Disclaimer: Stephanie Meyer owns Twilight, but not Merged Souls: Trying for Normal

Author's Note:

Chapter 4

BPOV

I watched my family in awe they looked so happy and so proud when Leah, Jane and Demitri came into the vision...and let's just say if vampires could cry we would have been floating in an ocean of tears. When I think of all the time I spent telling Edward he had a soul, and now to have proof it made my heart soar. I know he tried to believe for my sake but I don't think any of them had ever really believed. Perhaps with the exception of Carlisle he has always been a man of faith. Yet to have proof of that faith is staggering and astonishing... all I can think of is that there is no doubt now that goodness and love live on.

The triplets were all smiles and once the vision faded they wanted ice cream. Mina and Tsura were a little shell shocked not completely understanding what they saw but willing to accept it on faith. So to collect their thoughts and feelings they took the kids to the kitchen and Simon went with them holding Beth tightly in his arms.

Carlisle was immediately on the phone to Esme, Jasper sat down on the window seat pulling Alice into his lap, Emmett and Rose had left the parlour holding each around the waist and went out into the garden, and Edward held me in an embrace that was almost painful.

He was sobbing into my neck, so I just held him this amazingly strong man who had given me so much had been humbled by this vision. I held him and he cried as only a vampire can, for his parents, for lost friends and for his family that had helped him find something he thought he'd lost his faith. I eased us over towards the sofa and said "Edward I don't want to make light of everything you been through but honey we really have to get rid of this sofa, it is the most uncomfortable piece of furniture I have ever encountered."

He sat up looked at me in shock and pushed my hair behind my ears. "Out of everything that has just happened here that's the only thing you have to say? Don't you want to say I told you so or debate the universe, the status of my soul? Bella what we just saw was astounding even earth shattering!"

"Edward it wasn't anything I didn't already know, I've always told you that you have a soul, and as far as debating anything ...no I don`t think we need to, I`m good." I gave him my best dazzling smile. "But you can tell me that I was right all along."

Edward was stunned his mouth was open and his eyes were wide then he just turned it off and gave me a very sexy smile, he pulled me tight to his chest and started to chuckle then to laugh, "You little minx, I love you! And yes my dear you were right all along and I was an idiot not to believe you."

Carlisle got off his call from Esme and he was laughing. "She told me that Bella had convinced her a long time ago. But she was very happy for Jane and Demitri and thought we should tell Heidi."

"Actually Carlisle I think maybe we should keep this to ourselves. Do you honestly think that our world is ready to hear this? And perhaps this was meant as a message just for our family?"

Carlisle sat beside me and took my hand "Bella my son is so lucky to have you for his mate, you are both wise and fair. And I think you're right this revelation was only for our family and should not be spread around like idol gossip, and with that said...Carlisle looked around and I knew exactly who he was looking for...EMMETT!"

Emmett came up to the open parlour window. "Oh Come on! Why is it always me that you think you have to remind not to share secrets?"

I looked behind me the kids and Simon had just filed back into the parlour as everyone yelled at exactly the same time. "BECAUSE YOU HAVE A BIG MOUTH!"

Everyone but Emmett and I broke out laughing, Emmet looked to me for an appeal usually if the family had unfairly singled Em out I'd side with him but I couldn't this time "Sorry Em they're 100% right."

Edward the kids and I didn't stay at the house that night we went back to the penthouse at the hotel and watched movies with the kids while they ate fruit salad and petit fours before they went off to their rooms. Simon slept on a day bed in Masen's room which upset Beth when Edward would not allow him to sleep in her room. She was still a child and thought her Dad was just being mean, yet she was fine with it when Simon explained it would be inappropriate...jeesh kids.

Carlisle had decided to fly home the next day with Alice and Jasper. Emmett and Rose were going to stick around and spend some quality time with the triplets and let Bella and I have some alone time so we could pack up my old room and arrange for the trunks to be shipped to Canada.

Edward had talked to Mina and Tsura before we left the house we would have a contract drawn up by our lawyers that would make their family and their descendants the permanent custodians of the house and gardens. Alice had asked Rose about what had happened to Tsura but she refused to say anything other than she had taken care of the bastard. I wasn't surprised to hear that Rosalie had a little vigilante in her considering what she had been through herself.

