EPOV
"Who's up for a poker game?"
"I wager this time I will win!"
"You do this every time Em."
"But this time I mean it. And I will show you that –"
"You are such a loser at this game."
"Jasper, I swear you are in big trouble."
"Who? Me?"
Emmett didn't say anything but jumped on Jasper and almost knocked him to ground, but Jasper, being the best at these strategies, he knocked Emmett to the ground instead at the last moment. Besides me, Carlisle laughed and called for the fight to end but none of them was ready to listen and Carlisle was also enjoying this, weather he would to this agree or not.
We were sitting beside the camp we had made in Olympic forests, to pass the last night here. We had come here for our almost two days hunt, just the Cullen men. Emmett said that we men needed some time away from our girls. But they didn't acknowledge that I was dying, metaphorically, to go to Bella. I had talked to her the previous night but this night I wasn't able to talk to her due to network issues.
She sounded so cute and funny while she tried to flirt, which was actually good on her part. I just imagined what she would have looked like while that. Her cheeks would have been heating with her blush, and her eyes would sparkle with mischief. She would have stuck her tongue out if I were there, and look amazingly innocent and magnificent.
When Emmett heard a part of our conversation, he wasn't able to control his laughter that elicited from him. He was giddy that I had started dirty talks, and then soon Jasper found out about that. That night was one of the long nights as I had to hear their mental assaults as how I should speak dirty and what should I often speak more and many other things. And my brothers made it more uncomfortable for me as they started to think about their experiences in these. The fact that Carlisle didn't know about that was such a relief to me, and for that I was thankful to my brothers.
"Back to earth, lover boy." Jasper called, as he punched me on my arm. I shook my head, clearing my thoughts, and looked towards my brothers who were covered in a little mud. "Care for a poker game?"
"You always win Jasper." Emmett protested and smacked his elbow on Jasper's shoulder.
"I am in."
"Me too." We all turned to look at Carlisle. "What? Even I want a break from the hospitals."
"Yeah." We all boys murmured in unison. "Okay! So we all will be playing five games." Jasper announced.
"Nope. Lets play ten games. We still have a lot of time in out hands."
I looked at my watch to see that it was one in the night. "We have not that time, Emmett. It's already one, and we will be leaving by three. I promised Bella to be there before she wakes up."
"Aw, come on man." He protested using his child like voice. "One hour will do no damage. And it is a Sunday, so I wager Bella will be asleep even if you go there by eight."
"No Emmett. I –"
This time Carlisle interrupted me. "Don't be hard, Edward. Alice is there with Bella." Your brothers missed you too. At least you can play with them to make them feel good.
I signed in surrender. "But we will leave by four, no matter what."
"Done." my brothers agreed in an instant.
And so we played not just ten, but twenty games of poker, until it was near to four in the morning. When I suggested we should leave, Jasper and Emmett started pleading for a few more games, but this time Carlisle was with me and so we agreed to leave in no time. We packed the camping kit and drove to Forks in Emmett's jeep. It was still dark so Emmett was able to drive at the speed of hundred and eighty without the fear of being caught. We all joked a little, talked like teenagers, and my brothers kept making fun of me and how I am the oldest virgin ever.
"Will you two stop it? You are giving me a headache."
And the worst part was Carlisle was enjoying their teasing.
"Aw," Emmett showed concern in a mocking way. "Eddie is frustrated and having a headache because he is the oldest –"
"I said stop it Emmett, and once again you call me Eddie then –"
Jasper interrupted me. "Then what will you do Eddie?"
"Why am I talking to such jackasses?" I muttered to myself.
"Look Jasper, Eddie is using dirty words now!" And this made both of them laugh more hysterically. And as Jasper was laughing too, Carlisle couldn't control himself as Jasper was unknowingly sending vibes of laughter around us. Even I failed at not laughing with them and gave up.
They all kept teasing me for all the way, either mentally or verbally. And the worst part was that Carlisle was not trying to stop them. If Carlisle would have warned, then they both would've stopped teasing me, but no! He was enjoying fun at my expense too much, watching all three of us together, to stop it.
Emmett and Jasper, on our way, again started arguing childishly about Jasper always cheating. So they both decided to take a race to the Cullen mansion from Seattle. The one who lose will have to do Esme's lawn work for the whole week. I quickly told them that I wasn't in it and took the wheel and drove to Cullen mansion with Carlisle.
"They will never grow up," Carlisle chuckled at me for saying this. I looked at him and he raised his eyebrow. "no pun intended." I muttered. He laughed out loud and shook his head, but kept silent about it. He was thinking about Esme and the work he had to do at hospital, and this made me think about Bella more.
When we reached the Cullen mansion at around seven thirty, I all but jumped out of the car and ran to my room to change, but stopped mid way when I saw Alice sitting in the love seat, watching some old movie.
She was supposed to be sitting with Bella!
I went to her and stood in front of her, my posture rigid, demanding for answers. "What are you doing here?! I thought you were with Bella!" I hissed.
"I was, until this morning." She shrugged nonchalantly, still looking at the telly. "But when she woke up early morning, and wanted to read her books rather than look for new dresses, I came here to do some online shopping."
Leave it to Alice to talk about nothing but shopping and fashion. She knows Bella doesn't likes all that, then why does she asks for it again and again was beyond me.
Actually, if looked it properly, Alice was still sometimes beyond me.
