I'm sorry that its taken a little longer to update this time. Now that I am back at work, it might be a little longer between updates. Thanks to all of you who have added my story to your favorites and alerts. I am genuinely amazed at how well this has been received. Thanks to everyone who has reviewed too. Your opinions mean a lot to me...
Enjoy.
Chapter 11
Jasper Hale
The atmosphere in the room when Bree left was something else. I was completely overwhelmed by the emotions of everyone. Emmett and Rosalie were completely elated. Carlisle and Esme were an equal mixture of joy and pride. Bella was excited, she clearly thought that her first meeting with Bree had gone well. Alice was even more excited, if it had been possible to bounce whilst seated, she would be. Edward, well, Edward was Edward. He knew from Bree's thoughts that she truly didn't want to hurt Bella, he also knew how difficult it had been for Bree to keep control, as did I. He was worried. When wasn't he worried? I thought. I looked over and he smiled at me, understanding my every thought.
Alice, clearly unable to contain herself any longer suddenly asked.
"When can we discuss the weddings"
"Weddings, plural?" Bella asked, clearly confused.
I felt the confusion from Bella, Rose, Carlisle and Esme. Emmett was feigning boredom. I guessed he was wondering how many times he'd have to marry Rose. He already knew what Alice had foresaw.
"Yes," Alice replied. She got up and started twirling around the living room, straightening all the flowers in the vases as she went. "Bella and Edward first, closely followed by Rosalie and Emmett. If they want to formally adopt Bree in the eyes of the townsfolk, they should be married."
"That's wonderful," said Bella. "But shouldn't they go first?" she asked. "After all, Bree is already here."
I felt relief from her, like it was as if she thought that if Rose and Em went first it would take the heat of off her impending nuptials.
Alice wasn't buying this at all.
"No Bella," she replied. "Your wedding will still go ahead as planned. We can wait until you and Edward come back from your honeymoon before Rose and Emmett's. We need to prepare Bree for the interaction with humans before that can happen. She can get some practice at yours."
"Fabulous," said Bella, clearly not happy that her plan to take the heat off her hadn't worked.
I chuckled a little at the interaction between them. Rosalie had been quiet up until this point.
"So, monkey man," she addressed Emmett. "We're having to get hitched again?" She continued.
"It would appear so." Em said, trying to appear completely bored. I knew he was rather excited to be doing this for a reason for once. Edward knew too.
"So who's best man this time bro?" Edward asked.
"Awe man, don't put that shit on me again." Emmett responded, worried in case he'd offend either of us.
Edward and I both laughed. It was funny to see Emmett worried about offending us, when, in fact, neither of us minded who he chose.
"Carlisle," Emmett piped up. "Would you please do me the honor of being my best man this time?" he asked.
Edward and I both laughed aloud at his attempt to sort out the situation.
"Of course, I'd be delighted," said Carlisle.
"Carlisle, would you do me the same honor?" Edward asked.
"If that's what both you and Bella both want, then of course." Carlisle answered. I felt he was surprised by this request more than the other.
"Edward," he continued. "Nothing would make me happier than to be your best man. I just wonder, that, for the sake of keeping the secret, it might be best if one of your brothers took my place?"
"Absolutely not," Edward was a bit taken aback. "You are my father, my creator, my mentor. I need you by my side."
"Carlisle," Emmett said. "Edward is right, you should do this for him. I'm sure Jazz will be a brilliant best man for me."
I was stunned. If he was going to choose a brother to stand beside him, I was sure he'd choose Edward. His emotions told me he was sure in his choice though.
I was delighted. I was gonna be my big brother's best man.
Carlisle excused himself and left for work.
The wedding talks continued.
Alice would be Bella's bridesmaid.
Bella was astonished to be asked to be Rosalie's.
Surely that should be Esme's role? I thought.
Things were getting more and more curious...
Could this be Bree's doing?
Bella's acceptance of her was clearly pleasing to Rose. I was only now feeling just how much it meant to my sister.
Just then Bree appeared at the top of the stairs.
"Edward," she called down. "Can you please keep hold of Bella for me? I heard you all discussing weddings and I'm interested. I've written in my lovely journal now and would like to participate in this discussion if I may?" she continued.
"Yes, of course," Edward replied. "Bella is safe with me." Can you monitor things Jasper?" He asked me.
"Of course I will. I was already on it." I told him honestly. Bree was hurting, but not overly so. She was determined to control her thirst around Bella. She genuinely liked the girl that she wanted to kill such a short time ago.
Bree came downstairs and sat on Emmett's lap. He put his arms around her. Anyone else would think that this was an embrace. We all knew it that whilst this was partially the case, the real reason was to keep Bree close to him and away from Bella.
"So, Bella. You and Edward are getting married?" Bree asked.
Bella blushed. "Yes we are, on the 13th of August. We haven't really started organising it though. We still need to tell my mom and dad. They will probably go spare." Bella said, keeping her eyes downwards.
"Are you not excited?" Bree asked. "I would be."
"It's not that I'm not excited," Bella replied. "It's just that my mom and dad got married very young and it didn't work out for them. I guess I'm just a bit worried about their reaction. I don't think they will take the news very well. They'll probably think that I'm knocked up." She added.
"I can see why you'd think that, I'd probably think that too." Bree continued, clearly thinking through her response.
"See, I told you!" Bella exclaimed looking at Edward. "At last there is someone here that's opinion isn't outdated. Bree grew up in my world. She knows where I'm coming from."
"It changes nothing though," Edward replied. "You agreed to marry me, and marry me you will. Time will prove that you're not knocked up. That's a horrible turn of phrase in my opinion."
Bree was a little worried now that she'd been the cause of any tension between the betrothed couple. She didn't realise that this was just a conversation that had been going on and on and on between them. Her opinion would make no difference at all to the overall outcome.
