Chapter 6

Could anyone really control their own destiny? Yesterday I believed I could and I would. Today, it was being chosen for me and Em. When you were given an ultimatum of surviving, your destiny really was in their hands. Each place and time becomes a new eye opener. A new lesson was taught to us about life.

If there was one thing in your life you could change, would you do it? How much of a difference would it really make anyway? Or would you still play it out the same way? Because essentially you knew what the outcome would end up being. Out of all the questions running through my mind I was still certain about one thing in my life. I would still do this with Em. The rest of it, who in the hell knows.

If we played the game their way; they wouldn't riddle us with holes, as they put it. But if we didn't, it stopped here and now. There were certain things Em had to do for them to trust him again and not to kill us. Also for him to stay inside the circle to be a part of the action and know what was going on. Because once you're on the outside of it, your ending wasn't pretty. It was either your death or being in prison. Those were the only options you had.

It would be rough to do the things they wanted. Of course they were all illegal too. My part was simple, I was his moll. Just his female companion to his gangster self. I was to be shown off and to keep my mouth shut about what went on around me.

His part however, sucked. I knew he could never hurt another person for no reason at all. But it was part of their game we had to play in order to stay alive. For me to stay alive anyway.

"I know where we can make a bigger score than that. It will cover the money you're talking about and then some. You can keep it all."

"Where and how?"

"I'm not stupid enough to give out the info about the caper and then be cut out of it. We do it together. And we walk away alive from here tonight."

"This better be real or else. Go see Tony in the morning. He has the list of bent cars you need to fill. We only have three days to make delivery on them to Detroit."

"Where is Tony?"

"The chop shop hacking up stolen cars. Oh and Muscles if you're thinking about skipping out on us. The big sleep will come for the both of you. Have I made myself clear?"

"Crystal."

"Here's some dough. Go get some decent clothes and a set of glad rags. So we can take the dames out for a night on the town. There are some people I want to introduce you to. Now beat it before I change my mind."

We had a lot of money with no place to go. At least we knew where we were, Chicago. Why we were really here, it remained to be seen.

"Are we really going to rob someone of their money?"

"Just Carlisle."

"What?"

"By now Carlisle has a shit load of money. So we give them some and it puts an end to it."

Only it wasn't as simple as just giving them the money. Em's plan was for it to be taken away from Carlisle. A real gangster would never be satisfied with being handed a bag of money. They have the need to be a part of it and to feel the sensation of the crime being committed. The question was would Carlisle go along with it?

"Let's rent a place to stay tonight. Then after we see Tony in the morning. We will go find Carlisle again."

The place we rented wasn't really fancy. But after going to what they called a flop house, I felt safe enough to close my eyes at least. You had to pay for a week in advanced. Apparently a lot of people did this instead of owning their homes.

After I laid down on the soft comfortable bed, I thought of Forks. It reminded me of my own bed. I couldn't remember the last time I slept on a real one. Charlie kept running through my mind. I know he doesn't need me to survive. He had done that a long time on his own before I showed up. But I still missed him.

Charlie was my last thought of the day because I woke up to Emmett shaking me. We still had to go buy some clothes before we could go see Tony. I couldn't walk around looking like I was from the old days as Ma so kindly pointed out.

The streets of Chicago were so different from I thought they would be. Musicians were on every street corner playing to make a buck. People sat at tables outside to eat their meals and drank their morning coffee while socializing. They actual had shoe shine stands scattered around town. The men sat on a huge wooden chair and read the newspaper while getting shined to perfection.

"Are you hungry Bella?"

"I'm starving."

Inside the small café there wasn't hardly anywhere to set down. People stood up at the long wooden bar to eat. We finally made it through the line to order.

"What can I get for you Doll?"

"A cup of coffee and three doughnuts please."

"A cup of Joe and three sugared sinkers."

Well that was a new one for me. What was even more confusing was the amount we owed.

"That'll be half."

After Em gave him a twenty-dollar bill to pay for my breakfast. He got back nineteen dollars and fifty cents back. I would have to remember it for later. Two bits, half, why can't they just say you owe fifty cents?

We walked down the street while I ate my damn sinker doughnuts. Until we came up on a clothing store. Em's eyes lit up when he saw a Fedora on a stand in the window. As we went through the door, I already knew where he was going.

The black Fedora had a red satin band around it. He flipped it around in his hand and put it on his head. It was one solid classy movement. His fingertips ran around the brim of it to make sure it was perfect. On him it was perfect.

No hat was complete without a suit to match it. The solid black pants, suit jacket and shirt were complimented with a red vest. I found a black tie with swirls of red in it.

"What do you think?"

"You're looking like a fine piece of gangster ass to me."

Em was looking really fine in that one. But the brown pinstripe suit melted me where I stood when I saw him in it. Of course he picked out a Fedora to match it too.

It was my turn to shop for clothing. I couldn't believe how much fashion had changed from where I just came from. The rack was marked bras. But they were just thin pieces of lace like camisoles without any support.

"Where are the bras?"

"Those are the newest line available. It's even mentioned in Vogue."

"Wow I didn't know Vogue was created so long ago."

"What are you talking about? The magazine just came out two years ago."

"Um... Can I try on the red dress please?"

Sometimes I forgot where I was and said things. Of course Vogue wasn't old here. But when she thought she was going to be making a bigger commission on another sale. She moved on from it and so did I.

The only reason I picked the dress was because it matched the band on Em's Fedora. It was nothing like I would ever wear but, I really liked it. Beaded fringe hung in layers all the way around it. When I twirled in front of the mirror, I had to have it. This time marked bare arms and shoulders to be shown. Only this one showed a little breast too. Since a little was all I had, I was happy with it.

There were only another couple of dresses I liked. The fashion got a lot shorter. They came just to your knees or under. It was the shoes that took me back to my childhood. Renee bought me a pair of Mary Janes when I was younger. Now it was all the rage.

Putting on a simple green dress to wear out of the store. The waist on most of them dropped very low. This one had a bow at about my thigh. Em found a little green box hat he thought I needed to have. Even though I didn't, I still wore it. With his brown pinstriped suit on he extended his arm and we left.

We went back to the hotel and dropped off our bags. Since we didn't have a car we had to walk to the mechanic shop. It was a front for disassembling stolen cars or changing the vehicle identification plate. A huge man about the size of Em met us at the front door. He crossed his arms and had a sour look on his face.

"What's the password?"

"Fuck if I know. I need to see Tony."

"Nobody sees Tony without knowing the password."

"Pretty boy didn't tell me what it was. I need the list. So get back there and tell Tony I'm here. Or I will go back and tell Pretty Boy his bent cars aren't going to be ready for delivery because of you. Then he will roll up in here with his boys and riddle you with holes. That makes the password; it's your ass on the line."

"Wait here."

Em's lingo changed with his clothes. You would have thought he was a bad ass gangster. Or a bad ass fangster depending on how you looked at it. He even threw the little accent twist on the words like Pretty Boy had. My chameleon always fitted in with his surroundings. Something I didn't do as well.

"Are you Muscles?"

"Yeah."

"Come into my office and we'll go over what I want heisted."

Inside they had blow torches going and everyone was running around being busy. Even they dressed in suits to chop up the cars. Some had their jackets off but still dressed up. Tony was giving Em a rundown of their operation. Even the password to get in was messed up; Hoochie Mama.

The one who greeted us didn't really take a liking to Em. He followed us around and tried to stare Em down. I had a news flash he picked on the wrong vampire for that.