Then something dawned on me which almost gave me goose bumps. "But why did she woke up early? Did she have any other nightmare?" I just hope the answer is no.
"I guess so!" This was the reason I didn't want to go for a hunt, to leave her alone. I should have known that she would have nightmares in my absence. I have already seen a small trailer of how her nightmares were. I loathed myself even more for leaving her, letting her think that I left her again.
This is not what you think it is. She looked up from the telly and looked at me. "She told me it was a nightmare, but didn't want to elaborate it, so I left the topic."
But if Alice is here, then it means she is alone now. What if she thinks we all left her again? I have to go to her as soon as possible.
"And is she alone now?"
"Not in that way!" She defended herself by crossing her arms over her chest. "I looked after her future and found that there was no immediate danger, actually no danger at all. She is safe. And you will be there in... ten minutes. Now go for a quick bath and then go to her, and let me do my work!"
"Work!" I scoffed while I climbed the stairs.
"Don't think that I didn't hear it!" Alice growled. I laughed and went in my room.
I was getting more eager to play my charade and go to my love.
After taking a quick bath and washing out all the dirt from my body, I ran to Bella, hoping that she is asleep now or at least not having any wrong thoughts.
When I reached her house, the first thing I did was to listen after her heartbeat. It was beating at a calming rhythm – indicating she was asleep – soothing my nerves. At least this was a relief that she was not having any nightmares. I quickly scaled the window and the scene in front of my eyes nearly took my breath away.
There she was, not sleeping but sitting by her bed, reading her book. The wind carried her luscious scent to me and I inhaled it greedily. Her hair – which was a two inch short then the last time I saw her – courtesy of Alice, I'm sure of that – was shining with a tint of a little red due to the small ray of sunshine that entered in her room. Her hair was swaying by the moist wind, covering her slightly pink cheeks. She now and then moved her hair out of her face with her fingers. She didn't acknowledge me, like she did that day, but I guess she was really involved in the book to notice anything.
One strand of her brown lock left her ear and danced its way to her jaw. I moved out of the window sill and kneeled beside her bed without making a noise and moved that lock from her face to behind her ear. I missed her warmth so much. Her warmth made its way to my heart and warmed it along with my skin with just a small touch.
My cold touch made her jump a little, and she quickly turned her face to look at me. Her eyes lost their focus as soon as they connected with me, and then she all but threw herself at me after shouting "Edward! You're back!" I didn't have any time to react to her enthusiasm, but I was also too excited to hold her in my arms after this two days. She attacked my mouth with hers and kissed me so forcefully that for a tenth of a second I lost my balance and stumbled back a little, but she didn't even noticed that.
Too caught up in the moment!
After a few seconds of assault of her lips on mine, I moved her face gently away with my hands. She was gasping for air with closed eyes, looking so serene, so tranquil with the pink in her cheeks. I kissed her eyes while she tried to get control on her breathing.
"Of course I am. I promised to be here by Sunday."
She pouted and opened her eyes to look at me.
God! She looked so beautiful with her pout.
"But you also promised to be here by six." Even her accusations seemed so hypnotizing when she pouted like this.
I cleared my mind of the not so gentleman thoughts and chuckled. "For that I am very sorry. My stupid brothers made me stay for some while more."
She laughed. "Apologize accepted." She was far too forgiving and holding grudges was not her style. "I am happy that you had a great time with others." She continued.
She put a hand on my cheek and traced below my eyes. Tracing the small bruises which were now almost invisible to us, but she was far too perspective.
This is my Bella. Always thinking about me.
"Did you got something good to eat?" She asked further as she settled on her bed while I was still kneeling down.
"Yup. But that wasn't that tasty." I muttered.
"And what according to you sounds more yummy?"
"Do you really need an answer?" I asked as I started lavishing her with kisses on her neck. She giggled as I kissed her below her ear and squirmed when I kissed her collarbone.
I kissed her forehead and settled us properly on her bed.
I sat with my back to the backrest and she mimicked my position. "Alice told me you woke up early. What happen?" She looked down, escaping my gaze, and played with the spine of the book. This means only one thing. "Did you had any nightmare?" I urged as I took her hand in mine, stopping its fidgeting.
"I don't want to talk about it."
"What happen Bella? What is it that you are hiding love?"
She swallowed and looked at me. She was looking so sad and horrified that I couldn't help from bringing her in my arms and pressing her against my chest. "Just a nightmare." she mumbled and hid her face in my chest.
Why was I having a feeling that this was not her usual nightmare?
I was frustrated, to sum it up in a few words. I wished and longed to know what is going in her head, but I can not do that. It was at times like this when I desperately wanted to read her thought, but I couldn't.
What a waste that the only intriguing mind to me was not readable!
I gave her time, because I knew she will talk when she was ready. Though it frustrated me to no end, I was not going to force her to say the words. I ran my hands through her hair in an act of calming her. She gave a glimpse in her thoughts after two minutes by voicing her thoughts. "I was in Volterra, and you... stepped in the sunlight... and then –" a few tears escaped her eyes. I instantly filled the gaps and understood what happened.
I brought her in my lap and rubbed her back with my hand to calm her nerves. Her heart was beating at an alarming rate, thanks to the mention of her nightmare.
I should have known better that not just my leaving but also our near death in Volterra have also left dark marks in her memories. "I am so sorry. So sorry." I apologized. If it wasn't for my foolish act, she wouldn't have been having such nightmares.
Alice was right. I am such a jerk!