EPOV

The next day we had breakfast with the kids and then they went off with Em, Rose and Simon they were going to the zoo and then on to see the Lion King at the Cadillac Theatre. Reagan and Wales were going as well apparently he loved zoos and hadn't been to the theatre in years.

Bella and I would tackle the trunks, my room and the wall safe, it shouldn't take long and then I had plans for my wife and me.

On our way to the house Esme called me she was in London for a few days. She said that Alastair and Aldrich were working hard together in Volterra hoping to open the museum in the New Year. Alastair was in seventh heaven surrounded with all the treasures but he'd found some could never be displayed because they were thought to be lost forever or were things of myths and legends. Aldrich on the other hand said he was in the seventh circle of hell working with Alastair. He claimed the man was control freak and a megalomaniac and in my opinion having met both of them I think it was the pot calling the kettle black, Esme was inclined to agree. I had to chuckle I could just imagine what it would be like having two type A personalities in the same room. Esme said she usual pleaded ignorance and left the room when they'd start to argue.

Then she got very serious. "Edward, I wish I could have been there with you. I would have told your mother how proud Carlisle and I have been to call you son all these years. And to tell her what a fine father, brother and son you are."

I kind of choked before she continued. "You may not be my flesh and blood, but you are my son in all the ways that count. You are one of the reasons that it has been easier for me to deal with the pain I brought with me from my human life."

"Mom I don't know what to say except you couldn't have been a better mother to me. And despite everything I went through and what I put you through I have always known that you loved me. And I hope you know that I have loved you more than you'll ever know."

"I know Edward, a mother always knows."

Bella was smiling at my side and I heard a catch in Esme's voice before she asked for Bella. I handed Bella my phone and walked on ahead. We had reached the house so I walked through the garden gate and even though it was overcast the garden still seemed to shimmer with colour. It still felt magical despite being able to hear the street noise now. The same black kitten that Beth had found the other day came scurrying across the path in front of me chasing a butterfly and then disappeared under the fence. I sat down on a stone bench under the Oak and waited for Bella to join me. I was staring at the initials I had carved into the tree when Bella came up beside me and handed me my phone.

"Esme is an amazing woman... and I hope you know that she really loves you."

"Yeah I know and it means a lot to me."

Bella sat down beside me took my hand and entwined our fingers I couldn't help but marvel at how blessed I am.

"Did she tell you what she was doing in London?

"No, just that she had stopped to do a bit of research before coming home. She didn't say what it was for though."

"Well she was researching your father's family tree. It would seem that the Masen family has a coat of arms and everything."

My eyes met hers and I could see our love reflected there as they softened. "She wanted me to tell you that she found something special, it's your family motto 'Dum sprio spero' apparently it means 'While I have breath I have hope'. She leaned into me and kissed me chastely on the lips. I deepened the kiss and pulled her onto my lap. When we broke apart the black kitten was sitting in the path looking up at a squirrel running through the tree.

I chuckled then pulled back from Bella and looked back up at the tree. "I think we should carve our initials here and the kids make this sort of a living family tree." I pulled out a pocket knife that Emmett had got me one Christmas. He had said at the time that any real man should always have a good pocket knife on them at the time it seemed absurd that a vampire would ever find a use for a puny human knife. But I was glad to have it today using it to carve our initials in the tree would be like merging my human and vampire lives.

Bella and I stood up on the bench we decided to carve our first names instead of just initials. I carved a heart into the trunk of the Oak directly across and to the left of my childhood initials. Inside the heart I carved Bella's name, then she took the knife from me and carved mine. And then I carved another heart that that intersected with ours and carved the kids names.

Bella smiled at me "the kids will love that we did this and in time they can come back with their loved ones and do the same. This is a brilliant idea Edward, I love you so much Edward Anthony Masen Cullen."

We kissed again and lost ourselves in the moment, when we raised our heads a little girl was standing on the walk holding the kitten and literally gawking at us. "You must really like each other to share spit like that!" She closed her eyes, shook herself and stuck out her tongue it was so cute. Bella knelt down in front of her and introduced us.

Her name was Emma and the little kitten belonged to her. "My momma told me to come over and apalo...apola...darn it... to say I'm sorry for Buttercup getting into your garden all the time. But once she gets bigger she won't be able to squish under the fence, so sorry." Then before we could reply she took off almost as fast as the kitten and was gone. I heard the thoughts of her mother from the house next door she was very proud of her daughter and was still glad she had gotten her the kitten even though it was a handful, but she needed a friend even if it was only the furry kind. They would be moving out west in a few days. She and her husband had recently divorced and she was moving to California to live with her sister.

