mention about our twins; their room is divided in half. Adam's side is painted in dark colors, while Amy's is all pink. The boy hates pink, obviously.

"Aw, but she did give you something." I try to cheer him up.

He scowls. "Like that time you allowed her to wear my jacket to kindergarten and I ended up with her pink tutu. Daddy!"

I stroke his hair, leaning to kiss his forehead. I can't help but sigh in relief at not feeling his skin scorching hot like it's been for the past week.

"I'm going to check on your brother and try my luck at pulling him away from Hamlet. You should go and apologize to your twin."

"But…" He pouts, looking adorable.

"You must always say sorry when you fight with someone you love. You don't see me and Daddy Edward staying mad at each other more than a few hours, if that." We do fight, of course, but it's always short lived.

"Like the time you screamed you'd leave with us and never see him again?" Adam asks innocently.

I stifle a groan. Trust him to remember that. He wasn't more than one year old when it happened, but Edward managed to drive me up the wall. I don't even remember the actual reason we started fighting. We were both worried about our children growing up too fast, I was struggling to finish college, and he decided to have a fit when I bleached his favorite shirt by mistake. From that, it escalated to a full-blown fight where we spewed everything that had been building up. I threatened him that I'd leave him and take my children. I had no idea where I'd go, but in that moment, I couldn't be around him. He didn't believe me, and after saying a few more horrible words, he stormed out. I seized the chance and took my kids and drove to the first motel out of town.

Sadly, since I had Tommy, Alice started seeing me more clearly. After the twins, it was like the blanket was off. That came to my disadvantage, or more like advantage.

Edward came to us less than an hour after I had checked-in. He begged on his knees for me to forgive him and return to him. That image, Edward on his knees, made me fall on my knees next to him. We made up behind the closed door of the motel bathroom. In that moment, I didn't care our children were in the next room or that we didn't have protection. I needed to feel him inside me. Thankfully, nothing happened, apart from the best time making love we ever had.

"That was a one-time thing, Adam. Besides, you don't have the same problems as us. Just go and apologize."

As he goes to his sister, I step into Tommy's room. He's on the bed, on his tummy, his cheek against an open book, sleeping. If this doesn't call for a photograph, I don't know what does. Quickly and silently, I fish in my pocket for my phone and press the camera button, before making sure I can keep my hand still and snap the picture.

Fuck. Stupid flash!

Tommy's eyes flutter as he comes around, yawning. He sees me and shoots up, chewing on his lip.

"Good evening, sweetie." I sit next to him. "You've been cooped up in here the whole day."

"I wanted to finish this before Dad comes home." He points to the book.

"You know he won't be upset if you don't finish."

"Yeah, but...It's so confusing and hard to read. I guess he was right. I should have waited before reading Hamlet."

"It's different from Merchant of Venice or Much Ado About Nothing. There's too much drama and I always thought Hamlet was complicated. Honestly, I didn't understand it," I comment, happy I know what we're talking about. "By the way, your presence is required in the living room. I can't keep up with your siblings."

He laughs at my formal request, and I smile. Living with Edward has rubbed off on me. Where most humans use old language to sound intelligent or important, my Edward does it naturally, since he actually lived back then.

"What did they do?" Tommy asks, swinging his legs over the edge of the bed.

"There was a fight about Amy cheating at Scrabble. I sent Adam to apologize." Just as I finish talking, there's a loud yell from the living room. "Crap!" I jump to my feet and rush out the room, Tommy hot on my heels.

My heart slams in my ribcage when I find Adam on the floor, clutching at his arm, with Amy on top of the couch glaring at him. It doesn't take a genius to know she pushed him off the couch.

"Amanda Isabella Cullen!"

Her head snaps up, seeing me for the first time. She rushes to me, hugging my leg and babbling about Adam being mean.

"He was mean? He's hurt!" I point to where Tommy's helping his brother up and asking if his arm's broken. Shit. I didn't even think of that. "Amy, we talked about pushing anyone off the couch, or generally pushing people."

"But he came to me and switched off the TV. I was watching the kitty show. Then he poked me in the leg and said 'Sorry.'"

Good. He apologized. Not how I wanted, but he did it. "And why did you hurt him?"