"What are you apologizing for?" She asked, puzzled, and looked at me with her wet eyes.
Wasn't it crystal clear why I was apologizing? "For all the mistakes I had done. If it wasn't for me, you would not have been having such nightmares."
This made her remove her head from my chest and look at me with a look which said I was wrong. "But if it was not for my stupid decision of cliff diving, then nothing of this would've happen."
"This is where you are wrong Bella." I murmured, silently blaming myself for letting Bella ever think that this was all her fault. It was actually her nature to see everything good in the other and always smoulder the blame on her. "I should have talked to Alice. Just because of a little misunderstanding, due to me, I made you suffer a lot more than anyone should." I looked down at her, in her brown pools. Her eyes were again trying to tell me that I was wrong in this matter, that it was never my fault. "I know you think that if wasn't my fault, but it was. And I will never forget myself for letting all this happen. And never ever leave you again, unless you want me to." I promised her again. I had promised the same thing to her again and again, and I will still do, no matter what.
She shook her head, and was about to say something, and I had a better idea that it was related to saying that I was again wrong, or I was stuck with her for ever, so I quickly touched my lips to hers, silencing her. She was taken off guard by my sudden kiss, but obliged immediately and surrendered herself to me.
.
.
.
After two hours of her book reading, our talking about nothing in particular – she told me about her day yesterday, and how she and Mike had to work so hard, I actually felt bad for Mike, because he has helped Bella so much, but to a small extent – and her almost half hour chatting with her mom – where she said 'oh! ' or 'yes' at the proper time while the main information was filled in by her mother – she was bored. As she was not allowed to go outside the house, and there was nothing to do.
I was reading her a small passage that I had read in 'The Princess Bride', which was very well related to us.
It read as "Do I love you? My God, if your love were a grain of sand, mine would be a universe of beaches…I have stayed these years in my hovel because of you. I have taught myself languages because of you. I have made my body strong because I thought you might be pleased by a strong body. I have lived my life with only the prayer that some sudden dawn you might glance in my direction. I have not known a moment in years when the sight of you did not send my heart careening against my rib cage. I have not known a night when your visage did not accompany me to sleep. There has not been a morning when you did not flutter behind my waking eyelids…"
I looked down at her. She had her one hand on my chest while the other one was holding mine, her small fingers playing with my long ones. There was a constant smile playing on her lips.
She was breath-taking. There was no other word for her. "I love you."
She looked at me with so much love and trust. "I have for the first time found what I can truly love — I have found you. You are my sympathy — my better self — my good angel; I am bound to you with a strong attachment. I think you are good, gifted, lovely: a fervent, a solemn passion is conceived in my heart; it leans to you, draws you to my center and spring of life, wraps my existence about you — and, kindling in pure, powerful flame, fuses you and me in one." She quoted 'Jane Eyre'. "I love you too."
There was no need for other words, just a kiss. She thought the same as she slowly reached to connect our lips. I immediately obliged.
Carlisle always used to tell me that I was strong than I thought when it came to my relationship with Bella, and I always said that he was wrong. But I think he was right. I couldn't even kiss her properly eight months ago, and now I can kiss her as much as I love to, without any extra precautions.
Love is truly a miracle.
We both were lost in our thoughts when suddenly Bella exclaimed with a loud sigh. "Ugh! Can't we do something? I am getting so bored." She complained.
Hmm. I can take care of that. "Like what? We can go to the meadow, or go for a quick run, or –"
"I don't want to go outdoors now." She said in a tone of finality. "Though meadow seems a good option, but the sky is not promising. It will be raining and I don't want to get wet." She frowned at the mention of getting wet.
"We can ask Alice about that." I suggested. She instantly nodded her head, eager to get out. I chuckled and called Alice. She picked on the second ring, which was not an Alice thing. She usually picked up her phone before the phone could even ring. "Busy little sister."
She laughed. "Yeah, Somewhat like that. It will be raining in no time so you shouldn't go to your meadow, unless Bella wants to get wet, which is very unlikely. So, I'll prefer you bring her here. Charlie will not be coming till six, and neither he is going to call as none of his friends have a phone, so she can stay here till five, and Esme is going to cook them food, so no problem there."
"Okay. I'll ask her."
"You don't need to. I know she will say yes. Okay bye." She said all of this in her one breath and in vampire speed. How can she handle all this and not get dizzy with her zeal.
"Bye Alice." I said after she clicked the call off. Our one sided conversation was over within seconds and Bella was sitting patiently to hear what Alice had said. "She is unbelievable when she is agitated." I mumbled to myself, so low that Bella didn't hear anything.
When I didn't say anything, Bella cleared her throat. "So, where are we going?"
"Um, it will be raining in no time, so meadow is out of option."
"And so is running." She muttered with a smile. I thought she was over her running nausea.
I smiled and continued. "We can go to my house, stay there for a while." Only if Alice plans not to overwhelm you, I amended in my head. But I also knew that it was very unlikely.
"I like this idea." She grinned.
I grinned back. She was very forgiving and the way she is so approving of my family, I just had one question in my mind which was left unanswered. What is the reason which is making her deny my proposal? Was it really her mother's opinion? I don't think so. Was it the Jacob factor? I hope not. Was it the society pressure? Possible and probable.
I quickly filed that away and kissed her forehead. "Me too." She just blushed and said nothing. God, she was one day going to kill me by keeping her thoughts away from me.