Bella looked at me quizzically. "Well she was cute. Is she our neighbour?"

I nodded. "But not for long her parents have divorced and she's moving with her Mom to sunny California."

Bella frowned and scrunched her eyebrows together. I tried to smooth it out with a kiss until she leaned back looking at her toes. "Edward I love this house and I know we talked about keeping it for a vacation home but how are we going to deal with having neighbours?"

Hmmp, our house was on a corner lot and the property was huge the house next to us was also large and beside it was another two houses that had been divided into apartments these houses made up the block. Across the street was the park and behind us were boutiques, bookstores and tea rooms. The next block over was a retirement home and a funeral home.

"Bella why don't you grab the leftover pound cake I think we should go visit our neighbour."

"Edward what are thinking? I can see dollars signs floating across your eyes."

I explained my idea to her and she seemed actually excited, she bounced up and into the house to get the cake. We walked over to the neighbours house and there was still a for sale sign on the gate with a sticker saying reduced for quick sale plastered across it. We rang the doorbell and introduced ourselves to Jackie who was Emma's mother. Neither Jackie nor her husband could afford to keep the house and the city historical society had been able to stop them from dividing it into apartments.

Needless to say there wasn't much interest in such a large single family home. The taxes were monstrous and because of the apartments down the block parking was abysmal. After twenty minutes of polite chatter I got down to business. I knew from her thoughts that Jackie was struggling with her day to day bills and needed cash fast but I wasn't about to try and steal the place from her either. I was prepared to pay the original full asking price. I made sure that I had mentally tapped Bella before I said anything to Jackie to make her aware so she didn't freak out at the million and half I was about to offer.

Jackie was sceptical that we could afford it since we were so young but she took my lawyers business card and contacted her realtor. I called our Chicago lawyers and alerted Finch as to what I had in mind. In relatively short order the realtor was at the door with the paper work and Jackie had a cheque in her hand to deal with her current needs. Jackie was a different woman by the time we left she thanked Bella for the pound cake which Emma was already devouring while Buttercup chased dust motes.

When we gained the yard of our own home Bella wrapped her arms around my waist. "Edward Cullen you are a good man."

"What did I do?"

"That woman didn't know whether she should pay the hydro bill or buy food."

"And since when did you become a mind reader?"

"I've seen that look in Renee's eyes enough times over the years to know what it means."

We walked leisurely through the garden and stopped by the front porch and I told her what I had got from Jackie. "Yeah...her husband is a dead beat! He lives beyond his means and sacrifices his wife and daughter's comfort for his own pleasure. The house was supposed to be an investment and divided into apartments but he didn't check to see if the city would allow it before they bought it. He thought since those other houses had been divided it would be easy. But they were divided back in the 60's and since then the Chicago Historical Society has stopped any subdivisions in this area. So he took off emptied out their bank accounts and left her with the house."

Bella looked pissed as she sucked in air between her teeth."Can we hurt him Edward at least a little?"

"Excuse me? My 'please don't kill the spider' wife wants to hurt a dead beat human?"

She giggled and slapped my arm. "Okay maybe not, but I hope he gets paid back for what he's done." Bella grabbed my arm tightly. "Oh my god Edward you have to make sure that he can't touch any of the money from the sale of the house, please promise me!"

"It's okay I've had our lawyer contact her divorce attorney to make sure he can't get his hands on any of it."

"Thank you! She was quiet for a moment and then said. "So now that we own another house what's up next mister wheeler and dealer? Those apartment buildings aren't exactly up for sale."

I flipped open my phone and called Esme and then got Carlisle on a conference call, I explained my plans for taking over the block restoring the apartments to their original Victorian glory so that way each Cullen couple would have a Chicago vacation home. They loved it and Esme took it one step further saying that if we allowed the Historical Society to use them for special events and tours when we weren't in residence then we could get significant tax breaks for preserving these four homes. Esme said to leave the rest of it to her and Carlisle and for us to just enjoy our time in Chicago.

As soon as I closed my phone Alice called she would start antique shopping as soon as I could get room measurements to her but until then she would start looking for unique period pieces.

After that call Bella looked at me and started to say. "But that sofa is so..."

