You Raise Me Up

Sorry about the slow update, my Dolls. You know I don't mean it personally. I'm just muy, muy perezosa. HAHAHAHAAH! I DO pay attention in Spanish class! TAKE THAT MORTAL!!!! Anyways, let's roll this thang.

The usual disclaimers from previous chapters, mates.

Jasper grinned at me weakly. I smiled slightly back. It hurts, okay? You don't know our relationship… Most people would be disgusted by it, like Emmett. I can guarantee that Esme and Carlisle would be horrified by it. It's not like they were home for it though, so only Emmet, Jazz, and I understand what Edward is doing to our family. Are you catching on yet? Well, in the words of Emmett.

"Twincest," he told me clearly and boldly the first time he caught Jazz and me. I had stared at him as did Jasper. He busted out laughing and ended up getting conked on the head.

Now are you catching up? Good for you, little puppy. What? Oh, Psi has just informed me I'm not allowed to treat the insolents like mutts. O.K.

School. Edwards hangs on me every moment he can. I hear rumors about it, too. I've also been hearing rumors about our Twincest lately. Who spread those? Edward grinned at me from his place hanging off my arm as we walked to the Mason table at lunch. Jazz, Emm, Ang, and Ben were already there. Alice sat really, really close to my brother and she glared at me nastily when she saw me. Rose was chattering with Ang and Ben about who-knows-what. I sighed and sat myself across from Jazz who grinned at me. Edward took my lunch, giving me the apple. Alice sneered at me. Stupid cow.

"Why do you only take the apple?"

I looked up at Alice. I was really tempted to grin at her. Jazz begged me not to in his mind. I complied. Sighing, I murmured to her, "I can't… I can't tell you…" Under the table, Edward squeezed my knee gently. Jasper's eyes widened as he looked at me. Alice… Her thoughts were hazy.

Is it because they're vamps…? Like Jasper said?

That one thought was all I needed and I stood abruptly. Jasper glared at Alice for a fraction of a second and I gave Edward this look. He jumped up and looked at the three of us in confusion.

"Bells?" he whispered.

"We're leaving, Edward," I snapped at him. I hadn't meant to. I apologized to him with my eyes. He nodded and chastely kissed my cheek. I smiled gently and stormed out, ignoring Jasper and Emmett's frantic mental calls of my name.

I stalked out to my Volvo, Edward right behind. Automatically, the boy climbed into the passenger's side and I the driver's. I silently started my car and slammed on the gas, screeching out of the parking spot and, finally, the parking lot. (Here, MY remake of the Harassment scene in the book only… Twisted…) I was tightly clenching the steering wheel, hissing angrily at everything.

"Bells?"

"Talk about something unimportant before I turn around and kill my twin."

"My favorite song is Nine in the Afternoon by Panic at the Disco. What's yours?"

"Either," I ground out, trying to calm myself, "Here Without You by 3 Doors Down or In the Arms of an Angel by Sarah McLachlan."

"Why?" he asked. His voice said he was genuinely curious and I wish his thoughts did as well. I smiled softly.

"Here Without You because… Of my Laurent… In the Arms of an Angel because… Of my Edward," I murmured softly.

"Really? Why me?" I wonder if he pondered Laurent.

"Whenever I'm near Edward, I swear my heart is beating… Edward makes all the bad things during the Civil War go away. Edward reminds me what happiness really is," I explained, making a sharp left onto the road to La Push.

Edward's next words were hesitant. And his shyness just 'bout broke my heart. No wonder I love this little one next to me. "Wh-who… Bella… Who's Laurent…?" he whispered. I checked to make sure that no one was behind me and stopped. I looked at Edward.

Sighing, I told him, "Honey, wait till we get where we're to, okay?" he nodded. Sighing, I planted a kiss on his pale lips and pulled back, facing forward. I lightly pressed on the gas pedal and the car shot forward. He didn't speak for a long while until we pulled into little La Push. The wolves, well, MY wolves and Leah, were grouped around Jacob's house with the aforementioned young innocent staring at the buff men. I stopped the car and shut it off, climbing out of it. Edward was, obviously, in a daze when he climbed out of my car. Jacob and Seth rushed forward, taking him inside.

"Bella, you cannot come here uninvited," Sam chided. I stared at, not him, but Leah. She stared back. If there was one level Leah and I could connect on, it was hurt and heartbreak. She moved forward, pushing Sam out of her way. She moved to my side lithely and held out her arms. At my inhuman speed, I fled into the welcoming limbs of the one girl I could ever feel anything for. Sam was not even thinking.

Jeesh. What happened to B?

Goodness. I do hope she is alright.

Isabella…?

I closed my eyes and, for once, I wished I could cry.

Jazz… Betrayed our family secret.

Silence in thoughts and speech. No one dared move as they processed this information while Leah held me comfortingly. Suddenly, they were all in outrage except for Leah.

"SILENCE!" Sam yelled."Paul and I shall go have a…" he cleared his throat. "Talk with Jasper… Jared, you stay here." I pulled away from my comfort enough to toss Sam my car keys before Leah carried me in and Jared followed.

"Bells!" Edward exclaimed, jumping up from the couch. Leah let me go and Edward pulled me into a hug. I sighed and patted his head.

"Hey Honey," I murmured I my Western accent.

"Will you tell me now… who is Laurent?"

I smiled sadly at him and led him to the couch. Jacob handed me a small album. All of my pictures of Laurent were kept at the Black house so I would not go rabid on anyone. I held open my arms and Edward settled himself gently in my arms. I opened the book and began to tell him about Laurent. How we met was how I began.

"It was dark times," I told him, "dark times for all of us. Rich, poor, it was horrid in Columbia, South Carolina. It was during these times that we met. I was doing the shopping. I was paying high, high amounts for a pound or two of potatoes. He…" I smiled. "Laurent was the one sellin' me the potatoes." I sighed. "He asked me…"

"Howdy Miss. Now, mind tellin' me why such a pretty lil' lady such as yo'self is out doin' the shoppin' on a fine day like today?" asked the light, caramel skinned man behind the stall. I smiled sweetly from under my bonnet.

"Well sir, my Momma said ladies need to better themselves to be housewives even in these horrid times. And Momma wouldn't my brother come along with me," I replied, smiling at him. His dark brown eyes sparkled mischievously. His lips were quirked in a sweet smile and he let out a hearty laugh.

"These times ain't the ones pretty lil' missies should be out n' about alone, now are they, Miss?" he asked.

I smiled even wider. I like this man. "No sir. But Momma says every good lady must be able to do what her husband wants, sir."

He winked. "Really now, Darlin'?" inquired this stranger. I nodded. "Well, can I know this young lass's name?"

"Isabella Whitlock. And yours?"

"Laurent Jackmont, Honey," he replied, tilting his hat to me.

Edward sighed sadly. I told him about our lives, how we planned to get married and then how he got called off to war and he died… And Victoria ran away, and then the loss of Laurie Izzy, and our change… Edward curled up to me and just laid there when I finished my tale. I stroked his back lovingly, inhaling the scent of his hair. Edward would help replace the empty hole Laurent and Victoria left in my heart. He would. All on his own. I smiled.

In the arms of an Angel, fly away from here
From this dark, cold hotel room, and the endlessness that you fear
You are pulled from the wreckage of your silent reverie
You're in the arms of an Angel; may you find some comfort here

"I love you, Edward Anthony Mason…" I murmured, kissing his forehead.