-Stephenie Meyer owns all her own characters
A year had gone by so fast it seemed. Edward and Nickole remained in the Cullen residence completely during the summer, but visited the Sebastian side of their family quite often. Edward, Nickole, Alice, Jasper, Lestat, and Jessie all entered the school year as seniors. Rosalie and Emmett had since graduated and were supposedly back packing across Europe, all the while they were just at home relaxing that very minute. Nickole was legally in the school as a Cullen, and was called that as such. Edward had made sure that every single class Nickole had he had as well, except for art class. That was her special alone time, and Edward knew to leave her alone in that.
It was a normal rainy day, like every other day there for them. They went throughout the school day, ignoring the comments the girls made about Nickole and Edward being married. They resented her for being able to catch him. Yet she didn't let that bother her, she liked it a bit actually. Nickole sat on the old wooden stool in front of her current art project. Her MP3 player playing currently playing The Used Smother Me upon it, a wedding present from her precious Edward. Yet even over the blasting headphones, she could still hear the bell ringing, signalling lunch. She shut off the player, placing it into her black messenger bag. She turned and headed out the door, linking her arm with her waiting husband. He leaned down and kissed her gently on the lips as they walked silently to the lunch room. As they moved past the groups of kids and moved towards the family lunch table, taking a seat down as the rest of their family had been waiting for them already. Alice smiled to Nickole, patting the empty seat beside her. Nickole slid into the seat, Edward sitting next to her in unison.
"So how was your day so far?" Alice probed her, smirking as she had already seen Nickole being given an artist of the month award today.
"It was fine miss visions. How was your day?" Nickole smiled to her sister, loving the fact that they truly were family now.
"It was alrig.."
Alice was cut off suddenly in the midst of her sentence. A piercing vision sparking through her mind. Visions of Bella and Jacob, of vampires, of blood and pain. Then Jacob and Bella driving, passing a sign that said welcome to Pennsylvania. They were coming to the town, they would probably be there by today with how fast they passed the mile markers in her vision. Edward and Nickole felt the flash of each image Alice saw, knowing exactly what was going on. Alice's eyes fluttered as she finally came back to the table, Jasper holding onto her hand gently but with worry deep within it.
"Alice! my love, please talk to me, what did you see?" She hesitated, not sure what she should say right now, especially with Edward's new wife sitting right beside him, but knowing her power she already knew everything as well.
"It's alright Alice, I'm okay I promise." Nickole tried to reassure her sister, grasping lightly to the side of her arm.
"Well I saw Jacob and Bella running, fleeing from vampires, there was a lot of blood. Then I saw them passing a welcome to Pennsylvania sign, and the mile markers. They're coming here, they need our help. They should be here by night with as fast as their traveling. Something bad must be going on for this."
Edward's body had tightened up greatly, he looked exactly like a statue with the way he sat. Nickole wasn't sure what to make of it, but as soon as she picked up his thoughts about Bella and Jacob she understood exactly. Jacob was the man he had lost Bella too, and to have to see them both together again was going to be very hard for him. Nickole gave Edward a little squeeze, looking to her family, deciding her being the oldest that she should decide what they should do with this new information.
"Alice I want you to call Carlisle and tell him exactly what you told us, and then meet us back at home. Jessie and Lestat I want you to go to all the teachers and tell them that there is a family emergency, pull out that old charisma I gave you, got it. Edward and I will go straight home and wait for Bella and Jacob in case they come home before the rest of us get there, got it."
The rest of the Cullen's and Sabastian's nodded to the tasks they were given and left instantly to go do them. Nickole grabbed Edwards arm and hauled him to his feet, he reluctantly got up and shuffled his feet behind her.
"Edward can you please make this a little easier and walk, not shuffle your feet. I don't have the patience for this all right now."
He growled a bit in response, but remained quiet as he actually walked to the car with her. She turned and slid into the passenger side of the car, as he got into the drivers seat. Edward drove recklessly along the windy roads back to the Cullen's house. The car was more dead than a graveyard. Nickole tried to start conversations countless times, but was met with only more silence. Finally she stopped trying, seeing it was going no where. She sighed, just staring out the window the rest of the way until they arrived at home. She did not like how Edward was acting due to these recent developments. As he stopped she turned to look at him, but discovered him gone, and already in the house. Nickole growled a little at this, knowing he knew what she was going to do and deciding to leave.