I put my fingers against her lips, "That sofa hasn't been reupholstered since 1918 my love. So we'll add some springs and extra stuffing it will be fine trust me Bella.

"While we had been talking we made our way to my room. I was a little nervous about opening the door and Bella actually blocked it open with an iron plant stand from the hallway. We both looked at the bed and smiled. I made a move towards her but she put up her hands to stop me. "Oh no you don't we're here to pack up this room, maybe after we're done and you have behaved yourself I'll reward you."

I pulled out some trunks from a box room down the hall and Bell and I spent the afternoon packing. It didn't go as fast as I thought it would because she would stop over some item and ask a question about it or she would catch me staring at something and ask what was going on in my head. Finally we just went ahead and opened a connection to share our thoughts as we moved through the room. We finished and sat in companionable silence on the floor. With my hand I was tracing a path from her knee to her hip and back. She watched my every movement, her eyelids were heavy and her lips were parted and my eyes were glued to those lips they were just begging to be kissed. I leaned forward and grazed my lips across her cheek seeking those luscious lips that were mine and only mine. My head felt light as I touched those treasures and I closed my eyes basking in their softness and how they responded to me.

By now my cock was so hard I could feel the seams along my crotch starting to give. Bella palmed me through my jeans and I jumped at her touch. She giggled and leaned over to undo the button and zipper and I sprang out if she had been any closer I would have put out her eye. Yeah I was commando it was part of my plan before the real estate deal got in the way. With a sexy smirk she rubbed her thumb across the head of my dick and gathered the pre-cum popping it into her mouth and sucking "Mmmmm Mr. Cullen you taste so good, have you been waiting long?"

I couldn't think all I could do was watch her suck my pre-cum off of her thumb and I wanted her, I wanted my dick in her mouth. Bella pushed me back onto the floor and grabbed me firmly in her hand and then I had a thought come flying out of left field and I had to know the answer. So I did the last thing I ever thought I would do I stopped her. "Bella darling, stop!"

She pouted, sat up and let go. "Bella I hope you know that no one could possibly love you more than I do. And I want to give you the world, but I have to ask you something and it can't wait."

"Edward, what the hell are you talking about?"

"This is going to sound insane considering I'm sitting here with an erection that is painful and I have the hottest wife in the world before me, but I have to know just this one little thing."

"You're crazy alright, but fire away."

"Will you please let me go over our finances and investments with you when we get to Canada?"

"Let me get this right you stopped me from giving you a blow job, to ask if I would agree to a Cullen economics lesson?"

I was in agony right now and I just wanted to bury myself in her warm wet depths. I was in such bad shape all I could do was nod yes. She smoothed my hair back out of my face and said, "Okay."

Then I tackled her stripped us both and buried my cock in my wife, and with a huge sigh of relief I said "Thank you Bella."

She belly laughed which did strange things to my dick and said, "You're welcome."

And with that I established a punishing pace until she was screaming my name. During that afternoon I went down on my wife and tasted myself mixed with her addictive nectar, she in turn tasted me again. We ventured to have sex in the claw foot tub and in the adjoining shower to the master suite.

My favourite that day was sex over the butlers sink with the small mirror finished tiles on the back splash. Bella had run from the bathroom after teasing me with the towel that she kept dropping to expose her gorgeous backside, my mind exploded when I saw her wiggle her ass at me and run. I caught her in the kitchen when I vaulted over the island and trapped her against the sink. She flipped herself around and pushed back at just the right angle, it surprised us both when I slid in and away we went. It took a lot of concentration on both our parts not to crumble the counter top or dent the sink but it was great sex. Watching multiple Bella's in that mirrored back splash in the throes of ecstasy was mind blowing.

We went back to my room to get our clothes and found everything unpacked and back the way it had been and yes there was the scent of not my mother but my father's fine English tobacco. We looked around unbelieving that all our hard work had been undone when we both heard a chuckle from further down the hall.

Bella was mortified. "Edward do you think your father just watch us have sex multiple times in multiple places?

"I don't know love. But it's possible I guess. Maybe we should set some ground rules for them visiting. And why the hell did they unpack my room?"

"Remember Tsura said that she thought the magic was in your room maybe they need all this to stay here in order for them to be able to come and back and forth." And once again we heard my father's voice clear as a bell, "bingo" accompanied by another chuckle.

