You guys are awesome! Thanks for hanging with me on this wild ride!

TwilightMomofTwo helps me see the truth, even when I don't want to. :) Mwah bebe!

Project team beta is full of awesome people who do great things. Special thanks to shinrai and Love of Escapism. I can't leave well-enough alone and continued to tweak after they sent it back. If something's wrong, it's all my fault.

This transition always seemed to be the best time to switch to BPOV. We will hear from Edward again, but it will be a few chapters. SM owns all. I just warped things a bit. Here we go!


BPOV

"You bastard," I whispered. "I told you not to do that."

Edward flinched as though I'd struck him. "Bella, I—"

He stopped when I held up a weak hand. I couldn't deal with him yet. He just watched me, crouched and close enough to touch.

I tried to relax, moving my breath in and out. When I felt more steady, I looked over at the mess I'd made. The drops of shimmering, opaque fluid at the puddle's edge couldn't be missed. They moved slowly, rolling like mercury and gathering on one side.

I'd have to take care of that soon, but first, I had to get my body under control. Letting my head thump back against the wall, I concentrated on breathing and settling my stomach. In spite of how bad it was to vomit venom, I was grateful. The humiliation of having it come out the other end was too much to consider, especially with my current audience.

"Jasper, have you ever seen this? What's the venom doing?" a man asked. Curiosity and disbelief combined in his voice. Given his fascination, I could only assume this was Carlisle.

I wanted to be away from those observing eyes. Bracing my legs, I inched over, bumping into Edward. Too weak to stand, this was as far as I could go. For just a second, I allowed myself to relax against him. I may have been furious, but he was here, and I trusted him to keep me safe. Maybe that was foolish. I supposed I'd find out eventually.

I watched as Jasper shook his head. He was standing closer to me than the rest, putting himself between me and the women. I'm such a threat right now. Hell, I can't even stand.

Carlisle asked, "Edward, where did you bite her?"

"I started at the neck, then went to the ankles and wrists," Edward said, taking his eyes off me long enough to answer. "It was the same pattern you'd used with Emmett and Esme." He pointed at the mass on the floor. "I never got near her stomach. There's no reason the venom should have pooled there."

As if on cue, my gut made a horrible sound, and a low-level burning began again. Dammit. I'd hoped the worst was over.

"Water, please. A lot," I choked out, knowing they could hear the rumbling. "And a bucket." I was beyond being embarrassed. Pride was the last thing on my mind. I slumped down and curled inward, hoping the grinding in my stomach would stop, but knowing it wouldn't. Seconds later, Alice returned with what looked like a glass vase full of water, and Edward emptied some large decorative bowl, dumping the contents on the floor.

"Sorry about this. We don't have many glasses in the house." She set it near me and backed away slowly. Jasper watched her every move. Good. If the situation were reversed, I wouldn't trust me either.

I took the vase with shaky hands, downing the water. I hurried to get the fluid down, and some of it flowed out the sides of my mouth. Setting the empty vase on the floor, I took one deep breath and pulled the bowl close. I heard gasps as I shoved a finger down my throat and heaved the entire container of water back out of my system.

My gut wrenched and heaved as the water streamed out of my open mouth. God, how I hated this entire process. It took three rounds with my finger before I thought all the water was up and out. My ribs ached, and the horrible taste in my mouth was worse.

Looking down, I saw the thin layer of venom droplets on the water. They shimmered, silver-white, bobbing across the top like oil. They floated in one direction, gathering into a single mass at the side. It congealed, looking as though it would climb out if it could.

I should have noticed the dead silence in the room, but I was too focused on my own misery.

The vomiting triggered another round of coughing, and I brought up a large blood clot. Spitting it out, I aimed for the venom. Through half-lidded eyes, I watched as it changed direction and rolled across the floor, circling the clot. Some things never change.

I inhaled, wincing at the ache in my ribs. "God, that hurts," I muttered, curling back into my pseudo-fetal position. Now that the burning from the venom was subsiding, a different kind of burning had started. The better I felt, the more angry I became. Turning my head, I looked Edward in the eye.

"Edward. What part of 'no' wasn't clear? I didn't want you to try to change me! Getting shot was bad enough," I said with as much anger as I could muster in my depleted state. "Just so we're straight—no venom, ever again!"

