XXX. Challenge.

My mother stayed a while, playing with Delia, feeding her, and settling her down for a nap. When she left, I stood outside with Edward, holding my breath until her car disappeared. I turned to my husband, laying my head against his chest as he wrapped his arms around me.

"I can't believe I actually did it," I muttered softly, wrapping my arms around Edward's waist as I melted into his touch.

You did amazing. Edward assured silently in my head as he pressed a soft kiss to the top of my head, squeezing me tighter against his chest before pulling away as the rest of the family joined us outside.

"Well done, Ana." Jasper congratulated me as he nodded his head at me. "Never seen a newborn show that kind of restraint," he added, looking impressed by me.

Emmett walked closer, eyes narrowing teasingly as he crossed his arms over his chest. "I'm not sure she is a newborn. She's so tame." he teased as a smirk tugged at his lips.

"Emmett, don't antagonize her," Edward warned as he slowly shook his head, one of his arms hooked around my waist, keeping me close to his side. "She's the strongest one in the house." he reminded as he quirked an eyebrow.

Emmett snorted mockingly, rolling his eyes. "Please," he muttered as he shook his head.

Edward grinned as he stared at his brother for a moment before looking down at me."Ana." he mumbled and I looked up at him with raised eyebrows. "Do you remember, I asked you to do me a favor once you were immortal?" he asked as he squeezed my waist.

I was immediately hit with the reminder when Edward asked me to challenge Emmett a while back, once I got turned. I grinned up at my husband as I slowly nodded my head. "I do," I replied as my gaze swept to Emmett. "Do you want a challenge, Emmett?"

Emmett grinned like someone had just dangled the biggest juiciest bear in front of him, all for his taking. "Bring. It. On." he insisted.

"You're just looking for a fight." I laughed as I shook my head. "Let's go." I insisted while taking Edward's hand, following Emmett as he walked off the porch and around the side of the house. The rest of the family followed. "I bet I can beat you and kick your ass before Delia wakes from her nap."

Emmett snorted, rolling his eyes at me. "Oh, I'd like to see you try." he teased as we came to a stop by a big, slightly flat boulder. "I'll take it easy on you," he assured and I rolled my eyes. "So just an arm wrestle," he said as he placed his elbow on the flat surface of the boulder, holding his hand up.

Edward grinned, watching me as I stood on the other side of the boulder, putting my elbow up as I took Emmett's hand. "Don't hurt yourself, Emmett." he teased his brother.

"All right. On 3," Jasper called out. Me and Emmett stared each other down as we put our free hands behind our backs, our interlocked hands, holding on firmly. "3!" Jasper called.

For a second, Emmett managed to push my hand down only a centimeter, and he looked hopeful for a second before I pushed back against him, slamming his hand down hard enough to crack the rock.

"Oh!" I cheered as I threw my hands up in the air, laughing while Edward clapped his hands for me and everyone else laughed as well. "What did I tell you!?" I taunted Emmett before turning to my husband, giving him a high five. "That was barely even a challenge."

"Yeah, yeah, don't gloat," Emmett grumbled as he shot me a light-hearted glare.

"Oh, I am going to gloat for the rest of eternity," I informed Emmett as I turned back to face him, crossing my arms over my chest.

Emmett huffed at me, his eyes narrowing as a look of determination crossed over his face. "You know what, let's go again." he challenged as he pointed for me to step back to the other side of the boulder.

"Just don't strain yourself." Jasper teased, his hands folded behind his back as he watched Emmett with an amused grin.

"Come on, newbie." Emmett challenged as he pointed for me again to join him at the boulder.

"Look whose awake," Rosalie called out as she approached with Delia on her hip. For a second, I forgot about Emmett and turned to my daughter, smiling as her unruly hair stuck out in every direction. "She heard all the excitement."

"Do you want to see mommy kick your uncle's but in arm wrestling?" I asked Delia as I approached them and the little girl reached out, wrapping her hand around two of my fingers, expressing her excitement to see it. "Of course you do." I mused softly as I kissed her cheek. I returned to Emmett and we assumed our positions again. He tried hard to get my hand down, but to no one's surprise, I cracked the boulder some more when I slammed his hand down again, and everyone cheered. "Okay, now I'm feeling a little bad for beating you twice in a row." I teased.

"Re-match tomorrow." Emmett insisted as he pointed his finger at me.

"Need a little power nap first?" I asked, raising my eyebrows playfully at him while crossing my arms over my chest.

Emmett's eyes narrowed as he stared at me. "Ana, please." he snorted, letting out a huff before pulling his fist back and slamming it down on the boulder, cracking it right through.

"Please." I snorted back at him as I rolled my eyes. I stepped closer and pulled my fist back as well before slamming it down on the boulder, shattering it. Emmett stepped back with a grin, letting me take over as I slammed my fist down on one of the bigger remaining pieces of the boulder, shattering it into pieces.

Delia who was now in her father's arms, giggled as she watched me destroy the boulder. My head whipped around, sharing a surprised look with my husband. "Did she just laugh?" Ana asked in disbelief.

