XXIV. Enemy number one.

Me and Edward walked side by side, holding hands as we walked through the forest. "Tell me about her," I whispered as I looked up at Edward, giving him a soft look of pleading.

"Like her mother, she is fascinating," Edward replied as he flashed me a small smile, giving my hand a squeeze.

"How much is she like you? Or like...how I used to be?" I asked curiously, excited to hear about my daughter, even more excited to meet her, to hold her.

"She's evenly divided," Edward replied as a fond smile spread onto his lips. Knowing how against he was about the baby at first, that fondness in him made me feel warm inside. "Half human, half vampire," he explained.

"In the house, I could hear her heart...it wasn't like yours or that guy's," I replied softly as I shook my head. Her heartbeat was smooth and soft, but fast like a melody. Edward's was still. And the guy's was fast and hard, erratic even, but still distinctively slower than what I had heard from Delia.

"She's warm-blooded," Edward replied and I raised my eyebrows curiously as I looked up at him. "She has a heartbeat, though it runs a little bit faster than a human's. Her temperature is a little bit hotter than usual, too. She sleeps." he explained.

A smile spread onto my lips. "Really?" I questioned.

Edward chuckled softly as his gaze remained on me. "Quite well for a newborn." he mused as he nodded his head. "The only parents in the world who don't need sleep, and our child already sleeps through the night." he chuckled softly.

My smile grew as I stared up at him. If my heart was beating, it would be fluttering in the pit of my stomach. "I like that," I whispered, squeezing his hand as I slowly nodded my head.

"What?" Edward asked me softly as he raised his eyebrows curiously.

"Our child," I repeated and Edward returned my smile before leaning forward and kissing the top of my head. I could still barely believe we were parents now. I was a mother and my lovely husband was a father.

I finally had my life. I had Edward, I had the Cullen family, I had forever to live and I had my little girl.

"She has exactly your color eyes, so that didn't get lost after all," Edward told me softly as he smiled fondly, his eyes sparkling with adoration as he pulled me closer to his side as we walked. "They're so beautiful," he whispered and I longed to see it for myself.

"And the vampire parts?" I asked curiously as I raised my eyebrows again.

"Her skin seems about as impenetrable as ours. Not that anyone would dream of testing that." Edward spoke, slowly shaking his head. "Of course, no one would," he added sharply, his voice taking on a protective father tone that made me smile. "Her diet... well, she prefers human food," he admitted as he shrugged his shoulders. "Jasper and Carlisle experimented, tried to give her animal blood, but she doesn't have much patience with it." he mused while shaking his head. "She's intelligent, shockingly so, and progressing at an immense pace. Though she doesn't speak yet, she communicates quite effectively."

"Doesn't speak, yet?" I repeated, eyes narrowing at the way he phrased that sentence. "What do you mean, she communicates effectively?" I questioned as confusion filled me.

"I think it will be easier for you to... see for yourself. It's rather difficult to describe," he explained softly as he squinted his eyes, slowly shaking his head. "Like I said, she's like her mother." he teased and I side eyed him as I smiled softly.

We got closer to the house and as we broke out of the tree line, I froze. A strong smell hit me. It was animalistic, but unappealing. It was musky and too sharp on my nose. Four pairs of large and heavy heartbeats filled my ears.

There was a scrunch of leave and eyes snapped sharply to the sound. Jacob, Quil, Seth, and Leah rounded the house, and while the other three hung back, Jacob cautiously approached.

The smell grew stronger and I held my breath, finding it a bit foul as it burned at my nose. It was a defense mechanism of sorts. The wolves put off a smell that revolted the vampires. I looked at Jacob and I could see the glossy look in his eyes as he looked me over. I couldn't imagine what a blow it was to see me like this, my skin pale, my eyes red, my heart still.

"You're still here," I commented softly as I carefully eyed Jacob, feeling guarded among the four wolves.

"So are you," Jacob replied softly as he slowly nodded his head. "I didn't expect you to seem so you. Except for the creepy eyes," he commented as he pointed at my crimson-red eyes.

I eyed Jacob, still guarded and feeling a little threatened. I slowly turned my head and looked at Edward. "Did he try to hurt her?" I asked him in a low voice as I raised my eyebrows. From my peripheral vision, I could see Jacob roll his eyes at me.

Edward shook his head assuringly as he squeezed my hand. "No, he's been surprisingly good with her," he replied softly.

