A/N: Hey there everyone. There are some links for this chapter on my profile; just some visual aids to help you picture things. Also, I would like to that everyone for all the wonderful reviews so far.
ElizabethPOV:
I landed at Calgary International Airport at sixty-thirty-one in the morning. I was travelling light; there would be time enough to send for all my things once I was settled in with the Cullens. I hailed at taxi and gave the driver the address to the dealership where my ride would be waiting. The driver was slow and chatty. I ignored his attempts at conversation by pretending that I spoke little English (this was easy enough to do if I let the French accent creep into my voice). It took what seemed like an aggravatingly long time (an hour and a half to be exact) to get to the dealership, and I almost wished I were still in Singapore where the cabbies drove at a more rapid pace.
Once inside, I walked up to the desk. The poor shop boy's eyes looked as if they might pop out of his head. I decided it was best to lose the French accent now that I had nothing to gain by it.
"Hello. I'm here to see Mr. Herman," I said, trying to sound as unappealing as possible. I didn't want to play with the poor boy's heart.
"Yes… yeah umm. Sure…umm…ju…just a minute. I'll get him," the boy stammered, as he rose and disappeared into what appeared to be an office or staff room.
I heard him tell Mr. Herman there was a client there to see him and soon enough a short balding man in jeans and a polo shirt emerged from the room, with the boy following close behind.
"Good morning. What can I do for you, miss?" he asked, smiling.
"Mr. Herman, I'm Elizabeth Ardour. We spoke on the phone four days ago. I believe you have a Ducati Sport Classic GT1000 on hold for me," I said smoothly with a slight smile. Charm; one of the few perks of being immortal and beautiful.
"Oh, of course. It's a really great bike. Pricey, though. We don't sell many bikes of this calibre; had to call in a few favours to get in here so quickly."
"I understand, Mr. Herman and I thank you for making the effort."
"Is this for a client? A gift for a boyfriend? Husband, maybe?"
"Oh, no, Mr. Herman. I am purchasing it for myself."
"Oh, the lady has taste," he whispered under his breath.
"May I see it?"
"Oh, of course. John!" he called to the shop boy. "Go get the bike from the storage room. We've kept it indoors for you, miss."
John disappeared and returned fifteen minutes later with my bike. It looked to be perfect. Not a speck of dust on it; the cherry red finish gleamed.
"Excellent." I said.
"Do you want a test drive first?" he asked.
"No. I'm actually in a bit of a hurry. So…"
"Alright. How will you be paying then? Oh, and do you need anything else?"
"Yes, add on one of those red helmets over there," I said pointing to the rack on the wall. "And I'll be paying by credit card, if that's all right."
BellaPOV:
As it neared noon, all the Cullens gathered in the living room, waiting for her arrival. Emmett was excited beyond belief as were Rosalie, Alice and Jasper. Edward had told me a little of the reason behind this last night. He told me that thirty years ago Elizabeth had stayed with them for a while. She had been well liked by the family; a friend to the girls and a competitor with the boys. Also, he had mentioned that she had stayed with them previous to that, shortly after Esme had joined the family, and had apprenticed medicine under Carlisle.
At my side, Reneseme was listening to music on her mp3 player as Jacob was pacing the floor. He didn't like the idea of another vampire staying with us. Sometimes he was really too protective. If the Cullens said Elizabeth was safe, then she was. Jacob was just being… well he was being Reneseme's Jacob.
It was Jasper who heard it first, but it was only a split-second before we all were attuned to it too. An engine turned in the distance, having just made the turn off from the highway. It was not a car, of that I was certain. Then, something clicked in my brain and brought up one of the dulled human memories. Of course, the engine didn't sound right because it was a motorcycle! I smiled widely at my realisation and Reneseme raised her hand to my neck, asking me why.
"I just realised that she is riding a motorcycle," I explained.
Then, the engine grew louder and we knew she must be close. Carlisle motioned for us to join him and go out onto the front lawn to greet her. I was the first to follow; curious about the new arrival. The others were close behind and by the time her bike careened around the last tree covered corner into sight, we were all assembled on the lawn to welcome her.