"Yes," Edward confirmed as he nodded his head, smoothing out our daughter's hair.

"Who wasn't laughing?" Jacob muttered sarcastically as he rolled his eyes and everyone's eyes sharply snapped towards him.

"Tell me you didn't let go a bit on your first run, dog," Rosalie huffed in my defense as she glared at Jacob with narrowed eyes.

"That's different," Jacob snapped at Rosalie. "Ana's supposed to be a grown-up. Married and a mom and all that. Shouldn't there be more dignity?" he ranted and I scoffed softly as I stared at him with a blank look on my face. Why was he even still hanging around?

Delia turned to face her father, her little hand planting itself on his cheek. I turned to Edward, watching our daughter silently communicate with him as he nodded his head in agreement. "What does she want?" Ana asked.

"Less dignity," Edward replied with a smile as he looked over at me. "She was having almost as much fun watching you enjoy yourself as I was," he said softly.

With a smile, I approached my husband and daughter. With one hand on Edward's arm, I leaned in closer to Delia. "Am I funny?" I asked as I poked her sides and she giggled while squirming in her father's arms. I bend down, picking up a small pebble from the boulder. "You want to try?" I asked and Delia took the pebble, trying to squish it in her chubby little hand, having little success as she made noises of frustration. "I'll get it," I assured her, taking the pebble back and crushing it with my thumb and pointer finger, making my daughter giggle again.

The days passed in a blur, and our family decided to stay in Forks for a while longer. Most days were spent with Delia, enjoying the time we had with her. She had started walking recently. Waddle was a more accurate. Jasper and Emmett had taken to call her a penguin.

One morning I was standing outside on the porch of my and Edward's house. Delia was playing on the grass, waddling around with building blocks in her hands. Edward stepped outside, his gaze on me as I watched our daughter with a small frown.

"You are worrying," Edward mumbled softly as he came up behind me, his arms wrapped around my waist, his chin resting on top of my head.

"She's growing so fast Edward," I whispered as I slowly shook my head, my eyebrows furrowing deeply. "She's already walking," I muttered, letting out a sigh.

"I know." He said softly, moving his hands onto my arms and giving them a soft squeeze. "But we are doing everything we can to figure this out," he assured me as he let go of me and came to stand beside me.

"I'm scared," I whispered as I stared at Delia, forcing myself to blink as if it would help me pull out of my depressed daze. I slightly turned my head towards Edward but didn't look at him; my gaze lowered. "I'm so scared," I repeated as I nodded my head before looking at Edward. "I don't want to lose her."

"I know, I don't either," Edward replied softly as he reached out, tugging a strand of hair behind my ear. "Until we figure this out, let's just make the best of the time we have with her," he suggested as he cupped my cheek and I slowly nodded my head.

December came all too soon and Delia was estimated to be four already. Her aging had slowed significantly and I was so thankful for it. My mother had questions to ask, but after reminding her I'd have to leave if she couldn't accept things, she kept quiet. It was hard not to share my problems, worries, and secrets with my mother, but I couldn't put her in any more danger.

I stood on the front porch of my and Edward's home, holding Delia on my hip as she watched the start of snow that fell on the ground. "Look, it's starting to snow Lia," I told her softly as I poked her belly. "It's almost Christmas."

"Christmas." She repeated as she looked at me, his dark hair tied into two ponytails by her aunt Alice.

"Yeah, Christmas," I confirmed as I nodded my head, fixing her pink jacket. "Santa's going to bring you so many presents." I teased as I kissed her cheek.

Delia looked up at me, raising her eyebrows. "Dolly's? "she asked in a very serious and very soft tone of voice.

"A lot of dollies," Edward confirmed as he walked out of the house. He came to stand behind me, his hand resting on the small of my back while he looked down at his daughter. "I made sure to let him know what a good girl you've been, so he agreed to bring you the most presents out of all of us," he informed and Delia's eyes widened.

Even though Delia was a very smart little girl, too smart for her age, she was still very much a little girl at heart. The thought of so many toys almost had her trembling with excitement. I looked at Edward, grinning softly. "Santa probably went a little overboard, huh?" I asked him.

He scoffed at me, pretending to look offended that I even questioned him. "My princess deserves it," he informed me before leaning down and kissing the top of Delia's head.

"You're making her into a real daddy's girl," I informed Edward as he snatched the little toddler right out of my arms, settling her on his own hip. I couldn't help but grin at the sight. There was nothing better to see than Edward being a dad.

"She's already a daddy's girl," Edward informed me as Delia wrapped her little arms around her father's neck, hugging him while he peppered kisses across her chubby little cheek.

"You know, she knows how much she has you wrapped around her pinkie," I informed my husband as I crossed my arms over my chest and I could hear Delia's soft little giggle. She knew I was right.

"Yeah, I know," Edward replied, unapologetic and unashamed at this fact. I laughed softly, my smile growing as I stared at him.