Disclaimer: Twilight isn't mine but the goofiness of these AU characters is all me.
AN: Okay, the beginning of this chapter will continue the story but there will be a small time jump. Allons-y!
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At first when I started to wake up, I was relieved. I hadn't had a single nightmare. Instead, I was adrift on an expansive sea of warm nothingness. It was safe and I wanted to stay. As soon as I remembered thinking those things, a cold tingle shot up my spine. There was an oxygen cannula in my nose, an IV in my arm and a quiet beep of a heart monitor. My throat was dry and my body was incredibly weak. Yeah, something really bad happened. I think I almost died.
I was alerted to someone in the room when he started speaking. His words made no sense and I soon realized I was only hearing one side of the conversation. It was Pete and he was talking funny so I was instantly curious.
"Yes, your highness... I absolutely agree. If we were to change her now, I am afraid she would not be strong enough to survive the venom. I would not risk my brother's mate. I am so thankful you understand, sir... Of course, as soon as she is healthy and the threat to her safety neutralized, she will be changed. It is what she wants sir... Ha! Oh yes sir, Emmett is quite pleased with Bella. He has claimed her and he will be the one to change her... Yes, her given name was Isabella but she will be going as Bella McCarty... No, not yet but they do intend to marry... Yes, once she is able to travel we will visit. Once again, thank you Marcus. Your advice is most valuable... Good tidings to your brothers and until we meet again, old friend," Peter's conversation seemed to be entirely focused on me. I opened my eyes and looked to my big brother. How bad am I?
"Well, first things first Nugget. Things are gonna change and you ain't gonna like it but tough shit. No more talkin' to me in your mind. E'ry time ya do it, you tap into your gift and your brain can't hang. You're killin' yourself, babe. Plain and simple," he tone left no room for argument and I didn't try. He hadn't led me the wrong way yet so I would give him the benefit of the doubt. For now, I was trying to figure out how to talk to him. My voice was not going to come back anytime soon. I mimed writing on my hand and he nodded, flying away and back with a pen and pad of paper.
What do we do now? Where is everyone? How long was I out?
Peter laughed at me and took my hand, "Everyone else is huntin'. They waited as long as they could but I knew it would go down like this so I went yesterday. It gave me a quiet time to call my old buddy King Marcus for help. That's why I was talkin' like some fuckin' fool Yank. They like us to be all proper and shit. Anyway, he said you got to keep focused on the present. Stay busy and keep your mind workin'. I got you enrolled in an advanced online high school. I know you're smart so don't be tryin' to get out of it. It'll keep ya busy so we can kill the bitches after ya and get your daddy back home. Bella, this is serious. You gotta do exactly as I say. Its the only way we can keep ya 'round long enough to change ya."
Okay, Petey-pire. Or should I say, Drill Sargent Whitlock?
His deep scarlet eyes twinkled as he looked out the window, "I wonder if I can get Char to call me that in bed..."
I threw my pen and pad at his head and dropped back on my pillows.
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It had been six months since the last time I intentionally used my gift. It had proven to be extremely difficult to find enough things to keep my brain engaged in the current moment. Alice and I had tried the mistake of yoga and meditation. All that did was open my gift up more and knock me out for another three days. I found out shortly after I woke up that fateful day in September, I had been flirting with death for eight days. Emmett had been close to mental collapse and the only thing keeping him sane was Ali and Pete promising I was still in their futures. When he came home from hunting, he just pulled me close and breathed in my scent. After that, I was even more committed to keeping my gift at bay. For him, always for him.
The best thing for staying in the moment were the online classes. I had already earned my high school diploma as Bella McCarty. Isabella Swan was a still me, I didn't see myself as a new person. A reinvented person, for sure, but still me. College was the obvious next step and I had jumped at the chance to enroll in the maximum amount of credits. Reading and burying myself in thesis papers was the easiest way to kill time. I'd always loved learning and now I had free reign to go crazy and stuff my brain with knowledge. I was taking history classes predominantly, considering my family had lived it I felt the need to know as much as possible. They all liked to chip in with their memories and perspective of the time and it just made me crave more.
My physical health was improving. I had a strict cardio workout schedule with Charlotte and self defense with Jasper. Em was no longer invited to watch either due to his leering and growling. Leering at Char and I, growling at Jazz. The last straw was the time Jasper was trying to show me how to escape a hold. Now, there would be no way for me to escape a vamp but learning the basics as a human would help me later and I needed as many distractions as possible. Anyway, Jazz was holding me with his arms crossed over my chest. He was being completely respectful and it honestly just felt like a big brother bear hug situation. Before I could try to execute the move we were working on, I was up a tree. Up a motherfucking tree! Em had had enough and decided to hide me in a tree while he taught his brother a lesson in "keeping his damn hands to his damn self!" Needless to say, Jazz kicked his ass while Ali got me down safely and he was kindly asked to never come back during training. Like ever.
Billy kept us up to date on whatever the pack could find out about Charlie and Jacob. Ali couldn't see wolves but Pete could get a vague sense of awareness from my dad. It wasn't much but it gave me some hope that we would save him.
