Romulus was pouting, she could see it on every inch of him as he sat in the corner of the living room, staring out the window with a blank expression as he refused to speak to anyone.

Rather, she didn't let him have any fun until he stopped acting so stubborn and ate the human food that was still placed on the kitchen table that he refused to touch. She understood that he had preferences, that he wanted to go hunting all the time instead of taking advantage of both sides of his diet, but she wasn't about to let him waste food.

It didn't matter that someone else would have eaten the ravioli that Esme had made for them, that Seth was sitting around more than willing to scarf down the plate. It was the principle of the thing.

He wasn't allowed to simply decide for himself what he wanted when he wanted it.

And he needed to listen, even if he had the skills to argue with her.

Edward stood by her, at least, knowing that their son was likely to bat his pretty eyes at her and cling to her side until she agreed.

He was a mamma's boy, through and through, and he knew how to play her like a fiddle. She didn't mind in the slightest.

"You should take the chance to look at the maps while you aren't distracted, my love," Edward tells her, arms locked around her waist.

"You just want to get me out the way so you can speak to him. You don't need me to leave for that."

"No, but he won't pout for attention if you're gone. He's doing it for you."

Roman sighs. "I know."

"He's acting as if you've betrayed him," he breathes into her ear, the humour in his voice bringing her to roll her eyes.

At three months, they looked closer to a year and all his dramatics were all the more amplified. She found he had moments where he was childish compared to what she came to expect of his behaviour.

He chuckles. "You think so highly of me, my love."

"Are you trying to tell me that you don't possess a flair for the dramatic?"

"I certainly do not."

Roman reaches back and pats his cheek. "Of course, darling."

He growls playfully, bending down to nip at her ear. Biting her lip, she swallows the urge to squeak with a breath held firm in her lungs, stilling in his arms as he chuckles deep and rough, hoarse, in his throat.

"Shall I wait?" he asks, silent and teasing. "It's only a short trip home."

"Cheeky," she says, leaning into his touch for a moment before pulling away, turning him to face their son. "Go talk to your son. Get him to stop pouting so he'll eat. I'll take him out hunting as soon as he's done just as promised."

"He's being stubborn still. Perhaps he simply doesn't like ravioli?"

"No. No, he's had it before. He simply doesn't want human food," she says, pursing her lips and furrowing her brow. "I don't want him to sustain himself solely of animal blood. I don't understand why he suddenly refuses to eat. He was happy to take whatever we served him last week."

"It's likely that his taste buds are developing, love."

"Well, I can't give him a break. He got out of it for the last two days," she bites, meeting her son's watery gaze when he turns to meet her eye. "It's like he's testing me. Look at him."

Edward chuckles. "He's hoping tears will change your mind. Why don't you go relax? I'll get him to eat."

"Yeah?"

"Yes, you've been at there sides near constantly while I've been researching. I have t had as much of a chance to spend time with my children alone as I would wish."

"You've spent plenty of time with them, babe. Just because I hover doesn't mean you have to be the same," she tells him, facing him fully. She runs her fingers along the side of his face, cupping his jaw. "Even Bella doesn't obsess over them the way I do."

"You're just an exceptionally devoted mother, Roman. They turn to you most often because of this," he whispers. "I see that your fears differ from ours. It drives you to cling. There is nothing wrong with that."

"And there is nothing wrong with trying to ensure that your family is safe. They know you care and love them just as much as I do even if you don't cling."

His lips quirk into that crooked grin of his. "It seems that Bella is the only one that has learnt to balance."

She grins. "It seems so. Bells has always been remarkable like that. She always seems to do well at whatever she puts her mind to, even if it's not successful at first."

"You're a wonderful mother."

"And you're a wonderful father," Roman replies, stepping up onto her toes to peck his lips. "Now go speak to your son. I think I'll drag Emmett out to throw that football of his."

There's a thump deeper in the house and suddenly the boy in question is at her side — smile full of teeth, only teeth.

His hair was messy and damp, shirt slightly askew on his shoulders. He looked so boyish, so much like an eager teenager even with such a wide stance and bulky muscles. His football, new leather smell and all, was held lightly in hand.