"You better stop eye fucking me boy. I'll take you outside and whip your ass." Em was playing his role to perfection. Or he really meant it maybe.

"Muscles you don't have time for that shit. Eddie get back to work. Here is the list of cars. Now I'm gonna give you a car to use. Use your Dolly for a distraction if you need it. If you get busted, I don't know you. If you roll over on us, it's the big one for you and your Dolly. And you don't even want to know what will happen if you lead the flatfoots back here."

Once he said the guy's name. It was a numbing reminder of Edward. He would have already been changed by now and would be here. If we found Carlisle, we found him to. I guess being a distraction for Em to pull this off; was better than just a forgotten distraction of Edw..his.

The Ford Model-T was black and shiny he gave us to use. The leather inside still had the smell of it. The seat wasn't very thick and attached to a wooden board that extended across the length of the car. It was the dash-board that fascinated the hell out of me. Jacob would have loved this car. He liked old things and to fix them up. Only this one was in mint condition.

There was one thing I had to do since Em wouldn't let me drive it. I reached over and pushed the horn. The aooogah sound made me laugh. So I did it a few more times. Em however wasn't as fascinated by it.

"Bella we are driving around in a stolen vehicle. We really don't need any attention brought to us."

"Sorry."

Reaching over I did it one more time. I just couldn't help myself.

"Last time I promise."

On the list we had to find a Ford T-bucket. In the future it would become a hot rod classic. There was also a breeze car. They didn't care about the make or model just as long as it was a convertible. The last one was going to be the hardest, a Bugatti.

Em drove us over a couple of towns. It's true what they said; you never shit in your own back door. There were higher risks of getting caught the closer to Chicago we stayed.

The dirt paths they called roads were so dusty. It wasn't just the car covered with it, I was too. But Em kept going. The afternoon came quickly and we still never spotted any of the cars on the list. Until a young man stopped at the gas station on the outskirts of town. He was driving the convertible we needed. It was canary yellow of all colors.

The gas attendant came out and cranked the handle on the gas pump. It filled up a giant glass cylinder above the long round pump. After he finished pumping our gas Em gave him a dollar to pay for it. At twenty cents a gallon I only wished I could take a tanker full back with me. In the future it was considered black gold.

Em waited until the gentleman had his gas pumped for him. He wasn't from around these parts and was going to buy a soda. Which was still Coca-Cola in a glass bottle and it was a whole five cents. The other flavors were fruit flavored and root beer. Because I had already bought one. There was so much raw sugar in it. You could keep a sugar high going for a week.

"Bella drive."

"When do I shift it?"

"About every three miles an hour."

Being behind the wheel was nothing like I had driven before. Em hopped into the convertible and was already on the road before I could even get this damn thing started. You had to pump the gas several times. I started out in first gear and hoped I could just figure the rest out. Because they came running out of the station screaming.

"That's my car. Come back here you hooligan."

Honking the horn a couple of times as I left the parking lot. It wasn't like any more attention could be brought to us by doing it. Besides, I really liked it making the sound.

Following behind Em back to the chop shop. We made the first delivery. Of course they made it so easy to steal cars in this time era. It was probably why it was done so frequently. For the most part everyone left the keys in the ignition or above the visor so they wouldn't lose them.

"It's good Muscles. We'll have to paint it. The yellow will stick out like a sore thumb. Are ya coming back with anymore today?"

"I'm going searching again."

We began this search like we did the last one. I reached over and honked the horn a couple of times. Em was still outside of the car taking off his suit jacket.

"Away we go."

"You truly are ate up Bella."

"You're the one who told me to have fun with it. So I am."

Em straightened his Fedora on his head. His fingertips ran around the brim of it. Then he honked the horn too. Then he did it again.

"Away we go Doll."

This time we were more at ease. Maybe it was because we got away with the first heist. Or maybe it was just an enjoyable afternoon cruising around with each other. Hell it took a long time to get there when you were only going about thirty miles an hour.

The light breeze was blowing the leaves around on the ground as it cooled me off. The radio blared some scratchy sounding rag time tunes. We had nothing but laughter between us. It was the first for us.

When we crossed paths with a T-bucket. Em turned to all business quickly. He got over in the grass and turned around to follow it. We got off on another dirt road when it did. It stopped at a fairly nice house that had a long dirt driveway. He got out and went inside.

"Wait here for me."

Within seconds Em was beside the car. I left the motor running. I actually felt like a getaway driver in an old black and white movie. Just waiting to see how it all played out before my eyes.

He had the hot rod started and in reverse. He was in the yard when the wheels spun out leaving tire tracks behind. I thought this would be another easy score for us. But it didn't appear to be when the guy came running out of the house. He had a small detached garage with a car inside neither Em nor I counted on. A cop car.

"Oh shit."

The siren was blaring when it started down the driveway after his car. Em was swerving around in the road in front of me as fast as he turned it to get out on the road. There was so much dust being kicked up it was hard to see where I was going.

Needless to say the hot rod was going a lot faster than I was. I laid on the horn several time because I couldn't keep up with Em and the cop was hot on my ass. He backed up and was screaming for me to get in.

"What about the car?"

"Leave it and get in already."

First I grabbed his jacket then I hauled ass to get in with him. There was nothing to strap in with. No seat belt and not even as much as a oh shit handle to hold on to.

You could really feel every bump in the road as fast as he was going. I could still hear the siren even though in the dust you couldn't see anything. Em slammed on the brakes.

Up ahead of us were three cop cars. Two were pulled across the road blocking our way to the wooden bridge. The other set off to the side by itself. Just waiting for us. They had their guns drawn and I don't think they would hesitate to use them. I was starting to think stealing a car from a cop wasn't such a good idea anymore.

Em revved up the engine. So did the cop setting in the car. Em backed up and then revved it up again. The cop was already coming towards us.

"Oh shit what are you doing?"

"Haven't you ever played chicken before Bella?"

"No I have not and I'm not really excited about doing it now either."

"We can only go forward or backwards. It doesn't go as fast in reverse."

"How are we going to get around the cop cars?"

"We aren't going around them. We are going straight through them."

Em looked in the rear view mirror and ran his fingertips around his Fedora again. He looked over with a smile on his face. The way his hat was cocked on his head was so sexy. Perhaps if we weren't being chased by cops, riding in a stolen vehicle and could do some serious time if we got caught. I would have been turned on by it.

The tires were burning out when he floored it kicking up pounds of dirt. The cop didn't stop coming for us. When he started firing his gun, I was done with this.

"Those are real bullets. I don't want to see anymore."

So I covered my eyes with my hands. Em grabbed my shoulders and pushed my head down on his lap. Again if the situation had been different I would have found this sexy. He reached over me and kept shifting. While I felt the muscles in his legs flex each time to push in the clutch. Nothing was going to stop him. The sound of glass shattering when the bullets hit the windshield, it was all I could hear. Considering the windshield was all I had for protection since the car was opened, it was kind of important to me.

"Hold on Bella."

The impact of the hit threw me to the floor. His hand cradled my back as he caught me just before I hit it. He rolled me back on to the seat. When I looked back, Em went down the middle of the two cop cars. Just like he said he was going to do.

"If you can catch me coppers come and get me."

Em yelled it as he honked the horn laughing. We drove down the bridge and made our getaway. After we went a few miles down the road he pulled down in the grass. It was a hard way to get down to the woods.