"Bella, I had no idea—" He ran his hand through his hair, showing his frustration.

I supposed I couldn't blame him for not knowing what to say. Part of this was my fault, after all. I'd kept information from him, hoping to stop something like this from happening. Now, we were even more entwined. As usual, luck was not on my side.

I sighed. He deserved to hear it all. Then he could decide how much he wanted to be around me. I just needed to get my shit together to tell the tale and hope he believed me.

When no one else spoke, I gave them the once-over. They were all staring with various expressions of horror, disbelief, empathy, and curiosity.

"Okay," I said, knowing this wasn't going to go well. "Let's start again. How long was I out?" I asked, hoping a question might bring them out of the fog. I tightened my arms around my knees.

Cold was creeping over me, and the shivering would start soon. I didn't want them seeing how weak I was. Not that it mattered at this point, they could have done anything to me. If I wasn't careful, I was going to end up an experiment for Dr. Cullen after all. I edged closer to Edward.

The good doctor cleared his throat before speaking. "Bella, I don't think you understand. You weren't unconscious. You were dead. Your heart had stopped. We were making preparations to stage your accidental death." He spoke slowly, obviously believing he was giving me bad news.

"Yes. I understand my heart stopped. It's not the first time. It won't be the last. What I'm trying to figure out is how long it stopped this time," I said gritting my teeth. God, I'm cold. I dropped my forehead to my knees, giving up on eye contact. I was simply too tired.

"This has happened before?" Edward asked, putting an arm around me.

Part of me appreciated the gesture of support and part of me wanted to shove him off. Either way, his temperature wasn't helping. How I wished he was warm. "Many times." I gave a dry laugh, forgetting my ribs still ached, and I instantly regretted it.

"And it's happened with vampires before. You already knew where the venom would gather and how to get it out of your system. That's not something you figure out on the fly," Jasper said with grudging admiration. "You learn that from experience."

He didn't need a response. I stayed in my tight ball, wishing I could just go to sleep.

"Bella, may I? Please?" a gentle voice asked. A pretty woman held out a soft, warm-looking blanket.

My eyes filled at her kindness.

"I think sometimes we forget what it's like to be human. Please forgive us for taking so long to see what you needed." She shot an irritated look at Edward.

Not trusting myself to speak, I nodded my thanks, but couldn't reach up to grab it. I leaned forward as she wrapped it around me. Sighing again, I pulled the blanket close.

"Thank you," I whispered, dropping my head before she could see the tears gathering.

"Holy crap," Emmett muttered. "Edward, trust you to find the one chick who's even weirder than we are."

Multiple people shushed him, but I barked a short laugh, blinking rapidly. He was right.

"Please tell me how long I was out," I insisted. As I warmed up, the shivers eased, and fatigue was creeping in. I needed to know before I fell asleep.

"About six hours," Edward said.

"Plus ten or so riding out the venom," I muttered to myself, trying to keep it straight in my exhausted mind. "Crap. I'm late for work. Austin would have called Jake. I need my phone." The idea of Jake worrying sent a small rush of energy through me. I started the flimsy job of getting to my feet. Wobbling heavily, I held on to the wall to stay upright. Edward started to help me, but I pulled my elbow out of his hand. Nope, I'm still angry.

I shook my head at his crestfallen expression. We'd talk it through later. Right now, I needed to take care of details.

"Bella, I think you should rest," Carlisle said. "No matter the cause, what's happened has obviously been a physical strain."

I ignored him.

"Yeah, it looks like being dead takes a lot out of you," Emmett said.

More shushing, but they didn't need to. He was right again.

"Here," Alice said, handing me my phone, waiting until she knew I had a good grip. "Please sit back down."

I thanked her, shuffling to a leather footrest where I dropped gracelessly.

I called Jake, and he picked up before the end of the first ring.

"Bella, is that you?" He sounded frantic. I knew everyone in the room could hear everything, so I decided to keep the conversation light.

"It's me. I'm fine," I lied.

"Where are you?"

"I'm home. I didn't feel like going in today." He knew it was a lie. I didn't get sick, and I never blew off work.

