Chapter 10: The Other Side
Disclaimer: S. Meyer owns Twilight
Esme greeted him at the door, her golden eyes wide with surprise. "Edward, you've returned! We've been so worried about you."
"Have you seen your father yet?"
"No … not yet. Where may I find him?"
"Now, you know better than that. In his lab, where else?"
"Of course. I'll go see him." He nodded at Esme. "It's good to be home." Not wanting to frighten her by asking where the lab was, Eddie gave her a hug, then walked outside. It wasn't too difficult to follow Carlisle's scent, and he located the small, modern looking building not far from the house. On entering the lab, he found his father tinkering over a project, possibly another eCod?
Carlisle looked up from the device immediately, and embraced him. "Son, thank god you've come back."
Eddie didn't know what to think; it seemed strange, yet familiar at the same time. "Carlisle—"
"Before you tell me about your recent travels, did you bring the eCod with you?"
"About that …"
"And you say that you're actually not Edward, but Eddie."
"I know it's difficult to imagine, but yes."
"It'll pose an adjustment period; some getting used to, so to speak, but we'll accept you as you are. Should we call you Eddie?"
"That would be fine."
Carlisle wrapped an arm around his shoulder. "Come with me, Son. I'll introduce you to the rest of the family."
# # # # # #
Meanwhile, back on Terros II, several days had passed. Charlie had been on a fishing holiday with his friend, Billy. He'd gone without shaving for most of that time, but on the last day, he removed all the hair on his face, leaving a line above his mouth. When he came back that Sunday evening, Bells burst out laughing at the sight of him.
"What is that on your lip?"
"It's a mustache. What's wrong with it? I just wanted to see what it would look like."
"Well, it looks ridiculous."
He stroked his fur covered upper lip. "You think I should shave it off?"
"That's up to you, but If you want Sue to kiss you ..."
He pivoted on his heel, heading to the bathroom, mumbling, "Where's my razor?"
# # # # #
Bells' revelation was a sobering thought. His other ol' man, all these years with no wife and no son, huh … Would it kill him to venture outta his comfort zone and visit the man on Earth? Jeez, what would he say to convince Billy #2 who he was though? And would the visit help or hinder the situation? Maybe if he brought both of the Swan girls with him ... Billy #2 would havta believe him then, wouldn't he?
He opened the drawer to his shabby dresser, and pushed aside the socks, glancing down at the curious widget that was tucked underneath. A talk with Billy #1 was in order.
"I wondered how long it would take you to unburden yourself. You've been acting secretive since last week."
"How could you tell?"
"Father's intuition. What is it? Have you and Bells gotten intimate?"
"Not hardly. She put the brakes on that one."
"Good for her."
"Jeez, thanks, Dad, for thinking so highly of me."
"I was young once. I know how it goes. So, you still haven't told me what the problem is."
Jacob opened his palm, exposing the transporter, and placed it on the kitchen table. "There it is."
His dad toyed with the eCod, running his hand over the smooth surface. "You expect me to believe that this gadget can transport you to another world, eh? Son, I may be getting older and sitting in a wheelchair, but all my marbles are still in my head. Haven't lost one yet."
Billy's index finger lightly touched the power button. Jacob jumped up from his chair at the table. "Don't touch that!"
Jerking his hand back, Billy said, "It's true then?"
"Isn't that what I've been tryin' to tell you?"
"All right, let's say that it is true, and I have a double on what did you call it?"
"Bella called it, Earth."
"And this other Billy lost his son, Jacob, and his wife."
"Yeah. I'm askin' if it had happened to you, would it be upsetting to have your son back?"
"Jacob, I think it would be a gift from the Great Spirit."
"I'll do it then."
"Just remember to come back. I don't want to lose my son."
"You're not gonna lose me, Dad. I promise."
Billy opened his arms. "C'mere, Jacob."
The boy knelt in front of the man, who patted the hair on Jacob's head. "I love you, Son. Never forget that, eh?"
"I love you too."
"Hey, Bells, guess what?
"No … I did not win the lottery. I could never be thaaaat lucky.
"Okay, here's the thing … I've decided to go to Earth and see the other Billy. Will you come with me? You said you would. Well, can you get off next Saturday? I'm sure the freakin' book store can get along without you for one damn day.
"Okay, then. Can you meet me at my house at around 10:00?
"Great. This is gonna be awesome … I think." Jeez, I hope so. What can possibly happen, right?
Another thought popped into his head, as he stared at his phone. I wonder if my cell will work on the other planet, hmn …
# # # # #
The hour went by at a snail's pace. And after the hour was up, Eddie was promptly at her door, taking Bella by the hand and leading her outside. He noticed his love looking at the trees skirting her yard as they walked, and he reassured her, "I will never leave your side again." He kissed her temple gently, and pulled her against himself.
She gazed up at him with those mesmerizing chocolate eyes, and said, "You'll be at school tomorrow, won't you?"
Eddie smiled. "Nothing could prevent me from being there. I'll pick you up at 7:30, but right now, I have something very particular to ask of you."
He unexpectedly dropped to one knee, and she saw something glitter in his hand. It dawned on her that it was a ring.
"Isabella Marie Swan, I promise to love you forever. Will you do me the great honor of marrying me?"
Speechless for a moment, Bella stood, stock-still, then with a quavering voice, answered, "Yes."
She was surprised by her own answer, but no doubt, joy was probably filling his non-functioning heart, at the response. This was a hard decision for her to make. She was aware that he realized how she felt about getting married at such a young age, but the current situation had changed. Maybe the fact that his double had left her, cemented her resolve to latch onto the happiness only he could afford her.