I sighed with frustration over her silent mind. She understood quickly what was affecting me, being as perceptive she is, and included me in her mind's amazing thoughts. "I will be going to your house after a long time."
Surely she is forgetting something vital.
"Bella, you came to that house no more than five days ago." I reminded her. It had just been a five days she came to my house for the vote on her mortality.
"That is not called a greeting, Edward." She disagreed with a nonchalant wave of her hand. "That was an official meeting over my mortality." I clenched my teeth tightly over her nonchalant comment on the deal of her soul.
She was acting as if it was nothing!
I told her to get ready and leaped out of the bed when she went to change her clothes and went to the window, leaning on it to get my emotions under check.
I just wished that she understands why it was so difficult for me. Why I couldn't accept her just like me. She was far too good to lose her soul.
Bella had tried to convince me that I had a soul, and she was right to an extent. But even if she is right, to let her through the pain of transformation for three days, to hear her scream, it was too much. I would never be able to do that. And that to give her the pain myself. Knowing that it would be my venom which would make her scream, make her writhe in agony.
But what if she agreed to my marriage proposal? What if I would have to be the one to inject my venom in her blood? To tear her skin with my razor sharp teeth.
But I wanted that! I want to be the one, whose venom flows in her body. I want my teeth to pierce her skin to make her like me. I want her to be mine, in all the manners that count.
And that's why I am a selfish monster. Because deep inside my head, I know her fate is sealed, and I want her to go through all those notions so I can keep her with me forever. So that I do not lose her ever.
I heard Bella coming in the room but I wasn't able to compose myself because Bella immediately knew what happened that changed my mood so abruptly. She came from behind and wrapped her hands around my waist, with her cheek in between my shoulder blade. "You have to accept the reality, Edward. We both are not better without each other."
I sighed. "That doesn't means that I have to be happy about it." I explained her as I put my hands above hers and kissed her right palm.
She sighed but said nothing, letting me dwell in my mind, all the while holding me from behind, engulfing me in her warmth.
"Esme is waiting for us." Bella reminded with a kiss on my shoulder blade, bringing me out of my reverie.
I took a deep breath to clear my head and my dizzying thoughts and turned around to see my beloved with her favourite smile on my face. I didn't want to think so much on the things which are yet to happen or which have been past. My beloved was standing in my arms and this is where I need to concentrate. All the other things will make their way out.
She was looking intently in my eyes, examining weather I was fine or not, biting her delicate lip. "Let's go." I encouraged. She waited for ten seconds before nodding her head and letting me engulf her in my arms. I kissed her head before taking her in my arms and jumping out of the window. She closed her eyes and hid them in my shoulder, her hands wrapped tightly around my neck, as I jumped.
She was dating a vampire, ready to become one, but was sacred of jumping from the window, even when I was the one to do that task.
I laughed at her innocent expression which she made as I placed her on her feet. "We could have used the main door, or the kitchen door for that matter." She accused. I just laughed and ruffled her hair. "What?"
"I just wanted to see your scared expression. I do not get to see it more." I excused, which was partially true. I actually liked the sneaking when I was with her, but to see her scared expression was like getting a cherry on the cake.
"Oh, so you are trying to tell me that you like and want to scare me!" She accused further as she crossed her arms.
"Don't get mad." I pleaded. "It's not my fault that you become more alluring when you look at me with those scared eyed."
"Words!" She spat at me, which made my laugh more which I tried to stifle as a cough. "Are we going or not?" She muttered with a scowl.
I shrugged nonchalantly and whisked her up in my arms and hooked her behind me as I took off running. As I ran, she giggled at something. I asked her what and she told me it was nothing. I again got frustrated but ignored it and savoured her warmth as I ran and the way she had enveloped me in her arms and legs.
We reached my house in no time. When we were thirty yards away from the big mansion, I dropped her on her feet, and together we walked to the house with my hand on her waist.
She wasn't talking to me. It was a bad sign. "Are you still mad at me?" I inquired, silently hoping that I haven't offended her by some means.
"That depends!" She retorted.
"On?"
"Why do you like it when I am scared?" She blurted out, really curious and a little more mad, and tilted her face up to look at me.
I smiled at that question. "Hmm... How to explain?" I pondered as I stopped midway and turned her so that I could put my hands on her shoulders. "When you are scared, your cheeks turn the most brightest shade of pink I've ever seen." I told her as I placed my hands on her jaw and traced her slightly heated cheeks with my fingers. Her cheeks got more warm under my cold touch. "Your heart," I put my fingers on the delicate skin of her neck. "it picks up speed, filling my ears with the most amazing sound of the world." I kissed her behind her ear.
"Are you trying to lure me with your charms?"
Definitely mad!
I ignored her. "Your eyes. They become as wide as brown marble when you are scared. The way you look at me with those big pleading and scared eyes." I shook my head and kissed her eyes. "It makes me fall in love with you even more." She blushed and ducked her face. Her slight scowl slowly turning to a small smile. I placed a finger under her chin and made her look at me. "But this all are not the main reason. The way you try to dissolve your body in me, when you hide your face in my chest, the way you try to find shelter within me when you are scared. The way you let me protect you, even from a horrifying scene in a movie. The fact that my being a vampire doesn't scares you, but these small things do. You don't know how wonderful you look when you do that." I kissed her forehead as I brought her back in my embrace. "I have initially thought myself of your protector, as your guardian vampire, but when you let me do that task, it is so overwhelming and trusting that I fall more in love with you."
