A/N: First, I have to say how lucky I was to have Jen's WordSong as my beta for so long. Unfortunately, RL's a bitch and she had to step down. I love you girlie and I hope everything settles down for you soon.
Second, every dark cloud has a silver lining and I'm proud to announce that Dandiegoose has graciously decided to fill my beta void and whip my comma loving ass into shape. You are fabulous, babes!
And, thank you as always to my other betas, twifan82 and eviekinz for being the bread to my butter. I couldn't do it without you two!
So, I know everyone is dying to know who our mystery FBI agent/bodyguard is. You all had some very interesting guesses, but the two most common were Jasper or Jacob. Let's see who it is, shall we?
Disclaimer: SM owns Twilight. I get to make Edward jealous of a bodyguard ::wink:: © 2010 twicrack83
*~*BPOV*~*
When I woke up, Esme was turning onto their winding driveway. I couldn't even see the house through the trees. It was nice to know that we would be well hidden from the predator that was after our blood.
But I didn't want to focus on that right now. I was nuzzled under Edward's arm, with his head still resting on mine and he was drawing small circles on my upper arm with his long, soft fingers. He felt me take a deep breath and looked down at my face with a breathtaking smile and a wink.
How can one look make me melt so completely?
"Edward, you make me…" I whispered, more to myself than anyone else, but it was too late to stop my word vomit. I knew he heard me by the way his fingers quit moving and his back stiffened.
"What was that, Bella?" Edward quietly questioned.
I shivered as his breath swept past my face and his lips brushed my cheek. He was so intoxicating. He had to know his effect on people, especially girls.
"Oh, uh… nothing. I was just… oh, never mind," I sighed and sat up, effectively separating myself from Edward's safe, warm embrace.
His brow furrowed and he lowered his arm from around my shoulders and dropped it to his side. He looked hurt that I didn't tell him what I was thinking. I wanted to tell him. Really I did… but in the car where others could hear was not a good setting for opening up and sharing my feelings.
We unloaded our luggage from the car then hid in our rooms unpacking until Carlisle came home. Everyone agreed that Alice and I would share her room while the bodyguard stayed at the house. I was surprisingly excited about spending more time with my new little friend. I had a lot I needed to talk to her about and I couldn't wait to learn more about her.
After rearranging a few pieces of furniture and bringing some clothes into Alice's room, the family met in the kitchen for lunch. Esme made sandwiches and Edward grabbed a bag of chips to set on the table for everyone to share.
"The bodyguard should be here in about an hour," started Carlisle. "I think we should allow Isabella and Emmett to meet him last. Does that sound all right with you two?"
I looked over at Emmett and he shrugged and nodded. I turned back to Carlisle and said, "That's fine, but why?"
"Well, I don't want to overwhelm you with too much today. You both have been through a lot of stress lately with your nightmares worsening, Isabella… and Emmett trying to help you with those adds to his stress… and now with the scare at the hotel. It's a lot for a body to cope with, and I'm beginning to think yours won't be able to take much more strain without completely shutting down."
He stared at me and I felt like he just read my mind. All Carlisle had to do was give me one look and it was like he knew my inner workings. I didn't even know what to say about his revelations. To be honest, I was feeling overwhelmed, but it was due to my new family's kindness, not the stress of my other… situation. James was a constant threat in my life and I learned to live with that stress every day, but to have my new family at risk, too, was worrisome.
"Um, thank you for that, Carlisle," I responded. "I think that will be fine. I appreciate your concern, but I'm not really overwhelmed with stress. I'm more worried about living up to your expectations. I mean we've never had such a wonderful family and I don't want to let you down."
Edward and Carlisle both had confused looks on their faces, like they weren't expecting that response. I stared down at my sandwich and chips and poked them around the plate. I knew I shouldn't have said anything. I felt completely embarrassed, unable to look either of them in the eye.
Esme reached her hand over and rubbed my arm. "Oh, sweetheart. You have already proven you will exceed any expectations we may have had. You and Emmett are both so polite, and Alice and Edward have both told us that they are really glad you're with us." She smiled at me before continuing, "And that's saying something because they've never agreed on anything their entire lives."
Carlisle and Esme laughed, Alice smiled at me, and Edward shook his head and ran his fingers through his hair. I think I even noticed a slight pink rise in his cheeks as he glanced over at me and stuffed a chip in his mouth.