"Okay Dad it stays as is, but I can't and won't stop our kids from coming in here." then I heard the rustle of silk and my mother's hand touching my cheek.

Bella caught her scent and said. "Hi Mrs. Masen."

"Bella love I think you can get away with calling her Elizabeth or Mom."

"Okay. Mom you and I have to talk about your peeping Tom husband later." We both heard my mother's laughter as she left the room.

BPOV

It was going to take some time to get use to having spectral in-laws there were so many things we needed to discuss and boundaries we had to set if they were going to be permanent house guests, and I wondered if they would be dropping by when we're in Canada.

"Edward do you think the others we saw in Alice's vision will come for a visit?"

Edward took his time thinking before answering. "Honestly I think they were there just to let us know that they were together and okay... and to give us affirmation. Lord knows Leah sat in on enough of your 'you have a soul lectures' to understand how important that would be to us.

She giggled "Yeah she always thought it was a 50/50 chance for everyone except Carlisle for him she said there was no doubt. She must have been shocked to see Jane and Demitri there with her. I wondered what she had to say about that. Hey love it's getting late are we going to the Lion King or not?"

"Yep I've got our tickets right here. Come on we can walk to the theatre from here. But honey back to Leah I don't think she would be the only one that would be shocked"

We made it out of the house without further incident. Edward's mother locked the door behind us and I had to chuckle just a bit to think that we had live in ghosts. Edward and I walked at a brisk human pace and consequently I didn't notice that the goon squad wasn't lurking nearby. But I kept getting this weird feeling that we were being watched maybe Wales had replaced our babysitters with ones that knew how to be covert.

I smiled to myself and looked at the gorgeous hunk of man to my right. But what I saw unnerved me, his jaw was tense and his eyes squinted like he was trying to concentrate. The streets were pretty congested with people and cars so he may just be overwhelmed by all the voices. I tugged on his hand and did a mental tap but he shook his head no. The only time Edward would do that was when he wanted to hide something from me or he was really concentrating I think in this case it was both. He picked up our pace and we were moving a little too fast for the people around us to be comfortable.

We found the theatre and the kids were there with Emmett, Rose and Simon but no Wales or Reagan. Beth jumped into Edward's arms a little too quickly so she was nervous too if she had left Simon for the safety of her Daddy's arms. Masen and Anthony came over and each grabbed a hold of one of my hands. "Hi guys! So where are the royals and their entourage?"

Emmett just shrugged his shoulders and Rose said. "They were here until about five minutes ago then Wales text one of his men and he and Reagan beat feet out of here. All they said was for us to wait for you two then go in and enjoy the show. They would try and join us after the intermission."

I decided to try and get some info out of my absurdly over protective husband. "Alright Edward what's going on, you heard something or someone on our way over here."

"I don't know Bella I only heard one word 'Caius' but I couldn't locate where it was coming from or from whom. I couldn't see Roma anywhere but I can't even say it was her voice, I just don't know."

Emmett got one of his stupid looks on his face. "Hey maybe you have another ghost following you bro."

"Shut the hell up Emmett! Do you remember what Carlisle said about sharing? We're surrounded by about a thousand people out here and any one of could hear you!"

"Ooops "Emmett made the gesture to lock his lips and throw away the key, yeah like that would work. Rose slapped him on the back of the head. But like the energizer bunny he just had to keep going."Hey Alice told us before she left that your Mom and Dad are sticking around for a while. But she said they'll behave themselves now that they can come and go. Ooooh did she tell you that they can go anywhere they want isn't that great!"

Rose crossed her arms and shook her head. "Edward I'd let you cut out his tongue if he wasn't so damned talented with it for other things, if you get my drift."

Bella grimaced, pursing her lips and nodding at the kids, "ROSE!"

Anthony turned and pulled on Edward's sleeve. "It's okay Dad Aunt Rose means cunninglus. We know what it means Masen Googled it."

Edward's mouth was open as he stood looking up at the clouds. "Umm yeah...well Anthony when umm... well when I told you that can find out a lot of things by Goggling...I didn't mean that you shouldn't ask us first... so we should sit with you..."

My husband was tongue tied and it was so darn cute so I thought I'd better rescue him. "Kids from now on when you want to Google anything come and get one of us first okay? There are bad sites on the internet that will give you the wrong information. So no more computer without us, at least until Daddy is able to install the parental control software on them."