"Fine Edward, act like this."
Nickole got out of the Volvo, heading inside the house. Emmett and Rosalie stood around the house, not knowing what to really do right now. Yet Rose had a bit of an irritated look upon her face. Emmett didn't really seem to care, and Esme looked like she had seen a ghost.
"When is Carlisle going to be here?" Edward asked, his voice unwavering.
"Soon, the rest are on their way as well. They should be here in a couple of minutes, including Mahuret. I figured you would want her here with you Nickole."
Esme smiled to her daughter, seeing the happy demeanor she usually wore changed drastically. Nickole smiled to Esme, moving slowly over to her and giving her a light embrace.
"Thank you mom."
Esme nodded, embracing her daughter as well.
"It's not a problem my dear."
The sudden sound of multiple tires hitting the gravel drive caught the attention of everyone in the room. Picking up the familiar sound of Carlisle's car, with Lestat and Jessie following his. They all waited for the cars to park, and watched as they all piled inside the house at the same time. Carlisle looked to Edward, seeing how he was already reacting to this, and then to Nickole. He grimaced, seeing how this had already affected her as well.
"Nickole I am sorry. We never expected this to happen. But perhaps until we understand everything that is happening and why they are coming for our help, we should hide the fact that you and Edward are married. I do not want to agitate anything right now, so you and your family shall just be very close family friends. And Edward I think it would be best if you hid your wedding band for the time being, just until this is over with."
Nickole grimaced, unhappy with the fact that she would have to hide the fact that she was married to Edward, and that he would have to take off his wedding band. Yet Carlisle was right, it might agitate the situation, and if anyone got hurt over her stubbornness she would never be able to forgive herself.
"Alright Carlisle. You all heard what he said, we are just friends to the Cullen's. I will be taking on my maiden name for the time being, mention nothing of my marriage to Edward, everyone understand."
Lestat, Jessie, and Mahuret nodded, not liking the situation any more than herself at the moment, but agreeing none the less. Edward already had his wedding band off, stretching his now free fingers. He didn't seemed bothered having the ring off, but inside it killed her. Suddenly her thoughts were broken as another set of tires hit the driveway, coming fast down it. The Cullen's all looked toward the front door, waiting as they heard two car doors open and feet hit the steps. Then suddenly they heard two hard knocks on the door, Carlisle walked swiftly to the door, opening it up. Bella stood in front, Jacob taking up the rear, guarding her from any attack that might happen. Bella smiled to Carlisle, a bit nervous at first. She wasn't sure how he would take her being there right now, especially since the last time she had seen them all was the day of her wedding to Edward. The day that she had said no in the vows, and left Edward for Jacob. Carlisle forced a warm smile to Bella, still a bit hesitant towards her being there, but he hid it well.
"Welcome Bella, and Jacob. Please come in."
Carlisle moved aside, looking to the rest of his family as Bella and Jacob walked inside slowly. Bella looked directly to Edward, seeing his gorgeous golden eyes again, his perfectly sculpted lips. He was always so perfect, and seeing him now after all this time made him look that much perfect to her. Edward quirked a brow to her, seeing her staring at him. Bella began to get a bit nervous and looked away to the rest of the Cullen's. Most of them gave her blank stares, except for Rosalie who glared daggers her way. Finally her eyes came to rest on the newest additions to the Cullen's. They were very different though, each of them having a different eye color which wasn't something she was accustomed to. Carlisle shut the door behind them, walking slowly to the front of them, as to not startle them.
"Bella and Jacob it is good to see you again. Let me introduce you to some very close family friends of ours. This is the Sabastian clan who moved into town a year after we had moved here. This is Nickole the leader of the clan and the youngest of the members. Then there is Mahuret who is the mother, and Jessie and Lestat who are mates."