"I didn't!" She throws me her killer smile, the same one Edward uses when he's guilty of something but trying to look innocent.

"You're punished, young lady. Adam, hon, what hurts?" I kneel next to him, carefully touching his shoulder.

"I don't think it's broken," Tommy tells me seriously, like he has any idea of human anatomy.

"My arm." Adam holds his bicep, his lower lip quivering.

Before I can go into a full-blown panic attack, Edward comes home, calling for us the moment he steps inside.

"No, Amy! Don't you dare!" I warn her before she can rush to him and melt him with her huge amber eyes.

"Baby Girl!" Of course, she's the first he sees. Scooping her up and giving her a huge smooch, Edward comes closer. His eyes widen when he sees Adam, before they slide to me. "What happened?"

"Why don't you ask the devil you're holding?" I mutter. It's great having you back, I add in my head, showing him how much I missed him.

Edward raises an eyebrow at Amy. She seems to be communicating to him silently, and God know what she's saying.

"Out loud, young lady. If your story doesn't match Adam's, you're in heaps of trouble," I tell her.

She looks close to bursting in tears.

Edward, just hear both sides, but first can you check his arm? I hope he didn't break it.

He nods, dropping Amy next to me. She gives me a shy look through her lashes. I pull her close, because I can't stay mad at her.

"I'm sorry, Daddy."

"Well, it's your brother you should apologize to, not me. Is he okay?" I ask Edward. His long fingers are touching our son's arm, checking if it's broken.

"He's going to be okay. Sporting a huge bruise in a few minutes, but nothing else." He places a loud kiss on the bruised skin before ruffling the kid's hair. "Amy, say sorry," he addresses our daughter, fixating her with his clear golden eyes.

She cowers into me, her eyes finding Adam. "Sorry, twin."

"I hate you!" he snaps, hissing at her before hugging Edward and starting to sob.

Awesome. We can never catch a break with them.

Edward's POV

"It's always so beautiful coming here," I admit as I stare at the sunset. Jake's tucked in my side, his arms around me.

"And you didn't want to come," he mumbles sleepily.

"Well, I forgot how much fun we have together. Alone, away from the madness." I kiss the top of his head.

"I'm happy you decided to join me one last time here. I know how much you love this trail."

I nod, hugging him tightly. The sun has disappeared and night is slowly falling around us. That means it's getting colder, because I can see goosebumps on Jake's skin, but I don't move. It's been far too long since he's fallen asleep in my arms, so content.

"Sleep, darling."

Here? In your arms? Can I?

"Of course. Let me grab a blanket from the backpack."

I sit on the ground, leaning against that tree for the rest of the night, holding my lover. His nose is burrowed into my shirt, and his arms have gone slack, but they're still around me. For a change, his dreams are peaceful and all worries gone. I'm so happy he's resting.

At home, he usually sleeps with his ears perked up, listening for any sound coming from the kids.

The kids.

I still cannot believe we have three beautiful children. Who'd have thought I would be able to father children? So many years on this planet, and I'd never heard of another vampire being able to father a child, until Carlisle started asking around once Tommy was born. Tommy has been my little miracle ever since he was in the womb. Being able to hear him threw me for a loop.

Then, some months later, I found Jake waiting for me in front of my college. His arms were folded over his chest, ass leaning against that hot piece of metal our family got him as a welcoming present, and he was glaring at me. Seeing he was angry, I realized there was nothing wrong with Tommy, like the time Jake dragged me out of class because our baby boy had a fever.

When I reached him and took his face in my hands, I was met by a fist in my jaw. "That's for impregnating me again!" he snapped. His lips slammed against mine, kissing me furiously before pulling back. "And that was because I love you."

I rubbed my jaw, still trying to process the news. It was commonly agreed I'd always be careful when I topped him. We thought Tommy was an exception, but apparently the change that had occurred in his body wasn't going anywhere. Five months after learning he was pregnant again, he gave birth to Amy and Adam.

Nothing's been the same after that, but I wouldn't change a thing.

FIN

9 hours since I posted the first chapter. I didn't think there was enough time...but should I thank my boss for telling me to work only half of the month because there are no money? Staying at home has its perks.

I want to take a moment and thank everyone for reading and reviewing.

I really hope Cloe Marrie enjoyed it. :)