"I'm so sorry," she said quietly. "This is none of my business and I shouldn't have interfered." Her apology was very sincere.
I laughed.
"Don't worry about it Bree. Emmett said. They have been having this same conversation for a while now. Bella is just glad to have an ally at last," he chuckled.
On Emmett's other side Alice, Rose and Esme were deep in their own discussions. Alice was completely in her element. Party planning was definitely up there in her favorite things to do list. Mainly because it involved a lot of shopping. She was radiating excitement. Every now and again her face would glaze over as she watched the outcomes of the decisions being made. It was quite amusing to watch her.
"Why does Alice keep doing that?" Bree asked during one of Alice's said episodes.
"Alice can see the future." I replied simply. "Sorry, we should probably have told you that earlier."
"Wow, really! I guess I still have a lot more to learn about my new family. Do any of the rest of you have...you know, super powers?" she asked.
"They all have talents." Bella piped up. I could tell she was bursting to pass on the details of the family she was so happy and proud to be joining soon. "Some are just that, talents. For example, Emmett's talent is his brute strength, Rose's is her beauty. Edward, Alice and Jasper have gifts. You already know about Edward's and now Alice's. That just leaves Jasper's," she continued.
Bree interrupted, "What's your gift, Jasper?
"I feel the emotions of everyone around me and I can influence them." It was the simplest explanation that I could give.
"How does that work then?"
"Well, right now I am keeping you as calm as possible. I know you are hurting because of Bella's presence. I can feel that hurt. In order to try to alleviate it, I am sending waves of calm at you. Not too much though, only what I feel you need."
"That's so cool. Thank you for helping me. I really appreciate it. I was wondering why I was finding it easier to control myself around Bella now." Bree looked at me when she spoke.
"Do Carlisle and Esme have gifts?" she asked.
Again it was Bella who answered.
"Not gifts but they are both incredibly talented. Esme's compassion outshines that of anyone else I've ever met. Carlisle's humanity is the same. He uses his vampire senses to save lives. They are both wonderful people and I love them dearly."
"We both love you too, very much," Esme left the wedding discussions briefly to respond to Bella.
Bella blushed and nodded thanks to Esme. There was no need for thanks. We all loved each other. The love we all felt was what defined us as a family. It's what kept us together and allowed us to live differently from others of our kind.
Bree interrupted my pondering by asking. "I wonder if I have any special gift or talent?"
This immediately caught Edward's attention. Like Carlisle, he was always interested in the unique differences that some vampires had.
"Do you think you have?" he asked. "Is there anything that happens that's outwith your control?"
"Not that I'm aware of," she said. "Although..." she trailed off, clearly deep in thought.
"Although what, what are you thinking about?" Emmett asked. He was now intrigued by the idea of his daughter having a gift.
"She thinks that she knows when people are lying to her." Edward commented. "Have you ever tried to test your theory?"
"No, I've never tested it as such. It's just that when Riley told us about joining us later on. I knew he wouldn't. When he said that I'd meet up with Diego, I knew he was lying. But, when Fred offered to wait for me in Vancouver. I knew he would wait. I can't explain it, I just knew."
"It sounds a lot like what Maggie can do," said Edward. "Remember Carlisle mentioned her. She lives with Siobhan and Liam in Ireland. She knows when she is being lied to. Carlisle considers it to be a gift. Maybe yours is similar skill?"
All of the sudden interest in Bree had piqued Rosalie's attention now too. All talk of weddings stopped, now that there was something more interesting to talk about.
"How cool would it be if you did have a gift Bree?" Rose beamed. "Alice, can you see anything?"
Alice concentrated hard, looking for Bree's future.
"There is something," she said with a puzzled look on her face. "Only it's not completely clear for some reason, its like something is making me not want to look. It's very strange. I can kind of see another vampire but they don't want me to see. I'm not sure what that means." she trilled. Totally confused.
There was a deafening silence in the room as we all tried to make sense of what Alice was saying.
"Fred!" Bree exclaimed suddenly. "You would be able to see him, but he wouldn't want you too. He has a way of repelling other vampires. He kept me safe when I was with the newborns."
I was suddenly aware of a lot of jealousy coming from Rosalie.
"Do you think he'd come back to look for you?" She asked Bree. "Maybe he'd like you to go with him?" she continued, clearly shaken by the thought.
"I don't know." Bree replied honestly. "He never said he would, just that he'd wait for me in Vancouver. Maybe he is curious though. Wants to find out what happened?"
"Alice, can you please try harder. I need to know what's going on." Rose demanded, suddenly back to her usual form.
"Rose, I'm sure Alice is doing her best." Emmett said, trying to diffuse things.
I sent a some calm in Rosalie's direction.
"Thanks," she said looking at me. "I'm sorry Alice," she continued. "I would just hate for anyone to try to take Bree away now."
"That won't happen mom." Bree re-assured Rose. "I'm going nowhere. I love it here."
I tried to calm the room down. There was way too much emotional changes for me to be happy with right now. It worked.
"I think this Fred will visit," Alice prophizised. "I think he just wants to know what went on here. He needs to understand the rules too. If he does decide to come, we can help him before he moves on. His visit won't affect your relationship with Bree." she told Rose and Em.
Just then, the telephone rang. Esme, being the only one not connected with protecting Bella went to answer it. We all looked in her direction when she rejoined us.
"That was Sam," she told us. "He has news, not a decision, just news. He'd like Edward or Carlisle to call him in the morning."
So who's wondering what Sam wants? Please, please review. The more reviews I get, the sooner I will update... promise. I will respond to all reviews too.
Thanks to Eilidh for editing out some of my silly mistakes. You are a star!