I was beginning to feel like Emmett and I had finally found a home, an actual family; a place where we were accepted with all our flaws and craziness. It was beginning to feel like they would love us no matter what. Well, at least for now, anyway. I was still dreading what would happen when they finally heard our entire story. They would definitely think we were damaged goods. Maybe that's why I never really shared my story… I never wanted anyone to reject me because I would never be good enough. I buried all my memories to shield myself from losing those around me. Even the families I hated I didn't want to lose at the time. They were all I had and one little slip would have them sending me away and forgetting me forever.
This thought froze me in my seat. Edward sensed my mood change and he looked at me pleadingly. He wanted to know what I was thinking, but I had to get out of the room before I freaked everyone out. Excusing myself from the table, I put my plate in the kitchen, and silently vowed I would keep my nightmares, stories, and memories to myself. I wouldn't lose this family because of my past. I couldn't let that happen.
/~/+/~/
As I sat alone in my room, the last time before the bodyguard took it over, I thought of everything the Cullen's were giving up for us. They welcomed us into their home. They fed us, clothed us, paid for our schooling, and now they were giving up some of their freedom, all in order to keep Emmett and me safe. I didn't want them to have to do that, but Carlisle and Esme seemed insistent on giving us a life we only dreamed of. Even Alice and Edward were okay with the prospect of being followed around by some random FBI official until James was caught or dead.
After what seemed like an eternity wallowing alone in my room, there was a soft knock on the door.
"Come in," I said as I rolled over on the bed, sitting up with my back against the headboard, stretching out my legs and crossing them at the ankles.
"Hey, Bella. Do you want to talk?" Alice whispered as she walked through the door, shutting it behind her.
"No, Alice. I'm all right… or at least I'll be okay in awhile," I sighed. "These past couple of days have just been exhausting, you know?"
"Yeah, I guess. I'm really sorry you're having such a difficult time." She walked over and sat on the end of my bed, bringing her legs up off the floor and crossing them under her tiny frame. "I wanted to make sure you weren't crying up here. You left lunch pretty quickly and you'd hardly touched any of your food. I thought maybe…"
"No," I interrupted. "I mean… sorry. I can't right now. But maybe another time, okay? I really appreciate it, though. It means a lot that you care enough to make sure I'm adjusting well."
"All right." Alice took a deep breath and looked down at her hands in her lap. Her bottom lip pouted out slightly and she started playing with a wayward thread on my comforter.
I immediately felt defeated. She looked like I just told her I ran over her kitten, and I wanted to instantly take back every word I'd said.
"Oh, Alice. Please don't be upset with me." I moved closer to her near the foot of the bed so I could get a better read on her facial expression. "I really do want to tell you what's goin' on inside my screwed up head, but I'm worried that if I do… that if I bring you into my world, that you'll never want to talk to me again and I can't lose you."
I felt tears well up in my eyes as she looked up at me. The last thing I wanted to do was hurt her, and now I'd gone and turned her away because I was feeling insecure.
"Bella, please don't cry." Alice grabbed me for a hug as I sobbed. "I knew it was a long shot that you would want to talk so soon, but I had to try. I know you'll open up to me in time. I just got my hopes up that you might want to get some things off your chest before the bodyguard gets here. We can talk about anything, really. It doesn't all have to be about you, Bella."
I could hear the smile in her voice and I grinned in response as I lifted my head from her shoulder and laughed. She knew exactly what to say to make me feel better. That trait seemed to run in the family.
"Thanks, Alice," I said as I wiped tears from my cheeks. "I've been on an emotional roller coaster the last few days and I think I'll feel better when things settle down a little."
"I know. And I'll be ready whenever you want to talk. You know where to find me!" She gave me one last squeeze, then bounced off the bed and pulled me with her. "Come on, Bella. We need to get ready to introduce you to that bodyguard. I hope you get along with whoever it is, because he'll be around for awhile."
Craptastic! I can't wait.
*~*EPOV*~*
After Bella left the table, I felt all the air leave my body. I couldn't understand why she didn't want to talk to me. I was getting really frustrated and I just wanted to run after her, grab her by the shoulders and shake her until she realized how foolish she was being. She didn't have to be afraid of her past. It was exactly that… a past and nothing she could have told me would have made me like her any less.
I decided I couldn't stomach anymore food at the moment, so I excused myself and asked Emmett if he wanted to go down into the game room and play the Wii on the big screen. He got an evil glint in his eyes and devoured the rest of his third sandwich.