It wasn't long until the cop cars drove on by us. We got out looking at the car. The front end was going to need a lot of work done to it. Technically they didn't specify it couldn't have a scratch or about a hundred on it.

Our road trip back to Chicago lead us down a different road. A much safer one since no one knew who we were. The shop was getting ready to close up for the night by the time we got back.

"Holy shit. What did you hit?"

"A couple of cop cars."

Tony just shook his head and muttered about Muscles being one crazy mother fucker. We still had one more car to lift. It would have to be tomorrow. Not to mention we had no clue where we could even find one at.

Em still had to see Pretty Boy before we could call it a night. To let him know we were holding up to our end of the bargain.

"Are we good now Pretty Boy? There is no more problems between us right?"

"As long as you're still of a use by being our Bruno, we don't have any problems."

He tossed Em a gold pinky ring with an M engraved in the center of it. Along with a list of names and the amount wrote down of what they owed.

"Make sure you leave your mark on them. Let everyone see the message of what happens when you fuck with us and don't pay up."

"I'll do it tomorrow."

"Good. Make sure you do. Tomorrow night the head honcho is coming to town. You and your dame should make an appearance at the club. What about the big caper we talked about?"

"It's already in motion."

Actually it wasn't yet. But he didn't know Em was lying to him so I guess it was okay. That was the next thing we planned on doing. Going to find Carlisle. Only this time he wouldn't be alone.

When we got back to the hotel. Going to sleep wasn't a problem for me. Em seemed a little restless about something. The best thing to do was give him space when he was like that.

(XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX)

"Are you sure Carlisle will be here?"

"Pretty sure."

"Okay."

"Are you nervous about seeing him?"

"No."

Em gave the look. The look that said he knew I was dreading seeing him. So I didn't even know why the fuck he asked me if he knew the answer already.

We approached it differently this time. The hospitals were our first stops. It only took going to three before we found Dr. Cullen.

"Emmett and Bella. Is everything alright?"

"You remember us this time?"

"Yes I do. I feel I should apologize for how I responded to you when my transformation was complete."

It was sort of strange how sometimes Carlisle would remember us. At other times he had no recollection of meeting us before.

"Please don't because there isn't any need to. We need your help again."

Carlisle invited us into his office. He was more than willing to help anyway he could. But then there were the others. Esme had adapted to her life for the most part and was doing well around human. I guess Alice seemed almost human as soon as she woke up from when her heart stopped. Then came the one I never wanted to see again.

"Bella is Edward's singer. I don't think it's such a good idea to have her around him."

"Come again?"

"It's okay Em. I have to deal with it sometime. We will come by later on this afternoon."

"Perhaps Emmett is right. Edward's control is progressing well. But if you're his singer there could be a problem."

"I don't care. I have to face the bastard sooner or later. It might as well be today."

"He's not the same person you knew in Forks."

"We will see you later Carlisle."

Em tried to convince me all the way back not to be around him. It wasn't going to change my mind about it. Some things in life you just have to do. Being face to face again with him was one of them.

We no more made it back to Chicago when Pretty Boy pulled up in front of the hotel. For some damn reason he wanted to witness Em going on shake down detail he was given. It worried me because maybe he wasn't buying mine and Em's story.

It worried me even more they wanted me to come along with them. I knew Em would protect me no matter what. But the day would come when he needed someone to protect him.

"First stop Muscles. He is the guy loading up lumber. Make him pay or make him bleed." When Em got out so did I. No way was I staying with Pretty Boy.

The guy went to throw a piece of lumber on the pile when he saw Em standing there. A worried look crossed his face. It would have me as well if I seen big Em staring me down. As the guy started to run Em grabbed a hold of his suspenders.

"We can do this shit the easy way or the hard way. But if you try to run from me again the easy way is off the table."

Em was putting on such a good show. Pretty Boy was smiling as he lit a smoke up and listened to every word from the car.

"I won't run again. I don't have the money."

"Now that's a problem. Your problem."

Throwing the guy down to the ground behind the wood pile. I saw Em shove the money in the guy's pocket. His heart was always so big. I really never thought he could just hurt someone.

The show continued when Em picked the guy up by shirt and threw him again. Only this time it was so Pretty boy could witness how much of a bad ass Bruno enforcer he really was.

"What's this? Holding out on me are you?"

It was the same damn money Em gave him. He was paying off the loan shark for the guy.

"I swear I don't know where it came from."

"You don't ever cross Pretty Boy. I am taking it all."

Em was done. The guy's debt was paid in full. But Pretty Boy gave him the nod. Even though Em didn't want it to be that way, he had to send the message.

"Which side left or right?"

"Please mister. Don't' hit me."

Em looked over his shoulder and said it low. "Since he is watching me I kind of have to give you some chin music. Left or right?"

"Left."

The guy turned his head and closed his eyes. The punch was over quickly. It left the M indention in his cheek from the pinky ring. He fell to the ground holding his face. If he only knew what Em could really have done to him.

"Here's your money."

"You did good Muscles. We might make you part of our gang yet."

This went on for two more hours. Each place was a different person Em had to give money to just so he could take it back from them. The last guy could barely speak and his face was already swollen from a tooth ache. So Em had mercy and punched him in the arm. Then it was finally over.

Well Em's part was over while mine was just beginning. Because I had to go see the person I tried to leave behind. I tried with everything in me to block it out of my mind. The one who never really loved me.

We drove this time instead of running. I think Em was trying to prolong this trip as much as I wanted to. It would be late when we got there.

I was thankful Pretty Boy gave Em some cash for his collecting services. Which was our money to start with? At least we could rent a place to stay for the night before we headed back to Chicago tomorrow.

"We're almost there."

"I know."

"Are you okay Bella?"

"Yeah."

But I really wasn't. My hands were sweaty and my stomach felt like I had been kicked in it. I felt his hand on mine.

"We will do it together."

Reality was just up ahead. The road leading to their house. It was now or never.

"Thank you Em."

Alice was already outside to greet us. She looked like the Alice I knew from the future. Only the guy standing beside her wasn't Jasper.

"This is Lance."

"Wait. No Alice. What about Jasper?"

"Who is Jasper?"

We saved Alice but hurt another, Jasper. Now that Alice was hooked up with Lance she will never meet the one she was supposed to.

"What have I done?"

There was only one way to maybe jog her memory. I took out my phone and found a picture of Jasper standing behind her with his arms around her waist.

"Do you remember him now?"

"No."

"Of course you don't remember. You haven't met him yet. In any of your visions of the future did you see a man who looked anything like him?"

"No. I'm sorry. I'm sure he is a really nice man though. You seem so sad Bella. But I'm not. Perhaps Jasper and I were never really meant to be."

"By the way Lance, hello I'm Bella. It's really nice to meet you."

Not only did I hurt Jasper, I must have hurt Lance's feelings. Because I was being rude without thinking about it. It wasn't as though I didn't like him. It was just a big shock to me seeing Alice with someone other than Jasper.

From what I could tell Lance was completely different from Jasper. From his looks to the way he presented himself. His British accent was pretty hard to miss too. I hoped it wasn't going to hurt Alice in the long run.

"Hey I'm Emmett."

"It's nice to meet you both. Alice talks about you a lot."

"You remember us?"

"Of course I do silly. I had a vision of you coming to find us today."

It was strange how she remembered us because we had only seen her once. As many times as we bounced around the world I was confused if we saw her in the past or future. Hell I didn't know anymore.

Carlisle and Esme came out next. They looked just as cute, adorable and happy together as they always did.