"Don't bullshit me. If you were home you'd have answered your phone. Austin called me when you didn't show up and didn't call in. You scared us both." He paused, and I heard him take a deep breath. "First they start showing up at the bar, now this. I'm on my way home. I'll be there as soon as I can."

"I'm fine," I repeated.

I knew he didn't believe me, but I didn't use the emergency phrase we'd worked out. He knew that meant I wasn't in any real danger. Trying to sound calm, I reassured him, promising to call tomorrow. I'd explain everything then.

He was pissed, but he'd wait for me to call. Saying goodbye, I flipped the phone closed, letting it dangle from my fingers. I don't know how long I sat there with my elbows on my knees, hanging my head and trying to gather enough strength to figure out what to do next.

"Bella, you need to rest," Carlisle insisted.

I ignored him.

"And maybe take a shower," Rosalie added gently.

Her words brought me out of my stupor. Cleaning up was a good place to start. I was caked with dried blood, and I needed to brush my teeth. After I showered, I could figure out where to go next. When I stood this time, I was a little stronger.

"Blondie's right. Can I use your bathroom?" When I looked down, my T-shirt was hanging open. The center was ragged and bloody, the top and bottom probably ripped while tending my wound. My bra had not made it unscathed and hung in severed halves from the straps on my shoulders. I was surprised they hadn't stripped me or changed my clothes. "And do you have something clean that might fit?" If anyone had gotten a look at my chest, they didn't comment. Either they were too polite or shell-shocked to stare. I had bigger worries than my modesty.

I shouldn't leave until I'd cleaned up the mess I'd made. That was when I noticed the fireplace. It seemed like an odd thing for a vampire coven to have, but nothing about this had been expected. "Is that for show?" I asked, pointing at the empty hearth. "Or does it actually work?"

When they said it was functional, I dropped the blanket on the chair. Pulling the tattered shirt off was difficult, and Edward stepped forward to help. He stayed near as I awkwardly knelt beside the remains of the blood clot on the floor.

The venom had almost completely consumed it. I set the bloody edge of the shirt next to the venom. Within seconds, the silver liquid rolled onto the fabric, drawn to the blood. I did the same with the venom at the edge of the bowl, holding the shirt just above the water and letting the venom wick up the cloth. When it was all absorbed, I walked over and tossed the shirt into the fireplace. Grabbing a lighter from a decorative jar on the mantle, I lit the shirt. The venom ignited with a small plume of purple smoke. I pulled off the bloody bra and tossed it on top.

Keeping my audience in mind, I didn't look up as I retrieved the blanket and pulled it over my shoulders. When I was covered, I raised my eyes and found seven vampires staring at me, completely motionless. I hated it when they did the statue impersonation.

"Where can I find that shower?"

There was a pause before the kind woman replied. "Please forgive us, Bella. You're so special, and this is all new for us. We're forgetting our manners again. Please follow me."

I started up the steps, making a few unsure footfalls, before realizing Edward was behind me. He wasn't crowding me, but he was close enough to catch me if I fell. In spite of my anger, I was reassured to have him close.

About halfway down the hall, we made a right turn. I knew instantly this was not the master suite; it had to be Edward's room.

There was no bed, simply a long, tan leather couch. I recognized my black fleece blanket wadded up near the edge. I had vague memories of Edward wrapping me tight and cradling me close. Occasionally, his voice would cut though the pain. He was singing to me as the burning went on and on.

Burning that I hadn't needed to go through. Nope. Still mad.

The rest of the room was done in various shades of cream with red and black accents. Somehow it suited him. I was simply too tired to take in any more details.

The attached bathroom was over-the-top. The stone tile and countertops matched the color scheme from the bedroom. I heard Edward turn on the water while I dropped the blanket and started to unbutton my jeans, but I couldn't make my fingers cooperate. Tears sprang to my eyes again. I slumped against the sink and took deep breaths, trying to get myself under control.

It's the shock messing with my emotions. Keep it together, Bella.

"Please let me help you. It doesn't make you weak to accept help when you need it," Edward whispered over the sound of the shower.

Steam filled the bathroom as he unbuttoned my jeans and pulled them over my hips. His eyes never left mine while he pulled my underwear down to my knees. I held his shoulders as I moved from one foot to the next with him pulling them off. One cold hand ran over the puckered, reddened area on my chest where the bullet had torn through. "It's amazing."

