The darkened heavens shed heavy tears of their own as Bella's casket was lowered into the hollowed ground. Renee collapsed against Simon as her sobs stole her erratic breath. Simon sunk to the ground with her in his arms, his red eyes staring blankly ahead. He could feel her fists pound his chest, yet no one tried to stop her after Simon weakly shook his head. Whether she soon passed out from exertion or lack of sleep was unknown, but Simon carefully swept her up and carried her out of the rain, where he placed her in the back of Charlie's cruiser. Simon took off his suit jacket, covering her with it to provide her with some warmth in her slumber.

He found Charlie, who pulled him into a hug as everyone started to leave. He held on tight, for he knew Charlie probably needed it more than he did as Simon had never experienced the loss of a child. They didn't let go for awhile, both of them soaking up as much of each other as they could before they parted ways.

"I'll come check on you in a few days. There's more we need to talk about, but we'll leave it as is for now." He said, earning a solemn nod from Charlie before he and Phil got into the cruiser and pulled out of the near empty lot.

Jasper, Alice, Emmett, and Rosalie all pooled into their cars, leaving without Simon, Carlisle, and Esme.

Simon picked up a shovel as he approached the pile of dirt next to Bella's open grave. He began to fill her grave with the dirt, but he glanced up as footsteps approached. Carlisle appeared next to him after he waved Esme away, telling her to leave without them. He rolled up his sleeves before he picked up a second shovel. They began to fill the hole together. A tranquil silence passed between them as the rain continued to pour down. Hours passed as they shoveled in the dirt at a human's pace, for they weren't rushed by the vacancy of the graveyard.

Simon stood over the grave after they had packed the dirt to ground level. His heart ached as he thought of leaving, but at the same time, he wanted to get home to his kids. Only a week had passed since Bella's death, yet Beaufort was already growing at a much quicker rate than what any of them were prepared for. Renesmee was growing abnormally quick, too, but in a lesser degree than her brother. It worried Simon, despite the happiness that the two brought into his life. Even though they possessed the blood of immortal vampires, they also had the blood of their human mother. With their quick growth, the unknown amount of time he may have with them in his life was enough to make him fearful.

Simon shook his head as he stepped away from the freshly packed dirt. Carlisle followed him and they began their journey home as day began to turn into night. Carlisle draped his arm across Simon's shoulder, earning himself a smile from the brunet.

Carlisle chose not to think about how it didn't reach the brunet's eyes.

***

Simon was welcomed into a pair of awaiting arms upon entering their home. He sunk against Edward's embrace, sick of forcing himself to remain put together after faking it for a week. After the night with Jasper and Alice's help, he had forced himself to ignore his emotions as he reached out to friends and family to inform them of Bella's death and the planning of her funeral. For the first several days after her passing, Edward had remained locked away in the delivery room where Bella passed. Solitude, though self-inflicted, helped him gather his thoughts and work toward acknowledging the change that all of their lives would have to adapt to. Though alone, he had been able to accomplish what Simon couldn't, even with the family Simon surrounded himself with.

So to Simon, he was finally held in the arms of the one person who bore the same grief that ripped through his heart. In those arms, he realized he didn't need to go through the loss of Bella alone, unlike losses he had been forced to endure throughout his years away from family. Though his heart bled, it would mend itself with the help of Edward. He would have benefited from such comforting knowledge, many decades ago. Maybe, then, he wouldn't be rendered breathless every time the sun caught the horizon just right in spring, or the gentle kiss of heat he was blessed with every summer he spent basking in the golden rays descending from heaven.

But as he kissed Edward, he was reminded why he loved the brisk wind that whipped about in the fall, or the way crowns of ice rested upon his head in the deepest parts of winter. The delicate crystals, though small, were intricate and perfect in a way that Simon had never understood until Edward walked into his life. Stars were the closest intricacy he could compare, all so alike and yet so fascinatingly different. The twinkling lights that lit up the night sky as twilight turned into dusk. Nothing sounded better to Simon at that moment then to sit under the silvery light of the moon, voicing the stories the stars wrote across the sky as he held Edward in his arms.

Except, of course, spending the evening cradling his son against his chest as Edward held their sleeping daughter in his arms.

***

"You should hunt," Edward murmured as he watched Simon dress for the day.

Simon grimaced at the reminder, his jaw clenched. He briefly flexed his hands as he tightened a belt around his waist. He looked at Edward in the mirror's reflection as he spoke, "I'm alright. I can go a few more days."

"Ok, let me rephrase. We are going to hunt. I need to feed, and I'd feel better if I was with you for your first time hunting on our lands," Edward approached Simon from behind, where he snaked his arms around Simon's waist and rested his chin gently on top of Simon's head. Simon's eyes closed as he leaned back against Edward's body. He rested his hand on top of Edward's, taking a few seconds to relish his husband's touch. He opened his eyes, catching Edward's gaze in the mirror.

"And you will be, I promise, but I told Leah I'd come support her during her first day as Alpha. I promised her."

"I know you did. But it is early, and they still have to do the ceremony and you know you can't be there for that," Edward grabbed Simon's waist, turning the brunet to face him, "All I'm asking for is two hours—three max."