"This is Esme."

"Hello."

"Hey Esme."

Em wasn't shy he hugged her like he always had. She gave him a sweet smile like loving Esme would.

The screen door shut. He was stand off to himself with the same black eyes he had my first day in Forks. It felt like they were piercing straight through me.

"Edward are you going to say hello to everyone?"

Carlisle was trying to encourage him. But it was easy to tell who he didn't want to be around.

"Maybe I should leave."

"Please don't leave."

It was hard for him to get the words out. He must have tried to hold his breath. Because being so close to me for the first time was hard enough when he was almost a hundred years old. I can't imagine the pain he was going through still being sort of newborn.

When I left Forks with Em. I would have given anything to make sure Edw..he knew the pain I felt. The pain he caused me to feel. Standing before him now and seeing what it was doing to him. It wasn't so important to me anymore.

"Let's go inside and sit down."

The first thing I noticed was how I crossed my legs when I set down because I had a dress on. But Alice and Esme didn't. They crossed ankle over ankle. So I did the same.

Watching Alice and Lance together. They were completely adorable and seemed so much in love. But it just didn't feel right without Jasper here.

Maybe this was what my lesson was supposed to be from this era. Alice could be happy without Jasper. She was building a whole new life without him. There could be hope for me to still be happy and do the same someday.

"Bella is there anything I can get for you?"

"No thank you."

"Are you sure? Because I would be happy to do so."

"I said I'm fine."

It came out a lot more hateful than I intended for it to. There was a lot of anger and issues I still had to work out with him and myself. So I was going to start here and now.

"Edwa... I would appreciate if you could just keep your distance from me today. I am trying my hardest not to go off on you. Because I don't want to go there or be disrespectful in Carlisle and Esme's home."

"I will respect your wishes Bella. I'm sorry."

He had a hurt look on his face. I wasn't sure how much Carlisle had told him or if he even knew why I hated him so much. But in my heart it didn't really matter. He betrayed me even if he hadn't done it yet.

"Let's go for a hunt old chap."

Lance got him to leave. This was better for me. Em was telling Carlisle what he needed them to do. I was half listening and still thinking about how to get myself to a better place.

"What do you think Bella?"

"What?"

"About what we are going to wear to the club?"

"It's great Alice."

To be honest I had no idea what she planned on wearing. She would look great so it didn't really matter anyway. I must have missed a lot of the conversation because Alice was getting ready to take Em hunting.

This was as hard on Em as it was me being here. Hunting would be a break for him. He gave me a kiss on the cheek before he left.

"Alice seems to be doing great."

"She adjusted to being a vampire quickly without too many problems. It's fitting in with society she has trouble with. I think a lot of that is because her family hid her away most of the time."

"How did she meet Lance?"

"She was out hunting and I think he found her. It was just before we moved. After I changed Esme of course we had to leave. He wanted to be close to Alice and he moved with us. It was a chapter of her life she needed to close as well."

"Are you talking about Alice? What happened?"

"Alice wanted to know about her human life. She found out something that almost crushed her. Her father had her mother killed. He was married to a much younger woman two weeks after he institutionalized Alice. We also suspect they killed her sister as well. Alice would have been next on the list. Putting her in there was an easier way to get rid of her."

"That's horrible. Where is Alice's father now? You can't let him get away with it."

"He is buried beside his family. He suffered a mass coronary which his second wife gave him. She injected him with air into the blood stream to get his money."

"Does Alice know all of this?"

"Yes. She didn't want anything to do with getting revenge on her step mother. Alice walked away from it. We also helped her fake her death. Her plot is with her mother and sister like she wanted it."

It takes a lot of strength to move forward in life. To get over devastation and heart break. My little pity party I was having for myself was nothing compared to what Alice went through. What some of the others went through too.

"Can we have an honest and open conversation with you about Edward?"

"I guess so."

"I tried talking to him about you. He is a complicated young man Bella."

"How much did you tell him?"

"We touched on you're being his singer. Because I didn't want it to be a surprise and I wasn't sure how he would react to meeting you. He knows you're from the future and you were his fiancée. But he doesn't know why you two separated, just that you are. I thought it should be worked out between you the two of you."

Yeah working out why was still a big thing with me. I was going to try my hardest to not rip his dick off for what he did with Rosalie. But I still didn't want to be close to him in any way.

"I'm trying not to be a drama queen about it. But I still carry a lot of hate for him because of it."

"We can understand the way you feel Bella. It's just that Edward doesn't because in his eyes he has done nothing wrong."

"I'm not trying to change the subject but, I am. Do you think Em's plan will work?"

"I don't see why not. If a little money makes them go away then we will give it to them."

Even though I was listening to Esme and Carlisle talk. I drifted off into my own world. A world he shattered and I would never forgive him for it. I just had to get myself right with it. Until I forgave him was I really over it? Probably not and never really would be.

I could say the words a thousand times; I forgive him but it really meant nothing. Because every time I would see him, I would think of him and Rosalie being together.

Then the other person came to mind who was as hurt by all of this; Em. He would have longer to live with the same image. Maybe it was an image I could change for him some day. But I doubted it. Because I didn't think it would ever change for me either.

"Would it be all right if I lay down until Emmett gets back?"

"Of course Bella. Let me take you to our room."

Esme was the most loving out of all of them. It was a trait she showed to everyone around her. Of course their room was as fancy as I expected it to be.

When I laid my head down I didn't want to think about him anymore. But he was all that was on my mind.

(XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX)

It startled me when I woke up and saw him staring at me. I pulled the covers up and didn't make a move after that. Everything about us flashed through my mind all at once.

The warm sunny days we spent laughing and talking in our field. His skin sparkled like diamonds when he told me he loved me. When Tyler came speeding into the parking lot and he stopped the van from crushing me. It was the first time he held me in his arms. Those men circling around me and would have hurt me. His Volvo came to a screeching halt when he saved me. When I woke up in the hospital with a broken leg. He never left my side the whole time. Every night in my room. He was there watching me sleep just like he was doing now.

"You are very beautiful when you smile Bella. I know you want me to keep my distance from you. When I saw you laying here I couldn't help myself."

"You always did like to watch me sleep. It fascinated you for some reason."

"You said my name in your sleep several times. I'm sorry I didn't respect your wishes. But after I heard you say my name I sat down and just watched you."

"I...hey Em."

Em was standing in the doorway. He was leaning against the frame staring at me. I didn't even notice how long he had stood there.

"We need to go Bella. I have to meet Pretty Boy in a few hours."

As quick as the good thoughts came to me about him. I was brought to the reality of all the bad shit too.

After school Edward wanted to talk to me. You're not good enough for me Bella. I don't want you to come with us. It's for your safety Bella. That was always his excuse for anytime he lied or kept me in the dark about what was going on. I went to Edward's house to surprise him. Before I ever reached the bedroom door I already knew the truth.

"I have to go."

Edward followed us out to the car. I wasn't sure why. He shoved his hands into his pockets and was looking down at the ground.

"Will I ever see you again Bella?"

"Yeah sure."

We said our goodbyes to everyone and it was the last words Emmett spoke. We were half way back to Chicago when I broke the silence.

"Em is something wrong?"

"Nope."

It was the snide way he said it. I could tell something was going on with him. But he didn't want to acknowledge the fact I kept talking. Then he blurted it out.

"Did you have a nice visit with Edward?"

"It really wasn't a visit. He heard me saying his name in my sleep. When I woke up he was there. It was about the same time you got there."