I felt her smile against my chest and I planted several kisses on her hair. She planted a small kiss on my exposed skin below the neck and looked at me. "Esme is waiting!" She reminded again. And then a mischievous smile formed on her inviting lips. She moved out of my embrace and started taking a few steps backwards, towards the mansion. "Race me!" She challenged and ran without any counting.
She was such a cheater! A cute, attractive, charismatic cheater.
It was quite a amazing scene watching her running clumsily, while she laughed so freely, without any caution. The sound of her laughter filled the entire way. She lost her balance a number of times but didn't fall. I also laughed along with her and growled playfully, "You cannot surpass me in this, Bella."
She said nothing but laughed more.
I counted till sixty before running to her in human speed and scooping her by her waist with my one arm, swinging her in the air. Her laughter grew more loud. "Somebody help me!" She yelped playfully. "The monster has caught me!"
I laughed more at her playful tone. "Nobody can save you from this monster, my sweetie." I purred as I walked towards home. She made small motion by her hands for me to drop her but I didn't comply. I was having so much fun.
I placed Bella on her feet and walked with her hand in hand towards the door.
Esme always opened the door whenever Bella came, but not this time. They were all having something large on their mind.
Bella opened the door, and no sooner she did that, a toy spider, attached with a string, came down and started swinging in the air.
"Ah!" Bella screamed more louder than I have ever seen her, and hid her face in my chest. "Spider! Somebody remove that beast!" I held her close with one hand and removed that spider with the other, all the while trying hard to supress my laughter. All my family, Rosalie included, were in the living room, watching a frightened Bella, trying to make a grasp on their laughter too, which they were trying very hard to hide. And then suddenly Emmett couldn't control and laughed very loudly, his laughter echoing in the whole mansion. And then Alice, then Jasper, then everybody.
"This is what I meant." I told her as I pulled her more closer. She definitely looks more alluring when she is afraid.
"Is that spider out of the way?" She mumbled while peeking out to check it herself.
I answered while I laughed too. "Yes, Bella. The spider is out."
"Bella!" Alice laughed. "It was just a toy spider."
Emmett stepped towards us. "Do you want to see it yourself, Bella?" He asked sweetly. Bella slowly removed her head from my chest and looked at Emmett, who had a very big smile on his face, showing his dimples. This is going to be so much fun. "See this." He held his palm out on which was another toy spider. And before I could react or read in his thoughts, too enveloped in calming Bella, he threw that toy towards a dumbstruck Bella.
Bella screeched as that plastic toy went in her hair. I tried to rub her arms to control her but Emmett was happy in his own bubble of laughter. "Ooh! The brave Bella – who went all over to Volturi to save Edward – is scared of spiders, and that too the plastic ones included."
"Emmett!" Bella shouted as she removed that spider from her hair where it stuck and threw it at Emmett. The spider missed it's actual point, his head, and instead hit his chest. I removed my hand from her grasp, clutching my midsection so that I could control my laughter at her act where a human was threatening a vampire.
"You are in a great problem, little human." He threatened.
"Oh, really?!" Bella asked as she folded her arms over her chest and tapped her foot. Emmett also saw that she was determined. "And how will you do that?" She asked as cunningly as possible.
Before Emmett could say something Esme came towards us and stood in between Bella and Em. "Be good Emmett." She warned. "Come Bella. Let's get you some food." Bella eagerly took her arm and went with her, to escape a eager-to-take-revenge Emmett, stuck out her tongue to him. Emmett shot her his own deadly look as Bella went in after small protests about how Esme should not do all this things. Alice went with Bella and Esme in the kitchen whereas Rosalie went in the garage, following my rules, 'If you cannot be good to her, then stay away'.
As soon as girls were out, Emmett laughed so loudly that his voice started echoing in the whole room. "That was so much fun." He mumbled while he took slow breaths to control his laughter.
"Yeah!" Jasper agreed easily, still chuckling. "She even got to hit you, taking how she missed her point."
"That was unexpected. But Alice was right! It was so much fun."
"Alice?" I asked, a little confused. How come she is involved in all this?
"Alice saw this all happening as soon as I decided to do this little act." And he laughed remembering her face. She looked so scared and so funny. I wish I could do this again!
"Not again Emmett." I warned.
"Yeah." Jasper agreed with me. "Alice helped you once but that doesn't means she would do it again."
"She is such a cheater." He scowled.
"You are talking about my wife!" Jasper growled.
"Nope, I am talking about my sister." Emmett defended himself with a chuckle.
"Okay Boys." Carlisle scolded. But seeing Bella and Emmett like that was worth it. He chuckled.
I smiled too because he was right. It was really good to see her so relax and serene, playing with my brothers. As if she was always a part of my family. Which, in a way, she really was. She was the missing piece my family was lacking. And I was really a fool to not see this point anytime before.
"We should have recorded it for fun." He exclaimed joyously. We all chuckled at his pout while he thought about how to do something else.
Inside the kitchen I heard Bella protesting the food Esme was offering.
But something was not in its proper place.
Rosalie was grieving silently, trying to hide her weak side under the car. She felt left out seeing all other happy without her.
They would have been more happy if I wasn't here.
Her this thought made my feet move and took me towards her. Jasper sensed her guilt and her feeling of unworthiness and knew where I was going. Go. He ordered. She will not hear it from anyone but you.