Placing the ring on her finger, he rose to his feet. He turned in a circle, almost dancing, with a smile as wide as a canyon. Bella had never seen him act this way. It was almost as if he was drunk. Suddenly, she was in his arms and lifted above his head. The kiss that followed was deep and sensuous, not at all like his previous attempts, and she reveled in it.
They wandered together down the road, her head on his shoulder, seemingly in a love haze.
# # # # #
Jacob's knee was bouncing up and down in anticipation. When is she gonna get here? That freakin' truck! There had to be some way to increase its speed. If Carlise could invent a thingamabob, then the wolf boy could certainly soup up the engine on that turtle. Then the thought hit him; despite the stench, maybe the crazy scientist might share an idea on trouble shooting the annoyingly, pokey engine of the beast. Yeah …
He was alerted by the rumble of said beast as it pulled up and wheezed to a grinding halt outside in the yard. The brakes definitely needed some adjusting. He grabbed the eCod and his backpack, and bolted out the front door. "Bye, Dad."
From the other room, came, "Don't stay too long, eh?"
Racing out to greet her, Bells chastised him, "Should you be running out here in your condition?"
His eyes rolled in their sockets. "What condition? Listen, honey, those crutches are a thing of the past. I'm fit as a fiddle.
"You ready?"
"Yup. A little nervous, maybe, but …"
"Hey, hey, hey … none of that. This will be the trip of a lifetime. Let's go!" He took her hand, and led her to the wooded area at the back of the house.
While they walked, Bells pointed to the fabric-covered bag slung on his shoulders and asked, "What's in the backpack?"
"Evidence."
"Of what?"
"Of me—that I live and breathe and was born to William Ephraim Black and Sarah Elizabeth Black." He shrugged out of the straps, and hoisted the bag over his head. "I've got an album of pictures and my birth certificate in here; even my baby footprints. He has to believe that I'm the genuine article."
"I should say so."
Jacob halted when he came to what he considered an appropriate spot to jump to the other side. He swung Bells around to face him, and planted a solid kiss on those sweet lips. "For luck," he crowed with a smirk. He operated the machine, and as they stepped forward toward the portal, he suddenly jerked, alert and wary. There was a light, yet noticeable trace of an all too familiar scent burning his nostrils. Was his mind playing tricks on him?
Bells caught the look on his face, and asked, "What is it?"
"I thought I smelled … never mind. It's nothin'.
"Okay, here goes—one small step for man …"
Clicking her tongue, Bells complained, "Jake, for crying out loud."
When they entered Earth, she glanced around. "It looks just the same, doesn't it?"
With a squeeze of the hand, Jacob answered, "Yeah, if I didn't know any better, I'd swear I was back home in La Push. He sniffed the air again, noting the drastic change in its odor. It was then that he looked up and spotted the purple smoke curling toward the sky.
His eyes no sooner lit upon Billy's home, when quick as a flash, he and his Bells were encircled by several of the pack members.
Paul strode forward. "You!" he angrily growled. "What do you mean, coming to our land, towing that filthy tick along with you? Who are you anyway, and who's this skinny little chick?"
Frightened, Bells scooted closer to Jacob, who snaked one arm around her, protectively. "I'm Jacob, and this is my girlfriend, Bells."
"What is your business here?"
"That would be my business."
Paul started toward him, when Embry called out, "Let him talk, Paul."
"I say we make him talk!"
Jacob looked at Embry, his eyes pleading with his best friend. It saddened him to realize that these boys had no idea who he was.
"Okay, okay. If you must know, I'm here to see Billy."
"Why?" Quil snapped.
"You're not gonna believe this, Quil, but I'm Jacob Black, Billy's son."
Quil looked astounded, and whispered to Embry, "Do we look stupid or what? And did he just call me by name?"
"Look, I can clear this whole thing up, fellas. Bells, can you call the Swans?"
"Oh, that's rich. They're leech lovers," Quil added.
Her hands shook as she retrieved her cell, and punched in the numbers. Nothing—not even a hint of static. The phone was completely dead.
"All right, smartass, come up with another fantastic yarn, why don'tcha," Paul snarked.
"I swear to you, Carlisle Cullen invented a device to cross into another world. And here we are."
He slipped his hand into his pocket, and pulled out the eCod. Embry yelled, "Watch out, he's got a taser!" And all hell broke loose.
Bells shrieked in horror as Paul and Quil pounced on the wolf boy. The resident hot-head struck Jacob in the face, making his head jerk back in response. The two continued slamming fists into Jacob, pummeling him to the ground, while Embry grabbed the device and slung it against a tree where it shattered into a million pieces.
Embry returned to Leah's side, pulling her away from the melee.
Bells cried, "Leah … please. Can't you do something to make them stop? They're killing him."
Leah and Embry exchanged puzzled looks.
The three of them began to vibrate, but Paul and Quil backed away as Jacob emerged as the great russet wolf that he was.
Embry's eyes got huge. "What the hell? Who is this guy?"
Jacob chased the other two farther into the forest, and replayed in his thoughts all that happened in the past few days. There could be no doubt now, that what he said was the truth. When he returned, he saw Bells sitting on the ground, clutching Jacob's backpack, and crying. He felt the same way, how were they going to get back to Terros II now?
Sam arrived, and pushed through the wolves, carrying clothes for the boys that had phased. "Anyone care to tell me what the hell's going on here?"