"Dude," hollered Emmett as we walked down to the game room, "you have a Wii, too? That's the shit! What games do you have?"
"You can go look over there," I said as I pointed next to the TV. "I was thinking maybe something brainless right now, like MLB 2010. Is that all right?"
"Sure, man. But we're gonna have to play these other games sometime, too."
He handed me the game disc and I popped it into the console. We each grabbed a seat in the recliners and I passed him a controller. We played three full innings before either one of us said anything. I couldn't take the cold shoulder from both Bella and Emmett, so I broke the silence.
"Can I ask you a question, Emmett?" I sighed, setting my controller on my lap and leaning back in the chair.
"Yeah. What's up?" he said and turned to face me, looking confused.
"Well… the server… he looked like that James guy, right? And, I know I don't understand half of what happened to you and Bella, but I'm sure James did some super fucked up stuff. So, why didn't you rip into the server when you first saw him? I mean… I think I would have torn his face off if I were in your shoes."
Emmett huffed and brought his legs up onto the chair, crossing them underneath his body. He bent forward and rubbed his face with his hands before resting his arms on his lap and looking at me with bloodshot eyes.
"Edward… that guy ruined our lives. We didn't have it perfect. No big screen TVs, no fancy gaming systems, but we had a happy, loving family where everyone looked out for one another. When… James," he paused and swallowed thickly, "when he came into our lives, he screwed up any inkling of happiness we ever had. He was one crazy, sadistic fucker that wasn't going to let my dad ruin his sad little existence and he was out for revenge.
"He scarred mine and Bella's lives and we will never be the same people… ever. We both saw what he was capable of that night, and when Bella passed out at the hotel, and I caught a glimpse of that server's face, I immediately reverted back to that scared little twelve year old who was fighting to stay alive.
"James is one crafty motherfucker and I knew if I attacked him outright, I would've been dead before you yelled 'stop.' So, I decided to weigh my choices and assessed the situation before jumping the gun. That's when I sort of realized the server didn't really look too similar to James, but who was I to let him get out of my grasp? I want revenge for the hell he's put Bella and I through, and I would give anything to see him suffer the way my parents did."
As he finished and looked away, a single tear escaped and fell down his cheek. He didn't even wipe it away. I felt a chill creep over my body and my adrenaline started pumping through my system. I wanted to kill James, too. I wanted to help Emmett and make sure that sick fuck never hurt anyone, especially Emmett and Bella, ever again.
I sat there stunned, fuming and silent. Emmett turned back to face me and stared blankly at his lap. He was waiting for my response, but I had no idea what to say to someone who just admitted to being scared shitless and wanting to beat the ever living shit out of a person who's been evading the authorities for years; someone who has been murdering kids around your same age just to show he's still out there; someone who wants you dead.
Words failed me, so I reached across the armrest and patted his shoulder. He looked up and I saw fear and hatred mixing together in his eyes. I gave him my best "I'm there for you if you need me look" and he nodded, signaling he understood.
"Thanks for telling me that, man," I whispered.
"Um… yeah. Thanks for listening," he replied. "That's the most I've ever told anybody besides Bella… so now I'll have to kill you."
Emmet looked straight into my eyes and smiled wickedly. I actually kind of thought I might piss myself because he looked serious.
Then he started roaring with laughter.
"Jeez, Edward," he chuckled. "You need to relax, man. I'm joking."
He put his arms up in mock surrender and I punched his shoulder for retaliation. We both laughed it off and I turned off the Wii so we could go upstairs.
As we made it up to the living room, Alice and Bella started walking down the steps from their rooms just as Dad called us all into the kitchen. We gathered around the island counter and he briefed us on how the bodyguard would be accepted into the house and the order in which we would all be introduced.
After fifteen minutes of discussion, Bella and Emmett took their places in the living room and Alice and I followed. Alice and Bella sat on the couch with Emmett and I decided to set up camp on the floor in front of them. We quietly listened as the sound of a very loud engine came barreling up the driveway. The sound stopped abruptly, followed by the crash of a vehicle door slamming. Three lumbering steps up to the house, and two hard knocks on the front door let us know the bodyguard was here.
I could see Bella shaking and Emmett was holding her hand. As I looked at her, she mouthed the words, "I'm sorry" before turning her gaze to her lap and bringing her legs up underneath her. That was the most confusing statement she'd made since I'd known her, and I knew I would definitely be talking to her later.