It was still a little difficult for me to forgive her – if it wasn't for her, Bella wouldn't have been in the heart of Volterra, facing the very dangerous monsters ever. But I knew she thought she was doing the right thing. It was her way to see things. Though she was a little vain, she was good by heart and a very strong person to think like this, and she was my sister – is my sister, no matter what.
I went to the garage and silently sat by the tire where she was working under the hood, only her feet were visible.
She sensed my presence. What happen now? She thought minaciously. Is Bella not entertaining you that you came to me for a fight?
"Nothing." I told her in a whisper. "I was just missing my sister."
"Alice is not here!" She informed me in a monotone, not at all believing that I came to meet her, to talk to her.
I sighed. "I was talking about my other sister." I mumbled, too quietly that only she heard. "Can you please come out for a minute?" I asked. It was actually true. I was feeling like I was talking to a statue. She sighed and finally came out, wiping her hands out on the waste cloth. Then she looked at me with narrowed eyes, asking what happen suddenly that I want to talk to her. "Please understand Rose, it was really difficult for me to forgive you, but I guess I am ready now, to be nice to my sister."
For once she was quiet, even mentally. For this time, I really saw the real Rosalie, the one I saw in 1933, when she was being transformed. A vulnerable girl who thought she was not worthy of anything.
I actually thought she was going into some robotic mode as she kept her face blank, and then suddenly she threw herself at me. I am so sorry. She whispered in her head, not able to make some coherent words as all her feeling poured out of her mind. Due to me all of this happened. If I wouldn't have called you, then... I could have lose you, and Alice also. Then she added after a few seconds. And Bella too.
I patter her back reassuringly. "It was all past Rose. Let's just move on from that chapter."
She stayed silent for another few moments while she tried to control her emotion and keep them in check. "Okay." She finally mumbled with a sigh of her own as she leaned back.
"And never ever think that you are unworthy. None of my sister is unworthy. You are as much an important part of the family as much as Alice. Never doubt that."
"But this is the only difference." She mumbled quietly as she pressed her knees to her chest. "I don't have anything special. And due to me our family would have been separated for ever."
"It's not true Rose." I shook my head and looked down at my shirt's hem. Why was it being difficult for me to say something which was true? "It was my fault that I didn't clarify it with Alice first. But it doesn't means that it was not your fault. You did what you thought was right, though it wasn't." I chuckled without humour, "But that is what you are Rosalie! Not only beautiful, but a strong pillar of our family, who believes in herself. You were there, binding our family together when I left them at pieces. Without you, I wouldn't have got a brother like Emmett, or a sister like you, with whom I can fight whenever I want, and still she would be there for me. So never ever think that my sister is an unworthy part. Do you get it?"
I looked at her for a moment, as the only I could hear in her mind was my own words and see my own face from a different angle. And then, as if a statue gained life, she slowly shook her head and hung it. "You are being too good." She smiled.
"Is it being too much? Because for me it is." I confessed with a small laugh. This all part was so overwhelming for me, and both of us were not good in displaying our emotions to any other person. She laughed too and again snapped herself in her original non-vulnerable pose which I have gotten used to.
"Eddie, Rose," Emmett called from inside, his voice too excited. "time for some party."
"Do you ever think he will stop calling me by that stupid name?"
"Which name, Eddie?" Rose asked innocently as she got up and walked inside, throwing her golden hair over her shoulder.
Yeah! Some things never change.
I shook my head at that but went inside. As soon as I was inside, I went to Bella and brought her close to me as I sat on the piano bench. She sat beside me, putting her hand on my hand and her head on my shoulder and snuggled more closer to me with a sigh of content. We both were alone for now in the huge hall as everyone had went to their respective partners. I started playing Bella's lullaby, my fingers gliding over the ivory keys as if they knew each more by the heart, which actually they knew.
"I missed your piano so much." Bella murmured silently as she sighed when her lullaby started to drift towards its end.
"Me too." She removed her head and examined my face to know what I meant. I kept my eyes on the piano, because I knew if I was going to tell her, she will get more upset and I couldn't see that. "I never played my piano in the past months. It was unbearable to even look at it when I was not with you." I mumbled, my mind slowly drifting to those days when I left Bella and I was living with my family. Esme has taken care to bring me a piano, to help me gain control on my emotions, but it had the opposite effect and instead of enjoying the piano, I never looked at it.
I felt something touch warm on my arm. I looked down to see her tears which had fallen down without her knowledge. "I am so sorry." She mumbled.
I said nothing as I knew she will not believe me when I say that it was not her fault. So instead of saying anything, I played Esme's song on the piano, kissing Bella's hair.
"I am so proud of you!" Bella murmured as she traced her nails on my forearm.
"For what?"
"Esme told me about your conversation with Rosalie outside, and I am so happy that you forgave her."
"I haven't forget that, but I couldn't keep that against her for a long time." I explained as I continued playing Esme's song, which also slowly started to drift towards it'd end.
"Nobody asked you anything Edward." Bella urged. "You don't need to explain me about your every decision. As long as you are happy, and you think that it is perfect, you can take as many decision you want." Then she amended her statement after a minute of biting her lower lip. "But if you are trying to take a drastic step, please inform me first."
I instantly knew what occurred in her mind for once. "Nothing like that will happen ever again, and whatever I think, you will be the first to know." I promised with a kiss on her temple. Then Alice came down with Jasper. I chucked at her almost blank face. She was busy trying to see the near future. "Only if Alice doesn't sees that." I amended.