"What about the pack?" I questioned as my eyes narrowed.

"They won't hurt her." Jacob interrupted as he shook his head and my head snapped to the side, eyes focusing on him.

"I'm supposed to take your word for it?" I asked him softly as I raised my eyebrows before slowly shaking my head in disagreement.

"They showed up the night Delia was born. Jacob stood up to them. And Carlisle told them, if they killed her, we'd break the treaty and start a war." Edward explained everything to me, knowing I'd listen to him and believe his word above all else.

I nodded in understanding and turned back to Jacob. He took a step closer to me and I immediately took a step back as I held a hand up. "I would keep my distance for now." I cautioned him.

"It's safer for the baby to see how you do with me first." Jacob reasoned as he held his hands up in defense.

"You mean my daughter?" I questioned in a low voice as my eyes narrowed at Jacob and my head cocked to the side.

Edward let go of my hand and placed his hand on the small of my back. His touch was both comforting and grounding. "He's right, Ana," he told me softly and I frowned as I looked at him. "You're in the reckless stage of your transformation." he reminded me, although I have shown very little reckless behavior since I woke up.

I nodded and hesitantly stepped closer to Jacob. He offered me an assuring smile before stepping in front of me. His arms wrapped around me and he pulled me into a hug. I hugged back, very aware of my own strength. "You...you really do stink, Jake," I admitted as I snorted softly.

"Yeah well, now you do too." Jacob chuckled softly as he pulled away, patting my arm before his hands dropped to his sides.

My eyes shot towards the moving figure behind Jacob, watching as Quil approached with a smile. "Quil." I greeted softly as I returned his smile.

"Hey Ana." he greeted, not even thinking twice to pull me into a hug. I laughed softly, hugging him back as I kept holding my breath. "You look good," he told me as he pulled away, nodding his head. "Creepy, but good." he teased and I laughed softly.

Edward cleared his throat and put his hand back on the small of my back, leading me towards the house. We neared the Clearwater siblings and I smiled softly, "Seth." I greeted and he returned my smile as he waved. When my eyes shot towards Leah, my smile pretty much dropped. "Leah."

"C'mon Ana, do your worst." Leah taunted me as she crossed her arms over her chest and quirked an eyebrow at me.

Maybe it was because I was in the reckless phase of my transformation, maybe it was because I simply didn't like Leah, or maybe it was because we were even now and I could allow all her snarky remarks and comments to boil over inside me, but I turned sharply and tried to launch at Leah.

Edward wrapped his arm around my waist and I let him hold me back as I glared at Leah. She stood guarded, ready to attack as she snarled at me. "I'm not a frail little human anymore bitch." I warned her, trying to tug free from Edward.

"Ana." Edward cautioned softly. "Calm down," he whispered.

I clenched my jaw as I backed off, my eyes never leaving Leah. "Looks like the haze doesn't work for annoying mutts," I commented before turning to my husband while Seth and Quil dragged Leah away.

"Let's go see Delia." Edward urged me softly, taking my hand into his before leading me to the house while Jacob followed behind us.

Everyone was gathered in the house, already waiting for us. Rosalie stood in the back of the living room, cradling my daughter in her arms. My lips parted and something inside my chest bursted with love.

Delia's tiny hand reached out, her palm pressing flat against Rosalie's cheek. Rosalie chuckled softly, nodding her head. "Yes, that's her," she confirmed softly, and for a moment, my eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

I was filled with excitement I could barely contain. I could no longer wait to see my daughter, to hold her in my arms. I took a step forward, moving too fast. Jasper, Emmett, Esme, and Carlisle were in front of Rosalie in an instant, taking a protective stance against me.

I halted, my eyebrows furrowing. "What are you doing?" I questioned as I shook my head in confusion.

"Just being cautious, Ana," Carlisle explained in a gentle and careful tone.

My jaw clenched. I was no longer just simply hurt that I was being treated like enemy number one, but I was quickly getting irritated from being kept from my own daughter. "Move out of my way and let me see my daughter," I demanded in a low voice but everyone remained firm in their position. "Move, before I move you myself."

"Let us through," Edward demanded, scowling at his family as he stood behind me, completely in my corner. "Ana's under control." he insisted.

"Edward, the risk-" Jasper began to argue as he shook his head, unwilling to move out of the way for me.