"You say his name in your sleep every night Bella."

There wasn't much else to talk about between us. I was still trying to figure out how to get Edw..him off my mind once and for all. And Em, I'm not even sure what was going on with him.

When we got back to the hotel. I didn't feel like sleeping. Em had to go meet Pretty Boy and with the few hours of sleep I caught at the Cullen's, I was ready for breakfast.

Em gave me some money and left to get ready for the big heist. I chose the outside café just down the street. I set watching people walking by and how they talked. I still had a lot to learn about their lingo before we made our appearance at the night club.

Charlie always told me I had an older soul like him. I acted more like an adult even when I was still a young child. As though I should have lived in a different time. I sure as hell never usually fitted in where ever I went to. When I really thought about it. There has been only one person in my life other than Charlie who had never tried to change me even once. They accepted me for who I was or what I wanted to become. It made me miss Em a little more and made me defiantly appreciate the kind of person he truly was.

Maybe it was just meant to be this time I was I supposed to live in. Because I was really enjoying it. Except for the violence, the killing and the robbing part.

A group of young women were setting beside me. It was breakfast time and they were already liquoring up their coffee. I noticed they had flask stuck inside their garter belts or tied to their leg. They were sneaking it up pouring it in the cup and then nonchalantly putting it away.

There was no surprise to hear them referring to themselves as Flapper Girls. They were given me a good education by the things they said and stories they told. The Flappers made their stand against society. They wanted women to have the freedom of choice. In the process of that happening the new woman was born. She drank, smoked, drove and danced her way. When they finally got the right to vote, it only made them want more rights.

Cutting their hair short was just the beginning. The bobbed hair do was popular but some went even short than it. It was similar to a man's cut with finger waves.

"What are you looking at bitch?"

Letting my eyes fall back down to my plate. I thought I was being coy about my people watching. But I guess not. Each place we go is an education of different equates.

"It's okay honey. Caroline is always kind of mean. Why don't you come over here and sit with us?"

Ruth was kind to me. She made sure I was a part of their conversation. Caroline however reminded me of Rosalie in many ways.

"What do you have in your flask?"

"My flask?"

"Yeah. No respectable Flapper would be caught dead without one."

"Um….I lost it."

"I think I have a spare in my purse."

Of course she did and it was full of booze too. It was a silver flask with roses etched in the center of it. Since the prohibition was in full swing. They put their home made booze in everything they could.

"Thanks."

"Are you coming to the petting party?"

"What's that?"

"It's a party where you can hug and kiss whoever you want to and no one passes any judgment for it."

The Flapper girl was more than just a promiscuous woman; she was a lot of fun to. They made a devoted social event out of group kissing and touching with a lot of mass sexual foreplay. If I did go, I would only be a spectator to the sport. I had a feeling Ruth would be the star of it.

"The secret pass word to get in is Hoochie Mama. But don't tell anybody else."

"Sure."

Since every secret word we had heard so far was Hoochie Mama, it really wasn't that big of a secret. But I didn't say anything to Ruth. She wanted me to go back to her house to help get ready for the party. We stopped at the hotel and I left Em a note. So when he got back he could pick me up at her house.

What I noticed the most about this town was almost everything was in walking distance. Even though people were starting to drive cars around, still a lot didn't own one yet.

Her house was just a couple of blocks down the street from the café. It was small and really cute. Since she lived alone she didn't need a lot of room. The one thing they really liked in this era was dollies. Every table, chair and the couch had some on them.

"Which one of these records do you think we should play?"

What a blast from the past. I hadn't seen a record since I was a child because Renee had some. Technology progressed and compact disk were what everyone owned now...I mean in the future. The old phonograph player with the large horn for the speaker and large needle to play the records was worth a small fortune. I also noticed it had a handle you had to crank to get it to play.

"Um...I'm sure whatever you pick will be great."

"What dances do you want to do Bella?"

"I don't dance."

"How can you not dance? Everyone dances."

"Well I don't."

"I'll change that."

Ruth pushed all the furniture to one side of the living room. She was going to for the party tonight anyway. We started with the Charleston. She made it fun trying to learn. She also referred to the moves as the Lindy moves or swing steps.

I was really getting into it kicking my legs forward and backwards. Swing my arms just like she did. Until the last kick I made knocked a glass bowl of candy off the table.

"Shit I'm sorry."

"It's no big deal Bella. They will break more shit tonight from being drunk than this bowl."

"If you know they are going to destroy your home why would you have a party?"

"Because I am a fun kind of girl."

"Yes you are."

Ruth fixed us a couple of drinks. We went to set out of the back steps to cool off. Everyone in the neighborhood gathered here it seemed. The alley was the only thing to separate the rows of house from both sides.

"Bella this is Ralph. He will be making the alcohol for the party tonight."

"Hey."

"Hello. Would you care for a smoke?"

"No thanks." He handed one to Ruth and lit it for her.

"Are you going to be here tonight Bella?"

"Yes I am."

"Good. Save a kiss for me."

"Oh..well...I am bringing someone with me."

"Still save a kiss for me."

With a wink of his eye he walked back up the steps and disappeared into a house. After Ruth finished smoking we went back inside.

"Do you want to try the dance again?"

"I think I have danced enough."

"Well I am sure it is hard to dance not being cinched up."

"Cinched up?"

Apparently this was a time they tried to make their chest as flat as possible. So their boobs didn't bounce around while they were dancing. It was a women's goals to not have much boob and have more of a boyish figure. Hell I fit right in.

Ruth was a history lesson all of her own. When I listened to her talk I had no idea the Flapper girl played a huge role in the revolution of women. The slang word Flapper was to describe an unruly young woman who was like the baby bird learning to flap its wings on its own. Just like she was learning to fly as a new kind of woman.

However, the word derived from Northern England to mean a teenage girl whose hair was not put up yet. Their plaited pigtail flapped down their back. Or the oldest meaning, prostitute. It was a popular slang in England for a very young prostitute or used in a less derogatory sense of any lively young woman.

"You can borrow one of my corsets. Take your shirt off and I will help you cinch it up."

Instead of being like what we have. This one didn't fit at your boobs to lift them up. It fit over them and held them in close to your body.

I felt her finger tips running over my shoulder down to the middle of my back.

"You have really soft skin Bella."

"Um...thanks."

I was sure she meant nothing by it. But it was still making me feel a little strange with her touching me. I took it from her and quickly had it over my boobs so we could get this done. I must have thought wrong about her because she had it done in a couple of minutes.

"There you go Bella. It will make it easier to dance."

Then it happened. Her lips were on mine. Thank God there was a knock on the door because I was in shock. Nothing and I mean nothing had ever happened like that to me before.

"I'm here to pickup Bella I'm...why is your shirt off?"

"Thanks Ruth it's been fun. But I have to go now."

Before I ever made it out the door her lips were on mine again. Only I still had my mouth open from the previous experience.

"I will see you tonight at the petting party." I was out the door in a flash.

"What the hell is a petting party and why was that girl tonguing you?"

"We...I...I don't want to talk about it. How did your meeting go with Pretty Boy?"

"Good. Everything is set up for tonight. There is only one more thing to do and then we are done."

"What?"

A guy they had used to do a couple of safe cracking jobs, Fingers, was walking the line of right now. Not only did he refuse the last job he was offered to do but, they heard through the grapevine he was turning rat against them. They wanted Em to rub him out.

"What are you going to do?"