Bella laughed along with me while Alice stuck her tongue out. Then came Esme and Carlisle, followed by Emmett and Rosalie. We both also stood up and went to the loveseat, with Bella curled beside me.
When all of us sat in our places – Carlisle and Esme on a loveseat while Jasper made himself comfortable on a chair and Alice sat on his lap, whereas Emmett sat with a for once happy Rosalie in another loveseat, Bella asked innocently. "What are we doing?"
"You mean apart from scaring Bella with a toy spider?" Emmett mused which earned him a slap from Esme on his back.
"You should have told me that they were planning all this." She accused me, looking at Emmett. "I would have been prepared."
"But neither did I knew anything about this, Bella. It was as much as a surprise for me too."
"And how did a mind reader missed this?" She asked with an amused expression. At this the atmosphere in the home settled with laughter eliciting from everyone.
"Because they all are very good at blocking me." I retorted.
She laughed. "Thank God you cannot hear me. I don't know how I would have blocked you out." I laughed out at that, but silently I wished I could get at least one glimpse in her mind.
We both were lost in each others eyes, in our own world, forgetting that our family was sitting here.
The sound of Emmett's chuckle got me out of our trance and this made Bella blush more. Emmett laughed out loud. "Really Bella, you are looking just like a cherry. A delicious red cherry." He licked his lips.
"Emmett, behave." Esme scolded.
"What mom?" He asked innocently.
He will always be like this. My big li'l son. She smirked at Emmett.
"Movie time!" Alice announced and this was how we spent the other two hours watching a thriller movie 'Signpost To Murder' as Rosalie was in no mood of romantics, while Jasper wanted to see either a historical film or a thriller.
Alice had turned our living room into a theatre as she let down all the glass shutters, cutting off the source of lights. Esme also made some popcorn and some cheesecake for Bella for the movie. While Emmett made some comments of stinky human food and their revolting smell.
I did nothing but just looked at my love who was, in all way, curled up on my lap. Bella had never seen that movie so she was too engrossed in the movie that her heartbeat also increased or steadied as per the movie. Emmett, now and then, made comments on how scared she was or predicted wrong scenes for her or by opening the suspense whenever the plot was at the climax, each time getting a deadly look from me.
"This was a great movie." Bella said as the movie was now showing its credits. I have seen that movie many times in the sixties, so I wasn't in any mood to appraise the movie. Instead I looked at Bella who was still having a puzzled look on her face, no doubt thinking about the movie climax.
Emmett came towards us. "I am so sorry Bella, for scaring you like that. Forgive me. Please." Emmett pleaded, his thoughts showing nothing but innocence as he gifted Bella a huge gift which seemed like a box. "I bought this especially for you. To forgive me."
But then something was not right. Why was Emmett trying to sing some Italian song, and that too in reverse? And why was Alice having a hard time in hiding her smile, while she tried her best to not let me hear anything in her mind?
Bella looked at me, asking with her eyes that what she should do. Trust my brother on his gift or not take it upsetting him. I smiled encouragingly, hoping with my best that Emmett will not do anything.
Bella hesitantly took the package from Emmett, and opened the gift wrapper. While she was busy I looked at everyone to see if they know what Emmett has planned because I was not able to make out anything from his evil mind. Carlisle and Esme were also curious to find out what Emmett was up to. Rosalie was also curious but she was trying to feign it by looking at her nails. Alice knew what would happen but was shielding her thoughts while Jasper sensed the tensed atmosphere of the room and came to the same conclusion that something was not right.
This will be so much fun. Alice and Emmett thought at the same time.
Anticipation was heavy in the whole room when suddenly Bella opened the lid after looking at me and a big toy clown jumped from the box. Bella shrieked with horror and again hid her face in my chest and the box fell down but Emmett caught it, and pictures were taken by a very zealous Alice, all happening in a second.
For one tenth of a second, everything was silent other than Bella's breathing, but Emmett's loud laughter broke it. Alice joined him in laughing. I threw daggers at Emmett and Alice while I rubbed Bella's arm to calm her.
Oh my!
Emmett! Poor Bella!
That was so much fun.
Just look at her.
It is such a hilarious scene.
"Emmett!" Esme scolded as she slapped his back very hardly. "This was not right. You scared her like hell. Apologize now."
"But –"
She glared at him. "I said apologize now." She said as dangerously as possible, venom leaking from her tone.
Emmett rubbed his neck as he looked at Bella and saw who much scared she was. Bella was still clutching to me from the last two seconds. "I am sorry –" But Bella started laughing while she tried to control her breathing. I looked at her with worried eyes. Was she getting hysteria attacks?
We all looked at her incredulously while she tried to control her laughter. "I should have known something like this is going to happen when Emmett gives you some gift." She stated the obvious with another laugh.
Emmett knew that he was forgiven and Bella was taking it just as a prank, as he wanted her to, and he too started laughing. "You must have seen yourself." He muttered with another of his booming laugh. "No worries in there. Alice has taken some photos."
Bella threw a cushion at him which actually hit his head. This made both of them laugh more and soon everyone started laughing, Rosalie too.
With that we all escorted to our respective works. Alice and Jasper were going for a hunt, as Alice wanted some alone time and a small hunt, while Emmett was helping Rosalie in modification of her convertible. Carlisle was reading a book for Esme in their room.
I brought Bella in my room. My room didn't feel mine as Bella's presence was missing from its every particle, but now it again felt my room.
