Thank you to everyone who reviewed!
Fenrisulfr: Thank you!
edwar4dlover84: Thank you, hearing that means a lot to me!
princessnerra: In this story, the idea of being Mates encompasses free will. It's not, for example, the same thing as imprinting where you don't have a choice with who you're meant to be with. Edward reacted strongly to Bella because HE believes that they're meant to be Mates. He finds her undeniably alluring.
Kittyinaz: I also enjoy my fair share of Bella/Carlisle pairings... but we'll see who Bella ends up with in this story!
Bella sat on a white leather couch, under the scrutiny of six other vampires. Carlisle was next to her and although his proximity made her nervous, she was more uncomfortable with the presence of the rest. They were completely unfamiliar to her.
The female vampire from earlier was still smiling at Bella in welcoming. She had finally introduced herself as Alice and was currently perched across from Bella on an armrest. She was the smallest, yet made Bella the most wary. There was a knowing glint in her eyes that Bella simply couldn't trust. On the chair she leaned against sat her mate, Jasper. He regarded Bella in silence, but there was an aura of calm around him, even as Alice ran her fingers through his hair, styling it this way and that.
The next two vampires were Emmett and Rosalie. They were mates as well, yet couldn't seem more different. Emmett was burly while Rosalie was statuesque. They were holding hands and seemed content to simply be near each other.
The last was Edward, who was seated the furthest away. He was staring at Bella with an unnerving intensity and his forearms were flexed as he clenched his hands in his lap.
"So this is the family you've created?" Bella asked Carlisle.
There was so much between them that needed to be said, but Bella would save that conversation for when they were alone. She didn't know how much of their past he had shared.
Carlisle gave a stiff nod in her direction. Since entering the house, he had refused to even look at her, although he had chosen to take the seat at her side. Hope had bloomed in her chest at the action. She turned to address the rest of the group.
"How have you been able to stay together in one place for so long?"
Surely a coven of their size would garner suspicion from the surrounding community. Even if they had committed to a diet of animal blood, it would be difficult to conceal their other anomalies.
"Carlisle works as a doctor at the local hospital and the rest of us are students at Forks High School," Alice trilled, seemingly immensely pleased with that statement.
"And no one's questioned the unusual relations of your family?" Bella continued.
"Nope!" Alice giggled. "The five of us are believed to be the adopted children of Carlisle!"
Bella glanced at Carlisle in surprise. It was one thing to sire all five vampires himself and another to declare them as his children to humans.
Alice skipped forward to clasp Bella's hand.
"So will you become our sister as well?"
Carlisle tensed upon hearing Alice's question. Although it seemed like an innocent thing to ask, it largely determined the future of his relationship with Bella. How could they be lovers if Bella was thought to be his daughter? Not that Carlisle had decided to forgive her.
Yet, his mind couldn't help but add.
Edward growled in warning and Carlisle concealed his thoughts from his son. He didn't want it to increase the chasm that had come between them. When Emmett and Jasper were wrestling Edward from Bella, Carlisle had watched them helplessly from the side. It tore at him to be witness to such a scene. Edward was usually the most composed of his children. It was the first time he had displayed such possessiveness and Carlisle was afraid to consider the ramifications. Edward had been immediately attracted to Bella.
Would he fight his son for her love?
If Bella could still blush, then her cheeks would have probably been a deep shade of red as she glanced at Carlisle hesitantly before replying.
"I don't know if I'm welcome here," she murmured. "Besides, you already have more than enough people in this house. I really don't want to impose."
Carlisle felt his chest constrict at the thought of Bella leaving him once more. Alice was trying to convince her to remain with them, but his intervention quickly silenced her.
"Stay," he whispered brokenly to Bella.
Carlisle had grabbed her wrist to stop her from standing, although Bella hadn't tried to do so. Sensing his emotions, Jasper had been the first to exit, steering Alice out of the house with him. Together, Emmett and Rosalie stood up as well, forcing Edward to leave with them. Edward had clenched his jaw, but followed them reluctantly. Carlisle had waited until they were gone to finally take a good look at Bella.
She was still as beautiful as he remembered.
Her head was lowered as she gazed at the spot where his hand had encircled her wrist. Even after all these years, Carlisle knew that he hadn't moved on. He had tried, of course, but his efforts had always ended in vain. Whenever he was close to being intimate with another, it was Bella that he saw in his mind.
Her smile, her scent – she consumed his senses.
It was as though Bella had laid claim to his heart and it was her face that he saw each night he lay awake. Alone in his bed, Carlisle would imagine that it was her hands touching his body, sliding down to caress his erection and stroking him to orgasm.
After his surge of lust had been sated, Carlisle would feel a fresh wave of torment. The truth of her absence always left him in agony.
Author's Note: Please review!