He held out his hand, and I took it, walking into the shower and leaning against the wall for support. The scents of the soaps reminded me of Edward. I took a few seconds to enjoy the feeling of being pampered before a voice in the back of my head reminded me not to get used to it. This would end. The more I enjoyed it now, the more I would miss it later. Better to never experience something and not know what I'd missed.

Stiffening my spine, I finished the final rinse and stepped out of the shower, wrapping myself in a robe Edward had left hanging nearby. There was a brush, and a new toothbrush and toothpaste on the counter. They were almost as welcome as the shower. Being upright too long was taking a toll, and I needed to sit. I perched on the edge of the toilet seat, combing out my hair and making a simple braid. I was just finishing when someone knocked.

When I called out, Edward walked in, carrying a pile clothes. "Esme found some things she thinks will fit."

"I figured she was Carlisle's wife. Please thank her for me."

"I was hoping you would stay here and rest. I'll watch over you while you sleep. You're safe. When you wake up, we can talk about what happened. We're very curious and trying to understand, but you don't seem to be fazed by how extraordinary this is."

He gave me one of those half-smiles that told me he was about to say something he probably shouldn't.

"Besides, you promised to start talking, remember? I'm not saying right now, but soon. After you rest."

At his words, a fresh wave of fatigue washed over me. There was no way I was making it home. I'd have to trust Edward that I would be safe while my body finished putting itself back together. Turning my back to him, I let the robe fall, pulling on the soft, black pants and top.

"All right. Are you going to need that couch for the next few hours?" I asked, walking barefoot from the bathroom toward the only horizontal surface I could see. "I'll trust you, but if you bite me again, I'm going to kick your ass."

He tried to stifle a laugh and failed. "You've made it very clear what you think of my venom. I'll keep it to myself. I promise."

He didn't need to say anything else. I was half-asleep as soon as my head hit the cushion. I barely felt it when he pulled a blanket over me.

Waking to the sound of rain pattering on a roof, I was vaguely disoriented. I'd woken up in some strange places over the years, and I'd never gotten used to it. I sat up as memories from last night flooded back.

Lifting the edge of the shirt, I ran my hand over my chest. The skin was smooth and unscarred.

"I still don't understand," Edward repeated, obviously watching from the doorway. "I was there when they shot you. I held you while you died."

Once again, he'd been watching me while I slept. It was a creepy habit, and it would be stopping—right now.

Before I got a chance to say anything, Alice came in.

"Bella, you're awake," she said, setting a tray of food on the bedside table.

The blueberry muffin looked edible, but I didn't want to take any chances eating food I hadn't prepared. Something told me it was probably fine to consume, but so many years of being careful had taken its toll, and I couldn't bring myself to accept food cooked by vampires. I carefully inspected the shiny, red apple and decided it was probably safe.

"Please come down. We're all dying to hear your story. I have a feeling this is going to be a whopper." She bounced out of view.

Something in her comment irritated me. I balked at the idea of going downstairs and entertaining them. My history was mine to tell; they had no claim on me. If I decided to make a break for the front door, I didn't think they'd stop me. I wanted to just get up and go, but I couldn't do that to Edward. When I looked up, he was still in the doorway, watching me with a mixture of fascination and hope.

I stood up slowly, easing the stiffness in my joints and looking around the room. I was pleased to see that my panties and jeans were newly cleaned, and someone had brought up my boots, complete with new laces. My knife was still in the inside pocket, not that it would offer me any protection here. Once again turning my back to Edward, I stripped off the yoga pants, pulling on my panties and jeans. I knew his eyes followed my every move. Once my boots were in place, I finally began to feel like myself. There was even a hair brush and elastic on the dresser. When my hair was pulled back, I made quick work of the apple, knowing I'd need the energy.

"Let's go," I said. "We need to get this over with."