She looked at my room curiously as if she was expecting some changes or gifts here. "Your room haven't changed a bit." She told as she went and sat on the couch.
"What changes were you expecting?" I asked as I sat beside her, but she had another thoughts in her mind. She made me sleep with my head on her lap by patting.
"Nothing. Just that it has been a long time since I was here. I thought it may look different but it looks just the same, like it was just yesterday when I was here."
"It feels the same to me, too." I said as I kissed her wrist with closed eyes. My whole room didn't feel like my place unless Bella's scent was covered in it. It felt incomplete, but now as her luscious scent was lingering in my room, my room felt more alive.
She started running her hands through my hair. Now and then she would stop and knot my hair in her palm and tug on it, massaging it lightly. I closed my eyes and enjoyed the feeling of her hands in my hair, savouring their warmth.
"Your hair looks so –"
"Tangled, huge mess?"
"I was going to say amazing and alluring." She defended as she tugged on my roots. I scoffed at her comment. "What? You don't like your hair?"
"They are a huge mess. They never settle in their position." Then I laughed remembering a time. "Esme and my mom even used to ask me to cut my hair but Carlisle and my dad never allowed me. They always said it looked much better in their usual form."
"They were right." She assured me as she ran her hand through my hair once again. "Your hair look much better this way. It even makes you look more human." I snorted at her comment but let it go. At least there was some part of which looked human.
We both talked and laughed over little things. We played music in my stereo, sat by the window and gazed in the forest outside, laid down on the couch. I even encouraged her to dance, but she said no to it.
We were sitting on our couch, she was sitting on my lap, as we were gazing in the forest when she sighed. I looked at her and saw her looking at me intently. "What happen?"
She shook her head and kept her thoughts to herself. This time I sighed with frustration at my lack of access in her mind. She chuckled and leaned into me. "I was thinking about Charlie and you."
"Oh!" Alice had predicted that I will be allowed in her house, officially by Charlie, in a short time, but it wasn't decided yet. But it hasn't happen yet.
"I wish he allows you in the house by this week. I am fed up of meeting with you under his nose. It feels like I am cheating on him – disregarding his rules."
"I am very sure that time will come soon. But please you don't pressurize him. Let him take his time."
She frowned. "I wish he could see this side of yours. How you always regard by his rules and restrictions," I looked at her with an amused impression. "Seeking in my room with my permission is not offending him." She countered.
I laughed and kissed her head. She looked up at me expectantly. I chuckled and breathed on her face, as I leaned in closer to her and connected our lips. She gave herself completely in the kiss as she knotted her hands in my hair and clutched very tightly to me. I was enjoying this, and I wanted to let it go for a while, so unlike other times, I didn't stop her, neither did I deepened the kiss.
Our moment was interrupted by Emmett as he stepped in our room without knocking. Oops. Sorry. I didn't mean to. He coughed loudly. This made Bella realize that someone else was here.
She looked with her flushed face at Emmett. "Don't you know you should knock before coming inside?" She asked with irritation as she glared at him.
"It's not like you both were doing something else." He defended himself with a chuckle. After all she is dating a hundred year old virgin. I scowled at his comment while Bella blushed a deep red. "Anyway, sorry to interrupt you, but if you both feel like playing a game of rummy, like you both are not doing anything, come down." We'll give you privacy too, you just have to ask. He commented as he went out of the room after saying 'Enjoy!' very loudly.
Once he was out, I asked Bella, "Do you want to go?"
She looked at first at me then at the gate then again at me and sighed. "Let's go." I laughed and together we stood up to play some game with our family.
When we were almost down, Emmett interrupted us by saying, "Look Jasper. Bella will be playing too. Isn't it great." What else could she do? After all... he wriggled his brows at me.
I pinched my nose with my one hand, the other hand holding Bella so that she keeps my ground else I would have lunged on that smug brother of mine.
Bella saw me and looked at Emmett with eyes throwing daggers. Emmett saw this. "What happen Bella? Are you mad because I interrupted something? Oh right! You are right because –"
"One more word Emmett, and I swear you will in big trouble." She actually hissed at the vampire.
This was too much. It was fine till he limited his innuendos to me but to involve Bella in all this! It was beyond line. He was going to pay for it!
"Like what?" He asked innocently.
This time it was Jasper who answered by punching Emmett on his back. Serves him right! I thought as I now I wriggled my brows at him silently challenging him to cross the line once again. Bella laughed and she stepped down the stairs.
It happened so quickly that I wasn't able to act fast. Bella was laughing more as Emmett gave her killer looks, and in return he got some killer looks from Esme. I was busy trying to glare at my so called big brother that I didn't see when Bella stumbled on the last step, knocking the antique vase of Esme's precious collection down. I reached out fast to catch her, while Emmett moved fast to protect the vase.
It all happened in not even one second, but it was enough to make Emmett laugh hysterically as I made Bella straight. "Is this how you were going to take revenge, Bella? By knocking down Esme's favourite vase?"
"I lost my balance Emmett!" Bella mumbled as she blushed a deep red, slightly agitated as everyone in the room has either stepped far to protect themselves if there is any involvement of blood – it was Jasper who stepped back – or stepped in trying to see what happens – Rosalie and Carlisle.
At her excuse Emmett laughed loudly, and so did Jasper and Carlisle, and everyone else.
"Okay!" Carlisle chuckled. "Let's start the game."