The crazy ass author of this story doesn't own any copyrighted material, but I'm hoping to own a ticket to see New Moon come Friday!

Black Swan

Chapter 8

Bella Swan-Black

"I'm sorry Bells," Alice says for the twentieth time in three hours, "I don't know what got into Tia, we raised her better than that."

I give the newly stripped and varnished cabinet one last swipe before turning to the diminutive woman, "Dammit Alice, just drop it. You know, I thought being a vampire would have made you calmer." I tug the glossy black braid that is hanging between her shoulder blades, "I'm not mad at you because your daughter decided to be a royal bitch."

"Where do you want this Bells?" Ben inquires while nodding his chin to the cedar chest in his arms.

"Um, I have no idea right now Ben," I confess, "Why are you pulling stuff out of the basement?"

I was outvoted earlier in the day when Alice and Edward thought it would be a good idea to convert the covered back porch into my bedroom so that I had a 'personal space' to retreat to when I needed a minute. Edward and Ben had driven back to the mansion to get materials, tools, and draft everyone else into the project to get it done faster. It must nearly be done if they have moved on to furniture moving.

"It looks like something that would go in your bedroom B," he admits, "Mom and grandma have one at the end of their beds so you being so close to them, I just kind of figured it would be something you did too. It's full of blankets and Edward didn't want you hurting yourself dragging it upstairs."

"Go ahead and put it in my room then, as long as the painting is done," I qualify, "That was my Grandma Swan's and it would kill me if something happened to it. Please be careful with it hun."

He nods solemnly and shifts the wooden box so that he has a more secure grip on it, "I swear I will take care of it aunt Bella."

He hobbles off just as Esme and Edward comes down the stairs. "Leah's room is all done sweetheart," Esme proclaims with a satisfied smirk, "I hope she likes what we did with it."

"I'm sure she will love it Mama E," I reassure her while fetching a Red Bull from the fridge. Edward gives the can a disapproving glance and I shrug a shoulder, "What? I need something to help me keep up with all the mythical creatures that have taken over my life. You need blood and I need caffeine."

He makes a face so I give him the mature response, I stick my tongue out at him and give him the finger, nearly making Alice fall off her ladder when she doubles over in a giggling fit. Edward just looks stunned.

"I told you that she grew up!" Alice shrieks amidst her mirthful guffaws.

Edward shakes his head, but I don't miss the little grin on his lips as he points towards the ceiling, "Jasper's finished laying the plywood floor in the attic and wants to know what you want stored up there."

"Anything that could get ruined when the basement leaks would be appreciated Jazz," I call out in a normal voice. It's funny how quickly I've taken to using the nicknames for everyone.

Alice suddenly stops laughing, "Everything just went blank on me," she growls, "So I have an idea of what's coming. Should we be here when Jacob drops off Seth and Leah?"

"I don't see why you shouldn't be," I answer while rinsing out my can and dropping it in the recycling bin, "Carlisle said that the treaty was firmly in place, right?"

Everyone in the rooms nods at my question, "Well, then Jake will just have to deal with who my friends are. He's seen pictures of you guys from way back then so he has no right to bitch on any front."

"Aren't you worried about what he might say to the children?" Edward inquires. He wants to meet Seth and Leah so badly but is afraid of what could happen to me because of Jake.

"Edward, I am a firm believer in getting to know someone before judging them," I lay a hand on his crossed arms, "And there is nothing Jake or the tribal council can do about who I make friends with."

"Can this affect your custody agreement?" Rosalie asks, her amazonian body taking up residence in the doorway.

I shake my head, "Unless somebody is is an escaped convict, drug dealer, or international super spy, I again don't see where anything in the custody agreement is being broken. Please guys, just relax, you're starting to freak me out."

"Carlisle and Emmett are going to be disappointed that they didn't get to meet the children," Esme pouts in a despondent voice.

I walk over and lay my head on her shoulder, "It's alright Esme, I'm sure that they will get a chance to meet my brats soon enough. Just think of it this way, you will get to go home and brag that you got to meet Leah and Seth first."

She snakes a frigid arm around my waist and presses a kiss into my hair, "You're right Bells." She sighs and straightens up, clapping her hands twice, "Okay kids, let's get this stuff cleaned up as much as we can before Bella has to go back into mom mode!"

Twenty minutes later, we hear the tires of Jake's police issued SUV roll to a stop. I inwardly sigh with relief that the house is immaculate and am putting my pan of ziti in the oven to bake as they walk up the path to the door.

"Mom, we're home!" Leah shouts and I hear boots being dropped onto the hardwood.

"In the kitchen Lee-Lee!" I call back, ignoring Alice's snicker at Leah's nickname.

"What is that smell?" I hear Jake's voice right before he struts into the room, carrying the kids' bags. He stops dead when he spots everyone sitting around the kitchen table, playing rummy. "What are they doing here?"

I take the bags from him, "Jake, these are my friends from back in the day." I use my free hand to point, "That's Alice and her husband Jasper. The blonde bomb shell is Rosalie and her adopted son Ben. The gorgeous girl beside Ben is everyone's mom Esme, and this, this is Edward."