I followed Edward downstairs to find the rest of the family waiting in the living room. The fire was out and the fireplace cleaned. The spot on the floor where I'd vomited was now spotless. There were still a couple of chairs open, and when Edward gestured for me to sit, I shook my head. If I was going to tell my tale, I'd rather be standing. Walking helped burn off the adrenaline that came with telling uncomfortable details. I'd learned that the hard way over the years. There was just enough space in the living room to walk a few feet before returning. I probably looked like a caged cat, but I supposed that was better than sitting down, feeling tightly coiled. When Carlisle started talking, I paused.

"Bella, with everything that has happened, I didn't get a chance to introduce myself properly. Now that you're feeling better, I was hoping we could begin again. My name is Dr. Carlisle Cullen, and this is my wife, Esme. I know you've met my children. I wanted to let you know you are safe and welcome in our home, and I hope you don't mind telling us your story."

I tried to keep my expression blank. "Thank you, Dr. Cullen. We haven't met, but I feel as though I already know you. I'm not trying to be rude, but I was hoping we'd never meet." I hoped my voice was even, but knew some resentment bled into my tone.

"I'm afraid you have me at a disadvantage. We've never met. Could you help me understand how I've offended you?" Carlisle asked.

To his credit, he didn't sound angry, only curious. I walked back to the mantle and started studying the decorations lined up there. The tiny lighter I'd used to start the fire was back in place. I moved it slightly to the right, simply because I needed something to do. I knew they were all staring at me. I had to force myself to speak.

"We have a mutual acquaintance," I said finally, turning to look directly at Carlisle. "Aro went on and on about how much he admired you. By the time I made it out of Volterra, I never wanted to hear your name again."

Multiple voices echoed at once.

"How do you know Aro?"

"I knew she shouldn't be trusted."

"We need to determine what she knows before she brings them here."

In the fracas, I looked back at the lighter and wondered how often they used it. It still seemed odd they would have fire anywhere nearby. I turned back just in time to see Esme take a deep breath.

"Enough, everyone!" she said, and the room fell silent as though someone had flipped a switch.

I smiled. It looked like Mama didn't raise her voice often, but when she did, everyone listened. I liked her.

"This is not how we treat guests." She turned her head and looked at everyone in turn so they knew she meant business. "Bella has been through a horrible ordeal in the last twenty-four hours. We will treat her with respect and wait until she is ready to talk. She is our guest, and she will be treated as such."

I shook my head when she finished speaking. "Thank you, Esme, but I wasn't really welcomed into your home. I was dropped on your doorstep. I know Edward meant well, but he should have obeyed my wishes. If he had, I'd be at work right now."

"Are you saying the change and the venom had nothing to do with the fact that you're still standing here?" Edward asked, standing and walking toward me.

"Yes, that's exactly what I'm saying. Actually, your little biting stunt only delayed everything and made it more painful. That's why I told you not to do it. Do you always have a problem listening?" He'd completely ignored my wishes. If I had been dying, it was my choice to come back—or not. By disregarding that choice, he took my power from me.

"Bella, you were shot in the chest. No, that's not quite true, let me elaborate. You were shot through the heart! There was no way for me to know that if you died, you'd wake up a few hours later!"

For the first time since I met him, Edward sounded angry. I couldn't help but think it was about damn time. We could finally go a couple rounds.

"That's all true," I conceded. "But I asked you—no, I told you—that I didn't want you to bite me. I knew what you were and didn't want to be changed." My voice rose. "But you decided for me. Somehow, you knew better. If I had chosen to die last night, it wouldn't have been your business. You should have abided by my wishes. I meant no, dammit!" I crossed my arms over my chest and started straight into his golden eyes, daring him to disagree with me.

"You didn't give me enough information to make an informed decision! I did what I thought was best. I'm not apologizing for that!" He stared right back.

"Wow, are you always this pompous and self-righteous?" I took a step closer, not believing he wouldn't admit he was wrong.

"I'm not pompous, and if wanting to save your bullet-ridden hide makes self-righteous, then so be it." His jaw shut with a snap.

"My bullet-ridden hide would have been perfectly fine without you butting in," I told him, close enough to shake a finger in his face. "It's been fine for a damn long time without you!"

My breathing was the only sound in the room. Edward and I were too angry to make civil conversation, and I wasn't going to continue fighting in front of his family.

"Why don't the two of you go up to Edward's room and get it out of your system? I hate watching foreplay," Rose said, raising her eyebrow and motioning toward the stairs.