"Hello, sir," Dad said as he opened the door. "I'm Carlisle and this is my wife, Esme. Welcome to our home. I trust you found it easily."
"Oh yeah," returned the bodyguard dropping something on the floor with a thud. "You gave great directions on the phone. And you weren't joking about the long driveway. I almost turned around."
He chuckled loudly and followed Dad and Mom into the dining room to talk with them before they introduced the rest of us. The more I listened to him I realized he was really young. The way he spoke, the terms he used, just didn't make him seem old enough to be in this position as a FBI agent. I immediately started questioning his adequacy and worried that he wouldn't be good enough to protect my Bella.
Whoa. My Bella. Where did that come from?
I heard Dad call for Alice and me to meet him in the dining room, but before I left the living room I went over to Bella and pulled her chin up so she would look me in the eye. I gave her the best "it will all be okay" smile and rubbed my thumb against her cheek. She smiled back as she blushed and I felt her relax under my touch. Alice rolled her eyes and pulled me away before I had a chance to do or say anything else.
When I walked into the dining room, the first thing I noticed about the guy was his size. He was standing hunched over with his hands gripping the back of a chair, but when he saw Alice and I walk in, he stood up to his full height. This guy seriously had to be six and half feet tall and he looked like he could bench press Emmett without breaking a sweat. The next thing that caught my attention was his face. Not only did his voice seem juvenile, but his facial features made him look like he was about our age. Exactly what the FBI was looking for… someone who could fit in with the rest of us and go virtually unnoticed. But I wasn't expecting some overgrown body builder.
I felt the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end when he reached out his hand to introduce himself. Not that I expected to be best friends with the guy, but I at least thought I would be somewhat comfortable around him. Something was wrong, and I couldn't quite place it. Maybe it had something to do with the way he was sizing me up from the second I turned the corner into the dining room.
Damn ogre.
"Hi, I'm Jacob," said the gigantic meathead standing in front of me.
"I'm Edward. Nice to meet you, sir," I replied, trying my best to keep my emotions in check. He almost crushed my hand when he shook it.
"Okay, you've all gotta stop with the 'sir' crap," Jacob laughed. "I'm really not used to it. Just call me Jacob or Jake, whatever, and we'll all get along great."
We all politely smiled and wrapped up our conversation before calling in Bella and Emmett. Jacob positioned himself in the corner of the room furthest from the doorway, and he had this cheesy smile plastered on his face like he was expecting the best thing in the world to happen to him in the next thirty seconds.
We all watched anxiously as Emmett then Bella walked through the door. Emmett scowled as he walked over to Jacob and shook his hand while Bella stared at her feet. He introduced both himself and Bella, all without Bella saying a word and cowering behind him. I noticed her trembling again and gripping the back of Emmett's shirt like she was trying to hide. Emmett reached behind his back and pried her hand from his shirt while slowly bringing her around to his side. She continued to stare at the floor while she talked.
"Hello, sir. I'm Bella," she whispered so softly I wasn't even sure she really said anything.
"Hello, Bella. I'm Jacob, but you can call me Jake. Please don't be afraid of me," he pleaded, sniffing around like a dog trying to find a way for her to look at him. "I'm here to protect you and I'm going to need you to trust me for that to work, okay?"
She took a deep breath and held it as she slowly raised her head to finally look the bodyguard in the face. She was playing with a lose string on the hem of her shirt and when she finally looked at Jacob's face, her eyes got wide and she huffed out all the air she was holding in. Her hands stilled and her jaw dropped slightly, but she recovered quickly and she started chewing on her bottom lip while she blushed.
I bristled at her reaction. If my assumptions were correct, I'd just met my greatest competition. Bella seemed way too interested in the agent, and I narrowed my eyes as I stared at Jacob. My breathing picked up slightly before I could reign myself back in and control my emotions. This next year was going to suck some major ass.
Fucking mutt.
A/N: So... surprised? Saw it coming? Not impressed? Let me know with a review!
BPOV coming up next chapter so we'll know what she really thinks of her bodyguard.
Rec time: I'm sure lots of you have already read The Weight of Words, but I have to pimp that out because it's just too awesome not to. Georgeygirl has a beautiful sense of style and she weaves in Shakespeare effortlessly. Enjoy and let her know I sent you!