Simon stared up at Edward with a furrowed brow. Surely a few hours away would be alright. He knew that. Of course he did, but yet, his stomach tied itself in knots as he stood on the verge of their hunting expedition. He knew it needed to occur sooner than later; his thirst practically demanded such. Still, he couldn't remember what it was like to truly hunt something—human or other—with no safety net to fall back on. And that scared him. Even now, venom pooled in his mouth with the thought of sinking his fangs beneath flesh and meat. The taste of hot blood sliding down his throat. Sustenance that would truly do nothing but tease the real hunger that laid within. He swore he had heard Jasper mutter those exact words many times before.

Yet, the answer was simple. The longer he waited, the more terrified he would become.

"Okay. Let's go, before I can talk myself out of it."

It took longer to reach the mountain range than he would have thought. The others often hunted for whole weekends at a time, but Simon hadn't realized it was so they could leisurely enjoy the journey, hunting without the need to rush through their meal. He had to admit, it felt good to be back in the depths of mother nature. The wind through his hair and the dirt beneath his feet had always been rather freeing.

"How do you wish to do this?" Edward appeared beside him, capturing Simon's attention as their hands found each other.

"I...I'm not sure. I've only hunted humans." Edward remained quiet as Simon searched his thoughts for an answer. The brunet faintly shook his head before he looked to Edward. "Could you lead me through it?"

"Close your eyes," Edward softly instructed as he gently squeezed Simon's hand. "There are more animals out here than what you have noticed. Listen for them. Tell me what you hear."

Simon gnawed at his lip as he tried to do as instructed. He pushed passed the sound of Edward's breath, urging the forest's music to envelop his senses. Everything was so lively. The birds chirped their ballads, fawns bleated to their mothers, foxes yapped, beavers slapped their tails against bodies of water, and much much more. He uttered the same to Edward.

"Breathe in deeply. One scent will stick out to you more than most. Latch onto it, and follow it."

Simon inhaled slowly, and his crimson eyes flashed open.

***

Simon stretched along the ground like a cat as Edward laid down next to him. Simon rolled into Edward's side, nuzzling his face against the bronze-haired man's shoulder. Edward smiled as he lazily ran his fingers through Simon's thick hair. He was rather amused by Simon's newfound behavior, which reminded Edward of that of a cat since he had finished hunting. He had wandered off as Edward caught his meal, and Edward found him five minutes later, curling up in a spot of sun on the lush forest floor.

Which brought him to now, with Simon cuddled up against him, Simon's hand tracing his fingers across Edward's chest. Edward closed his eyes as he enjoyed the feeling of Simon's body next to his. The rich smell of earth that Edward had always associated with Simon was amplified by the forest around them, and Edward couldn't think of why they hadn't ventured out into the depths of nature far sooner. His thoughts were interrupted as his attention returned to Simon, who had been slowly sneaking his hand down Edward's body, and was now toying with the edge of Edward's waistband.

"Simon?" Edward asked, his amusement easily detectable in his velvety voice.

"Yeeeesssssss?" Simon quickly quipped, pressing his face harder against Edward's shoulder to hide his smile.

Edward rolled his eyes, his hand reaching down to grab Simon's waist. He rolled Simon away from his side, laying him flat on his back in one swift motion. He was, of course, quick to follow Simon down to the ground. Simon pulled him into a kiss, his hands abandoning Edward's waistband to slide under the back of Edward's shirt. His fingertips danced across skin, finding a home as he grasped Edward's shoulders, pulling the elder down onto him. The weight of Edward's body on top of his was one he would never forget, always on the back of his mind no matter how hard he tried to focus. Even now, as Edward's tongue danced with his, his mind couldn't focus on anything but Edward's body pressing his deeper into the ground.

He supposed it was because it was comforting. No one could make him feel like that except for Edward, and he didn't want anyone else to. It felt like home, which didn't surprise him, as he had chosen to marry the man on top of him, and he would again within the blink of an eye. No matter how many lifetimes they were to live—had lived—, no one would ever compare. No one, that is, except Bella.

The thought of their wife sobered the both of them. Their kiss ended, and they rested their heads together as their lips parted. Their desire wasn't gone, per se, but it was tamed enough as they held onto one another.

"We should probably head back." Edward murmured after a few minutes had passed in silence.

"Yeah," Was all Simon responded with, because what else was he supposed to say?

Edward helped him up from the ground, and Simon began to walk back the way they came. Edward let him lead as they began to run, unaware of the turmoil that formed within Simon. He felt off. He knew he shouldn't be, but he was a bit disappointed. He felt like a fool, too distracted by the bliss of a hunt to realize they weren't ready to approach that part of their life together so soon after Bella's passing.

He had forgotten. He had actually forgotten that Bella was dead.

He didn't know how it was possible, yet he was sure that was what he must have done. He wouldn't have felt so carefree if he had remembered, would he? He wouldn't have become so wrapped up in the moment and his desire to take his husband back in his arms.

He shook his head as they returned home, plastering as convincing of a smile on his face as he could when Alice and Rosalie descended the steps to welcome them back from their hunt. His smile faltered slightly.

He wouldn't, would he?