Emmett and I were continuing to explore our relationship. He loved the scent of my hair and body products. That's when I learned that irises were the state flower of Tennessee, his home. His eyes shined when he spoke of his mother's irises and how he could smell them in the heat of the day when he would walk home from work. He told me of his childhood and living through the Great Depression. His human memories were vague but he could recall enough to remember he loved his family fiercely and he had been single when he died. He talked about his life with the Cullens and of Rosalie's never ending agenda to get him in her bed. Emmett swore he had never touched her and I believed him. I knew from my dreams who she was, a cold-hearted, soulless bitch. I wasn't sure if it was the terrible trauma of her human death or a defect in her brain but she was irreparably broken. Then, Emmett spoke of Edward. He told me about how he had to learn to guard his every thought, because although Edward could choose not to listen, he listened anyway. He was such a nosy bitch that he would chastise Emmett over even the smallest infraction. If Em cursed in his mind, had impure thoughts about an attractive woman, even if he got too graphic with his memories of a hunt, Edward would take it as his "big brother" duty to pummel Emmett with insults and his fists to bring him in line. Until one day. Emmett had been successful in guarding his mind for weeks. He saw a beautiful girl on the street one day when he was alone with Eddie. He said she looked exactly like me, but whatever. Anyway, he started to fantasize about all the nasty things he wanted to do to her, followed by draining her dry. Of course Em never intended to actually do it but Eddie boy was too damn stupid to realize it. He dragged his "baby brother" into the woods and started in on his insults and slaps. Emmett took it like he usually did for a few minutes. Then he stood to his full height and blocked his mind. He tore off Edward's arm that day and Eddie stayed out of his mind after that for the most part.
I told him all about my parents and Phil. He understood how Phil felt when his family turned their backs on him. When I started talking about Jacob and his obsession, Em pulled me in his lap and held me close. He wanted Jacob Black's head mounted above our fireplace. I told him fuck no, that's too creepy, even for vampires. Explaining my premonitions was difficult. I hadn't gone as in depth with the fear and pain they caused with Peter or Alice but I was completely open with Emmett. He needed to know, especially if they still occurred after I was turned.
Our physical relationship was hot, heavy, and all the time. Poor Jasper, he was constantly projecting our lust and desire. I think this was the most sex this group had seen in decades and all I could say was, "You're welcome!"
We hadn't heard from any of the Cullens and it was starting to bother Emmett. He didn't like to admit it but he was hurting. Carlisle and Esme always treated him as a lesser son. Once they realized he wasn't going to give into Rosalie's advances, he was shoved to the back burner. He told me about the time he met his singer. She had been young, only a teen, and he had fought his very hardest against it. Unfortunately, Edward had refused to hunt with him that day. Em was still young, only four years into his new life. While his control was reasonably good, fate was not on the girl's side that day. She had been going for an evening stroll in the woods behind the Cullen estate. He crossed her path and the rest was history. Rosalie found him crying over the girl's cold body several hours later. She had laughed at him. The entire family berated him and told him he was worthless. They told him if he slipped again, they would be rid of him. Thankfully Ali and Jasper found them soon after. Ali wouldn't confirm anything but I was fairly certain he was the only reason they went to the Olympic coven. She told me she had put Jazz and herself on the animal diet and their eyes were yellow when they found the Cullens. They hadn't needed them.
The distance created by his family caused Emmett to make a pretty big decision which I backed him on. He notified the Volturi and Carlisle and informed them he was taking his old name and joining the Whitlock coven. Carlisle was shocked and tried to convince him he was making a mistake, "Come home to your family, son." I still remember Em's voice going cold and hard, the words he spit sounded like the most vile curse he could place on his former coven leader, "I am no son of yours Carlisle Cullen. You have not contacted me in months. You have not inquired to the health of my mate. Hell, you haven't even acknowledged that I have a mate. I'm done. Bella and I are happy being McCartys. We are staying. Do not contact us and if you love your other two children, keep them far away. If they intend to bring harm to me or mine, I will dance on their ashes, are we clear?" Then he smashed his phone into dust.
None of us knew just what kind of can of worms Emmett opened that day.
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Alice and Charlotte had been trying to find a safe time and place for us to go shopping. It had been incredibly frustrating for Alice and the pixie was losing her shit. I felt like it was my fault but I also knew she could go and do whatever she liked at any time, she stayed to be with me.
"Yes! Char, get the car! Dallas is clear of vamps and wolves plus there is a storm rolling in. Now's our chance!" Ali squealed through the house. I jumped up from Em's lap because I knew there would be no winning an argument with my sister today. She had a "go bag" packed for each of us and of course she had a plan. The woman was just as good at strategic planning for a shopping trip as The Major was with a war. I reached for Emmett's hand to take him to our room for a private goodbye. Well, as private as it could be in a house full of vamps.
Em's eyes were darker than normal, if only slightly. I had noticed the stronger the emotion he was feeling, the darker the eyes. Something was bothering him. "Bigs? You alright?" I asked softly.