"You up for a challenge? Because I've been wondering how far this thing can really go," he says excitedly. "Let's put that newbie strength to good use."

"Better use than when Bella best you in arm wrestling?" She asks innocently, turning away from her husband and making for the front door.

The sound of his growling behind her bringing a beaming grin to her cheeks.

"Don't break anything!" Edward calls after them.

They threw the ball around in blurs and laughter, launching it as far as it'll go before it fell and crashed.

She watched it soar, spiralling over and over. It was easy, nice fun. Losing track of the time wasn't easily down these days, not when she was counting the minutes so carefully, but Emmett's obvious attempts to make her let go and relax worked as she less and less often turned to back to the window to see if she could spot her son.

It set her in a blurring, easy moment, suspended as if she was stolen out of time, swimming around in just the moment.

Then it shattered as Jacob came running up to the house, Renesmee clinging to his back like a tiny lump as she tried to lay hidden in the length of his fur.

Roman was first to them when they got back, snatching her daughter away from the blue as she looked her over.

"What happened?" Emmett demanded, close to her side.

The others were close, those that were home only a few seconds, minutes, behind.

She was quick to cover Ressie's eyes as Jacob shifted then and there, tugging on pants the moment he had legs.

"I don't know. Bella sent us back, told us to hurry, just in case," he explains, gravitating toward his imprint. Roman didn't relinquish her hold on the girl.

"Did she say anything else? Nothing at all?"

"She mentioned that she thought she was overreacting but said we should come back."

Fingers press to her cheeks, images flash through her mind. Catching snowflakes and hunting with Jacob. The girl insisted that she caught the biggest animal. Roman reassured her quickly, head snapping toward Edward as he joined her side.

"Take her home. I'm going with Carlisle to find Irina," he tells her in one breath before he takes off again, Carlisle close at his side.

It seemed that mention of that one detail was all that was needed to have the other's relax -- Alice and Emmett, she noticed, meaning Rosalie, Esme and Jasper stayed back with Romulus. Good.

Jacob shifts his weight, pressing in closer to her. Her nose wrinkles in distaste but she doesn't mention it. It was fine, they were fine.

Cousins from Denali weren't a threat, they shouldn't have been, but that didn't stop her from twitching with the urge to follow, to find the woman as quickly as possible.

A question flits across her thoughts, a smug tone to it as Renesmee remarks that she was hungry, and knowing that they very clearly couldn't hunt, asked if that meant she would be getting donated blood instead.

Rolling her eyes, she doesn't give an answer as she turns back to the house, muttering something about baths and eating.

"Maybe you should go with them," Alice suggests, eyes narrowed thoughtfully as she searches for something. "You want to go and they'll lose her before if you don't tag along."

She shakes her head. "Irina doesn't like me. I'm an imprint, remember? That's not likely to go over well."

"But don't your instincts say to go after her?"

Eyes wide in surprise, she stares at her sister. "What makes you say that?"

"I- I see you saying as much later when they come back unsuccessful."

"Well, now I have no need to, thanks," she quips. "But it wouldn't make much of a difference now. Where else will she go, but home? They can just call."

"I guess."

"Alice, my instincts are saying she's a threat, which makes no sense, but I'm not really sure how that situation would go over."

"With you? Nothing good could happen," Emmett laughs.

Shaking her head, tension drains from her shoulders when she hears Bella approaching quickly. Things would be fine now.

Hopefully, they've gotten Romulus to eat something by now because he won't be too pleased if he has to miss out on the blood bags. 

Though, everyone knew that she wasn't going to keep it from him anyway, no matter what she lesson she wished to teach him. 

The hand on her cheek shifts, moving along closer to her lips. She tilts her head, pressing a kiss to her palm. 

"You can take a bath before you eat, if you want," she assures, smiling at the girl when she shows how she felt dirty after eating. She had little dirt stains on her knees and drying blood that stained her front -- deer if she wasn't mistaken. "We can fix your hair all pretty."

Her content smile warms her to the core and she hugged her daughter closer, memorizing the feel of her when she's this small, this tiny still, in her arms. 

Jasper was waiting outside when they got back, standing stiff, still, with arms resting against the railing of the porch. Alice moves to his side immediately, filling him in on everything in a rushed whisper.  