"Is none existent," Edward replied sharply as he shook his head. He placed his hand on the small of my back, offering me the little support he could at that moment."On the hunt, she turned away from human blood." he informed his family.

Everyone looked between me and Edward, eyebrows furrowing in confusion. "What?" Emmett questioned.

"There was a hiker close by who nicked himself on a rock. Ana turned away from him with little trouble." Edward explained, and everyone's faces ranged from shock to confusion and disappointment. The disappointment was mostly from Esme and it was directed at Edward.

"Edward, how could you be so irresponsible with Ana?" Esme scolded her son as she shook her head, her facial expression conveying her disappointment in him.

"I didn't know he was there," Edward replied a little sharply, feeling himself become annoyed with the whole situation and everyone's attitudes. He turned to his father. "But Carlisle, the same haze that protected her from the change, protected her from human blood." he reasoned.

"Ana, how do you feel right now?" Carlisle asked softly as he stepped a little closer to me, still looking cautious because it was visible I was annoyed.

"The haze isn't as strong as it was out there," I replied softly as I shook my head before tightly clenching my jaw again. "But I don't have the urge to kill my own daughter, if that's what you think." I snapped softly at the family.

"Honey, no one is suggesting-" Esme tried to reason as she shook her head.

"Then give me my daughter," I demanded, cutting Esme off.

Delia started crying, a sound that hurt my heart and Rosalie tried to soothe the baby. "What's wrong with her?" Jacob asked as his eyebrows furrowed, his arms crossing over his chest.

"Nothing," Rosalie replied as she shook her head before looking at me with a small smile. "She just wants her mother," she explained and something inside my chest fluttered as my eyes widened. "Step aside and let Ana see her daughter." Rosalie snapped at everyone who stood in front of her.

Hesitantly, they all stepped aside but remained close as I approached Rosalie. "She wants me?" I asked Rosalie softly.

Rosalie nodded as she closed the gap between us. "She's been rather impatient to see you," she informed me before holding out my daughter.

I took my daughter into my arms, smiling softly as she cooed softly. I took in her features, eyebrows furrowing a little. She didn't look like a newborn, more like she was already a few weeks old. She looked exactly like Edward. Having given birth to my husband's little twin made me feel happy.

She stared up at me with big brown eyes, one of her small hands pressed to her mouth. She looked as much in awe as I did. I reached out to brush my fingers across her hair and she caught my hand, wrapping her tiny hand around my finger.

I blinked as I saw a memory of myself play in my head. It wasn't from my point of view, but rather from Delia's. She was looking at me, lying on my chest. My face looked bleak and tired, and there were dark bags underneath my eyes and sweat covering my face. "You're beautiful. Delia Maisie Cullen. I love you." I whispered, my words drawled out in a slur as my eyes began to flutter.

I blinked as my mind returned to reality and my eyebrows furrowed. "What was that?" I asked softly as I stared down at my little miracle baby as she cooed at me again.

Edward stepped up behind me, placing his hands on my shoulders and peering down at Delia in my arms. "She showed you the first memory she has of you," he informed me softly.

"Showed me? How?" I asked softly as my eyebrows furrowed. I didn't take my eyes off my daughter for a single second. She was too beautiful to look away and those brown eyes were too captivating.

"How do I hear thoughts? How does Alice see the future?" Edward asked before shrugging his shoulders. "She's gifted." he reasoned softly.

For a moment I teared my eyes away from my daughter, looking back at Edward and then at Carlisle. "Wait...how can I see her thoughts?" I asked as my brows furrowed even more. "I thought my mind was blocked from mental powers?"

"Perhaps as she has the opposite of Edward's power, she has the opposite of yours as well," Carlisle suggested.

"What does that mean?" Emmett asked as his eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

"Edward can see others' thoughts; Delia can show hers. Ana can block others' powers, and Delia can bypass any powers." Carlisle explained.

I nodded, only half understanding. I looked down and smiled at my little girl. "Well, this is one power I don't mind being in my head," I whispered as I softly tapped her nose. I looked back at Edward. "I've only been out for two days?" I asked and he nodded before sharing a look with Carlisle.

"Her growth rate is unprecedented," Carlisle explained.

"What does that mean for how long we have with her?" I asked as my brows furrowed even more and a sense of worry and concern filled me.

"We don't know," Carlisle admitted as he shook his head. "We've been trying to do research, but we have very little to work with," he explained and something inside my chest felt heavy.