If I still required oxygen, the sight of her might have knocked it out of my lungs. She parked the bike with such ease, that I had to remind myself that I was a vampire now and I could do that just as effortlessly. She was tall and slight. The tight white leather jacket she wore was nipped in to accentuate her tiny waist. She wore shinny black jeans under that and healed calf-length black leather boots. Then, she slipped off the red bike helmet she was wearing, probably just in case she blew past a police officer, because there was no way she would actually need it. And Oh! She was beautiful! Gorgeous… even Rosalie had nothing on her. She has big eyes framed by long dark lashes, high cheekbones, full lips and a well-shaped jaw. Not to mention the think wavy dark brown, almost black, hair that fell to her shoulder blades in the back.
"Wow," was all I could say.
She smiled then and walked towards Carlisle, who as patriarch, stood at the front of our grouping.
"Carlisle!" She greeted, pulling him into a hug and kissing him on both cheeks. Then, she pulled him out of the embrace and held him at arms length. "I was unaware that you had made additions to your family… and so many, too."
"Yes, it has been a busy year or two. Let me introduce you," he offered, clapping his one arm around her narrow shoulders and gesturing to us with the other. "Elizabeth, I have the pleasure of introducing you to Bella, Edward's wife."
She walked towards me then, with a welcoming smile and extended her arm. I shook her hand gently.
"It is all too wonderful to meet you, Bella Cullen. I cannot say how glad I am that Edward finally found someone," she said as she kissed me once on each cheek. It was a friendly gesture and was not as uncomfortable as I might have thought it would be. She seemed genuinely happy to know that I was Edward's bride.
"Erm, nice to meet you too," I said, still a bit overwhelmed by her in general.
Edward was at my side then, shaking Elizabeth's hand before kissing me on the cheek. Before Elizabeth could say any more, Carlisle had her attention again.
"I would also like to introduce you to Reneseme, Bella and Edward's daughter, and her friend, Jacob Black," he said.
"Daughter?" Elizabeth asked, raising her perfectly arched eyebrows quizzically.
"Yes. She was conceived and born while Bella was human," Edward offered simply, having told the story so many times already.
"Interesting. Perhaps you might tell me more of it later? It really is intriguing. So, I take it that you were changed afterwards then, Bella?" she said, politely. Her ease with the whole situation was soothing to my nerves.
"Yes, immediately after the birth," I replied, trying not to think of the days of agony as I lay burning.
Then, Elizabeth walked toward Reneseme. Jacob was in her way in a flash, protecting his charge.
"Oh. I'm sorry," Elizabeth replied, looking to be genuinely surprised and perhaps confused at what she had done to provoke such a reaction.
"Watch it, bloodsucker," Jacob growled.
"Jacob," Carlisle said calmly. "She means no harm. Elizabeth is as harmless as I am."
"Oh. You were protecting Reneseme," she said and I was happy that she had said my daughter's full name, but then I recalled that she had yet to hear the irksome nickname.
Then, she did something astonishing. She extended her arm to shake Jacob's hand. Rosalie let out a gasp, as did I. Elizabeth was disarmingly polite.
"It is good to meet you, Jacob Black. I am sorry that I have gotten off on the wrong foot with you. Really, I mean no harm. I only meant to introduce myself properly to young Reneseme, as I am endeavouring to do with you now."
Grudgingly, Jacob pumped her hand briefly once before pulling it back quickly and wiping it rudely on his jeans. However, he stepped aside and let Elizabeth approach my daughter. Reneseme smiled brightly.
"May I say that you are very beautiful, Reneseme?" Elizabeth asked, looking back to smile at Edward and I.
Reneseme beamed in return and rushed in to give Elizabeth a hug. Jacob cringed and looked to us to do something. Emmett chuckled. I waited for Reneseme to touch Elizabeth and 'show' her something, but she did not.
"You're beautiful, too," Reneseme said in her bell-tone voice.
Elizabeth laughed and kissed our daughter once on each cheek.
"Thank you, darling," she replied.
Then, she and Rosalie hugged for a few minutes. All the while saying how much they had missed one another. I was amazed that Rose wasn't jealous, beautiful as Elizabeth was. Then, it was Emmett's turn. He punched Elizabeth in the shoulder playfully and told her he expected a "rematch for the ages" sometime soon. Alice bounced up to her next and kissed her cheek. They talked for a few minutes, and Alice complimented her style. Jasper approached as soon as Alice was done making small talk and enclosed Elizabeth in a hug. They didn't speak much.
"Do you want to see your room?" Esme said at last, when everyone had greeted our guest.
"But of course!" she cried with a smile before taking Esme by the arm.