He nodded but pulled me closer to him, nuzzling his face into my hair, which he often did when he was feeling insecure or worried.
I grinned up at him slightly, leaning into his touch, "You know you're a terrible liar right? It isn't a bad thing, I happen to love it because I always know when something is bugging you. You gotta talk to me though, Em. I can't help if you don't tell me what's wrong."
Emmett's sigh was almost as big as him and I started to worry. Maybe he had changed his mind. We hadn't been able to go out very much and he had to be getting bored. I wouldn't have been at all shocked if he began to resent me. I was the reason his family and him had split. I really didn't think I could have blamed him if he did. Feeling as small as my nickname, I started to pull out of his arms, only to feel them tighten around me. "Where do you think you're going? Don't pull away from me, not right before you walk out the door into Christ only knows what. If I thought I could win against Ali and Char, your ass would be staying right where it is. I don't know, Tiny. I got a real bad feeling about this trip."
I could feel his concern and it really made me wish I could tap into my gift. I wouldn't, I had promised them all. Pete was convinced it would cause my death and his fear was enough to add the Gospel of Petey-pire to the Bible. That being said, now that I had finally found my place, my family, my home, I wasn't interested in taking unnecessary risks. "So...what do you need Emmett? Would you like me to stay?"
He pulled himself away from me so he could cup my chin and raise his eyes to mine. "Bella, I don't want to tell you what to do and I completely understand if you want to tell me to fuck off but, please, don't go. Not this time. Something isn't right. I trust Alice and Peter and their gifts but I can't explain it..." he trailed off and started to pace while pulling on his hair. "Shit! I just feel like if I let you walk out that door, I won't see you again. Babe, please!" Em dropped to his knees and pulled my legs forward so he could trap me in his vice-like arms. He laid his head against my stomach and squeezed just enough to make it impossible for me to get away, not that I planned on it.
Just as I had decided to stay home with him, Ali rushed in, her eyes huge. "Emmy! You were right! As soon as Bella decided to stay with you, I saw it. Rose, she's going to be looking for us at the stores I was planning on going to. I'm so sorry, you guys. She knows how my gift works, it looks like she's trying to skirt around it. No shopping for any of us for a while." She looked so sad and I wanted to make her feel better.
"Em, let me go. I'm going to teach our dear sisters the joy of online shopping!" I bent down and gave him a gentle kiss. "We'll be right in the media room. I won't even open a window without talking to-"
Emmett kissed me again to shut me up. "Media room. Where the big screen and video games are? Yeah, I'm coming and you're gonna teach them how to shop, then I'll teach you how to play Call of Duty." He kept kissing up and down my neck with his cool lips. I laughed because he was purposefully tickling me. Em leaned back and we just stared into each other's eyes for an indeterminable amount of time. I felt Alice's hand slip into mine and it brought me back a little. I knew if I looked into his eyes for too long I would be dazzled, which isn't a bad thing in my humble opinion, but it can cause my gift to go wonky.
We called Char to follow and we went to the huge media room. The guys were already playing, so after another too chaste kiss, Em went to join them. I dragged the girls to the computers and sat them down. As soon as I showed them the Macy's website, they squealed simultaneously and I just laughed. I wandered back over to the guys and sat on the floor between Emmett's legs. My head leaned against his knee and I closed my eyes, just trying to immerse myself in the warmth of home and family. I felt a cloud of brotherly love and turned to smile at Jazz. When I noticed Pete feeling left out, I grabbed his ankle and squeezed. I picked up the Yoda phone and sent him a text. Since I couldn't speak to him in his mind anymore, we kept up our habits of texting. It kept that small bond with my big brother that I felt was important.
Petey, are you feeling insecure? You know you're my favorite...well...other than Em ;) - B
Pete's phone buzzed so he took it out. He snorted quietly and broke out into barking laughter as soon as Jasper looked at him. "She said I'm her-"
There was a knock at the front door. We all froze, even Ali and Pete. This wasn't going to be good.
Before I could take my next breath, I was pressed into the far corner of the room behind Emmett and the rest. I knew my eyes were popping out of my head but that couldn't be helped. I looked to Em but his eyes were on Jasper. When I looked to at him, my back instantly straightened to attention. Well, helllloooo Major!
The Major stood tall and proud with glinting black eyes. When he spoke, his voice chilled me. "Lieutenant, Alice, Emmett. You will stay and guard the human. Captain, you will leave through the window and do recon. I will go to the door. Isabella, you will not move or speak. Follow orders, move out." He met my eyes and I nodded my understanding. I'm not an idiot. When the Major says jump, you jump as high as you fucking can until he says stop.
I was still holding my phone so I quickly turned the sound off and slipped it in Em's hand. He turned to look at me with confusion. I mouthed Peter to him and he understood. We needed a silent way to speak to him in case he needed to tell us something.
Praying wasn't something I usually did but that day I prayed my scrawny little ass off. Emmett looked at my phone and his eyes went black. He showed us all the one word text message from Peter.
Edward.