She passes them without a second glance, skipping steps as she went directly to the bathroom and turned on the water, sitting her daughter on the toilet as she tested the temperature and waited for it to fill. 

The girl hands her the bubble bath in a silent request, the scent of honey and lavender surrounding her as she pours it in. 

Alone now, free to collect her thoughts as she wished without fear of someone questioning her, Roman analyzed that persistent fear that swore that there was something wrong, something that she was missing. 

The thing was, she had never had a practical stranger, one who's mate had tried to kill her before, so close to her children, to her daughter, and it very much did not sit right with her. No other vampire should ever have the chance to be anywhere near them.

Tiny hands took hers, her concerned face flashing back at her. 

"I'm fine, baby. Let's get you in the bath, yeah?" she says, helping her undress. "The water's fine? Not too hot?" 

"No, mamma."

"That's good," she says, sinking to sit on the floor at the side of the tub, arm lazily thrown over the side as she played with the bubbles. 

Renesmee's quiet as she moves them into shapes, creating her own little world around her. "Can the bubbles go high even to touch the ceiling?" she asks after a moment.

"Maybe, but it would make a mess." 

She nods. "Can we try?"

Chuckling, the girl squeals when Roman flicks water and bubbles at her. "Not a good idea, sweets." 

"I guess." 

"How about we do something else that's fun later?" she offers, holding a handful of bubbles at eye level as she watches them pop and dissolve. "What would you like to do?" 

Her hand grabs her wrist, big brown eyes blinking up at her through the memory. 

"We can make cookies, again. That's a good idea. Are you going to share with Jacob and Seth?" 

"Seth's not here," she says grumpily. 

"No, but he will be when he finds out your making cookies."

"Can I help, too?" Romulus' voice is small as he asks, clinging to Bella as he hides behind her hair. 

Renesmee looks to her, the image of her brother pouting by the window as she left clear as she asks her question. Roman nods once with a tiny smile. 

The girl grins as she answers, water sloshing as she moves too quicky to see him better. "Of course. We can make peanut butter cookies." 

He perks up at that, peeking through a curtain of hair. "And chocolate?"

Renesmee rolls her eyes as if it's the most obvious thing. She holds her hand out to him dripping with water.

Wiggling, Bella sits him down and undresses him so that he could join her in the water. They're quiet as they have a conversation that they can't hear half of, discussing the baking situation with an intense level of seriousness. 

Of course, their children were too smart for their own good and she wouldn't put it past them to be doing this, acting like this, just to ease some of the tension from the house again. 

"She growled at me," Bella breathes low, perched on the side of the tub. 

"Irina?" Roman asks, just as quiet as she faces up to her wife -- her free hand coming to rest on her knee. "Why would she do that?" 

"I think it was because she saw Jacob."

She scowls. "That doesn't make it right. She can't hate the wolves because they killed that despicable, filthy--"

"Roman! He was her mate. I would feel the same if something happened to you or Edward." 

"Mate," she scoffs. "It doesn't give her the right to act like a raging--" she breathes deeply-- "It doesn't mean she should let herself be blind to how terrible he was."

Bella sighs. "I know, but still. She shouldn't have to be around Jake if she doesn't want to. Carlisle went to go talk to her, so it should be fine."

"Yeah, her sister's will be there to comfort her if not." 

She grasps her hand, newborn strength similar to her own holding tight. Bella locked them together, seeking that comfort just as much as she wanted to give it. "It wasn't anything bad, Roman. She wasn't like Laurent or Victoria."

"Okay. You're right."

"Mom? Mamma?" Romulus interrupts softly. "We're ready to get out, now." 

Roman blinks, movements smooth as stands, taking the cloth that Bella give her, already reaching for their son as he sits there passively.  "Come, Ress. Let's get you washed up so we can make cookies." 

"And eat?" Romulus speaks for them, their hands linked in the water. 

Bella rolls her eyes. Neither really wanted to give them donated blood, but they didn't have much of a choice anymore. "Yes, something to eat as well." 

Their matching, pleased grins didn't leave for the rest of the night.

°°°
Vote,
Comment,
& follow me on wattpad.

unedited

2020-04-20