"Scare him. Then I will warn him if he rats on them and doesn't leave town, he's dead."

"Do you think it will work?"

"I hope so. Now why was that girl kissing you Bella?"

"Oh shit."

I kept walking ahead of him. I wasn't even getting into the conversation with him.

"Come on Bella. You know you want to tell me. You can walk in front of me I like the view from back here. You got any fries to go with that shake? There is some giggle in that wiggle baby."

"Really Em? I don't have time for this. We need to get ready for tonight."

"For you and your new friend's petting party?"

I of course ignored his comment and went to take a bath. I brushed my teeth a hundred times too. At least most places except rural areas had running water here.

After I dried off I put on the corset again. When I went out into the room Em was already dressed and ready.

"Will you help me?" It only took him seconds.

My red dress would be perfect to go to the club in. I also stuck the head band on and I was ready to go.

"Carlisle should be here soon. We are going to meet them down the street from the club."

Carlisle was our bread and butter man. The one with cash who flashed it around to catch their eyes. The others were supposed to come with him as a part of the group to prove they had a lot of money for the gangsters to take.

They were already there by the time Em and I made it. Edw..he didn't come and I was glad he didn't. Alice was dressed all in silver including her dress and accessories. She was the perfect Flapper girl. Carlisle stood out in a purple and white stripped zoot suit.

"What the fuck Carlisle? I said dress like you have a lot of money. Not like a pimp."

"A pimp?"

"Never mind. The secret password is Hoochie Mama. Let me and Bella get inside when you make your entrance."

There was a slide opening cut inside the wooden door. It slid open and in almost a whisper "What is the pass word?"

"Hoochie Mama."

After you walked down a few sets of stairs. You walked out into a full night club. With the music playing loud, a full dance floor and the illegal booze flowing. The smoke was so thick you could see the haze in the dim lights.

Pretty Boy was setting at a table with the other gangsters and broads, as he introduced them as. We sat down with them; he leaned over me and whispered to Em.

"Is it in place?"

"Yes. After we leave here. I will make the hit on them."

"Good."

Carlisle was throwing money around left and right. Their table was the life of the party. The cigarette girl came around in a body suit and black panty hose. She was carrying a wooden flat box with tons of different kinds in it with a neck strap to carry it by. I wondered if it was what gave Hue Heffner the idea for the playboy bunny outfit.

"Cigars, cigarettes. Cigars, cigarettes."

"Over here."

Carlisle was flashing large bills around. He was playing the role so damn well. He bought a bunch from her. Then gave a handful to Lance. Alice had a cigarette holder I think she was pretending to smoke from it. She fit in more than anyone. Although it made her cigarette look almost a foot long.

The booze was flowing freely with them. It wouldn't be hard to convince anyone they were drunk. Even though they never drank a drop of it.

Esme and Carlisle took the dance floor together. They were doing the Jitterbug. They were completely amazing together. I wouldn't expect anything less from them. It wasn't long until Alice and Lance joined them.

"Do you want to dance Bella?"

"No."

"This song is calling my name."

Em got up and took his suit jacket off. Then draped it over the back of the chair. He looked so damn handsome dressed in all black and red.

"You know how to do this stuff?"

"I got moves babe you ain't ever seen."

"Oh really John Travolta?"

He gave me a wink then slid across the dance floor. His hand was on his hat brim when he started moving his thing around. I might add he moved it very well too.

As he mimicked Michael Jackson when he spun around in place and had his foot crossed over his leg. With his Fedora cocked over part of his face. Then moved his thing around again. I thought some of the women were going to pass out from just watching him. The Flappers just thought they knew how to dance provocatively. Em gave them a lesson this time.

"I swear if you start moon walking or grab your crouch, I'm out of here." A smile crossed his face because I knew he heard me. But it didn't stop him from finishing his dance, his way.

They did a slow one. Of course it was my turn to dance with him. Slow dancing I didn't mind so much. Actually doing it with Em seemed sort of normal for me.

"Carlisle make them believe you're really drunk now."

Carlisle couldn't walk a straight line as he headed for the bathroom. He slopped his drink on to Pretty Boy when he fell over one of the chairs. By the cold stare he gave to Carlisle, it was a good thing we were in public.

"Sooo sorffy. Let me buy you suit."

Carlisle tossed some money down on the table and stumbled off to the bathroom.

"Damn it Carlisle. I said be drunk not stupid."

"Emmett that was mean. He is trying to help us."

"You're right it was. Sorry Carlisle."

We finished our dance and it was time for the second part of our plan to be put in action. Only Pretty Boy and a couple of his goons were coming along to make sure it went smoothly.

The car stopped at the address Em told them to go. It was a fake place they rented to make sure everything went according to plan.

When the others wanted to go in Em told them to wait outside. Only Eddie wasn't going to. He was showing Muscles just how much he really didn't like him. Em pulled out the gun Pretty Boy gave him to use.

"This is my fucking hit to make bones. Got that shit. You are not a part of it."

"Muscles maybe you should use Eddie as backup. After all there are four of them."

"I need someone out here to stand guard and cover anyone who runs out of the house. Besides if I fail, you get my cut too. So no matter what you get my cut. It's a win win for you either way."

"Fine kid. Let's see what you're really made of. Open up Chicago lightning on them. Your dame should wait in the car."

"I'm fine. I can take it."

"Suit yourself sweet cheeks."

Em kicked in the front door. Screams echoed through the night air. Shattering glass along with pleas of don't kill me. Gun shots were the last sounds made. Then it all fell silent.

"Let's get the hell out of here. I got the money."

"Not until I make sure the job is done."

I followed along behind the others. They staged the scene perfectly. The bodies appeared lifeless covered in blood. The furniture was knocked over. Lance's body was in the middle of the coffee table and the glass things lay shattered around it.

"Now we can go. Good job kid."

The others walked out ahead of me. I felt a hand on my ankle. It was Esme. She gave a smile. As I walked past Alice I whispered it.

"Even covered in blood you still look adorable."

"It's watered down ketchup. Thanks I love you too Bella." Then she fell right back into the slumped over position she had been in.

Somehow, some way we pulled off the great vampire caper. We made a clean sneak and escaped without any clues left behind. Pretty Boy praised Em all the way back. He more than doubled his loot and we made off with a lot of scratch. We had a lot of cabbage; folding money. It would be so much easier if they just said money.

"This settles my debt with you right Pretty Boy? Once I take care of the rat, I'm out."

"Yeah. Sure kid."

It was the way he said it. I didn't believe for one second he was ever going to let Em and me just walk away. We could only hope we had done what we were sent here to do and could move on from it.

Ruth was setting on the steps when he dropped us off at the hotel. "Where have you been? I thought you were coming to my party."

"We are. I can't wait to get there."

The smirk on Em's face when he said it. Made me think he was going to bring up the Ruth thing again.

"Your guy is the bees knees Bella."

"I think he is pretty awesome too."

They used so many ways to say the same thing; cat's pajamas, bees knees, swell, that's so Jake and cat's meow. It was so much easier to just say what they really meant.

The party was in full swing when we walked in. Ruth said she just needed a breather when she walked down to the hotel. After seeing it was wall to wall people I could understand why. You could barely squeeze by without rubbing up on another person. Maybe it was the whole point to this party.

The lights were dim in every room. Red clothes were laid over the lamps in the living room I think to set a mood. It was as smokey in here as it was in the club. My eyes were burning from it. I wasn't surprised this was an era when lung cancer started forming.