Jake's espresso hued orbs look like they are trying to escape his head, "Is that the Edward? Edward Cullen? What, are you back with him now? How long has this been going on? Don't you know what they are?"

"It's not like it's any of your business any more Jacob, but Edward and I just started talking again in the past couple of weeks," I explain as calmly as I can, "When Alice and Rosalie found out, they insisted on everyone coming out to see me since we haven't seen each other or talked in so long."

"You didn't answer my other questions Bella," he challenges and I notice his hands are now trembling.

"Jake, number one, calm the fuck down before I tranquilize your ass," I snap, forcing him to look back to me, "And number two, it's none of your goddamn business if I'm seeing Edward or not. As for knowing, of course I know, and I don't give a shit. They are still my friends."

"No they aren't," he growls and I move to stand between him and the others, who have answered with growls of their own, "Leeches aren't people, let alone anyone's friend."

"Yes, they are Jacob," I insist, feeling the anger threatening to overflow. Edward slips his hand into my right one and Esme takes hold of my mummified left, "These people are like family to me Jake, just as much as the pack is. I love all of them equally and I could care less of who has fur and who has fangs so stop trying to push me around, I'm not one of the pack that you can force to do what you want."

"Are you trying to get even with me for what happened Bella?" Jacob suddenly asks, startling me, "Is this some scheme for revenge because I couldn't imprint on you?"

I swiftly pulls my hands free and stomp across the room until I am standing toe to toe with my ex husband. "Let's get something straight right now," I hiss, venom dripping from my words as I poke him in the chest, "My world doesn't fucking revolve around you Jacob Black, it never has. My world does however revolve around our children. I am not trying to get even with you for anything, I'm just getting on with my life."

"How are you getting on with your life Bela?!" he shouts, "By becoming a plaything to a leech so he'll buy your way to a better life?! I can't believe you would whore yourself out for money!"

Suddenly I feel a sting on my cheek and I reflexively swing at his face. Next thing I know, I'm holding my left hand and the shattered remnants of my cast in my right arm and a snarling Edward is being held back by Ben and Jasper while Rosalie and Alice crouch defensively between me and Jake.

"I think it's time for you to leave Mr. Black," Esme states, holding me tightly to her chest, "I don't think you would enjoy losing your job for domestic violence, do you?"

"Mom!" Seth cries out from the stairs. He runs passed the group and touches my cheek where it has begun to throb.

"I'm okay Seth," I try to explain, but he charges at his father.

"You son of a bitch!" my son screams, pounding his fists on his father's chest, "First you cheat on mom, then you throw her away like she's nothing, now you're hitting her?! You are a fucking monster and I don't ever want to see you again! I will fucking murder you if you touch my mother again!"

"What's going on?" Leah asks, rushing in after hearing her twin's screams. She grabs her brother and pulls him back to a safe distance because Jake looks like he is about to lose it. Seth is careful not hit hit her, letting his arms go limp as she drags him across the kitchen and dumps him into a chair. "Dad, you have to go now," she murmurs, refusing to look at him, "Go phase and kill some dear or something. You need to calm down before you hurt someone else."

"I'm so sorry Bella," Jake mutters with a look of horror still etched onto his russet face. Before I can answer, he darts out the front door. I don't hear his truck start, so he must have ran towards the woods to follow his daughter's advice.

Edward blurs across the space and takes me into his arms, "Are you okay love? Did he hurt you?" He brushes the tender flesh on my face, "If Jazz and Ben hadn't grabbed me, I don't know what I would have done..."

"I'm fine Edward, my hand hurts more than anything. Please put me down," I turn around after he complies so I can see my children, "Are you guys okay?"

Leah bobs her head but Seth shakes his head slowly and his hands are still curled into fists, "I'm not going back to his house ever again mom. Hurting a woman is something you never ever do, no matter how angry you get. You need to call grandpa Charlie."

"Wait a second here," Leah grabs my uninjured hand, "Dad hit you? Why the hell would he do that?"

"He is upset about some things hun and thinks I cheated on him with Edward," I tell her.

My daughter shifts her dark eyes towards Edward, "You're Edward Cullen, aren't you? The one who broke my mom's heart."

Edward Cullen

I holds my hands, palms up, in surrender, "It was never my intent to hurt your mother Leah. My father had gotten a rare opportunity to study medicine in Italy that we agreed, as a family, he shouldn't pass up. That's why I left. It was never because I didn't love her, please understand that."

"So why are you here now?" Seth lilts, his voice calmer but no less defensive that his sister's.

"Because me and my family missed Bella and were lucky enough to be given the chance to reconnect," I defends genuinely, "As for us being in the house, your mom had an accident, as you can see, but wanted to get the house done for you kids before your father brought you home and we wanted to help. Your mother has been consider a part of our family for a very long time."

"Does this mean you're getting back with our mom?" Leah's eyes are icy with concern for her mother, I have to word this just right.