The kids all nodded yes, but Masen had Edward's crooked smile on his face. I'll have to keep an eye on him he's just like his father, he could be very sneaky. I shook Masen's hand and he looked up at me "You will not monkey around with the parental controls Masen, do you understand?"

"Yes Mom, I understand." His face fell a little but his usual smile returned. So I'd still have to keep my eye on him.

The doors opened to the theatre and we all filed in. The play was wonderful I had never seen a live play other than High School productions. Edward was a bit of a snob about the music being mainstream and syrupy but he did see the appeal that it would have for children. Then Edward, Masen, Anthony and Simon ended up critiquing the orchestral arrangement and the conductor. Beth was discussing the costuming with Rose. Which left Emmett and I to show the appropriate level of enthusiasm for the sheer entertainment value, which meant we left the theatre following the others singing Hakuna Matata.

We found Wales and Reagan waiting for us in the theatre lobby and looking none too pleased. "Damn bitch gave us the slip!"

It felt weird that I was standing there listening to a King of England swear it was kind of funny. But hearing bitch said with a British accent made it sound pretty. "I'm going to go out on a limb here and assume that Roma is on our case again?"

"Yes and wished she'd been left to die of the plague."

I was a history nerd and that got my attention as the newbie I always wanted to hear about the where and when of other vampires. "You've yet to tell us the story behind Roma but you drop these hints every now and then. So Wales what is it?

WalPOV

"Shall we adjourn to the hotel?"

When we had gained the privacy of the penthouse the beautiful Bella ordered food for her children and Simon. Edward made sure that they knew what was expected of their manners while listening to my story. They were normally well behaved but inquisitive children. While I could not imagine being a father myself I admired Edward's dedication and his genuine affection for his children.

Once the food arrived and everyone was settled I began. "It's not a long story nor particularly interesting. Roma's name would have been Ester de Vere if she had been born on the right side of the sheets. But in fact she is the illegitimate daughter of Edward de Vere Earl of Essex and Anne Vavasour and was born in the year 1589. She was never acknowledged by her father, there's not even any mention of her in the history of the times unlike her brother Edward. In fact Elizabeth the 1st made her a sort of ward of the court but she held no position and had no fortune and she was basically raised by the palace servants. Even though she was well educated she was essentially treated as a non-identity in one of the most powerful courts in the world. She was no great beauty but she had a splendid figure and stunning sapphire blue eyes. But she was relegated to wearing only grey as if she was perpetually in mourning."

Bella fidgeted and asked. "Why did the Queen take her in she wasn't a relative, if she wasn't really anybody of importance."

"Ah Bella that's where your wrong everyone that is born of noble blood has the potential to be an important piece on the chess board of court intrigue, and the more pieces you have under your control the more power you possess."

"So what you're saying is she was a potential pawn, but otherwise had no value."

"Yes."

Edward looked quite perturbed, obviously he was still trying to read me but I wasn't about to let him get in my head. "Sadly when the Queen and her court went on one of her tours to save money at the cost of her nobles Ester was not among them. And she contracted the plague shortly before being abandoned by the court. While she was restricted to her rooms in an isolated portion of the palace she was faced with a terrible choice die of the plague or become one of us. I'm sure you'll not be surprised to hear that Caius was her sire."

Emmett looked like a kid ready to burst. "So you said her talent is to sort of displace herself, how did that happen and why?"

"It's a little more complex than that. You know the old saying about being 'seen but not heard' well she spent her entire life in a place where she was expected not only to be not heard, but she was not seen either. She excelled at getting around the palace going unnoticed and people rarely if ever talked to her. It was even more than blending in it was disappearing into her surroundings. As a vampire she is able to change how and where you perceive her."

Rose gave me a smug smile. "I can see how someone that subservient would appeal to Caius."

Reagan jump to answer this one. "That was the initial attraction but Roma or Ester if you will had been a firsthand observer and thereby student of the art of sucking up and seduction, she knew exactly how to appeal to Caius's vanity. She even changed her name to appeal to his Roman roots. However there was a backlash to all this. Having never been an active participant in society she had no idea how to handle the added attention she now had for being Caius's favourite, it drove her bonkers. I think she may already have been mad living in such isolation for all of her nineteen years she had never been loved. It makes for interesting material in the Nurture versus Nature debate."