"Let me get you guys a drink."

Since the prohibition started. People got really creative how they made their illegal liquor. There were secret spots all over the house where she hid it. Ruth brought Em and me a glass of ice with some pink stuff in it. It was so strong even just a sip took my breath away.

"What is this?"

"Pink Murder."

"What's in it?"

"It's homemade gin. If you want anymore the bathtub is full."

They made it in the damn tub. The place where people washed their dirty nasty bodies after all. I was surprised if people survived getting gunned down on the streets and lung cancer. They didn't die from an infection of how they made their liquor.

Our glasses went into the sink. We were done with all of that. I filled my flask up with water. Occasionally Em would take a pretend swig from it.

On one side of the room they made a lineup of men. Each girl would go down the line making out with every guy in it. Well some were doing a little bit more than just making out. When a couple took off together it become clear they were going to do more than just make out.

Within an half of an hour of getting here. Almost everyone had hooked up for the night. Em had to almost fight some women off of him. He did give a kiss on the cheek to couple of them just to get them to go away.

They say free love started in the sixties. But history was fucking wrong. Free love started in the roaring twenties. The Flappers paved the way for it. She didn't care what society thought about her wanton ways. There were less wedding rings and a whole lot more getting it on. A couple of girls were casual walking around with their breast proudly bare and displayed for the world to see. They also didn't seem to mind when a guy, any guy, wanted to cop a feel either.

"Do you want make out?" I didn't even have to turn around when it was whispered in my ear. I knew who it was.

"I don't know. What are your intentions? Are they honorable or not?"

"Both."

I thought he was kidding until I turned around and saw his face. Then I wasn't any longer sure. But hey I was game for it either way.

With my hand in his we finally found a spot where no one else was. The back steps in the alley way. Since they didn't want to get busted for their booze they kept the party inside. Most were already drunk and making out so they were pretty occupied.

"I like it better out here. I don't make a party out of loving. I'm sort of a one on one kind of guy."

"Really. I thought you would like the variety of having different girls."

Em no longer wanted to talk. He wanted a little action. His kisses and touch were gentle at first and then it changed. He took his shirt off and tossed it over the railing of the steps. And he left his hat on.

"Fuck it."

Em was throwing caution to the wind. He pulled my body so close to his and held me in his arms. Our lips melted together in a crushing kiss. My mouth welcomed his tongue to be inside it. We were flirting at the line of no return. His pulsing cock was pushed against me while he had me pinned up against the brick wall of the house.

The embrace was impulsive, our kisses were responsive. The pursuit of each other was inevitable. In the urgent way our hands swept over the others imitate parts. We were touching, feeling, groping and were being like the Flapper girl. Reckless with the foreplay and not giving a damn if someone saw us doing it either.

But his hard cock straining against his pants betrayed him. It was oblivious he wanted me too. I was fumbling in the dark with his button and zipper.

"Are you sure Bella?"

"I'm sure."

"We're at a petting party. So pet me."

There was nothing sexier than a man without a shirt on in a Fedora. Except somehow he surpassed the word sexy tonight.

Em never tried to stop this time. My hand was stroking his hard throbbing cock. He was getting into it until we heard someone close to the back door. His pants were up and buttoned in a flash. He gave me a long kiss before he whispered it in my ear.

"Maybe we will finish this another time?"

"You can count on it."

"The party poured over to out here. How about a kiss Doll?"

"Thanks but my lips are tired from kissing her."

What Em said confused the guy enough not to say anymore. Or maybe he was just drunk enough he didn't get it.

With my hand in his we went up the stairs and back inside to say good bye to Ruth. But I still wondered how far things would have went if we hadn't got interrupted.

"Are you guys leaving already?"

"Yeah. Thanks for having us Ruth. It was fun."

Ruth was getting drunk already. When I saw her lean in, I threw my hand up over my mouth. She kissed it instead this time. Em just shook his head and snickered. She didn't seem to even notice.

"We need to go see Carlisle. We will threaten the rat tomorrow and should be able to leave this town finally."

"What about the last car we never stole?"

"That's why we are going to go see Carlisle."

"Huh?"

"His brand new Bugatti was supposed to be delivered today."

"Oh Em. Tell me we are not going to steal Carlisle's new car?"

"Steal it? No. He is going to give it to us."

Or at least it was the plan. Carlisle would just give up his car. We ran together so we could drive the not stolen, but they never know that, car back.

"You guys are ten minutes late."

Alice was still trying to perfect her visions. In the future she gets them down to the spilt second.

"Yeah badger traffic was a killer when we ran here."

"Huh?"

"Never mind Alice. What's going on with you guys?"

"Lance I were just discussing tonight. We had so much fun dancing together. We are going to go again soon."

"Do you know who else is a good dancer, Jasper? Boy he can really dance."

"I'm sure he is great. Lance and I are getting ready to take a trip. It will be our first one together. So we are getting a itinerary ready."

"Jasper loves to travel. His middle name should be traveling man."

"Will you take a walk with me?"

"Sure Em."

"Bella stop trying to shove Jasper down her throat."

"I feel so bad. What will happen to him now?"

"I don't know what will happen to him. Hell I don't even know what will happen to us by the end of the day. Jasper will have to make his own way just like we do."

"I'm sorry Em. You tried to warn me what could happen if we turned her early. Next time I will listen to you."

"No you won't. It's one of the things I love about you. You are never afraid to take a stand and you always put everyone else above yourself. I feel bad for Jasper too. But it's not like we can kill Alice and do it over."

"Yes we can. We can go back and change it so Jasper will still become a part of it."

"We are not changing anything else Bella. The shit we have already done may not be fixable. I'm not doing it."

"Okay."

"Edward is coming."

"Can I talk to you Emmett?"

"No."

"I want to apolig..."

"Save it."

It was the end of their conversation. We walked back to the house and Em went into the garage. He was right as normal. Carlisle's new Bugatti was delivered as right on cue for us. Only he didn't know it yet.

"Isn't she a beauty."

"Oh yeah and top of the line."

"They have only made twenty of these so far. I had it custom ordered to fit me."

What made the Bugatti so special was it ran off of steam and not gasoline. Since the automobile was new to everyone they were still experimenting with it and everyone had an idea to sell. This would become a collectors item in the future and finding one was a rarity. As the Bugatti perfected the luxury car and became a name for the rich and famous. But a flop as far as the world was concerned in the 1920's. The steam engines in cars died out as quickly as they were announced.

When Em explained what he wanted to with the car. I think this was one time Carlisle was not all in on the idea. Esme however was.

"Darling give Emmett the keys."

"What? I just got it."

"He is our son and needs it. Our children are important than a car."

"Yeah Carlisle give me the keys." Em was enjoying this a little too much. I actually felt bad about taking it.

"We will get you another one." Mother Esme was talking to Carlisle like you do when a child's balloon pops to comfort them.

"Okay."

They did a tug of with the keys before Carlisle finally let go. He stomped off like a little kid too.

Edward was standing at the door watching. "Why can't I read your mind?"

"You have never been able to."

"I am still working on it. I just thought it was me."

"Want to read my mind Edward?"

"I want to talk about it Emmett. I'm sorry..."

"Stay away from me. I'm not going to say it again."

Em left and so did I. But Edward followed after us.

"Bella can I talk to you?"

"No you can't. You get close to her and I will kick your ass."

"It's okay Em. I have to face this sooner or later."

"I'm in control Emmett. I'm not saying being close to Bella isn't difficult but I am in control."