Bella looked to each member of the clan, eyeing them curiously. Her eyes lingering on the leader of the clan especially. She was so beautiful, and so young, it amazed her a bit that someone so young and delicate could be a leader. Jacob looked to all the Cullen's and the new clan that stood before him, growling lightly under his breath. He never wanted to have to come to them for help, but he was at the end of his rope. If anyone could protect Bella for the time being, then the Cullen's were it. Even if that meant leaving her with that damn blood sucker of an ex of hers. Especially those new vampires, he didn't know them, but they smelt even worse, especially the leader, she reeked of blood. She was just another disgusting blood sucker like the rest of them. Edward hearing his thoughts growled at Jacob, taking a defensive stance in front of Nickole instantly.
"Keep her out of your thoughts Jacob. I'm warning you now, mention her in any way again and I will rip that thick head of yours from your shoulders."
Jacob growled in return, coming to stand before Bella now. Two can play this game he thought.
"I haven't seen you this defensive before then when Bella was choosing between us both. When you loved her. What brought on this change leech? are you sleeping with this one too?"
That was it, Edward had enough. He was ready to kill him, but was stopped when he felt two hands on his chest. Nickole stood before him, staring intently into his crimson eyes.
'Edward relax, this is not what we all need right now. Jacob is an ass, I heard him too, but killing him just won't solve anything.'
'I know I know my love. I just hate him so much, and for him to talk about you like that, to call you that, it drives me nuts.'
'It'll be okay, just remember that you're better than him. I'd kiss you if I could, but we can't, so just think about what we can do later with one another. In the peace of our own room.'
Edward slowly broke out in a smile, his eyes calming down into their once beautiful golden color. She smiled, seeing his demeanor calming down now. She turned slowly around, still standing in front of Edward. Bella held tightly onto Jacob's arm, her hands blazing under the heat he was pulsing.
"Jacob stop, we didn't come here for this...We came here for help."
Jacob began to calm down a little, sighing and standing behind Bella once again. Bella looked to Carlisle once again, seeing the questions in his eyes.
"We need your help Carlisle. There are vampires who entered Forks and began to kill humans, not much but since the wolves have their agreement they went out to try to kill them. They couldn't find them to attack them so the vampires came after me since I was an easier target for them to acquire. Once the wolves found this out we've been on the run from them. Yet they track us where ever we go, so we can to the only place where I was always safe. Jacob thinks it would be best if I stayed here until the wolves can kill the vampires who are after me, they seem to stop around this town, as if they don't want to enter it. So we figure I'm safe here, and especially with you all here."
"Since we helped you so long ago with your own vampire problem, we were wondering if you would assist us by watching over Bella until we can destroy these two vampires."
Carlisle nodded, taking in all this new information. His eyes darted over to Edward, not wanting to answer them unless he got an idea what Edward would do with Bella staying there with them. Edward in turn sighed, not liking the idea, but not wanting Bella dead in return.
"Let them Carlisle, I can deal with it all. If I have to, I can go and live with the Sebastian's for a bit."
"Alright then, it's decided. Bella will stay here until you return, and Edward will live with the Sebastian's until everything changes."
Jacob nodded to him, turning his attention onto his Bella now. He sighed, taking her into his arms tightly.
"I will see you soon Bells. I promise I will be back soon, and if anything happens then call me. I will be here faster than you can count."
Jacob leaned forward, kissing her passionately in front of Edward. Bella returned the kiss, not understanding what Jacob was doing exactly, but loving the kiss she was getting from Jacob right now. Edward simply buried his face into Nickole's hair, taking in her rich floral scent. Jacob was an ass, but he didn't care, he had Nickole. She was his wife, but still. It hurt somewhere deep inside of him, in a deep wound that he had long buried. Jacob broke off the kiss lightly, turning and walking outside. The fire ripped through his body as he phased into his wolf form, he was faster this way. He would be back in forks in a couple of days, rather than a week. Bella looked back around the house, now being alone. The stares were still harsh and uncaring, except for Nickole. Even though Bella was Edward's ex, she didn't hate her. She welcomed her with open arms, because she knew that at the end of the day Edward would be in her bed, and not with Bella.
"Welcome home Bella."