The Cullens sat quietly and I wished at this time that I had Edward's talent. Or I could just borrow a little power and sort of listen in with him. I was totally amazed how everyone's thoughts went first to how awful Roma's life had been and how could they help her. Even Edward felt as his siblings did though his family was the most vulnerable with hybrid children and it was apparent that he was the main target.

"You people amaze me! She is a blood thirsty assassin, it's because of you that her lover and master is dead and once again the life she knew has been rip from her and you want to take her in like a wounded bird and fix her! What part of bonkers did you not understand shall I put it another way, she's loony, stark raving mad and she will not rest until she has killed those she believes responsible for Caius death. And she will take out anyone that gets in her way. You cannot fix this beast, she has to die!"

Oh, oh, mama bear Bella was pissed she took in a deep breath and she clasped her hands neatly in her lap but her knuckles were white. Obviously I shouldn't have been talking in front of the children about killing people.

"Edward I mean Wales...I can understand that you were brought up in an environment of court intrigue and plots. I can even see how they might have been discussed at your dinner table and as bedtime stories but that isn't done now.

I looked at Edward he smirked. He was a lucky devil to have such a magnificent woman for his mate not only was she incredibly sensual she was very self assured. I wonder how she was in bed.

Oh fuck Edward looks like he's ready to rip my head off. I must have let that one slip out, so I opened my mind to him... 'Edward sorry chum but you have to admit she is all of that and more you are a very lucky man!' He eased back in his seat a bit but I could see that I'd crossed the line and he wouldn't let me get away with it again. Edward reached out and hugged Bella to him kissing her under her ear. Why he doesn't just brand her and get it over with it's obvious that she belongs to him and in all fairness he belongs to her. In fact I don't think I've ever seen a mated pair with a closer bond. I always admired Carlisle for his selflessness and sacrifice but I think I may admire Edward even more for being the most human among them next to his wife.

EPOV

The fact that Wales came to Chicago for the sake of my family was flattering the fact that he kept his thoughts hidden bugged me to no end. I didn't like feeling that I was being used and Wales always made me feel like I was a pawn on his chess board. In truth I'd rather deal with Richard he tended to be more upfront about what was on his mind. Richard also tended to be a happier person overall so he was easier to be around. Wales was watching Bella and the children like they were a science experiment like he was assessing their usefulness. I knew he already wanted to use me that was obvious but he would be in for a surprise if he thought either Bella or I would let him near the kids.

Emmett had been watching the whole exchange and he let me know that he had been seeing the same things. Evidently I wasn't the only person that didn't find Wales to be as warm and fuzzy as his brother.

I was more than irritated at this point with his musing so I summarized his story. "Alright so we have a vampire that was grossly neglected as human and who is still feeling the sting of that over 500 years later. She was the lover of a sadistic beast who was her sire and mentor. She blames me and my family for his death and for her being alone again so I guess it's safe to say she's looking for revenge. Does that summarize everything?"

Reagan put her hand on Wales arm and pursed her lips. "Edward I can feel you mistrust of us and that probably comes from how we are so cloak and dagger about things. But all I can I say is that we to are a product of our upbringing we don't trust others easily. Perhaps since everyone's story is on the table you should hear mine and maybe understand us better. I'm the bastard daughter of Roger Mortimer and Isabella of France the wife of King Edward II of England. No I'm not in the history books either Bella. But I was raise at the court of my Uncle Kind Charles IV of France. I had a similar upbringing to Roma except my looks did not allow me to go unnoticed and I learned to use them to my advantage. So you see we're all kind of damaged goods. Unlike the members of the Cullen family we did not come from a loving and supportive environment prior to the exceptional circumstances that brought us into this life. "

God I'm surrounded by royals and all of them have had terrible lives as children no wonder they're arrogant and twisted, they had no sense of family or trust based on love. All of the Cullens entered his life under tragic circumstances but were all our lives happy and fulfilling before the change... Esme, Alice and Rose may disagree... and it is our human lives that essentially forged who we are, just as it did them. Vampires do not change the essence of who they are easily. The fact that my family is facing only Roma not the others is a testament to how we have been able to affect others, perhaps there is hope for our race after all.

"So Wales you're all a bunch of disgruntled and displaced royals and we're a bunch of revolutionary upstart commoners what's the plan to get rid of the shadow my family has acquired?"