"I hope to be friends with your mom before anything and everything else," I cautiously elaborate, "And I will not lie to either of you and say that I do not have romantic feelings for Isabella, but I would never force them upon her or you. No matter what happens, I know that you will always come first in your mom's life, and I wouldn't have it any other way."

Leah pats her mothers hand and ignores Bella's warning glare as she stands to her full height before, "You hurt my mom, I break your face, got it?"

"Yes ma'am," I concur, no humor involved, "If I ever do anything to hurt your mother, I won't even stop you or Seth for putting me in my place. But I want both of you to know right now that I love your mother and hope to be around as long as she and both of you allow me to be."

"Okay, okay, enough with the interrogation guys," Bella commands from her position between my sisters, "I need to get another cast on this before I go to work tomorrow and my monsters need fed."

"Carlisle will be back after his shift Bella," my mother offers, "Maybe after dinner, we can all head to the house so he can patch you up."

"If that's not too much trouble," she answers, suddenly the shy, uncertain I remember from long ago. "What do you kids think?"

Seth and Leah nod their heads in agreement and everyone begins helping to finish the dinner preparations under Bella's watchful instruction. The smell of food is still unpleasant to my vampire senses, but after years of helping make food for Ben and Tia, I've mastered the ability to disguise my reactions.

To my surprise, neither child mentions the fact that none of us eat but Ben, who continuously praises Bella's knack for cooking throughout the meal. Everyone else wanders off to finish up various things while the four of them eat. I busy myself with washing up the dishes and tidying the kitchen just to stay close to Bella and keep an eye on her obvious discomfort.

When it comes time to head to our house, Leah and Seth choose to ride with me and their mom and I can see Bella's pride and slight amusement at her son and daughter's obvious protectiveness.

Halfway to my parents home, Seth catches my eye in the rear view mirror. "So, you're all vampires huh?" he asks as nonchalantly as if he had just asked about the weather, "That's pretty cool."

"Where did you hear that Seth?" Bella asks in a neutral tone while shifting the covered dish of food that she insisted on bringing for Tia, but her eyes are fearful as we steal a quick glance at one another.

"When dad was parking the car, he made a screwy face and grumbled something about bloodsuckers," the boy qualifies with a shrug, "I just put two and two together when dad flipped out and made a jackass out of himself. That and no one seemed shocked when Leah told dad to go phase and kill something."

"Do you eat people?" Leah blurts out a bit loudly, her body tensed.

I shake my head, "No, we don't eat people Leah. We hunt wild animals mostly. We do our best to find places with an overabundance of animals and thin the population. A few years ago my nephew, Ben, came up with the idea of donating the meat to homeless shelters so that it wasn't wasted. We are careful not to take in any animals that were sick so the human population aren't exposed."

"So what do you do for a living, besides be tall, pasty, and brooding?" Seth jokes, "Scout out locations to put your coffins or practice turning into mist to deflower unsuspecting virgins?"

"Seth!" Bella chastises her son, but I burst into quiet laughter.

"Nope," I say, popping the 'p', "No coffin missions or mist practice. We don't even have a decent dungeon to keep people prisoner in. I actually spend most of my time working at a veterinary clinic that my sister Alice and I opened just outside of Seattle. We also volunteer our time at various animal shelters in the area. It's our way of trying to be productive members of society."

"Sounds like the veggie vamp equivalent to fast food, just munch on the animals due to be euthanized," Leah deadpans as I turn off on to the hidden drive.

"We do drink from them on occasion because it is actually more humane than the chemicals used to end their lives," I admit, determined to be as honest as possible with my beloveds offspring, "But usually we try to find homes for them first."

I can hear the thoughts of my already gathered family. Even Tia seems a bit excited over the new arrivals, them being closer to her age and mindset, but she refuses to openly acknowledge it. Carlisle is nearly bouncing with excitement over meeting Seth and Leah. He, as I predicated, has already begun mentally calling them his grandchildren, much like Esme has been doing all day. He has everything prepared to x-ray Bella's hand and recast her damaged limb, a satisfied tone to his thoughts when he thinks about everyone explaining how Bella defended herself.

Emmett is with Ben and Jasper, preparing to pounce on Seth and drag him into the game room to show him their various game systems. Emmett is the only one who doesn't know about Bella's run in with Jacob, though I'm not sure why, except that Jasper and Ben want Bella to be the one to tell him.

Rosalie and Alice are finishing up internet orders, proud of their selections for Bella, Leah, and Seth. They are hoping that Leah hasn't inherited her mother's dislike of power shopping. Tia is in her room, hiding, but keeps looking out her window as she watches for my car to come into view. Esme is simply happy and smug at the thoughts of having her family complete and under one roof.

I park the Mercedes in front of the house, quickly exiting it and coming around to help Bella out. Once I have an arm around her and the covered dish in my free hand, I chance a kiss to her temple, "Ready for round two love?"

"Would it do any good if I said no?" she replies in a snarky voice.

I shake my head and chuckle, "Not one damn bit. They know we're here."

"Let's just get this over with then," she smirks nervously, winking at Seth as he takes her hand.

Mmmuaahhhaaahhhaa! You have to wait a bit to see how the family is going to get along now!

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