"She's right. You're killing me here," Jasper muttered, shifting in his seat.

"First off, that's crap! This is not foreplay. And secondly, what the hell did he mean by that?" I knew my voice went up an octave, but I couldn't help it. There was something else going on here.

Edward and Jasper exchanged glances, and I practically felt it when I made the connection.

"You've got another talent in this family? I narrowed my eyes at Edward. "Geez, what did you do, hang a sign? 'Family-style coven collecting any-and-all talented vampires.'" I waved my hands in the air, as though writing a banner in the sky.

When Jasper laughed, something else occurred to me. Fear ran through me, pushing the anger back. "How many in total?" I asked softly, looking between Jasper and Edward. I realized I was afraid of this answer.

How many talented vamps could Carlisle acquire before the Volturi saw them as a threat? My sudden fears must have registered with Jasper. He shot a concerned look at Edward who paused briefly, then nodded.

That shit was going to get very irritating.

"It's really just the three of us. Jasper can sense emotions, and Alice can see the future based on decisions people make. In the same way I can't hear you, she can't see you. We don't know what it means yet."

"If I had to guess, I'd say it had something to do with the fact that she was doing a doornail impersonation a few hours ago. Not much future to see there," Emmett said.

In spite of myself, I laughed. Finally, someone who didn't take the whole damn thing so seriously. No wonder Austin had liked Emmett on the spot.

I backed away from Edward and stood by the mantle. I didn't know how to respond to his controlling attitude, and I ignored the comments about the sexual tension. It wasn't that I didn't know it was there, I certainly did. I just didn't know what to do about it. It seemed like a good idea to ignore it and get back on track. If they wanted to hear my story, I'd need some promises first.

"Dr. Cullen, you left Volterra in 1720, is that right?" His eyes went a bit wide, but he nodded, so I kept going. "What's your relationship with Aro now? Are you close?" I was fairly sure I knew the answer, but I needed to hear it from him.

"I have not gone back to Volterra. Aro does not believe in my lifestyle choices. I've heard from others that he's beginning to fear how strong my family is becoming, especially considering the talents we've demonstrated. We do our best to stay below his notice and go on with our lives. I don't want any trouble from Volterra." He sounded so logical. I never thought I'd hear people talking about Aro with anything other than fear in their voice.

"I was hoping you would say something like that. What I have to tell you begins long before your time in Volterra, but I need a promise before I get started."

"And that promise would be?" Edward asked before Carlisle could respond.

"That none of you reveal my location to Aro, Felix or any of the other Volturi—I won't go back to Volterra. And I don't want to be responsible for bringing members of the guard to you."

Edward and Carlisle exchanged another one of those glances I'd started to hate. "Bella, you have our promise," Carlisle said.

I took a deep breath. It was now or never. "Whether you believe me or not is up to you. Either way, when we're done, I'm leaving. If you're smart, we won't see each other again."

Edward made a scoffing sound, and I ignored him.

"I was born in France sometime during the fall of 1398—"

"Hold it!" Emmett interrupted. "You're trying to tell us you're almost as old as Carlisle?" he asked, leaning back and crossing his arms over his chest. "Nope. I'm not buying it."

This wasn't going well. I hadn't even made it out of the crib yet. "It doesn't matter what you're buying, funny boy. Believe me or not, I don't care. Just sit back and pretend this is all some scary story I made up for slumber parties. You wouldn't be the first person who didn't believe me." I stood there, waiting for him to say something else. He looked around the room before throwing up his hands.

"What?" he asked. "None of you think this sounds ridiculous?"

"Bella, you realize that puts you smack dab in the center of the Hundred Years War, don't you?" Jasper asked, looking at me pointedly.

I couldn't help it; I laughed out loud. It figures he was a history buff.

Esme must have sensed that I was eager to get this over with. "We're going to hear her out. I want the full story, and no one will interrupt again," she said, looking pointedly at each of them. The implication was clear. Esme was in charge, and everyone was going to behave. "Bella, please continue."

She looked sweet, but she got her point across. I wasn't even in this family, and I was damn sure going to mind her.

I started again …


Next chapter is the start of Bella's backstory. You have all been so patient.

I love hearing what you think! Thank you for reading!