"I mean it Edward. I won't be far Bella."

Edward just nodded. Either Em was speed talking to him. Or Edward read his mind loud and very clear.

"I kind of know why you hate me so badly after seeing in Emmett's mind. I don't know what to say exactly. Only in my defense I don't even know this person he is showing me images of."

"You get to know her real well in the future."

"Alice is always saying the future is never set in stone. Ours isn't either Bella. I will do anything to change it. Now that I know what I did, I will make sure it never happens. I will wait another hundred years to get to be by your side."

"Don't wait on my account. You couldn't wait for two more weeks for us to get married and be together."

"I'm so sorry. I am so ashamed of my actions. I don't believe in premarital sex."

"Well you seem to with her. Not with me however."

Edward finally realized he was getting nowhere with me. This was a different man and vampire than I knew. He was more open about himself and his life. Maybe if had done this when we were together, we still would be.

We talked for a couple of hours and time escaped me. I learned things about him I never knew. Again he choose now to tell me this.

"I need to get back."

Edward extended his arm to me. He just thought I pushed his limitation to the max and tried his control. But it was time for me to be a grown up and get past him. So I took his arm. He couldn't hurt me anymore than he already had.

"Where in the fuck have you been?"

Em blurred in front of us. He came out of nowhere. He wasn't looking to happy either.

"I'm sorry Em. I lost track of time. We were on our way back."

"I will take her back."

"I will walk Bella..."

"You heard me."

"Very well then. Bella I will wait for you until you're ready. Even if it is five hundred years." With a kiss on my cheek Edward was gone.

"I am really sorry Em. I didn't mean to worry you."

"I'm not upset with you. When you were gone so long I thought...it doesn't matter."

"Edward didn't try to hurt me. Really I'm fine. It's my fault."

"Give him time he will hurt you gain. One way or another. Besides I still owe the little fucker an ass kicking for fucking my wife."

Em wasn't having a good night. We ran until we were back to the house. I didn't know what to say to make him feel any better. Even if there was something I could say that would ever make him feel better.

"I need to hunt. I won't be gone long."

Em pressed something in my hand. "I thought you might want it back some day."

With a sweet kiss on the cheek and a low whisper in my ear. "You will always be my Dorothy. I can finish this alone if you want to stay here with him."

"Em wait." He kept walking and gave me a wave until he disappeared out of sight.

Emmett was in my head. No matter what I did I thought about him. The words he said to me were ringing loud. He gave me the ring back and then gave me an out if I wanted to take it. I wanted nether of those things.

Edw..he kept talking but I stopped listening to him a long time ago. Em suit jacket was lying on the back of the couch. I picked it up and inhaled deep. His scent was still so vivid and rich. I heard something crumple in his pocket when I went to lay it back down.

~~~~Bella~~~~

The stolen moments I've spent with her as we endlessly roam through time together. There isn't any day we've had so far. I don't count the minutes I'm thankful for, just to get to be with her and to know the real her. I would have never made it this far without her. I would like to believe the same of her.

A new lesson, a different outlook on life is given with the same warm embrace she lives by. She never notices the bad in people, especially me. Her main focus is always on how to make things better for the ones she loves. She will fight who and whatever to make sure it happens, including me.

Days and nights pass through the ages that bloom in front of us. Then the memories fade like wilting flowers the next place we go to. Each time I fear the most of when she no longer needs me. When she has bloomed past the love he gave her. I will become her faded memory just like the wilted flower of time.

We have no time to lose even though we are given more of it each day. We scramble through it for just one more chance to make it right. She believes we can right all the wrongs we've done in life, I don't. I only wish I would have realized some things before now. So I could have done things differently.

Waiting out on the front porch for him to return. There was no way he could shake me so easily. If he really believed I didn't need him, then he was crazier than even I was.

"Hey."

"You weren't supposed to see that."

"I will always need you Em."

"No you won't. The time will come and you won't."

"Maybe. But I still need you today and we have to get going to deliver the message to the rat. Then hopefully our job here is done and we can move on."

"Are you sure Bella?"

"Let me just tell you something. You are stuck with me Emmett McCarty Cullen. It's the way it is."

"Yes Ma'am."

I was ready to get the last task done and get the hell out of this town. But we were the ones who received the surprise when we got back to Chicago. He was waiting for us.

"Bella can you please excuse Emmett and I for a minute."

"Sure Carlisle."

My hearing wasn't like theirs. I couldn't hear everything they were saying. I did catch the end part when Carlisle walked away.

"We'll be there as soon as we're done here. I will stand and fight with you Carlisle. You can depend on me."

"What's wrong? Why is Carlisle here?"

"We have fucked up everything Bella. Alice saw the Volturri coming. Carlisle will have to stand trial with them for his coven."

"Oh shit. What the hell have we done?"

Since we were with Carlisle during his formation. He never served as a Volturri guard member. He was no longer safe from feeling their wrath. They only saw him becoming more powerful of a coven than their royal court. They always wanted Alice and Edw...him to become one of them. Because we had Carlisle turn Alice and she joined them early. Their coven would be considered a threat and on their radar.

"We have to fix this Em."

"I don't know how. I might not approve of the coven but I don't want it taken out this way. We can't do anything to help Carlisle until we finish this shit. So let's go get it done."

At the back door they slid the small opening and asked for secret pass word. We both looked at each other and said it together.

"Hoochie Mama."

Getting into the club was the easy part. Finding which one it was we needed to warn wasn't so easy. There were jazz players of all sorts here. They jammed together in the back. Others were drinking and smoking just watching. Even in the crowds they set drinking waiting for their turn on stage.

"Can you tell me where Fingers is?"

"Daniel is in his dressing room."

After telling us I wasn't sure how he got his nickname. I thought it was because he could crack any safe open. It could have also been because he played the piano.

We knocked on the door and no one would answer it. So Em opened it up and walked on in. The man sat alone in the dark. The glow of the cigarette he puffed on was the only light of the room. The clanking of the glass when the ice hit the bottom of the drink he quickly slammed down was the noise surrounding us. With an exhale of smoke he turned on the lamp next to him on the coffee table. He took an envelope from his jacket pocket he had draped over the back of the couch and placed it under the lamp.

"Why are you ratting on them?"

"So I could turn states evidence against them to protect my family. The cops fingered me for a job I did for them. What started out making a little side money I needed so desperately. Has turned into a nightmare with no way out for me."

"Do you even care about your wife and children?"

"I'm not a bad man. I am just a foolish one who turned a quick buck with the wrong people. Now I gotta pay the price for it."

The man took one last inhale from his cigarette then extinguished it in the ashtray beside him. He flipped his Fedora around in his hand and put it on. He used his fingers to make sure the brim was perfect as he ran them around the edge of it. He walked with his head held high to stand before Em as he put on his suit jacket. Then he turned his back to us to accept his fate.

"I guess they sent you here to rub me out. All I ask is you spare my family and make sure they never see this. I'm ready for it actually. I'm tired of living a lie."

Em let the gun fall from his hand to the floor. He was heading for the door and rather on the quick side too. Before we finished what we came here to do. So I had no clue what the hell was going on.

"What are you doing Em?"

"I can't do this."

"Why?"

"He's my father."

I hope you enjoyed reading me! They say free love and wild women started in the 60's. But after reading about the wild Flapper bitches. They paved the way for it.

A lot of you want to know about Edward. Will he become and part of this story? Of course he will. So far he has played the biggest role in Bella's life.

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